"Jeremy…look, I know-"
"Elena, I'll be okay. At this point, anything is better than death. You're a vampire now, so what? Even if you were a zombie, I'd still be glad to have my sister back."
Elena smiled and took her brother into her arms. "I'm glad you're okay." He said.
"Me too."
"Shall I serve us some drinks? Water for the human?" Damon asked, interrupting the moment.
Jeremy shook his head. "It's late, we should get going, Elena."
Stefan interrupted, "Jeremy, it's not a good idea for Elena to leave tonight."
"My brother's got a point, you never know what could happen, those new vampires are so unpredictable, and you wouldn't want to become a midnight snack, would you?"
Elena scowled at this, but Jeremy nodded. "I guess not. I'll see you tomorrow then, alright Elena?"
"You can stay here tonight if you want." Elena offered, hoping he'd stay.
He shook his head. "I think it'd actually be a good idea for me to be alone tonight. It'd give me time to think."
Again, Elena took her brother into her arms. "Okay."
"Goodnight, Elena." Jeremy walked toward the front door, throwing a nod at Stefan and Damon.
Stefan stood with his left leg perched on the sofas arm, looking at Elena with those dark mesmerizing eyes that she so loved. Damon stood, looking between the two, his brows furrowed. "Care for a drink, Elena?" Damon asked.
The offer was tempting, but she was still satisfied from the blood bags. "I'm just going to head off to bed."
Stefan stepped forward and kissed her once on the lips. "Goodnight, Elena."
She smiled, "Goodnight."
She stood there for a moment, and then turned toward Damon. She shifted her legs, looking at him, and then gave him a quick, awkward hug. "Night, Damon."
She rushed toward Stefan's room, and stripped down and slipped under the covers. The memories all came back to her, memories of him, Damon. He said that he had never compelled her, but that was a lie. How could she be angry, though? She didn't know what to think, and she was scared. With the memories also came the unbearable feelings. The feelings of the night when they first met, he had been so sweet…so…not like him. Yet, he still showed that side to her, and that was saying something.
Then there was the night when he confessed his love to her. You would think this wouldn't mean much to Elena, because that's nothing she doesn't already know. But the way his eyes looked as he said it, the way a single tear drop betrayed him and fled from his eye. She knew he meant it. That night showed her just how kind, and selfless Damon was.
She tried sleeping, but she couldn't sort out her thoughts. She had already made her choice, Stefan. But that was human Elena who made that choice. She still felt deeply for Stefan, she always will. But what did she feel for Damon? She knew she was falling for Damon with every day that passed, slowly. She's been falling for him every day since they first became friends…and now with these refreshed memories, she's falling even harder. It's like she's falling in a deep endless hole, it's dangerous, but she feels safe. It's consuming her, but she doesn't mind it one bit.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the devil himself, though he was not speaking to her.
"Stefan," he growled, "I'm not leaving."
This was weird. She could hear them talking in the living room.
"Damon, I don't want you gone, you're my brother. But your feelings for Elena…"
"The feelings I have for Elena have remained the same for almost a year. They won't go away no matter where I go. Remember Katherine? She's proof. What's going to change now? She's already chosen you, Stefan. She'll always choose you. But at least I can stay and help teach her."
"You don't understand, it'd be good for you to get away. I hate seeing you like this. You love her and you're miserable because of it. Go somewhere, fall in love with someone else, and be happy for once, Damon!"
It's not that easy," Damon growled. "Elena makes me happy, even when she's with you. And when you were gone, painting the town red with your murderous rampage? Yeah, you remember that, ripper? When you were gone leaving trails of body parts behind, I promised her I'd never leave her. I'm not going to."
There was silence.
"I see," Stefan said. "Don't turn this around on me. Don't use that against me. Klaus forced me to do the things I did. So I could save your life."
There was more silence, but this time, she knew there was nothing more to be said. She heard footsteps approaching, and she closed her eyes. Stefan walked in, and bustled around before slipping under the covers, enclosing her in his arms. She shifted her body, and faked a moan of exhaustion. Stefan kissed her cheek, and settled his head into the crook of her neck.
Elena had a feeling this was going to be a long night, and that she was going to be tortured by her thoughts.
Come the next morning, Elena woke up feeling tired and a little drained. She sought out Damon, since Stefan was still sleeping. She found him in the living room, already pressing bourbon to his lips.
"Already? It's 7:00 AM, Damon."
"Well excuse me, sheriff."
She smiled, "Damon, I'm thirsty."
He smirked, "Follow me."
Elena followed Damon into the cellar where he keeps his blood bags. "I'm always stocked up, so take what you need."
As Damon was about to leave the room, Elena stopped him. "Damon, wait."
He stopped at the doorway, and turned his head back. "Yes?"
She took a step toward him. "Thank you."
He cocked a brow in confusion.
"For not leaving."
He nodded, and left the room in a hurry.
She drank from the blood bag with eagerness. When she finished, she tossed it into the trashcan and headed toward the living room. Damon was there, still drinking.
She walked up to him and grabbed the glass from his hands and set it firmly on the coffee table. "Stop." She said, looking into his eyes. Taking a step forward, he picked the glass back up and took another sip.
"No." He said. He stared at her for another moment, and then left the house. Elena sighed. He was hurt.
A little while later, Stefan stepped into the room, shirtless and yawning. The sight of him made her smile. "Good morning, sleepy head."
"Good morning, beautiful." He pecked her on the lips and smiled.
"Someone's in a good mood."
He laughed, "I'm just happy everything's back to normal."
She forced a smile and agreed. "Listen, I have to go check up on Matt, and then I'm going to take Jeremy to lunch if he's up for it. I'll see you later."
"Okay, I love you."
"I love you too, Stefan."
She arrived at Matt's house, but before she could knock, the door opened to reveal Caroline standing there, smiling with a pillow in her hand.
"Elena, Oh my gosh! I can't believe it. You must be-"
Elena smiled, "Actually…I feel fine. Stefan and Damon are really helping me out."
Caroline forced a smile at the mention of Damon. "Come in, Matt's laying on the couch, Bonnie's in there, too."
Elena walked to Matt's living room, and his face lit up. Bonnie excused herself. "Hey, Elena."
"Hey. How are you?"
"How am I? Jesus Christ Elena, how are you? I mean, you saved my life."
"Stefan did."
"No, you did. If you hadn't told him to help me, I would have been dead. I definitely owe you one."
"You don't owe me anything, Matt. You're my friend."
Matt just smiled. "So…how is it?"
"What?"
"You know what I'm talking about, Elena."
She sighed. "It's…I don't know yet. I have a lot of help, but I know I'll never be the same girl. That scares me."
Matt shook his head. "You're still going to be you, Elena. I can tell you're still the same person. Even though you're technically…dead…you still have the warm thing going for you."
Elena laughed, "Thanks, Matt. I really needed to hear that."
"It's funny how things turn out. I mean, last night while I was with you on the couch, I never thought the roles would be reversed, and so soon."
Elena nodded, "Well, I don't know if it's exactly funny, but it's weird, yes."
"I'm sorry. I mean your parents…and then this…"
Elena understood, "It's okay. I've learned that I can pretty much overcome anything. And when I was down there…I imagined my dad…never mind. It's kind of a long story." She said, shaking her head.
"I've got the time." He said.
Elena smiled, "Thanks, Matt. But, maybe some other time."
He nodded, "That's okay."
"Well," Elena said, getting up, "I've got to go see Jeremy. I just came by to see how you were…I'll be back soon though, okay?"
Matt smiled, "Okay, and Elena, don't be so sad."
She nodded, "I'll be fine."
They said their goodbyes and Elena headed for the door, but she ran into Bonnie.
"Elena…hey."
"Hey."
"Uh, well, I've got to go talk to Caroline about something. It's kind of important…can I call you later?"
"Of course." Elena said, knowing for a fact that Bonnie and she would never be the same, now that she was a vampire.
When she arrived home, she heard gun shots coming from the television screen. Jeremy was probably playing one of those violent video games again. She was right. Except someone else was sitting on the couch with him. Damon.
"Um…Damon?"
"Hey, Elena." He said, putting down the controller.
"What are you doing here?"
He furrowed his brow, "What, I can't spend quality time with brother Gilbert?"
Elena laughed. "No I just…I'm glad you're here."
Jeremy made a loud noise from the back of his throat.
"I'll just…go upstairs."
"Jeremy, wait-" But he was gone.
Damon took a step toward Elena, and brushed her arm lightly with the tips of his fingers.
"Damon…stop, I can't. You know I can't. I'm with Stefan."
He scoffed. "I'm not going to do anything, Elena. As shocking as it may seem, I do respect my brother. And you."
Elena shifted her feet, feeling a little uncomfortable. She knew if he were to make a move, she wouldn't be able to hold back.
He looked down into her eyes.
"You remember."
Thank you for reading! I feel like I kind of made this chapter a little OOC. I don't know, you be the judge!
Review replies:
tukct81: This is a really interesting start. Damon was perfectly in character, and Elena was too. Stefan was a little too sappy, but overall fine. Damon and Elena you have a strong grasp on, and I'm excited for the next chapter.
Reply: Thank you! I really tried. And yeah, I know, I can never get the characters right on key! But thank you for the review, it means a lot :)
booklover457: you should make a rippah elena
Reply: Haha! :) The idea actually did cross my mind, but I think she'd become too much like Katherine.
csifan1: like it so Damon would turn Jeremy
Reply: You never know. :)
anniecall: I think this it really good. Keep up the great writing.
Reply: Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, favorited, etc. It means a lot :)
