chapter 5

They drove aimlessly for hours and finally crossed the Virginia border around 5am. Elena sat looking out the window watching the scenery the whole time not saying a word to Damon and seemingly lost in her own thoughts. They stayed like this for several more hours until they reached a small town outside Martins burg, Maryland; Damon finally couldn't stand the silence any longer and pulled over into a diner. Elena eyed him questioningly as he turned the ignition off and hopped out of the SUV. "come on I need to stretch and you need to eat."

Stepping out of the car Elena was immediately met by Damon's encircling arms. Surprised by the contact she jumped slightly but she allowed him to guide her into the simple looking diner, by the looks of things it either wasn't very popular or the people of this town like to sleep in on Friday mornings. She sighed; right now any normal teenager would be waking up and getting ready for high school, that's what her friends would be doing, she had been alone with Damon for less than 24 hours and already she was wishing that she had all of the people she loved around her. She knew they had planned for all the possibilities, they were having her funeral today, closed casket of course, most of the town would show up, they would bury her and eventually… hopefully soon, there would be a plot there saying something like:

Elena Rose Gilbert

1990-2007

Beloved Sister and Friend

Will be greatly missed.

that would at least cover there first protection against Klaus. Of course as soon as they dig up the grave and realize the girl in the casket isn't Elena, well then she was screwed. She knew putting a great distance between herself and anyone Klaus knows is the best possibility for survival; And she has Damon.

then this weekend Jenna and Jeremy would spend time packing up her stuff and putting it into the attic. It would be like she really died, so as they sat in the diner eating breakfast reading the local paper and working on the crossword Elena felt like she really was dead to everyone she cares about. They will all think she is dead. She can never go back home again, ever. She nearly broke down until she noticed cheap flights going all over the world she finally asked Damon where he plans this adventure to go.

He actually told her he couldn't tell her. WHAT! why? She had asked if they would ever head to Europe, because she always wanted to visit Paris and Italy but Damon refused to budge on keeping her in the dark. He would just smirk at her suggestions and laugh occasionally when she begged him not to take her to the Arctic or Alaska because she refused to live in such a cold climate.

The waitress came with their bill and while Damon paid Elena headed into the washroom to freshen up. She washed her face brushed her hair and teeth. When she exited the restroom Damon was leaning against the wall opposite the door and caused Elena to jump.

They walked side by side out to the car without a word spoken between them, Damon opened her door and she hopped in with a small smile of thanks. When he plopped into the seat beside her he handed her a folded paper, she opened it to see a map of Maryland. "You navigate, tell me where were heading and so be it we will go."

Soon they were heading onto the road again. Elena decided she was tired of the highway so she ventured then down an old narrow two-way street. It was the most beautiful street she had ever seen, their were large oak, maple and pine trees that were all so tall they made a canopy over the road. She put her window down and leaned into the spring breeze.

"you know the point of you having the map is to tell me where to go, this road is ending, where too now?"

Elena looked back down at her map and told him to "make a right and then a quick left."

He did as she said and soon they were on an even narrower road Damon swore it was a driveway. The further along the street they went he realized they were right into a forest. "Make a right up the road after the bend."

When he did he was sure they were pulling into a driveway now. there was no way that this could be a road it was way too bumpy and narrow. Why was he not surprised when a large log cabin came into view. "Elena, sweetheart do you even know how to read a map?"

she scowled at him, unbuckled her seat belt and hopped out of the car. "come on Damon, were staying here tonight." She opened the trunk and pulled out her bag then began to march up to the house. She quickly found a spare key inside a fake rock and unlocked the door. Stepping into the house she turned to open it wider for Damon to get in with the rest of the bags. He was stopped at the threshold and was unable to enter. No surprise there.

"'Lena I think you forgot about something."

She smirked at him "Did I Damon? I must have forgotten to tell you John left me his lake house."

He growled at her and pushed against the entrance. "Let me in Elena or so help me..."

"what Damon, what are you going to do?"

"well for one thing when I get into this house, I am going to tickle you to you can't breath, then I'm going to throw you into the middle of the lake for tricking me. I thought we were breaking and entering."

She laughed at him and after running up to the second floor of the large house yelled to him, "you can come into my lake house Damon." then ran as fast as she could to the third level master bedroom.

Damon caught her by the time she had reached the top step and the next thing she knew she was on top of the bed being tickled mercilessly. She was clawing at Damon to get him off of her, but it was useless he had her pinned and wasn't letting up.

Damon loved the sound of her laugh, it was the most angelic sound he had ever heard and as she lay beneath him squirming to be free he was relishing in the sounds she made.

After several minutes of tickling he sat up, straddling her as she attempted to catch her breath. Just as she thought that he was done he repeated his earlier action and had her nearly peeing herself from laughter.

Later after their tickle session was over and they lay in bed Elena felt completely safe and content. "can we stay here for a few days? I haven't been to this lake house since I was a little kid."

Damon thought about that for several minutes then nodded at her and scooped her up over his shoulder carrying her down the stairs. She protested the whole way kicking and smacking him on the back. "Mmm, Nice view." he said as he exited the house into the backyard. Elena wasn't lost on the double meaning behind his words. But she didn't have much time to protest as he walked them down the dock and with his vampire strength through her at least 30 feet into the water. He stripped down to his shorts and dove in after her.

Elena surfaced in the middle of the lake cursing Damon Salvatore, as she spun around to look back at the dock she noticed he was gone. She spun all around looking for him, and calling his name. Then she felt something brush against her foot, looking into the water she couldn't see anything and assumed it was a fish or seaweed, then it happened again, and she started swimming back towards the shore. She got about 5 to 10 feet before she felt him grab her around the ankle and pull her back to him. She laughed as she propelled back to where she started, expecting to see Damon there when she stopped moving but he was under the water somewhere again.

Two can play at this game. She took a large breath and went under the water herself, opening her eyes she didn't see him anywhere. Slowly she began to move towards the shoreline. She was half way there when she saw him. He moved like a missile through the water, he was mesmerizing. She surfaced just as he was about to reach her and he came up right in front of her. Their faces were inches apart as they tread water. She was staring at him and he was chuckling. The smile on his face looked like he was a six-year-old who just got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

Elena Splashed him several times for scaring her and they stayed in the water fighting, swimming and laughing for the rest of the afternoon. As the sun began to set they headed back into the house, and Damon rushed around getting her towels and dry clothes. They both got changed and set to making dinner. It was simple hotdogs and chips. Thanking herself for using them as an ice pack for Damon's blood supply. They had searched through the cupboards and found some marshmallows, cereal, graham crackers and hot chocolate mix, and thankfully Damon thought booze.

"If were going to stay here for a bit I will have to go into town tomorrow to get us some supplies. If you need anything specific make me a list and I'll do my best to find it for you."

She thanked him and headed over to start a fire while he made himself a glass of scotch, thanking John for his good taste in alcohol.

Elena was seated on the floor by the fire with a flannel blanket wrapped around her as he entered the room. He sat on the floor beside her and as their shoulders brushed she felt a million tiny sparks go through her entire being. She knew he felt it too as she watched the tiny hairs on his arms stick up at the contact.

They sat in silence for several minutes watching the fire crackle and dance. she turned to look into his impossibly blue eyes and said "Thank you Damon." She knew she didn't have to elaborate, she knew he would understand the meaning behind her words that she meant thanks for all that he has done for her, from saving her to allowing her to feel her age again and be a carefree teenager even if for just a little while. She laid her head onto his shoulder and closed her eyes, feeling the most comforted, warm, safe, and at home she had ever felt.

Damon Listened as her heart beat evened out and her breathing slowed. He picked her up bridal style and headed up to the master bedroom gently placing her onto the bed and covering her up. He pulled away and went to leave but she grabbed his arm,"Stay."

He climbed over her and got under the covers, she turned over and tucked her head into the crook of his neck sighing contentedly and fell back into the best night of sleep she has had in over two years.

So that's Chapter 5 what did you guys think?
As I said at the beginning of this story its going to be mainly a Delena story and for those of you angry at how Elena is acting content with Damon I think it's a completely natural reaction seeing as how his brother nearly killed her and Damon has saved her life countless times as we all know. :) just bear with me on this I promise they will be heading onto the road again soon.

REVIEWS ARE LOVE PEOPLE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK, IT REALLY MOTIVATES ME TO WRITE MORE!