Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. I just really like to play with them and make Damon do sexy things with and to Elena ;)

Chapter 1: Discovery

Elena turns toward the door, ready to make her way home and collapse onto her bed. She's exhausted after the struggle with Mason Lockwood earlier and his attempts to keep her and Caroline from saving the Salvatore brothers from getting killed.

She'd been terrified when she'd seen them both lying on the ground, bloody from the many bullets Caroline's mother had fired into both Damon and Stefan; though Damon was the worst.

Elena had to steel herself against showing too much concern for him, considering she wasn't ready to forgive him…yet. Besides, there hadn't been time, because Liz had turned on her, gun aimed at her chest.

Caroline rushed in and killed one of the officers without a thought, blood smeared all over her face, and Liz couldn't bear the thought of what had happened to her child. She'd told Damon to kill her, and for a second it looked like she would get her wish.

Elena knew he was capable of it; she'd seen that dark side of him emerge too many times to doubt her fears now. But as she'd shouted for him not to do it, he'd practically rolled his eyes.

"You're my friend," he'd said softly to Liz, and then he'd told her that he would make sure she forgot everything. A flutter of hope stirred inside Elena that the friend she'd known and cared about was still alive.

Katherine hadn't killed the good in Damon's heart after all. What this meant for Elena's own heart was still confusing to her though; and it didn't help that she was feeling a distance between her and Stefan.

Ever since he'd fed off of her and become addicted to human blood, their relationship had hit a downward spiral. He was so timid with her now; afraid of getting too close, and using everything from Katherine to Caroline's recent change to keep some sense of distance between them.

He'd spent an entire day with Caroline, teaching her how to control her baser instincts; while Elena had done everything she could to resist Damon. It had been more difficult than she'd ever let on, for just his close proximity to her could send erotic images unbidden into her thoughts.

She was very glad he couldn't read her mind; otherwise he'd have known she was lying when she'd told him he'd lost her forever. She'd thought she was doing the right thing. Turning him down flat had hurt her as much as him, but she was with Stefan. She couldn't just leave him for his brother.

She wouldn't be like Katherine and play them against each other, and she knew she'd had to choose. So she had. She'd chosen Stefan and she was happy with that choice.

He was safer. Or so she'd thought, until she'd learned he'd spent the day before torturing Katherine and before he'd decided that maybe he should drink human blood after all, because maybe then he could control himself.

Elena had hated that idea, naturally. She needed only to picture the bloodlust in his eyes when he'd attacked her in her room. When she'd had to stab him with the vial of Vervain she'd known just how dangerous that side of him was. She'd been truly terrified of him during that time. And now he wanted to try and control himself!

Elena was disgusted with him for not even considering how she'd feel.

She'd stormed out of the room, ignoring Caroline's questioning stare as she passed. She didn't see the blonde vampire turn toward the room Elena had just left; she was too focused on leaving the boarding house.

She didn't get far.

Damon had appeared in front of her, as he has an annoying tendency to do, and immediately her heart leapt into her throat at the sight of him.

Damn his timing, she curses to herself. She really doesn't have the energy for another sexual tension-laced conversation with him right now.

She places her finger to her lips, speaking with her eyes that she wants to keep her departure quiet.

"I left Caroline with Stefan," she says calmly.

"I heard," Damon whispers, gazing at her with those penetrating eyes that unnerve her more than she's willing to admit. "And you?" he asks.

Elena sighs, knowing that staying would be a very bad idea. Not just because she was angry with Stefan, but because Damon's actions today remind her why she cares about him in the first place.

"I'm going home." She moves past him toward the door, but pauses at the heavy wooden frame. She turns to look back at him; her expression instantly softening.

"What you did for Caroline's mom, that's the Damon who was my friend." She turns to leave again.

Damon stares after her, wondering if perhaps their friendship hasn't been lost after all.

True, she said she didn't want him.

He knew as well as she did that she was lying, but she wasn't going to admit that any time soon. In the meantime, however, he's felt what it was like to not have her in his life and it was a far worse torture than simply having her as a friend.

If that means he has to let her be with his brother, then so be it.

"Just so you know, Stefan didn't drink the people blood. But he needs to, and I think you know that, too."

Elena looks back at him, thanking him with her eyes. Then she turns around and walks past him; back to Stefan.

Damon watches her go, a haunted expression of pain in his ice blue eyes. He then turns toward the door. He needs a drink badly, and the house is just a little too crowded at the moment for him to enjoy his own liquor supply.

His car had almost pulls out of the long driveway when he hears Elena's cry of anguish.

Stefan places his head in his hands and sighed in frustration. How is he going to make Elena see that he needs to build up a tolerance to human blood, that it's the only way to defeat Katherine? His brooding thoughts are interrupted as he feels another presence in the room.

He looks up, expecting Elena to be standing in the doorway, ready to apologize, just as she always does. The girl steps cautiously into the room, a small smile of understanding painted across her lips, but it's not Elena.

"Hey," he rasps, giving her a small smile of his own.

"How are you holding up?" Caroline asks softly as she slowly approaches him, her small hand unconsciously moving to touch his hunched shoulders. He doesn't shrug her off, and she sinks down beside him on the sofa.

"I should be asking you that," he replies. "I heard what your mom said. She didn't mean it, you know." He looks up at her, trying to reassure her with a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"Yes, she did." Caroline sighs. "And you're a terrible liar," she adds.

Stefan lowers his gaze and stares at his hands. "Sorry," he whispers.

Caroline smiles softly and places her hand over his. "It's okay," she says. "You were only trying to make me feel better."

Stefan turns to meet her soft gaze. "You're lucky, you know," he admits. "At least Damon will be able to compel your mom to forget everything."

Caroline shakes her head. "I don't think I'm that lucky," she admits, drawing in a shuddering breath in an effort to keep her emotions in check. She seems to have to do that a lot lately, now that she's a vampire and everything is more intense.

"Mom never really approved of me that much when I was human, but I at least thought she'd loved me. Tonight, I found out that she really didn't. She found out what I am, and she looked at me like I was a monster. She wanted to die, rather than be my mom, but she's okay with having Damon compel her to forget. She'd rather go back to the secrets than get to know me."

A small tear manages to free itself from her eyes and trickles down her cheek. Stefan stares at the broken young woman beside him. He hasn't realized until now just how vulnerable Caroline is, and just how much he wants to protect her.

His fingers move, as if they have a mind of their own, to brush the tear away from her cheek. Their eyes lock, and Stefan finds himself telling her something he'd never thought he'd share with her.

"My father tried to kill me, when I came back," he admits. "I tried to get him to accept me, to let me explain that nothing was going to change. I was prepared to die that night, but I wanted to say goodbye, and he attacked me without even thinking about it."

Caroline's eyes widen in shock, but she lets him finish. His hand is still unconsciously brushing against her cheek in a soft caress. She isn't even sure if he's aware he's doing it.

He continues his story, the pain in his voice evident as he speaks. "I didn't know my own strength, and I fought him off, still hoping I could reason with him. But, there was a lot of blood, and he was dying. I….I couldn't help myself."

He lets out a small sound, almost a sob and Caroline places a finger to his lips, her eyes full of concern and unshed tears. Nothing more needs to be said; she knows what happened next. Knows of the guilt he must have felt, must feel still, over his father's death.

She doesn't know what is happening between them at the moment, but it's as if an invisible force has her moving toward him, slipping her arms around his shoulders in a comforting embrace.

He leans into her, letting her pull him closer.

They hold each other for what seems like hours but is in reality only a few minutes. And then she realizes what she's doing, and tries to pull away.

"Um…sorry, I…" Caroline licks her lips nervously. "I should…go…"

Her head is spinning, her mind reeling, and her heart…god, her stupid heart is starting to think that…maybe…

Stefan places a hand on hers, grasping it tightly. "No, don't go…" he says. "Stay with me."

Caroline bites her lip. This is wrong, her mind is screaming at her. But those newborn vampire emotions…they're so strong! Ever since she turned she has started to remember those feelings she'd had for Stefan, the ones that, up until now, she didn't think were ever going to be returned…

"Caroline," he had said to her back then. "You and me…it's never going to happen."

She'd believed it back then, but now things are different. Now they understand each other. Now…she's just like him. Born into an eternal life she hadn't expected and never would have chosen for herself. To never be human again, to have to constantly control her bloodlust and her heightened emotions…

But now he's looking at her, and it feels like he can see her soul…assuming vampires even have souls...do they? She wonders.

God…if only she could stop and think for a second! But no…Stefan's hand on hers, that energy…there's no thinking happening right now…

"Caroline," he says her name, this time with that hint of something more, a pleading expression. She couldn't leave him if she tried, she realizes. Something is compelling her to stay.

She remains where she's seated, and he moves to embrace her tighter, leaning his face up toward hers, staring back into her eyes.

And then she's leaning back, and he is hovering over her, his tear stained cheeks matching her own. He places the softest kiss against her lips; the tenderest one she's ever experienced. One that leaves her feeling like she's the one being chosen for once, not because Elena rejected him, but because he wants to be with her…Oh god, Elena!

Caroline's mind is racing, but she can't stop, and no matter how much she knows that this is wrong, that Elena is supposed to be with Stefan, she can't help but think that maybe that's not actually the epic love after all. Maybe it was always supposed to be Damon and Elena, and she's just giving them a little push…

She hates herself for thinking it, but Stefan has been so haunted lately. He has that look, and Caroline has seen the way Damon looks at Elena but more importantly she's seen how Elena looks at Damon.

Stefan might be Elena's, but Elena is no longer Stefan's…she's just doing a really good job of lying to herself, and maybe Stefan is done waiting for her to figure that out.

Besides, the way he's kissing her right now…She shivers involuntarily, her emotions getting the better of her again, and her hands slip into his hair to pull him closer.

He draws her down to the cushions, his fingers tentatively stroking down her neck as he deepens their kiss.

He knows this is wrong, a part of him knows that he's betraying Elena…but all these months of watching her with his brother, the way she can't resist hugging him, saving him, trying to get him to be the better man…Stefan isn't clueless. He knows that in the end, when Elena finally stops running, she will give in to those feelings. She and Damon will do something that neither one of them will forgive themselves for…if he doesn't step aside.

And Caroline…she's been an unexpected bright spot ever since she turned. He didn't realize how powerful she could be. He actually likes her better this way, and despite how unsure she's been about this new life, he is impressed at how well she is adjusting. Plus, her heart…god, she's the most loving, caring, passionate woman…that attraction to her has been building for a while, and tonight…well, he just doesn't want to lose her, too.

If he's honest with himself, he can see why Elena can't shake her feelings for Damon. There's just no denying it when you find someone who can understand you without you having to say a word…

He's so lost in the sensations that even with a heightened sense of hearing, he doesn't hear the footsteps coming from down the hall.

It's only when Stefan's hands have trailed down to slip under Caroline's shirt that they both finally hear the sharp gasp from behind them.

They immediately turn to see pained dark eyes, full of angry tears.

"Oh my god!" Elena cries, pain warring with fury.

Stefan gets up and smoothes out his hair as Caroline attempts to adjust her top that had ridden up almost to her breasts.

"Elena, I can explain," Stefan says calmly.

Caroline just looks away, guilt written all over her face, as Elena lets out a strangled cry of raw emotion.

"Go ahead, Stefan, EXPLAIN!" She cries. "I'd love to know why I just walked in on you and…."

She pauses, and Caroline feels Elena's eyes on her. If looks could kill, she'd be a pile of ashes.

"I should go…" Caroline murmurs, turning toward the door.

Elena's glare stops her in her tracks. "Don't you fucking move," she hisses.

Despite her newfound vampire strength, Caroline is suddenly terrified to disobey and mutely stands there, waiting for her friend's wrath.

Elena laughs bitterly. "I should have expected this, after all it's not the first time you've gone after something of mine."

Caroline winces, but keeps silent.

"Elena," Stefan tries again, but she cuts him off with a glare so menacing, he's certain she's trying to burn him.

"Don't. You. Defend. HER." Elena growls.

She turns back to Caroline. "Was it not enough to go after Matt, you have to go after Stefan too? Who's next, Caroline? Are you going to go after Damon? Oh wait," she chuckles darkly, "you already did. Well I suppose now that I actually care, you might just decide to go for round two, am I right?"

This time it's Stefan's turn to wince, but Elena is so angry, so disgusted with him and with herself that she just can't find it in her to care. All this time she had been denying her feelings! All this time she had been torn between her loyalty to Stefan, the man who has professed to love her, the man who she thought would do anything to make her happy, and what she has been trying so hard to ignore for months!

The growing attraction to Damon had been something that had bothered her so much that she'd actually said horrible things to him. She'd tried to rationalize that he was a monster, that he was somehow too dangerous to feel things for…and then slowly that had changed. She'd seen that Damon could not only be good, but that he could be someone that she has come to care deeply about.

The road trip to Georgia, when she'd been desperate to save him from Lexi's mate, the moment outside the house that the Tomb Vampires were inhabiting with Stefan inside, being tortured, and Damon placing his hands on her so tenderly to keep her calm. The dance, Isobel's declaration "he's in love with you"…all of it had confused the hell out of her and made her feel so guilty!

Even after the confession in her room.

"You're lying to me, you're lying to Stefan, and most of all, you're lying to yourself"

She knew he was right. She just couldn't do that to Stefan…she couldn't be like Katherine. She wouldn't hurt him like that…but it turns out that all this time, as she was fighting those feelings and trying to go back to hating his brother, Stefan was falling for her best friend.

She doesn't actually know what she feels about that. Part of her is angry, yes! She is ANGRY because Stefan just made the choice for her. Stefan and Caroline both took that choice from her to hide her feelings a little longer.

She's also so confused, because she should be feeling more hurt and devastated than she really is. She shouldn't be feeling and thinking what she is right now, about what she could do without that crushing guilt…and who she could run to, if she had the perfect excuse.

It would serve Stefan right, she justifies to herself. After all, he has been giving her those looks, the ones that make her feel guilty because he knows that she wants Damon, and she's been too afraid to actually tell him that's what she's feeling because…well, clearly it wouldn't hurt him as much as she thought it would.

"That's right," she says, turning on him. "Damon wasn't imagining it; there is something between us. And I was just such an idiot that I turned him down because I actually felt guilty!"

She shakes her head, a bitter smile on her lips. "Had I known this was going to happen, I would have let him kiss me in my room that night. I wouldn't have fought him off, and I wouldn't have lied to him for you."

Stefan simply looks down at the floor, knowing he deserves her harsh words.

He knows his betrayal has hurt her. A part of him wants to take it back…this wasn't what he wanted to happen. Not like this.

Elena isn't finished, however. "Look at me, you coward," she growls.

He meets her gaze, and is terrified by the fire smoldering in her eyes. The look she gives him, full of contempt and hatred, hurts more than what she says next, because he knows that look. She has only ever given it to one other person…his brother. And that's what scares him, because he knows that if she can look like that, then he knows what's behind it is her anger at herself.

Stefan lets the words hit him because he knows that this is what she needs. If this is what will get her to choose…well, then that's what has to happen. Elena has to say this now, while she's still angry, because otherwise…Stefan knows she will never say them.

"Had I known everything, I would have let Damon take me right then. I would have wrapped my legs around his hips, and I would have never looked back!"

Stefan refuses to react. He keeps his eyes to the floor. He knows that whatever happens now, Elena is going to make her choice. She has to believe that she's the one making it though, not out of a sense of guilt or obligation to him. He has to be the bad guy right now, because as much as he has fought with his brother on this…Damon is right. Damon loves Elena, yes, but save for that one lapse in his judgment after Katherine messed with his head, he is okay with letting her hate him if it will keep her safe. For all that Damon has pretended he's selfish and doesn't care…Stefan knows the truth.

Damon might just be the better man for her, and if that's the case…he needs to let her hate him. At least for now. Trying to show how much he loves her, and he does love her…it might just have her forgiving him and that can't happen until she has explored her feelings for Damon.

She lets out a strangled sound between a bitter laugh and a painful sob. "I can't believe I EVER thought you were the better choice!" She turns on her heel then, giving the two of them one last look of cold hatred, and storms out.

Caroline stares incredulously at him. "Are you seriously not going to go after her?"

Stefan shakes his head, his lips firm. "No," he says. "This is what she needs right now. It's what we all need."

Tears cloud her vision as she runs; her heart feeling like it might shatter.

She hardly notices the pain as she suddenly slams into a hard, muscular body.

"Elena?" Damon gasps, his arms instinctively coming around her small frame.

"Damon," she sobs into his chest.

He pulls her away just enough to lift her chin up to meet his gaze. Her eyes are red and swollen, her face is stained with tears, and she has the most pained expression he's ever seen on her beautiful face.

"What happened?" he asks her, softly stroking away the tears that keep falling down her cheeks.

"Just….Just get me out of here," she pleads. "Now!"

"Okay, I'll take you home," he says, sensing the urgency in her voice.

She shakes her head. She can't go home right now. She can't deal with this…any of it…but she also doesn't want to be alone right now. She doesn't want him to leave her.

And if he takes her home…he will have to leave her there. Because Jeremy walking in on whatever happens now…it's just not an option! If he hadn't walked in last time…Elena pushes those images away. She's not ready for that yet either, but still her lips feel like they're burning right now. If he did kiss her…she wouldn't stop him.

"No!" she cries. "I can't…I don't….just take me away. Anywhere. I don't care, just…please?" she whispers the last word and Damon's jaw tightens. If Stefan has done something to hurt her…especially after he set his own feelings aside…but he can't think about that right now. He will deal with his brother later.

Right now, Elena needs him.

"Okay," he agrees. And without a glance back, he leads Elena out to his car, her arms still wrapped tightly around his waist.

Author's Note:

Okay, for all you newcomers, I want to let you know that I originally wrote this way back when Season 2 was still going, and we were on the edge of our seats just waiting for Damon and Elena to finally kiss for real.

That whole thing with the dance, and then Katherine on the porch had been such a tease, and one thing about me is that I LOVE a slow-burn romance.

So, naturally, the payoff for said romances often comes so late into a series that I'm just dying to see said payoff, and then my mind goes to some very interesting places.

I have always loved to write and you'll find that this fic is going to become one of your favorites to read. Particularly since I have done a slight stylistic change to it.

It used to be written in third-person. I have now decided that to create an even more immersive experience I want you to get right into the heads of the characters.

That's right, dear reader. You are about to embark on your very own Virtual Reality experience into a TVD alternate timeline of smutty goodness. Pure, unfiltered, uncensored Delena smutty goodness.

The kind where you just might picture yourself in Elena's position, because with Damon I can get pretty…descriptive. Honestly, that man is sex on legs!

You have thus been warned not to read these chapters anywhere that someone can see you, because if you do…well, you're going to have this really weird look on your face and you'll probably also be a little…worked up.

I have that effect on people. It's one of my many gifts.

You might be wondering…am I a professional writer?

The answer to that is complex. Yes, I am, and I also can't tell you who I am. This is my creative outlet, and I'm also currently working on a romance novel that will put 50 Shades to shame.

I'll tell you more about that later.

But for now, just go enjoy the rest of this story and remember that reviews = love!