A/N: I know I'm not that type of person that updates constantly, but what are you gonna do? :) This story takes right up after the Founder's Day Parade. There's a bit of filter in this chapter but its going to be necessary for future chapters. Just so you know each chapter is inspired by a song. I hope you enjoy it!

Prologue: The Aftermath

"My heart, my soul aches. I don't know what to do. I bend but don't break. And somehow I'll get through."

-Crawl by Superchick

Stefan POV

"This is perfect, Stefan. Thank you."

Stefan had been quick to whisk Elena away from today's chaos, and into the sweet empty planes of bliss. After the Founder's Day Parade, it was the least he could to do to restore a sense of normality back into Elena's life. He knew it was a useless attempt, but he had to try just for her sake. For now, they enjoyed one's company and gazed up at the stars as they listened to the low sounds of the night around them.

Stefan turned on his side and smiled in apology down at Elena, who had her hair fanned out on the blanket they settled on.

"Your welcome, Elena. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

She shook her head with a smile. "You have nothing to apologize for, Stefan."

He started to argue but Elena cut him off. "If-"

"Stefan, this was my choice. Okay? I want to be with you. I don't care if you say things are better off if I were with someone else. I need you in my life. Vampire or not. . . How many times are we going to have go through this?"

Stefan stared at her with such intensity that she had the urge to turn her head away. But she resisted from doing so. Instead she stared back, questioning him with her eyes to trust her.

Then suddenly he closed his eyes, smiled, and laid back on the ground. "Until it finally gets through my thick skull."

"That'll be a long time," she teased as she snuggled up closer to his form.

"Mmm, you willing to stay with me for that long?" Stefan asked as he took one of her hands and brought it up to his lips.

Elena smiled. "Of course."

There was a silence looming over them afterwards, but it was comfortable and relaxed. They didn't feel the need to be talking every five seconds like other couples did. Their relationship was light and easy despite the often bumps in the road. In a way their relationship was like any others except theirs was more serious, dangerous, and passionate. They didn't give much thought to keep the fire burning, and that was mostly because it came naturally to them.

It was perfect.

Damon POV

Today was probably the worst day ever for Damon. Far from perfect.

Everything they planned today had gone completely downhill. Elena and her brother are having family issues, Bonnie failed to deactivate the Gilbert device, Anna's dead, the Mayor is dead, John is still. . . John, and the worst thing yet, he almost died today.

Dejected, he down the hall of the Gilbert house after having a one-on-one talk with Jeremy. The guy was so sure he'd be okay, but he looked as if one small touch would have him crumbling to pieces. He'd been through a lot in his little life. In a way Jeremy reminded him of Elena.

Speak of the devil. . .

He opened the door just as Elena came walking up the steps with a dress in her hands. Her hair was still styled with soft curls, though she changed back into her regular clothes.

"What are you doing here?" she asked as she stepped onto the porch.

He closed the door behind him. "Failed and feeble attempt of doing the right thing."

"Which was. . .?"

He shook his head and frowned as he walked towards her.

"It's not important," he said. "Let me take this for you."

He took her dress set it down on a bench.

Elena watched his actions with an arched eyebrow and critical eyes behind his back. "Thank you."

"You know, I came in this town wanting to destroy it. Tonight I found myself wanting to protect it." he paused. "How does that happen?"

Elena made move to answer but he continued on. "I'm not a hero, Elena. I don't do good. It's not . . . in me."

The was a short pause before Elena responded with a quirk of her eyebrow. "Maybe it is."

He shook his his head slightly as he kept his eyes away. "No. Nah, it's reserved for my brother, and you…and Bonnie... Even though she has every reason to hate me, still helped Stefan save me."

Elena crossed her arms. "Why do you sound so surprised?"

Damon looked at her. "Because she did it for you."

He walked closer to her as Elena watched his movements with guarded eyes.

"Which means somewhere along the way, you decided I was worth saving. . . and I wanted to thank you for that," he finished with his brow furrowed. It was new to finally thank someone, and with Elena, he put meaning into it.

Elena tilted her head slightly in acknowledgement. "Your welcome."

What happened next surprised the both of them. Damon leaned in and gave Elena a sweet but lasting kiss on the cheek. Elena furrowed her brow in confusion, but he didn't notice it. He pulled back and Elena looked at him.

They shared a look until he began leaning in once more. He glanced at her every second or so, looking for disapproval. When he found none he leaned in and kissed her full on the mouth.

At first he received no response, but gradually Elena's lips moved against his own and her hand snaked up to grab his collar. Pleased with her response, he reached up to grab her cheek and deepened the kiss.

But before it could get anymore heated, the door creaked open. They broke apart, and Damon turned away from the door.

Elena let go of his collar and faced a shocked Jenna. It was obvious she saw what had happened between them.

"Hi," she breathed.

"It's late. You should probably come inside." Jenna stated in flat tone.

Elena nodded and looked at Damon shortly before grabbing her stuff, sighing.

Damon turned and watched as Elena stepped inside the house before Jenna slapped the door shut. Once alone, he touched his lips in amazement, and then leaves the Gilbert house.

He changed his mind, smugly, this was definitely not the worst day ever.

Damon arrived at the boarding house at the same time Elena and Stefan pull into the driveway. He risked a glance at Elena and noticed that she changed outfits. Her hair is now perfectly back to its pin straight style.

He furrowed his brow and slowed down next to the couple. "How did you get here so fast?"

Elena walked over to Stefan as she got out of the passenger seat. "Stefan drove me here. . .?"

He stayed still in confusion. "What? I just left you like 5 minutes ago?"

Now it was Elena's turn to be confused as she stood next to Stefan. "When was what? I was with Stefan."

"Really, Elena? Earlier, on the porch, we were talking, exposed our feelings, come on, we kissed Elena!"

Elena gave him a nasty look. "Okay I don't have time for this, Damon."

Damon looked at her incredulously. He started to argue until Stefan interrupted, who had stayed silent during the exchange.

"Shh!" he whispered angrily as he grabbed Damon's arm.

Damon sneered at him as he ripped his arm out of Stefan's hold. "Now's not the time to play jealous little boyfriend, Stefan!"

Stefan gave him a look as he pushed Elena behind him. "Don't you hear that?"

Damon frowned in frustration. "What are you talking about?"

Stefan ignored him and look up at the boarding house warily. "Come on, Damon, concentrate! There's someone in the house."

Damon arched an eyebrow and took on a more serious tone. "Who's stupid enough to trespass a vampire's home?"

There was a feminine giggle and Damon smirked. "Vampire."

Stefan shared a look with Damon and they nodded simultaneously.

Stefan gestured for Elena to stay between them as Damon entered first. He grabbed Elena's hand as she nodded and followed Damon in.

They entered and at first everything was eerily silent and normal. Then as they turned into the living room, a figure blurred besides them and pushed Damon to the floor. He growled and righting himself up as they heard another giggle bounce off the walls.

"Stefan." Elena whispered. Stefan squeezed Elena's hand in reassurance as he pulled her close. He'd be damned if he'd let anything happen to Elena.

The figure appeared again as they blurred around the room freely. Multiple times, Damon was close to catching them, but the figure was faster.

Damon let a frustrated growl. "Come on, sweet-hart, show your pretty face."

They was another giggle and blur and Damon was thrown against the bookcase with a crash. He got up and dusted himself off with a frown.

"I'll give you a two for style and strength," Damon taunted. "Come on even bunny-killer over there can do better."

The figure obviously didn't like that because Damon was then thrown up into the air and into a stone statue we had in the corner. Damon groaned as his face hit the stone. "Better."

He peeled himself off the statue and glared at no one in particular. "Why don't you take a shot at Stefan?"

Elena and Stefan stiffened instantly, but nothing occurred. They relaxed momentarily, and immediately the figure blurred to them. Stefan crushed Elena to him in a desperate attempt to protect her, but when nothing happened he looked at Elena and saw that a rose was placed in her hair.

He looked at Damon questioningly but Damon ignored the look.

"How nice. Elena and Stefan are treated with flowers while I get thrown around like crap," he called out sarcastically. "I'm feeling the love."

There was another giggle and Damon was pinned to the wall, his body turned to the wall.

"Oh but you're so fun to mess around with," they whispered against his ear.

He tensed up at the sound of the voice and turned around to see the person he least expected.

"Hello, Damon. Remember me?"

A/N: Well how was it? Like it or hate it? Should I continue? Leave a review for previews.