Hello everyone I'm sorry for the lateness, but can I say that I was busy and be excused, because that really is the truth. Anyway enjoy the chapter it's longer.

It had been a week since Damon had threatened Elena about leaving his job. That dreadful day had a huge impact on her fragile heart; the thought of him leaving her scared her immensely, because she couldn't imagine a life without him. The unexpected conversation which she had with Damon the same day, had broken a part of her slightly. All she wanted to do now was to forget what he actually thought about her.

'Annoying, Infuriating and frustrating' he had called her. His hurtful words kept on ringing through her mind. Ever since then she had cried herself to bed, in hope that the next day when she wakes up things would be better. But it never worked it still hurt like before.

Sighing Elena sat on her bedroom's window seat and stared outside. The view in front of her was breathtaking; her room's window which was the part of the main front building showed the center garden of the Gilbert mansion and the gigantic swimming pool and beyond that, there was a separate building lining the other end of the mansion. That building contained all the quarters, gym and private theater.

Elena's eyes were fixed on a certain room's window; Damon's window. She sighed for the hundredth time that day and wished that he would show her one little glimpse of himself. But it didn't happen, so she gave up. She turned towards her desk and started writing in her diary. Unsurprisingly the center piece of her entry was Damon.

The clock ticked on and time flew away unnoticed by her as she was so engrossed in her diary. It wasn't until someone interrupted her writing by banging on her door roughly and repeatedly that she put her diary down.

Her father was out of town so she couldn't understand who else besides him would knock so rudely. She slowly started heading towards the door when she heard her most favorite voice say frantically, "Miss Gilbert open the door and get out immediately!"

His words and tone caused her to reach the door instantly. She opened the door and was about to ask him what was wrong, when instead he pulled her roughly out of the room and dragged her away at an unmatched pace. Startled Elena could only do one thing at that time; she tried to keep up with him.

As they reached the other end of the corridor, Damon shoved her inside a small storeroom and then went inside as well closing the door in the process. As Elena looked around the small constricted place she tried to catch her breath. Trying to make sense of the situation, Elena looked at Damon who was checking his gun for bullets and closing it.

"Damon, what's happening?" Elena asked in a shaky voice. Without glancing up, Damon answered, "Elijah's men are here to take you." realization started to dawn upon Elena and she understood the seriousness of the situation.

Elijah was the local mob leader, whose crime history was undoubtedly the worst ever heard. His name alone was enough to frighten his opposition and victims. There were many stories about him but they all lead to the same thing, that he was a ruthless man, the kind of man whose greed would lead him to do anything. He always got what he wanted by any means possible. Right now he wanted Grayson Gilbert's money through his precious daughter; it was a known fact because he had tried to kidnap Elena once before, but it turned out to be a failure all because of a certain bodyguard that proved his worth that day.

But that didn't excuse Elena from being scared; even the thought of such a horrible criminal taking her away from her life, frightened her.

Looking up and staring at Elena's horrified face Damon said, "Don't worry Miss Gilbert, nobody's taking you away from this house," he took a pause and continued "at least not when I'm around." The conviction that spilled from his words caused Elena to step out of her fear for a moment. She stared in his eyes and frantically searched for signs of genuine concern. But after a moment she realized it was only his duty and determination speaking, not him.

Sighing she looked down and stared at her feet, "So here's what I want you to do Miss Gilbert," his voice brought her eyes back to him "I'm going downstairs to join the rest of the security to take Elijah's men down, meanwhile I don't want you moving from here! Is that clear; no matter what happens don't get out of this place, unless I tell you to do so okay-"

"What? Damon, you can't just go out there" all of a sudden Elena's fears were forgotten the instant Damon mentioned he'll be out there, in danger. Now her instincts took over and she did whatever she felt was right. She grabbed his arm as tightly as she could and looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Miss Gilbert, let go of my arm." Damon said calmly.

"I can't! You'll go out there and it's dangerous-"

"Miss Gilbert it's my job, that's what I signed for, I didn't signup for hiding." This time his temper rose slightly as he spoke through clenched teeth.

Elena let go of him immediately as she realized that she was starting to annoy him now. She had told herself repeatedly that she would try her hardest to make him change his opinions about her. No matter what level she had to go to, she would do it.

He turned around swiftly and grabbed the knob to head out but stopped and turned around to glare at Elena, "Miss Gilbert-," he began but stopped when he saw tears silently leaving her eyes. He sighed heavily and his face softened slightly as he asked her, "Now what's wrong?"

"Damon you do realize that this could be the last time I see you." Elena said quietly

Damon stared at her for a minute before saying, "It's a possibility, but don't worry nothing's happening to you, you'll be okay-"

"Don't you get it Damon, I'm not talking about me. I'm talking about you, about us?"

Damon opened his mouth to say something but finding nothing appropriate made him close it again. Elena moved closer to him causing him to bend his face down and reached her hand out and placed it hesitantly on his cheek. She caressed it softly and stared in his eyes lovingly. "I don't want you to go Damon, but I can't stop you because I know you won't stop no matter what happens, but if this really is the last time," her voice hitched but she proceeded "We…we see each other, then I want it to be better than you leaving angry." Elena had moved closer with every word she spoke, causing their faces to be so close that they could feel each others breath on them. "I'm not gonna ask you much Damon, I just, I just want a promise, a promise that you'll come back to me." Elena said pleadingly.

Damon simply stared at her and a slight frown covered his forehead as he responded, "You know I might not come back, and you also know I don't make promises that I'm not sure I can keep."

"I know, that's why I'm asking you a favor, to just say it; It'll give me hope."

"Hope?"

"Hope." She nodded, "Hope, that I might see you again."

Damon closed his eyes and once he opened them, he stared back into the eyes of an innocent girl; he could also see the depth and purity of her soul. He could see the affection that she held for him and it was the first time he realized; what she had for him was not a young girl's infatuation but a woman's true love.

The impact of the realization caused him to step backward as if on reflex, he didn't know how to react to this but he knew that time was ticking away and he had to be somewhere else. And the fact that Miss Gilbert had an unrecognizable effect on him this time, wasn't helping either. But one more look at those brown eyes and he realized that at least he owed her this much. "I promise Miss Gilbert, I'll try to come back." Elena looked at him shocked, not believing that he actually gave her what she wanted. She smiled happily at him and moved closer. She stood on her tiptoes and…..

TO BE CONTINUED

Oh and I'm not updating the next chapter unless I get some reviews so don't forget to review!