Warnings: Mature - violence, adult content, mild language, sensitive subject matter
"It's been a month, Damon." Alaric kept pace with Damon as they moved through the woods in a now-familiar evening ritual. "We haven't found anything."
"I know." And that was exactly what bothered Damon. If he'd been able to see himself in the mirror, he would have noticed the telltale wrinkling of his forehead signaling his concern to his best friend. So far, the only outright threatening act against his family had been whoever caused Elena's wreck. The footprints in the snow weren't exactly a threat, but the very fact they existed left Damon with a definite feeling of unease. "And that's exactly the problem."
"So you'd feel better if we found a vampire?" Alaric adjusted the crossbow in his hand.
"I'd feel better if we found something." Damon paused, raising his head to stare into the cloudless night. The stars above him were exactly the same as when he'd been a boy tromping through these woods. He'd been unaware of any supernatural threat back then, just like his own children were now.
He wanted them to stay that way.
Alaric joined his friend, looking up into the black, velvet of the night. "Maybe it was just someone coming by out of idle curiosity." Damon's silence signaled Ric to continue explaining. "I mean, you knew…others like you."
"Vampires."
"Exactly." The expression on Ric's face showed that after all these years, he had difficulty reconciling the vampire he'd first glimpsed decades ago with the man now standing at his side. "I mean, maybe word's gotten around. How many vampires become human again? How many would even want to?"
"No idea."
"And then there's Claire."
"Claire's my daughter." Damon couldn't help the defensive edge that came into his voice.
"Who looks exactly like your brother. Witches talk, you know that. Maybe Lucy let something slip."
A murderous expression clouded Damon's eyes. "She knows better than that."
Alaric held his hands up in front of him in surrender. "I'm just saying, not every brush with the supernatural has to signal bad tidings."
"Name one."
Without a moment's hesitation, Alaric locked eyes with Damon. "I'm looking at him."
"I did plenty of bad things, Ric." Even now, Damon struggled with the memories of the monster he'd been before Elena came into his life.
"But you changed. As much as I hate to admit it, you've been really good for Elena. And you're my best friend."
A ringing cell phone brought the almost-awkward bromance moment to an end. Alaric dug into his pocket and winced. "Yes, Jenna." He silently spoke a curse word. "No. I haven't forgotten. I just got tied up. I promise. Yes, I know she only has a few more of these. I'll be home in ten."
"What did you forget?"
Alaric shook his head. "I'm not going down alone on this one. Just be thankful that Jenna saved you too. I remember what Elena's like when she's pregnant."
The front door opened and Elena sighed in relief. "Finally!"
"You're in trouble." Brayden spoke frankly from the bottom-most step of the stairs, giving his dad a concerned look, complete with one-eyebrow raised.
"No he's not." Elena half-swatted her son's head.
"That's not what you were mumbling ten minutes ago."
"Shh. Or you're going to be the one in trouble. Why don't you go upstairs and see what your brother's up to? It's too quiet up there." Elena pointed with an emphasis that signaled it wasn't really a suggestion.
"Sorry." Damon ducked down to kiss the top of Elena's head, sending their son up the stairs at full-speed. "There was a long line at the florist." Whether or not it would save him from getting in trouble later, after the kids weren't watching, Damon was unwilling to admit exactly why he was late or why this particular event had slipped his mind. Elena didn't know about his nightly rounds with Ric, and he was going to make certain it stayed that way.
"Just tell me you still picked them up." Elena's eyes pleaded with him.
"Of course I did." Damon held up a white bag. "Have I ever forgotten?"
"Counting this year?"
"I didn't forget."
"That's not what Jenna said." Elena didn't look convinced. "Well, let me see them." Elena walked to his side and took the bag from his hands. She peeked inside. "Oh, they're perfect."
"I picked them out. Did you really expect anything else?"
"That's debatable."
"You missed one." Damon revealed what he'd been hiding behind his back, handing her a single red rose.
"I guess I can forgive you. This time." She carried the bag to the dining room table before placing her rose in a bud vase. "You need to hurry and get ready. Trust me, they can't wait."
"Is that Daddy?" Emma peeked around the top of the stairs. Her eyes widened in five-year-old horror. "You're not even dressed yet. I even picked out your tie for you."
"Give me ten minutes." Damon jogged up the stairs and stopped in front of Emma. "Has anyone told you how lovely you look tonight?"
Emma shook her head and her dark ringlets bobbed up and down. She spun in a circle and proudly showed how her bright pink skirt swirled.
"Do you have glitter in your hair?"
She smiled with glee. "Mommy bought special hairspray."
"Well, then I'd better hurry. I can't be late to the Daddy/Daughter Ball, now can I?" Damon ducked into his bedroom and shut the door. He hurriedly changed into his suit and pink tie that he suspected matched Emma's dress to perfection. After splashing cologne on his cheeks, he stepped back out into the hall. "So, are my dates ready?"
"Ready!" Emma jumped out of her room and grabbed onto his left arm.
"I'm already downstairs, Dad." Claire waved a gloved hand at him as she stood at the bottom of the staircase.
As he descended the stairs with Emma at his side, he was smiled as he looked back and forth between his two daughters. A study in contrasts, Claire had chosen a tea-length ivory dress trimmed in lace. Her hair hung straight just below her shoulders - that must have taken Elena forever. She wore a simple headband with a bow that matched the lace on her dress.
Emma, however, was an explosion of pink. Her frilly dress swished and swirled when she walked. Elena had curled her normally straight hair into ringlets before spraying the glitter hairspray to finish it off.
"You both look lovely." He walked in a circle around the pair. "But something is definitely missing." He held a finger to his cheek as if lost in thought.
Claire smiled knowingly at him. They played this game every year, but this was Emma's first trip to the ball. Claire stood on her toes and craned her neck as she looked at the dining room table.
"Do you think it's over there?" Damon looked at the table skeptically. "Well, there does seem to be a bag on the table." He walked across the room and picked it up. "Mystic Falls Flowers. Hmmm. Now what do you think that could be?" He peeked inside.
"What is it Daddy?" Emma bounced up and down on her toes in excitement.
"Claire first. She's older." Damon pulled out one of the corsages. A cream tea rose with just a hint of pink on the tips perfectly complimented Claire's dress. He reached out and slid it onto her wrist as her cheeks flushed pink. "Do you approve?"
Claire smiled and nodded.
He turned to Emma. "Now it's your turn." Reaching into the bag, he retrieved an even smaller corsage with three tiny pink roses sitting on a shiny silvery foil trim. After he placed it on her arm, she waved it back and forth to watch the foil shine tiny rainbows on the wall. "I love it, Daddy." She threw her arms around him and her chocolate-brown eyes shone with glee.
"Here are your tickets. I picked them up today while I helped decorate." Elena held out three pink rectangles.
"I didn't know you were helping."
"I wasn't supposed to." Elena yawned. "But three of the volunteers cancelled at the last minute. Hannah couldn't do it on her own." She laughed at Damon's worried expression. "Trust me, no one let me on a ladder." She looked down at her rounded belly. Somehow, during the last week, she'd gone from not showing whatsoever to a definite need for maternity clothes. "I blew up balloons."
Damon smiled lovingly at Elena as he stared at the very visible bump under her lilac v-necked shirt. Her cheeks flushed pink under his scrutiny. "So the secret's out?"
"Oh, that one took care of that for me. Turns out, he announced it to his class last week." She nodded to Brayden as he came back down the stairs. He could always be counted on to be in the middle of what he considered interesting.
"I couldn't help it. It was news!" Brayden held his hands up in exasperation.
"But it wasn't your news to tell." Elena glared at her son in mock-annoyance. She reached around him from behind and wrapped him in a bear hug.
"Daddy, we need to go." Emma took hold of Damon's hand and tugged him toward the door.
Damon turned to Elena. "You sure you don't want to come chaperone?"
"Oh, I think you'll be fine." She reached out and straightened Claire's bow. "We've got plans of our own." She looked down at Brayden. "Do you want to tell him?"
"Pizza and video games."
"Exactly." Elena pointed to the television. "Super Mario Galaxy 4...here we come. Oh, wait." She turned around and dug through her purse and pulled out a camera. "I need pictures."
Claire and Emma stood in front of Damon as he placed a hand on each of the girls' shoulders. Elena took a series of pictures of the three together.
"Mom!" Emma tapped her foot on the floor and looked at the clock.
"Alright. I'm sure they'll take more pictures at the dance. I think Hannah said she'd even talked to the guy from the paper about being there." She looked sternly at Damon. "Buy them."
Damon stepped out of the car and held the car door open for his daughters. The elementary school gym's lights glowed faintly pink through the windows lining the building.
"Ooohhhh, pretty!" Emma pointed to the clusters of pearlescent balloons tied to the stair rails.
Claire grinned at her sister. "Wait till you see it inside." This was Claire's fourth trip to the Daddy/Daughter ball, but it was Emma's first time to be old enough. She studied her little sister with amusement as Emma stepped into the gym for the first time.
The gym looked like Pinkalicious escaped her book and had come to decorate for the party. Sheets of pink butcher paper covered the overhead lights. Festoons of pink and white streamers crossed the ceiling.
"Look at that!" Emma pointed to the balloon archway the attendees had to walk through to enter the dance. Alaric, Madison, and Reagan stood getting their pictures taken as the Salvatores watched. After the last picture clicked, Quinn stepped forward and handed each girl a pink carnation.
"Well, let's go." Damon guided his girls into the line.
Alaric waved in Damon's direction. "You were almost late."
"But we weren't." Damon corrected. "Doesn't look like you were too far ahead of us." They took their place under the arch.
"You two look lovely." Quinn gushed as she took her place behind the camera.
"How did you end up helping with this?"
"National Honor Society volunteer hours." Quinn answered with a laugh. "I think it's fun to see everyone dressed up. Now smile!" Emma and Claire leaned back against Damon as they all smiled in Quinn's direction. "Emma, you lost a tooth!"
"Yesterday."
"Was the Tooth Fairy good to you?"
Emma nodded. "Five dollars."
"She was good to you. That must have been a very special tooth."
Emma giggled as Damon turned to Quinn. "You're still coming over tomorrow?"
"Six o'clock on Valentine's Day. I've had y'all on my calendar since New Year's." Quinn hesitated. "It's okay if Jackson comes, right?"
"I was planning on it."
"Then we'll be there." Quinn handed the girls their flowers. "The pictures will be ready when you leave. Have a good time!"
Damon, Emma, and Claire walked across the dance floor to the circular tables set up on the side of the gym. "Let's find our names."
"You're with us!" Reagan skipped to Emma's side and took her cousin's hand. "Come on."
Damon stood behind the plastic chair and pulled it out for Claire as Emma picked up a handful of heart-shaped glitter and let it trickle through her fingers. "Don't get that in the butter."
As they took their seats, Kennedy stepped up to the table carrying a tray of plates. "Hi Uncle Damon."
"Having fun?"
"Oh, of course." Kennedy rolled her eyes. "I'm not sure how Mom talked me into helping."
"I remember when you were little enough to go with your dad."
Kennedy laughed. "Those were the days." She carefully placed a plate of lasagna and salad in front of Emma. "Don't get that on your dress."
A camera flash drew Damon's attention. Damon blinked through the stars in his eyes to find the photographer.
"Hope you don't mind." Blake Silverman waved at Damon. "We're doing a spotlight on the Daddy/Daughter dance for the paper. Subscribers really eat local stuff up, I've been told."
"I'm sure they do."
"And I couldn't resist the mayor with his daughters." Blake checked the photo on the viewscreen of his camera. "Want to see it?" He offered to show Emma who bit her lip and looked up at her dad. "Something wrong?"
"I blinked." She spoke in a whisper.
"I can do a re-take. No problem." He backed away from the table and waited for the Salvatores to get ready. "Three. Two. One." Another flash lit the air. "Better?" He waited for Emma's approval.
"Much."
"At the Mystic Falls Messenger, we aim to please." Blake gave a half-bow. "If you'll excuse me, I have quite a few more tables to visit."
"Good to see you here tonight. Thanks." Damon reached out and shook Blake's hand. "If you stay here long enough, you'll be here at one of these."
"I look forward to that day. This is quite a remarkable little town. My wife and I are really enjoying it."
"Glad to hear it." Alaric shook his hand goodbye. "It's good to see the paper back in good hands." He paused. "I know you're in a hurry, but do you ever offer internships?"
"Do you have someone in mind?"
Ric looked at Kennedy.
"Are you interested in journalism?"
Kennedy threw her dad a glare that suggested she'd like the ground to open up and swallow him. "I think so."
"She took first place in a competition last week."
"Well, then, I definitely might have a place for you, especially with the town's big birthday celebration coming up in April. I could always use some help from a founding family member."
"We're not really founders," Kennedy corrected him.
"But if I've heard correctly, your mom's one of the go-to people for historical records."
Reagan's nose wrinkled. "We have so many boxes in the basement."
"Send me an e-mail next week. We'll set up a time to meet." Blake turned back and nodded to someone in the distance. "But for now, my photography skills are needed over there."
Damon reached into the car and carefully picked up a soundly-sleeping Emma.
"Too much dancing?" Elena shook her head.
"You can never have too much dancing." Damon winked. "But dancing after eating your own lasagna and half of your sister's along with two slices of garlic bread and a piece of chocolate cake seemed to be too much for her." He mounted the stairs reaching out to the bannister for support. Elena followed him into Emma's room as he carefully lowered her onto her bed. He stepped back as Elena knelt next to her daughter.
"Come on, Miss Emma. Time for bed."
"But I'm already in bed," she protested.
"You can't sleep in your dress, sweetie." Elena tugged the frilly socks off Emma's feet. "Come on, sit up for a second." She eased the dress over Emma's head as Damon tossed Emma's nightgown to her. "Well, that's as good as it's going to get." Emma fell back on the bed, never fully waking up.
Elena stood and walked into the hall where she could hear the shower running. "Did they have a good time?"
"They were with me." Damon loosened his tie.
Elena glared at him.
"They had a great time." Damon smiled at the memory. "Claire and her friends even did a conga line. Don't worry. Jenna took pictures. I saw Quinn; she's on for tomorrow night."
"I feel guilty keeping her from celebrating Valentine's Day."
"Oh, they're still celebrating. Jackson's coming with her. I even threw in dinner to seal the deal."
Elena laughed. "What did Alaric say?"
"Not much." Damon shrugged. "They still have Kennedy to watch Madison and Reagan."
"Oh, that should be successful." Elena was still laughing as Claire came out of the shower wrapped in her lilac terry cloth robe. "Did you have a good time."
"It was awesome." She turned to Damon. "Did you put my flowers in the fridge?"
"Already done." He said. "Why don't you go get ready for bed? You're dripping all over the floor."
Claire looked down at the floor and grimaced. "Sorry."
"Don't worry. I'll clean it up." Damon patted her on the back and pointed to her bedroom.
"So, how's school going? Don't y'all have a track meet coming up?"
Damon rushed through the door and was relieved to hear Quinn and Jackson chatting with Elena.
"School's going great, but we're not ready for the meet at the end of the month. I was really hoping for that track scholarship." Quinn pulled out a barstool and sat at the kitchen island.
"Why aren't you ready?"
Jackson shook his head. "Because Coach Fell says it isn't safe to run on the jogging paths. Apparently there's a pack of rabid dogs somewhere in Mystic Falls."
"He's right about that." Damon leaned against the doorway. He'd had a less than warm response to the idea that vampires might have returned to Mystic Falls. With the only real evidence being the bodies in the ravine and Elena's wreck, most of the members of the Founding Families were less than ready to take any real preemptive steps against a supernatural threat. The best he could get everyone to agree to was a vague warning about a rabid dog pack living in the woods to try to keep residents away from the area. He was surprised that Aaron Fell was even listening at the meeting long enough to decide to keep his cross country team close to home. "I saw the bodies, Jackson. I wouldn't want you to take the chance of getting hurt - scholarship or not."
"Ew. Can we not talk about bodies on Valentine's Day?" Quinn wrinkled her nose in disgust. "On a happier note, I got my acceptance to NYU yesterday."
"You did? That's great news." Elena rounded the counter to give Quinn a hug. For the first time that evening, Damon got a good look at what she was wearing. Obviously one of the new outfits she'd purchased on her recent shopping date with Caroline, Elena's new curves were perfectly outlined by the deep red v-necked dress. His eyes were especially drawn the the beading along the neckline, but not because of the intricate detail of the design. She felt her cheeks color under his scrutiny. "What?"
"I think it's time for us to leave on our date." Damon stood and walked into the room - revealing a bouquet of a dozen red roses. "But after you put these in some water."
"You got me more flowers?"
"We haven't been on a date since before Christmas. I thought it was appropriate." He turned in response to a thunderous noise from upstairs. "They're all yours." He looked back at Jackson and Quinn.
"Thanks Uncle Damon." Jackson shook his head as he ran toward the stairwell. "What are y'all doing up there?"
"Where are we going?" Elena looked at Damon in confusion as they turned off the main road leading into the town center.
"To the most exclusive dining establishment in Mystic Falls."
"Damon, there are ten restaurants in Mystic Falls. I'd hardly call any of them exclusive."
He looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Who said anything about a restaurant?" He turned right and began to weave up a once-familiar road. In the distance, lights shone plainly from the Salvatore boarding house. Now mainly used for private events, the house normally stood dark and empty in its secluded location. "I know how you hate the crowds at restaurants on Valentine's Day, and the service is always horrible." He pulled into the circle drive and stopped the car. "And, I'm the best chef in town. Wait there." He stepped from the car and shut the door before walking around to open Elena's door for her. "May I?" He offered his hand to help her out of the car.
Hand in hand, they walked through the doors and into the living room. The dining room table was already set for two. Damon had placed the china place settings side by side. As she took her seat, he offered her a basket full of warm focaccia bread.
"When did you have time to do this?"
"I may have taken the afternoon off." He bent down and gave her a deep kiss. "I'll be right back." He walked into the kitchen and came back after a few minutes with two plates filled with balsamic chicken, roasted new potatoes and Caesar salad.
"This looks wonderful."
"It is, but save some room for dessert." He did his eye thing in her direction.
Elena narrowed her eyes and looked back at him. "Why am I suddenly suspicious?"
"Because you have every reason to be."
"I hope you saved room for dessert."
Elena placed her cloth napkin to the side of her plate. "I don't know. I'm stuffed."
"But dessert's the best part." Damon looked wounded.
"Alright, I'll try. What are we having?"
Damon shook his head. "Not here." He slid his chair back and stood. "I thought dessert might be best in a more intimate setting. If you'll join me..." He offered her his arm as she stood and looked at him in confusion. "This way." He led her up the stairs and into his bedroom. The overhead light was out and candles flickered softly around the room. The bed had been partially turned down with the bedspread and white satin sheets at an angle to the headboard. Red rose petals were scattered across the exposed top sheet and a plate of chocolate covered strawberries had been placed in the center of the bed.
Stepping behind Elena, Damon wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back to his chest. "And now you see the final reason we are eating here tonight." He nibbled at her ear lobe. "I intend to have wild, passionate sex with you. They tend to frown on that in a busy restaurant."
"You do?" Elena spun in his grasp and gazed up into his eyes.
"Mmm hmm." He trailed kisses down her her neck as he pulled her toward the bed. "Dessert before or after?" Elena reached up and began to unbutton his dress shirt. "Definitely after," he answered, his words muffled by her lips on his.