AN: Sorry for the long wait. This chapter isn't super long, but it's important. It's not as Delena as most people would want, but it sets up a clear direction for the story.

New York- Five months later

"Come on Kat!" Damon called out from the living room. "We're going to be late!" He checked the clock in front of him again for the fourth time in last two minutes. Finally he heard her heels on the floors signaling she was getting closer. He turned around and took in her appearance. The extra hour she took to get ready was completely worth it now. She looked stunning in the midnight blue, strapless Dior gown that hugged her every curve. Her hair was pinned up with a few loose curls that framed her face. Her make up was done expertly to emphasize her dark eyes and full lips. He had to restrain himself from picking her up and running back into the bedroom and having his way with her. She smiled at him as if she knew exactly what he was thinking. Knowing Katherine, she probably could.

"Are you going to stare at me all night, or are we going to leave?" she asked teasingly as she closed her clutch.

Damon snapped out of his trance and walked over to her. He held out his arm for her and led them to the elevator. Their driver, Martin, was downstairs waiting for them. He made a mental note to give him an extra bonus for the times Martin had to wait on them when Katherine took extra hours to get ready.

They slid into their town car, and Martine pulled away from their building. They were going to the Children of New York Charity benefit. A section of Damon's law firm dealt with many of the adoptions for the orphanage. He and another associate were representing the firm tonight. Martin pulled up fifteen minutes later at the Palace Hotel where the benefit was being held. Damon opened the door, got out, and held his hand out for Katherine to take as she got out of the car after him. They walked into the benefit smiling for the photographers hand in hand. They made it into the hotel without having to talk to many of the reporters there. These days they were constantly hounding them for a wedding date. Katherine's father was in favor of a nice long engagement. He wanted his princess to be sure Damon was the one before settling down. In the end, the couple decided on at least a yearlong engagement before beginning planning for the wedding. Damon was very relieved with Katherine's decision. A year would be plenty of time for his divorce to settle and be swept underneath the rug. If Damon could go all these years with no one finding out he was married, he was definitely going to make sure no one find out about the divorce.

They entered the hall and found their seats before Katherine dragged Damon out to the dance floor until he needed to beginning mingling with the other business executives at the benefit. He left Katherine with his friend Mason a couple of dances later to get them all drinks.

"One Jack and Coke, a glass of white wine, and a scotch on the rocks," he told the bartender. Damon leaned back on the bar counter while he waited for the bartender to make his drinks. He looked around the ballroom at all the immaculately dressed guest. He knew most of them, but he considered few of them his friends. Mason was the only exception. He had visited Mystic Falls every summer since he was born to visit his uncle. Katherine was really the socialite and knew almost everyone important who ever stepped into the city. The bartender tapped his shoulder to let him know the drinks were made. Damon nodded his thanks and took the drinks. He turned back to head to the dance floor when a he bumped into a man.

"I'm sorry," Damon excused himself. Thankfully he hadn't spilled the drinks on either of their drinks.

"It's fine," the man smiled and walked around Damon to get to the bar. Damon walked to his table and handed Katherine and Mason their drinks. He took a sip of his scotch hoping it would ease the tension he felt. There was something about the man that he bumped into that seemed weird to him.

"Damon, do you know who that is?" Katherine asked gesturing to a gorgeous brunette in a strapless, pale pink, couture gown that seemed to shimmer in under the ballroom lights. She envied the dress like no other. It was part of Marchesa's newest collection. She thought Damon might know the girl.

Damon took her in slowly. From the back she reminded him greatly of Elena, but Damon refused to allow himself to go there. He shook his head. "Maybe she's the daughter of an administrator of the orphanage." They couldn't get a good look of her face as she was turned around, and her long brown tresses tumbled down her back.

Mason took another look at her. "You know, I think I might just have to go introduce myself to her," he excused himself and headed over to where she was standing.

"Hello, I'm Mason Lockwood," he introduced as the mystery girl turned to face him. He recognized her immediately. What on earth was Elena Gilbert doing here? "Elena?" he asked with shock clearly displayed on his face. Katherine was beautiful, but Mason felt like punching Damon in the face for leaving such a gorgeous creature.

Elena smiled. She had always liked Tyler's cousin. He was only two years older than them, and she hadn't seen him in almost eight years. He hadn't changed that much. He still looked like the Mason she knew. "Hi Mason," she said warmly. Before she could stop herself, she hugged him. Mason was caught off guard but accepted the hug anyway. "It's so great to see you. What are you doing here?"

"I live here. I go to these benefits all the time," Mason answered. He wasn't sure if he should be associating with his best friend's ex-wife, but he stayed there anyway. "What are you doing here? I thought you lived in Mystic Falls."

Elena nodded. "I do. I'm actually here to talk to a few of the board members of the orphanage. I'm writing a children's book and was planning on giving them some of the proceeds from it once it's published."

"That's exceedingly kind of you," Mason noted. "Is it your first book?" he asked. He didn't know of any books by Elena.

She shook her head. "I've written three novels so far. The third one is in its final editing stage before it goes to be printed. This will be my first children's book. I write under a pen name, Nina Forbes," she informed him.

Mason was taken back. Her first two books were on the New York Best-Selling List. They were actually two of Katherine's favorite books.

Then she slowly began putting the pieces together. Damon and his fiancé were well known in New York. There was no way that Mason wasn't in contact with Damon. She looked him in the eye. "So where is he?" she asked knowing he would know exactly who she was talking about.

Mason hesitated. "He's at his table with Katherine. He doesn't know you're here," he explained. "He didn't recognize you just like I didn't."

Elena crossed her arms and pursed her lips. "Well why should he? What would his small town ex-wife," she spat," be doing at a big, fancy benefit like this? Right?" She scoffed. "It was nice talking to you Mason. I have to go now." Elena shook her head with disgust and stormed away.

Mason sped walked back to his table where Damon and Katherine were waiting.

"So?" Katherine asked expectantly. "Who is she?"

"She's a writer actually. She's writing a new children's book. You've read her books. Her pen name is Nina Forbes."

Katherine squealed with glee. "Nina Forbes? I love her novels! I can't wait for her next book to come out."

"She said it was going to come out next month," Mason recalled.

Katherine's eyes widened. "Why is she writing a children's book? That's kind of out of her usual genre. Her first two books were about a girl who loses her love after a terrible car accident. It was about her journey to rediscover who she was and how to live and love again without him. I fell in love with them the moment I read them," Katherine smiled dreamily. "Do you think you could introduce me to her?" she pleaded batting her eyelashes.

Damon watched as Mason struggled to form an answer. He looked almost conflicted to not give in to her, which was definitely a first. Mason always gave into Katherine.

"Sure," he finally conceded. "Come with me," he held out is arm for her. She gladly accepted it with a confused Damon trailing behind.

"What is her name Mason?" Katherine asked, as they got closer.

"Hmm?" Mason tilted his head.

"You said her pen name is Nina Forbes. What is her real name?" Katherine asked, but they had reached within earshot of Elena, so she stopped talking.

They stopped behind Elena and waited for her to finish her conversation before talking to her. Finally she turned around and found the three of them staring at her.

"Mason," she gasped a little surprised. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon. Who's this?" Elena feigned ignorance. She recognized Katherine. Damon was right. She was unbelievably gorgeous. Suddenly, even in her two thousand dollar Elena felt undressed and much like a girl playing dress up next to Katherine.

"Elena Gilbert," he said in a slightly shaky voice. "This is Katherine Pierce and her fiancé Damon Salvatore."

Elena forced a smile across her face. "Katherine, it's nice to meet you."

Katherine nodded enthusiastically. "It's so nice to meet you. I love your books."

Elena couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. Katherine had no idea the main character of her book was based off herself. Something told her that Katherine wouldn't be so thrilled with her once she found out who she really was. "Thank you. It's always nice to meet a fan. I don't really get many of those since people don't know my real name."

Katherine smiled. "This is my fiancé Damon. His law firm works with the Children of New York orphanage."

Damon stared at Elena. He wasn't sure what she was going to say or what to say himself, so he just attempted a smile trying to make sure it didn't form a grimace.

"Elena, here you are," a man walked up to them and kissed her on the cheek after handing her a glass of champagne. "Oh you again," he smiled when he saw Damon. Damon recognized him as the man that he bumped into earlier at the bar. "I'm Elijah Smith," he said and held out his hand to shake Damon's hand.

Damon took it hesitantly. "Damon Salvatore. How do you know Elena?"

Elena narrowed her eyes at him. "He's my book editor," she answered as Elijah slipped his arm around her waist.

This time Damon's eyes narrowed. "Just your editor?" he asked bitterly.

"We've been dating for three months," Elijah chuckled. He squeezed Elena closer to him softly.

Katherine looked at Damon questioningly. Why was he so interested in Elena's relationship? He barely knew her. "So, Elena where are you from?"

"A little town in Virginia called Mystic Falls," she answered impassively. She knew that if Katherine knew anything about Damon, she could put the pieces together.

Katherine scrunched her eyebrows and turned to Damon. "Mystic Falls, isn't that were you're from honey?" Damon hesitantly nodded. "Do you know each other? You're always going on about how small Mystic Falls is. You must have." She turned to Elena. "Did you know each other?"

Elena slowly nodded. She wasn't going to lie to protect Damon. "We did actually. It was a long time ago though when we were both very different people," Elena answered solemnly. Elijah caught the look on Elena's face and decided to intervene. He knew all about Damon and Elena's past, so he wasn't the biggest fan of Damon's.

"We should get going. Dinner's going to be served soon," he told them and led Elena away.

"Bye Katherine. It was nice meeting you," Elena said softly and followed Elijah to their table. Damon watched her go with another man. It was more painful than he thought.

The night continued much like every other event, but Damon couldn't stop his thoughts from wandering to Elena. He wanted to know if she was going to tell Katherine the truth. She had every reason to tell her, but Elena had never been a vindictive person. He tapped his foot anxiously hoping that the night would come to an end soon or at least hoped the speaker would finally stop talking.

Finally the night began to wrap up around midnight, and Katherine suggested they leave. She had to get up early the next morning since she was going to a spa out of the city for the weekend with a couple of friends. Damon took her hand gratefully and led them out of the hotel and into the car where Andrew, their other driver, was waiting for them. The ride back was silent as Katherine fell asleep as soon as they got into the car. Damon scooped her up with his arms and carried her into their building. He stepped off the elevator with her still in his arms and carried her to their bedroom. Damon stripped her from her dress, and for the first time since he met her, looking at her almost naked body did nothing to him. He felt nothing as he covered her body with the nearest blanket. Instead of joining her, Damon shrugged out of his suit jacket, removed his tie, and fished his phone from his pocket. He scrolled down to Stefan's number and pressed enter. He prayed that Stefan still had the same number. After a few rings he picked up.

"Stefan Salvatore," he greeted with sleep in his voice. Damon looked at the clock. He probably could have waited to call at a more reasonable time, but he wasn't known to be a patient man.

"Stefan, I need to a favor," he pleaded.

Suddenly Stefan felt awake. "Damon?" he asked. He didn't even know how Damon had his number. "What is it?" he asked panicked. "Are you dying?"

Damon rolled his eyes. Of course, Stefan would assume the world would have to be ending for him to call. "No, don't be ridiculous. I need Elena's phone number."

Stefan allowed his breathing to return back to normal. "Why?" he asked with suspicion in his voice.

"I need to talk to her," Damon answered not including the implied duh at the end of his statement.

"Leave her alone Damon. She's happy now. Her new book is coming out soon, and she's got a boyfriend finally," he warned.

Damon narrowed his eyes at Stefan's mention of Elijah. "I know; he's her book editor," he mentioned.

"How do you know that? Did you meet him or something?" Stefan asked confused.

"Yeah, tonight actually. She met Katherine. I need her cell phone number though Stefan. I have to talk to her."

Stefan sighed heavily. "I don't know Damon. It took her a really long time to bounce back the first time you left. When you showed up, Elena threw herself into her work and wrote her book three months ahead of schedule. Don't ruin her life again," Stefan said with a bit of steel in his voice. Elena was his best friend. She didn't deserve the pain Damon was always putting her through.

Damon sighed. He knew he did the wrong thing that day by leaving Elena before they had talked about everything. "I won't do anything to hurt her Stefan. I'm just going to talk to her."

"I know. It's what you're going to say to her that worries me," Stefan countered.

Damon rolled his eyes at him. "Goodbye Stefan. I'll talk to you later," he said dismissively and hung up on his brother. He was just going to have to get her number another way he thought. Then his phone buzzed letting him know that he had a text message.

Stefan: 434-567-3311 don't make me regret it.

Damon smirked. Even through text message, Stefan was still trying to make him guilty. He punched in the numbers and hit send. Finally after about four rings a tired voice answered.

"Hello?" Elena answered tiredly.

AN: A small cliffie, I know. Review and let me know what you think.