A/N (Please read entirely): This story, while a sequel to Invisible Control, is written to stand on its own. If you are interested the first installment is almost 450k words and covers seasons 1 and 2. It took a year to compose and I don't expect my readers to remember it all, when I have trouble doing so. As such, all the vital information from the first story is outlined in this chapter as a refresher for old readers and to catch up new ones.

May 1st, 2010

Damon is saved from the werewolf bite because Stefan gave himself over to Klaus in exchange for the crue.

May 4th, 2010

Perplexed by the odd thumping sound in the drum mix she had just recorded, Addie dragged her cursor over the progress bar, dragging the line of play to the beginning. For the next playback she removed the sound from the bass drum; perhaps the microphone had picked up some weird echo. The loop played for thirty seconds, the odd thumping sound sound still present. Addie restarted the track, this time turning off the snare drum. The sound seemed to deep to be the the high-hats or crash cymbal. Addie clamped her hands over the bulking headphones she used for mixing. The thumping sound was still present but it seemed to have sped up. Annoyed, she stopped all sound. But the thumping persisted.

Groaning, Addie pulled of her headphones and set them on her desk. The sound was coming from someone pounding at her door. Scowling she went to open the door. If it was Elena trying to talk to her again Addie wasn't going to bite her tongue. Her sister had tried to talk to her about John and Jenna twice since Damon had been cured; she wasn't interested in Elena trying to reattribute the blame to someone else. Addie reconsidered simply opening the door as she unlocked it; she'd made Damon replace the doorknob he broke. Determining if she actually wanted to talk to the person on the other side she called out, "What's the password?"

"Um… You drive me ten types of crazy? Converse and plaid? I love you?"

"Alright, alright, alright. Stop guessing," Addie grinned, opening the door for Damon. "You're very bad at it."

"Aww," Damon grinned shutting the door behind him. "I missed you, too."

"I just saw you last night; that doesn't give me very much time to miss you," Addie retorted smartly. Still, her arms wrapped around him as he pulled her into a tight hug. Mentally she went through the checklist she had created; he was slightly cool to the touch, his heartbeat was strong, steady, and a little faster than hers, and the grip around her was able to hold her tight. Each time she inventoried Damon's health a rush of relief washed over her. He was ok; the cure hadn't worn off.

"It's been over 18 hours. That's plenty of time!" he insisted as he moved to her laptop. "Besides, we both know how much you'd miss me if I wasn't here," Damon winked. He rolled his eyes slightly as he unplugged the headphones. "No wonder I was knocking for five minutes. You're gonna go deaf one day if you don't learn to keep the volume down."

Addie picked up the laptop and moved to sit on her bed as she pointed out, "Ideal mixing volume is 85 decibels. If I don't mix at that level then things start sounding screwed up at different volumes. Most people don't listen to music that loudly but sounds that you can individually make out at 85 decibels make a difference to what everything sounds like at a typical listening level."

"My point still stands; you're gonna go deaf," Damon noted, stretching out on the bed next to Addie and draping an arm over her shoulders. Casually he question, "Have you written to Mr. Nik Mikaelson about how awesome you are and thank him for the scholarship that means so much to you because it gets you out of playing with wolves, vampires, hybrids, and everything else that goes bump in the night?"

"I'm not taking the scholarship," Addie muttered as she opened up the web browser to Google.

"Uh, yeah, you are," declared Damon, giving her a stern look. "You promised me."

She shrugged dismissively, "I thought you were gonna die. I would have promised you the moon if it made you happy. Besides, I can't go with everything going on here."

"Addison, I've done some pretty intense things to keep my promises to you. You're not gonna keep one simple promise that means a lot to me?"

Addie made sure her eyes were wide and concerned as she looked at Damon innocently, "That was before Klaus took Stefan. I can't leave you alone to try and rescue him."

Damon leaned in to softly kiss her. She was sweet and adorable and she wasn't fooling him, He pulled away with a knowing smirk and elaborated, "You mean you don't trust me not to do something reckless without you playing Jiminy Cricket in my ear."

His cheek was cool and scruffy beneath her hand. He hadn't shaved since he found out about Stefan. He hadn't done much of anything but swing from the extremes of wallowing in despair and avidly searching for any clue as to where his brother was. Addie gave him a sympathetic smile; her heart ached for him. She whispered, "You don't have to hide how much you're hurting with smiles and wit, not with me." Damon's smirk fell as he dropped his forehead to rest against hers with a heavy sigh. Her thumb brushed lightly over his frown before she continued, "No matter what I say or do, you're going to do something reckless. Nothing is going to stop you from getting Stefan back, not even your love for me. We both know no matter what stupid thing you do, I'm going to forgive you. Stefan is your brother and, as much as I may hate what you do, I'm not going to hold trying to save your brother against you. I want to be around to help you, to encourage you when you lose hope, to track down leads with you. You don't need a babysitter. I want to be here because I care about you."

There was another light pressing of lips before Damon was quiet for several minutes, deep in thought. It was understandable why she wanted to be with him and he appreciated that. However, he couldn't go chasing down every lead if she was in Mystic Falls. Addie would want to go with him and he obviously wouldn't stand for that; he didn't know if Stefan was a threat to Addie but Klaus definitely was. He needed to keep the two as far apart as possible. Damon wasn't sure how many times he could get away without her noticing. School was about to end so he wouldn't even have that time break from her to get away. How many times would Addie forgive him for running after Klaus and Stefan without her? It was one thing for him to risk his own life for Stefan; it was another thing entirely to risk hers. She wouldn't see it that way though. Addie would want to be the Bonnie to his Clyde. He had to get her to go to London..

"You really believe I don't need a babysitter?" he teased.

"Fair enough. You need a babysitter but it's pointless since you wouldn't listen anyway."

"Ads, you promised me that you would go to the music program. I need you to keep that promise. Do you know how guilty I would feel if you were deprived of such an experience just to stay and help me? Addie, you need to go and do this. Think of everything you will learn, the connections you'll make, and how good it will look on college applications. Come on, love. You're strong minded and independent enough to know that you would be a fool to waste this opportunity because of a guy." Damon felt her shoulders tense as her lips pinched. That was the angle he needed to exploit, that she needed to put herself before him. "This is so much bigger than you and me. If Stefan's still missing when you get back, I know you will be right by my side doing everything you can. I'll be ok; it's only for part of the summer. You can bet Elena is going to kick my ass back into gear if I get discouraged. And Alaric will have my back if I go after Stefan; you know he won't let me run into something without a good plan."

Pulling back from him Addie scoffed, "Alaric helps with your stupid plans!"

He couldn't come up with a valid argument against that. It was perhaps better that he change the topic and let the idea of not staying behind because of himself marinate. "How is it having your history teacher sleeping on your couch?"

She laughed, "It's a lot less awkward than running into him in his boxers. But seriously, it's kinda nice having Alaric here. He's not family but there is an adult around, even if he doesn't act like an authoritative figure. The only thing weird is when he tries to get me to talk about the ritual and Klaus. He tries to act like a therapist. I find that a good point in time to pawn him off on Jeremy or Elena."

"Ever consider that he's not trying to be a therapist but actually cares about you and how you are handling everything?" Damon postulated as he rubbed at his chin.

"He tried to kill me," reminded Addie.

Damon frowned, "I thought you were over that."

"I am but I hardly think it means we're gonna be best buddies. You don't almost kill someone and then care about them." Damon cleared his throat. "You're not right in the head; you don't count."

"Couldn't you argue that anyone who tries to kill someone isn't right in the head? Besides, Alaric staked you to hurt me for killing his wife. It had nothing to do with you."

"Why are you questioning me about Alaric?" she demanded, not in the mood for whatever game he was playing.

"Because your siblings seem to get that he cares about you guys. You don't and that's just…. I'm pretty sure he cares about you most. Partly because he feels bad for almost killing you and partly because you're you."

"How do you know?"

Damon thought as he guided her head to his shoulder and ran his fingers through her hair. He chuckled, "Addie, the guy's my best friend. He doesn't ride me about any of the crap I do but he's always on my ass about you. If I hurt you, I don't know which of you would kill me first. He always worries if I'm treating you alright and warns me not to screw anything up with you. Why would he do that if he doesn't care?"

"Ok," Addie conceded, "he cares. Why are we talking about Alaric?"

That was a valid point; they had plenty of more important things that they needed to discuss. He wondered, "Did Jeremy or Bonnie tell you about the locator spell we used to find you?"

"No. Wasn't it just like the locator spell used when Rose and Trevor took Elena?"

"Same spell, different process. We started looking for you after Elena came back to life. I was pretty worried as you hadn't been answering my text or your phone and you weren't in the middle of all the trouble. Bonnie tried finding you with Elena's blood but couldn't. She tried using Jeremy's blood and it still wouldn't work," Damon relayed, struggling to find the words to continue.

Addie blinked slowly as she studied the bright Google homepage. Something about Damon's story didn't add up. "Then how'd you find me?"

"My blood."

"You're blood?" she echoed skeptically.

"My blood."

Putting her laptop aside Addie pulled her knees up to her chest and rested a chin on one. She raked an anxious hand through her hair as she thought, "Why your blood? It's suppose to be tracked by blood relatives. Oh, gross. We must share an ancestor whose blood we both have. Prior to your birth a Gilbert and Salvatore must have…. How distantly related are we?"

Damon rolled his eyes as he rested his head against the headboard. While he understood her need for everything to be rational and logical and appreciated it as it had kept him from doing some very rash things, Addie could sometimes take her need for sense so far that she missed why her logic was faulty. He reassured her, "We're not related."

"The spell is blood magic; we have to be,"' she insisted her brow furrowing.

"First of all, no Salvatores were in Mystic Falls until my parents moved here when my mother was already pregnant with me. Secondly, it's supposed to work by blood magic but your biological brother's blood and your biological cousin's blood failed to produce results," Damon pointed out slowly. "Somehow my blood tracked you, though."

Addie scoffed, "Well what the hell does that mean? This is why I don't like the supernatural crap. When something is supposed to make sense and work, the world gets flipped upside down."

Sensing the anxiety in her voice, Damon rubbed small, soothing circles on her back. Would telling her make things better or worse? He'd let her pick. "I don't have any proof," he started hesitantly, "but do you want to hear my theory of possibilities?"

"Sure because I don't have a damn clue," she answered sourly. She didn't want to be some abnormal freak with bizarre blood. It wasn't something she couldn't escape, though. She had known for a long time that something wasn't right.

"I'll start with the facts; those are easier to comprehend," Damon said sympathetically. He knew this was going to be a struggle for her to accept. "My active compulsion, meaning something you were consciously aware of doing or feeling, like the compulsion to take control of your life, wore off whenever you would drink my blood. Compulsion where I made you forget something stayed. I think that was because the memories were literally gone, you couldn't remember. The compulsion that changed your behavior or sensations was something your brain was processing so it was still there to be undone. We know that there is already something unusual about that; drinking my blood shouldn't mess with compulsion.

"We learned from Katherine that you could learn to resist compulsion entirely by me repeatedly compelling you and feeding you my blood. We did that. Over that time period you took in more vampire blood than any human typically would, even if they were a feeder.

"Now, when we started trying to get you to resist compulsion your blood smell poisonously sweet. I tried it when I bit you and it was like I had an allergic reaction with my throat swelling shut. As soon as you were able to resist compulsion, your blood smelled as sweet as a vampire's and I could drink it without any reaction.

"We have you able to resist compulsion from ingesting my blood and as a result I am able to ingest your blood. Now, let's step outside to a world of conjecture. While none of this is logical, one thing remains constant in the supernatural and real world: survival of the fittest. Knowing that, It makes very little sense as to why something that protected you from being eaten by vampires should vanish when you gain the ability to keep vampires out of your head."

Damon paused briefly before quickly saying, "Brief side note on abilities, we're just talking about what's going on with your blood. You still have the ability to perceive deception from vampires. Deception includes hiding what they are so I'm adding it to the list of, for a lack of a better word, survival aids."

Addie groaned, resting her forehead on her knees and burying her fingers in her hair. "The blood, Damon. The blood. Can we focus on one of many problems at a time?"

"I wouldn't call that a problem but we do have a problem with your blood," he admitted, conflicted on which direction to steer the conversation.

"Oh, my God! On topic, please. Why did your blood work when my siblings' didn't?" snapped Addie, frustrated and queasy feeling about the entire conversation.

It took Damon a minute to gather where he left of and to compose something that Addie would accept. He could sense how upset the conversation was making her. There wasn't any simple way to put it. Finally he explained, "I know this sounds ridiculous but think about how much of my blood you've had. Think about how my blood healed you from the edge of death. My blood has done a lot to you several times. My blood conditioned you to be resistant to compulsion. What if it did something more? What if my blood changed yours? There's no sensible explanation as to why you can resist compulsion. The closest thing I've been able to come up with is that you're biologically different from the rest of the population. For some reason vampire blood undoes compulsion. My theory is that it undoes it because your body accepts the blood more readily than an average person. In an average person it just gives the vampire ability of rapid healing; in you it heals and gives you the vampire ability of resisting compulsion, meaning you can't be compelled, which is why it undoes the compulsion.

Warily Addie said, "Damon-"

"I know it's not logical. Being a vampire isn't logical. Addie, you have to accept that whatever happened is not logical. I'm just conjecturing possibilities that make the most sense," he stressed. He was trying his best to answer her question, to explain what happened to her but for that he needed her to open her mind. "My blood has been in you so much that it's become a part of yours." He was no biologist but from his time with the Augustine Society he knew that it was vampire blood that rapidly duplicated to heal someone; it wasn't their body making more of their own blood. Eventually the vampire blood would leave the system, which is why it wasn't a cure for chronic, persistent illnesses

"Each time I compelled and healed you, you needed less of my blood. Logically, my blood would have left your system but what if each time some of my blood lingered. You already had some of my blood in you to heal you, which is why you had to lose less blood each time and needed less of my blood. What was still in you would have automatically started healing you." The incredulous look from Addie made him groan. "Stop trying to make this rational! Logic isn't the answer!" Damon snapped. "And stop looking at me like I'm crazy. Let me explain why I think my blood must be in you. Or some protein that makes me a vampire attached itself to your DNA."

Addie move to rest her head in Damon's lap. Everything he was saying didn't make sense and it was making her head hurt trying to understand. The pain began to instantly ease when his cool hand rested over her forehead. She loved how he knew exactly what she needed sometimes. Addie sighed, "Make it fast."

"If I go fast I skip the possible reasoning," he said apologetically. He wasn't sure if her dismissive meant she didn't care or if she wanted the reasoning. It wasn't difficult to tell she wanted the conversation to end but he needed something first. "If you have vampire blood/DNA, I've explained why it would make you resist compulsion. I think it's more likely that their has been a shift in your DNA though. Attaching a vampire protein to your DNA would, in my mind, would neutralize whatever it is that makes your blood dangerous to vampires. That's why I can drink your blood.

"If your DNA was altered, maybe it was so dramatic that it made the locator spell not recognize you as a relative to Jeremy or Elena. It recognized me, though, because you are carrying a protein unique to me and vampirism. .

Addie turned her head to look up at Damon speculatively. "Let me see if I follow. I consumed so much of your blood that when it mixed with mine, my DNA picked up whatever makes you resistant to compulsion." Damon nodded affirmatively. "And that change in my DNA makes me not recognizable by my siblings because because a portion of my DNA is part vampire?"

"Right. They're both fully human; your DNA has something extra. I have that extra something, making us a blood match, at least that's the term I'm using. Follow everything so far?" he asked, smiling down at her and poking the tip of her nose.

"If everything means my DNA has some of your in it, explaining the compulsion and why your blood worked for the spell, yes," she answered, trying not to giggle at the feeling of him playing with her belly button ring.

"Very good. But going back to what I said about one defense mechanism, poisonous blood, being cancelled by a new defense, compulsion resistance is the one thing I can definitively say makes no sense, magical or real. Now, this idea is bizarre but it's what I'm hoping for. What if your blood is still poisonous to every other vampire except me?"

Addie toyed with the hem of his shirt as she considered the idea. Not understanding she inquired, "How do you figure this possible?"

"Say the DNA of mine mixed with yours is unique to me and not every other vampire. Maybe it makes your blood safe for me to drink because I'm essentially a part of your blood. Every other vampire remains allergic, meaning you still have the defense mechanism. In the survival of the fittest argument, it's probably safe to assume that I'm not going to eat you and there is a bond of trust between us because of how much I was around your blood and how much you had to trust me to not let you die. Agree?" Damon finished hopefully.

"Makes as much sense as anything else," she muttered bitterly. "My apologies but I think I will trust in vervain to make sure my blood is toxic and a vampire doesn't eat me."

Damon frowned as he spelled out her name on her cheek with his finger tip. He reminded, "The whole point we carried on trying to make you resistant to compulsion was so you wouldn't have to spend the rest of your life on vervain. If my theory is right, that's still possible. Don't you even want to test my theory?"

Her lips pursed in thought; she really hated having to rely on something for her safety. "How do we test your theory?"

Damon bit his lip and inhaled sharply. She wouldn't like his idea. He drew out "Yeahhh, about that. See, we only know where one other vampire is right now." He continued on despite Addie already shaking her head. "I happen to be her blood supplier. Wouldn't it just be an amazing coincidence if a blood bag had just a tiny amount of your blood in it?"

"No, we are not testing your theory on Caroline," she answered firmly.

"She would experience a minor discomfort for the briefest of time. I swallowed a whole mouthful back when it was poisonous and it didn't do any permanent damage. Addie, it's a few seconds of discomfort for Caroline or your life on vervain," Damon pressed.

"No, I can't do that without her permission."

Sighing heavily, Damon cupped her cheek. "We've already established that anyone finding out about your compulsion thing is a bad idea. This is just like that. You know if you asked her Caroline would agree."

Addie frowned, "Why can't we just ask her? She can-"

"That girl cannot keep a secret. I never had to compel her to say anything I told her to keep just between us. You're the one who said 'one can keep a secret, beware of two, and all will know with three.'"

"That was from a book; you totally butchered the quote. And I don't like being reminded of your time with Caroline; she does it more times than I could ever care to hear."

"What does she say?" Damon asked curiously. He couldn't remember doing anything with or to or telling Caroline anything he would mind Addie knowing but it was interesting that she brought him up.

Addie scoffed, "She is far too interested in our sex life or lack thereof. Caroline questions why I'm with you if not for the sex." He couldn't help the arrogant smirk. "Really, that's two of your ex-partners who are more invested in our sex life than you are."

"Katherine say something?" She nodded. "Ignore her…. Ignore Caroline. It's none of their business."

Bitterly Addie muttered, "There's no business to be had."

"I'm not having this discussion again. You aren't ready."

"No, I am ready. You're the one with the personal hang ups," she retorted, poking him in the center of his chest. "Really, it's a bit of a blow to the ego to be reminded by them that they've slept with you when you either can't or won't with me."

Damon looked up at the plastic stars on the ceiling and groaned. He really didn't want to get into conversation with her about it. Bit by bit his hangups about her being too childish, too innocent, too pure were breaking away. "When you can say how you feel about me, we'll revisit the topic," he decided. That'd hopefully buy him a year. She had barely been able to face the fact that she loved him at his deathbed; no way was she going to be shouting it out anytime soon. Wanting to change the topic he asked, "Are you gonna give me a vial of blood or stay on vervain for eternity?"

"Fine," she scowled. It probably wouldn't hurt Caroline at all.

"I love it when you work with rather than against me," Damon mused as he pulled out a packaged needle, alcohol swab and corked vial from his pocket.

Addie watch in disbelief as he took her arm and rubbed the alcohol swab over the veins at her elbow. "You seriously were carrying that around with you?"

"Yeah," he answered, opening the needle. "We need to know if you should be on vervain or not as soon as possible."

"You know, I'm getting the feeling this has more to do with you not wanting me on vervain than caring about if I have to take it for the rest of my life," she uttered to herself. Addie screwed her eyes shut as she felt a sharp sting. The vial could be heard clicking into place. There was absolutely no desire to see her blood flow into the tube. Sometimes she still wondered how she could date a vampire and be squeamish of blood at the same time.

"That," Damon said slowly, removing the needle and pricking his own finger, "is not true." Addie swipe her tongue across his fingertip and felt the puncture heal. "I'm not… we haven't even… nevermind."

Addie raised her eyebrows at him and pushed, "You mean we haven't discussed you drinking my blood?"

Damon held his hands up innocently after setting the needle and vial on the nightstand. "That is something entirely up to you."

"I don't mind if you drink from me occasionally," she admitted. She actually kind of enjoyed it. "But I don't want you feeding on me."

"If you're head was not in my lap I'd kiss you until you were breathless," said Damon seriously. The way her cheeks pinked made him grin. "I, somehow, ended up with the most amazing girl in the world."

Addie frowned and joked, "That probably means I should really examine my choices. I must be insane."

"We both are," Damon replied carelessly as he reached for her laptop and set it on his lower thighs. In the Google search box he put in the name Liz had given him.

"Who's Tara Miller?"

"Victim of a vampire attack," Damon answered distractedly. Clicking open the first news article he skimmed for the information he was looking for. He did the same with the next, finding what he wanted. "A victim of Stefan. He and Klaus are in Oregon."

"How do you know," Addie questioned as he clicked on another link.

Damon sighed heavily, "I have Liz looking out for vampire deaths. Apparently there is some nation wide network of somebody who knows somebody who knows something. She gave me the name of Tara Miller who was found dead inside her home this morning. The news doesn't say anything about her being drained of blood but Liz knows she was and I know Stefan did it. See, even when he's in Ripper Mode and chews straight through someone's neck, he has this horrible guilt that makes him set the body back up in a presentable way with the decapitated head in place."

"Gruesome. However, I think I would rather find the head and body separate. You go to touch someone, thinking their throat has been sliced and the head comes rolling off? Sounds like something straight out of a horror movie. I prefer dead things to not move around unexpectedly," Addie reflected.

"Ok, I'm gonna warn you. I'm going to put the laptop next to you and then I'm gonna kiss you," Damon said slowly, as if explaining to a child.

It took Addie a second to register why he was warning her; he was dead, technically. She swatted at him lightly and laughed, "You know what I mean!"

May 8th, 2010

Confusion and concern overwhelmed Damon when he entered the kitchen Saturday morning. Addie sat on the counter top staring into a pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream, Cautiously he greeted, "You know, it's a much better experience waking up to you in bed with me rather than finding you in the kitchen eating my Cherry Garcia."

"I didn't want to wake you. And I finished my chocolate," Addie muttered, not looking up from the container.

"Whoa. You're already on your second pint of ice cream and it's only ten," Damon observed dramatically as he took the spoon from her and scooped out a bite. "You know, if you don't slow down you're gonna be on your sixth by noon and that is five too many above the running limit." She didn't respond. Gently, Damon took the melting treat from her, set it on the counter and wrapped her arms around his neck as he stood between her legs. Addie continued to stare at where the container had been. He frowned as he tilted her chin up to meet his eyes. "You wanna tell me why you're eating Cherry Garcia when you detest all things cherry?"

"I finished my chocolate," she repeated.

Damon studied her, truly baffled as to what was wrong. He hadn't seen her since Tuesday as he didn't want to interfere with her studying for finals and the previous night had been the last girl's night before Bonnie left for the summer. Her stress was over. Could Bonnie's leaving have her that upset? Her pulled her into a hug and she buried her face where his neck and shoulder met. Something was obviously wrong but he had come to learn that Addie reacted better when she told him in her own time as opposed to him pressing her for information.

After almost ten minutes Damon could barely make out Addie's mumbled, "I read Elena's diary for the first time since you had us move in."

"Mhm," he encouraged, rubbing her back. He should have known it had something to do with Elena.

"I wanna feel guilty and bad about her losing Stefan but that's pretty hard to do when her diary screams of her pining for you," she muttered, holding him tighter afraid he might run to her sister.

"'I thought she was over that...me...whatever. She seems happy for us," Damon noted, wondering if Addie's jealousy had caused her to misinterpret her sister's writings.

Addie laughed humorlessly, "She's happy that you're unavailable because it makes her choice easier.

Damon bit back a groan. He really couldn't see how Katherine had fun putting him and Stefan against each other. At one point he would have appreciated Elena's feelings but that had passed. "Even if you and I weren't together she wouldn't have a choice. I'm not interested in her anymore."

There was a list of people, including Elena, that would or had suggested otherwise but Addie didn't want to fight with him about whether he did or did not have feelings for Elena. "That's not the important part. She blames me for Klaus' taking Stefan and thinks you should blame me too."

"What is it with you two and wanting to blame the other for everything?" Damon asked sharply, pulling away. Addie raised her eyebrows at him in a challenge. If she got angry with him, that would be her problem and she'd get over. He carried on with his voice slowly becoming louder, "For someone who speaks so much of logic and wants to make sense of everything, you completely ignore that when it comes to blaming Elena for everyone dying. Your parents? Car accident. Jenna? Klaus. John? Saving his daughter. I get how you want to blame her and I see how it can make sense to but, Addie, you need to grow up. See, this is why I won't sleep with you. Most of the time you act far older than you actually are but then you say or do something that reminds me you're a kid."

They stared at each other for a moment. Damon could feel his heart slamming against his chest; he didn't recall ever going off on Addie since they had been together. He definitely never yelled at her before. Ignoring Damon's comment seemed a more appealing option than fighting with him about it. Instead she focused on his main argument, asking, "Since you're the new expert in logic riddle me this: did Elena lose her boyfriend so I could keep mine?"

"Which of you came up with that?" he questioned dejectedly, running his hands up and down her jean clad outer thighs. Once again Addie had left him in surprise; though, she had always seemed to prefer fighting over things that didn't really matter. They probably wouldn't still be together if she argued with him over the important aspects of his personality, rash actions or their relationship.

"Which one of us thinks the world revolves around them?"

"Elena doesn't - " Damon cut himself off due to the cold glare he received. Trying to convince her to be on better terms with Elena was futile. One day, perhaps, but she needed to let go of her anger first. It had taken him facing death to let go of his anger with Stefan; hopefully Addie was more sensible than he was. Damon refocused on her original question as he studied her. The odd behavior, the wringing of her hands, and the refusal to meet his gaze all suggested one thing. Gently he took her face in his hands and stared at her until she reluctantly met his gaze. "I'm only going to tell you this once because any idea besides the truth is ridiculous. What Stefan did had nothing to do with Elena or you. Stefan gave up his freedom so that I could live. He didn't leave his girlfriend so I could be with mine; that's just an unfortunate side effect. Addie, Elena's hurting from losing Stefan. You live with her; it's easier for her to blame losing Stefan on you than blaming the one responsible: Klaus. She can't do anything to Klaus but she can hurt you. But, Ads, you're not guilty of anything."

"But Stefan traded himself for the cure to your werewolf bite which you never…,"Addie trailed off, remembering why he had really went after Caroline and Tyler; to get Elena to forgive him for feeding her his blood.

Damon went to kiss her, but he turned her head and he got her cheek. "Jealousy isn't attractive on you."

Addie was quick to retort, "You sure thought it was when it was over Katherine."

"You were being possessive then. Now, you're being jealous. Addie, I understand the insecurity you're feeling; I felt it when Katherine toyed with Stefan and me. I've already explained the way I feel about Elena and you know it doesn't compare to how I feel about you. I'm not going to constantly defend myself. Can you accept that while I love you and I'm in love with you, a tiny part of me will always care about Elena?" he demanded. He wasn't going to deal with Addie doubting his feelings. It was a small step from doubting him to accusing him of cheating and he would never do that to her.

"Do I have a choice?"

"That depends. If you can't accept it then we can't be together. However, I don't want you to just say you're ok with it and not mean it because you want to stay together." Addie didn't respond after several moments. Suddenly he asked, "Did you write that thank you letter and send in the release form to London?"

"Yeah," Addie admitted quietly. "I don't want to leave my family and you behind with everything that's going on but I'd be a fool not to take this opportunity."

Damon nodded understandingly. Cupping her cheek he assured, "You're making the right choice. It's a chance of a lifetime. I hate to point this out but I know you're going to notice anyways and we need to be on the same page. You will be gone for half of the summer. Stefan is gone until further notice. Bonnie's with her family. And Alaric is half out of his mind with grief. I am the only option when it comes to someone watching out for Jeremy and Elena. Addie, I'm gonna watch them just as close as I would watch you because I know it would kill you if something happened to them. Now understand the close proximity your sister and I will be in."

Addie raised her eyebrows at him in surprise. "You think I'm going to think you're cheating on me?"

"Can you blame me? You know a small part of me will always have feelings for her, We both know my reputation. And if Elena really does have feelings for me… You can see how easy it would be to assume that I'm cheating on you," he explained disappointingly.

Addie scoffed, "You know that line that you always cross and I always forgive you for? Cheating on me is too far across the line for me to ever forgive you. I do have an ounce of self-respect."

"I would never cheat on you," Damon insisted urgently. "I'm just afraid that-"

With a soft, "Shhh," she placed a finger against Damon's lips. When she was certain he wasn't going to talk, Addie buried her hand in the back of Damon's soft, raven hair and pulled him in for a kiss. His lips were soft and he tasted like toothpaste. When his cool hands nudged up her shirt to settle on her waist Addie shivered and felt her heartbeat quicken, His grip tighten when she caught his bottom lip between her teeth. There was a rumble in his chest as she bit gently at it. Satisfied, Addie took her hands off him and pulled away. Damon followed her, trying to continue the kiss. Teasingly she let her lips brush his in a near kiss before moving out of his reach.

"Tease," he muttered.

"That was not teasing," she laughed. "I know you're not going to cheat on me, especially with my sister. A small part of you feels for her but I know you care about me so much more. I know your reputation and it might have made me worry at first but I trust you. You hate seeing me upset. You'd hate yourself if you caused my pain. What I'm afraid of is my sister trying to make a move on you. She hurts me and gets you; two birds with one stone. But that isn't going to happen."

Damon sighed, resting his forehead on her shoulder, "You seem so certain and confident in me."

"Mhm," she hummed in agreement, playing with her hair. "Should I not be?"

"It's going to be really lonely without you. I already miss you living here. I miss falling asleep with you in my arms. I miss seeing your face the moment I wake. I miss hearing about your day over dinner. I miss reading with you while you do your homework. I miss you. At least I get to see you but in just over a week it's going to be, like, eight weeks before I see you again. That's gonna be pure agony," he muttered. "I… at one point I never would spend all that time alone but now I'm willing to wait for you. I know how you make me feel and I know that I don't want to lose you. Bearing the loneliness is entirely worth the happiness I'll experience when you return. I just don't get how you have such faith in me. Or how you always understand me."

"You know why," Addie whispered.

"I know why but I don't understand how you got to that place."

Addie laughed slightly, "Neither do I but I know how you make me feel so the why doesn't matter."

Damon gave a whiny groan,"Ugh! What am I going to do without you?"

"Don't worry; I'm sure my sister will stroke your ego."

May 18th,

The rise and fall of Damon's chest with each breath was mesmerizing. She'd memorize the image. Careful not to wake him, Addie softly lay her hand over his heart and felt the muscle pulsate beneath her hand in a steady rhythm. A rough guess put his pulse at almost 100 beats per minute. She'd memorize that and the way his heartbeat felt under her hand. Her eyes moved up to his face, taking in his strong jawline and angular features. She'd memorize them too. She'd memorize the slight pout of his bottom lip.

"You're staring," Damon muttered, his voice rough from sleep. He turned towards his nightstand and through one partially open eye looked at the clock. He groaned; he loved Addie but he did not care for her sleeping issues. "You're staring at me at three in the morning."

"Sorry," Addie whispered as she curled against and rested her head on his chest. Damon's hand stroked her hair. "Didn't mean to wake you."

He grunted in acknowledgement. He tried to go back to sleep but her finger tracking the waistband of his boxers was distracting. "Addison," he uttered sternly, effectively making her stop. Damon tried again to sleep but each time he was on the precipice her hand would move from his stomach to under her cheek to his waist. It was obvious that she was restless and wouldn't be sleeping any time soon. Knowing he would regret it Damon asked, "Why are you awake at three in the morning?"

Simply Addie answered, "It's eight in the morning. In London, at least."

"We are not in London. We are in Virginia where it is three. Switch time zones when you get to London. Go back to sleep."

"I can't. I'm trying to get my sleep schedule to fit with London hours so I don't have jet lag."

Damon groaned; of course his girlfriend would be anally obsessed with order. Addie wouldn't deal with jet lag like a normal person. No, she'd come up with some plan to fight it so her days and nights weren't out of sync because that would border on chaos. "Alright," he yawned in defeat. "You win. I'm up."

"Don't be ridiculous. Sleep," she urged.

"I can't do that with you staring at me or moving every two minutes."

"I'll go downstairs," Addie offered, moving to roll away from him.

Half asleep still, Damon's reflexes were slightly slowed but he still managed to catch her around the waist and turned so her back was flush with his chest. His lips twitched upwards as he caught a whiff of her cucumber melon shampoo as he laid his head closer to hers. "Nuh-uh. You're not going anywhere."

Despite scooting closer to him as he spooned her Addie protested, "You need sleep. I don't want you falling asleep driving me to the airport."

"I'll be fine," he asserted, moving her hair out of her face and off her neck. Damon placed a gentle kiss just behind her ear and smirked at the slight tremble that ran through her. "I'll have plenty of time to sleep when you're gone. What I won't be able to do is kiss you."

"How interesting," Addie gasped in mock awe. "I was not aware that I was gonna have to go forever without kissing my boyfriend. I should totally take advantage of the time I have now. But," Addie smirked, pulling her shoulder up to her ear, blocking Damon from pressing more teasing kisses, "it is three in the morning and good girlfriend would insist that her boyfriend sleep."

Damon chuckled, "You realize we are both only good partners in the most dysfunctional sense? Thus, you being a good girlfriend would mean letting me kiss you."

"My God," she muttered, twisting on to her back and studying the wicked grin he gave her, "I just realized what it must be like for you half the time I talk. That made absolutely no sense. One thought had no logical connection to the other. It's like you forgot to say the majority of the conversation."

"Very annoying, isn't it?" Damon grinned, propping himself up on an elbow to look down at her.

She shook her head. "Not at all. It's rather endearing," Addie answered in a sweet, innocent voice. It was only because he knew her that Damon could detect the sarcasm.

His hand cupped the side of her face as his thumb swept over her cheek. The arrogant grinned had softened to a small smile of adoration. "It is endearing," he admitted sincerely. "It can be annoying, just like every other aspect of you, and drive me ten types of crazy but at the end of the day it's all endearing. It's what makes you my Ads. I wouldn't have you any other way."

"Do you know that you frustrate the hell out of me?" she asked lightly. Her hand slipped behind his neck and Addie gently pulled him closer.

"We both know that you'd hate me if I didn't bother you so much," Damon whispered. He kissed her cheek. Her forehead. Her eyelids. The corner of her mouth.

"We are so wrong."

"Mhm," he agreed, softly brushing his lips against hers. His mouth moved against hers as he murmured, "Neither one of us could function in a normal relationship. We are perfectly broken. We are so wrong, it's right."

Addie tilted her head, pressing her lips firmer against hie. Damon responded instantly, trying to convey everything he felt. It was a slow, lazy kiss. There was no rush to finish, to face the majority of the summer apart.

After several minutes Damon broke off the kiss with a whiny moan, resting his forehead against hers.

"What?" Addie whispered, his five o'clock shadow tickling at her palm.

Petulantly he decided, "I don't want you to go."

She scoffed at this in surprise. "You're the one who pushed me to do this. You practically packed my bags."

"I changed my mind. I want you to stay home and I can come and see you whenever I want."

Home. Part of the reason Addie had decided to go was because of how bad the tension was at her house. It was a matter of time before her and Elena got into a fight as both were so angry. And Jeremy, who usually would have intervened to mediate, seemed to be on another planet. He wasn't doing drugs like after their parent's death but something was up with him. There was also the mess that was her history teacher sleeping on the couch. Her house felt more like a war zone than home. The only place that felt right was when she was with Damon, and that wasn't nearly enough due to how focused he'd been on tracking Stefan.

Addie pushed at Damon's shoulder until he was lying back on his side. Immediately his arm curled around her waist and his hand slipped under his shirt she wore. Damon wanted to move, to pull her closer, to kiss her, but the way Addie chewed at her lip told him something was wrong. He tried to figure out where he had screwed up but he couldn't find the moment. Giving up he inquired, "What's wrong?" She pushed at his shoulder again, guiding him to his back. "Ads?" Addie leaned over Damon and caught his lips. As much as he wanted to let her deepen the kiss, to feel her hand running across his chest, he couldn't let it happen. Cradling her face in his hands he gently pulled her mouth from his as he caressed her cheek. He repeated more insistently, "What's wrong?"

Confused, Addie stared at him blankly for a minute. What was wrong? "Home," she muttered. "Home doesn't feel like home anymore. It's just a house with four dysfunctional people. The love, the warmth, the desire to be there, missing home? None of that is there anymore. But you, when I'm with you I feel everything I used to feel at home. I feel safe and warm and comfortable and special. I never felt special at home; Elena was the special one at home. And with you I have a sense of peace or something; I don't know. I just know I feel less anxious. With you feels like home should."

Damon leaned in quickly and firmly kissed her. The way her words had affected him was more than he could put into words. It was awful that she didn't have that sense of home with her family anymore but he couldn't help the way his heart raced knowing she felt it with him. To Damon, home was where a person is most comfortable, where someone ran to when everything else was wrong. He needed to be that for Addie if he had any real hope of her, of them making it through their fifteen year deal together.

When Addie went to part Damon's lips with hers he needed no encouragement. His hands fell from her face to her shoulders and down her back. Addie shivered at feeling his fingers work their way under the shirt. Though his touch was cool, he left a tingling, burning path as the tips of his fingers ghosted up her spine. Curling his fingers over a shoulder and grabbing her by the waist Damon made to switch position but Addie pushed firmly at the center of his chest. Fine; he could take a hint but Addie was mistaken if she thought he'd hand her control that easily. Damon asserted his intent of control by biting at her lower lip until she shuddered, nipping at the corner of her mouth.

Addie broke away from him smirking. She sat up and slung her leg over his waist. Damon eyed her warily as she seemed to consider something; Addie always seemed to see how far she could push him when she did that. Seeming to have decided she settled back on his upper thighs and grinned down at him. He watched as she took a finger and lightly scraped a line down the center of his chest. His abs tensed as she pressed harder as her finger ran through the dark dusting of hair that began at his navel.

"Addison," he warned as her finger dipped under the hem of his boxers. The crack in his voice must have dulled the effects of what he said as she simply looked at him innocently.

"Something wrong?" she asked lightly, leaving a path of fire as her warm mouth kissed lightly along his jaw. He didn't resist when she tilt and turned his head. Damon tensed at the jolt of lighting he felt travel through every bit of his body when she nipped at his earlobe. He felt himself twitch in excitement. His hands ran up and down her back, holding her against him as he exhaled sharply when she began to kiss along his neck. A groan ripped through him when she bit just below his ear.

Then he realized what was wrong, what Addie had been deciding about. He had always made sure that she was situated above his hips. Addie was definitely not above his hips and that was quickly becoming a problem. Damon desperately tried to focus on anything but the waves of pleasure that her mouth was generating. His voice was ragged and strangled as he growled, "You… are so beyond pushing the limit, Addison May."

"I don't know why you think saying my full name is necessary for me to listen to you," Addie noted thoughtfully. She shifted lower to kiss at his collarbone. "I'm not breaking any of your sex-proof rules," she taunted.

Damon forced himself to think strictly of his breathing. They both knew the only reason she wasn't rubbing against him was because of luck. "Come on, Ads," he tried to reason, "don't…" Don't what? Keep up the delicious torment on his neck? Stop playing with his hair? Quit running her hand teasingly over his chest?

"Don't what?" challenged Addie.

Damon moaned into kiss as she tugged gently at his hair. Don't what? That was a very excellent question. What point had he even been trying to make? Something about control? It had to have been about a power struggle; it almost always was. He knew he'd been upset. He groaned when she bit at his neck again, more lighting raced through his body. It was most definitely about control; Addie had far too much of it if he couldn't think straight. Holding her head so she wouldn't get hurt, Damon quickly flipped, pinning Addie on her back.

"Damn it, Damon!" she cried swatting at his chest. "That's not fair!"

Shifting his hips Damon snorted humorlessly. He remembered why he was upset. "You were hardly playing fair," he countered, raising a disapproving eyebrow.

Addie rolled her eyes. "Did I break a rule? 're just upset that you lost control."

"I didn't lose control. You turn the key in the ignition and the engine's gonna start. Shifting from parked to drive would be losing control."

"Eww," Addie said sourly, as she pushed at Damon away. "I seriously cannot believe you compared sex to driving a car… in the middle of making out. Really, I can no longer see how I ever found you attractive. I am now convinced that the only way you gained your Playboy reputation is through compulsion."

He laughed, rolling onto his back, "I think you're being a little dramatic. And, for the record, I never compelled anyone into sex."

"Then everyone you have ever slept with must have been functioning on a single brain cell."

"Mmm… I admit that's true for the vast majority," he conceded. "Some had two brain cells. Although, in my defense, I've never had to stop the lead-up to sex. And nobody has ever challenged me to an exchange of wit while most of my blood was not flowing to my brain. So… yeah," he finished lamely, shrugging his shoulders.

Turning to face Damon, Addie gave him a sympathetic look and patted his cheek. "So, you get a free pass on that awful comparison?"

Damon flashed her one of his more charming, lopsided smiles. "We could do that. We can entirely forget that I said anything."

Addie shook her head and sighed heavily, "You know, I don't think that's possible. I think this moment is going to come up in conversation again and again."

"You know, I never would have said anything if you started off playing fair. You may not have broken any rules but you're guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct," he quipped defensively.

"Ooo! Technicality," Addie winced.

Damon smirked. "Technicality."

"God, why is it attractive that I can't beat your argument?"

"Because, occasionally, mostly when you're wrong, you've met your intellectual match," he suggested cockily.

"There can be no possible explanation as to why I find your arrogance attractive."

"Confidence is sexy."

Addie shook her head again an tsked. "You're not winning with that. You go right past confidence and go directly to arrogance. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200."

"Ok. I don't care why; the important thing is you find me attractive," Damon declared. When Addie gave him a small smile he leaned in for a gentle brushing of lips.

"I'm gonna miss you," Addie admitted.

He nodded, "I know. I don't want you to miss me too much, though."

"What do you mean?"

Damon hesitated; he knew how delicately he had to phrase what he wanted to say. To get an idea of what level of upset he was going to face he asked, "How rational are you feeling? On a scale of one to ten with one being 'not at all' how willing are you to listen to reason?"

"Um... I'm feeling pretty uneasy with your whole line of questioning which is kinda bringing me down to a seven."

"Well I need you at a ten."

"The fact that you require that already tells me that whatever you have to say is very irrational," she observed, trying to keep her tone light and conversational.

He cocked his head in acknowledgement. Damon wasn't entirely convinced his idea was rational but it was the right thing to do. He admitted, "It sounds that way at first but promise me you'll hear everything I have to say before you jump to conclusions."

Addie inhaled slowly. Whatever he was going to say was going to test her patience, undoubtedly. "I promise."

"I think we should breakup." After realizing how that sounded he added, "Just for while you're gone. I want you back after that. Of course, I want you now and while you're gone, too. Ok, 'breakup' isn't what I mean."

"What do you mean, Damon?" Addie asked sharply. First he strongly encouraged her into a relationship with him and now he wanted to end it?

Damon snorted humorlessly as he ran through his hair, "How do I still get so… flustered around you?"

Addie's lips purse. "Perhaps it's because you're proposing we breakup."

"That's not the right term. I just… You're young, Addie. Too young to be shackled to a fifteen year relationship, assuming neither one of us kills the other. You can't know if I'm what you want, not for sure. I'm the first guy you've been with. You have no idea of your other options. I know we say that we work because we argue but what if that's not what's best? What if you were with someone you didn't bicker with all the time? You can't know that you wouldn't like that better than being with me because you haven't experienced. I think you should take the summer and explore your options," Damon clarified, wincing at his own words. It actually made his chest hurt to think of Addie with anyone but him.

"You want me to cheat on you?" Addie scoffed in disbelief. "You've lost your mind."

"I probably have," he agreed. "That doesn't mean I'm wrong though. You're spending your summer in a foreign country. That's suppose to mean a summer romance, probably with a guy who has a cheesy accent and drinks tea instead of coffee. I hate that idea," he laughed.

"Why are you even bringing it up then? I don't wan-"

"You don't know what you want," Damon interrupted sharply as he moved to sit against the headboard. "You think I'm what you want but you don't know for sure. I know what I want; I've experienced something else many times to know I don't want it. You don't know anything else. I really wish I could keep you in the dark from all your other options but it's not right. Honestly, here I would probably compel away any guy who showed interest in you. I'm just that selfish. I want to be the guy that makes you smile, wipes your tears, and struggles to keep up with your random thoughts and insane logic."

Addie sat next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. She was starting to see what he was getting at and she didn't like it. "You are that guy," she whispered.

"I know. What if there is someone who can do all that better than I can?"

"And I'm gonna find him in London over half the summer? Do you hear how crazy you sound?"

Damon nodded, "Yep. I'm telling the girl I love to go and be with someone else. I want her to go abroad and have fun and experience life without the burden of having a boyfriend."

"You're not-"

"Addie, just think about it. What's the harm? We're going to be 3,000 miles from each other, anyways.

Addie shook her head insistently. "No. Is that what this is to you? Something physical?"

He laughed, "You're kidding, right? I've been fighting with you to keep this from being something physical. My point is that you should get to experience being with other guys. I don't think I could watch that, is the perfect opportunity to experience that without me wanting to kill any guy who so much as looks at you."

She took his face in her hands and looked him in the eye. He was talking nonsense and he needed to understand her point of view. Slowly Addie enunciated, "Right now I have no interest in being with other guys. Damon, I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to a relationship with you. I know there isn't going to be any summer romances because no guy is even going to have time to catch my attention. You know how long it took me to decide that I liked you. I don't make rash decisions in my love life; everything is scrutinized and analyzed from every angle. I made my choice to be with you after a lot of thought. I'm not going back on that decision just because we won't see each other for a few weeks. I'm sure you think what you're doing is in my best interest but it's not. While you imagine me off having torrid love affairs what happens to you?"

"I wait for you to come home and if you still want me, that's great. If you discover that what we have isn't what you want then that's ok, too. I just want you to be happy. Look, I get if you don't want to stop or pause what's between us but what harm is there if something does happen with someone else while you're gone I'm not going to hold it against you?" suggested Damon.

"First of all, the harm is whatever you imagination spits out involving me and another guy. That is damaging. Second of all, how are we in a relationship when you don't care if I sleep with half of Europe?" Addie retorted in frustration.

Damon shrugged then thought, "It's an open relationship. A temporarily open relationship. I have absolutely no intention of sharing you when you get back. This is a time for you to see what other fish are in the sea. What if you want an angel fish instead of the goldfish you won at the carnival?"

"God, now you're comparing people to fish," Addie muttered. Processing everything Damon was saying started up a mild headache. If she wasn't concerned about what he would do, she'd simply agree just to end the topic. "I don't want an open relationship ever. You might be selfless enough to want me to go out and have these experiences but I'm selfish. Three thousand miles apart or not, I don't want you with somebody else."

Perplexed, Damon studied her critically. "You think I'm going to be with someone else while you're gone?" Addie's lips pressed into a thin, hard line. That was a yes. "Addie, I don't want anyone else, physically or emotionally. I know how lucky I am. I'm trying my best to not screw things up with you. Me cheating on you would be equivalent to an earthquake so intense and destructive that it can't be measure on the Richter scale."

"Ok. Here's my problem: how would me being with someone else while I'm gone be permissible but if you do it, it's cheating?" Addie pointed out. Perhaps she could logically end this ridiculous debate.

Damon was quick to answer, "Because I'm ok with you being with someone else while you're gone. I know that you would not be ok with me doing that; if it's something that upsets you it's cheating."

"Now how is that possibly fair to you?"

"It doesn't matter if it's fair. This summer isn't about me it's about you exploring who you are and growing up. You should be able to do that without being tied to a guy. If something happens between you and someone else, that's fine. I would rather that happen when you're an ocean away and I don't have to witness it. If it happened here, then it would be cheating."

Addie scoffed, "You're logic is starting to make as much sense as mine does, meaning it's only rational in your head. Damon, nothing is going to happen for many reasons, one of which is that I would feel like I'm cheating on you. Can we please just settle this? We can go around in circles forever; that's not how I want to spend my last day with you."

"Alright," Damon conceded in defeat. "What do you want, Addie?" It was always what she wanted.

"Ok, I'll accept your 'if something happens' and you not holding it against me as long as you recognize that I'm going into this with the intent of nothing happening," she purposed.

"I can't convince you to go into this with an open mind of possibilities?"

Addie shook her head. "I can lie and say that I will. What I'm willing to compromise is that I won't shut down an opportunity for something but I will not actively seek anything out,"

"Fine," he accepted in resignation. It was a miracle that he had gotten her past completely rejecting his idea to accepting that she would explore something new if given the chance. There was no point in trying to push her to seek out new experiences.

"However, I will only do this if I know something isn't happening between you and someone else. It's not fair but I'm not exactly a fan of going in and forgetting that I have a boyfriend back home," Addie stipulated.

"Of course," Damon agreed quickly. It was a no brainer that he wasn't going to do anything that would hurt her like that.

"Ok, quick recap so we both understand what's going on. You will stay here and not entertain the idea of other relationships. I will go to London without feeling obligated to you if something arises with someone else; however, I will not actively seek out something," condensed Addie, explaining the compromise in the most basic way she could.

He nodded. It wasn't what he really wanted for her but it was better than her feeling tethered to him. "Correct."

"So, are we going to do an epic, Oscar worthy airport goodbye?" Damon asked as they turned from the ticketing counter where Addie checked in her suitcase.

"You have to be kidding," Addie decided as she ran her hand through her hair anxiously. Where on earth was the security checkpoint?

He caught her hand in his and steered her towards the left when she started to go right. Damon had used Dulles International Airport in D.C. enough times to have a general idea about the layout. Addie had insisted on making the four and a half hour drive so that she could get a direct flight and avoid a layover. He would have chosen the layover as being a lesser evil. She wasn't the one who would drive nine hours just to ship his girlfriend off for a greater part of the summer.

"I'm quite serious. Wouldn't be doing the proper boyfriend thing if I didn't. I was going to just do it but you're pretty bad with goodbyes. I figured the safest but was to ask," Damon admitted.

Bitterly Addie muttered, "That's because I never get to say goodbye. People just go off and never come back."

Damon squeezed her hand reassuringly. The death of John and Jenna was affecting her more than she would let on. "So, no epic sendoff?" he confirmed as he pulled her off to the wall directly across from security.

"I will find some wood and stake you if you do anything to embarrass me in the middle of a crowded airport," she threatened as she felt her anxiety increase.

"Aww!" Damon gushed. "I love you, too!"

Addie shifted uncomfortably; she still wasn't exactly sure how to react when he said that. She ran her hand through her hair again as she eyed the security line. "I don't think I want to go," she said quietly, clutching harder at Damon's hand.

"You're just anxious," he comforted her. His own anxiety undoubtedly compared to hers. She was too young to go off to a summer program alone in London. Who knew what kind of supervision she'd have? "Everything's going to be fine."

"You don't know that," Addie snapped back as she began to feel her heart slamming against her chance. She knew the anxiety was generating a false sensation. She had to calm down before she went into a panic attack. "What if I get hurt? What if I get sick?"

"That's why there are doctors and hospitals and the program requires you to have international insurance. It's a sophisticated city; you're not going to the Sahara desert."

Addie frowned at this. "If I was in the Sahara I would be alone. I'm going to be among 8.6 million people. People notice when someone goes missing in Mystic Falls within a day. How long is it going to take for someone to figure out if I've been kidnapped?"

"You have a roommate who I'm sure will find it suspicious if you don't show up after a night or two without notice. And I'm sure the program takes some kind of attendance. Just be smart, don't go wandering the city alone, make sure you're always in a group if you go out at night, ectera ectera."

"What if I get lost? Did I show you the tube map? That thing is confusing!"

Damon grabbed her gently by both shoulders and turned her to face him. Staring at the security line seemed to be making things worse. He was worried about all the things she was but he needed to be the one that kept their wits about them. His voice was firm, authoritative, "Addie, you can do this. You get lost and you take a taxi to where you need to go or you use Google Maps or that Citymapper app that tells you when the tube comes and everything." She opened her mouth but Damon shook his head. "No, listen to me. We talked about all of this. What's the first thing you're going to do after you land?"

"Um, get a sim card and make sure that whatever phone plan I choose has a lot of data so I can use the GPS if I get lost," Addie recalled, slowly feeling a little more relaxed as she elaborated.

"Right. We already looked at the airport map so you know where they sell them. Then you go and meet up with everyone else in terminal three. You land in terminal five so you take the train to three. I know you can follow the signs but if you need help there's a worker there to assist you about every ten feet. Don't be afraid to ask for help. When you meet up with the group they've got you from there. I know know you're going to be fine. You can do this. Remember that you can call me if you need anything at all and if you just want to. Worst case scenario is you are completely miserable and we book you a flight back home. That's not going to happen, though. You'll do great," Damon insisted. He wasn't certain if he was saying everything for her benefit or to try and convince himself.

Addie nodded and whispered, "Ok." Damon was right; everything would be fine, she just had to stay sharp.

Feeling slightly better about sending her off Damon reached for his wallet and pulled out the new debit card. Addie's eyeroll already told him she wanted to fight him on taking it. He tried, "Please, just take it."

"Damon, I have-"

"I know you've got way more than you'll need but I'll feel better knowing you have this," he interrupted as he made to put the card in her pocket. Her crossed arms were a clear sign of her disapproval. "Look, God forbid something awful happens or an emergency comes up but if it does you'll be covered for sure. Oh, and speaking from experience, a $150,000 watch at Harrods does count as an emergency and is a totally legitimate reason to use the card," Damon smirked.

"Wha - why - how can a watch be $150,000?" Addie stumbled through in disbelief. Damon was more than a little brand obsessed but she never even thought he would buy something so frivolous for so much.

"It was a limited edition Rolex studded with diamonds."

Addie shook her head, still struggling to understand. It was a well known fact that all of the Founding Families were more than comfortably rich. From her parents and John's wills she calculated the Gilbert net worth at almost $5 million. It was that money that left her and her siblings monthly "allowances" of far more than they would ever need. But to drop that kind of money on a watch? She never really stopped and considered how wealthy Damon was. "How come I've never seen this watch?"

Damon rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "I kinda lost it." Addie didn't need to know that he left it behind at some girl's place.

"Shocker," she muttered sarcastically. Her eyes wandered back over to the security line.

"You want me to compel my way to the gate with you?" he offered.

"No," she answered softly, her attention still on security, "that will just make saying goodbye harder."

"When do we do that?"

Addie turned back to him and gave him a small, sad smile. She shifted her backpack around so she could open it. After a minute of shifting through headphones, her laptop, and cables. she pulled out a small box wrapped in shiny red paper. Sheepishly she passed it to Damon, who stared at it in confusion. "It's called a birthday present," she tried to joke but her blush and nerves dulled the effect. They never actually exchanged gifts. "You're supposed to open it."

Damon felt the corners of his lips twitch upwards. The last birthday he celebrated was when he turned 23 a few months before he became a vampire. Every year was another year full of memories and experiences but he never saw reason to celebrate aging when he never would. "How'd you know it's my birthday?"

"You told me the date. I asked Stefan for the month. I feel pretty bad; leaving you for half of the summer doesn't make for the best birthday."

"You make it the best birthday," he said softly, pulling her into a hug. "I had honestly forgotten that it was today, Haven't exactly had cause to celebrate it in awhile. Thank you," he murmured, placing a kiss on her temple.

If she held on to him much longer she wasn't sure she'd let go. Addie pulled away reluctantly. "You haven't even opened it yet," she pointed out bashfully.

The box turned in his hand until he found where she had taped the paper together. Curious, he slowly peeled away the wrapping. What would Addie possibly give him? Damon shook his head in disbelief as he revealed the black box with embedded golden words Santal Imperial.

"I know it's not really a birthday present if it's something you already have but-"

"Where did you find it?" he wondered as he lifted the lid. It was the same frosted glass flask with a silver and grey stopper as the one he had at home.

"Yeahhhhh, you see your cologne doesn't have the name on the bottle or have a distinctive design. So I had to figure out what you wear by remembering what you smell like: ginger, cloves, and sandalwood. Luckily for me that isn't a very popular combination. You once mentioned that you haven't switched colognes in 150 years. That left me with one cologne that fit the profile. I have no idea where you find it but I finally found a little shop in Germany that sells it," Addie rambled nervously.

Damon nodded and mused, "It has become really rare. I can't believe you did that or figured it out."

Addie turned as red as the wrapping paper she took from him. "Well, I kinda, might have possibly knicked the little bit you had left at home. I couldn't exactly leave you without any." He tilted his head in confusion. "It...God, this sounds stupid."

"What?"

"You know I pilfered a couple of shirts for sleep. It's not the soft material that makes me like them. I like that they smell like you. So, I kinda took the cologne to keep them smelling like you," Addie rushed out in mumble.

Damon cupped her face with his free hand. Her eyes were that deep ocean blue that entranced him. "You're making it really hard for me to let you go."

Addie pushed herself up on her toes and gently brushed his lips in a light kiss. She gave him a forced grin and quipped back, "Don't worry; I'll be back before you know it. So, do me two favors. Don't die. And save Stefan before then. I don't think I can take the stress of anymore suicidally reckless plans."

"I'll try my best but no promises," Damon smirked.

"Seriously, Damon. Nothing stupid. I'd miss you too much."

"I promise I'll keep the danger to a minimum," he pouted like a chastised kid. He pulled her into another hug, holding her tight. "I'm gonna miss you, love." Damon made to kiss her but she placed a single finger over his lips before he could.

"Save that kiss. Save it for when I get back," whispered Addie. "Let's not do a goodbye, ok?"

Damon nodded and smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I told you you were bad at goodbyes."

"You're a riot, Damon," she said solemnly, turning away from him and to the security line. As much as she wanted to look back she couldn't let herself. She needed to focus on her future. Damon would be there when she returned; she could stare at him all she wanted then.

Her hands trembled as she held out her boarding pass and student ID. Her heart leap to her throat when the agent scrutinized the ID and then her. She felt like a mute bobble head when he asked if she was under 16. Some of the anxiety receded as he returned her items and waved her past. She picked up two bins to send through the x-ray scanner. In one she put her laptop and the other her bag and shoes. Paranoid about setting of the metal alarm she patted down her pockets, tossing her cell phone and, after inserting the card from Damon, her wallet into her carry-on bag. She went through the metal detector and put her shoes back on and laptop back in her bag. Walking away from security, she checked her boarding pass again. Gate B51 so that meant right? Yes, there was a sign indicating that she did need to go right. When Addie found the gate there were only fifty people or so. Finding a chair flanked by two empty one she sat down and pulled her cell phone out. Only forty minutes before her flight. She and Damon must have been talking for a lot longer than she thought. There was no point in dragging her laptop out for such a brief time so she decided to mess around with her phone. Text Jeremy she made it to the airport and her gate, catch up on pointless updates on Facebook, played Sudoku.

In her peripheral view Addie could make out someone dropping into the chair on her left. "I'm a bit of a nervous flyer," came a calm, English accent after a few minutes. Addie didn't respond. Her anxiety was already running wild, she didn't need to add fuel to the fire by making small talk with a stranger. Just him sitting near her made her want to move. Something about him just seemed bad. She couldn't ignore the man when he stuck his hand in between her face and cell.

"I don't believe I've ever properly introduced myself. Niklaus Mikaelson. Most people just call me Klaus. A few special people call me Nik. You can call me whatever you like, Addison."

With her concentration broken from the bright screen Addie recognized what the bad sense coming from the man next to her was. She didn't want to run because someone sat by her. The darkness so black she'd only ever associated with Klaus made her want to flea. Niklaus Mikaelson. Nik Mikaelson. Her scholarship benefactor. She knew there was something wrong with the award notification; it had arrived three weeks late. Addie scowled down at the hand and muttered, "I'm not going to London, am I?"

The response was far less entertaining than he had anticipated. Klaus retracted his coolly remarked, "You must be going somewhere. They don't let you go beyond security without a badge or boarding pass?"

"Really?" Addie retorted, glaring into his cold blue eyes. "Which one do you have?"

He smirked, "They do make special exceptions for especially exceptional people."

She tilted her head back to stare at the ceiling. This was supposed to be her chance out of Mystic Falls and away from all the drama of fangs, full moons and spells. Anger replacing her anxiety she snapped, "What do you want, Klaus? What are you playing at?"

"I'm hurt that you think I'm playing at something. I simply dropped by to wish you luck and happiness at London College of Music's World of Music summer program," he said innocently, flashing her a bright, toothy grin.

Addie resisted the urge to ask why blood didn't stain his teeth the way red wine did. It was highly unlikely the Hybrid would appreciate her random questions about vampirism the way Damon did. Through gritted teeth she clarified, "The scholarship. What do you mean by it?"

Klaus' brows furrowed in mock confusion as he gently explained, "I heard you were interested in the program. With Elena and your aunt dead I figured you might enjoy some time away from Mystic Falls."

Right; he thought Elena had died in the sacrifice. She ran her hand through her hair as she tried to think. From what she knew of Klaus he didn't seem like the type for generosity. Hesitantly she asked, "So, you paid for me to go to some program because you feel guilty about killing my family?"

He bit back a laugh, "Of course not. Guilt is reserved for those who care. I gave you the scholarship because I'm highly invested in your future."

"What does that me?" she demanded. Any interest from Klaus was not wanted nor would it likely prove to be something positive.

He shrugged and evasively answered, "It would be a shame if I had to kill you where you to show up with your boyfriend in some heroic attempt to liberate his brother. Hopefully that nasty little business will be done by the time you return and you can live a normal, vampire free life."

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion as she recollected, "The envelope was date before you took Stefan, before you ever even in town."

Klaus waved a single finger at her, indicating that she was wrong. "I didn't take Stefan. We reached a compromise in exchange for your boyfriend's life."

"The envelope was dated before you knew me," Addie hissed. Semantics about why Stefan was gone were not of interest.

"I knew of you when I endorsed the scholarship. Isobel knew quite a bit about you and your family history."

She pinched the bridge of her nose as she fought to keep her temper. Only a true bastard would have the nerve to chat up the sister and niece of his murder victims. Addie tried again to get what she wanted, pressing, "Why are you invested enough in my future that you would give me a scholarship before knowing me?"

He smirked knowingly and taunted, "It's more a matter of therapy for a grieving mind. Your mental state is what I'm invested in. You would be of no use to me if you spiraled into such a miserable depression like you did after your parents died. You might get yourself killed."

Addie's mind flashed back to the night she first met Damon and he threatened to kill her. When she told him to do it. When his fingers crushed around her windpipe. Then he had stopped when she fought back. He let her use that beautiful face as a punching bag until she grew tired. After that night the misery and pain that had threatened to consume her began to ease. She wouldn't know until much later that he compelled her when he told her to take control of her life. The question was how did Klaus know that?

"I doubt you'll do anything as careless as that in London, though. I imagine you will be having far too much fun," Klaus continued, once it was obvious that she was at a lost for words.

"What," she said lowly, menacingly, "is in this for you?"

"Consider it a peace treaty."

"Yeah, ok. Sending me to England makes us even after you killed my family," she scoffed, rolling her eyes. All she wanted to know was what his end game was.

Klaus shook his head slowly, "Frankly, I'd be appalled if that was all it took for you to be ok with me killing them. No. I am giving you your peace offering now because when you return, it will not be to Mystic Falls but to me."

Addie laughed derisively at this. "You know, I knew there was something off about you when you started in on the whole human sacrifice thing but I didn't know you were batshit crazy."

He tilted his head in fascination and smiled slightly. "It's almost cute how you think I'm kidding."

A chill ran through her as she sobered up. "If you're serious and this is the price I have to pay to go to London, I think I'll enjoy a lazy summer in Mystic Falls," she snapped.

"Let me phrase it this way: you can leave with me now or you can join me after a wonderful time in London," Klaus hissed, the polite smile still intact.

"I don't see why I'd do either of those things," Addie shrugged dismissively, returning to the game of sudoku on her phone.

Easily he ripped the device from her grip, earning him an incredulous look. The girl was so foolish to be so arrogant and snide with him. Though it was part of what made her so fascinating. Another interesting part was her devotion. He smirked, "You'll do it because if you don't, I'll ensure your brother and boyfriend have similar fates as your sister and aunt."

Immediately a war begin to wage inside her. There was no doubt that Klaus would follow through on his threat. However, Jeremy and Damon were always going to be weaknesses he could use against her. As long as he threatened them she was just a marionette and he the puppet master. Perhaps she could make him think otherwise, though. Schooling her face to one of careful in difference she demanded, "How long would I have to endure your company to guarantee their safety?"

Klaus pretended to consider her question and mused aloud, "My goal is not to torture you. I simply want to observe you a bit. And I'd prefer to do that without any interruptions. Your boyfriend, if he hasn't already gotten himself killed trying to save Stefan will most certainly try if he knows I have you."

"I see what you're getting at. I'm not moronic enough to tell him something that will lead to him embarking on another suicidal mission. I would be doing this to keep him alive; telling him would defeat the purpose," she sneered.

"Glad we're in agreement that he shouldn't intrude on our time together," the Hybrid gleamed glibly. "You probably wouldn't want to tell anyone else. They'd likely relay it back to him. See, as much as this is about you, it's also about Damon. I'd say he got off pretty easy getting my blood. He didn't really pay for making you almost lose him."

Addie paled. "Why does that… how is anything between Damon and me any of your business?"

He peered at her curiously, "Haven't you realized you are my business and thus Damon is by being an extension of you? Like I said, I'm interested in you mental welfare. Damon did quite a bit of damage to that when he got himself bit. I doubt he understands just how much damage would have occurred were he to have actually died. Bad behavior should not be positively reinforced. Damon needs to suffer for what he did to you in hopes that he will not be so reckless with his life in the future, if simply for your sake. He will feel an iota of what you would have felt upon his death when he does not hear from you after the program ends."

Slowly, she was beginning to process what Klaus wanted. It made no sense but rationality and insanity didn't usually pair well together. Addie needed to refocus the conversation. "When do I get to go back to Mystic Falls?"

"By the time school starts," Klaus decided after a moment's thought.

"I go to England, come back July 16th to wherever you say, stay with you, then be back home in time for school to start and in exchange Damon and Jeremy stay safe?" she checked.

Klaus nodded, "And you are not to speak of this plan to anyone."

"What do I say when people ask why I won't be back on the 16th?"

"I don't really care as long as it's not the truth. The goal of this is generate pain in Damon by having him not know where you are and if you're ok."

Addie grimaced; the last thing she wanted was to hurt Damon but the only way to keep him safe seemed to play along with Klaus. It wouldn't likely amount to much but she questioned, "Are you a man of honor? A man of your word?"

"Yes, though I would probably tell you that even if I wasn't."

It was as good as she was going to get. "Do you I have your word that Damon and Jeremy will be safe and I will be home in time for school?"

"Yes," he assured her, sticking out his hand to strike the deal.

A/N: Thank you new readers and old! Comments, favorites, and follows are better than cupcakes!

Yes - I know how the school system works in the UK. In this universe classes are done by May 18th. Personally, I was always done by March 31st.