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I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and please let me know what you think. Thank you for reading!
Not that she was complaining, but Damon had held her tight and securely in his arms all night and it had been the most peaceful sleep she'd had in a very long time. She felt at ease and protected, his breathing and his body against her own relaxing her. Eventually during the night he had stripped out of his shirt and when he was unconscious she'd been running her hand up and down his strong muscled arm.
He really was a God.
He looked so boyish and innocent while sleeping that she'd actually spent one hour just staring at him and feeling all kind of butterflies fly in her stomach. She was so happy that everything turned out just fine and that they were both willing to give this a shot. She thought that she was going to be more stubborn but she couldn't care less about it, if that meant losing the only chance she had with Damon. Especially not when he had opened up to her and decided to trust her and let her in.
Elena had woken up during the night and she wasn't able to fall asleep anymore. With all the staring at Damon and the thinking, it was nearly dawn.
She felt awful for lying to him and not telling him about Mason, but she didn't want to upset him or make him lose it and then regret it after the damage was done. She knew that if he ever found out though he would be pissed.
What really scared her was that he would probably go back to Chicago permanently at some point and she would be all alone again. And this time it would be even worse, because in her lonliness she would lose Damon. After all he had his life and his job in Chicago. She didn't want to get in the way. Although if she really meant so much to him as he claimed she did, wouldn't he be willing to stay? He had Stefan and Maria too here. Weren't they a reason enough? She knew that she was being paranoid and that it was probably too soon to even open the subject but she wasn't really sure that she could handle Damon leaving.
She decided not to think about it for the moment and just let it be. She wrapped herself in his arms again like a safe cocoon and fell asleep sighing contently.
As she woke up this time it was nearly ten o'clock and she stirred a little. She then noticed that the spot next to her was empty and a sudden feeling of hurt filled her. Did he leave without saying goodbye? Or worse did he regret spending the night?
When she saw that his leather jacket was still on the chair and his phone on her nightstand, she immediatly calmed down.
She got up and headed towards the bathroom, taking a quick cold shower and then putting on some clothes as she brushed her teeth and hair.
As she headed downstairs she immediatly smelled waffles and she smiled happily. Usually when she got up she didn't have the time to get a proper good meal since most of the times she had to hurry at the Grill, and even during her days off she was still too lazy.
Her smile became a grin when she saw Damon standing by the stove, looking dashing as always even in the morning.
His hair was messy and his shirt a little wrinkled but he still managed to look perfect. She got closer and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, making him turn around in surprise.
"Well good morning sleepyhead." He said grinning.
"It really is a good morning." She grinned back, wrapping her arms around his waist. "At what time did you get up? Don't tell me you're a morning person."
"I am, actually." He said chuckling. "I woke up an hour ago and after spending most of it watching you sleep I decided to be useful." He said with a shrug.
"Good boy." She said patting his head as she chuckled too.
He captured her lips in a playful kiss as he nibbled at her bottom lip and their tongues danced together. He earned a moan from her and he smiled cockily.
"Now it really is a good morning." He said smirking.
By the time he was settling the waffles on the counter he saw Elena pratically drooling as she stared in awe at them.
"It seems like you're starving." He said eyeing her amused as she digged in the food, adding some whipped cream and more syrup on them.
"I am. And I don't usually have good breakfasts like this." She said with her mouth still fool.
"It's just waffles." He said chuckling amused and smiling at her sweetly as he stroked her hair.
"I know." She said kind of embarassed.
She finished quickly and he insisted on letting him settle the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and cleaning up. She seemed surprised when he did those little things for her and he realized that she really didn't have someone taking care of her as she deserved to be.
He found her sitting on the couch in the living room with a blanket on her legs as she texted on her phone.
He ploppled down on the couch next to her and smiled when he saw her immediatly getting closer to him and putting her head on his shoulder.
She seemed a lot touchy-feely and he still had to get used to it. He had never really shared such kind of intimacy and it was new to him.
"So what are you up to today?" He asked casually.
"I'm meeting Caroline and Bonnie at the Grill for lunch, work in the afternoon and then at the Boarding House later in the evening. You?" She said looking up at him.
"Waiting for you to find some time for me in all of it." He said pouting his adorable pout.
She chuckled amused and kissed it away.
"You should hang out with Stefan. He misses you, you know. It would be good for you two to spend some time together. Bonding and everything." She said giving him an encouraging smile.
"I think I will." He said with a nod. "About that, I need to ask you a favor…" He then said hesitantly.
"Spill." She said giving him a wary look.
"Can we keep us a secret a little longer?" He said.
"Why? I thought you were sure about this?" She immediatly asked, worry crossing her face.
"I am, love." He told her reassuringly stroking her cheek. "But Stefan isn't. He thinks I'm just playing you and that I'm not being serious about whatever he thinks it is between us. He told me. So I don't want to start on the wrong foot and let him give me a lecture."
"Oh…okay. But we do are exclusive, right?" She then asked still a little worried.
She looked so naive and adorable that he decided to play her for a little.
"Well, I don't know..." He said sighing dramatically.
She went pale for a moment but as soon as that evil cocky smirk of his appeared on his face she growled and swatted his arm.
Suddenly a mischevious smile appeared on his face as he brought her in his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist possessively.
"Of course we are. I wouldn't want it any other way." He whispered as he started kissing her neck.
"Good." She said moaning as she threw her head back a little as he reached her jawline.
She moaned even louder when she started rubbing herself over his hardness.
The front door suddenly bursting open made her fall off the couch and she scratched her head when it hit the floor.
"Crap." She whispered to herself.
"What the hell man?" Jeremy said with a confused expression as he marched over Damon.
He then looked over at Elena on the floor and his eyes widened in understanding.
Damon helped her up and she couldn't help a chuckle as she saw Damon's expression and then Jeremy's shocked one.
"Hey Jer." She said attempting an awkward smile.
Jeremy kept glancing between her and Damon in confusion and she knew that one of them had to explain.
"Damon uhm he spent the night here. He was just leaving." She said quickly.
"Yeah I probably should get going." He said awkwardly as he headed upstairs to grab his stuff.
She looked over at him in amusement as he walked upstairs but she recomposed as soon as she saw Jeremy's glare.
He had always been very protective of her but he could also be a pain in the ass.
"Care to explain?" He asked raising his eyebrows.
"He came here last night. He slept here and that's it. Seriously Jer what's the matter?" She said crossing her arms suddenly feeling annoyed at his persistence.
"So that's why he was all frantic to know where you were last night." He then noted thoughtfully with a little smile.
"He was?" She asked surprised.
"Oh yeah. He couldn't stop looking for you. He talked to me and Bonnie."
"Bonnie met him?" Elena asked not able to keep a laugh.
"Yup. And she kept saying how handsome he was and all this crap you girls say." Jeremy said rolling his eyes.
Elena shook her head in amusement and made a mental note to talk with Bonnie later.
"By the way, would you mind keeping this for yourself? We…don't want to go public just yet." She said quietly.
"I'm not one of your gossip girls friends 'Lena. I won't talk about it, chill." Jeremy said chuckling.
He then headed towards the kitchen and she waited at the bottom of the stairs for Damon. He came downstairs a few moments later and she smiled as she walked him to the door.
She already missed him and he still hadn't left the house. If it was up to her she would have stayed with him all day long.
"Thank you for staying last night. It really meant a lot to me." She said as she took his hands in hers and entwined their fingers.
"Anytime." He whispered kissing her forehead.
"I already miss you and you still haven't left. I'm too needy, aren't I?" She said with a pout as she rested her forehead against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.
He chuckled softly as he embraced her and kissed the top of her head.
"Then I guess we both are because I'm going to miss you too." He said. "But I'll see you tonight at the Boarding House right?"
"Yes I'm coming over for dinner. No PDA is allowed though, remember?" She said with a pointed look and a giggle as she looked up at him.
"Mmh, right. So let's make the best out of it now." He whispered as he tenderly cupped her cheeks and gave her a passionate kiss.
She immediatly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back vehemently. They finally pulled back and smiled at each other.
"I'll see you later." He said before kissing her cheek and heading towards his car.
She watched him go and then went upstairs to get ready for her date with Bonnie and Caroline.
When she arrived at the Grill she found them already sitting at a table and as she walked towards it she waved at them with a smile.
It was always kind of strange to go at the Grill for a casual date. Most of the time she spent there was usually work.
She greeted them with a hug and a kiss on the cheek and slid in the booth in front of theirs.
"How are you feeling? I've read your text only after midnight and I was so drunk I didn't even have the strenght to reply. I'm so sorry Elena." Caroline said with a guilty look.
She was about to spill everything and tell them about Damon coming over and them making up but she suddenly remembered his words about not telling anyone. And as much as she wanted to give in and squeal with her best friends about the new found relationship she stayed quiet.
"Oh I'm fine Care. I'm sorry I missed half of the party. I just had this terrible migraine and I didn't want to ruin it for you." She said casually.
Bonnie kept giving her knowing looks and Elena grew suspicious.
"Please." Caroline said with a roll of eyes. "I know that you hate those kind of parties anyway sweetie."
"True that." Elena said chuckling.
"How did you get back though?" Caroline asked confused.
"Turned out that Mason could make it so I asked him to bring me home." She said with a sigh. "I ended things between us though. I was not really into him."
As she remembered him and how scared he'd made her feel last night her heart immediatly skipped a beat. She just hoped he would get the hell back to Florida and never come back.
Caroline's jaw dropped a little and she looked at Elena astonished.
"No you didn't." She said.
"Yes I did." Elena confirmed again.
"Oh my god, why? He was so handsome and nice. Is it because of Damon?" She then asked wiggling her eyebrows.
Elena immediatly blushed and this time her heart skipped a beat for completely different reasons as she thought about him.
"Well yes kind of but we still have to sort things out…that's all I can say." She said quickly, not really wanting to get into the subject.
"I met him last night. Good lord if he's gorgeous Elena." Bonnie said, her eyes widening as she said so. "You're one lucky bitch you know."
They all chuckled a little and even though she started feeling a little guilty for keeping the details she didn't say a word about it.
One of the waitress came by to take their orders and they all ordered a burger with coke.
"What about you Bon? You were all over JerBear last night." Caroline said laughing.
Bonnie glared at her causing Caroline to stop.
"Would you stop calling him that? We used to call him that way when we were in highschool. He's just three years younger than us okay, so what?" She asked defensively as she crossed her arms.
"Oh my gosh Bonnie. I can't believe you really made a move on my baby brother." Elena said rolling her eyes and buring her head in her hands.
"I did." She said proudly. "We're actually going out tomorrow night."
Elena shook her head in amusement and shock at Bonnie's crush on Jeremy and even though she found it a little odd she could actually see them together. Jeremy had grown up a lot ever since he came back and Bonnie would be so good for him.
As their food arrived they kept talking about everything and nothing at all, laughing occasionally when Caroline told some funny stories about last night.
"So…" She then started with that one, and Elena knew that nothing good was coming out of it.
They were sharing a slice of chocolate cake and Caroline kept fidgeting with the fork as she tried to make her question.
"What Caroline?" Elena asked pointedly.
"If you and Damon start dating officially, well...isn't it time for you know what, honey?" She said tentatively.
They were so not going to talk about this right now, she thought as she understood where Caroline was going.
"It's too soon to talk about it anyways." She said with a blush, trying to avoid the argument.
"Well I'm just saying." Caroline pushed shrugging.
"Caroline just let her be and don't be so pushy." Bonnie said sighing defeatedly.
Elena looked at Bonnie thanking her silently and she just smiled.
"Okay, whatever…" Caroline grumbled quietly.
They finished eating and Elena got ready for her usual shift of the afternoon as Bonnie left saying that she had to take some stuff at her dad's and Caroline had to visit her mother.
Hours passed by pretty fastly as all she could think about was Damon's face, Damon's smile, Damon's eyes, Damon's hair, Damon's kisses, Damon's…
A customer's voice suddenly snapped her out of her thoughts and she immediatly recomposed herself.
She took off at seven o'clock and she was exhausted when she got to the Boarding House. All afternoon had been a lot busy and she'd had literally fifteen minutes to change and take off. Although she had promised Maria that she would be there tonight so they could talk since they hadn't in a while. Maria valued their relationship a lot and Elena was grateful for it. During the years she'd started being almost like a second mother to her. Plus she wanted to see Damon no matter the circumstances.
She entered quietly and headed towards the kitchen when she heard talking and laughing from there.
"Hi." She said sheepishly leaning against the door frame as she looked at Damon, Stefan, and Maria having some family time.
"Elena dear." Maria said immediatly reaching for her and pulling her into a tight hug. "How have you been doing? You will excuse me if I've neglected you in the last few weeks. Stefan sure told you about the issues we've had, right?"
"Yes he did, and you don't have to worry Maria. I actually would be glad to help you if you need anything at all." She said smiling.
"Oh don't you even think about it. You already do so much. You work at the Grill almost every day and I've heard that your brother is back is that right?" She said stroking her arm lovingly.
"He is." Elena nodded.
Her eyes then shifted on Damon who was holding a glass of wine and had been staring at her for the whole time with that mischevious smirk of his. She smirked back slightly and then went to greet Stefan.
"El, I'm so glad you could make it." He said hugging her. "Are you okay? Caroline said that you weren't feeling so well last night."
"I'm fine Stef...it was nothing, just a headache." She quickly shrugged off. "What about you and Rebekah?" She then asked with a curious smile.
He scratched his head uncomfortably and blushed a little and Elena started chuckling. He was so clumsy.
"It was good I guess. Not so much happened but I'm feeling positive about it." He said with convinction.
"That's great." Elena said with a soft smile stroking his back.
Maria was at the counter chopping some vegetables with Damon helping her and Elena smiled at the sight they made. She was so happy that things were turning out for the best.
And she couldn't help but notice the big resemblance that she and Damon had. They had the same hair, the same jawline, and their eyes were the same ocean blue too. Maria was still a stunning woman and Damon definitely got all his beauty from her.
"Stefan?" Maria called, turning her head slightly. "Come here you lazy boy and help me peel these tomatoes. How come you never help me in the kitchen?"
Elena chuckled amused when Stefan rolled his eyes and groaned annoyed.
"I'm coming ma." He said as he took Damon's place.
He had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and Elena licked her lips as she looked at his arms and remembered him shirtless.
He winked at her and she felt tingles all over her skin as she grinned, gesturing at him with her head to get in the parlor.
"Damon!" She said squealing as quiet as she could when he picked her up bridal style and spinned her around a little.
"I missed you today." He whispered kissing her urgently.
"Mmm…me too." She said closing her eyes and sighing softly as he gave her little pecks all over her face.
He put her down after a while and they went sitting on the couch.
"What did you do today? Did you hang out with Stefan?" She asked as she ran a hand through his soft black hair.
"I did. I actually had a good time, and you were right…I miss my brother and I don't want us to get estranged again." He said thoughtfully.
"That's good Damon. I know you really care about him and your relationship. He looks up to you." She said smiling, shifting closer to him.
"Thank you Elena." He said taking her hand and kissing it. "You've been challenging me ever since I came back and I owe you a lot. If it wasn't for you I don't know if I would have had the braveness to be here right now. I know I gave you a hard time and I'm so glad you still looked through it."
"Damon I…" She started saying when Maria interrupted them and they quickly pulled apart.
"Sorry to interrupt you two lovebirds, but dinner's served." Maria said with a somewhat amused smile.
Elena's mouth fell open and so did her face and she saw Damon having the same reaction.
"Oh you can stop pretending dears." Maria chuckled with a roll of eyes. "I've been around long enough to tell when there's something going on." She added with a wink.
"Well…" Elena said a little uncomfortably, scratching her head. "We would have told you guys but Damon was a little reclutant."
She saw him glaring at her and she mouthed a 'sorry' with a cringe.
"My boy has always been crazy about you. It's no wonder that sparks would fly with you two soon enough. He seems whipped already." She said chuckling.
"Mom!" Damon said incredulously, his eyes widening.
She could swear that she'd seen him blush slightly and she giggled softly.
"What? You could have been more sneaky about it. The hickey on your neck sure isn't helping." She said shrugging.
Elena blushed immediatly as soon as she noticed it and Damon rolled his eyes cursing under his breath.
"Don't start giving me a lecture ma." He said.
"I love Elena, son. You couldn't have chosen a better girl for yourself." She said smiling knowingly.
They shared a look and she felt the usual butterflies in her stomach when he did his eye-thing that she loved and hated so much.
Just then Stefan joined them looking a little confused.
"What did I miss?" He asked knotting his eyebrows.
"Just your brother and Elena trying to play dumb about their relationship. Little did they know that I always know better." Maria said with a grin which faded as soon as she saw Stefan looking stiff and serious.
"For god's sake, Damon." He said sternly shaking his head. "You just couldn't back the fuck off, could you?"
"Stefan!" Maria gasped baffled.
"NO!" He yelled. "Don't you understand? He's going to leave us again not looking back as he already did. And now he even had to have Elena because what he wants he gets, right?"
"Stefan calm down!" Maria said. "This isn't any of your business anyways and what Damon and Elena decide to do it's on them. Why are you even so mad about it?"
"Because I don't want him to break her heart like he did with us." He said harshly before throwing the cloth that he was holding on the floor and walking out of the door, slamming it loudly.
Heavy silence filled the room as no one knew what to say.
Damon wanted to speak up and reassure him that he would never break Elena's heart, but was that what most people assumed? What they assumed? That he would just walk out on them? He suddenly realized that maybe even though they did forgive him the trust still wasn't there. But what about Elena? He would hate knowing that she even thought about the remote possibility of him leaving her. Now that he finally had her he would never let her go as long as she wanted him to stay. What his mother said was right, the truth was that she had him whipped for her. She always had.
The problem had never been his mother and Stefan. And he knew that. So why the sudden outburst?
He looked down kind of ashamed not really knowing what to say as Elena crossed her arms over her chest and stayed quiet too.
Maria kneeled to take the cloth that Stefan had thrown from the floor and she sighed quietly as she started fidgeting with it.
"I better go find him. I'm sure he didn't want to snap at you Damon." She said smiling weakly.
He walked towards his mother and took her hand, giving it a tight squeeze.
"I'm not leaving you again." He said firmly, looking at her in the eyes.
"I know." She whispered, tears filling her eyes.
She squeezed his hand back and then started walking towards the door, knowing full well where she would find Stefan.
Damon stood there feeling guilty and thoughtful until he felt Elena kissing his shoulder.
"It's going to be okay Damon. You just have to give it time." She said reassuringly, making him turn around.
"I was a fool thinking that I would come back and that it would all be the same again. They hate me." He said quietly.
"They don't, baby. Of course they don't." Elena said full of convinction. "Once you told me that the worst part was yet to come and this is it. You just have to fight for it and not give up."
He suddenly pulled her into a tight desperate embrace and she was surprised at the gesture. Usually she was always the one hugging him first and he didn't seem very fond of the act itself.
He held her close to his body and she wrapped her arms around his waist pulling him closer too.
"You are an amazing woman Elena, you know that right? You're one of the bravest people I know. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." He whispered.
"So are you Damon. Believe me." She said squeezing him.
With Damon in her life she felt whole again. A feeling that she didn't quite have since her parents death. She felt hopeful and loved and it was all on him.
They suddenly remembered that before it all happened dinner was ready so they headed into the kitchen and grabbed some pasta even though it had become pretty cold by now. They then cleaned up in a comfortable silence and as they finished Damon went into the parlor to start a fire.
He filled himself a glass of bourbon and ploppled on the couch. With his big surprise he saw Elena filling herself a glass of bourbon too and he smiled amused.
"Wow, I didn't see that coming." He said chuckling as he tucked her under his arm and placed a blanket on her legs.
"I have my alcoholic moments too you know." She said.
He kept chuckling and then they grew quiet for a few long minutes, just enjoying each other's company and thinking.
"Damon." Elena suddenly said, straightening herself a little to look at him in the eyes. "I…I mean…what Stefan said…" She started saying nervously, in a loss of words.
Damon kept looking at her with an expectant look and she took a deep breath before speaking up again.
"What are we doing here, exactly? I didn't mean to bring the elephant in the room just now but…I can't keep it to myself anymore. Are you going to leave again and stay in Chicago permanently? Because honestly, I couldn't take it. Sue me if I'm selfish but I don't want you to. I want you here. With me. Everyday. Please tell me you're going to stay." She was almost begging in the end, her eyes silently screaming at him the words as they filled up with tears a little.
She didn't care if she sounded desperate, that was the utter truth. She suddenly felt a lump in her throat at the thought that he might reject her and tell her that he would go back anyway. She knew she would lose it.
He slowly placed his glass on the table by the fireplace, getting closer to her as he looked at her with a look that screamed adoration and disbelief.
Her heart was racing so fast right now that she thought it was going to burst out of her chest.
He gave her a soft vulnerable smile before he cupped her smooth cheeks gently, stroking them lovingly with his thumbs.
He kissed her softly and slowly, just enjoying the sensation of her lips matching on his.
"I'm not going anywhere." He whispered, his ocean blue eyes gazing into her doe ones.
He knew which words he wanted to speak. He knew what was the first reason that he would give her but he didn't want to freak her out so he kept them for himself.
"Really?" She asked with a tentative smile.
"Really, baby. I'm going to stay until you tell me to go. I promise you." He said as he pulled her in his lap and she locked her legs around his waist.
"Oh Damon." She cried as she threw her arms around his neck and held him tight. "I don't ever want you to go. So you're stuck with me." She then said chuckling.
"I'm stuck in a very good position." He said as he waggled his eyebrows.
She blushed and swatted his arm.
"Be serious." She said giving him a pointed look. "But what about your job? And your house and everything else?"
"I had actually planned on moving back in Mystic Falls permanently for a while now. My apartment can easily and fastly be sold anyways. It's in a very fancy neighborhood and trust me there are plenty of people who would buy it in a heartbeat. And I thought about taking a sabbatic from work and just focus on what I have to do here. Then I can restart working on my own or something like that, I still haven't thought about that." He said shrugging.
She smiled at him but then gave him a guilty look.
"Are you sure about this Damon? It's a huge change and I don't want you to regret it someday." She said biting her lip.
"There is nothing for me there anyway Elena. Plus I want to stay here with you and fix things with my mother and Stefan. This is home." He nodded.
"I'm happy." She said smiling widely and kissing him again.
He grinned back at her before he thought about something else.
"I was thinking for this weekend…" He started saying, studying her reaction. "I want to take you out on a real date. I was thinking about this pretty cool place that's a little out of town and then maybe we could spend the night at the lake house since it's nearby. What do you think?" He said casually.
Elena immediatly stiffened in his arms and he could feel that she'd tensed up.
"I don't know Damon…" She started, biting her bottom lip.
She quickly stood up and he groaned at the loss of her warm body against his.
"What you don't know? Do you already have plans?" He asked.
"I…no. Well yes. Kinda." She said as she started pacing around the room.
"Slow down Elena you're making my head spin." He joked and she suddenly stopped in front of him, crossing her arms.
He could see that she was still flustered though and he knotted his eyebrows in confusion. Did he say something wrong?
"If you don't want to go it's fine…just tell me." He said even if slightly hurt.
He was looking at her searching for a reaction and she then took a deep breath, finally speaking.
"Fine. I don't want to go." She said.