As Damon watched them dancing around and having a good time, even after his odd way of leaving, he felt the soft pain again. He still wondered what it was, he'd never felt it before; not when Katherine faked her death, not when Elena died for his brother and himself, killing the girl he'd thought was dead for the past five hundred years. Not even when she had come back, and to his brother, again. None of it had bothered him, he'd pushed it far away from him as he realized that Elena was not who he was looking for.

But he felt it now, watching Bonnie dance mechanically, stiff in the blondes arms, like she was trying to look like she was having more fun then what she was feeling, for their benefit and not hers. Her and Matt looked happy enough though, dancing in circles with Meredith and that girl in just a slip, what was her name? Oh, yes, Caroline.

Of course his brother had his fair lady. Returned from the dead after he through one of his fits that the gods above didn't want to hear.

And of course he had no one, once again, left alone with no one to hold in his arms. He fought like there was no tomorrow. If he was completely truthful to himself he would admit that there would not have been a tomorrow, and he still didn't have what he was looking for. And he knew what he was looking for, whether his brother and his friends knew it or not.

He fought against the memories that were surfacing again, didn't want to relive the pain of it all. Of course he was a heartless killer, he knew that, he accepted that, and when he was to lonely for words he cherished it. But he wasn't heartless because it was his nature, he was heartless because it was easier to not care what happened, then to care so much that it hurt.

And one girl knew him the way he was; a vampire, a killer, heartless before and after he'd met her, and still loved him. She loved him because she claimed that she saw the 'goodness that was deep in his heart in his eyes'. He'd tried to live up to what she saw, to show her in her next life that he could be what she saw, that he wasn't just a blood thirsty vampire, but a caring person who would do anything to keep her safe.

But even he couldn't save her from her own fate. He knew the century was coming to an end, and he still hadn't found her.

He figured maybe that was best.

He knew his brother hadn't seen him much over the past five centuries, and really wouldn't believe that he'd given his heart to another. Even though he'd told his brother that he'd followed him around, which he did all the while looking for her, he still couldn't bare actually telling Stefan that he was more like him then anyone thought.

Sometimes even he had a hard time believing it was real, he'd seen so many die before and after her, many more after her. He'd caused their deaths a lot of the times, helped in their deaths, ratted many out and done things that gave even him nightmares at night.

And having her die in his arms still haunted him when he lifted his head from a kill, and for just that second saw her lovely face look up to him in pain. Still gave him nightmares each night as he fought to keep her safe, only to fail once again. Or rather day mares since he usually slept during the day.

He'd proved he didn't care about women before her with all the maids when he was 'younger', finding a way to get Katherine from Stefan. He knew that Katherine was the one girl that Stefan had ever looked twice at, sometimes he feared his brother gay because he studied so much, and he still stole her from him!

He sighed softly, trying to pull himself out of his memories, wondering where she was and if she was safe away from that other guy, the other vampire that only wanted to hurt her. The one that kept stalking her, waiting for his chance.

Suddenly he could see her again, in her first life…

Her soft, bright blonde hair that went down just past her waist, like a ring of gold around her. He smiled, she always wore dark, silk clothes, that's why her hair was so bright. He felt his fingers arch into cups and could feel how soft the hair was again. It curled softly at the ends, and she was always playing with a little piece when she got nervous.

Her bright brown eyes that always laughed and made him feel so weak. Those eyes that lit up when he'd asked what she wanted to do that morning when he'd picked her up. He let her pick what to do first, instead of taking her out to do something he wanted, or something that he needed to practice. He'd been bored that day, and thought maybe she'd want to stay in so he could get a little nibble.

That looked to him like she could see right through him. Thought the thick mind shield, thought his touch act, through everything that made him Damon Salvatore, and still loved him. Eyes that had never seen any bad in the world.

Until him, he thought, feeling ashamed.

Of course she was short, but only because he was tall for most guys that period in time, shorter than his younger brother, but unnoticeable with the right shoes. That made her so much more special, he could hold her in his arms, and it was as if she were made specifically for him. He remembered the feel of her soft little hand in his own; soft and feminine but definitely firm. She always looked weak but he knew that on the inside she was the strongest girl he'd met yet.

He couldn't fight the memories of how he'd almost not met her at all…

*~~*~~*

"Damien Smith." The King of this little country he was staying in said, smiling and walking up to him, two guards trailing him. He looked slightly pudgy, probably from all the meat he ate, but was definitely built like a warrior, with a beard to top it off. Going grey from age, but still streaked with the dark blonde that was his color.

Damon slowly turned to face this man, clearly angry to anyone around him. He still hadn't fed yet, and it had almost been nearly two days, everyone screamed now, he couldn't get a proper meal before someone found what he was doing and cried out. But when he saw who it was calling to him he smiled and noticed that the man was a little hesitant to continue to him.

"I've heard a lot about you, boy. Tell me, is any of this talk about you being an undefeated warrior and the most unmerciful fighter true?" The King asked Damon. Damon put on his most mischievous smile, happy that the man looked slightly uncertain of himself.

"True, Sire, why do you ask?" he stopped walking and leaned against one of the tree's in the small park. He'd been thinking about finding a young girl to seduce into the woods, and if that went wrong at least he'd get an animal.

He frowned. Animals weren't very good, and when he was weak like he was now they were hard to catch. "Are you looking for a fight?" he asked, looking at his nails and picking out a little dirt that was in them. A habit that he couldn't get out of, no matter how long he'd been away from home.

The King chuckled. "No, no, no. My Daughter is reaching the age to take over my Kingdom, and everyone knows that only a male can properly rule. She needs a King to rule by her side." He said, efficiently explaining everything to Damon quickly.

But he was still slightly confused. "And your point is?" Damon asked, sounding more annoyed then he really was. This was amusing to him, because this man who was supposed to make himself out to be a King seemed to be slinking away from him slowly.

"Let me finish." The King said sternly, trying to come off as powerful. It was pathetic, so Damon kept quiet to let him explain himself. "She said she would not let me pick out just one guy to marry her, that she wanted some say in it. And of course I promised her I'd let her do this one thing since I myself am a little on the demanding side and I know what ever husband she picks probably will be too."

He then smiled wolfishly. "Since I want the best, and you sound like you're the best, I was wondering if you would like to take her out for a day to try to win her love?" he said all together.

Once done, Damon laughed, making the King back away slightly. "You actually want me to marry your daughter?" he smiled. "I am not sure, my lord. Not many fathers would want me near their daughters. I am very bad, you see. I like things my way, or no way at all." He said.

When the King just smiled, he tried to reword what he wanted to say.

This was a very odd situation, and for a reason beyond him he wanted out of it. "I am always on the run, I wouldn't stay married to her for long, and it's hard for me to stay in one place for too long. I wouldn't be a very good husband to your daughter, and if you want the best for her then I might not be the one you want." He finished, watching the old man closely for a reaction.

It was true, he couldn't stay in one place for too long, people would notice he didn't age and his odd living habits. But it was still strange of him to be turning down the chance at a girl. It had been a little while since his last 'date'. And he'd seen her around a couple times, she was definitely worth going after, just to cause trouble, that is. He decided that he was only testing this man, even though it didn't sound very true to him, to see exactly what it was he wanted. He was sick of girls tricking him so that their fathers could get a good lick off him. Bones healed slower than simple cuts, especially when made with wood.

"I see, well as long as you can produce a few children to rule after you run off you'll be fine. Besides, if you can't then you can just let someone else do it." Shocked at what was just said, Damon couldn't help the way his mouth dropped open just slightly. Wow, he thought, this guy gets right down to it.

"Well, I guess I could do just one date. What could it hurt?" he said, smiling.

*~~*~~*

He snickered and brought himself back to the present where he was sitting by a fallen tree on the outskirts of the abandoned house. ''What could it hurt?'… My heart.' He thought, frowning.

He decided then that if his brother could go through all that he had and still be alive he would do fine on his own and he knew that Elena was definitely going to protect herself. And if anything Matt would be there for both of them, again, maybe even Bonnie and Meredith.

'God, it's like he can't let go of her, I bet she can't even breathe.' He thought to himself with a small laugh, watching as Matt held Bonnie tightly. 'Now me…' he stopped that thought before it was completely thought. Why was he feeling jealous over something as silly as a girl?

But he pushed his feelings away, he could feel a little distress emanating from the little party going on.

And as he moved a little closer and reached out to the distress he saw that Bonnie had found his presence and was looking for him without alerting the others. That and she looked annoyed that Matt was holding her so tight.

He smiled to himself, she wasn't half bad after all, not a complete air head like that Caroline person. Boy she got on his nerves, he'd seen how she flung herself at Stefan as if he were some sort of trophy to be won.

Bonnie was more like his Angel. And now that he let himself think about it, he saw a lot of similarities between the two girls. Bright brown eyes, knowing eyes after they'd both met him. Her eyes had always been the same, thought she changed a lot. One time she had midnight black hair, another she was very obese.

After a while they calmed down and slowly got their dancing out of their systems. He watched as one by one they dropped and began talking to each other. He was still lost in his thoughts as they quieted down and when he noticed he started hearing parts of their conversation.

"…Can't live here, they think she's dead…" sounded like Meredith but it could have been Caroline, he had a hard time telling the difference.

"…Can live with me, back in Italy…" that was his brother, he knew because none of the others lived in Italy. And for some reason he didn't wince at the thought of her living with him. And that surprised him more then he liked.

"…Have to learn how to use my 'powers' better. They've started to scare me…" sounded like Bonnie. Is that who he sensed was in distress, and for that reason?

"…Have to find him, he may be fine on his own, but he might cause trouble somewhere, we should watch him…" was Elena. Sweet little Elena who wanted to save the world from him.

He laughed to himself at how right she was. The only problem was that he couldn't think of someone to cause trouble with. It was always more fun going after someone, preferably someone already involved with another, and causing trouble. The more the merrier, right?

'I know you're here, why are you hiding?' Bonnie said softly in his mind, startling him into looking straight into her eyes. It was then that he noticed she was staring directly into his eyes, brown meeting his own black directly.

Wow, he thought, she can send thoughts?