A/N: Last chapter was my fav! But this one has some interesting events too, hope you like it..or hate it..hehe.
You should know though, that this story has about only 15 chapters. But who knows, maybe I will make more based on demands.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters used in this story.
Chapter 11
"Why don't you guys take the night off" Miranda leaned against the door frame, watching Damon set Adam's sleeping form on the bed. They went back to Miranda's after the festival which mostly involved lots of food and people. By the end of the day, Elena, Damon and Adam were completely drained of energy.
"I miss my grandson, so why don't you both scat out of here and give me my time with Adam…" she gently shoved them out the room, a playful smile tugged at her lips. "…go on…go get a drink or whatever you people do these days.."
Like everyone who attended the event, Miranda witnessed them handling Adam at the park. She was impressed and considerably happy with how content Adam was. Adam looked so happy and she had a memory card full of his pictures to prove it. Adam on the swings, Adam down the slide, Adam eating, Adam drinking and she was already planning the best angles to capture his adorable sleeping face in a few minutes.
In 3 years, Miranda had managed to produce an insane amount of scrapbooks that her visiting guests had to stay around for hours to hear her explain it all. But today was different, Adam was at his happiest. He had never, not once, ever went to the park with his mother and to see him with Elena today, brought tears to her eyes.
She thought they earned the night off, and persistently ushered them out the door. "I know…why don't you catch a movie?" Miranda suggested again but Damon and Elena just glanced at each other. They smiled, sharing a private joke, knowing they both will directly fall asleep the moment they enter the movies.
Miranda kept persuading them until Damon finally offered; "Wanna grab something to eat?" Elena's heart beat loudly as she felt her cheeks flushed. A night out…alone with Damon…without Adam. She was so used to having Adam with them that she was not sure how to act when he's taken out of the equation. She was also suddenly aware that she was falling for Damon, fast, which makes this situation all the more…scary. She swallowed convulsively, Damon's smoldering eyes expecting her answer.
"Sure, why not…" she said slowly after her mother mouthed the word 'go on' to her from behind Damon. "I should go change first" referring to her blouse, tainted with the smell of barbeque smoked.
"Right, good idea" he raised an eyebrow as he inspect his own messy condition.
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They drove into town, pulling into a parking lot behind what looked like a renovated three story brick house. The sign above the door simply said "Tony's". Damon held the door open for Elena as she stepped into the restaurant and her nose bumped into some guy's back. They were at the back of a line of people waiting to be seated. The place was completely packed. Apparently, it was a famous Italian restaurant where reservations should be made a week prior.
Elena looked back at Damon who didn't seem bothered; he spotted a waiter on the top deck and signaled him to come over. "This way Mr. Salvatore…" the young waiter said, leading them towards a comfortable seat by the window, passing other customers who waited for hours to be seated, looking pretty annoyed.
It was a charming restaurant with dark oaken floors, tables polished to a glossy finish and copper pots and pans hanging artistically on the rough brick walls. "This is a nice place…"Elena laid a napkin on her lap. "…but we didn't make any reservations. How did you…"
"I met the owner, amazing guy. Told him my last name and he saved me a seat ever since, no matter when I decide to drop in." Damon explained with a broad smile. "He and my grandfather went to school together back in Italy." Elena nodded, happy to get some insights to Damon's background. They ordered the specials and later, were served wine.
He studied her over the rim of his glass as she rolled the stem of her glass between her fingers, trying to ignore how their outing was looking more and more like a date. "You look nice..." Damon suddenly said, his gaze lingering over her soft purple, v-neck dress. Elena replied with a faint smile, feeling her cheeks burn.
His eyes fell from her dazzling big brown eyes, the gentle curve of her lips to the delicate crystal stud ear rings that complemented her poised look. Her long brown hair hanged over one side of her shoulder, highlighted against her olive skin. Caught in the act of staring at her, and practically drooling, Damon said the first thing that came to mind;
"Did you enjoy the festival today?"
"Yeah, it was fun. I met my old friends from school, the food was great…and Adam had a blast" her eyes instantly glowed as she mentioned Adam's name.
"We went the past two years, but I think this year's the best for him" Damon smiled back at her.
"You think so?" she was comfortable with a neutral topic that she knew they both loved talking about; all things Adam.
"Definitely…" he smirked and leaned back in his chair leisurely, propping one elbow on the backrest. Elena felt nervous facing his dangerous gaze head on and decided to mentally count the squares on the checkered table cloth instead.
Minutes later an elderly man exited the kitchen and greeted Damon with an affectionate pat on the shoulder; "Good to see you my boy…" He wore a tall chef's hat, his thick grey mustache curl up with his warm smile, looking happy to see Damon. But then he turned to Elena, his smile faded and he minutely scrutinized her face, "You brought Katherine huh?"
"Oh… no Tony, This is Elena. Katherine's sister" Damon quickly explained. Poor old Tony was confused; he took of his hat and started scratching his bald head. Damon stood up and walked a few steps away from the table, taking Tony by the elbow. Elena watched him explain something to Tony, speaking softly. He probably told Tony about Katherine's car accident. Tony patted Damon on the shoulder when they were done and they strolled back to the table.
"I'm sorry…Elena. Nobody tell me nothing anymore around here." He had a hearty chuckle but his eyes showed sympathy. Elena returned a smile, "That's ok Tony, it's nice to meet you. You have a lovely restaurant…"
Tony turned cheerful again with her compliment, "Wait until you taste the food…" kissing the tips of his fingers, a gesture to accentuate the delicious Italian food he will serve them. When he retreated to the kitchen, Damon turned to Elena with an apologetic look.
Elena figured he had brought Katherine to this same restaurant before and she felt a familiar unsettling feeling in her. Flashes of the picture she found that morning played at the back of her mind, taunting her. Damon was still in love with Katherine and maybe coming here will remind him of her. Things might be simpler if she hadn't realized just that afternoon; that she was more than infatuated with this guy. While she largely agree with her heart, its timing is terrible.
Elena shook her head and snapped back to reality when Damon called her name, however, she found the courage to ask; "Tony knew my sister?" assuming Tony didn't like Katherine from the look he gave her earlier.
"He met her once. When I told Tony about Katherine being pregnant, he wanted to treat her to his best dishes so I brought her here. Unfortunately she was too critical of his food and they got into a silly fight. She never came back here after that. But me and Adam…we love coming here" he explained as the risotto arrived.
They ate in companionable silence, alternating with talks about the restaurant which led to the topic of his family which led to the topic of her family which eventually led to the topic of 'her'. She was surprised at how much Damon knew about her and the only reason she loved her room at his apartment so much was because he had decorated it precisely to her liking,
"I had to interview Bonnie for hours before she told me what your favorite color was, she said she wasn't sure…you should reconsider if she qualifies as a best friend" Damon smirked over their delicious meal and Elena giggled.
"She's not good with details, but trust me, she does her 'best friend' duties very well." She felt light headed from the wine, but no amount of wine could hinder the fact that she was having a great time.
"I wish I could do something special for you…to return the favor" she sipped more liquid courage but a little bit more and she will be a flirt machine, so she'd been told. She moved her glass a little further out of her reach, for safety measures.
He was looking at her with his smoldering eyes, his fingers toyed with the stem of his glass as he studied her and she swallowed unknowingly. He seemed unaffected by the alcohol and was seriously considering her suggestion. Elena held in her breath, as his eyes swept over from the tip of her head down to her midriff. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat but then he just shrugged.
"You don't have to do anything Elena. Just keep doing what you're doing…" he held up his glass to his lips,
"…the only way to my heart is through Adam…" his smile was so charming and alarmingly seductive, Elena's whole being shivered.
Elena knew that he loved Adam and that he enjoyed being with him. There was no doubt he found so much happiness in being a father and for that very reason, she could not stop thinking about him, or wanting to spend time with him or to get to know him better… just wanting him in general.
A warm feeling she always gets whenever she was with him swept through her system, confirming her feelings. She just needed some time to come to that realization and acknowledged it.
They left the restaurant near 11pm, making their way to the parking lot side by side. Damon placed his hand on her small back to guide her through the dark parking lot. A warm gesture that had Elena's stomach tied into knocks.
The lot was empty now with a couple of cars left sparsely. They were half way through the lot when Elena spotted a familiar blue truck, pulling in.
"Matt…!" she called out to the driver, a dark figure stepped out the truck and appeared out of the shadows. "Elena, hi…" she came forward and they hugged briefly, a broad smile on each of their faces.
"I didn't see you at the festival today" she studied Matt's face. It looked exactly like before except he had a rough stubble and lines at the corner of his eyes when he smiled. "You were there? I was working today… I would have taken the day off if I'd knew. Wow, you look great"
Damon's eye brow raised at their intertwined fingers as they laughed and chatted. He cleared his throat to make his presence known.
"Oh, Matt…this is Damon" she tugged Matt closer towards him. "Damon, this is Matt Donavan, my old friend from high school…"she spoke enthusiastically as the men shook hands but she instantly saw Matt's eyes darken.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, standing between them.
"Tyler and I are heading home, just stopped by Tony's to get something to eat" he gestured to his truck where Elena saw Tyler leaning against the hood, chugging down a bottle of beer. "What about you?"
"We just had dinner, on our way back now…" she grew agitated by the way Matt glared at Damon.
"Hey, you're the guy who got Katherine knocked up right?" Tyler came from behind Matt. He squinted his eyes as if to make sure he got the right person. Damon's jaws tightened and he shoved his hands deep in his pockets.
"Tyler!" Elena frowned.
"Yeah, I think he's the guy. So what are you doing now Salvatore? Trying to get the other sister?" there was fire in Matt's eyes as he stepped closer towards Damon.
"Matt, please stop it…"she was frightened now but stood as a human wall between the two men.
"Step aside Elena, this guy is a scumbag. You'll thank me later" he hissed while their eyes met in a fiery standoff.
"Come on Elena, let's just go" Damon grabbed her by the elbow, walking away from this potentially dangerous situation.
"Not so fast Salvatore!" Matt shouted from behind him and the instant he turned, a forceful punch landed on his jaws. Damon fell to his knees but got back up and swung his fist at Matt's cheekbones.
He grunted in pain and when he looked up again, his rage multiplied. He sent another blow in Damon's direction but it was deflected. Damon's kneed him in the stomach instead.
Everything happened so fast, Elena couldn't believe her eyes. "Stop it…No!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, tears stung her eyes. Matt was curled up into a ball on the ground when suddenly Tyler attacked Damon from the back, knocking him to the ground. Tyler continuingly kicked him in the abdomen, and when Matt joined in, he busted Damon's back with his foot.
"You like that huh? This is for Katherine…" Matt shouted.
Luckily Tony heard the commotion outside the restaurant and went out with his band of waiters. It caused Matt and Tyler to speed off with the truck.
"Oh God, Damon are you ok?" Elena rushed beside him, her hands were shaking as tears streamed down her cheeks.
How dare you Matt & Tyler! Fuhh, What do you think? leave your anger at the review box hahaha