"So what else is on the agenda today, Mr. Romantic?"
"How do you feel about a hike? I know this really great view, but it takes some time to get there."
"Couldn't we just cheat?"
"I suppose," Damon said, "But that wouldn't be nearly as rewarding. You have legs, you don't get tired easily anymore, and it isn't uphill or anything. All it takes is time. And as I recall you willingly went on a walk with Stefan and you were human. Much more work."
"How'd you know about that?" Elena eyed him suspiciously.
"Stefan and me do talk about you, you know. We're actually relatively normal siblings."
"Sure you are. Fine. Let's go."
Elena followed close behind Damon to a trail head not far from where they had breakfast. Trees and bushes were bordering the path, some overgrown and tripping traps. The began single file, Elena focusing intently on the flowers and overall scenery, instead of Damon. As much as she wanted her mind to wander there, she didn't want him to know that was her desire. He was too perceptive to be off her guard.
"What kind of flower is that?" Elena asked, pointing to violet-blue flowers in the shape of a small bell beneath a couple large pine trees.
"That's a Virginia Bluebell, I believe." Damon bent down and plucked one from it's tangled branches. He then brushed Elena's hair behind her ear and placed the flower in the crook between her temple and the inner fold of her ear. "That color suits you. You know," he murmured, giving her a sly look, "There's plenty of room for two up here."
"Oh...right." Damon paused in his stride and waited for Elena to approach him as timidly as a mouse would a cat. When she was beside him, he couldn't strolling down the path his hands in his pockets, whistling a tune. Elena didn't know it, but it was beautiful.
"What are you whistling?"
"The Scientist by Coldplay. One of my favorites."
"Do I get to hear your awful singing voice?" Elena teased, shoving his shoulder.
"As you command, Elena," he whispered, brushing her face lightly with his fingers. And he continued but this time with the lyrics. "But tell me you love me, come back and haunt me and I rush to the start. Running in circles, chasing our tails, coming back as we are. Nobody said it was easy. Oh, it's such a shame for us to part. Nobody said it was easy. No one ever said it would be so hard. I'm going back to the start," he warbled. And without much thought he tucked his hand in hers.
Elena couldn't help but smile, not just about his voice, which really was shrill, but because his hand was making hers tingle pleasantly. At first, she tried to hide the smile; keep it to herself. But then she saw Damon's face. It was insanely worried that maybe holding her hand wasn't what she wanted. It really did matter to him whether she was happy or not. Elena let the smile she was disguising like a thief in the night grow on her face until Damon couldn't have missed it even if he was mute, blind, and deaf.
Damon visibly relaxed and they walked the rest of the way in companionable silence, holding hands. They left the forest behind them and entered a large meadow which ran into the distance before it dropped off into a cliff. They came up to the very edge and glanced around at a view of a sweeping river, a vast mountain range, and a glimpse of small villages with farmland.
"This is incredible," Elena breathed.
"I thought you might like it." Damon sank to the earth and motioned for Elena to come sit beside him. She slowly followed orders and cautiously leaned up against Damon's shoulder. He swiftly put his arm around her waist and leaned his cheek against the top of her head.
"You pretty good at this."
"Surprised?"
"No, once I heard what you did for Rose...actually, yes. I'm surprised."
"Are you happy?" Damon said. He made it sound like the answer wasn't a big deal but his breathing rate increased slightly and she could feel his shoulder muscles tense against her.
Elena paused for a minute and seriously considered the question. There was no question she was happy. The question became, in what way to tell him. She slinked around to face him as gracefully as a cat curling up on a pillow and wrapped her arm around his neck before bringing it down for a kiss. "Yes," she whispered.
"Good. Now, come with me."
He lifted her to her feet and dragged her to a waterfall that began from a little stream trickling down from the woods.
"Now, we're going to jump. You'll be just fine. Kay?"
"Why are we doing this?"
"Because it's fun, Elena. It's good to experience it every once and a while."
"Fun. Okay...I guess."
"Stop thinking," Damon laughed, and he catapulted her off the edge. The fall was quick and long at the same time. It felt like wind was actually whooshing through her, and she was paralyzed with a fear that might have even been worse than the various instances where Klaus would catch her. The water was fast approaching and when they hit it felt like running into a brick wall, but she knew she would be fine.
Her dress was soaked and clinging to every curve by the time her and Damon crawled out of the water. He stripped off his shirt and carefully averted his eyes, knowing she would feel uncomfortable if he looked.
"So? What do you think?"
"That hurt like hell, but it was so...so..."
"Invigorating?"
Elena nodded. "You shouldn't have scared me like that, though."
"No?" he said, raising one eyebrow.
"No," she grinned and hurled a pile of mud that she had collected when using her hand as balance while standing up. It hit him right in the face. Being a vampire not only improved almost every humanly function, it improved her aim. Damon didn't even give her a second to gauge his reaction. He sprinted at her and tackled her in the mud. They were both squishing mud into balls and throwing them at each others bodies, when Damon grinned through all the mud caking his face.
"I love you, Elena." And he kissed her right on her muddy nose.
"Let me up out of this mud."
He stood and laughed at her appearance. "Somehow, Damon Salvatore, even after you rubbed my best dress in the mud, made me jump off a cliff, and were a part of the best date I've ever had, I love you too."