Chapter Four

Bliss.

It coursed through his veins with all the strength of a raging hurricane and for the first time in nearly a century Damon felt a song building on the tip of his tongue and it was all because of him.

Satine- no Jeremy, his gorgeous mate, who lay in his arms humming softly.

"I missed this." He whispered and he could almost feel his human smile.

"I did too. I'd spend so many days thinking about this, about you and now that you're finally here…I still can't believe it."

He turned, hazel-green eyes soft and full of wonder.

"I hope you don't mind. I hope you don't mind, that I put down in words. How wonderful life is…"

Damon smiled and leaned closer to him. "Now you're in the world."

Jeremy blushed but his smile brightened in intensity nearly stealing the breath from the vampire's undead lungs.

"I love you and I will learn to love everything new abut you."

The clock went off beside them and the human jumped, the spell and peace of the night broken. He pulled away from the vampire, lean arms wrapping around himself as if to ward off the upcoming pain they would both have to endure.

"You should go. We have school in an hour."

His lover sighed and nodded, kissing him chastely.

"I'll come by tonight."

Jeremy's lips quirked into a tiny smile.

"Off with you, penniless sitar player."

Returning the smile with a loving one of his own, he embraced his mate once more then slipped out the window and into the crisp morning air. Once he was gone, Jeremy's smile fell and he fell back onto his bed with a sigh, heart aching and singing all at once.

"Oh Damon, haven't you learned by now that trouble follows us?" He whispered allowing the words to be stolen by the wind.

He should've said no, should've resisted those sad blue eyes no matter how much it hurt. But he couldn't. He was selfish and he wanted his lover back, so now Damon would be paying the price for it.

How could he tell his love that the past would soon repeat itself.

He coughed harshly, wiping away the blood on his lips.

That it had already begun to do so.

She should've seen this coming, should've at least suspected it when she'd noticed how captivated Damon was with Jeremy Gilbert.

But she hadn't.

Somehow, she hadn't thought that his fascination with her friend's brother would lead to this, and it had, no matter how much he tried to deny that Jeremy was the reason.

"You're breaking up with me." She whispered and Damon nodded, a sad expression on his face even thought his eyes softened with every mention of Jeremy's name. He at least had the decency to look apologetic.

"I am."

"Because of him." She stated.

His lips twitched as he was going to refute the statement as he had the last two time she had said the same thing but instead he sighed and nodded.

"Yes."

Something in her snapped and she felt so goddamn angry. Why? What was so amazing about him?

"Why?" She snarled. "What is it about him that draws you away from me?! You just met him yesterday!"

Damon stared at her and his eyes softened into an expression she could never remember seeing on his face. Something so tender and sweet it made her heart weep because it wasn't directed toward her but toward the boy currently walking across the school parking lot only a short distance away, head bobbing to whatever was playing in his headphones.

"He is…He's-" A sigh escaped the man, frustration in his eyes. "I can't describe it, Caroline. I wish I had a better reason to give you but I don't…because he is the best reason I can give."

Her eyes burned with tears and she looked away from that expression, long blond hair shielding her face.

"Please," She whispered, anger drained, leaving only pain. "Please leave."

He shifted in his seat and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"One day," He began in a soft voice, "One day this will not hurt as bad as it does. Your heart is strong and one day, you will know love in it's purest form. One day you will understand my reasoning, even though I have not given them as clearly as I should have. I'm sorry that you do not right now."

This said, he kissed her on her forehead and exited the car, leaving her to break down in peace.

Still, as she cried, she couldn't help but believe the uncharacteristically sweet words he'd spoken and look forward to her One Day.

One day she would have someone who would look at her the way Damon looked at the youngest Gilbert.

One day someone would love her and heal the scars Damon just left behind.

Jeremy was happy.

Jenna stared at her nephew in silent awe as he sat at the dining room table, a small smile dancing on his lips.

She had never seen him smile so earnestly before, especially not sober, and she couldn't help but wish he would keep doing it.

He had such a beautiful smile.

"How wonderful life is, now you're in the world." He sang softly, eyes soft and she smiled at the emotion in his voice.

Love.

Jeremy was in love, and deeply if the look in his eyes were any indication.

She couldn't help but wonder who had captured his heart so thoroughly, and send them a silent thanks.

They had made Jeremy smile again, and -if the tremors wracking his slim frame were any indication-he was willing to give his habit for them.

For that they had all the thanks she could give them.

Stefan was suspicious and it showed as he stared at his older brother with a perturbed frown, watching as the older vampire moved around the room wearing a smile he hadn't seen since their early years.

"I heard you talking to Jeremy Gilbert."

The older vampire stilled and raised an eyebrow at him.

"And?"

"I know what you're doing with him. With Caroline. You're using them to get close to Elena and I won't let you. She's not Katherine."

Something dark flashed in the older male's gaze and he bared his teeth.

"I know she's not Katherine! But my dealings with Jeremy have nothing to do with your silly little doppelganger. He is so much more than that."

Stefan snorted incredulously. "Like what? Love?"

His brother hadn't been obsessed with that particular emotion since his return from Paris in the early 1900's. It would stand that he would be suspicious of him if just one meeting with the younger Gilbert had him believing in the emotion again and yet…Damon didn't deny it. If anything, his gaze softened.

"Not yet. But soon it will be." He replied before leaving the room. Stefan stared after him with a scowl and resolved to watch the man more closely.

After all it wouldn't due to repeat history again and lose Elena to the elder like he'd lost Katherine.

TBC…