Hey, guys! Here I am with the next chapter already, can you believe it? Well, me neither.. Thank you so much for your lovely reviews and follows. They really made my week.

So this chapter is a fairly happy one, but it's intense as well. Heed warnings, but other than that I hope you enjoy it.

WARNINGS : Under- age relationships, mention of child abuse, mention of rape, swearing, smut., etc

Damon and Elena lay in bed for a while without speaking, he staring at the faded lint of her lose sweater and she fiddling with a button on his shirt. When she finally spoke, her voice was hoarse. "I'm sorry I worried you."

"What's to say I'm not worried still?"

Elena peeked up at him. "Mm?"

"I was wondering how you got to Glasgow by yourself," He stroked her cheek with his fingers.

"I uh, hitched a ride," Elena looked away.

"When?"

"Last night."

"It didn't strike you to leave a note?"

"I didn't want to talk to anyone."

"And your phone?"

"I forgot about it," Elena sat up. "I told you. I was overwhelmed by everything and needed-"

"You've got to do better than that, Elena," Damon scoffed knowingly.

"Preferably when I'm not half- dead, alright?" She groaned, rubbing her temples. "Give it a rest."

Damon got off the bed with a sigh of exasperation.

"Don't go," Elena said nervously. "I don't want to be alone."

Damon's eyes bore into hers. "You really think I'm going to let you out of my sight at this point?" He walked over to the refrigerator and returned with a tray. "What you need is a hit of sugar."

"Is that chocolate mousse?" Elena asked examining the contents.

"Last night's dessert," Damon grinned. "Told them my girlfriend was pregnant and craving chocolate."

She smiled at the way he referred to her as his girlfriend. Damon settled on the bed and dipped his finger into the mousse, bringing it up to Elena's lips.

"I'm not hungry."

"I don't give a fuck. You'll eat."

Elena hesitated and then sucked on his finger, setting tiny shockwaves to unfurl in him. She moaned at the feel of the soothing coolness of chocolate mingled with Damon's warmth.

"Guess how much I love you," Damon nudged her.

Ah, there it was again… Elena knew he was making light of it, but asked anyway. "How much?"

"Enough to bond with Noah," Damon joked but there was a solemn undercurrent to his words.

"Do you want a reward?" Elena giggled playfully.

"Enough," He went on to feed her another mouthful of mousse, "to be driven mad at the thought of anything happening to you."

Elena blushed. His timing was good. She needed to hear it- that someone really cared what happened to her. "You've never said so before."

"I thought you knew," Damon mused. "I now realise that if I'd spelt it out sooner, you might've behaved differently these last few days."

Elena swallowed through the guilt beginning to choke at her throat. He thought he was responsible for her running away.

"You might have even called me," Damon held her gaze. "So from now on, you should understand. You're right up there with Ric. Hell, even higher. So the next time you feel the walls closing in, don't up and leave in the middle of the night, don't leave your phone off the hook, and above all, don't go hitching cross- country alone!"

"Damon-"

"- Because at this point, I can't really imagine my life without you," He leaned forward, his gaze alternating between her gaping mouth and baffled eyes. "Can I kiss you?" He asked remembering the last time he had gone overboard with her.

Elena inhaled a sharp breath. Was she still in Jo's trance? "What happened to dating guys my own age?"

Damon stilled. "Do you want to?"

Elena blushed. "That's not what I meant."

"Is it just Noah then?" He said his name with as much revulsion as if speaking of a rodent.

"No," Elena said glibly. "We just hang out sometimes."

Damon arched a brow, "Yea, I heard about the skinny dipping you had planned for today."

"Cute," Elena took the tray from him, placing it aside and getting on her knees so she towered him. "You're adorable when you're jealous."

He scowled up at her. "Clearly you're enjoying this."

"Clearly," Elena straddled his lap, her hair falling forward around his face.

Damon's arms encircled her waist, cradling her to his chest.

"I don't want anyone my own age," Elena looked him straight in the eye. "I want you."

"Then show me," He tightened his arms around her, bringing her closer. She hadn't said it back. "Show me you want me."

Elena licked her lips, moistening them just enough to leave a shimmer that made Damon harden. She then slowly brought her lips to his, kissing him softly for a moment and pulling away.

"What's wrong?" Damon whispered.

"Ric," Elena said her breath uneven. "He'd have your balls."

"Is that it?" He smirked.

Before she could even answer, he fell back on the bed, pulling her on top of him. He held her face in his hands so that his mouth could graze her neck.

"Anything else?" He spoke against her tingling skin.

"Everything else," She managed to gasp out.

He pulled her face back to his and without breaking eye contact, rolled till he hovered over her. He held himself carefully so that she wouldn't panic, but Elena's heart was hammering nonetheless.

"Debatable," He laughed quietly. "The way your lips mould with mine for one." With that, he was kissing her again, making her head spin.

"You're caught up in the positives," Elena murmured breathlessly.

"What else is there?" Damon chuckled, a nervous sound rare for him. "You're perfect."

"Far from it," Elena said facing away from him.

Damon rolled off her so he could meet her eyes and was bewildered to see tears gushing down.

"You don't know me," Her voice broke.

"Of course I know you," Damon was alarmed now. "What is this about?" He gently wiped her cheeks.

"I'm bad, Damon," She couldn't contain the sobs or the new set of tears that followed. "I'm not who you think I am."

"Elena," He pleaded, eyes wild with worry at the pain in her voice. "Tell me."

Elena shook her head, scrubbing the back of her hand against her wet face as she sat up.

"Tell me about it," He sat up with her.

"I can't," Elena cried, wrapping her arms around her knees and balling up. "I just can't."

"Yes, yes, you can," Damon urged, forcing her to look at him. "Nothing you say or do is ever going to make me let go."

He was wrong. Once he found out about Aaron, he'd know how selfish she was and he'd want nothing to do with her and he really shouldn't because he deserved so much more than she could give him.

Damon sighed, "Ric wanted to hold off until you had gotten a good night's sleep, but since you're not getting much of that and now is as good a time as any-" His voice got exponentially smaller, "Is this about that text?"

Elena swallowed loudly.

"Do you know who could've sent it? I mean, who would want to hurt you?"

"I don't know."

"Elena, this person's been messing with you for a while now. The text is dated weeks ago. And that video-" His face hardened. "We should've told the cops the moment it started."

"Have you lost your mind?" Elena wailed. "We can't do that without owning up to… to this. Whatever this is we have going on."

Damon stared at her, dozens of emotions playing across his face until what looked like hope finally drained from his eyes.

"Do you see why I can't say it back?" Elena couldn't meet his eyes. "That I- I-" She couldn't be selfish. Not with him.

"No," Damon said his voice deceptively calm. "We're telling."

"You don't mean that," Elena said apprehensively. "You know what this would do to you."

"Well, that's my problem," Damon smoothed her hair away from her face. "If what we have is what's putting you in danger-"

"No, it's not!" Elena drew away from him. "You can't."

"Elena, listen to me. I'm an adult. I can take responsibility for us."

"No," Elena was pacing the length of the room now. "Don't you get it? This is what he wants. He's winning. We're letting him win."

Damon cursed and stood up. "Who's winning?" He closed the distance between them, grabbing her elbow to hold her in place. "Who's doing this?"

"Don't," Elena said her voice merely a breath. "Don't get involved."

"I am involved!" Damon backed her up against the wall. "Stop shutting me out!"

"Please," She said shakily. "I don't want you to get hurt. Let's just talk."

"No more talking," His expression was a frightening combination of anger and impatience.

"We'll talk until we figure this out," Elena begged. "Please just-"

"I said no more talking, Elena," Damon said cold and hostile. "Ric might have bought your little story, but I don't. So I'm asking you one more time."

He was making her blood turn to ice. "Why are you doing this?"

"Damn it, Elena! Don't you understand?" He bellowed. "Do you understand anything? Say. His. Name."

"Damon," She whimpered, "You're scaring me."

"Just say it," He said, glaring at her.

"Please," Elena sobbed. "Don't do this."

"Damn it, Elena!" Damon slammed his fist into the wall.

Elena covered away, hiding her face behind her sleeve.

Damon went whiter than a ghost, looking at her hand and his fist and the wall and her face, completely dazed. Seeing the fear in her face was enough to snap him out of his fit.

His fury shifted to despair and he dropped to his knees. "Fuck, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-" He reached for her waist and buried his face in her sweater. "I feel so weak. I just- I don't know how to protect you if you won't tell me."

Elena slowly slid down along the wall and sank to the floor. Damon looked like a caged animal ready to strike out. She had never seen him so tightly wound, this ready to snap. Despite her better instincts, she took a chance because she knew with all her heart that he'd never hurt her.

Damon eyed her warily as she scooted closer to him. "If some kid messed with you, I would do everything I can to lay him out, but this… I'm not enough to keep you safe from this."

There was no way she was telling him the truth now. Not when he looked like he was going to take off on a killing spree. Instead she wrapped her arms around his neck. "It's okay. I'm safe," She whispered into his ears over and over.

It took him a minute before he finally slumped against her. She heard him mutter something that sounded like "I'll figure it out myself."

A sense of foreboding inched down her spine, following the path of his fingers until he picked her up from the floor. She couldn't find her voice anymore as he carried her back to bed.

Once he had her tucked under layers of blankets, Damon kissed her forehead and turned out the light, climbing in beside her.

With eyes closed, Elena felt the bed move ever so slightly in a rhythmic pattern as familiar to her as breathing- Damon's breathing.

A distant laugh drifted by, followed by clattering dishes and collective chatter.

"So," Aaron said, speaking above the buzz of the school cafeteria. "Mason's finally in jail." There was zero happiness in his voice, even though they had spent two years waiting for this to happen.

"We're free," Elena put her sandwich down, reaching for his arm. "We're finally free."

Aaron's eyes darted from her hand on his arm to her face and back. "I don't want to be free if it means losing you."

"You won't lose me," Elena smiled naively.

"They'll put us in different homes," He stared at her fingers tracing innocent circles on his skin. "They are going to take you away from me."

Stupidly, this had never occurred to her. "We could see each other on weekends," She tried to cheer him up.

"You'd just leave me then? Is that it?" He asked in disbelief. "Don't leave me, Elena. It'll kill me."

"I don't want to. You know I don't. But we could visit-"

"No," He said sadly. "We should be together, you and I. Don't you know?"

She did know. At least, she knew Aaron believed so.

"I'm so afraid you're going to leave me," He continued in a broken voice. "With Mason gone, you don't need me anymore. I don't know who I am without you."

"You'll know if I leave."

"I don't want to!"

Struck by how childlike he sounded, Elena hugged him, holding him exactly like he always held her when she was scared and no one could protect her but him.

"I need you more than you need me. God, it hurts." He pulled back and drew her face to his. "If we get separated, we run away. Promise you'll go with me."

Elena frowned as she found herself analysing his words. This wasn't about any of the inappropriate things her mind was trying to make it into. This was Aaron. Her saviour. Her brother.

The one who had thrown away everything to protect her. It was time to repay her debt.

"Promise," She owed him this. "I'll go."

Elena stirred, blinking at the darkness. Great, she was having flashbacks. It was as if Jo had cracked open the door to her own personal hell, giving a free pass to all the ghosts of her past and now she was being haunted.

Sliding her hand from under the duvet, she combed her fingers through Damon's hair. To her surprise, he rubbed his cheek into her palm, still very much awake.

"There's a wedding tomorrow," Elena said in an attempt at dry humour. "You know what they say about beauty sleep."

Damon blew out a breath that bordered on a sob, the sound breaking her heart. "I'm sorry."

Even in the darkness, she could feel his eyes on her.

"This is all my fault. If I wasn't being such an asshole about everything- I- I swore to keep you safe and-."

"Damon," She said softly. "I'm fine."

"How can you say that?" His voice was on edge. "After- He- God knows what happened."

Why was he so sure Mason had kidnapped her? Why was he so bent on throwing away his life for someone like her? He loved her and may be that was a good thing, but she had no idea what he saw in her.

Strength, he had said. Beauty. Kindness. She could see none of those things. She could see fear, flaws and a heart so full of blackness she couldn't give up her own selfish wants to set him free.

She loved him, but did she love him enough to let him go? There were so many things she wanted to ask him. So many things she needed to say.

"Because nothing happened," She said instead.

An hour after Damon left to suit up, Elena stood examining her reflection in the floor high mirror. She was in her red thigh slit gown and pumps, her hair down in soft waves. Her fingers inertly strayed to the blue sapphire necklace Damon had gifted her after their first date.

He had given her a glimpse of what happiness should feel like, so perhaps she should be grateful and move on. If she was certain of anything, it was that Damon Salvatore could do way better than her.

She was an awful, awful person. She wasn't just stringing him along, but was depriving him of a shot at normal life. He should be out dating all the women who followed him around or even threw themselves at him. She had tied Aaron down as well, tied him to her and to Mason and to keeping her safe instead of taking care of himself. And then there was Ric, who despite everything she had put him through, refused to give up on her.

She felt like a hollow shell and she couldn't seem to find her way back.

Aaron had wholeheartedly admitted to being lost without her, but she didn't have that excuse with Damon. There was no excuse in the world that pardoned her wish to be with him and when she thought of it that way, her decision only made her feel worse.

It was an elegant outdoor wedding, the altar facing the breath- taking lake. At the end of each row, scented candles hung from naked tree branches. Moist peach petals embellished the aisle, marking a path for the bride. The fragrance was subtle and the music not too loud, almost blending with the babble of the guests.

Elena's legs on impulse carried her toward Damon who was standing by the bar. He filled her vision and overwhelmed her mind, smudging out the rest of the world. As soon as he saw her walking over, he stilled. His piercing blue eyes regarded her necklace musingly until finally his face broke into a smile of exultation.

"Damon, I-"

"Don't," He bent his head toward hers and kissed her. His lips were tender and the kiss, adorable, making her forget the crowd, place, time and reason.

Why wouldn't he let her say it? But thank god for his astute perception of subtext, he got the message. When they pulled apart, his smile was amused, almost a smirk, but underneath was a deep joy that echoed hers.

"It's a sin to look this stunning at another's wedding," He held his elbow out for her.

"You're one to talk," Elena blushed, taking his arm.

They made their way to the chairs. Mr and Mrs Mikaelson sat in the front pew in smart suits. Essie peeked up from her sky- blue hat and gestured for them to join her.

Once seated, they watched Klaus, Alaric and Kol as they stood fidgeting by the altar, waiting for the bride. Klaus had added colour to his formal attire by wearing a luminous mint waist coat and he looked spectacular. Ric caught Elena's eye and winked.

A swell of excitement heralded Hayley's arrival and she didn't disappoint. She glided past the guests in a shimmery white gown with her chestnut hair piled up in a soft crown on top of her head. The boys greeted her at the altar with warm smiles.

Soon after the ceremony, the day flowed into the reception party smoothly. It was just a while before noon and the climate wasn't entirely unbearable.

Seeing that a bit of a line was forming in front of the bride and the groom, Damon and Elena joined in. As they approached them, Damon went rigid.

"Hey, what is it?" Elena frowned.

He started to say something and then snapped his mouth closed. He seemed to be struggling with something he didn't want to say.

"Congrats, guys," She saw Noah with Klaus. And he had a group behind him. Stefan and Rebekah were the next to claim the couple's attention, followed by an older, more sophisticated couple.

"Mr Salvatore, Mrs Salvatore," Klaus received them. "Glad you could make it."

Elena shuddered delicately as she felt Damon step back. It was his parents… His father looked at him condescendingly making her heart twist.

"Just follow my lead," She moved past the group with Damon on tow. She felt several pairs of eyes on her, but disregarded them and leaned toward Klaus.

"Hey, love," Klaus grinned and returned the hug. "Keep my brother sane while I'm away."

"Of course," She laughed lightly, tugging at Damon's arm to join in.

"You've met my wife?"

Hayley gave him a good- humoured shove at that and then reached out to take Elena's hand. "It's so nice to meet you, Elena."

"Welcome to the family," Damon said breathlessly. "We consider ourselves an extended branch of Mike's family tree, and I'm sorry you got the, er, raw end of the deal. Meant to do some pruning."

"Ha- Ha," Klaus rolled his eyes. "Good one, mate."

"Admit you scored," Damon teased.

Elena was impressed by his composure, but knew it wasn't easy for him to restrain his feelings, considering they were right under his family's scrutiny.

"Let's not monopolize the newly- weds," She said, casting a meaningful look at the rest of the Salvatores and to Damon's relief, she waved goodbye and steered him away. "You okay?"

He squeezed her palm, "Get me drunk."

"Gladly," Elena snatched two glasses of champagne from a passing server and handed him one.

"Damon."

They turned around at the heavily accented voice. Damon's stepmother walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him. Damon stood frozen, his arms at his side and his face blank. Elena watched his Adam's apple bob up and down and his eyes lift to the ceiling.

"Oh, Damon," Adelaide sighed, making him wince.

"Hey," Elena said and slipped into the space between them, pushing the woman back. "Get away from him."

She felt Damon's breaths against her neck, sharp and shaky.

"Stay away," She hissed.

"Elena, what's going on?" Noah caught up with them.

Adelaide gave her a scandalised look that seemed faker than her boob job- her eyes too wide and her mouth too open.

"Stay out of this," Elena said, narrowing her eyes at Adelaide.

She smiled wryly, "I don't know what you've been told, but-"

"The only reason I haven't taken a swing at your face yet is because I didn't want to have to pay compensation for your Botox. Stay away from him or I'll decide I no longer care."

Damon's hands slipped around her waist. "We should go," He said unsteadily. Adelaide's eyes stayed on hers for a few more seconds. Then she grabbed Noah's hand and walked away.

"Let's go find Ric," Elena muttered. "Before I go back and douse her with champagne."

"Ah, the Singles Table," Damon chuckled.

"Singles, huh?" Elena said slyly. "Poor Meredith."

"What are you, Elena Gilbert?" He shook his head with dark satisfaction. "I can't believe you're real."

She reached for his lips on her toes. "Well, believe it," She kissed him. "Because I'm not going anywhere."

The Singles Table was indeed delightful and that had everything to do with Alaric sitting beside Elena and Meredith sulking at the far end. To Elena's pleasure, Katherine was nowhere to be found but the pleasure was only fleeting as Kai turned up. The Mikaelsons had a table to themselves and as did the Salvatores, but that didn't stop her two favourite men from sitting on either side of her.

Soon after the meal, Hayley's father made a predictably moving speech but the effect only lasted until it was Klaus' turn. His pompous speech took many in the congregation by surprise, making Damon and Elena crack up. One of the little flower girls who had happened to wander over, wanting to join in had roared loudly, "Ha, ha, ha!"

Alaric eventually got the memo and all they could remember of the groom's speech was sitting with their heads bowed, shaking like jellies and trying way too hard to contain themselves.

Kol's speech was sweet and to the point and Damon and Elena jumped when Ric stood up. They knew he was nervous and seeing the shake in his hand, they couldn't but empathize.

Instead of portraying Klaus as a miserable lump, he spoke of him with untainted affection, although he did say that sitting at the Singles Table at his younger brother's wedding felt like being run over by an articulated truck.

When he sat down to an appreciative round of applause, Essie pulled him aside to meet someone and as he was about to leave, he glanced at Elena anxiously.

"Any chance I can trust you two to behave yourselves until we get a chance to talk about this?"

"Not this again," Damon groaned. "You're overstepping your mark here."

"Damon, stop," Elena kissed Ric's cheek. "I wish you would trust us."

Ric sighed and left.

"Do I get the first dance this time?" Damon's mouth curved.

From across the room, Mr Salvatore stood, catching her eye.

"First, last, I'm yours," Elena grinned mischievously. "Let me freshen up first."

"I'll get us some drinks," Damon kissed her chastely and let her go.

Elena took off after his father, debating if she should barge into the men's room. Figuring this was her only shot at singling him out, she decided it was worth it. To her convenience, they were alone.

"How's it going, Mr Salvatore?" She walked over to the urinal where the brown haired man stood. He didn't resemble Damon a bit and that made things somehow easier for her.

"What the fuck?" He did a double take. "Young lady, you can't be in here."

"Oh, this won't take long," She gestured for him to zip up his pants.

"Whatever this is about, I'm sure it can wait," He looked outraged.

"I don't think so," Elena's chin went up. "Remember when Damon was a child and he told you he'd been abused by your wife?"

His face paled. "What are you talking about?"

"It was your job to protect him," Her voice was low but throbbed with anger. "Instead you burned him off like a wart. Your own son!"

His face closed instantly and he straightened. "You don't know-"

"You're not to blame for what happened before you knew except for your poor choice in women," She got in his face. "But anything that happened after he told you is entirely your fault."

"Fuck you!" He growled. "You have no idea what you're talking about. How dare you come up to me like this and say these things when you're clueless!"

"Yes, I dare. Your son is still haunted by what happened and you married the woman who violated him."

"I had Damon examined to look for any sort of trauma. I did everything I could-"

"Except believe him," Elena scoffed.

"There was no proof," He said exhausted. "No one could find anything to support Damon's claims."

"He shouldn't have had to provide proof. He was a child!" It was all she could do to keep her hands to herself. "You were supposed to take his side no matter what!"

"Damon was a troubled boy, struggling over his mother's death and desperate for attention. He hated Adelaide and went too far with his childish fits," His contrite look seemed false to her. "It's sad to see he hasn't grown out of it. I'd steer clear of him if I were you. He's a master manipulator and a liar. He's twisted and he's probably playing you-"

Her fist rammed into his face, making him stumble back with a curse. It wasn't just for what Damon had lost but for what they'd lost together. They were both sexual- abuse survivors and that's how everyone saw them, but she knew that it never ended there. In their nightmares, they were still victims. "I know who he is. He's broken and hurting and doesn't think he's worth loving and you helped make him that way. Keep your little bitch away from him," She spat at him.

He rubbed at his jaw. "Get out!"

"Gladly!" She yanked the door open and nearly ran into Damon, who'd been leaning against the wall just outside the restroom. He pulled her in for a hug, but his gaze was on his father, icy with fury and hatred.

"Stay away from her."

"She came to me!"

"You see her coming, I suggest you run."

"Funnily enough that's the advice I gave her in regard to you."

Elena flipped him the finger before Damon dragged her away. When they were back on the dance floor swaying lightly with the other couples, he pressed his forehead to hers. "What are you doing?"

She put her palms on his chest, her gaze searching his face. "Let me say it."

He shook his head, "Not if you're not sure."

"Not sure?" Tears slid down her face. "Damon."

His grip on her was excruciatingly tight but she didn't complain. He hid his face in the crook of her neck, shaking violently, but he made no sound and shed no tears.

Holding his head in her hands, she pressed her wet face to him. "Hush, baby, I understand. I know how it feels, the way they gloat afterwards. The shame, the confusion and the guilt you felt. It's not your fault. You didn't want it. You didn't enjoy it."

"I let her touch me at first," He whispered. "She said it was my age, hormones. That I needed to masturbate to be calmer. She touched me, said she'd show me how to do it right."

"Damon, no," She looked at him. "You were a child in the hands of an adult who knew what buttons to push. Mason made me feel like it was my fault too. He made me feel like I was the instigator in my own rape."

"But it was not your fault," He bit out. "He's a monster."

"So is she." Swallowing hard, Elena whispered, "I love you."

He froze his heart pounding. "Say it again."

"I love you," She said shyly. "Not the right word, but you need to hear it."

Damon's hands were in her hair, holding her in place as he ravaged her mouth with desperate kisses. "Don't leave me."

After a great while spent dancing, it was time for the post- wedding shoot. Elena stood watching the photographer pushing people about and when the Salvatores were called, Noah hauled Damon into the frame despite his protestations. His detachment from the group was painful to witness and in that moment, Elena's resentment toward his father only magnified ten- fold.

Finally, it was the Mikaelsons' turn and Damon and Alaric joined them with fairly less persuasion. Hayley looked lovely surrounded by her new family and Essie looked like she was going to explode into rainbows and glitter any moment now, when Ric interrupted the photographer.

"Elena!" He called. "Get over here."

"Yes, yes," Essie smiled. "Come along, darling."

Tears pricked Elena's eyes. She walked self- consciously towards the group and when she joined them, Damon took her arm and positioned her in front of Ric. "We're honorary Mikaelsons today," He winked.

Ric held her, for he alone knew what it meant to her to be included in a family portrait. It had simply never happened before.

Ah, so... what do you guys think? Let me know if you liked it or if you have any suggestions. Like I always say, PM me to talk about anything at all. Thank you again for your support and patience. Cheers! :*