Hello lovelies! I'm glad that you guys like that Alex is finally learning how to hunt vampires. I think she needs to stop being a damsel in distress and start being a bad ass. And don't worry about Alex and Damon, they always work things out. As well as Alex and Lauren. Their relationship is too strong to be broken.

Anyway, I want to really thank you guys for being so great and reading my story. I really love this story and I'm proud to write it. So, thank you for telling me what you think and all of your continued love and support. You guys rock!

Season 2 Episode 9 Katerina

"Alex! Wake up!"

I groaned, rolling over on my stomach. My muscles cried against the movement. I was way too tired for this and much too sore. I felt like I had barely slept at all, most likely from all the tossing and turning I did the night before. Elena's kidnapping on top of Damon's anger had messed with my head, causing me not being able to sleep so well. And the nightmares. Those were probably the worst.

Katherine's cruel grin as she took pride in snapping my arm. The threats she made to my mother. Jace coming to my rescue, only to shove a knife into my back. They occurred in these dreams every night, and to be honest, I was a little frightened.

"Alex." John's voice echoed through the room. "You need to get up."

"No." I grunted, covering my head with the pillow. He pulled it off of my head. I groaned again and looked up at the clock. "John, its 5 o'clock in the morning."

There was no reason I should be up that early. I hadn't been up that early since infancy. And to add to my displeasure, everything hurt.

"The early bird catches the worm." He mused. I gagged. "Get up and get dressed. We're going running."

"Excuse me?" I asked, eyebrows shooting upward. There was no way my body was going to let me run anywhere at the soreness level I was at. Besides, who got up at this time of the morning to go running? Crazy people that's who, and John had proved that to me a while ago.

"You need to increase your stamina." He explained. "I only have a short time with you. Let's go."

I made a noise that sounded like it was a mixture of a moan and a cry. When he saw I wasn't moving he grabbed my blanket and pulled it off. I whimpered and curled up into a ball. He clapped his hands really loud and then went out of the room, slamming the door. I cursed at him silently, wishing pain and suffering upon him. Eventually I pulled myself up and put on some clothes. I opted for a t-shirt and some athletic shorts since we were going running. When I walked out of the room, John was drinking a protein shake in the kitchen. He looked up at me and made a face.

"What?" I asked, not in the mood for his critiques.

"Do you have no sense of your size?" He asked looking at my shirt. "That's at least two sizes too big."

"Well, I like roomy shirts." I shrugged. "Would you rather me wear skin tight clothes that show off my chest? Thought dads didn't approve of that."

He shook his head and stepped forward to me. He then gripped the excess material and yanked me forward.

"This is exactly what I don't want to see." John said, referring to the movement. "As a father, this attire is ok, but as a trainer it is unacceptable."

"Why?" I asked, pushing back on him. He released his hold on my shirt.

"If you go after a vampire wearing this the first thing they are going to do is use that for their advantage." He said. "Along with your long hair. You are a sitting duck."

"I'm not cutting my hair." I said immediately. It was a bit childish, but my hair was like a security blanket to me. It had always been long.

"I'm not asking you to." John said. "I'm just saying that that is what they will go for first."

"I'll change." I muttered, stalking back to my room. I grabbed a tank top instead and swapped it with my t shirt. When I entered back into the kitchen he nodded in approval. I grunted and rolled my eyes, too tired to really even stand or argue anymore.

"Take this." He said tossing me a water bottle. "Let's go."

After the first ten or so minutes I was already panting. My heart was beating so fast I thought it would fall out and land on the ground. Even then, I didn't think my lovely father would let me stop. John was way ahead of me and I was slightly embarrassed. This older man could outrun me, and it was slightly unnerving. He obviously did this a lot and I found myself wanting to be able to catch up to him.

"Come on Alex!" He called. "You're letting your old man outrun you!"

His taunting was getting me riled up, but that must have been what he wanted. It made me want to go harder, and go faster. I pushed myself, my legs fighting against the pain that it caused me. His figure was becoming closer and closer the faster I ran. Eventually I had caught up to him. I smirked while he chuckled at me. I ran past, making myself go farther so he couldn't catch up to me.

However, I didn't see the large root coming out of the ground and I caught my foot on it. I fell forward, scraping my hands and knees. I cried out in pain, the wounds stinging like hell. I sat up, rolling over to inspect them.

"Alex!" John said worried when he crouched in front of me. "You ok?"

"I'm fine." I said, looking at my red hands. "Just stings a little."

He took my hands looking over the bloody scrapes. He then looked at me knee. It occurred to me then that this is what a father would do when he child fell. Of course, I wasn't much of a child anymore, but his concern for my well being made my heart swell even the slightest bit. I looked him over. He was athletic, and I guessed he would have to be if he specialized in killing vampires. He was also, not bad looking. He wasn't a model or anything, but he wasn't bad. Our eyes were so similar, it was a bit daunting.

"I look like you." I said. He looked up, meeting my gaze. I didn't know why I said it or what I thought would come of it, but I said it regardless.

"I'm sorry for that." He said with a laugh. I swallowed. "Those will be fine. We can put some antiseptic on them at the house."

He helped me up to my feet and I brushed myself off. We then just jogged, not racing, but we jogged at a nice pace next to one another. It was cool this morning, so it wasn't bad in regards to temperature. The nip actually kept me nice and cool whilst we ran. The air was clear and no one was up yet. It was peaceful.

"You know I think it bothered mom how much I looked like you instead of her." I said. John looked over at me. "I guess it was a reminder of you that she didn't want."

"I don't blame her." John said. "I was a dick."

"Was?" I teased. He chuckled and I found myself doing the same. This was nice. I didn't want to admit it, but it was nice. Bonding… I was bonding.

"I messed up with your mother." He said ruefully. "I let a good thing slip through my fingers."

He wasn't wrong. My mother was a great woman, an amazing person. Anyone would be lucky to have her.

"She's amazing." I said to him. "She's my best friend."

"She was mine too." John admitted. I looked over at him eyebrows furrowed. "Before we started dating we were friends."

I licked my lips, taking my water bottle and putting it to my lips. I took a swig of water, swallowing the cool drink slowly.

"She never told me that." I admitted after I swallowed. "Actually, she never told me anything about you really."

John took a deep breath. I wondered if it bothered him that Mom hadn't told me about that side of my family. Granted, at the time I probably wouldn't have wanted to know. But now, now was different. I was embracing who I was, all of me. That meant that I had to look into my Gilbert side too. That meant looking into John.

"We grew up together." John said, slowing his pace to a walk. I followed suit. "Became best friends in kindergarten."

"Sounds like the start of a cheesy love movie." I commented. He chuckled.

"She was always there for me." John said. "When I needed a friend, she was always right around the corner."

"Sounds like her." I mused. Mom was always there when someone needed a hand. It didn't surprise me that she would do the same for John as well.

"I asked her out when we were in middle school." He said fondly before chuckling. "She smacked me."

"Oh my God!" I said with a laugh. "She smacked you?"

"Right across the cheek." He mused. "Said I was ruining the friendship."

"Then what?" I asked, curious now about how my parents had met and come to fall in love.

"Then she said yes." He replied. "And after that… well you know."

I nodded. They dated through high school, John cheated, got Isobel and my mother pregnant, than left both me and Elena. I tried not to be bitter about it, but I didn't think that bitterness would ever really go away. I could mask it with some fun times, but I could never truly get over it.

"You know I spent a lot of my life hating you." I admitted. John looked at the ground ashamed. "I hated you for leaving mom, for leaving me…"

He nodded, and I could see that it bothered him that I held that anger toward him. Not that he didn't deserve it, but I remembered that he did try to come back. He did try to be in my life. I couldn't condemn the man for that.

"But I'm tired of hating you." I said to him. "Whether I want to admit it or not, you are a part of me."

John looked up, meeting my gaze. He stared at one another for a long time before I looked straight ahead. I was taking a big step here, but the big step felt right.

"I know I'm not here for long… but I want to know everything about the Gilbert's." I said. "I have to know."

"And I promise that I will tell you everything I know." John admitted. I nodded. There was a long pause of silence before I cracked a grin.

"Race you to the end of the street?" I asked. He smiled at me as well, a wicked grin that mirrored my own.

"You're on."

Damon walked into the living room to see Rose crying on the couch. He rolled his eyes as he entered. He hadn't really spoken to the woman much, but she had kidnapped Elena so she wasn't an ally yet. However, he needed some answers, answers that she had.

"Alright Rosebud." He said, getting her attention. "I need some answers."

She sniffled wiping away her tears with a tissue. Damon scoffed.

"Oh please don't tell me you're crying 'cause your buddy Trevor lost his head." Damon said. Rose turned to him.

"Are you always this sensitive?" She joked. He smirked.

"Full vampire switch for this very reason." Damon said. "Takes the emotion out of it."

"Yeah, you switch yours, I'll switch mine." She said. Damon's eyebrows furrowed.

"Is that a dig?" Damon asked. He was usually the one providing digs at people. He wasn't used to others doing it to him.

"It's an observation." She answered. "I heard you on the phone with that girl last night. Need a new phone huh?"

Damon made a face. He may have over reacted at the news of Alex's departure. He knew why she was doing it, he just didn't like it.

"We are fine." Damon said. He didn't want to make his disagreement with Alex a big deal. He couldn't let Rose get the upper hand.

"Didn't sound like it." Rose said, arms crossed over her chest. Damon sped over to her, inches from her face. He narrowed his eyes looking her over. Rose was a pretty woman, someone he would probably sleep with. However, she wasn't Alex, and Alex was the one he wanted.

"Don't get on my bad side." Damon warned.

"Then show me your good side." Rose replied. Usually a response like that would have been met with a flirty or sexual response, but Damon held it back.

"How do I find Klaus?" Damon asked.

"You don't." Rose said. "He finds you."

"Come on." Damon groaned. "Somebody's got to know somebody who knows where he is, right?"

"Add another two hundred somebodies to that and you're still not even close." Rose said. Damon huffed.

"Humor me." Damon said. "You got in touch with Elijah, how did you do it?"

"Through a very low somebody on the totem pole." Rose admitted. "A guy name Slater in Richmond."

"Perfect." Damon said. "I'll drive."

"No." Rose said with a slight laugh. "You forget not all of us can do sun."

"Then you drive." He said. "Come on."

"Are you sure your girlfriend would be ok with this?" Rose asked him cautiously. Damon turned and sent a smirk her way.

"She doesn't own me." Damon said. "Besides, she's not here."

Rose bit her lip and followed Damon reluctantly.

John and I were back in the back yard. This time he cut out the stakes. He was going to teach me how to fight bare handed.

"I don't see why we are doing this." I said fists raised. We were circling one another, our eyes locked. "It's not like I can beat a vampire without a stake."

"No." John said throwing a punch, I narrowly dodged it. "But if you are quick on your feet you have a better chance."

I punched forward and he knocked my arm down, blocking the attack. I then kicked my foot out, and he caught that too. He then yanked me to the ground and I fell on my back again, knocking the wind out of me.

"I'm never going to get this right!" I yelled, covering my face. I wasn't a fighter, I never had been. Who was I kidding to think I could do this? I couldn't even beat a human let alone a vampire. I was totally screwed.

"Alex, listen to me." John said, crouched down to me. "You are a Gilbert. This is in your blood."

"I can't do it John!" I shouted at him. "I'm not strong, I'm not tough. I'm none of those things."

John grabbed my arms and pulled me into a sitting position. I didn't look at him, embarrassed at my lack of coordination and skill. If I was a Gilbert, then why couldn't I do this? All the others seem to be naturals. Even Jeremy was better off than I was.

"You can do this." John assured me. I met his gaze. "It just takes time and effort."

I nodded, not feeling much better. He pulled me up and I stood there arms limp and ready to quit.

"Put 'em up." He ordered. I did as he said, but there was no enthusiasm in it. "Tighter."

I closed my eyes and did as he asked. I then shifted my feet shoulders length apart and bent my knees slightly.

"Good." John said. "Now… I want you to get angry."

"Get angry?" I repeated. "Why?"

"Because I said so." He replied. "Now, think about Damon."

I imagined his face, so beautiful and smooth. I thought of the way my lips felt when he pushed his on mine. I remembered the way his touch felt as he caressed my skin and how he held me. I thought about the way my heart skipped a beat every time he came near me or called me pretty girl. I dreamed of the way-

"He's scum." John said. My eyebrows furrowed and I was back to reality. My eyes shot open to see John. "He is a low life."

"He is not." I said. "He's a good person."

"A good person who kills people." John said. "He doesn't deserve you."

"He has flaws." I defended him. "But that doesn't mean he's bad."

John threw a kick, knocking me down with its force. I scrambled back up, getting back into position. His eyes were no longer soft and kind, they reminded me of the John I first met.

"He's a monster." John continued. "He has no remorse."

I threw a punch that he dodged quickly. I could feel my body tense up and I was ready to throw another punch.

"Do you remember what I did?" John asked. "When I tried to burn him alive?"

"Yeah I remember." I spat. Throwing another punch, this one landed him on the shoulder. He jerked back, smirking back at me.

"Do you remember what you said to me?" He asked, throwing two punches. One I missed and the other I blocked. I landed another hit to his chest.

"I said I hated you." I replied, remembering the day like it was yesterday. I could feel my blood boil as I remembered how I had pleaded with John to spare Damon and he hadn't listened. I remembered yelling at him, telling him that I hated him.

"You said you hated me for years." John said, dodging another one of my punches. "What changed?"

"Nothing." I replied. "Nothing has changed."

"Not according to what you said today." He mused. "I think you're going soft on me."

I glared kicking him behind the knee and he went down. He pulled himself back up though and was back in place before I could take another breath.

"Damon will never love you." John said. "He's incapable of it."

"You're wrong." I said. "He cares-"

"I never said he didn't care." John replied. "I just said he couldn't love you."

I narrowed my eyes and dodged a punch and jumped out of the way of his kick.

"He deserves to die." John said. "They all do."

"No." I replied. "No they don't."

"I'll kill him myself." John said. "I'll stake him right through the heart next time I see him."

"You will never lay a hand on him." I said punching him in the nose when I saw the opportunity. He fell backward, clutching his nose. I didn't waste time, I kneed him in the gut and let him fall to the ground. He lay there, doubled over in pain and I came back to my senses.

"Oh God." I said launching myself down to his level. "I'm sorry I didn't-"

"Good job." He said, nose bleeding. "Damon is your trigger."

"My trigger?" I asked. John sat up wiping the blood from his nose.

"He is the one who brings out the fight in you." He explained. "When I threatened him did you feel that pit in your stomach?"

"Yeah." I replied, hand flying to my abdomen. John pointed to it.

"That is your trigger." John said. "That is what makes you fight."

I stared at him for a long while. It made sense, every time someone threatened Damon I went into action. I had never stood by, I had always tried to fight. I was even prepared to fight Mason Lockwood who could have killed me in a second. Damon was my trigger.

"Alright." John said standing up. "Let's go again."

I got back into position and smirked throwing a punch his way.

"What does the Petrova blood line have to do with Klaus?" Elena asked, pushing a plastic cup full of blood to Katherine's side of the doorway of the tomb. She didn't know how long she had been there, talking to Katherine, getting information. But Elena felt confident that she was getting some good stuff from the vampire. She was learning a lot about her heritage, her connection to the curse, and most importantly the infamous original vampire Klaus.

"It's really tedious but…" Katherine said, drinking the blood and crushing the cup. "The curse was bound by the sacrifice of Petrova blood. Witches are crafty with their spells."

Elena nodded. The moonstone was what bound the moon spell. The Petrova blood must be the sun curse.

"The doppelgänger was created as a way to be able to undo the spell." Katherine explained. "Once the doppelgänger reappeared, the curse can be broken."

"So you ran away before he could kill you." Elena said.

"Something like that." Katherine said. Elena listened closely as Katherine explained how she fled with the help of Trevor. Rose was bound and determined to hand her over to Klaus, but Katherine thought fast. She stabbed herself, Rose gave her the vampire blood to heal her, and then she hung herself.

"You killed yourself?" Elena asked, shocked.

"Klaus needed a human doppelganger." Katherine said. "As a vampire, I was no longer any use to him."

Elena looked away. Klaus needed her to break the curse, and even as a vampire Katherine could never get away. She had been running for years. Elena didn't want that life. But she didn't want to die either.

"So how much of your little story is true?" Elena asked, standing up. Katherine was flipping through the Petrova book.

"I have no reason to lie, Elena." Katherine said, flipping a page. "I have no reason to do anything but sit here and read and rot."

"Okay, assuming it's even partially true, that's the reason why you came back isn't it?" Elena asked. "Because you wanted to be the one to hand me over to Klaus."

"500 years on the run, I figured maybe he'd be willing to strike a deal." Katherine admitted. Elena gritted her teeth.

"And what about Jace?" Elena asked. Katherine's eyes narrowed. "I know he was with you."

"Jace was simply a pawn." Katherine replied, waving her hand. "A little minion of sorts."

"Where he is now?" Elena asked. Katherine shrugged.

"He was supposed to be at the masquerade." Katherine replied. "He never showed."

Elena sighed. She was beginning to think that she couldn't trust anyone. Jace had come and integrated so easily into their circle. She knew Alex was upset that he had been on the wrong side, but he was better off gone. Elena wouldn't have anyone hurting her family.

"What else is needed to lift the curse?" Elena asked. Katherine cracked her neck, leaning against the stone wall behind her.

"A werewolf." She said. Elena's eyebrows furrowed.

"Tyler." Elena mumbled.

"A witch to do the spell."

"Bonnie."

"A vampire."

"Caroline." Elena said and looked up to Katherine. She didn't look the least bit remorseful, all the while, Elena was putting the pieces together.

"So, you were just going to give us to Klaus and let him kill us?" Elena asked outraged. Katherine smirked, picking up her book and staring at Elena.

"Better you die than I." She said, turned and walked away, further into the tomb.

I sat at the kitchen table with John. He had pulled out old family photos and had them spread across the table. He was pointing out ones and laughing as he reminisced.

"No way." I said, holding up a photo. "This is Elena?"

John leaned forward and looked at the picture.

"She was a chubby little thing wasn't she?" John laughed. I stared at the photo before putting it down. It was still hard for me to believe that Elena and I were sisters, even half way. We didn't look anything alike, but then again she was a doppelgänger so I guess it made sense. I picked up another one, one of John and Grayson. John's arm was around his brother, and the two had large smiles on their faces.

"I miss him." John said looking over the picture. He gingerly took it from me and stared at it. "He was a good man."

"I wouldn't know." I commented. John looked up and met my gaze. I looked away the tension growing between us.

"I asked them not to speak to you." John said quietly, almost in a whisper. I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked back to him.

"Why?" I asked. John visibly swallowed.

"I didn't get to have you." John admitted. "So I didn't want them to either."

My lips parted and I looked down at the table. I could feel warm tears prick at my eyes. Years and years of abandonment and anger filled inside me. He didn't want them to speak to me… they didn't have to listen, but he was their family. Of course they would agree.

"I was alienated by everyone." I said quietly.

"I know." John replied.

"I felt unwanted." I added.

"I know." John said.

"Why?" I asked, the tears fully formed in my eyes. "Why didn't you want me?"

John tensed and I looked away, blinking away those traitorous tears. I didn't know if I wanted a real answer. I didn't think I needed it. But then I thought… I needed to know. I deserved to know.

"I did." John said. "I just figured that out to late."

I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing the tears back into my eyes. He was young and stupid. He made a bad decision. Didn't we all do that?

"I will never be a father to you." John said. "I know that. But… I want to be there for you as much as I can."

I looked back at him. He was being there for me. He was teaching me, mentoring me right now. He was doing what he could, and I couldn't hate him for that. He was trying to make up for that huge mistake that he made years ago…

"Thank you." I said. "For being honest."

He nodded and the two of us continued to look through the pictures in silence. The room was tense and I shifted awkwardly in my seat. I licked my lips, trying to find anything to say.

"How did you know that Damon would be my trigger?" I asked him suddenly. John looked up surprised. I waited for his answer silently.

"Isn't it obvious?" He asked. I shrugged. "You love him."

I swallowed, looking down at the table. Everyone apparently could see it but myself. I didn't want to say it unless I was sure, but the more I thought about it the more I was beginning to believe it.

"I will never understand why you do." John said. "You can't have a real relationship with him."

"Why not?" I asked, becoming very defensive.

"He's a vampire. You are a human." John said. "You will either die or… become one of them."

The thought hadn't really crossed my mind, at least not lately. John was right, I would either get old and die or I would have to become a vampire and spend an eternity trying to fight the lust to kill. I didn't want that life, but how could I live without Damon?

"I don't want to talk about this." I muttered.

"Alex you have to understand-"

"I said I don't want to talk about this." I said, standing from the table. John said nothing more so I walked back to my room. I closed the door behind me and fell on the bed. I hated to admit that John was right. I wanted nothing more than to spend my life with Damon. But my human life would be short compared to his forever. I would die and he would move on. I didn't want that to happen.

Suddenly my phone rang. I reached for it, opening it even though I didn't recognize the number.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hey." It was Damon's voice. "I got a new phone."

"Why?" I asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"It's a long story." Damon replied. "Are you doing ok?"

"I'm fine." I said. "Are you ok?"

"Great." He replied bitterly. "Just peachy."

"What's the matter?" I asked, settling into the bed. I could hear him drinking and knew that it was probably alcohol.

"Well, my girlfriend ran off to learn how to fight vampires…" He said. I winced. "I just found out that the oldest vampire in the world is coming after Elena, and I can't find him."

"Wait." I said. "What?"

"You would know this if you hadn't run off." He said. I licked my lips and sighed. There was a long pause where no one spoke. I wanted desperately to make things ok again, but I couldn't do that until I was done here.

"I need you." Damon said suddenly, his voice sounding so lost and vulnerable. I swallowed, fighting the urge to comply. I wanted to see him so bad, and him telling me that he needed me wasn't helping in my resolve to stay. John was right, Damon was my trigger, but not just to fight. But to love, to grow, and right now he needed me. But, I needed to do this.

"Damon, I need you to understand that I have to do this." I said, trying my best to keep my voice even. "I have to do it for myself."

"But what about me?" Damon asked. "And Elena? She could really use a friend right now."

I swallowed back tears.

"She could really use her sister."

I closed my eyes tightly. He knew just what to say to make me hurt, and to make me want to go home. The timing, wasn't ideal, but John agreed to this and I couldn't back out now. Calling Elena my cousin or even my friend, didn't hurt as much as Damon saying she was my sister. My sister needed me…

"I'm not going to be gone long-"

"It doesn't matter Alex." Damon said, cutting me off. "We need you now."

I bit my bottom lip, fighting back the tears. I just wanted them to understand why I was doing this. I wasn't doing it to hurt anyone, I was trying to save everyone.

"I'll be home in a few days. I miss you." I said. I heard Damon make a noise and then the phone disconnected. I stared at it for a while before I slammed it shut. Why couldn't he just understand that I had to do this? This was important to me. Although I wished I was there to help them right now, I had to prepare for a battle I knew was brewing.

I felt the tears fall and my throat tighten. You love him. John's words rang through my mind. If I didn't love him, then I wouldn't have been so affected by his words. I wouldn't have been fighting myself daily not to turn around and go back. I wouldn't be crying right now.

My phone buzzed and I looked down.

I miss you too.

I smiled at the text message, although he hadn't said it on the phone, the message was still clear. I swallowed again before I settled into the mattress to sleep.

Damon did miss her. He wanted her here where he could hold her and lie to himself that everything was going to be ok. He wanted to get ahold of her and never let her go again. He missed her.

"That was rough."

Damon heard Rose enter the room. He didn't turn, he just took a gulp of his drink. He planned to ignore her, maybe then she would leave and he could be alone to sulk at the fact that his girlfriend was off somewhere with her psychotic father and she didn't want him to come find her. But Rose relented, coming closer into the room and into his sight.

"You remind me of Trevor." Rose said suddenly. Damon turned, giving her a weird look.

"Why?" Damon asked. She poured herself a drink and took a sip. "Why him?"

"Because he always talked a big game, he was always working on an angle but underneath it all, he was the best friend anyone could hope for." She replied. Damon looked away solemnly.

"And where did that get him?" Damon asked, not really expecting an answer.

"Dead." Rose replied sadly. Damon took in a breath. "I was thinking about what you said. About turning the switch."

Damon turned to her fully. She was leaning against the arm of the sofa, drink in hand.

"Maybe it's easier that way." Rose said. "Because if you care about someone… you die."

Damon considered her words. He knew that caring for Alex had gotten him into some trouble. But could he just let that go? Turn off his emotions and release his hold on her? She would probably be better off, he would too.

"Caring gets you dead, huh?" Damon asked. Rose looked up at him and she smirked.

"I'll turn mine off if you do yours." She said. Damon and her stared at one another. In a second the two were inches apart.

Maybe he could forget about Alex for just one night, screw the feeling of missing her away for just a couple hours. Rose's lips brushed his. Damon closed his eyes and tried to imagine that Rose was actually Alex. But there was no excitement here, no spark. It was nothing compared to what it was like when he kissed Alex. He didn't want anyone else but the sensitive, mysterious, weird beauty that he called his.

"I can't." Damon said pulling away from Rose. She didn't seem surprised or disappointed by his reaction. In fact, the woman smiled. He sat back down and took a swig of his drink.

"You really love her huh?" Rose asked. Damon didn't respond. "Goodnight Damon."

He said nothing as she walked out of the room. He huffed, leaning his head back on the chair. This girl was going to be the death of him.