I'm sorry I've been gone for so long! I got married (yay!) and then I got a nasty head cold (boo!). On the plus side, I was able to get several chapters done so I'll be posting the next couple VERY soon! Thank you for your patience and I really hope you like the chapter! Reviews are very much appreciated J
xoxo
Chapter 8
There was no clock in his room but it was dark when she came slowly back to consciousness. Elena couldn't remember ever having slept so well. Opening one eye, she peeked up at the man whose arms were firmly wrapped around her. She was still nestled on his chest with one leg thrown over his middle and he appeared to be sleeping. His eyes were closed and his breathing was steady and even. She doubted Damon would appreciate the sentiment, but he was adorable when he was asleep. He looked so peaceful and sweet. She tried very hard to stay still and not wake him.
"Hi" he said, his eyes still closed
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you"
"S'ok. We need to get up anyway. Bonnie and Caroline will be here soon."
"Can we stay here a little longer?" she pleaded. Their bodies seemed to fit perfectly together and she wasn't ready to move.
"Of course" her favorite little smile touched his lips and he finally opened his eyes to look down at her with an expression that melted her heart. No one had ever looked at her with such affection and joy.
"You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen" he told her
She blushed "You're not so bad looking yourself"
His smile widened and his hand started running idly up and down her back.
"Mmm that feels nice" it was so soothing and she couldn't stop smiling.
His arms tightened around her for a moment and then let her go "Much as I'd love to keep you naked in my bed forever, we should get up. You might want to shower before everyone gets home"
She was about to ask why when she ran her fingers through her hair and felt something encrusted on a few of her brown locks.
"What is this?" she said trying to pull her fingers through it
"It's blood" he said "I got a little carried away.
She tucked her chin down to look at herself and saw that there were streaks of blood caked on her collarbone and chest.
"Is it weird that I don't want to wash it off?" she asked. Oh God did I just say that out loud? She thought.
"Christ, Elena…" he said and untangled his limbs from hers "I'm going to get out of bed before I decide I don't care whether or not Bonnie and Caroline hear you screaming my name."
She flushed red again and pouted at him "Do we really have to get up?"
"Yes, we really have to get up" he didn't sound very happy about it either but he pushed himself up and stood naked next to the bed, giving her an excellent view of his toned backside. With a contented sigh, she marveled at the way the muscles in his shoulders rippled as he pulled the black t-shirt over his head.
"Come on lazy bones. Up and at 'em" he said and started pulling his pants back on.
"Do you ever wear underwear?" she asked, ignoring him.
He looked over his shoulder at her "Don't make me pick you up and throw you in the shower"
His tone was playful but she had no doubt he would literally throw her in the shower. She was almost tempted to stay put and let him do it, anything to get his hands on her again, but she scrambled out of bed and then realized he'd left a trail of her clothes from the kitchen to the bedroom.
"Um, I don't have any clothes"
"Do you usually shower with your clothes on?" he asked with a laugh
"No but the shower is in my room"
"You can use mine"
Elena took a good look around for the first time since entering the room this afternoon. Rich mahogany wood covered the floors and walls, what looked like an antique Persian rug rested under the massive four poster bed, and a huge stone fireplace was tucked into the back wall. It was opulent and beautiful like the rest of the house, but it felt warm and inviting.
"I like your room" she commented.
"Wait until you see the bathroom" he said, inclining his head toward the other section of the room.
She gave him a curious look and bounded off to see what he meant.
"Oh my god!" she yelled back to him "Damon, this is gorgeous!"
The whole bathroom was stone and marble with a gleaming white standalone tub and a fantastic glass walled shower. She went for the shower and turned the water to scalding hot.
"Glad you like it" she jumped at his voice right behind her.
She whirled around to find him giving her a burning stare. He leaned down and cupped her face, kissing her long and slow.
"I thought you said I had to take a shower" she said against his lips
"Mmm-hmm, that's why my hands aren't all over you" he reached around her and opened the shower door "I just wanted to see you naked in my shower."
She turned and stepped into the shower, feeling his eyes on her back. She tilted her head back to wet her hair. When she slicked the water from her hair, he was still watching her through the glass with molten eyes.
"You could join me if you want" she picked up a bar of soap and started running it over her body.
"Remember what I said about teasing vampires?" he said and licked his lips suggestively.
"That actually worked out pretty well for me the last time" she teased.
"Elena Gilbert, you are going to be the death of me."
"Aren't you technically already dead?"
He chuckled at her "Smartass. I'm going to leave some clothes on the bed for you. Come downstairs when you're ready."
"Ok, I'll be down soon"
Damon's eyes ran over her body once more and his brows furrowed when they got to her neck.
"Come here for a second" he told her
She poked her head out and looked at him expectantly. He put his hand to his mouth and pricked his index finger with his fang and held it out to her.
"Just a tiny bit so Caroline and Bonnie don't think I've been snacking on you."
She didn't want the marks to disappear but she took the tip of his finger in her mouth and sucked lightly at the tiny wound before it closed. It was strange, this part of her that he'd awakened inside her, she didn't want to wash blood off her skin and she was upset that she didn't get to keep bite marks on her neck, but for the first time in her life she felt free, alive, and happy.
Giving her a quick peck on the lips, Damon reluctantly left the sight of her dripping figure and made his way downstairs. A recurring thought kept going through in his mind as he headed for the platter of decanters in the parlor– he couldn't let her leave, they belonged together. He was a selfish creature by nature and thinking about letting her go left an ache in the pit of his stomach. He knew he didn't deserve her. He was a killer, a monster. How could he make a girl as bright and beautiful as Elena happy? The answer was that he couldn't. Damon knew then what he had to do. He didn't like it, but he would do it.
"Hello? Anybody home?" he heard Caroline's voice from the entryway and sighed. It was the beginning of the end of his brief happiness.
"In here" he called
He heard footsteps approaching and opened a bottle of high end brandy he'd kept in the house for Shelia. He poured one for himself and another for the sad eyed witch who was now standing a few feet away.
"Hello, Damon" Bonnie stepped into the room and he heard Caroline tromp up the stairs toward Elena.
He gave her a half smile "Welcome home, Witchy" he said and held the drink out for her.
She returned the lopsided smile and accepted the tumbler. Taking a long sip, she peered at him over the rim of the glass.
"There's something different about you" she said, her wide greens eyes turned questioning.
He shrugged "I had a good day"
"It's her isn't it?"
Damn she's good he thought. He'd known early on that intuition was going to be this Bennett's gift. Bonnie had never been afraid of him the way her mother had been. Not once, not even with fangs bared, had she flinched in his presence and her quiet reserve had always had a calming effect on him.
"Are we friends?" he asked, dodging her question
She looked taken aback "Of course we are. You've known me my entire life."
It was true, he remembered the day her mother had come home from college pregnant, alone, and bitter that she had nowhere to go but back to the house she'd grown up in. Abby had never liked it here and she disappeared two years after Bonnie was born, leaving her with her grandmother and a house full of vampires. Unless she'd managed to break the blood bond, Damon was reasonably certain Abby was still alive but the woman had made sure no one, including Shelia, could find her. He'd never given it much thought until now but Shelia had never come to the mansion without Bonnie trailing after her. Caroline had taken a shine to her early on and had become her impromptu babysitter and eventually best friend. Damon had kept his distance until she'd begged him to teach her to cook when she was eleven. It took her a few weeks to wear him down but he'd finally caved in after Shelia teased him.
She's just a girl, Damon, she won't bite. Let her cook dinner with you.
Bonnie had been his sous chef ever since and he supposed they'd spent enough time together that some people might call them friends.
"I guess you're right" he said, staring into his drink.
Bonnie gave him an odd look then suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist. He felt the tingle of power slither up his arm and he shuddered. She let go and he glowered at her.
"You know I don't like when you do that" he grumbled
"Damon your humanity" she whispered, a huge smile plastered across her face.
"What about it?"
"It's on, like all the way on. It is her isn't it? Oh my god you're in lo…"
"Don't say it!" he cut her off and narrowed his eyes at her "and wipe that stupid smile off your face, they're coming downstairs"
"Elena?" she heard Caroline calling from her room down the hall.
Shit she thought.
"Uh, I'm in here" she called back.
She'd just finished with her shower and was standing by Damon's bed wrapped in a towel.
Caroline opened the door and her jaw dropped.
"Oh. My. God! Elena Gilbert! Did you…?"
"Yes" she said barely containing the girlish giggle bubbling in her throat
"Oh my God!" Caroline practically leapt across the room and grabbed Elena by the shoulders with a crazed grin on her face "Oh my god!"
"I know, it's nuts but it just kind of happened" she found herself grinning back at her friend.
"Oh my God!"
"Would you please say something else?"
"How was it?!"
The titter of laughter fought its way to the surface and she felt her cheeks burn red.
"That good huh?"
She fell back on the bed and Caroline collapsed next to her
"He's….I don't know, Care. He was different today and then he was so sad about Bonnie's grams and then we were kissing and…oh my God" she finished with a giddy laugh.
Caroline squealed and jumped up
"This is going to be great! Get dressed and let's go downstairs. You need to meet Bonnie"
Elena grabbed the outfit Damon had picked for her and ran to the bathroom to put it on. She smiled at herself in the mirror when she'd finished dressing. He knew her so well. He'd chosen a pair of jeans, ankle boots, and a plum colored long sleeve shirt with a black camisole for underneath.
Caroline grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the door and down the stairs to the parlor.
Elena wasn't sure what she was expecting but the lovely girl with emerald green eyes and mocha skin was not what she had imagined the witch would look like.
"You must be Elena. I'm Bonnie" the girl crossed the room and put her arms around Elena.
She was caught off guard but awkwardly returned the hug.
Bonnie pulled away and gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I just feel like I already know you."
Elena returned the smile "You got here fast" she commented.
"We did?" Caroline said, sounding confused
"It's two in the morning, Elena" Damon told her with a warm smile.
"It is?"
"Yep" he confirmed
"Oh" she stared at the floor feeling a little embarrassed. They'd apparently been upstairs a lot longer than she thought.
"Well I'm starving" Bonnie said and broke up the uncomfortable moment
Elena perked up "Me too!" she looked anxiously at Damon.
Caroline nodded in agreement.
"Alright, alright" he held his hands palms up at them. "Where the hell is Klaus? I need someone to drink with."
As if on cue, Elena heard the front door creak open and a moment later, Klaus entered the room.
"You rang?" he said with a grin
Caroline launched herself into his arms and he swung her around in a circle.
"I missed you!" she beamed at him.
"You saw me not six hours ago" he chuckled at her.
"Waaay too long!" she exclaimed and gave him a noisy kiss.
He chuckled and nuzzled her nose "Agreed."
"Okay enough with the love fest. Are we eating or not?" Damon cut in.
Bonnie swatted him on the arm "Be nice"
He glared at her and she rolled her eyes at him.
Elena looked around at the group and felt herself growing sad. She didn't want to leave this place. Caroline was the closest thing to a best friend she'd ever had and somehow she knew that she and Bonnie would be fast friends, too. Then there was Damon. How could she leave him now? She hadn't wrapped her head around everything that had happened between them but she knew whatever it was, it was real and it felt right. She felt more at home here among vampires and witches than she ever had in the house with Uncle Grayson. He'd given her everything, protected her, raised her, and loved her, but being here had made her realize how truly lonely she'd been for most of her life.
Damon's light touch on her arm brought her out of her reverie.
"You ok?" he asked, looking concerned. She looked around and realized everyone was heading to the kitchen.
"I'm great" she said with a wide smile "Let's eat!"
He smirked back at her and scooped her into his arms.
"What are you doing?" she giggled and put her arms around his neck.
"Carrying you to the kitchen"
"I see that but why?"
"Because I can and it's an excuse to touch you"
"Weren't you just making fun of Klaus and Caroline for this?"
He stopped "Do you want me to put you down?"
"No" she said sheepishly and tightened her grip on his neck.
"That's what I thought" he carried her to the archway and set her down on her feet.
"You two are adorable" Caroline teased.
"Shut up, Blondie" Damon retorted with a grin and turned to Bonnie "Are you helping me?"
"You know it. God I missed this kitchen" she got up and starting rummaging through the refrigerator.
"What about me? Can I help?" Elena asked coyly, already knowing the answer.
"You don't get to help anymore and stay away from the knives"
"What happened with the knives? Did she stab you?" Klaus asked curiously.
Elena gawked at him "No! I cut my hand slicing cheese"
"Actually, you damn near cut off your finger" he corrected her.
Klaus glanced at her hand and gave Damon a knowing smile "It looks fine now"
"Vampire blood is handy that way" he said simply
Bonnie's head popped out of the fridge "Damon that's dangerous…"
"I don't need a lecture, Witchy. Nothing is going to hurt her here."
"You don't know that" she said.
"Drop it" he insisted
Bonnie shot him a warning glance but said nothing.
"Oh!" chirped Caroline suddenly "Elena can I show you something? Since Bonnie is home we can go into the forest."
Damon couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it himself.
"Good idea. The food will be done by the time you get back" he told Elena.
She gave him a puzzled glance but allowed Caroline to grab her hand drag her out the back door. The moment the door clicked behind them Bonnie spun around to face him.
"What are you going to do?" she demanded
"About what?" he asked indifferently and poured another finger of brandy into his glass.
"About the fact that you're in love with Elena" she stated simply, arms crossed defiantly over her chest.
Klaus snickered into his drink "Oh Bonnie, how I've missed you."
The witch shot him a quick grin and then turned back to Damon, her face unwaveringly serious.
"Well?"
"I'm going to get my brother back and then send her home to her uncle"
"But…" she started
"But what, Bonnie?" he interrupted her and slammed his drink down on the counter "What should I do? Keep her here for the rest of her life? Turn her?"
Bonnie's face was etched in frustration "I think you should give Elena the opportunity to decide for herself"
"I can't do that to her. I can't ask her to stay here with me. She deserves the chance at a normal life and I can't give that to her."
"And Grayson Gilbert can?" Klaus chimed in "The man's kept her in a gilded cage her whole life. Even I can see she's happy here."
"Et tu, Brute?" Damon stared at his friend doubtfully.
"If I've learned anything in the last thousand years, it's that true love comes along once in a lifetime, even lifetimes as long as ours. Don't send it away when it's staring you in the face with a pair of lovely brown doe eyes."
Damon frowned and turned back to the stove. He'd been all set to send her away, compel her to leave if he had to. He'd watch her from a far for the rest of her life and make sure she never wanted for anything. Now he wasn't sure. She did seem happy here, but asking her to stay felt like he was taking away her chance to go to college, have kids, a husband. To be human.
"Where are we going?" Elena was trying to keep up with Caroline "Will you slow down?"
"Sorry" she stopped and waited for Elena to catch up "we're almost there"
They'd been walking for five minutes through the trees. Caroline had grabbed a flashlight from the porch and was leading the way down a worn path. Elena linked her arm through Caroline's to keep pace with her.
"So is Bonnie ok? You know, about her Grams?" Elena asked
"She's hard to read sometimes. Her Gram's raised her, you know? So of course she's sad but I think she's trying to stay strong."
Elena could only nod. Her uncle wasn't perfect but she couldn't imagine losing him.
"She's practically oozing witchy-ness right now though. It's wild." Caroline said
"What do you mean?"
"She made it start pouring raining on the way home today. It was practically a hurricane and she said that's just the tip of the iceberg"
Elena gaped at her in disbelief "Like actual rain?"
"Yep and wind and lighting. It was so cool."
They finally came to a clearing and Elena could just barely make out the wide Victorian style house at the center. She could see short white pillars supporting a porch that wrapped halfway around the one story house.
"Wow, I bet this is beautiful in the daytime"
"Uh-huh" Caroline confirmed "It's the old Salvatore house. Well it used to be. Damon and Stefan had it torn down and remodeled for Bonnie Grams when her mom was killed trying to help them"
"Help them do what?"
"I don't know. They won't talk about it" she said and led them around the back "but this is what we're here for"
They'd stopped in front of a large wrought iron gate that led to a cemetery.
"You brought me to a graveyard?" Elena asked, baffled.
"Trust me" Caroline said and pushed the gate open.
Elena followed her in "Why did we have to wait for Bonnie to come here?"
"Vampires can't find this place if there's no Bennett witch on the Salvatore property. Gram's was smart like that."
Caroline weaved around the headstones until she came to the very back and halted.
"Here" she aimed the light at two headstones that looked much newer than any of the others
Elena looked down at them and gasped.
The first one read Jonathon Gilbert - Beloved Father and Brother. Its partner read Isobel Gilbert – Beloved Mother and Friend. A rosebush with tiny pink buds wove its way up the sides and over the tops.
Tears sprung into her eyes and she felt Caroline's arm slide around her shoulders.
"Grams let me bury them here" she said quietly "and Bonnie planted the roses"
"Thank you" she whispered. Tears streamed down her face for two people she'd never even known.
"You're welcome"
Elena tilted her head and rested it on her friend's shoulder "I don't want to leave."
Caroline dropped her head against Elena's "I don't want you to leave either."
They stood there for a while, staring at the gravestones in silence.
"We should get back" Elena said finally.
Caroline nodded and turned them back towards the mansion.
Elena hesitated a moment "Care?"
"Yeah?" she faced Elena with her signature sunny smile.
"I think I love him" it was terrifying to admit to herself, let alone say out loud, but once she said it she knew it was true. However strange and impossible it was, she loved him.
Caroline's expression softened "I think he loves you, too."
There were tear stains on her cheeks when she walked back into the house and he was at her side in a second.
He brushed the pad of his thumb over her face before he pulled her into a hug. She held on to him tightly and he breathed in the scent of her hair. Keep her, let her go, keep her, let her go his mind whirled back and forth.
"Still hungry?" he whispered in her ear.
"Famished" she whispered back.
He leaned back to look at her "Can you pour wine without mutilating yourself?"
A tiny smile crept over her lips "I think I can manage that"
He pointed to a wine-rack across the room "Go get the third bottle from the left on the second shelf. The corkscrew is on the counter and the glasses are in that cabinet" he waved his hand towards a cabinet door.
Bonnie was ladling soup into bowls and Klaus was setting plates while Caroline chattered away about her plans for a new closet. Elena smiled at him as she poured the rich red wine into the glasses. The only thing that was missing was Stefan. Keep her, let her go, keep her, let her go he was at war with himself and he still wasn't sure which side would win.
The five of them ate, drank, and talked about anything but the hours to come. Sitting across from her at the table, he tried to memorize the way her eyes lit up when she laughed, drink in every stolen glance as she peeked mischievously at him over her wine glass. They were on their third bottle of wine when the sky started to turn pink. Bonnie was the first to cave.
"I think I need to sleep before tomorrow…today, whatever" she yawned.
"Me too, I'm exhausted" Caroline said
"Then let's to bed" Klaus flew from the table, pulled her out of her chair and threw her over his shoulder.
"Nicklaus Mikalson you put me down this instant!" she cried.
"Not a chance, love. Goodnight everyone" he turned so Caroline was facing them "Say goodnight, Caroline"
She pushed herself up on his back to peer out at them through her blonde curtain "Goodnight" she said with a smile and then they were gone.
Bonnie laughed "Ok you two, I'm going home. Damon, please think about what we talked about."
"I will" he promised.
She gave him a meaningful look before turning to Elena "Goodnight, Elena. It was nice to finally meet you."
"Goodnight, Bonnie. It was good to meet you too" she said sincerely, already feeling a connection to the mysterious green eyed witch.