Hi all! Thank you so much for those that have left a review, it's a tremendous amount of encouragment and motivation.
I hope you enjoy this chapter, I must warn you it doesn't have any Delena smutty goodness but don't fret I promise you the next one does. Ok, enough drabble on with the show!
Elena could feel Damon's trepidation as he drove her home. Alaric told him they should meet at the Gilbert house and they could take off for their road trip from there.
As he opened the car door for her he held a tight grip onto her pulling her closer. "I'll be fine," rising on her toes brushing a soft kiss to his mouth. Displaying a fake grin he responded, "I'm sure you will but just in case, why don't you and Bonnie have a sleepover. I'd feel a lot better." He suggested then drew her close for a kiss. "I don't like leaving you." He admitted. Trying to put him at ease, she knew he felt guilty about leaving. "I'll be here when you get back." "You better," he taunted.
She reached up and caressed his face. "Don't worry, just come back soon. Most importantly be miserable without me, please." " Always," he said with a wink. He gave her one last bruising kiss, she turned on her heels and headed for the front door.
As Elena walked through the door she realized it would be a long weekend without him. Since they've become a couple the only time they spent apart was minimal. She spotted Alaric and Jenna talking in the living room. He told her the trip was for work, research purposes so he felt relieved since it was partly true; this of course leaving Jenna in the dark as usual to all the supernatural things that occurred in her small quaint town.
Elena nodded to let him know that Damon was waiting outside, Alaric said his goodbye kissing Jenna on the forehead tenderly; wanting to keep it strictly PG in front of Elena and Jeremy not wanting to make it awkward.
Just as she made his way to the door Elena tugged at his arm stopping him in his tracks. "Please keep him out of trouble." "Of course that's half the reason why I agreed to go," he assured her.
As he approached the car he could hear loud music blaring and caught a glimpse of Damon imitating a drummer. He thought, great this is going to be a long trip.
Alaric got in the car, Damon looked up with a mischievous look, "Ready teach? I've got five liters of soccer mom cooling in the trunk. The drive generally takes about three hours but I can get us there in two tops."
Alaric rolled his eyes biting back the first words that came to mind. "How about we as in I get there in one piece? We both know if you wrap this car around a tree you'll walk way. Besides if I die Jenna will kill me."
Damon laughed, making a whip sound to insinuate he was whipped as he sped off disregarding his subtle warning. Alaric stared, "As if you have room to talk. Should I remind you how Elena has you wrapped around her pinky finger?"
"No, but would you like to hear how she wraps her legs around my waist?" Arching his eyebrows, Damon dared Alaric to continue he knew he wasn't equipped to win this battle.
Meanwhile Jenna suggested since they were going to be boyfriend free that they should do something fun, she suggested inviting Bonnie over for a sleepover.
Elena hesitated at first but thought this may be a good opportunity to mend their relationship so she agreed. Bonnie was actually relieved that Elena called and gladly accepted the invitation.
"Too bad Caroline is going out of town with Matt to visit her father otherwise it could be like old times." "Yeah, well we'll have Jenna who's making herself what she calls her infamous margaritas and I'm pretty sure she'll start going down memory lane."
"So, what's the plan?" "Well, I've already called a few people there's an undergraduate her name is Vanessa former student of Isobel's. She's written a thesis based on Isobel's research papers, she's agreed to meet us. Of course I didn't actually tell her the truth."
"We're making good time so we can make a pit stop for whatever it is you humans need to do." "Damon I'll be fine I'd rather not be an accessory to your "Snatch, eat, erase plot."
Damon let out a loud laugh, "Ric what little faith you have. I'm covered at least for now." Damon pointed towards the trunk reminding him of his food supply.
As Damon had predicted they arrived within two hours, "Let's find a hotel and then go see the girl."
After checking in Damon couldn't take it any longer under any other circumstance he wouldn't want to be smothering but he needed to check in with her.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket to text her:
D – Hey gorgeous
E – Hi
D – Everything ok?
E – Having a girl's sleepover
D – Miss me yet?
E – Of course I'll always miss you
D – That's what I'd like to hear
E – So, Jenna suggested the sleepover but I wonder if she had any help...
D - ;) Take care baby...love you
E – Love you too
Damon and Alaric met in the lobby as they planned. "I take it the accommodations are to your liking? I can't stay anywhere that's not at least a 4-star establishment." Alaric rolled his eyes, thinking what a pompous ass he could be at time, "Yeah thanks for footing the bill." "Sure no problem we're friends "Team Bad Ass" remember?" "You being nice makes me uncomfortable."
"Geesh, Ric you keep talking like that and I'm might grow a complex. Oh no, wait that would imply an emotion specific to those who care." Damon spat.
"Yeah whatever let's go already hot shot." "Its eternal stud to you and don't you forget it. You have no sense of humor, loosen up." "No, I don't have Damon," using air quotes when he said his name, "sense of humor."
By the time they made it to the campus Vanessa was between classes and sent a text for them to meet her in the independent study hall.
"Vanessa," Alaric and Damon approached. "Yes. Hi, Alaric, right?" "Yes. Thank you for meeting us," he turned to Damon, "This is Damon Salvatore he's sort of a colleague of mine." Damon bit down on his lower lip holding back the grin and a laugh, colleague way to go genius because that's a realistic story.
"I'm intrigued that you found my thesis interesting enough to come here." "Well like I told you where we're from there's seasonal animal attacks sometimes fatal. Unfortunately most of the incidents have evolved into campfire stories." Alaric offered.
"Reading some of the town's Founding Families' journals I found similarities to Isobel's research and your thesis."
"Where did you say you're from again?" "Mystic Falls." "Oh yeah, there's recordings of mysterious attacks that occurred in the late 1800's that happened during a full moon." Vanessa confirmed.
All of sudden all the clues of Mayor Lockwood being thrown into the basement, Tyler's volatile behavior, also Tyler's reaction during the Gilbert's device was used. Of course how could he not see it. Damon's thoughts got the best of him.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Damon interrupted startling both Vanessa and Alaric completely out of their conversation, they both look at him not realizing he said it out loud.
"What, what is it?" Vanessa asked. "Nothing, I just forgot something before we left," Damon recovered giving Alaric the I'll fill you in later look.
"So how long do you guys plan to be in town?" "Probably not as long as expected since you seem to have a plethora of evidential information. We could possibly leave by tomorrow evening." "I have to go to class but feel free to stay. I can put anything together for you later before you leave." "Thanks again for your help and we'll let you know." As she passed Damon he gave her a nod letting her know he was also appreciative.
"That's a first." Damon still deep in thought, "What?" "You didn't say much." "I can't believe I didn't see it. I forgot about the Lockwoods, remember when I told you Mayor Lockwood wasn't a vampire but somehow he was affected by the device?
"Yeah, so? You also said he wasn't a vampire either, so what's your point?" "My point is the council though the strange attacks were tied to the vampires but I know for a fact it wasn't. Matter of fact there was one person that survived, he claimed it was some sort of animal. Everyone thought he was crazy and of course blamed the vampires."
"What are you saying, Damon?" "I'm saying the Lockwoods are hiding a secret and it has to do with werewolves." "Come on Damon be serious." "Oh are you telling a "vampire" that that's impossible?" Damon argued.
"Think about all these things happened during or around a full moon." "Yeah but some of the bodies were completely drained of their blood, how do you explain that?" "I can't but what I do know there's a full moon in a few days. We've got to look through all of this stuff, find out it's vulnerability, how to kill this thing and more importantly get back to Mystic Falls."
Bonnie and Elena finally got Jenna to bed she practically passed out from drinking a couple of blenders full of margaritas. Both girls feeling intoxicated by just the fumes plopped her down on the bed. "I think I put too much Tequila in that last batch," Jenna admitted.
After watching romantic comedy movies, eating tons of junk food and giving one another facials they decided it was definitely time to go to bed.
"How can you do it?" "Do what?" "Be with someone after everything he's done," Bonnie replied. "Bonnie, Damon's not the same when he's with me furthermore he's changed. I won't make excuses for what he's done but because of who he is rather what he is," Elena emphasizing on the what, "for whatever reasons he chose to shut out his humanity."
Bonnie looked her incredulously. "Look, what he did to you was wrong and nothing he can do will ever change thy but I do know him and he's the same person he was when he was human. He loves me more than I could ever imagine. Please understand Bonnie." Elena pleaded. "You realize he'll never be completely trustworthy. What if something or someone sets him off and he snaps again?"
"I don't expect you to understand, but Bonnie I love Damon and I choose to be with him. He's my life now and I would like it if you both were in it." "I'm simple saying this is difficult for me. I meant what I said I won't ask you to choose but it's going to take me some time." "That's a start," Elena said with a smile.
The longtime friends hug concluding the finally came to a mutual understanding, "Let's go shopping tomorrow?" Bonnie offered. "Yes."
The following morning Damon and Alaric got as much information they could use before leaving town. "We have to compel Vanessa." Damon stated. "It has to be as she has never met us or that we were ever here." "Is that really necessary?" "It could be if this visit could tie us into whatever occurs back home. We don't know what we're up against." "I don't know about you but I don't plan to leave bread crumbs straight to me." "Fine, but make sure that's all you do." Ric reproved. "Ric, easy I'm with Elena, remember?" Damon mocked. "Shut up get it on with it already. More time I spend with you the more I realize I'm starting to think as you do. It's freaking me out."
While on their way home Damon called Elena to let her know they found what they were looking for that he would fill her in when he arrived later that evening.
Damon dropped off Alaric and headed straight for the boarding house his mind kept drifting back to memories of those attacks and how it caused such a frenzy. The attacks were random, he decided he would watch Mason and Tyler very closely from now on; it wouldn't be too difficult since Carol appointed him as lead to the council.
He filled in Sheriff Forbes made plans to meet her the following day he was too tired and just wanted to get home to be with Elena. As he pulled into his driveway he spotted Elena's car.
He walked in the house feeling fatigued and tension washed away the moment he laid eyes on her sitting on the couch as if she was at home.
"Now that's a sight I could get used to." Damon greeted. "I'm glad you're back." "Me too," he responded pulling her into his arms kissing her passionately. "Mmm, now that's a nice welcome."
He knew before they would be able to go upstairs and make love she would interrogate him.
"Why don't you sit down and I'll explain everything." They sat on the couch Elena scooting closer putting her hand on his knee. "Now darling, if you plan on me concentrating you may want to move that hand or else I won't be responsible for what could happen next." Damon gently warned. He winked at her giving a her quick kiss before standing up.
As Damon paced back and forth explaining his theory and reminding her of all the things that happened on Founder's Day Elena shook her head in disbelief. "That's impossible I've known Tyler all my life." "And yet you didn't know Bonnie was a witch either." "It's genetic and lies dormant until puberty in a male which explains Tyler's odd behavior and his father's untimely death."
She took a deep breath, "What are we going to do?" "Well now that I've got you up to speed I'm gonna take you upstairs and fuck you senseless." Not waiting for a response, he swept her in his arms and charged upstairs.
A/N: Sorry for the hanger but I needed to cut off this chapter somewhere since I spent time building up a plot. I hope you enjoyed it. There will be plenty of fun coming up...I promise!
I'm not really a Bonnie fan except in the books but I wanted to start building a closure on her hating on Damon so much and make a truce with Elena. This is imperative as I plan to do a trilogy.
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