Chapter 6 is now up. Sorry since I didn't get enough reviews about whether to choose Stefan or Klaus, I made up my mind with the help of my friends. Don't kill me for that. However in my next fanfiction I'll be choosing the other guy. This might be the longest chapter. I have preparation for my vacation to USA. I'm a shopaholic and barely stay home now. Hope you find it interesting. Happy reading!

After another heated conversation with her annoying best friend, she made her way to the living room. She was still shameful of Jeremy's act. She wanted to lash out on him, but there was a nagging fear on her stomach. He has just arrived to New York and she sure as hell didn't want to upset him or make him uncomfortable to stay with her. She knew that Jeremy was going through a rebellious teenager phase. She had to do something, but what?

Once she reached the living room, she found both Damon and Jeremy playing X-box together. They were laughing and chatting rubbish about kicking each other's ass. Anna was sitting in the armchair, going through her mobile. Elena slowly made her way to the couch. She cleared her throat before speaking. "So I see you already found the X-box." Three head turned towards her. She met Jeremy's eyes first but couldn't help but draw her attention to the pair of blue eyes. Just looking at him makes her see flashes of the kiss they just shared.

"Well, whereas could it be if not the television drawer. I knew you'd be fully prepared for my move." Jeremy told with a shrug, returning back to the game.

"Jer, can I talk to you for a minute?" She asked nervously.

"I'm playing right now if you haven't noticed. Can it wait?" He said not shifting his attention from his character.

"It's important." She said in a slightly stronger and commanding tone. But Jer didn't turn towards his sister until Damon pressed the pause button of the game.

Jer looked at him in shock but he just shook his head and said, "Listen to your sister." Jeremy let out an exasperated sigh before looking at his sister.

"What happened?" he raised an eyebrow. He did have the rebellious 'I want to get out' look. But Elena let it slide.

"Jer I always told you to be open with me and I'm not taking that back. You've done a great job telling me everything you want and everything you don't without holding back and I respected that. But not everybody is used to this free-moving sibling setting we have." She said in her soothing voice hoping that he'll understand.

"I know that. What's the problem?" he asked.

"Nothing, but just don't send Ric the same email or text you send me. He's still new to all this, but maybe in the future you can be as free with him as with me." She pulled off the bandage and let the realization dawn to him.

But what he said after shocked her most. "I thought that as I'd be living with my girlfriend there for three months he should know that we are going to have sex."

"Jeremy!" This time Anna spoke. She was already beetroot color out off embarrassment in front of his sister. "Your sister is right. Your uncle is not someone who will be comfortable listening to this. No one is. Hell he's not even merely near our age. I get that you want to be straight-forward, but telling Elena these things is not the same as telling your uncle, ok." After listening to the small speech delivered by Anna for the first time, Elena grew some respect for the girl. At least she has a good sense of morality.

"Fine! I'm sorry ok!" Jeremy snapped. He turned towards Damon who was deliberately silent during this entire session. What was there for him to say? He wasn't involved in any of this. But he sure would've said something if things got out of hand or if Anna didn't said anything. "Can you call Ric? I want to go there and take some rest. Ask him whether his work is done or not?"

"Yeah his work is probably done by now. We can go now if you want." Damon replied, but his eyes darted to the tired woman. He completely forgot to tell Elena about Ric's call because of the kiss.

"Great!" He started to gather his things and then went for main door. "I want to go to my residence if this conversation is over or not." He turned the doorknob and pushed the door wide open, before storming out. Anna followed right after him, but both Damon and Elena sighed before retreating behind them.

Ric's House

Ric was pacing back and forth in the living room. He took an aspirin and a cold shower after his conversation with Damon. He felt like a dick for yelling at him, when he was out there trying to fix the mess he made. He knew he totally screwed up Grayson and Elena's faith in him. He didn't even start his day as a guardian, yet he managed to get fucked up.

The bell rang indicating the arrival of them and his nerves picked up. When he opened the door he was met by four figures. One angry, one tensed, one embarrassed and one that showed things aren't quite right.

"Hey Ric." Jeremy said and passed by him without further words and a second glance his way.

"Hey…" Anna flashed Ric an apologetic look and followed Jeremy's track. Ric's eyes shifted to Elena who seemed to have a tense breakdown any moment. His questioning eyes were on Damon now. His eyebrows pulled together, noiselessly asking Damon what's wrong. Damon shook his head and shifted his gaze to Elena. Ric knew that something went wrong in the sibling bonding after his call with Damon.

Ric decided to break down the silence between the three of them standing motionlessly. "I don't know what happened, but I need to apologize to you two for my part of screwing thing up." He blurted out. Both Damon and Elena's eyes were on Ric. Ric shifted his gaze towards Elena. "I drank even after you told me to keep it low key. Worst of all I didn't show up to pick Jeremy up. I know I'll suck being a guardian, but I just want a chance to live up to Grayson's expectations. So I'm really, really sorry. And Damon…" He now looked at his best friend, "I am sorry for lashing out on you, when you were doing my job. So thank you and sorry." He let out his breath and watched them nervously.

"It's okay man. Alcohol can do shitty things to even Einstein's brain and the last time I checked your brain is not that bright." Damon smirked and wiggled his eyebrows eliciting an eye roll from Ric and a slight giggle from Elena. Both the men's attention was now on her. She knew what she had to say.

"Ric it's not my place to give you a chance, but I forgive you for breaking the deal. You haven't failed anyone, not yet. Though I expect you to not drink too much in front of Jeremy. He is in a pretty rebellion stage and lashes out whenever we try to explain something. Oh, and I wanted to apologize from his side for that crappy mail. His girlfriend and I tried to tell him that it was wrong, but he is now all grumpy." Elena said with a disappointed smile.

"So now I get what this is about." Ric looked down and exhaled.

"Don't worry he'll come around. Been there done that. The outcome wasn't pleasant, but family and friends helped me. As far as I can see Jeremy is pretty descent, just a little short-tempered." Damon said to Elena. He saw Elena's eyes soften and she is a bit relaxed than before. Why did we have so much effect on each other?

Remembering his old day suddenly struck him with the news of his old friend that he forgot to tell Ric about. "Which also reminds me of something? You remember Klaus?" Damon asked Ric.

"Yeah, that funny, British guy, who calls you 'mate'."

"That's him. He's coming from Mystic Falls to see Stefan and to attend the Lieutenant wedding."

"Peter Lieutenant?" Elena recognized the name, which was mentioned by Caroline the day before.

"Yes, you know him?" Damon asked a bit surprisingly. It was quite unlikely for a person like her to know a family of snobs.

"Not exactly. However Caroline is the wedding organizer, so I may heard the name once or twice." Elena said with a shrug. The way Damon behaves around them kind of makes her forget that he's one hell of a rich guy that is likely to know his way around the big political and business society.

"Well good for Caroline." Damon had the smirk plastered and locked stares with Elena. Even the smallest casual conversations were enough to lock them away from the outside world.

"Okay, I think we should check up on them." Ric said, pointing at the living room.

"You're right." Elena said and then left for the living room. Damon was about to follow her but Ric came in front of him and started wiggling his eyebrows. Damon frowned and mouthed 'What?' Ric had ridiculous smug on his face. He also mouthed 'Elena' to Damon. He let out an exasperated sigh, shook his head and made his way to living room.

Once he was there, he was again graced with the PDA he so much wants to avoid, and Elena standing shocked, with her lips forming an 'o'. What the hell just happened?

"So people, what do you want for…?" Ric's face was priceless. He looked like he was choking and the words just couldn't come out. The teenagers broke the kiss and looked at Ric and other 2 people. "Um…Lunch? What do you want for lunch?" Ric asked them. They were all silent, so Ric decided to speak up and get the hell out there. "How about Thai food?"

"Works for me. How about you?" Jeremy asked Anna

Anna nodded at Ric. He shifted his to attention to the disarray couple. Elena forced a smile and nodded. Ric practically ran out of the room. It's not like that he haven't seen anything like this before, however seeing your godson sucking faces is a lot awkward than he thought. Oh my god! What will I do for the next few weeks?

Elena was still in a bit of shock. One moment her little brother was angry bird and in the next he was kissing his girlfriend like they didn't fight to begin with. "I need some air." She had seen way more PDA than she was accustomed to and overall it was her brother. Ew.

Damon was contemplating whether to go after Elena or his buddy. He finally decided to go out for the tensed brunette. She was looking down to the busy New York roads from the balcony. Damon silently approached from behind.

"No offense but your brother is clearly whipped."

"Yep. Clearly someone whom he just met not 5 months ago has more influence on him than his sister who would give up anything to see him happy." Elena started shaking her head.

"Well five months is more than enough for a person to get completely caught up in a love web. Especially for teenagers who discovered their second mind." He concluded, but the last part was unbeknownst to Elena.

"I just don't get it. How can she suddenly change his mood so quickly? I was thinking of throwing a party for his mood swing."

"There are some things which only your girlfriend, wife, very attractive women or the women you're in love with can do."

"What might that be?" She turned towards Damon with a questioning look.

"Seduction." Damon stated and wriggled his eyebrow. Elena immediately started chuckling.

"How did I not figure this out?"

"Can't blame you, women usually doesn't figure it out." They continued chuckling for a while then it slowly subsided.

"I think I'm overreacting. I am acting like a jealous maniac. Right?"

"No. You're acting like a human." That brought a genuine smile on her face. "I think I should go check on Ric. God knows what he is doing. Are you okay up here?" Damon asked Elena and laid his hand on the small of her back. Elena looked up to see the deep sea of blue and then nodded. Damon began to walk away towards his buddy in the kitchen.

Ric's head dropped in his hand. He was worried about handling Jeremy, seeing he was mutinous. He didn't want to fall back from his responsibility. He knew this wasn't easy, but he also knew that he loved that kid. He wasn't that concerned about this whole thing until he met Jeremy. Why can't he just remain like the cute little innocent 8-year-old boy?

"Oh my god, Ric!" Damon mocked a gasp. "You're aging."

"Thanks Damon. You do know how to make me feel amazing." Ric said sarcastically with almost poker face. His eyebrows started knit together. Oh boy. He's getting angry. "I am freaking worrying my mind off and yet you find some joke about my aging!" He hissed.

"Gee Ric! Calm down. Why are you treating it like a life-crucial assignment?" He asked.

"Because it is." Ric exclaimed.

"No it's not. You don't need to worry too much. You can't look after every step he takes. He will make mistakes. Mistakes that would teach him lessons of life. So stop obsessing!" He said exasperatedly.

"But…"

"Look, he is young and rebellious, so if you judge him or try to mend him, it will only get worse. All you can do is giving him shoulder for support so that he doesn't have to look for drugs to lean on. Every drug addict has a reason behind his or her act. Don't let yourself be the reason. If he involves with the wrong crowd, you have nothing to do. But flow with him. He would be a lot snappy and may act like a complete dick to you. Just through everything remind him that there are people who love him. People who would do anything to see him happy and living his life to the fullest. And as for the worse, there is no one to blame but him. Neither you nor Elena is to be blamed. Trust me Ric; I've been through all of this. That moment of my life still has an affect on me. It changes my ability to do things and make decision." Damon completely spaced to the world he used to live when he was young and stupid.

"Like your ability of not falling in love again?" Damon looked up at Ric.

He nodded his head. "Was this the only thing you've figured in my speech of five minutes?"

"That was easier to process."

"What's there to process?"

"The fact that my buddy suddenly turned into a teenpedia." He let out a chuckle and Damon shakes his head with a smile playing along. When the mood swings back. Ric had to ask him a question. "Damon, you know that you can't stay like a widow forever. You have to move on. I've been heart broken thrice, but that didn't take away my belief in love."

"It's not in me anymore Ric. After Katherine and all this drama, I got hooked up with my dad in his work and college. I even married one of my friends for business. I was ready to start a normal life with her, if not by love, but by friendship. Then she was also gone. I am not sure when my heart would be ready to fall for someone." The doorbell rang. "That must be the food. I'll go get it." Damon wanted to escape from this conversation as fast as possible.

"Hey Damon?" Ric called after him and he stopped. "If you ever get that feeling of love don't fight it embrace it." What could he possibly mean?

"Come aboard! Food is served." Ric called out.

"Ric you might be older than us, but we're grown up." Damon said with his usual smirk. His smirk turned into a smile as he saw Elena approaching. Seeing him smile made Elena slightly smile too. Ric was intently watching them. He knew his best friend was already fond of Elena even after knowing her one-day. Something that Damon usually never does. The chemistry and tension was undeniably fascinating. They all sat around the dining table.

Jeremy slowly strolled inside with Anna by his side. Jeremy cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Elena, I'm sorry for acting the way I did. I know you were only looking out for my behavior and me. Ric I'm sorry for sending you an email like that, it was completely reckless. I'm sorry to both of you."

"It's okay Jer. I didn't mind at all. I'm glad that you warned me out. I've got new headphones." Ric said plastering the 'cool uncle mood' mask, when just beyond was the nervous fellow.

"Ric!" Elena cried out.

"Guilty." Ric put his hand up in the air.

"Its okay, Jer. Just don't make anyone uncomfortable with whatever you two want to do." Everyone's eyes fell on Elena. Shocked at her words. "What I'm not that prune?" With that everyone started laughing. This was how their lunchtime went on.

In the living room

"You know, when we were kids, Ric was once left to baby-sit us. Jeremy was a really stubborn toddler who wasn't keen about food. So Ric tried so hard to make him eat and at one point when the spoon got too closer to his mouth for his taste, he threw the spoon and the bowl all over Ric's face." Elena was telling their childhood memories and giggled along with the rest of them. That sight alone made Damon giddy and happy inside. He never felt his heart swell up with butterflies in very long time.

"You should've captured his face on camera so I could've seen it and annoy him.''

"Don't worry Jeremy. I'm pretty sure you and I will be a great team at annoying the hell out of him." Damon said with a devilish smirk. Ric was glaring dagger at him. His eyes later were on Anna. She barely spoke, except for the time in Elena's house. She either laughs, smiles or shyly nods.

"Hey Anna. What are your interests in?" Damon asked.

"I love travelling around the country and know about their culture." Anna said maintaining the cool and calm composure she seems to wear.

"You've got a traveler here pal." He clapped Jeremy's back. "So how many places have you been at?"

"None so far. I've only travelled 6 states in US. I want to start my expedition after graduating college and learn about every country on my list." Anna said smiling.

"That's very ambitious of you. I hope it won't fade away by the time you graduate college."

"It probably won't. I'm graduating in the end of next year in NYU. I transferred here from University of Virginia."

"Okay I think I want to go to our room. Ric will you show us our room.'' Jeremy interjected as soon as that peculiar information got out of her mouth.

"Um…sure." Ric stood up and followed them leaving Damon and Elena alone.

"I didn't know my brother has a taste for older women, who goes to college while he is in high school. Perfect example of family brat in people's eyes." Elena huffed.

"What about you? How do you think of it, without the influence of others?" Damon asked staring deep inside her soul.

"I love my brother and I trust him enough for him to make his own decision. My only concern is his heartbreak. What will happen when Anna graduates and leave to god knows where? He will still be a high school student. Let's say he even leaves the school to go with her and abandon his dreams. What happens when later he regrets it?"

"You stay with him. Provide him the support he needs. Moreover if Anna loves him she won't let this happen. Although it might make her look like a bitch by seeing Jer." Elena smiled a bit.

"What are you? A man of advices?"

"No. Just a man who experienced some… moments, which he shares with certain type of people." Elena was staring deep into his eyes. Her eyes were twinkling with desire to know this amazing man. Just then her phone buzzed. She glanced at the message that was sent to her by Liam. Noticing the frown in her forehead he decided to speak. "Who is it? Is everything okay?"

"It's my boyfriend." Damon was very disappointed about it. His disappointment didn't go unseen. "Or should I say ex-boyfriend."

Damon's eyes lit up. But he was curious to know what made them split up. "What happened? I mean why did you split up?"

"He is just not perfect for me. He didn't know what I really wanted in life. Hell, even I don't know. It was like something was missing between us. Even after these missing parts, I thought that maybe we could grow close enough in the future, but we just drifted. The worst part is that he dumped my ass before I could, because of my parent's death. My emotions were all over the place after the incident. I snapped very easily at everyone. Instead of comforting me like Caroline, he left by saying, 'I can't do this anymore.'"

"Sounds like a douche bag."

"Believe me, he is."

"So you were telling, you didn't know what you wanted for life. Is it true?"

"Is it too unbelievable?"

"Kind of is. You want what everyone wants. Some can have that some cannot, depend on how they want it. Or how they properly find it."

"Indulge me then."

"You want love that consumes you. You want passion and adventure. Even a little danger." During this entire conversation, never once did their eyes fell away from each other.

"Is that what you want too?"

"It's what everybody wants. But I don't know if I can. I don't know if I'll ever find that. Damn, I don't know if I want to find it."

"Why is that?" She was curious to know how a man as beautiful and thoughtful can run away from love. Then it dawned to her. Heartbreak.

"I guess I just had enough of it. Didn't quiet end well. So I don't think if I'll ever fall for someone." There was a long pause between them.

"You wanna talk about it?" Elena asked him. She could see the hesitation in his eyes. "You don't have to if you don't want to. It just sometimes helps."

"I will tell you one day, but not today." Elena nodded with an understanding smile. "What made you're ex boyfriend's text you, may I ask?"

"He fucking asked me to be his date for the teacher's prom."

To: Elena

From: Liam

Hey Elena. I've been wondering if you still want to go with me to the teacher's prom. Remember, we were supposed to go together before everything. I know for sure you didn't find a date, so for the sake of standards, hit me up.

"Do you want to go with him?" Damon asked her.

"Yeah. I want to go with him when hell freezes and bents down on earth. He freaking dumped me remember. I do have some prestige." Damon was chuckling at her outburst. Seriously she is something. "But I do need a date."

"I'm pretty sure there are few people still available to be your date." Like me.

"Nope everyone is already taken. I guess I'll just have to ask Ric." Her eyes met his. Then she realized something and looked at him evilly. "Maybe I can take a hot date and rub it in Liam's face."

"Who might that lucky guy be?" Elena was eyeing him with a smile. He understood and was doing a happy dance inside. "Me?"

"Only if you want." She was shining her bambi eyes.

"Now how can I deny such tempting offer?" he grinned. Elena caught him by surprise by throwing her arms around his neck.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I owe you big." Ric, clearing his throat, interrupted their embrace.

"Well Jeremy jumped in the bed as soon as he found it. I just showed and explained everything to Anna in case they need anything. So I just wanted to ask whether you guys are staying.''

"I think I should go check out Stefan. I haven't seen him since yesterday." Ric nodded then looked at Elena questionably.

"I think I should stay home today. I didn't quite tell Caroline anything and my clothes are all at home. I'll come tomorrow."

She and Damon both turned around to leave. Elena was ahead and Damon was following right behind her. He was then distracted by the smug on Alaric's face. "What?" he asks.

"Nothing." Not saying anything he just stood there.

Once he reached downstairs to his car. He could see Elena standing by her car.

"Hey Damon?"

"Yes?"

"You know, we never talked about the fact that we kissed."

"Well I thought you might not be comfortable with talking about it. I mean you were caught up in the moment right?"

"Right and wrong." He gave her a questioning look. "I mean yes I was a bit emotional at that point and out of place, but it's not like I regret it. I like you Damon. We have a weird type of understanding between us. It's like I've known you for quite a long time, although I just met you yesterday. You understand me and comfort me in a way no one has. So when you were trying to calm me down, I didn't know what happened inside me. All I felt was the sudden urge to kiss you. Now you can think whether I was caught up in the moment or not. But I do want to ask. Do you regret it?"

Damon could feel himself in the air, in a good way. She likes me. She freaking likes me! And does not regret the kiss. Damon had a ridiculous smug on his face. Then her question entered his mind. Do I regret it? Hell no!

"No I don't regret it. Thank you for telling me. Just so do you know, I like you too." His protective and insecure side kicked it. He didn't want to go in that direction. Then Ric's voice echoed. Don't fight it. He stared at Elena. She was breathing heavily, obviously nervous.

"Damon do you mind if we remain friends for a while so that we can get to know each other. This understanding that we have, I want to get to know it more. I hope you understand." She let out.

"The feeling is mutual. I also want to know more about you, Elena Gilbert." They were standing smiling like two idiots. Then Elena stepped closer and planted a soft kiss on his cheeks.

"See you tomorrow." She made her way to her car and drove off. Damon was staring at her car departing, before making his way back home to his brother.

Damon arrived at his penthouse shortly. He was again whistling and entered his house sober. He made his way to Stefan's room. He grabbed the chair and sat next to the bed. He took hold of his little brother's hand and recited as if he was his own personal journal.

"Hey Stef. You know your brother wasn't drunk for two days. You want to know why? Because I just met an amazing woman, who keeps me occupied. When I'm with her I completely forget everything that I've been trying to forget for the past two years. She keeps me occupied and I love how I feel when I'm with her. Also Ric is now a parental figure. And the boy whom he looks after, his name is Jeremy; he reminds me of how rebellious I was. Only he is a lot better than I was and doesn't have a bitch of a girlfriend hopefully. I don't think he can ever be in that position. Why? Because that amazing woman who is willing to do anything for his wellbeing. That woman is his sister, Elena. I can't wait for you to meet them."

Please review how you feel about it. I'm sorry it took me a little while to write it. The next chapter would show a flashback of Damon and Stefan. Their bromance makes my heart flutter sometimes. Screw that, all the time. Next chapter I will try to bring Caroline and Klaus together. Don't be mad if I can't. The title of the chapter is from 'Broken' by Leona Lewis. This song is pretty amazing. All thanks to my friend who insisted me to hear this song. Thank you for reading. Hold on tight for the next chapter.