You are my Freedom

Under Control

Boarding House, Damon's Bedroom:

Damon and Clara lay together in bed naked and panting trying to catch their breath.

They had been at it all morning, ever since before dawn when they got home from the torture farmhouse. It had gotten pretty out of control, they were vicious almost with each other. They had made love since reuniting and had some fun s*x but this was different, it was raw... animalistic.

It was a side Damon had never seen of Clara, frankly, he was surprised his wife had it in her.

"What are you thinking about so hard over there?" Clara asks,

Damon smirks, "Oh just the way my wife attacked me earlier."

"attacked?" Clara gasps indignant that was the word he used.

Damon gives her a serious look, "At one point you bit into my stomach, hard... how would you describe that?"

Clara has to roll her eyes a little, "Alright so the events of last night might have gotten both of us a little carried away."

"Carried away? Face it my darling wife, you would have cut me open and crawled inside me last night if i'd have let you." Damon taunts her.

But Clara isn't so offended with the idea, "Hmm, that doesn't sound so bad actually, should I find a blade?"

Damon laughs and pounces on her securing her arms over her head.

"What am I going to do with you?" he asks, his voice dripping with sexuality and passion,

Clara smiles up at him, "Ravish me, again and again, for the rest of our lives."

Damon smiles and hopes for nothing more for the two of them. But he needed to talk seriously with Clara before he broke any more furniture with her.

"I am sorry... about yesterday. You were right, I let my stupid insecurities get to me and I lashed out, tried to push you away. But I don't want you away, ever. I am just scared I am gonna screw up either not thinking or on purpose and I'll lose you. I can't lose you now that I've had you again. I wouldn't survive that."

Clara still restrained couldn't stroke Damon's cheek like how she wished to comfort him but carried on anyway.

"I don't want to have to keep proving myself to you, or my love. You should know those to be the surest things by now. But if I have to I will... It will just lead to a very irritable wife and a lot less s*x but if that is what you require I will always pass any test you give me, I just wish you didn't feel the need to try our love so. It makes me fear you are not sure of it. You have been with many other women since thinking me deceased... are you sure this isn't a ploy to run away from me and into someone else's arms?"

Damon growled at that, "Never!" He was furious she could even think of something so blasphemous.

"That anger, that feeling of frustration and complete incomprehension of something so against what you know in your bones to be true. That disappointment and hurt that I could think so low of you... that's what you did to me earlier. You think I don't have a hundred questions about all the women who came after me? That I don't want to hunt them down and wipe them from the earth? I chose not to because my faith in you is stronger than any petty insecurities niggling at the back of my head."

Damon sighs, "I understand. I am sorry, I actually thought of a way to make it up to you,"

"Really, how?" Clara asks eagerly.

"Nuh-uh," Damon shakes his head, "Its a surprise... it'll take some time I'll have to make it myself, but trust me it will be worth it."

"I love surprises, I am bursting with excitement now!"

Damon loved seeing Clara's face light up like that, and he felt such pride being the reason behind her joy. He wasted no time in claiming her lips again... along with the rest of her for yet another round.

Downstairs in the Cellar:

Stefan looked around at all the empty blood bags that littered the ground before reluctantly bringing a fresh one to his lips unable to resist. He was sure drinking Elena's blood was the right decision last night but now as he saw how he had awoken his uncontrollable beast, he regretted what he had done... and what he might be guilty of doing soon.

Gilbert House:

Elena opens the door about to leave for school and is surprised by her uncle.

"Elena!" he greets her with excessive enthusiasm.

"Uncle John! Hi." Elena greets back a little suspicious.

Jenna comes to the door, "John, you made it." She says dryly,

"I said I'll be here before noon." He explains as he enters the house. not bothering to be asked inside.

"Oh, well what you say and what you do are typically two very different things," Jenna remarks snidely,

Next Jeremy comes down the stairs.

"Uncle John, what's up?" Jeremy asked genuinely happy to see his father's brother.

"Hey!" John replies happily at least one member of his family doesn't seem to mind his presence.

**Back at the boarding house. Damon is awoken from a blissful post-s*x coma by loud obnoxious music coming from his brother's room.

Ughhh "What the hell is he doing?"

Clara flips over and buries her head under the pillow,

"If you don't go stop whatever that noise is, I'll go to Stefan's room myself and snap his neck. I did it last night, well it wasn't Stefan's neck but I believe my skill will work on him just the same."

Damon is halfway out of bed when he hears this piece of news, "We're coming back to this story."

Damon reluctantly leaves his bed and delicious wife, ready to completely remove Stefan's head from his body if it will get him back to Clara sooner.

Damon enters Stefan's room.

"Could you turn it up a little bit? It's not annoying yet." Damon shouts over the speakers.

"Sorry," Stefan says distractedly continuing with his exercises.

Damon switches off the music.

"I know we all had quite the party last night, but it's Tuesday... shouldn't you be in school?"

"Soon," Stefan tells him, he is on the floor, doing push-ups.

"Okay as much as I enjoy watching you turn into a more annoying Richard Simmons let me float a theory out here... Noticed when we were leaving last night Elena had a wound on her wrist and since you were in remarkably bad shape the last I saw you tied up and then by the car without so much as a scratch I am gonna go out on a limb and guess Elena made a misguided donation? And now you are trying to feel the burn anywhere but the back of your throat... am I close?"

Stefan ignores his brother so Damon tries a gentler approach even if it makes his skin crawl to be all touchy-feely.

Damon sucks down a deep breath, "Okay look, it was just one time, it's gonna be fine, you don't need to keep yourself locked away in your room trying to sweat out the Elena toxins, come on she couldn't have tasted that bad... or was it that good? And now you trying everything not to go over to her and tap another vein."

Yes, that was Damon being sensitive... it had been a while and he was still a little rusty.

"Just shut up alright, shut the music off, go back to your blissful s*x bubble, and NEVER mention Elena to me again."

"Fine!" Damon shouts back, "bored with the concerned brother act anyway."

Damon goes down to the cellar to grab some lunch for him and Clara but finds the fridge empty... At first, he thinks Clara is responsible but he could very happily attest to her whereabouts earlier and knew she couldn't have snuck off to drink this much.

Ahh so it was Stefan, and Elena's wrist was not a one-time thing, his little brother had gone off the deep end again and surely the ripper would be making an appearance soon. Sooo not what they needed right now.

He goes back up to Stefan's room, Stefan is annoyed at the sight of Damon reappearing in his room interrupting his work out.

"How long did it take you to wean yourself off it the last time you indulged? I saw the empty fridge, did you really think I wouldn't check?"

Stefan pauses his push-ups briefly.

"I'll be fine; it just takes a little bit of time." Pushing away Damon's concerns... and some of his own.

"And if only a couple bags were missing I might buy that, but clearly one taste had you on a binge to rival this town's collective cheerleaders! I don't get it; you know, you don't have to drink until you feel like Violet Beauregarde being rolled out the chocolate factory. One or two bags will do, you can always get more you're not gonna starve. You can even drink from a human without having to drink until you rip their head off. I'd be happy to show you, I haven't drunk from a human since... wow its been way too long."

"Oh, I'm impressed," Stefan said sarcastically.

"It's completely self-serving. I'm trying to get the town off the trail of vampires which is not very easy considering that there is an entire tomb of them running around."

"And who's fault is that?" Stefan asks sarcastically,

"I feel like you want me to say it's mine?" Damon asks confused,

"It is your fault Damon! you gave them blood when you didn't find Katherine in there before you found Clara, you woke them up!"

"Alright that might have been a little shortsighted of me but can't we just move on already, figure out a way to solve this problem instead of assigning blame?" He asks Stefan.

"What are we planning on doing about that?" Stefan cautiously asks,

"We are not going to do much of anything if you don't have your strength. There's nothing wrong with partaking in a healthy diet of human blood from a blood bank. You're not actually killing anyone. But if you are gonna be on the bag diet, I will be your dealer, you will only be getting 3 a day. I can't have you on ripper mode right now."

"I am not coming to you every time I'm hungry," Stefan says bristling at the idea of his brother having that much power over him.

"Of course not, I don't want to see you that many times a day, I'll give you your rations in the morning and it'll be up to you to space them out." Damon so lovingly explains,

"And what's to stop me from taking as many as I want out of our supply?" Stefan asks.

"Well, once I run the task of restocking they will be hidden in another location, one I do not plan on sharing with you."

"You're really enjoying this, aren't you? Watching me struggle?"

"Very much so." Damon isn't too proud to admit.

"I hate to break it to you Damon but...I actually have it under complete control."

Damon is skeptical, "You do? Well, then you should just carry on, making the rest of us vampires look bad."

Damon gets up and leaves, "Have a great day, Stefan."

Damon was saying goodbye to Clara for the day, there was a founder's council he needed to attend and also blood bags to restock.

"I hate when you leave, it's boring being locked up here all day." Clara pouted making Damon feel guilty for leaving her.

"I know I'm sorry, I might have burned some bridges in the witch community when I killed Bree, so I am still working on securing you a daylight ring, but I promise you won't be trapped here much longer okay?

"Okay," Clara replied trying to stow any childish histrionics she currently felt bubbling inside. These new heightened emotions were a bitch... slang was odd to pick up but she was trying to incorporate it so her speech seemed more natural even in just her thoughts.

"There's my girl," Damon said and leaned over giving her a sweet firm kiss.

Gilbert House:

Elena is in her bedroom with Stefan.

Elena explains to Stefan about what Alaric told her about Jeremy's paper.

"Why would he write a report on vampires? Do you think he's starting to remember?" Elena worriedly asks,

"Damon took away those memories for good, you don't have to worry about that. I tell you what, why don't you just ask him?"

"I...I can't." Elena says shaking her head.

"Why not? I mean if he doesn't know anything then it's just an innocent question." Stefan points out.

Elena sighs, "I don't even know how to talk to him anymore. I mean, we used to be a lot more open with each other. But now, with all these secrets just piling up...You know, I haven't even told him that I am adopted yet."

"Maybe it's time you start opening up to him. I'm not saying you should tell him everything but at least try to find out what he does know and be prepared for it."

She rubs his shoulder thinking about it, "What about you, how are you doing?"

"Much, much better. Thank you for what you did for me that night, coming to my rescue, trusting me to drink from you. I wish you were never put in that situation. I hate that you saw me behave so monstrously. I am sorry, human blood- it's just best I stay away from it, you wouldn't like me if I kept drinking it."

"Well, it was just that one time, right?" She asks thinking the answer is obvious and reassuring,

"Yeah... just to save us. But it's hard getting a taste and knowing I can't have more, it's just hard." Stefan tries to explain.

"You know you can always talk to me right? And not just about this, I mean I don't even know what you and Clara went through, it must have been horrible. I've been really worried about you."

"It wasn't that bad actually. I mean the torture part sucked but I'm glad I got to know Clara better, she's so unlike Damon it astounds me. I can't begin to understand what drew those two together in the first place... but I actually think I might like having her as a sister in law."

Elena is surprised by this, "Wow, really? So what's she like?"

"I know it's surprising, and she is just genuinely sweet, believing the best in everyone. She's brave too. She never let it show when she was in pain and Damon told me she actually signed up as a nurse for the war so she wouldn't lose him. Definitely not like any lady I remember from back then."

"Wow, that's intense," Elena remarks,

"Yeah, just wish her and Damon had a soundproofed room, or that soundproofing had the technology to protect vampire hearing because her and Damon constantly going at it makes me want to jab stakes through my own eardrums."

Elena shivers slightly disgusted, "Eeek, you can't just ask them to keep it down?"

"I am afraid that might only spur Damon on," Stefan admits,

"Yeah, it probably would." Elena agrees seeing his point,

"But you don't have to worry about me okay?"

"Okay" The two start kissing telling each other how much they missed one another even though Stefan was only absent one day,

The kissing starts getting more passionate, Stefan lays Elena down on the bed. Elena rolls over and lays on top of Stefan. Stefan, somewhat aggressively, rolls her back over so he's on top. He stops kissing her.

"Stefan, what's wrong? Stefan?"

His face starts transforming. He throws himself back against the wall, breaking a lamp in the process.

He takes off through her window.

It was official Elena was worried. She wasn't sure what possessed her to do it but she called Damon and asked him to come over.

about 20 minutes later there is a knock on the door. It's Damon,

"Oh good, you're here," Elena says relieved pulling him in,

"I had something I needed to discuss with you too." He tells her,

They go up to her room, he goes to her bed, takes the teddy bear off the pillow, lays on her bed and holds the teddy bear on his chest.

"Did you know that your uncle has been kicking it with the Founders' Council?"

"What?" Elena asks upset and surprised.

"Yep."

Elena grabs at her hair frustrated, "Perfect, we'll just add it to the growing list of how everything is falling apart."

Damon notices the broken lamp and points an arm of the teddy bear towards it.

"What happened right there?" He asks,

"Uh...nothing." Elena poorly deflects,

Damon decides to push past the obvious lie, "So you asked me over to discuss nothing?"

She seems uncomfortable. He gives her a look to just get to it.

Taking a deep breath Elena starts, "Look, Damon, I'm worried about Stefan. He says that everything's okay but he's clearly struggling. How long is it gonna take before he goes back to normal?"

"A few days, give or take." Damon shrugs,

"It's been a few days," Elena argues not appreciating how unconcerned Damon is acting.

"Its been two, two counts as a couple, have to have at least three to qualify as a few...look I don't know, I tried offering my services he didn't want my help. What's the big deal, is this really over a lamp?" Damon asks.

"He's not himself, Damon."

Damon rolls his eyes, "Well, maybe his problem is that he has spent too long not being himself." He can see Elena still look unsatisfied with his responses, "It is what it is Elena. The Stefan you know was good behavior Stefan, 'reign it in Stefan, fight against his nature into an annoying excessive level Stefan, but if you think there isn't another part to this then you have not been paying attention."

But Elena is not ready to accept that answer, "He's not you, not even close."

"Well, he doesn't want to be me. That doesn't mean that deep down though he's not. and as much as I've enjoyed this tete a tete, I have an eager bride at home waiting for me."

"You might want to give her the night off, maybe at least for Stefan's sake," Elena calls after a retreating Damon.

Boarding House:

Stefan is looking for a book. He seems to be stressed. He roughly pours himself a glass of whiskey and drinks it.

Clara comes down and sees Stefan acting erratic.

"Is everything alright?" She asks genuinely concerned.

"Fine."

"You're a horrible liar." She says calling him out,

Stefan gives her an unamused look.

"Come on, we were getting along so well when we were near death," Clara asks pouting a little.

He rolls his eyes at that but it works in letting his walls come down a bit.

"I suppose Damon told you of my blood problem."

Clara shakes her head, "No, I am sorry he didn't, should he have?"

Stefan shrugs, "I don't know maybe... just surprised he didn't take the opportunity to gloat to you about my recent missteps."

"I am sorry I'm not sure I follow, what missteps?"

Stefan sighs, "You asked me if Damon ever did anything worse than me... truth is I was far worse than Damon could ever aspire to. I wiped out whole villages. They called me a ripper because of how I tore my victims apart in my frenzied attempt to gain access to their blood. I took Elena's blood that night hoping to be strong enough to protect you both, and now I am afraid it has woken the monster inside of me and there might be nothing I can do to put him down again. The one person I had that helped me control him Damon took from me... he killed her in front of me on my birthday no less."

Clara moves closer to Stefan and cautiously places her hand in his.

"I am terribly sorry for what you have suffered. I would never dream to replace your dear friend, but is there anything I can do to aid you in her absence?"

Stefan is touched at Clara trying to reach out to him but can't quite bring himself to accept he can't handle this alone, "No, thank you but no, I don't think there's anything anyone can do."

They just sat there together allowing sadness to sit with them without trying to talk it away.

Damon finally arrives home and rushes to Clara, Dress box in hand.

Clara looks up amused at her husband, "What have you done?"

"Get dressed my love, a night out is just what the doctor ordered."

Clara peeks inside the box, "And who is this doctor?"

"I'll show you later tonight when we come back home," Damon says wiggling his eyebrows at her causing her to giggle.

Damon couldn't have been prouder to walk into the Lockwood home that night with his wife on his arm. She outshone everyone else in the room with her beauty and she was all his.

Clara was excited to be out of the house and thrilled Damon trusted her enough to be around humans and mingle with important people from the town. 

This was a first for her, going to a grand event as a guest and not working behind the scenes. It was so thrilling but also nerve-wracking but she trusted Damon would not let her make too big a fool of herself. She just had to be careful about her language. Not to speak in so many full sentences and abbreviate even when unnecessary where the tips her husband had given her.

She wore a one-shoulder dress, cut well above her knee, something she had never seen before and certainly never wore. It was a soft baby blue with a longer skirt in the back than front. It was a strange dress to her, but she had to admit it was beautiful and very fun to wear, certainly a lot more comfortable than the dresses ladies of her time were forced into.

"Are you sure showing this much of my legs isn't scandalous?" Clara asks nervously,

Damon smiled at his wife's innocence.

"Positive, it'd be a crime to keep them covered up." They got lost in each other's eyes and kissed a little too long for being in public but didn't regret it for a moment.

They only broke apart when Stefan interrupted, "Oh god! I shouldn't be here."

Damon rolls his eyes, "Come on, don't be a downer, it's a party for the founding families! That would be us. That would be rude to skip it."

"I really liked you a whole lot better when you hated everybody," Stefan tells him hating how much enjoyment Damon seems to get from his suffering.

"Oh I still do. I just love that they love me."

Clara shakes her head at her husband's behavior and asks Stefan, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good, I'm fine," Stefan replies genuinely touched by how Clara cares for him

Damon didn't exactly like the tenderness between the two of them and quickly inserted his own brand of snark squashing any of those mushy feelings from growing.

"No cravings? No urges? Is that whiskey you've been drinking all day doing its job?"

Stefan tries to laugh Damon off but he presses on, "We are who we are Stefan. Nothing's gonna change that."

"Ah! Nothing will make you happier to just see me give up, Damon?" Stefan asks,

"Whatever, it's inevitable," Damon says coldly shocking Clara,

"Damon!"

"It's fine Clara, Damon's just being Damon I'm used to it. Well, I'm gonna find Elena."

Clara turns to Damon a little baffled by his behavior.

"Your brother is struggling, was that necessary?" She asks,

Damon narrows his eyes at her, "Why are you suddenly so concerned with my brother?"

"Because he's my brother now too." Damon wasn't expecting that answer and it took some steam that had been building out of him. He remembered what Clara has said this morning about having more faith in him than her own insecurities and decided he could trust her too.

"You're right, he is. Of course, you care for him as such, I just have a habit of being an ass whenever I see an opportunity."

"I've noticed." She remarks dryly,

"Well, lucky for me you happen to love my ass." Damon jokes with her, already getting her to forgive him,

"Hmmm, that I do." Clara leans up and pulls Damon down to meet her in another show of PDA.