A/N: New Chapter Guys! Yay! :) Very special shout out to WhoAreYouReally whose review made me smile :) Hope you like it :)

Damon POV:

I awoke slowly, feeling horrible. I had the worst headache and it hurt to open my eyes. I looked around slowly and realized I was still in the tavern from the night before in one of the rooms upstairs. After Elena left on Stefan's horse I had returned to the bar inside and had gotten beyond drunk. This had led to me seeking out the only petite brunette prostitute that worked there. It didn't help though. It did not take away the memory of HER and I could still feel the tingle of her lips on mine.

That was what struck me about our encounter the night before: SHE had kissed ME. With all the times she had rejected me, I had just reluctantly accepted that she was not interested in me. Clearly this was not the case. Why was she pushing me away though? It did not make any sense. I was not going to let her get away that easily though and I would not give up.

Elena POV:

As I entered the dining room, I was surprised to only see Giuseppe, Stefan and Katherine. I took my seat across from Katherine.

"Where is Damon this morning?" I asked in a casual voice. I saw Giuseppe's face darken but Stefan answered me.

"I'm not sure Miss Elena. He did not come home last night." That was not comforting news to me. I was immediately worried. What if something happened to him because of me? I left him at that place where there were so many unstable drunks who could try anything. If that was not the case, I hoped he did not do anything stupid because of me.

"Idiotic boy is probably sleeping off a hangover in some whore's bed," Giuseppe growled and though I did not like his crass way of addressing it, I realised that this could be the case too. Stefan looked at Katherine and I a little embarrassed by his father's outburst. Giuseppe seemed to notice his son's actions and gave us both an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry ladies for my rudeness but I'm just fed up with his behaviour." Katherine and I nodded politely but I could see her looking at me in lingeringly. Once we had finished breakfast, I decided I wanted to go for a walk through the garden.

I was happy for the silence and I was able to think clearly. I found a tall tree and sat down under it, enjoying the shade. I breathed in the fresh air happily. Seeing all the beautiful flowers surrounding me reminded me of my mother. She had always kept a garden and had allowed me to help her tend to it when I was small. I still missed her and father even though three centuries had passed. I missed Jeremy too and I wished that I would see him again someday. Maybe Katherine would let him visit eventually. She seemed to enjoy my company at times now and she seemed to want me to be happy for some reason. Speak of the devil, I thought to myself as Katherine approached.

"From the way you were looking at breakfast, I'm guessing you have some idea of where Damon is?" Katherine asked calmly as she sat beside me under the tree. I was a little surprised that she did not mind dirtying her dress.

"I don't know where he is now, no; but last night he was with me at the tavern and I left him there," I said guiltily and her eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Are my ears deceiving me or have you finally given up on your ridiculous resolve to stay away from him?" I sighed and picked at the grass.

"I've not given up on it, Katherine. Last night I snuck out of the house to go find someone to feed on and he followed me. We had a drink but I left and I don't know where he is now." Katherine watched me intently before her lips curved slightly.

"There more that you're not telling me Elena." I glared at her.

"Okay, I kissed him but I told him that nothing could happen and I left." She let out a triumphant laugh.

"Oh poor Elena doesn't have as much self control as she thinks. No wonder he didn't come home. You broke his little heart. Awww," she put on a pout and placed her hand over her heart but I could see her grin emerging.

"Stop it Katherine! Maybe I broke his heart but he'll get over it. At least he'll get to live his life."

"Ah but you're forgetting that little deal I made with you the other night. If you don't give in, I will take him and I will turn him. Remember, the choice is yours Elena." With that Katherine walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I had actually forgotten about her threat and I wondered if she was going to make good on it now. I still had not figured out any other way to save him or stop Katherine. I was beginning to realise it was hopeless. I was disturbed once more as I heard footsteps approaching. I ignored them, thinking that Katherine was coming back to gloat and if I was paying attention, I would have heard the heartbeat.

"Elena." My heart gripped at the voice and I turned in the direction it came. Damon stood there looking a little bedraggled but thankfully alive. I could not stop the smile that crossed my face and he looked surprised but covered it quickly with his own smile. He sat down next to me.

"Well I daresay your attitude to my company has improved overnight," he joked.

"I was worried about you. No one knew where you were," I said in a small voice. He looked a little uncomfortable at my words and shook his head.

"I'm sorry but after you left me last night, I made a few bad decisions leading me to wake up in tavern still with a terrible hangover." I nodded and I felt guilty for having made him drink so much.

"Sorry about that but I needed to get away." He pursed his lips before grabbing my hand gently. I looked at him questioningly.

"Elena I know that you feel something for me. Please just tell me what it is that is holding you back. Is it the rumours you've heard about me? Do you believe that I will not be able to commit to you? If that is the case you need not worry. I would propose to you right now if that is what you want." His words cut into me deeply and I looked down. I had heard rumours about him, from the mutterings of the maids but I knew there was more to him than what they said. I could not tell him the real reason why I could not be with him.

"Please Damon, just leave it alone. Just trust me when I say that you would be better off forgetting about me and finding a nice girl to move on with," I said in a pleading voice. He shook his head.

"Elena, I don't want anyone else. I want you. What is so horrible that you can't tell me?" I wanted to tell him so badly and I almost did as I looked into his beautiful pleading face. I couldn't though it was not right. I stood up quickly and he looked up at me brokenly.

"I'm sorry Damon but I can't." With that I ran off back inside and into my room. I fell onto my bed and I let the tears fall. I had never longed to be human more than I did right now. Because of my state of distress, I had not noticed that my doppelganger had been watching Damon and my exchange and did not see the cruel smile fall into place on her mouth.

Damon POV:

I sat on the grass numbly. She had run from me once again. I had always been a confident person sometimes overly so but there was only so much rejection a man could take before he wondered if there was something wrong with him. I had never felt so depressed in my life. Even when I had been in the confederacy around constant death, I had not felt such desolation.

"Damon? Are you alright? I apologize but I couldn't help overhearing your conversation with my sister," Katherine said as she approached. I looked at her and she had a sympathetic look on her face and I decided that having someone to talk to would be a good thing.

"I'm fine Miss Katherine, I just don't understand why your sister pushes me away so adamantly," I could hear the frustration in my voice and she nodded and sat down next to me. I looked at her desperately.

"Please, do you know why she is? I beg you to tell me." I watched as a sly smile curved on her face and she stood slowly and held her hand out to me. I hesitated but took it and she pulled me to my feet with surprising strength.

"I think it's time you and I have a little chat," she said in a conspiratorial voice and I followed her in confusion as she led the way.

Elena POV:

I did not go to dinner that night. I stayed in my room resolutely, feigning a headache. I used the opportunity to feed on Emily quickly to relieve the hunger in me so I would not feel so confined. I spent the night wallowing in my undead life and the memory of my brother and my parents.

I wished now that things had gone differently today and I wished more than anything that I had not left Damon at that tree alone and unguarded because tomorrow would be one of the most stressful days of my undead life.

A/N: Well hope you liked it! Next chapter the truth is out! But it won't exactly be smooth sailing from here.