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As soon as Elena texted him, letting him know that she and Chris were back home from her parent's house, Damon got in his car, which now held his two suitcases, and drove over.

Valentina had been thrilled that things had worked out this way, and had insisted that he go as soon as possible, even chiding him for waiting around to tell her.
"They invented the cell phone for a reason, Damon!" she'd reprimanded.

He shook his head, but man had he missed that woman.

However, when he had texted Elena, asking if now would be a "good time", she had been at her parents, getting something for Chris's school project.

Trying to win whatever brownie points he could, Damon had immediately went to Giuseppe, asking if he could borrow the family archives for Chris to use.
Those were also in his back seat.

Finally, he was pulling into Elena's driveway.

It was dark outside, but the lights on inside the house illuminated the walk way enough for him to see his feet, and he managed to get both suitcases and the box of archives in one setting.

He sat them down, knocking.

Seconds later, Elena opened the door, a gentle smile on her face.

"You did make it."

He smirked, "Barely…but I come bearing gifts."

He handed her the box, and took note of Chris on the couch, old books and tons of papers surrounding him.
"Great," Elena nodded, looking down at the archives, "We were just working on this, actually."
She moved so he could step inside, and she used her foot to shut the door, before setting the box down by Chris.

"What are these?" he asked.

Damon shrugged, "Just some things your grandfather had collecting dust."
Chris raised a brow.

Damon sighed, "Your mom told me about your project, so I figured it couldn't hurt to bring a little extra family data. These are some of the Salvatore archives, dating back to the 1800's."
"Hmh," Chris looked over them, "Okay, thanks."

Damon nodded.

"So," Elena stated, "Uh, if you follow me, I'll show you where to put your stuff."

Damon swallowed, giving a slight nod of his head, and Elena turned toward the hall.

Picking up his two suitcases, he stepped into place behind her.

He wasn't surprised to find that her room was simple and neat.
Everything in its place.

He glanced at the pictures she had on her dresser, and smiled.
Chris was in most of them, at different ages.
It was sort of incredible.

"You can hang anything you need in here," Elena broke his concentration, "I usually don't use part of the closet, so I think you'll have enough room."
She raised up to push aside any lingering belongings, and for a second, he couldn't help but do a sweep over of her body.

Her yoga pants and camisole were practically a calling card for his male parts, but he kept himself in check.
Just friends, he reminded himself.
But damn, did she look better than ever.

Actually she had always been even sexier like this.
Not dolled up for events, but laid back, hair pulled up in a loose bun, ready for bed.
She looked comfortable.

Hell, she looked edible.

He took a deep breath, because this was so not the time for those kinds of thoughts. He was here for Chris. His son.
That is what he should be focusing on.

"This will be perfect," he assured her.
She nodded, "Okay good. Do you need help unpacking?"
He glanced at his baggage and chuckled, "Actually, I think I can handle it."
She smiled brilliantly, "Just trying to be polite."
"I appreciate it," he answered, "Really…and I appreciate all of this. You didn't have to let me stay here."

She grew serious, nodding, "I know. Just don't make me regret that I did."
He gave her a small smile, "I'm going to do everything to keep that from happening."
She seemed to accept this, "I'll hold you to that…and I'll let you get situated. When you're done, you can join us, if you want."
He smiled, "Just give me five minutes."

Elena had to take a few deep breaths before going back into the living room with Chris.
Something about Damon's smile still had her going weak in the knees.
But it was worse now.

As a teenager, Damon had always had a nice body.
As a man, he was mouthwatering.
His muscles were thick under his simple black T-shirt, and those dark-wash jeans did amazing things to his backside.

She bit her lip, trying to force away the memory of her youth...all the nights she had spent beneath that man, forgetting her own name as pleasure overcame her.

But now the image was altered.
Filled with lustful thoughts of this older Damon…this more experienced Damon.
She could only imagine what a night with him would be like now.

She sighed.

Imagining was all she would be doing, because there were more important things at play than her nonexistent sex life.
She had a child to think about.
She shook her head.

"Mom," Chris looked at her, "You okay?"

She blinked a few times, "What? Uh, yeah, yeah I'm fine."
She forced a smile and sat down, pulling one of the journals into her lap.

"Sorry, where were we?"
He started talking about the project, and somehow, she made herself pay attention.

True to his word, a few minutes later, Damon came into the room.
"How's it going?" He asked.
Chris shrugged, "It's a lot of information. But I'll be able to do the report easily."
Damon nodded, "That's good."

Chris looked at Elena then, "Can I just leave the journals and everything in here?"
She nodded, "Yeah, just put them all in the box, and we can put it against the wall."
Chris stood, doing as she said, "I think I'm done for tonight. It's not due until next week anyway. I'm gonna go to bed."
Elena gave him a nod, "Okay that's fine, we can sort through later."

Chris picked up his papers and placed them in his folders, then moved to take it to his room.

Elena couldn't help but notice that he hadn't really glanced at Damon once.
Apparently, she wasn't imagining it, because Damon's brows furrowed, his gaze following Chris.

She sighed, "He'll come around."
Damon looked at her, "You're sure he's okay with this?"
She nodded, "He said he was. But it's still a big change. I think we're all going to need some time."

He accepted this, and sighed, "So is there anything I can do?"
Elena inclined her head toward the couch against the wall, "We still need to fold that out for you to sleep on."

He nodded, and the walked over to it.
"You just pulled up on the bar," she instructed, removing the cushions.

Damon followed her lead, and the bed unfolded from the couch.

"I'll get you some sheets, and a pillow," she told him.
"Thanks."

She walked over to the linen closet, and grabbed a few sheets, and a heavier blanket.
It was still pretty chilly outside.
The house had a small fireplace, but she didn't ever take the time to use it, so it was thick blankets and central heat for the colder months.

"These okay?" she asked, showing him.
"Fine," he promised, "I don't need much."
She chuckled, "Yeah right. Don't all famous singers live in big houses with king sized beds?"
He smirked, "I imagine some do. I however, pay an overpriced rent on a one bedroom apartment in downtown L.A. And my bed is full, not king."

She raised a brow, "Coming from the boy who had a four poster king bed as a teenager, I'm a little surprised."
Damon shrugged, "I never really saw the point in overdoing myself. Just because I had the money didn't mean I had to waste it on pointless shit."

"Reasonable enough", she decided, "Though I think I would have at least upgraded to a queen."

He smiled as they finished placing the blankets on the fold out mattress.
"Well, let's just say my apartment was pretty cozy too. Not sure a queen would have fit."

Elena smirked, shaking her head, throwing the pillow at the top, "Okay all done."
She expected him to nod, or say thank you, but instead he just fell back onto it, his body taking up nearly the entire thing.

"This is good," he stated, his eyes closing.
She smiled, "You're laying the wrong way."
His head shook, "Nope, this is good."
She laughed now, "Your feet are touching the floor."

He opened an eye, "Don't judge me."
She shook her head, "Wouldn't dream of it."

He raised a brow, "It actually isn't too bad. You should try this."
She chuckled, "Nope, I have my own bed waiting for me."

She began to walk past him, heading toward said bed, when she felt an arm wrap around her.

With a tug, she was falling backwards, landing next to him on the makeshift bed, her own feet hanging off.
"No fair, my back was turned," she accused.
He grinned, turning on his side so he was leaning over her a bit, "I never agreed to play fair. But it got you down here, didn't it?"

She fought the urge to stick her tongue out at him, and instead, just relaxed.
He was right.

It really wasn't half bad, laying sideways across a fake mattress.
Could be worse.

Damon sighed, rolling out straight next to her.
It was lucky that she was so small, or they never would have both fit.

But even so, she could feel the line of his side pressing into her own…like that wasn't distracting.
"Do you think we're doing the right thing?" he asked.
Elena turned her head to look at him, "What do you mean?"

"Me being here? Are you sure we aren't asking too much of him, to be okay with this?"
Elena sighed, "I think it's going to be difficult, no matter how long we wait. I think this needs to happen. Be it now, or in a few years. Chris will be fine."
Damon nodded, his face turning to her.

Their gazes met, and in that moment, it wasn't the sexual tension she felt.
It was understanding.

She and Damon were on the same page with this.
Unsure, a little lost, and hoping for the best.
For the first time since Chris was born, she felt completely understood.
Maybe there was a common ground in being parents of the same child.

The intensity washed over her as she stared into the same blue eyes that had haunted her for the past fifteen years, and her own eyes started to sting.
She didn't want to cry.
Not here, not now, not in front of Damon. But there was nothing she could do.

For the first time in so long, she wasn't alone.
Wasn't alone in her worrying, wasn't alone in her fears…at least not where Chris was concerned.
The tears leaked down her cheeks now.

"Damon-," she wanted to put her feelings into words, but they didn't come to her.
He just smiled, a little sadly, and used his thumb to wipe the tear away, as he cupped her cheek.

"I know, sweetheart, I know."

Aaaand that's where we end it for now!

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