Chapter One

There are certain times in life where, when you have a moment to reflect, you realize some of your most important years have passed. Suddenly, the things that were important no longer are and the things that weren't at the time are the things you wish you could have spent more time enjoying. A particular instance would be the time spent with those closest to you, those of who whom you love and cherish, and those that now only exist in pictures and memories. As much as you try to hold onto the memories, they begin to fade. Soon, you're left wondering if you're remembering it correctly, or if you're remembering it the way you wanted it to be.

Four years ago he had made the decision to stay in Chicago, despite being a Louisiana boy, after his short lived athletic career with the Blackhawks. He had talent but not luck. Two years into his contract he had a nasty hit put on him, since then his left knee had never been the same. The two surgeries that were attempted fixed nothing, only caused him more pain and discomfort. He subsequently developed an infection that spread through his body, they had almost caught it too late and he was hospitalized for nearly two weeks as he struggled to recover. He was still recognized by hockey fans across the country due to how quickly he had gained fame for his unmatched ability to put opponents into the boards. However, when it came to most fans, he wasn't missed for long. A replacement was found and when people would see him on the street they would shout his name in surprise, as if they forgot about his existence. At times he felt cheated, hockey was something he was passionate about and it had been taken away from him, but he believed there was a reason for everything.

He still had many connections in the sports industry, and over a short period of time he had made lifelong friends with a handful of people. The strongest bond was between him and his agent, the man that had made his short lived career possible in the first place. Alaric Saltzman was an honest business man that had only the best intentions for his clients. While he didn't rake in as much cash as others in the industry, the clients he held appreciated him and looked too him for advice. Damon had spent many nights talking to Alaric about possible career moves, and Alaric had always been there to assist Damon in any way he could. He still helped Damon manage the money that he had left with his contacts in the banking and investment industry. Damon was doing fine for himself for being a washed up old defenseman.

Traffic was terrible on this sunny September day. The warm temperature meant everyone was enjoying the outdoors. Many heading out of town, perhaps to enjoy water-skiing, tubing, or camping in Wisconsin before the weather turned cold. Others headed to forest preserves for picnics, or in his case, heading to a friend's house for an afternoon barbeque. While many had decided to not journey out of the city and instead enjoy the lake downtown, he was cursing all of the others who had added to the congestion on I-290. He had already left later than he had hoped due to some unforeseen issues with one of the stoves at the bar and grill in which he owned and operated. By the time he had gotten it fired up he only had fifteen minutes to make a forty-five minute trip to the suburbs. Luckily, he had stopped the night before to get everything he needed to prepare dinner.

As he pulls into the circular drive he tries to calm himself. He despised being late, it stressed him out to know that others were waiting for his arrival especially when he had been asked to prepare dinner. He also did not like being the last to arrive to a function, it made him feel as though he had missed out even though nothing exciting had likely happened.

As he steps out of his Audi A8 he takes a deep breath and lets go of his frustration. He grabs the grocery bags from the trunk and heads up the sidewalk leading to the front door. Jenna has the door open and is waiting for him with a smile before he can even lift his leg to make the ascent up the five stone steps leading up to her.

"I'm sorry. Traffic was terrible." He tells her as he leans in and gives her a hug once he reaches her. Damon considered Jenna a part of his family now, her and Alaric had been dating for nearly four years and he had witnessed firsthand what a kind woman she was. Damon didn't have much family left, meaning the holidays were something he tried, in years past, to avoid. Since Jenna had stepped into Alaric's life, she had gone out of her way to make sure Damon wasn't left out. He was always invited over when they would host events, and he would always graciously cook as a sign of gratitude towards their gesture.

"It's alright. We were just getting a bit worried since you weren't answering our texts, but I'm glad you didn't since you were driving." She tries to take the grocery bags from Damon but he quickly refuses and pulls them away from her grasp. "Of course, I should know better. Always a gentleman."

"Well, that all depends now, is my favorite dessert on the menu?" He asks with a raised eyebrow. Damon was very fond of her pecan pie. The recipe had been passed down from her great grandmother and even though she trusted him, she refused to spill the family secret. This, however, did not deter him from trying to sneak it out of her from time to time.

She immediately holds a finger up to her lips in response to his question. "You have to keep it on the down low. I only made one, which means we need to wait until everyone leaves before you can dig in."

He laughs and follows her through the marble foyer and down the hallway towards the kitchen. The house was bigger than what Alaric and Jenna had needed, and although she complained about cleaning it, he knew she absolutely loved the place. Jenna had grown up modestly in the suburbs and it was obvious the money hadn't changed who she was, she was still down to earth and easy to talk to, which was most likely what brought her and Alaric together in the first place. All of his previous girlfriends had been high maintenance and materialistic. They had taken more interest in what was in his wallet than his passion for his work and for life. Damon had warned Alaric repeatedly at the start of every new relationship, he never had to do it with Jenna.

When they reach the kitchen he walks to an empty part of the counter and sets the plastic grocery bags down. He begins to take the items out of the bag and looks up when he feels as though he's being watched. Jenna is leaning against the granite island eyeing him.

"What is it?" He asks as he continues to unpack.

"Nothing." She lies at first and he gives her a look of knowing. "I just…I was wondering if you were ok? Ric told me not to ask, but I can't help it."

He stops unpacking and braces his hands on the cool countertop.

"I am." He tells her. "Don't feel wrong for asking. It's a complicated situation." He walks over to the fridge and retrieves a beer. "Truth is, it wasn't going to last either way." He pops the top off and chucks it into the garbage can before taking a swig. "You may not know this, but I've told Ric many times in the past when he was getting into a bad relationship. I was always right. He told me the same thing about Katherine, and just like him I chose to ignore the advice."

She looked rather worried for a moment and it caused him to chuckle.

"Don't worry yourself Jenna. I told him that he'd end up marrying you. Like I said, I'm always right when it comes to seeing his relationships for what they are."

He sets his beer down on the counter and puts the ground beef in the fridge for later. It was still just a tad bit too early to start the burgers once Jenna confirmed what time they wanted to serve food. Their conversation was interrupted when Alaric came in through the open back patio door juggling empty beer bottles in his hands.

"We need more beer out there." Alaric says to Jenna before realizing Damon was in the room. "Hey, buddy! What the hell took you so long? Don't tell me you've been here the whole time, I know you well enough by now. Your beer is still three quarters of the way full."

Damon shakes Alaric's hand roughly and gives him a pat on the back.

"I was waiting for the beer to be cold."

"It's always cold." Alaric says.

"More like skunked."

"Not this time." Alaric says.

"Good to know." Damon says as he smirks and takes another swig of his beer. Just then a woman steps through the open patio door to join the trio in the kitchen. Upon seeing her Damon pulls the bottle away from his lips. Damon falls silent as she talks to both Alaric and Jenna about the beer situation.

"The coolers are getting empty." She tells them.

"Already on it." Alaric comments.

Damon is silent during the conversation as he studies her from across the kitchen. She was stunning; he could not deny the fact. Her dark brown locks hung messily over her tanned shoulders which were glistening in the sunlight that was streaming in through the windows. The long pink sundress she was wearing flowed freely around her. When she realized he was present and it wasn't just Jenna and Alaric, her confident demeanor seemed to change in an instant, as if she was unsure of herself and guarded.

"Elena, I'd like you to meet Damon." Jenna said as she looked between the two of them. "Damon, this is my niece, Elena. She's in town for work from California."

Then, in another instant, her demeanor changed once again as if she had already known of him. He had a sneaking suspicion that Jenna had already told her all about him, because the uneasy look on her face diminished and instead was replaced by a smile, which he returned generously. He moved around the counter and stopped a couple of feet away from her. He held out his hand for her to take and when she did he brought it up to his lips and planted a gentle kiss on the back of her hand.

"A pleasure to meet you, Elena." He said with a smirk. It was hard for him to tell due to the suppressed lighting indoors, but he believed he had made her blush. Her lips parted slightly as she maintained eye contact with him, and it took Alaric to bring them out of their friendly introduction.

"Well. Damon, why don't you help me with the beer in the garage? We need to get more in the cooler before people become feral."

"Sure." Damon says as follows Alaric past Elena and Jenna. He doesn't look back as he follows Alaric down the hallway, leaving the two women to talk amongst themselves.

"What the hell was that, Romeo?" Alaric asks once they're in the garage. Damon remains silent as Alaric hands him two cases of beer that are stacked on top of one another. "Really, no response?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Let me just remind you of something." Alaric says, he pauses and looks at Damon in a serious manner. "If you're thinking about what I think you're thinking about, be careful."

"Are you warning me about her, or are you afraid I'm going to do something irredeemable?"

Alaric sighs. "That's Elena, she's going to be my niece in a matter of months, but I already consider her family. If you hurt her, I'll break your other knee."

"Fair enough." Damon responds. "Does that mean I have your blessing to pursue?"

Alaric simply groans.