Author's Note: Hey guys. Some of you were confused what the commotion was about at the end of the last chapter. This should clear it up, but if you're still confused or don't follow the show and need some background info, then review/pm me and I'll try to help sort it for you :) Thanks for the reviews…they've been awesome.

Chapter 5

It was well after midnight before Elena and Stefan finally felt comfortable leaving me. The fallout from my announcement was not what I had intended. Immediately all three began shouting things about how nobody was going to die with Damon making a particularly sarcastic comment about the Gilbert women's predilection to martyrdom. That then dissolved into another round regarding Elena's own willingness to give up everything for her loved ones. It made me want to punch her and hug her all at the same time. Elena always did have a heart of gold.

I could barely keep my eyelids open by the time they finally walked out, leaving only Damon behind, but only after he promised not to stay much longer. I wasn't sure why he was staying, but I didn't fight it. Once we were alone, he stared down at me with an intense gaze that made my insides turn to mush.

"There were a lot of details that you didn't share that I'm curious about. I thought we could do supper after you get out of work tomorrow and talk."

I squinted up at him in my tired haze, trying to digest what he was saying. "You want to take me out to dinner?"

His expression morphed, his eyes widening in an expression I was beginning to recognize he used when he was going to say something sarcastic to misdirect the question. "You do have to eat, don't you? I haven't heard of any teens going missing, so I'm guessing you don't partake of the human variety, and I didn't notice any animal carcasses around your place, nor blood bank bags in your fridge, so I assume you're not a blood drinking half breed. I figured you probably need something more substantial than processed meat byproducts and fermented grapes to sustain you."

I frowned up at him for a moment before crossing my arms to glare. "Were you spying on me all night waiting for the meeting?"

He shrugged, acting as if there were nothing remotely creepy about what he'd done, leading me to reach over and smack his arm. I still hadn't figured out why I knew I could be so casually physical with him without putting myself in danger, but I did.

"What?" He said innocently, lifting his hands in a defensive gesture.

"Stop it with the creeper tendencies, Damon! You're borderline intimidating enough without being a psycho stalker. No more stalking me, comprende?"

He rolled his eyes before sauntering to the door. "So I'll pick you up after work tomorrow, say four?"

I sighed, hugging my waist and rolling my eyes in response. It seemed Damon brought out the inner thirteen year old in my eyes, as they were constantly rolling in his presence. "Sure. Four will be fine, but I expect a real meal. No McDonald's or Burger King."

He snorted. "As if I ever eat that crap, I was thinking Donatello's in Baybridge. That gets us out of Mystic Falls and away from busybody ears so we can talk without worrying who might be listening in. Sound good?"

I smiled halfheartedly. "Yeah, Damon…good thinking. See you then, but I can't stay out all night. I'll have another stack of papers just as tall tomorrow night to push through."

He curled his lip up and I could see the snark coming before it left his mouth. "You're the teacher, assign a movie day, and give yourself a day off."

I snorted shaking my head and moving to usher him out the door. "Yeah, a day off on my second day on the job. The school board would LOVE that! Goodbye, Damon. See you tomorrow after work."

I didn't miss the smirk on his lips as he walked through the door and down the hall. I fell straight into bed and didn't process anything else until the alarm woke me up less than six hours later. It only took two seconds after I hit the snooze button for me to sit up in my bed with wide eyes.

"Wait…did Damon ask me on a date last night?"

I jumped up and ran to the living room, seeing the signs of my visitors the night before, including my now empty bottle of merlot that had just been uncorked earlier that evening. The events of the night came flooding back; telling Elena about my background, Elena comforting me, Damon, of all people, comforting me and telling me I was an innocent bystander in the entire situation, and his asking me to dinner before he left. It was all vivid now, but I still wasn't sure. Was it a date? Or was it just a chance to talk without nosy busybodies getting into our business? Butterflies immediately invaded my stomach as I went back to grab a shower and get ready for my day.

My outfit for my second day of work was a little sexier than the day before…just in case. I wore layers for easy transition from day to night. I had a pretty good day, not even the rowdy Freshmen dampening my spirits. The afternoon was a dream and before I knew it, I had managed to get half my grading done over lunch and prep periods, leaving far less to deal with after work, thus more time to spend with Damon…even if it wasn't a date….or was it? I really was driving myself bonkers trying to figure it out all the way up to the moment that I stripped out of my blazer to reveal the silver and black tank top underneath with the deep V neck. I slipped on some better jewelry, touched up my makeup and took down my hair to leave it flowing down my back. One last look in the mirror I kept in a drawer of my desk, I figured I was as ready as I'd ever be.

I slowly made my way to the door to head to the parking lot where I expected Damon to be waiting on me, willing my excited heart to slow. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to find him leaning against the lockers just outside my door, smirking down at me.

"All that trouble for me? I'm honored."

I cut my eyes up at him, trying to be coy, yet also trying to sort out the signals. "I like to look my best when being treated to a night out, regardless of the company I will be keeping."

His eyes danced as he moved to stand beside me, offering his arm in a gentlemanly way that was rarely seen in modern times. I smirked up at him before wrapping my arm in his, allowing him to escort me through the halls toward the front of the building. I couldn't resist commenting.

"Nicely done, Salvatore. Do tell, is this a remnant of the manners you learned in your human years?"

He stiffened slightly before looking down at me seriously, all signs of teasing draining from his body. "Yes, actually. You do know our history, right?"

I scoffed. "I was raised a Gilbert; Mystic Falls history was crammed down my throat harder than the U.S. Constitution. From a historical standpoint, I know a lot about you, Mr. Salvatore, but history tends to gloss over the details."

A small hint of a smile danced across his lips as he continued to look toward our destination. "How true," was his only response.

The air was slightly cool as he opened the door for me, revealing another snapshot of a Damon long forgotten by the rest of the world. I gasped as he led me to the most beautiful, mint condition, 1967 Chevy Camaro I had ever seen in real life. He opened the door for me, offering a hand to help me settle in, which was actually nice seeing as how I was trying to do so in heels and a tight pencil skirt.

The drive to Baybridge was filled with a surprisingly comfortable quiet. I watched the scenery pass in a blur as he sped down the roads, glancing often in my direction, inciting a faint flushed feeling in my cheeks.

When we arrived, Damon rushed to my side of the car, helping me out just as he had let me in before escorting me to the door and addressing the hostess. Her eyes glazed a bit as she stared at him, turning on the fluttering eyelashes and charm, but he looked through her as if she weren't even there. To be honest, I almost felt bad for her as I watched her deflate as her self esteem bubble was burst before my very eyes. She led us to the table as Damon moved to place a hand at the small of my back, guiding me through the restaurant. To say I felt a thrill at the contact was an understatement, but I did a relatively good job masking the reaction…I think.

As soon as we settled, he glanced at a wine list, ordering a very expensive bottle as well as a glass of high dollar scotch for himself. I couldn't help but smile a little at how well he fit in, his regal demeanor commanding the people around him. He was an example of the quintessential founding family way of conducting oneself in that moment. I knew he was so much more, but it felt odd to find it appealing for once.

When the waiter came back, he poured us glasses before asking if we were prepared to order. Damon looked up at me questioningly, causing me to blush again because I hadn't even opened the menu. I had been too busy staring at him. He told the waiter to give us a few more minutes, smirking down at his menu as I opened mine and perused my options. The prices were ridiculous, but Damon was the one who had chosen it, so I wasn't going to let it bother me. Eventually I picked out my choice and closed my menu to find that I was the one being scrutinized. I cursed my warming cheeks as my eyes lifted to meet with his intense blue gaze.

After a moment, he smiled slowly. "You ready now?"

I nodded and swallowed hard past the lump in my throat. Without looking away, he gestured to the waiter, ordering his steak and lobster without moving his gaze. My eyes darted down to the top of the menu before I turned to the waiter and ordered the Shrimp Linguini in Alfredo and a garden salad. I handed him the menu before turning my eyes slowly back to Damon.

His eyes still hadn't left me when my gaze met his. "Shall we toast?" He asked, reaching before him to lift his own wine glass and gesturing toward me with it. With a shaky hand, I reached out and picked up my own glass, extending it to meet his.

"To getting to know each other."

"To getting to know each other," I echoed before taking a long slow sip of the exquisite liquid. It was definitely a step up from the cheap bottles I tended to keep on hand. I hummed my appreciation, which earned a larger smile on Damon's face.

"Glad you appreciate the vintage. Hopefully you take more time to savor it than you did that bottle last night. Speaking of, how are you doing today?"

"Better," in whispered in reply.

"Good," he said jovially before picking up the wine bottle and refilling my glass.

After sharing a few quiet sips, he settled back in his chair. "Well, should we get to the question and answer portion of this evening?"

I swilled a couple more drinks of my wine before sitting the glass down in front of me and folding my hands in my lap.

"I think what I want to know most is what Vamp traits you actually have. You aren't wearing any special rings, so apparently the sun is no problem."

"Actually, I burned extremely easily when I was a child. I was tested for an allergy to sunlight, but none of the results were conclusive. Eventually I grew out of it. At the time, I didn't even consider it as odd, but now I suspect it had something to do with that part of me."

He sniffed, lifting his glass to take another drink before sitting it down.

"Blood?"

I shrugged. "Never had any to know, but it's not like I have the lust or anything."

"And vervain doesn't affect you?"

I smiled, running my finger over the necklace I always wore to ward off compulsion. "Nope…not even a rash."

He frowned as if considering something before running a finger over his lips. "So I already know from you hearing me at the Grill the day we met that you have heightened hearing. Any other powers?"

I put my palms up, staring down at them with a sad smile. "Nope. Pity, as they might actually come in handy."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, staring right into my eyes. "So, why bother fathering you if you don't have any of those special features that come with the territory?"

I shrugged again. "Maybe it didn't work out quite as planned? I don't know. It doesn't change the fact that I'm some sort of mystical anomaly though. From what I understand, that's all that's needed…not for me to have any special powers, just the right combination of blood ties."

"Huh," Damon hummed, sitting back in his seat again as his he stared at the flame of the candle on the table between us. After a bit of processing he looked up again, his lips pulled into a cute little pout to the left of his face. I couldn't help but stare at them.

"Do you think that if you tried imbibing that it might bring out any latent powers that might be hiding in there?"

I shrugged for a third time in five minutes, suddenly feeling like a moron. "Never thought about it or tried it. I guess it's possible, but I'm not all that keen to find out."

He raised an eyebrow. "Even if it means saving Elena?"

I narrowed my eyes in his direction. "You know I'd give anything to save her."

He smirked, leaning in seductively and taking my hand in his, trailing his finger along the blue veins on the underside of my wrist. "We could always give it a try and see. If you didn't want to do it the old fashioned away, you could always try one of our blood bank bags…or even try some from me."

My eyes widened and my heart pounded. "I…you…what are you seriously suggesting, Damon?"

His eyes made my mouth go dry as he stared into me, straight to the core of my soul. I shivered and swallowed as he lifted my hand, kissing the vein he'd just outlined.

"I'm only suggesting an experiment. You should try drinking a little to see if it makes you any stronger, any more capable of using a power or two."

I shook my head as I yanked my hand out of his grasp. What he was suggesting seemed dangerous and ill advised.

"I don't think I'm ready for those types of experiments."

It surprised me to find that instead of anger at my rejection of his suggestion, Damon's eyes danced, the smirk on his lips growing into a full blown smile. We took a break from our conversation to allow the waiter to deliver my salad before turning quickly to leave us to our conversation. I glanced down at the salad, not feeling particularly hungry in that instant. I folded my hands and looked back up to Damon, waiting for him to continue.

"Okay, I'll drop it…for now. Here's a more constructive question. Have you ever seen Klaus? Right now we're working at a bit of a disadvantage and the only person who knows what he looks like is concealing the information for self preservation purposes."

I cocked my head in confusion. "Of course I met Klaus, he was the one who summoned me, but now you have me curious. Who are you talking about?"

The amusement in his eyes darkened as he leaned back again, picking up the stronger alcohol this time and guzzling in one long swig. "What do you know of Katherine Pierce?"

I groaned, my eyes narrowing in his direction. "You're shitting me!"

At this, he laughed, a loud, boisterous laugh as his head fell back. He was gorgeous like that, free and almost wild. "Unfortunately, no I'm not."

I growled under my breath. "Of course Katherine's here…selfish bitch. You know she was the first person I met in my quest for Romania and answers. I thought she was Elena until I started talking to her. She handed me over like a lamb for the slaughter, thinking I would be a great diversion while she escaped. She had no clue who I was and underestimated the results of her move. She barely escaped."

"Yeah, well right now she's hiding behind her knowledge to keep her safe."

I snorted. "Well I can end that right now. Klaus is more or less Viggo Mortensen on steroids with more hair. He's very attractive and very…primal. He's going to be easy to spot and impossible to kill. Even if I break the curse before they can use Elena, there's no guarantee he won't wipe the whole town out in retaliation for my disobedience, but it's worth the risk for me."

Damon frowned into his glass, moving back to allow the waiter who had just arrived with our steaming food to put down his plate before leaning forward again. "There's got to be another way," he nearly whispered before looking up at me with determined eyes. "It surprises even me to say this, but I don't want you kicking the bucket. You're the most entertainment I've had in years. It'd be a total waste for you to lose your pretty little head for this if there was another way. If there's one alternative, then there has to be others too…right?"

I licked my lips and smiled, feeling honored that he found me worth of living, as ridiculous as that sounded. Finally, I sighed and moved to take a bite of my waiting salad.

"Yeah, well, for now I'm our only choice and I'm tired of talking about it. Let's just forget all this drama and relax. You in?"

Damon smiled brightly at me before stabbing a piece of his raw steak with his fork and winking as he popped it into his mouth. "I am if you are, hot stuff."

I smiled back. "Good, because I'm tired of being the sacrificial lamb. For just one night I want to be a normal girl."

He leaned in conspiratorially before reaching to stab one of my shrimp with his fork and popping it in his mouth with a triumphant smirk. "Well babe, I hate to break it to you, but even if you weren't part mythical, you'd still be way better than normal."

I felt my cheeks flush as I forked a piece myself to pop into my own mouth. The rest of the meal we sat and talked like any other couple on a first date…if that was what it was. I still hadn't worked that bit out. After dinner, he led me back out to his car by the arm and kissed my hand as he helped me get seated. The drive home was way too short before we pulled in front of my building. Damon walked me to my door like a gentleman, placing a soft kiss on my cheek before disappearing in a blur of black the second my door was unlocked.

I felt bewildered as I closed the door and leaned against it, my hand moving to rest over the place on my cheek that still felt warmer than the rest of me where his lips had brushed ever so briefly. With a sigh, I moved into my apartment, smiling when I saw my work bag and keys to my car were already waiting for me thanks to my niece and her boyfriend. I distractedly changed into sweats and began trying to grade the homework papers waiting for me, but if I thought I was distracted by thoughts of Damon the night before, that was nothing compared to what I faced that night.

I went to bed two hours later having not completed my grading, but hoping I could get them done during the morning. With any luck, my students wouldn't be able to throw it in my face that I hadn't been a good example of completing my work on time. I sighed as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling and thinking of my dinner with Damon. I was totally screwed!