Awake- Chapter 11

Damon made it home to a surprising scene. He had expected to find the gang huddled in the living room in a mix between tears and therapy. As he walked to the house, he found the door wide open with no one inside. He looked around the entrance and the basement. He found the pile of blood bags next to the freezers and thought he might as well serve himself. He thought perhaps Bonnie had stopped by and already fashion Elena a day light ring and every one had gone for a stroll. He knew he had told Jeremy, he would give Elena news of Matt, but he hadn't told him when. He would just go up to his room, grab a few things and then be on his way. It isn't until he reached the top of the stairs he heard a faint whimper coming from his room. It sounded like a animal who laid dying, but this was no animal. Damon walk in to find a huddled Elena in the corner of his room badly burned and covered in blod.

"Oh God Elena, are you ok? Are you bleeding? What happened? Where is everyone?" said Damon as he rush to her side.

"I am fine Damon. The burns are healing quickly."

"But you are blee" as he was saying the words he realised that the blood wasn't hers, well it was hers, but rather her dinner then the one in her vains.

"Elena, why are you burn, where us everyone?"

"I panicked. I needed to feed so badly and I went through your stash in the basement but then I couldn't let Stefan see me. He looked so scared to see me like this. I couldn't even believe me. I couldn't stay there so I took off but as soon as I stepped outside. Damon, I had forgotten." Said Elena who was now snuggled in Damon's arms slowly sobing.

"You forgot you couldn't be outside in the sun" said Damon holding her close against him as he put her head deep in his neck. He held her close and kissed the top of her head as he could feel a lump in his throat grow as he shared the pain of Elena who was now starting to face her new state of being.

"It's ok. It is all part of the learning process. Plus I am sure Bonnie will make you one of these ghastly ring and you will just be able to walk around like a champion in no time" said Damon desperately trying to put a hopeful face on. "But where is everyone else? Why didn't you just go back in?"

"I couldn't just go back in. Luckily, the sun wasn't very high so I ran in the back door. They didn't hear me and they let to look for me. I just thought this was the last place they would look for me, plus I needed to heal. I don't want anyone to see me like this."

"It ok Elena, the burns seem to be almost gone. Why don't we get you cleaned up? I can go get a wash clothes."

"No!" said Elena interrupting Damon. "Can I just stay right here for a minute?" Elena said holding on to Damon even tighter.

"Oh course, we will do whatever you want" said Damon. " But I am not sure what would Stefan think if he was to walk in here right now."

"You are probably right" said Elena slowly parting from Damon. " Do you mind if I use your bathroom?"

"No. Of course" said Damon as he also got up from the floor helping Elena up.

Elena walked into the Damon's bathroom and the water started to poor out of the sink as Damon sat on the bed. Elena started to wash the blood off her face when her necklace brushed her hand and burned her still very sensitive and newly healed skin.

"Ouch!" screamed Elena. She grabbed the necklace and put all the frustration she had in the event of the past hours and threw it hard on the ground. Damon pick up the necklace and brought it back to Elena who sobbing not of pain but of anger and frustration. As he approached her with the necklace, Elena's memories of that faithful night started to merge with the current state of affairs.

*Why do you have to say it with my necklace. Because what I am about to say is probably the most selfish thing I have ever said in my life. Damon don't go there. I just have to say in once, you just have to hear it. I love you Elena and it's because I love you that I can't be selfish with you. It's why you can't know this. I don't deserve you, but my brother does. God I wish you didn't have to forget this, but you do.*

"Damon, I don't want my necklace back, but why are you saying this to me. I won't forget what you told me. I don't want to forget." Elena said while stepping closer to Damon. She put her hand on the side of his face. "You know this has nothing to do with deserving me or not. I haven't had the chance to talk to you yet, but I am so sorry about last night."

"Elena, I…" said Damon clearly confused by what was happening.

"No, Damon, I know you love me and I would never want to not know who you feel. It is just Stefan and us, we have this history and…"

Elena felt closer to Damon that she ever had before. She didn't know what was happening but his declaration of love despite her being angry and covered in dried blood had deeply touched her heart, especially after what she had told him last night. She felt a connexion unlike any she had felt before and right in that moment, she just wanted to be as closed to him as she could. She simply stopped thinking and lean in closer for a kiss when the door of the house swung open with great noise completely interrupting the moment.

"Elena! Elena! Are you here?" yelled Stefan as he walked in. "I can't believe we thought she went out, she doesn't have a ring. She has to be in here."

"We should tell him you are here" whispered Damon leaning in closer to Elena's ear. The electricity was incredible.

"Yes Damon you are right."