This is what probably would have been the end of the last chapter...which I wasn't that happy with but it was getting so late for writing! Few spoilers for you in this chapter about the pairings. Just so you know in my story Matt and Bonnie happen in the past where Damon is without any interference from Damon so that's why they are together in the future. A bit AU from the show then sorry to all those who like Jeremy/Bonnie. You will have to see who he ends up with and I have a surprise for Stefan planned too. I hope you enjoy. I'm so sorry it's so short!

Chapter five

Damon watched her as she slept, still looking ever the angel. She was perfect in every way but he could see her weakening every day and he didn't know how to stop it. She was finally warm, wrapped in a blanket with a hot water bottle and as soon as she woke up he would get her a tea with more sugar then most people had because he remembered she liked it sweet otherwise it was the most disgusting drink in the world...her words.

His thoughts were cut off as she began to stir in her sleep and then she sat up abruptly her eyes wide as she looked around, trying to remember where she was. He was right beside her in a flash of a second. "Elena it's ok. You're safe now."

"No one is ever going to be safe again. Are they Damon? He said that this was my fault. Our fault...I don't know what to do. How do we convince him that I never meant to hurt him that..." she was babbling out words so quickly that he almost couldn't understand.

"Elena," he said firmly, placing a hand gently on her shoulder and trying so hard not to use compulsion to calm her down. "Nothing we do now is going to change him. We can't say sorry and we can't change what's happened. What's done is done," he hesitated. "I know this is unfair of me to ask you Elena, but I have to know...do you regret anything?"

He saw a deep sadness in the depths of her eyes which nearly broke him and he had to look away. She took his hand and slowly linked her fingers with his a small gesture that she had done countless times but still meant so much to him.

"No," she said her voice sounding strong for once. "I have no regrets. But I wish things had been done differently. He just disappeared and when he was trapped in the tomb with Katherine he became so different and we had grown closer together. And then obviously when the curse was lifted she had played all those mind games on him and it was all so confusing. Him and her me and you...I wish we had just sorted everything out sooner. That I had figured out my feelings for you earlier and I could have talked to him more about it but instead...It all came rushing out too quickly and because of me he has become this monster..."

"He was in that tomb for a long time Elena. And because of her games she got him to crave human blood far more then I ever did. When they got out she must have put it in his head to drink human blood somehow and you know how that makes him. "

Elena nodded, tears in her eyes.

"It's all of our faults," said Bonnie from the doorway to the room. "And we have to find a way to sort this out. Elena you know what we have to do now don't you?"

Elena turned to her best friend, knowing that she was only trying to help but still not wanting to believe that they were having this conversation.

"We have to kill him don't we? And Katherine."

"Now's the big question," said Tyler. "You guys have never been able to kill Katherine before. She's your weakness...she's always been able to talk her way out of it or you know, just smile at you."

Damon narrowed his eyes at Tyler dangerously. "Watch it puppy!" he insulted him.

Tyler raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey. I'm just saying."

"We all want to watch out for Elena," said Jeremy. "And you know I hate to agree with Tyler on any occasion but...he's right."

"Things have changed." Damon stood up and looked up at them all. Jenna, Jeremy and Alaric. Bonnie and Matt holding hands. Caroline stood by Tyler his arms wrapped around her protectively.

"Katherine no longer has that power over me. I'm in love with Elena...even if some of you aren't used to that yet. I know that they are different people. I respect Elena and I want to protect her more then anything. So I will do whatever it takes and because of that I can kill Katherine."

"Can you kill your own brother?" asked Caroline softly. "Or can Elena?"

"I don't think either of them should have to," said Matt suddenly speaking up. "We have vampires, a witch and werewolf all in the same room. If we're not a force to be reckoned with then who is?"

"Klaus was wasn't he?" asked Jenna. "And didn't Stefan learn everything he knew from Klaus and then kill him?"

"Stefan has weakness," Damon answered their questions trying to sound brave when he was just as worried as the rest of them. "He only had Klaus held captive because Katherine has powerful friends but if we have them on their own we stand a chance."

"If you say so," Jenna muttered. "But for us humans in the group I still say running for the hills is the best option."

"No way am I leaving Elena or going anywhere without her!" Jeremy practically shouted.

"Neither am I," Matt said bravely. He was dealing surprisingly well after they had told him about the supernatural and Stefan and everything for his own protection.

"I meant all of us!" Jenna shot back.

Elena stood up hanging onto Damon's arm for support still a little shaky from her recent experience in the snow. "Guys please," she said to them all, looking at each one of them in turn. "I know you're all doing this to look out for me and because you care about me but ...you're wrong. It's mine and Damon's and Stefan's fault even if Stefan won't admit his part in any of this. And we are going to get things all sorted out one way or the other and I don't know what I would do if any of you got hurt. And I mean it. End of discussion. None of you get involved"

They all looked about ready to argue some more and Damon was shaking his head with slight amusement in his eye's as the old Elena made a return. Even though he knew they would all ignore her and she knew it as well, it was good that she had a fire in her eyes again. He never wanted to see that fire go out...

...

"So," said Caroline her voice a very, very loud and bubbly annoyance that was giving him a headache and making him want to run away. He had to remind himself countless times as they carried their lunch trays to a table, that she got better and she had managed to somehow become a friend in the future and that he really, really didn't want to drain her of all her blood to get her just to shut up.

"There's this party coming up that most of the town is invited to..." she paused and he thought thank God for that, but then she began waving a hand in front of his face and he had to grab her wrist gently and lay her hand down on the table. She blinked in surprise. " Earth to Damon. Hello? Anyone there?"

"Please don't block my view again" he muttered and was grateful that she didn't hear him. "What where you saying?" He could see Elena and Stefan sitting a few tables away smiling at each other and he was eaten up with Jealousy and he hated it.

"There's a party coming up that the Mayor gives every year. The Founders party. It celebrates the founding of Mystic falls and I was wondering if you would go with me?"

He rolled his eyes and nodded remembering how this night had gone. How could he change things this time? Well he was sure that if he wasn't feeding off Caroline and using and manipulating her and compelling her to do what he wanted then Elena wouldn't find out. Also Stefan had had no reason to suspect him of anything so he was sure that he would be escaping that session in a room full of vervain. He could live without that. He still couldn't believe that Stefan had been capable of spiking Caroline's drink and using her as bate...if Elena had ever found out. Well...in the future he was capable of much worse then that. Maybe they could actually have a normal event...he could try and seduce the fair Elena. He was pretty sure that he wouldn't have to try that hard. Stefan was good but...he was sure that he could make Elena at least think about him in some way.

Of course when things actually did happen he was going to have to be careful and delicate about his dear baby brother's feelings, just like Elena wanted to stop him going off the deep end. And he was going to have to start patching things up with Stefan at this party.

Oh it was going to be so much fun!

Ok these chapters will have to start getting longer won't they? Otherwise I will never get to series 2! Let's just say I have an ending planned it's just getting there. I hope that explains why Damon can't just go after Elena straight away lol! Thank you all so much for my reviews hope you will be patient with me. I never seem to have much time to write at the moment work is always so busy at Christmas and I am seeing family on days off. And am very sleepy! Anyway I will update ASAP!