The Promised One (Klaus Mikaelson/The Vampire Diaries)

Chapter Twenty Two

Seeing as they hadn't been able to have a dance with one another last night, Damon had picked up Madeline to take her to their well-loved dive bar that afternoon.

"Where are we going this time?" She jested.

"Err...where do you want to go? The possibilities are endless!"

"Our dive bar?"

"Hell yeah, it's only the best karaoke and dance club in the world!"

"Ah, you forgot to mention the fact that there's eighteen times as many chairs as there are people!"

"And you want to know something even more exciting?"

"What?"

"Look on the backseat, I got you a present."

"You got me a present? What have you done?"

"Can I not get my best friend a gift, just out of the kindness of my heart?"

Madeline scoffed, "No."

"Alright, fine, I'm just...I'm proud of you." He said, "For wanting to go to the clinic and...you know, help yourself. You've put everyone else before yourself, since you found out about vampires and..." He shrugged, "You finally did something for yourself."

She pinched his cheek, "Damon, look at you getting all soft-"

"-Alright, open it up while I stop my heart from trying to beat again."

She grabbed the box and settled it on her lap, "New shoes!"

"How do you even know that?" He complained, "You haven't even opened it yet!"

"It's a shoebox." She shot him a look, "And, you didn't tell me to 'grab my dancing shoes', before we left."

"Damn, I thought I was subtle."

She gasped when she opened the box and found a beautiful pair of pink silk ballet pumps, with long ribbons inside. "Oh my god, Damon! I could kiss you right now!"

"Well, pucker up princess, because I'm coming in for the kill-"

"-Damon."

"Right, too far. Got it."

About an hour later, and after they had finished boring the usual six other people with their singing on the karaoke machine, Damon informed her that Elena had woken up Elijah. Madeline sipped at the wine she had been served (he had compelled the bartenders to permanently serve her alcohol without asking for ID, the same as at the Mystic Grill). "Why? I mean, I don't mind, I kind of liked him."

"Because he has a way to save her without using Bonnie." He explained. "Anyway, this afternoon is about having fun! We don't need to talk about this stuff, let's dance!"

They danced until the early hours of the evening, and drank a few glasses...but Madeline couldn't help but feel as though something was off.

"Alright, what is it?" She demanded the Salvatore. "You're not being you. What have you done?"

"Why does everyone just assume that I've done something?"

"Damon."

"Okay, yeah, well it is usually me."

"So, speak up. What is it this time?"

"What makes you think something's wrong?"

"You're drinking vodka."

He sighed, "I just feel...guilty."

She mock fell off of her chair, "Umm...who are you and what have you done with Damon Salvatore?"