As soon as they step out onto that porch, you just know something special is about to happen. It’s their spot. The place where Elena first witnessed Damon to something selfless, when he first did something for her.

All he wants is to reassure her, to make her feel some sort of positive emotion. He tells her it will be okay, because he knows she has become her rock. He knows that she will take his words to heart, and then maybe she will sleep that little bit easier.

‘He’s so lucky to have you for a sister.’

This line just screams how much he loves her. Not even just love, but how much he is in AWE of her. He thinks that her strength, and her courage, when it comes to her family, is something supernatural in its own right. Basically, he looks at her and all he sees are rainbows. She’s an angel to him, she really is. Not that he has placed her on some pedestal, where she has to be perfect. No. He knows her flaws. He loves her flaws. But an angel in the sense that she is simply divine to him. There will never be another.

‘I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t here.’

This quote barely needs analysis. Her need, and want for him is clear. But its easy to just think of Season 3 with this. But the beauty is, she means ALL OF IT. Not just since Stefan left. EVERYTHING. From that moment in 1x07 when Stefan didn’t have the strength to do it but Damon did. And from that moment on, it was always Damon that saved her. It was always Damon that aided her. It was always Damon that would move heaven and earth to get to her. It was always Damon.

His face is so beautiful in this moment. You can tell how much it means to him, to hear those words…but then that guilt rears its head again. I won’t get into Damon/Stefan here, but the hate on Damon is ridiculous. Damon is in love with this girl, and for a long time he believed he would never have a chance with her. And that was okay. As long as she was safe and happy, then he would gladly sit back. But now she’s looking at him with those eyes, and he KNOWS she feels it too. Yet he still can’t have her? Even though she would be willing. Imagine how much that must be tearing him apart inside. 

And then there’s also that nagging though inside his head. ‘It’s always gonna be Stefan.’ While I am confident that the writers will show us otherwise, in the end, Damon still believes he is second best. So he turns, and takes a step away. It’s Damon that increases the space between them. It’s Damon that brings up Stefan. He HAS to be honest with her, and let her know why Stefan betrayed them. He HAS to know that everything between them, every feeling, is real.

‘For wanting what I want.’

The way his voice softens, sweet jesus. So much emotion in those few words. He has wanted her for SO LONG. And she is RIGHT THERE. And her eyes fall to his lips. HER EYES to HIS. Not the other way around. And she says ‘Damon’ but her voice is a whisper. She is already breathless. SHE WANTS IT TOO. But she has been fighting it for so long, that it terrifies her. The thought of what it all means, terrifies her. Yet when he turns to leave, she finds that she can’t move. She is frozen to the spot. Locked in a war with herself, her heart against her head.

Damon stops. Because why shouldn’t he have this one moment? Stefan left on his own choice, regardless of him saving Damon’s life. He did not then have to leave Mystic Falls. All of this that is happening from now, is Stefan’s own choice. He gave up on Elena. And Elena is moving on. She has the strength too. When its real, you can’t walk away, but both Stefan and Elena are doing just that. So why the hell can’t Damon kiss her? Just once…

The kiss isn’t passionate. It isn’t wall slamming, clothe ripping hotness like we know they will one day bless us with. BUT IT IS PERFECT. It’s Damon telling Elena that he loves her more than anything. It’s Damon showing her just how pure that love it.

I’ve seen people say she wasn’t into it. Well, EXCUSE ME. Physically, she wasn’t all over him, I’ll give you that. Because this is BIG. This is monumental. THIS IS HAPPENING. And she is knocked senseless by it. She isn’t aware of her body, just him.

Before his lips even touch hers, she is rising to meet him. He holds her so gently, and her hands clutch his, but not pulling him away this time. Her thumb brushes her hand. That is her way of saying, yes, this is okay. We see the shot of his car in the background, like a shot from some Hollywood blockbuster romance. And as some incredible DEr pointed out, that is the car in which the friendship began. All these little details. All of these parallels. They just add to the weight of the moment. No other ship on this show gets that treatment. Not by a long shot.

‘It’s everything you wanted…it’s one door swinging open…some prayers find an answer…we’re holding on.’

He doesn’t hold the kiss for too long, because he doesn’t need too. This isn’t about getting her to admit anything to him, or to promise him anything. It echoes their scene at the end of 3x02 in that way. It’s just about him having this one kiss, this one gift. But when he pulls away, Elena moves with him. She’s hungry for more. And he smiles. OMG, he smiles. HE KISSED HER GUYS. He kissed the woman he can never have. His Twin Flame. And it was mutual. SHE KISSED HIM BACK. I honestly cannot put into words the euphoria that Damon must have felt in that moment. I have this tight feeling in my chest just thinking about it!

And as he walks away, Elena is STILL frozen to that spot. He made her breathless. He knocked her socks off, as Julie her self said.

This isn’t THE moment where Damon and Elena skip off into the sunset together. They’re not together…they won’t have more kisses…probably not until the end of the season. But now its Elena’s turn. That kiss will be ALL she is thinking about. She has to decide what it is she really feels for Damon (love).

And I cannot WAIT until we get our Elena initiated kiss. S3 finale anyone?

SORRY FOR THE RAMBLE. I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT THIS IS. Probably typos everywhere!!