AN: Soooo, first of all, thank you SO much for your support! You guys are truly amazing! I'm glad that on its first chapter this story seems already very liked and you guys are sticking with me. It really means a lot. Especially your inspiring and nice reviews. So please keep them coming! :)

I hope this chapter will hold up to your expectations. Thank you for reading and let me know what you think!

"Damon."

His name slipped before he could even think about it. Good way to start Damon, he thought.

Elena's face although was priceless. She blinked a couple of times as the smile fell off her face. How could he not enjoy this moment? He had swore to himself to despise the girl no matter what, and so he would. Just because she seemed changed it didn't mean she was. He wouldn't let her fool him again. Most of all, he was the one who was changed. He didn't buy people's crap anymore and he had been told multiple times that he was quite the asshole now.

"Oh wait. I think that for you it's Devon, right?" He said pretending to sound toughtful, not able to keep a smirk between the amused and the devilish.

He noticed her blushing red but this time he knew that it was because she was feeling nervous.

"Are you…that Damon? Salvatore?" She asked incredulously.

"The one and only." He said giving her a snarky smile.

They stared into each other's eyes for a few moments. Moments which seemed heavy and too long. He didn't like eye-contact with her. Not like this. Her gaze was holding confusion and disbelief, and he could see a great trace of shame behind them.

He just settled into giving her his Damon-look. Cold, calculated, and almost intimidatory.

"I don't know what to say." She said sighing, shaking her head.

He snorted and shook his head as well. "Really? You seemed to be using your words quite well back in the days." He said as he cocker his head to the side a little.

"Why did you lie to me? You could have told me you were Stefan's brother." She said suddenly feeling uncomfortable, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I don't know. Maybe I just wanted to play with you." He shrugged, slowly standing up from the stool.

He smirked as he fixed his leather jacket, noting that she was looking at him that way again. She just couldn't help herself, could she.

"Wait." Her voice stopped him on his tracks. "Stefan told me to talk to you. He and your mother are very upset because of your call. They didn't hear from you in years and they just want to know where have you been and how are you. Could you...just stay in town until they come back? Please?" She said quietly, not quite making eye-contact with him.

Wait. Stefan asked her? What the hell was that supposed to mean? As far as he remembered, his brother despised the girl and she obviously didn't even know who he was. How much did he miss?

"What? Are you and my baby brother a thing now?" He asked chuckling humorlessy. "Careful that he might crush you with those cute little rolls of fat of his." He said smirking.

Elena's eyes widened a little in surprise at his words as her lips puckered together in an angry way.

"Now you're just being mean." She said as she gave him a pointed look.

The amused and playful expression on his face faded suddenly at those words. How dare she, that little bitch? Did she have an amnesia and forgot how she used to give him nothing but crap?

"I take it as a compliment coming from you." He said giving her a death glare.

She gasped a little and he didn't think twice before heading out.

"Damon! Wait!" She called.

He didn't turn around. Not now – not ever.

Secretly he had still kept the keys from the Boarding House. He knew that the lock was still the same after all these years and that he could go and settle there. But the point was that he didn't want to.

Too many memories, too many thoughts, and emotional stuff all together. It just didn't feel like home anymore, so he rented a little apartment that he could use for his stay. Which he hoped wasn't too long.

As he stepped out of his Camaro and walked towards the apartment, he thought about the only thing that seemed to be changed ever since he'd left this average town. Her. Elena.

For the love of his, he couldn't get her out of his head. She was all he could think about during all the way here and he had to believe that it was because of how much her presence still bothered him.

She wasn't worth his thoughts; he knew that there was nothing but poison into that girl's heart. She had proved that to him a long time ago.

Truth be told he didn't even think that she was still going to be here. He had always thought about Elena ending up in a whole other place, a whole other level, not stuck in Mystic Falls working at the Donovan's grill.

He stepped inside the apartment and took his leather jacket off, throwing it somewhere on the couch. The place was nicely arranged and he could manage for the time being. He had called an housekeeper who luckily cleaned all up.

He owed his old friend Alaric one. He was the first person he called when he came back here. Apparently his wife Jenna managed an agency that rented and sold houses so he'd immediatly offered him to make Jenna find him a place to stay. Tomorrow night he was even invited at dinner at their house, apparently set up on a date with a chick called Sandy...Mandy…no, her name was probably Andie or something like that. He didn't quite remember.

Could it get any better already? Besides his surprisingly encounter with Elena, he had reached out to one of his dearest friends and he was probably going to get laid by tomorrow night. Awesome.

He threw himself on the fluffy bed sighing a little. He just wanted to relax and think about nothing..when Elena popped up in his mind. Again.

He mentally rolled his eyes. Although he couldn't help but think about her contagious smile and her soft voice, her naturalness in being so beautiful and how that body of hers just got better in the years.

He didn't realize that he was unconsciously smiling while thinking about it.

His phone started ringing all of a sudden pulling him out of his dreamy thoughts.

"Hello?"

"Mmm…why didn't you call me?" Katherine purred seductively from the other line.

"Kath." He acknoweledged rolling his eyes, trying to sound pleased by her call. "I had stuff to do. Besides, I call you if I want to. Don't get clingy honey, it's not in you. And in me." He said.

"Damon!" She whined like a little girl and he could imagine her stomping her foot as one. "Don't treat me like trash, babe."

"What do you want, my adorable little pumpkin?" He said the last words sarcastically and batting his eye-lashes as he got up, taking his shirt off and heading towards the bathroom to run the shower.

"I was wondering if you were in for some phone-sex." She murmured mischeviously.

If it had been any other day, he would have probably told her yes. After all he was always in for some nasty time and Katherine was a great partner even from the other line of the phone. But today…it just didn't feel right.

In the back of his mind he knew that he could fantastize a lot better and a lot more about someone else during his shower if he wanted to, rather than have some dirty phone-sex with Katherine.

"I don't know Kath..I'm very tired ya know." He said rubbing his forehead.

She made a 'tsk' sound and he knew that she was feeling rejected.

"Damon Salvatore refusing sex? And with me?" She said, her voice going a little higher.

He didn't even bother to reply as he rolled his eyes, slightly annoyed and amused.

"Have a goodnight Kitty Kat." He said as he ended the call.

Hell if she could be annoying sometimes. They weren't actually involved, but some good time together was always appreciated.

He had met Katherine during one of his cases. She was an associate lawyer and they had ended up sleeping together from time to time.

It was just physical. Although he started believing that she was just beginning to mistake good sex for love.

He stripped of his clothes and stepped into the shower, thinking about someone else...

She had just ended her shift as she came back home. She had thought about doing a little visit to Jenna but she was just too upset and tired.

Her aunt seemed disappointed at first but she had then invited her over dinner tomorrow. She just came back from her honeymoon with Alaric and she was ecstatic.

She noticed that the lights were off which meant that Jeremy still hadn't come back. She missed her little brother so much. If he planned on doing another semester out of the country, she would be pissed. Maybe she was being selfish, but she needed him here. With Bonnie staying at her father's for a while, Caroline caught up in her parties and Matt, and Jenna absorbed in her new marriage life she felt alone.

Life sometimes was a bitch, and after seeing Damon today and remembering everything that she had done to him and how deeply she must have hurt him along with all that other kind of stuff that she used to do, she wondered if it was all a payoff. Maybe she deserved to be alone and sad. Maybe it was a punishment for being the person that she once was. Maybe what goes around really comes really around.

And Stefan? How could he be her friend knowing how bad she had treated his brother? Damon acted coldly and he had all reasons to be. She just wished he could one day understand that she was no longer that mean girl. If he indeed came back to stay, she truly hoped he would.

She pulled off in the driveway and took the box with the pizza from behind. Tonight she didn't feel like cooking.

She sighed heavily as she opened the door, a sudden feeling of emptiness surrounding her when she looked into the dark and empty house.

Once this place was home. She used to cherish happy moments with her parents and with Jeremy. It should still be like that, shouldn't it?

She took a Coke from the fridge and settled on the couch, turning on the TV as she started eating her pizza. As she kept pretending to be interested in what was airing, her mind was absorbed in something else.

Damon.

She still couldn't believe that that was really him. He seemed like a different person. And not just physically, but his whole being too. He had changed drastically. She used to remember the awkward shy guy who kept stuttering as he spoke to her, which now thinking about it put a smile on her face. It was cute, he was cute and gentle with her. How could she have acted like such a bitch? Even if she didn't return his feelings, she never should have treated him like that in the first place. He didn't deserve it.

Now he was sure of himself and confident, well aware of the effect he had on people and especially on women with his charm. She wasn't going to lie about it, he probably was the most gorgeous man she'd ever seen. He was a God. She could just imagine the tiger that he was in bed…

Oh god, what was she thinking? She barely knew him. Well, she did know him, but not that way. And he probably hated her.

She could make a speech about how flaw-less Damon was. Because indeed, he now seemed to have no flaws.

Her soft smile dropped when she thought about Stefan and Maria. Why didn't he contact them? Why did he disappear like that on them? They didn't deserve it. The only thing she knew about was that they received a letter for Christmas and one for their respective birthdays. That was it.

She didn't want to get into stuff that wasn't her business, but she truly hoped that he sticked around. They deserved to know. He owed them at least that.

She finished her pizza and placed the empty box on the table nearby the TV, lying on the couch as she allowed herself to relax. She was about to fall asleep when she heard the door cracking open.

Her eyes immediatly shot wide open. She then realized that it was Jeremy and a huge grin spread across her face.

She got up and rubbed her eyes a little, facing her little brother standing near the door with a goofy grin and his suitcases near the door.

His hair was shorter, his body tougher, and he seemed so grown up. She felt tears in her eyes as she realized just how much she had missed him.

"Hey Lena." He said smiling.

"Jer!" She cried out as she ran to hug him.

She held him close to her and he held her tight as well, kissing the side of her head.

"I've missed you so much." She said as she pulled back and checked him out. She wiped a few tears away and smiled at him.

"I've missed you too 'sis." He said as he looked at her fondly.

All of a sudden she felt gleefully again and decided to cook plently for him. He complained saying that she didn't have to bother since he had already eaten on his way here but she didn't care. She finally had her brother back with her and tonight she would play her big sister role.

She prepared one of his favorites, chicken parmesan, which was one of her favorites as well. Maria taught her how to do it. Her cooking skills were amazing. Her Italian origins really did speak volumes in the kitchen.

Jeremy ate quickly and as he finished she served him one of his favorite ice-creams from Ben & Jerry's.

They chatted for a while as Elena asked him about his experiences and thoughts about Europe and people there. They talked for almost two hours and they laughed a lot as he told her stories and stories.

He told her about that girl Anna and how she broke his heart, but how now he had recovered and he was ready to move on.

As Jeremy got off to bed and she started cleaning the kitchen, she realized just how lonely she really was. Jeremy was pretty much all she had left of truly important.

The truth was that a part of her died with her parents, and she hadn't fully recovered. Truth be told she didn't even know how to do it or where to begin with.

Would the time of her life come?

The day had passed quickly and as usual. She was getting ready to go at Jenna's and she couldn't wait. She seemed so ecstatic on the phone, ready to fill her in of stories about the honeymoon.

She said that a couple of friends were coming over too and apologized that it wasn't just a family reunion. Apparently some old friend of Alaric's recently came back to town and they hadn't seen each other in years. She was fine with it. Alaric was a great man and she was sure that so would be his friend.

Jeremy was coming too and he'd just came back home from the bakery where he picked up the dessert to bring.

"Elena, are you ready? We're gonna be late. You know how fussy Jenna is when it comes to these things." He shouted from downstairs.

"In a minute." She shouted back as she put on some color rouge lipstick.

She didn't put make-up on often but on rare occasions it was pratically a must. Her hair was perfectly straightened and she just now realized how long it really was. The color of the lipstick matched heavenly with her olive skin and the rest of the make-up wasn't too heavy as well.

She checked herself in the mirror and in the end decided that she was ready. Her black dress fit perfectly on her as it showed her long smooth legs. It wasn't quite the mischevious outfit, but just a nice simple dress.

"Let's go?" She said picking her purse as Jeremy turned around.

He shook his head in amusement and gave her a look. "Those heels are too high." He complained pointing at her shoes.

She groaned lightly and rolled her eyes. "Go get the car and shut up Jer, I'm still the eldest here. You don't get to bug me." She said playfully.

As they drived to Jenna's house, in her mind popped up something, or better someone, who she managed not to think about all day. Until now.

Today Damon hadn't showed up at all and she couldn't quite understand why it bothered her. She'd kept glancing at the door during all her shift waiting for him to come in. He didn't like her and to be honest she didn't even like his arrogant attitude. So why did she want him to come? Maybe to fully apologize for her behavior?

She kept repeating to herself that it was because she was afraid that he had left already after their talk of yesterday, maybe chickening out about seeing his mother and his brother again after all these years.

They parked right behind a Camaro and she saw Jeremy looking at it approvingly.

"The guy who owns that car sure has style." He said as he stepped out of the car.

They rang at the doorbell and less than one minute later a grinning Jenna was opening the door.

She squealed loudly and Elena almost chuckled when she saw Jeremy widening his eyes in desperation and horror, ready for a full-force Jenna on him.

"Jeremy! You're finally back, kid! Do you even realize how much did we miss you? How did I worry about you being so far away? Don't you dare leave us again." She said as she pulled him into a hug, squeezing him hard.

"I'm a big boy Jenna." He said as she kept hugging him.

"I know. And I'm so proud of you." She said, her eyes a little teary.

He kissed her cheek and headed to the kitchen bringing the dessert.

She then looked at Elena, a fond smile on her face.

"Come here you." She said as she hugged Elena too.

Jenna was such a hugger it wasn't even funny.

"You look gorgeous, Lena." She said as she looked at her.

Elena blushed slightly and murmured a little 'thanks'.

"You have to tell me everything about the honeymoon, Jenna. I want every detail." Elena said winking.

"Elena!" Jenna exclaimed blushing, elbowing her.

Elena chuckled and elbowed back.

"Who's here?" She then asked as she heard voices in the background.

"There's Logan Fell, that reporter, you remember him? I had to invite him, you know why. His friend and colleague Andie who's a friend of mine too is on her way. Oh…and there's Alaric's friend. Jeez, Elena. If you're still single and free just jump on him already! He's the definition of sex!" Jenna hissed excitedly.

"Jenna! You're a married woman now, watch your words!" Elena said giggling.

"Still, he's so sexy Elena. And he's funny and charming. But I kinda set him up with my friend Andie, so…" Jenna said looking a little regretful.

"Oh don't worry. I'm fine this way." Elena reassured her with a smile.

She then felt her ankle pinching a little and rolled her eyes as she realized that she didn't cut the label of the dress.

"Look Jenna can I use the bathroom for one second? The label of the dress is kind of bothering me." She said biting her lip.

"Sure. Up the stairs then to the left." Jenna said with a smile.

She smiled back as she ran upstairs and closed the door. She quickly stripped leaving herself only in panties and bra as she struggled to find a pair of snip to cut the label with. Damn it. Why didn't the damn door had a key anyway?

She could just hope that no one ran into her in the meantime.

"So, did your friend Andie arrive?" Damon asked with a smirk as he sipped a glass of red wine that Alaric had just opened.

"Oh no, that was just my niece. I'm pretty sure you're gonna like her a lot." Jenna said smiling broadly.

He had just met Jenna's nephew Jeremy who seemed pretty cool. He seemed sure of himself and very mature for his age. Jenna's friend Logan Fell was also here but he was a douchebag.

The house was nice and warm and he was truly happy for Alaric. He'd settled down and started his life with someone he loved. Even if he would never admit it, he kind of envied him. He had it all.

Alaric was a little older than him but that didn't stop them from becoming friends during highschool. They had met at the library of the town and bonded over some books. Alaric used to be a geek too and in fact he became a teacher.

Even though he had been his best friend for a lot of time, he never told him about Elena. That was something that he liked to keep for himself. He didn't use to talk about it with no one, except Stefan who had pratically figured it out on his own.

He was wearing a John Varvatos's black shirt, black jeans, and black boots. And of course his leather jacket.

He had put on his favorite cologne which seemed to have intoxicated even Jenna at first, and hell, she was a married woman.

Damn, I'm sexy and I know it, he thought while smirking cockily.

Jenna's dog Pacey suddenly jumped on him and a little bit of wine fell on his shirt.

"Shit." He muttered as he checked the damage.

"Oh god…I'm so sorry, Damon!" Jenna gasped immediatly. She scolded Pacey and sent him in the living room as he made a whimpering noise.

"It's okay Jenna, seriously." Damon said with nonchalance.

He had tons of these shirts anyway. He noticed that some of it was on his hands too and now they were all sticky.

"Look I'm just going to have to use the bathroom for a second. Can you tell me where is it please?" He asked.

"Sure. It's upstairs. Use the one on the left or the other one near Ric's office." She said.

He nodded with a smile and headed upstairs. Honestly he had no clue which one Alaric's office was so he just opted for the left one.

He wasn't prepared to what he was about to see, though. His jaw literally dropped as he thought that he was hallucinating. Heavily, even.

There she was; Elena Gilbert in nothing but lingerie. She was wearing a black lace bra and panties and he couldn't breathe properly at the sight.

What in the actual fuck? What was Elena doing at Jenna's house, his best friend's wife for god's sake, only in her bra and panties?

She was flawless. Elena was flawless and that was never going to change. Her legs were long and smooth, and her boobs…gosh, her boobs! While in highschool she was still beautiful and attractive, now she was one hell of a sexy woman. Her long hair cascading down her back wildly just made the sight all hotter.

"Holy shit!" He exclaimed.

Elena jumped a little at his voice and her eyes literally widened in embarassment when she saw him standing there. He could see her blushing hard even from here as she immediatly covered herself with a dress.

"Damon? What the hell?" She shouted, her face confused as his. "Close the door!"

He was still unmoving as a statue as his mind kept processing things.

"I said close that door!" She repeated more urgently.

"Yeah, uhm, I…sorry." He said as he slammed the door.

He leaned against the door as his heart started racing down. A bit, at least. Fuck. What he just saw was pretty much one of the many recurring dreams that he used to have in highschool and he still couldn't believe it had just happened.

Thinking about her all shy and freaking out made him chuckle a little.

He felt the door opening and stumbled a little.

He turned towards her and saw that she was fuming. She grabbed his arm and harshly dragged him into one of the rooms.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She spat, crossing her arms over her chest.

He smirked mischeviously, slowly checking her out knowing full well that it would annoy her right now.

"I could ask you the same thing, little Miss no clothes." He said.

She growled in frustration and blushed as her jaw tightened.

"I'm serious, Damon. How do you know Jenna?" She asked.

"I didn't know her personally until tonight. She's my buddy's Alaric wife." He said. "What about you?"

"She's my aunt." She said.

They stayed quiet for a few moments, just looking into each other's eyes. Ocean blue eyes versus brown doe eyes.

She gulped a little and he smirked when he understood that he was making her nervous.

"I still think you're awful." He said holding her gaze.

"Pardon?" She said narrowing her eyes.

He didn't reply to her as he headed towards the door, stepping outside. A moment later he opened it again, peeking into the room with his head with his smirk still in place.

"And you should lose some weight on dat ass." He said, arrogantly winking at her.

She groaned out loud as she threw her purse at him, not quite hitting him because the the door was already closed.

He was an ass. Arrogant, cocky, annoying, smart ass.

She didn't know if she could stand having him here with Stefan not around. He was unbereable and unpredictable.

Still, that feeling of wanting to see him again that she'd felt for all today, was still there and she couldn't expain why.