A/N: Sorry for longer than expected wait for this chapter. My computer and I were not on speaking terms for a couple of days, but he has seen the light and is cooperating fully. Happy reading!

Chapter 3

Damn you Alaric. It's raining and I'm wet. I'm here in Mystic Falls because he managed to convince me to be the good guy and help with the case to find Elena's brother. He threw out the clichés about being the bigger person, getting closure, yada, yada, yada. The only reason I am helping is Elena's happiness. All the other reasons don't matter. Despite her annoying propensity for getting into trouble without even trying and even despite her affinity for my brother, I can't resist the opportunity to spend time with Elena. Even if the majority of that time will be her yelling at me and telling to go to hell. Turns out the siren lured me in despite my best intentions. Hopefully it doesn't come back to bite me in the ass. What am I saying, it's me, Damon Salvatore were talking about….it will definitely come back to bite me in the ass.

So here I am looking like a drowned rate, spying on the townies. Since I'm from Mystic Falls it was decided I would sneak into the place I once called home, snoop around and see who the major players are in town these days. Alaric's currently holed up in some rat-motel off the interstate running phone records and credit cards for Jeremy hoping to find some trail of where he might have gone. I drew the short straw tailing the town folk since I know all the hideout spots to blend in so I can go unspotted for the recon portion of the investigation.

Over the past few days I have learned that not much has changed in Mystic Falls. No big surprise, Liz Forbes is still Sheriff, the Lockwoods are the mayor and first lady, and daddy dearest still has the paper mill employing half the town.

Pulling my jacket closer around me as I spy from my location in an alley off of Main Street, I silently curse Jeremy. That kid always was a pain in the ass. If it turns out he is holed up somewhere with a blunt and a bottle of Jack, I may kill the pip squeak myself. Just as I prepare to call it a day I see her. Elena runs across the street towards the Grille, which I can tell is still Mystic Falls' "hot spot." She delicately dodges the puddles, her cutesy flowered umbrella sheltering her from the rain.

Elena has grown up. Back when she was in high school it was a rare day to catch her in anything other than jeans, t-shirt, leather jacket and her beloved chucks on her feet. Now, she's buffed and coifed. She was supposed to finish her senior year in New York in a highly competitive writing program. From the looks of she must have become successful. As with all other aspects of her life, I've turned a blind eye and force myself not to look for her name when in a bookstore.

New York high society must have left an impression. I made the mistake of looking Stefan up and I know he just graduated from Columbia so by default Elena is there too since the two are getting married. In fact, I'm shocked she is even back in town. Her dad had ALS and everyone knew he wouldn't survive to see her graduate high school. She and her mother never got along, in fact her mother was verbally abusive and controlling. A complete bitch. Despite how much she loved her dad, she always said after her dad died, nothing would make her happier than burning down the house and never looking back. Maybe she and Stefan just wanted to get married in their hometown before resuming their life in New York and the pursuit of Stefan's medical career. The kid always wanted to be surgeon general.

The emergence of Elena a short while later forces me to stop daydreaming about what her and Stefan's life must be like. She definitely looks like a new woman. The clothes are designer, her make-up impeccable, and high heels that make her legs go on for miles. Everything about her screams wealth and success. From the looks of her, she must have made all her dreams come true. That's all I ever wanted for her. As much as it hurt me, maybe the circumstances that had me leaving town were for the best. I couldn't have given her this life. So those whispers echoing in my head from the past were right. I wasn't good enough for her.

As I watch her walk down the sidewalk, she is followed by a bubbly blonde. If memory serves, that would be Caroline Forbes. Sheriff's daughter, once upon a time head cheerleader, control freak, blonde best friend. Not one of my favorites of the brat pack that Stefan hung out with back in high school. Speaking of baby brother I should probably announce my arrival at some point. Today finished up our information gathering phase so I guess it is time to announce myself to the town. I can see what the mischievous little shit has been up to all these years besides getting to marry the love of my life. I can only imagine the welcome I will receive from my quote un quote family.

It didn't take long to reach Casa del Salvatore. The Camaro seemed to remember the way despite my attempts to forget. If I said I didn't miss the place it would be a bold face lie. Despite my father's extreme hatred of all things Damon, there are some good memories here. Hide and seek in the gardens, snow ball fights, and picnics in the backyard with my mom and Stefan. My mother would look at us like we were the greatest treasures in the universe. She bathed us in love, laughter and joy. The feeling of love was so palpable I used it as a set of armor for years after her passing against the belligerent words my father threw at me like daggers.

My mother was one of the few people, maybe the only person that truly loved me for me. Most that knew her say I look like her. The same black hair, blue eyes and pale complexion. Stefan took after the Salvatore side of the family. Maybe that was why dad loved him and not me. Of course, there were lots of other reasons, who I am kidding. My mom loved Stefan with all her heart, like any mother loves her child, but a small part of me always liked to pretend I was her favorite. For years it was really just the two of us. Dad was too busy playing small town business tycoon to bother with us much. When Stefan arrived, suddenly Giuseppe decided it was time to be a dad…to Stefan, not so much to me.

Sitting in my car staring at the tudor style home, I fight the urge to put the Camaro in reverse and drive away from this place and this town. Despite my best intentions, this investigation will just end in heart ache because when does anything go my way. Wow…all aboard the pity train, one ticket please. Suck it up Damon, you're a big boy. Pulling up my big boy underroos, I force myself out of my car and up the walk to rap on the door.

The door flies open before I can reconsider my actions to reveal a very shocked Stefan. "Hello brother."

Leaving Elena four years ago broke my heart but standing before my little brother, I realize leaving him hurt just as much. No matter how we were treated as kids, how the roads of our lives diverged, he was, is and always will be my little brother. Nothing can ever change the love of a brother. As much as I want to resent him for being the one to receive Elena's love, in the end, I can't. Despite his flaws he has always been the better man. He's thoughtful and considerate, every parents dream; whereas I am every parent's worst nightmare.

"It's been a long time Damon." The frost in his tone is evident. I notice that Stefan stands in the door making no move to invite me in so I invited myself in, brushing past him plunging myself back into the cold sterility of my youth from after my mom's passing.

"Why don't you come in" Stefan snarls at my back.

"Here I thought I would be welcome back with open arms Steffie." Stefan's jaw clenches and I can't help but smirk. He's still so easy to rile up.

I stride into the living room and zero in on the small bar near the fireplace. Funny how that bar is the last real memory I have of this house. It's where I would frequently steal alcohol to drink myself into a stupor to forget how much my own father hated me and it is the place I stood during our last fight before my world turned upside down.


"Damn it Damon. You can't keep yourself out of trouble for two seconds can you?" Giuseppe screamed at me.

"Do tell father-mine, what did I do this time?" I smirked at him as I finished pouring the drink I had been in the middle of fixing myself when he stormed into the room.

My so called father glared at the drink in my hand before turning his eyes to me. It was as if the hatred was radiating off him in heat waves, scorching my skin. I had to force myself to stand my ground and not back away for the fear of getting burned.

"Mason Lockwood. You got into a fight with the mayor's son? And got yourself kicked off the Virginia Tech football team in the process!" Giuseppe stormed across the room so we were practically toe to toe.

Mason fucking Lockwood. That guy had been a thorn in my side since we were kids. If my dad only knew the shit he pulled he would be glad I punched him. I was protecting his beloved Stefan. Of course dad would never believe anything negative about his precious little boy and he would never believe that sometimes fighting to protect those you love, even it ruins your reputation, is the right thing to do.

"Yes, punching Mason got me kicked off the football team. Yes, this resulted in me losing my college scholarship. I was planning to drop out anyway so it's no big loss. Anything else you want to know?" I'm sure my snarky attitude wasn't helping the situation but if dad was going to act like a bull in a china shop, who I was to not wave a red cape and make the situation worse. I already had an escape plan from him, this town, this life.

The front door opened and closed and footsteps could be heard in the foyer but the impending audience didn't seem to deter my father's rant.

"You are such a waste of space. I never should have let your mother have you. One drunken mistake and I'm saddled with the most useless son in the world. If not for you I could have done great things with my life."

"Love you too dad" I snarked.

Giuseppe poked me in the chest and my grip tightened on my glass. The desire to not spill the aged bourbon in my hand, plus a promise to a brown haired girl, kept my hand firmly in place instead in the side of my father's face.

The gasp of shock from behind me indicated said brown haired girl was now in the house witnessing my father inviserate me with years of pent up hatred. Hopefully my hero haired brother was doing his duty and moving Elena out of the line of fire because once dad realized she was there he would bring out both guns blazing and holding myself to my promise of never hitting my father was going to be very hard to live up to.

Of course dad plowed ahead as if I had never spoken. "If you can't finish your business degree, how will you take over the mill when the time comes?"

"Stefan has a good head on his shoulders. He's smart, capable. Since I'm such a fuck-up, you have a back-up to take over the business." I nonchalantly shrugged at him. The couch was behind me so I flopped down on it and crossed my ankle over my knee and waited for whatever hate filled bomb he was about to throw at me.

"Stefan is destined for bigger things than this town Damon. I would never ask him to lower his sights to run a business you should be able to run in your sleep to keep these ungrateful hicks employed." Dad never got over the fact I ruined his life, which he has reminded me of with great frequency throughout my own life. I had heard the story a million times. He had plan to get out of this two bit town, but my mother trapped him into marriage by getting pregnant with me. As if managed that one on her own. He was forced to give up his dreams of the big city and the woman that he really loved. I say the woman was lucky to escape the jack-ass. He made my mother's life miserable right until the end. My punishment for being born was to live the same life as him. Stay in Mystic Falls and run the family business that Salvatore's have run for generations. Giuseppe was basically doing to me what his father had done to him, but I have other plans.

"Well, find some other schmuck to take over then, because it won't be me." I couldn't keep the smile on my face even as he grabbed me by the lapels of my button down shirt and hauled me to my feet.

"If you still want a roof over your heads, your fancy cars, and money for the line of whores you parade around, you do what I saw and run the business." The cringe at the mention of my sex life didn't go unnoticed by father. There had a one night stand here or there and maybe here and there again about a hundred times over. I still didn't need it announced from the rooftops. His gaze moved from me to over my shoulder and I knew he was looking at Elena.

"You can't even get a girlfriend. Just a string of one night stands. Now you are a college dropout, no job, no money. What girl would want you? There is a reason that woman like Miss Gilbert here end up with men like your brother. He can give her the world where you would only ruin her life." The smirk was evident on his face as he looked back at me.

He leaned in closer and whispered in my ear so only could hear. "I warn you now to stay far, far away from that girl. She isn't meant for you." He pushed me back down on the couch. My free hand clenched into a fist and I have never in my life wanted to hit another human being like I wanted to hit my father in that moment.

The glass in my hand slammed down on the table with a loud thud, some of the alcohol sloshing over the sides as I jumped back to my feet. I stepped so close to my dad I could feel his warm uneven breath on my face. There was a brief glimmer of fear in his eyes when I stood but it was gone a second later. He dared tried to pull Elena into his mind games and I couldn't stand for that. Elena was used enough by her own mother, no way was my father getting in on the act as well.

"You hate me, I get it, but you don't pull Elena into your version of father son bonding. This happens again and our war of words might turn a little uglier." The fear was now clear in his eyes and he was no longer able to hide it. My fighting prowess was legendary and the old man wouldn't stand a chance against me. I'd choose Elena in heartbeat over him and he knew it.

The temptation to strike out physically was too great if we stayed that close to each other. Knowing I would have the ultimate revenge on my father, I strutted to the door happy to see that Stefan had managed to wrangle Elena outside so she didn't have to continue to witness our dysfunctional family in action.

"Damon, this conversation isn't over!" he bellowed.

Sliding on the leather jacket I had grabbed on my way to the door, I glanced at dad over my shoulder returning the smirk he was wearing early. "No time to continue. I have a full agenda today. People to hit, lives to ruin, causing chaos to ensue. It keeps me very busy." Without another glance I strode out the door letting it slam behind me.

"Can I help you Miss Gilbert?" I asked as I stopped by my Camaro where she was nervously pacing. Stefan was nowhere in sight, most likely he headed back in the house to try and calm down our dad. Poor kid was always stuck in the middle trying to broker peace.

"This is one time I think I would have been okay if you had hit him, but I'm so proud of you for being the better man and walking away. You kept your promise." The smile she gave was brilliant and seemed like a reward for putting up with my father's hatred. The smile was even sweeter because her smiles were few and far between these days with her dad being sick and her mom controlling every aspect of Elena's life she could.

"I always keep my promises," I reminded her softly as I tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"I can't wait to see the look on his face when he finds about your modeling contract." Elena was the only person that knew I had been signed by a modeling agency in New York. In a few short months, I was going to fulfill all my dreams and I planned to take Elena with me. No way I was leaving her behind when my life was about to take off. I was making arrangements to make sure baby brother would tag along as well. The three musketeers wouldn't be separated.


"Why are you here Damon? You've been gone four years. Running back to daddy for more money?" Stefan asks the pugnaciousness practically dripping off each word. His harsh words snap me back to reality and remind me I never made it to New York. From the looks of things, Elena and Stefan made it without me as my life was forced to take a very different path and I had to forgo my dreams.

"How's Elena?" I look across the room at him with I can only imagine is a devious twinkle in my eye as I pour two fingers of whiskey into a glass swirling the amber liquid in the glass. Stefan's attitude just makes me want to push every one of his buttons.

"Stay away from her Damon. You're leaving hurt a lot of people and I was left to have to pick up the pieces. I won't have you just waltzing back into our lives like you were away on some holiday and hurting everyone all over again." Stefan's hands were flexing into fists. I know he is talking about himself as much as Elena hurting when I left. The reason they think I left would have hurt them in the worst possible way as it was meant to.

They probably both despise me. Frankly I despise me a little too. That I was too weak back then will be something that haunts me. The memories of that time have me unconsciously fidgeting and the feel of my shirt across my skin heightens my self-loathing. I want to ask Stefan how Elena truly is, not taunt him about her. I can't just be honest and say "Congratulations, I'm happy for you about the upcoming wedding." Nope, Damon the fuck-up has to push buttons, cajole, and hit below the belt. I can see why no one ever thought I was good enough for Elena.

"I'll ask you again, Damon. Why are you here?"

"That's for me to know and you to dot, dot, dot." With a final sneer I march away from Stefan up the stairs to see what has become of my old room.

As soon as I hit the top of the stairs I hear the front door slam closed. A snort of derision escapes. I didn't expect it to be a friendly reunion, but I was hoping he would at least look like he missed me a little. At least I accomplished one thing….word will soon be all over town that Damon Salvatore is back. Let's see who crawls out of the woodwork to great me.

A/N: I know what you're all thinking. She's a liar! She said last chapter this wasn't a triangle story yet it seems to be a triangle story. Stay with me a little longer...that's all I'll say. Please leave a review!

Follow me on twitter: wolverine_999

Or read my original story on wattpad. Author name: wolverine99 (same as on fanfiction).