This is simple, this is new,

That's why I'm not scared of you,

But you're afraid in ways that I can't comprehend.

Damon's gaze moved to Elena as he pondered what to do about the contract. He was sure of one thing; Katherine wasn't going to step foot inside his building again and much less work with him. She looked so nervous that he just wanted to go and hug her and tell her that it's okay, that she didn't have to do anything she didn't want to do. And hell, she did not! He would not allow his girl to feel like a replica of someone else; especially not of Katherine.

"'Lena, you don't have to do this." He said as he moved closer to her and grasped her hand. She was cold and pale and he just wanted to get this over with. Putting his hand around her waist, he pulled her closer in an attempt to soothe her nerves.

"There's no other option, Damon." She sighed and he rolled his eyes and looked at his brother. Stefan should've let her leave the office earlier. She shouldn't have heard this. Of course she wasn't okay with the fact that she was asked to be Katherine's double; who would be?

"Fuck the money, I don't care about it. I just want to know you're fine." He said, cupping her face with his hands and caressing her cheek with his thumb. Something was definitely happening with him; when did he become so caring?

"But Damon, it's not only about the money. It's about the name of this company. It's about the fact that you can't just throw money away like this. Just think about the millions of people dying of hunger or living on the streets and you're rolling in so much money that you don't even care about the losses." Okay, maybe she had a point there, but what she didn't understand was that he didn't want her to do something she didn't want to do.

"I get it, Elena, you're a do-gooder and it's sweet. But I can't let you do something you clearly don't want to do." Damon sighed.

"It's okay, Damon, I can do it. I was just surprised when I heard that." Elena nodded her head and he had no other choice than to honor her decision. It's not like he could tie her up and keep her from doing the damn commercial. Or maybe he could.

"Fine, but I'm coming with you. And if you don't feel fine doing it, you're going to let me know, okay?" He raised his eyebrows, waiting for her answer. He swore that this girl was a gold mine. She was everything Katherine wasn't; perky, witty, caring, lovable. And most of all, he was sure she was his. Elena nodded her head and he lowered his head to hers. Their foreheads touched slightly and he kissed her tenderly, brushing away all of her worries. And frankly, he wiped away more of his own, because every time they were together, he didn't have to think about anything else but her.

"So can I tell them you're doing the commercial?" Stefan interrupted them and Damon glared at him and still wished he wouldn't have said anything in front of Elena.

"Yes, tell them I will." Elena nodded her head.

"Okay, go and get ready downstairs with the stylist."

"Today? I have to do this today?" Elena's jaw dropped to the floor and Damon frowned. He had no idea it was happening today either. How did Stefan manage to have so much informations about this project? It's not like he was at the company all the time. In fact, he was always too busy with his cases to help Damon whenever he needed help.

"Yes, right after I call their manager to tell him to come here. So you better get ready, 'Lena."

"Okay, I'm heading downstairs. You coming?" She turned to Damon and he nodded shortly.

"You go ahead. I'll be right behind you." He watched Elena leave his office and waited until he could no longer hear her heels clattering against the floor to talk.

"What's all this about, Stefan? How come you know so many things about this damn contract? And how come I don't?" Damon narrowed his eyes and cornered his brother.

"Look, Damon, I didn't want to tell you this before because I knew you wouldn't allow Elena to do the commercial. But they said that if Katherine doesn't do the commercial, they would go to Mason's company and I knew you wouldn't like that." Stefan explained and Damon opened his eyes wide, surprise taking over his features.

"It's not only about the money. I know it's not that important to you. I mean, I know how much you care about Elena. But we really need her to do this. Do you want Mason to get the win here and rub it in your face for the rest of his life? Because I can be Switzerland. I've never liked the man, yes, but I also don't have a problem with him. You're the one hating his guts."

"What the hell, Stefan? Elena is much more important than that idiot and his little company!" Damon snapped. "You should've told me earlier. Now she will think I'm a liar and I did this only for my stupid rivalry with Mason."

"Then don't tell her. Let her think she did it only for the money." Stefan shrugged. Damon couldn't believe his little brother was telling him to lie to Elena. Lying wasn't in Stefan's nature. Damon, on the other hand, was the mean brother, the one with the pranks and dick moves.

"I just got back with her and I'm not losing her again because of something this stupid."

"Fine, Damon, do it your way. I just wanted to set things in your favor."

"Oh, fuck you, Stefan!" He groaned and exited the room, heading downstairs after Elena. As he waited for the elevator to reach the hair and makeup floor, he thought about telling Elena the original plan. He was sure she would understand and still do the commercial. But what if she would get mad at him and leave him again? He couldn't allow this to happen.

Damon entered the makeup room and he saw Elena sitting in a chair, getting ready for that stupid commercial. He approached her and stood behind her chair. She saw him in the huge mirror in front of her and smiled warmly and that smile just made his heart melt. She raised her hand towards him and he clasped it, holding her tight and wishing to never let her go.

"You're ready Ms. Gilbert." The stylist said and Elena turned with the chair to face Damon. Her curls were completely gone, being replaced by layers of straight brown hair. She looked wonderful, like she always did. But for the first time, he looked into her eyes and saw something he hadn't noticed until now. It was a brightness in her eyes that he couldn't put his finger on, but he wanted it to be because of him. Because she had no idea how much she meant to him.

"You are so beautiful!" He breathed and the smile he received from her couldn't be replaced with anything, not even with all the money in the world.

"I'm the same Elena, Damon. Just straight hair and some make-up." She rolled her eyes and leaned down to kiss her forehead, inhaling her perfume. What was going on with him? He'd never been like that with Katherine. What was it about Elena that made him care so much?

"You're always stunning." Damon's glance moved to the director entering the room and announcing Elena she had to be in the studio in five minutes.

"Let's get this over with. I hope I know what to do." Elena whispered and he let out a laugh. "What?" She asked. "I know I'm not a model or anything, but I've seen some fashion programs. I hope I can pull this off."

"I wasn't laughing because of that. I was laughing because there is no way you won't do the right thing. It's going to be perfect, you'll see." Damon interlocked his fingers with hers and pulled her out of the makeup room and directed her towards the studio. He closed the door behind them and while Elena took her place in front of the camera, Damon sat on a chair in the opposite corner to gain a full view of her.

Damon was well aware of the fact that he was staring at her, but he didn't do anything about it. He drank in her beauty and wished he would always be able to do that; just look at her and appreciate her for what she was. It had been so hard for him these last three months not to call her and beg her to come back to him, because he missed her. And that was why he had decided to keep the relationship between them strictly professional. She had been so mad about it that for a while, he thought that it was because she felt something more for him and that she would change her mind. But no, she accepted the terms he had set and let things stay as they were.

And then, all of a sudden, she danced with him last night and managed to make him crave her again, wishing that she would kiss him again. And when she knocked on his door and he saw her with that suitcase, he knew. Damon knew that it wasn't just the sex she was coming back for; she was coming back for him, because she needed him in her life as much as he needed her in his. That moment he wanted to tell her how much he missed her too, but instead he made love to her, showing her how much he had needed her. She came back because she loved him.

She whispered to him that she loved him, last night, when she thought he was asleep. And when he had heard it, he wanted to open his eyes and kiss her and make love to her all over again, but he also wanted to tell her that it was the biggest mistake she could ever make; to love him. He wasn't worthy of love, especially not hers. He wanted to tell her that he loved her too, but he wasn't ready. He couldn't say it. Katherine made sure of that. Damon needed to be able to tell her that he loved her too, but somehow, his heart refused to open up to her, to allow him to confess his feelings for her, because if he would have done it, he would've been lost all over again.

"That would be all, Ms. Gilbert. You've been amazing. Thank you for everything." Damon heard a fading voice in the other side of the room and he recovered his thoughts, looking at Elena and he noticed she was glaring at him. He smiled at her and nodded his head, letting her know that she had been fabulous.

"Damon. There's something you need to see." His assistant, Tanya, entered the room without knocking and handed him a newspaper. He looked at the title and didn't need to read anything else to know what was it about. Damon felt like he couldn't breathe anymore and he felt a wave of nausea taking over his body. With trembling fingers, he loosened the knot on his tie and opened the first button of his shirt. The title was big and on the first page of the newspaper; Abortion in the Salvatore family.

He stood up and left the room, heading to his office. He pushed the door close behind him and without thinking, he opened the door to his office's wet bar from under his desk and started to drink directly from the bottle, not bothering to get a glass. It was too late to do anything else; so he drowned his memories in alcohol. He nervously looked at the newspaper and flicked through the pages until he found the one with the article about him and Katherine. It was the declaration that Katherine had given to the press. Damon read the lines and was dizzied by the quantity of information in there; 'Damon Salvatore...', 'he made me have an abortion...', 'I didn't have a choice...', 'he threatened me...'

Now he was sick. Not only was the most important secret of his life written in the newspaper, but Katherine had lied about it; she didn't tell them they both agreed on giving up on the child, she made him the guilty party in this heartbreaking situation. She had gotten her revenge. He was ruined.

"Damon, what's wrong? Why did you leave like that?" Elena burst into his office and he noticed she was wearing a bathrobe. "Why are you drinking at the office?" He didn't answer her, but just made a sign with his hand, signaling that he didn't want to talk. Not only was his life ruined, but his relationship with Elena as well. He would never be able to tell her that he loved her, because she wouldn't be there to hear it. When she found out about him killing his own child, she would think he was a monster and she would be disgusted by him. God, what did he do to deserve all this?

"What's going on, Damon?" Elena asked again, her voice pitched and he had grown to know by now that her voice raised whenever she was worried. He shook his head, disbelief taking over him. He had been such a fool to think that Katherine would never divulge their secret.

"Leave me alone, Elena." He said, not being able to look into her eyes. She would find him disgusting, surely.

"I'm not leaving. What is that?" She pointed to the paper and he folded it in it's initial form before she could see it. But unfortunately for him, she moved closer and leaned against his desk. "I asked you what's that. Answer me, Damon!" This time she yelled and when he didn't do anything, she ripped the newspaper from his hands and took a look at it. He saw her frowning and then her jaw dropped when she read the title. He watched her flip through the pages and she froze when she saw the picture of Katherine and Damon kissing. He was royally screwed!

"Oh my god!" She gasped and dropped the paper on the desk and he saw tears pricking her eyes. This wasn't happening to him. He wished this was merely a nightmare.

"Elena, I-"

"You were going to have a child with her?" Her voice was trembling and he was lost in front of her weakness; he didn't know what to say to her, so he started with the truth.

"Yes."

"And you made her have an abortion? I can't believe this is you, Damon!"

"No, 'Lena. We talked about it and neither of us was ready to be a parent. I was barely 24. No one can be a parent at that age!"

"But why does she say that she wanted the child?" Elena asked and he took another gulp of bourbon.

"Because she's a lying bitch! She wanted to ruin my life and she succeeded. Now everybody knows about it. And I'm about to lose everything. Lose you." He whispered the last words and he felt his chest tightening with pain. He couldn't go through this, not now.

"Damon, I-" She started but he interrupted her.

"I couldn't be a parent, Elena. I'm screwed up. And I would've destroyed that kid's life as well. I can't be a father." He said and despair took over him. He didn't want to lose Elena, he couldn't lose her. "Say something. I get it if you want to dump my ass, but just say something," he pleaded.

"I'm here. I'm not leaving you." She said and walked to him. She sunk to her knees in front of him and grabbed both his hands. He looked into her eyes and for the first time he saw the love she was feeling towards him; it was obvious now.

"Elena, I-"

"Shh. You don't have to say anything. Just don't talk." He didn't know what she meant by that. Maybe she was going to leave him after all. The thought sent a shiver down his spine. Instead, she consoled him by pecking him on the lips. Her lips were so sweet against his ones, soaked with bourbon.

"Damon...am I your girlfriend?" He frowned at her question. He had no idea what she meant by this, but right now, it was the only thing he wished; for her to be his girlfriend.

"Why are you asking me this, Elena?"

"Because you told Katherine I am, this morning. And if you don't mean it, I'd like to ask you not to say it again. To anyone." She sighed and he noticed the sadness in her eyes. She wanted this as much as he did; the difference was, he was afraid.

"I was being serious. You're living with me, we sleep together, we do things together. Isn't that what a relationship is?" Damon asked and it looked like he took Elena by surprise; she probably didn't expect him to say that.

"I guess." She shrugged and he pulled a weak smile on his face. If it wasn't for her, he wouldn't have been able to smile.

"Come here." He extended his hand for her and she didn't hesitate to grab it. Damon pulled her into his lap and she put an arm around his neck. She was his only consolation now. The thing that hurt the most was, that he thought that Katherine's abortion was going to be their secret. Nobody knew about it, not even Stefan, who he told everything to. Damon looked into Elena's eyes and he could see in them the thing he never saw in Katherine's; innocence, purity and love. She was young and unwritten, she still had so much to learn and he was going to help her. They were going to be happy together, he knew it. As long as he had her, he would be alright. And if he was alright, he would be able to make her feel loved; he would be able to convince himself that he deserved to be loved too.

"I care about you, Elena. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here." He said and not waiting for her response, Damon brought his lips to hers. He was amazed of the way that their lips molded perfectly together, like they were made for each other. He possessed her with all he had and with every second that went by, with every kiss that he placed on her lips, he realized he was more and more smitten, like he had never been before. Her kisses weren't brusque and shallow like Katherine's, her lips didn't have the artificial taste of lipstick and as her breasts pressed against his chest, he noticed Elena's breasts felt natural, not like Katherine's, who insisted on getting breast implants. And as she opened her eyes, he was sure that Katherine's brown eyes had never bore into his like this and had never made his legs melt like Elena's did.

"Damon, we have to do something about the interview Katherine gave. We can't let this ruin your reputation; she lied." Elena said and there he was again, reminded of the biggest mistake of his life.

"I know, Elena, I know." He sighed and his eyes bore into hers.

"I can help. I was a journalist for a few months and even if I didn't have the most glamorous job, I met a few important people from the newspapers."

"Well, can you call someone? If not, it's okay, I can ask Stefan to handle it. The perks of having a lawyer brother." Damon winked at her playfully.

"No, I can handle it. The perks of having a girlfriend in the branch." She winked too and he shook his head, amazed by what she was able to do to him. As she stood up and found her phone in her purse, Damon grabbed the bottle of bourbon and put it back in its place; he didn't need it anymore. He had Elena to talk to now, he didn't need alcohol to drown his sorrow.

His eyes followed her as she paced the room, waiting for someone to pick up on the phone.

"Hi. Elena Gilbert, here." He wondered who was he speaking to. "No, Daniel, I didn't die." She laughed into the phone and he narrowed his eyes. Great, he was jealous because she was talking to a guy on the phone to solve his problem. He wondered how she must've felt when she saw him with Andie the other night. He didn't want to know.

"I have a problem. Yes, about an interview. Ugh, you heard already?" He caught a glimpse of her rolling her eyes annoyed and then saw her tapping her heel against the floor. "Damon Salvatore is my boyfriend, Daniel and I won't allow to see things like this in the papers. That woman is insane! Can you do something about it, or do I have to call Diana Moore?" He had never seen her so passionate about something and it was clear to him that this bothered her as well.

"Okay, thank you so much. I owe you one. We'll definitely grab coffee sometime." And she hung up the next moment. His eyes widened as he was waiting to be filled in.

"So?"

"Done. The interview will get a blank denial tomorrow. Katherine can't do anything now." She smiled and he let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding until then.

"Who did you talk to?" Damon asked, as he was very curious about who was the man who was going to have coffee with Elena sometime.

"Oh, Daniel is the editor-in-chief of an important newspaper. He's kind of competing with Diana Moore, my former boss and that's why he didn't like the thought of me calling her."

"So do you have to grab coffee with him?"

"Not necessarily. I keep promising him that I'll grab coffee with him and I never did. He's a flirt, but he's a nice guy." Elena said as she sat on the edge of his desk. His eyes traveled on her body and stopped on her long legs.

"I see. Why are you wearing a bathrobe, by the way?"

"Because I'm done with the commercial and I have to change back into my clothes. Can we go straight home? I'm pretty tired. I just want to take a shower and sleep through the whole night."

"Are you sure you want that?" He wriggled his eyebrows playfully and she raised an eyebrow.

"I am pretty sure, Mr. Salvatore. But you can totally give me a massage. It's needed, after such a day."

"We'll see about that, Ms. Gilbert, we'll see."

Half an hour later, they arrived home from work. Damon lazily opened the front door and let Elena enter the penthouse first and he followed her, pushing the door close and locking it. He traveled across the living room and sank into the big, comfortable couch as Elena made her way into the bathroom, preparing the bathtub.

"Can I take a bath with you? I'm not sure I'll be awake after you finish yours." Damon called after her.

"I'm not sure if I should believe you, but fine." Elena answered and hearing her words, he jumped from his place, leaving behind his jacket and the tie he had been wearing. Damon walked into the bathroom and found an already naked Elena getting ready to get into the tub. He started to take his clothes off and he could feel her eyes on him and he smirked playfully.

"It's rude to stare, Miss Gilbert." He admonished and she rolled her eyes back at him.

"It's also healthy." Okay, this one he didn't expect. In a matter of seconds, he was naked and sliding into the steaming water.

"Move over." He hushed her and leaned against the wall of the tub and soon he felt Elena's hair against his chest. Damon put his hands on her shoulders and started to rub them gently and he got an appreciative groan from her in return. He smiled and kissed her on the head. He felt good doing this; just bathing with the person he cared about, after a hard day at work.

"Let's get you cleaned." Damon mumbled as he grabbed a bottle from behind him. He pulled the cap open and poured some transparent liquid into his hands, then slowly started to rub it against Elena's back and arms. She tilted her head to her side, providing him with enough space to gently run his soapy hands along her neck.

"This feels good." She mumbled and he couldn't not observe her voice was hoarse. She must have been pretty tired.

"Okay, we'll get you to bed now."

"No! I want to stay here for a few more minutes." She said and he complied. Damon's fingers ran along her arms as she leaned her whole body against his. He couldn't have asked for more. It all seemed to be in its place lately, except for the problem with Katherine today, which was almost resolved with Elena's help. She was literally an angel in his life.

Damon stood up by the edge of the bed, pulling the sheets over Elena and then he laid next to her, draping his arm over her waist. He couldn't help but smile seeing her so peaceful.

"Damon..." She mumbled, almost asleep.

"Yes?"

"Do you regret it?" She asked and he knew what was she talking about.

"No. I'm not made to be a parent, Elena. I wouldn't want my child to turn out like me, or worse. And even if I would want to have kids, it wouldn't be with Katherine. She doesn't deserve that joy."

As he finished talking, he heard a soft snoring coming from Elena and he turned off the light on the night stand; no, Katherine wasn't the right woman to be the mother of his child, but Elena was. Too bad he would never, ever have a child of his own.

AN: Any questions, any doubts, any opinions, any anything, just drop a review.