Elena allowed herself 30 minutes to be upset about Stefan. Once Damon had left, she needed 30 minutes to compose herself, to accept the fact that Stefan had left her for the second time, without even so much as a goodbye. She leaned forward against the kitchen counter of her empty house, which was once filled with so much love and happiness. All she could do was move on with her life. If this is what Stefan wanted, Elena knew she didn't have the strength to change his mind.

Three, two, one. Thirty minutes were up, Elena took a deep breath before making her way back up to her bedroom, only to discover someone had beat her to it.

A floor length, crimson red one shoulder gown was flawlessly laid across Elena's bed, with a small note resting by the strap. Elena frowned and stared for a moment, before she stepped towards the dress, picking up the piece of card that smelled strangely familiar. She delicately unfolded the card and read out loud to herself, "I know how much you like the colour red ;)" All Elena could do was roll her eyes and smile at Damon's inappropriate vampire joke, but that was just the way he was and Elena wouldn't have it any other way.

Damon stood in the elegant hallway, dressed in a crisp black tuxedo and bow tie, his long black hair slicked back neatly to show off his glistening blue eyes and impeccable jaw. He sipped his tall glass of sparkling champagne slowly, as he waited for her to show and stayed on the watch for anything ready to spoil his night.

"Damon," a cheery voice called from behind him. He turned to find Caroline, looking stunning in a long violet halterneck gown, he knew if Caroline was here, Klaus would be close by.

"Caroline," he replied with a smile, tilting his glass towards her. "Where's your date?" he emphasised the last word and looked around behind her.

Caroline huffed, "he isn't my date. All part of a hybrid exchange, and I have no idea where he is, nor do I care, where's yours?" She looked him up and down, and smirked.

He bit his lip and squinted his eyes, "I prefer my own company," he smirked back and watched as Caroline raised her eyebrows.

"Are Stefan and Elena coming?" She wondered, having not heard from them for nearly 2 days.

Damon briefly looked to the floor, "your guess is as good as mine." He watched as Caroline's eyes moved from his face to behind him and turned to follow her gaze. The first thing he noticed was the vibrant splash of crimson in the middle of the hallway, before his eyes moved slowly upwards, until they reached a mane of long, waved brown hair, clipped majestically to one side around her dainty, searching doe eyes. Elena looked around until she finally caught Damon's magnetic stare.

Damon's unliving breath caught in his chest as they gazed at each other for a moment, like they had many times before, but each time had the same earth shattering effect on them both.

"Wow, she looks..." Caroline's said, exasperated.

"Breath-taking." Damon muttered to himself, forgetting that Caroline had super sonic vampire hearing.

Caroline grinned behind his back and he still hadn't moved an inch. "I guess I'll go and find my date..." She gave Elena a questionable look, before strolling away in search of Klaus.

Elena didn't break Damon's stare as she strided towards him, a tender smile spreading across her face while she blocked any thoughts of Stefan from her mind. This moment was for her.

"I have to say, whoever picked out that dress has an exquisite taste," Damon smirked when Elena reached him. He lifted her hand and brought it gently to his lips, staring longingly at her.

She returned the smile and rolled her eyes, "he's also quite the joker," she told him sarcastically, referring back to the note. Damon remembered all the times they had danced together before. The founder's ball when Damon had stepped in for his brother, all the words he left unsaid as they danced together. The Halloween party, how much they laughed as Elena let go for a while. The dance floor was a place they both knew very well.

"Shall we?" Damon offered his arm, smouldering his hypnotic eyes at her. Elena took another deep breath and nodded her head slightly, linking her arm in his as they walked together.

"The dress is beautiful Damon, you really didn't have to do that..." She tried to tell him, her own way of saying thank you.

"Don't mention it," he replied. They finally reached the luxurious ball room, filled with magnificent dresses and costly suits, each holding an expensive glass of champagne, chatting among themselves. Elena searched the room, she saw Caroline and Klaus, Jeremy and Bonnie, Matt and Tyler, all laughing and smiling, enjoying themselves. Elena couldn't help but feel like something was missing, she almost felt guilty for nearly feeling completely happy without Stefan.

Damon felt her tense in his arm and paused. He turned to face her worry stricken face, putting his strong hands on each of her soft cheeks, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

"I don't think I can do this, Damon," she told him honestly, all of the negative feelings she'd had over the last week had just come flooding back all at once.

Damon stroked her delicate cheek for comfort, before he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her gently in the opposite direction, "come with me."

Elena had no idea where he was taking her, but she didn't have the nerve to question him, she just wanted to get away from that room. Suddenly, Damon came to an abrupt stop as he slowly turned the knob of a majestic door. He gestured towards Elena for her to enter first and she did, walking into what seemed to be some kind of private library. The walls were made of bookshelves that reached the ceiling, the room was darkly lit by a graceful chandelier and a grand fireplace burning in the centre of the far wall.

Damon wandered over to an old record player and pulled out a vinyl from a drawer underneath and it began to play. "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls filled the quiet room while he meandered back over to Elena, who was still admiring the elegant scenery. He tenderly placed his hand upon her waist, and entwined his fingers in hers with the other gently. Her gaze drifted back to him as he continued to smile down at her, and she quickly became calm once more.

And I'd give up forever to touch you

'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

And I don't want to go home right now

They danced together in complete silence throughout the entire first verse, before Elena broke the intense muteness.

"Thank you," she simply told him, staring admirably at his sculptured features. Elena could feel that this time was different to all the other times they had danced together, there was a magnetism, an invisible force driving them together.

And all I can taste is this moment

And all I can breathe is your life

When sooner or later it's over

I just don't want to miss you tonight

"Just doing my job," he honestly replied as they continued to move to the music. He could feel her warm breath against his neck, sending shivers down his spine. "I'm sorry for everything I've done to you hurt you Elena," he knew he didn't deserve her forgiveness after all the hurt he had caused her before, and he promised he would spend the rest of his eternity repaying her. Elena secretly rolled her eyes against his chest and lifted her head to look back at him.

"I'v already forgiven you," she reminded him. Damon smiled momentarily as he remembered the scene on his bed as he lay dying.

Once again, they found their eyes gazing at each other once more, eyes that they had stared into a thousand times before but this time, everything felt different. Right.

And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

Damon had so much he could say to her, so much he wanted to say, he wondered if he would ever have the chance to start. "I'm sorry about Stef-" the chorus of the song boomed through the speakers as Elena crushed her lips against his desperately, as if she had waited her entire life to share this moment with him. Damon's hands moved slowly up to her face, their lips entwining, merging into each other in perfect synchronization. A thousand fires ignited inside the pit of Damon's stomach simultaneously as Elena buried all of her emotions, focusing all of her energy on this one kiss. She raised her arms and placed them firmly on top of his own, pulling him closer to her as they gently moved in the moment.

Damon reluctantly pulled his lips from her grasp to admire her over again, her brown eyes were filled with passion and longing between his unyielding hands.