Chapter Six

"You are not a whore." He whispered fiercely and Jeremy snorted.

"Aren't I?"

Damon scowled and grabbed his face.

"You are not a whore." He repeated firmly and his lover smiled brokenly.

"Such a way with words, my penniless sitar player."

Stefan raised an eyebrow at the two, who seemed to have forgotten his presence. Watching them, it was hard to believe they'd only met a few days ago. They behaved like they'd known each other for centuries. Somehow, he knew that this would be good for his brother.

*/*

It was…strange to watch.

Zach stared at Damon strangely as he and Jeremy Gilbert sat curled in front of the fireplace, the vampire's gaze soft as he stared down at the sleeping human.

In all the years he'd known the elder of his great grand-uncles, the man had been cold, and imposing, their family's black sheep. His was a name whispered with fear or spat with hate and yet the man before him could almost be someone else entirely.

He stared at the youngest Gilbert as if he were the rarest gem on earth, a look in his eyes he only vaguely remembered his father watching his mother with during his childhood.

He'd been watching the couple since the vampire's unannounced arrival earlier that day, and it was only Stefan's reassurance that kept him from saying anything untoward about it all.

Damon was gentle with the boy, speaking in soft tones and sweet whispers and he'd thought that he'd meant to make the child his blood bank of the night and yet…

Not once did his fangs stray near the boy's throat.

Instead he seemed content pressing chaste kisses on Jeremy's face, anywhere he could reach without jostling the boy too much.

It was as disconcerting as it was beautiful.

"If you wake him, I will hurt you."

He flinched, meeting cold blue eyes, only to gape in shock as a delicate hand slapped the man's chest.

"Stop it, you. I am already awake." Jeremy sat up, smiling slightly at the vampire. "Who could sleep with you thinking so loud?"

Damon smiled sheepishly, pulling the teen closer. "Sorry, love. I was thinking about, well, everything. I didn't mean to disturb you."

The teen rolled his eyes, then glanced at Zach meaningfully. "Well? Time seems to have dulled your manners, beloved. Apologize."

Damon pouted. "Do I have to?"

The boy raised an unimpressed eyebrow, yet there was no denying the remarkably fond gleam in his eyes.

His uncle huffed and faced him. "Sorry." He bit out, not meaning a word of it, but Zach nodded all the same.

Jeremy chuckled. "Stop staring at him like he's Ninny." He teased, before turning to Zach.

"How've you been, Mr. Salvatore?"

"F-fine." The younger Salvatore replied faintly. "You do know what he is right?"

Gilbert sighed then turned to Damon. "What did you do, love?"

Damon scowled defensively. "You died. You left me behind."

Zach frowned. What the hell was going on? Jeremy was right there, and he was sure that his uncle had never met the boy before returning to Mystic Falls. Still there was an entire story to their words that belayed the opposite.

Jeremy flinched. "I know. I know, and I'm sorry! I didn't- I tried to spare you, but you were so stubborn." He coughed, and this time it was Damon who flinched, his entire expression one of devastation.

"Y-you're still sick?"

The teen looked away.

"No," The vampire denied, shaking his head. "No, Satine, Jer, No. Was- this was one of the reasons you said we couldn't be together, wasn't it?!"

His lack of response seemed to make the vampire more frantic, and he grabbed the boy's arms and pulled him closer.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He whispered, and Zach bit his lip at the very real pain in his words.

It sounded as if the very ground had been ripped from beneath the older man and for the first time, he felt bad for him.

Jeremy jerked away from him, and Zach saw tears building in his eyes before he ducked his head, using his hair to hide his face.

"I should go. This- this was a mistake.A stupid, selfish mistake."

"Jeremy-"

"No!" He snapped fiercely, cutting the vampire off. His wet hazel green eyes glared at the man, defiant even as another cough left his lips.

"I should have never let this happen, Damon. Never, it was stupid and selfish! I shouldn't have done this."

Damon pulled him back into his arms, expression stern.

"It wasn't a mistake. Stop running from me...from us. There is no duke, no moulin rouge, you're free."

A sardonic smile crossed the teen's lips, a solitary tear escaped his eye. "I'm not."

"I can save you. I can." Damon was pleading, for what, Zach couldn't tell but he hurt for the man. He found himself hoping. for the first time, that Jeremy would bow to the plea. Anything to stop the madness in front of him.

"Let me change you."

Jeremy stared at him, eyes wide. "W-what?"

"Let me turn you. The illness will be cured and you'll be free."

"My sister-"

"Hasn't even noticed you're sick. I doubt she'd notice your diet change."

Despite himself, Zach snorted drawing both of their attention and Damon scowled. "You're still there?"

He chuckled nervously, and escaped.

Seems like Mystic Falls would be getting a new vampire soon.

*/*

Conflict.

It seemed he spent most of this life and his past one feeling conflicted. Conflicted between the his duty to the Moulin Rouge and his heart's desires, between his wish to spare Damon's feelings and his desire to be reunited with him.

To become a vampire and live forever with Damon, or die young one more.

It should be an easy choice, but he knew the consequence of it. If he chose to become a vampire he'd be forced to watch those he loved grow old and die, Damon notwithstanding.

Then again…

The only people he truly cared about at the moment were Jenna and Elena, the latter of whom had a chance of becoming a vampire herself since she was dating one.

"Jer?" He gazed down into the ocean blue eyes of the man beneath him and let out a shuddering breath, praying he wouldn't regret it.

"Okay."

"You're sure?"

He nodded, chuckling when his lover's eyes lit up.

Warmth, one that could only be sparked by the vampire before him, flooded his being and he leaned down to kiss him chastely, knowing he'd made the right choice.

And when Damon's fangs sank into his throat a few moments later, he smiled.

TBC...