Wow - been a while since I started writing this story... The last year has been a whirlwind - a family tragedy followed by the birth of my daughter has kept me busy!

Hope you enjoy - will try and get part 3 up asap :)

The Mystic Grill was nearly empty, the lunch crowd had shuffled out and the after work crowd was yet to arrive. Caroline scanned the place looking for anyone she knew and spotted Damon sitting at the bar, somehow managing to lounge seductively even while perched on one of the tall barstools. She glared at his back, frustrated she did not share the allure and grace she had assumed were perks that came with being a vampire. Reluctantly she took a seat beside him and ordered a drink, preferring company she disliked to being alone.

He raised his glass to salute her. "Blondie."

"Hey." Her greeting was equally unenthusiastic. "Any news about Mason?" she asked, more interested in breaking the silence than in his answer.

Damon shrugged, "No sign of him. Looks like he ran," he said and smirked, "tail between his legs."

"So we don't need to worry about him?"

Unsurprised she had missed the joke he drained his glass and signalled the bartender for a refill. "I wouldn't say that."

Caroline played absently with her drink, stabbing at the ice with a straw. Damon ignored her, expecting she would take his disinterest as a hint that he would rather drink alone but soon became resigned to the idea she wasn't going to leave. "How're things with the Sheriff?"

Pleased the focus had shifted to her own problems she sighed theatrically, "As if I don't have enough to deal with, she wants us to spend quality time together."

"Problem?" he asked, irritated by her attitude.

"Not really," she said with a shrug, "It's great actually, but..." Her voice trailed off and she returned to stabbing absently at what was left of the ice.

Damon's patience, what little there was, was already exhausted. "But what?" he snapped.

Startled she jumped and knocked her glass from the bar and only her newly enhanced reflexes let her catch it before it could crash to the floor. "But," she said as she placed it carefully back on the bar, "When I'm around she acts like she can't stand to be anywhere near me."

"I can appreciate that."

Caroline scowled, annoyed she had given him such an obvious opening. "Why are you even interested?"

"Apart from my obvious concern she might discover what you are and torture you horribly before staking you?" Amused by her pained expression he hid a smile behind his glass. "Hard though it may be to believe, I care about your mother."

Caroline considered this briefly and her eyes went wide as she reached the wrong conclusion. "Ew…"

Damon rolled his eyes. He was rapidly coming to the conclusion that Liz shooting him repeatedly with wooden bullets was significantly less painful than a conversation with her daughter. He drained the last of the bourbon and reached for his jacket.

"You leaving?" she asked, unsure if she was more disappointed or relieved.

His eyes flashed and he grinned. "Hot date," he said and headed for the door without a backward glance.

The drive to Sheriff Forbes' home gave Damon time to think about what Caroline had said about her mother's behaviour. There was no reason why she could not rediscover they were vampires and the more time she spent with any of them the greater the chance. He knew the risks when she had asked for a chance at a better relationship with her daughter, but this was hardly the first time he had acted without consideration of the consequences.

The compulsion would hold, the danger was that Caroline would do something especially stupid to raise her mother's suspicions. It had been Elena who had prevented him staking Caroline, an act which would have done them all a favour, and the next time he saw her he planned on explaining just how foolish that had been. His thoughts shifted to Elena, who was still avoiding him as much as she could, which did nothing to improve his mood.

He parked the car and killed the engine. Not typically one to avoid confrontation he hesitated behind the wheel. His meeting with Liz to discuss Council business gave him a perfect opportunity to see if the renewed tension between mother and daughter was caused by a suspicion of what Caroline was. He had spared Liz because she was his friend but if she suspected any of them he would have to take action.

Apprehensive, he climbed out of the car and walked to the front door, the feeling unfamiliar and unwelcome. The bell chimed deep inside the house and Liz opened the door.