Disclaimer: We own nothing "The Vampire Diaries" everything belongs to L J Smith we just like to play around with the characters.

This is a collaboration with my BFFh00r KTCM who is Fuck-Awesome... just sayin.

Big thanks to all the h00r on twitta... we love you all. Also maHooooosive thanks to the readers who read this little story of ours, we love writing it.

TUESDAY:

Elena POV:

"A hike?" Caroline questions over the phone.

"Yep," I say as I admire my dress. It had arrived last night, just like Damon said it would. "So what exactly do you wear on a hike? I know nothing dressy, obviously but-"

Caroline interrupts me "Those cargo shorts with the belt from the 'almost camping trip'!" she suggests.

Oh, yeah, I remember that. Jeremy, his girlfriend at the time, Katherine and her fling at the time, and Matt and I had planned a camping trip along with Caroline and Tyler. We had gone shopping for gear and everything. Katherine and I ended up canceling at the last minute because... well who the hell expected the two of us to really want to go camping in the first place?

"And since it's going to be warm, maybe a tank top or something," she tacks on.

"Thanks Caroline. I knew I was friends with you for some reason," I smile even though she can't see me.

"No flip flops, Elena they'll end up hurting your feet, I mean it," she warns.

"I know... I have sneakers," I say and roll my eyes.

"Hurry. You only have an hour and a half."

I look at the clock. That's plenty of time.

"So is Damon a good kisser?" she asks before giggling like a school girl.

My entire body heats up as I remember yesterday afternoon. "He's uh... uh huh, he's good." I don't really want to talk about it this early in the morning "I gotta get ready now. I'll call you later."

"Fine. I have to get back to work anyway," she says, then we say our goodbyes.

An hour and twenty minutes later, I'm standing in front of my mirror wearing light brown cargo shorts that reach mid-thigh and two thin white tank tops...I decide to forgo the bra, it isn't needed anyway. I throw my hair back in a ponytail and opt for just moisturizing instead of putting make up on since I will probably just sweat it off anyway.

Au natural baby!

Before Damon shows up in about 10 minutes, I decide to look up Lake Skenonto. I gather that it's a circular trail, about eight miles... with hills.

I gulp.

Somehow I don't think jogging on a treadmill with it on an incline is enough preparation for what I've gotten myself into today. I close my laptop, go to my fridge and grab two bottles of water. I'm sure they'll supply food and water, but I'm just covering my basics. A few minutes later there's a knock on my door and I surprise myself when I smile automatically, knowing that it's Damon. A part of me actually thought that I'd dreamed that confrontation with Salvatore yesterday, but it seems too real.

I open the door to a smiling Damon. He looks incredible in tan, long shorts and a white short sleeve cotton V-neck t-shirt finished off with a pair of black pumps, with no socks... hmmm no socks? That tells me that he is gonna breeze this walk... no blisters or fuck all, just great.

Huh. We do kind of match though but obviously I have socks on...

"Look at you. You're all adorable and shit," Damon says as he grins at me.

"Shut up," I give him a shove and step outside my apartment. I immediately feel weird, I'm not carrying a clutch or a purse like usual. My cell phone is tucked into my pocket along with my sunglasses and Damon has taken the two bottles of water from me and shoved them into his back pack, so my hands and arms are free for once.

The drive to Harriman Park, where us and the rest of the hikers are to meet is a short drive, only about 11 minutes which I find weird as yesterday he told me it would be about an hours drive. On the way Damon and I are joking around, and I swear it's like I never even hated his guts at one point.

When we get there we meet up with our group, and listen as some guy talks about the particular hiking trail we are traveling on and how we don't have to walk all together, but we should be within walking distance from someone.

"Hold your hand out," Damon says brandishing a tube of sunblock. I comply since the sun does seem to be making quite the appearance today.

"So, have you ever been hiking before?" Damon asks as I apply lotion to my arms and legs.

I chuckle a bit "Nope, Mother nature and I don't really get along," I shrug. "However, everyone else in my family, with the exception of Kat, seems to love it," I stiffen and then shudder, despite the heat, when I feel Damon's big, warm hands rubbing lotion on the skin that's on show above my tank top on my back. I turn my head to glare at him.

He shrugs innocently "it's not like you can reach it yourself is it?"

True.

"Arms out," he directs once he's done.

"Damn, your full of commands today aren't you?" I say, but do so anyway and he begins to lightly coat my arms and then my legs with bug spray.

His response to my question is to smirk and say, "I just don't want you to be in pain at the end of the day due to sunburn and mosquito bites," I can hear the earnestness in his voice "Now," he says with a clap of his hands, "allergies?"

He looks so fucking serious, it's hilarious. I begin to list off "Wasps, melons, carrots," He rolls his eyes as I continue to list the inconsequential. "almonds, wheat."

"Okay, okay."

"What? You asked," I say as I laugh.

"Yeah, well I'm pretty sure we won't come across any melons or carrots," He puts the lotion and bug spray back into the bag and lets out a small chuckle.

I wonder what the hell else is in there.

I try to take a peek but he closes it up before I can see. I suck my teeth.

"Come on, let's get going," he almost orders me again.

"Yes sir," I salute him and I'm reward with that cheeky grin of his.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me Salvatore!" I say as I stand looking up towards another hill my feeble legs have to carry me up.

He chuckles "Come on Gilbert, where's your sense of adventure? We've only been at it a few hours," he slaps my ass "now get that cute butt moving up that hill."

I shit you not, this hike is going to be the end of me. I have been walking for close to two hours already, up and down hills trying to keep up with Damon, who's lanky legs take big mother-fucking strides. Although I'm tired and sweaty and fucking pissed off, I'm also having a good time with Damon, he's continuing to make me laugh and being a total sweetheart holding my hand to help me over rough spots of terrain. I've also fallen flat on my face twice already, I cut my knee pretty bad and there Salvatore was with his fucking first aid kit, tending to my injury. I laughed at him of course, I mean he is a grown man for gods sake and he carries a first aid kit in his backpack. It's just little things like that; that make me see him through a different light.

Like he's secretly Florence fucking nightingale.

"So Damon, do you do this a lot?" I wave my arms around "You know, hiking?"

"Not as much as would like too, when I'm in Mystic Falls I do walk a lot. There's some beautiful spots around there... maybe one day I could show you some," he smiles at me and I realise that his smile is quickly becoming my favourite thing to see.

"After this fucking hike? You must think I'm crazy." I laugh.

"Here, let me help you," he says offering me his hand to pull me up the last bit of hill, I take it and hold on for dear life as my foot slips and I land on my ass taking Salvatore down with me. "Elena, what the fuck," he shouts on the way down.

I'm laughing so hard, me and Salvatore are a big old tangled mess on the ground. I'm sprawled out flat on my back and Damon is somehow wrapped around my legs.

"Your a fucking clumsy ass Gilbert," he says attempting to stand up but loses his footing and falls again.

"Damon, st-stop I'm gonna piss myself. Fucking... get up," I choke out between laughs.

"I'm glad you find this so amusing," he says finally getting up on his feet and bursts into laughter.

"I-I can't get up. Oww my back... hurts from laughing, that was the funniest thing I've ever seen. Y-you fucking went down like a sa-sack of shit."

"Ha ha, and you didn't, if I remember rightly your the one that went down and took me with you," he states while grabbing both my hands and pulling me up.

I use my hands to dust myself off while Damon does the same. That incident has just lightened my mood up and I'm now looking forward to the rest of this hike. I haven't laughed like that in... I can't remember the last time. It's funny how some things turn out, I was certain that this week would make me hate my job and hate Damon Salvatore more than I already did, I would've laid my life down on it. And now here I am having the most fun I've had in years, there was the photo-shoot on Sunday which I enjoyed immensely. Then yesterday he gave me that dress which blew me away but then came the near kiss and the actual kiss which confused the hell out of us both. Then we had a civilised conversation and made some kind of progress and I found things out about him that I would never have expected. Today is looking up and I'm having a really good time even though I have moaned every step of the way so far but Salvatore just makes a joke out of everything I moan about and I like that.

Wait, what? Like? Could I actually like the Salvatore?

"Hello, Elena... you with me?" Damon says waving a hand in front of my face.

I snap out of it "Oh sorry... yeah," I say.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asks and nudges my shoulder with his.

"It's nothing really, just finding it funny that I'm having this much fun with you." I admit.

We start to walk again "You really thought I was that bad... huh?"

"Yeah I thought you were that bad, maybe even worse." A sad look takes over his gorgeous features and I slow my pace down "I'm sorry Damon, I was too quick to judge you."

He shrugs "Don't worry about it," He starts to walk off, I run to catch him up.

"Hey," I grab his arm "I know now that I totally misjudged you, your fun, caring and most of all you make me laugh, and believe me it takes a very special kind of person to crack a smile on my sour face."

He looks in my eyes "Your face isn't sour, its beautiful. Your beautiful inside and out Elena," he palms my cheek "Come on, we haven't got far to go now." he says taking my hand holding it as we walk.

Did we just have a moment?

I know I shouldn't be holding his hand but it just feels right and I don't want to let go. I don't know what's happening between us but I'm liking it. But nothing like that kiss can happen again while I'm on this assignment. Lexi would have my ass, I'd probably get fired but there's nothing wrong with two friends holding hands on a hike, right?

"You still nervous about tomorrow?" Damon asks me curiously.

"Yeah, I mean... I'm just a normal city girl who works for a newspaper and tomorrow I'm going to be walking the red carpet with none other than Damon fucking Salvatore. It's scary," I might as well tell him the truth about how I feel.

"I understand that Elena, and we don't have to walk the red carpet if you don't want too. Twilight isn't my movie so-"

"WHAT?" I shriek right next to Damon's ear and make him jump out of his skin "Did you just fucking say Twilight?"

"Jesus Christ woman you nearly gave me a heart attack, yes I said Twilight is there a problem?"

"Oh no... no fucking problem at all, the first premier I ever attend in my life is for Eclipse which is probably gonna be the biggest premier this year, no I can't see no problem," I snap and start having some kind of panic attack.

"Fuck! Elena calm down, it's going to be fine." I place my hands on her shoulders "Your going to be the most beautiful woman there and I'm the lucky son of a bitch who will have you on my arm."

"I don't think I can do it... Is Robert Pattinson gonna be there? Oh of course he is going to be there, he is only the star of the fucking movie," I rant.

"Chicks and Twilight" Salvatore shakes his head "I'll never understand it."

"Ok I'm calm, I'll go. I'll leave my panicking for tomorrow. So are we nearly there yet?" I ask clearly changing the subject.

"Yeah it's just around here," he takes me hand again and leads me around a group of trees.

I gasp and stop dead in my tracks when I see the sight in front of my eyes. Lake Skenonto in all it's glory. The blazing sun is beaming down across the ripples in the lake, which is surrounded by trees of all kinds. I see ducks skimming the top of the water. It's a sight of peacefulness and pure tranquility.

I turn to look at Damon, who's eyes are burning back into mine "Wow Damon this is-this is truly breathtaking."

Damon POV:

The look on Elena's face right now is priceless, I'd hike that trail a thousand times over if it meant me seeing her face light up like it is now. But little does she know that the sight of her beauty is more breathtaking to me than this lake could ever be.

"Stunning isn't it? Definitely worth the walk and the stumbles don't you think?" I say to her while gazing into her eyes.

"Definitely," she agrees.

I take my bag off my back and open it up and begin taking contents out.

As Elena watches me as I wield a bottle of wine and two plastic cups, she smirks at me. "Damon Salvatore, you really are something else."

I grab her hand and pull her to an area further down the lake, where there are less people and it's more secluded.

"This is really sweet. What's this all about?" she asks as I place a blanket on the ground. We both sit down.

"I thought I'd get you all liquored up, you know, make you easier to deal with."

She rolls her eyes, "Annnd you just ruined it."

I fill our cups halfway. "I'm only kidding. You know that. Although you sure do know how to make a fuss about a few hills," I say offering her the wine which she takes gratefully.

She gasps. "A few hills? Are you kidding me? No, Damon it's the heat, the mosquitoes and and my feet are killing me." She pouts. "And it's fucking hot."

"You already mentioned the heat." I chuckle.

"I know." she deadpans and takes a huge gulp of wine.

"Do you need more bug spray? Sunblock?" I ask.

"Nope, I'm covered, literally." she laughs. I wave half of a sub in her face and she snatches it from me muttering a thank you. "You know, this just might change my mind about camping and the like." she says.

She's so fucking adorable sometimes!

"Wow. I must be making history here. You're changing your mind about stuff left and right." I say, secretly happy that I'm making some impact in her life in the short time we've spent together.

"Yeah, well you're quite the influence, Salvatore," she shrugs and takes a bite of her sub.

I watch as she devoure's that damn sub like there's no tomorrow, until she peers up at me.

"What? Do have food on my lip or something?" she asks.

Even though my staring is a bit rude, the fact that she isn't self conscious about it is so fucking sexy. I have seriously never dealt with that before. Females are usually timid and afraid to eat a fucking meal in front of me. Except for Bonnie of course, she doesn't give a shit if I'm in front of her or not, that woman could eat a scabby horse if it was put in front of her... and she is such a tiny little thing.

My thoughts are interrupted when I feel a piece of cold lettuce hit my forehead.

"Ouch!" I say, trying to get some sympathy from her.

"Ouch?" She bursts into laughter. "It's lettuce!"

I pout anyway and begin to eat my lunch.

"Aw, I'm sorry Damon did that hurt your head? Poor baby," she says mockingly like she is talking to a small child, all the while still chuckling. "Why were you staring so hard anyway? You never seen a woman eat before?"

"As a matter of fact, I was just thinking that." She arches a sculpted brow. "It's sexy." I tell her.

"Good to know." She takes another bite.

I smile and take a bite of my half, I'm pretty hungry actually all this walking and pulling Gilbert around has warn me out. Today so far is the best day and best company I've had for a long time and Elena is starting to like me... I think.

"Here, let me get that," I say when I notice a bit of food on the corner of her mouth.

I use my finger to take it from her mouth and put my finger to my own mouth and lick it.

"Oh, you are such a tramp Salvatore," Elena says laughing.

"Well I'm hungry, I hate wasting food," I shrug.

She gazes at me with those big brown eyes of hers and I gaze right back, I could get lost in her eyes. I decide to push my luck, I really wanna kiss her right now and I believe she wants to kiss me. I start leaning in towards her my eyes never leaving hers. To my surprise Elena is moving closer too, I brush my thumb over her cheek then move my hand around the back of her neck and pull her to me. Our lips finally meet delicately but then Elena deepens the kiss and I go with it. I bite gently on her bottom lip and I'm rewarded with a low, throaty moan from Elena. She hooks one leg over me and wraps her arms around my neck.

Fuck me sideways... she's straddling my lap.

I part my lips slightly to let her tongue invade my mouth, her lips are so soft and delicious, My hands roam all over her body, down her back and finally her ass, I give it a squeeze and automatically regret it.

She stops "Oh my god," she jumps off my lap "I'm sorry, we shouldn't have done that, I shouldn't have done that. I can't do this Damon, not while we're doing this assignment."

"I'm sorry, I can't help it Elena. I just want- no need to kiss you every time I see you." I take her hand "I'll try my best to keep these feelings at bay till after this week, but then I'm not gonna hold back. I can't." I say honestly.

She looks up at me "Ok. And I will do the same. There is nothing more I want right now than to kiss you again, but I'm a professional and doing this kind of thing," she points her finger back and forth between us, "is far from professional." she rambles.

"It's ok, don't worry about it," I reassure her. At least she wants to kiss me again, not in the immediate future but soon and I'll take that any day over a slap to the face.

We both look out over the lake and see that the sun is beginning to set, Elena smiles the most astounding smile as she notices. I pour us both some more wine and Elena snuggles into my side as I lean back against a tree we're sitting in front of.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" Elena screeches as she literally climbs her way up my back.

"Please stop screaming, Elena. It's a garter snake, it's not gonna hurt you." She is all the way up there, on my back.

"Kill it! Spray it with your bug spray! Do something!" She practically yells in my ear. She sounds terrified.

She will kill me if she knows how hilarious I think this is.

I hold in a chuckle. "I'm not going to kill a snake."

She gasps and these thighs of hers clutch round me tighter. "It just hissed at me!" she screeches.

"It did not!" I laugh outright this time.

We are walking the trail again, back to where we started, when we see the offending garter snake. The thing is about a foot and a half long, a baby. Still, Elena is freaking the fuck out.

"Can we stop standing here then! Move, move!" Her arms loosen around my neck some.

I laugh again, but get moving. We probably should stop standing around it. Garter snakes aren't poisonous, but they do bite sometimes... if they feel threatened.

"Are you okay?" I ask her once we're a safe distance away from the snake. She's still clinging to my back like a damn koala or some shit. I'm sure she can hear the humor in my voice when I ask this question.

"Yes, I'm fine." she says, much more calm now.

"Fine enough to walk now?" I ask, not that I mind carrying her around.

"No." she says stubbornly. "What if we see another one," I could hear her gulp. "Or something worse?"

I chuckle again and she smacks my chest with her hand. "Stop laughing! See, this is why I don't do this nature shit. I had no idea that snakes were going to be joining us." she rants.

"Technically, we're joining them. This is their habitat." I note.

"Whatever." she scoffs. "And these fucking mosquitoes don't seem to understand personal space." she says, her voice raising about two octaves towards the end of that statement as if directing it towards the flying insects themselves.

"Hey, cut them a break. You have no idea how irresistible you are." I say truthfully.

"Yes, Damon. You better start sucking up to me with those little comments after the hell you put me through today."

"Well, you seemed to enjoy having lunch with me in the wilderness today." I remind her.

"Hm, I suppose so." Her chin is resting on my shoulder now and I can hear the smile in her voice.

"And you certainly seemed to enjoy that kiss."

"Stop it." she warns. "We aren't talking about that. At least not until the week is up."

"Oh, I see. So you don't trust yourself to have that kind of conversation with me until we can actually act on it?" I ask smugly.

"Don't get so cocky, Salvatore-" she starts.

"But it's the truth, isn't it?" I ask pushing for her to see the validity in my statement.

Silence for exactly twelve seconds. Then she says, "Just keep walking Salvatore."

I'll take that as a 'yes'.

We finally make it back to the starting point, and yes Elena is still on my back. Our car is waiting for us, so I slide Elena around to my front, open the car door and go to place her in the car. I accidentally smack her head on the car as I put her in.

"Ow, fuck Salvatore. What are you trying to do to me?" she says rubbing the back of her head "trying to bump me off so you don't have to take me to the premier tomorrow."

"Oh shut up Elena, I'm sorry it was an accident woman!" I state, is this woman for real? She has no idea how much I'm looking forward to taking her tomorrow.

I shut the door and go around to the other side of the car and get in. We make small talk on the way back to the city about our day, not the kiss though. Elena tells me how much she has enjoyed today up until the snake incident. We pull up outside Elena's apartment.

"Well I guess I'll see you tomorrow then," she says and reaches for the door handle.

"You certainly will, I will pick you up from here at six tomorrow evening. I want you to just relax all day tomorrow ok," I say and give her a small smile "I know your nervous about it but everything will be fine, trust me."

"Sure, I'll be fine. Kat and Caroline are coming around to help me get ready, they'll keep me calm" she says with uncertainty.

"Ok, do you want me to have some stylist come round or anything?" I ask.

She laughs "No, thank you Kat and Caroline will have it all under control," she furrows her brow "I do have to find some shoes to go with that dress though, I'll find some, see you tomorrow Salvatore," she says and goes to leave the car.

I grab her arm "Goodnight Gilbert." I say and kiss her cheek.

"Goodnight." she says and gets out, I watch her till she enters her building.

As soon as she is out of sight I pull out my cell and scroll through the contacts till I find the one I want and hit call.

"Well well well, this is becoming a regular thing don't you think Damon," The voice says after the third ring.

"Listen Katherine, I need to know Elena's shoe size please," I ask.

"Why you wanna know?" she quizzes.

"Because, she said that she has to find shoes to go with the dress tomorrow night, and I want her relaxed and not stressed from finding shoes all damn day." I start to rant.

"Whoa! Ok, calm the fuck down Damon, you'll give yourself an injury." she laughs "Elena is a size five, and she doesn't like the heel to be too high, she's a klutz."

"Don't I know it." I mutter "Thanks Katherine, yet again you've saved my life, I owe you two."

She giggles "It's cool, just make sure you look after her tomorrow night and keep your eye on her, cause if R-Pattz is there she will be all over him like a rash." she says and laughs again before hanging up.

What? I don't think so somehow. Elena Gilbert will not be leaving my side tomorrow evening, and I'll make sure she doesn't want too. I dial the next number I need to call.

"Hey Damon, how was the hike?" Bonnie asks when she picks up.

"Good, listen, I need you to get in touch with anyone who works at Jimmy Choo. I need them to take as many pairs of size five shoes to Elena's apartment at around four tomorrow afternoon."

"Ok, I'll get on to it now, you sound antsy." she states.

"I just want everything to be perfect for her. How stupid could I have been to get her a dress and no shoes," I chuckle sinisterly.

"Damon, chill everything will be fine. She will have shoes I'll make sure of it. I'll even make sure she has a purse, cause I doubt you remembered that."

"Bon bon, you are my saviour, I'll see you tomorrow," I inform her and hang up.

When I get home I pour myself a large whisky and have a bath. I hope Elena notices how hard I'm trying to make tomorrow special for her. Today has been the best day of my entire life, we've had so much fun and then I got to kiss her again this time it was more beautiful than I could've imagined. I decide to have an early night ready for tomorrow, it's gonna be one hell of an event...

Thanks for reading... please leave us a review... *smooches* Till the next time...

Also KTCM has a new story go check it out "The Space Between" It's awesome just like her!