Damon let out a laugh as he leaned back in one of the chairs in Elena's room. "Indians? Seriously?"

Elena smiled and nodded, "Yeah he wants to be a soldier. Wants the glamour of 'serving his country'. I don't think he actually remembers how bad the war was and we were only in it near the end."

"So, he thinks that the closest chance he has to being a soldier is becoming a cowboy?"

"Well according to him the world is at peace. In balance or something. There are still battles across the globe, but America somehow is managing to stay out of other people's business leaving the only battle to fight on the frontier."

"Fighting Indians."

"Or those Mexicans in Texas. Says he could go be a Ranger."

"But you don't want that."

"Gosh no. For one he'd leave me, or he'd try and drag me along to the middle of nowhere."

"You two could talk it out. Explain to him."

"Believe me I've tried." She says finishing her drink before reaching for the bottle of bourbon and topping off her glass then his. One drink had turned to two and they had decided to get to know one another. "What about you? You said you had a brother too, what's he like?"

"What Stef," He says taking a drink as she nodded at him to go on. "Stefan is… Well he's a great brother. We've had a few fights now and again, but we've always have forgiven each other. Mostly due to Blondie, but yeah, it's just right. I can't imagine The Salvatore brothers splitting up."

"Blondie?"

Damon smiled, "The ball and chain."

"Ah. Why Blondie?"

"She's well blonde."

"Obviously. But she's your wife usually men call their women sweetheart or cupcake or something sickly sweet?"

"Well, Blon- Caroline she and I have known each other for a long time way back when she and Stef were still kids at school. They were best friends and I would find her over at our place a lot. And well I have this thing for nicknames. I called her Blondie one time and it just stuck."

"And she liked that?"

"She denied it at first, said it was unoriginal, but yeah she liked it." He looked out the window noticing how dark the room was getting and saw how the sun was setting. He sighed getting up and finishing the rest of his drink, "I should get going. Thank you, for the drink."

Elena stood up as well and walked him out. "Thank you for the company, Mr. Salvatore."

"Goodnight Ms. Gilbert."

"He's outside you can calm down, Care."

"He's been gone the whole afternoon."

Stefan sighed as his Brother entered the smell of bourbon floating to his nose.

"Have you been drinking all day?" Stefan asked turning to Care who still had a worried look on her face.

"Not all day. You guys didn't have to worry."

"Where were you? I told you to head home so we can think of what to do about paying back the loan."

"Yes, and I said I needed a drink first. Besides I'm sure you and little bro over here already have a whole plan written out."

Caroline frowned and shook her head leaving and heading upstairs.

"Caroline. Fuck."

"You should have been here, not off getting pissed with Mason."

"I wasn't."

"Right." Stefan said arms over his chest clearly not believing him, "Look I know you are upset that we could lose the farm, but drinking won't solve anything, besides you shouldn't come home drunk. Father- "

"I am not father, Stefan."

"Of course not, Giuseppe was a bastard, but think of Caroline."

"I do think of her."

"Then get yourself together. Stop drinking so much that's how it starts."

"Father was a bastard who hit us and mother. I would never do that to Bonnie and Care."

"I'm sure father thought that about us one time."

"Stefan shut up before I punch you in the face. And no that's not me being like father that's you being an ass and me shutting you up."

Stefan raised his hands in surrender before deciding to change the conversation. "Care and I are going into The City tomorrow to see if we can find some restaurants to sell to. Caroline also wants to go to the paper to see if we can put an add up to sell the horses. She doesn't want to give them away to just anyone."

"Okay, I'll take care of the babe then."

"No. Lexi said she'd do it. You need to check on the crops and clear up a new space to plant more. Caroline wants you to start tilling the soil while she starts gathering seeds to plant in about two weeks or so."

Damon nodded. "Okay, I can do that."

"Caroline also managed to get one more month for us to pay off the $400 so you have till the end of January."

"Sounds like you and her got it all figured out."

"Yup. I'm going to head to mine. I'll be here to pick up Care in the morning."

Damon wiped the sweat from his brow with his shirt then rubbed the dirt from his hands on his jeans. The soil was good, but it was always good to cultivate the land especially since they hadn't planted anything in the area in over ten years. It was where their mother used to have her rose garden. After her death from illness, Giuseppe made sure to cut off every flower and left the area bare never stepping foot near it since.

He had already finished plowing a small part of the area and would continue tomorrow with Stefan. They would have the area ready by the end of the week let the soil settle for a few days then start planting the crops. Caroline gave him a list of vegetables she wanted to plant that would be good for growing in the winter.

The sound of barking let him know that he had a visitor, so he picked up his spade and made his way towards the house.

Tyler was still barking when he got there and took in his visitor.

"Salvatore!"

"Lockwood, where the hell have you been."

Damon said surprised as he reached the man giving him a sharp pat on the back.

"I just got back to town there was a new shipment of booze coming in."

"From?"

"As if I'd tell you. Anyway heard you were looking for me thought I'd drop by."

"Did you bring anything with you?"

Mason scoffs, "I thought we had something special, you only want me for my booze."

"As if I'd want you for anything else. A'ight so I'm a bit tight on money but I can give you enough for one bottle of whiskey."

"Just the whiskey? No beer?"

"Don't tempt me."

"Is it bad? The money troubles?"

Damon sighed, "Yeah. The bank denied our loan till we pay back the last one they gave us a year."

"Fuck. How's the missus?"

"She's worried but more determined than anything. Her and Stef are trying to see if they can find any business in the city. Maybe find a restaurant we can sell our crops to they would pay more than selling them at the market."

"I can make a few calls. If you want."

"Thanks, man. Are you sure?"

"Course, I am. You'd help me out if I was in trouble. Already have."

"True."

"How about we head to mine. We can have a drink I won't charge you for this one."

"What about the bottle?"

"I'll give ya a discount I run a business, not a charity."

"Fair. Let's go."

"Did you see that beauty down the hall?"

"Gilbert?"

"So, you have. What do you think?"

Damon smirked and shook his head, "I would say that you don't stand a chance besides I doubt she'll be staying for long. A woman like her doesn't belong here."

"I don't mind if she doesn't stay."

Damon shook his head taking another sip.

"You know there was a time when you- "

"I'm not him anymore. Besides I got Blondie I can't be moving from one woman to the next."

"I never said you should. I'm just saying just cause you can't don't mean I won't."

"Fair enough.

KNOCK

Mason's smile was wiped off his face as he saw the younger Salvatore.

"Stefan."

Stefan ignored the man and shoved his way in. "Really. You had to come here again today."

"What do you want Stefan?"

"For a brother who isn't an alcoholic. Now let's go."

"Give me a minute."

Stefan shook his head and left heading to the front of the B&B to see Caroline taking Bonnie out of her stroller.

"He's coming."

"Was he?"

"Yup. With Mason, you should talk to him."

"We both know what he'd say."

Stefan nodded he would say that he was fine and that he could stop whenever he wanted.

"I'll go tell him to hurry up he'll listen to me," Caroline said fixing Bonnie on her hip and making her way towards Mason's cabin.

On the way, she saw a woman with dark brown hair and a bag full of groceries trying to open the door into the cabin across.

"Oh, here let me help," Caroline said smiling taking the keys from the woman and unlocking the door.

"Thanks." She said stepping in and leaving the bag inside by the entrance before turning around to look at the blonde woman and the child in her arms.

"I'm Caroline. This is Bonnie."

"Elena." The brunette said smiling and patting the baby causing it to laugh.

"She's beautiful." Elena noticing her the baby's dark curls and blue green eyes.

"Thanks well, we should go."

"Oh yes of course. Are you looking for someone?"

"Yes, my husband will probably be out any minute now. How has your stay been you are one of the tourists right?"

Damon said his goodbye promising to return and buy a bottle later in the week then turned to see his Caroline. With Elena.

Walking quickly, he interrupted the woman.

"Caroline."

Caroline stopped what she was saying. She had been letting the woman know of this beautiful spot near the pier that was perfect for stargazing.

"Pa!"

Caroline laughed as she handed the baby to Damon.

"I was just talking to Elena. Elena this is my husband Damon."

Elena smirked before turning to Damon, "A pleasure to meet you, sir. Your wife was just helping me with my groceries."

Damon smiled tightly and nodded. He couldn't very well tell Caroline that he had already met Elena after everyone already thought that he had been with Mason and he never corrected them yesterday.

"You as well, Ms."

"Gilbert."

"Right. Well, we should get going. Goodbye, Ms. Gilbert."

Elena nodded, "Bye Caroline, it was lovely to meet all three of you."

"You too. You should drop by. If you want, I can even give you directions to the spot in the pier Stefan loves going there to write maybe you can find inspiration there too."

Elena nodded and waved as the trio started leaving.

Stefan groaned as he dropped onto the couch. "Today was a long day."

Caroline nodded having just put Bonnie down in her crib.

Damon nodded along absently as he pushed his brother so he could sit on the couch leaving a space in the middle for Caroline.

"Did you manage to find a buyer?"

"No."

"Mason said he would help by making some calls," Damon told them ignoring the look they were sending him. He knew neither of them particularly like the black sheep of the Lockwood family, but he made it clear that he was okay with it as long as they kept him out of it.

"That was nice of him," Caroline said a yawn escaping her. "I am going to head to bed. We have an even longer day tomorrow."

A couple of days later back at the B&B, Damon had just finished paying Mason and was taking his bottle back home.

"Mr. Salvatore!"

Damon sighed as he turned around.

"Elena, how are you?'

"Great. Is that scotch?"

"Yes."

"How disappointing. I saw you and was wondering if you wanted to come in again for another drink and some company, but…"

"I already have a drink."

"Yeah. Maybe just the company then?" Elena said sending him a pleading look that she knew he wouldn't be able to resist.

"I have to head home."

"Yes, of course. Perhaps for just a couple minutes then."

'She was relentless.' He thought and was about to try and come up with an excuse when.

"Five minutes. Ten tops, we can even stay out here if you don't want to go inside."

Damon gave in and nodded moving to take a seat on the steps.

That's how it started. After work was done. After Stefan had headed on home and Caroline was beat from going back and forth into town and working. Damon headed over to the Fell's B&B for a drink with 'Mason'.

A/N

Sooo how was that? I don't really know what to say about this. I tried to figure out a way to explain it but Idk if this makes sense basically instead of Elena just being the seductive other women I wanted to ease into it. She is a very tricky woman and Damon obviously loves Care so Elena knows she can't just win him over like other men. But Elena also knows the way to Damon is by getting him a drink and slowly having him open up to her so she can turn him against Caroline.

So this was the flashback chapter meaning the next update which will be on Saturday on the 17 will be of Daroline in the present. But let me know what you guys think of Delena in the past. What did you think of Care and Elena? Mason? Stef and Car? Etc. Is there anything that I need to address?

I just really hope you guys like this story and the chapter speaks for itself.

Thank you all for reading.

Till next time!

~ Agent C.