I really felt that I wanted to leave things in a fun and light manner so I decided that I was also going to post this chapter, apart from the other 3 I already posted today. SO you ended up getting 4 updates in one day! I may be trying to make up for the fact that I was missing for so long!

All my love,
OA.

Chapter 8: Friends Night Out.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the characters in this story. There owned by The CW, CBS Studios and the companies that work with the network. Any dialogue and or story likeness is coincidental and not intended to offend anyone.

"Hun, ready to go yet?" I look up from the papers that I was looking over to see a smiling Damon leaning against the door frame to my office.

After I had finished college, which I think I forgot to mention earlier I did on a full scholarship due to my grades and my lacrosse ability, I decided to take my chances and with the money I had earned in jobs and some little that had been left after paying all the debts my dad had at the time of his death, started my own buffet. I know its crazy but it was my dream with my dad and I had to go for it. My family had backed me up and I started it. After a couple of months, while still trying to get clients, Damon, how had come to work with me for a meager salary, became a partner in the firm.

It took us a couple of years but we now co-own one of the most respected law firms in Mystic Falls, Gilbert and Associates. My department specializes in putting criminals behind bars, Damon's in health care issues and malpractice and either of us who had the time did real estate issues. Even though he was partner and worked hard to get the firm to where it was, Damon always said that he was second in command, since I was the one that had started the firm and the one that made it to what it was. By now we had some other people and lawyers working for us but our firm prides itself for having the partners personally overlook every one of our cases, which ended up being completely overwhelming at times for Damon and myself.

I smile at him as I take the files and add them into my briefcase. "Just about." I tell him as I start walking towards him, keys in hand to lock my door.

"Please don't tell me that you took those cases home with you. God, Elena you are overworking yourself!" He told me and then placed the back of his hand on my forehead "See you are warm, getting a working flu!" He placed a playful worry expression on his face.

I smacked him on the chest after I moved away from his hand. "Ha Ha Ha, you think you are very funny? What did you have for lunch today a clown with a side of comedian?" I tried to put the best angry and annoyed face that I could but it had to be very bad cause he just started laughing and not a chuckle but the full on, deep from inside, super loud laugh. Dang his laugh is contagious and I ended up cracking up as well even though I had tried really hard to stay serious.

When we were able to catch our breaths I was the first one to speak. "To answer your question, I am as ready as I will ever be."

"Well then", he took my hand and hooked it on his arm "let us go face the enemy line my lady". I chuckled but just fanned myself dramatically.

"Oh, let's go then my brave knight in crisp professional suit." He chuckled and we went our way only stopping for a couple of seconds to say goodbye to my secretary Bonnie and double check that my calendar was still as I had needed it to be.

We drove to the bar that my friends had decided to go to, I think as a little joke to me. It was a little secluded and it had a forest on the back of it. It was called the Salty Dawg Saloon. Both of us chuckled when we saw the name and just went in.

And just what I expected, my friends had decided to take the table near the back of the place. Jenna, Caroline and Rebekah appeared to have gone through two or maybe four rounds of shots already. And that was just the pre-game since they were waiting for us to really get the party started.

"Hey, guys over here!" Caroline was waving frantically with a huge grin on her face. She was definitely the perky one and the life of the party, well ironic since she was a nurse. Jenna was the more serious, after all she was a detective. Rebekah was the elegant one that fell in love with an older man that adored her and that had gone against everyone and had married the love of her life.

We zigzag across the saloon and got to where our friends were waiting for us and after some quick hugs and greetings and another order of shots for all, we drifted into conversation.

"Sooooooooooooooo, let me see it!" Caroline asked, slurring her words. Well I see the alcohol is starting to affect her.

I smile and flash my left hand for all the girls to see. There on my ring finger was a beautiful and huge diamond ring. I had just gotten engaged and this is sort of my personal engagement party.

"Its beautiful Lena! I never get tired of love. I love love!" Rebekah said as she examined the ring. I know she is nice but this sugar coating every word tone means that the alcohol is getting to her too.

"Ok this round's on me! To I am woman hear me drink!" Jenna said and we all laughed and laughed harder when Damon cleared his throat and sat back on the bench.

"Well, you can drink for I am man stuck with the girls!" Jenna added, starting a whole nother round of giggles from all of us, Damon included.

He downed his shot and said: "I don't mind drinking to that. While the other guys are watching re-runs of games, I am surrounded by amazing women, drinking freely and with no filter in their heads and mouths. I get more information on the behavior and ways of women spending an hour with you guys than reading all the books on the theme that you could find. Besides, I get to be the one that takes care of all of you and takes you home. How many men can say that he spent the night and took home 4 gorgeous and hot women?!" All the while he put on this oh, so innocent look that just won him laughter and a nudge on the ribs by my elbow. He faked being hurt.

"Now you will have to repay me for hurting me and me being such a great person and not suing you for assault. Come on, I know how you can repay me. Dance with me." He stood up and extended his hand to me. He said what he said not as a question but as almost an order but his tone was filled with so much humor and playfulness that I couldn't even fake being mad at him since the alcohol was starting to cloud my senses, just a little bit.

I stood up and placed my hand in his as he lead me to the small yet crowded dancing floor towards the middle of the place. He took me in his arms, wrapping them around my waist and I wrapped mine around his neck. We danced to I don't even remember what was the song nor if we were dancing appropriately.

I lifted my head from his shoulder and he looked down at me and smiled. I smiled back as I thought how that smile had meant peace and comfort through some bad and stressful moments in my life and happiness and fun on the better ones.

"Damon, can I ask you for a favor?" I asked him, starting to feel a little shy about it.

"The answer is yes hun, you know I would do anything and everything for you. But ask away."

"Damon, I know you don't like him very much but would you be the best man at my wedding? Please?" I could see the tortured look on his face. And I could pretty much hear what he was thinking. On the one hand he never really liked him, although I always think that for him no man was ever good enough for either of his sisters and he had the paternal instinct on full drive when either of us brought a date home. On the other, he would do anything that would make me happy, and this would make me happy.

"Pretty please, for me?" I was being honest and I know he could see that and I also knew that he had lost the battle even before it had started.

"God, that was a low blow Elena. Fine, but only for you, because it will make YOU, not him, happy." He sighed and I hugged him, a silent thank you which he understood, since there was no need for words for us to communicate and understand each other.

"How did you convince him to accept this? You know as well as I do, better than I do that he hates me and more now that he knows that I never really liked him." He asked me with a remorseful expression on his face. I understood that he was sad that he didn't really like my fianceé but he also knew how important honesty was for me, so he always told me what he was really thinking.

"That was the easy part, a little pout here, and a little dogie eyes there, and a whole lot of my charm and I got it." I smiled triumphantly since I had been trying to get Damon to be the best man at my wedding for some time now.

"Ahhh, the charm never fails my love!' He laughed genuinely and we kept dancing.

"Thank you Damon. For everything you have done for me since we met. I love you!" I told him as we slow danced the final song of the night.

"No worries, that is what I am here for. Besides you needed a brother figure to scare those guys that only wanted you know what from you. Besides you know I'll do anything for anyone that I love, especially family. I love you too hun." He gave me a light kiss on my hair and we headed to the table to collect the girls, pay and drop of everyone before going home to bed.

...MET...

what do you think? Had you thinking it was our dear Damon for a minute there, didn't I? I'm sneaky that way. But don't worry this is still a Delena fic so...