Glad that a few of you seem to like it, at least lol.

Thanks for the reviews.

Elena ran her fingers through Molly's fur, as she sat near the barn.

Damon stood a few feet away, watching Alaric take turns leading kids around on a horse.

Elena stared at Damon, without being obvious, trying to understand why the other children were so afraid of him.

And why Caroline warned her away from him.

The blond had finally made it to dinner and had immediately spotted Elena, still sitting with Damon.

Caroline had wasted no time in dragging her off, only later explaining that Damon was the wrong company to keep.

When Elena questioned as to why, Caroline had insisted that Damon was dangerous, and weird.

And weird, at this place, was saying something.

However, as Elena watched Damon now, he didn't seem weird or dangerous.

Just quiet.

And lonely, though with the way he avoided everyone, that may be by choice.

She looked down at the dog she was petting, "I should mind my own business, shouldn't I, Molly?"

The dog only looked at her, causing Elena to smile, "If he wanted to talk to someone, he would, right?"

Again, no answer, not that she expected it.

"Do you think Caroline is right, Molly?"

She looked over at Damon again, who was leaning against the corral post, seeming bored with the circles Ric made with the horse.

Something about him seemed sad, but not dangerous.

Elena sighed, "Nobody likes to be alone."

Molly's ears perked, and Elena giggled a little, "Okay, come on, girl. Let's go say hi."

She stood, wiping her hands of on her pants, before making her way toward Damon.

He turned as he heard her approach, and his face looked surprised.

"Elena," he greeted.

She smiled, trying to be friendly, "Have you ridden him yet?"

She motioned at the horse.

Damon nodded, "A few times. You?"

She shook her head, "Not yet...I like spending time with Molly."

Damon looked down at the dog, who was still at Elena's side.

"I've never seen her stick by anyone, the way she does with you," he told her, his tone serious.

Elena patted Molly's head, "It's because we understand each other.

Damon looked at her, "I guess dogs are easier to be with than people."

Elena smiled at Molly, "Sometimes. She makes a great listener."

Damon smirked, "Helps that she can't talk back."

Elena nodded, "I guess. But I was actually thinking of taking her for a walk, down by the garden station. Wanna come?"

Damon's mouth twitched, "What about your other friend? The blonde one?"

"Caroline," she confirmed.

Damon nodded, "She doesn't like me."

Elena wasn't sure what to say, but Damon had continued, "Of course, I don't blame her. I'm a freak."

His tone made her chest hurt, "No, you aren't."

Damon's eyes met hers, "So your friend didn't tell you to stay away from me?"

Elena blushed, "She just..."

"Exactly," Damon stated, when she failed to finish her sentence.

"Why does everyone think you're scary?" Elena asked, before she could stop herself.

Damon's brow raised, "Do you not see my face? It scares people."

Elena shook her head, "It sounds like it's more than that."

Damon sighed, "Well, I do get mad sometimes...I get into fights."

She held his gaze, "Why?"

"Because kids at school make fun of me. They call me Freak, Scarface, Frankenstein...anything they can think of."

Elena bit her lip, "That's so mean."

Damon shrugged, "They stop after I hit them. But I think it scares other people. That's why I don't have many friends."

His eyes fell to his shoes, "Besides, no one wants to be friends with a freak anyway."

Elena swallowed, heartbroken.

Damon couldn't help what had happened to his face, and everyone deserved a friend.

She forced a smile, then reached out, and took his hand, causing him to look up at her.

"You aren't a freak Damon," she stated firmly, "And you do have a friend...if you want one."

He blinked, "You aren't afraid to be seen with me?"

She shook her head, "That's a stupid thing to be scared of."

The grin that broke across his face was beautiful, "Then let's go get Molly's leash."

Elena smiled, "Race you to the barn."

And they took off, unaware of the counselor watching them, a grin on his face.

Alaric was waiting in Jenna's office that evening when she got back from her last therapy session.

"Ric, hey," she greeted, "What's up?"

"You're not going to believe it," he answered, smirking.

She rose a brow hesitantly, "What?"

"Elena was talking to Damon today, in their TAI session. Or, more importantly, he was talking to her."

Jenna smiled, "That's a first."

"No kidding," Alaric exhaled, "A whole year of this kid brooding and hiding, always there, but completely unreachable...And now he's walking Molly across the quad with this new little girl."

Jenna shrugged, "We've never questioned the form that healing takes, Alaric. The important thing is that Damon finally made a change, right?"

Alaric was nodding, "Of course, but, Jenna, you don't understand. He was smiling. I've barely seen him express emotion since arriving, and today, he looked like an entirely different kid."

Jenna sat on the edge of her desk, "Ric, that's great."

He nodded, "Yeah, it is."

She noticed his pensive expression.

"What's going on in that head of yours?"

Alaric smirked at her, "I'm thinking."

"You want to put them on the same session schedule, don't you?" She answered for him.

"Yeah," he thought aloud, "I think I do."

Jenna nodded, "It could be good for them. If she's getting a response from him, It would make sense to maximize their time together...But is this best for Elena?"

Alaric blinked, "You're worried about the girl spending that much time with Damon."

Jenna nodded, "Nothing against the boy, but Elena's only been here a few weeks. She's still adjusting, and I don't want this to have negative repercussions, where she's concerned."

"Which is fully agree with," Alaric noted, "If Elena wasn't the one who approached him."

Jenna's mouth slacked, "You're kidding."

"Nope," Ric grinned, "I think this could work. These two might be just what the other needs."

She smiled, "Well then. If the other session leaders are alright with it, let's do it."

Elena was able to brush off most of Caroline's comments that night, as she got ready for bed.

But the blond was still rambling, "And I'm just trying to be a good friend, and tell you to be careful, because I remember when he first came here, and he doesn't talk, and everyone is afraid of him, and if you're hanging out with him, people will start to think-"

"Caroline," she finally sighed, "I told you, I don't care. Anybody else can think whatever they want to. It doesn't matter. I want to be Damon's friend. And if you are really my friend, you'll be nice to him too."

The blonde swallowed, affronted, "Fine. But if you start getting weird looks from the others, don't say I didn't warn you."

Elena smiled, shaking her head, "Thanks, Caroline."

She pulled back the blankets then, crawling into bed.

Bonnie was already asleep, and Caroline moved to turn out the lights.

Elena focused on the plugged in night light near her bed.

This had become her habit, in order to fall asleep, and she only hoped it could keep the dreams away tonight.

After all, she'd promised Damon that she'd play on the playground with him, during free time, after lunch, and she needed her rest.

So the relationship starts! I'm actually proud of how all the characters work together lol.

Hope you guys liked it! :)