Chapter 25: The Night is still young.

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 (except for the dialogue/scenes from the series that are used, which I do not own) and not intended to offend anyone.

We downed the whole bottle fairly quickly and then we hit the dance floor. I don't know how long we had been there or how many dances we shared but I lost track of time. As almost always, Damon was right. I needed to let loose every once in awhile. I noticed tonight that I had a lot of energy and desire to have fun bottled up inside of me. I was happy and lucky that I was able to let loose with Damon since I knew that he would protect me and wouldn't let me do stupid things.

It always felt so right to be with Damon, to let him take care of me. He had always inspired confidence. I was really damn glad that I had accepted his friendship when we were younger and that I am able to call him my best friend now. Oh, God I am rambling aren't I? Sorry I think the alcohol is starting to go to my head. The thing is that, even though I was and am a good girl, I still had fun in college. In other words I am able to consume a fair amount of it without going complete hangover on Damon. I am not even drunk. My tolerance is, like, way up here!

So, anyway… After we had danced for quite some time we decided that we would hit the nightlife around here. We walked around the area and walked some more. We even sat on a bench for who knows how much time and looked at the people. We commented on the way they were dressed and the way they carried themselves. We talked about who they were and where did we think they were going.

We ended up playing this game that I had read on a book called "Sunday's at Tiffany's". It was called the Jane and Michael game. It consisted in looking at people and inventing a whole life for them and we would ask questions to get more outrageous answers and the one with the most original ideas would win.

After that we kept walking, by this time I had taken my heels off and was walking barefoot while Damon carried my shoes. Even though they are extra comfy I was starting to feel the pain since we had danced and walked quite a lot tonight.

We ended up in a part of a beach that was very near to where we were staying. We were playing in the waves and splashing around, like children, very carefree and lighthearted. I won that round, by the way, since I just splashed him when he was walking a little in front of me. Although, that did cause him to turn around and start chasing me down the beach! I ran as fast as I could but the man was in too great shape and he caught up to me quickly and just grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me up so that he was threatening to throw me into the water. I was trying to scream for him to let me go but I was just laughing too hard and I ended up just firmly holding myself to his neck so that if he did throw me in, which I hoped he wouldn't, he was going to come in with me. He laughed harder when he noticed what was my plan and when he saw the resolution in my eyes so he just turned around and gently placed me back on my feet, not without splashing some cold water into my back, which just initiated a whole nother round of water splashing.

After we had decided to call a truce and we had gone back for my heals, he draped his arm over my shoulder and I wrapped my arm around his waist and we walked up the shore towards the room. I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I didn't notice when Damon decided that he was going to let us fall to the sand. So a small yelp left my mouth when I was pulled into falling towards the ground. The great part of that is that I was wrapped in his arms so I actually fell onto him and not the actual ground.

"Hun, look up there what do you see?" He asked me as I finished getting comfortable snuggled against his chest, his hand holding me tightly against him, my hand resting on his chest.

"Well I see a big building with some rooms that have the lights on and some that don't and I also see…" I was telling him when he gave me a little push and I started laughing.

"Ha, Ha, Ha. Very funny. I see that the tequila has started to have an effect on you." He said as he gently caressed my arm.

"Well I am a big girl, and I know how to handle alcohol. But going back to your original question." I said as I turned completely upright and was facing the sky. "I see the moon, a full moon at that, and a hundred thousand stars." I said as I just gazed up and thought about how lucky we were to be here and experience this. About how lucky we had been in life because even though we have suffered we have more than most people could ask for in a lifetime.

"Isn't it beautiful?" He said. I could feel his eyes on me and I started to blush for no reason at all. Dang I think I drank more than I originally thought if I am blushing like this. "We can't see them in the city because of all the lights, but here we are able to experience the wonder the world is. We can actually think about our blessings and our gifts." I could hear the wonder in his voice and that made my heart swell up in my chest. God, I love this man so much. He is this big man with a heart even bigger and made of pure gold.

"I know." I turned around in his arm to face him and he looked down at me with such love in his eyes that I just melted. "Thank you for the great night of fun Damon. I really, really enjoyed it. I didn't know I really needed to have some fun after all that happened to me but, as always you knew what I needed even before I did. Thanks for always being there for me." I told him as I boldly caressed the side of his face.

He took my hand in his and kissed my palm. "You are very welcome, hun. You know that I will be here for you, always and forever. When you need a friend you know you can always come to me." He kept hold of my eyes and my hand during the whole time he was talking.

"Thanks, I know that, always have." I snuggled even closer since the night was chilly and his body was so hot. He draped the jacket he had taken off over my shoulders and gently rubbed up and down my hands to give me warmth. I sighed.

"What's wrong?" He asked and I could feel the worry in his voice.

"Nothing. I just don't want this night to end." I told him.

"Well, we can have that arranged." He said as he tugged me up, made me pull my hands through his jacket sleeves and grabbed my hand as he started to move forward.

"What are we doing?" I asked him as I catched up and was able to stand by his side. I mean literally by his side, as in almost glued there, which I really don't mind at all.

"We are going to make this night last forever." He said with a wink and a wicked smile. God only knows what is going through that beautiful head of his.