Chapter 4

A/N: Please enjoy...

ELENA'S POV:

The last thing I remembered was a burning in my throat and then blackness, I couldn't open my eyes but I heard what was going on.

"She got roofied earlier, she was fine and then she just started to vomit blood." That was Damon's voice, I immediately felt calmer.

"Has she had any alcohol in the past few weeks?" A rougher male voice asked.

"Yes, and from what I know it could be quite a bit." Damon said with pain in his voice, I cringed a little I knew drinking was bad but when I heard him say it I felt worse.

"Ok well from the tests we've done and the information you've given us we will have an answer soon." The male voice responded.

"Thankyou doctor?.." Damon asked.

"Mikaelsson." the doctor responded, I heard him walk away and someone approached me. I tried to open my eyes and made some progress but my lids felt like they each weighed a thousand pounds.

"Elena, hey." Damon said as he took my hand in his and started to rub small circles with his thumb on the back of my hand. I tried to speak but I was immediately nauseous, a turned and threw up all over the floor. It was red, blood red. Damon pulled my hair away from my face, I was burning hot.

"I need a nurse!" I heard Damon yell before I laid back and shut my eyes again.

A few hours later...

Elena woke up in the hospital bed propped up with get well soon cards and balloons around, Damon was asleep in the chair beside her bed. Elena started to stand to get out of bed, but stopped when she felt something tug on her arm. Her IV was stopping her, she got back into bed and sighed.

"You could just ask for help you know." Damon said as he stretched and yawned, Elena looked over to him.

He smiled.

"How're you feeling?" He asked, Elena shrugged.

"Good I guess, all I remember is barfing up blood and then nothing." Elena said with a puzzling look. Damon sat down at the foot of her bed.

"The doctors said that you had acute gastritis, basically from all the drinking and that pill that dipshit gave you it overloaded your stomach making the lining swell and you started to vomit blood." He said repeating exactly what the doctors had told him.

"How come I keep having these gaps in my memory?" Elena asked still a little confused. Damon shrugged.

"You've been passing out or falling asleep a lot." He said, Elena just nodded her head slightly. The two sat in silence.

"I'm going back to college for a while, but I will see you around." Damon said as he gave her a quick embrace and stood to leave.

"Oh, of course." Elena said, a feeling of anger and sadness washing over her. Damon felt her mood shift, he started to walk to the door.

"Bye." He waved, she waved back and then he was gone. Elena let out a tearless sob, Charlotte walked into the room and Elena tried to get a hold of herself. He'll be back she tried to comfort herself, Charlotte was smiling she had brought in some food and a glass of water.

"The nurse will be in soon to give you your antacids, but until then I figured you might be hungry." She said handing Elena the tray.

"Oh, are you sure I should be eating this?" Elena asked remembering what Damon had said about her stomach, but the thought of his words and him no longer being here almost made her break down. Elena bit back a sob, Charlotte gave her a comforting look.

"Yes the food is ok the nurses made sure of it." She said resting a hand on Elena's shoulder. Elena let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Thanks Charlotte." She said smiling up at her motherly figure, Charlotte smiled back.

"I do have to go to a meeting in an hour but you are signed out of school for the rest of the week." She said as she started to head for the door.

"When can I go home?" Elena asked.

"Tonight, they just want to monitor you for the day." Charlotte said smiling as she turned the corner and left. Elena broke down the second that she left.

That night...

Elena went straight to her room, she closed the door and went to her bed. She looked over to the dresser beside her bed, she knew she had left one bottle of vodka in it. She walked over knowing what could happen but opened the drawer anyway. She had found a note it read;

Elena, I promised I would help you so I went through and raided your room for any booze. You're welcome ;) -Damon.

Elena laughed a little but then started to feel sad again, she put the note on her dresser and laid on her bed again. She pulled out her phone to see twenty missed calls from different friends, some close and some who just wanted to know the gossip. Elena texted Bonnie.

E - Hey Bon, I'm fine don't worry.

B - Omg that's great news! Did you hear about Matt?

Elena read his name on the screen and cringed.

E - No, what happened?

B - He was arrested for possession of illegal drugs.

E - Oh

B - You don't seem that shocked...

E - I'll tell you later

B - K

E - Bye ttyl

B - Ttyl

Elena closed her phone and put it on the nightstand beside her, she closed her eyes thinking about what had gone down the past two days.

7 years later...

Elena was on her way to work, her phone had been blowing up all day. She had several calls about breaking news and stories she needed to cover. She arrived at the Mystic Falls Gazette around 3pm but when she got there it was empty, not even Caroline (her boss) was there and she was ALWAYS there.

"SURPRISE!" Everyone shouted at the top of their lungs, Elena jumped in surprise almost dropping all her things.

"Oh my gosh, you guys!" Elena yelled smiling, Stefan walked out from behind the receptionists desk and picked Elena up giving her an unbelievably tight hug.

"Happy birthday baby!" He all but shouted, Elena blushed she didn't usually like to celebrate her birthday because it reminded her of her 16th birthday. This time was different she had Stefan, her amazing boyfriend who always had her back and was there for her. Even after his brother left.

"Thank you all so so much for this! I don't know what to say!" Elena blurted out turning all different shades of red.

"Lets go get some food, it's in the boardroom." Stefan said with a giant grin plastered to his face. Elena laced her fingers with his and they walked down the hall to the boardroom.

Later that evening, Stefan dropped Elena off at her apartment and kissed her goodnight. Elena kicked her shoes off and headed into her room. She sat on the bed and laid back, she pulled out her phone to see two texts, one from Bonnie and one from an anonymous number.

B - happy birthday mrs 23rd!!

E - thanks Bon, love you!

B - have a great night (don't fear the ice cream!!)

E - lol no worries goodnight bonnie

B - night

Elena then opened the anonymous text

A - Hey

E - I'm sorry do I know you?

A - I'm hurt, did you really delete my contact?

E - Umm ya sorry

A - I helped you out once with something REALLY important...

E - ...? No way. Damon?

D - Bingo!

E - Can't believe that's how I remember you!

D - Really? When I remember I smile ;)

Elena didn't text back, he doesn't call or text for 7 years and now... Elena's phone buzzed causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. She answered,

"Hello." She spoke into the phone

"Hey!" Damon screamed from the other end of the line making Elena hold it away from her.

"So how are things?" He continued trying to catch up, Elena yawned.

"Really it's that boring back there?" He chuckled.

"Sorry just had a long day and I need to get some rest." Elena continued still mid yawn.

There was a beat.

"Hello?" She asked quietly into the phone, when she heard two loud knocks at the door she almost screamed. She hung up figuring he must have ended the call and walked to the door, she opened it to see Damon holding champagne and chinese take out.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" He yelled, Elena's eyes were bulging out of her skull. She lept forward hugging him so tight he coughed once or twice before she released him then she slapped his arm.

"Ouch! I visit for your birthday and I get a slap?!" He said mockingly, Elena walked into her apartment and Damon trailed after her. Damon took in the small apartment.

"My parents kicked you out?" He asked doubt and shock in his voice.

"No, I just decided that it was time I move out on my own you know with my job and everything I can support myself." Elena defending Damon's parents.

"Oh, no special someone around? I don't want to get a beating." He said smirking, Elena blushed and laughed a bit.

"No Stefan doesn't live here." Elena said emphasizing Stefan's name, Damon's jaw dropped.

"What! You and my... eww." He said acting like a kid, Elena started laughing, she stopped and paused for a moment.

"He didn't tell you?" Elena asked a bit hurt, Damon shook his head slightly Elena frowned a little disappointed.

"He and I talk about as much as I talk to you." Damon said looking down, knowing they didn't talk. "But enough of all that! It's your birthday and my mother is going to give you WAY too big a party so I brought the bff party to you." Damon smiled feeling accomplished, Elena grinned sheepishly not wanting to admit she was stuffed and just wanted to go to sleep. Damon moved to the little kitchen he opened all the cabinets until he found the one with the wine glasses. He grabbed two and walked back to the couch Elena was now sitting on.

"So, what do you wish for?" Damon asked, Elena pretended to scout around for candles.

"Don't see anything to blow out." She said laughing a bit. Damon burst out laughing, Elena looked at him as if he were crazy until she replayed her words in her head and started to laugh hysterically.

"Well I was going to open the champagne but I mean, if you've got other plans." Damon laughed out throwing his hands up in a mock surrender. Elena pushed his chest and he fell back into the couch, she continued to laugh.

"I wish for more memorable moments like these, a raise, and for Stefan to move in." Elena said batting her eyelashes for the last part, she knew it irked Damon. Damon's smile faltered ever so slightly, the thought of his brother with Elena made his blood boil.

"Amen!" He yelled as he opened the champagne with a 'pop!' Elena put her mouth over the top of the bottle so it wouldn't spill on her floor, the sight made Damon's jeans get slightly uncomfortable.

"Woohoo!" Elena yelled after wiping her mouth, the two dug into the food and champagne, Damon ate most of it. After about two movies it was getting close to midnight.

"Damon it's almost midnight, I have to get to sleep." Elena said as she stood with her champagne in hand and walked over to the kitchen, Damon stood and cleaned up the takeout. He brought it to the garbage and then he and Elena were caught in a bind, they were chest to chest trying to inch around each other to get out. Elena laughed and Damon fought back the urge to pick her up and put her on the counter and.... He stopped his thoughts right there. When Elena finally managed to get around him she hopped up onto the counter and started swinging her legs.

"I'm going to my room, but you've had enough to get pulled over so ta-da!" She said gesturing to the couch. Damon gasped in fake shock.

"Omigod! For me? Really? You shouldn't have!" He said walking over pretending to examine it, Elena was laughing.

"Goodnight Damon." She said as she walked past him to her bedroom.

"Night." He called after her.

Later that night...

DAMON'S POV:

I was laying on the couch eyes wide open when I swore I saw something peek around the corner near Elena's bedroom. I got up and quietly walked over to see her standing there pacing her breathing, I tapped her shoulder and she screamed. She didn't face me, I turned her around to face me and she had tears running down her cheeks, Oops.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry." I said trying to comfort her but it was as if she didn't hear me because she didn't do anything.

"Damon you always find me so easy, it's no fair you know this house like the back of your hand!" She just yelled for no reason. I remember those words. I held her close to my chest and hugged her.

"It's ok, one day you'll be as good as me." I said with a smirk, she was remembering her 7th birthday, she wrapped her arms around my bare torso and hugged me. We sat in silence until she stirred a little and woke up, she froze. I kept my eyes closed fighting back a laugh, she didn't try to move she actually hugged me closer to her. I felt her weight shift so that she wasn't facing me but so that she was leaning into my embrace. I opened one of my eyes to see and she was sleeping happily in my arms, just like old times I thought before I closed my eyes and rested my head against the wall.

ELENA'S POV:

I was walking down the old Salvatore mansion hallway, I'm dreaming, but no matter what I couldn't shake the feeling that it felt real. I was hiding behind a corner when Damon peeked around it and scared me. I screamed and started to cry,

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you cry." He said softly, I didn't face him. He spun me around.

"Damon you always find me so easy, it's no fair you know this house like the back of your hand!" I yelled at him, he looked at me and could tell he was judging 7 year old Elena's choice in hiding place not his skills.

"It's ok,one day you'll be as good as me." He said smirking, he pulled me into a hug and I gladly fell into his arms. Every time it's him. I thought, I closed my eyes. When I woke up I was entangled with Damon leaning against a wall, as much as I denied my feelings an electric current flowed through my body from how close we were. I hugged his bare torso and then turned so I was leaning against him, arms wrapped around me, I felt safe. I closed my eyes and let my body melt in his arms.

The next morning...

Damon woke up alone on the floor.

"Well good morning sleepy head!" Elena called from the kitchen, Damon stretched and yawned as he walked over to the kitchen. His hair was tousled and his jeans hung low on his hips, Elena's hair was messy and she was wearing a long shirt that didn't really cover up much. Elena flipped another pancake and Damon took one from the plate.

"Morning." He mumbled while eating the fluffy food, Elena slapped his hand.

"You can wait." She said in her best stern voice, but deep down Elena knew Damon did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. Whatever he- She shook that thought away continuing to make pancakes.

"How'd you sleep?" He asked smirking, even though her back was turned she could hear the smirk in his voice.

"Well, but I woke up on the floor with this really strange person about your height, jet black hair, kind of annoying." Elena laughed when Damon started throwing tiny pieces of pancake at her.

"You were sleepwalking, you were crying so I hugged you and then we just sorta fell asleep." He said taking another pancake. Elena shrugged and finished off the last two pancakes, she put them on the plate and sat on the barstool around the counter and started to nit pick at the pancakes like Damon was.

"I thought you had work." Damon said cocking his head slightly. Elena ate a chunk of pancake,

"Work was cancelled, roof caved in.. ironically it's head of the news and we can't report it." She laughed, Damon took the last pancake and tore it in two giving the other half to Elena.

"I do have to go do some work at my hotel but I'll see you at the party tonight right?" Damon asked, Elena rolled her eyes,

"No the guest of honor is just going to stay home." She scoffed and shook her head, Damon walked over to the couch grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head. He slipped on his shoes and was out the door.

Elena grabbed her phone and opened it to Caroline's number, even though she was her boss, Caroline and Elena were still good friends.

"Hello?" Elena spoke into the phone.

"Hey 'lena! Did you get the work notice?" Caroline's overly cheerful voice asked.

"Ya, I was actually calling to see if you had a dress I could borrow for tonight." Elena said drumming her nails on the counter.

"Hmm, are we talking like family occasion, or I need to impress Stefan occasion?" Caroline asked emphasizing the word impress. Elena giggled a little.

"Half and half, classy but sassy." Elena said, she could hear metal scraping metal in the background as caroline picked through her closet.

"Ah ha! Its perfect! Black with a slit up the side about thigh-ish length v-neck. Is that good?" Caroline asked, Elena had remembered seeing the dress on Caroline once or twice.

"Perfect! Should I come get it now or?" Elena waited a beat, "Care?" She asked she heard indistinct scolding in the background.

"Nope I'll have Stefan come get it and bring it to you." Caroline said as she quickly said bye and hung up. Elena walked over to the couch to see Damon's leather jacket, she picked it up and put it on without thinking about it. She walked over to the coffee table and plugged her phone into her docking station, she started to blast her music whilst dancing around in Damon's leather jacket. After thirty minutes of terrible singing and dancing, Elena started to do her hair and makeup but was interrupted when someone knocked on her apartment door. She walked over and opened the door.

"Here you are m'lady." Stefan said as he kindly handed her a black garment bag and some black heels, Elena grinned and threw her arms around him. She kissed him on the cheek before he waved and left, Elena went back to getting ready for the party.