Alright, we start the more recent memories today. Let me know what you think.

Elena's POV

"We're back in Mystic Falls?" The statement ends up sounding like a question.

"These next memories are an essential part of who Damon is now. They are memories after he met you. He did some things besides the things that he compelled you to forget, that you don't know about. He hasn't mentioned them because believe it or not, he isn't arrogant or conceited in the slightest. He acts like he is cocky, but that is just a wall that he puts up to protect himself from showing the world his true emotions." I nod my head and glance at my surroundings.

"Why are we at the Lockwood house? I was there for Mayor Lockwood's funeral."

"You were a there for this part of the memory, but I believe it is essential for what I am going to show you after. A lot happened this day and the sequence of events is important, more or less."

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Damon stands on the porch of the Lockwood mansion, with the sun falling on him perfectly.

"You guys go ahead, I'll be right there," Elena from the past says to Jenna before walking over to Damon. "Hey, how are you doing?"

"Great, Elena" Damon answers quickly with his usual witty comments, "walking on sunshine, thanks for asking."

"Damon…"

"Elena…" Damon says dramatically.

"We should be able to talk about this. Damon, we're close enough now. I really want to know how you're doing."

"I kissed you; thought you kissed me back. Doppelganger hijinks ensued," Damon turns his head slightly to look at me and then his voice gets a little quieter, "how do you think I'm doing?"

"I think that you're hurt."

"No, I don't get hurt, Elena." I notice him masking his emotions and of all people, I know that Damon does get hurt.

"No, you don't admit that you get hurt. You get angry and then cover it up and you do something stupid."

"You're scared," Damon's voice is full of question, "You think Katherine's going to send me off the deep end, don't you? ...I don't need her for that."

Damon starts to walk away, but then turns back around. "You know what? Why is it such a surprise that I would kiss you?"

"That's not a surprise. I'm surprised that you thought I'd kiss you back."

The memory of that day comes rushing back and I can feel regret forming inside me. I recognize the pained look on Damon's face as he takes in those words.

"Now I'm hurt," Damon mutters before walking away.

I stand there with Rose for a few minutes before she puts her hand on my shoulder, trying to reassure me. But I know that you can't take back words and I guarantee that Damon remembers that day and everything that I said to him. I blink and then we are in front of the Salvatore mansion.

"Come on," Rose gestures to the house, "this is what happened before Damon showed up at your house, drunk; before he killed your brother."

I freeze at her words, realizing that I didn't exactly have complete understanding of why that happened. I take a deep breath and follow Rose into the boarding house.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Damon pours himself a drink and starts to walk out of the living room when I notice Katherine suddenly appear on the couch behind him.

"Very brave of you to come here," Damon says turning around to face her.

"I wanted to say goodbye." They spend a second exchanging intense stares.

"Leaving so soon?"

"I know where I'm not wanted."

"Don't pout. It's not attractive on a woman your age."

"Ouch."

Damon sets down his drink and starts to leave. I can tell he is trying hard to keep his emotions out of the way. Katherine gets up and stops him in the hallway.

"What, no goodbye kiss?"

"Why don't I kill you instead?" Damon glares at her. "What are you doing here?"

"Nostalgia, curiosity, etc."

"I'm better at the animatic one-liners Katherine. What are you up to?"

"Trust me, Damon. When I'm up to something, you'll know it."

He doesn't speak. I see by the tenseness in his jaw that he is close to losing his temper.

"Come on. Kiss me or kill me. Which will it be Damon? We both know you're only capable of one." She is so close to his face that I think he will give in right there, but he turns to leave, just to be pushed onto his back. Katherine straddles him on the floor, rubbing her hands over his chest.

"My sweet, innocent, Damon." He clenches his lips together and flips over, so he is on top, with his hand clasped around her neck. Their eyes stay locked on each other. I find myself holding my breath, waiting for something to happen. But then he does it. He kisses her. His emotions take control and he kisses her. When I first met Damon, all I saw was a killer who didn't feel anything, but that couldn't have been far from the truth. Love is Damon's weakness.

"That's more like it," Katherine pants. She gets up and slams him against the wall, pulling his shirt open and going back to his lips for more. He lifts her onto the table and kisses her neck and pulls her body close to his, feeling her up.

"Ok, wait, wait." Damon holds up a finger to pause the action, "brief pause."

She shoves him off of her and they stand a few feet apart.

"I have a question. Answer it, and it's back to fireworks and rockets' red glare." Katherine just looks back at him. She knows what is about to happen and so do I. "Answer it right, and I'll forget the last 145 years I've spent missing you. I'll forget it; how much I loved you and we can start over. This can be our defining moment." He steps closer to her and I can see the guilt on her face. "We have time. That's the beauty of eternity. I just need the truth just once." It hurts me to see him willing to just forget about all of the heartache that she caused him for so long.

"Stop," Katherine interrupts him, "I already know your question…and its answer."

He strokes her cheek, breathing heavily. His heart is hoping that the answer is him, but deep down I think he has known the truth all along.

"The truth is…I've never loved you." The look on Damon's face breaks my heart. Tears feel hot on my cheeks. This memory happened over a year ago, but it still hurts all the same; just seeing him so vulnerable and rejected.

"It was always Stefan," Katherine admits, removing Damon's hands from her cheeks and leaving him without a second glance.

Damon just stands there until he hears the front door close. A second later he kneels to the ground and buries his head in his hands. Then he gets up and grabs a bottle of liquor, not even bothering to pour himself a glass and takes a big swig as he walks out the front door.

"I assume you don't need to see what happens next," Rose says quietly.

I remember back to when Damon tried to kiss me and I rejected him and when he killed Jeremy. I also remember telling Stefan that I hated him.

"I don't hate him." My voice trembles when I speak. "I think I love him."

That was a hard chapter to write! I had to make sure I described the memory according to the show. Please let me know what you think.