Damon Salvatore: I will always choose you.

Memory Lane

EDITED// 04-12-22

As promised, Stefan managed to teach Caroline the arts of control which meant we were allowed to see each other - just the two of us - in the Grill.

Just because she was a vampire didn't mean we couldn't continue with old traditions; if anything, it meant we could do it for longer.

While I was questioning the whole ordeal of being dead but still needing the toilet while Caroline was in the restroom, Damon walked into the Grill and headed straight for me.

"Morning, Smiley." He smirked and took the seat opposite.

"Morning."

"How's blondie? Outed me to the council yet?"

"Don't Damon." I warned him. He really did know how to sabotage relationships didn't he.

"I'm messing with you, Lil."

"What's up with the nicknames today?" I asked suspiciously - he liked to use his nicknames but he was using them far too frequently.

"No reason." Oh there was definitely a reason.

"What have you done now? Please don't tell me you've killed someone. You're chipper and that's dodgy."

"I can be happy without murdering anyone." He rolled his eyes. "But I have done something. See you at Jenna's barbecue." He smirked and without giving any more details, he left, leaving me to contemplate his words.

Jenna's barbecue? Jenna didn't even like him. What on earth was he talking about.

._.

"Thank you for letting me invite Caroline. She could use a day of distraction." I said to Jenna as we were getting the dishes ready for the food.

"Well, she's not the plus one I'm worried about. Why did I allow Ric to bring Damon?"

"Because Alaric is a pity taker. If I have to be here then you have to be nice to Damon." I tried to compromise.

"I'll be nice when Damon learns some manners and grows the balls to ask you out instead of playing with your emotions."

Damn, Jenna had no filter.

And when did she get so educated in the Damon and I situation.

"Good news! I found the shot glasses!" Mason chuffed as he walked into the kitchen, his arms raised showing off his new find.

"I'll let you guys catch up." I said politely and left the room. "We'll be needing the alcohol later."

Caroline arrived shortly and we sat on the stairs of the porch waiting for the food to be served.

"God! I cannot stop eating. Stefan says it's a great way to sublimate the cravings. It's horrible just fighting the urge for blood every minute of the day." Caroline ranted.

"You're doing really good, Care. I'm proud of you." I smiled sincerely causing her to grab me into a hug.

"I had to break up with Matt." She said sadly as she pulled away.

"Let's be honest, he isn't your type."

She tried to hide her grin but failed once Alaric announced that the food was ready.

"Finally, I'm starving."

._.

Damon and his bright ideas.

"Dress! Ballerina!" Jenna shouted out.

Yup, you guessed it.

"Puppy! Puppy with a tutu!" Caroline contributed, almost falling off the chair she was that far on the edge.

We were playing Pictionary.

"No, no." Damon shook his head and continued to add to his drawing.

"A dog! Hound-dog!" Jenna guessed again.

"'Dances with wolves.'" Mason said, sounding bored and fed up.

Exactly how Ric and I were feeling as we sat with our heads resting on our hands and watched as everyone - bar us - contributed to the game.

"Mason wins... again."

"How is that a wolf?" Jenna ridiculed as she took a closer look at Damon's non-existent artistic skills.

As everyone erupted into conversation I caught Damon's gaze and discreetly motioned to the kitchen with a nod of my head - he caught on and we both met in there not long after.

"Jenna's getting a bit tipsy." Damon smirked as he sat on top of the counter.

"Will you stop plying her with alcohol?"

"I want her to like me."

"I don't think getting her drunk will help. Speaking of bad ideas - what in the world are you doing? You're not exactly being discreet with Mason. Even a blind man would know you're up to something."

"Hey, it's not a bad plan; he's my best friend now. All I have to do now is put some silver in him and prove he is a werewolf." He shrugged as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

"And what if silver doesn't affect him? Garlic doesn't affect you." I pointed out.

"Have some faith." He suggested and walked back into the living room.

._.

For dessert Jenna had made pie which Damon served with a silver cake knife - this wasn't going to end well.

"Mason, why don't you start us off?" Damon said with a fake smile.

"Sure." He replied enthusiastically and grabbed the pie with his hands instead of the knife. "I apologise, I'm an animal."

"Where's Blondie, Lily?" Damon asked as he scanned the room.

"Oh, she's gone to drive Elena to your house - something about Stefan not replying all day."

A weird look appeared on his face but he shook it off quickly.

"So Mason, you and Jenna never dated?" Ric said, starting a new conversation topic - one I wasn't too keen to be part of.

"She was always lost in Logan Fell land." He laughed.

"My first mistake. Mason was a catch; he had girls lining up."

I mean if he looked like that when he was in high school then I'd want a piece of him too.

"Really? I always pegged you for a lone wolf." Could Damon be any more obvious.

"I'm sure I wasn't half the lady killer you were. What about you Lily? I'm sure you've got boys lining up all the way down the block for you."

"I wish." I chuckled. "Still as single as the day I came out the womb."

"Oh come on, there has to be at least one guy." Mason pushed, sounded astonished at what I was saying.

I looked to the floor anxiously for a moment and when I lifted my head back up I caught Damon's gaze. He looked guilty.

"Not yet." I smiled small and the room went into a silence; Ric looking at Damon suggestively and Jenna looking at me sadly.

Mason cleared his throat. "How about a toast? To new friends." He cheered and we all clinked glasses.

A/N

Short chapter but this episode was more about Stefan and Elena. Hope you enjoyed :)