By the time Damon and Elena made it back to the Boarding House they were exhausted and dripping wet from their "dip" in the pond. They both had a wonderful time, they both understood their need for a normal, fun day without worrying about the supernatural business that had slowly but noticeably started to take over their lives. Elena is only 18, Damon thought, it's not fair that she has so much on her plate. But then, who would've thought that any of this would've happened when everything had been stable and calm for years? Who would've thought that one human could've started this chain of events?

But Elena isn't just a human. Not to Damon, that is. To Damon, she is so much more than just one life or soul; she's better, she's...

"Daaa-mooon!" Elena's voice cut into him, and he was jerked out of his thoughts abruptly.

"My oh my Elena, your voice brings tears to the eyes." His words were sarcastic, but his smile was genuine. She walked into the room, wearing flannel pyjama bottoms too big on her waist, though tied in the front to be kept in place. Her long brown hair was dried and smelled like berries, and the shirt she wore was one of his, also too big on her. Yet she looked... cute. Pretty, even. No not pretty, better than pretty.

"Well, what do you think?" She turned around slowly so Damon could get the full effect of her image. She heard him swallow.

"Lovely. You should be walking on a runway." Elena winked at him, then remembered her dream and immediately blushed. I shouldn't be acting like that, Elena thought. She took a deep breath then walked over to where Damon was sitting, and sat next to him. He had already showered as well, he smelled clean, he smelled like pine needles and mint.

"Mmm." Elena leaned into his side, resting her head on his chest. "Damon?" She murmured.

"Yes, princess?" Elena smiled at the nickname.

"Thank you for today." She felt Damon smile against the side of her cheek, felt his warm hand resting on her side, his chest rising and falling.

"Don't mention it. Friends, right?"

"Just friends?" It came out without Elena's permission, sounding almost... devastated? Damon jerked, then slowly raised his head. Elena's came up at the same time, gazing into his blue ones, reading the confusion, the surprise, the... happiness? Then he sighed, lowered his face to hers, and their foreheads touched. He rubbed his nose against hers. Her eyes closed and she relaxed into him.

"You don't know how much I wish we could be more." His voice was little more than a whisper.

"What if," Elena began, "What would happen if I wanted the same thing?" Her tone matched his.

"That's what scares me. I don't even know." He sighed, his lips inches from hers, his head turning to the side...

"How... adorable." We turned out faces to see Alaric standing awkwardly in the doorway.

"You're telling me." I replied, dryly, more than a little disappointment leak into my voice. Damon chuckled.

"Wonderful timing, my friend. What's wrong?" Alaric's face tightened.

"It's Bonnie. She... she closed the doorway to the Other Side... Jeremy can't see Anna anymore. To say he's not doing so well would be the understatement of the century." Elena's jaw dropped, Damon's grip on her tightened, and Alaric's face fell.

"Is he alright? Did he hurt himself?" Elena asked. She already lost Jenna; she can't lose Jeremy too.

"I think he lost his head. He keeps going on about some dream about you and Damon, about your school going mad, dancing like animals, turning to monsters. He said that things are changing, that people are changing. He's saying that..."

"What's he saying, Alaric?" Damon coaxed.

"He's saying Elena isn't human anymore." Elena was beyond quiet now. He had described the dream she had had last night, Alaric had just spoken about it, had even mentioned both Damon and Elena by name.

"Look, you two, I know you were just getting... comfortable, but we should really go see him. Now. He said he needs to talk to both of you, he said that you guys would be the only ones to understand what he's saying. He sounds fine, he looks fine. What he's saying is the only thing that sounds off. Will you come?" Damon glanced at Elena, she nodded, and they both got up and walked out the door behind Alaric. Alaric insisted on driving, but Damon chose to hold on to Elena and use his speed to get them there in record time.

"Gosh, Damon, things can never stay normal for longer than a couple hours, can they?" Damon shook his head.

"I'm sorry princess, but no, I don't think they can."