Zeus starts barking at the sound of a light rap on the kitchen window when Damon's face appears. Elena gestures for him to come inside then tosses her dog a bone. Mischa opens an eye then goes back to dozing on one of the kitchen chairs.

Damon's wiping the sweat from his brow with his forearm as he steps over the threshold. "I was hoping for something cold to drink? I'm parched," he stoops down to pet the Doberman.

"Help yourself," she doesn't look up from what she's cooking on the stove.

"What are you making?" he twists open a bottle of soda and takes a long pull.

"The town festival is tomorrow. I'm making some chili," she takes in the sight of him.

"No offense but why does everybody bring chili?" his nose crinkles.

"I guess because it's easy," the corners of her mouth quirk up. "Want a taste?" she holds out the wooden spoon for him.

"Sure," he waggles his brows and moves to stand next to her, his side brushing against hers.

If only he could take her right here...

She raises her eyes to meet his, she smiles despite herself.

Damon's head snaps to his right when the door clicks as it opens. He jumps back, putting some distance between himself and Elena.

"Vincent, hi," he sits back down.

"What's up," he looks at the two of them curiously.

"What time are you and Bonnie going to go to the festival?" Elena's eyes twinkle with mischief.

"You know those town things aren't really my thing..."

"You should come, there's going to be like nine other people that bring chili," Damon playfully nudges Elena with his elbow.

"It's an old family recipe, okay?" her brows draw together.

"Yeah! I know. Every time I've had festival chili, it sucked," Damon grins.

"Stop it," Elena laughs.

With his mouth set in a hard line, Vincent looks at Damon. "Why are you here, exactly?"

Picking up an undercurrent of hostility from him, Damon moves away from Elena. "I took a break from mowing to get something cold to drink."

"You done?" his eyes narrow.

"Yep," Damon empties what's left in his bottle, and tosses it in the wastebasket on his way out the door.

The lawns of the mansion are filled with people sitting at tables at the party. Elena and Caroline are sitting apart from the party on a bench, enjoying a glass of homemade lemonade from hurricane glasses.

"Hey," Bonnie shows up and takes a seat with them.

"Where's Vincent?" Elena looks around, not seeing him.

"He was chatting with Liz..."

"I'm surprised you got him to come, he's not usually a crowd person," Elena takes a swallow.

"So, what are you going to do when Damon starts school?" Bonnie asks her.

"I perfectly capable of taking care of the farm. I did it for a long time."

"What's going on Elena?" Bonnie tilts her head as she looks at her.

"I'm sorry, I guess I'm just sensitive where Damon's concerned. He's been a great help and I'll miss that but it's important that he gets the kind of grades that will get him into a good college."

"Is that all?" Bonnie notices the subtle nudge that Caroline gives her

"Yes, why?" Elena shifts uncomfortably on the bench, not liking where this conversation is headed.

"God, just admit it, Elena, okay? You are attracted to him! It's written all over your face."

"No," she tries to deny the accusation.

"No, you're not attracted to him, or no, you just won't admit it - to me?"

"I can't, Bonnie! If I admit it, what does that say about me?"

Sensing her best friend's discomfort, Caroline interrupts. "It says you're human, Elena."

Damon's browsing around the buffet tables, looking for Elena's chili. When he inadvertently looks up, he notices Vincent approaching him.

"Vincent," he empties his punch then crumples up the cup.

"Hey, uh, I think you need to take a beat with Elena."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm not blind. Whatever it is you two have going on, I think it's a bad idea..." his expression hardens.

"I don't really think it's any of your business..."

Vincent moves to stand in front of him. "I'm making it my business. I'm supposed to look after her, I promised Aaron and this is me doing that."

"And just what do you think I'm doing?" Damon doesn't back down.

"What I think is you need to take a beat," he repeats with narrowed eyes then walks away, leaving Damon's mind reeling...

"What was that all about?" Katherine waves her hand in front of Damon's face.

"He told me to stay away from Elena," he sighs, looking absently at the crowd but he doesn't see her.

"But you work for her..." When he doesn't respond, she latches her arm with his and pulls him to a big shady oak tree and tells him to sit down. "Who's he to tell you to stay away from her?"

"He's her friend, neighbor..."

Suddenly Katherine has a revelation. "You're in love with her, aren't you?"

Damon's eyes snap to hers. "How do...?"

"It's pretty obvious if you know what to look for," she winks at him. "Tell me about it."

"I'm not sure Kat. I only know how that I like the way I feel when I'm with her," Damon emits a frustrated sigh.

"Your heart feels like it's going to beat out of your chest, your breath catches in your throat. Sound familiar?"

"That's exactly how it feels. Is that how it was when you and Elijah got together?"

"That's exactly how it was. You know me, love is love but you're going to have a problem with mom and dad. How old is she?"

"24, only seven years older," Damon glances upward at the tree branches shrouding them in shadow.

"You don't have to convince me. You're going to have to study hard and keep up your grades, otherwise they'll blame her."

Damon watches her a mortified look suddenly wash over her face. "What?"

"I sound like them," she shudders, her mouth twisting. "Come on, I'll buy you a beer," Katherine jumps to her feet.

"You do," he gives her a lopsided grin and walks alongside her to one of the refreshment stands.

Damon's about to go home when he catches a fleeting glimpse of Elena going inside the mansion. He tries to be inconspicuous as he turns around to reassure himself that Vincent is gone.

Approaching the building, he trots up the stairs and goes inside, looking from left to right, seeing a flash of Elena's blue floral sundress.

He ducks into another room, standing just inside the doorway and out of sight. When she comes out, he shoots his arm out to grab her wrist and pull her flush against him. Then pushes the door close with his one hand.

She starts to speak but then his mouth is on hers. Warmth radiates from the spot where his lips touch hers, slowly spreading through the rest of her.

Damon pushes himself against her. Blood rushes through his body and increases his heart rate. His fingers stroke through her whiskey-colored hair and curl around the back of her head as the smell of her perfume engulfs him.

As Damon moves his mouth slowly over Elena's, he knows that he loves her.

She whimpers softly and presses her body closer, pulling him in rather than pushing him away.

He feels her lips tremble under his and start to part, inviting him in. The kiss obliterates every thought. The worries of the day evaporate like a summer shower on the hot pavement. Drunk on endorphins his only desire is to touch her, to move his hands under her smooth summer layers and feel her perfect softness.

In moments the soft caress has become something stronger, he savors her lips and the quickening of her breath that matches his own. A kiss like this is a beginning, a promise of much more to come.

Then suddenly Elena pushes him away. Her breathing is ragged when she takes a step back.

"We have to stop."

Thank you everyone.

Chapter title: 'Light up The Sky' by Van Halen. #RIP Eddie Van Halen. 5150 is one of my favorite albums.

My friend Mariah April May is back and on a tear. Amazing Aisha, jmfangs, Daddysadist, Justinia Korax, linax24, Florencia7, Eos Blaze 0402, HisDelusionalLover and heyitskarma all have wonderful stories.

Watch for my other two stories to update. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.