N: So, here is the next chapter, hope you'll enjoy it.

As always, thank you Dez2sweet for checking this so fast!

Falling

When Elena woke up the room was still sealed in the dark. She took a quick peek at the child sleeping next to her and smiled satisfied when she saw that Anna was still deeply asleep. Careful, not to wake the child, Elena slipped out of bed. She stretched her hands and back as much as she was able to. Her joints were hurting because she had spent too much time in the same position, but it didn't matter as long as Anna managed to get some sleep. Her joints and muscles will be fine after a long shower, a run, and some breakfast; not necessarily in that order.

She looked at Damon who was still asleep in the armchair. His head was tilted aside and Elena was sure that the position could not be a very comfortable one. It looked like his head was resting on his shoulder. Just thinking he must've been in that position for hours gave Elena a painful pain in her neck. Despite the uncomfortable sleep-position, he looked relaxed. His chest was going up and down in a calm rhythm. Even in his sleep, his beauty made Elena's heart beat irregularly. She cared for him, her heart ached for him and Elena realized that no matter how much time she spent telling herself that she was there just on a professional mission as a reporter in need of a story, the truth was she was there for Damon more than anything else.

His shirt was not buttoned all the way and she could see his chest and abs. She tried, but couldn't tear her eyes away. Deep inside her there was a desire to touch him and be touched by him; to hold him close and explore every groove and every muscle of his body. Elena knew without a doubt that if he would ever ask for his conjugal right, she would give herself to him without any hesitation.

His wife had been an evil bitch who only loved herself and broke his heart time and time again. Elena wanted to heal his heart, but was this the way to do it? He would probably end up hating her more than he hated Katherine because he would think the only reason she staid was for the story, to forward her career and rebuild her reputation. He will accuse her of using him and his daughter, but that would be a lie, she fell in love with his daughter from the moment the child gave Elena the first hug when she was still in pain after the operation.

Damon moved and let out a moan of pain as he brought his head uptight. His eyelids fluttered a few times before finally opening, fixated on Elena.

"Is your neck hurting?" she asked.

"A little. What time is it?"

"I don't really know, but I think it's pretty early." Elena stepped behind the chair and placed her hands on Damon's neck. At first she barely applied any pressure, but encouraged by his muffed moans, she pushed harder, slipping her hands further on his spine and back on his chest and shoulders.

After a few seconds of complete silence, Damon practically jumped from the chair and started buttoning his shirt like he was afraid Elena might eat him alive if he wouldn't.

"We should let her sleep, it's still early," Damon whispered and Elena nodded making her way out of the room.

"I'll make us some breakfast," she said.

"Coffee will do,"

"It's okay, I can cook you something. I don't mind." Elena knew that Pearl was not up yet. It was too early and besides, by now she was familiar enough with the kitchen to make some breakfast.

"Then I guess some eggs," he said taking a seat at the big table in the kitchen.

When Elena started whisking the eggs in a bowl, Damon stood up from the chair and walked towards her, "What are you doing?"

"I'm making scrambled eggs. F…for me," she went on since she realized she had no idea how he liked his eggs. "You can finish and I'll make a tomato salad and some toast."

She watched Damon in the corner of her eyes as he fried two eggs for himself. He slid them into a plate, grabbed her scrambled eggs and placed them on the table. By this time Elena was done with the salad. She took the slices of bread as they just popped from the toaster, buttered them and brought them to the table.

"It's been forever since we had breakfast together," Elena said as they started eating. The silence felt uncomfortable for her especially when Damon was around. She always had this fear that every time he was silent he was analysing her. One day, she thought he would point a finger at her and yell: 'you are not my wife? Who are you?'

"We never had breakfast Katherine, you don't eat breakfast," he spat.

"Well since they made me have it in the hospital, I got used to it," she said simply but she could see it on his face, he wasn't buying it.

Elena could tell by his automatic moves that he was angry. Lately whatever she said or did seemed to make him angry. She felt like she had no way out.

"You want some juice?" she asked as she poured herself a glass. Swallowing anything solid at this point was too much for Elena so she decided some orange juice might help her with that.

"Save yourself the trouble Katherine."

"What trouble?"

"This." he paused. "All of this, making me breakfast. All this gestures are nothing more but your machinations to warm your way back into my good graces."

"My machinations?"

"Domesticity isn't really your thing Katherine so stop, just stop! Cooking me breakfast, rubbing my neck, tucking my hair –"

"You seemed to enjoy it," Elena fired back.

"They don't mean a goddamn thing." He shrugged indifferent, but Elena could tell he was anything but indifferent.

"They do!"

"I can stomach the kisses and public displays of affection. If you want to make a fool out of yourself go ahead, but I'm not going to pretend we're a loving couple Katherine. None of this matter to me, none of it."

"It matter and you know it," she protested.

"Why would it matter? We both know it's all just a show. I must admit Katherine, your acting skills are impressive. Last light I almost believed you."

"You…" Elena stood up, pointing a finger at Damon. Now she was the one getting angry. How dare he call her a...what was he calling her anyway? A liar? She was one, but not in the way he was accusing her. "I was just as concerned about Anna as you were."

"Yes, sure," he mocked.

"You don't believe me?"

"Can you blame me? I fell for your act way too many times Katherine."

"It's not an act, I care," she shouted.

"Why?"

"Why? Because she is our child, Damon, that's why."

"So was the one you aborted! But that didn't stop you from killing it!"

The words went through her like a sword. She took a seat back on the chair because her knees were failing to support her. "What did you think that I would never find out?" he asked in a voice that gave Elena chills. "But to find out from a complete stranger that my wife was no longer pregnant. For God's sake, Katherine, you were barely alive, and all I wanted to do was kill you myself."

Now that he was talking about it, the memory came back to her. "What about the baby? Please I just want to know if the fetus survived," she distinguished Damon's voice. "Fetus? Your wife wasn't pregnant Mr. Salvatore."

Elena was horrified, now she understood why Damon hated his wife so much, why he was being so cold towards her. She understood everything.

"Didn't you think I would notice you won't be giving birth, Katherine? You so eagerly flaunt it in my face that you were pregnant, why didn't you tell me about the abortion as well?"

Elena just shook her head. She had no explanations and no excuses. She had nothing to give him.

"Answer me Katherine! I think it's about time we talked about this, don't you?"

"I…I didn't think it would matter that much," Elena whispered. "I know your policies on abortion Mr. Salvatore. You always talk about the women's right to choose. Or that applies to every woman in the state except your own wife?"

"Yes, damnit!"

"How hypocritical of you."

Elena kept telling herself that she was Katherine in his eyes so she had to answer the way Damon's wife would've.

Damon grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet and Elena admitted that in that moment, so close to her, he looked intimidating.

"Whatever I talk about in my campaigns applies to the larger public, not necessary onto my personal life. This abortion wasn't an issue, Katherine. It was my baby." He took a step back, letting her go. "Or was it"

"It takes two to make a baby, Damon."

"Oh I know. I still regret that night. I swore never to touch you again. But you came to me and you did always know what buttons to push. You were lucky, I had too much to drink otherwise it would've never happened." He made a grimace and Elena looked away because the disgusted way he was watching her was too much, she knew his words and hatred weren't really towards her, but she couldn't help it. "Was that your plan all along Katherine? Did you want to get pregnant and get an abortion just to hurt me? Or did you just want to prove that you can get me in your bed?"

"I –"

"It doesn't matter; I don't even hate you anymore. It takes too much energy to hate you and you don't deserve it Katherine. I don't care what you do anymore. You can take all the lover you want, sleep with whomever you want. I. Do. Not. Care. The only possible way you can hurt me is through Anna and I'd rather kill you before I let that happen," he placed his still full cup of coffee in the sink and got out, leaving Elena alone.

N: Please don't forget to leave me a review on your way out.