N: I know it's super short and not beta-ed, but I wanted to give you guys the chapter before next year. It's a crazy time with the holydays, so I didn't bother my girls with it. hope it's not too bad and you'll leave me a review if you enjoyed it…or not, lol..

Thorn

Damon was at the bottom of the stairs when she got home, he looked like one of those parents waiting for their children, ready to question them.

"Why are you so late?" he asked. 'Predictable' Elena thought. She could feel the questions coming from the look on his face. She was ready for it. She made sure she hadn't been followed. She actually went shopping before she stopped at Alaric's and the days before she had left some of the bags in the car to grab today.

"I needed a few more things for the trip. Didn't Pearl give you my message?"

"She did, I just didn't think you were going to be that late," he said and Elena bit the inside of her cheek to hold in a remark. She had lived alone for a very long time; she wasn't used to someone questioning her on where she went and what she did. She wasn't a child; she could take care of herself. But she had to remind herself that she was talking to a cheated man who had every right to suspect his wife of the worst things.

"I got a bit carried away. I am sorry I am so late," Elena said softly. "Could you help me with these, please?" she asked and without hesitation Damon picked up most of her bags and went up the stairs towards her room.

He stopped in the middle of the large chamber and started looking around. Elena knew he had trouble placing things around her room. It had happened before. In her room, Damon felt out of place and she knew it.

"Just leave them on the bed; I will take everything out as soon as I change."

Damon dropped the bags on the bed and turned around to watch Elena do the same to the last two bags in her hands. "Where did you shop," Damon asked.

"The usual," Elena answered. The names of the stores she always went shopping were written clearly on the bags. "Is Ana asleep?" she asked changing the subject; or at least trying to.

"Of course."

"Oh, I was hoping to catch her before bed to say good night," Elena said as she took off her scarf.

"If you wanted to catch her awake, you shouldn't have come home so damn late," Damon commented. "I tucked her into bed about an hour ago."

"Did you read her a story?"

"Mom did."

Elena's blood was boiling in her veins as she felt Damon's eyes taking everything in. He was inspecting the bags, her clothes, her smell, everything.

"Would you stop already? What do you expect to find? You expected me to come home reeking of alcohol, semen and cheap perfume?"

"It had happened before," he answered coldly.

"Before, as in, in the past."

"Oh come on Katherine, you don't really expect me to believe that the operation gave you a new personality along with a new face?"

"Believe whatever the hell you want, just leave me alone while you're at it," she snapped. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably. Damn him for making her feel like that; so out of control, so mad. She took off her heels, but when it came to unbutton her shirt her trembling hands were not doing the job.

"Let me," Damon whispered stepping closer to her. Without waiting for her permission, he started unbuttoning the tiny buttons of her shirt one at a time. "It happened so many times before, Kat," he said as the last button came undone and the clothing slipped over her shoulders, to her feet. "You're trembling," he noticed.

"I don't respond well to inquisitions," she explained.

"And I don't respond well to adultery."

"I guess I deserve that, but…" she stopped for a moment just because looking at him took her breath away. "Have I given you any reason to believe I would cheat on you lately?" she asked.

"No."

"So, why can't you trust me?"

"Trust is earned; it doesn't come just like that, especially after all you did and especially where I'm concerned." he looked at her from head to toe. He almost missed her next mumbled words.

"I am willing to do what it takes to earn that trust back," she said softly, but Damon didn't say anything, his eyes were stuck on the tiny locket between her breasts. "You like it? I found it in an antique store. Open it," she urged. "I'll put yours and Anna's pictures in there," she explained after Damon opened the heart shaped locket.

After placing the little object back between her breasts, his fingertips followed the golden chain. His fingers were barely touching her skin, but Elena could feel every fiber of her body burn from that semi-touch. His eyes fund his and lingered there for a moment. He was so beautiful, but so broken. Elena couldn't understand what woman in her right mind would want anything else, or better said anyone else with Damon by her side. Once his eyes slid from her eyes to her lips, Elena bit her bottom one from pure instinct. Damon turned his head aside and she knew he must be at odds with his desires. She could tell he wanted to kiss her, but he was fighting it.

"Damon," she whispered.

"Katherine, don't." hearing her name pulled Elena out of her reverie. "The flight is tomorrow at six am. Can you handle it?"

"The early hour, yes, the flight…I'll do my best, but it has to be done."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. You'll be there."

"I will." He grabbed her hand and Elena could swear he would kiss her, but he didn't. He just gave it a firm squeeze and let her go. "Good night Kat," he murmured before turning around and leave her there all by herself.

***lucky 13***

Alaric almost crushed the phone as he hung up. He had gotten the schedule for Damon Salvatore's campaign that morning and he knew Elena will go with him. She might not thing she was in any immediate danger, but Alaric was not about to take any risks. He didn't want her to be alone, so he decided to send Jeremy. He was the next best thing. It would be good for Elena to have someone on her side in case something went wrong.

"Come in!" he shouted after the second knock on the door. "Finally, I thought you got lost on your way," he mumbled as a slightly frightened young man made his way into the tiny office. "I'm sending Jeremy with you instead of Mason to document the Salvatore campaign."

"Oh come on man, the kid's a pain to work with," the young man complained.

"My decision if final; you don't like it, John, quit!" Alaric snapped. John didn't dare to say anything else. He just assured Alaric he'd be on his way and slipped out of the office as soon as he could.

N: In the next chapter Stefan and Damon will have a bit of a misunderstanding.