AN: I just want to apologize for any grammar mistake I make. I don't realize most of them until I've already published the chapter and I don't want to have to delete the chapter to edit it after it's already been uploaded. Trust me, I cringe ever time I notice one that I hadn't seen. Bad grammar is a pet peeve of mine. Mostly when it's simple things. Most of the time the mistakes I make are because of my keys sticking or me typing to fast to notice.

Responses to Reviews:

AmbivalentAura; Thank you so much! I've been worried about how I'm writing everyone's POV's and I'm so happy you think that I'm doing Damon's well. Those ships actually seem interesting, too. I may check your stories out once you publish them! Enzo and Sarah are definitely an interesting ship to me, so are Bonnie and Matt, actually.

Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing. All rights and Characters belong to their rightful owner(s), whether they are The CW, L.J. Smith, etc.

Chapter 5 (Damon POV)

The 5th time Stefan had called; I was still sitting on the couch. I had gotten up a few times since the 'get-to-mystic-falls' call. Grated, it was to get a beer or a blood bag or chips or something..

By the 7th time he'd called, I decided to get up and take a shower. I didn't want to but I did it. About and hour later, and if I'm counting right, Stefan's 12th call, I was heading out of Illinois. It takes over 200 miles to get to Virginia, let alone Mystic Falls. I didn't want to drive and I sure as hell didn't feel like it. I could've gotten a plane ticket but I didn't feel like being cooped up in a plane with a lot of people. I tend to get irritable and claustrophobic after listening to a baby cry for hours, kids being obnoxious, and people being idiots.

Let's just say the flight may have landed with me and a few others walking out.

Don't even think about it. I don't kill, eat, or do anything to babies or kids. Undisciplined ones are just really damned irritating.

My phone died after the 25th time Stefan had attempted to reach me, whether it had been texting or calling, I don't know. I rolled my eyes and tossed it in the glove compartment. Stefan sure knew how to be the annoying little brother.

About 150 miles in, I shoved a Bob Seger CD in my radio.

I really don't want to go to Mystic Falls.

Can't I just continually drive around and listen to Like a Rock or something?

(Elena POV)

I've been awake for a day now. We, or, well, Stefan and I, are still waiting to hear from Damon. Ric and Jeremy stopped overnight at a hotel so they wouldn't show up for a few more hours. Stefan, Caroline, and I were sitting around the boarding house doing nothing. Caroline and I had spent the morning dusting ad cleaning. We eventually ran out of spaces to clean and have been sitting around since. We really need a TV in this house. I haven't been this bored since I was a teenager.

"Sooo..." Caroline was looking me over, scrutinizing everything on my body. "Want to go get our hair done? Or maybe go shopping?" She grinned.

"I guess…as long as you promise to not torture me."

Caroline gasped. "Torture? Shopping and getting our hair done is not torture. How dare you? Besides, you need a new phone and everything anyway."

I snorted. "Whatever. Let's go." I looked at Stefan who was apparently playing a game on his phone. Or he was texting Damon again. "Will you let us know if you hear from Damon?"

"Yeah," Stefan sighed. "I doubt he will. He probably let his phone die and is refusing to charge it. I'm sure he'll get here eventually."

Two hours later, Caroline and I got back from the Mall. I had a new cell phone, and a million bags of new clothes, shoes, tons of other stuff. Caroline had gotten a few new dresses, a few shirts, and some other stuff. Her main focus was loading me down with as many items of clothing as possible. I made her carry most of it after awhile.

Stefan was in the kitchen rummaging around. There was grocery bags everywhere we turned so he had apparently went shopping. All I saw was the pack of Oreos, which I snatched and walked off with.

"Hey! Drop 'em! Those aren't just for you!" Stefan yelled out.

I snickered "Nope. I haven't had an Oreo in years. Literally. I'm eating as many as I want. You can buy more." I plopped on the couch in the living room with my new phone in one hand and the Oreos in another.

"Fine. You're not getting my chips ahoy." Stefan was still in the kitchen and Caroline was giggling.

"Oh, really? What makes you think that?" I yelled back.

Like he could stop me.

I heard the front door open and stood up to walk to the doorway.

"Jer!" He was definitely older but he was still Jeremy. Long hair that was grey but he still had bright eyes. I ran forward and hugged him.

Jeremy grined and dropped the bag in his hand. Thankfully, I hadn't ran at him with full speed. Something tells me we would've fallen over if I had.

I pulled back and smirked, stepping away from him. "How's it feel to be an old man?"

"Frankly, it sucks. I'd do anything to be 20 something again."

Stefan had put Jeremy's bag in the den. We were all in the kitchen, I was sitting next to Ric. I was beginning to hate Kai even more than I had when e was alive because I'd missed so much. Everyone was so old and I realized that I may not have very long with them, especially not Ric. He was 85 years old. He didn't seem like he was in that bad of shape for his age but he wasn't in the great of shape either.

I'd been talking to Ric since we'd come into the kitchen. After Jo died, he didn't attempt to get in another relationship. He went and stayed with Jeremy and hunted with him. Once he'd thought he'd gotten too old he just stayed with Jer out of habit.

It hurt to know that I'd lose 2 of the people in this kitchen in a few years. I could do nothing about it. Jeremy and Alaric too old to become vampires even if they wanted to be. Not that they would. Alaric hated being a vampire when he was and Jeremy hates vampires.

I'd have to deal with the loss of them when the time came, just like I had to do with my parents. It sucked, it hurt, but there was nothing I could do. I just hated that I was forced to miss so many years.

'Stefan, any word from Damon?" I was worried. I was excited. I didn't know what I'd do when I'd actually finally see Damon but I couldn't wait to see him. The thought made me want to jump up and down and scream like a little kid would if they found out that they were going to get to go to Disneyland.

That reminds me. I really want to go to Disneyland.

"No, but assuming, and hoping, that he left yesterday, he probably won't be here for a day or so. It'll just depend on how fast he's moving." I nodded and decided to focus on something else.

"Okay... so what do you guys want to do?"

"I'm old. I want to sleep." Jeremy looked at me like I was stupid. Ric agreed with him. Apparently Stefan, or someone else, had given Alaric some bourbon. With as much as he drank I'm surprised he's never had cirrhosis of the liver. I never have been able to stomach the taste of alcohol like he and Damon have. If I really wanted to drink, I was fine. I could never handle that taste daily though. It was just nasty.

(Damon POV)

I finally hit Kentucky about an hour ago. I was probably going to be in Mystic Falls a lot faster than I wanted to be. Guess I should probably stop driving so fast. My Bob Seger CD finished right as I had hit the state line so I had switched it out with Hotel California. Elena always liked to rag on me because I rarely listened to anything made after the 90's. I'm a rock n' roll person, what can I say.

I used to hate that bubblegum-teeny-bopper crap Elena used to listen to. After awhile, she gave in and admitted that she did like my music.

I never really missed it until she was gone, or asleep. Whatever you want to call that shit spell Kai did.

When Stefan and Blondie forced me to move, I packed most of Elena's stuff and shoved it in my car. I did get rid of some of her clothes but she had a huge box full of all her favorite clothing. Caroline had gotten rid of most of it after she moved out of the dorm but I had snagged all of Elena's favorites by then. I put most of her clothes in a super small storage unit of Alaric's right outside of Mystic Falls. I did keep a shirt she had worn before the wedding. I don't know why I did it. I just liked the idea of having something of hers with me that I could carry around wherever I went. I probably seem creepy but whatever. I don't really care about what anyone thinks. Never have, never will.

That damn shirt was the closest thing I could have to her. And, no, and I didn't do anything stalker-ish and put it in a plastic bag so It smelled like her for as long as possible. I thought about it. I just didn't do it.

I'm not that damn weird.

I had about 5 hours left. Maybe more, I'm not sure. I should probably plug my phone in and let it charge. Then again, maybe I won't. I'm sure Barbie's sent me all kinds of threatening texts for ignoring my lovely brother.

Well, I finally hit the Virginia border. Guess I'm not as bad of a guesser as I though. Exactly 5 hours, Huh. I had about an hour till Mystic Falls. I was dying to stop somewhere and just sit for awhile. Going back to Mystic Falls, or, home, since that's technically what it is, is hard. I dreaded it. I didn't want to be in there without Elena.

Sometimes I wish I could just stop loving her long enough to be able to deal with my life. I can't and I don't want to. I just get angry. I love her so much that it drives me nuts and with her not being around, at times, I just can't take it. It tears m up on the inside and it makes me feel like someone ripped my heart out.

It sucks.

I just passed the Mystic Falls sign.

(Elena POV)

After about 2 hours of switching between playing checkers, War, and monopoly, Stefan jumped up and walked over to the front of the house. He was staring out the window and I got curious.

As soon as I got to the window, I saw headlight coming down the drive.

It was the camaro. Damon's camaro.

My heart felt like it was beating out of my chest.

"Huh," Stefan was starring out the window and had his arms crossed over his chest again. "looks like he actually listened to me for once." Stefan murmured.

He had eyes trained on the slowly moving car. I stood still, I was excited and terrified. I wanted to see Damon and I didn't want to see him. I really don't know why, either. Maybe it was because Damon and I'd goodbye was the hardest. It was the most painful. Our goodbye was almost as painful as when he hadn't made it back from the Other Side.

I think my fear came from not being able to figure out what I was going to say or do. I didn't want to look or feel stupid like I knew I would if I didn't move my feet. I didn't want to just be standing in the same spot and just stare at him when he came in the door.

Caroline had apparently stood up and joined Stefan and I in the entryway.

"Well, that's surprising. I was expecting him to take another day or two."

"That's Damon. Always surprising people." I was still standing in the same spot and I hadn't even turned to look at Caroline. The Camaro had just rolled to a stop.

Damon was going to get out in another second.

I spun around and Caroline looked at me. I glanced at her, heard the car door open, and bolted upstairs.

I had gotten into Damon's bedroom and slammed the door right as I heard the front door open. I couldn't really hear anything anyone was saying. Jeremy was still asleep and I think Alaric had passed out in his room about 15 minutes ago. I was debating on staying in the bedroom or going downstairs.

I decided to stay in the bedroom.

I had walked over to the bathroom to look in the mirror. Caroline and I had picked out some pajamas at the mall but I was still only wearing Damon's red t-shirt. I had put a pair of soft, grey pajama pants to go with them. I hadn't had any makeup until Caroline and I had gone to the Mall and got some. By the time we'd gotten back, I hadn't felt like putting any on, nor did I see any reason to. When I'd changed into the pajama pants I was wearing I'd just washed my face and pulled my hair up into a ponytail. I was trying to figure out whether to change or stay as I was. I couldn't decide.

Then I heard Damon shout and glass breaking.

(Damon POV)

I walked into the house. Stefan and Caroline were apparently my greeting party. What a disappointment.

Blondie had a shocked look on her face that made it seem like someone had walked up and unexpectedly slapped her. Stefan was observing me with his eyebrow raised.

"What? Did I not get here fast enough for you? Sorry. I had an episode of Cold Case to watch and a shower to take."

Stefan shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

"Nope. You got here in the perfect time. Jeremy and Alaric are already asleep."

"Is there a reason why I'm here? Or did you just feel like having a little reunion? If so, can I leave?"

Caroline gave me a bitchy look, "Oh, you're such an ass! No one said you had to come! Maybe you should've just stayed in Illinois and wallowed in your misery."

I stared at her. "Why am I here Stefan?" I walked over and found my Bourbon. Alaric had apparently helped himself. There was less than half of what I remembered there being.

"You're here because I figured you'd want to be."

Really? Why in the hell would I want to be here, of all places!

"Why in the hell would I want to be here, Stefan?"

He shrugged his shoulders again. Dick.

"You're being an ass. If you can't figure it out, I'm not going to tell you."

I clenched my teeth together. This was really starting to piss me off. Was that his point? He called me to Mystic Falls to just royally piss. me. off? Newsflash! He's not a teenager. He really needs to stop acting like one.

"What am I suppose to figure out, Stefan?"

Caroline looked impatient. She was tapping her foot. Stefan turned around and walked away.

"Blondie, you want to tell me what the hell's going on before I kill my brother?"

"You aren't going to kill your brother."

"Really? I'm not?"

"Ugh! Fine," She stomped her foot. I was taking a long drink of Bourbon when she said it.

"Elena's awake."

I choked on the bourbon and looked at her. I was sputtering and coughing, trying to get the bourbon to stop burning my lungs. I had dropped the damn glass that was in my hand. "What?" I yelled. Okay, maybe I didn't yell, but I said it pretty damn loud.

"You heard me." She turned on her heel and walked off; probably to wherever Hero hair was.

I had stopped breathing. I was listening to everything that was going on in the house. Stefan and Caroline were in the Kitchen, talking. I heard three heartbeats. Two were upstairs and one was downstairs.

I heard three heartbeats.

(Elena POV)

After I had heard Damon shout I had swallowed nervously. I went and sat down on the bed. I was picking at the comforter. It was black, but it had stitching all over it and I constantly picked at it.

I heard the door slowly open. I hadn't looked up until I heard footsteps that had stopped at about a foot in front of me.

I looked up and there he was. He had a disbelieving look in his eye. His mouth was open, like he was going to say something but didn't know how or what. He obviously hadn't shaved in awhile, let alone cut his hair, but it wasn't much longer than it had been sixty years ago. His hair was disheveled and the clothes he was wearing were rumpled. I looked back up at his face. He had swallowed and closed his mouth.

I looked back down again, continuing to pick at the stitching on the comforter.

"Elena,"

AN: Well, there you go! There's chapter 5.

I realize that If I'd done the math the right way, Alaric would be much older than 85, but I didn't want to make him 97. (Which is what I calculated.) I wanted to have him somewhat present in the story, even if it wasn't a very long presence. Everyone else's ages should be close to what they should be, though.

So, there's the very beginning of DE's reunion. The next chapter will be more about them. I almost didn't fit Damon arriving in Mystic Falls into this chapter but I did because I know what I said/promised. So, I think this is actually the longest chapter I've written so far. Almost 3,000 words! Wow.

Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I'm overly enjoyed with the responses I've gotten on this and I'm so happy that there's so many of you that like this story.

As always, please review! I love to hear everyone's thoughts!