AN: It has been three years since I have done anything with this story, and longer for some of my other ones. I do apologize. Life happens, I tend to get ideas in my head and I start writing something out and then I never finish it. It is a bad habit of mine. I intend on working on this one until I feel that it is complete.

In the mean time, I did upload a new, and my first, sailor moon fic if you are interested. It's called The Choice, and it is a quick one shot. While I am writing this story I intend on writing other one shots for sailor moon and maybe a few other fandoms. However, this is my main story that I will be working on.

As a general disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the world of Vampire Diaries. I just own this plot line. Thank you for reading, and as always reviews are encouraged and welcomed.

Ariel

I ran up my drive way just wanting to get inside. The whole drive home I tried to keep myself together; I was not going to break down. But as soon as I got out of the car, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I broke him. Stefan. He loved me and saved me, and I just sat there and told him that it was his brother that I wanted.

The door slammed behind me and it took a second to realize that it was my doing. My aching body fell to the floor, tears running freely down my face. I still couldn't grasp what I had done. Everything I was getting used to being as my world, just totally flipped. The burning in my throat was making it hard to breathe.

But, at last, I was being honest with myself: I had finally told him. What little courage I had left, I gathered up, and told him how I felt.

This is what I had been wanting for some time now. It just hurt like hell. Why? This is what I wanted. There was no denying that. I just wanted to know why it hurt so damn bad. I was free to be myself; fee to be with who my heart longed to be with; free to live my life the way I truly wanted.

I stared straight ahead, not truly seeing anything. I could taste the saltiness of my tears that had run into my mouth. I couldn't feel anything anymore: I was numb.

I'm not sure how long I sat at the bottom of the stairs; I am not sure when the tears stopped running; not positive what time it was when he walked in and lifted me off of the floor. I didn't complain, I just buried my head in the crook of his neck and inhaled his impossibly intoxicating scent.

This was my choice. He was my choice. I knew that now. The problem was just to get everyone else to accept that this is what I wanted.

Damon took me to my room and deposited me on my bed. I immediately snuggled into the blankets, craving some sort of warmth. He just stood there, looking down at me. I couldn't quite discern the look he was giving me. Was it hate? Disgust? Wonder? Love?

Neither of us said anything for a while. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence though. It was just as if we didn't need to say anything. But it got to the point where I had to explain myself.

I opened my mouth, wanting to tell him everything, but as soon as I did the tears started again.

"Hey, hey. No more of that." Damon had finally talked. He sat down beside me and put his hand on my cheek, his thumb doing its best to wipe away the rouge tears. "You should have come to talk to me first, you know. I would have been there with you when you told Stefan."

None of his words were malicious. I almost wanted him to be mad at me. I broke his brother's heart. They didn't always get along, but I knew that Damon loved his little brother. I just stared up at his sapphire eyes, tears still running down my face.

"No, I couldn't have." I said, although it came out shaky and was followed by a hiccup.

I could see him get confused. His brow started to furrow and I couldn't help myself. I reached up and tried to smooth it out. He grabbed my hand and held it to his cheek; he was so warm for someone who was technically dead. "Elena, yes you could have. You can always come to me with anything." He was so sure, so confidant, with just an edge of humor.

"Damon, no. Not with this I couldn't have." He was about to protest, but I pulled my hand from his and placed my finger over his lips, halting him in his speech. "Let me explain," he nodded his consent and I removed my hand from his mouth. "If you had been there with me while I had told Stefan, he would have thought that I was with you behind his back. I love him still, Damon, I am just not in love with him. He was there for me when I really needed someone. I will always be grateful to him for that. I never meant to fall in love with you. Never wanted to fall in love with you. I just did. And that makes it all that much more real to me. These feelings are real because I never sought them out. You are callous, and conniving, and you don't always take what other people want into consideration."

He was sitting still through most of my rant, until I started insulting him. He started pulling away and my hand shot out to grab his. I held on tightly and pulled myself into a sitting position. He turned back and looked at me, all the hurt showing in his eyes. I just rolled mine and smiled, "when will you let me finish?" I asked. He gave me a small nod and I took a deep breath. "Damon, you are all of those things, and more. You are fiercely protective of the ones you love, you try to hide behind a devil may care attitude, but I see who you really are. You are one of the most sensitive people I know. You feel everything, and that's why it is so appealing to you to just turn off your emotions. You are a good person Damon."

I sat there, wanting all of what I had just said to sink in to his stubborn head. His eyes were roaming my face, taking everything in. When his eyes finally met mine he said, "Are you done?" I gave him a smile and nodded back to him. Yes, my rant was over. "Good," he breathed. And the next thing I knew, his lips were glued to mine.