Hey guys!

I'm back, finally! I loved getting all of your reviews, but it made me sad that I couldn't get you the next update immediately!
Oh well, it's here now :)

I really hope you guys like this chapter :)

The following Saturday, Elena parked her car in the driveway of the Salvatore's home.
Valentina had been begging her to bring by the newest addition of the magazine for a week now, and she just now found a moment to catch up.

She was off work, and Christian had left with Stefan and Caroline yesterday.
And the rest of her weekend was going to be focused on relaxing, as soon as she dropped this off.

She just hoped that Val was home.
But seeing as it was ten on Saturday morning, she didn't see why she wouldn't be.
Elena pushed her hair to the side and straightened her sun glasses.
It was oddly bright out for such crisp air.

With a shiver, she grabbed the magazine, and made her way toward the house.

She knocked a few times, to be polite, before opening the door herself and stepping inside.
She was glad that the air was much warmer in the foyer.

"Val, you home?" Elena called out, as she heard someone coming down the stairs.
As she walked to the base, she heard a male voice call up, "I got it."
She turned the corner as he stepped onto the landing, and almost ran straight into…

Damon.

A shirtless Damon, looking like he hadn't been awake very long, with his ruffled hair, sweat pants, and…was that a bowl of ice cream?
"Whoa, sorry about that," he offered.
She was speechless as she stared at him behind her now unnecessary sunglasses.
He had barely changed at all, and she was shocked at how exact he looked like Christian.
Oh shit. Christian…
When words finally found her, she had to swallow, "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, uh, I'm Damon…Salvatore. I'm Valentina's eldest…I assume she's who you were looking for, right?"
Elena could barely force her head to nod.
There was no recognition on Damon's face…he had no idea who he was actually talking to.
"I wasn't aware anyone else was…going to be around," she stated, trying to get the dryness out of her throat.
Damon smirked at her, his gaze sweeping over her body, "Neither was I. And if I had, I would have dressed better…though I'm sure you're enjoying the view."
A blush rose in her cheeks as his words called her eyes to his exposed torso.

He was definitely something to look at.
But his teasing tone struck a chord in her, "I've seen better. And it's fine. I doubt I require any favors from you."

She swallowed as he stepped closer to her, that hard body of his intimidating her into taking a step back.
"Say what you will, babe, but most women tend to like the favors I give out."
She lifted her brow, "Well, I'm not most women…and innuendos of your questionable talent don't exactly appeal to me."

He seemed amused, and leaned in toward her, "Follow me upstairs and I can show you just how appealing my talents can be."
His voice was a deep purr. Much sexier, and better rehearsed, than when they were last together.

"Does that line work on all the females you try it on?" she challenged.
Damon considered this, almost boredly, "Usually…though I have to say, not half of them look as good as you do in sunglasses."
Elena felt a blush rise up as she grabbed the glasses, "I forgot I had them on."
He only smiled, his presence overwhelming her, but Elena met his piercing gaze.
"No problem. Now we can see your beautiful brown….doe eyes."

Elena literally watched as it clicked for him. The recognition, embarrassment, and the slight confusion.
Thankfully though, Val chose that moment to come down the stairs.
"Elena! Sweetheart, I thought that was you! I wasn't expecting you so early today…"
Elena sighed, and forced a smile for the kind woman.

Damon couldn't believe his eyes.
Hell, he couldn't believe himself.
Elena-fucking-Gilbert.
That's who he'd been throwing sexual suggestions at.
His ex…the former love of his life.
Damn the years had been good to her.
He stood there, blatantly checking her out while his mother talked with her about some magazine, and she avoided his gaze.
Her legs were as long as they'd ever been, shapely and perfect in her tight jeans.
Her mane of chocolate hair seemed darker now, but fell beautifully around her face in delicate curls…and her face…

She was no longer a gorgeous teenage girl.
She was a stunningly beautiful woman.
Her cheeks had hollowed, her lips had filled, and she definitely had more curves than ever…but those eyes. They were the exact same.
Same almond shape, framed by the longest, thickest lashes he'd ever seen, and her irises were a warm chocolate pool of emotion.
No one had eyes like Elena.

He made a mental note to sue the inventor of sunglasses, as he finally caught up to what his mother was saying.
"Are you sure you have to go so soon?"

He didn't miss the way Elena's eyes flashed toward him.
"Yes," she answered, in a huskier, sexier voice, than he last remembered, "I have a lot to do at the house and everything…not to mention I should get started on next week's article."
Damon could practically feel the nerves rolling off of her.
This wasn't about some damn article…she was running.

"Alright, sweetie, drive safe," Val told her, with a final hug.
Elena gave her a smile that shot right to Damon's groin, before flashing her eyes at him, "Goodbye, Damon."
He nodded at her, and watched as she opened the door, and hurried to her car.

Suddenly, a slap on the back of his head broke his concentration.
"Ow!" he complained, turning his gaze to his mother, "What the hell was that for?"
Her blue eyes, so similar to his own, narrowed, "You know what!"
He sighed, "Look, I'm sorry, I didn't know it was her."
Val's brow raised, "I'm not the one you need to be apologizing to…except for maybe not mentioning that by coming home, you meant trying to sleep your way through my guest."
He fought to roll his eyes, "I was just joking with her, Mom."
Val's pointed look didn't waiver, "Sure you were...," she sighed, "Damon…I'm happy to have you home…but you have to appreciate the fact that a lot has changed…we haven't seen you in nearly fifteen years."
He narrowed his gaze, "That's not true. You and Dad came up for Christmas a few years ago…and you've been to a couple of my concerts."
Valentina's gaze softened, "Yes, baby…but that isn't the same. You haven't once made a trip back to Mystic Falls."
He shrugged, "I meant to…I just…"
She nodded, "I get it, Damon. I'd just like to know what's different this time."
He thought through his answer, "I guess I finally ran out of roads to take."
Motioning him into the living room, Val took a seat of the sofa.

He sat next to her, and continued, "My music isn't what I wanted it to be. My boss gave me some time off to…find my groove again, get back in the swing of things. He suggested that I come back here, so…"
"So you wake me up at three in the morning with a big 'Surprise, I'm at your door'," Val teased, and Damon smirked, "Yeah, something like that."
Val sighed sinking back into her seat, "Well, either way, it's good to have you back."
Damon nodded, then asked the question that had been pressing on him, "So…what was Elena doing here?"

Valentina's eyebrow raised, but Damon didn't withdraw.
"She was bringing me a new addition of this magazine I keep up with," she said after a moment, "Elena's been writing the advice column for it for years now."

"Oh."
This news surprised him.
An advice columnist? So it looks like Grayson's dream of her following his steps to medical school went down the drain.
"How is she doing?" he asked quietly, knowing that his mother would be honest.
Val smiled a little at him, "She's doing well, as far as I know. I see her when I can, but she works a lot. I think she's happy though. She enjoys the column."
Damon nodded, then, because he couldn't help himself, pressed further, "So…did she ever get married?"
Val shook her head, and something in Damon's chest clenched.
He wasn't sure what to think about that.
He hadn't been to kind to her, when they were kids, because he knew a clean break would be better for them both.
He didn't deserve her, but if he told her that, she would talk him out of what he had to do.
That's just how Elena was…she saw the good in people.
Which is why she deserved to be happy…single or not.
"Is she seeing anyone?" he asked, genuinely curious.
His mother crossed her legs, "Why do you want to know?"
He shrugged, "Nostalgia, curiosity, etcetera."

Val gave him a knowing look, and he chuckled slightly.

"Okay, okay. I'm just wondering. Throw me a bone, would you? Is there someone in her life?"
His mother chuckled, but answered, "I guess you could say that there is."

There was something teasing in her tone, so he pressed on, "Is he...is it serious?"
Val nodded, "He's probably the most important person in her life."

Great.

"Oh…well, I'm glad she found happiness."

Val nodded, but didn't elaborate,

Damon looked down, and found that finishing the rest of his ice cream suddenly sounded a lot less appealing.

Elena was still laying on her bed an hour later.
Damon was back in Mystic Falls…for an undetermined amount of time, and he still didn't know about their son.
She didn't even know why he was back, or if he was staying, and was now kicking herself for rushing out, instead of demanding answers.
Maybe he would leave soon. The she wouldn't have to worry about him finding out about Chris.

She could keep the secret for that long.
But if he was staying, she needed to find a way to tell him.
Neither option sounded very appealing at the moment.
She sighed.
At least fifteen years had passed since she had last seen that man.
Why on earth was this such a big deal?
Was she over their split? Absolutely…but him being back…

It just wasn't going to end well. She just knew it.
And now Chris was in the middle of it, and she'll be damned if he got hurt too.

Her phone rang, then, pulling her from her inner monologue.
"Hello?" she answered, not even bothering to check the I.D.
"Hey, sweetheart!" her mother's voice sounded, "How are you."
Conflicted.
"Good," Elena said instead, choosing not to worry her mother at the moment.
"That's good," Miranda smiled, "I was just needing to know if you were still able to help out with the Fall Festival next weekend? We're a little short on volunteers, so I have to do a head count."
Elena sighed, but at least this was something she was familiar with.
"Yeah, I already took off. Caroline and I are both going to be there."
"Alright, excellent!" Miranda stated, "Do you think Chris will help set up before the parade? I know some of the other high schoolers have signed up."
Elena pushed her hair out of her face, "He's at the lake house with Caroline and Stefan this weekend, but I'll ask when he gets home tomorrow."
"Alright…are you okay, sweetie?"
Elena swallowed, "Of course…why do you ask?"
Miranda's voice was softer now, "You just seem…down, or something."
Elena sighed, "Well…what would you say if I told you that I ran into Damon Salvatore this morning?"
Miranda fell silent.

Literally, silent. For a whole minute.
Then, finally, "You saw Damon?"

Elena switched into venting mode, "This morning. He was at Valentina's when I stopped by to drop off the magazine for her."

"Does he know?" Miranda asked, and Elena knew automatically that she was talking about Christian.
"No…and I don't know if I'm going to tell him, so please don't ask me."

She could almost feel her mother nodding, "Okay…just, call me…if something happens."
Elena rolled onto her back, "I will, I promise."
"Be careful, baby," Miranda sighed.
"Planned on it."
They talked for a little while longer, until Elena decided that she should probably get something started for lunch.
She hung up, after making Miranda promise not to mention Damon to anyone, and sighed as she threw her phone onto the pillows.
She laid there for a few minutes, hating life.

Finally, she convinced herself that doing nothing wasn't going to solve anything, and decided to go make a sandwich.
At least with some food in her stomach, she might think a little clearer.

But then her phone was ringing again.

With an annoyed sigh, she picked it up.
Valentina.

"Hello?"
"Elena, hey…"
That deep voice definitely didn't belong to the grandmother of her child.
"Damon."
Why was he calling her?
"Mom gave me your number…and I just wanted to apologize, for earlier."
Her answer was stiff, "It's fine."
She heard him exhale, and could almost imagine his brows furrowing, "No, it isn't…look, can we meet up sometime? To talk?"
No, no, no. That was a bad idea….

But then again, it could be a fast way to get the answers she needed…and maybe finally, put him behind her.
"When?"

"Tomorrow? At the grill?"
Chris was coming home tomorrow…but if she went early, she'd be back in plenty of time.
And she really needed to know when Damon planned on leaving.
"Yeah…does noon work for you?"
"Perfect," he answered, "Thank you."
She nodded, then remembered that he couldn't see her.
"See you there."

Damon stared at the phone as the dial tone played.
Elena had actually agreed to meet him for lunch.
He wasn't really sure if that necessarily meant anything, but at least it was a start.
And he owed her something, for the way he had treated her.
Both this morning, and all those years ago.

Okay that's chapter 4!

I hope Delena finally seeing each other again would help make up for the wait! :)
Please review and let me know what you think!

Will Elena come clean? Should she? Or should she let Christian decide?

Will Damon tell her the truth about why he left?

Leave your ideas and opinions in a review! :)