Update for ya'll :)

DAMON

It's noon, and I'm in the Gilbert's foyer.

It's pristine and clean and I almost feel bad that my boots are tracking dirt across the floor.

Apparently Elena is still getting dressed, so her Uncle invited me in to wait.

There was mostly silence when we walked in, and I scanned what I could see of the house.

No Miranda Gilbert in sight.

In fact, there didn't appear to be anyone else around, which is perhaps the only reason Grayson stands in front of me, after closing the front door, and lowers his voice.

"I appreciate what your family is doing; sticking close to her," he motions up to, what I assume, is Elena's bedroom, "Please assure your father that I'll make sure the the Brotherhood is well compensated for the effort."

I nod at him, because what the hell am I supposed to say to that, and he returns the gesture.

Luckily, I'm saved from things getting awkward by Elena descending the stairs.

As usual, I am awestruck by her choice of clothing, and I forcibly clench my jaw to make sure it doesn't hit the floor.

There's no getting around the fact that Elena is smoking hot.

Today is warm, so she's in a tight fitting red tank top that covers plenty up top, but rides short enough that I catch a flash of skin as she moves.

The jeans are just as form fitting and tucked into laced up boots.

"Remember that Miranda wants you home by dinner," Grayson tells her as she grabs a shoulder purse from a hook on the wall.

"I know," she assures him, "I will be. Right?"

She gives me a look to agree with her and I nod, "Absolutely."

Grayson hugs her shortly, a gesture that seems to surprise Elena, before he pins me with a stare, "Drive safe with her."

"I always do," I promise him.

Elena is not going to get hurt on my watch.

And that has just as much to do with the fact that I can't bare the thought of her in pain than anything the club has agreed to with her Uncle.

"Come on, let's go," Elena grabs my hand and pulls me from the house.

Grayson waves goodbye and shuts the door behind us.

"Thanks for the ride," Elena smiles as we walk off the porch and I toss her my jacket.

"No problem."

She sighs, "I can't wait until I have enough money for a car."

"Tired of my taxi services already?" I question her, but she's already figured out when I'm joking, and simply rolls her eyes, "Yes. It is such a chore to have free rides on the back of a custom Softail."

We grin at each other, then mount.

Like every time before, Elena fits behind me like a glove; perfectly molding into my body as her arms encircle my waist.

I give her hands a small squeeze before starting the bike and pulling off the curb.

The Grill is as busy as it usually is on the weekends, but I know my friends well enough to guess where they'd be hanging out.

And sure enough, as I lead Elena through the crowd, I spot a couple Crow patches near the pool tables, and some at the bar.

The turnout was more than I'd expected, but with Elena coming, I shouldn't be surprised.

When the club has a job, they take it seriously.

"Bout time you showed up!" Enzo spots me first, pulling away from Bonnie to slap my back, "I could use your help kicking Ric's ass."

Alaric, who was across from him nursing a beer, simply smiled, "Yeah, good luck with that."

Elena came up next to me, her eyes moving over the others and settling on Ric.

"You're part of the MC?" she asks, the surprise in her voice obvious, "But you're a teacher."

Ric laughed, "I'm a man of many talents, Miss Gilbert. One of which," he sat the beer down and picked up his pool stick, "Is schooling these kids on how to properly shoot an eight ball into a corner pocket."

He lined up for the shot, making it, and Enzo cursed.

"Told you to sharpen your angle," Lorenzo Sr was leaning against one of the tables, watching the game, "Next time you'll listen."

"No he won't," Tyler appears with a grin, and Enzo flips him off, "Whatever, it was a close game."

"I'll let you believe that," Alaric tells him, before holding up his stick, "You're up, Lockwood."

Mason appears from behind Tyler and nudges his cousin as he takes what Alaric is offering.

"You ready for me to whoop your ass, cuz? Or should I let Damon have a go first?"

"No thanks," I turn down the suggestion, tossing an arm around Elena's shoulder, "I promised this one food."

"Food can wait," Elena insists, taking Mason in, "And if Tyler doesn't want to play, I will."

It was probably a humorous sight, how all of us look at her in surprise at the same time.

Mason recovers first, "Hell yeah, let's do it!"

Someone hands Elena a pool stick as she moves toward the felt top, and I find a chair to watch in amusement as the table is set up.

"She's pretty good," Alaric says from the seat next to me, some ten minutes later, as we witness Elena shoot another double.

I can't help but agree with him, and watching Mason's confidence shrink every time she lined up a shot was priceless.

"Yeah. She is."

"Seems like she's fitting in alright...you two are getting close," he prods a little and I pull my gaze from Elena to look at him, "Did Dad ask you for a status report?"

Ric rolls his eyes, and takes a drink of his beer, "No. Just an observation. You gonna bring her to the clubhouse? There's a party next weekend."

I consider the question, "I doubt topless chicks and strange men are her idea of a good time, but I might ask. If Enzo brings Bonnie-"

"Which we both know he will," Ric adds, and I smirk, "Yeah...at least Elena will know a few people there."

"And it'll give her a chance to get comfortable around us," he reasons, "If she starts coming around more, it'll make keeping her safe a helluva lot easier."

Touche.

"I'll ask."

He nods at me, and Elena makes another shot.

Mason grumbles and I laugh.

Maybe he should have considered the fact that she's technically spent more years in a clubhouse than he has, and is hardly an amateur.

"Fuck," he yells aloud, when she makes the winning pocket, and Elena does a little happy dance that brings a smile to my lips.

It's baffling that someone so sexy can be this cute, too.

"Better luck next time," she grins, holding out her hand.

Unable to help returning the smile, Mason shakes it, "You'd make quite the hustler, babydoll. If you ever get bored, call me. We'd make bank."

She laughs and I step in before she can consider his offer, shooting a warning stare at Mason.

He's young enough, mid twenties, that Elena might read into his flirting as more than it ever is with women, and the thought of her being interested in him, or anyone else for that matter, makes me irrationally annoyed.

Mason catches my expression and chuckles, "Down boy, just making conversation with your girl."

I don't correct him, and neither does Elena, though she was now talking to Bonnie, so there's a chance she didn't hear him.

I let the comment slide, and move to her side as the others set up for their next game.

"How about that food?" I ask, letting my hand slip to her waist.

Elena looks up at me and nods, "Yeah, I could go for a burger."

"Me too," Bonnie agrees, pulling at Enzo who is talking to Tyler, "Baby, let's go find a booth."

We end up across the restaurant, crammed into one of the corner booths that was big enough to fit us all.

The five of us, Elena, Bonnie, Enzo, Tyler and myself, were soon joined by Stefan and Lexi, who had finally decided to show up.

Rose sent me a text that she wouldn't be able to make it, needing to head back to campus, but assured me that she'd be down next weekend for the club party and, like Ric, asked if I was bringing Elena.

A part of me is glad that she and Elena are getting along.

Outside of Enzo, Rose is probably my closest friend, and she's good people, despite the way she constantly roasts me.

Elena will enjoy having her around.

"Where's Caroline," the girl in question brings me back to the conversation at the table, and Bonnie answers, "She said she was busy doing something for the committee. Some park restoration or something. I don't know. I tune out when her tirades last longer than five minutes."

"Probably for the best though," Tyler says, "Vikki's working today and I don't think Caroline likes her much."

Stefan rolls his eyes, "Yeah, I wonder why."

Elena smirks at their exchange and leans back against the booth, putting her shoulder to shoulder with me.

I adjust so that my arm is once again around her, and far from protesting the movement, Elena leans further into my side.

I can't deny that she feels perfect there.

"So you don't have to be home until six, right?" I ask her, letting my fingers brush across her arm.

"Six or seven," she confirms, looking up at me, "That's usually when Miranda starts dinner."

"Good," I say, then glance over at Enzo, "Tree house?"

He nods, "Sure."

"Tree house?" Elena's brows pull together and I smile, "You'll see."

"It's actually kinda cool," Bonnie assures her and Lexi nods her agreement, "But the real question is, will we all fit?"

"We should," I tell her, "The thing is huge."

"Getting smaller every year, though," Stefan sighs, "Dad's threatening to take it down."

I shake my head, "He makes that threat every year, but never does."

"Only because Uncle Zack argues that it's technically on his half of the property line, and he's nostalgic."

Tomato, tomahto.

"We'll go after we finish eating."

The others agree, and Elena's brow arches, "Should I be worried."

I merely wink at her, and she narrows her eyes, her elbow digging into my thigh.

I laugh, moving to avoid another jab, but she turns her focus to the menu in front of her instead.

We decide on what to order, but unfortunately the possibility of a ruined day crosses my vision before the waitress does.

Kai Parker and his group of cronies.

Kai's gaze lands on mine and I take note of his fading black eye.

Damn, Elena hit him hard.

He mutters something to his friends and they all look over.

I'm not the least bit surprised when they take the booth next to ours.

"Incoming," I warn Enzo, motioning with my head.

The others follow to see the group now taking up the booth, and Elena frowns.

"Is that-"

"Yeah," I scoot closer to her, "Just ignore them."

However, my advice becomes moot a few moments later, when Kai decides to lean over to our table, his eyes on Elena.

"Hope you're happy, bitch. My parents were pissed that I was suspended because of you."

Both Enzo and I shoot from our seats, facing Kai.

"Talk to her again and your parents will be the last of your worries," I snap, and he scoffs, "Oh, really? Damsels in distress aren't your style, Salvatore. Unless...don't tell me you're already in her pants."

I shove his chest and he stumbles.

A wave of anger covers his face and he steps up to me.

"Damon, don't," Bonnie rushes, "This isn't worth it."

"People are watching," Elena adds, standing now with a hand on my arm, and Kai smirks.

"That's right...wouldn't want to tarnish the precious name of your club by getting in a public brawl now would you? Might prove that what everyone thinks about you is right."

My fingers flex into a fist, "Might be worth it to shut you up."

Then Enzo's hand is on my shoulder

"Time and place, brother," he says quietly, "This ain't it."

He's right, despite the fact that every nerve in my body wants to wipe that cocky grin off of Kai's smug face.

I back down, and Kai's expression is gloating, like he won something.

"Still all talk," he accuses, then looks back at Elena, "At least she has some balls. Tell you what, sweetheart, if you ever get tired of being a biker whore, I'd be willing to-"

Elena and I both jump forward with clenched fist.

Enzo catches her, but I swing unhindered, and Kai never finishes his sentence.

A few of his friends stand as he stumbles, taking a step toward me.

Enzo moves in front of Elena before tensing at my side, and Tyler is on his feet too, ready for a fight.

"Don't even think about it!" A sharp voice interrupts, and we all look over to see Alaric and Liz Forbes, the sheriff, walking our way.

At the prospect of the police involvement, the others back down, and Kai pulls himself off the ground, his nose bleeding.

"He hit me," Kai whines to Liz, holding his nose, "For no reason!"

"You fucking liar," Elena hisses and Alaric holds up his hand, "Stop. This isn't happening here."

Liz grabs Kai's chin and examines him, "You'll be fine. If you want to come press charges at the station, have your parents bring you by later. I'm sure interested to hear how your mouth managed to get you assaulted twice in one week."

Kai curses under his breath, muttering to his friends, and the group left.

Liz sighes and leans around Alaric to glare at us, "I know he's a punk, but seriously? A fight, in the Grill? His parents are gonna throw a fit."

I shrug, "He was running his mouth."

Alaric shakes his head, "I got this, Liz."

She nods at him and gives me one last reproachful glance before turning away.

Alaric waited until she was gone before meeting my stare.

"Wanna tell me what that was about?"

"He called me a bitch and a whore," Elena answers before I can, "Damon got to him before I could...though in all fairness, Damon did also warn him to shut his mouth."

Alaric frowns at her, "That kid got a problem with you? I caught part of what happened in class last week."

"He's an ass," I tell him, "It's that simple. And today, he picked the wrong girl to insult."

I feel a light pressure against my palm, and look down to see Elena's hand sliding into my own.

I interlace our fingers.

Alaric catches the motion, and sighs, "No more punching in crowded public buildings, alright? If you're gonna deal with that bastard, you do it old school."

I nod and he motions back toward the door, "Probably best that y'all get on out of here. In case Parker decides to come back and stir up more trouble."

We take the hint and leave, Elena's hand staying in mine all the way out to the parking lot.

"Where to now, McGregor?" she teases me and I smile, "Tree house."

"Oh. Right," she crooks her head, "Is it like...an actual tree house?"

I smile, "Come on."

We all mount our bikes, Elena riding with me, Bonnie with Enzo, and Lexi with Tyler, Stefan bringing up the end.

We make a line out of the lot, and cross town, heading toward my home.

The Tree House is, in fact, a tree house.

My grandfather had built it just beyond the treeline past our backyard, for Dad and Uncle Zack when they were kids.

It had been refurbished some over the years, but Stefan and I had grown up playing in it as well.

A habit we had yet to break, now that it served as the perfect place to hang out with a few beers.

The Tree House was nothing if not multi-purposeful.

The large clubhouse doors were pulled down when we rode into the yard, and Dad's bike was nowhere around.

However, Mom's mustang was in the drive, so there was a good chance of snagging some leftovers to take up to the Tree House with us.

"I'll get the food," I tell Enzo, as we kill the bikes, "You get the beer. Tyler, go help him."

He nods, and Enzo dismounts; taking Bonnie's hand, before heading toward the clubhouse.

"This doesn't look like a Tree house," Elena says as she climbs off my bike.

Stefan laughs, putting the kickstand up on his own bike, "Because it's not. This is home."

Elena blinks, looking at the house, then the clubhouse, then to me, "You live here?"

I smile, "Most of the time. That's the Brotherhood clubhouse over there...and Mom's house, there. Technically it's my grandfather's house, he owns it, but Mom's the one who runs everything."

"Now that I can believe," Elena grins, shrugging out of my jacket and handing it to me.

I toss it over my left arm and use the right one to pull her against my side.

Her arm slides around to the small of my back as I say, "Let's go get some food."

Mom was in fact, inside, as was Grandpa Zachariah.

They had the coffee table pulled up between them and a half finished game of chess was being played.

"Hey, we're home," I call out, pulling Elena into the open living room, Stefan and Lexi behind us.

"Hey baby!" Mom calls, glancing up as Grandpa made a move, knocking one of her pieces over.

"You're a cheat, old man," she grumbled at him, and Grandpa leans back in his chair, "No. You're just a sore loser."

Mom waves him off and stands, "You're back early...and you have company."

She smiles at Elena, who shrugs out from under my arm, as if my mom would care.

"I wish you would have told me," she scolds, "I would have made something."

"We're actually going up to the Tree House," Stefan tells her, "Is there anything in the fridge we can take?"

Mom nods, "Whatever you can find. There might be some leftovers from last night."

He and Lexi head toward the kitchen, as Elena takes in the room.

I follow her gaze, trying to imagine how the house must look to her.

It's big, sure, but homely with a woodsy feel.

Pictures are all over the walls and the leather furniture is dark against the oak finish.

An enormous fireplace took up most of the far view, and Elena's eyes settled there for a moment, a smile on her lips.

"This place is gorgeous," she praised, and my Grandfather smiles up at her.

Of course, she doesn't know that he'd hand built it with some of the original club members a few decades back, but he takes the compliment nonetheless, and stands from his chair.

Even as old as he is, my Grandfather towers, looking every bit the part of an old biker with his greying hair pulled back into a short ponytail and his white beard due for a trim.

He places a palm on my shoulder, squeezing it in his large hands, "Be careful climbing up that wood. The rain may have left those boards a bit rickedy."

"I'm sending Enzo up first," I assure him, "If he falls and breaks his neck, I promise, the rest of us won't follow."

"Be nice," Mom hits the back of my head, and catches my hand when I raise it to wave her off.

"What the hell happened here?" she demands, and I look to see my knuckles, red with a slight split from where I punched Kai.

"Who'd you hit?" Grandpa chuckles, and Mom glares at him, "This isn't funny, Zachariah. Damon? Explain."

I sigh, knowing that Mom won't let this go without an answer, but like before, it's Elena who jumps to my defense.

"There was some asshole at the Grill," she says, her big brown eyes looking ridiculously innocent, "He groped me my first day of school, so I hit him. I guess he's still a little pissed about it because he had plenty to say to me today. Damon was defending me."

Mom looks appalled, and glanced over at me, "It was that Parker kid, wasn't it? The one you were telling me about? That little cunt."

Elena laughs as Grandpa squeezes my shoulder again, "You took care of it?"

There's a double meaning in his gaze, and I nod, "I'm not gonna let him mess with her."

His expression is one of approval and I can't help but feel proud.

"The nerve of some of these kids," Mom was still saying, fussing over Elena now, "If he touches you again, you let me know."

I arch my brow, "I thought you were just giving me shit for hitting him."

Mom rolls her eyes, "Yes, well forgive me for wanting you to graduate high school. Getting busted fighting tends to put a dent in those plans if you end up expelled. But still...harassment is unacceptable, and the way he's been giving you all a hard time...you get a pass for that bastard."

"Gee, thanks."

Stefan and Lexi reappear then, plates of recently heated pizza wrapped up in their hands, "Ready?"

I nod, "Yeah, the others are probably waiting."

Mom looks over at the younger two, "I expect those plates to make it back to my kitchen."

"Yes ma'am."

I grab Elena's hand and pull her toward the door, "We'll be back in a bit."

Lots happening lol, hope you guys enjoyed!