AN: Did you like the last chapter? I really did, and my best writing comes out when its 3 in the morning. Lol

Elena POV

When I woke up, it was 10am. I had never slept so soundly in years after my parents died. When I finally came to my senses, I gasped. Damon's body was pressed up behind mine and he had an arm draped over me. He looked so peaceful, and happy this way. All snuggled up next to me, he looked.. relaxed.

"Damon.. Damon wake up." I whispered, gently shaking him.

I touched his arm and his head bolted up. I watched him as he took in our current position and he scooted away.

"Sorry." He mumbles before rolling away from me. "Its ok. I told you I do the same thing."

I assured him softly and touched his arm. He flinched and I drew back. Damon was scared. I knew Damon wasn't himself right now, that this wasn't his real personality. But he hid, in fear. Because he was a slave.

"I'm going to get ready. Please don't leave the room, I don't want Jenna to find you."

I moved away from Damon and crawled out of bed, making my way towards the bathroom. I looked over my shoulder to see Damon had fallen asleep again. I'm guessing this was the longest he had slept in a while.

Once I had a bath and had gotten through the worst part of getting that horrible dress on, (I hate them) I curled my hair.

"Damon?" I gasped when I didn't see him in the bedroom.

I heard Jenna yelling and a whip cracking, so I ran. I ran down the hall to where the noise was coming from. It was coming from right outside the kitchen.

"Why were you in the kitchen?" Jenna questioned. When Damon didn't answer she whipped him again. I gasped at the sight, Damon was on his knees sobbing and shaking.

"Jenna!" I snapped and she turned to look at me. "What do you think you're doing?"

"He was in the kitchen looking around for something. He hasn't given me an answer to what he was looking for!" Jenna snapped back before whipping him again.

"Jenna STOP!" I yelled and she froze. "He is my slave, correct? That means only I can punish him and right now he doesn't deserve to be punished! Now leave!"

Jenna glared at me, but I knew I had won. She stomped off in defeat, dragging her whip behind her. I ran down to Damon and glanced over his back. The shirt had been ruined, and he was bleeding in several different places.

"Shh, its ok Damon. I'm sorry she did this but your with me now. Your safe." I hushed his crying. Damon's hands were shaking as I pulled him to his feet.

"Come on, let's go." As we walked down the hall, all the other slaves stared. I felt Damon inching closer to me by the second. We passed Robert and he gave me a questioning expression. I gave him the "talk later" look before disappearing around the corner.

"Into the bathroom, take off your shirt." I commanded and he did what he was told. I grabbed a soft cloth and wet it before turning to Damon. I forced my gaze up to his face before turning him around. His back was a mess of scares and open cuts. Beginning to dab his wounds with the wet cloth, he finally spoke.

"I'm sorry." He whispered.

"About what?" I asked, looking at his tear-stained face through the mirror.

"I don't know." Damon looked down at the floor, again. "I thought that's what I was supposed to say." I shook my head as I cleaned up the last whip mark.

"You don't have to say anything."

Here we were, I was cleaning him up and Damon stood there awkwardly. It seemed so weird, to care so much about a slave. Maybe it was because I felt for him, because I knew he had to have a different back story than all the other slaves. Something about him was just... different.

"What were you doing in the kitchen, anyway?" I asked.

"I was just going to make us food." Damon whispered, lowering his head. It was my turn to feel like crying. This poor boy had just gotten whipped for trying to make me food.

I sighed. "I'm going to get us food, ok? I think you know better to leave, now." I told him, giving him one last glance before shutting the door behind me.

When I returned Damon was sitting on the bed, leaning down on his elbows.

"Hey, I smuggled back as much food as I could." I said. I had two plates full of eggs and toast, along with some hash browns. I gave one plate to Damon and he took it hungrily.

"Thanks." He said with a smile. That was the first time he had ever said anything above a whisper, other than the time he yelled at Jenna. It was also the first time he smiled directly towards me. It made me happy, to see him at least a tiny but happier than before. We ate in silence, Damon scarfed down his food. I'm guessing he hadn't had food this good in a long time.

"So.. what are we doing today?"