The beauty beneath Damon's legs screams in ecstasy. She is a Harley-Davidson V-Rod with a part Porsche engine, custom-fit to his liking.
Elena and company are awaiting Damon's grand entrance. They lounge around the bar at Mystic Grill, and Elena entertains with stories of Damon, the Vampire Gigolo, who hooked up with Big Bad Bekah again. Ric, Matt, and Tyler share knowing glances. For a girl who is so over Damon Salvatore, Elena Gilbert sure talks about him and his sex life a lot. Even her best friend and Mystic Falls's town gossip, Caroline Forbes, rolls eyes towards the sky. Bonnie Bennett, Jeremy's girlfriend, pats Elena's thigh in sympathy. Jeremy is joining the Slayer men on a "broski" (more like "brewski") road trip to celebrate Damon's first title defense. The Slayer men, being handsome and fit fighters, are chick magnets, especially Damon. Bonnie prays that magnetism is not contagious.
Damon pulls up at "his spot" right next to the Grill's entrance and tries to coax Vicki out of his bike's sidecar. She can sense that he is about to leave her with someone else and refuses to move. He touches his nose to hers and compels her eyes with gentle authority. She licks his face in defiance, making him laugh and sigh.
Damon got Vicki, his first hearing dog, five years ago. With her, he had total independence at Whitmore College. She was there through his lively all-nighters - partying, training, studying, and otherwise - and lazy day-to-day life. She listened to and kept all of his secrets without judgement. The fleecy fur of her back was the pillow he cried into when he cursed the big, dumb world, which was at its biggest and dumbest on Elena's 21st birthday.
Damon and Elena spent it in the animal ER, waiting for Vicki to wake and discharge from surgery. He spiraled in that bad parent place the whole time, obsessing about the what-ifs. What if I hadn't left Vicki with Stef? Then, she wouldn't have been at the boarding house when Stef, Dad, and John went for a nightcap after the Founder's Council meeting. I should've left her with Jer. He focuses on the technical details, the who, what, when, where for as long as he can, but as the hours bite at him, he cannot fend off the inevitable thought: What if I hadn't kissed Elena Gilbert?
Damon continues to try to soothe and calm Vicki's separation anxiety, which she developed after the surgery. He maintains a comfortable eye contact with her and brushes his fingers through her lush coat. She thoroughly enjoys the attention, but peers back at him with misty eyes, her unshed tears whispering please don't leave me like that time. His heart cracks. He is about to announce to the gents that a special little lady will be leading their road trip (and that he will force-feed them the chips of his heart if they joke about his manhood) when Elena calls out. Vicki perks up, realizing that she is going with Elena. With tail wagging, Vicki darts over to Elena and tracks sloppy but appreciated kisses all over Elena's face.
Damon nods a thanks to Elena but averts her gaze. He does not look her in her eyes anymore.
The Slayer men and Jeremy hop on their bikes and start revving their engines. Jeremy and Bonnie engage in an awkwardly long goodbye kiss and hug. "You're going to get away with the girls. You're going to drink fru-fru cocktails and you're going have naked pillow fights," he teases. He then lowers his voice so only she can hear. "And I am going to take care of my big brother, that's all. Trust me, you have nothing to worry about."
Ric looks away and tries not to let images of his late wife Isobel overwhelm him. He just wants to enjoy time away with his best friends. He does not want to be a drag like Leo DiCaprio in "Inception." Isobel's substitute rubs against his thigh. At least she - a bottle of Sherry wine - is classy this time. He was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning when he made a not-so-wise choice last time.
Damon is equally unnerved. Jeremy is such a little shit, always dangling the carrot of bliss in front of everyone. Who invited him anyways?
Finally, the men head out. Bad thoughts, what bad thoughts? Wind in hair is a cure-all.
Vicki stares down the road until Damon is completely out of her sight. She whimpers and winds herself through Elena's legs. Elena disentangles herself and buries her hands in the curly fur around Vicki's ears. "Hurts Mommy too," Elena murmurs to Vicki.
Caroline and Bonnie let Elena between them and the three loop arms. Vicki follows on Bonnie's side. Begin Operation "Distract Elena from Damon for 5 Minutes." Ironic destination, Salvatore boarding house, because Damon's tub is heaven.
Author's Note: Thank you for the feedback, follows, and favourites. Special thanks to Haibookhunter, Lilredangel, my 2 guys, Nina145, and IgnatiusPReiley.