Disclaimer! I do not own any of the characters from Vampire Diaries or the series itself. Alex and her story are mine, please don't 'borrow' either of them.

Present

Damon

"She looked exactly like Alexandria, down to that fake smile she used to wear around her grandmother." Stefan said for the goddamn sixth time since we've been in the car. Next time I see the spitting image of one of my dead ex-girlfriends, I was not inviting him to dinner with her.

"Yes, she did." I said tightly, staring at the road ahead. Seeing Alex at the Council's little meeting today had been worse than first seeing Elena. Not by much, but it still was worse. I had thought someone might have poisoned the tea until she had started talking.

Stefan was quiet for a moment. I almost believed he was done with talking about it. Naturally he proved me wrong and decided to be more annoying than usual. "Do you think it's just a coincidence?" he asked quietly.

I turned away from the road long enough to give him the look he received when being particularly stupid. "Stefan, when are things like this ever a coincidence in our lives?" I asked rhetorically. He frowned at my snark, but to be honest I didn't care. We weren't given the luxury of 'coincidences'. "Did you get what I asked?"

Out of the corner of my eye I could see his frown deepen. "Yes." Good. We needed something of 'Alex's' in order to test out a theory of mine. Bonnie already should be at the border house with all her witchy accessories. I didn't thank Stefan and he fell into his usual moody silence until I pulled into the drive. "Damon?"

Damn. He had the curious, serious, and well-meaning brother face on. Sighing I tapped the steering wheel and glanced at him. "What Stefan?" I asked eyes narrowed.

"What if it is Alexandria?" he asked quietly, concern clear in his eyes. I hated when he got that look about. It was annoying. But he had struck the question of the hour. What if it was Alexandria? To be truthful, I wasn't sure what it would mean, besides a lot of drama.

"It would prove that my ex-girlfriends can't stay away from me. Or dead." I replied caustically, leaving the car and heading into the house before he could remark on that. It was more worrisome than I cared to admit, considering the past Alexandria and I had shared. Part of me was sincerely hoping that it really was a coincidence and that Alexandria was a family name passed down for generations and the new girl in town had hit the genetic lottery of looking exactly like the woman I had fallen in love with before Katherine. The rest of me was certain I'd never be that lucky. I remembered the look on Lenora Conner's face the day of Alexandria's funeral. There was nothing within me that doubted she wouldn't have done anything to get her revenge.

Mystic Falls, 1862

"I'll be coming back Alexandria, I promise." My words did not appear to appease her, as her evergreen eyes glimmered with tears. She felt so small in my arms, so warm. I would miss her more than I thought possible on the battlefield.

"When do you leave?" she asked quietly.

"Tomorrow morning. I was about to come find you when you arrived." I was not going to leave without her seeing me. Part of me wished I did not feel honor bound to serve. Leaving now seemed more painful than losing Virginia to the Yankees. Alexandria bit her lip, resting her cheek against my shoulder.

She was silent for a moment. "Return in one piece Damon, or there will be hell to pay."

I could not help but grin at the sentiment. "I wouldn't dream of angering you by returning with a hair out of place!" She laughed quietly at that, and I chuckled along, tightening my hold around her waist. But too soon the laughter ceased and the clearing around us returned to the frigid silence of mid-Winter and Alexandria sighed against me, pain ringing in the sound. I looked down at her, tilting her chin up to meet my gaze. "Dearest Alexandria," I said seriously.

Her eyes met mine, and this time a tear fell. I brushed it gently aside, a half smile on my lips. "Yes Damon?" she asked, halfheartedly smiling back.

"Will you wait for me?" I asked, heart suddenly catching in my throat. And what if she were to decline? What if she-

Alex

"Will you wait for me?" he asked. I could see the worry in his eyes, the fear of a refusal. For a moment I was quiet, brows knit and lips pursed. I could wait for him. I would miss this warmth that suffused me every time his eyes caught mine. And I knew I could never dream of letting someone else replace it. But still I was silent. This was something greater than a stolen kiss or a murmured wish. This was a promise, were it to be made.

Damon made as if to move. I had been silent too long. Before he could withdraw, I returned the soft kiss he had given me moments ago, smiling as I drew away. "I will wait for you Damon." I said, my words as binding as any contract. He grinned, kissing me fervently before I could say anything more. When he broke it, leaving me lightheaded and heart racing, I managed a quick breath and gave him a serious look, though my smile remained in my eyes. "But I mean it, not a scratch."

Present

Damon

I should have been beyond caring after so long. Yet here I was letting the guilt get to me. Seeing 'Alex' had brought up memories best left forgotten. "Hurts, doesn't it?" Stefan watched from the couch, looking away from Bonnie as she worked. I gave him a dark smile.

"What hurts?" I asked, sarcasm oozing from my voice. Why would I admit anything? "Are you ready yet Bonnie?"

She glanced at me from her book, glaring. I only smiled thinly in response. "Yeah, I'm finished. You said this girl's name was Alex right?"

I nodded, arms crossed. As Bonnie began to mutter beneath her breath my thoughts went back to the cold clearing in eighteen sixty two.

Alex

The pen dropped with a loud 'clack', shattering the reverie I had placed myself in while writing. Warm tears were rolling down my cheeks. After all this time, how could it still hurt this much? I pressed my hands to my lips, stifling a sob. I had tried to forget that promise, but Damon's words at the door had brought the memory on whether I wanted it there or not. A resounding ache had started to pound throughout my body. Why had I been so stupid? So selfish?

Why did I have to remember?

And suddenly, a hot streak of anger ripped through my heart. Why did I even care?! The pages ripped easily from the notebook before the ink could even dry. Tears still falling, I tore the evidence to shreds. Why did I care? Why should I care? HOW could I still care?! The small white pieces fell to the floor as another sob left my lips.

"Goddamn you Damon Salvatore." I shuddered, falling onto my bed and curling up into a ball, clutching at the comforter. He should have rotted in Hell.

Oh man…this one made me feel angry while writing it. Anyways, first attempt at writing for Damon and his memories of Alex! Drama is about to explode in the story! Stay tuned and drop me a line if you've got comments or ideas!

Theme Songs:

"Don't You Remember" – Adele

"Pressure" – Paramore