A/N: Okay, I know I've got another on going story and I promise there will be a new chapter posted soon (just got a little bit of writers block regarding 'the Delena talk') but for now I've just got this little scene in my head that I need to write down before I explode and it won't fit into the story so it's turned into a little one-shot

It's a kind of reverse Stelena moment with Damon instead from S3EP14 CRYING WOLF with a little twist and Rose isn't dead, Stefan and Elena are together but it's rocky and Damon has realised just how much in love with Elena he really is :P

Hope you like it :D

(Songfic is Safetysuit – Anywhere But Here - Please listen to this it's awesome!)

Is this the end of the moment,

Or just a beautiful unfolding,

Of a love that will never be, or maybe be,

Everything that I never thought could happen,

Or ever come to pass and I wonder if maybe,

Maybe I could be,

All you've ever dreamed,

'Cuz you are beautiful inside,

So lovely and I,

Can't see why I'd do anything without you,

You are and when I'm not with you,

I know that it's true,

That I'd rather be Anywhere But Here without you.

Elena beamed. She couldn't believe she hadn't thought of the idea sooner. It solved the problem of Katherine perfectly. She could protect her family, friends and Stefan and Damon at the same time.

Alaric had taken Jenna away for 3 weeks to visit his family so she was safe for now. Bonnie and Caroline hadn't invited Katherine in so they were safe too. Jeremy was going with Stefan and Rose to collect some more vervain and make a quick stop at Alaric's house to gather some weapons in case Katherine showed up again.

Damon was assigned 'Elena duty' as he was the strongest in a fight and wouldn't hesitate when it came to protecting Elena's safety. This thought both comforted her and terrified her at the same time.

Damon had loved Katherine for over a century and now he was willing to stake her if she so much as batted an eyelid in Elena's direction. To everyone else this would have been because he wanted revenge on her for never loving him in the first place. He hated her now and Elena could see it in the way his eyes burned with supressed rage every time her name was mentioned, hear it in the way he spat out her name as if it was a curse. And she was a curse. But to her it was because he loved her. She wasn't supposed to know this but when he had come to give her her necklace back she had just drunk vervain-laced tea so couldn't be compelled to forget his confession.

She hadn't told him this. She was still so confused about her feelings towards him and didn't want to confront him until she was sure. She knew she was hurting him with her indecision but she also knew that the hurt he was feeling was nothing compared to what he would feel if she said she loved him too only to realise later that it was still Stefan who held her heart.

No one had mentioned it but they were glad it was Damon and not Stefan who had agreed to play protector for the weekend. Stefan was still mixed up in his feelings towards Katherine and was weak when it came to doing what needed to be done where she was concerned. He swore he could kill her if Elena's life was on the line and everyone except her and Damon seemed to believe.

She didn't hate him for it. He had genuinely loved her and Katherine, in her own sick and twisted way, had loved him too. She could understand his confusion over loving two people at once. Had he only loved Elena simply because she was Katherine's double, physically at least? She was confused herself. She loved Stefan. He was safe, warm, gentle and good. But then there was Damon.

Never in all her life had she felt so many emotions just by being in his presence. He made her feel. There was so much fiery passion between them that she honestly believed it would consume her if she gave in to it. When they argued she wanted to kill him and kiss him with equal intensity. She couldn't deny her feelings but she couldn't act on them either. She couldn't be Katherine but it was getting harder and harder to figure out which brother she really was in love with. Sure she loved Stefan but she knew that if she let herself, she would fall in love with Damon and then she would be doomed to repeat history.

Elena was still at the boarding house having signed the paperwork and sent Rebecca on her way. She'd told Stefan her idea and he'd shook his head and laughed at his stupidity in not thinking of it sooner. He signed his part of the contract and forged Damon's as he was hunting at the time and she'd wanted to get it done as soon as possible so everyone would be safe.

She wasn't entirely sure what Damon's reaction would be but she was going to have fun finding out. Stefan obviously had kept his word and hadn't told him so it was with great amusement that Elena watched as Damon casually strode towards the front door with an arrogant smirk on his face. She nearly broke down in a fit of giggles when he collided with an invisible barrier, shock and confusion the primary emotions playing across his features.

"What the…" Damon narrowed his eyes in recognition and fixed her with an angry stare. Elena was surprised to see him catch on so quickly but she didn't flinch when his gaze met hers, she could see the barest hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"What's wrong Damon?" Elena fixed an innocently puzzled expression on her face and stared back.

"What did you do? Why can't I get into my house, Elena?" He stood arms folded waiting for her to answer.

"Well this was your house. As of this afternoon it officially came under new ownership" She smirked, hiding a giggle and slowly brought out a sheet of paper from behind her back. "See it's even got the previous owners signatures and everything. Guess I'm gunna have to find a decorator to girli-fy my new house" She couldn't resist taunting him; his expression was one of horrified understanding.

"Stefan…" He sighed exasperated. "Alright, I'm guessing you came up with this ingenious plan, weaselled your way round my brother," He rolled his eyes, "And thwarted Katherine's diabolical plan in the process. I'd be impressed but seens as you've just took my house from me, illegally might I add, I'll just allow you to live instead." He deadpanned.

"So how about you just invite me in and I'll forget that I'll be a guest in my own house." He smiled pleasantly.

"I'll think about it." She smiled back.

"Elena…"

"Damon…"

"When I get in there…" He threatened.

"If you get in here." Elena smiled mischievously.

"Okay. If you let me in now I promise not to tickle you to the point of death." He smirked and leaned towards her, pulling her into his bright blue eyes.

"You can't compel me Damon. You're just going to have to do it the old fashioned way and ask really nicely." She laughed, then sobered immediately under the intensity of his gaze.

"Elena Gilbert. Can I come into your beautifully furnished home, cook dinner in your fabulously designed kitchen, drink from your extravagant liquor collection and go to sleep in your tastefully decorated bedroom at the end of the hall? Please?" He whispered, breaking into a breath taking smile and leaning forward in anticipation.

Elena hadn't realised that she'd been edging closer to the door. She mentally shook herself and took a deep calming breath.

"Damon."

"Yes, Elena." He smirked.

"Ignoring the blatant sarcasm in every sentence of that statement, I hereby invite you…in." She turned and started to run up the stairs before being grabbed by the waist and pulled laughing and screaming towards the sofa. Damon proceeded to tickle every inch of skin he could reach, savouring her laughter and chuckling at her feeble attempts to break free.

"Say you're sorry." Damon smirked, stopping so she could catch her breath.

"Never." She replied gasping for air.

She shrieked as he resumed tickling her, stopping every few minutes so she could breathe.

"Okay, okay, please…stop" She shouted.

"Tell me you're sorry for going behind my back, stealing my house and leaving me outside." He said, removing his hands and leaning back so she could sit up.

"I'm sorry, Damon." She said, a little breathily, but nonetheless sincere.

"Apology accepted, but you're doing the dishes." He smirked, standing up and walking towards the kitchen, turning back once to throw a wink over his shoulder.

Elena giggled quietly and followed. She took her usual place on the stool in the kitchen and watched as he searched through cupboards, preparing their tea.

"What are we having?" Elena asked, curious as to what he could possibly be making from all those ingredients.

"It's a surprise and a little specialty of mine that I think you might like." He smiled, genuine this time.

They stayed silent as she watched him cook and he occasionally threw smiles in her direction. It was nice. She could always share comfortable silences with him. He never felt the need to constantly fill it with questions like Stefan did.

He turned to her then and held out a spoon. "Try some, tell me what you think."

She let him guide the spoon into her mouth and immediately tasted an array of tantalising flavours.

"What is this? Oh my god, Damon, it's so good." She smiled warmly at him and sidestepped him to take another spoonful.

"Not so fast, Elena. There'll be none left. Besides it'll be done in a few minutes." He chuckled.

Elena pouted and stepped back to let him pass. He went back to stirring the sauce and she leant against the kitchen side watching. She didn't know when her feet decided to carry her forwards but she suddenly wrapped her arms around Damon's front and leant into his back. She felt him stiffen and inhale and then he slowly relaxed and continued stirring.

She kept her arms locked around his waist for a few more seconds then slowly released him and stepped back.

"What was that for?" He smiled.

"Thank you." Elena smiled back. "For everything." She turned her back and walked towards the table to sit down.

Damon stood still for a few moments before plating up the food and setting it down on the table. He poured drinks for them and sat opposite her watching her face as she started to eat.

"This is really amazing. Where did you learn to cook like this?" She asked questioningly.

"I'm Italian, Elena. Cooking is second nature to me. I would teach you but you've only just got this house and it would be a shame if you burned it down trying to make toast." He snickered and winked as she threw a glare in his direction. "Kidding." He said, holding his hands up in a mock gesture of surrender.

"Seriously though, I will teach you how to cook. If you want me to." He looked her in the eyes and she could see the underlying question in his gaze. If she still wanted him there at all. She realised then that she'd never actually forgiven him out loud for breaking Jeremy's neck and she couldn't believe that she'd actually forgiven him at all. If it had been anyone else, she told herself, she wouldn't have. It was like the entire rule book just went out the window when Damon was concerned.

"I forgive you, you know. I am still your friend and I always will be no matter how bad you were when we first met, you've changed. You are good even if you don't see it, I do." Elena smiled and reached across to take his hand in hers. She gave it a reassuring squeeze and kept it there as she lowered her head to continue eating.

His heart swelled at her words. He didn't think he'd ever been so in love with someone in his entire existence. He'd loved Katherine but never like this. His entire world came alive, held meaning, as soon as she stepped in a room. He loved her more than she could ever know and he wished it was enough for her to love him back.

"Thank you." He whispered, a thousand different emotions colouring his voice. "For everything." He smiled, reusing her words from earlier.

They sat hand in hand, eating in silence and enjoying the comfort the other brought. They let go of each others hands to tidy up the plates and put them in the sink. Damon reached to turn on the tap when he felt Elena put her hand on his arm and gently pull him back.

"I'm doing the washing up, remember." She laughed and turned him around before walking him backwards towards the stool. "Sit." She commanded and he sat and watched as she turned back to walk towards the sink.

She busied herself with washing the plates as he silently watched her, entranced. She was so beautiful it hurt. Even when she dropped the dish in the water a little too quickly and the bubbles splashed up on to her hair and neck as she laughed, dripping wet, she was still the most glorious sight he'd ever laid eyes on.

He stood up as she continued washing and wrapped his arms around her waist bending to rest his head on her shoulder. She didn't flinch away like he expected her to but leaned into him, a small sigh of contentment leaving her lips.

Damon placed a gentle kiss on the side of her cheek, tightened his arms briefly then pulled back to sit back down. Elena turned her head and threw him a quick smile before turning back to resume her chore.

A few hours later they were sat on the sofa watching House and laughing at Hugh Laurie's sarcastic humour. Elena was curled up on Damon's chest with his arm draped around her stomach. Every so often they'd look at each other silently conveying their happiness at the others continued presence.

Every time they did this Elena felt a small pang of guilt pierce her heart. She was supposed to love Stefan. He was the choice everyone expected her to make. Wanted her to make. But every time she was close to making that choice something held her back. Damon.

When she thought about being with him instead of Stefan the only thing holding her back was fear. Not fear for herself or how he would treat her. She knew he would never hurt her, she'd always be safe with him. It was fear of the unknown. She didn't care how her friends or family would react. Sure they'd be confused, disappointed maybe but that wouldn't influence her decision.

There was Stefan too. She hated that she'd have to hurt him. Wished there was another way but sometimes love wasn't so black and white. Someone always got hurt. Wasn't she hurting everyone more by not being true to herself?

But if the only thing holding her back was her uncertainty for the future then surely that meant that he was the choice her heart should make. After all, no one can ever be sure of the future. She'd proven that. When she'd first met Stefan she was convinced he was the one. Sure she would love him until the day she died.

But they didn't work. No matter how much she tried, there was always something hindering their relationship. She loved him, but she wasn't in love with him.

Damon shifted slightly, pulling her out of her inner turmoil.

"Stefan and Rose are outside. You need to invite them in." He sighed.

Elena stood up and made her way over to the door. She opened it to find Stefan smiling warmly at her and Rose staring at her in shock, awe and bemusement.

"What's wrong?" Elena asked immediately concerned.

"Nothing." Stefan replied puzzled. "Why?"

Rose shook her head slightly and fixed her with a pointed stare.

"It doesn't matter." Elena mumbled. "You can both come in."

They stepped over the threshold and Rose excused herself to pour a drink.

"Where's Jeremy?" Elena asked.

"He's staying at Bonnie's. He can't stay at your house in case Katherine shows up. He's fine though, don't worry." Stefan smiled again and nodded towards Damon who was still sat on the sofa staring at the T.V.

"How he react when you told him your plan." Stefan chuckled.

"He was fine with it…after a while." She smirked but shook her head at Stefan's questioning gaze.

She braced herself and took a deep breath. It was time to break his heart and she had to do it before it overwhelmed her.

"We have to talk. Now."

"Rose, what's wrong?" Stefan asked, puzzled.

"I'm an idiot. I didn't see. I should have. But all the business with Klaus…Klaus…Yes! I know how we can beat him and Elena won't have to die." Rose smiled, genuine and warm.

Damon blurred to stand next to us. "She was never dying anyway." His eyes burned intensely. "Now get to the point, Rose, we haven't got all night."

"You're not going to like it. Well, if I'm right, you and Elena will but Stefan…" She turned to face him, sympathy and hurt evident on her features.

"Why won't I like it?" Stefan asked looking determined.

"Because she's not yours. She never was." Rose declared sadly.

"What?" Stefan asked looking blank. Clearly that was not the answer he'd been expecting.

"Elena is not meant for you." Rose continued. "She can't be because you're not her…well…soulmate is probably the best word for it, though it's much stronger than that." Her eyes flickered between Elena and Damon, a movement which was not missed by any of them.

"What are you saying, Rose?" Stefan demanded tired of her half answers. "Get to the point."

"Okay, everyone knows what defines a soul mate, right. Your equal in life, the part which completes you, your strongest love. Well it goes a little further than that. You see, no one is ever actually meant to find their soul mate. They're too powerful when together. If one goes missing, gets taken, the other would literally rip apart the universe to get them back. There's nothing, and I cannot stress this enough, that would stop them."

She stopped then staring into each of their faces, trying to get them to believe her literal meaning.

"Soul mates are born in different centuries. They are never supposed to find each other because ones always supposed to be dead whilst the other lives. It's only ever happened once before. One was a vampire," She looked pointedly at Damon, "And the other was human." She stared at Elena.

"She turned him when they realised that they physically could not bear the thought of the other dying. And I mean that. If one soul mate dies the other literally cannot live. It destroys them completely. I don't know why I didn't realise sooner, it's obvious." She looked back and forth between me and Damon and sighed heavily.

"So you're saying," Damon looked at Rose in disbelief, "That me and Elena are…soul mates." He scoffed.

Elena froze. Horror struck at the realisation of why she couldn't let him go. Why she felt drawn to him, defended him, loved him, when everyone else turned away and ran.

"Yes." Rose said simply. "You've just obviously never acted on it because if you did there is no way Elena would be standing next to Stefan right now. But if you don't believe me then I can prove it." She smiled.

"How?" Elena asked. Damon glanced at her sharply, puzzled by the eagerness in her tone. Why was she looking at him like that? With…love. She should have been vehemently denying any hint of questioning over the love she had for Stefan. After all, hadn't she told him less than a month ago that it was always going to be Stefan. Always.

"What?" Stefan had been silent, trying to come up with a way to deny Rose's reasoning. Elena's voice broke him from his thoughts.

"Stefan, I am so sorry. I really am but I can't deny my feelings for Damon anymore. I though I was being selfish, I though my feelings would go away but they only get stronger. I've tried to deny them but I can't lie to you, Damon or myself any longer. I'm sorry that I've hurt you but I think I'm in love with Damon. I love you but we were never completely happy with each other. Even you know that." Elena pleaded with him tears in her eyes. "I see the way you look at Katherine, I know you deny your feelings for her but they are still there and I don't hate you for it or begrudge your happiness, but it's been over between us for so long that I can't even remember why we try to stay together." Tears fell silently down her face as she begged Stefan to understand.

Stefan stood still for what felt like forever as he listened to her tear his heart apart. But a small voice inside his head couldn't help but sigh in relief. He knew what she was saying was true. He'd been fighting it for so long. Trying to keep her. Fighting to keep her. But he'd known he was losing the battle. He'd seen it in every look, smile and touch that Damon and Elena had shared. They'd both tried to fight it, for his sake.

Stefan just nodded and turned from them sprinting from the room before they could see the tear roll down his cheek. He needed time. They needed time. And he couldn't stay to watch.

Damon had been standing still staring at Elena as she told Stefan how much she loved him but that she loved Damon more. Him, Damon Salvatore. Elena loved him. His heart nearly burst from his chest in joy. He wanted to hold her, to kiss her, to love her. But he couldn't. He didn't deserve her no matter how much she loved him, he would never be worthy.

Rose spoke then pulling them both out of their scrambled thoughts.

"Right, lets get this over with. You have three options which will start the process but once all are done you won't be able to not love each other so you have to think about this very carefully. If you are soul mates you will be tied together in everyway. You will feel each others emotions, be able to tell when the other is hurt physically, you will become stronger, faster, smarter when the other is in danger. You cannot be compelled or spelled to do each other harm, it will not work. Neither can you be forced apart through compulsion or magic or anything other than death." She said grimly. "Oh, and you'll be able to read each others mind," She smiled. "That should be interesting."

"What are the options?" Elena asked, worriedly. Damon hadn't moved or taken a breath since Rose had started talking.

"Well the actual process involves the joining of your Minds, Bodies and Blood. The easiest and most basic is the joining of your Minds done through a kiss. Not a peck on the lips but an actual kiss. It has to make you realise the extent of your love for the other. It's easy anyway as soon as you start you probably won't be able to stop until you've gone through all three…stages." She smirked and continued.

"The joining of Bodies is fairly self explanatory; sex. And the joining of Blood is obviously a blood exchange, luckily vampires are into that." She laughed. "Basically, once all three have been done, you two become the most powerful couple in existence, ergo Klaus can't touch you, therefore you win and the doppelganger gets to live." Rose winked at Elena then turned to Damon.

"Damon, you've been unusually quiet, care to share?" Rose smiled clearly enjoying the fact that she'd rendered the great Damon Salvatore speechless.

He ignored her and instead looked into to Elena's eyes as he spoke.

"You know we can't do this right?" He asked. "I'm no good for you, Elena, and I refuse to condemn you to this life. I love you but I can't be selfish with you. I want you more than I've wanted anything in my entire existence but I don't deserve you. I will always protect you and I would die to save you but I can't let you become the monster that I am." He turned to walk out the door but was stopped by the sound of Elena's voice exploding in anger.

"Damon Salvatore, don't you dare walk out that door! I am sick and tired of explaining this to you. You. Are. A. Good. Person. Stop trying to decide what I want for me. I have the right to choose who I spend my life with and I want to spend it with you. Soul mates or not, I am yours. I love you. So turn around, walk back over here and kiss me. Now."

He slowly turned to face her. She was shaking with repressed rage and passion. The lust in her eyes nearly sent him over the edge. Never had she looked so beautiful. And she was his. He almost did a victory dance as he swept past Rose towards the only person who would ever hold his heart. Elena. His Elena.

When his lips met hers he nearly died all over again. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't do anything but see her. She was everywhere. Her scent, her taste, her passion and desire burning him with such intensity it felt as if the world was ending. His hands found her waist as he crushed her body to him. He'd never understood what people went on about when they talked about 'the spark' but he was sure that's what he was feeling right now. The air was charged with electricity as their lips moved to devour each other. He pushed her against the wall as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He groaned as she flicked her tongue along his lips begging for entrance. He obliged.

Their tongues danced for dominance inside each other's mouths and he'd never felt so close to bliss in his entire life. The kiss became more intense as they started peeling each others clothes off, desperation and need overwhelming each of them. His hands roamed under her shirt as she ripped it off over her head, sighing in frustration as she was forced to break the kiss. He started a trail of kisses from her jaw down to her neck, sucking her pulse point gently. She pressed her body into his more forcefully as cupped her breasts massaging them softly. He trailed kisses back up her neck and along her jaw before meeting her lips with renewed vigour stopping so she could take a shaky breath he gazed unrelenting into her chocolate brown eyes letting every wonderful feeling he'd ever had for her play across his face. She gasped in wonder and the look of pure love radiating from her face sent pleasurable little shocks through his body. She lowered her head towards him.

"Damon…I need you…inside…now." She whispered seductively in his ear. He shivered with unrepressed desire and nearly collapsed weak at the knees when he heard the husky desire in her voice.

"I don't think…" He had to catch his breath, what was she doing to him? "I can't make it that far…to my bed…"

"I don't care." She breathed. "I want you…now…here…please."

His self control snapped as he sped towards the sofa and ripped off their remaining clothes until they were left in only their underwear.

"Are you sure?" He asked. He still couldn't believe she'd chosen him and was certain he was going to wake up to find it was all a dream, another sick joke the universe just had to play on him.

"Always." She replied as she grabbed his head and lowered his lips to hers for a bruising kiss. "It will always be you, Damon."

He ripped off their remaining clothes in a frenzy and they tumbled into a world of passionate bliss. The world could end and armaggedon could commence but they would never fall apart. She was his and he was hers and they were it. They were soul mates.

A/N: Okay so I know this is a one-shot but I do have a vague idea for a continuing storyline if anyone wants me to continue :D

Review please and tell me what you liked/disliked, what I could improve and any ideas you want me to try and incorporate into the story :D

Thankyouu

xxAlyciaJadexx