"A Moment In Time"

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters; those belong to their original creators. The way it's all stringed together is of my making. No profit is being made out of this (*sigh* unfortunately).

Fandom(s): Vampire Diaries
Character(s): Damon Salvatore and Alaric Saltzman
Pairing: Damon/Alaric (friendship)

Rating: T
Words: ~491 words

Requested By: Enx2103
Challenge/Summary: Tag on to 4x02 – Damon's visit to Alaric's grave.
Inspiration: The canon scene itself was amazing and it just made me love the friendship between Damon/Alaric even more but I wanted to extend it.

Spoiler(s): everything up to ep. 4x02 ("Memorial")
Time Frame: After the gang's own lantern ceremony when Damon drinks his sorrows away at Alaric's grave.

A/N: At the end to avoid additional spoilers.

*VD*VD*VD*VD*VD*

"Not Really Alone"

"I miss you too buddy."

Damon froze in his step as the words resonated through his brain.

Did I really just hear that? Damon thought as he turned around to face his friend's headstone once again. He was sure that he heard Alaric's voice as if it was part of the wind and yet he found himself completely alone in the woods.

Alaric waited with bated breath as he watched Damon return to his headstone. He hadn't expected for him to hear his words. He's experimented around town and the only one who could really hear him was Jeremy.

The vampire reached the etched stone before he released a huge sigh. "I may be drunk but I know what I heard." He stated clearly to himself as he stumbled to take a seat once again. "Then again, a sign is always nice."

Alaric chuckled as he tried to figure out how to grant his friend his wish. He just knew that Damon needed some form of reassurance that he wasn't alone which is what he was now. After everything he purged to Alaric that night, the ghost knew that the vampire felt alone.

The half empty liquor bottle that Damon had originally left caught the ghost's attention. He smiled as an idea formed in his mind. He moved towards the vampire before crouching down in front of the bottle. He hoped with all his might that he'd be able to execute his plan. Alaric inhaled deeply before he blew hot air onto the bottle's glass surface; a fog started to appear.

Damon's head snapped to the side as he heard the wind pick up. Not what I had in mind, he thought before the fogging glass of the liquor bottle caught his attention. He watched the surface like a hawk as lines were being drawn in the fogged surface, like when a child would draw pictures into a fogged up glass door during a cold winter night.

When the lines seemed to stop, a genuine smile formed on Damon's face at the word that was left in the fog. Brother. He knew that it was Alaric because the only time he called the human that out loud was when they were up in the mountains with Elena when they were trying to track Stefan down.

Alaric was pleased when his message was received. It's definitely been awhile since he's seen his best friend smile.

"It's good to know you're here man." Damon declared with a sigh before his eyes moved back to the engraved stone. "I just wish things didn't end up the way they did." He softly stated while making no move of leaving like before. Just the confirmation of Alaric's spirit being in the area was enough for Damon to want to stay for a little while longer…it's not like he has anywhere to be anymore.

Alaric moved to take the empty seat beside Damon. "You and me both Damon, you and me both."

*VD*VD*VD*VD*VD*

A/N #1: And there you have it. It's not much but I hope the message was received…in a way. So what do you guys think of this snippet...or of tonight's episode (4x03)? Please let me know in a review ;D

A/N #2: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my latest snippet/challenge on Vampire Diaries, it means the world to me! I do hope to hear more of your thoughts on my snippets or on the situations I bring up in them. Reviews always bring a smile to my face! A special thanks to arosew, Ghostwriter, Enx2103 and booboobegone for leaving me a review for my previous snippet...once again, thank you for always leaving your thoughts for me to read and respond to. THANK YOU!

Coming Up Next: TBA

Originally Published: October 25, 2012