Chapter 13

I am glad you all enjoyed the last chapter I enjoyed writing it! I just want to say a quick thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favourite-d and followed (We've reached 100!). I will not give anymore spoilers … but those of you wanting more Delena cuteness and love scenes will not be disappointed I might raise a chapter to the M rating, but might not as I cannot write that sort of stuff very well. Enjoy. And sorry its so late! I will catch up soon!

I woke up confused, especially when I did not recognise my surroundings. Feeling a heavy weight across my legs, I glanced down and saw an unknown tanned and flawless leg tangled with mine. My eyes traced the leg up to its owner and I came face to face with Damon, who was clutching desperately to a … Persian carpet? What on earth had happened to last night? As I sat up, resting on my elbows the memories of last night slowly came rushing back to me; the feathers, the Grill, the shots, the music, the 'man den', Henry, and then collapsing on Damon's bed. My thoughts turning back to the man beside me, I turned to study his face. He looked peaceful when he slept, and very innocent, much like the little boy that I saw appear last night, with his attachment to his blankie and his childish laughter. So innocent. I brushed aside a rebellious lock of hair that had fallen over his eyes.

"Elena."

"Mmm?" my mind was still in 'La La Land'.

"Stop staring at me." Realising that his eyes were now open and oh so blue, I stopped my intense study and lay back on the bed. Six years ago I would have been embarrassed, but not now. I was definitely a more confident woman. I took on Damon Salvatore for Christ's sake, and while I was drunk too!

"Sorry couldn't help it." I remarked, expecting some self loving, cocky retort, but all I received was a genuine grin which had slowly been revealing itself over the past few days.

"Truce?" His question caught me of guard, as he extended his hand. I looked sceptically at him.

"Truce," I finally agreed shaking his hand. "So, how did 'Henry' sleep?" I asked, raising my eyebrows innocently.

"Ah fuck off." And in reply I received a mouth full of Persian rug.

"So where'd you disappear to last night?" Caroline asked me later that afternoon as we were lying by the pool.

"I was starting to feel the effects of the shots and decided to crash." I said, innocently adjusting my Chinese blue and white print bikini. "What time did you guys get home anyway?"

"Around six this morning." Added Bonnie, taking a sip of her lemonade.

"Yeah, that's why Bex is still in bed." Noted Caroline as she turned over to tan her back.

"I thought that it had something to do with the fact that she found Matt passed out in her bed with nothing but some tighty whities and a top hat on?" I asked innocently. The comment had us all in giggles yet again.

"You take it where you can get it," sighed Care as she took another sip of her drink which looked suspiciously like a cocktail, despite the fact that she had been nursing a hangover this morning.

"Where's Stefan this fine afternoon?" I asked as I turned over to tan my back.

"Oh, he said something about a barbeque by the pool tonight and I think he and Damon went to the market to get some stuff."

Meanwhile … at the market.

"So what's up with you and Elena?" Stefan looked at me out the corner of his eye as he inspected the array of meat in front of him.

"Don't know what you mean, brother. Did Blondie say anything about what type of 'fancy bread' she wanted?"

"Nah, just get those long ones."

I chose a loaf and came back to where he had parked our trolley, "what is wrong with this picture? We are hundred year old wild vampires, not domesticated house husbands. It is shameful."

"No, its love, Damon. So Elena?"

"I'm handling it. I have a plan."

"I know how you 'handle' things Damon. Usually someone ends up either dead or counting bricks in some one horse town in New Orleans."

I couldn't resist giving him a sly smile. Which only earned a deathly glare in response. I held up my hands in surrender, "I'm joking. Relax, brother. I would never hurt Elena. Trust me."

"I'm serious."

"So am I. Now, which carrots look the most fresh?"

"Matt! Don't you dare bring that meat anywhere near those white towels!" Commanded Caroline.

Matt was teetering dangerously close to the sun lounges beside the pool with a tray full of kebabs that he was offering to Bonnie and Rebekah who were sitting at the pool side with their feet dangling in the water.

"Care? What did you do with that spare plate?" shouted Stefan from his throne beside the barbeque.

"They are just going to shout at each other all day long. I can see it already." The smooth, deep voice came from behind me. I whipped around to see Damon standing there with beer in one hand (Damon drinking beer? I think I just saw a pig fly) and a kebab in the other. But what caught my eye was the fact that he was only in a pair of swimming shorts. No shirt. I was practically drooling. "Want a bite?" The question caught me off guard and shocked me out of my reverie.

"What?" I stuttered.

"A bite?" He gestured towards the food in his hand.

"Oh, no thanks."

"You sure?" His dark eyebrow raised, taunting me, daring me.

Well two can play at this game. "Sorry, I prefer something with a little more meat. And a lot spicier," leaving him with a dumbstruck look on his face.

"I'm impressed Gilbert."

"You should be, Salvatore."

"Hey! Once you two are finished over there, we are having a game of Chicken Fight and need one more team." Caroline called to us. Bonnie and Jeremy, and Matt and Rebekah had already teamed up and the girls were on the guys shoulders in the swimming pool having a little warm up round.

"Wait, why do I have to go with him?" I asked, disbelievingly. Secretly I may have been thrilled, but way way on the inside.

"Damon will just cheat anyway, Care." Stefan added.

"Yeah, but Lena will keep him in line. Come on." She and Stefan got into the sparkling blue pool. Well she stepped in gracefully; Stefan did an elegant dive, cutting smoothly into the clear water.

"Come on Gilbert. And you better not let me down, because I do not lose." Damon followed Stefan into the water, performing an even more graceful dive. I never though I'd use the word "graceful" to describe Damon, but there was just no other word for it.

I took my sundress off and climbed into the pool to join them. Stefan was barking out the rules as we arranged ourselves in the four corners of the pool. Damon swam over to where I was waiting. "You ready?"

"Sure." He stood behind me and ducked under the water to make it easier for me to get onto his shoulders. Thankfully I did not have to rush as vampires don't need to breathe and such. I tried to think of anything but the feeling of his hands encircling my thighs as he lifted me over his head. I clutched onto his, now wet, hair, to avoid falling back into the water and most likely knocking my head on the side of the pool as Damon stood up.

"You okay up there."

"Fine. Good."

"Cool. Let's do this!"

Almost an hour later, our team and Bonnie and Jeremy's were the last two left. Caroline and Stefan, despite them both being vampires, had argued about strategy and as a result, Damon and I knocked them over within the first minute. They had watched for a bit before disappearing not so discreetly upstairs. Rebekah and Matt had lasted a little longer. That is until somehow Damon managed to steal Rebekah's bikini top (I still cannot work out how) and Matt had laughed so hard that he collapsed, pulling them both down.

Bonnie and I were battling it out, but my arms were getting tired.

"Go for the shoulders! Now the arms! No, the other side!" Jeremy ordered.

"I'm trying!" Bonnie shouted back.

Before anyone realised what happened, Bonnie and Jeremy were tumbling down into the water. Jeremy glared at Damon accusingly. "You so cheated!"

"Prove it!"

"You can't just knee a fellow guy in the nuts! Its in the code!"

"I don't know what you are talking about." His sweet, innocent tone had me and Bonnie for that matter, in stitches. Jeremy stalked out of the pool shaking his head before grabbing a towel and sauntering off towards the study where Matt and Rebekah had started a pool tournament.

"I'd better go check on him. Well played Salvatore," said Bonnie as she tried to contain her giggles.

"You too, Bennet." She picked up her towel and waltzed inside the house after him.

"I must say, I don't approve of your methods, but they sure are effective." I observed from my seat on his shoulders. "So what now?"

"Well for starters, you are getting heavy." In the blink of an eye I was crashing forward into the water which was actually surprisingly warm. The sun had started to set and Stefan must have switched on the pools heating.

I cleared the water from my eyes before looking up at Damon. "Hey! I won the chicken fight for you!"

"No I won it."

"No you cheated."

"That's a matter of debate." He was standing dangerously close. "But enough arguing for tonight. We have a truce, Miss Gilbert." His hands circled around my waist, pulling me towards him. I held my breath. I could feel the hard walls of his stomach pressed against the bare skin revealed by my bikini. Damon lifted me up and I encircled my legs around his waist. "Now close your eyes and lie back."

I did what I was told, clinging to him with my legs, I was floating on my back with my arms spread out beside me and my eyes closed. Slowly Damon let go of my waist and held onto my hips as he began to turn around. I glided over the water. The sound of the small waves we created were soothing sounds as was the feeling of being so close to him.

"Elena?"

"Mmm?"

"I'm glad you decided to come."

"Me too." And I meant it.

I felt what seemed like a soft kiss press against my stomach, but on opening my eyes I only saw Damon smiling at me still leaning away from me. Choosing not to care I closed my eyes and sank down into the water, pulling him with me. I had caught him by surprise. I resurfaced and so did he, shortly after. I smiled mischievously.

"Oh Miss Gilbert. What is it that you are planning?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I smiled once more.