Hello my lovelies, thank you so much for the reviews and follows. This story would've been lost in drafts if not for your constant love and motivation. You guys truly are something. I'm an amateur writer to be honest and it really means a lot to me that a fair lot of you read and appreciate my writing. Truly grateful :*

This chapter is for all of you who urged me to proceed with the story. Special thanks to jairem, widowelena, scarlett2112, 1 DELENA fan, Ember to Ash and Salvatore-soul for their reviews. You guys really made me smile. Sorry if I left out anyone because you're all a part of this story. Thank you to all the guest reviewers to whom I can't reply. That really sucks!

As I promised, this chapter is quite intense especially after the previous one. It's dark and twisted in more ways than one. So please heed warnings. Hope you guys like it :)

WARNINGS: Smut, abuse, rape, child abuse, mention of self harm.

Elena tried to wake up. Dreams like this did too much damage. She could already feel hot tears welling in her eyes, remembering her own screams and pain. Crying over something that had happened three years ago? She wouldn't do it. She refused, but she did anyway.

A rough palm stroked her cheek. Another touched her breast and trailed down her stomach to slip under her favorite Teddy Bear PJs. A heavy mouth covered hers. Sultry, impatient breaths forced its way into her lungs. It tasted of beer. She tried to fight him off but his touch only got rougher. She scrambled up from the bed, screaming into the void. He tackled her back onto the hardness of her sack pillow.

"Shhh!"

Unable to breathe beneath his weight and with his wrist crushing her nose and mouth, she stared at the dark, man- shaped silhouette. He wasn't supposed to be in her room. Not tonight. Not when Aaron was at a sleepover and she was all alone.

"Seems someone told child services that they think I abuse my wards. Got hauled out of work for questionin' first thing."

"I didn't," Elena sobbed.

"When I convinced them that it was a hoax , they let me go, but I got fired from work." His fingertips dug into her panties, making her whimper. "Now I know Aaron ain't comin' home 'til late. What do you say me and you pass the time together?"

"I'm sorry," Elena panted. "It won't happen again."

"You're right," He peeled her clothes off. "It won't."

"I remember everything," she sobbed. "I've been remembering. Let me go or I'll-"

"Or what?" He hovered above her. "You'll tell on me?"

"I just might."

He yanked her hair as she wriggled under him. His eyes flashed with uncontained emotions as he reached for his belt.

No. No no no no. Elena knew what was coming next.

"No way am I gonna let you sass me and no way are you gonna ruin my reputation, you whore!" He slapped her across her face, leaving her head spinning. "Maybe I should teach you a lesson. That'd be the honorable thing to do."

When he shed his clothes, he grabbed her knees. She fought with everything she had and screamed for Aaron. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed for him to walk through the door, but she knew he didn't then and wouldn't now.

The door slammed open. Her molester rocketed to his feet and spun around, fists clenched to knock out whoever had the nerve to interrupt. The tall figure at the door was faster. His solid left hook sent her molester staggering into the hallway. Elena watched horrified. She had no way of knowing who it was as the darkness engulfed her.

"Get up, Elena," an all too familiar voice urged. "Come back to me."

Elena woke with a jolt, pulling herself away from the arms around her. She frantically scrambled across the bed as her back hit the head board.

"I'm not going to hurt you." Soft eyes stared back at her. "You're safe."

"Ric," Elena breathed.

Ric sighed. "Yes. It's alright. It was just a dream."

Elena swallowed back her tears. It was just a dream. She crawled up to Ric and buried herself in his warm embrace. Her eyes met Damon's anxious ones in the doorway. He stood ineptly with one foot inside her room and the other one out, mulling over whether he should approach them or not.

Ric held her tight as her shaking subsided. He combed his fingers through her curls which were tangled from all the tossing around. He could still hear the terrified shrieks that had woken him from his sleep. The last thing he wanted was to make Elena relive her nightmares and he knew well enough that she'd rather keep it hidden, but for some unfathomable reason, he had to know.

"My head's pounding," Elena pulled away.

"Right. I'll get you something," Ric shot Damon an apprehensive look as he left.

"Sounded like a sack of kittens were being slaughtered with a chainsaw," Damon went to sit beside her. "You know, Stefan's crackpot friends make a lot less noise than that. May be I should crash at my house tomorrow."

"You mean you're trading Ric's old couch and greasy lasagna for pot smoking guys in jumpsuits and your beloved brother?"

"Touché," Damon smiled.

Elena got lost in the blue of his eyes as she tried to recollect the part of her nightmare that actually wasn't a nightmare. As recurring as it was, this had never happened before. It was always the same abuse. The same debasement. For as far back as she could dredge up, Elena could swear that no one had shown up to save her. What had changed?

"I'd give a lot to read your mind right this moment," Damon squeezed her hand.

"What? And risk losing my deep and mysterious persona? That's pretty much the only thing that's keeping you around." Elena joked, but there was an undercurrent to her tone that Damon sensed.

"That's not the only thing," Damon hunched over, burying his head in his palms, in shame, frustration or defeat- Elena couldn't quite tell.

Yes, Damon was attracted to her, but why? She was damaged goods. She was a child. She was insane. Elena had no clue as to what about her was even mildly inviting to someone like Damon Salvatore and apparently she wasn't the only one. By the look of things, Damon was ashamed of it too. Swell.

Damon cocked his head and looked at her, a sly smile slowly twisting his lips. "Deflection. You're good."

Alaric showed up with painkillers and an ice pack. "Damon," he said. "Could I have a word with you?"

"Sure."

"This has to end," Alaric spoke as soon as they were out of earshot.

Damon folded his arms to mask the sudden tautness his words elicited. Ric had a way of picking up on his tells, but this was too soon. Since he had met Elena in the grill, he hadn't been able to look at life the way he used to. It had been weeks since he had had a woman over or even considered the option. Anyone with half a brain could've sensed the change in him, but he had been extra cautious around Ric.

"I can't live like this. I feel powerless and I'm done feeling powerless."

"What?" Damon frowned. "What do you mean?"

"There is something wrong with her and it's not just about being a teenager," Alaric shook his head. "I thought she could start a new life untouched by her past but clearly that's not the case. No, she's- she- it's deeper than that and I have no control over it. I can't do anything to change it."

"Because it's not your fault," Damon said wearily. He knew where this was coming from. "What Meredith did wasn't your fault either. You need to stop beating yourself up about it. You can't base your life on one misfortune."

"It wasn't misfortune that I failed my child," Alaric's voice was groggy. "And I'm not about to fail Elena too."

"You didn't fail-"

"Now you can help me figure this out or you can stand there sounding more gay by the second," Ric snapped.

"Oh, I get all tingly when you go all assertive on me," Damon smirked.

"I intend to find out everything about her," Alaric stated fervently.

"Sorry if I don't seem irritatingly optimistic like you, but how do you suppose we do that?"

"When I was going to take Elena into custody, I was asked if I wanted to go through with it or if I would rather have her checked back in foster care. See, Grayson and Miranda had listed me as her prime guardian and child services generally never ask these questions unless under special circumstances."

"Special circumstances?" Damon scoffed. "Anything cool like The Orphan?"

Alaric rolled his eyes. "I figured they were asking because I wasn't immediate family but there's more to it than what meets the eye."

"So?"

"So, I need to know what I'm dealing with here. The only way to know is to go straight to the source."

Damon regarded him in disbelief. "Woah, you want to go through her records? Have you completely lost it?"

"You have a better idea?"

"Oh, how about, I don't know, sitting her down and having a civilised conversation? Hey Elena, I can't help but notice that you're kinda neurotic so is there something I need to know like do you have Hypopituitarism or a psychotic alter ego that might suffocate me in my sleep?" Damon said. "I can think of less drastic measures than going behind her back because trust me, that's not going to earn you any points with her."

"I don't want any points with her," Ric sighed. "I'm done trying to play the cool guardian. What I want is to find out what really is going on and help her."

"Since when am I the sensible one between the two of us?" Damon said exasperated.

Alaric shrugged. "Just go with me on this, alright?"

"I still think this is nuts," Damon pointed out. "But okay, whatever this is, we'll figure it out."

Alaric was chewing on a piece of carrot and speeding through the empty roads. They raced across the streets, evading the late sunlight that pursued them. The supple air brushed the skin in Elena's neck, giving little wings to the strands of hair that had escaped her lose ponytail.

"That'll make you deaf," Damon turned around to face Elena who was sprawled in the back seat with earphones plugged in. She was making no effort to hide the fact that she'd rather be out partying with her friends than be stuck in a car and hence the sulking.

"What?" She yelled.

"Exactly my point," Damon laughed. "I can hear the noise from across the car."

"Noise?" Elena said annoyed. "Noise is what Ric plays around the house."

"Harsh," Damon smirked.

Alaric waved a carrot at her. "Want one?"

"No."

"Courtesy, please."

"Please would you stop with the carrots already cause you stink like a hamster. Thank you."

"You were the one badgering me about lung cancer."

"That was ages ago."

"It was last month."

"You want to kill yourself, that's your business."

"He could still choke to death on a carrot," Damon interceded. "Just saying."

"And that noise is classic rock," Alaric said.

"I wish you guys would give the whole 'Holier than thou because we were around when all the Beatles were still alive crap' a rest. It's getting old."

"Hey John Lennon died before I-" Damon started only to be cut off by Elena's glare. "Um, never mind."

"I guess what she's saying is that we're old," Alaric chuckled.

"The older the better," Damon said.

Alaric frowned. "He's disgusting. Don't listen to him."

"What?" Damon feigned offense. "She likes older guys. She didn't tell you about the guy two houses down? Tall, dark and gorgeous," He said dreamily.

"You know this guy he's talking about?" Alaric asked.

"Yeah," Elena grinned at Damon. "He's always in the front yard, fiddling with his motorbike. All I have to do is walk by and-"

"Ask him to check out your undercarriage," Damon winked.

Elena snorted.

"Damon!" Alaric scolded. "I'm so regretting this."

"Serves you right for making me tag along with you to god knows where on a Saturday. I had plans, you know?" Elena complained.

"What she said," Damon nodded.

"Well, after the horror movie screening last night, I didn't exactly want to leave you all alone."

Elena stiffened at the mention of last night.

"Besides, the fresh air is good for you."

"As long as we're not paying another visit to your parents'. Your mother terrifies me."

"She's fine, come on. She's a bit frosty, but she'll thaw," Alaric assured her.

"You're saying that she's basically Elsa, only older?"

"More like the Ice Age if you ask me," Damon mocked.

"All the same be nice to her," Alaric nodded. "You need a woman in your life."

"I need your mother?" Elena gasped. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen."

They continued squabbling until they reached Richmond. Alaric dropped Damon and Elena off in a bistro and made his way to the address he had scribbled in his notepad that morning. He parked his car and approached the house tentatively. Did he really want to learn the secrets that might possibly change everything he knew? He stopped in front of the door. He could still back out and pretend like none of this mattered, but that would be counterproductive and he'd already come this far.

He took a deep breath and pushed the doorbell with a forceful resolve. A few seconds that seemed like forever passed and an attractive brunette opened the door. She seemed like she was in her mid twenties. Damon would totally tap that.

"Mr Saltzman?" The woman barely smiled. "You managed to find the house."

Alaric cleared his throat. "I asked a few locals."

"I'm Rose Talbot. Come on in."

"Oh, this is orgasmic," Elena moaned with pleasure.

Damon watched her cut the cheese with her knife and put the fork between her lips, slowly enjoying it as it melted in her mouth.

"What is this?" She licked her lips innocently, too consumed to notice how it was affecting Damon.

"Comté," He said proudly. "It's a French cheese. Very rare around here."

"Mm," Elena hummed as she took another slice. "So, why are we here?"

"Just to hear you moan," Damon smirked.

"Don't stall, Damon," Elena put the fork down and looked at him pointedly. "Just so you know, I'm immune to your charms."

"Believe what you want, princess," Damon shrugged. "I know you want me."

"That Child Services representative who handled my case back in New York lives here in Richmond. Alaric thinks she can help shed some light about my past. Thinks I'm going to go off the deep end and you, well you think I'm already crazy."

Damon was certainly caught off guard but he didn't let it on. "Ric can't lie to save his life," He grumbled.

Elena shoved off from her chair and stormed out. A couple at the next table shot Damon an accusing look.

"Rotten cheese," He muttered as he dropped a hundred dollar bill on the table and turned to catch up to her, but she was long gone.

Alaric took a sip of the scalding hot tea to distract himself from the scattered papers and files on every table-like surface in the room. It almost looked like a five year old had decided to toss them in the air and play paper rain. The tea tasted like tangerine. Sweet with a sour after taste.

"I don't have her file here, Mr Saltzman," Rose caught Alaric's wandering gaze. "But even if I did, I'm not authorized to lend it to you," she spoke in a calm- too calm like she was trying too hard- and unfaltering tone, making him wonder if she had been a yoga instructor before she started working for Child Services. That would only put her higher up in Damon's bucket list.

"I'm aware of that, Miss Talbot. I was just wondering if there was some way you can bend the rules."

"I'm sorry, Mr Saltzman." Rose ran her fingers through her hair. A sign of guilt or unease, perhaps? Seemed unlikely for someone that put together just a moment ago.

"What if I said it was a special circumstance?" Alaric asked hopefully.

She looked as if she was considering the idea before she asked, "How do you mean?"

Alaric didn't want to talk about the self harming or the nightmares, but he had to give it his best shot if he was to convince the woman to open up to him. "It's just-"

"Mr Saltzman, is she a threat to herself or to others?"

Alaric gaped at the woman ridiculously. That was such a bizarre presumption to make. When he saw that she wasn't going to retract, he sighed. "Elena- she," Alaric shook his head. "She has issues. She needs help and I want to help her, but-"

"Parenting can be hard," Rose nodded patronizingly. "To be honest, I never thought it was a good idea for the girl to be under the care of a friend of her father to begin with."

Alaric chuckled bitterly at that. "Are you a parent, Miss Talbot?"

Rose flashed a frigid smile. "I've been in this job long enough to have met many foster parents and adoptive parents alike. They put on a tough front, but they're full of it. It's just an act. They'll never love these kids like their own and they know it. The kids know it."

"What are you inferring?" Alaric snapped.

"Friendly advice. Loosen the leash, Mr Saltzman. You don't want to get too attached."

"Thanks for the coffee," Alaric got to his feet, making her jump.

Rose let out a shaky laugh as she stood up. "Glad to be of help."

Alaric gave her a searching look before he proceeded to the porch, but not before his eye caught the toppled potted plant by the side of the door. The pot had a clean crack and the soil had spilled over like someone had trampled it down.

"Oh, sorry about the mess," Rose said sheepishly. "It's my cat."

"You're lying." The shoe print was big enough to prove it.

"Excuse me?"

"She needs help," Alaric implored. "Help her. Please."

Rose stared at him in confusion. "I think I already made myself clear, Mr Saltzman. The rules are that-"

"Screw the rules!" Alaric roared. "It's your job to help her! What are you so afraid of?"

Rose stepped outside, shutting the door behind her. "Elena had... problems before Mr and Mrs Gilbert took her in. I discussed it with them. Good lord, I advised them not to go through with the adoption, but they were very persistent rather like yourself. They were nice people, Mr Saltzman. I can see that about you too, but this is beyond either of your help."

"She's just a troubled child," Alaric's voice was brittle.

"I appreciate you showing an interest in her, I really do. Kids like her need all the help they can get. I understand that she's got some, uh, special issues and she could be a handful."

"This has nothing to do with any of that," Alaric said. "We're talking about something that has pushed her to that point. Jesus, are you blind or just stupid? I just want to help her."

"So did your friends. Look where it got them."

Alaric didn't move. He stood paralyzed, letting the words slowly sink in. He was still processing the implication behind them when Rose's phone rang loud and clear, muddling his thoughts.

"Goodness, I have to take this," Rose looked a little stunned like she'd been blindsided and wasn't quite sure by what. "Have a nice day, Mr Saltzman," Her smile wobbled as she disappeared inside the house, leaving Alaric thinking, not bloody likely.

Whew! So Elena's nightmares reveal a part of her past that she'd rather keep under covers. No doubt she's so broken. I really wanted Damon to be more expressively curious about Elena, but I felt that would be a little uncharacteristic of him. He's curious nonetheless and I'm hoping to write an entire chapter of cathartic Delena bonding next!

About Alaric, well he's still as protective and concerned as ever, but do you think he's overstepping his mark by going to child services about Elena? Whatever he wanted to find out, it has kind of had an opposite impact. The thing Rose said about Grayson and Miranda was creepy, wasn't it? And Elena clearly isn't happy about her boys sneaking around trying to learn about her past, but why? What has she got to hide?

Let me know what you guys thought of this chapter. I'm looking forward to your reviews and suggestions! PM me with anything for that matter. Cheers :*