Shoving the sunglasses further up her nose, Elena took another deep breath and pushed the front door open. Although she had just seen Damon last night, seeing him again today seemed much more real with the sunlight blaring down on her head than it had before, when she was half drunk, half high and barely awake. Truthfully, she had wondered if she had really dreamed the whole thing up; it just seemed too etheral to be real. The moon had been high in the sky, casting a pearly glow on Damon's skin, his black hair blending into the inky night, and his eyes glowing into a color of blue that Elena didn't think existed on the color chart.

The foyer was empty as she walked through it, and as she walked closer to the parlor, she heard muttered voices and froze, slowing her breathing so she could listen.

"-didn't tell her, did you?"

"-need to know. Why would she? The point is that-"

"I know the point, Stefan. You've made it very clear."

Suddenly, she'd had enough. Of course the first thing they'd talk about the moment Damon stepped through the door was her. Didn't they ever have anything non-related to her to say to each other? It felt vain to think it, but somehow she doubted it.

When she stepped through the archway, Stefan looked surprised to see her there, whereas Damon looked like he knew she was there the whole time, which barely surprised Elena.

"Elena, I didn't know if you had gotten my text-"

"I got it." She replied, not looking at him and staring at his brother. Damon was lounging on the couch, drink in hand and hair messy, like he had been up all night.

"Hi." She said.

He waggled his fingers at her; obviously drunk. That worked fine for her, maybe he'd be less insightful and not notice the shadows under her eyes or her shaking hands.

"You know... you're hair looks different from when I saw it last night." Damon spoke and stood up, brushing past her to pour another drink.

Although she wasn't looking at him, she knew that Stefan had frozen.

"You saw her last night...?" He asked, drawing his eyebrows together and staring between then suspiciously.

"Yeah, after her birthday party, of course." He taunted, his eyes mocking but his face serious.

Stefan looked at her. "...Elena?"

She looked down, wondering if they could see her eyes through the glasses. "Jeremy called him."

"Why?" Stefan asked. Elena didn't know how to answer.

"It doesn't matter." She whispered, suddenly tired of this whole affair. She yanked the glasses off, staring up at Stefan. "What matters is that he's back. Your brother's home; you should be happy." I know I am, the thought came out of nowhere. She ignored it.

"See. At least someone's happy to see me." Damon murmured, and she felt his arm sling around her shoulder. He smelt heavily of bourbon, but she still found herself inhaling greedily like it was the best smell in the world. Unaware, she leaned against him. Stefan's eyes narrowed.

"I... need some air. I'll be back later." Stefan muttered and maneuvered around them, heading towards the door.

"I'll alert the squirrels." Damon mock whispered in her ear. Stefan ignored him and a moment later he was gone.

"Well, that was tense." Damon said once the door was shut and shrank away from her, scooping up his drink. She watched him, once again feeling 100% sober in his presence. "Maybe I shouldn't have gotten so drunk, it usually pisses him off even more, but then again, that's why I do it." He said with a satisfied smirk, leaning back on the couch.

"You shouldn't provoke him like that, you'll be at each other's throats in no time." Elena chided, sitting on a chaise and fixing her eyes on his fingers curled around his glass. She'd never noticed before, but his fingers were long and elegant, and although she had never had an artistic bone in her body, she suddenly felt the urge to sketch them.

Damon scoffed. "When are we not at each other's throats?"

Elena shrugged, and he smiled, knowing she didn't have an answer.

Suddenly, the question she had been wanting to ask sprung up. "What were you guys talking about when you said you Stefan hasn't told me?"

"Eavesdropping now, Elena? You know what they say about eaves-"

"I know you knew I was there." She cut him off and continued, "And last night, you said something about keeping your promise? What did that mean?" Elena asked.

"Brother problems; you wouldn't understand." He snarked, taking another long gulp.

"Well, it obviously has something to do with me. I think I should-"

"Why don't you ask Stefan, hmm? He's the one who's been keeping secrets." Damon interrupted, draining his drink and standing up. When he brushed past her to go upstairs, she caught his wrist.

"I'm glad you stayed. I don't know why you did, but I'm really glad." She whispered on instinct; the pills usually caused her to do things on impulse.

Damon paused, and he looked at her. Elena realized his eyes were clear, instead of hazy like she expected from the bourbon he'd been drinking. He stared at her softly at first, looking like he was ready to reply, but then he squinted a little at her. Elena knew that look. His eyes flickered from her dilated pupils to the dark marks under her eyes.

"You okay?" He asked cautiously, sizing her up.

Elena blinked a few times. Suddenly, all she wanted to do was confess to everything. The pills, the emptiness she felt constantly, the black hole of depression that sucked her in deeper and deeper each day. Damon would understand, he always understood. He wouldn't judge her or berate her. Maybe he could help.

But as soon as she thought it, her courage drained away and she swallowed, her mouth dry. "I'm fine." She whispered.

He stared at her for a beat longer, and she already knew he didn't believe it. But in a very unlikely-Damon moment, he didn't press any further.

He started walking away again, and Elena's heart ached; she didn't want him out of her sight. He'd been gone for what seemed like twenty years, one of the few people she still had left, and the fear of him leaving again left her feeling sick.

But he turned around in the doorway and looked at her with a smile. "Wanna help me unpack? You can sort out my underwear, like I know you've been dying to do since you've met me."

Elena scoffed, but her insides warmed, and Elena knew that that had nothing to do with the pills. She followed him upstairs.

A/n: Hi guys! Sorry about the little delay on this chapter, I've been trying to update fairly quickly since my chapters are never particularly long, but I've just been wrapped up in Christmas. You can expect another update within a day or two, I promise! Again, thanks so much for anyone who read, followed, favorited and especially reviewed! You guys are awesome! Hope you all had a great Christmas and I'll see you at the next chapter! Don't forget to drop off a review!