Just because Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder split doesn't mean their characters on "The Vampire Diaries" season 5 haven't had a hot and heavy summer.

According to the show's executive producer Julie Plec, Damon and Elena have been having sex since getting into a relationship last season.

While speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Plec said, "It's a time jump. Summer has passed in which poor Stefan has been suffering at the bottom of the quarry and Damon and Elena have been having hot lovin' sex.

"We found a stylized way to show the audience how things went over the summer, what everybody was up to."

She also said that like any couple the two will have normal relationship struggles "in which one is keeping a secret from another trying not to hurt their feelings, trying to make them happy, little things that any normal couple would fight about and then hopefully make up over."

It was revealed that "The biggest hurdles in their relationship come from external sources, people, ideas, notions that are trying to say they're not supposed to be together. It's really going to be more about them fighting to prove that they should be together and it's okay."

Last season we saw Elena turn her doppelganger Katherine Pierce into a human and this season her presence is going to cause issues. Plec said that, "Certainly her determined presence in Mystic Falls and in the Salvatore house itself will definitely be a little bit of a sore spot."

Speaking about touchy subjects Plec revealed that there is a definite possibility for an "The Originals" and "The Vampire Diaries" crossover episode.

The executive producer said, "I think that there are a lot of complicated elements that go into trying to make this happen, but I've talked about it with Candice and I've talked about it with Joseph. There's a million logistics to work out and you never know, but it's something we'd like to do and hope to do."

And finally where would "The Vampire Diaries" be without a couple of deaths?

Plec said, "I think we've got some juicy villains that need some vanquishing and there's always a possibility that one of our beloved heroes will kick the bucket. When, who, or how, I'll never tell, but it's definitely in the cards."

Are you anxious for the return of "The Vampire Diaries" season 5? Leave us a comment below.