Author's Note: Oh My God you guys are so awesome! You got me to ten reviews for chapter 11! I love you guys…so here is your treat Chapter 12. Thank you to driver picks the music, EtherealDemon, xalternativexmusicxgirlx, hoplessromanic549, ajsalvatorexx, LoveEpicLove and all others for your constant reviews and support!

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Chapter 12: Rose

Elena rolled her eyes at the laughter coming from downstairs. Damon and Rose had been drinking in the parlor room for a couple hours already and it was pissing her off. It had been two weeks since the Anberlin concert and Elena kept hinting to both Rose and Damon that she didn't want her around.

"What a free loader…why can't she just get her own place?" she suggested pulling out the jug of milk from the fridge and pouring it in her coffee.

Damon stood beside her. "Like you're paying rent." He joked, and put his hands up when she glared at him. "Sorry, I forgot…I'm not aloud to talk about how you stay here almost every night, eating my food, drinking my milk…" he trailed off gesturing to the jug on the counter.

Elena sighed. "It's not like you use it. You're on the blood diet remember, you buy this stuff for me." She smiled brightly at him, putting the jug away.

Damon nodded. "Cause I like having you around…you keep things interesting." He smirked raising his brows. The microwave beeped and Elena turned around a pulled out the mug of blood handing it to him. "See! You do things like that…no one ever warms up my blood for me." He took a sip, keeping his eyes on hers.

Elena smiled and shrugged. She looked at him seriously, crossing her arms. "I don't like her Damon. She annoys me." She huffed.

Damon put his hands on her shoulders. "Is it because you feel like you're missing out on your 'Damon time'? Do you think she's stealing me from you?" he teased, mirth in his eyes.

Elena rolled her brown orbs dramatically. "I just don't like the way she things she knows everything!" she said in aggravation.

"Well she's been around long enough…she might just know everything." Damon lowered his voice. "You know she can hear everything you're saying right?"

Elena glared at him pulling away. "I don't care!" she said loud enough hoping she heard.

Elena threw herself on Stefan's bed and stared at his ceiling. When did this get so hard? Why did it bother her so damn much that Damon seemed happy in Rose's company? She didn't want to worry…she knew Damon loved her, but what if because he thought he couldn't have her he tried to move on…with her. Elena closed her eyes trying to block out the horrible thought.

"Hey…glad someone's getting use out of this room." A familiar voice from the doorway said. It sounded familiar…but different too.

Elena sat up and looked at him. He looked different too. "Stefan…you're back." He took a step closer and he heart raced.

"Yeah." He looked pained at the fact she was uncertain about him. "Please don't be afraid of me, Elena. I'm better now." He stepped closer and sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm so sorry about what I did to you." He hoped she could see the sincerity in his eyes.

Elena nodded and smiled tightly. "I know that wasn't you…you lost control." She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. "As long as you're better…" she asked openly.

Stefan smiled. "I am. I've learned to control the cravings."

Elena frowned at him. "You're still drinking human blood?"

"Just the bagged stuff." He quickly assured her. He looked around the room, smelling her scent all over the place.

She looked at him hard, noticing how he seemed to give off a strong air about him. "So are you back for good?" she asked hesitantly. Things were good while he was gone, but she wasn't going to lie to herself about how much she missed him.

"I don't know yet." He answered with a shrug and a smile. He was so carefree and lighthearted now that he didn't care to plan everything out anymore.

She smiled, happy that he was doing so well. "Where'd you go?" Stefan got more comfortable on his bed, crossing his legs as he sat in front of her.

"Arizona, mostly. I have a friend there."

Elena nodded. "Klaus and the Originals are locked in the tomb." She informed him with pleasure.

Stefan's eyes widened, and he grinned. "I heard." At Elena's confused look he continued. "Caroline told me."

"Caroline?" she asked.

"Yeah she tracked me down as soon as I got back into town. She wanted to yell at me for leaving her to deal with Tyler all by herself." He stated with a lopsided smile. He looked back towards the door. "So Rose is living here now?" he voice filling with confusion and disbelief.

Elena rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Yeah unfortunately." She grumbled. "I can't wait until Damon throws her out on her ass!" she exclaimed as she glared at the comforter.

Stefan narrowed his eyes in amusement. "You don't like her."

Elena looked at him with mock innocence, her eyes showing her sarcasm. "Is it that obvious?"

Stefan turned his mouth down and shook his head playing along. They laughed for a moment before turning serious again. "How's Damon?"

Elena smiled brightly. "He's good! He's the one who thought up the plan to lock the Originals in the tomb. He really took charge, Stefan…you'd be proud of him."

Stefan smiled easily. "I can see you are."

Elena nodded. "I am. He's changed so much…I mean, he's still Damon, but he cares now." She played with a loose string in the bed sheet, twirling it around her finger.

"He always cared, Elena." He told her softly. "He just never showed it." He stared at her for a long time before he spoke again. "Does he know yet?" He thought this topic would be hard to talk about, but it seemed easy.

Elena furrowed her brow and tilted her head to the side. "Does he know what?"

"How you feel? You do have feelings for him." It wasn't a question. When she looked at him with wide eyes he smiled. "Its okay, Elena. You don't have to feel bad about hurting me. I've known…for a while." He mumbled looking her dead in the eye.

She closed her eyes, and dropped her head. "I'm so sorry Stefan."

He shook his head and placed a hand on her cheek. "You don't have to say you're sorry…we're not together anymore, and you can't help what you feel." He assured her, smiling when she looked up at him.

She had tears in her eyes and she wiped them away. He smiled more now than he ever did when they were together…and that's when she noticed, that she smiled and laughed more now with Damon than when she was with Stefan. They were better off without each other. "Thank you." She said sniffling.

"No need." He dropped his hand. "So are you gonna tell him?" he searched her face for the answer when she hesitated.

She nodded eventually. "Yeah…I will. I just don't want her to be around when I do." She quickly wiped away the tears under her nose with her finger, looking down in her lap. They sat in comfortable silence for a while before Elena spoke up again. "So are you going to stay here tonight?"

Stefan shook his head. "No…I think I'm gonna stay at the bed and breakfast. Full house." He said in way of explanation.

She nodded. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "I'm glad you're back, Stefan. I'm glad you're better." She proclaimed, her eyes closed.

"Me too." He pulled away, tucking her hair behind her ears before leaning forward and kissing her softly on her lips. "Goodbye, Elena." He whispered against her lips before disappearing.

She sat there sighing, looking out the window he exited out of. He was right she should tell him. She heard Rose laugh again. Tomorrow…she'd tell him tomorrow.

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Damon stormed back down the stairs with a scowl. Of course…as soon as Stefan came back she would run back into his arms. He didn't want to believe that after everything he did to her, she could kiss him and take him back. He threw himself back on the couch and stared into the fire.

Rose floated back into the room with a bottle of wine. "I thought you didn't brood." She stated pouring herself a glass.

Damon's frown deepened. "I'm not brooding. I'm thinking."

Rose laughed. "You're brooding." She sat down on the couch beside him, resting her arm on the back of the couch. "You can stop this you know?"

He didn't even look at her. "Stop what?"

She tilted her head to the side. "The aching…just shut it off. It's easier that way." She sipped her wine, watching his face for a reaction.

He turned his head to her slowly. "Shut it off and be the monster she despises?" he clarified.

She shrugged. "Don't you think it would be easier than feeling the pain every time she snogs him instead of you?" she took another sip.

Damon smirked. "Or…I could just snog someone else…" he flirted with her, his eyes widening slightly.

She chuckled a little, and leaned forward. "Do you really think just kissing is going to cut it?" she invited in a sultry voice.

"Nope." Damon grabbed her by the waist and forced her to straddle his lap and kissed her with faux passion. He was always good at making it look and feel real, and tonight would be no exception.

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Damon was sitting with his back against the couch, feeling something he hadn't felt in a while. Guilt. He looked over at Rose who was sitting a couple feet away from him a blanket wrapped around her body. She munched on the nuts that sat in the bowl on the table and sipping her wine.

"You know you can't really shut it off…" she told him casually. "After a century or two you just have to pretend you can." She shrugged, looking at him.

Damon sighed. "I know. I'm pretty good at that."

She shook her head in amusement and popped a nut in her mouth, crunching on it. "If you love her…you should tell her." She suggested.

Damon looked at the ceiling. "So everyone keeps telling me. I already told her…I just made her forget I said it afterwards." He smirked looking back at Rose.

She chuckled. "Well that defeats the whole purpose of telling her, does it not?"

Damon looked back to the fire. "She doesn't love me." He stated in defeat. "I didn't want to complicate her life more." He narrowed his eyes at her. "Why do you seem so okay with talking about Elena after all the naughty sex we just had?" he asked out of curiosity.

She shrugged. "Because I knew what this was from beginning." She leaned forward a little and smiled. "And not to feed your ego or anything…but who in their right mind would turn down an offer like that?" They shared a smile laugh before she looked upstairs. "She's crying…you should go up there."

Damon nodded and put his clothes on, slowly making his way up there. He wanted to be mad at her, but he couldn't…even if she did take Stefan back.

He stopped at the doorway of Stefan's room, hearing Elena's sniffles and small sobs. Her back was to him so he couldn't see her face, but he was sure it was covered in tears. "What's with the brooding Elena? I thought you'd be with your snuggy bear." He said bitterly, crossing his arms.

He heard her sigh. "No Damon." Her voice was rough with tears. "I'm not with Stefan, you know that." She kept her tone quiet and even trying not to let him know how upset she was. Why would he think she was with Stefan?

Damon chuckled. "Yeah well…your tongue down his throat told me otherwise." He shot back glaring at her back.

Elena shook her head. Of course, he saw the kiss…and now he was upset. "There were no tongues. Please go away." She said firmly, wiping away a tear.

Damon took a couple steps into the room, pushing off the door jab. "What was that I saw then?"

Elena huffed, he wasn't giving up. "You saw a goodbye. Now can you please leave me alone?" she kept her back to him, not quite ready to face him.

Damon crossed his arms again determinately. "Not until you tell me why you're crying." He narrowed his eyes. "Is it because of Stefan?" he asked softly with a little insecurity that he was unfamiliar with.

Elena flipped over the glare at him, her tears still streaming down her face. "No!" she yelled. "This has nothing to do with Stefan…now please leave!" she had a fire that rivaled Katherine's with those words.

But that didn't stop Damon. He stepped closer and sat on the edge of the bed. "Well what is it then?" Concern was written all over his face, and Elena realized that she couldn't stay mad.

But she tried. She looked away from his eyes, tightening her jaw. "You sure showed Rose a good time." When Damon frowned she locked her eyes on his, staring at him scornfully. "You weren't really trying to be quiet, Damon." Her voice lost its edge when she said his name.

Damon frowned in confusion, his mouth slightly open. "You're upset about me and Rose…why?" he asked like it was the craziest notion in the world.

Elena shook her head and laughed pulling herself into a sitting position. "My God you're an idiot." She whispered to herself, continuing before she could stop herself. "I thought that you…" she cut herself off, looking at him with wide eyes before turning away.

Damon looked intently at her, waiting for her to finish. "What? You thought I what?" he prodded, eager for her answer.

She shook her head, and waved a hand at him in a dismissive gesture. "Nothing, forget it." She busied herself with pulling the blanket around her higher, and fixing her pillows.

Damon stared at her for a long time. She was hiding something…and he was gonna find out. "What do you remember from the night I gave you back your necklace?" he asked quietly but resolutely.

Elena sighed, not looking at him, as she lay down and turned away from him. "Nothing Damon I already told you." She feigned a bored tone in the hopes he would drop it…but she knew he wouldn't.

He grabbed her arm and flipped her back over to face him. He was glaring at her now. "Don't lie to me Elena…you suck at it! What do you remember?" he demanded, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Elena closed her eyes, and sighed again. "I'm tired, can we please not do this now?" she tried very hard to keep the wobble out of her voice, but failed miserably.

"Tell me, Elena!" he shouted through gritted teeth.

"Everything, okay!" she finally exclaimed, pulling her arm out of his grasp. She watched the shock come over his face. "I remember everything you said; I remember how you told me you loved me, and then how you tried to compel it away!" she shouted back, more tears making their way down her cheeks.

Damon stared at the wall behind her head, and swallowed hard. "So…"his voice was eerily calm now. "This whole time you've been acting like you know nothing?" he couldn't belief she knew. She wasn't supposed to know. Why didn't she say anything?

Elena closed her eyes and sighed, pulling herself to sit a little closer to him, she was happy that he didn't move. "Yes…I was afraid you'd compel me if you found out." She said gently, reaching out to him but he moved away, glaring at her.

"Well I am!" he declared. His jaw tightened so hard she could see the muscle twitch. "I didn't want you to know that!"

Elena sat up on her knees, her eyes following him as he paced the floor. "But I want to remember, Damon." She cried. "That night you shared something so special with me." She watched as he shook his head in disbelief, pacing and running his hands through his hair to lock behind his neck. "You opened up and let your walls down. Please don't take that away from me." She whimpered, her heart aching for the man obviously going through pain in front of her.

Damon turned to her his eyes wide and flashing with fear she'd never seen there before. "Why, Elena? I can't be the person you want me to be…I'm not a person at all!" he bellowed throwing his arms in the air.

Elena crawled off the bed and stood in front of him, making him see her. "Don't you see, Damon! You already are." She shook her head. "I don't want you to be like Stefan…I just want you to be you." She placed a warm, delicate hand to his cheek, and watched as his leaned into it, closing his eyes. "The real you, not this front you put up to keep everyone out."

Damon opened his eyes again to stare at her, surrendering to her touch. "I can't do that." He whispered. "How am I supposed to act knowing…you know, and not have you?" he pushed out, trying to hold himself together. Struggling with the words he really wanted to say.

Elena smiled at him, and placed her other hand on his opposite cheek. "You can say it, Damon." She nodded as he shook his head. "You've said it once you can say it again." Elena encouraged.

"I can't." he pronounced, his eyes filling up.

Elena sighed. "Please…please just say it." She begged him, hey eyes looking back and forth between his.

He looked at her for a minute, watching as she waited patiently for him to say the words he vowed he'd never say again. "I…" he faltered, looking down before looking up at her again. "I love you, Elena." He put as much emotion behind those four words as he could, because the words on their own didn't mean as much as how he really felt for her.

He was panicked when she was silent, but felt the relief seep in when she beamed up at him. Elena locked her arms around his neck and pulled herself up to his lips; kissing him so softly, he shivered. He held her closer, clutching her body so close to him that he could feel her heart pound in his own chest.

She moaned as he ran his tongue gently over her bottom lip, and aloud his tongue to mingle with hers. She ran her fingers through the dark locks at the back of his head, and wrapped her legs around him. He lit a fire inside her with his touch…a fire she knew would always burn.

When she pulled away to breathe, Damon kissed down her neck and chest, and Elena gasped and sighed in pleasure, leaning back to give him access. She could hear him mumbling between kisses softly. "I love you…I love you so much, Elena." He whispered against her breast and that alone made her shake with lust. She pulled his head up to look at him. "Thank you…" she whispered against his lips. "Thank you for telling me."

She kissed him passionately again before pulling away, smiling with uncontained happiness. There was nothing to keep them apart now: no secrets, no Stefan, just them….and Rose. She glared and smacked his chest, hopping out of his arms.

"You slept with Rose!" she shouted.

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Author's Note: Please don't hate me for leaving it there! And please don't hate me for having Damon sleep with Rose…it needed to happen! Anyways I decided to be nice and update and post tonight….then be evil and leave you with a cliffhanger! Hehehe. I really hope you guys liked that chapter; I had a lot of fun writing it. Its 2:50am now yawn! Thanks again to all of you that review me all the time and support me and this story. I wish I could give you a cookie for your efforts. I guess my updates with have to do! Anyways GOODNIGHT ALL!

Vanessa