Hey, guys! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Thank you so, so much for your follows and reviews. They're truly appreciated :)

I thought I'd posted this chapter last week, but apparently I'd posted the previous one twice. I didn't know until Jairem informed me. Gosh, I'm so sorry.

So here's chapter 13 and it's pretty intense to be honest. Please heed warnings.

WARNINGS: Smut, swearing, underage relationships., etc.

At the Glasgow airport, both Damon and Alaric knew something was wrong as soon as their eyes hit Elena's. Considering Ric's parents' less than congenial reception toward her the previous time around, they understood why she'd be uneasy, but Ric chose to ignore it for now. Facing everyone at the wedding was going to be difficult enough for him without her cheek.

The fact that Damon was trying to cheer her up every opportunity he got restored her somewhat, but seeing Meredith arrive set her back again. The brunette was wearing a pale floral sun dress which had lost its purpose somewhere along the way.

"Be nice," Damon murmured to Elena before he turned to acknowledge Alaric's ex.

"Meredith," Alaric nodded.

"Nice to see you, Ric," Meredith folded her hands to her chest and regarded Elena with a calculative look. "This must be Elena."

Spurred on by her distaste for her, Elena managed a spirited performance. "Meredith, wonderful to meet you. What a simply gorgeous dress!"

As they went into the resort, Alaric threw Elena a filthy look. He was on to her.

They had rented a full resort for the wedding, it was crazy. The place was gorgeous, built to sort of look like a cabin, but no pioneer cabin could have held hundreds of people or had such luxury accommodations. Three stories of gleaming, golden coloured wood sat among lofty pine trees. The windows were tall, tinted and gracefully arched. Crystal lanterns hung around all the entrances, giving the entire building a glittering, almost bejewelled look.

They were surrounded by mountains on one side and a river on another. Elena bet the view would be overwhelming at night. And this was just the outside.

Inside, the main lobby had a cathedral ceiling and an enormous chandelier hanging over it. The floor was intricately tiled marble and the rest of the lodge had a red, green and gold colour scheme. Elena wondered if the colours' resemblance to Christmas was a coincidence.

The room Essie escorted them into was a snug and cosy dining hall and kitchen. Essie turned her full attention to Elena when they sat down for breakfast. She seemed warmer than usual and they soon got gossiping like two school girls, overlooking Damon and Alaric altogether, that was until the kettle called her and Meredith sat down.

She babbled without pausing for breath. Apparently she loved Scotland- it was really something, the scenery was wild and the weather was something else.

"Did you really make this, Damon?" Meredith was oohing the apricot jam. "Man, you're gifted."

You don't know the half of it, Elena thought wistfully.

"So what do you do, Elena?" Meredith asked.

"I'm studying," Elena sipped her tea. "High school."

"Oh, sure. Like anyone actually studies in high school. Right, Elena? I partied my way through high school."

Elena turned to Damon, whistling silently.

"How come nobody's wearing kilts around here?" Damon asked, his eyes full of mischief.

"It's mostly ceremonial dress now," Alaric explained.

"So the men will be wearing kilts at the wedding?" Elena grinned at Damon.

Damon laughed. "That'll be the day."

"You can't get us into kilts for all the money in the world," Alaric chuckled.

Meredith beamed. "Gee, that's disappointing, isn't it, Elena? I'll bet you'd love to see them in kilts, huh?"

A piece of bread jammed in Elena's throat and Damon's eyes shot on to her. He was a god at deciphering innuendos.

"What do you mean?" Alaric asked, his knife raised mid- air.

"Yes," Elena dared her to say something. "What do you mean, Meredith?"

"Well, I know what it's like between the three of you," She spoke in a condescending tone. "It must be hard for a young girl like you to spend your formative years with a single man and-"

"That's enough, Meredith," Essie scurried out of the kitchen with a pot of coffee and fresh sandwiches. "Why don't you try the sandwiches?"

"No thanks, I don't want to be depressed and fat," She tossed her napkin onto her plate and stomped out.

This was so unexpected that Elena had stopped breathing. A blow in less than an hour. This week had never looked like an easy proposition, but it was turning into a shit- storm already.

"She's not taking the break up too well," Essie said to Elena apologetically. "Sandwiches, dear?"

Unable to look at Alaric or Damon, Elena didn't know which way to turn. "I uh-" She stammered. "I'm just going to look around. Sorry- Excuse me." She got up and left the room.

"Excuse me," Damon muttered and left behind her.

"That's just fantastic," Alaric hissed. "Why is she even here?"

"She's a friend of the family and Nik wanted her at his wedding. As for Meredith's behaviour, I would hold you entirely responsible!"

"Me? How do you manage that?"

"She was supposed to be married to you. She might feel like Elena got the better end of the deal, wouldn't she?"

"Oh, right. And where's Kol in all this? The blessed innocent incarnate, is he?"

"You know very well Kol is completely guileless with women."

Alaric laughed. "Your partiality is truly astounding, Mother."

"This is exactly why this whole arrangement was a mistake from the start. It's just not right for a girl her age to spend so much time with a single man."

Alaric banged his fists on the table and stood up. "Elena is a lovely child and I'm sure a very sensible one too and believe it or not Mother, I'm doing a great job with her. Now tomorrow is Christmas and we have a wedding coming. So if you want me here, you'll make her want to stay, or I walk. Are we clear?"

"Crystal."

Elena was speed- walking along the lane behind the resort when she heard footsteps behind her. Predictably, Alaric had come after her. Unpredictably, she would send him right back where he came from.

"Elena!"

"Fuck off."

"What have I done now?"

She turned to find Damon walking up to her. "Go away."

"Are you okay?" Damon's eyes crinkled in concern.

Elena strode on. "I need to be alone."

"Elena, slow down! Please talk to me." Damon sprinted after her.

"You're the last person I would talk to about this." She climbed over a fence and headed up the low hill behind the resort. Damon followed.

"Got a better offer?" He caught up to her and brought her around to face him. "Don't let Meredith get to you. You know what she said isn't true."

"Do I?" Elena shook her head. "It's half true. You know it is, Damon."

He stared at her blankly, his face frozen. She was referring to their secret affair. "It's not the same."

"It is. I know what you think of me. What everyone thinks of me," Her voice broke. "You told me yourself at Rebekah's party. You-"

"I didn't mean any of that," Damon interrupted gently. "Now that I know the real you, I wouldn't dare."

"You don't know the real me," She tried to swallow her tears. "You're doing it- just like you always do. Pretending like I'm perfect. Like I'm normal."

"I do that because may be if I pretend-"

"I'll be normal?" Elena ridiculed. "That's not how it works, Damon."

"But you're strong. You're so, so strong," He reached out for her.

"Stop it, Damon!" She yelled. "Just stop it. Look at me. I'm a mess!"

He straightened and ran a hand through his hair. "Then tell me how you want this because I'm not giving up on us. I won't."

Elena sat on a rock and looked up at him. He was shrouded in the afternoon sun, his beautiful eyes looking doleful than ever. She sighed. "I can't do this, Damon. Not yet."

"No, this isn't over yet. It can't be." Damon crouched in front of her, his hands resting on her lap securely.

"I need some time," Elena looked away.

"Fine. You have this week. Consider it a time out. Our problems are still going to be there when we get back and we'll deal with them then."

"But-"

"No, don't." Damon kissed her quiet. "C'mon, I'll give you a ride over."

Elena giggled as he turned around and pulled her up. No one had ever offered her a piggy- back ride before. It was something normal parents gave their kids, or even better, boyfriends gave their girlfriends. Something she never thought she would experience for herself. It was less fun and more frightening than she'd imagined.

"Damon!" She tightened her hold around his shoulders.

"Do you trust me?" He gave her a jerk, making her squeal.

"Do I have a choice?"

"I can get you home safe, princess," Damon breathed into her ear. "Just don't let go."

Alaric's room was the best yet with the carpet so plush and deep that Elena immediately shed her shoes at the door and walked in barefoot, loving the way her foot sank into the softness. There was a king sized bed covered in feather duvets and pillows.

Alaric and Damon had finally let her skip the dinner party they were attending downstairs, after she had complained of jet- lag and so she let herself drown in all the luxuries the room had to offer. The plasma- screen TV and the basket of chocolates were enough to convince her that she could spend the whole week just lounging in there and be perfectly content.

Alaric, being the gentleman that he was, couldn't find it in him to say no. So he did the decent thing and led Meredith to his room instead. Initially, he had offered to sober her up and send her on her way, but he had had one too many drinks himself and his actions reflected.

So they fell on his bed. He nose- dived into her cleavage, she reached for his zipper. He sighed, she moaned. Then she raised her arm above her head- and screamed.

"Holy shit!" She threw Alaric off and leaped from the bed. "What the hell's that?"

"What?"

"There's something in the bed!"

He switched on the light. At the far side of his bed, Elena turned stiffly, squinted and said, "Oh. Sorry."

Alaric closed his eyes.

"What the hell's she doing here?" Meredith yelled, adjusting her clothes.

"It's just Elena." With a flick of his head, Alaric told Elena to leave.

She lazily slid out from under the duvet.

Meredith stood like she had leapt from a bed full of spiders. "Man, what is this? Some kind of a threesome?"

Elena tiptoed her way out.

"God, no. Elena was probably watching TV and-"

Elena poked her head back into the room. "I was. I fell asleep."

"Out!"

"Don't worry," Meredith scoffed. "I'm out of here, alright!"

"I meant her, not you!"

Meredith stormed down the corridor. He hurried after her.

"Meredith, she's just a kid!"

"That's no kid."

"I look after her."

I'm sure you do!"

Elena heard further arguments, followed by the sound of a door slamming. She stood in the corridor, trembling from such a rude awakening.

Alaric stormed back up to his room and flopped on his bed. "Fuck and double fuck!"

Elena hovered in the doorway. "I don't understand what you see in her."

"Go to bed, Elena. Your own bed."

Elena passed her room and headed outside through the back entrance. It was set behind a huge, open porch with a wooden railing. The porch was built into the side of the mountain and had a breathtaking view of the peaks and valleys around- if one felt like standing around long enough in the freezing temperatures to admire it, which most people didn't.

She walked up the steps to the porch. A thick scent, both spicy and sweet, hung in the air. Before she could identify it, a voice suddenly spoke to her from the shadows.

"Hey there."

Startled, she realized someone was standing on the porch. A guy leaned against the wall not far from the door. He brought a cigarette up to his mouth, took a long drag and then dropped it to the floor. He stamped the butt out and gave her a crooked smile. Warily, she crossed her arms as she took him in.

He was a little shorter than Damon but compensated with his build. A long coat probably made out of some god- expensive cashmere- wool blend fit his body exceptionally well and the leather dress shoes he wore indicated more money still. He had dark hair that looked like it had been purposely styled to appear a little unkempt and his eyes were either blue or green- she didn't have enough light to know for sure. His face was cute, she supposed and she pegged him to be a year older than her. He looked like he'd just come from a dinner party.

"Yeah?" Elena asked.

His eyes swept over her body. She was used to attention from guys. It just usually wasn't so obvious and she usually didn't feel so severely under dressed in her pyjamas and tank. Thank god for her parka.

He shrugged. "Just saying hi, that's all. It's hard to find people my age around here."

She waited for more, but all he did was stuff his hands into his coat's pocket. With a shrug of her own, she took a couple steps forward.

"You have a nice ass, you know?" He suddenly said.

She stopped walking and gave him a puzzled look, which only made his sly smile grow a little bigger.

"I... uhm, what?"

"You have a nice ass," He repeated.

She wanted to walk away, but there was something eerily familiar about this guy. She didn't find him attractive perse, but was just interested in talking to him.

"Don't look so hurt," He tilted his head to the side and looked at her. "It's a good thing. Dead sexy."

There was something about that head tilt. Something so very familiar.

"Well, thanks for that assessment," She hesitated. "But I have to go now. Merry Christmas."

He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered it to her. She eyed it carefully and then picked one out. "Bad habit," He said as he lighted it for her.

"One of many," She put it between her lips and inhaled deeply.

"You here for the wedding?"

"Yup."

"Who's side?"

"Groom's." She gave him the cigarette.

"Really? I haven't seen you around before."

"You could say I'm new to the family."

Surprise flickered in his eyes. "I knew you were trouble as soon as I saw you. You're Grey and Miranda's kid."

"Greyson and Miranda were my adoptive parents," Elena corrected, not wanting to be defined by them. "How did you know?"

"Ah, you were the talk of the party tonight. You seem to have made quite an impression on everyone."

Elena groaned. Fantastic. Just what she needed to hear at the end of an already fantastic day.

"Noah Salvatore." He extended a gloved hand to her that she distractedly took.

"Elena Gilbert," She muttered and then did a double take. "I'm sorry, did you say Salvatore? As in Damon Salvatore?"

He laughed. "Half brother. Handy, huh? Both of our reputations precede us."

No wonder he was so arrogant. It must be a family trait. Elena shook her head. "I only know of your family. I don't know anything about you."

"Want to?" He asked tauntingly.

"Sorry. I'm not into older guys."

"I'm seventeen. Not that much older."

"I have a boyfriend." It was a small lie. Damon certainly wasn't her boyfriend yet, but she hoped Noah would leave her alone if he thought she was taken.

"Funny you didn't mention that right away," Noah mused. "He isn't the reason you're standing here all by your lonesome on Christmas eve, is he?"

She felt herself blush, even in the cold.

"You're pretty hot," He dropped the second cigarette on the ground and put it out with his foot. "His loss."

"Arrogant and presumptuous, aren't you?" She said dryly.

The sound of footsteps behind them, made her turn. Rebekah came around the path and walked up the steps. When she saw them, she stopped suddenly.

"Hey, Rebekah." Both of them greeted her together.

"She glanced between the two of them.

"Another guy?" She asked. From her tone, you would have thought Elena had her own harem of men.

Noah gave her a questioning, amused look. She gritted her teeth and decided not to dignify that with a response. She opted for uncharacteristic politeness.

"I didn't know you were friends with Rebekah," He spoke like he knew her.

"We aren't friends," Elena said. So much for politeness.

"Elena only hangs out with guys," Rebekah's voice was harsh, but there was a look on her face that told Elena that deep down, she wished things were different. Rebekah wanted to be friends. Who knew?

"Well," Noah said cheerfully. "Since I fit the requirements, that would explain why we're such good friends."

"You and I aren't friends either," She told him.

"Always playing hard to get, huh?" He smirked.

"She's not that hard to get," Rebekah beamed. "Just ask half the guys at our school."

"Yeah," Elena retorted. "And you can ask the other half about Rebekah."

Noah made some cat noises.

"Ah, what is it with you Salvatores?" Rebekah grumbled. "First I see Damon macking on that Katherine bitch at dinner and now you're here with her."

Elena felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Damon had gone through with his stupid plan? He was taking the time out quite far. "Are you done?" She asked.

"Sure," Rebekah said crisply. "I'll let the grown- ups do the talking. I have better things to do anyway."

She went inside and the fancy glass door swung shut behind her. They stood there in silence for a while before he spoke.

"Half the school?"

"Shut up."

"You're one of those people who either has soul mates or mortal enemies, aren't you? No in between. How do you know Damon?"

"He's a friend." Was. "Why?"

He shrugged and took out the cigarettes again, lighting another. If she didn't know any better, she'd have said he was overdoing casualness. "Just asking. I mean, just wondering. There was this stuff with our family and uh... Damon left. Figured he might be having a hard time handling everything on his own. He and I aren't very close."

She studied him carefully, wondering what he was getting at. She didn't want to seem like she knew Damon too well. She decided avoidance was the best tactic and said, "I've got to go."

"Are you sure?" He sounded only mildly disappointed. Mostly he sounded as cocky as before. "I thought it was time for the grown- ups to talk. Lots of grown- up things I'd like to talk about."

"It's late. I'm tired and your cigarettes are giving me a headache," She said annoyed.

"I think they give me a unique scent," He drew in and let out the smoke.

"I think you smoke so you have something to do while thinking up your next witty line."

He choked on the smoke, caught between inhaling and laughing. "Elena Gilbert, I can't wait to see you again. If you're this charming while tired and depressed and this gorgeous while in those clothes, you must be devastating at your peek."

Elena jerked open the door. "Good night, Salvatore."

"I'll see you soon."

"Not likely. I told you, I'm not into older guys."

She walked into the lodge. As the door closed, she barely heard him call behind her. "Sure, you aren't."

Elena sprinted to Damon's room which was fortunately not on the same floor as hers and Ric's. She positioned herself in front of the door, sucked in all the air she could hold and started knocking the living daylights out of it.

After a few moments, he opened it, blue eyes widening when he saw her. "Elena?"

"Oh good, you remember me."

He immediately stepped aside, detecting the acid in her voice. She'd apparently caught him in bed, because the covers were peeled back on one side and only a small side- lamp shone in the darkness. Plus, he was in his pants which hung low in an inviting way. His chest was bare. The ends of his dark hair curled at the nape of his neck and appeared damp, like he'd taken a shower not so long ago. "What's wrong?"

Right that moment, Elena couldn't think of anything she'd want more than for him to touch her. She could barely stand it. "Kiss me."

Damon stared at her for a moment before his lips moved to hers, gentle at first, and then hard and hungry, consuming her all at once.

Elena manoeuvred him over to his bed, without breaking the kiss and gathered the hem of her tank, pulling it up.

"Elena!" Damon groaned, stepping back. "What are you doing?"

"What do you think?" She tossed her tank aside and stood bra- less "I want you to touch me. And kiss me. And do so many other things."

"Are you drunk?" He asked, his eyes travelling greedily to her breasts.

Elena slid out of her pants and moved toward him again, ignoring his restrained gasp. She'd never been completely naked around a guy before. It scared the hell out of her.

"Elena," Damon swallowed. "I don't know what's going on, but I need you to put your clothes back on."

When she took another step forward, he reached out and gripped her wrists.

"Why are you doing this?" He asked, his dark, hungry gaze holding her in the dark.

"I thought you wanted me." Elena frowned. "You don't want me?"

"Fuck," His expression was pained and his voice low. "Fuck."

"You don't," Elena whispered.

"God, you know that's not true! I'm seconds away from doing something we'll both regret."

"Then do it," Elena pleaded with her eyes.

Damon's arms slid down from her wrists, down to her hips and his lips met hers again. She melted into his kiss and the way it burned against her mouth.

"That- didn't take very long," Elena pointed out between heavy breaths.

"Stop talking." His breathing was as heavy as hers.

And then he took her to his bed. Lying on the velvety soft covers, they clung to each other and kept kissing and kissing and kissing. His hands and lips took possession of her body and every touch was like fire on her skin.

While the physical contact was great, Elena also just liked being close to him. she liked the way he looked at her, like she was the sexiest, most wonderful thing in the world. She liked the way he moaned her name repeatedly.

The burning in his eyes told her he wanted to do a lot more than they were, but he took things slow, may be because he knew she was nervous despite her desperation for him. His pants stayed on.

Elena shifted so she hovered over him, her hair hanging around him. He pulled her down, picking up with the kissing once more, harder this time. More urgent.

Oh god, Elena thought as she reached for Damon's pants. I'm finally going to do it. This is it. I can feel it.

He must have seen the decision in her eyes. "Damn it, Elena!" He rolled her off of him and moved on top of her again, pinning her hands above her head. "Last chance to snap out of this. If you don't..."

"I need you, Damon," She said breathlessly. "Please."

"You're driving me crazy," He said roughly, but he freed her hands and made no further attempts to stop her.

When his erection fell heavily into her palms, he groaned, the sound both pained and erotic. She squeezed him gently, her touch deliberately tender as she sized him with her hands. He was so hard, like stone, and hot. She slid both of her fists up his length, her breath catching when he quivered above her.

Damon gripped her thigh, his hands sliding upward until his thumbs found her wetness. "Christ, you're so wet for me."

"I can't help it."

He pushed his thumb inside her, biting his lower lip when she clenched helplessly around him. "I can't either."

"I want to go all the way, Damon," Elena pleaded with her eyes. "Please."

Damon gasped. "Elena, you have no idea what you're talking about."

"I do," Elena nodded. "Don't stop, no matter what."

Damon stretched across the bed and opened the bottom draw of the side- table to grab a condom.

Elena watched him in a blur as he ripped the foil packet open with his teeth and just like that, her breathing escalated. She squeezed her eyes shut.

"Why, Elena," He purred, rolling the condom on deftly. "You've seduced me into having sex with you, but close your eyes while we do it?"

She tensed when she felt the tip of his length brush her sex and before she could stop herself, she was having second thoughts.

"Ready?" Damon asked. "I'm going in."

Elena clutched the sheets and held her breath, waiting for him to thrust and when he didn't, she pushed him away. "I can't."

"I know." Damon got off her and pulled up his pants. "God."

"I'm sorry," Elena swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up. "I'm so, so sorry."

"I'm the one who's sorry," Damon flipped on the lights. "What I did was wrong. And stupid."

Wrong? Stupid? Elena bit her lip, and tears threatened to fill her eyes. She quickly wrapped the duvet around her and tried to regain her composure. "It's not your fault."

"It is!" He kicked the air. "It is my fucking fault! I took advantage of you!"

"No," She said evenly. "You didn't."

There must have been something telling in her voice because he met her eyes with a deep and serious intensity. "Elena, I'm eight years older than you. In ten years, that won't mean much, but for now, it's huge. I'm an adult. You're a child."

"You didn't seem to think I was a child when you were all over me," Elena said staring at nothing in particular.

Damon flinched at her words. "Just because your body- well, that doesn't make you an adult. I've been around the world. I've been with women. I've lived, Elena. And you- you're just starting out. your life should be about homework and shoes and dances."

"You know that's not me."

"No, of course not. But it's all part of your world. You're still growing up and figuring out who you are and what's important. You need to keep doing that. You need to be with... boys your own age."

"Don't you dare patronize me," Elena snapped. "Not after I literally begged you to fuck me. What more could I possibly do to keep you?"

"Keep me?" Damon growled. "Is this what this is about? You're afraid I won't hold out till you're ready? God, this whole things is messed up."

"You promised you wouldn't see others," Elena's voice cracked. "You promised."

"Elena..." he began and then stopped. He sat down beside her. What if he hadn't been able to stop? If he hadn't had the last moment lapse in desire?

"What happened with Katherine, Damon?" She asked, her voice trembling.

"You were right this morning. May be we do need some time away from each other. May be we should just call it off for now."

"Because you're too old for me? Because Ric won't approve?"

His face was perfectly blank. "Because we're bad for each other."

The message- the rejection- came through loud and clear. Everything that had happened between them, everything she'd believed so beautiful and meaningful, turned to dust before her eyes.

"It was a mistake," Damon added. "And it's never going to happen again. Do you understand?"

So that's what it boiled down to. Incompatibility. She couldn't give him what he wanted and if she did, he could end up in prison. Mason would make sure of it.

Elena refused to make a fool of herself by arguing or begging. She just nodded and headed for the door.

"Check under the tree," Damon smiled sadly as he tore his gaze away from her.

Elena walked to her room in silence and started when the lights came on. Standing in the middle of the room was an eight foot pine tree draped in tinsel, lights and bells, topped with a huge burgundy bow. Below the tree, sat two wrapped boxes. From Damon and Ric.

"Funny, isn't it?" A voice spoke, making her jump. Fear spiked down her spine. "That you've managed to alienate the only two people who gave two fucks about you."

Elena stumbled back, her head hitting the door. "Who is it?"

A dark shadow stepped out from behind the tree, "Recognise me?"

*Gasps* Who could that be? Wasn't that a cluster- fuck? Yep. Will it remain this way? Not. The next chapter will be posted tomorrow because it's already written as I was intending to post it today. It's the Christmas chapter and hopefully, will answer many of your answers.

Did you guys like this one? What did you think? Let me know :) Xx