A/N: I wish to apologize to everyone that's been waiting for an update of this fic. Life has been getting in the way. Also, vidding life has been getting in the way

A humongous thank you is due to the fantastic aj81writing for being my Beta, but also for lending me her wonderful words, and Damon's snarky comments when I am lost in front of an empty document… What would I do without you?

Without further ado… Chapter 5

Damon could almost hear Stefan's brain kicking into overdrive as he saw him bounding inside the boarding house, and he smirked as he finished his drink. He turned towards the doorway just as Stefan entered.

'What's wrong, brother?' he asked coyly and sauntered over to the wet bar.

Stefan wasn't buying his nonchalance. He stalked right up to Damon and slapped the glass out of his hand.

'Don't, Damon'. Stefan literally spat out his name. 'Don't pretend as if nothing's wrong.'

Stefan's eyes were on fire as he grabbed Damon by his shirt and pushed him against one of the walls, with a cracking noise coming from the wooden panels.

'I guess that means that you've met Elena.' Damon's eyes glittered with amusement at his brother's obvious resentment.

'Is this some sort of game to you? She's not a puppet. She doesn't exist for your amusement.'

'Sure she does,' Damon challenged, letting his gaze slide over Stefan's furrowed brows and decided that enough was enough.

He seized Stefan's hand and spun him around, so now it was Stefan facing the wall, his right arm in an uncomfortable angle pressed against his back. Damon shoved himself harder against his brother, making a point in standing as close to him as possible, so that Stefan would understand, that there was nothing he could put up against him even if he tried. He was weak, living on animal blood; none of his senses were as accurate or as powerful as Damon's.

'I wouldn't try that again, brother.' Damon whispered in Stefan's ear. Stefan closed his eyes in defeat. 'As for Elena, I'm not playing any games. She's mine.' He emphasized the last word.

Damon kept his grip on Stefan for a while longer, before he let go, pushing Stefan against the wall one last time.

As if nothing had happened, he made himself a new drink and sat down in one of the oversized armchairs and watched Stefan trying to compose himself.

'You know, Stefan, things would be so much better if you'd just let me do what I do. Even if I am here just to annoy you.' Damon smirked at Stefan, who was staring at him with an incredulous look on his face. 'I mean, I did promise you an eternity of misery, so I'm just keeping my word.'

'Just stay away from Elena, please Damon.'

Damon was just about to answer Stefan back as his cell rang. A callous smile crossed his face as he read the name on the illuminated screen.

'Speak of the devil', he said. 'You have to excuse me, dear brother; I have to take this call.'

Elena knew she was making a bad decision, calling Damon. But there had been something about him, no, something about his brother, which had made her pick up the phone and dial his number. She couldn't put her finger on it, but maybe it had been Stefan's eyes as he'd reluctantly spoken about Damon. A sort of reminiscing about old days… She couldn't tell, and now, as she was nervously biting her right thumbnail, she knew that she was probably going to regret calling him later, but the stubborn streak in her just couldn't help it.

She held her breath as she heard him pick up, and she subconsciously wiped her hand against the side of her leg before she drew a deep breath as she heard his voice on the other side of the line.

'Well, well, looks like someone's ready for round two,' he drawled and Elena could practically hear him smirking. She was glad he couldn't see her blush, thinking back to what had happened the last time they met. But she wasn't called Elena Gilbert for nothing; there wasn't a chance in hell she was going to back down now. She stiffened her neck and pulled her chin out.

'There's a party by the old cemetery on Saturday. Wanna come?' she chimed in one single breath. He had this way of making her feel like a child and she was going to prove to him that she wasn't.

'I'd love to,' he said silkily, 'but I didn't peg you as someone who wanted an audience…'

Elena let out a breath of annoyance. He was such an ass. But if he could be bold, so could she.

'I'm always up for trying new things,' she said in the most grown-up, worldly voice she could muster. 'But you're the one who suggested a date. So how 'bout it, stud?' she said, copying a line from one of her favorite movies.

She could hear him chuckle softly.

'I'll pick you up at seven' he said, before he hung up.

Damon didn't like tardiness in others so he was always on time himself. He checked his cuffs and ran his fingers through his hair before ringing the doorbell to the Gilbert's house. Taking a step back as the door opened he plastered a smile on his face he knew was appropriate for parents of any kind. What he didn't take into account was how he'd feel looking the exact replica of Jonathan Gilbert in the eye as Elena's father, Grayson, smiled back at him.

He saw before him Jonathan Gilbert, rounding up the Mystic Falls vampires to a certain death by fire in 1864. He could still hear Katherine's low moans of pain as she lay on the ground, bound and gagged, while he and his brother desperately tried to free her. He could still feel the burning sensation of the gun shot as the bullet lodged itself in his chest and then; the black nothingness of death.

Damon felt himself stiffen as Grayson's smile slowly vanished taking in Damon's features, and his shoulders tensed. Damon felt his insides go cold as realization hit Grayson. His whole posture screamed out; warning vampire, Damon could see it. He could smell the fear emanating from Elena's father's pores, just as Elena came bounding down the stairs.

Damon saw Grayson's arm twitch towards her as she reached the doorway, carelessly kissing her father's cheek, but as he looked over at Damon staring at him, he stopped himself and tried to smile. It was a weak smile, a smile of someone knowing there is no use putting up a fight.

'I see you've met Damon,' Elena smiled as she linked her arm through Damon's. 'He's Zach Salvatore's nephew.'

'Pleased to meet you, Mr. Gilbert', Damon purred and extended his hand to the older man. Grayson looked at Damon's outstretched arm with a look of despair before he warily took the vampire's hand in his.

Damon gripped him firmly by the elbow, making sure he stepped inside of the doorway leaning over Grayson Gilbert, pointing to the fact that he'd already been invited in.

Out of the corner of his eye, Damon could see that Elena was looking at her father expectantly. Grayson Gilbert cleared his throat and met Damon's eyes squarely for the first time.

'I trust you'll bring my daughter back in one piece,' Grayson said, his voice only slightly wavering. 'And that you won't keep her out too late, she's still only sixteen.'

'Dad!' Elena exclaimed, but Damon could hear the sense of pride she held for her father by the tone of her voice. This was a speech he held every time his daughter had a date− that much was obvious. She turned to Damon, and started pulling him with her towards his car. 'Let's go, my Dad's always like this when I go out, don't listen to him.'

Damon looked back and inclined his head towards Grayson, who was standing in the middle of the doorway, ashen faced and perfectly still.

'Trust me, I won't', he smiled and showed a perfect set of teeth, before turning to Elena and pulling her close to him. 'I don't really listen to warnings.' Elena giggled and kissed him on the cheek, much in the same way she'd just kissed her father. But the way she let her lips linger close to his, told him that the gesture meant something entirely different indeed this time.

The party was in full swing as they arrived in Damon's metallic blue Chevy. Elena proudly waited until he opened the passenger door and helped her out of the car. She was the queen bee of Mystic Falls High, and everyone was openly staring at her and the dark stranger by her side.

Teenagers were scattered around the cleared area, with lit fires and kegs standing on fragile looking tables, red plastic cups stacked next to the kegs. Elena grabbed Damon's hand and dragged him towards one of the kegs where she filled two cups with lukewarm beer before handing him one of them. Damon sipped it carefully, before he handed it over with a scowl to some pimply-faced boy, who looked at him in awe. Damon frowned and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

Damon sensed Stefan before he saw him. He turned around and met his brother's judging eyes from across the campfire. Elena followed his gaze.

'That's your brother, right? Stefan?'

Damon pulled his gaze from Stefan and looked down at Elena.

'Yes. How did you know?' he answered, pretending he didn't know about their meeting a few days before.

Elena's eyes flickered towards him then towards the flames licking the twigs and branches that made the fire, where some girls were standing roasting marshmallows on long thin sticks. She sipped her cup before answering him, as if she was hiding something from him. Damon glared over at Stefan who smiled at him serenely with his arms crossed over his chest. A small throbbing started behind Damon's eyes.

Even if Damon knew they'd met previously, it felt hard to swallow all of a sudden.

'I met him a few days ago. He was at the Lockwood mansion together with your uncle for the auction. We just talked for a short while…' she stopped and looked up at him. 'What's the deal with you and Stefan anyway?'

Just hearing his brother's name come out of her mouth felt wrong. Damon hid a sneer with a smile.

'You shouldn't worry your pretty little head with that.' He ignored Elena's eyes that flashed angrily at his words. 'Stefan and I, why we don't get along, goes way back. There's nothing you can do about it, so just leave it, and him, alone.'

Damon's words were final, Elena noticed. As if that would be the end of that discussion. She thought otherwise, but she didn't pry any further, having a feeling it would only antagonize Damon. She downed the last of her beer before reaching into her bag and pulling with her a dark green glass bottle.

'Raided my Dad's liquor cabinet', Elena said cheekily. 'Want some?'

Damon glanced down at the bottle and a genuine smile relaxed his features, somehow accentuating the sharp planes of his face. His eyes glowed in the dim light of the campfire in the middle of the cleared area, as he looked at her.

'Glen Fiddich? Really, Elena?' He laughed softly. 'I thought you didn't like whiskey straight.'

Elena smiled cunningly.

'Well, I raided the fridge as well.' She handed him the bottle and pulled out a can of Coke. 'Ta-da.'

'I'm thinking that you're one crazy chick, mixing good whiskey with that shit, but I never said I didn't like a little bit of crazy.'

Elena knew she was probably going to get caught taking that whiskey from her Dad. But looking at Damon's face right now was totally worth it. He leaned down and let his lips brush against hers, and his warm breath made a shiver slide down her spine, but in a really good way. Her lips parted in response and he deepened the kiss as he set down the bottle on the rickety table next to them. He then proceeded to take the can out of her hand and placed it next to the whiskey bottle, without breaking the kiss.

'Mmm,' Damon moaned against Elena's jaw as he was trailing a band of kisses towards her neck. 'You sure you wanna stay around? We could go back to mine for a while…'

He felt Elena smile.

'No, Damon. We should stay here, I promised Bonnie.'

Screw Bonnie, Damon thought when his eyes fell on Stefan again. He let his tongue trace the delicate veins along her neck and he could see his brother visibly stiffen. Damon smiled as he bit down just hard enough for Elena to try to pull away. Stefan drew an unnecessary breath and the muscles in his jaw worked over time.

'Ouch.' Elena pulled away and smacked his shoulder playfully. 'Why are you always nibbling on me?'

Damon's gaze was still on Stefan as he answered.

'Because you're absolutely mouthwatering.'

'Elena!'

Elena turned towards Caroline's voice and smiled at her friend, running over to the couple and hugging her. Caroline turned to Damon with a wicked smile, who was trying really hard not to show his annoyance at the blonde girl interrupting them.

'So this− is Damon.' She said, letting her eyes roam freely over him. 'You're quite the mystery, you know. So you're the guy who's managed to drag the boring out of Elena. Good for you.'

Damon gave her a cocky smile.

'And you− must be Caroline.'

Caroline's smile widened and she threw her hair over her shoulder.

'I see my reputation has proceeded me', she said.

'Well, that and the fact Elena has told me about your inability to hold your tongue.'

Caroline turned her wounded eyes towards Elena.

'Did you really say that?' Elena stared at her, shocked, and started shaking her head, when Damon answered for her.

'Not in so many words, Goldielocks, but there wasn't really any need. You just proved it to me yourself.'

'Damon.' Elena looked up at him. 'Stop it. That's really not necessary.'

Damon turned to her in mock surprise.

'Why? It's not like she doesn't need someone telling her. She should know when to speak and when to shut up.' He picked up the can of Coke and put it in his jacket pocket, then proceeded to grab Elena's arm as he grasped the whiskey bottle and stalked away from Caroline. Elena gave Caroline an apologetic smile but walked off with Damon.

As they got a bit further away from everyone, she pulled her arm from his grip.

'What was that about, Damon? Why are you being awful to Caroline, what did she ever do to you?' Her eyes were dark with anger. 'You should go apologize to her right now.'

Damon looked at her incredulously, but then his features softened.

'I'm sorry, you're right. Even if she's into gossiping and I'm quite a private person, I shouldn't take my own issues out on her. I'll go talk to her right now.'

Elena nodded with a frown. Whatever issues he had, the way he treated Caroline, Elena wasn't thrilled about it at all. Especially not how he made it sound as if she had been talking about Caroline behind her back. As soon as there was time for it, she would let Damon explain himself.

Damon walked over to Caroline where she stood talking to some friends. At first it was clear that she didn't want to walk off with him, but after a look at Elena, who gave her a small smile, Caroline relented.

Elena concentrated, trying to hear them, but Damon was talking in a low voice and the loud music from another corner of the clearing was drowning out most of the conversations around them. Elena saw Caroline's features relax and she nodded as Damon was talking. He put a hand on Caroline's shoulder and she kind of leaned in towards him and smiled. Caroline almost looked dazed, but Elena thought it must be a trick of the shadows cast by the small fire to the left of them.

Damon smiled as he strolled back over to her, and Elena smiled back.

'See, that wasn't so bad, was it? Caroline's just… Caroline. She means no harm, really. She's a gossip and a bit ditzy, but she's my friend, Damon.'

'I know. I'm sorry.' He rubbed her arms with his hands and then leaned closer to her. 'Forgive me?

Damon gave her a pout that Elena couldn't resist kissing.

'Ok. But you have to promise me, no more having a go at my friends for being curious about you. Swear?'

Damon nibbled at her lower lip. 'For you, I'll pinky swear.'

Damon couldn't resist touching her, kissing her. Her scent was pulling him in and binding him to her. Elena was leaning against an old oak tree, her short jean skirt invitingly showing off her shapely young legs. He was bent over her and she smelled of whiskey and Coke mixed with that heady scent of blood and perfume.

He was lost in the darkness of her eyes, and for a moment he couldn't remember why he'd ever thought she was anything like Katherine. She wasn't, not a single bit like Katherine. And as he once again breathed her in, while touching the soft outside of her thighs with his hands, he was swept away by the thought of leaving Katherine where she was and keeping Elena instead.

In an instant he stood straight back up so fast, Elena nearly toppled over.

'What's wrong?' she asked and put her hands on his chest. He drew a few shallow breaths before grabbing her hands and pushing her away from him.

'Nothing, I… I need to breathe, is all.'

There was hurt shining out of her eyes like a beacon trying to reel him in again and he couldn't look at her so he turned away. What was he thinking? He'd been waiting for 145 years to get to Katherine. 145 years of yearning for her, and now, this meager copy of her, was twisting his thoughts, trying to make him forget the only reason he was back in this godforsaken town in the first place. He looked around, to help him focus again, and his eyes landed on Stefan. He was standing with Caroline, the blonde practically hanging from his arm. But Stefan wasn't looking at her− he wasn't even looking at Damon. His gaze was solely on Elena, so affectionate, could he caress her with his mere sight, he would have.

She's not a puppet. She doesn't exist for your amusement.

Puppet my ass, he thought as he re-called Stefan's words. Elena is whatever I want her to be. He turned to her and leaned closer to her, as if to whisper something to her. Elena craned her neck to be able to hear him better. Her chest was grazing his as her breath hitched when his body forced her back against the rough texture of the tree.

Damon glanced over his shoulder to make sure that Stefan was still watching as his face changed and his fangs elongated, nearly breaking through his bottom lip. With a devilish smile he turned back to Elena and bit down.

Next update will come sooner than you think... At least it won't be three months til the next one. I promise.

The line taken from Grease is all aj82writing, among others. Her Damon is uncanny, and vital to this story. Thank you!

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