3

Elena stirred and woke on Damon's chest, her head was pounding and she felt nauseous. She lifted her head and looked around his room. Quietly so not to wake Damon she slipped out of his bed and wandered towards the bathroom stopping along the way at his bookshelf Lord of the Rings, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Raven, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Sherlock Holmes, all first editions. Elena picked up her favorite book, Camelot, and walked into the bathroom locking the door behind her. She started the water in Damon's oversized egg shaped tub, found some vanilla scented bath soap and sunk herself into the deep hot water allowing it to take away all the pain she was feeling and began to read.

A while later she stepped out of the bath, got dressed and felt slightly better than she felt when she woke. The herbs in the bath salts must have helped her relax. Even the bruising around her bite was beginning to fade. She applied some cover up to her neck, brushed her teeth and stepped out of the bathroom into Damon's bedroom once again. He was gone when she entered the room, which confused her. She just grabbed her purse and jacket then headed downstairs.

When she reached the bottom of the steps Damon was standing there smirking at her as usual.
"Morning 'Lena, I assume you slept well in my bed, what with the drool I had all over my chest when I woke up."
"Good morning to you too Damon, and thanks for taking care of me last night," she tried to force a smile but even to her it felt so forced. She felt like she would never, could never, be happy again.

Damon could tell she still wanted to break down but was holding on trying to look strong for him. "I made breakfast."

Elena looked at him puzzled. He didn't eat, well not real food anyways she wasn't even sure he knew where the kitchen was. She sent him an intrigued look and stepped down the final step, still eying him strangely as she following him through the house into the kitchen.

It was the strangest thing she had ever seen. He hadn't just cooked breakfast, he had cooked her a banquet. Sitting on the table was every breakfast food she could imagine. Crepes, pancakes, waffles, eggs, omelets, bacon, sausage, toast, croissant, jams of every variety, danishes, fruit, yogurt. She turned to face him completely awed by him. Her heart melted at the way he tried so hard to make sure she was happy.
" I have one more surprise for you" he said. And as though on cue the doorbell rang. He shook his head at her indicating he would answer the door. After all everyone here was supposed to believe she was dead. And he rushed to the door.

A moment later he re-arrived in the kitchen followed by Bonnie, Matt, Caroline, Tyler, Jeremy, Alaric and Meredith. They all eyed her wearily as they entered the room. Confused by seeing her here with Damon, alone, possibly cooking, not even one whole day since Stefan had left.

Damon ushered them toward the dining table as they all took a seat around the table truly amazed at the meal he had cooked. "Dig in he, while it's hot," he smiled at them and took the seat at the head of the table. "While you all eat I have something I need to say," he eyed the group enthusiastically wondering if he could continue as he watched them all ask Elena with their eyes what was going on. She simply shrugged. "I have a proposition for all of you. Seeing as how our dear Elena here was attacked last night by her o-so-loving boyfriend and Klaus believes she is dead," he paused to assess their response, "I feel it would be best for her to leave town for a while."

An uproar immediately occurred. From Bonnie's "OMG" to Alaric's " I DON'T THINK SO DAMON" look, and Jeremy and Mutts comments about killing him.

Finally Tyler spoke up, "I think that's a good idea Damon."

Caroline eyed him oddly and nodded her head, "he is right you guys, as much as we don't want you to leave," she looked at Elena, "Klaus will be coming back with his hybrid army and you can't be here when they get back, otherwise were all dead Elena."

Elena looked around the room at the people she loved most in the world, her friends and brother. How was she supposed to leave all these people without looking back? How could she leave them to face Klaus and his hybrids alone? The answer was simple, she couldn't and she wouldn't. "No Damon, I'm not going anywhere. I need to be here when Stefan comes home, I need to know he will be okay; he needs to know I'm okay."

"Elena," Damon pleated, "I need to know your safe, I can keep you that way, and besides its gives me the opportunity to go on a nice vacation with you. We don't have to hide from Stefan, that's why I called all your friends here for this conversation, I want Bonnie to do her magic and summon me when Klaus and Stefan get back to town. This wont be forever Elena, not unless you want it to be."

Elena sighed. She knew Damon was simply looking out for her, and as he spoke she realized even her friends believed going with him was her best option for survival, even if it meant that none of them would ever have a chance to see her again.