a/n: so I wonder what happened to Alaric... Hmmm... But I am very excited that Elena revived Elijah; curious to see how that turns out because we all know Damon is going to be FURIOUS! :)
TWENTY-TWO
Elena stood in one of the spare rooms, staring at the piles of boxes. She shook her head wondering how many other rooms looked like this and what hidden treasures she might find by going through everything. Biting her lip, she stepped forward and started going through the first box. She was looking for something to wear to the decade dance. It was strange to think that a year ago she had gone with Stefan and now she was going with Damon. Although he was technically going to be there as a chaperone and Stefan was going to be her date.
She had been so lost in thought over how much things had changed over a short amount of time that by the time she got to the third box, she realized she hadn't paid attention to any garment that she touched. She sighed heavily and opened her fourth box, determined to focus and pick out a dress before she wasted anymore time. As if on cue, she felt arms slide around her waist and lips against the curve of her shoulder.
She grinned and leaned back as Damon continued to dust her skin with light kisses and love bites. "You guys have so much stuff. You're like pack rats," she said as she placed her hands over his.
"That would be Stefan's doing," he informed her as he nipped at her earlobe. "He keeps everything."
"So none of this is yours?" Elena asked, turning her head as best she could to look at him.
Instead of answering her, he captured her lips with his and kissed her fiercely. During the kiss, he allowed her to move so that she was facing him before he pulled her as close as he possibly could. When she broke the kiss to breathe, he decided to give her a real answer, his hands slipping into the back pockets of her jeans. "What you saw in my room is mine. Everything else is just stuff."
"Why don't you guys get rid of it?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Why? It's not like they're hurting anyone sitting here, collecting dust."
"No," she answered and grinned up at him. "But it's my house now and I don't like clutter."
He returned her grin and shook his head before kissing her again. "So that's how it's going to be now, right? It's your house," he said in a teasing manner.
Elena giggled and tilted her head to the side. "You're the one that gave it to me, remember?" she asked softly, reaching up to run her fingers through his hair. "You're just lucky I invited you in," she added.
"Oh is that right?" Damon mumbled playfully as he gave her ass a squeeze and pulled her even closer.
He hissed as she tightened her hold on his hair and yanked his head backwards. Her lips went to his throat instantly, her teeth nipping his skin. She could feel him harden and it brought a smile to her face along with a surge of heat through her body. "Do we really have to go to the decade dance?" she asked, her breath tickling his skin.
Damon tired to peer down at her, hissing as she bit down a bit harder. "Weren't you the one that said you were ready to go back to normal life? School, dances, et cetera?" Despite his desire to continue, Damon pulled back and moved his hands up to reach hers. He removed them from his hair and kissed her knuckles. "Look, I know this is you being scared because of what happened earlier, but I promise you, nothing is going to happen at this dance."
Elena shook her head. "Don't promise me something that you can't keep."
He nodded and pressed his lips against her forehead. "How about this? I promise to do my best to prevent anything from happening."
After a moment of consideration, Elena inclined her head. "Okay."
Damon gave a half smile and nodded towards the boxes behind her. "So, did you find anything?"
"I don't know, I kind of got distracted," she answered, returning his smile. She pulled her hands from his and laid them gently on his chest. Slowly, she started sliding them down, keeping her eyes on his the entire time until they stopped at his belt. "Remind me again why we just can't skip it and stay home?"
She could see Damon's jaw tick when she pulled the belt through the buckle. "Believe me, I want nothing more than to stay here and make love to you until we physically can't anymore, but it wouldn't be right. If something were to happen you would never forgive yourself and I don't want to have to watch you go through that kind of pain."
Elena tilted her head to the side as she thought about his words. As they sunk in she began to smile and eventually started to giggle. "Interesting."
"What?" he asked, narrowing her eyes at her again.
"You're saying we should go in case other people get hurt and I'm saying stay here and screw me senseless." Damon ground his teeth together at her words. She really was doing everything in her power to make him compliant. His body shook as her hand moved down just enough to cup him through his jeans. "I think we're rubbing off on each other."
Damon gave in. He reached out and held her head in place as he brought his lips to hers. Their tongues battled for dominance; both of them smirking into the kiss. He broke the kiss abruptly and moved his lips to her ear. "Compromise?"
"What did you have in mind?" she asked, undoing his belt.
"We'll go to the dance," he said and then traced the shell of her ear with his tongue. "We'll just be a little late."
Elena gave a brief nod to signal her approval. Her fingers undid the fly of his jeans and pushed them down his hips along with his boxers just enough so she could wrap her hand around him. He let out a strangled groan as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. After she stroked him a few times, Damon locked his arms around her and sped to the opposite side of the room. He propped her up against the wall and let his lips crash down on top of hers.
Elena closed her eyes and moved her hand faster, stroking his length in its entirety. He continued to kiss her with a fervor and heat that happened between them no matter what. As much as he tired to keep them at bay, his fangs half descended as she continued her ministrations. The fact that he had nipped her lips and drew blood wasn't helping the situation in the least. He groaned as she squeezed lightly and swiped the pad of her thumb over the tip.
Damon moved his lips to her neck after the fifth or so drop of blood. Any more and he wasn't going to be able to control himself. He kissed his way down to the collar of her shirt, frowning over the fact that it didn't dip as low as he would have liked. As he sank to his knees, he saw Elena pout when he withdrew from her touch. It didn't last long as he used his supernatural abilities to undress them both from the waist down. No sooner did it register that she was half nude did her head slam back against the wall; her fingers sinking into Damon's hair as his tongue touched her core.
It parted her slit over and over again, lapping up her arousal and toying with her clit. She adjusted her stance and he took advantage. As his lips enclosed the sensitive bundle of nerves, one hand rose so that he could sink his fingers into her. Elena cried out and closed her eyes. "Oh god, Damon..." she hissed as her fingers massaged his scalp. Her fingers would spasm and clench at the jet black strands, tugging, yet urging him on in various ways. Damon opened his eyes and looked up at her, surprised to see her brown eyes open looking down at him. He felt a shudder roll through both of their bodies and he added another finger, immediately sending her over the edge. She moaned his name as her body soared higher and higher with pleasure.
When she came down from her high, Damon's lips were at her neck again and his hands were on her waist, getting ready to hoist her up. In a matter of seconds she had her legs firmly locked around his waist as he pinned her to the wall. He smirked at her, signaling for her to make the next move. Without hesitating, she reached between them and guided him into her body. They hissed with pleasure as her inner walls clamped down on him, drawing him in further.
Her hands shot out to rest on his shoulders as she used his upper body as a means to meet his thrusts with her own. He alternated between fast and slow, hard and deep; hitting every spot that made her body truly come alive. Their nails dug into each other's skin as they held onto each other for dear life. Damon leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, swallowing her moans as he did so.
"Open your eyes," he whispered against her lips. "I want to see you come for me."
The words alone brought her that much closer to the edge. Forcing her eyes to remain open, she met his gaze dead on. He could see the passion blazing in those chocolate depths and it made him even more aroused; if that were possible. He could feel his fangs wanting to descend; the veins on his face trying to transform it.
Elena caught him by surprise as she lifted one hand to his face, her thumb brushing his lips. "I want to see," she panted.
He knew what she meant and if had wanted to hold that back he wouldn't have been able to. His fangs lengthened and his face transformed. The bluish red veins stood out prominently against his skin and his eyes had gone from light to dark in a matter of seconds. She started at him in awe. She had seen him like this before, but this time it was truly beautiful. Her fingers traced the veins on his skin before she drew him in to kiss his lips.
The moment he nicked her lip again and tasted her blood, he buried himself completely inside of her, sending them both into oblivion. Damon was shaken. They had shared blood before, but never before had he felt that connected to her. When he could see straight, she was tracing the veins on his face still until they receded with his fading blood lust. "You have no idea what you do to me," he whispered as he buried his face into the crook of her shoulder; his favorite place on her body.
"Likewise," she rasped, threading her fingers through his hair.
He grinned and placed a kiss on her heated skin. "We still have about an hour to kill. Are you up for it?"
"Are you?" she challenged.
He pulled back to look at her, that mischievous glint in his eyes. He rotated his hips, watching her gasp in surprise that he was still inside her. "I'll take that as a yes," he breathed. After all, he had told her that they were going to be late to the dance.
Elena relaxed against Damon as he held her close. The song was a slow one which was good for both of them. Elena was beyond exhausted. Damon's blood in her system didn't change the fact that she ached. A smile graced her lips and she turned her head into his neck to hide her blush from the rest of the crowd. "What?" he asked. She could practically hear the smirk in his voice.
"Nothing," she mumbled and kissed his skin. When she was able to look the other way again, she saw Caroline and Matt. Her head snapped up and she nodded towards them. "Did anyone fill her in on what's going on?"
"No," Damon said as if realizing it for the first time. "I'll get Stefan on it," he assured her, but hesitated, knowing he would have to momentarily leave her side. With that, Damon shook his head and took hold of her hand. "Why don't we just go together?"
"I like that idea," she said and followed him through the crowd until they found Stefan.
"You two might want to watch it," he said, smirking at both of them. "There are teachers everywhere whispering about how close the two of you are."
Damon shrugged and slung an arm around her shoulder. "I do not care. I have bigger things to worry about than what they think."
Elena nodded in agreement. "I have a favor to ask," she said and then bit her lip.
Stefan inclined his head. "I figured. What's up?" he asked.
"Blondie is here and I need you to go fill her in on what's been going on. She's been so preoccupied with her human that she hasn't been in the loop."
Stefan's brow rose at that. He definitely wanted to comment on how Caroline wasn't the only one preoccupied with "her human" but knew it was for the best if he kept his mouth shut. "I can do that," he said and left them.
"Thank you," Elena said and saw Jeremy slipping into one of the halls. She turned to Damon and nodded in that direction. "I'm gonna go check on Jeremy."
"I'll keep the witch entertained," he said and watched Elena part her way through the crowd. Immediately, his game face went up as he made his way to Bonnie. He grabbed her and started dancing as if it were no big deal. "Are you a hundred percent sure this will work?" he asked, keeping his voice as low as possible.
Bonnie nodded. "As I told you earlier, it has to be this way. I'm sorry I made you lie to Elena, but Klaus has to believe I'm dead for this to work. And he won't believe it if Elena knows my death was faked."
Damon watched her with cold eyes as they continued to dance. He had hated it when Bonnie showed up at the boarding house earlier. Elena had just gone upstairs to look for an outfit when the witch told him of her plan to fake her death. He had almost told Elena when he went up to see her, but distracted the both the best way he could. "I don't like lying to her."
"I know."
"No, you don't know," he countered and pulled her close so that she could feel the power of his hold. "You don't know the full extent of what you're asking me to do. You could have done this all on your own and told us afterwards, but instead you had to drag me into this." He let her go and moved to stand right in her face. "Elena is not going to forgive me as easily as you think she will."
"She-"
"Bonnie, I need to talk to you. Outside. Now," Elena said as she came up behind them and surprised them both. She grabbed hold of her friend's arm and proceeded to drag her through the crowd.
"Elena-" Damon started and she stopped only to turn and glare at him.
"Not now," she said and started moving again. Once they were outside, Elena turned to Bonnie. "You are not dying for me. Do you understand me, Bonnie? I won't let you."
"This is my choice Elena. If my death prevents anyone else from dying and this from happening to anyone else, I will gladly do it."
"Bonnie-"
"If it were me and you were the witch," she started, looking at Elena, pleading with her eyes for an honest answer. "If our places were reversed, tell me you wouldn't do the same."
Elena's lack of response told her everything.
"See?"
Elena shook her head. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I knew you'd react this way. I'm sorry that I told Damon, but-"
"You what?"
Bonnie froze with fear. "I thought that's why you were mad at him," she answered weakly.
"Damon knew about this? How?"
"I told him earlier."
Before Elena could even begin to process that information, Alaric showed up with a sense of urgency. "Klaus is here," he said and waved for them to follow him. "Come on," he said and led them into the school.
By the time Damon found them, Bonnie was already locked inside the cafeteria with Alaric. He could feel her power crackling in the air. Elena and Stefan were pounding on the metals doors Bonnie had sealed shut and it nearly broke him. He could see the pain etched on Elena's face as she watched her friend use all her strength and energy to get rid of their enemy. Even though he knew her death was only temporary, it killed him. It killed him because he knew the consequences would be Elena related and he was far from ready to lose her.
When the air calmed, the doors burst open and Elena fell to her knees beside her friend's body. Her sobs cut through Damon like a knife. "No!" she cried, over and over again.
"Get her out of here," Damon snapped at Stefan.
Elena looked at him then. It was the way she used to look at him; full of hate and betrayal. He knew it was her overload of emotions, but it still hurt. "Bonnie's dead!"
"I know that," he mumbled and looked at Stefan. "Get her out of here and to the boarding house. I'll take care of the body."
Stefan knew Elena wasn't going to leave without a fight so he simply took away her ability to do so. He locked his arms around her waist and hoisted her up. She kicked and screamed, but he used his speed to get her as far away from this mess as he could.
With them gone, Damon turned his attention to the witch. He took a deep breath and picked her up. He carried her to the car, placing her in the trunk so that no one else would know she was there. "Damon? Have you seen Bonnie or Elena?" Jeremy asked as he came jogging up to the car.
He reached out and laid his hand on Jeremy's shoulder. "Get in the car, Gilbert. I have something to tell you."
Jeremy looked at where Damon was touching him and then slowly back up to the vampire's face. "Damon, what's going on? What happened?"
"Get in the car and I'll tell you," he repeated and let go to slide in behind the wheel.
After several blocked attempts at getting out of the boarding house and away from Stefan, Elena paced the parlor room, waiting for Damon to come home so she could yell. Yelling at Stefan only made her angrier because he hadn't known and he only agreed with her instead of fighting back like she wanted. Just as she was getting to the point of pulling out her hair in frustration, she heard Damon's car in the driveway.
She stopped moving and waited for him to come inside. She couldn't see him, but she saw Stefan nod from his position in the hall before he headed upstairs. Damon hesitated before he made his way into the room, ready for whatever it was that she was going to say or do.
"You knew," she said. "You knew and you didn't tell me."
Her voice was soft, but he could hear the ice. "Yes."
The tears she had been fighting off for the last hour or so were now flowing freely down her cheeks. Damon crossed the room in the blink of an eye and took her into his arms. She beat against his chest, trying to do what, she wasn't sure. "She's dead!" she sobbed. "My best friend is dead and you..."
"Elena, you have to let me explain," he said, tightening his hold on her. He could already feel her strength slipping and her movements slowing. When she finally stopped hitting him, her fingers curled around his shirt to hold onto him while she sobbed onto his chest. "Bonnie was here earlier. She told me that in order to use the power she needed to, she had to die. It was the only way to use all of it. It was the price she had to pay for such power." Damon stroked her back, trying to soothe her and he kept his voice low as he told her the next part. "She had a vision earlier that Klaus would be at the dance, yet it wouldn't be Klaus. The other witches kept putting the same spell in her mind and she listened to them."
He stopped and tilted her face up so he could see her. "Bonnie's alive."
"How?" she asked, her voice harsh from crying.
"The spell she'd been pointed to was one to help her fake her death. By using her power on Alaric, she was able to invoke the spell. Bonnie's alive, Elena. She faked her death so that Klaus would assume that we are powerless against him. This way we still have a chance."
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Because in order for Klaus to believe that Bonnie was dead, we needed you to believe it. He saw your reaction tonight if he was really there." He cupped her face and let his emotions show in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Elena. You have no idea how much I hate myself for putting you through this."
Elena's emotions were all over the place. She had gone from happy to angry to wrecked, and back again, causing her to be more than exhausted in every aspect. She stepped out of Damon's embrace and he let her. She pinched the bridge of her nose and sat carefully on the edge of the couch. "I can't... This is..."
Damon sank to his knees before her and took her hands in his. "Listen to me very carefully, okay? I was going to tell you that she had to die in order to use her powers, but it was going to be like this. I put you through hell and I-"
She cut him off with a shake of her head and pulled her hands from his. "I just need a minute to myself."
He stared up at her, not ready to give up just yet. "I'll be upstairs, but I want you to promise me that you'll join me."
Elena let his words sink in and she nodded briefly. She cupped his face and lowered her lips to his. "I'm sorry," she whispered against his lips. And she was sorry because she had thought of a way to get the help they needed without sacrificing any of her loved ones.
Damon placed his hands over hers and shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry about, Elena. I love you," he said as he brushed his lips over hers again.
"I love you too," she replied and watched as he stood up. "I'll be up in a bit," she assured him.
Her eyes never strayed from his body as he disappeared up the stairs. Once he was out of sight, Elena was on her feet going towards the basement. She hurried to the cell with Elijah's body, knowing that if Damon heard, he would be down here in a flash before she got to go through with her plan. That thought kept her from hesitating as she dropped to her knees and pulled the dagger from Elijah's chest.