E, C and B's plane crashed. D&E are stranded on an island. E escapes to get to J, meets A&G. D&E reunite, A and E fall out. D&E bond. D&E take A who was hurt by K to G. E discovers shocking information about K.
Chapter 22: You're A Liar, Elena Gilbert
Elena's head pounded with Gloria's words, as if they were trying to pulverize her from the inside out. I mean, I knew in the back of my mind to not trust Katherine. She cursed herself for being stupid.
She finally understood why everyone loved to hate Katerina - sorry Katherine -so much.
Her knees weakened and Elena, with a gasp, pulled herself together just in time. Gloria reached to help her but Elena remembered something else.
'Hold on,' she began. 'You wanted me for something earlier on. I heard you, so don't even lie to me.'
Gloria stared shell-shocked.
'You knew I was a doppelganger. You were talking to Aaron about keeping me around for a while,' she spoke scrutinizing her face for lies and she got it. 'I want to know why.'
Gloria replied, 'We thought you had a psychic connection to Katerina. I looked inside your head and it worked very similar to Katerina's. It's just hers produces more evil because it is damaged beyond repair. Yours is still intact and functional and is mostly used to help others. Both however, take determination and ambition as fuel. Since there are so many neurological similarities, I wondered if I could perform a spell that can track her possible locations.'
Elena's mind cleared at 'track her possible locations'. She did worry, however, if Gloria peeked inside her head, she would know about her and Damon's escape plan.
'I don't think we do,' said Elena, improvising. 'If I did, I would know that she was Katerina as soon as I saw her.'
Nice save.
'Nevertheless, I think it is best if we check. Maybe you have memories you don't even know exist.'
She heaved a sigh. Crap.
'It's getting late today. Can you come back tomorrow? By then, I can talk to the other witches and get ready for the spell. This spell is going to be far more powerful than the one I did when we first met.'
Elena nervously glanced at Damon, who was surprisingly silent. She couldn't help but wonder if he was intimidated by Gloria. Was he like that around all witches? What was the story behind that?
'So can you do this for me, honey?'
Elena's brain worked overdrive to wheedle her way out of doing it. She drew a blank. Elena regretfully nodded.
'We'll be leaving now,' Damon spoke. He seemed oblivious to Elena's spiral of repentance. 'Thank you so much Gloria.'
'Are you going to take Aaron? He needs to rest that leg.' Gloria suggested, pointing at the still form.
'He won't have to walk. I'll take care of him, don't you worry Gloria,' assured Damon, flirtatiously. Elena was certain she caught a subtle look towards Aaron. She got the message but couldn't understand the reason. After standing perplexed for a moment, Elena decided to quietly obey. She didn't want any part in witch matters.
Softly, she woke Aaron from his apparent deep slumber. He blinked sleepily and smiled when he realized who it was. Elena worked on getting his leg into a plaster that Gloria got for him. She was astounded by the healing of the wound. It was a weird purple color already. Then she noticed something weirder: Damon was in a tight embrace Gloria. She wasn't returning the hug but Damon's lips moved hurriedly in a whisper. Gloria smirked and nodded knowingly. The situation turned more confusing as their whole demeanor changed to old friends rather than suspicious strangers. They even had huge smirks on their faces.
'What did you say to her?' Elena asked quietly, as soon as Gloria was standing out of earshot.
'Elena dear?'
She turned, groaning internally for losing the chance to get information out of Damon. 'Yes?'
'You don't have to come by tomorrow.'
What.
'Why not?'
Gloria shared a quick glance with Damon. 'Only be here if you 100% want to, okay? You can come back next week but just...' pregnant pause, 'be here when you're ready.'
What.
'Thanks,' Elena mumbled. She was internally rejoicing as Damon threw a smirk in Gloria's direction.
What did Damon say to change the plan?
As they step out into the darkness of the chilly night, Elena realized her dress was very short. She started shivering as she walked quietly beside Damon. He had already vampire-sped Aaron to his house and made sure he was tucked in. Elena was honestly taken aback by him. Not that she was complaining for the new and improved version - she appreciated the sudden change in his actions. She was curious however, to know his motivation. Was it revisiting Katherine (Katerina?) that did it? Or was it meeting Gloria?
Damon was walking quietly beside her. It was pleasant.
'Thank you for helping Aaron,' she acknowledged, softly. 'And helping me. I guess I...' she looked down and blushed, 'I can't thank you enough.'
Damon looked at her, mock surprise written all over her face. Then without a warning, he scooped her up and crushed her into him into one splendid hug. She reciprocated, loving the warmth from his body that sent away the chill enveloping her. Elena realized that she'd forgotten what she was going to ask him. His face was buried in her hair and she felt his breath moving the strands. She hugged him tighter than ever, his smell attacking her senses. Citrus and musk, the best combination.
They stayed like that for a long time, neither refusing to separate. Damon was the first to loosen his hold, but Elena did not move an inch. She slid down his body until her feet touched the ground. She buried her face in his chest, hoping this didn't make it weird.
He was really comfortable to rest on.
What?
'As much as I don't dislike this position,' Damon breathed cheekily, 'we have to go home Elena. I could take you to Aaron's place the faster way but I doubt you'd agree to it.'
At this, Elena looked up. 'What do you mean Aaron's place? I am not going there Damon. Just because we helped him, it doesn't grant us permission to live there.'
'Oh shut up!' he said. 'Don't be such a goody two-shoes. Let's go there and hideout until he kicks you out. You two lovebirds can make up in the morning.'
Elena narrowed her eyes at him. 'More like friend…birds.'
Another pause.
'Even you've gotta realize how lame that sounded.'
Elena smiled, amused.
'How much farther?'
'Two more miles.' He gently pulled her away from him. Elena didn't understand where the manners were coming from. A few days ago, he would gladly hug me until he's had his fill. He'd do a little more than hugging, if we're going to be truthful.
'No...' she moaned, burying her head back into his chest. Damon chuckled, a deep rumbling in his chest. 'I am very comfortable here, thank you very much.'
'Elena...' Damon gently pulled her away from his body. 'you are clearly tired and you need to sleep. How about you let me vamp-speed you to Aaron's place and I tell you what I told Gloria.'
Elena brightened up at that. 'Well what are looking at? Drive.'
'Last time I checked I am not a car.' Damon did the eye thing. 'I could be if you want to ride me?' He wiggled his eyebrows.
Elena forced herself to remain unaffected. 'Don't you flirt with me Salvatore.'
He smirked self-assuredly and began instructing her in a robotic voice. 'Resume hugging position. Hands around neck. No strangling please. Reminder to please leave the inappropriate thoughts to me.'
'I don't get inappropriate thoughts.' Elena mumbled very softly, more to assure herself than anyone.
'Legs around waist,' he ordered clinically. Elena tightened her legs around his waist so she wouldn't fall off and crack a skull. She hung on a little more tightly than necessary, mainly to feel his back. Damn it, being with Damon was always going to be inappropriate.
Out of nowhere, Damon moved his arms from her calves and inched them slowly up her thighs.
Elena shivered. She tightened her legs around his waist, trying to get more contact before realizing hastily what she had done. Damon chuckled.
'You're a liar, Elena Gilbert.'
About five seconds in, Elena felt the wind stop. Her hair was all over the place as she sported a massive bedhead. She opened her eyes to find Damon's eyes inches away from hers.
Am I ever going to get over them?
Damon's smirk turned wider. 'You can let go now Elena,' he spoke, his breath on her lips.
Elena didn't move. In fact, she couldn't move.
'Ok Gilbert, getting stuffy,' breathed Damon, while unwrapping her from his body. She placed her feet on the ground and finally let him go. Damon smirked at her until Elena punched him lightly on the shoulder, looking away to hide her face. He grabbed her hand and curled it around his elbow, before leading her to the house.
As the gate creaked open, Elena prayed that Aaron was in deep sleep. Her hand was still in Damon's as he pulled her towards the main door. It was locked.
'Do you have the keys?' he asked Elena in a low voice.
She shook her head.
'Don't even think about it Damon,' said Elena as Damon's eyes fixated on the door. She knew that he knew that she knew what he was thinking. She gave him the best dont-you-dare look she could. Please don't break the door, please don't break the door, please don't bre-
'Fine. This way.' She followed him around the house and for the first time, Elena viewed the house properly. There was a garden bathed in soft white light from a lamp pole nearby. She watched as Damon looked around the serene garden and pulled a wooden ladder out of nowhere. He placed it on the wall and looked expectantly at Elena.
'Come on, you first.'
Elena looked at him incredulously.
'Are you serious? I already a climbed a fifty foot tree out of sheer pride, I'm not reliving that very experience, thanks.'
As she began to walk away, a pair of hands grabbed her waist, spun her around and lifted her off her feet. The next thing she saw was Damon's behind as he pulled her over her shoulder. He hauled her to the ladder.
'Let me go Damon!' she shrieked, trying to sound pissed off and commanding. She failed.
'No, Elena,' he replied. 'You know the drill: your feet are not going to hit Mother Earth unless we do this my way. Or would you rather we break down the front door. I'm sure your buddy Aaron would really appreciate that.'
Elena chose to ignore him. 'I am not climbing the ladder, Damon.'
She felt his hands grab her legs and flip her the right way up. Feeling vertigo, Elena scrunched her eyes tightly to restore balance. She opened her eyes, only to be a few inches away from Damon's face. She was a bit too close but she didn't find it in herself to pull away. Like before, she was very comfortable where she was.
His blue eyes - bigger than ever - stared right at her.
'For future reference,' he changed tack completely, 'I would have caught you back then if you fell climbing that tree Elena,' he spoke softly, hand buried in her hair. 'Important part is: you didn't. You almost died of exhaustion and you complained and you hated me, but you didn't fall. I hate to quote Kelly Clarkson but it made you stronger.'
Elena's eyes watered. It was probably since she didn't blink during his entire speech. Yeah, that's it. It was absolutely not related to the fact that he arguably said the sweetest thing to me since we first met.
Elena closed her eyes, focusing her willpower on the task ahead. She turned to face the ladder.
Here we go.
Grabbing one side, she hoisted herself up and placed one foot after another with as firm grip as she could muster. Her hands were sweaty from fear and inappropriate thoughts. Her mind was running on adrenaline. For some reason, Elena realized she was more reckless than ever. What she didn't know was if it was because of the climb or Damon. Damon and his soft side that he only showed to Elena.
Did he really mean that? Would he really catch me if I fall?
Elena looked down. It was a decent height from where she was. Not enough to kill her probably but enough to fracture her skull or break most of her bones.
Awesome.
Damon was just a few centimeters away from her shoes. Closing her eyes, cursing her curiosity and praying to God that her plan worked, she lifted her leg on the next rung and let go of the ladder.
Immediately, one hand grabbed her waist and pressed her to him. Her legs were right up against his. His breath tickled her no-longer-jacket-clad back since it got lifted up on her fall down. Elena pulled away unconsciously but relaxed immediately. Damon, all the while, attempted to help her regain balance.
'Careful.'
Smiling, Elena grabbed the ladder once again and resumed climbing. Climbing the fastest she's ever climbed - her adrenaline fueling her movements - she reached for the iron fence bordering the balcony.
An orange glow from the single lamp in the bedroom spilled outside. Elena heaved herself over. Pushing herself to the other side, she turned around and helped Damon up. Even though she knew he didn't need it.
After they regained their footing, Elena stared at Damon unabashedly. It wasn't a conscious decision, she didn't plan for it to happen - it's almost like it was meant to regardless. She stepped closer to Damon.
Closing her eyes lightly, tentatively and pressed her lips to his.
Even though her hands instantly grabbed his shoulders (was it subconsciously?), his lips froze in shock. But Elena didn't move. She pulled away after she'd had her fill, not caring that he didn't kiss her back. She wanted to do it. So she took control. She went after what she wanted for the first time in her non-academic life. Damon drove her crazy most of the time but watching him grow as a decent person was almost worth it. If Elena dared to believe it, she might even take responsibility for this change.
Also, he deserved to know how happy he makes me. He sticks around and is there for me when no one else is. I don't care what my logical side thinks right now. The logical side couldn't provide what Damon did.
Hope.
Elena peered from underneath her eyelashes, smiling, hoping that he wouldn't embarrass her. He looked more confused and full of questions. Elena grinned. Now he gets what it feels like to be me.
Realizing Damon hadn't said or done anything and that she'd made a horrible mistake, she slowly pulled away from him.
Damon wasn't having it. Fast as lightning, he dug his fingers into her dress and yanked her forwards, securing her to him and knocking her out of breath. She was in air by the sheer pressure of his hand. She looked down and searched his eyes while hazing over with heavy lust as she looked at a man for the first time in her life, in a way she had no other.
Damon slowly let go of Elena and she slid down, feeling what felt like every particle of him.
As she landed on her feet, she didn't take her eyes off of his misty-blue eyes. His citrusy-lavender musk was stronger than ever and Elena wanted nothing more than to taste him.
Wait, what?
Damon kissed her.
I have been waiting for this moment for a little over a year...
6x07: I cannot. My brain fried, my eyes watered, my heart was full and I just... #DelenaRainKiss. I loved all aspects of the Delena dance scene with Cary Brothers' Belong playing in the background. Fun TDaH fact: it was my first story ever writing that 4x23 scene in Damon's perspective. It's in my account - you can read it.
Tell me ALL your feelings. Note: I can't help you with them because the magnificence of this ship is too overwhelming for anyone (me).
Another thing: last Saturday, this hashtag: #AllDayDelenaVotingParty was trending worldwide on Twitter. The fact that our fandom can come together to celebrate such an all consuming and powerful and against-all-odds love and join forces to make them win a PCA for the second year in a row, is worth noting. GO VOTE FOR THEM NOW AND GET THE APP
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