Chapter 28

They sat in silence, both clinging to each other for dear life. Not caring that they were covered in her blood, or that the acrid smell of burnt toast was filling the kitchen. They just didn't want to let go, even for a second. They had both come so close, too close, to losing the other.

Damon's face was buried in her hair and he was rocking her back and forth, the whole ordeal having brought up the night he came back and found her in her bathroom. If he wasn't a vampire, he was sure he would have been shaking or even comatose by now. That sort of shock, fear and pain was almost inconceivable. Something he never wanted to relive. He had always known that he wanted Elena. But it wasn't until he had nearly lost her for good, twice, that he understood just how much he needed her. He couldn't survive with her gone. Life didn't make any sense without her in it.

And so he just held her tight, her chest pressed against his, the gentle rhythm of her heart fluttering against his own.

She was crying softly, her tears soaking into his shirt. She was shivering and her hands were scrabbling to keep a grip on him, as though she thought that the second she let go, he would disappear.

She had never seemed more impossibly fragile. Damon had the sudden urge to just turn her, at least then she would be slightly less breakable. But he knew he couldn't do that.

He gradually became aware of the quantities of blood that they were sitting in, it was everywhere, smeared across the floor, soaked into their clothes, drying on their skin. The vampire in him took notice but didn't make a move, the human in him, picked Elena up in his arms and left the kitchen.

She wrapped her legs around him and held on even tighter as he carried her upstairs. He walked into his bathroom and turned on the shower, setting Elena down on the edge of the bath. He gently pulled his stained shirt over her head and quickly took off his own clothes, before taking her hand and wordlessly pulling her into the shower.

They stood under the hot streams, the water turning pink as it hit their feet. Damon ran his hands through her hair, across her face, gently wiping away any traces of blood. She tip-toed up to kiss him, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him.

It was a slow kiss, full of raw emotion and love, both of them tasting her tears on their lips. He rested his forehead against hers when she pulled away to breathe.

Her hands traveled up to tangle in his hair and her watery brown eyes locked on his.

"I love you." She whispered. "Please don't ever doubt that."

He kissed each of her cheeks, tilting her chin up and placing another soft kiss on her lips before replying quietly.

"I won't."

She pulled his head down to hers and kissed him deeply, pressing her body against his until he groaned, backing her into the shower wall. He placed hot open mouthed kisses along her neck and down her collar bone, each little whimper and gasp he drew from her, music to his ears.

His hands slid down her thighs and he hoisted her up until her long legs wrapped around his waist, pressing them even closer together.

His kisses moved down to her breasts and she gasped as he drew one peak into his mouth, biting down gently. She arched her back, her hands tangled in his hair.

Bracing her against the wall with one arm, his hand traveled between her legs and she whimpered as his fingers brushed against her.

"Damon." She moaned softly.

Having assured himself that she was ready, he pushed into her, reveling in her cry of pleasure.

He kissed every inch of her face as he moved within her, his fingers stroking the silky skin of her thighs.

As sensational as their first time together had been, this was different. It wasn't just about love and desire, it was about need, fear and the desperation to be as close to each other as they could get. The raw, burning emotion was heavy in both their eyes, which were locked on each other's.

He held her impossibly close and her nails dug into his skin, pulling him closer.

Elena felt a few stray tears slip down her cheeks, and he kissed them away.

They climaxed together, moaning each other's names in ecstasy.

Damon carefully washed Elena's hair and silently supported her as she walked, on shaky legs to the bed. There they lay facing each other, the covers pulled firmly around them and their fingers entwined between them.

"I'm sorry." She murmured, after a while.

Damon stroked her damp hair away from her face and frowned.

"Elena, you have nothing to be sorry for."

"I'm sorry for making it so easy for you to believe the worst of me."

His frown deepened and he sighed, pulling her closer so her head was resting in his chest.

"I'm sorry that I was so quick to assume that… This all just seemed, it still does seem, too good to be true." He said quietly.

"Well its not. I love you and I am never going to stop loving you. So you might as well get used it." She said, a stubborn edge leaking into her words.

He smiled and kissed her hair.

"You are the most amazing, beautiful, wonderful, sweet, kind, delicious, precious girl in the whole world, you know that?"

She giggled softly, snuggling into his chest. His arms tightened around her and he rested his cheek against her hair.

"Well, what matters is that I'm yours." She whispered, before closing her eyes and giving herself over to sleep.

Damon lay still, listening to her even breathing; he decided that it was the sweetest sound he had ever heard.

Elena was his. She was always going to be his, because he would never let her go.

I think we're nearing the end of this story... A little bit of Caroline and Stefan drama and then we're done!

Don't forget to review :)