Okay, I feel like things went a little quick in this chapter, but the sweetness should make up for any rushed feelings. I'm dying to get to the good part, so sorry if anything seems hurried! Also, in this version, we are going to assume Katherine had been there a while, both of the brothers were already in love with her, and she'd been fooling with both, because in the show, Stefan confesses his love after the ball. In my story, that's already happened.

The next few days passed, and Katherine didn't instagate anymore one on one visits with Elena. Thankfully. And it almost seems as though she was indeed using Elena to occupy Damon. The thought bothered Elena, but she was having so much fun with Damon, that even Katherine's constant flaunting of Stefan barely bothered her. Damon had taken her to the library, and he was right, she had enjoyed it, though they didn't stay long. They'd been horse-back riding a few more times and Elena had even mastered sidesaddle, though she prefered the normal way. Damon had introduced her to most of the founding families, along with other friends of the Salvatores, taught her how to play the fairly new game of football, and had even taken her to a miniture circus that had rolled into town. She wasn't even as concerned about getting back to the 21st century as she'd been the previous week. She missed everyone, but life here, minus Katherine, was so much more simple. And Damon was simply amazing. She couldn't believe that he'd lost himself so much over the years that he'd lost all this in him as well. She'd seen glimpses of it, when he was saving her, talking about the past, or helping Stefan, and even on rare occasion, when he was just fooling around, but never had he been this sweet and open, this carefree and...happy. Even Katherine didn't seem to bother him quite as much. And she seemed quite content ignoring everyone but Stefan, despite the threats she'd made to Elena. And Elena had to say that she was happy too.

Soon the days turned into weeks, those weeks into a month, and Elena was still content, though part of her was constantly wondering at Katherine's plan, however, she was keeping occupied enough. Unfortunately the fall came calling with orders for Damon to return to his position in the war. Elena knew he wasn't destined to die there, but she didn't want him to leave, she spent most of her time with him, and she cared about him deeply. It would be so sad to see him leave, and lonely while he was gone. However, Damon took matters into his own hands, deciding to ignore the orders, and not return to battle. Perhaps it was then that Elena realized she might be getting in too deep.

"You're staying?" She asked, trying not so sound too excited.

"They'll be fine without me, besides I was simply having to much fun to return to battle!"

"Your commitment to the Confederacy is inspiring," She giggled, as he pulled her into a hug. (A/N: I know this was his and Stefan's conversation, but I made some minor changes. Sorry!)

"I know, but I couldn't leave, not knowing that you'd be left here alone..." He pulled back to study her face.

Elena knew she was treading dangerous waters. "Damon...I..I would have missed you. But I shouldn't be the reason you stay." She told him, trying to be firm, yet honest.

"Then let me be selfish Elena, I want to stay, I want to stay with you."

And for that she could only nod. What am I doing, she wondered, not for the first time. Honestly, I want him to stay, to be selfish, and never leave me, she admitted, but I shouldn't want that. I shouldn't want Damon to care about me like that, and I shouldn't be having these feelings for him. But sighing, she knew it was too late. Damon, past and future, had wormed his way into her heart.

A week later was the Founder's Ball, Katherine of course, asked Stefan to escort her, but Damon was beyond caring. He knew he wanted to go with Elena. She knew how to be loose and have fun. Katherine just wanted to play her own game. He still felt something for the beautiful creature, but it was beginning to dim next to what he was feeling for her sweet mirror image. He found the object of his desire writing in the sun room. She'd taken up writing a journal, something he knew Stefan also did, personally he didn't see the appeal, but it was just part of who they were, so he shrugged it off. Elena noticed him enter the room, and smiled up at him. He smiled back, loving that he was now able to tell the two women apart. He had bought Elena some dresses of her own and her style was completely different than Katherine's. And the air she held herself with was, while still self assured, less arogant.

"Damon," She greeted him, closing her journal.

"Elena, he crouched in front of her chair, to be level with her face. "Take a walk with me?"

She nodded, and he stood, taking her hand.

He lead her outside, through the gardens, having decided to ask her there.

"It's such a beautiful day!" She mused, turning her face toward the heavens as the wind played with her hair.

"It dims in comparison." He smiled at her, and she blushed.

"That's called flirting Mr. Salvatore." Elena repremended him.

He laughed, "Oh I know. But it's true none the less."

Blushing she answered, "Well then thank you sir." She teased in a formal tone.

"My pleasure miss." He teased back, causing her to giggle lightly. "It would also be my pleasure to escort you to the Founder's Ball on friday. If you'll have me, that is."

Elena smiled, "There's no one else I'd rather go with," she told him honestly.

She could have sworn his smile lit up the already bright day.

And before she could wrap her head around what was happening, Damon had taken her face into his hands, and stared into her eyes before slowly leaning in. He's giving me time to pull away, Elena realized. At the same time, she realized she didn't want to, so tilting forward, she closed the distance between them, and their lips finally connected. It was a soft kiss, light as a feather, and ended much to quickly. It was sweet, and she couldn't help but smile up at this wonderful man.

"Thank you, Elena..."

"My pleasure."

The two then continued on their walk, simply enjoying each other's company. A nagging bit in the back of Elena's mind wanted her to feel guilty for giving up on her and Stefan, for ignoring what she new about future Damon, and for possibly changing the entire future, but at the moment she couldn't care. For once, she wasn't worried about dying, her life wasn't full of drama, and her stomache still felt butterflies from that kiss. Everything else would still be there to worry about later, so for now, she was just going with it, as if she actually belonged in this time, and let herself be happy.