Disclaimer: yea, still don't own anything.

AN: I'm sorry I keep uploading this chapter but the spaces I'm putting in to separate sections of my story are not sticking. I also tried to putting little x's across the screen or D&E symbols, but they won't show up. It' driving me nuts. Does anyone know how to fix this? Just PM me please!

For the sake of clarity bc I doubt I fixed it this time the word "elegance" starts a new section of the story, and the woman gasping "oh," starts the final section.

Sorry about that guys.

So, um…how do you guys feel about smut (bites lip nervously) ?

There may be a tiny little lemon in here….and there may be more to come. Just a warning.

As always, thank you to my readers, reviewers, and story alerters!

Please review, especially since I may or may not be nervous about the possible lemon in this chapter ;)

D&E D&E D&E

This was a very, very, bad idea.

She should be out in the woods, hunting. But instead she was here.

Self-consciously pulling the sleeves of her leather jacket down, Elena looked around the place she'd once spent more time in than her own home.

She spotted about half a dozen familiar faces straight away, but that was Mystic Falls for you. There was always a friendly face around a corner, always a helping hand available.

Blinking away the moisture that had suddenly flooded her eyes, Elena took a deep breath before making her way over to the bar.

The same wood lacquered counter greeted her, along with the same bartender.

…Although he hadn't noticed her yet.

Elena slid herself into one of the many available barstools and waited.

She drummed her fingernails against the counter and allowed herself to scan the room. For a Monday night the place was pretty busy.

There was a table of rowdy high school students fake-fighting and guzzling down pitchers of ice-cold coke diagonally across from her.

Over in the corner a group of middle-aged men were playing darts, or at least trying to play darts. Elena couldn't help the grin the stretched her lips nor the shaking of her head. Nothing ever changed in Mystic Falls. And curiously enough, Elena liked that.

In all actuality, Elena found herself feeling happier than she had in a long time. Feelings of contentment welled up inside of her before spilling over, little droplets running smoothly down the side of her face.

"Elena?"

Even though the familiar voice had her mouth twitching a long forgotten smile, inwardly Elena sighed. Had she done the right thing by coming here tonight?

"Hey, Matt."

Good ol' Matt. It had only taken him about 30 seconds to notice her sitting at his bar. To this day she still had a soft spot for her first boyfriend.

He seemed frozen, his jaw hanging wide open and eyes circled in wonder.

She smiled gently at him, and watched him blink once, than twice before seemingly coming to his senses and walking around the bar to pull her into a bear hug.

Matt didn't seem to notice her body become stiff under his hold.

Would he be able to tell? The change in her personality and body seemed such an obvious thing to Elena that she couldn't fathom him not noticing.

Yet, all Matt did was to squeeze her tighter. And Elena found herself melting into his familiar, comforting embrace.

He smelled of her childhood.

Tightening her hold on him Elena shut her eyes enjoying the moment, before stepping back and dropping her arms back to her side.

"You're looking good Matty," Elena said before perching herself on top the barstool again.

Matt leaned against the counter beside her and simply looked at her.

It was ridiculous how hard Elena had to fight not to fidget under Matt's gaze. She never fidgeted in front of Elijah, but maybe that was because her childhood friends actually mattered to her. Their opinion mattered to Elena.

Letting her eyes wander, Elena tried to gather herself. The truth was, she wasn't proud of who she'd become. Sure, she wasn't nearly as bad as Katherine or the countless other vampires she'd encountered over the years, but Elena was a far cry from the unassuming girl Matt once knew.

Maybe that was why Elena felt shy all of a sudden.

Chancing a peak threw her eye-lashes; Elena watched the joy slowly drain from his face. His dimples disappeared and his brow furrowed.

"What are you doing here, Elena? Don't get me wrong," Matt was quick to add on, practically stuttering in his haste not to offend her. "I'm real happy to see you, just … surprised."

Sighing, Elena let her gaze drop. She busied herself by eyeing the scratches criss-crossing the countertop.

Elena heard rather then saw Matt move to sit down next to her.

"What's going on, Len? Are you in some kind of trouble?"

Elena twisted her neck to the side, looking Matt directly in the eye. When had he become so insightful? And for one crazy, bewildering second, Elena wanted to tell Matt everything. She wanted to tell him every crazy detail about her "new" life.

Reaching over to hold Matt's hand, Elena bit her lip. His expression was adorably puzzled, and touchingly concerned. So of course Elena kept her mouth shut. She loved him too much to endanger him.

"I wish I could Matt, but believe me when I say I can't. But I'm ok."

Seeing the dubious look forming over Matt's face, Elena hastened to add on, "Really, I'm going to be ok Matt."

He scrutinized her face for a second longer before closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index fingers.

"Alright Elena, I guess you know what you're doing," Matt said, resignation coloring his tone. He leaned his elbow against the bar, resting his head against his palm. Looking at her through the corner of his eye, Matt drummed his fingers against the counter for a minute before speaking.

"Have you seen Bonnie or Caroline yet?"

Elena groaned and buried her face in her hands. She could only imagine the kinds of torture Caroline would inflict on her when she found out Elena had been back in town for a full 24 hours without calling. Somehow a simple mani/pedi probably wouldn't even begin to cover it, Elena thought.

"Come on Elena, it's a fair question," Matt stated firmly, the grin tugging up his lips somewhat ruining the effect.

"Matt seriously, don't guilt me."

"Maybe you need to be guilted," Matt stressed blue eyes boring into her own.

"Maybe you need to shut the hell up," a third voice added.

Elena and Matt moved in unison, simultaneously turning towards the source of the new voice.

A very familiar, very sexy third voice.

Relief flooded through Elena's veins, making her blood practically sing in gratitude. She didn't need any more guilt trips tonight, thank you very much.

"Beat it, Mutt."

"Damon," Elena admonished. She narrowed her eyes in warning.

Straightening up to his full height, Damon didn't even bother to acknowledge Elena.

His stare never wavered from Matt's form.

"Go on, shoo," Damon repeated.

Elena let out a little huff. "For the love of God…"

Matt opened his mouth, but before he could get a word out, Damon's pupils dilated. "Get lost," Damon growled for the last time.

Matt numbly walked away.

"Did you really have to compel him?"

"Yes," Damon replied simply.

He moved then to sit next to Elena at the bar. His leather jacket brushed against the bare skin of Elena's arm, causing Elena to shiver.

The touch should have felt innocent, but it didn't.

It felt erotic.

Maybe that's why he wore leather all the time; because of the way it felt against a woman's naked skin.

Damon's eyes dipped, no doubt noticing the little hairs on her arm standing on end.

He folded himself neatly next to her, still looking at her from the corner of his eye. It was a curious look, intense yet bland all at the same time.

Without removing his gaze from hers, Damon signaled Matt over.

Elena flicked her gaze away to watch Matt. He was obviously still under Damon's compulsion. Robotically he placed two beers down in front of them without a word. She kept her eyes locked on Matt's form until he turned completely away, moving further down the bar.

Elena lightly ran a finger around the rim of her drink before tilting her chin up, warily locking gazes with Damon once again.

How did she even start this conversation…

"So, are you going to tell me what exactly you're doing here, talking to me of all people."

Elena winced.

The venom in his tone spoke volumes.

Sarcasm, she was used to. Annoyance, you bet. But noxious dislike?

Damon never spoke to her that way.

Because she was Elena.

And he was Damon.

He must have read the surprise on her face.

"Well what did you expect, Elena?" That you could treat me like dirt and then turn around with a smile and I'd be only all too eager to help you out?" Damon scoffed and brought his beer bottle up to his lips, taking a long drag before slamming it back down.

A drop of liquid trickled down the corner of Damon's mouth, and Elena found herself unable to look away. She followed its progress down Damon's chin before he lifted his hand and wiped it away.

Her body temperature skyrocketed, and lurid, practically pornographic images played beneath her fluttering eyelids.

Elena watched his lips become nothing more than a thin, white line. He wasn't looking at her, but he knew.

He knew she wanted him, and for the first time in her life, Elena didn't care.

D&E D&E D&E

Elegance.

Pure unblemished elegance, the man thought. There were no other words to describe the clean, lissom, lines of the woman smiling back at him.

Yes, even smiling at him from a photo, her elegance and purity shone bright.

To think he had ever confused this angel with HER was an abomination.

Allowing his fingertips to ghost over her flat lips, the man glanced to the motionless hunk of plastic lying next to him.

He would not call her, he could not call her.

….but that didn't mean he couldn't satisfy at least some of his curiosity.

Gently, reverently, the man placed the photo back to its rightful place on top his nightstand.

On the rare occasion where he did manage a few hours of sleep, he liked her face to be the first thing he saw upon awakening.

Determined now, he picked up the hunk of plastic tossed carelessly next to a pile of paperback novels.

They were all her paperback novels. If he tried, he bet he could smell her on each and every page.

The man dialed, and then waited.

One ring.

Two rings.

Three rings, and then a voice.

The voice he was waiting for.

"Isobel," he stated, somewhat surprised at the even tone he seamlessly produced. "Tell me what you know."

D&E D&E D&E

"Oh, Stefan," a woman gasped.

Bringing her lips down to mash once again against his own, the man didn't once stop the continuous jerking of his hips.

He groaned and palmed one silky thigh, helping her to move on top of him.

A feminine hand played across his bare chest, stopping only to dig her nails in. Blood rose to the surface, a perfect dot of crimson that never ran over.

She threw her head back and the man was able to fist almost all her billowing curls into one hand… A perfect handful. His other hand moved down to find that special place nestled between curls of an entirely different kind.

He flicked it.

A hoarse cry echoed throughout the room.

He flicked it again, and again, and again. Her cries growing louder, and then louder, before shatterering in a keening crescendo.

She fell, boneless, against his chest.

After a moment, she lifted her head and gave him a sinful smile. Number 5 was obviously a satisfactory number.

He gave her a bottom a playful pat before closing his eyes and drifting off. She'd worn him out.

D&E D&E D&E

OMG, did someone just have sex with Stefan? And even more astonishing, did someone actually have HOT sex with Stefan? Hmmmm, what do you all think about that? Who could it be? Well we know it's a woman...so that's something ;)

Is Elena totally going to reconnect with her Mystic Falls crew? And what will Katherine have to say about that? What is Katherine planning anyway?

And who's that creepy dude staring at photographs and calling Isobel?

Any ideas guys?

xoxo