July 2009

"Oh, come on, Care! Nothing is going on between Damon and I!" Elena sighed.

"Don't try to bullshit me, Gilbert. The two of you have been texting non-stop since the night you met!"

"Exactly. Just texting! He hasn't even asked me if we could hang out. We just talk when we are bored, that's all. Stop making it a big deal."

"I just don't want you to get in too deep. A guy like Damon Salvatore isn't someone you should be getting mixed up with. Sure, he is hot, but he will also break your heart in the blink of an eye," Caroline tried.

"He can't break something that isn't there. Ever since Matt, I've given up on romance. It will be a long time before someone can break down these walls again." Elena said, effectively ending the conversation.

Present Day

Caroline was sitting in the hospital room holding Elena's hand between her own. She had known from the beginning that Damon would get to Elena, she just hadn't known the extent. She was fiercely protective of her best friend, but eventually, had grown to love Damon and was rooting for them to make it. They bickered often, but Caroline knew that it was all in jest and not to think much of it. However, when one of them got really angry, it was explosive. Insults were thrown left and right along with the occasional lamp.

Sighing and shaking herself from her thoughts, she bent over to place a kiss on Elena's forehead promising to come back the next morning. When she exited the room, she saw Damon hurrying down the hall towards her, coffee in hand.

"D, when is the last time you had a decent nights sleep?" She said once Damon was in front of her.

"Don't worry about me, Blondie, I'm fine," he replied.

"I'm worrying about you because someone needs to since you damn well aren't taking care of yourself. She's been here 2 weeks already Damon. She wouldn't want you to risk your health to be here by her side every second. You need a hot meal and to sleep in your own bed. This isn't a request. Go in, give her a kiss and march your ass right back out here so that I can drive you home," said Caroline with her arms crossed across her chest to prove that she meant business. Damon muttered something unintelligible under his breath but followed her orders anyway.

Ten minutes later, he was in the passenger seat of Caroline's red Prius staring out the window as the rain started to fall. How fitting, he thought to himself. He closed his eyes as he leaned back against the headrest, sighing deeply. His thoughts were immediately consumed by images of the woman that he loved, before things had gotten so fucked up.

August 2009

"Screw it!" Damon said out loud to himself.

He was going to do it. After two months of back and forth texting and flirting with Elena, he was finally going to ask her to hang out in person. He was scared shitless and it was a new feeling for him. Never before had a girl had such an impact on him, especially one he had only been around once! Get it together, Salvatore! She is just another girl! He mentally chided himself before grabbing his phone. He sent her the text saying, "Movie? My house? 7 tonight?" Her response came almost immediately, "Sure. Send me your address."

3 hours later, his doorbell rang. He took a deep breath before opening the door for Elena. She stood in the doorway wearing ripped jeans and a t-shirt, a sly smile on her face. This was the first time he had really appreciated her beauty. Sure, he noticed she was attractive the night that they had met, and had meticulously poured over her Facebook photos once they became friends, but with her standing here, without a stitch of makeup on, he was speechless.

"As fun as it is out here, are you going to invite me in? Or should I pull a chair up to the window and watch the movie from the porch?" Elena finally said.

Jolted from his thoughts, he quickly stepped aside and motioned for her to come in. As she walked over the threshold, she heard a female voice from upstairs call out.

"Damon? Who was at the door?"

"It's just my friend, Elena, Ma! We're going to watch a movie together," he hollered back.

Elena whipped around and hissed, "Your Mother is here?! Why didn't you tell me I was meeting your family?! I would have dressed nicer!"

"Oh, please. You look great!" He said with a smirk as he threw an arm around her shoulders and led her towards the living room. While bickering about what movie they were going to watch, Elena noticed a woman staring at them, a bemused look upon her face.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there! I'm Elena. It is so nice to meet you, Mrs. Salvatore!" Elena said with a deep blush quickly covering her face.

"Please, call me Isabella! It is wonderful to meet you, dear. It's not often that I get to meet the girls that my son spends his time with. Normally, I only see the backs of them when he is trying to sneak them out in the morning. My Damon thinks his old mother is a fool," she said giving Damon a knowing look.

"MA!" Damon groaned while Elena giggled behind him. "We're going to watch a movie. Do you need anything else?"

"Nope. Don't mind me. I'll be upstairs. Have fun, you two!" Isabella said before turning towards the steps.

Once deciding on a movie, some cheesy horror flick, they settled on the couch. Their easy banter continued throughout the movie, making jokes about the acting and how ridiculous the plot was. When it was finally over, Elena stood to leave.

"I had fun tonight, Damon. We should have done this sooner," she said with a small smile as they made their way towards the door.

"Yeah, we should have," he said in agreement.

"Well, thanks again. Goodnight Damon," She said turning to walk out the door.

Before she took another step, he had grabbed her by the arm and turned her around. Her mouth opened slightly before he closed the distance between them and crushed his lips against hers. It was as if time stood still. He had never felt this way over a kiss before. He had always thought it was bullshit when people said they saw fireworks during a kiss, but now, he knew it was possible. Her lips tasted slightly of vanilla and he relished in it. Before he pushed her against the wall and had his way with her right there, he pulled back from the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. She looked disheveled and slightly in shock, but he could tell that the kiss had the same effect on her as it did him. Looking into her large brown eyes, he whispered, "I've wanted to do that since the moment I met you. Goodnight, Elena." He would never forget the look of wonderment in her eyes as his words sunk in. He knew right then that Elena Gilbert would be his undoing. And he couldn't care less.

Present

Shaking his thoughts from his head, he realized that he and Caroline had pulled up in front of his house. Without saying anything, he gave Caroline a look that said he was grateful and waited until she nodded in response. He dragged himself into the house and fell face first on the couch. Right before exhaustion took over him, he said a little prayer to whoever was listening. Elena had to get better. He had to have the chance to make things right with the love of his life. No matter what it took.

A/N: Sorry that this took FOREVER for an update. I was having major writers block and life got in the way. Please review and let me know what you think!