Elena stared into eyes much like hers.

"Sometimes I don't know who I am anymore," she said. "Its lke…on this one hand I'm Elena Gilbert. I have a great heart…if un-beating, good friends and a loving family. On the other hand…I'm Elena Gilbert. I'm a vampire. I kill humans to survive. Where in the hell am I supposed to find the balance in that? You know?"

She looked away and then looked back into the eyes.

"Do you know what I mean?"

Elena sighed and moved away from the mirror.

"Stupid," she muttered.

She walked downstairs, hugging herself in her short terrycloth robe. She was barefoot, her tread light, as she walked into the kitchen. Her hair was pulled back and away from her fresh face. She stared around at the kitchen. It was beautiful. A chef's dream. The appliances were stainless steel and there was a lovely marble island in the center colored in walnut. In another life she could have made a good wife here—cooking meals, children running at her feet. That wasn't for her. No children, no picket fence. She walked to the fridge and opened it. The light flooded the dark room and she squinted, reaching her hand in and grabbing a bag of blood. As closed the door, it revealed Stefan standing silently behind it's cover. Elena jumped, dropping the bag on the floor as she yelped.

Stefan smiled wryly, though it didn't quite reach his eye.

"Sorry," he said, reaching for the bag, "Here. You dropped this."

"Oh, its okay." Elena reached for the bag, shamed, and held it loosely at her side.

"Um, how are you," he asked.

"Fine…why?"

"Just asking."

"Oh...okay," she nodded and began walking out of the kitchen.

"You know," he said suddenly, "you don't have to run away every time you're near me."

Elena stopped and turned slowly.

"It's better this way," she said softly.

"Is it?"

"For me? Yes."

Stefan walked towards Elena.

"Can you honestly say that you feel nothing for me?" He asked quietly.

Elena's eyes widened for a moment before she composed herself.

"No," she said, her voice wavering, "I can't."

"Leave him."

Elena looked up at him.

"I could never."

"Why?"

"He gave me life."

"Elena, he gave you death."

"He gave me a second chance, Stefan. He saved me when I had nothing left...I care about him."

Stefan grabbed at her arm and pulled her close, his mouth over her ear.

"If I kissed you right now, you know you wouldn't stop me."

Elena reached up with her other hand and un-pried his fingers. She never looked more calm as she did when she looked at up at Stefan.

"It would never get to that point. I wouldn't put myself in that position. Stefan, my heart still calls to you. I can't lie. But there is an ocean between us. And I can't swim."

She grabbed the bag of blood slowly and walked out of the kitchen.

Stefan stood in the darkness. He didn't move long after she had gone.

"So much for the Salvatore charm..."

Stefan turned at the sound of the voice, frowning slightly.

Katherine leaned her shoulder against the confectioner's oven, a smirk painted on her lips.

"Have you lost your mind," Stefan said quickly, grabbing her arm. "Do you want to get caught?"

Katherine yanked her arm away.

"You forget yourself. I know what I'm doing. Damon is out looking for an early breakfast and Elena," she paused, "Just started her shower."

"Yeah, well—the last thing I need is for this entire thing to blow up in my face."

"You're paranoid."

"Yeah, well, rightfully so."

"Look. It's all about end game. I'm just doing you a favor. You found me in Italy, remember? Not the other way around."

"I didn't know it was you…"

"Details aren't important. The fact is I'm here. You're welcome."

"You didn't have to poison Elena…"

"Oh, give me a break. How else were you going to be welcomed back into the fold? Damon thinks he needs you. Elena needs you. "

"And what do you need?"

"You already know what. And until I get what I need, you're to do my bidding."

Stefan swallowed back. He had indeed made a deal with the devil. He closed his eyes as he felt her body press to his and her fangs tear into his skin.

"Stop looking at my neck!"

"What? I'm not looking at your neck!"

Bonnie slowly moved her hand from shielding her throat.

"Sorry," she said slowly. "It's just a big change. I'm still trying to get used to it."

"I know. I'm sorry, too. But Bon—I would never hurt you. You're my best friend."

She took Bonnie's hand in hers.

Bonnie sighed, relaxing.

"God, you're right. I know you wouldn't I don't know what's wrong with me."

She shook Elena's hand playfully.

"So Stefan was trying to make moves on you, huh?"

"I wouldn't call it moves, but he was trying…trying something."

"You need to be careful. Like Ive told you—Damon is dangerous, if he even suspected…"

"Damon would never hurt me."

"He might-if you hurt him first."

"I wouldn't," Elena said passionately. "Never."

Bonnie looked up at Elena, her head cocked to the side.

"Are you in love with him?"

Elena's eyes flew to Bonnie's and then away.

"What? No. I mean, I care about him. I have feelings," she paused, "He saved my life. Well…you know what I mean. But love? No."

"So you're still in love with Stefan?"

"Yes. No. I don't know!" She buried her face in her hands.

"Good luck with that," Bonnie paused. "So are you and Damon…"

Elena looked up. "Are we what?"

"You know…doing it."

Elena buried her face in the pillow.

"No," she muffled.

"A-ha! Liar! I knew it." She laughed.

"Shut up!"

"Well how was it?"

Elena lifted her head slightly, one sparkling eye looking up at Bonnie.

"Intense."

They giggled.

When Damon walked into the house it was more silent than usual.

So when Elena's hands slid between his arms and across his chest from behind, he was slightly startled.

"Shhhh," she whispered in his ear.

The air was perfumed with her, with the scent of jasmine…

Damon's mind raced for a moment but then…

Elena pressed her face into his back, her teeth dragging along his spine. Her hands moved over his body. Her fingers slid underneath his shirt and along his abs. She felt his muscles twitch as she moved her hands lower and to his belt. She metallic clang on his buckle snapped as she undid it quickly, her hand diving underneath his boxers and finding her prize.

"Mmm," she moaned appreciatively.

Damon let out a small moan and threw his head back, his eyes closing. Her hand slid up and down him with one hand while the other scratched down his chest. Damon turned suddenly, facing Elena. He was thrown for a moment. Her eyes. She had the look of a naughty but sated cat that had been caught in the cream. He pushed the thought away and kicked off his pants and grabbed her, crushing his mouth to hers. He carried her in his arms and took her upstairs. Before they could get to the room, she wiggled free and moved away from him playfully. He smiled and slammed her against the wall, his hand sliding to her backside and pressing her against him. She struggled half heartedly, letting him rip at her pants and yank them down her thighs. He grabbed her shoulders and turned her away from him. She arched into him as he entered her from behind, Elena's body pressed against the dusky colored wallpaper. Her hands were raised and pressed into the wall, anchored by Damon's left hand, while the other held her hip, guiding her back and onto his hardness. Her nails dug into the paper, shredding underneath her powerful fingers. He reached up, ripping at her shirt, pulling down the v-neck collar and exposing her breasts. His hand cupped them, her nipple in between his thumb and index finger. He growled low, his body thrusting forward and inside of her. Elena moaned her head thrown back and bumping against Damon's shoulder.

"Right there," she encouraged in between cries, "Don't stop…"

Harder. Faster. Deeper. Damon drove inside the welcoming warm wetness that she provided. She was his. Only his. He let go of her wrist and grabbed a fist full of her hair, yanking her head back. His teeth sunk into her. The darkness of her blood overwhelmed him, drained him. He was in a delicious mist and the verge of crescendo. He heard Elena's moans of climax which signaled his own release as he bit down harder on her neck. He groaned deep, his eyes shutting as great throbs coursed through his body. He leaned against her, his forehead against the wall as he tried to regulate his body and allow his mind to come back to reality. She turned in his embrace and faced him. Her shoulders pressed back against the wall, arms dangling at her side and with her hips forward.

Her eyes…

"Did you miss me," she said, her lip curving.

Katherine.

Damon cried out, sitting up in bed, sweat dripping down his face.

"Damon," Elena reached out, touching his arm. "What's wrong?"

Damon shut his eyes.

He could still taste her. He could feel her eyes.

"Nothing," he said softly. "Just a dream. Go back to sleep."

He leaned over and kissed her temple.

Elena snuggled back under the crook of his neck, slowly stroking his arm until she fell back asleep.

Damon's eyes were open, alert, for the rest of the night.