Of Stinky Losers And Drowned Rats

This short little Delena one-shot takes place after episode 2x17 'Know Thy Enemy'. It was inspired by Damon's comment after they make Elena sign the deed to the boarding house: "I'm gonna be super pissed if you don't invite me in." (I'm not sure that's exactly what he said but I'm too lazy to look it up now and it doesn't really matter anyway. You get the rough idea what this is about, don't you?).

Have fun reading, and please let me know what you think.

It shouldn't feel like this. It shouldn't feel this normal and kind of familiar, and it certainly wasn't supposed to feel this good.

It was supposed to be a simple form, nothing but a formal ploy to prevent uninvited vampires from entering. It was supposed to be nothing but a way to keep her safe and protected.

So why, Elena thought when she entered the boarding house for the first time after it had officially become hers, why did it feel so good, so right?

The house was hers only technically. Nothing was supposed to change just because Stefan and Damon had left it to her. All Elena had done had been putting her signature onto the deed.

It shouldn't change anything at all. But it did.

Elena strolled through the great entrance hall, her left hand outstretched and sliding along the wooden staircase, and she felt as if she was seeing everything for the first time. And yet it somehow felt like she was coming home all the same.

It even smelled like home. Elena inhaled the rich scent of old wood and furniture, the slightly musty but pleasant smell that seemed to come from the plush carpet, and she watched sunlight flitter around and settle onto every other piece of furniture, making tiny specs of dust happily dance in the air.

Even the dust seemed to be as happy and welcoming as Elena felt right now.

It was breathtaking.

Someone suddenly cleared their throat behind her, overly loud and not at all subtle, and Elena felt her lips twisting into a smile immediately. She didn't need to turn around to know that it was Damon standing on the threshold of the open front door.

She turned to him nevertheless and saw him leaning against the doorframe, the very picture of casualness. His arms were crossed over his chest and both his feet were lined up neatly behind the threshold, careful not to touch it.

Well, he couldn't, could he?

Since both Salvatores had been inside the house the moment Elena had put her name under the deed, they hadn't been immediately affected by the change in ownership. But once they'd stepped outside they'd needed an invitation to come back in.

And Damon was obviously waiting for one just now.

"So, Elena," he drawled in that typical voice of his. "Are you gonna let me back in or do I have to pitch my tent elsewhere from now on?"

Elena's grin widened and she stepped closer to the door. "Huh, let me think about it for a minute. Do I want to invite you in or not?"

She was enjoying this far too much, Damon noticed. But then again, let the girl have her fun for a little while. 'God knows she doesn't get much of it these days. And surely not with my brooding brother.'

He watched Elena's face scrunch up as if in deep thought and couldn't help but smile at seeing her this playful and happy.

She was truly beautiful like this.

Damon tilted his head forward and sought Elena's eyes. "So, what's the verdict?"

"I have one condition," Elena grinned and that small wicked smile around her lips made Damon fall in love with her all over again. And just like that he knew that whatever she'd come up with now, he'd do it.

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow expectantly. "Well, let's hear it."

"I want you to promise me…" Elena inserted a prominent pause for good measure and then carried on: "That I'm allowed to use your bathroom whenever I want to."

"Deal," Damon agreed readily. So his posh bathroom had made an impression on her, huh? Interesting, but not at all surprising. It was after all the most luxurious room this house had to offer. Of course she'd want to take advantage of it. Hell, he would allow her bubble baths four times a day if she'd want to. The more the better! His smirk turned into a dirty leer when he imagined it.

But Elena quickly burst that bubble again.

"I wasn't finished, Damon," her hand shot up and she poked a finger into his chest. "I want you to promise me to not lurk in the shadows somewhere, watching me, while I'm having a bath or whatever. No peeping, got it?"

"But where's the fun in that, Elena?" Damon pouted.

"The fun's for me, Damon. All for me." Elena raised her eyebrows questioningly. "So, promise?"

He cocked his head to the side and eyed her silently for a second. Then, sure that he'd somehow find a way around that if needed (and it was very much needed, wasn't it?), Damon finally nodded. Lifting his hand to perform the universal scout's greeting he stated: "Promise. Scout's honor. Cross my heart and hope to die. Whatever. Deal!"

Elena laughed out loud at his eagerness. "Okay, deal!" She straightened up and gestured for him to come inside. "Damon Salvatore, you are officially invited and welcome into this house!"

"Thank you very much, Miss Gilbert," Damon smiled and slowly made his way inside.

Halfway down the hall he suddenly turned his head and asked over his shoulder: "So, about that bath. Would you care to join me for one now?"

Elena's head shot up in alarm. "What?"

Damon shrugged his shoulders. "You. Me. Taking a nice long soak. I happen to enjoy bubble baths very much, as long as it's with the right person."

Elena could only stare back open-mouthed.

"What?" Damon shrugged again and in the blink of an eye rushed over to invade her personal space. "You never said anything about us not taking a bath together, Elena!" His eyes, too close to Elena's comfort, gleamed with mirth. "In fact, since I'm not allowed to lurk in the shadows as you so well put it, you leave me no choice but to share bath-time with you, right?"

"What? No," Elena sputtered and took a step back. "That's not what I meant, Damon! I meant…"

"I know what you meant," Damon's grin was positively lecherous. He turned and sauntered towards the staircase again. "But, dear Elena, what you mean and what you say are usually two completely different things. And that's your problem in a nutshell."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Elena stared after Damon who'd by now mounted half of the stairs. He leaned over the banister and winked back: "I'll tell you in the bathtub! Come on, last one in is a stinky loser!"

Elena shook her head but couldn't help but smile at Damon's antics. "I'm not gonna share a bath with you, Damon."

"Stinky loser!" Damon's sing-song-ed voice echoed back from upstairs.

"I'm not stinky!" Elena raced up the stairs after Damon.

"Well, you will be until after you take a bath," Damon reasoned. He was standing in the doorway to his room, waiting for her to suit up. "So, best get it over with, right? After all, vampires have a very sensitive nose and you wouldn't want to offend mine with your smell of stinky loser, would you?"

Elena reached Damon just as he stepped into his room. She followed, not thinking about it twice.

"I'll show you a stinky loser," she laughed and, playfully pushing Damon out of the way, rushed over to climb fully clothed, shoes and all, into the empty bathtub.

"Ha," she shouted triumphantly when Damon rounded the corner, a mix of disbelief, pleasant surprise and utter happiness on his face. "Who's the loser now, huh?"

Damon shook his head to himself. He couldn't believe his luck. Not in his wildest dreams had he ever dared to hope that he'd be the cause for such pure joy and childishness in Elena. And here it was, all over her face, making her even more beautiful than before.

"Huh, who's the loser?" Elena egged him once again.

'Definitely not me,' Damon thought and his eyes gleamed in joy. Before Elena knew what was happening Damon put his vampire speed to use and rushed over, grabbed the spray, turned on the water and doused her in it.

To Damon's utter delight Elena's shocked squeal quickly turned into breathless laughter while she was trying to wrestle the spray from his hands and climb out of the tub at the same time. He had to bite his tongue not to blurt out: 'God, I love you!'

Instead he said: "Elena, you look like a drowned rat. Be glad that I don't do the animal diet, otherwise you'd not be safe here, your house or not!"

Elena couldn't answer for she was laughing too hard and gasping for breath.

God, it felt good to be home.

The End

I'm not too satisfied with the end but… well, let me know what you think, okay?