Katherine looked up at him when she felt him pull back, her big dark eyes meeting his cool, blue gaze. She wondered, momentarily, whether she could just compel him to forget his troubles, but even if she could, she didn't want to. She didn't want to mess this up this time. She had played with both his and his brother's minds before, and it had lost her her Damon. She wouldn't risk it again.
Katherine let her eyes shut when he pressed his lips to hers, returning the light, delicate kiss. "I know you didn't," she said softly, stroking his hair back from his face. She wasn't used to comforting people - usually she didn't really care whether people were hurting - but seeing this Damon so sad tugged at her heartstrings. "And I love you," she told him honestly, meeting his gaze to show him she had nothing to hide this time. "It's regrettable that they're hurting, but all I care about is you, Damon."