Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me.
Last time: He could never let himself feel for this girl. It would end up destroying him. He could not become close to this human. When Stefan is released, everything will go back to how it should be. Of course he would still protect her in times of danger, but for no other reason than she was important to his brother.
He reached his door, left the room and shut the door lightly behind him. He headed straight for the cellar. It was time to put things back to normal
Now: Elena woke to the warm sun spilling through the open window, illuminating the tiny dust specks that floated around the room. The light pooled across the carpet and up onto the bed where she was lying. Everything was perfect, everything was right. But with a start she realized something, there was something missing, or rather someone. She looked around and couldn't see him anywhere. He was not in the room. All at once she felt like she was drowning in his absence. She felt too warm, and found it hard to breath. Why was she affected so? Should it not be Stefan's absence that made her feel like this?
At the sound of his name in her head a chill ran down her spine. Was she ready for him to be out? Of course she thought fiercely to herself. I love him. But even as the words entered her mind, she questioned them, but quickly dismissed the feeling as fear. He would be back to normal soon and everything would go back to normal. Stefan would go back to be her loving, protective boyfriend and Damon would return to his sarcastic, reserved self. For some reason that statement hurt, she didn't want him to go back to that. She wanted him to stay like how he was last night.
She wanted him to stay hers.
NO! She couldn't think like that. She was with Stefan and Damon would never belong to her. She was not Katherine and would not do that to the Salvatore brothers. She would never be the one who could hurt them. And besides, that would also imply that Damon wanted her. On a good day, she was no more than a friend at best.
Elena lay back on the pillow, closing her eyes. She replayed what happened the night before. She remembered Damon's anger at her apology, him on top of her, the sensation of his mouth, and the look on his face after wards. He looked shocked that he had kissed her and amazed that she herself had responded. To be honest, she was both shocked and amazed too. She remembered how he looked laying over her telling her that her life was worth something to him. She remembered how beautiful his face looked in the pale light of the moon, his midnight black hair chaotic from bed framing his face, making him look vulnerable, and dare she say, human. She treasured these memories and replayed them over and over, knowing that when she got out of bed, she would have to lock them away in her heart.
Soon Stefan would be out and she could never think about those moments again, but first she would confront Damon about the kiss. She would ask him why and if anything was meant by that intimate moment they shared. Was it real? Or was it just Damon playing with her, trying to get back at Stefan for scars long ago healed?
Noises from downstairs drew her attention. "Time to get ready for the day," she mumbled as she climbed out of the luxurious bedding. She padded down the hall into Stefan's room where her things were. When she entered the room she checked all the corners and shadows. The room still made her nervous. When she was satisfied that there were no monsters lurking in the corner, she began to get ready. She was dressed and presentable within ten minutes in a dark green T-shirt and a simple pair of jeans, hair brushed and makeup on.
She felt uneasy heading down the grand staircase. Something was wrong. Her unease grew as she headed towards the kitchen. Something was definitely wrong.
What she saw almost made her cry out in horror. There, at the kitchen table was Stefan. The one that had been haunting her nightmares and waking reality for the past few days was now across the room, sitting casually. How did he get out? Her mind was racing with possibilities. Had he attacked Damon? Where is Damon? Is he alright? She was about to turn around and run, but Stefan could catch her before she had the chance to leave the kitchen. She was about to scream for Damon, in the hope that he was okay, when she saw him leaning casually against the counter, arms crossed with his iron mask back in place, looking directly at her. Eyes squinted slightly as he registers what she is thinking, her terror and her lack of understanding of the situation.
"Well," Damon spoke, breaking the silence. "I'm guessing you two have some things to catch up on and discuss." He spoke the last few words slowly, dragging out every syllable. He needed to escape the look on Elena's face. He needed to get out before it was too late and they both noticed something thing was most certainly wrong with him. And there was. For the first time in a very long time, he had a heart and it was beating for the frightened girl across the room. No one could know since that would mean trouble for everyone involved.
He started walking out of the kitchen and past Elena, his face, out of view from Stefan, looked sorry and apologetic. He brushed past her on his way to the front door. Why had he let Stefan out without warning her first! How could he do this!
Maybe she was wrong and he really didn't have any human qualities. A human being would never have done this without warning and then just left her with him! She was scared and angry now. He really didn't care about her safety! Stefan may still not be in complete control, he had only been in the dungeon for four days. What if he lost control and attacked her. She would be dead in seconds and Damon would just continue his stroll like nothing had ever happened.
Elena was too busy fuelling her anger at Damon to remember that Stefan was still in the room. She was glaring out the window towards the woods where Damon had presumably gone, sending all her hate his way. When she actually remembered that Stefan was in the room, she turned her head back towards the table quickly, expecting to see him still sitting quietly, but instead she found herself inches away from a broad chest. She held in her terror at his nearness as she continued her glance up to his face only to find it smiling wickedly.
"Hello Elena"