DISCLAIMER:
I do not own The Vampire Diaries. If I did, Elena would be with Damon, Caroline would be with Klaus, and Bonnie would be with Jeremy. -nods- Thank you.
Damon smiled a smile that rivaled all other smiles.
'Did I really just think that? What the hell's wrong with me?' he thought in response to the description he just gave himself. "Okay."
"Okay?" Elena raised an eyebrow.
"Okay." Damon grinned.
She narrowed her eyes.
"What?" his grin widened.
"You go crazy over me admitting my feelings for you, and then I say I love you and all you have to respond with is 'okay'?" her eyes narrowed more.
He laughed. "Well what do you expect me to say, Elena? 'Oh, Elena, I always knew how you felt about me!' Which I did. 'Oh, Elena, I'm so happy!' Which I am. 'Oh, Elena, I love you too!' Which I do. You know all this. Why do I have to express it like some bad actor in a bad romance movie? I'm a vampire, Elena, not a teenage boy with raging hormones."
Elena raised an eyebrow. "Well, okay then."
He chuckled, then stood.
She started to stand as well, but he simply shook his head. Putting a hand on her shoulder and gently laying her back, he pulled the blanket over her and kissed her forehead. "Get some sleep. You've had a long day."
She blinked at him in surprise. As he turned away, something made her heart clench and she grabbed his hand.
He looked back in surprise.
"So have you…And…Damon, you can stay in here, too…If you want. You know, it is your room, and all…" she said, grip loosening slightly.
He stared at her for a long moment, then nodded, squeezing her hand. "Of course, Elena. I'll stay, if you want me to."
She paused, then nodded in response.
Damon got into the bed, not letting go of her hand.
Suddenly, she felt safer. She felt…warmer. She snuggled into his chest. "Is this okay?" she mumbled, sleepily.
He paused, and then smiled slightly. "Of course it is."
She closed her eyes. "I love you, Damon…"
He stared, then wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
"I love you, too, Elena."
Caroline pulled away from the kiss, panting.
Klaus smiled softly, stroking her hair.
She closed her eyes. "Stop."
"Stop what, love?" he asked, still playing with her hair.
"Stop this!" she stood and moved over to the window pane.
He blinked at her in surprise.
"Stop calling me love…This isn't love. You don't even know me." she mumbled, turning away.
He stood. "No? I've been watching you your whole life."
She looked at him in surprise. "What?! Oh, so now not only are you in love with me, you've been stalking me?!"
"Not stalking." he says, getting a little closer. "I've been watching the town in general. Especially Elena and her friends."
She stared at him. "So…you know me. Fine. But I don't know you."
"Then I'll teach you everything about me. My past. My interests. My flaws. My perfections. My knowledge. My love." he whispered, putting his hands on her face. "Give me a chance."
She stared at him for a long time, searching his eyes. "Fine. But this…whatever this is…It isn't love."
He smiled.
"Not yet."
Caroline shifted uncomfortably.
Klaus sighed and walked up to her. He took her hand in his own and looked her in the eye. "It's been a long day. Perhaps you should sleep."
She paused but nodded. "You're right. I should." she looked at him. "But what about you?"
"I'll stay." he smiled at her, putting his forehead against hers.
"Wait!" she realized, suddenly in a panic and searching for her things. "Mom-she told me and Tyler that we had to leave town! Alaric told the council about us!"
"I can't leave. Not now." he looked at her curiously. "How about I just compel them?"
"Well, you're in Tyler's body, which means you don't have the all-powerful can-compel-everyone thingy anymore." she huffed, putting her hair up.
"I may be in Tyler's body, but I still retained all of my powers." he chuckled.
"But…" she thought about it. "How are we going to get them in the same room with us?"
"Ask your mother to call a meeting." Klaus said.
"She'll never do it. She'll try to make us leave." Caroline frowned.
"What about Tyler's-" he began.
Caroline shook her head. "No. She will, too."
He thought about it seriously for a while. "Alright, then I'll do it."
"They won't come. And if they do, it will be to kill us." she said sadly.
"I'll protect you. Just trust me." he said, putting his hands on her face.
She looked into his eyes skeptically. "I don't know, Klaus…"
"Please?" he whispered, kissing her lightly.
She pulled away with an irritated yet playful sigh. "Fine!"
He chuckled. "Well then…" he moved away from her.
"Let's compel some council members."