Hey there everyone!

It's been a long time coming, but FINALLY I return with Chapter 26! It was a struggle to write, but I promise the next chapters will be MUCH better, considering I actually know where I want the ending to go. I'm sure you'll like it... maybe ;-)

I would also like to thank Delena's Differential Equation - for taking the time to let me know that Love Lessons has unfortunately fallen victim to plagiarism. Here is the website .com/p/1232673473, i'm not sure what I can do about it, but outing the person who was more than happy to take my work without permission is a better way than none to vent my anger about this!

Anyway I've kept you guys long enough - on with Chapter 26!

ELENA'S POV

Elena slowly stirred from her deep slumber. She instantly smiled as she found herself curled beside Damon in his bed, his left arm wrapping around her so she was cuddled against him, safe and warm - or to put it short, it was one of the best nights sleep Elena could ever have asked for.

As she propped herself up with her elbow, she wished she could have said the same for Damon. Dark shadows circled under his closed eyes, a clear indication that he hadn't slept well at all. She noticed his chest rising unevenly with laboured breathing, an occassional groan of pain escaping from his parted lips.

Tears stung at her eyes knowing that this was all Isobel's doing, because of her sick plan to keep Damon for herself, which drove him to drinking and destruction. But ultimately, Elena knew it was because of herself that he was in so much danger, at so much risk of losing everything - she felt so guilty and no matter how many times Damon would tell her not to be, she just couldn't help but feel that way.

She carefully placed a kiss on his cheek before sliding out of bed. He never once stirred as she draped one of his black t-shirts over her tiny body and quietly left the room to make him a well deserved breakfast in bed.

"Ooo-kay" she mumbled to herself, standing in the middle of Damon's spotless kitchen (say for the forgotten mug of hot chocolate from last night) to decide where to begin, "fruit!" she decided.

As she carefully sliced a large grapefruit into quarters, Elena sighed to herself with content. She felt so at home just wandering around Damon's apartment, lazily wearing one of his tee's while she helped herself to the kitchen. She could quite easily see them both snuggled on his couch, bowl of popcorn between them, watching bad TV. What could be more perfect than that?

Other than having sex in his bathtub of course...

Elena grinned at the memory as she twirled over to the fridge, piling all the ingredients she needed to make some hearty pancakes in her arms. She quietly rustled everything together, glancing at the microwave clock to see the green, digital numbers glow 09:52. A swell of unpleasantness settled in Elena's chest, remembering that Isobel would be making her promised call to Damon at some point. Elena was so close to ripping the phone from Damon's hand last night and telling the bitch on the receiving to get the Hell out of their lives. The woman had them cornered. She had hard evidence of Elena with Damon and who knows what little thing could send her over the edge? And this promise that she would allow Damon to walk free from her at the end of the school year? Elena knew that was all bullshit. And if she did, so did Damon.

So how do they get out of this without Isobel outing them to the world?

You don't echoed a voice in Elena's head.

The cold, icy feeling that followed sent Elena into overdrive with flipping her pancakes, needing to flip those thoughts right to the back of her mind where they belonged... for now.

She plated up the food, poured the coffee and held her breath as she carried everything over to Damon's room on a tray, making sure she didn't trip on her forgotten, sodden clothing from the night before. Another smile at another sexy little memory.

Inching the bedroom door open with her tray, she had succeed in her quest to make breakfast without waking him. He was still out like a light. He hadn't even moved since she'd left. His left arm still shaped like he had an invisible Elena cradled in his arms. Adorable. Just adorable.

The rich smell of buttery pancakes slowly dragged him out of his sleep, and as his weary blue eyes gained focus on her, Elena smiled,

"Good Morning sleepyhead"

"Mmm..." he smirked, still trying to focus properly, "now what is this I spy?"

"It's breakfast in bed for you,"

"I was actually referring to the fact you're wearing one of my best t-shirts to sexily parade around my apartment in, but oh yeah, breakfast!"

"Y'know if I didn't love you so much, I would've thrown this whole tray of food i've lovingly prepared for you right into that smug little face of yours," she said, trying not to grin as she leaned over to the bed to place the tray in his lap.

"Ooh, nice comeback" he said, a sleepy smile on his face as he very slowly propped himself up against his pillows. He did it with only a little discomfort Elena saw, an improvement, if only a small one. "C'mere you..."

Elena found her lips meeting Damon's as he gave her a soft 'thank you' kiss. Her body bloomed at the touch.

"Hope you like pancakes,"

"Who doesn't?" he answered, looking perplexed at the prospect of someone hating them. Elena giggled, watching him painstakingly cut his food with a fork in his left hand. Elena knew better than to offer to cut it for him. She knew he'd feel a little pathetic if she did.

No sooner as he was about to take his first bite his phone rang.

Elena jumped at the shrilling sound, a horrible hot and cold feeling wracking her muscles as the noise terrified her. You never knew what was going to be said when you answered a phone these days.

"You gotta be kidding me," Damon groaned, clattering his fork on his plate and reaching for his phone. He gave Elena a warning look, and she quietened her breathing, ready to listen and await whatever the outcome of this conversation would be.

He pressed to accept the call.

"Hello?"

"Good morning baby - how are you today?"

Baby? Really! ? Elena thought. Once again wanting to snatch the phone away and give Isobel a piece of her mind.

"Oh y'know the usual. Same shit, different day."

Elena had to bite back a giggle. Damon smirked at her, making her swoon despite the current situation.

"Aww still feeling that bad? Are you taking your meds properly?"

"I am but the pain just keeps on rolling. Thought i'd be healing much quicker than this. How is... everything?"

"It's a little easier I suppose. Dad is a little more accepting of the fact she's gone and that we need to organize her... her funeral... it's..." she was beginning to sob like last night, and in a disturbing way, it sounded like it was being forced for reaction. "It's hard to cope Damon. I want you here..."

"I know and I'm sorry I can't be," he said, repeating the exact words as the night before. Enough to seem like he cared, but also enough not to. "I guess you'll be staying up there for a while? Comfort your father and such?"

"No I can't. I'll be coming home for the few days before the funeral and returning straight afterwards."

"How come? The school will give you all the time off you need," Damon said, urging her to stay away, wanting her to stay away. Elena found she had her fingers crossed in her lap.

"I don't care about school, Damon - it's you I want to come back for."

Elena looked away, closing her eyes. She soaked in those words like a sponge did with water, except she could'nt wring them out. They stayed there heavy, swelling in her chest.

"But Isobel... this is your widowed father..."

"We were never close. What different would it make if I were to stay now."

"Because you're all he has left? You're a part of your mother? You're his daughter..."

...

Silence...

...

Elena stared back at Damon, terrified at the sound of Isobel's shallow breathing on the receiving end of the call.

"Anyone would think you'd want me to stay away from you.." came her deep voice.

"No Isobel, anyone would think I was giving you good advice. Stay and console your father. I can wait."

"But the thing is you can't Damon. I know for a fact you're plotting to get that skinny little bitch into your arms while I'm gone. I bet she's even there right now. Listening. Sat right next to you in your bed..."

Elena was physically shaking on the mattress, too scared to breathe, too scared to move. Damon looked incredibly unsettled, suddenly glancing around the room while holding the phone firm to his ear.

Is she watching? Elena suddenly thought.

A shudder creeped along her spine.

"I'm not plotting anything. I'm recovering in my bed. Now why don't you step back, take a look at how heartless you're in being in leaving your father, and leave me to wallow in self pity and high dosed meds."

"How dare yo-"

"Talk later Isobel."

And with that he hung up.

Elena released a heavy breath she didn't realize she was holding tight within her lungs.

Damon rubbed his eyes stressfully before staring down at his uneaten breakfast, looking like he'd completely lost his appetite.

"Do you think hanging up was such a good idea?" Elena whispered, her voice a little rasped.

"She'll be pissed. But hopefully some sense will get knocked into her brain that isn't already ravaged with insanity."

Elena paused before giggling, watching him break out into one of his delicious smiles that made her melt into a pool of warmth.

"Should we really feel so... relaxed right now?"

Damon resumed taking his first bite of pancake while nodding.

"Of course we should. That malicious little witch has had us under her thumb for way too long. I plan on forgetting about it for now, finishing my breakfast, then proceeding to ravage you until you're screaming my name - sound like a plan?"

"Definitely" replied Elena, quickly stripping herself of his t-shirt to reveal her naked body underneath.

She'd never seen anyone eat their breakfast so quickly in all her life.

DAMON'S POV

"Are you sure you're not coming in?" Elena called from the bathroom. Damon looked up from the breakfast bar to find his girl wrapping a towel around her tanned body. Damn he wanted to join her in that tub and re-enact the night before all over again - but there was something that he needed to do.

"As much as I'd love to Miss Gilbert, my meds are calling my name. Make sure to come out here naked when you're done, okay?"

She playfully rolled her eyes before sneaking him a mischievous look. Damon waited until she disappeared into the bathroom, then proceeded to slap his required tablets into his mouth, washing them down his throat with a large gulp of water.

He slammed the glass down.

Now it's down to business.

Since his phone call just short of an hour ago with Isobel, Damon's worry that the woman could possibly have been watching them this entire time, tormented his thoughts.

"I bet she's even there right now. Listening. Sat right next to you in your bed..."

Panic bubbled underneath his cool exterior as he drifted towards his bedroom. With the one mobile hand, he quickly began to inspect the shelves on the wall. He shifted between the rows of books on one, moved cologne, picture frames, various gadgets to find anything like a camera on another. There was nothing. Turning around to face the TV, he looked closely for any device that had been meticulously placed near the speakers or the DVD player. Once again, he found nothing. Throwing open his curtains, a blast of sunshine blinded him momentarily as he looked to find something on the window ledge. Nothing.

There was nothing there.

Damon rubbed his brow, pinching the bridge of his nose as he felt the tell-tale signs of a headache, followed by a slight drowsy feeling from his medication. Isobel was slowly but surely making him lose his mind.

He couldn't go on living like this, knowing it would be this way until Isobel had had enough. And he'd be waiting for a very, very long time for that to happen.

Riiiiiiiiiiing!

Riiiiiiiiiing!

Damon simply closed his eyes at the sound of that fucking cell phone buzzing away on his bedside table. He knew it was her. Somehow the ring tone seemed to sound more demanding when it was her, even though it was the same for when anyone else called.

Riiiiiiiiiiing!

As quickly as his bruised body would allow, Damon leaned over and grabbed his phone.

"Don't you get bored of calling me, Isobel?"

"Damon do you really think that is the way you should be talking to me after what you did earlier? Hanging up on me? Not a clever move."

"Why? Is that enough for you to produce a photo album of me and Elena to the cops?"

"Close enough. You've already experienced what my power can do. It took for just a couple of scrawled out notes for the police to be all over you like a rash. Tip me closer to the edge and I will not hesitate to show those pictures of you both fucking like animals in the fields."

Damon clenched his jaw and squeezed the phone against his ear so hard that the plastic creaked from the force. "I'm done." he said, his voice low and hoarse.

"Done? Done with what exactly?"

"You" he said, nodding to himself in confirmation. "I'm done with you."

"Are you deliberately wanting me to-"

"Look just do whatever the fuck you want Isobel. I'd rather be holed up in aprison cell than have to do time in yours."

"Yeah, sure you would Damon. You'd rather be a little pet slave to your fat, dirty cell mates. Pretty boy like you would fit riiiight in..."

"Well it'll be far more bearable than having to sleep with you, Isobel. Give my condolences to your father. I'll await a call from the cops."

And again, Damon hung up.

And then automatically wondered why the fuck he said any of that.

The bedroom door creaked behind him and there was Elena. She silently wandered over to the side of the bed, her dark hair splaying in soft, wet waves on her shoulders. Droplets of water pearling down her olive skin, her brow knitted together with worry as she slowly inched closer, hitching her towel more securely around her body - she looked so beautiful.

"That towel doesn't suit you," he joked, a smile appearing on his lips but it quickly faded away. He didn't mean for her to catch any of what he said to Isobel. But she probably would have heard it all clearly through the walls anyway.

"Damon why did you do that?" she said, her tone cutting through him.

"Because I can't take her shit anymore" he replied, looking away to stare down at his right hand. "I'd much rather have the police turn up at my doorstep over her."

Warm hands circled around his broad shoulders from behind. The feel of her warm, slightly damp body embracing him from behind was just too good to put into words. He turned his head to the right to meet her heart-shaped face staring back at him like she was about to fall to pieces with worry for him. Truth be told he couldn't blame her, but before he could think further he inched forward and kiss her lips, ghosting them with barely there touches that made her moan barely above a whisper.

"There's got to be something we can do," she whispered urgently, her breath hot against his skin. He opened his eyes to find hers closed tight, holding back tears, her forehead resting against the side of his.

"Any attempt of getting out this mess is a massive risk, Elena."

"I know" she nodded, "I know that."

"But..." he said, using his left hand to tilt her head upwards to look at him. Two trails of tears fell simultaneously from her glassy, brown eyes as she met his. "But I'm willing to take the risk if you are..."

So what do we all think? I hope you liked it. I promise to be back with Chapter 27 soon! And that's a pinky promise!

Anna x