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It's safe to say that it was well past lunch by the time Elena and Damon returned. And Elena had to admit that she had thouroughly enjoyed herself. Damon was so much fun, and much more carefree than his future self. Though the slightly worn dress was even more so now, it had been entirely worth it.

"But we caught all of them, just in time for the gate to fall again, letting every single one loose again!" Damon was saying.

"That's horrible! After all that work too!" Elena shook her head laughing.

"We didn't mind too much. Heck, there was nothing else for a couple of rowdy boys to do anyway."

They continued their light conversation all the way up to the stables, where they unhinged the horses of their gear and Damon went to get the water bucket, used for cleaning them.

"If you wish to go get cleaned before supper, I can handle this." He told her, coming back with a giant sponge and the bucket.

"I doubt I could eat anything else after that chicken we had in town!" Elena admitted. "But I'm sure we're both thirsty. I'll go get you a drink."

He smiled. "I'd really apreciate it."

And with that she was off. Damon had to smile again. For a girl who looked so much like Katherine, Elena was nothing like her. Elena was kind and understanding, she put others first, but had her opinions too. It shocked him to remember, that after that first talk with Elena by the lake, he'd barely thought of Katherine all day. Shaking his head, he removed his riding gloves, overshirt, and let his suspenders fall off his shoulders. Then he picked up the sponge and began to clean off the sweating animal in front of him.

Elena returned shortly. "I hope lemonade is okay, because that's all the cook would give me." She smiled, rounding the corner into the stables.

"Yeah, that's great!" He said, taking a glass from her and nearly downing it.

"Slow down." She laughed, and he just winked at her before finishing off the glass.

He sat it down next to them, and walked back over to finish up the horse. Elena had to admit that he looked good. He'd taken off the upper top layer of his clothes, and seeing him in riding britches, and a white cotton shirt that clung to his skin, was almost better than him not wearing anything...almost. She shook her head. I can not think about Damon like that, she scolded herself. I love his brother. In the future. Nothing in this time period should matter to me. Especially not this beautiful man in front of me. And Damon was beautiful. He always had been. The difference was, in the future, he used his looks to manipulate. So they annoyed her. But now, it was almost as though he didn't know he was good looking, which made him more potnent.

Again, she pushed away such thoughts.

They finished up in the stables before deciding to go inside and prepare for dinner. Maria filled a tub up with warm water for her, and she had to admit that a shower would have been much more refreshing, but she wasn't going to complain. It felt good to get the dirt and sweat off of her anyway.

Dinner was as pleasant as ever. Damon told Mr. Salvatore of their "in town" adventures, and the different places he'd taken her that day. Stefan listened with polite interest, but Elena noticed Katherine's face more than his. She was a good actress, but Elena knew there was something brewing behind every look the older Petrova shot at her.

Mr. Salvatore dismissed himself soon after and Damon offered to escort Elena to her room.

"Sure, thank you."

He smiled, and took her arm.

"I think my father likes you." He told her as they headed up the stairs.

"And why's that?" She asked.

"He smiles when you speak to him. He enjoys your company...as do I," he added shyly.

A shy Damon was another thing she was growing use to.

"I enjoyed today as well Damon. Thank you, it was very enlightening." And it had been. Seeing Mystic Falls in the 1800's was quite a treat, and she had rather liked it.

"Tomorrow father is getting Stefan and I to accompany him to town, but perhaps the day after, you'd allow me to escort you to the library? I know you'd love it. It's more than books too, there is music and arts, records, history. Wont you come?"

She nodded with a smile. "It sound's wonderful Damon."

"It is!" He insisted, grinning now.

"Well, goodnight Elena, I shall see you at breakfast."

"Goodnight." Once more, he kissed her hand before she retired to her room, her thoughts spinning.

Katherine watched the whole scene play out from the top of the stairs. And she can't say she liked what she saw. Yes, maybe she'd been spending a lot of time with Stefan, but Damon had to know that it didn't mean he could try and replace her, no she needed to reign him back in a little tighter.

"Damon," she called.

He spun around quickly. "Katherine." Looking once more at Elena's door, he turned and walked over to her.

She smirked at him, placing her hand on his neck and running it down his shoulder, "There you are."

"...Yeah."

"You've been gone all day," she pouted slightly.

"Yeah, I just took Elena into town, show her around and all."

"I know, but I missed you...did you miss me?"

She noticed the hesitation before he nodded.

"So," she moved her hand up to cup his face, and he looked at her with those beautiful blue eyes.

"Why don't you stay with me tonight? Today was a bore, I need some entertainment."

He took her hand off his face, but didn't let it go.

"Not tonight Katherine, I'm rather tired."

"But Damon..." She tried to hide her shock. Damon never refused her, ever.

"I'm sorry, Katherine, perhaps Stefan can help you." He kissed her hand before beginning to walk down the hall toward his room.

Elena had just finished changing into her night gown when a knock pounded at the door.

She opened it, shocked when Katherine stormed in.

"What are you playing at?" She demanded.

"What are you talking about?" Elena shot back.

"I told you to stay out of this, to leave them be."Katherine reminded her.

Elena figured she must be refering to Damon, as she had barely muttered two words to Stefan since arriving.

"And I told you, I'm not getting in to anything, or looking to mess anything up. Damon asked me to spend time with him, and I agreed, simple as that."

"So there is no reason at all he's giving me the cold shoulder now?" She asked, annoyed.

Elena couldn't help but feel a little impressed with Damon. Perhaps he was finally shaking Katherine off. According to the story, Mr. Salvatore has been putting vervain in the boys food, so Damon couldn't be compelled.

"I don't know Katherine." Elena told her. "Maybe he's just tired of you prefering Stefan to him. Your'e using them, and it isn't right."

"What I do with them isn't your business. And I'm sure you've wasted no time, telling Damon he deserves better."

Elena shrugged, "I have told him my thoughts, nothing more."

Katherine moved then, standing directly in front of Elena. "Just remember, little girl, I can kill you before you get a good scream out. You do not want to mess with me. You'll do well to remember that I am your only key home."

Elena nodded. "I'm not here to threaten you, Katherine. Besides, it's Stefan that you really want, even in the future, why does what I tell Damon matter, you should be greatful that I'm keeping him off your back, so you can mess with Stefan to your hearts content."

Katherine sized her up. "You care about him don't you?"

"I've told you, I love Stefan, yes, but I'm not interested in trying to make hi-"

"No, Damon. You care about Damon." Katherine interupted her.

Elena thought for a moment. "Yes..." she said finally. "I do, even in the future. He's an ass, no he's more than that, he's a sarcastic, manwhoreing, jerk of an asshole, but he's not bad. He just doesn't deem hiself worthy. Yes, I care about him, even now, when he isn't difficult, it makes it easier to do so.

"The Damon you describe is nothing like my Damon." Katherine mused.

"He isn't." Elena agreed. "The Damon I'm describing, spent an enternity looking for you, trying to save you, only to find you've been free the entire time, checking up on Stefan. The Damon I described, is hurt and tortured, and feels as though he doesn't deserve love because he's bad. "Your Damon, hasn't had his heart shattered into a million pieces by the one person he loved most. Your Damon doesn't see the real you." She spit out at Katherine, getting a little pissed at how little Katherine cared for Damon's suffering.

"No, I suppose he hasn't," Katherine answered, slowly. "But isn't your Damon also being rejected by you?"

"I've been honest with him from the beginning. I can't change how he feels, but I'm not going to play with his emotions. Now can you please leave, I'm tired."

Katherine shrugged, heading for the door, but stopped one short of leaving.

"That's not a bad idea, Elena. Keeping Damon off my back so I can spend time with our beloved Stefan..."

Elena rolled her eyes and Katherine laughed before adding, "Now who's playing who?"