Thanks for all your encouragement guys! It means so much - and trust me, I'm as happy as you are that Elena's stopped being such an idiot. ;) Sorry this one took a little longer than normal, but I laboured over it a little. It's longer than usual to make up for it though. As always, anything you want to let me know is very much appreciated. I wish I could give you all little personal presents as a thank you! Anyway, on with the show!

"Why don't you just ask him?" Gareth asked, clearly confused. The look of bemusement on Andrew's face was just as clear, and Elena had to stop herself from smiling. She loved how no one else understood. She didn't precisely know why, but nonetheless, it gave her some pleasure to know that her relationship with Damon was still a mystery.

"And who is this Damon guy anyway?" Andrew added. Elena really did smile this time. Meredith, however, answered for her.

"Damon is Amanda's date," Meredith supplied. Elena watched the boys eyes go as round as coins.

"Him? Why do you want him?" Andrew spluttered. Elena was a little flattered, but she smiled softly.

"Damon and I have a...complicated relationship. I can't just ask him because he would say no or avoid the issue." Elena told them. Damon had been distancing himself from her for weeks - dancing with her would break all of that effort. There was no way Damon would go for it if he had another option. She'd have to force him from Amanda's side. She needed a dance. Elena still wasn't sure precisely how she felt about Damon, but she knew one dance would solve a lot of her problems. She would know. She remembered the dance at the Miss Mystic Falls Pageant, and the one at the Masquerade Ball on the night of Damon's return. They had some kind of deep connection every time Damon took her in his arms and twirled her round. One dance and she would know for sure. It was all she needed. Just one dance. Just to make sure.

"So we need to corner him into it," Meredith summarised, lifting a glass from the table and sipping at the amber liquid. Elena smiled. Meredith had been such a friend. She understood what she needed. She'd opened her eyes tonight - she'd thank her somehow. How had Elena been so stupid? She'd spent so long telling herself that she wasn't right for Damon, yet every time she described the right girl, she'd been describing herself. It was like he was a magnet, and Elena just couldn't pull away.

"Exactly," Elena agreed. She peered over at Damon, and felt a spike of something as she saw he was very occupied with Amanda. But it meant he was distracted, and their plans had less chance of being overheard. They would have to work quickly. Meredith nodded.

"I have an idea."

They planned briefly. Once Meredith had the agreement of Andrew and Gareth, there was nothing more to argue about. Admittedly, the plan wasn't foolproof. But it was as good as Elena was going to get, and she was increasingly grateful to the three of them. They could be about to help her solve a serious problem. For that, she'd be grateful.

With nothing more to do than to wait around for the opportune moment to enact their plan, the four of them went about enjoying the party. They danced twice - the first time Elena danced with Gareth, the second with Andrew. It was strange what jealousy and a twinge of 'maybe' could do to her. Gareth was good fun, a joker, and a reasonable dancer. But he was fun, not romantic. The dance made Elena laugh - it didn't spark any sort of passion that sort of dancing should do. As for Andrew... as Elena had thought earlier, he was sweet. Ridiculously, adorably sweet. He was kind and charming and filled Elena with hope. But again it lacked any kind of spark. There were no fireworks. The first time she'd danced with Damon, there had definitely been fireworks. Even in the middle of the dilemma of Stefan being blood-crazed and missing along with Amber, Elena had forgotten it all for sixty seconds. Even the silly dance they'd been given felt less trite, and more fitting. With Stefan it had felt ridiculous. With Damon, it was perfect. She'd felt a deep connection with Damon in that minute, a connection she was only now beginning to become aware of. If she couldn't get that level of connection with a guy in triple that time with a less silly dance, then there was really no point. She was beginning to doubt that she'd ever have a relationship with anyone else like she did with Damon. But she had to check. She had to be sure.

Apart from the dancing, they mainly sat around and had a good time. They chatted and joked and laughed and played some silly games. They were occasionally visited by some of Andrew, Meredith and Gareth's other friends. It was a social evening, and a far cry from the isolated young girl that Damon had discovered in late October. Elena was happy. She wasn't the shallow queen of high school, valued for silly things anymore, and she certainly didn't want to be that person again. But she did feel remarkably at home at the party. Soon enough all her fears and worries floated away as she unwound. The only thing on her mind was having a good time - that and Damon. Elena kept slipping glances at Damon. He was always with Amanda; sometimes they were dancing, sometimes they were talking at a table across the room, sometimes they were accompanied by some of Amanda's friends, and sometimes they were making out. Elena began to worry Damon wasn't just using Amanda. She asked Meredith if she was sure the plan would work. Meredith simply smiled and told her not to be so worried. Elena found it hard to be quite so confident.

Yet despite it all, Meredith's confidence came through. Elena decided she couldn't have found a better friend. Because at precisely 9:52pm, the opportune moment arrived.

Amanda rushed over to Meredith, who was standing behind Gareth, peering at his phone. She grabbed Meredith, turning her around and squishing her in her embrace. Meredith smiled politely, waiting for her friend to release her.

"Meredith, oh my god, where have you been?" Amanda gushed. Meredith laughed.

"I've been right here for most of the night," Meredith assured her kindly. Elena took the opportunity to glance over Amanda's dress. It was soft pastel pink, and it was long, lacy and frilly. She also wore elbow length gloves. Elena happily convinced herself that it looked vaguely ridiculous. She didn't know what Damon saw in her - she really wasn't his type. But then again, apparently Elena had spent all these months describing his type as her. So who was she to talk, really?

"I suppose I've been a little distracted," Amanda admitted, giggling and blushing slightly. She finally observed Andrew, Gareth and Elena. Elena smiled. Yes, definitely not Damon's type. "So have you all been having a good night?"

"Yes, thank you, Mandy," Gareth said sweetly. She groaned.

"You know I hate it when you call me that," Amanda complained. Gareth just grinned. Then came the moment. The one Elena might have been waiting for all night.

"Oh, this is Damon. Damon Salvatore," Amanda said, turning around. Damon was just approaching their table. Elena looked up, and she could have sworn she saw hesitancy in his eyes. But he acted like nothing had happened between them. It was almost like he was ignoring her. "He's a pre-med student. Maybe you know each other, Elena?"

"We've met," Damon said briefly, coming to stand by Amanda. Elena looked up, feeling something pang in her heart. She could see the coldness in his eyes, the emotional distance. He didn't want to admit how close they were. It was like he wanted to pretend the last two years had never happened. It hurt her, and scared her. But more to the point, was this what she did to Damon? Was this how he felt every time he looked in her eyes? Why couldn't she stop hurting him? What had she been doing?

Elena could feel five pairs of eyes on her, but she was only interested in one. Damon was all that mattered. As she stared into his blue eyes, she couldn't help but wonder if he really did love her. After all this time, after everything they'd been through, did he really love her? Was it really jealousy she'd felt for Amanda? Did she really, secretly see Damon as more than a friend? And that was despite him being her ex-boyfriend's older brother, which made it so twisted you just couldn't make it up. There was only one way to find out. Meredith plunged into the plan without leaving Elena time to change her mind. Elena had a feeling Meredith wouldn't allow her to change her mind.

"So, I saw you two dancing earlier," Meredith said, her dark eyes flitting between Damon and Amanda. Amanda grinned.

"I know, I've been having a fabulous time. He's a really good dancer," Amanda told them, dropping her voice to a stage whisper on her last sentence. Damon tore his eyes from Elena, just as Amanda began to hug his arm. Meredith smiled.

"Think I could drag you away for a dance?" Gareth proposed. "If you're not too tired," he teased. Amanda's face split into a grin.

"I'd love to!" Amanda agreed as Gareth stood. "That is, if you don't mind," Amanda asked Damon carefully. Damon shrugged, making an effort to smile.

"Go ahead. I'll be fine," he reassured her. Elena felt worry creep into her bones and she shifted in her chair. She needed to dance with Damon, and she needed it soon. As Gareth and Amanda headed off, Andrew also quickly fulfilled his part of the plan. He stood up, walking over to where Meredith still stood, before taking her hand.

"I don't suppose you'd do me the honour, Miss Sulez?" he proposed politely. Meredith smiled sweetly.

"Of course. I'll see you later, Elena," Meredith said, as Andrew swept her out onto the floor. Which left her sitting at the table, Damon standing with near her. Elena looked over to Damon, whose eyes were glued to the dance floor like there was something unusual out there. Elena smiled slightly.

"Missing your date?" Elena asked weakly. Damon just shrugged. Elena sighed. This was a stupid plan. It wasn't going to work. Damon Salvatore did not respond to these subtle methods. He stood like that for a few moments more before turning to look at Elena. He seemed to look at her for the first time and really see. Damon had once told her the period look didn't suit her. He was wrong - the period look didn't suit her when she looked like Katherine. Elena looked nothing like the Katherine of 1864. And she had never been more beautiful.

"Would you like to dance, Elena?" he asked, finally looking back at her. Elena felt mildly surprised. She hadn't expected it to be that easy.

"Sorry?"

"Well, we are at a ball. And all your friends are dancing, so..." Damon trailed off. Elena smiled.

"Are you responding to peer pressure, Damon?" Elena teased. Damon looked genuinely surprised at her levity.

"No. I'm asking the most beautiful girl in the room for a dance." Elena got to her feet, sweeping her skirts up with her. It crossed her mind that Damon shouldn't be saying that to anyone other than his date.

"I would love to dance with you, Damon," Elena admitted. It broke her heart when she saw the surprise and almost confusion on Damon's face. Like he didn't expect her to agree - like he didn't expect her to say she would 'love' to. She had so much damage to make up for. To start with, Elena just held out her hand, waiting for Damon to take her onto the dance floor and sweep her off her feet.

In a single movement, Damon took her hand and did just that.

As they approached the floor, the clock struck ten. The DJ (wherever he'd been hiding all night) came out. They'd been playing traditional, classic orchestral songs all night. Apparently things were about to change.

"I think it's about time to pick things up. So guys, find your girl and show her what you've got," the DJ encouraged slyly. Elena barely even heard him. She just heard the music. It was modern, but passionate. Fiery, fierce, untamed. It was the kind of song that demanded some sort of tango or something equally ferocious. It was perfect. Elena could feel the whole mood of the room change as Damon took her into hold. He wrapped one arm around her back and kept a grip on her hand. Elena snaked an arm around the back of Damon's neck, falling into something of an argentine tango hold. Elena had taken dance classes. She knew how to do some of these things.

She turned her head, half resting it against Damon's collarbone, and followed his lead. The steps were small, brief, sharp and perfectly in time with the music. They spun round and moved elegantly. Elena could feel the music vibrating through her, but more to the fact, she could feel her heartstrings tighten. It felt like someone was running an electric current through her from the points where Damon touched her. This was amazing. Elena looked up at Damon, and found his crystal blue eyes looking down at her. She didn't speak. The dancing spoke for her.

As the chorus struck, Damon changed the dance slightly, changing the steps to suit the music. Elena followed instantly. As the music climaxed, Damon spun her under his arm and she twirled elegantly before tucking herself back into his body. They were so close, Elena could feel his breath rising and falling in his chest. Elena looked at Damon, meeting his gaze head on. Elena couldn't read his expression. But it seemed to be burning - with what, Elena didn't know. But from the way her heart throbbed and the way she felt with Damon's arms wrapped around her, Elena knew the truth.

She wasn't sure how she'd managed to ignore it for so long.

She cared about Damon. He wasn't just a good friend. Gareth and Andrew were friends. You didn't feel like this when you were just dancing with a friend. Hell, she'd danced with Stefan so many times when they had been together. Elena couldn't remember ever feeling like this when she was with Stefan. This was incredible. And it was exactly what she had needed, because it confirmed everything.

"Who knew Elena Gilbert was an expert dancer?" Damon murmured, his voice thrumming in his chest. Elena could feel it through their contact, instead of just hearing it. Elena smiled slightly.

"I took a few classes in my day," Elena murmured in reply. "Ex-cheerleader remember?"

"Ah, yes. But this doesn't fall into the pom-pom category."

"No, it doesn't." Elena agreed. She just held Damon's eyes, watching him. She didn't say anything else. There was nothing to say. The moment was just too perfect. They danced on for a while, and Elena just let the music float around her. As the song peaked again, Elena started to flourish, pulling out those dramatic moves she hadn't used in years. She was almost regretting her dress - the skirt was so long and full it was almost in the way of some of the things she wanted to do. They finished the song with Damon twisting her under his arm, clutching her to his chest with her back practically flush with the planes of his torso. As the last dramatic note of the song sounded, Elena laughed slightly.

"What?" Damon asked, clearly curious.

"Oh, it's just so messed up. You in a mobster suit, me in this big Tudor dress dancing an Argentine Tango to a James Bond song," Elena explained, turning around to face Damon. He was smirking. Elena tipped his hat backwards so she could see his face more clearly.

"You are the epitome of messed up, Elena. And that's a Bond song?" Damon asked. Elena took his first point, but she laughed slightly at his question.

"What, you never watched a James Bond movie?"

"Sure. Doesn't mean I know all the music, Miss Bond-Girl." Damon teased, playing with a loose strand of her hair. Elena smiled, before inhaling deeply.

"Damon, I..." Elena would have said it then. She was so close to beginning to admit so many things to Damon Salvatore. Things that would have been impossible to even think two months ago, let alone two years ago. But she was cut off.

Elena could honestly admit she had never hated Amanda Scott more.

"Damon! Hey, I saw -," Amanda stopped immediately as she took in Damon and Elena. They still had their arms around each other from the dance. "Oh. Sorry, I thought you guys were done. I can go snag Andrew for another dance?" she suggested. Every part of Elena screamed yes, yes, a thousand times yes! But Damon was already untangling himself from Elena, and Elena reluctantly let go.

"No, it's fine. We have all night after all," Elena said lightly, but she could hear the strain in her own voice. She was going to snap. She was literally going to break if she stood there and watched Amanda wrap her arms around Damon and snog him. Because she was - in a way - incredibly jealous of her for that. Elena could see that now. And she couldn't take it. "I'll see you guys later," Elena murmured, sweeping off of the floor. She could feel Damon's eyes burning holes into her back as she walked away. She also caught Meredith's curious glance. But Elena just kept walking until she found a passing waiter. She scooped a glass off it and swallowed half the contents. She took some pleasure in the fact it was alcohol.

Breathing in deeply, Elena bit back tears. She'd been so close to saying so much to Damon. It might have ended all his pain; it could have changed so much between them. But Amanda had to interrupt and ruin it all. But at least she knew, now. She had time to tell Damon... Then it hit her. It was the Holiday season. She'd be going back to Virginia tomorrow. As far as she knew, Damon had no plans to return with her. Elena felt a bubble of hysteria building, as she fought to keep a straight face. She couldn't wait that long to tell Damon. Either she had to tell him tonight, or she had to drag him back to Virginia with her. But that tango had been the perfect moment. It had been so intimate, and they'd been so easy with one another...it had been so perfect. And she had ruined it all. Elena glanced back over to them. She nearly broke down when she saw them dancing together. The music was now more modern, but still, they were wrapped together. Elena's only comfort was that Damon was still watching her. Elena smiled weakly at him, but Damon didn't even acknowledge her. What a mess she was in.

The mess only got worse when Elena heard a smooth, seductive voice in her ear.

"Hello, Katherine."

Elena was immediately faced with two choices. Either she could admit the truth, and say she wasn't Katherine. However, that could potentially get her killed. A crowd wouldn't protect her. Elena could still remember what had happened to Aimee Bradley. A crowd hadn't stopped Katherine. The second option was more dangerous, but perhaps more sensible. She could pretend. She could pretend to be Katherine. Katherine had pretended to be her so many times, why couldn't she do the same? It was easy. You just had to act like you were better than everyone around you, and like you were playing a game. How hard could it be? Elena took option two without thinking. She drew herself upright and looked disdainfully at the man at her side, erasing all traces of hysteria from her face.

"Sorry, I can't seem to remember who you are right now," Elena said artfully, a small smile playing across her lips. It was the man from the party, the one who'd thought she was Katherine before. He hadn't given up. Elena had never expected him to. He'd just been waiting for the right moment. He looked vaguely angry at her.

"You know damn well who I am, bitch." Doing her best Katherine face, Elena just smirked.

"Refresh my memory," Elena said seductively, brushing past him and beginning to walk around the edge of the dance floor. She let her eyes float through the dancing couples, and could see Damon watching her. His eyes were wide. Elena was in doubt he was listening. He knew what she was doing. Elena caught a glimpse of Meredith, who looked suspicious. Elena looked away from them both after a moment, letting her eyes wander. The man was still following her. He seemed to consider denying her for a moment, but then he changed his mind.

"You took me for a ride, remember, Kat? You promised us we'd be able to walk in the sun if we'd told you what you wanted to know." Elena looked sideways at him.

"Well, you clearly found some way to do it." Elena told him. He looked puzzled for a moment. "I saw you at the cafe."

"You had Salvatore with you." Elena felt a shiver rip through her heart. The way he said the name with disgust...it worried Elena. But she couldn't show it.

"That is none of your business," Elena instructed him.

"I thought you dropped him."

"I dropped him nearly a hundred and fifty years ago. Doesn't mean I can't have some fun," Elena said, smirking. She hated saying these things. She wasn't using Damon, she never would. She hated the fact that Katherine had used Damon like that. But if she was pretending to be Katherine, she had to say these things. The man opened his mouth, but Elena turned on her heel, trying to be threatening. "I'm bored of this conversation. So tell me what you want or get out." He looked vaguely surprised.

"Payback."

"Ouch." Elena said, a smile gracing her lips. The man's eyes burned.

"Don't play with me, Katherine. You might be able to brush me off, but you know Jared won't give up so easily." Elena shrugged, sipping at the alcohol.

"I'm not concerned." Elena said nonchalantly. The man narrowed his eyes at her.

"Why don't we take this somewhere more private?"

"Why not?" Elena strode out, leading the way, casting a furtive glance at Damon. She didn't want to go, but Katherine would never back down from a fight. If he knew she wasn't Katherine, she was dead. So she had to play along with it. Damon looked like he was either about to drop to the floor or run over and pin her to a wall. It was hard to decide which. He'd left Amanda and was weaving through the crowd in a second. Elena slipped out of the party quickly. She headed for the function suite next to theirs. A sign hung on the door. 'Under refurbishment'. Perfect.

Elena opened that door and walked into the centre of the room. It was littered with cans of paint and - luckily enough - a stack of wooden panels. They'd been redoing the laminate flooring. Laminate was still wood, which mean Elena was feeling better defended already. Elena went to stand by the stack as she heard the door close. The man was before her in an instant.

"What do you want?" Elena demanded.

"Payback. Justice."

"You clearly got what you wanted. I don't see what I have to do with this anymore."

"You should have kept your word, Katherine."

Then, before Elena could react, he had her by the throat and pinned her to a wall. Elena knew Katherine wouldn't have reacted, but the pain that lanced through her head and back from the impact was too much. She gasped, choking for breath. She watched the man's brow furrow before realisation dawned on his face. Her heartbeat would be so much more distinguishable in here, alone.

"You're human. You're not Katherine." He said it simply, if a little surprised. "Forget this ever happened." Elena could see the compulsion in his eyes. But she couldn't pretend to be affected. It was impossible while she was half-choking against a wall. The man's eyes narrowed. "Fine. I guess I'll just have to kill you."

Elena's only thought was of Damon. Damon filled her mind, as she knew it would only take a fraction of a second for this man to end it and snap her neck. End her. She let her mind fill with Damon, who she shared such a deep connection with. Damon, who she had finally realised she loved, who looked after her even though it killed him, who stuck by her and had repaired her when she was broken. Who'd given so much for her. 'Damon, l love you,' Elena thought desperately, as if he'd be able to hear it. It was the first time she'd admitted it to herself. But she did. She really, truly loved him.

And he'd never know. Elena felt her heart shatter in her chest.

"Get your hands off of her."