Elena arrived fashionably late to the Mikaelson Ball. She was wearing a coral ball gown with light orange sparkles crawling up the skirt. It fell perfectly at her waist, emphasizing just the right parts of her body. She had her hair half up, half down and curled.

"You look stunning this evening," Stefan approached her and she politely smiled at him. But that's all it was, polite.

"Thank you," She said formally. He held out his arm to her and Elena took it. He led her through the party.

"Is Damon here?" Elena inquired, her eyes scanning the room for her blue-eyed, black-haired vampire.

"I don't know," Stefan said stiffly. "I haven't seen him since yesterday. Do you know why that is?"

"We got into an argument," Elena informed him. Stefan straightened up and looked at Elena.

"Over what?"

"I—," Elena halted her sentence when her eyes fell on the person she had secretly longed to see. He was standing, sipping on a glass of amber liquid, engaged in a conversation with none other than Rebekah Mikaelson.

Elena forgot about Stefan and everything else. She just mindlessly began walking towards Damon.

Eventually she reached him; he was listening to Rebekah talk about something that he obviously didn't remotely care about. The moment Elena was standing next to him, he turned all his attention to her.

"I thought you wouldn't come," Elena said.

"You know me, can't miss a good party," Damon responded with a smirk.

Elena just stared at him and he stared back at her. He cocked his head to the side, noticing the look she was giving him and wondering what was going on in her mind.

"Well, this is awkward," Rebekah said, snapping Elena from her trance. She looked at the blonde vampire and was about to make some sassy remark when Klaus called the attention of the party to him for an announcement.

"I'd like to thank you all for coming this evening," Klaus greeted from the stairwell. Everyone clapped momentarily in response, "Now, the point of this ball is not only to welcome a new year, but also to celebrate love." The party fell silent in contemplation. Elena looked at Damon who knew what Klaus was about to say, and he angrily took a swig from his drink. "I'd like to personally congratulate two dear friends of mine on the announcement of their engagement—Stefan Salvatore and Elena Gilbert."

The crowd burst into applause of congratulations and heads turned towards Elena. She politely smiled and mouthed 'thanks' even though her heart was hurting. She looked around the room for Stefan, but she couldn't find him anywhere, so she quickly let it go.

"Anyway, it is tradition that we have our opening dance of the evening, so would everyone please grab a partner and join us in the ballroom." Klaus said and everyone began filing out of the main room. Elena waited for Damon to ask her to dance, but he just stood, sipping his drink. He glanced down at her.

"Well, aren't you going to find your fiancé?" Damon asked. The cold words washed over Elena and she felt her heart clench.

"I'd rather dance with you," Elena said.

Damon raised his eyebrows, momentarily thinking. He eventually shrugged and held out his hand to her. He mindlessly gave Rebekah his drink. Rebekah sassily popped her hip out in rebellion, but Damon ignored her.

Elena took his hand and the moment their skin touched she felt like she could finally exhale and relax. Damon led her out to the dance floor and spun her around. He caught her by the waist and pulled her close to him. Elena took a sharp intake of breath, surprised once again by Damon's sly moves.

The music began playing. The song was All of Me by John Legend. Damon began swaying Elena around the dance floor and she focused on the blue of his eyes to maintain composure.

What would I do without your smart mouth?
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright.

The lyrics resonated with Elena. They were so accurate to her situation with Damon that she practically felt like Damon was singing to her. Damon spun Elena and caught her once again.

My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

Elena thought of the mess that she got herself into by falling in love with Damon. She thought of all the struggles they've endured, yet they somehow always managed to come out on top.

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning

Damon had always been there for Elena, had always accepted her when no one else did. And she had a great habit of pushing him away. She felt guilt overrun her emotions. She rested her head on Damon's shoulder as he gently rocked her around the room.

Give me all of you
Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it's hard

Elena knew three things: she wanted Damon, she loved Damon, and nothing she could do would change that. Being away from him had almost made her feelings for him more apparent.

"Damon," Elena whispered again his chest.

"What?" Damon asked, adjusting his position so he could hold her more securely.

"I'm sorry," She said. Damon tightened his grip on her.

"I know," He said, "But if you're trying to keep us secret, you're doing a poor job of it."

"I don't care," Elena said, and in that moment, she didn't.

She had missed him too much; she didn't care about the confused looks that the other people at the party were giving them. She didn't care about the stares and the suspicions. In that moment, she only cared about reconciling her relationship with Damon. She still feared Klaus and knew that she had to convince Katherine, but she also knew that she could do everything better and appear stronger with Damon by her side.

"Damon," Elena leaned her head up to where she could whisper directly in his ear, "I want you."

"You've got me, Elena," Damon said. He had promised himself that he wouldn't go to her easily, he had promised himself that this time he would make her fight for him the way he fought for her. But listening to the pleas of the women he loved made him putty in her hands. He was always weak when it came to the love of a woman.

"No, Damon. I want you. All of you. Right now." She whispered and Damon's eyes widened with understanding.

"Now?"

"Right now."

Damon nodded and stepped back from Elena. He let go of her hands and formally bowed.

"Meet me outside." Damon whispered, standing up from his bow. Elena curtsied and nodded her head in understanding. Her eyes glowed wickedly with desire, although her composure feigned formality.

Damon turned from her and walked away. The moment he left out the front doors, Elena gathered her skirts and began following him out.

As she passed, people gave Elena congratulations on her engagement to Stefan and she nodded and politely gave her thanks. She had only one thing in mind, and he was waiting for her right outside.

The moment she silently slipped out the doors of the mansion, Damon caught her by the waist and spun her to face him. Elena let out a little squeak of joy and surprise as he did so, but he quickly cut off her voice by capturing her lips in his own. Elena melted into the kiss and impatiently pushed off Damon's tuxedo jacket.

Damon deepened the kiss and their tender loving care turned into a fumble of passion as Elena desperately tried to remove pieces of Damon's clothing.

He broke from the kiss and breathlessly whispered, "Here's not the right place." Damon gestured to the fact that they were still standing on the front porch and Elena groaned in annoyance.

"I need you now, Damon." Elena began unbuttoning his shirt, but he stopped her hands.

"And you'll get me," Damon said, clasping her hands in his own, "But not right here."

"Where?" Elena asked hurriedly, feeling the ache of her desire burning even more feverishly across her body.

"I've got an idea," Damon said. He bent down and grabbed Elena's legs. He tossed her over his shoulder and Elena gasped in surprise.

She laughed as Damon carried her in the direction of the forest that bordered the house, her hands pushed up against Damon's back to hold herself up.

She kissed every part of his body that her lips could reach—his back, his ear, his neck, the top of his head—pausing in between kisses to tell him, "I love you. I'm so sorry. I'm never giving up on us again. I've been so stupid. I'm sorry. I love you, Damon."

AN: Reviews are greatly appreciated!