Chapter 11: Time for Some Real Fun

Damon watched as Elena went back to class after they went for lunch. He needed to find Caroline.

He found her walking to her class and pulled her into and empty classroom. "Damon! What the hell?" she glared at him, pulling her arm out of his grasp.

"We need to talk." He told her firmly.

She raised a brow. "So…talk. I have a class to go to."

Damon narrowed his eyes at her. "I have a plan to get rid of the Originals, but Elena can't know about it…got it?" it wasn't a question.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right! Like I'm not gonna tell my best friend the plan to save her life."

Damon's jaw tightened. "If you tell her, it will get her killed." He explained slowly as if speaking to a child. "One of the Originals, Quinn, can read minds…if he reads that Elena knows what's gonna happen, she dies and so do the rest of us."

Caroline nodded. "Okay so what's the plan?" She sat down on a desk and Damon leaned against the teacher's desk.

Damon put on his cold mask. "Klaus is gonna take Elena. I don't know when, but he will. I can't fight him…I'm not strong enough, but hopefully if he doesn't kill me he takes me wherever he takes her." He crossed his arms and tried to ignore the look of incredulity on the blonde's face.

"And what if he does kill you what then?" she asked in fear and disbelief that he would so willingly put his life in danger like that.

"I've got back up. That's where Katherine comes in." he stated casually.

Caroline gaped at him. "Um, are you fucking crazy! We can't trust her…Damon have you completely lost your mind?" she glared at him.

Damon rolled his eyes and pinned them on her again. "We can trust her…she wants to be free of Klaus as badly as we do. She's gonna show up and pretend to strike a deal with him…she's got the moonstone so he'll follow her."

She frowned. "Well won't the vampire be able to tell if you or Katherine are lying?"

Damon shook his head. "Not if vervain is in our system. I'll dose myself up a little and Katherine is immune to it anyway, so we should be golden. Anyways…Katherine's gonna take Elena and bring her to the tomb. That's where you, Bonnie and Tyler come in."

"What do you need us for?" she asked in curiosity.

Damon smiled. "Authenticity. To lift the curse you need the moonstone, a vampire, a werewolf and a witch to work the magic." He explained listing them off on his fingers. "We just want Klaus and the others to think you're tied up and ready for the curse…" he quickly continued when Caroline opened her mouth. "But you won't be. Katherine's going to lead them into the tomb and once they're in…she's gonna run out and Bonnie's going to lock them in there." He smiled, happy with his plan. He just hoped that it worked…and that he'd be alive afterwards.

Caroline smiled brightly. "That's…a really good plan actually." She hopped off the desk. "So I'm guessing you want me to fill in Bonnie and Tyler?"

Damon nodded. "And you can't tell Elena." He stated menacingly. "I cannot stress that enough."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

One month. It's been one month and Rose was still living at the Boarding House. Couldn't she find her own place to live? She was old enough to have money saved up, Elena was sure of it, so why was she still here? Damon…obviously. She thought rolling her eyes as she rapped on the door. It was mid afternoon so he should be up.

The door opened but there was no one there. "Come in." Elena heard Rose's melodic accent from the other side of the door.

Elena walked through the entry, her face tense with disappointment that she was the one that answered. "Rose…is Damon here?" she asked tersely.

Rose nodded. "He's still sleeping…we got a little faced last night." She scratched the back of her head with a laugh. "I think he's still feeling Dicky." At Elena's puzzled look Rose elaborated. "Un well, sick? He thought he could out drink me…he was wrong." Rose sauntered back into the living room and sat on the couch, opening the book she was reading before Elena came.

Elena cast a glance upstairs and let out a sigh. Did she want to go up there on the off chance that she'd find him indecent? She shook it off and made her way upstairs and towards his room. She blew off school today not really wanted to be there. She was tired of the way Caroline was not so subtly hinting how she had the affections of a certain dark haired vampire. She wanted to yell at her 'I already know he loves me Caroline!' but that would be bad. Knowing Caroline she'd somehow let it slip to Damon which was not of the good.

She'd been doing so well lately, except for that one time, but he dropped it quickly. She enjoyed her time with him. He was always making her laugh and keeping the frown from her face, and he was there for her when she was lonely after Stefan left.

Despite everything that happened with him, Elena still felt something for Stefan. She understood that the animal he turned into wasn't who he really is and she missed the man she loved. Damon was there to comfort her, and pull her out of the depressing funk she would sometimes burden herself with and she was grateful for that.

She reached his door and pushed it open smiling at his figure on the king size bed. He was sprawled out on his stomach with his cheek to the pillow facing her, his mouth slightly open. Elena let her eyes roam over him, thankful that the dark bed sheets were just covering the curve of his ass. How did he look so innocent and peaceful when he slept and then become a cocky, snarky ass when he woke up?

Elena crept into the room not wanting to wake him, and sat on the edge of his bed looking at the rise and fall of his back as he breathed needlessly. She wondered what he was like when he was human. Was he as smug and supercilious as he is now, or was that something he gained as a vampire; did he have handfuls of women batting their eyes and throwing themselves at him? Probably.

"Stop staring, it's rude." He mumbled into the pillow his eyes still closed.

Elena let out a breath, a little embarrassed that he knew she was watching him. "Sorry…I was just wondering how you could look so cute when you sleep and wake up to be such an asshole." She shot back with a smirk.

Damon's eyes popped open and he smirked back. "You think I'm cute?" he wiggled his brows, turning on his side. His smirk widened into a grin after she looked away from him when the sheet fell lower on his hips. He pulled the sheet up a little covering himself but still showing a little of the dark trail of hair from his belly button to his pelvic bone.

"Only when you're dead to the world." She replied trying her best to hide the smile on her lips. "So how are you…still feeling Dicky?" Elena asked saying the last word with emphasis.

Damon's eyes widened with glee. "I'm always feeling dicky!" he briefly let his eyes roam down to his lower half before looking at Elena and waggling his brows.

She laughed and smacked his chest. She tried not to think of how solid he felt. "That's not what I meant, Damon." She scolded.

Damon rolled his eyes and flopped on his back. "Well speak English and maybe I might understand you, Elena." He said her name in that melodious rhythm that made her skin shiver.

Elena huffed and crossed her arms. "According to Rose that is English."

"Ahh…British slang. Been around a long time, and still don't understand half the shit they're talking about." He brought his brows together and lolled his head to look at her. "Why aren't you at school? It's Friday…" He was aware that Elena would skip every once in a while and come over here to hang. He didn't mind, but he knew she was missing a lot of school.

Elena shrugged. "I know…I just didn't feel like dealing with everything. I'm taking a mental health day." She stated with conviction.

Damon gave her a lopsided smirk. "You're taking a lot of those."

Elena looked at him hard. "What…are you complaining? You know I'm not the worst company in the world." She repeated the words he once said to her with a teasing tone.

Damon sat up, and to save her from embarrassment he made sure that the sheet covered him. "You're right…I shouldn't be complaining. I love being around my favorite human." He told her with mirth in his eyes.

Elena noticed the way he said love like he was mocking the word. He didn't say the word often, but she noticed when he said it to her that one night he declared with such emotion. Emotion that he kept safely hidden behind that mask he wore. "You better. So…get up, and put some clothes on. We're getting out of this house and we're gonna do something fun!" As he started to throw his feet off the bed, Elena jumped up and headed for the door. "I'll be downstairs." She rushed out in one breath, shaking her head as she heard Damon's laughter from behind the closed door.

It didn't take Damon long to get ready. It was because he was naturally beautiful, he claimed. She rolled her eyes, both of them giving Rose a by before Damon followed Elena to her car.

"You're driving…it's gonna take us forever to get there!" he claimed dramatically, a pout on his face as he pulled open the passenger door. "Where are we going anyway?" he huffed.

Elena rolled her eyes, getting into the driver's seat and turning the ignition. "Do you need to know everything?" she pulled out of the driveway and onto the road.

Damon blinked looking at her with puzzled eyes. "Yes…I thought you knew that?"

Elena glanced at him. "Well I'm not telling you…you can find out when we get there."

Damon leaned towards her and whispered in her ear. "I could always compel it out of you…" he trailed off, fingering her necklace.

Elena tried to hide her anger at his words, and smacked his hand away. "Don't even think about it!" she glared at him, her eyes narrowed into thin slits. "Do you know how mad I would be at you if you ever did that to me?" she asked rhetorically, trying to get a reaction out of him. She never realized how fun this could be.

Damon blinked, before pulling back and looking out the windshield. "Well if I compelled you to forget it, not even you would know how mad you would be." He looked back at her, and threw her a fake grin.

Elena exhaled loudly in rage. How could he say that, with no feeling at all? Without caring how that would affect her? She was so angry she almost didn't want to follow through on her plan for him today...the whole reason she took the day off to thank him for everything. But she knew she would…because she was just as excited as she was sure he would be.

When they pulled up at the club on the outside of town, Elena thankfully jumped out of the car. The whole way Damon was badgering her on where they were going and she tried her best to ignore them. They had stopped for dinner and it was close to six by the time they got there.

"A club?" he asked in with surprise. "I'm impressed, Elena. This was the last place I expected you to take me." He walked around the car and strode beside her as they entered the club. Elena handed the bouncer the tickets she had in her pocket, before he nodding to them and let them through. Damon frowned. "Why didn't he ID you? I didn't even have to compel him." He commented jerking a thumb behind him as they entered the dark room.

"Will you please shut up!" Elena said exasperated, whipping around to look at him. "Why do you have to ask so many questions? Can't you wait and find out like regular people do?" she asked in mock seriousness. They walked up to the bar and wedged in through the body of people. "Can you get me a beer please?"

Damon compelled the bartender to give them two beers before moving towards the sea of bodies in the back of the club where there was a stage. "You know…jeans and a t shirt, not exactly club attire." He pulled at his black shirt, curling his lip up. "And we're wearing sneakers! See, I told you should have told me where we were going." He said with finality, already concluding that he was right.

Elena rolled her eyes and turned to him. "If you'd look around you'd notice that everyone else is wearing the same thing. Trust me, Damon. You'll be happy you did." She patted his shoulder with a smirk before turning to the stage.

The MC got up and everyone started hollering. "Hello, party people! Thanks to everyone comin out tonight…we got a great show for you. This is their first stop on their cross country tour. Please welcome….ANBERLIN!" the whole crowd roared, screamed and jumped up and down as the band came up on the stage and played the first few cords to 'Enjoy the Silence'.

Damon slowly turned his head to look at her with shock written all over his face. "You. Are. Amazing." He wrapped his arms around her and twirled her around, relishing in her laughter before putting her down. "I love this band!" He declared looking at the stage and the band rocking out.

"I know!" she shouted over the music. "This is why I took the day off school…I wanted to thank you for everything!" She smiled as Damon hugged her again before grabbing her hands as they danced to the music.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It was well into the evening by the time the concert was over, and Elena and Damon drunkenly stumbled back to the car…well Elena did anyway. "That was so much fun!" she giggled, holding onto him as she tripped over her foot.

Damon laughed genuinely. "I had a great time, Elena…thank you." He came to a sudden stop on the sidewalk, and pulled Elena back to him when she trying to keep walking. "Elena, go back to the car and lock the doors. I'll be right there okay?" he ushered her to the car.

Elena looked at him worriedly. "What's wrong?" she slurred, collapsing in the seat.

"Nothing." He smiled. "I'll be right back." he tucked her legs into the car before closing it and pressing the lock button on her key. Damon swaggered back to the alley behind the club and crossed his arms. "You love just popping up out of nowhere, don't you?"

The silhouette of the figure shrugged, before coming into the light. "What can I say…I like the element of surprise." Katherine smiled simply, tilting her head to the side.

"I thought you'd be long gone by now." He stated, wondering what the hell she was still going here. "Did you follow us here?"

"I was on my way out of town and I picked up on you're scent, thought I stop by and say hello."

Damon narrowed his eyes. "And the real reason you're here is…" he trailed knowing she didn't come to just say hello.

Katherine sighed and cocked her hip. "I just wanted to say something before I left." She looked away feigning indifference.

Damon waved a hand out to her, gesturing her to go ahead. "Well by all means…"

Katherine looked at him hard. "I wasn't really envisioning having the conversation in a back alley." When Damon's glare didn't falter she continued. "I'm…I'm sorry Damon." She declared with reluctance.

Damon was taken aback and it visibly showed. "What?"

The older vampire crossed her arms and looked away, rolling her eyes up. "Please don't make me say it again." She begged.

Damon smirked. "I think I'm gonna have to." He couldn't believe it…Katherine saying sorry? Unheard of!

She kept her eyes pinned on him and held her face straight. "I'm sorry for what I did to you." She looked down, dropping her arms to her side before looking at a spot just over his head. "It was never my intention to hurt you or Stefan. I loved you both…" she shook her head and rolled her eyes at herself. "In my own sick and twisted way."

He frowned. "I can't believe you're saying this…I've never heard you say sorry…ever!" he exclaimed in confusion.

Katherine sighed triumphantly, happy that it was over. "And you'll never hear it again. Until next time." She sped out of the back alley and took off past him.

Damon stood there for a minute before walking back to the car. He smiled to himself seeing Elena passed out with her mouth open, and leaning her cheek against the cool window.

She did something so amazing for him tonight. It was save to say tonight went down in his books as one of the best nights of his life. They danced and laughed and had a great time together. He shook his head, as he thought of the way her eyes would look straight into him, or the way her hand felt on his thigh when she laughed at something he said. She was drunk…and it was nice to see her let loose and have real fun.

He slide into her car and peeled out, driving them back home, glancing at her every so often.

Author's Note: I know, it wasn't a super exciting chapter…just a filler chapter, to build more of a relationship with Delena and to get out Katherine's parting words. Might bring her back…not sure yet. Next chapter should be angsty, so please stay tuned! Please review! If I get more than ten, I'll post tomorrow to treat you for being so fuckin awesome!

Vanessa