Damon was sitting across the table from Jessa's father. They were at the Mystic Grille and were supposed to be having lunch. In reality, they were sizing each other up.

Damon had always found Jessa's father a little bit intimidating when he was a child. There was something different about him, but also something amazing. He had been more open with Jessa, than Giuseppi had been with Damon and Stefan, both in affection and in answering her questions about anything she cared to ask. He never showed a lack of patience. Interrupting a conversation he was having wasn't tantamount to storming a castle.

Sitting across from him now, in a restaurant, over coffee and a plate of food seemed oddly ordinary.

"I'm sure you have questions for me," He said, smiling up at the younger man.

Damon thought about what to ask first. The one that wanted to come first was permission to marry Jessa, but he'd rather not rush that one. He realized that he didn't actually know his first name.

"What's your name?" Damon asked, crinkling his brow.

Jessa's father chuckled. "I was wondering when you'd realize that lack of information." He sat back in the booth, more comfortable and considered the young man across from him. "In my time, before I knew your family, or even my wife, names had power. So I was very careful who knew mine. It was a difficult habit to break. My name isn't really used any longer, so the one I've taken is Johan."

Damon considered that. And realized he had no idea how old this man before him really was. "How old are you?"

"I've lost count." Johan said. "After awhile the centuries blur together, I'm not as old as the Originals, but I'm close." He took a drink of the coffee and considered the salad he'd ordered, spearing a grape tomato. He bit into it and chewed carefully. "After awhile you start to think that time doesn't matter, and it doesn't. What matters is what you fill the time with, the people you spend it with, the family you create."

Damon started to eat his own food, considering his future father-in-law. He wasn't at all what he'd expected. Clearly the patience he'd had with Jessa as a child was because he was clearly an old soul. He'd had the time to grow into it. He was still fascinating.

"What does this new part of immortality mean?" Damon asked, when they were halfway finished with their food.

Johan considered what he meant. "It means that you'll feed less on humans. Jessa's blood will call to you more." He allowed that to set it. Feeding from Jessa, instead of on humans, meant that there was less likelihood of being caught and no need of cover-up for animal attacks. "You've noticed that you're stronger. Your senses are even more highly developed. And you and Jessa can have a family, when you're both decided."

Damon nodded, agreeing that he understood. "Is there more than that?"

"You won't be able to do any of the things that she can do. She can speak to people with her mind, correct?" He asked. Damon agreed. "You don't have that power, but she can connect with you easier in those ways. Your bond with her will be easier and deeper. The two of you are bound."

"Will we only have one child?" Damon asked, just wanting to be sure.

Johan laughed. "You can have as many children as the two of you agree to. Madeline and I only wanted Jessa." He looked nostalgic. "She was simply all my heart could hold, and between you and me, Madeline wasn't built for motherhood past one."

Damon smiled at that. "I know it comes a little late, but I would like your blessing, for her hand in marriage." He sounded almost fearful.

Jessa's father beamed at him. "I wouldn't dream of denying my Princess of her Prince. Damon, she needs you like she needs air. Of course you have my blessing." He reached across the table and took the younger man's hand. "You're my son now. And family is everything."

AT JESSA AND DAMON'S HOUSE

While Damon and Johan were having lunch, Jessa and Madeline were touring the house to see the remodeling and renovations that Damon had completed and that were in progress. They were also discussing some of the parts of Jessa's powers that still hadn't fully come to the surface.

"The color schemes are neutral without being so blah." Jessa said, leaving a guest room that would become her home office. "This one will eventually be rose and mint. I prefer cherry wood, but since I'm doing my writing here, Damon convinced me that a lighter wood would open the space up. He was right."

Her mother was watching her face as she spoke about Damon, and was smiling when she noticed the glow that flashed each time he was mentioned. The house itself was becoming exactly what it needed to become, theirs. So far, they'd put away or donated antiques that weren't sentimental, and then proceeded to enhance the rooms that they already loved. The rooms that needed renovated were in the process of being redone, decorations were being fleshed out and added. Paint was being applied.

They ended up in the library with glasses of lemonade, Hattie's special. Sitting and talking about what more to expect from her powers.

"You should be coming into the dream walking," her mother warned. "I don't know how that one will happen, but it should. Also, have you been able to push anything physical with your mind, telekinesis, yet?"

"No," Jessa answered, adding it to her mental list.

Her mother nodded, thinking. "There's so much that I can do, then from what you're telling me there's the fact that your powers act differently." She sighed. "I'm just not sure."

"I know," Jessa said, smiling sadly. "We'll figure it out. Damon is a great partner, Mother. He'll keep me grounded, and make sure I've got support. Don't worry."

"About that," Madeline said, looking deeply into her daughter's eyes. "I need you to understand something. The physical part of your relationship with Damon is just as important as your emotional. You saw that yesterday. I don't know how it manifests within the two of you. With your father and I, it feels like a gnawing need. I don't really know how to describe it."

"It burns," Jessa said, barely a whisper.

"Exactly." Madeline said, agreeing. "The two of you have to LISTEN to that. You saw that you couldn't sleep, you couldn't stop moving. You probably felt like you were ready to crawl out of your own skin. It was because your body NEEDS that fulfillment. I don't know why that is, Jessa. There's only me and you, but we do." She left it at that for a moment. "I don't know what could happen if we don't get what we NEED, but I am certain it can't be good for us. We don't need much to keep going, and this is such a little need. So don't hold out on yourself. OK?"

Jessa nodded, feeling herself blush.

"Please promise me?" Madeline said. "You're my only child, Jessa. I need to know you're going to be taken care of."

"I promise, Mother."