The Things I Do For You

Hello everyone! So this is my first fanfic I've done, and I'm a little nervous about it, but I hope you all like it. As far as the story goes, it starts right during Season 1 Episode 13, when Damon has dinner at Elena's. The summary is a bit general because I have an idea of where I want the story to go, but as all writers know, sometimes the characters can take you in a different direction, so we'll see. I hope you enjoy it, and thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of the Vampire Diaries. This is just for fun.

Summary: I'm still making it up as I go along, but... Damon enlists the help of Elena and Stefan to release Katherine from the tomb, but when a series of unexpected events and feelings develop between himself and Elena, the future of his plans hang in the air.

Rated: M for future lemons.

Chapter One

"Speaking of Stefan, where is he? He's missing family night, which I'm enjoying immensely," he said, inflicting the tone of sarcasm he had skilfully mastered over the years. A charming smile passed over his lips, but didn't last long. It was replaced by an intense look of concern. "Is it real?"

She turned back to set the table, needing to hide her face for what was coming next. "Is what real?" She played ignorant to what it was Damon was asking her. She needed the extra second or two to prepare herself for the lie she'd have to sell – something she wasn't good at.

"This renewed sense of brotherhood. Can I trust him?"

Her preparation time helped in no way. "Yes, you can trust him." She knew it came out less than sincere, and he was quick to pick up on it.

She turned around and there he was, in all of his dark, seductive glory, merely inches from her face. Elena already knew the super-speed the vampires had, but it always surprised her nevertheless. Her breath caught in her throat, causing her mouth to hang slightly open. His ice-blue eyes bore into hers.

"Can I trust him." He repeated more as a statement than a question.

"I'm wearing vervain, Damon. It's not gonna work." She replied casually, trying to shrug off the intensity he was emanating.

"I'm not compelling you. I just want you to answer me. Honestly." The look on his face created a pang in her chest. This was it. She was sure this would be one of the few times she'd ever see Damon Salvatore, the big bad murderous vampire, showing a sign of insecurity. To her surprise, she didn't enjoy it. Not one bit.

A pause of silence passed. This wasn't a look she was used to seeing on Damon, and to her surprise, she was hesitant to lie. If she went through with it, he would eventually find out and she would pay a price, whether that price was losing what little trust she had of his, or an un-timely death. There was also the chance that Katherine wouldn't be the only one who would escape the tomb, and countless deaths would fall upon Mystic Falls. She tossed the options back and forth, and what should have been an easy decision wasn't; she decided not to answer either way. "I won't be put in the middle like this. I won't be put in the middle of you two," she replied with conviction. "He's your brother, sort it out with him."

"You just answered my question," he replied, his voice flat. His eyes never left hers, and he remained disturbingly still.

"I'm not saying you can't trust him, Damon, and I'm not saying you can. I'm just saying I don't want to be involved in this anymore. I don't want to have anything to do with Katherine. I may look like her, but as both you and Stefan have said, that's as far as our similarities go, and it's going to stay that way."

Luckily for Elena, Jeremy stepped into the kitchen with precise timing. Damon turned on his heel.

" Uh," Elena gave her head a tiny shake as if brushing off the tension that filled the kitchen, "hey Jer."

Jeremy gave a slight nod in reply and gave Damon, who had sauntered back over to the stove, the onceover. "Hey man."

Damon kept his eyes on the bubbling sauce. "Why hello there Elena's little brother."

"It's Jeremy."

"I'm bad with names," he replied in the indifferent tone that was typical Damon.

Elena continued setting the table, praying that the evening would go by smoothly. Jenna, Jeremy, Elena, and Damon sat down at the table, waiting for Stefan to arrive. A half an hour had passed since he was supposed to show up, and Elena was more concerned than she was angry. Here her family sat, waiting for her boyfriend to show up, while his brother who seemingly had less attachment to any of them, sat here with them and waited. She wasn't sure where Stefan was, which resulted in her checking her phone every couple of minutes.

"I guess we should just start. The foods already getting cold," Elena said, staring down at her hands clasped on her lap.

"Something important must have come up. Maybe he was doing a little work on that project. You know, that one I'm helping you and Stefan with? You know the one Elena."

Elena shot him a glare across that table that could burn. He smirked then began to roll spaghetti onto his fork. It was weird seeing him eat human food. "I'm starting to get worried. Maybe something happened to him." All the worst possible scenarios she could muster passed through her head, and were thankfully interrupted by the sound of her cell phone.

"It's Stefan." She breathed a sigh of relief. She ran to the porch with her phone in hand. She hoped Damon wouldn't be able to hear, you know, that vampire hearing and all, but at this particular moment, she didn't really care. "Stefan?"

"Elena. I'm so sorry I'm late."

"I'm just so glad to hear your voice. Are you ok?" She released a deep breath she didn't realize she was holding. "You had me worried. Stefan, where are you? Is something wrong?" Panic crept into her voice.

"No, I'm ok. Don't worry about me. I stopped by the school and talked with Alaric. He did have the journal but someone must have taken it from him. He doesn't have it anymore. We need to get it, and soon. The sooner we can find it, the sooner we can be Damon-free and this whole mess will be over with."

"Listen, Stefan, I don't think I can have anything to do with this anymore. I think you're right, it's just not safe," she lied. What was she going to say? 'Oh I feel bad for your murderous brother and I don't want to hurt his feelings?' She continued, "I'll do what I can as far as the journal is concerned, but after that, I just don't think I should keep on with this."

A huge sigh of relief escaped him. "I hope you don't expect me to be opposed to that, Elena. This will all be over soon, I promise."

"So why do I get the feeling it won't, that things are just going to get worse?"

"It will all work out, Elena. I'll take care of it."

"I hope you're right," she paused. "Will you be coming for dinner?"

"I don't think I'll be able to make it. I have to look into a few things."

"Ok, well, be safe Stefan. I love you."

"I love you too."

And with that she hung up. She walked back into the house to find everyone just where they were before she left.

"So where's my baby brother?" Damon asked, raising an eyebrow.

"He's just working on that project. You know the one Damon." A sarcastic smile spread across her face in unison with the chuckle that left his lips.

"So what's this project you two are talking about," asked Jenna.

Damon was about to speak and was quickly interrupted by Elena. "It's nothing Aunt Jenna. Just something for school that Damon's helping us with. A history project."

"History going back over a hundred years," replied Damon. It was clear he was enjoying seeing Elena squirm.

They finished up their meals in silence. Jeremy grabbed everyone's plates and took them to the sink.

"That was delicious Damon, thank you." Jenna raised her glass of red wine to her lips and took a sip in gratitude.

"You are very welcome Jenna." His eyes rested on Elena hoping to get praise out of her as well, but she wasn't going to give the cocky Salvatore brother the satisfaction.

Damon and Jeremy went on to play video games while Jenna and Elena continued to tidy the kitchen.

"He is ridiculously hot," Jenna said with enthusiasm, careful not to let him hear her. But of course, those vampire senses of his would assure that he did.

"He's an ass." She could almost see Damon rolling his eyes and it brought a big smile to her face.

The evening began to wind down. Damon grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

"Why thank you for the lovely evening Elena Gilbert. I can't wait to be invited to more family events. You know, picnics in the park, bowling nights, ice ska—" He was cut off mid sentence.

"Quit it Damon. You invited yourself. It wasn't exactly a welcomed visit."

"I don't know, Jenna seemed to enjoy my company," he smiled that irritating cocky smile of his.

"Get over yourself."

"Oooh someone's a little testy."

"Goodbye Damon." Her hand was placed on her hip as she contemplated just going through with the lie about their sincerity in helping him. He was making her regret her decision.

He blew her a kiss and winked at her, causing Elena to roll her eyes. She pushed him out the door, rather, he allowed her to. She wished she could have the strength they had, it'd prove useful in taking care of problems. Problems like Damon for example.

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Friday had finally come around and Elena was elated. She was lacking in the sleep department with all of this craziness going on, and she had plans on making up for it.

She got out of the shower and walked into her room, wrapped in a towel, with water from her hair dripping down her back. She stood in front of the mirror for a minute, wondering what it was Stefan could possibly see in her. In Elena's mind, she was ordinary. But I guess when you look like your boyfriends ex-girlfriend -- scratch that -- when you look like your boyfriends ex-girlfriend who he revolved his entire world around, and literally died for, your considered beautiful beyond comprehension.

Elena dried herself off and got changed. She wore low-rise, boot-cut jeans in a dark wash, threw on a grey tank-top with a dark purple one overtop, and a black leather jacket to complete the look. She gave herself a once over and was satisfied. She looked at the clock and panicked – she was running late. She slapped on some foundation, added a bit of mascara, some chapstick, and she was off. Grabbing her side bag, she headed downstairs.

"Elena you better grab something to eat before you go." Jenna was running around the kitchen, seems she was running behind as well.

"No time Aunt Jenna. I'll just grab an apple."

"You know, we really ought to get up a little earlier – maybe actually have breakfast together one time."

"I don't think that's in the cards for us," she replied with a giggle.

"Ya, you're probably right on that one."

"Ok I'm off! I'll see you after school," she yelled over her shoulder while trying to get on her shoes.

"Have a good day Elena! Oh, and say hi to Stefan for me!"

"Will do. Bye!"

Fridays always seem to drag on forever. It's the one day that seems to go out of its way to torture you. It passes ridiculously slowly and you just find yourself counting down the hours. She hadn't seen Stefan today, and that didn't help things. He made Friday's bearable.

The sound of the final bell was a welcoming noise. Elena was officially in weekend mode. She made her way to her locker to drop off her history books, while trying to dial Stefan's number. She rounded a hallway corner and ran right into what felt like a brick wall. Her books went flying and she was about to hit the ground when a big hand pressed on her back, faster than humanly possible, and was quick to hold her up. She chocked back a gasp.

"Damon! Oh my God what are you doing here!?" She was still inches from the floor. His face showed no signs of strain in keeping her at such an awkward angle. Elena's eyes were wide and eager with curiosity and shock, still trying to catch up to speed on what just transpired.

"Saving you apparently." He pulled her back up to her feet.

Elena flattened her hair back out with her hands and adjusted her jacket. Damon was quick to pick up her books. She doesn't think she'll ever get used to the vampire-speed thing.

"I can take those." Elena held her hands out, putting her weight on her right foot, causing her hip to jet out.

"Oh shucks Elena. You mean you don't want me to carry your books to your locker, holding your hand along the way, and give you a sweet little peck on the cheek?" His sarcasm irritated her beyond belief.

"Do you have to be such a jerk Damon?" She grabbed the books from his arm, knocking his shoulder with hers as she strode off toward her locker. Elena was pretty sure it hurt her a lot more than it hurt him.

With little effort he caught up to her. He really ought to be more careful hiding his abilities, but he just didn't seem to care all that much.

"So have you heard anything on the journal? We're running out of time." He leaned shockingly close to her face, stopping her in her tracks, "tick tock." His cool breath brushed her cheeks and sent a shiver down her spine. She hoped he didn't notice, but with his 'special abilities', there's no doubt that he did.

"No I haven't. Stefan didn't show up to school today. You know just as much as I do Damon."

"You know there is a time crunch on this. We aren't the only ones looking for the tomb you know."

"I know. I'll get it ok, let me just see what Stefan knows and we'll go from there."

He moved his entire body just inches from hers and below his breath whispered, "Good. Because Elena, if you and Stefan have some little plan to screw this whole thing up, you'll be the one to pay the price." The venom in his voice was terrifying. He pushed his hand off the locker and walked away leaving a visibly shaken Elena standing alone.

Reviews would be greatly appreciated!