Okay so I wasn't going to add another part to this story but I changed my mind. Don't ask me how I did it but I managed to write a part two in the same day as part one lol. I'm kind of inspired by you guys haha. So I hate writing sentimental or "nice" Damon because it is soooo hard to stay out of cheesy/unrealistic territory but hopefully this next chapter is as painless as possible! Oh and btw the occasional jabs at Stefan are not b/c I don't like him (I actually love him) but b/c it's Damon's thoughts (or what I imagine are his thoughts). Anyway, I hope you guys like it. I would love to hear what you think! Love, Bamonlove

Damon ends up sprawled across my bed while I sit in front of him, legs crossed. He has been here for almost an hour and while I know he wanted to take the kissing one step further, I wasn't quite ready to go there with him. Instead, we decided to be in my room, talking about everything and nothing all at once.

"Where's your dad anyway?" he asks, looking around as if at any moment he'll pop up.

"He's in Maryland on business," I answer, shrugging indifferently.

"Is he away on business often?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," I say. "How did you know?"

"I've only been here a few times and every time I come, I've never seen an adult around," he replies. "It's just different from Elena. If Jenna isn't breathing down my neck it's some other crazed relative."

I laugh and shake my head. "My mom took off when I was eight and my dad is kind of a workaholic. I don't see him too often."

Damon stays silent for a few seconds and I look at his face. He seems to be going over something in his head. It reminds me of when I'm trying to remember a spell in the heat of the moment; unsure, analytical and deep in thought.

"You don't mind it?" he asks, picking at a loose thread on my comforter.

I think about this carefully. I'd stopped trying to win my father's affection a long time ago and I'd also stopped talking about it a long time ago. I figure I owe this to Damon since I'd learned so much about him already.

"I'm used it," I admit. "I used to think that there was something wrong with me that made my mom leave, like maybe I wasn't what she wanted. And then when I got over her leaving I thought maybe I'd done something to make my dad not want to be around me."

I expect Damon to say something in response but somehow, he knows I'm not quite done yet and he stays quiet.

"I look like her," I say, and he looks at up at me, confused. "I look like my mom. I got my eyes from her, my hair, my nose; everything."

"You don't like that?" he asks.

"I used to hate it," I say, looking at the wall behind him. "I thought that was why my dad never wanted to be home with me. I thought I reminded him of her and he hated me for it."

"So what now?" he asks, bluntly. "Do you not care anymore?"

I shake my head. "I still wish I had a normal family. I wish I had two parents home and someone to come home to. I used to be so envious of Elena and her family. I spent so much time at her house when her parents were alive because it was the only time I felt like a part of something."

Damon glances up at me and furrows his eyebrows. His eyes travel across my face and I start to feel a bit self conscious. Then he lies on his back and stares at the ceiling.

"My dad used to sit me and Stefan down every day to map out hypothetical war strategies," he says, rolling his eyes. "He wanted all of Mystic Falls to know how intelligent and patriotic his children were and the only way he could make sure of that was if he instilled military knowledge in us from birth. Stefan was always good at that crap, analyzing and finding solutions. I, as you know, have the attention span of a five year old with ADD so I sucked at it."

He stops for a few seconds and sighs but starts up again.

"Stefan was always the favorite as I've told you before. He was always the gentle one, the smart one, the loyal one, the good one. He was always disciplined and hardworking. I was always the screw up. I never really felt like I belonged there you know? I didn't really feel like a part of anything until…"

He stops abruptly, glancing at me quickly before looking back up at the ceiling. His jaw clenches and he doesn't seem to know what to say next.

"Katherine?" I finish for him.

He nods. "Yeah. Then when I found out she wanted Stefan too my whole world collapsed and I felt like I was right back where I started."

"Sometimes I think about looking for her," I say quickly, before I can take it back. "My mom. But then I think that maybe she won't want anything to do with me. I think that maybe she has a whole new family. Or maybe she's not even alive anymore."

Damon gets up slightly and places his elbow on the bed so that his head can rest on his hand.

"What would you say to her?" he asks.

"I wouldn't say anything," I say, shrugging. "I'd ask her questions. I'd ask her about this whole witch situation. I'd ask her about spells. I'd ask her about her side of the family."

"And?" he probes, knowing there is something else.

I sigh. "I'd ask her why she left us. And I'd ask her if she ever thinks about me or regrets leaving."

"She was an idiot to leave," he says, firmly. "She doesn't deserve to have you in her life. And you don't need her."

"Thanks," I say, blushing a little. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"If you could see your father one last time, talk to him, what would you say?"

He narrows his eyes as if I'm asking a trick question and then lets out a big breath before answering.

"That is a good question Miss Bennett," he says. "I'd ask him if Stefan and I are really related because you know, I'm charming and he's…not."

"Damon," I say, gravely. I want to get this out of him.

He rolls his eyes. "I don't know Bonnie. I guess I'd ask if there was ever a time that he was proud of me."

I look at him and take in everything about him. I take in the astonishing color of his eyes, his thick eyelashes, his expressive eyebrows, his wavy hair, his mouth that was forever curved downward, his strong jaw and his ivory skin. Only a short time ago I had feared him and had seen evil in him. Now, I felt completely safe with him, alone in my house, only a few inches of space separating us. I decide to take advantage of this honesty.

"Do you ever think you'll forgive Stefan?" I ask, trying to sound nonchalant.

He sees right through the attempt.

"Now that," he says, suddenly standing up next to me. "Is a question for another night."

He reaches down to kiss me on the lips and he lingers for a few seconds before walking toward my door.

"Oh and Bonnie," he says, turning around.

"Yeah," I say, still a little breathless by his last kiss.

"Anyone who doesn't want to be with you is a waste of time," he says, smiling in that devious way I know so well.

He walks out quietly and by the time I make it to my window to see him walk out the door, he's gone.