Title: What We've Lost
Rating: M
Type: Three-shot
Pairing: Damon/Katherine
Setting: Takes place at the end of 2.16 – "The House Guest" – and then goes AU. ;)
Warnings: Language, sexual situations, etc.

Hello, everyone! Welcome to my three-part fic. I do hope you will read and review – that would make my day! First off, I want to thank everyone who reviewed "Desire" so loyally – that meant the world to me! And an even bigger thank-you to those who gave suggestions as to what I should write next!

I loved all of the ideas put forward by The Poison Ivy League, Crimson-Kiss17, and Narutoske. The idea that struck me most, however, was Narutoske's, who suggested a story where Katherine was looking for redemption (instead of being the selfish girl we know her as). The Poison Ivy League wanted to see a somewhat believable happy ending for this pair. What I've done then, is essentially combined those two ideas, and thus, this story was born! It was originally a one-shot, but I decided to split it up into three parts. :)

The other suggestion, put forth by Crimson-Kiss17, was an Elena/Damon/Katherine triangle (as they pursue Klaus), and I definitely have a few ideas for this! I can't wait to put them to paper and hopefully, with time permitting, I'll have something soon. :)

Thank you so much for the suggestions, everyone! And if you're just reviewing, feel free to leave a suggestion of your own as well. As a heads up, I'll write anything with Elena, Damon, Stefan, and Katherine and any combination of pairings you can make from those four. ;)

Happy reading and please review!

What We've Lost
Part I: Time

Step, step right over the line
And onto borrowed time
When it's life, not waiting to die
Waiting to divide, to divide

-A Fine Frenzy, "Borrowed Time"

"Katherine, there are six other bedrooms in this house – go find one," Damon snapped, pushing the seductress off of him, but not before giving her the dirtiest glare he could muster. He held on tighter to the Gilbert journal in his hand and lowered his eyes to it, hell-bent on getting through all of the damned things before the night was through.

Katherine didn't move from the bed – instead, she fastened her robe tightly around her waist and sat up properly. Before he could react, she snatched the journal from his hands and tossed it carelessly to the floor. "You know what? No. I'm not going anywhere because you and I are going to have a little chat."

Damon whipped his head around to look at her, a low growl escaping his lips. "You're really pushing your luck, Katherine. Now get out. And if you could kindly not toss the Gilbert family heirlooms around, that would be great, too." He eyed her for a moment, and then decided he was going to have to make her leave, but before the thought had even finished processing, she was on top of him, pinning his wrists above his head.

"You should know that telling me what to do is never a good idea," she hissed lowly in his ear. She squeezed his wrists tighter and when she saw him grimace in pain, she loosened her grip, feeling only just a little bit guilty. He was beyond angry – she could feel it radiating from him.

"What do you want?" he finally sighed, eager to get her out of his room as soon as possible. And out of this position – the way her knee was pressing against his groin wasn't exactly painful – au contraire, he could feel light, pleasurable tingles racing up his spine.

"I just want you to listen," Katherine murmured, letting go of him. She gave him a once over with her eyes, deciding that he probably wouldn't try to run, and then stealthily rolled off to the side, sitting up. She lowered her head in thought for a moment before saying, "Give me your hand."

Damon eyed her, suspicion written all over his face. She did, after all, practically trade his life for Stefan's without batting an eye. Who was to say that she wouldn't reach through his chest and rip his heart out – literally, this time – and then carry on her merry way? He sighed heavily again, far beyond the mood to play any more games with her, but extended his hand, anyway.

Katherine took it and closed her own around it, giving it a soft squeeze. She silently marvelled at his soft skin before looking up to gaze at him. "Does this feel familiar to you?" she asked, stroking the back of his hand gently.

Damon swallowed hard as his emotions did an instant turn around. He schooled his face, but knew that she could probably easily see right through him. He wanted to pull his hand away, but all he could do was look at her curiously before whispering, "Yes."

"It is not so bad," Katherine said quietly, standing behind Damon, trailing her hands down his bleeding back. But even as she said it, she knew she was lying. She pressed the warm cloth to him, letting it soak up his blood. It was taking everything in her to not lick it up herself. "Why won't you let me heal you? Just a few drops of my blood and this mess would be gone."

Damon hissed softly at the feel of the material scraping his flayed skin. "My father would know. Besides, he did a neat enough job so as not to leave any scars." He grimaced, but his mouth turned partly upward into a dark smile as he thought about the man who took it upon himself to consistently engage his elder child in pain.

Katherine leaned forward and pressed her lips to his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Damon," she said against his warm skin.

Damon whirled around quickly, startling Katherine, and causing her to drop the cloth to the ground. "This is not your fault. It is mine, and you shall not try to place the blame upon your own shoulders."

"If I had not asked you to sneak out with me, you would not have been caught trying to sneak back in," she murmured softly, looking up into his searing blue eyes.

Damon tilted her head up, leaning down to touch his lips chastely to hers before tucking a piece of wild mahogany hair behind her ear. He felt the faintest of blushes touch his cheeks as he whispered, "Oh, believe me, Miss Katherine. It was well worth the punishment."

Katherine smiled at him, melting under his soft gaze. "Give me your hand."

He looked at her, slightly puzzled, but held out his hand to her, and sighed softly when her small, warm fingers closed around it.

"I promise to always keep you safe, Damon," she whispered, leaning in close to him, letting her lips graze his neck. She squeezed his hand. "And I will do everything in my power to ensure that safety. I've already failed you once," she murmured, gesturing to his back, "but I shall not fail you again. I love you."

Damon smiled back at her. "I love you, too, Katherine. But I must say. It is my duty as a man to keep you safe. I shall always put your life before mine, even if it kills me..." He leaned down to brush his lips over hers, the pain in his body slowly fading.