I don't own the vampire diaries and I don't own the characters.
This takes place after the events in my fanfic Soulmate always find a way.
The POV's will be from Damon and Elena.
Enjoy.
Feedback is appreciated.


Chapter 3- Fight or Flight

Elena's POV

I felt Damon tense as he pulled away from me. The look in his eyes, it seemed like he was at war with himself. I knew that someone, whether it be my father or my brother, was going to come through that door. It was either fight or flight, I was prepared to fight. "I love you Damon." I turned away from him and walked towards the door, He grabbed my wrist and shook his head. Before I knew it he was back at the window and leaped to the tree.

Nearly 5 seconds later the door opened, it was my father with Elliot following close behind. I had quickly shut the window and leaped onto my bed. "Is something wrong? I heard shouting, it woke me up." I lied effortlessly and I hoped I was convincing. I saw Elliot turn and head for the stairs silently and I knew he was going to find Damon. My father however stayed in the room and looked at me like he knew who had just left my room.

"Elena, who was up here?"

I try my best to look innocent, "No one. It was just me. Why do you ask?"

His eyes look to every corner of the room and he lets out a breath I don't think he knew he was holding. "I could have sworn I heard you scream. I must be hearing things."

"What did you think you heard me scream?"

"Mr. Salvatore, Damon. I thought I heard you scream something at Damon Salvatore."

Crap. He heard me tell Damon I remembered. Did I yell it that loud? I hadn't thought I'd been that loud. I knew I had to say something, I was only making myself look more guilty but I was at a loss for words. "I..." I tried to speak but nothing was coming out. As if by habit I looked around the room hoping for something to change the subject to.

"I can explain sir."

Holy shit, no! I wanted to scream as I heard him come back through the window. What was he doing? He's taking the fall for you. The voice spoke from the back of my mind, I instinctively moved to stand in front of him. I grabbed his hand and kept him behind me. "Damon was here. I can explain." They both looked at me, at the moment I realized just how much both of us would pay for this.

"Mr. Salvatore. I will politely ask you to leave and wait downstairs while I talk to my daughter."

Damon didn't move. He never let go of my hand and he never lost eye contact with my father. "I have to politely decline sir. I love your daughter."

These words seemed to upset my father even more, if at all possible. "While that may be true Mr. Salvatore, your brother is currently courting my daughter and you are currently overstepping your boundaries. Now, please go wait downstairs while I talk to my daughter, alone."

I lowered my head and Damon had let go of my hand. We both knew what was coming and we knew that we couldn't face it together. He stepped forward only to turn around and take me into his arms. "It will be okay Elena. I promise." He had whispered the words and then silently left the room.

My father turned to look at me and I took a few steps back. I could see the anger in his eyes and I could feel it coming off him in waves. "Elena Gilbert. I don't know what has gotten into you. I warned you once to stay away from Damon and you didn't listen. Do you not know what he's done Elena? Has he not told you, and if he has, how can you still think he is someone whom you should be associating with?"

I hadn't answered him. I knew what Damon has done, I had remembered it not just 5 minutes ago. He was what they would label as the town bad boy. He has gotten drunk on many occasions and yes he'd even slept with, well what the town would call, a whore. I know that most girls wouldn't want anything to do with him, but they didn't know him like I did. How was I supposed to explain this to my father, I was at a loss. I heard him clear his throat and I knew I had to answer. I took a deep breath and started my explanation.

"I know what he's done, but I also know who he is. He's not that person, why can't you see that? He's a good man." My father scoffed but I kept on. "I know that he doesn't always make the best decisions but he has a good heart. He would never hurt me and I know he feels bad about what he's done in the past. He loves me, and I love him too."

That was the breaking point. My father took one step toward me and I immediately took a step back. "Elena! A man like that is not capable of love. He just wants one thing and one thing only, and I know for sure he doesn't have to be drunk to get it! As for you knowing him, I don't believe you really do. I think you know just as much as he wants you to know, nothing more and nothing less. I don't want you seeing him again. Do I make myself clear Elena?!"

I jumped a little startled that he was yelling at me with such, vehemence. I nodded my head and watched as he left the room and quickly walked downstairs. I sat on the end of my bed as the tears started to fall. Elliot had walked back into the room and now took me in his arms.

"I'm sorry Elena. Look, I know it may not seem like it now but everything will be okay. You have to trust your feelings alright?"

I look back at him dumbfounded. How can everything go from being this...horrible to being okay in the end? I didn't question him, I just cried. I knew that this was only the beginning of the people we'd have to face. I'd have to face Stefan, he was sure to find out about this and I knew that it would go over a lot better if he found out about it from me. Nothing had happened but in a town this small things can just be assumed and that alone could tear families apart. I knew Damon would have to face both his father and his brother, I didn't know which one was worse but I knew that he usually took whatever beatings he got in stride. But above all, I knew I'd have to face Damon again.

I didn't know what was going on downstairs. I wasn't sure I wanted to know. I knew that the next time I saw Damon it would probably be in the middle of the night in my room again. I hated to thing that he'd be hurt but I also knew that it was something expected. I pushed Elliot away and put my head in my hands. That's when I heard it, and Elliot did too.

I ran down the stairs and saw the broken vase on the floor and saw Damon resume his standing position. He had ducked the object thrown at him. I looked around and noticed that everyone had come out to see what the noise had been. My sister, the maids, even both my brothers were there. My eyes immediately locked with Damon's and I saw the gleam there. He stood as straight as ever and walked over to my father.

"You can throw what you like but I would never touch Elena, not yet at least." I saw my father start to rebuttal but Damon cut him off. "I make bad choices, everyone does, even you Mr. Gilbert! You won't admit to them but I will. I will admit to them because I love her!" He points at me but doesn't stop. "I love her and one day I will marry her. I care about my brother and I know that she does too but this connection between us, is unbreakable. With that said sir, I will leave, but know this. I will never stop. I will never stop trying to be a man who is worthy of her, a man who she can trust, and the man she wants me to be. Goodnight."

Without a second look at anyone in the room Damon wrenches open the front door and is gone before I can move.

Damon's POV

I had known that Johnathan Gilbert would be mad but I'd rather him take his anger out on me than on Elena. It was me he was upset with really not her. I heard him walking down the stairs and I stopped pacing in the foyer. He motioned me into his office and I went knowing full well how this would end.

"How dare you Mr. Salvatore! How dare you sneak into my home and into my daughters bedroom! She is 4 years younger than you and I think you forget that sometimes."

I take a deep breath and prepare myself for the battle to come. "I know who she is. I know Elena very well sir. Do you?"

"You have no right to ask me if I know my daughter! You said up there that you love her but you do not know what love is! You don't love her and you don't even love your own brother or you wouldn't have been in the bedroom of the young lady he is courting!"

"Nothing happened! She's my best friend and I do love her. I love my brother too. But nothing happened and nothing would. I would never touch Elena, not unless we were married! I respect her and believe it or not I respect you too. Which is why I will now walk out of here and we can consider this matter closed. It won't happen again. Goodnight."

I had started to walk towards the door but my instincts told me to turn around. I did just that after I opened the door. I saw the vase hurdling at my head and I ducked it.

"You will never marry my daughter you son of a bitch!"

I hear Elena run down the stairs and more doors open but my gaze is locked on Johnathan Gilbert. A line had been drawn and one of us was bound to cross it sooner or later. I slowly stand back up and look once at Elena. She's scared, I can see it in her eyes. I take a deep breath and focus again on Johnathan Gilbert. I step forward back into his office and place my hands on his desk and start with my last words.

"You can throw what you like but I would never touch Elena, not yet at least." He starts to talk but I don't want to hear anymore of his fucking voice, so I continue like I didn't notice. "I make bad choices, everyone does, even you Mr. Gilbert! You won't admit to them but I will. I will admit to them because I love her!" I point at Elena and I can feel everyone look from me to her and back to me. "I love her and one day I will marry her. I care about my brother and I know that she does too but this connection between us, is unbreakable. With that said sir, I will leave, but know this. I will never stop. I will never stop trying to be a man who is worthy of her, a man who she can trust, and the man she wants me to be. Goodnight."

I turn on my heel and walk out the fucking door. I was still fuming when I got home and I slammed the door behind me knowing damn well it would wake everyone in the house. I stared up at the stairs as my brother and then my father appeared at the top. "Stefan. Study. Now." I say the three words and walk off knowing he will follow me. I have to tell him, I have to before anyone else has the chance to. I hear the door shut behind me as I turn to face my little brother.

"What's wrong Damon?"

I take a deep breath and prepare myself for the second battle I have to fight tonight, and this one I know would involve violence. "I was at Elena's. In her bedroom." I can see the comprehension dawn on his face as he stares at me. So many emotions find my way through my brothers eyes. Pain, Hurt, Betrayal, Acceptance surprisingly, but the most prominent is Anger.

"How could you do this Damon!" He steps forward and I can see his fists clinch next to him.

"I love her Stefan. It's always been her. I..." I am cut off when his fist connects with my jaw. I expected that. "Well well. Stefan's angry, call the town knitting circle to spread the gossip!" I feel the next punch connect with the same spot on my jaw and this time I fight back. I punch his stomach and he doubles over but regains his composure quickly.

"I love her Damon! You were in her bedroom, what the hell happened big brother? Did you force yourself upon her? Are you drunk and needed someone to bed so you chose Elena?!"

This time it's me who throws the punch to the jaw. "How dare you fucking say that boy! Nothing happened and I would never fucking lay a hand on Elena unless it was mutual or we are married! And I my brother are not fucking drunk, I've been going to Elena's room every night for the past 4 years."

"4 years?" His voice sounds surprised, but calm now. I can't read the emotions that pass through his eyes but he seems to be deliberating something. "Damon, if I had known I wouldn't have...I'm sorry I punched you Damon."

What the hell? He's fucking apologizing, this isn't supposed to fucking happen. "You're supposed to hate me Stefan. I just told you that I want to marry the girl you are currently in love with and courting and you say you're fucking sorry!"

We both look as the door to the study flies open and my father storms in.

"What is going on in here?!"

I decide it's best to get this out of the way now. "I was just telling Stefan what happened tonight. I was in Miss Elena's bedroom and Mr. Gilbert and I had...words exchanged. I come home and tell Stefan that I was there and I love Elena and he says he's fucking sorry for punching me. How does that make you feel Father? Is he living up to the Salvatore name?"

He doesn't answer immediately but I see him step forward until he is right in front of me. "You are a disgrace son. You do not deserve the Salvatore name. I've spent my life trying to build up everything so that you and Stefan are taken care of and you do this. You are no son of mine." I feel his fist continually hit my face and I do nothing to stop it. He stops after about 5 good punches and I stand up.

I'm not afraid of him. I can take the hits. I can take the hate that he gives me. I can take the fact that he disowns me. I stand up and look him in the eyes. "What else is fucking new!"

I walk out of the study and keep going until I reach the backdoor. I don't bother taking a horse, I'm not going where I should. I know that Elena is probably pacing around her room waiting and hoping for me to return and tell her everything will be okay. I can't do that. I walk to the quarry and walk a few paces into the woods. I start digging until I find the bottle of bourbon I have hidden here.

Everyone is right. I don't deserve Elena. I'm not a good person but she is. She makes me want to be a better person but it's just too damn hard. I haven't taken a drink yet and I honestly don't know if I want to. I reach the edge of the water and I sit down and stare across it.

"Damon."

I turn around and find Elena standing behind me. She's wearing the same dress from earlier but I can tell she doesn't have her corset underneath so she probably snuck out here. I don't want her to see me like this. I don't want her to see this side of me but before I can stop her she's sitting down next to me. I feel her take my face in her hands and turn me so I'm looking at her.

"I love you Damon. You. All of you."

I smile a little at her words and I feel her lips meet mine. I pull back and stand up. I glance down at her and I throw the bottle as far as it will go and scoop her into my arms. I press my lips to hers and I let all the love I feel for her pour itself out in that one kiss. She is returning my kiss and it's just as loving. When we eventually pull back I see that she's crying and I can feel the fucking tears falling from my eyes too.

We sit back down and we don't talk the rest of the time we sit there. It was time to fight or flight, and we both chose to fight. We made a decision and I knew we'd have to deal with the fallout. Tonight was just the beginning of all the hurt, anger, love, and unavoidable betrayal that we'd all face.