I know it's been forever, I'm sorry, work has been keeping me incredibly busy. This is a very short one, but I'll have another one up very soon, working on it.

2003 – Somewhere on a deserted road in Massachusetts.

Damon was driving too fast and playing the radio way too loud. But that was the only way to properly do road trips. You had to get the full experience. Of course, he wasn't in the best of moods, so the speed and the music blasting were even more necessary.

He had no destination in mind, he was just driving, in this decent red convertible he "borrowed" somewhere around Salem. He didn't know why, but every road trip of his would take him in the vicinity of Salem, whether he wanted to or not. But he knew exactly where this trip would not take him; Mystic Falls.

He'd stayed clear of Mystic Falls for five years, and he intended to stay away for as long as he could. If five years were practically nothing to an immortal like him, he hoped it would mean everything to a little girl. Ignoring the little voice that told him he abandoned her just like her mother did, he convinced himself that this was for the best. The girl would be his demise. She had been able to manipulate him entirely too easily, making him tell her stories and act silly. Damon Salvatore was a Vampire, he didn't make friends with little girls, powerful witches or not. He didn't need friends, nor did he want them.

He knew that he would eventually cross paths with Bonnie again. She was a Bennett after all; he would probably need her in the future. His plan always included a witch's help, a Bennett would be perfect to break Emily's spell. He couldn't afford to like this girl, using people was always easier when you did not know them. So he wasn't thinking about her and he certainly wasn't feeling guilty for never going back.

Having decided, for the 32nd time since he started driving, that he was not going back to Mystic falls, he temporarily relaxed. He caught himself singing along to the song on the radio.

"Big black boots. Long brown hair. She's so sweet with her. Get-back stare."

Nodding and drumming his hands on the steering wheel, he was smiling as a picture formed in his mind. That song was reminding him of Katherine. He could totally picture her, in the rocker fashion of today. The black boots, sexy jeans, long brown hair, the sassy attitude and the naughty sparkle in her green eyes, nested between very long mysterious eyelashes.

What the F…..?

He turned off the radio, his good mood gone. Katherine had brown eyes, not green. Also, her skin did not have that chocolaty color. Who the hell had he been picturing then? If he didn't know any better, he'd think he had been projecting a grown-up version of the witch-child. But no way. He didn't care about her, about anyone, really. He would see her again, when he needed her, in years to come, but he couldn't care less what she would look like. She was not going to control him, not now as an adorable little girl nor later as a sassy-sexy witch.

He slammed his fist on the dashboard, ignoring the dent he just created. No more thinking about what she might look like when she grew up. He was not going to see her for years to come and he didn't care.

He looked up and was so startled by the sign that he slammed on the breaks and brought the car to a complete stop, screeching and swerving. He stared, in disbelief.

Mystic Falls, Next Exit, 4 mi.

Oh for the love of Chaos!

Thank you so much for reading and for all your lovely reviews, so much appreciated :)

Oh, in case anyone wondered, the song was "Are you gonna be my girl" by the Jets, which came out in 2003. I intend to use this song and Swanlake every chance I get ;)