Chapter 12

He took her back to her house and removed the evidence of her earlier actions from the bathroom. He then ordered a pizza and sat Elena on the couch, putting on one of her many friends DVDs. He made sure she ate at least two slices and then sat with her until she fell asleep, her head resting on his shoulder.

He scooped her up into his arms and carried her up to her bed. She was so impossibly light, so scarily fragile. He tucked her in and pulled a chair up beside her, he wasn't going to leave her ever again, if possible.

Elena woke up with a throbbing headache. She sighed and pulled herself out of bed. She had dreamt about Damon, dreamt that he had come back and been kind to her, told her that he cared. She rolled her eyes and headed downstairs, she needed alcohol. She went into the dark kitchen and fumbled blearily with the bottles on the counter. She grabbed her favorite scotch…well Damon's favorite scotch, and didn't bother with a glass, swigging from the bottle.

She was lifting the bottle again when it was suddenly grabbed out of her hands. She stared around in confusion, she hadn't bothered to turn on any lights and the mixture of her confusing dream and the alcohol was making her fuzzy.

She heard the bottle being set down and backed away slowly, her heart pounding in her chest.

Suddenly hands cupped her face and a soft voice whispered in her ear.

"Elena sweetheart, let's get you back to bed."

She nearly jumped out of her skin. She would recognize that voice anywhere, it was just like in her dream.

"Damon." She whispered.

"I'm here."

He pulled her up into his arms and carried her out of the kitchen.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shoulder, she inhaled his familiar scent of musk and sandalwood. Despite everything, she never felt safer than when she was in his arms.

"I thought it was a dream." She murmured.

Damon carried her back up to her bedroom.

"It wasn't a dream, kitten...but do you want to tell me why you were drinking scotch at five in the morning?"

He sat down on the bed with her on his lap and she didn't leave his embrace, she burrowed her face against him, wishing she could just melt into him and forget everything.

"I had a headache." She whispered into his chest.

Damon sighed.

"Ever heard of aspirin?"

Elena clutched at him even tighter.

"Scotch works better."

Damon lifted her up and pulled back the covers, he tried to set her down but she clung on to him. He smiled softly and pressed his lips into her hair.

"I will be back in 20 seconds." He assured her.

She reluctantly let go of him and he disappeared. True to his word 20 seconds later he returned with a glass of water and two aspirin. He supported her with his arm and handed her the pills, she popped them into her mouth and he gave her the water. She swallowed the tablets and sagged against him. She tried to stop the tears from escaping; the kindness he was showing her was painful.

"Oh Elena." He murmured.

He kissed her cheeks, capturing her tears with his lips.

"I'm going to get you better. I promise." He assured her quietly.

He moved away to let her sleep but she caught his hand.

"Stay with me?" She pleaded.

He looked into her heartbreaking chocolate eyes and gave her a sad smile.

"Forever." He whispered softly, slipping under the covers and taking her back into his arms. She curled against him and fell asleep almost instantly.

Elena woke up alone and her heart sank. Could she really have been dreaming that time too? She was just about to decide that she had gone completely nuts when she spotted Damon's leather jacket draped over a chair. Her face split into an involuntary grin.

She leapt out of bed and bounded downstairs. Damon was standing in the kitchen cooking pancakes. He turned and smiled at her when she walked in, she gave him a quizzical look.

"You cook?" She asked.

His smirk was slightly off due to the worry in his eyes.

"I happen to be a very good cook Gilbert." He retorted. He ran his eyes over her. "Besides I need to get some meat on those bones."

She glared at him.

"Planning on having me for dinner?"

"Mm well you would taste delicious." He teased.

She blushed at the double meaning and smiled at how he could still take her mind off things at the worst of times.

He handed her a plate piled high with blueberry pancakes and maple syrup.

Elena picked at the food, it was delicious but her body was so used to eating so little that she had trouble finishing.

Damon took her plate when she was done.

"Good girl." He murmured.

He stood behind her and brushed his fingers through her hair.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" She asked.

His fingers stilled and he sighed.

"How many times am I going to have to tell you that I care about you?"

She shrugged.

"Until it starts to make sense?"

He pulled her round to face him and lifted her chin with his index finger.

"What part of me caring doesn't make sense?" He asked confused.

Elena sighed and tried to avoid his eyes.

"I mean... that note did hold some truth…there are so many better things you could be doing. You don't have to stay here and look after a screwed up school girl."

Damon brushed his fingers down her cheek.

"There is nothing in the world I would rather be doing than helping you." He replied softly.

"And what is this note you keep going on about?"

Ugh major writers' block with this story...I'll try to update faster, I promise :) 3