A/N: Another chapter for you guys! I'm doubling these because I wrote them a while ago and I would like get to posting my much more recent chapter which I think are written better :)

Damon POV:

It was a shock to say the least to find out that vampires were real. It was even more of a shock to find out that the woman I am in love with is one of them. The day that Katherine showed up after Elena ran away, I followed her in confusion up to her room at her insistence. When she had moved closer to me, more intimately then I was comfortable with, I tried to move away but then I saw her face change and she had bitten into my neck. The pain was just bearable and when she had released me, I tried to run but she had blocked my escape. She had looked deep into my eyes then and when she said not to move or scream, I found that I could only comply blindly to those requests. She then proceeded to explain to me in full detail what she and Elena were and when she had mentioned Elena's involvement, my heart had gripped harshly. The beautiful, warm, innocent woman who moved my very existence was a vampire? It was a hard fact to process but she had told me that Elena hated this life and that was the reason she was staying away from me. To protect me from herself!

The relief I felt at this information was palpable. I had spent such a long time believing that she simply did not feel anything toward me and that there was something wrong with me but this was not the case according to Katherine. I would be foolish to say that a part of me was not afraid but I wanted her. I had never wanted a woman so much in my life. I knew without a doubt that she was in no way evil. She radiated warmth and kindness and was the polar opposite to her sister.

Stefan seemed incredibly happy to find that I knew the girls' secret. I guess he did not like keeping it from me. Stefan and Katherine had slipped upstairs after Elena's departure to engage in activities that I for one am glad I do not posses vampire hearing to listen to.

I was worried about Elena. She had been in such a state of distress when she left. I knew that it was illogical to worry for her. She was a vampire and could most definitely look after herself but I loved her and I still worried. With this in mind I saddled my horse and set off for the tavern hoping that my suspicions were correct that she would go there.

Elena POV:

I scoured the crowd shrewdly looking for a suitable meal. I spotted him instantly. The man from the other night that had manhandled me was standing against the wall flirting in hushed tones with a woman that I was certain was a prostitute. I approached carefully and schooled my features to seem flirty. His eyes widened a little as he noticed me but he was putty in my hands and I had him following me to the alley behind the tavern in no time.

He did not taste marginally good but I revelled in the feeling of fullness as his life force flowed into me. He was compelled not to scream but I did not even bother to take away his fear and I enjoyed the signs of it in his eyes as I drank deeply. When I felt his heart slow I reluctantly pulled back and compelled him to forget and then I re-entered the establishment. I needed more. Being in this agitated state for too long was dangerous and I needed to gorge myself to keep the monster in me at bay.

My next victim tasted considerably better and I chanced a few extra pulls than necessary before releasing him to return to his mates inside. I had not been aware that I had an audience for my latest meal but I could feel the prickling on the back of my neck now and I knew someone was watching me. I used my heightened senses to search for the intruder and I immediately marched over to the barrels sitting close by where I could hear a racing heartbeat. I silently rounded them and I saw him crouched down peeking through the gaps in the barrels.

"Damon? What are you doing here?" I demanded and he jumped at my voice. He looked at me in shock for a moment before he quickly got to his feet brushing off his trousers. He gave me a somewhat sheepish look.

"I'm sorry Elena but I was worried about you and then I was...curious." His last word was phrased more like a question as if he was not sure if the word was appropriate to the situation. I sighed and I found that I did not know what to do or how to handle this situation.

"I'm perfectly fine Damon, as you can see. I needed to get away to clear my head and I needed to...feed. You really should go home. It's not safe for you," I tried to explain to him but his eyes seemed glued to my mouth with a strange expression. I reached my hand up and sure enough there was blood still coating my lips from my last victim. I hastily attempted to wipe it off with the back of my hand but he beat me to it and I watched transfixed as he ever so sweetly used his handkerchief to clean the blood from my mouth.

"I don't want you to hide from me anymore. I know what you are now Elena and I don't care. I still love you and still want you." I shivered under the weight of his words and I took a step back to create some distance between us. He looked a little hurt by the action so I gave him a small thankful smile in reference to his kind cleaning of my mouth. I frowned at the disturbing thought. He should be scared and running for his life.

"How can you say you love me? You don't even know me. Katherine and I have been here less than a week." Even as I said the words to him I felt like a hypocrite. Yes it had only been under a week but I had still managed to fall hopelessly for him.

"I do know you. I know your heart. I can't explain it but the moment I set eyes on you I felt this connection and it was as if you were calling to me," he paused as he gathered himself and he took a deep breath as if to calm himself, "But I can know you now. There doesn't have to be secrets between us anymore. Don't you see Elena? You don't have to shut me out anymore. Let me get to know you."

Though his words and tone were desperate, there was a little embarrassment in his eyes and I smiled a little because I could tell he was embarrassed about his overly romantic declaration. He looked a little relieved at my smile and I watched as his shoulders seemed to release a great weight.

"Okay Damon I can agree to let you get to know me but you need to go home now. I still need to feed more to gain control of myself." I needed to go find another human to fill my appetite and with Damon around it was difficult to concentrate on anything other than the pulsating veins lying underneath his skin. I waited for him to agree and leave but he did not move and I appraised him silently. He looked a little nervous and unsure.

"I...Uh...I mean...What I'm trying to say is..." I listened to him ramble incessantly finding it simultaneously humorous and worrisome. I grasped his hand in mine gently and his eyes snapped from the ground to me. I stroked his hand softly trying to calm him down.

"What is it? Tell me," I instructed gently but firmly.

"I want you to feed on me." I felt my jaw go slack and I was struck speechless. He still looked incredibly nervous and watched me anxiously to see my reaction. I tried to scramble my thoughts together to create a reply.

"Why would you offer that to me Damon? You just offered your blood to a vampire and I am seriously considering the option that you have gone mad," I frowned at him for good measure and he looked down, a little embarrassed. He wrung his hands together nervously.

"I just thought you would like it. I mean wouldn't it make it easier for someone to be willing? Katherine has bitten me and though it hurt, it was bearable."

"Damon vampires have a way to make their victims willing and make them think they like it when we drink their blood." He looked thoughtful for a minute before he nodded in understanding.

"That makes sense. I think Katherine did it to me the other day because when she told me to not be scared, it was like I had no choice but to comply. We are going off topic though. I do not say this lightly Elena. I mean it; I want you to feed on me. I told you I don't want you to keep anything from me and this is who you are. I want to share this with you." I was touched by his words and they brought a smile to my face. He really did love me. I reached up stroked his strong jaw with my fingers and I felt him lean into my touch.

"It really is sweet of you to offer that but I am not in control enough to do that right now. I don't want something like that to happen between us when I can't make it good for you. Please Damon just go home." He brightened a little and I guess it was because I did not just straight out shut him down but still he shook his head.

"Let me see how it happens then. Show me what it means to be you." I looked at his pleading face and I sighed but I was almost shocked to feel my head nod in agreement.

"Okay fine but you need to promise me to be calm and don't try anything stupid. I have done this many times and I will not kill anyone. I promise you that. And if it gets too much you can leave. Don't feel bad about getting scared. It's perfectly normal." I watched as he nodded and then we both returned back inside.

Damon POV:

I followed Elena happily back inside. I was glad that she did not send me away and that she was letting me share this with her. I had been a little confused about her words when I had offered my blood. She had even looked a little embarrassed by my request. What did she mean make it good for me? Even when I had asked I had known that it would be painful but it was Elena and I would tolerate any pain if it meant she would be happy. Katherine's bite had shown me how much it hurt but apparently this was not always the case. I would have to ask her about it another time. There was so much I needed to learn about her life and what she is and it comforted me to know that I would be allowed to ask these questions of her now.

As I sat next to her at the bar I felt giddy to be sitting by her side and have her not run from me. Perhaps now she would accept my affections, possibly even return them. Though she had not expressed any form of reciprocation of my feelings, she still wore the pendant I had bought her proudly around her neck and I smiled at the thought as I examined the glistening jewel ridden thing. It had been beautiful by itself in the cabinet in the store but it looked breathtaking on her and it accentuated her sloping neck and the supple curve of her breasts. I was snapped from my thoughts as she raised an eyebrow at me questioningly and I swallowed thickly and I averted my eyes quickly. When I looked back she had a slightly amused smirk on her face as she leaned closer to me to whisper.

"There are a few ways to choose someone. The easiest is to just let your instincts take over and sense out the sweetest blood in the room. What I do is a little harder. I look for someone with bad qualities or someone who I know has done something bad like the man from last night. It helps with the guilt and the only downside is the blood sometimes tastes a little sour." I hung onto her every word, genuinely interested to learn and I gave her a look to indicate to continue.

"Innocent blood tastes better in some ways, like it's untainted but I try to refrain from it. Katherine doesn't care though. She just takes blood from anyone and everyone. I don't like to hurt anyone if I can help it. Sometimes if there's no one else around though, it's a necessity. Now, do you see that man over there in the hat?"

I looked to where she pointed and I nodded. He was a strong looking man and I was positive that I had seen him around town in some of the higher society groups.

"He has done something terrible. I can smell it on him. " Hearing her speak this way was so exhilarating and I felt closer to her than ever.

"I'm going to go over and get him to come outside and after we leave I want you to follow. Okay?" I nodded eagerly and watched as she got up and walked over to the man.

Seconds later the man was following her out of the place with a lewd grin on his face. I did not like that look, knowing what he was expecting from Elena but I was content with knowing that this would not actually be the case. I followed after a moment.

I turned back into the alley and watched as she pushed him against the wall. The man smiled at her and leant in to try to capture her lips but she pulled back out of his reach. She looked him in the eyes and her voice took on a haunting monotone.

"Don't scream." With that I watched her face change and she dug her fangs into his throat.

I was breathless watching her. It was such a strange sight but it did not scare me at all. I did wince though remembering the pain of Katherine's bite. Even with the knowledge of the pain, I still wished it was me in her arms. I was snapped from my admiration of her feeding as the man let out a low cry of pain and started to push against her. I anxiously looked at Elena and I saw her pull back with a look of pain on her face.

"Vervain," she breathed in a choked voice. I watched as she stumbled back slightly. What was happening? I watched as the man clutched his neck and began to run. Elena looked at me desperately, though she looked weaker.

"Damon, stop him, please," she begged me and I immediately cornered the man. He tried to get past me and pushed at me but I stood firmly and grabbed him around his upper arms and dragged him back to where Elena was leaning against the wall, looking sickly pale. She looked up as we approached and she looked lost and afraid. She gave me a pleading look.

"Damon I need you to leave. I...I don't want you to see what I have to do." I shook my head defiantly. I was not leaving her, especially not like this. She looked like she could barely stand.

"No I told you. No more hiding from me anymore. This is who you are and I'm staying."

"You don't understand. He has vervain in him. It's a plant that is toxic to vampires. It also prevents us from compelling humans. He's seen what I am and he will tell everyone. That puts Katherine and me in danger. Please tell me you understand what I'm trying to tell you." I listened to her explanation and I felt a lump form in my throat. She needed to kill him. He knew too much and if he told anyone, Elena would be in danger.

"I understand...And I don't care. As long as you stay safe." I was surprised to find that the words were true. With all my detestation of death, I still could not let anything happen to her and I would gladly let this man die. She watched me carefully and then I saw something pass across her face that I could not recognize. She nodded slowly and swiftly took the man from me. I watched the scene holding my breath. It took a second before the sickening sound of his neck snapping filled the air. I let out my breath heavily and blinked. She dropped his body to the ground and looked at it impassively before looking at me in concern.

"Are you okay?" I nodded, not trusting my voice and she pursed her lips and moved close to me and I was surprised when she pulled me into her arms. I buried my face in her hair and tightened my arms around her, submerging myself in the comfort she offered.

"We need to get out of here before anyone comes and finds us. Come on," she whispered gently in my ear and she rubbed her hand up my back before pushing me away gently. I nodded and she took my hand and we both walked out of the alley in the direction of my horse.

Something had changed between us.

A/N: Hope you liked it and this time there's no spoiler for the next chapter because it's currently still being written :) so you will just have to wait and see but I will tell you that there will be much more Delena moments! :) Please review!