I like how this chapter turned out, but I feel like it took me forever to get the words out lol.

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Here's a nice long chapter.

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"Am I supposed to feel like I'm being choked to death?" Damon asked, as he and Elena pulled into the restaurant parking lot.

Elena laughed under her breath, "It's a tie, Damon, not a noose."

"Could've fooled me," he muttered, fidgeting with it for the millionth time.

She sighed, as they got out of the car, and she straightened her dress.

"Sorry," she told him, "But this isn't exactly a jeans and leather jacket kind of place...and we're meeting my father."

Damon walked around, and took her hand, "I know, Elena, I do. I know this is important to you. But angel, I'm pretty sure your father doesn't care of we're dressed fancy or not. He wants to get to know you, the real you."

She bit her lip, "And he will...but this is the first time he's met you, aside from our practically naked run in at the door, which, let's face it, wasn't a great first impression."

A look passed over Damon's face, and Elena rose a brow in confusion, "What?"

"Nothing..."

"Damon-" she started.

He sighed, "This isn't the first time I've met your father."

Her eyes narrowed, "It's not?"

"I may have went to his classroom after the two of you had your talk that day..."

Elena closed her eyes and exhaled, "Oh god, Damon, you didn't."

He reached up and cupped her face, forcing her to look at him.

There was no apology in his expression, "Of course I did."

Elena squeezed his hand, "Tell me you didn't threaten him."

"I didn't threaten him...there may have been some threatening undertone, but it's not like I was trying to send the guy running."

"What were you trying to do, then?" She demanded.

"Protect you," he said calmly, "The man hurt you, Elena. You wanted to give him another chance to be apart of your life, and that's fine, I want that for you, but you're delusional if you think I'd just let him waltz back in, only to hurt you again. I had to be sure, angel."

"No Damon, I had to be sure. Me. He's my father, and it's my choice. It wasn't your place to-"

"To look out for you?" He cut her off, "Maybe it wasn't, but I wasn't going to let him hurt you again. Elena, I love you, but I can't trust that his intentions were good, just because you told me they were."

"So, you don't trust me?" She accused.

Damon exhaled exasperatedly, "That's not what I'm saying."

"Then what are you saying?" She pressed, "Because I never wanted you to go confront him. I just got him back, Damon, and you aren't exactly a ray of sunshine. What if you had scared him off?"

"Then he wouldn't have deserved to be in your life!"

"That's not your choice!" Elena exclaimed.

Silence fell between them, and she took a breath, "Look, I love you, okay, and I appreciate you looking out for me, but I'm not fragile, Damon. I can decide who I want to give another chance to, and who I want in my life. And I need you to trust that, not to go behind my back and interrogate someone for my protection."

Damon hesitated, then sighed, "Fine. I'm sorry. I just didn't want to see you hurt."

She wrapped her arms around his middle, "I know. But that's the risk I chose to take. The same one you're choosing not to take, with Stefan."

"Elena-"

"I'm not pushing," she promised, "I'm making a point. You don't want to talk to him, and even though I wish you'd change your mind, I respect your decision, and I'm not going to interfere. I need you to do the same for me."

Damon's face fell into a pout, but he rolled his neck and muttered, "Fine."

Elena smiled, kissing him on the cheek, "Thank you."

He motioned towards the restaurant.

"Come on. Unless you want your dad to think we stood him up."

She nodded, and let him lead her towards the entrance.


The restaurant was beautiful, and smelled amazing.

The host awaiting them was polite, and didn't even double at Damon's scar, the way Elena had become accustomed to strangers doing.

The reservation was under her father's name, and the host asked them to follow him.

They were led to a table, where Grayson was already sat, drinking on a glass of water.

He stood when he saw them approaching.

"Elena, you made it."

Worried, she looked down at her watch, "We aren't late, are we?"

"Not at all," he father assured her, "I was early."

Elena nodded, then looked back at her boyfriend.

"Right, um, Grayson, this is Damon. Damon, my father."

Grayson offered his hand, and Damon shook it.

Elena was just pleased he was playing nice.

They took their seats, and a waiter brought them menus.

"So how did the psychology lecture go yesterday?" Grayson asked politely.

"Very good, actually," Elena began, hoping to avoid the awkwardness of "first" meetings by striking a conversation, "Dr. Selman is amazing. And he teaches the freshman course here, so I can put in a request for his class during registration."

Grayson smiled, "Good to hear. He is very renowned in his field of study. Have you read his book on Social Influence, pertaining to Personality Disorders?"

Elena shook her head, "No, but my roommate has a copy of his one on the stages of depression and anxiety. I've only gotten a few chapters in, though."

"That's also a good one," her father nodded, then turned to Damon, "You'll be transferring here as well, in the fall?"

Elena glanced over at Damon, hoping he'd continue to behave.

"I am," Damon confirmed, "Just waiting for registration."

Grayson pried, curiously, "And what will you be studying?"

"Mechanical Engineering," Damon stated, "I'm, uh, good with cars."

"Good?" Elena prodded, "You rebuilt your Camaro from nothing."

Damon smiled at her, "Only because Elijah sold me the parts cheap, angel. Otherwise, it would have taken a lot longer."

He looked back at Grayson, who seemed impressed.

"Classics or modern restoration?" He asked, seeming genuinely interested.

Damon blinked, surprised, "My Camaro is an 89', but the garage where I work gets all sorts of models and builds. We restored the engine on a 56' Chevelle just last week. Keeps things interesting."

"Well, power to you," Grayson chuckled, "I know enough to keep my car running, and that's it. I can perform surgery on any part of the human anatomy, but put me in front of an opened hood, and I couldn't tell you left from right."

Elena noticed Damon had relaxed a little, and smiled.

A waiter came over then, to get their order, but once he left, the conversation continued to flow easily.

Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as her nerves had made her think.


An hour later, Grayson Gilbert couldn't have erased the smile from his face if you'd paid him to.

His daughter was sitting across from him, his daughter, and she was more than he could have ever hoped.

He watched as she laughed in response to something her boyfriend had said, and sat, mesmerized.

He hated himself for walking out on her, for cutting himself from her life, but despite the tragedy she'd had to endure, Elena had become a strong, beautiful women, and his heart filled with pride.

God, he was so lucky to have been given another chance to get to know her.

Each time he sat down to have a conversation with her, he was left completely stunned.

And apparently, he wasn't the only one.

His eyes drifted away from his daughter, and over to her boyfriend.

He had to admit, at first, he'd been concerned.

He knew he had no right to comment on anything she decided for her life, but when he'd first been confronted with the scarred young man, practically naked, in Elena's dorm, he'd had the urge to protect her from him.

He'd worried about her living with a guy, so early in her young life, and that she already seemed so devoted.

But after tonight, he knew he'd never have to concern himself with that again.

Damon clearly adored his daughter, and that was putting it mildly.

The guy looked at her as if she had hung the moon and breathed out the sun.

The sheer love and devotion was obvious in his gaze, and in the little things that Grayson doubted they even knew they did.

For instance, when Elena spoke and got caught up on an explanation, Damon would finish for her, understanding exactly what she was trying to say. She would also shift in her seat, any time Damon moved, as if sensing the change before he even made it.

Damon's arm would drape over her shoulders, and his hand would toy with the end of her hair.

And at random times, when either Grayson, or Elena were speaking, Damon would place a kiss on her temple, absentmindedly.

Like he did now, as Elena suggested they grab to-go boxes from the waitress.


"While you do that, I'm going to run to the ladies room," she excused herself.

Damon nodded, moving so she could get up.

As she began to walk off, Damon turned, "Wait, angel-"

Elena looked back.

"Did you want us to wait here for you, or in the front?"

Grayson leaned forward, "We can just stay until she gets back. The waiter will take that long getting the boxes anyway."

The other two agreed, and Damon sat back down as Elena left to find the bathroom.

"Thank you," Grayson said, now that they were alone, "For coming tonight."

Damon shrugged, "It made her happy."

Grayson nodded, "She does seem happy. I suppose I should thank you for that as well. You're good to her."

"Of course I am," Damon said quietly, "She deserves it."

Grayson sighed, looking off in the direction Elena had went, "If I'd known I was leaving them too..."

His voice thickened as he trailed off.

"Regret isn't going to change what happened," Damon told him, "Trust me. I've been there and done that, and it doesn't solve a thing. But Elena...well, somehow she manages to look past the mistakes. She finds the good in people."

Grayson smiled softly, "I'm so proud of who she's become."

"Me too," Damon admitted.


The waiter passed then, and they were able to request a to-go box, and Grayson paid the tab.

"I can cover ours," Damon offered, but Grayson waved him off.

"No, it's my treat," he stated, and Damon didn't protest further.

He couldn't help but notice how much quieter the young man was, with Elena absent.

Thinking of Elena brought up a question he had forgotten to ask earlier.

"I was wondering," he began, getting Damon's attention, "Why 'angel'? It seems a bit unusual for a pet name."

Damon smirked a little at that, his face looking suddenly younger.

"It's a...well, it's a long story."

When Grayson continued to silently listen, Damon sighed, "Cliff notes version. During the first conversation I ever had with Elena, she asked me if I believed in angels. I told her no. And at the time, that was true. I mean, I didn't give myself this beauty mark," he stated, motioning to his scar.

Grayson nodded, but didn't comment, and Damon continued.

"So yeah, I'd lost faith in pretty much everything. Growing up with this souvenir made me a bit of an outcast. But Elena didn't care. She would talk to me anyway, get me to play with her, and it was the first time I felt happy," he smiled sadly, "She was my first real friend. And after a while, I realized that it was okay if I didn't believe in anything else. I believed in her, and that was good enough. She was my angel."


The young man's eyes were distant, as though he had gotten lost in a memory.

Grayson wanted to ask more, but decided against it.

Elena returned a moment later, breaking Damon's trance, and he smiled up at her, "You ready?"

She nodded, and he reached over, grabbing her jacket, and handed it to her, before standing himself.

Grayson followed their lead, and the three of them left the restaurant.


Damon hung back, as Grayson and Elena said their goodbyes.

The night hadn't been as stuffy as he'd expected, even if he was dying to take off his tie.

Grayson Gilbert was exactly as Elena had described.

Polite, intimidatingly smart, and seemed to really care about her.

The last one was all that mattered to Damon.

He thought back to the conversation he'd had with Elena before the meal, about needing to trust her with the decisions that would affect her life, and she was right.

He hadn't fully dropped his resignation against the man, but seeing the way he seemed to truly care about Elena had relaxed them.

And how he'd even seemed interested in what he'd had to say.

Damon had expected Grayson to write him off as some kind of juvenile delinquent, not good enough for his future doctor daughter, but not once did the man attempt to make Damon fell anything but welcome.

A small part of him appreciated that.

Grayson trusted Elena's judgement, and it would seem, he needed to learn to do the same.


Grayson waved one final time before getting into his SUV, a newer model of a Lexus nx 200t, and Elena walked back over to where Damon was waiting.

She smiled as he opened his arms, and immediately leaned into him.

"You okay?" He asked running a hand up and down her back.

She nodded, placing a kiss on his jaw, "I'm good. Really good...thank you for coming tonight."

"Any excuse to see you," he winked, only half joking, "But I'll admit, it wasn't as bad as I thought. The guy's tolerable."

She grinned, "Tolerable, huh? Coming from you, that's almost a compliment."

He kissed the top of her head, "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

She pulled away slightly, meeting his gaze, "You know, it's still kind of early...we could make other plans for tonight..."

He smirked, suddenly imagining the ways he could actually put his tie to use, "What kind of plans?"

Elena smacked his arm, with a laugh, "Mind out of the gutter, mister. We did that before we left the hotel. Or did you forget why we were almost late?"

He grinned, "Oh believe me, I didn't forget."

She rolled her eyes playfully, "Okay, okay. But I was actually thinking something more along the lines of going out for a drink or something...maybe inviting Stefan..."

Damon sighed, "Angel, I know what you're trying to do, and I appreciate it, but do you remember that talk we had earlier?"

"I know," she pouted, "I just think it would be good for you. Stefan really wants to get to know you. And he doesn't even talk to your father anymore. What do you have to lose?"

Damon groaned lowly, closing his eyes, "Elena."

"Fine," she condescend, "How about a deal then."

He peaked one eye open, intrigued, "I'm listening."

"We can go back to the hotel room tonight...just the two of us..."

Damon liked the sound of that, especially since Elena's voice had dropped into a seductive purr.

"We'll hang up that 'Do not disturb sign'," she continued, "and we won't leave the bed until late tomorrow."

She gazed up at him through thick lashes, and Damon felt himself go hard at her words.

"But?" He forced out, knowing there was a catch.

"But tomorrow night, we go out for drinks. And we invite Stefan and Lexi."

Damon bit his lip, indecisively, "I don't know, angel."

He really didn't want to deal with his family crap at any point this weekend, or ever, but Elena wasn't giving in so easily.

For whatever reason, she truly believed he'd be happier knowing his brother.

"Let me help you make up your mind then," she whispered breathily, leaning into him.

Her heals put them closer to the same height, so she was easily able to wrap her arms around his neck, and press her lips against his, in a searing kiss that made him glad they'd parked on the dark side of the parking lot.

He knew what she was doing.

Knew that if he had any hope of keeping the points to his argument, he should untangle himself from her addictive taste.

But he didn't.

He never did.


His hands gripped her waist, and Elena slammed him back against his car, before running her entire body against his.

Her fingers danced at his tie, unknotting it, until she was able to pull it loose.

Then she tore through the first couple buttons on his shirt, exposing his upper chest.

The kids deeped, and Damon moved his hands to her back, lowering them, until he could cup her ass, hoisting her up easily.

Her legs wrapped around him, her dress riding up so that his hands felt the skin of her bare ass.

That froze him, and he pulled away from the kiss.

Elena was breathing hard, but rose a brow.

Damon smirked, "You seriously sat through that entire meal with no panties on?"

She chuckled, her chest moving against his, "Don't be absurd. I took them off in the bathroom...just in case you needed motivation."

He laughed quietly, "Oh, trust me, I'm motivated."

"Good," she kissed him shortly, "So tomorrow?"

He sighed in defeat, knowing that he wouldn't refuse her, even if she had been wearing underwear, "Fine."

She squealed in delight, and squeezed his neck in a tight hug.

Damon clung to her as well, and smiled when she began kissing her way up to his ear.

"Now take me back to the hotel," she commanded, "I need you."

Her hand drifted down between them, rubbing his erection, "I need this."

He didn't have to be told twice.


There you go. Some smutty fluff! Lol

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