Damon stands in front of the enormous floor-to-ceiling window of his office and stares down at the city below. He's always found it easy to get lost in the view. During the day he can get lost in his work. But now, since seeing her again, it's different...his mind circles endlessly around Elena.

He can't want her. She's moved on with her life.

But he does and he knows he can't have her, but knowing is not the same as feeling. It has nothing to do with logic or reason. It's a wild, irrational thing, how much he wants her.

"Hello? Earth to Damon," Ric calls out.

Damon sighs and sits back down at his desk.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about Rebekah and Elena. Wondering how things are going."

"That's why you're so distracted."

"Yeah, my future wife is helping my current wife pick out a wedding gown so she can get married to a guy who has no idea she was ever married to me."

"Oh, what a tangled web comes to mind," Ric chuckles.

"I'm counting on you to un-tangle it on Monday," Damon counters, locking his pointed gaze at Ric.

"I've got this. Relax. It's going to be fun..." Ric asserts confidently.

Damon's phone starts vibrating on the desk. "Elena, hey. Ric and I were just talking about you. How's the shopping expedition going?"

"I got a dress," Elena sing-songs as she walks down the busy New York sidewalk.

"That's great."

"Rebekah was determined to find the perfect one, and we did," Elena confirms.

"So, everything was, ok?" Damon grimaces.

"Yeah, Rebekah, she's great. I feel bad though about deceiving her about you and me... And add Ric's whole fake marriage license scheme on top of that..."

"Me, too, but it'll all be resolved soon enough and then there will be no more secrets."

"I'm going to have to fill Matt in on this whole debacle when I get home, too."

"I have to go, Rebekah's here," Damon ends the call and stands up to give her a lingering kiss.

"I'll have to surprise you more often," Rebekah quips. "What brought this on?

"Can't a guy kiss his betrothed?" Damon waggles his brows.

"Later, you two. I've got work to do," Ric interrupts and leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

Damon wraps his arms around her middle and pulls her flush against him. "Thank you for going the extra mile with Elena. Just another wonderful thing about you that I love."

"Mmm, that's nice..." Rebekah kisses him again.

"How did it go?"

"We found the perfect dress. And I learned a few things about her, too."

"Like what?" Damon asks as his gut begins to swirl.

"Just girl talk. But that's not why I came by." Rebekah steps back. "Do you remember that remodel I did in Atlanta?"

"Yeah, I remember you being away from me. Let's not do that again."

"That job just snagged the cover of Interior Design magazine, along with a center spread! Do you believe it!"

"That's great, Rebekah. Really great."

"The only problem is it's not absolutely perfect yet. You know how I am about details. So I'm booked on the next plane to Atlanta but I'll be back in time for rehearsal. I hope that's okay?"

"Of course, it's okay. I'm so proud of you."

"Since you're going to be away, would you have an issue with me going to see Elena's lecture at Rutgers? Vincent will be there, too."

"I think it's a splendid idea. I'm sure Elena would love to have a couple of friendly faces in the audience."

"You're amazing, Rebekah," Damon pulls her in for another kiss as his mind drifts to the woman who has flipped his world upside down a second time.

Rebekah blows Damon a kiss and heads for the elevators. As the doors open, Elena steps out.

"What are you doing here?" Rebekah asks as she presses the stop button on the elevator.

"Damon was kind enough to lend me an office so I can get some work done. I need to go over my presentation notes and I have some emails to make. As luck would have it, I forgot to pack my laptop. Rebekah, I really want to say thank you for helping me find that dress. It's so beautiful."

"It was my pleasure, honestly."

"You went out of your way and I appreciate it," Elena adds and turns to walk away.

"Wait!"

Elena stops in her tracks and turns back to the blonde.

"I just had a great idea. Since you're stuck here anyway, why don't you come to the rehearsal? And the wedding!?"

"What! No..." Elena shakes her head.

"Nonsense. You and Damon are such old friends, I know he'd want you there," Rebekah insists.

Elena's dumbfounded knowing it's a bad idea. "I... don't know what to say."

"Say yes," Rebekah grabs her hand.

"Yes," Elena agrees despite knowing it's not a smart move.

"I gotta run. See you at the rehearsal," Rebekah adds as the elevator doors slide shut.

Elena pads into Damon's office with a stunned look on her face.

He looks up, immediately noticing the blank look in her eyes. "Are you okay?"

"I'm coming to your wedding."

Elena's brows draw together as she stares at him.

"What did you say?" Damon rises to his feet.

"Hey," Ric saunters into the office. "You just missed your shopping BFF."

Elena shakes her head. "No, I didn't. I didn't miss her and she didn't miss me. In fact, she insisted that I come to the rehearsal and the wedding."

"Elena, you don't have to do that."

"But, Damon, she's been so nice, I couldn't refuse. It's gonna be strange, but I'll be fine."

"You're a real stand-up, lady," Ric commends her.

"Piece of cake. Literally," Elena mumbles softly as she stares blankly.

"Eight layers and counting..." Damon adds.

"Maybe you shouldn't go to the wedding," Ric suggests.

"I'll be fine," Elena contends although her insides feel like a whirlwind.

"Rebekah has to make a quick trip to Atlanta so I'm free to ride along to hear your talk at Rutgers." Damon reveals, adding, "I already mentioned it to her and she's fine with it...unless you'd rather I stay home."

"Yeah, yeah," Ric chimes in. "Afterward, Damon can take you out for dinner, and celebrate the divorce. You've barely seen the city. It's crazy to come to the Big Apple and not take a bite. You may not get this chance again."

"Damon, I don't-" Elena sucks her lower lip between her teeth as her eyes dart between the two men.

"Come on, Elena. We'll probably never see each other again after Monday." Damon feels the pain of the dagger entering his rib cage at the very real possibility.

"Alright, you win," Elena concedes as her shoulders sag in surrender.

"Hello everyone," Dr. Parker greets the auditorium crowd gathered to hear Elena's presentation.

"I'm excited to hear her presentation. I don't know how many times Elena made me watch both the Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones movies with her," Damon guffaws as he sits next to Vincent in the audience. "I can probably recite Jurassic Park word for word."

"Oh, he's about to introduce her," Vincent interjects.

"I'd like to introduce our guest. She has a Ph.D. in Archeology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She's a veteran of fieldwork, both during and after her college years. She works now at the Museum of the Rockies and Montana State University in Bozeman. Please welcome Dr. Elena Gilbert," Dr. Parker states and the room fills with applause when Elena walks up to the podium.

"Hello, everyone. It's really great to see you all here. Today I'm going to talk about The Mammoth Site. It's a museum and paleontological site near Hot Springs, South Dakota, in the Black Hills. I did some undergrad work there."

"I was there when I was little. My grandma lives in Hot Springs," one girl calls out.

"Good, you're familiar with it then," Elena acknowledges her.

"In 1974, a construction worker named George Hanson unearthed unusual bones while the area was being prepared for a new subdivision. His son recognized one of the finds as a mammoth tooth. The landowner Phil Anderson agreed to further investigation, and a complete skull and tusk were found that same year. The site was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1980," Elena pauses to let the clapping die down.

She continues her talk, occasionally sharing a glance with both Damon and Vincent.

"Findings at the site include the remains of megafauna such as giant short-faced bears along with those of shrub oxen, American camel, llama, wolves, coyotes, birds, minks, ferrets, prairie dogs, voles, and moles. Invertebrate discoveries include several species of clams, snails, and slugs.

The remains of 61 mammoths, including 58 North American Columbian and 3 woolly mammoths have been recovered to date..."

Elena ends her talk as the audience rises to their feet and begins applauding wildly. She spends the next forty-five minutes answering questions and after thanking Dr. Parker for inviting her, she joins Damon and Vincent.

"That was really interesting, Elena," Vincent tells her. "Next time I visit my mother in New Orleans, I may have to convince her to go on a little trip with me," he laughs as they leave the auditorium and head for the vehicle.

"Very impressive, Elena," Damon agrees, smiling. "I never even knew such a place existed."

"Now, you do," Elena counters as she slides into the car followed by Damon.

It's not too late yet when they arrive back in New York City. "Do you want to go back to your room or do you want to see a little of New York?" Damon looks over at Elena who's staring out the window.

"I guess I can sleep in tomorrow so why not."

"Vincent, let's go to Brooklyn."

"Sure thing," he pulls onto the road and heads toward the Manhattan Bridge.

Elena can't take her eyes off the buildings. "I love New York but there are just so many people here. How did you get used to it?"

"Honestly, Elena, I don't know if I ever will..."

Half an hour later, they arrive in Brooklyn. "See now this is my favorite part of the city. Vincent, will you pull over? I want to take Elena for a walk."

"Sure. Do you want me to wait here?"

"Feel free to get something to eat, we'll catch up with you a little later."

"As you wish," Vincent comments as he watches them getting smaller in the side-view mirror.

So this is the first place that I landed after I arrived. Damon reveals as they walk down the sidewalk, taking in the sights and smells of the city.

"Yeah?"

Damon nods. "I loved it. I had a tiny efficiency apartment, it was all I could afford at that time. My landlady, Mrs. Flowers, gave me a break on my rent if I helped her out with some bookkeeping and did some repairs around the place. She said she believed in me and often told me I would go places."

"So how did you get from a tiny place to a penthouse?"

"Luck. And a little bit of talent. Actually, it started with your dad."

"My dad?" Elena looks at him, shocked.

"He used to have trouble with his books and I'd help him out," Damon shrugs.

"You helped my dad?" She asks incredulously.

"And he helped me, too. He gave me organization skills that have served me well. Yeah. It wasn't a big deal. He knew his stuff, he just wasn't great at putting it on paper, and bottom-line thinking came easy to me."

"So you... you get to New York, and then what?"

"I got a job with a Wall Street trading firm. The boss noticed I had a knack for it and he became my mentor. I'm pretty lucky. I love what I do, but I work so much that sometimes I forget to slow down."

"I know the feeling," Elena agrees.

"And look at you. I didn't know you were Dr. Elena Gilbert."

"I love what I do but I work so much that sometimes I forget to slow down," Elena echoes Damon's words with a grin.

"Hungry?

"As long as it's nothing fancy. I'm not dressed for it."

"Let's get some pizza," Damon points to a vendor set up across the street. He takes her arm and they run across the road while they still have the walk signal.

"Can we get two slices of cheese and sausage please?" Damon asks the man and pulls out a few bills to pay him.

"You just wait. This will be the best pizza you'll ever eat."

"Really?" Elena asks skeptically.

"Don't doubt me... And this is how it's done in Brooklyn." Damon bends it in half lengthwise and takes a big bite.

"Okay," Elena does the same and sticks it in her mouth. She practically moans as she chews it up. "Yeah, that's good."

"So have you ever brought Rebekah here?"

"Nah." Damon shakes his head. "Not her style..."

Elena senses a change of mood so she tries to lighten it up. "I always thought New York City was just a bunch of skyscrapers. I can't get over how big this city feels... I can see why you thrived here. Mystic Falls was just too small."

"It was a great place to grow up."

"Mom is staying with me in Montana for the summer. She's been looking at some property, and said she might make the move if I stay there. I love that area of the country."

"What about Jeremy?"

"He's a commercial artist. He lives in Denver with his wife, Anna. They're doing great."

"You'll have to tell him hello next time you talk to him."

"I will," Elena nods as she wipes her mouth with a napkin.

They walk together in silence as they head back to the car where Vincent is waiting. "Did you have a good time?"

"It was great. Thank you, Vincent." Elena smiles at him as she climbs into the vehicle.

An hour later, he pulls to a stop in front of Elena's place.

"I'm going to walk Elena to her door. I'll be right back," Damon tells Vincent as he hops out and opens the door for her.

"You're suspiciously quiet?" Elena comments when they reach her door.

"Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I stayed in Mystic Falls."

"Damon, don't go there." Elena shakes her head.

"I'm just glad you're back in my life, Elena because you remind me of who I really am. Or want to be. I feel like I sacrificed that to obtain all this."

"Damon... I'm not back in your life. You have Rebekah and I have Matt. As soon as this divorce is granted, we'll have to move on."

"Maybe."

"We... Are both marrying other people. We've chosen our lives..."

He looks at her like he doesn't know how they've gotten to this point. Damon's mouth is getting closer and her heart skips a beat, the smell of him hypnotic beyond reason. Elena parts her lips and feels him washing over her like a wave of warmth, curling her toes, unfurling all her senses as the taste of him silences all of her thoughts.

Every cell in her body tingles, the feel of his frame leaning on hers as his arms wrap around her feels forbidden. Damon pulls her in, claiming her mouth again, hungry and intense.

Somehow, Elena finds the wherewithal to push him back.

"This can't happen," bursts from her mouth.

"I don't know what I'm doing," Damon admits. "I'm trying really hard not to be in love with you, Elena."

Elena stares at the floor before shaking her head and finally pushing past him.

"Try harder."

Thank you all so, so much.

*The Mammoth Site is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of preservation, research, and interpretation of the late Ice Age record found in Hot Springs, South Dakota. It is the world's largest mammoth research facility and one of the top fossil interpretive sites in North America. Over 60 mammoths (58 Columbian, 3 woolly) have been unearthed, along with at least 87 other Late Ice Age animals.

Have a fabulous day and a wonderful week ahead.