TWO

"Am I ever going to meet this friend of yours?" I asked Damon as we loaded our things into the back of the cab that would take us to the private hanger.

"He might be there to see us off, he might not." Before I could ask anything else, Damon greeted the man who would be driving the cab. "This is his personal assistant, Lucian. He'll be escorting you."

I looked between the two men. "I don't need an escort."

Lucian smiled and bowed to me. "Don't worry, Miss. I'm not going to follow you where ever you go, I am simply there to acquire anything that you might need and take care of your travel arrangements. My master promised Mister Salvatore that you would receive the best treatment."

"Your master?"

"I'll explain that part on the way there," Damon assured me and finished loading things into the trunk.

I nodded and extended my hand towards Lucian. Instead of shaking it, he brought the back of my hand to his lips and then released it. "Nice to meet you. I'm-"

"I know who you are Miss Gilbert. My master makes it a point to know his clients and his friends. Damon told him a great deal about you."

My eyes went wide as I looked at Damon. "I was under the impression that you didn't have any friends."

"Not human ones."

"And why haven't you told me about him before?"

I noticed Damon shift uncomfortably and the smile that was plastered on Lucian's face. Obviously the two had known each other for quite some time because the new comer was loving the fact that Damon wasn't in control. "We'll talk in the car," he repeated and moved to open the door for me.

Lucian chuckled to himself as he returned to the driver's seat. I slid into the back seat and waited for Damon to round the car and get in. "Spill," I demanded as we began to drive.

"You're really angry that I have friends?"

"Of course not. I'm just a little hurt that you felt like you couldn't tell me about them."

"I'm still working on the feelings thing."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Damon, it's been seven years since we first got together. That excuse doesn't work anymore."

He sighed put his head back against the seat. "I don't know why I didn't tell you. Maybe I thought it would be awkward."

"How? I talk to Bonnie about us, you should be able to talk to someone too. It would be awkward if you were talking to Stefan." I smirked at him and put my hand on his thigh. "I'm not going to think of you as any less of a dangerous vampire if you have a friend."

Jackpot. That seemed to be what was worrying him, judging from his reaction. "It's not like it should matter anyway. People already know that I'm whipped."

I laughed as I moved in to kiss him. "And don't you forget it." When I pulled away, I turned to rest my back against the door. "Now, explain this whole 'master' thing."

He was silent for a little bit, trying to find the right way to explain the concept to me. "Most vampires don't have these nifty little trinkets to protect them from the sun. While they don't need to sleep in coffins or anything during the day, they still don't come out. Most took to sleeping in the day and coming out at night; just like all the legends. Because of the odd sleep cycle, most vampires would compel or hire people to take care of things for them during the day. Since too much compulsion leads to scrambled brains, most vamps hired. They pay an extraordinary amount of money and usually the eldest child takes over when the former assistant becomes too old."

"Oh," I replied, thinking it over. "That sounds reasonable." I tilted my head to the side. "So does that mean Lucian's master can't walk in the sun?"

"He can."

"Then why does he need an assistant?"

Damon shrugged. "Why not? He's very old, has lots of money; an assistant makes perfect sense. He may have incredible powers, but he can't be in two places at the same time. Lucian still gets paid and he's very good at what he does."

"So, if this man is very old and wealthy as you say, why is he friends with you?"

Damon smirked. "I was the one that helped him obtain his talisman."

"Does he have a name?"

"Simon."

I could only stare at him. "Simon?"

"Why does that surprise you?"

"Because..." I started. "The way you talk about him made him seem... I don't know, that name wasn't what I expected. His assistant has a more creative name."

"It's just a name," he returned, amusement sparkling in his eyes.

"Yeah, but...still," I finished softly and smiled at him. "So..." I started, letting my eyes flicker to the partition set up between the back of the cab and the front. "Lucian is human?"

"You can't tell for yourself?"

"I can, I just want to make sure. In case something happens."

His lips pressed together in a thin line. "Are you sure you have to see Lockwood in person to invite him?"

I nodded. "It seems fair. He's risked his life plenty of times for both of us. It wouldn't be right to invite the others personally but not him."

He sighed. "I know you've been good without supernatural blood, but being around him..."

"It might be different this time. We don't know how supernatural blood will affect me. It could do nothing at all."

"It could give you your powers back."

"Would that be so bad?" I countered. I saw him hesitate, trying to answer the question without making me angry. "It feels like a part of me is missing without them."

"I know," he replied and reached for my hand. "I've seen you stare at objects, trying to get them to move. I've even seen you stare at people, trying to hear their thoughts. But having powers led you to Anya and that led you to death. Yes, you came back, but-"

"Nothing is going to happen to me," I interrupted and moved quickly so I was straddling him. I cupped his face and smiled down at him. "I will do my best to keep my distance from Tyler and all the other wolves. Visiting Bonnie won't be a problem. All the witches drink vervain anyway."

His eyes narrowed and the corners of his lips tugged into a smirk. "What do I have to do in return for this promise?"

"Tell me where you're going," I demanded playfully.

"Nope."

"Then I guess I'll be having wolf for dinner," I teased and cried out in surprise as he surged forward to pin me beneath him on the bench. It was cramped, but he managed to do it. "I'm kidding," I breathed as I looked up at him.

"I know," he returned and bent forward to claim my lips.

The car came to a stop, earning a heavy sigh from Damon and me before he pulled back and we sat up straight. The middle of the partition lowered and Lucian turned around to smile at us. "We have arrived."

"Thank you," Damon said as we both opened our doors.

There were two men who were already unloading our bags from the trunk and putting them on the plane. "Oh, not that one," I said and pulled one of Damon's bags from the man. "He's not coming with me."

"Yes I am," Damon said and handed the bag back to the attendant.

"I thought-"

"I can say goodbye to you in London," he assured me and pulled me close while the other three men did what they were supposed to be doing. "Besides," he whispered in my ear. "It might be fun to join the mile high club."

I shuddered and stepped away from him. "What about Lucian?" Damon tipped his head to the man in question. I did a double take at the sight of him in a pilot's uniform. "Seriously?" I asked.

"That's why he's going with you," Damon informed me and grabbed my hand to pull me onto the plane.

I stopped once I saw the interior of the plane. There was enough room for ten passengers, the seats lining the edges of the space. There was even a bar complete with couches in the back. "Wow."

"It's all for you and Mister Salvatore," Lucian said from behind me as he stepped onto the plane and began shutting the door. "Enjoy your flight," he added and then headed into the pilot's cabin.

"I thought two pilots were needed to fly a plane," I said.

Damon shrugged, "Not a small jet like this."

I looked around. "Um, nothing about this is small."

"It qualifies."

I smiled and headed to the bar. I poured Damon his usual glass of scotch and then thought about what I wanted. "So why are you coming with me?" I asked, finally having decided on what to make for myself.

"I already told you," Damon said, coming up from behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Other than that."

He nuzzled my neck and then rested his chin on my shoulder. "Because I can."

"Try again."

He sighed and I felt myself begin to smile. "Fine. I'm coming with you because I want to see your brother and Anna."

I turned around and smirked at him. "Was that so hard?"

"Yes."

I reached up to kiss him. "So my brother grew on you after all."

He shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "It's not like I had a choice. He'll be in my life forever. Thanks to you."

I laughed softly and pulled him in for another kiss. I had intended to be playful and cut it short, but Damon tightened his hold and lifted me so I was sitting on the bar. My legs wrapped around his waist while my fingers sunk into his hair. As his lips trailed down my throat, the plane began moving as it turned towards the runway. "Maybe we should buckle up."

"We'll be fine," he said gruffly and moved his lips back to mine.

My second attempt at protest died in my throat as his hands slid up my thighs, beneath the hem of the white sun dress I had decided to wear. It was ridiculous how much we made love even after all this time. It had been seven years and we still couldn't keep our hands off of each other. Almost everything we did led to passionate trysts, no matter where we were. Yet, neither of us were really complaining.

I hissed as he tugged my underwear from me. It was very hard to keep lingerie for more than a week with a man like Damon. I was constantly buying new ones. He was getting better, after I retaliated by ripping one of his designer shirts to shreds.

I pulled him closer by tightening my legs and groaned at the feel of his arousal against my core. As he reached between us to free himself, the plane began to gain speed, indicating that we were on the runway and in the process of taking off. It was hard to remain on the bar because of the g-force that was demanding I move with it. Damon, having pushed his jeans down enough, grabbed my hips and brought me to the edge of the bar. At the same time he slipped inside of me, he turned and spun around. The next thing I knew, my back slammed against the wall and he drove himself in to the hilt from the force of take off.

Damon went deep with each thrust, his hands digging into my hips hard enough to leave bruises despite my rapid healing ability. I held onto his shoulders and kissed him wildly. As the plane turned to the side to adjust, we went with it. My back landed on one of the couches; Damon landing on me. My back arched as my head began to bind, my fingers clutching at his hair. I urged him to go faster with breathy moans and cried out in ecstasy as his fangs slid into throat; throwing both of us over the brink and into oblivion.

As we came down, Damon collapsed on top of me and smirked. "Welcome to the mile high club."

I grinned and used my speed to invert our positions. "I don't think we're there yet," I murmured and leaned down to kiss him.

"Me neither," he returned, letting his fingers dive into my hair. "I guess we'll just have to keep at it."

I laughed in agreement and reached down to guide him into me.


When the plane landed in London a few hours later, Damon retrieved my bags and brought them onto the plane so that I could change. Lucian took the rest of the luggage and put it into the car while he waited. "It's a good thing we didn't rip a hole through the plane. I don't think Simon would have appreciated it that much," I teased as I followed Damon to the car.

I had ditched my dress, now that it sported blood on the straps, for jeans and a teal blue shirt with a silver fleur de lis on it. Damon frowned when he turned around. "I liked the dress better."

"That's what you get when you bite me and spill blood on a white dress," I said and grabbed his hand. "Come on, I want to see Jeremy," I added. It was strange to think that Jeremy would still be exactly the same even after five years had passed. It would be strange every time I saw him as more time went by. I pushed the thought aside for now and began pulling Damon towards the car where Lucian had the door open for me. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Madame."

"Please, call me Elena."

Lucian smiled and shook his head. "As you wish," he replied and shut the door after I slid inside. Once he and Damon had taken their seats, I gave Lucian the address and we began driving.

"Maybe you should call Anna and tell her we're on the way."

"She knows I'm coming," I said. "All the better if I can surprise her too."

"Good luck with that," he said sarcastically.

"Was it ever weird for you? Seeing Stefan after decades and neither of you looking any different?"

A wistful smile appeared on his lips. "I wouldn't say he always looked the same."

I slapped him playfully. "I'm not talking about clothes and hairstyles."

He grinned and then gave me a serious answer. "Even though we never aged, I was able to tell Stefan was getting older. It was the same way you knew something was off about him. You were able to sense the old soul within him; that his experience didn't quite match up with his age, weren't you?"

I nodded while I thought back to when I had first met Stefan. "I guess. He never did feel like a typical teenager. There was always a sense of wisdom about him that was older than his looks."

"To answer your other question, yes, it is strange for the first several decades. The shock of seeing someone never grow old will ease with time." He reached for my hand and laced his fingers with mine. "You may think you understand the concept of mortality, but I can assure you that it will not become reality until you experience the first death of someone you love."

"How did you deal with it?"

"The only person I cared about became immortal like me. I never had to deal with mortality until I met you." I watched as the pain settled into his features. "Watching Velken kill you was the worst thing I've ever been through."

"But I wasn't mortal at the time."

"I know, but you died just the same. You weren't supposed to come back."

Then I understood. Damon was coming with me to London because he didn't want to let me out of his sight any more than he had to. He was afraid that he would lose me again. "Damon, I'm not going to die again."

"How do you know?"

I stared at him for a moment and then sighed. "I don't, but you can't keep dwelling on it. I don't have anyone after me this time around. We don't have any enemies. We're going to live for eternity. I promise." As I said this, I moved closer to him and felt security as his arms wrapped around me to hold me close.

The rest of the car ride was silent. The next time sound filled our ears was when Lucian lowered the partition and announced that we were at Jeremy's flat. "Shall I send your things up?"

Damon shook his head. "Take them to the hotel," he answered.

Lucian nodded, leaving me to assume that they already had the hotel accommodations made. "What will you be doing while we're in London, Lucian?" I asked as I opened my door to get out.

"I have other business to attend for my master. Mister Damon has my number should you need anything. Call me when you wish to move to the next place and we will go."

I inclined my head to him and slid out, leaning down so I could see him. "Thanks."

"You are most welcome, Madame."

I smiled, realizing he was never going to call me by name. I waved and shut the door. Damon stood by my side as Lucian drove away. I turned to face the large apartment building and then looked at Damon. "Time to surprise Jeremy."

As we walked into the lobby, Damon let out a low whistle. "I can't imagine Anna's thrilled with the idea of living so close to this amount of humans."

"She's not," I replied as we headed to the elevator that led straight to the penthouse suite. Jeremy had purposely picked that out because it had a great view of the city. The skyline at night lit up the room since the walls were mostly windows. "I don't think Jeremy cares about blending in right now."

Damon snorted, "Obviously."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, I can't let you take this elevator. It's not for public use," a man wearing a security uniform said as he hurried to stop us.

"I'm here to see the residents of the penthouse."

"They haven't said anything about guests."

I smiled and stepped closer to him, holding his gaze with mine. "We're trying to surprise them. Anna told you about us and she said to let us up when we arrived."

There was a moment of blank staring and then he nodded. "Right this way," he said and led the two of us to the elevator.

"Thank you," I said as the doors closed.

Once we began our ascent, Damon shook his head and laughed. "I love it when you do that."

I giggled as he pulled me to him. "I know," I said and pulled his lips down to mine.

I pulled back and rested my head on his chest while we waited for the elevator to reach the top. When it did, I pulled away and stepped into the apartment. No sooner did the elevator doors close behind us did I find myself pinned to the wall, Jeremy's hand wrapped around my throat. I grinned and waited for recognition to hit him. "Elena?" he hissed and let his fangs retract.

"Hello Jeremy," I replied and pulled him into a hug when he let go of my throat.