Hi everyone :) Here is another update! I love this chapter, very much. It's progress for them both. Damon is showing another side of himself. :) I'll update "I Knew You Were Trouble" soon. Thank you again for all the subscribers and comments. xo

Give a little time, to me, and burn this out
We'll play hide and seek to turn this around
All I want is the taste that your lips allow, give me love.

"Reservation for Salvatore," he murmured to the maître d who was standing behind the podium.

"Ah, yes, Mr. Salvatore, right this way." The waitress grabbed two menus, and motioned for them to follow.

Elena found herself gazing at him confused. She cracked a smile. As they walked through the large group of people, she followed closely to him. Her eyes were subtle, and her mind was open. He pulled the chair out as Elena grinned brightly as she sat down. "Thank you, Damon."

Damon sat across from her at the small table which set nicely in the back away from the other tables. Another waitress greeted them, and approached Damon with the specialties. They ran quickly through Elena's head and quickly out as she gazed at him. Her eyes wouldn't leave Damon, and she was alright with that. More than alright.

She watched him closely as he gazed over the menu after ordering the best wine that was available. "You planned this."

Damon smirked playfully, still glancing at the menu. "I absolutely did."

"You are something, Damon," she commended.

His tight smirk, turned quickly into a smile.

The music was calm and relaxing. It was mostly music from the late forties, early fifties; and mostly love ballads.

She gazed lifelessly into her glass of wine. It made the hurt vanish. Elena still wanted to go home though. The atmosphere was calming for once; her life didn't feel like a roller coaster in that moment.

"So, I think Caroline had fun," he started off the conversation bluntly. Even though, Elena wasn't in the mood to talk.

She nodded softly. This feeling of trying was tiring. "I'm glad."

"Did you tell her what happened?"

Elena glanced up at him with sad eyes. Her emotion was tragic, and she wasn't sure how she could get it back. "No, and I don't think I will at least until I get back…"

A frown painted on his face. "It's alright, you don't have to talk about it." He cut her off bluntly. Damon knew she wasn't up for it. "Let's talk about something else, or don't talk about anything at all."

Elena sighed, her words caught on the tip of her tongue. She wasn't in the right state of mind, and hoped things would be better than they turned out to be. The only thing she did was nod.

"You make sad look beautiful, Elena, and you won't be like this forever. You will learn to be happy again. It's going to take a little bit longer, and you'll be fine. I promise." He reached over as he spoke, and ran his fingertips over her hands.

She smiled softly. His words were encouraging, but right now, she couldn't see the light at the end of the long, dark tunnel.

Damon leaned over as far as he could over the table. He wrapped his fingers around her chin, and smiled. "Start believing it, Gilbert. I can see the doubt. You'll get through this."

Soon after his short speech, the waitress set the two large plates in front of them. Elena tried her best to hold in that emotion for Damon. She watched him closely at his movements and body language. He was watching over her.

"Thank you, for everything," she stuttered quietly.

His head lifted up as she said that, causing him to freeze in place. "For what?" Was the answers he was looking for coming up?

"Saving me-over and over, and for saving me from myself," Elena breathed.

"I couldn't let Derek hurt you— You don't need to keep thanking me—"

Elena raised her hand up and spoke again. "No. You didn't let it happen, nightmares are playing in the back of my head because of what could have become. You saved me from myself. I was lost and broken. Like a candle in a storm. My flame burnt out, but you relit everything that used to burn, I can't thank you enough for that. I'm eternally grateful."

Her words felt like boomerangs. They kept returning even though he pushed them away. Damon was grimace, his shark-attitude wanted to break free, but tonight he was Damon. Damon Salvatore. The boy who every girl wanted, the boy who was charming and charismatic; he was there tonight, fully alive. Damon dragged for a little while, as he watched Elena become stuck in another funk. He let her be. He could tell completely that Elena was trying to focus on her meal at that time.

Elena was absorbing the time and the meal, trying her best to enjoy herself; even though she was zoning out more than she expected. She caught Damon's soft glance on her frequently. With each one, she smiled back at him—even if they were forced.

Her plate was empty sooner than she acknowledged. Hunger and that tiring feeling were working against her. Grabbing her glass of wine, she finished the last bit of it, and then set it aside on the table.

"Well, I must say, you have good tastes in meals," Elena spoke up finally, while trying her best to find the strength to communicate with him.

"Care for dessert?" He offered. It wasn't the reply she thought was intended. It was a continuation of the "date."

"That sounds nice. What did you have in mind?" She asked simply glancing around for a dessert menu.

Damon smiled. "Not here, I have something good planned, if you care to join me." Before she knew it, Damon had motioned the waitress for the bill, and had already paid for it in a blink of an eye.

It was a cool night. Elena tightly wrapped her arms in front of her, as they climbed into his SUV. He started the vehicle, and headed North down the streets of New York City.

"Thank you for dinner."

He nodded. "You have not seen anything yet." Damon's hands gripped the steering wheel, making his way through the evening rush.

Damon parked on a side street, and turned the ignition off. This part of New York she had never experienced. Breathtaking and free. It was wide open spaces, and best of all there was silence. He opened her door, and rubbed his hands together from the chilly breeze. She stepped out, feeling frozen solid by the weather.

There was a lake, and a small sidewalk, made for two people to walk side by side. They made their way to the sidewalk, and Damon walked closely next to her, but soon removed his jacket, and placed it over her shoulders.

"Oh," she gasped in a whisper with shock. "Thank you."

They walk together, as Damon led. Finally, Damon stopped at a corner building, called "Delight." Elena scrutinized the place. "W-What is this?"

"Ice cream bar, best in the city."

Her confusion settled in. Why her? Her self-esteem had lowered, and Damon had just found the way to lift it back up to where it was. "Wow."

"Please tell me you aren't lactose intolerant," he chuckled in all seriousness.

She smiled and shook her head with a bright smile on her face. "No, of course not, I love ice cream."

"Oh good," Damon smiled. He placed his fingers gently under her chin. "There's that smile. I thought it might return soon."

Elena softly laughed, then looked down at the ground. "It's around."

"It deserves to be seen," Damon replied. "Now, come on. I want some ice cream."

She quickly walked to meet by his side, catching up with him. "Come on, slow poke!" Elena yelled playfully crossing the street, walking a few steps ahead of him."

"Oh, slow poke is it? I think that's you!" he chuckled, starting to make his pace a little faster.

She walked inside gazing around at the place, as he finally caught up to her and stood behind her. Elena playfully danced around hearing an 80's song that made her feel nostalgia. "Aren't you a little young to know about the 80s, my dear?" he chuckled in a questionable tone.

"No! Honey, I was born in 87. It still leaked onto my 90s," she answered, as he looped their fingers together, and swung their arms back and forth as she read the menu. "I like this place."

Damon smiled. "Me too, it was always my place to think. It has that vibe, of peacefulness." The jukebox flipped over to "Everyone Wants to Rule the World," by Tears for Fears. Damon ordered for them both, after moments of Elena being indecisive.

He handed her the large, waffle cone of chocolate chip cookie dough. "Do you crave ice cream when it's cold too?" she asked randomly, continuing to walk around the large ice cream shop.

"Of course, I thought I was the only one," he replied.

She shook her head. "That makes two of us."

They walked out and stood around as Elena leaned against the gate, leading to the small outdoor eating area. The music changed to "Collide" by Howie Day, blaring out of the outdoor speakers. "I really like this. Everything."

Damon nodded in agreement, taking a bite from the side of his ice cream cone. "I do too. It's a change from everything else going on in our lives."

"Right, the most definitely feeling of being accepted and okay," she continued on his statement.

"Absolutely, something I've missed, but learned to live without."

Elena looked over at him, still leaning up against the gate as he sat against it too. "You? I'm shocked."

He chuckled and rolled his eyes. "There are a lot of things I missed out on. Life has always been in the fast lane. I never slowed down to stop at a red light."

"Didn't we all though?"

"Of course we did. All of us on this Earth have been left out of some things. But, everything happens for a reason. You know? And if I don't live with that philosophy, I don't know where I would be today."

He cleared his throat and shrugged, finishing off the end of his cone. "Want to dance? It sounds cheesy, but I actually like this song."

Elena titled her head slightly and smiled. "Okay." They moved to the side, next to the park under a large tree. The lake was glistening with beauty, as he placed his hand in hers, and began swaying them to the beat of the music.

I want a little, something more. Don't want the middle or the one before,
I don't desire a complicated past, I want a love that will last.
Say that you love me, say I'm yours. Don't kiss and hug me and then try to run.
I don't do drama, my tears don't fall fast. I want a love that will last.

He spins her around, and lets her fall back into his arms near his chest. "Elena."

She popped her head out of her daydreams, and came back to reality. "Yes, Damon?"

"I don't say these kinds of things. I can't even recall the last time I did," he whispered in her ear.

"What is it, Damon?"

"You were a career in my life, knowing I had saved another company from its doom, by bringing my own. Scaring the employer into getting back to where it began, and making them decide to work their asses off," Damon said with grimace.

Elena was quiet, she just listened. It's all she could possibly think of doing.

"I felt things I don't feel. I don't, it's new to me. No one ever wanted it from me. But I couldn't stop it. I fell in love with you, Elena. Every flaw, every quick glance you gave me, every glare, the day you threw your high heel at me, because you hated me so much. Your laugh, the way your smile can light up the world, and still hide behind it. I love you, Elena; in everything you do, and everything you say. I feel the need to always protect you. Always."

In her mind, Elena was tripping over her words trying to change his mind, to talk him out of what he had just spoken to her. But honestly, the only thing she could do was tell him the same. "I love you too, Damon Salvatore."

Damon grabbed her hand, and intertwined their fingers together.

"Take me to your place."

He blinked; his eyes were full of hope and shock. "Of course."

Damon opened the door to his house, slammed the door behind him, and kissed her passionately, removing her scarf, and his jacket.

She undid his tie, and unbuttoned his white shirt.

Before they knew it, their clothes were cluttering all over his living room floor, to the stairs. He carried her bridal style, up his stairs and into his bedroom, while kissing down her neck.

"Damon," she moaned, as he set her down gently on his bed, and trapped her body with his arms, hovering over her. He pressed their bodies together, so there was no space between them.

"I can't stand it any longer. I need to be inside. I need you to feel me." He roared with the emotions ripping through him.

He entered her gently, and thrusts in a rhythmic way. Elena dug her nails into his back, and groaned with pleasure. She bit her lip hard, as Damon continued. "Damon, Damon. I need you." Her fingers tangle in his black locks, and grip the back of his neck. She places her fingertips gently on his face and kisses him as much as she feels she could, never wanting to stop.

"Oh," she whimpered. Her breath quickened, making it impossible to breathe correctly. Elena's chest was next to his, as he could feel her rapid heartbeat. Elena didn't know she could feel such love and passion all in the same feelings. It was the tension between the two that had been brewing.

"I love you," he breathed out. Their chemistry was brewing inside, making it impossible to stop the feelings that were colliding inside. His rhythm made Elena scream his name. He positioned himself, wrapping her thigh around his side, and then locking her ankles around him.

"I've never felt something so passionate," he growled.

She was complete putty in his hands.

Damon pulled out of her slowly, and took a deep breath.

"I love you," he cried out in a whisper. It was like there was no stopping him while saying those three little words over and over again. Elena glanced over, noticing how entangled they were in each other. She was cradled against his body.

Elena flipped over, and hovered over his strong, muscular body. "I love you too," she leaned down and kissed the bridge of his nose, falling back into him. She placed her hand on top of his chest, and breathed out, curling next to him on her side. He wrapped his right arm around her, in a protective manner. "Goodnight. Sweet dreams, Lena."

Review are lovely xo