Chapter Two: Home

I stared guiltily at my watch as I breezed through the doors of the function room at the Grill running fashionably late which seemed to be a habit of mine lately. I had every intention of getting to the welcome party being held for Enzo on time but I swore it had only been 5.30pm when I decided to answer just a few more emails and when I looked at the small clock on my Macbook it was 7.20pm. I found lateness to be one of the highest forms of disrespect and even though my new position with Salvatore & Son's came with power and prestige, I didn't want to have a reputation of being constantly late to meetings and events: it didn't set a good image for the company and it didn't represent who I was. Who was I kidding….I didn't even know who I was anymore. But right now, I had to put my most used mask on and that was: Elena Gilbert, charming CEO of Salvatore & Sons. It seemed to fit me quite well and I had become quite skilled at the little façade.

It was a work night so I shouldn't have been shocked to see that not many employees had stayed past the early formalities of the cocktail party, there were only a handful of people left, including, not surprisingly, Caroline Forbes, who was sitting next to Enzo and Kate from marketing in one of the booths sipping a champagne ever so elegantly. I smiled politely at a few people as I moved through the room and towards the table they were sitting at.

"Ah, speak of the devil" Caroline greeted in an overly bubbly voice. She was clearly a few too many chardonnays deep in the event "Glad you could grace us with your presence oh powerful leader" Enzo looked only slightly amused at the comment but I could tell he was a little uncomfortable at the backhanded remark.

"I apologise for being late, it really is inexcusable. I was answering a few emails and time simply got away from me…." I explained smoothly. Enzo smiled at me in understanding while Kate's eyes darted erratically from me to the booth, not knowing quite where to look. Since my promotion people around the office had certainly treated me differently, I guess that came with the territory.

"It's totally fine Elena. Please….join us" Enzo said, gesturing to the empty seat across from him. I followed his request and slid into the booth clumsily.

"Enzo was just telling us about growing up in England. It sounds…just amazing!" Caroline gushed with vigour in my direction. I made a mental note to myself to kick her in the shins as soon as we were back at home.

"Oh yeah? I've always wanted to go. The English countryside has been high on my bucket list for many years" Caroline seemed to take a little too much pleasure in my engagement in the conversation than she should have. This ridiculous pipe dream of hers was beginning to get on my last nerve. What made her think hooking up with Enzo would 'help' me absolutely baffled me. It wasn't like I was a widow or someone whose boyfriend had broken up with her. Mine had turned off his humanity and become a runaway soulless vampire- it was a little different and there wasn't exactly a 'right' way to cope in this type of situation. It may not be the approach that she would take in my shoes but it was working for me, and I shouldn't have to continue justifying it. And a one night fuck with my subordinate wasn't going to bring anything but trouble…..and I had had just about enough trouble for one year.

"You're kidding? Well we should plan a trip in the summer. I've got a house in Kent which is just stunning that time of year" No, she'll have a field day with this

"Do you hear that Elena? A trip to Kent. Sounds….gorgeous" Kill me. Right now.

"That's a very kind offer Enzo but I doubt I'll have the opportunity for many vacations this year…increased work load and all" I smiled as politely as possible. Please lord let this end.

"Oh don't say that Elena. As your assistant I can guarantee you that I can make the time on your schedule" She grinned devilishly "Kate, come to the bar with me will you? It looks like you need another drink"

"I'm fine actually I have to drive home shortly" Kate responded quietly. She was obviously intimidated by all of us and felt a little uncomfortable now that the CEO was here.

"I'll pay for your cab Kate. Bar. Now" Although she had a smile and her tone was sickly sweet, her eyes told a different story, and poor Kate was at the mercy of the classic Caroline arm twist. She followed after her extremely sheepishly "I'll leave the two of you to talk details" she added before dragging poor Kate over to the bar. I exhaled deeply in frustration, growing very tired of this insane game she was playing. She had to know it was bothering me right? Especially after the talk we had had today in my office. Unfortunately it only seemed to fuel her fire, and I prayed it was just because had had a few too many drinks.

"O-kay why did that feel super awkward?" Enzo asked with a nervous chuckle. He was perceptive, I'd give him that

"Because it was" I chuckled back lightly. I did feel unusually at ease in his presence, I had noticed it the first time I had met him in New York and it had not wavered. I reached my hand across the table and took Caroline's still full glass of champagne from where she had been sitting and began sipping it eagerly

"Something I'm missing?" He questioned, eyeing me curiously. Ordinarily I would have been embarrassed beyond belief at sharing her insane plot with someone, but something about Enzo made me comfortable enough to be frank with him. Over the past few months of working closely together I had come to regard him as a close ally and confidant within the company- and they were few and far between in the corporate world. Hell they were few and far between in any world.

"Caroline is operating under the insane notion that something is going to happen between the two of us" I told, causing his eyes to widen in surprise. I doubt he was expecting that response "Romantically I mean"

"Ahh…well that explains it then. She's about as subtle as a hole in the head" I laughed at his humorous retort

"Oh tell me about it"

"Why is it insane?" He pressed. Please no.

"Because…it just…is"

"I'll have you know I am an extremely eligible bachelor Miss Gilbert" He was toying with me, and a lot of people may have seen it as flirting, but I knew it was harmless banter. I think perhaps he liked pushing my buttons to get me out of my comfort zone, but more in a sibling type fashion than anything of malice.

"Oh I don't doubt it. You're an amazing person and under normal circumstances I would be lucky to score a date with such an eligible bachelor like yourself"

"But" He grinned

"But. Firstly, I'm not dating right now. And secondly, we work together"

"Lots of people who work together date"

"Yeah well lots of people are idiots" I told, sipping the champagne to cool the nerves Caroline had awoken "If you work in different departments and you don't have contact with each other professionally I guess it's fine, but for me I just….I don't get involved with the people I work with.."

"Unless they're Damon Salvatore…." I stopped dead in my tracks at the mere mention of his name which was completely and utterly pathetic. Enzo shifted in his seat, surprised at the words that had come out of his own mouth "I'm sorry that wasn't meant to sound so…abrupt"

"No….it's…fine" I choked as the fingers I had curled lazily around the bottom of the champagne glass tightened. I lifted the crystal to my lips and swallowed the remainder of the wine before returning my gaze to a sympathetic looking Enzo. He had mentioned the elephant that followed me into every room I entered, and he knew it. "Am I that obvious?"

"Not at all. Damon on the other hand…" He trailed off with a slight appreciative chuckle. My brow burrowed as I observed him peculiarly "In New York, the first time I met you a few months back, I noticed it the second you both entered the building. No matter where he was in a room or which important executive he was deep in conversation with, his eyes would always scour the room until he found you. He had this…hawk like watch over you….and not in a boss making sure his assistant was doing her job properly kind of way…..it was more a man terribly in love with a woman kind of way. If you moved, he moved…..like, magnets or something. That, and the daggers he was throwing me throughout at dinner when I was seated next to you. I honestly feared for my life that night" I remembered that night well. It was the last ordinary night I'd had before I found out what he truly was, and before Caroline had been turned. A small smile reached the corners of my lips as I reminisced on such a bittersweet and simpler time. Oh if I had only known then…

"Yeah well…things change" I offered lightly. This was hardly the ideal conversation for me to be having. For someone to be talking about him when he was still mine, when the person was still around. I didn't know where he was these days, or even who or what he was.

"Is that why he left?" Enzo asked softly. I scolded myself for my momentary lapse of façade and re-fastened my mask on tight.

"Oh of course not. It was a minor affair….nothing important. Mr Salvatore is on extended personal leave, perhaps even indefinite. He was very good at the job but it was never truly his passion…he and Stefan stepped in after their father died and it was only supposed to be temporary….it just lasted a lot longer than initially planned" At least that was the official story Stefan had cooked up for the company and the minor press about the sudden and unexpected departure of our CEO.

"Kind of like you huh?" Enzo smiled warmly

"Yes…curiously enough" I smiled back. I often did find it ironic how much I had become like Damon since his absence. I don't know if it was modelling of the job or if perhaps I was trying to fill the hole he had left inside me by replicating his behaviours whether passively or not, but either way it was almost humorous. My thoughts were broken by the buzz of my cell phone and I motioned apologetically as I reached down into my hand bag and took it out. Although it was nice having work be a distraction, the incessant buzzing of my business phone was enough to drive anybody crazy. "Shit"

"What?"

"Oh nothing, I just, sent my driver home under the assumption that I would catch a ride with Caroline and she's just text to say she's left"

"Without you?"

"Stefan arrived home early so she's gone to see him. Plus I suspect it's another vain attempt at giving the two of us some alone time" The frustration in my voice caused a humoured giggle to erupt from his chest and I smiled in thankfulness that he hadn't made the entire ordeal awkward. After she had finished 'welcoming Stefan home' she would be getting an absolute earful from me.

"She's persistent….I'll give her that much" He chuckled "Come on…I've got the rental…I'll give you a ride"

"No that's okay, I don't want to drag you away from your welcome wagon early"

"Elena please….there's seven people and a questionable cheese platter left"

"You sure?"

"Yeah it's fine. I'm beat anyways. And besides, as lovely as it was to meet everyone if I have to listen to one more person talk about the upcoming Miss Mystic Falls pageant tonight I'm going to neck myself" I laughed heartedly at him

"Welcome to town" I grinned

"The odds are favouring Penny Lockwood FYI" He added standing up, eliciting another chuckle from my chest. It had been a while since I had genuinely laughed at something and I felt thankful to him in that moment.

It was quite an odd experience driving from the Grill to Salvatore Manor in Enzo's Firebird rental, and it dawned on me that this had been the first time I had been alone with a human….and a man….since my transition. I still struggled with my cravings. It was a constant hot coal that sat in the bottom of my throat but I had certainly learned to live with it at this point. I always tried to be honest with myself about it, particularly when the temptations were extreme. When an overwhelming urge would strike I would acknowledge that I would love nothing more than to bite down and suck the absolute life out of Petra the copy room clerk, but I would also acknowledge that she was a college intern with a family and her entire life ahead of her, and as much pleasure as I would get in drinking her dry….it wouldn't be worth the life lost. It often felt akin to having a drug or alcohol addiction…and I could see how easy and enticing it would be for vampires going through emotional distress to flip the switch and lose themselves in the blood lust. Enzo and I made polite and comfortable chatter on the 10 or so minute drive out to the house, and I couldn't help but be amused when I saw the look on his face as the car pulled down into the driveway and towards the front of the property.

"Jesus" He remarked in wonder. I had had the exact same reaction the first time I had visited it. It had an almost, majestic feel to it. "You live here!"

"Well not just me. Caroline and Stefan as well…"

"Just a simple home for three" He laughed sarcastically, putting the gearstick in park and continuing his roam of the house with his eyes. "This is just insane. It's really just the three of you?"

"Yep" I sniggered

"So how does that work exactly? I mean, I've never heard of a CEO, CFO and PA being flatmates before. Seems a little…"

"Strange?" I finished for him with amusement. "Well yeah if that was our only connection it would be a little strange but, Caroline isn't just my P.A, she's been my best friend since childhood and we've been living together since I moved back to Mystic Falls. She and Stefan have been together for a while and a few months back my parent's place was having a lot of issues and we needed to stay somewhere for a few weeks so Stefan graciously opened up the Manor for us. I don't know, we just all….loved living together so much that Caroline and I never went back. My brother intends on going to college interstate soon and there's really not much use for the house so we sublet it"

"Why do I get the feeling there is so much more to the story than that?" He asked. The tone of his voice portrayed it as a joke but his eyes told me something different. Oh if you only knew

"Because you English types always tend to be overdramatic" I teased. We both exited his vehicle and he accompanied me the seven or so steps to the front door "Thank you again for the ride Enzo I appreciate it"

"You're welcome boss" He grinned eagerly "And, I wanted you to know that I don't take any of that Caroline stuff seriously….but that being said….I am new in town, I don't know many people and contrary to popular belief I can be fun….so if you ever just want to hang out, drink some beers and have some good conversation in a 100% platonic non-romantic type way than feel free to give me a call" I smiled tightly at his sentiment. Caroline may have been certifiably insane with her match making hopes but she was right about me needing to get out a little bit more, and letting my friendship with Enzo develop didn't seem like such a bad way to make that happen.

"Thank you. I just might do that"

"And you know, if you change your mind about the whole date thing and want a 100% non-platonic romantic type hang then feel free to give me a call as well" I slapped him lightly with my handbag and his cheeky grin told me he was kidding "Goodnight Elena. I'll see you at work!"

"Night" I repeated as I watched him swagger back to his rental and disappear up the driveway. I couldn't exactly confide in him about my problems with transitioning or everything that had happened to me since becoming a vampire, but perhaps with enough allegories I could convey it in a different way. Caroline, the Salvatore brothers and I had cultivated such a little protective bubble for ourselves that I couldn't honestly remember the last time I had confided anything in someone outside of that, and considering Bonnie still wasn't too keen on being a permanent fixture in my life at the moment I hadn't really had the opportunity to talk to anyone….so perhaps a nice friendly hangout with Enzo could be a good thing. I'd have to think about it a little more, which I'm sure I would with the sleepless night I knew I was in store for. I began digging around in my handbag looking for my keys when my brain suddenly alerted me to the sound of a breeze and light footsteps.

"Well don't you two make an adorable couple" It was unmistakable, but lately the sound only came to me in my dreams. I had heard it so many times before but only ever with my dull human ears. Now, with my new ones, it sounded like a gruff velvet cupcake. Sexy, smooth and decadent. My eyes flew up to where it was coming from and my stagnant heart felt as if it were fluttering. Black muscle tee, dark blue Levis, leather boots, dominant yet seductive stance, broad shoulders, five o'clock shadow, a messy mop of raven black hair and the most glorious ice blue eyes ever formed. If I thought he was handsome before it was nothing compared to the sight that my newly acquired eyes were drinking in. If it wasn't for the overwhelming scent of musk and spices that intruded my nostrils I would have thought that I was dreaming, but the smell I had come to adore told me I was awake. I had wished so many times to smell it again, and now Damon Salvatore standing in front of me, but there was also something so disturbingly different about him.

"Damon" I breathed. It wasn't a query, it was a declaration procured by pure shock and frankly, awe.

"Elena" He mimicked, lacking something in his voice that I couldn't quite pick up on. I had fantasised about this moment so many times. I had played it over seven thousand different ways in my head and every single time I had run into his arms and made him promise to never let me go. I had kissed his supple lips that formed so perfectly against mine and I had told him just how much I loved him. But now that it was here, now that the impossible had happened and he had finally come home, I stood completely stuck to the pavement, petrified on how to proceed.

"Whaaa….whaat are you…."

"Doing here?" He smirked roguishly, putting weight on the foot that was closest to me and pushing a strange form of dominance in my direction that was beginning to make me feel extremely unnerved. "One of my brother's henchmen burst into my villa this afternoon and ruined a perfectly good party. It seems fun is not the modus operandi of Stefan fucking Salvatore. Anyhow, before I turned his boy in black into an after lunch drink he informed me that the lovely Elena Gilbert was in fact…..alive" He had only spoken one sentence and already my hopes of him coming home to me intact were shattered. He was different, the polar opposite of the man I loved, and just the tone of his voice was all I needed to hear to know that his switch was most certainly still flipped. "I had to see it for myself"

"Okay" Was all I could manage to squeeze out. I was spiralling, I was spinning out of control, and the one person I knew who could help ground me was long gone, and all that remained was the glib vampire in front of me.

"I have to be honest Elena, immortality does not become you. I think I preferred you as a blood bag." He leered turning his head sideways and looking me up and down before sighing "Alrighty, good chat Gilbert, reunion is out of the way, I'm assuming my brother is inside" He gave me an unimpressed look before his legs carried him past me and towards the door, leaving me frozen in place and completely overflowing at the seams. He was back, he was finally back, but for the first time since he had left it was finally clear to me that Damon Salvatore was never coming home.