Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year .

It brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul.

- Author Unknown

"Why can't I sleep with you? I won't even cuddle!" Damon complained, following her into the bedroom.

"Why don't you just take Jeremy's room?" Elena asked, removing her sweater and pants, and she cringed when he looked at her half naked body. He turned away, because he didn't exactly want to be tempted only in the first couple days of the week. She cleared her throat and he turned around, finding her on her bed, wearing an oversized t-shirt.

"I don't know what Jeremy's done in that bed." Damon said, looked over to Elena with glaring eyes.

"So sleep in my parents'."

"Yeah, cause that's so much better."

"Damon, ew."

"Pleeeeeeease." He whined, and Elena rolled her eyes at him.

"Fine." She gave in, moving over in her double bed to give Damon some space.

"Thankyou, beautiful." He smiled, jumping into the bed with her. Elena rolled her eyes and turned her back on Damon. He rolled his eyes and copied her movements.

She woke up with an arm slung loosely over her waist and her head on Damon's chest. She squinted her eyes open and looked up at Damon, who was looking up at the ceiling in his own little world. She shifted away from him and he smirked.

"Morning."

"Why are you cuddling with me?" She asked, sitting up and groaning.

"Elena, when I woke up, you were on top of me." Damon shrugged, raising an eyebrow at her.

"I was not." She argued, and hit his shoulder. "I think. That's why I don't sleep with people; I have a tendency to do strange things when I'm sleeping."

"You were talking." Damon pointed out with a smile.

"What was I saying?" She asked, slightly embarrassed.

"I'm pretty sure you were having a dirty dream about me because you kept moaning my name."

Elena growled and pushed him hard, making him roll off the bed. "You're such a liar!" she roared, stepping over clothes to get to the bathroom. Damon watched her go with a smirk. At least she wasn't kicking him out. He heard the shower turn on and left her bedroom.

By the time her shower was done, Damon had already made her breakfast, and she was thankful because she was feeling slightly faint. He rolled a plate of chocolate chip pancakes over to her and she picked one up, taking off the slightly crusted outer ring and eating it. Then, she worked through the rest of the pancakes. Damon watched her quietly, eating a couple of his own.

"What?" She asked when she finally let her eyes meet his. He smiled a genuine smile at her, and Elena was a bit taken back because Damon only smirked.

"Number sixteen: You are the most beautiful girl I've ever met." He said, his blue eyes burning holes into hers. Elena blushed considerably, then brushed it off.

"Don't be ridiculous Damon, I'm sure you've slept with prettier girls."

Damon was completely serious now, and he shook his head. Elena smiled.

"Number sixteen. You have the nicest eyes I have ever seen." She said, continuing to stare into them, and he fluttered them mockingly.

"I know right." He smirked.

"Oh, there he is." Elena laughed, referring to Damon's old sarcastic self. He shrugged and chucked a couch pillow at her.

Caroline sat with her back against the bed's head board. She watched Jeremy pace back and forth then looked over to Bonnie, who was sitting at the edge of Jeremy's bed.

"Caroline, I'm not really sure any of this is a good idea." He said, placing both his hands on his head and brushing his hair back in frustration.

"Why not, Jer? We all know how stupid Elena is being right now, if we can help her, why shouldn't we?" Caroline asked, and Bonnie looked as if the wheels in her head were turning remarkably slowly. Caroline had to think this through. It was one thing to ruin her life, but for them to ruin Elena's life, it was just unneeded revenge.

"What are you thinking, Bonnie?" Caroline turned to her best friend, with those sad blue eyes. Bonnie sighed.

"I'm thinking this is a stupid idea, Caroline. We can't just drive down there and… and hurt her like that."

"Like she hurt me?" Caroline asked.

"Caroline, she paid for what she did to you. The whole town rejected her."

"But he didn't." Caroline complained, standing up.

"Is that it, Caroline? You want him back? I thought this was about making Elena pay for what she did to you, but now it's about Damon?"

"Don't you say his name!" Caroline yelled at Bonnie. She drew in a strangled breath. "Look, Bonnie. She hurt me, they both did. And if you want to be a crappy friend and watch me drive up to her lake house all alone, then go ahead, but I'm going, with or without you." Caroline's whole body trembled with anger. Bonnie looked to her boyfriend, and Jeremy rubbed his eyes.

"And if we do, Caroline? What then?" Jeremy asked. "We're talking about hurting my sister; I'm not liking this idea at all."

"I take him back." Caroline shrugged.

"He's in love with her Caroline, anyone can see that. He doesn't love you anymore." Bonnie replied harshly but Caroline's emotions didn't change.

"I'll make him love me."

"So, what's the plan?" Damon asked, flopping down on the couch beside her.

"Plan for what?" She asked, not even looking up from her newspaper.

"Today, obviously." He said, lying down with his feet lying across her lap. Elena shrugged, and her eyes fell onto the spot of the newspaper that said 'Mystic Falls' in bold letters. Elena sighed.

"We're missing the Miss Mystic Falls pageant." She whispered, remembering when her mother had signed her up for that.

"You miss it there." He whispered back, taking her hand in his. She nodded silently. Damon wanted nothing more to take Elena back to Mystic Falls, but he knew he couldn't. She had to go back when she was ready. It would be easier, if they were together, but Damon knew Elena wasn't ready to face Caroline, or Bonnie or Jenna and Jeremy and Tyler. Too many people hated her. He kissed her knuckled in the gentlest gesture.

"I want to go home, but I can't. Not yet." She said, looking over at him, her doe eyes having the most innocent look he's ever seen.

"I know." He whispered against her hand. She dropped the newspaper and he pulled her on top of him. Her body rested against his, her head on his chest. One of his arms encircled her waist, while the other combed through her hair. She closed her eyes, finding peace with him.

Sorry for the long hiatus. So, for a few chapters, i was unsure of where this story was going, but i totally know what track i'm on now. sorry for the wait, please review !