As always thank you so much for you're wonderful reviews you guys are amazing. This one really made me happy. I really like this chapter even though I had no intention on going where I went :). But just see for yourselves...enjoy!

Lineup

Elena's POV

"How about getting you out of these clothes first?"

She couldn't help the little chuckle escaping her dry throat. It was an honest little laugh and somewhat relieving. They had been close ...too close. We almost... 'Elena?' Damon's voice interrupting her thoughts. 'Hmm?' She looked at him with an unreadable expression. 'I said...' Damon obviously repeating what she didn't hear. '...there is a robe inside the closet and some towels too. I'll see you in my room when you're ready.' He turned around and left her sitting silent for a moment as his words finally sank in. 'What? Wait...What do you...' But he was already gone.'...mean by your room?' she finished her question in an annoyed sounding outtake of breath. ...Here we go. Old Damon Salvatore is back in the game...

She looked around the room realizing that it had only a shower. A big and nice one, of course but no tub. She wondered if there was any other possibility of getting into a hot bath that didn't involve walking into Damon's room half naked. She stripped out off her clammy nightgowns and wrapped herself in a big bathrobe that hung in the wardrobe just as Damon had said. She took one of the bigger towels and went to the full length mirror in one corner of the room. … Mmmhh. Lovely. Half naked or not this is anything but desirable. ... She thought bitterly taking in her disheveled form. Her face pale with dry lips and her hair sticking up in every direction. Smoothing out her tousled strands, her thoughts drifted back to her dream. Her nightmare really. Thinking about it made her shiver again and she felt her pulse quicken.

[Flashback: It was all but darkness that surrounded her. Not the faintest touch of light anywhere. She stumbled forward reaching out with her hands trying to make out anything of her surroundings. Then she saw something in the near distance. A small glimpse. As she got closer she could see that it there was a fire. It was in the center of a clearing. Suddenly she was surrounded by trees. She was in a forest. She got closer reaching the outline of the trees. Staring into the open space before her she recognized five burning circles on the ground around the main fireplace. A body laying in the middle of each circle. Elena looked at the closest one and recognized Caroline's form. 'Caroline!' she yelled running towards her unmoving friend. As she got to the fierily barrier the flames went higher and Elena stumbled backwards shielding her face with her arms. 'Tststs..Elena my love, you're not just late but you also not sticking to the plan.' Elena blinked a couple times to clear her vision from the bright spots she now was seeing after her close encounter with the flames. She stared at where the voice was coming from. 'Please be patient. I'll give you're little girlfriend the right attention when it is the time.' Klaus stepped closer offering Elena his right hand. Not taking it Elena got up staring straight back at him. 'Let her go! You got what you came for so let her go now.' She said defined. Klaus chuckle left goosebumps all over her body. 'Not quite my love. I still need you. And since you and you're vampire riff-raff are somewhat inseparable these days...well I decided to speed things up a bit. With that he turned around and walked to the next burning circle. 'Wakey wakey eggs and bakey.' He singsonged, clapping his hands next to the unmoving pile in the dirt. The person stirred and Elena let out a muffled cry. 'Jeremy!' She jumped forward but was caught midair and pushed backwards by some invisible force. She landed on the ground a few meters away. Her head was pounding and her back aching but she didn't care. She got up quickly and stepped forward again looking frantically for the source of what had just hit her. 'Na na...what did I tell you about hurting her? That's my duty!' Elena followed Klaus gaze and gasped. There, right in the middle, next to the big bonfire was Bonnie. Staring at her with an unreadable expression. 'What did you do to her? Let her go!' Elena commanded. 'Again with the harsh tone. Don't your parents teach you some manners these days?' He asked and shook his hair. 'Well enough of that. Since you've joined the party...let's begin, shall we?' And with that he walked passed Bonnie and into the circle behind her. He yanked it's trapped body up by the hair. It was Matt. His eyes wide in fear. Bonnie started chanting something that Elena didn't understand, the flames all around them grew strong and went higher. Klaus reached behind him and took out what looked like a silver dagger. Elena screamed 'No, NO' And spurted forward but it was too late. Klaus had cut Matt's throat with one swift move and let his dead body fell to the ground. He moved up to the next ring of fire. Alaric standing in it's middle now. Baffled and clearly confused by his surroundings. He didn't have time to adjust though as Klaus stabbed him directly in the heart without hesitation. He sank to the ground spilling blood. Elena ran to Bonnie shaking her, trying to make her stop. Trying to make her do anything but helping Klaus killing her loved ones, but Bonnie just kept on with her intonation. 'Bonnie...Bonnie please stop.' She hit her now using her fists. Nothing happened. She looked at Klaus again who now had turned back to Jeremy. Elena attacked him. Not caring about the flames or Klaus's dagger or anything else beside saving her brother. ' No...please..noo! She cried and started hitting him as well. Her tiny fists bumping into his rock hard chest. She was clawing know...but all Klaus did was laughing. Laughing and pushing the dagger into Jeremy's throat... -'Elena! Elena wake up, you're having a nightmare...]

Elena shook herself. A dizzy spell hitting her hard as these memories came back to her. It had felt so real. ...But it wasn't. Thank God it wasn't. Damon pulled me out. Even if it was only from a bad dream this time. He saved me...again...and I didn't thank him. Not once. All I did was yelling and judging whenever he did something wrong. I never thanked him or let him know how grateful I am for all the good things he has done. I always take it for granted when he's...there. And He#s always been there... She realized. Even after her last encounter with Klaus he had been there in the end. He had left with Katherine. Left her after their fight over his behaviour. ...That stupid fight... Even after everything she'd said to him, done to him. Forcing him into bringing Stefan back. Bringing his life at risk over and over again. And for what? So that she could have back her boyfriend. Did she really think that less of him? Could she really just replace him with Stefan? ...No never... Not after everything he's done after who he became. ...Always helping to keep the ones I care about save. Helping to keep ME save. … Elena stared at herself again. Her mind went back to their last big fight. It had been the moment Caroline had stopped him from killing her father. She had been furious of his outburst. She did not want the others to see him like that. He had accused her of trying to turn him into Stefan. He had been right. Later in a conversation with Caroline she had realized it. But not anymore. … No not ever. I don't want him to be Stefan I don't want him to be anyone but himself. He needs to know. I told him once but I didn't tell him when he got a chance to realize it to respond to it. I said it when he was dying. He probably thinks it was out of pity...just like the kiss... Absentmindedly she run her fingertips softly back and forth over her chapped lips. … Does he really think that? ... She wondered. Did Damon really think that the kiss had been out of pity? That thought hadn't occurred to her before and she realized that she didn't like the thought of him thinking just that, one bit. Even though she knew she couldn't admit it to him, or could she? … Alright then. From now on you're gonna change a bit yourself, hear me? … She thought staring into her own eyes with unwavering determination. … You'll let him know. He deserves to know how good he is. How unique and beautiful in all his cocky, monstrous and self-confident vampiric glory he truly is. He deserves that much. After everything You ow him at least that …

Her hair was a lot smoother now. She hadn't noticed combing through it over and over again while her mind had been busy. She took in a deep breath grabbing her tangled strands pulling them back into a loose bun. Taking another quick look at her form she decided that it would have to do and went out into the hallway. As she reached Damon's room she found the door left ajar. 'Damon?' She asked pushing the door further open. The sight before her made her gasp. Damon's room was glowing from the light of what seemed like a long dozen of candles. A soft, soothing scent lingering in the air. Steam wavering from around the corner forming surrealistic patterns, calling for her to come closer. Her steps became light and tentative. As she stepped into the open, dark tiled room that defined Damon's bathroom, another 'Oh...' escaped her stunned self. The bathtub was filled to the edge with steaming, hot water. It's surface covered with high amounts of white suds. The soothing smell getting stronger. ...What is it?... She tried to sniff out the different flavors, closing her eyes and enjoying the feeling of it all. ...What did I do? Why me? Why is he always taking care of me? Someone should do that for him. He just lost the only person he cared about, he just..No Elena not the ONLY person. He cares about you too. He loves you. Just like you l... 'Sorry, I didn't think you'll be here already' Elena quickly turned around looking at Damon. He had a tablet in his left hand. A big mug with hot, steaming liquid and a plate with dark, brown cookies next to it. 'Damon I -I ...you didn't have to do all this. A simple bath would've been just fine, I..!' 'Ah ah, Elena! No discussion. You need to relax, so this is what I'll do to help you with that. No big deal and no arguing about it. I leave this here and you take your time.' With that he walked right by her, putting the tablet on a small table with just the right size to reach it from out of the tub. 'Hot tea with honey and some chocolate cookies. You know the tea will help you relax since it's my personal recipe.' He gave her a wink, smiling impishly. 'And the cookies well you know what they say about chocolate making you feel better and all...thought you could need all the help you can get.' He put his hand in the water withdrawing it again, turning back to her. 'Yep, just about right I guess. Not enough to get your fragile human body burned but it should surely warm you up so...' He didn't get any further with his sentence because Elena had closed the small distance between them, throwing her arms around his neck, pulling him close. 'Thank you!' She whispered into his left shoulder hugging him, if possible, even tighter. He didn't know what to do, his arms just hanging at his sides. Unable to move, unable to breathe even if not necessary. 'Thank you for everything! Thank you for the things you did. For the things you do. For saving me a hundred times over, protecting me and the ones I love. Thank you for being the steady force, the one that's always been honest with me no matter the costs. Thank you for being...you!' With the last sentence she had pulled her head back to look him in the eye. 'Don't ever change! You here me? Don't ever listen to me if I say something like that ever again. I meant what I said. I like you now, just the way you are. Don't try to be someone else. Don't EVER be someone else but Damon. Promise me!' She commanded.

Damon's POV:

Don't EVER be someone else but Damon. Promise me!' She commanded.

Damon didn't dare to move. Her being this close he really had trouble thinking, not to mention saying something. Something meaningful for Christ sake. He couldn't. So he only nodded and his answer was hoarse and didn't quite sound like him. 'Promise!'

I am so sorry!' For the first time since her emotional-attack on him there was some response in his face. His look changed from absolute shock to total confusion. His forehead crumpled. His blue eyes wide and his lips slightly parted as if to say something, but Elena just continued 'I am sorry for what happened with Caroline's Dad. I realized I never apologized. I guess you were right I did want to turn you into him, then.' He knew who she meant by him instantly. His body tensed by the thought of his lost brother. 'But not really. Not now, not ever. You're not him and I know that I knew all along and I wouldn't want it any other way. You two might be brothers but you're not alike. And that is not a bad thing. I guess I've never said it out loud so I'll have to now. You two are different, yes. But not as in 'the good and the bad brother' No! But as in...as in' She bit her bottom lip, looking down at his chest trying to find the right words. 'Elena...' 'Hush you.' She looked up at him again. 'Please give me just a second.' She continued her agitated thoughts. 'Stefan's kind, tender, caring, he has a pure heart but...' 'Hcchhmm...hello still here.' Damon stepped back and out of her embrace looking at her with a slightly pained expression. 'Look I know where this is gonna go you don't have to adulate little bros annoying trades. I know 'em all. You're bath is r-' 'WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME!' Elena's voice echoed through the room. It was dead silent for a second as Damon just stared at her unable to say or do anything.

His eyes wide of surprise first, then a small smile started in one corner of his mouth. Raising one eyebrow he took in Elena's form. Standing right in front of him all fiery and furious. Her hands balled into fists at her side. Her brown orbs burning with passionate fury. Like a wildcat just spotting a rival trying to get to her kittens. He liked her so much better like this. Not a glimpse of her earlier weakness showing. He knew she still had to be exhausted but right now she probably could do anything. ...Even staking Klaus... His smile grew wider at the thought ...He wouldn't stand a chance right about now... Elena's now rather quiet voice caught back his attention. 'Please could you keep you're nosy remarks for once and just let me finish first?' She looked at him solemnly taking a step closer again. Taking his face between her hands just like she'd done earlier in the parlor. 'Stefan's all that...and more..' Damon rolled his eyes. 'But!' Elena continued imperturbable. 'He's also self-loathing, dejected, suffocating and unfaithful at times even before he turned off his humanity. He did lie to me...So did you and so did I. No one's perfect Damon not Stefan not you not me.' 'Elena you don't have to explain- ' This time Elena stomped her foot like a little child. Putting a finger on his lips to stop him once again. His eyes fluttered for a moment at the sensation of her finger on his lips. 'YOU on the other hand...you're a presumptuous, cocky, impulsive, saucy and at times reckless ass that...' Damon made a growling sound narrowing his eyes at her, but she met his gaze and tightened her firm grip on his jaw. '...is also the most passionate, deep, soulful, lion-hearted and most selfless person when it comes down to the people you love that I've ever seen." He just stared at her. Not sure if he'd heard her right. 'And I need you to know that. I need you to know that you're not second best or not good enough or worthless compared to your brother. You are just as good as him and you're just as bad as him and for that...' She took a deep breath biting her bottom lip again. Closing her eyes just for a brief second.

...She won't...it can't be...it's just not happening... Damon's thoughts were a mess. He didn't know what to think what to await. He was terrified about what she'd said, beyond happy about what she'd said. He didn't know what to do with himself, with her...What did she mean by all that. He knew she cared for him. He knew that much, she had told him at least twice. ...Yeah... he thought, ... forced it out of her. Both times. ... Once by nearly dying and twice by making her say it in order to get on with his search for Stefan. But it still was real though wasn't it. ...Come on you idiot didn't she just sugarcoated your hole existence you ...what was that..ah, right presumptuous ass? How dare you question her loyalty now. It's as if she'd almost that said. No that's never gonna happen and you know it. ['It's always gonna be Stefan']... 'For that...' Elena's voice cut through the silence and his thoughts.

'...I love you just as much, Damon Salvatore!'

X) Uhoh what's coming now? Mmhh I can't wait to read what you guys think. I really didn't mean to go where it actually ended, but well the characters sort of wrote themselves I think ;). So please you know reviews are love people. XX