The alarm goes off and Elena reaches out blindly to turn it off. She drags herself out of bed to go for a run in the dreary Iowa morning. She puts in her earbuds and pounds the pavement for five miles.

"Morning, Daddy!" Elena smiles as she enters the kitchen.

"Morning," he calls over his shoulder as he flips pancakes. "Go take your shower and then come have some breakfast.

"They smell delicious," Elena remarks as she wipes a slice of bacon on her way out of the kitchen.

Twenty minutes later, Elena sits down at the table as her dad slides a plate of pancakes and bacon in front of her.

"Do you have any plans for today?" John asks as he refills his coffee mug before sitting down.

"The usual, I guess. Damon is home already...um, he quit school," she tells him as she sticks a forkful of pancake into her mouth.

He smiles at her and continues sipping his coffee.

"What?" Elena blushes under his scrutiny.

"That was quick. What are his plans?"

"I don't know, Dad. We didn't really talk about it," Elena sighs as she rises to put her plate in the sink. "Later." She grabs her bag and drives to the bowling alley.

"Morning," Elena greets Sheila amiably as she sets her things down and puts on her skates.

"Good morning." Sheila smiles at her.

"Is Bonnie coming today?"

Sheila shakes her head. "She said she had some things to take care of. She might stop by later, though."

Elena nods and glides onto the ice.

The strains of Por una Cabeza fill the rink and she begins moving along the smooth ice. Her body moves with the music: soft and delicate. Elena pulls herself into a spin and smiles slightly. She twists out of it and preps for a double axle, launching herself into the air and landing soundly on her right leg.

Elena turns at the sound of clapping and sees Damon leaning against the boards. His blue eyes are twinkling as he winks at her.

"I thought I was alone." She glides over to Damon. A jolt travels through her skin when he takes her hand in his. Elena bites her lip to stop the giggle that threatens to escape her mouth.

Damon pulls her to his chest. With ease, he throws her from his arms. She repeats her double axle and lands softly on her blade.

"So how did your folks take the news?" Elena asks as she glides back over to him and rises up to give him a kiss.

"Let's just say they were less than pleased," Damon smirks as he lets go of her when Sheila reappears.

"Shoo! She's supposed to be practicing," Sheila scolds as she scowls at him.

"Ah, Sheila, you know you love me," Damon teases as he waggles his brows at her.

"That eye thing may work with the girls but not me. Now scoot," she swats him on the ass as he turns to go.

"I'll pick you up later, I need to look for a job till I decide what to do with myself."

Elena blows him a kiss as he walks through the door.

The atmosphere inside the rink is cold. Elena is bundled up as she watches Damon skate along with John, Sheila, and Bonnie.

The goose bumps on her arms are visible, and she knows her dad will notice.

Damon skates to his position with an irritatingly casual stride. His dark hair wreathes his face. He casts an impassive stare- half-closed eyes and his mouth which curves down. His head moves from side to side as he skates, surveying the scene like a mechanical man in a funhouse.

He gazes up at Elena, giving her a quick wink.

As the referee gets ready for the drop, Damon eyes his opponent fiercely. As soon as the puck hits the ice, Damon passes to Matt who immediately loses it.

Damon is a determined and powerful skater. When a teammate makes a mistake, his face registers resigned disgust. He fakes out two of the skaters and scores the winning goal unassisted.

The crowd rises to their feet and yells excitedly. Her excitement for the game is fueled by Damon's.

Elena claps loudly when the team leaves the ice.

"Thank you, Vicky," Sheila remarks when she slides the plate in front of her.

"Do you guys need anything else?" Vicky as she smiles at Damon.

"That'll be all for now," John draws her attention to him.

"I'll check on you later," Vicky states and walks away.

"I have something I'd like to discuss," Sheila states as she sticks a fry into her mouth.

"What's more important than finding out what old Buddy here is doing at home in the middle of his first year?" John eyes Damon dubiously.

"Elena's competition," Sheila redirects the conversation.

"Well, subject closed," John states firmly as he takes a swallow of beer.

"Well, I'm glad to see at least you have an open mind," Sheila counters with a healthy dose of sarcasm.

"Elena's a fine skater to be sure. Seven counties go on in this competition, it's a big thing. It's different than being professional, everyone is out for themselves. Little country girl goes up there, they'll eat her alive. I just don't want you to get hurt, honey." John shifts his gaze to Elena.

"John Gilbert, you are so full of bull that it boggles the mind. Where the hell do you get these ideas? Elena can take care of herself and you know that."

"I didn't say she can't handle herself."

"You pretty much did, Daddy," Elena contends as she raises her eyes to meet his.

"You're holding her back, John and that's what's hurting her. She's got more natural talent than anyone I've ever seen. And that includes those girls who compete at the Olympics." Sheila stares unblinking at him.

"Let me go, Daddy. I know it's scary, but I really want to do it."

"What about school?"

"I'll talk to my teachers and get my work done before I leave. Please, Daddy?"

Sheila shares a glance with Elena. "It's one competition, John."

"She's too young."

"You're wrong, Daddy..." Elena shakes her head. "I'm too old. It's probably already too late and the fact is, If I wait any longer there won't be any chance at all."

"For what?"

"For me, Daddy. Just for me," Elena's stare lingers for a few seconds before she slides out of the booth and walks away.

Damon waits for a beat before he tosses his napkin on his plate and goes after Elena.

Sheila sighs and turns to John. "I know it's been you and her since Isobel died. But she's not a child. You're holding onto her so tight, you're going to end up suffocating her and eventually she's going to resent the hell out of you."

"What would you know? You run this goddamn broken-down bowling alley and ice-skating rink in this crummy, small town."

"I won the regionals."

"That was twenty-five years ago, Sheila...things have changed since then," John grits out as he picks at his food with his fork.

"Think about her needs."

"I don't want her to get hurt!"

"You're the one who's hurting her, John. She needs to spread her wings or do you want her to be stuck in Iowa's version of Bedford Falls forever, too?"

"I don't want to talk about it anymore," he states firmly as he signals Vicky for another beer.

Sheila shakes her head and wordlessly slides out of the booth and walks away.

John watches as his daughter twists her long hair around her left index finger and pushes her eggs around her plate with the fork gripped in her right. She hasn't eaten a bite in ten minutes and hasn't spoken a word in over twenty.

The clock above the kitchen sink ticks loudly - mocking him.

He searched desperately for something to say. "You could have just told me you wanted pancakes," he blurts stupidly, wincing even before all the words were out of his mouth.

"What?" Elena asks without looking up.

"I would have made you something else if you didn't want eggs today," he clarifies.

Her eyes lift briefly. "They're fine," she mumbles and pushes them around some more.

"Yeah, I see your plate and fork are enjoying them immensely," he counters.

She drops the fork and it clangs shrilly onto the china. "I guess I'm not very hungry."

"You have to eat something," he insists.

Elena's head snaps up at that and anger burns red in her fiery brown eyes. "I don't really think I need lectures from you," she growls, looking pointedly at his plate.

He looks down at his own untouched breakfast. "Okay," he says and picks up his fork, scoops up a heaping amount, and shoves them into his mouth while she watches.

Elena rolls her eyes, just like her Mother used to, and begins moving her food around in random patterns again.

John sighs internally and swallows the now cold, rubbery eggs. He sets his fork down quietly next to his plate.

"So," he tries again for something to say that wouldn't make her hate him more than she already did. "I can't afford to buy you an outfit."

Her fork freezes and her whole body tenses. "Is that why you're being like this? You can't afford to buy me a skating dress?"

"I don't want you to get hurt."

"Daddy, you can't protect me forever. Sheila still has the one she wore when she won. I know it's old but it's in good condition and she said she'd alter it to fit me."

Anxiety seizes John's heart, squeezing it like a vise. "What?"

"You heard me," Elena retorts bitterly.

The hollow pit in his stomach grows ever bigger as they stare other down.

"I'm late for school," Elena adds and runs from the kitchen.

"Elena! Wait!" John calls after her. Regret weighs him down as he attempts to chase her through the house. "Wait!" He tries again. "I'll drive you!" He offers as she reaches the front door.

"I'll take the bug," she yells and he flinches as the door slams behind her, shaking the walls of the house.

John takes a seat back at the kitchen table and pushes his plate away before dropping his head down on the wood with a loud groan.

"I'm a terrible Father," he mutters into the placemat.

"The worst," Sheila agrees as she enters through the kitchen door. "I don't know how it is that you were allowed to procreate."

John slowly lifts his head to meet her eyes.

"She hates me."

"No, she doesn't. She's a teenager, John. You do remember what it was like to be a teenager, don't you?"

"Vaguely. But you know that this is more than teenage hormones run amok."

"I know," Sheila agrees.

"I don't know what to do anymore," he whispers and looks away when he feels his eyes well up.

"I know we've had our moments, John, but you're my friend." Sheila reaches across the space between them and covered his hand gently with her own. "You never stop trying, that's what you do," she commands fiercely. "You need to give her some freedom to spread her wings," she adds softly.

"Alright, Sheila; You win. I'll let her go but you have to promise me you'll watch out for her."

"You know I will."

Thank you, everyone.

Por una Cabeza is the name of the Tango music from 'True Lies'.

Bedford Falls is the fictional town in the glorious old black-and-white movie, "It's a Wonderful Life".

If you like playboy prince Damon, you might like my old one-shot "Painted on My Heart". I thought of it last night for some reason. I do have an old ice skating- pairs- 2 shot called "Burnt Ice" if you're interested.

I want to give a heartfelt thank you to Eva, Kate, O, and Sarah for always having a shoulder if I need to talk or belly ache, or even the fleeting moments of feeling sorry for myself. You always listen without judging and I appreciate you all so much. I have had some heartache here but it's far overshadowed by the joy. I keep thinking I should hang it up and find a different hobby but somehow I can't seem to be able to leave Damon and Elena behind.

Have a fabulous weekend and we'll see you next with TQR.