Here I come again ;). That chapter was supposed to be published on Wednesday _or that is what I planned_ but it was really and I was anxious to know what you guys think of it, plus I have a really weak will power

There is some much needed drama in here, but it ends well ;) a Delena well.

Enough with the blabbing, on with the show….

Chapter Two: A breakthrough or a breakdown

"okaaay, so let me get something straight" I exclaim as I rest my feet on my blue eyed stranger/friend 's lap. We are sitting on the floor in a dark room with only a few candles and the moon as light sources, the room actually is three walled since the forth wall is open at the backyard. His definition of an open place obviously, which includes jumping fences and invading private properties. The place he took me to is actually a house, well not his house; it is an old inhabited house. He considers it historical. He has discovered that place when he was little and used to come to hide here when he wanted to be alone. When he get older, he asked around about the house and knew it is in the market for sale but no one dared to buy it since rumor has it, it is haunted. He says he doesn't believe in that crap and one of his dreams is to be able to buy that house one day. It is a beautiful house, I agree, the back yard is a lake for god's sake. And the space makes the sky sounds so clear that you can actually see every star. The view is to die for from here where we are sitting now. He says the sunrise and set here is something out of this world and I believe him. He doesn't sound easy to impress. So here we are, he has been telling me about Katherine like he promised and the more he talk the more I like my earlier thoughts about her. I think chocking will be a painful way to die. "You have been with that…woman" Calling her a woman sounds insulting to the entire race. "For years now. You have seen every sign that she was cheating on you, using you and dragging you along with her for years."

"We have been on and off" he cuts me off protesting but I held my hand up for him to stop.

"Let me finish. You decided now to break up with her, why now?"

"I found out she made a move on my brother" he sighs and I gasp.

"While she was with you?" I ask horrified.

"I am not sure" he runs his hand through his hair nervously. He has been doing okay talking about it. It is easier on him than I expected, than he expected. "It happened years ago. I don't know if we were together back there..."

"Wait, it happened years ago and now you react?"

"I didn't know until now" he snaps but I know it is not because of me. He feels guilty, why would he feel guilty about this? She is the only one to blame!

"You know that wasn't your fault, right?"

"He is my baby brother. It was five years ago, which means he was…what? sixteen? And she was almost your age! Will you imagine having the hots for a sixteen old kid, what kind of sick shit is this?" he shouts and I try to control my reaction. I don't want him to think he is scaring me and I don't want to interrupt him. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes briefly trying to get a grip on his temper. "I am sorry; I didn't mean to yell…"

"It is okay, I understand" I give him a reassuring smile to prove my words.

"I should have seen it before" he throws his head back resting it into the wall behind him. "Every time she was in the house, he would find an excuse to flee" I don't think he is talking to me anymore. "I thought he just didn't like her because let's face it, Katherine is not that likable"

"Did he tell you? How did you know?" I want him to talk, not only because I want to know but also because I think he needs to. He is silent for a long minute that I think he won't answer.

"My father has been sick for months. His heart is failing. He didn't tell anyone because he is just that stubborn but I found out accidently. When Stefan found out, he freaked out. He was always his father's son. Me? I was a mommy's boy" he chuckles humorlessly and I want to ask him about his mother but I don't think it is a good time. "Katherine was in the house when he found out. I came in to the room and she was trying to comfort him or something, I was happy first, I thought they were having a moment and I didn't want to interrupt. But the moment she put her hand on his shoulder and he flinched, I knew something we wrong. I know you don't react that way to someone's touch only because you hate them. You do that when that person had abused you or bad touched you or something" he shakes his head as if to rid it of a bad memory. "And then I heard them talk and I knew. She was acting like it was nothing, like it was no biggie. But I knew that my brother never forgot it." He finally met my eyes and I feel like crying.

The guilt, the pain in his eyes, it is unbearable. I don't know how someone could feel like that and be able to smile, be able to crack jokes and makes me laugh! My heart breaks again when I realize that the reason behind that pain is not that his girlfriend betrayed him, it is what his brother went through. He feels responsible for it, even though he shouldn't. I now know he cares about protecting his brother even more than his love life. "He thought I was happy and he didn't want to ruin it. But he was wrong." He sounds like he is in physical pain and I want to hug him and soothe him. I want to tell him it wasn't his fault. It is not pity, it is just pure understanding."He is my little brother and I should have protected him, not the other way around" the words are coming out of his mouth like they are cutting through his throat in their way out. His fists are clenched so hard that he may be hurting himself without realizing it. He shakes his head several times trying to break out but it isn't working well for him. I feel so helpless.

We are interrupted by a sound that seems like a dog howling and I nearly jump in my place. He chuckles and I almost sigh in relief. If I knew that me jumping in my skin would break his trance, I would have been going all clown on him!

"Calm down. It is just Sparrow" he explains with a grin so wide on his face. He whistles and a brown furring dog come running to us. He stands up and the big dog attacks him immediately, licking his face with great excitement. "Hey, missed you, too buddy" Sparrow answers with another lick. "Listen carefully, okay? We have a guest tonight. She is a pretty girl who is getting married tomorrow…or not. Anyway, I want you to be in your best behavior, deal?" and what even more hilarious is the dog actually nods. I break out laughing heartily.

"You know he can't hear you, right?" I tease in between my laughter.

"Sure he can" he is trying to sound offended but the grin on his face and the sparkle in his eyes are ruining it for him. "Sparrow is really smart" he walks to me and placed the dog between us. I reach a hesitated hand to rub his fur and he is so soft and clean for a dog living in the street.

"Hey" I greet him shyly. We sit in a comfortable silence for moment before I break it. "Is he yours?"

"kinda" he smirks. "I had him since he was few days old but then I brought him here one day and he refused to leave so I left him here. I guess he likes the place just like I do."

"You left him here?" I frown confused. "Didn't you care about him?"

"Of course I do. But he wanted to stay here so I let him go. I was hurt at first but then I understood. I come here to visit and make sure he is okay."

"It is just weird. Why would you leave him here where anything could happen to him?"

"I told you. He is happier here, I could feel it. I miss him but it is his choice" Free Will for pets. That man never ceases to amuse me. "Your turn" he whispers softly.

"What?" because honestly I don't know what he is talking about.

"I told you about Katherine. You promised you will talk too" he glances up at me his eyes aren't vulnerable and pained anyone, they are curious, daring, baring me again.

"I don't really know where to start" I sigh and move to rest my head on his lap beside Sparrow. "Do you mind?" I check if that is okay and he shakes his head reassuring me it is fine but I don't miss the way his eyes widen slightly. It just feels natural and not awkward at all.

"Let's start with why you escaped your bachelorette party tonight? What? you didn't like the stripers?" he wiggles his eyebrows at me playfully and I chuckle.

"I didn't even get to the stripers part. I don't think Christian would have been happy if I did" I press my lips in a thin line picturing my fiancé's reaction.

"Christian? Really, that is his name?" and the bitch-please face is back, I resist the urge to laugh and give him a scolding look instead. "Fine. I won't bitch about the name. And although he sounds like a jealous obsessive asshole, I won't judge him because I don't know him"

"You figured all that just form the name? I must say your Sherlock's skills is impressing" I cock my eyebrows in a mocking disbelieve.

"Not the name, smartass. It is just the fact that he wouldn't want you to have stripers in you bachelorette party. It is like not allowing the birthday girl to eat her chocolate cake! That is just so cruel" he sounds so horrified like it is totally bizarre, it is kind of hilarious actually. I don't resist the small giggle that escapes my mouth.

"A, I have no interest in stripers. B, I wouldn't be comfortable either if he had stripers in his bachelorette party" I scowl on the thought but I know he wouldn't do that.

"Yes, I understand that you wouldn't be comfortable. Who would be? But would you be mad? Would you pick a fight? Would you have the same reaction he would if it was the other way around?" he narrows his eyes at me. Again, like he already knows the answer.

"It is not the same thing" I protest.

"Of course it is." He shakes his head slightly like I am being ridiculous. "Forget about it. That is not even what is bothering you so let's just move on, okay?" I nod so he goes on. "If he is so prefect then why are you having a cold foot? Is that about him or you?" I take my time thinking of an answer to that question and honestly that is the thing I have been thinking about all night till I meet those blue eyes. Suddenly the answer doesn't sound so foggy anymore.

"Maybe I am not ready" I whisper my voice hardly audible to my own ears. It is like if I say it louder, it will be true.

"How long have you been with him?" he questions, his tone matching mine and I realize his hand has been stroking my hair for seconds now and I didn't even know it. It is so comforting that I don't stop him but I resist the urge to lean into his touch.

"Six months" I bit my lower lip already knowing what his reaction will be. His eyes widen and he opens his mouth to protest but I cut him off. "He only proposed two months ago" his eyebrows almost reach his hairline which would have been kind of hilarious if I wasn't feeling like crying. Confusion is the most annoying feeling on earth, I feel like my head is going to explode. He does that deep-breath-eyes-close thing and I am guessing it is an anger management tactic. He opens his eyes again and he seems slightly calmer.

"And do you think that six months is a proper period for you to know someone enough to marry him?" he asks slowly, like he is talking to a five year old kid.

"It is different with Christian than anyone else. Things are a little…intense with him."

"And what about you? Is it the same rate? Are you catching up with him?" he must have see something in my eyes that told him the real answer. "If he is running and you are crawling, there has to be something wrong" he says carefully like he doesn't want to hurt me but he have to tell me.

"I love him. I really do. I don't think there will be anyone else for me out there."

"And how do you know that?" he asks frustrated.

"I do. He is sweet" when he is not really angry. "And passionate. He takes care of me all the time. And he loves me. He needs me. Sometimes I think he can't function without me" I answer as I rouse from his lap and start to pace the room. Even Sparrow can sense the tension in the air so he stands on his four feet and keeps glancing back and forth between us, like the kid whose parents are having a fight. I shake my head to chase the thought away.

"Look, I am sorry, okay?" he stands up as well and walks toward me but keeps a few feet between us. "I didn't mean to pressure you; I am just trying to help you by being the sound of reason here. Maybe it is just not meant to be"

"Do you really believe that?" I cock my eyebrows. He doesn't really seem like the type of person who would believe in 'The One'. I mean come on, Katherine was the only woman he has ever loved and they have been in kind of open relationship for years!

"I am a fatalist" he answers simply and titles his head at me. "Listen, this is like a 101 for marriage! You don't marry because you want that man and definitely not because you want to please that man" his words are like punches in the guts, only proving how close to home they hit. I swallow the lump in my throat. "You only walk down the aisle when you are absolutely, completely and certainly sure that this is the man you want to spend the rest of your life with, that when you look into your future, you can't see a future without him" his voice is softer now. I know he can see the wheels turning into my head.

I am not naïve. I am not stupid. I am not a person who can be manipulated by a few words. At least, I'd like to believe I am not. But he is hitting home…hard. Every little dark embarrassing thought, every doubt I tried to chase out of my mind for the past two months, the things that my closest friends wouldn't have the courage to say out loud but said it with their concerned eyes, he is saying it all, voicing them dauntlessly.

I grasp the last straw I have.

"I know" I mimic his anger management move and it works better than I thought. "I can't call this off. Everyone has been working so hard to make it perfect. For me" I feel the threat of tears in the back of my eyes as the truth finally makes an entrance. "And I can't leave Christian or even tell him that I need more time. He would think that I don't want him or that I am not sure about him and he will freak out. I can't hurt him that way. He doesn't deserve it." I don't realize I am crying until I feel the wetness on my checks. I shake my head furiously to confirm my point. Christian has done everything he could to make me happy. I can't disappoint him, not anymore. Suddenly there are hands grapping my face, cubing it gently, fingers wiping the tears of my checks. And deep deep blue eyes are staring at mine, searching, begging.

"You don't have to do anything for anyone, you hear me?" he says softly but firmly. "You don't owe anyone anything. And if you think you are doing the right thing by him, you are wrong" I stare at him wide eyed. "No man would like to marry a woman who is not ready to marry him yet. You will be hurting him way worse if you go on with this uncertainty hanging over your heads. You have to do what you want, no matter how hard it will be"

His words float in my head, new and foreign. No one has ever told me to do what I want and consequences be damned. Never have I thought that being with Christian with that uncertain bit in my stomach would hurt him even more than asking him for space. Would it? Maybe that is why he has always been insecure about us...about me. How can he trust my feelings for him when I don't trust them myself? Why every time I think about the marriage or look at my ring I feel like the walls are closing in?

Something snaps in me. I know what I want. I want to break free.

I pull away and his hands fall at his sides. I start walking around the room exploring, the couch we abandoned for the floor when we first got in. There is an old phonograph that I haven't seen before. I explore it slowly with my fingertips. The whole room looks like a part of a museum. I raise the needle and place it on the disc record. Soft music fills the room immediately. I turn and walk slowly toward him, he is watching me carefully. Like he doesn't know what I am going to do next.

Good, I am done being predictable.

"I own you a dance" I say as I place my hand gently on his shoulder. His breath hitches slightly but noticeably…satisfying.

"I told you, you won" He makes an effort to sound unaffected but I know better. A smirk similar to his trademark one curves my lips. Because despite his protests his arm wraps around my waist bringing me inches closer.

"I didn't. I was barely able to stand when you cut me off" his hand meets mine half way and we begin to sway slowly, softly, letting the beat of the music consume us, Washing away all worries, pain, confusions and thoughts, branding us new.

After a few moments his arm tightens around me, like he finally lets go of his hesitation. I glance up to meet his eyes and they are so dark, so intense, filled with need, desire, desperation and a hint of fear and confusion. My lips part involuntary and his eyes fall immediately on them. He stares at them for a second before swallowing hard and meeting my eyes again. His pupils are so dilated that you can hardly see the blue in them and I am pretty sure what my eyes are saying. His eyes ask a question and before I do a proper nod his lips are on mine.

Gently at first, asking, testing but almost immediately it turns into something completely different. He groans deep in his throat and the sound is so purely male and spontaneous. The hand on my waist moves up to cub the back of my neck angling my face for better access as his tongue asks for entrance. I open my mouth wide, tasting him and letting him taste me. He does something with his tongue that causes a moan to escape my lips and I bit his lower one hard but not hard enough to draw blood. He makes a sound that looks like a growl as he presses my body closer to his so we are pressed together from head to toes. I am on fire. It is not the alcohol, I know that. But I can feel my blood burning in my veins, I feel the adrenaline flowing into every part of my body, I feel like I can do anything, I feel alive…free.

I push him to sit on the couch. Hard.

I am straddling him and grapping his face, kissing the hell out of him. I scratch the back of his head with my nails and I am rewarded with another groan.

I want more. I want him screaming.

He runs his hands along my sides, still restrained, uncertain. I want him to let go.

I press my body closer to his until there is nothing between us but offending pieces of fibers that I would like to rib to shards. I would be shocked by my bold thoughts if I wasn't so busy trying to unbutton his shirt. He grasps my wrists to stop me and I almost groan in protest. No, scratch that, I do groan in protest.

"Wait…" his voice is pained and breathless and saying absolutely the opposite of the words coming of his mouth."You don't…wanna do this" he is panting hard and his eyes are shut tight. It looks like he is using the last shred of will power to say that. "You are going to regret that. Believe me." He opens his eyes and he is staring at me, his eyes begging, searching, almost wanting me to protest his words. He doesn't want to be a mistake I made in the rush of alcohol and confusion but he wants me, I can basically feel just how much he wants me. I don't know what I can do to assure him that he is not a mistake. "You are engaged. You are getting married tomorrow"

Well, now I know what I can do.

I bring my right hand in between us and reach with my left one to my ring finger.

I take off my ring and hold it in front of his shocked panicked blue eyes.

"No, I am not" I say softly, my voice ringing into the silent night. I place the ring on the table beside me without breaking eye contact with him. It takes him a moment to take it all in and the next one his mouth is on mine again.

He is not holding back anymore. And

Hahaha *evil laugh*. I know I cut just when the interesting part starts but I am just so evil, I can't help it. soo Gia told me I should change the rate and since NO ONE else told me what to do, I felt compelled to write smut! First I thought ughh that is so not my strong suit but I toughed up for you guys and made a FULL smutty chapter. It is ready but I will post it few days later just because I am evil, haha, no, I just like to be two chapers ahead in my writing so I won't be late besides I am so freaking nervous about that smutty chapter since it is my first (chapter :D ) sooo, I think I may give it another editing. If anyone of you sweeties has the time to beta the next chapter, you will be a god-sent. Just PM me

Peace out, bitches ;)