Chapter 1

A/N: Ello' I wrote this story a long time ago and just found it now so please bear with me.. welcome to the story..

Elena was in the hospital, she was being treated by the nice doctors in the hospital. "Where's my mommy and Daddy?" She asked sweetly, the doctor bandaging her arm looked up to her, 6 year old Elena didn't know but the doctor's eyes were filled with pain. "They're being looked after by some doctors in the other room sweetheart." The doctor said as she put the last bandage on Elena.

The door to the room opened and a woman walked in, she had very blue eyes and long brown hair. "Are you Elena?" The woman asked.

"Yes." Elena said quietly looking at the woman, she was wearing very casual but very nice clothing and looked very tired.

"My name is Charlotte Salvatore, I am a friend of your mother's." Charlotte's smile slipped ever so slightly. Elena turned her head to the side.

"Mommy never told me about a Mrs. Salvatore." Elena said a little confused and skeptical. Charlotte walked over, she sat beside Elena on the examination bed and the paper underneath her crackled noisily.

"You're going to stay at my house for a little while, Jeremy is too. I have two sons, Stefan and Damon." Charlotte was trying to comfort Elena and make her feel safe.

"Boys! Ewww how do you live with them, they are mean and smell and have no manners." Elena said giggling at her own words. Charlotte laughed a little too.

"Well how do you live with your brother?" Charlotte asked, Elena shook her head.

"That's different he's my baby brother, I look after him so he has good manners and smells nice." She said proudly. Charlotte laughed and held out her hand to Elena.

"It's late why don't we get Jeremy and get you to my house ok darling?" Charlotte said sweetly, Elena took her hand and the two walked to get Jeremy.

When Jeremy was fastened into his baby car seat and Elena was fastened into hers, Charlotte started the car and switched gears as they pulled away from the hospital.

When they arrived at the Salvatore home, Charlotte carried Jeremy into Stefan's room and put him in the crib that had been set up in there.

When she came back downstairs, Elena was sitting on the barstool in the kitchen, swinging her legs. Elena turned and saw Charlotte on the stairs, she got up.

"Damon has a spare bed in his room, he's a little older than you but I'm sure he'll be on his best behaviour." Elena smiled a bit.

"Ok." she said and Charlotte led her up the stairs to Damon's bedroom, Elena saw a boy laying in his bed sprawled out like a starfish. It was dark so Elena couldn't see much but from what she did see the boy had jet black hair and ivory coloured skin.

"Damon, sweetheart this is Elena she is going to be staying with us for a while but tonight you're going to have to share a room ok?" Damon grunted and looked up from his bed.

"Mom what time is it?" He said ignoring what his mother had said. Charlotte walked Elena over to the spare bed and tucked her in, she kissed Elena's forehead.

"Goodnight Elena, Goodnight Damon." Charlotte said as she walked out of the room closing the door over but leaving it open a bit.

"Um.. goodnight Damon." Elena said quietly trying to be polite like her parents taught her, Damon turned to face Elena.

"Goodnight Elena." Damon said groggily, Elena snuggled her face into the pillow and sniffed back a sob. This was the first time Elena had gone to bed without saying goodnight and I love you to her parents. Elena felt a tear roll down onto her pillow, she tried to hold back another sob but cried a little and turned into the pillow. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you ok?" Damon asked as Elena turned to face him, the boy must've been at least 10, she sniffed and her lip pouted she cried some more. Damon pulled her into a hug and stroked the top of her hair, "What's wrong?" Damon asked cautiously.

"I miss my mommy and my daddy." Elena sobbed into Damon's shoulder, she hugged him tight and cried. After a few minutes Damon felt Elena's sobs stop and heard her breathing slow, she had fallen asleep hugging him. Damon tried to unwrap himself without waking her up, he put a teddy bear in her arms and Elena hugged it tight to her chest.

"Damon, is everything ok I heard crying." Charlotte said and saw Damon's teddy bear in Elena's arms, Charlotte smiled at her son. "You did the right thing Damon." Charlotte said hugging her son, knowing that was his favorite toy.

Two days later...

Damon sat at the table eating his cereal, Elena peeked her head around the corner and Damon turned and smiled at her. Damon laid his spoon on the side of the bowl, "Do you know how to play hide and seek?" Damon asked getting out of his seat and walking over to Elena.

"Yeah, everyone knows how to play hide and seek." Elena said with a smile on her face, Damon laughed a little. Elena started to pull her fingers through Damon's hair, it was silky she loved playing with his raven locks.

"Well then why don't we play?" Damon asked, Elena grinned from ear to ear, she went behind Damon and without warning jumped on his back.

"Ok! But you have to give me a piggyback ride for like 5 minutes." Elena said, Damon sighed and wrapped his arms under Elena's legs.

He started to walk around and Elena started squealing and laughing as Damon ran around the large home. Five minutes later Damon put Elena down and she pouted.

"Again!" She commanded, Damon laughed "Nope, you promised to play after I gave you a piggy back." Damon said with a grin plastered to his face. Elena huffed and crossed her arms.

"Fine." She said, Damon turned and started to count back from thirty. Elena bolted to the basement and went into the wine cellar, she hid under the table in the far corner.

"Ready or not, here I come!" Damon yelled and turned to head up the stairs, he looked in his room and then in Stefan's room.

He checked all the closets bathrooms the kitchen and finally headed for the basement. He heard little sobs and turned the corner into the wine cellar to find Elena under a table sobbing. "Are you ok?!" Damon asked concerned.

"I just miss my mommy and my daddy." Elena sobbed, she knew what had happened in the accident because Charlotte had told her.

Damon helped Elena out from under the table, he hugged her tightly, Elena felt so safe in his arms she wasn't sad anymore.

"I will always be here Elena." Damon said as he felt Elena's sobs start to slow, the two walked upstairs and Damon got Elena some cereal.

When the two finished eating they went to the front yard and played tag with Stefan and little Jeremy.

When the game started to die down everyone went inside and ate lunch, Jeremy was put down for a nap and Elena curled up on the couch reading a book. Damon plopped down beside her startling her, he leaned over her shoulder.

"Whatchya readin' ?" He asked as he peeked at the cover, it read 'Snowbear' The book cover had a baby polar bear curled up to a bigger bear made from snow. Elena turned the pages in the book slowly, Damon saw the sadness building up in her and he took the book away from her.

"Hey! I was reading that!" Elena whined as Damon took the book and ran up to his room, he shoved the book in his closet. Elena walked into the closet and saw Damon flipping through some shirts. Elena pouted, "Wh-where's my b-b-book?" Elena sobbed without tears, Damon didn't like that she was sad but this would help her get over being sad.

"I'm helping you." Damon said as he left the closet and headed for the kitchen, Charlotte was cooking dinner. Elena went to sit at the table Damon sat across from her, neither of them said anything.

Charlotte turned with plates of food and set them on the dining table. "Thank you Mrs. Salvatore." Elena said kindly as Stefan and Jeremy walked in and sat down too. Dinner was uneventful and so when everyone went to bed Damon was surprised when he heard a small knock on his door.

"Come in." He said, Elena walked in carrying his teddy bear, she crawled into the bed beside Damon. "Damon you're a good friend, thank you for helping me." She said and then she dozed off to sleep.

10 years later...

Elena woke up in her room, it was quite eerie not a single noise could be heard. Then there was a knock on her bedroom door that nearly gave her a heart attack. Damon walked in, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" He screamed and jumped onto her bed, Elena was fully awake now.

"You're back!" Elena screamed throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.

"No I was just going to miss my best friend's birthday." Damon said sarcastically rolling his eyes. Elena got up and got ready for the day ahead of her, "Now get ready for school, can't have you around while planning is going on!" Damon smirked shooing her out the door.

Damon watched as Elena biked away from the boarding house, he went up to his old room after she left. He walked over to his closet and reached up to the top shelf, he pulled down a number of things before he found what he was looking for.

"Damon?" Charlotte called from the parlor, Damon walked out of his room setting the book he was looking for down on his bed.

"Yes mum?" He asked as he walked down the stairs into the parlor. He sat in the chair opposite from his mother.

"So, will we be going with pretty pink princess or dark rave?" Damon asked sarcastically, his mother laughed.

"No Elena hasn't mentioned what she wants for her birthday once since we brought it up a few weeks ago." Charlotte said with a hint of concern in her voice.

"Hmm, well she always looks out for others before herself, maybe she just doesn't want to impose." Damon said rubbing his chin.

"No it's different, she is very distant and not focused at all it's very unusual for her." Charlotte said concern now very visible on her face. Damon pulled out his phone and opened his contacts to Elena.

D - Hey

E - Hey, what's up?

D - Not much, bored.

E - Me too.

D - What do you say about skipping school today and doing something else?

E - Sure!

D - Ok, I'll pick you up. Where are you?

E - Almost at the grill.

D - K c you soon.

E - K

Damon turned off his phone and went to the garage, "Where are you going?" His mother asked.

"To see Elena, find out what's up." He called back exiting the house. He put the key in the ignition of his blue camero and turned it. The engine roared to life, Damon pulled out of the garage and headed to the grill.

When Elena arrived at the grill she locked up her bike and waited with her bike. Someone covered her eyes with their hands, her first reaction was to elbow them in the stomach until she heard their voice.

"Guess who!" Damon said as Elena turned and hugged him, Damon hugged her back. "You know I thought about it and, it's your birthday we should live a little." Damon said as the two broke apart.

"Well, what're we gonna do first?" Elena asked with a smile spreading across her lips, Damon shrugged.

"Whatever you want to do." He said smiling back at her, Elena took his hand and the two walked swinging their hands back to Damon's camaro. "Well, are your parents home right now?" Elena asked.

"Nope, dad's at work mom went to the store, why?" He asked wonderingly. Elena smirked.

"We are going to have a party." She said smirking Damon's smirk. Damon laughed.

"Alright, let's go." He said as they both got in the car. When they pulled into the garage, Elena jumped out of the car and ran into the house. Damon trailed after her, Elena turned to the liquor cabinet and pulled out the vodka.

"What's your poison?" She asked him, Damon leaned down and picked up the Bourbon in the crystal holder. Elena laughed. "What's so funny?" Damon asked, Elena kept laughing for a few moments until she got a hold of herself.

"Bourbon is for really old people." She kept laughing. Damon laughed a bit.

"Ya, ya Gilbert laugh it up." Damon said and he joined in on the laughter. The two sat down on the leather couch and poured themselves a glass of whatever alcohol they were drinking.

They spent hours and hours catching up and telling each other about their life problems, "I have this major problem about prom." Elena said taking another swig from her glass. Damon filled his back up.

"And what's that?" Damon asked drinking his Bourbon, Elena looked down and then laughed a bit.

"I'm still a virgin." she said laughing when she saw Damon's expression, Damon almost spat out his Bourbon.

"Elena, we have officially crossed the bestfriend too much information line. But out of curiosity, why is it a problem?" He said slamming the rest of his Bourbon.

"It's going to hurt." she said sheepishly looking down at her Vodka. Damon said nothing.

"Well it won't after a bit it will for the first little while, but you'll be fine after." Damon said chugging another glass of Bourbon.

"Slow down there old timer." Elena said laughing slightly. "Well I don't want it to hurt, I want it to be special and if I'm in pain it won't be. Can you help me fix it?" She asked drinking the rest of her vodka.

"Probably I mean my virginity boat sailed a long time ago, what do you want to know?" Damon asked.

"I meant can you help me physically?" Elena asked, the blood drained from Damon's face. He coughed.

"Elena, sex isn't really the sort of thing you do with your best friend." He said trying to stay serious.

Elena shifted in her seat, "Well, I know you won't hurt me and you can help me through it, I'll feel better after." She said, Damon scoffed, that's an understatement. Damon thought.

"Elena IF I help you, there is no turning back, and IF we do it you can't get all girly and emotional on me after. Ok?" Damon said feeling a very big mistake coming on. Elena nodded her head.

The front door opened and Charlotte walked in holding a bunch of bags and decorations, she saw Elena and Damon sitting on the couch.

"Elena why don't we go outside?" Damon asked trying to move this conversation, and Elena, elsewhere.

"Ok." She said without hesitation, the two picked up their alcohol and went to the backyard. They sat on the patio chairs sipping their drinks.

"Are you sure Elena?" Damon asked looking at her, Elena looked down afraid that if she looked up into his eyes that she would lose confidence and chicken out.

She looked up, "I'm positive." She said, Damon nodded his head and Elena stood to go inside.

"Not today." Damon said sipping his Bourbon, Elena turned to face him.

"Why not?" Elena asked a bit frustrated, "It can be your gift to me." she said jokingly.

"If we wait until tomorrow then you can see your decision clearly, not have your judgement clouded by alcohol." He said as he stood and walked past her into the house.

Later that night Elena was getting ready for the party when she heard a knock on the door, Damon walked in. "Well don't you look stunning." Damon said looking her up and down, the action made Elena blush.

"You don't look half bad yourself." She said seeing him in black dress pants and a black dress coat with a nice white shirt. Damon held out his arm, Elena hooped hers through his and they walked down the stairs.

The room was nicely decorated in black and white with silver highlights, Elena's jaw dropped. Charlotte walked up to the two and hugged Elena tightly, "Happy birthday sweet heart!" She said hugging her even tighter.

The two parted and walked into the parlour, Damon grabbed himself a glass of bourbon and Charlotte turned a blind eye when Elena poured some vodka into her cup. "Let's get some food, shall we?" Damon asked.

Elena nodded her head still mulling over their conversation from earlier, It's a good idea, it's a good idea, it's a good idea. She kept chanting in her head almost completely forgetting there was someone beside her.

Damon noticed that Elena looked a bit distant, he put his hand on her shoulder and she jumped a little. "You ok?" Damon asked a bit concerned. Elena just nodded and grabbed some pizza from the box on the table.

After many more drinks and party games with Charlotte, Giuseppe, Stefan, Jeremy and Damon, Elena had decided to go out back for a bit and clear her head. When her vision got dark she sat on the edge of the porch swinging her feet. She heard the door open and Damon stepped out.

"You are so not ok Gilbert." He said sitting down beside her, Elena's head was swimming she almost fell over. Damon caught her by the shoulder, "Whoa there princess." Damon said propping her back up, Elena turned away from him and wretched. Damon held her hair out of the way rubbing her back.

"Damon you don't need to see this." Elena said wiping her mouth, Damon didn't leave. Elena turned back to face him and she rested her head on his shoulder. "I think I should go to bed." Elena said starting to stand, Damon held her in place. "Damon, lemme go." She said slurring her words a bit.

"No way are you going up those stairs like this." He said gesturing to her and then the puddle of vomit on the ground. Elena laughed, Damon cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow.

"What am I missing here?" He said almost joining in on her laughter.

"I have walked up those stairs much much worse than I am now." She said as a hiccup escaped her lips. Damon cocked his head to the other side.

"What happened while I was gone." He said brushing a stray piece of her hair behind her ear. Elena leaned into his hand, she pulled her fingers through his hair remembering it's silkyness. Damon face was inches from hers, the two looked away. Damon moved his hand back down to his side and Elena stood up swaying at first and then getting her balance.

They walked inside nobody was in the parlour or the kitchen or anywhere on the first floor so Damon picked Elena up and threw her over his shoulder. She mock punched his back and flailed her legs all the way up the stairs.

Damon opened her bedroom door and walked over to her bed where he set Elena down gently. Elena pulled her covers up to her face and just as Damon was turning to leave she grabbed his hand lightly, "Thank you.." she said and her hand dropped as she passed out.

Damon left the room and went to his at the other end of the hall, he opened his door peeled off his shirt kicked off his pants and climbed into his bed. He shut his eyes thinking about Elena and what she was going to think tomorrow...