Hello all! This is going to be a short little story maybe 3-5 chapters! Hope you enjoy!

Damon walked into a bar about 15 miles outside of Mystic Falls. He had about enough of his home situation. He and Elena got stuck with humanity-less Stefan after him and Caroline had a fight and he took off. Ever since Stefan and Elena had been closer than usual. Understandably though since Stefan nearly broke in half upon gaining his emotions back. He and Elena both missed Caroline terribly. Since Damon wasn't really as down and out as his brother and girlfriend he was sort of the odd man out sometimes.

Attempting to get away from the 'I miss Caroline brigade' he decides to take his drinking to a bar where nothing that has to do with Caroline will be found. Or so he thinks.

Damon sits on a bar stool and yells out to the blonde bartender "bourbon, straight".

Upon hearing his command the blonde walks towards the back room ignoring his request.

Damon, not in the mood to play games, vamps in front of the unsuspected girl grabbing her shoulders and turning her around.

"Caroline?!" "Heeey Damon." Damon, having not seen Caroline since Liz's funeral, just stares for a few seconds taking in the sight before him. He never really thought Caroline was dead and that he would never see her again. He did however think she didn't want to be found and would be hundreds of miles away from Mystic Falls. Not fifteen miles out.

Without even thinking he hugs the blonde. Something he had wanted to do at the funeral but decided against. Slowly she wraps her arms around him in return.

"It's actually really good to see you blondie."

"You too Damon."

Pulling away to scan her face for any sarcastic expressions or artificial sincerity he realizes her humanity is back.

"When did you get your dojo back Barbie?"

"My what?"

"Your emotions"

"Oh those. It's a really boring story, and not important. Let me go get you that bourbon."

Damon grabs her arm just enough to stop her and turn her around so she's facing him. Looking at his hand knowing she can't hide anymore, Caroline sighs. "Fine, let me at least get myself a bottle of bourbon. I'm gonna need it."

"Grab two glasses, it'll be a real party" he calls after her as she walks away to go get the bottle and glasses.

Sitting down and pouring herself a shot Caroline starts "Did Stefan ever tell you what our fight was about?"

Taking a sip out of his glass Damon shakes his head no.

"Okay well we were at a hotel and were enjoying this maid who brought us towels and I pulled away because I had enough but Stefan kept feeding. I told him to stop, he didn't. She already passed out and he kept going. So then I pushed him off of her and gave her some of my blood. After I took back my wrist and compelled her to go clean up and forget everything. He said he was leaving and that he was getting bored with me. I told him he could have killed her and that he needs to be more careful. That we were supposed to be having fun not raising caution wherever we go and killing innocent people. He said I was a terrible humanity-less vampire. That my guilt was killing his mood and he was leaving. It wasn't really much of a fight but with both of us not having emotions we really had nothing holding us together. No sense of friendship or whatever little spark of romance we had before this whole mess. So we went our separate ways."

"Not really much of a story blondie."

"Sorry I don't live my life to entertain you Damon. You wanted to know what happened and that's part of the story. Now should I finish or do you want to pay off your tab? You're on your fourth glass is it?"

"No continue."

"Thank you. Anyway about 2 months after our separation I was at a diner in Richmond eating breakfast. After my eggs and bacon I went outside and walked to the back of the diner. Leaning against the wall was a waitress on break smoking a cigarette. I was so hungry I forgot to compel her before my face got all veiny and my fangs poked through. She screamed and just started yelling and calling me a monster. I didn't even get a drop of her blood. I had a grip on her so she couldn't get away but my mind was somewhere else. All I could think about was after I turned my mom said I wasn't her daughter anymore. That her daughter was dead. And how much she hated vampires she killed them as a hobby for God's sake! She said vampires were monsters too. Anyway when I snapped back I compelled the waitress to go back to work and forget everything."

"Caroline you know your mom adjusted to vampires. She loved you. She may not have loved every vampire she came in contact with but I know the vampire she loved the most" Damon said giving Caroline a knowing look.

"I know she loved me. Anyway after that I went home. Like back home home. I hadn't been there since sometime after the funeral. And there wasn't really some magical moment or epiphany I had that flipped my switch back. I just found a picture of us. It was taken the day of graduation. I remembered her saying how proud she was of me. And I just wanted to be the kind of person that would make her proud if she was still here. So I spent about a week pulling myself together. And then I left to come here. It's not in Mystic Falls exactly but not far. So in case I needed to go back home to get away and reminisce in the good memories I could. I've been here for a month and it's been relaxing. Seeing random faces who don't know me or anything about me is really refreshing. And now here we are."

"Okay, well why haven't you called Stefan? Or Elena? Or Bonnie? I mean the first day she gets back from a prison world and you were treating her like she never even left. Bonnie went through hell Caroline. She was physically hurt multiple times thanks to the local witch psycho with a multiple personality disorder. And she was alone. Not knowing if she'd ever find a way out. How could you ignore that? Especially after turning your emotions back on?" Damon's voice kept getting louder with every word he was practically yelling.

"Why are you getting so mad and defensive over Bonnie?"

"Because I was where she was and it sucks. But that's not your fault. Sorry things have just been weird for a while now. But really why haven't you called? Stefan has been worried"

In barely a whisper Caroline asks "How long has his switch been back on?"

"I'd say for 2 months."

"I can't face them Damon.."

"Well you don't have to now. But you will eventually."

"Please don't tell them I'm here. I'm not ready."

"Alright. Well I should probably go. It's karaoke night at The Grill, I told Elena I'd go make an ass out of myself on stage if she'd take off with me this weekend. We're going to Cabo."

Standing up he turns to leave but stops. He turns around and gives Caroline one more hug. "I'm really relieved to see you Caroline. Stefan hasn't been the same without you. I really hope you decide to see him, soon." He releases her and with one last small grin he walks out.