Title: A Summer Romance

Summary: "Summer romances end for all kinds of reasons. But when all is said and done, they have one thing in common: They are shooting stars-a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, a fleeting glimpse of eternity. And in a flash, they're gone."

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made from this work.

A/N: Here we go...

A few months later…

The rain pattered against the window as Damon stared at the paper in front of him. It was final draft of the contract that would merge his father's company with the Mikaelson's. There at the bottom was the clause that required the marriage license of Katherine Mikaelson and Damon Salvatore. With a sigh, Damon took a gulp of his bourbon and slammed it against his desk. The wedding was a few weeks away and he felt as if he was being trapped. Quickly, he loosened his tie in an effort to catch his breath.

What had he gotten himself into?

He leaned back in his office chair and found his eyes drifting towards a drawer he kept locked. Feeling sentimental, he reached into his pocket and unlocked the drawer before pulling it open and taking out a small wooden box that was ornately carved. Inside he found various mementos from his summer in Mystic Falls. Among them were rose petals, tickets to movies and concerts, and a photo booth print out of Elena and him making funny faces. Sure the first two, Damon had stuck to his ever-present smirk but Elena had tickled his sides and forced him to stick his tongue out and then nibble at her jaw as she crossed her eyes and poked at her cheek in an adorable manner.

It wasn't long before a smile formed on his face as he lost himself in the memories. He wondered what she was up to. Was she happy? Had she found someone else to fall in love with? No doubt his father's money had lifted her financial burden and she had moved on from the over-worked girl he had known. But he still longed to see that carefree smile and that fire that he had seen within her.

Damon couldn't help but compare her with his future… bride, he thought with disgust. Both were forward, but where Elena's intentions were pure and inviting, Katherine was vulgar and manipulative. Katherine's forwardness was a turn-off along with her obsession with money and all that came with it. Elena was down to Earth and fun. She didn't have any money to her name and yet they had related to one another so well. They shared stories of loss and heartache and pulled each other out of their shells. Damon had never been more himself than in Elena's company and he wasn't sure he could keep his sanity while masking it with Katherine.

Just as he closed the box and put it back in its rightful place with a lock, the phone rang. Damon picked it up with ease. "Yes?"

"Mr. Salvatore, its Trevor."

Damon rolled his eyes. The little investigator certainly was persistent. After figuring out what had happened that night, he had called Trevor off the case. It appears he hadn't listened. "Trevor, while I appreciate your hard work… it's over. We found out all that we needed to. We know my father paid Elena off. I'm going to sign the contract and be done with it. She's just a girl."

"That's what I called about, sir." There was a pause as Damon heard the shuffling of papers. "There is no record of any extra money being withdrawn from your father's account. All the money taken from that night and the time surrounding it is accounted for. There is also no record of anyone cashing money from your father's many accounts for personal reasons. I have no reason to believe that he paid Elena Gilbert off."

Sitting upright in his chair, Damon let Trevor's words take hold of him. Even if his father was paying under the table by cash, the money wouldn't just disappear. His father may be manipulative but he didn't mess with his money. The last thing Salvatore Industries needed was a scandal and so everything was done by the book. "You're certain of his?"

"Yes. I checked both the business and personal accounts."

"Thank you."

"Uh, sir," Trevor began. "If you don't mind me asking, what are you going to do about it?"

Damon was silent for a moment. "I don't know."

"Well, I'll make sure to keep you posted if I find anything."

"Thank you, Trevor."

"Anytime, sir."

Damon hung up the phone and felt his body tense. The only reason he had made his way through these past few months with Katherine was the idea that Elena had ducked out. Now his entire thought process was being shook up. Something had happened that night, but whatever it was, money wasn't a part of it. He didn't know what had caused Elena to walk away, but he was going to figure it out before he was unavailable to her forever.

"I don't see why you have to go on a trip the week before your wedding!"

Damon placed some clothing into his suitcase and slammed it shut. His eyes drifted over to Katherine who had her arms crossed over her body as she stared daggers at him. "Put it this way… I'll be out of your way as you continue to plan this overly extravagant wedding."

Katherine shook her head. "No, I am not okay with this. You're not going anywhere, Damon."

"Look, come next week, you can order me around all you like, but right now, you don't fucking own me." He picked up his suitcase and in kinder words, stated, "Besides, I'll be with Stefan. It's our last brotherly trip before I'm a married man. I'll call you when I arrive."

He was halfway out of his bedroom when she called out to him. "No kiss?"

With a sigh, Damon turned and begrudgingly kissed his fiancé. It was empty and meaningless just like their entire relationship. It was why he had to get out and figure things out on his own; away from his father, away from Katherine's over-protective grasp. He entered the living room to find Stefan all ready and waiting for him. They exited the apartment together and saw Caroline in the passenger seat of the Camaro, dancing to some girl band tune playing on the radio.

"What's she doing here?" Damon questioned with an arched brow.

Stefan shrugged and grabbed Damon's suitcase to throw in the trunk before climbing into the backseat. As Damon made his way around to the other side, he looked at the blonde wondering what question to throw at her first. What was she doing here, in his car, playing around with his radio? How did she even get inside when he was certain he had locked it earlier? Thankfully she bypassed them all with two sentences.

"I'm not stupid, Damon. I know where you're taking my boyfriend and it's not Atlanta for a baseball game."

Damon sat down in the driver's seat. "So, that automatically gives you an invite?"

"It's been months since I've seen her! If you think I'm missing out on this road trip you've got another coming to you. Plus, you would've never figured out something was wrong if it wasn't for me so I deserve it for my brilliant deductive skills."

Damon's eyes looked into the rearview mirror at Stefan. "Who taught her the word 'deductive'?"

Caroline laughed, sarcastically. "Funny, Damon. Let's just get this car on the road!"

"Under one condition."

"That being?"

He leaned over conspiratorially. "Leave my radio alone."

"Oh, come on, Damon." Caroline mused. "We all know you love Taylor Swift."

It was a slow day at the diner today giving Elena the perfect chance to sit at one of the stools at the counter and continue with her writing. She had been taking some writing classes at the nearby community college in order to get more of a grasp on it. It was hectic having to balance work with the extra schoolwork while still trying to have some kind of social life but Elena knew it would be worth it in the end. Plus, staying at home with her Aunt and current boyfriend as they tried to consummate every available surface was something she just didn't need. It didn't help that seeing Alaric gave her a constant reminder of Damon and caused her to have a tightening in her chest.

The more time she spent building her career and trying to move on the better. Eventually the pain would dull and she might even be able to fall in love again.

Matt offered an escape and friendship but he wasn't her soul mate. He filled a need, an empty, vacant spot in her life. He kept her busy and was nice enough not to constantly question how she was doing. That was a luxury she didn't have at home or among her friends who still resided in Mystic Falls. Another constriction of her chest started when she thought of Caroline living with the rich and powerful and in sin with her boyfriend. At least her best friend would get the kind of happy ending Elena could only write about.

The bell above the door sounded and Elena immediately saved her work and shut her laptop, placing it on the other side of the bar. She jumped off her stool and turned towards the door and nearly fell backwards in her tracks. There, a few feet away from her, was her best friend. Elena nearly tackled Caroline to the ground with the force she put into her hug. The girls laughed and gripped each other, with no hope of letting go.

"What are you doing here?!" Elena squealed, ecstatic as she smiled the first real smile she had in months.

Caroline smiled back, gripping hold of Elena's hands. "Surprising you."

Elena looked over her shoulder at Stefan. "Hi, Stefan, how have you been? Keeping my girl happy over there in the big city."

"Of course." Stefan placed a soothing hand at Caroline back.

"Thank you for bringing her back to me," Elena breathed, already feeling the black cloud that had been above her begin to dissipate.

Stefan peered out the front window. "That wasn't all I brought."

Elena followed his gaze and her heart stopped. Pacing in front of the diner, dressed in his familiar dark jeans, tee and signature leather jacket was Damon. His hand ran through his raven black hair before he looked up and caught her eyes through the glass. Suddenly, his face took on a determined look before he walked towards the door and pushed it open with ease. He stepped towards her, towering above her and suddenly Elena felt uncomfortable in her waitress uniform. She began to fidget as she waited with bated breath for him to finally speak to her.

"Elena," Damon greeted.

"Damon," Elena replied, full of awkwardness as she fought her need to run into his arms.

Caroline and Stefan looked between them as neither said another word. The entire reunion was nothing like what any of them had pictured. Elena wasn't sure what he was doing here. She had read the tabloids; saw that he had proposed to Katherine. If he wasn't here because he had finally stood up to his father, than why was he here?

With all the courage she could muster, she crossed her arms and met his seductive blue eyes. "What are you doing here, Damon? Shouldn't you be writing your wedding vows and trying on tuxedos?"

A/N: So Damon is back in Mystic Falls and determined to find out what scared Elena off... I wonder how this will all turn out ;)