A/N: Hi! I'm so sorry that it's been two years since I've written. Life got in the way and I just wasn't in a good place to be writing anything. Thankfully, my life is finally in a good place and I feel that I can continue to write this story the way I originally intended. Two years means two seasons of TVD has passed and I only have two words: THANK GOD! Goodbye Elena, See you never! Honestly, Elena leaving was the best news I've heard in a while... even if the writers (ahem, Julie) chickened out and gave her a "sleeping beauty" exit instead of the compelling/death I'm sure we were all hoping for. Okay, rant over. I am officially here to say that I will be continuing this story. Enjoy, my lovelies!

Disclaimer: I don't, nor will I ever, own TVD.

July 4, 2013

"Damon, I understand that you needed a break from all the Mystic Falls drama. I do, too. But this is the worst possible time you could've picked to leave. In the past three days, there have been fifteen bodies discovered all over town, all drained of blood. Katherine and Elena are binging on blood and it's only going to get worse. Who knows what they'll pull during the fireworks tonight. Please, Damon. Call me back." Stefan's annoyingly worried voice came through the speaker of Damon's iPhone.

"Three days, Stef. It's been three days since I've left and things are already going to hell. Nice." Damon muttered sarcastically as he threw his iPhone on the passenger seat of his baby blue Camaro. He glanced at a passing sign that read "Welcome to Miami" and sighed gratefully. It'd been a hellish three days, but he'd finally arrived at his destination: the city where it all began.

3 years Earlier

"I'll take a bourbon. Neat." Damon snapped at the bartender. A blonde twenty-something who clearly had more boobs than brains.

"Alright, sweetheart." She obeyed, while bending over and giving Damon a generous glimpse into her cleavage. He couldn't bring himself to even pretend to give a damn. He'd just found out that his newest lead of Stefan came up empty. It wasn't often that baby bro managed to hide himself well enough to not be found. Though, soon enough he'd slip up and have just a little too much fresh blood soon enough. He always did.

"There you go, honey" The bartender placed the drink in front of him. Damon barely glanced at her as he surveyed the bar. Two wannabe fraternity boys sat in the corner, on the pool table. Obviously trying to look good. Ugh. Three women who obviously used the term women loosely. They were all well into their forties and all looked to be the wives of some piece of shit white supremist. Each woman wore clothes too small for her with load of perfume that was designed to hide horrendous smell of the cigarettes they were around constantly. There were also a couple computer geeks sitting way in the back, giggling about the bartender. Overall, nothing that peeked Damon's special interests.

Damon glanced at the bartender and caught her eyes, "Bad news for you, honey-". Damon began to say, but was cut off at the smell of the most exquisite scent he'd ever encountered. It was the most particular blend of pomegranate and roses. He turned to look at the owner of the scent: a 5' 4" woman with loosely curled hair down to her hips, hair as black as the night sky, and dark mahogany eyes. She wore brown skinny jeans, brown suede ankle boots, and an off-the-shoulder top that had quarter-length sleeves and a mixture of flowery designs.

Her eyes immediately went to the bartender, who had resumed working as soon as Damon broke their eye contact.

"Hey, Katie" She said in a deceptively innocent tone, as she sat down at the bar, two seats down from Damon. He could hear the sudden increase of the bartender's heart as soon as she saw the woman walk in.

"Sera, what are you doing here? You know I'm dead if he catches me talking to you, right?" The bartender whispered harshly as her eyes roomed the occupants of the bar. As if searching for somebody.

"He's not coming. Brian's keeping him busy." The woman replied as she reached over and took the bartenders hand. Her eyes were glimmering with sympathy, but there was something underneath. Something darker.

"I promise you, he won't be able to find you. Let's just go" The woman whispered. There was something in her tone that left no room for arguments. It wasn't abrasive, actually it was almost a motherly tone.

The bartender closed her hesitantly closed her eyes and nodded her head right before she grabbed her jacket and walked out from behind the bar, following the brunette to the front door. With her jacket on, she actually looked like a respectable woman. Not some hussy in a crappy-ass bar. She was anxiously looking over her shoulder, as if waiting for someone to pop out of the darkness.

Damon was so entranced with the scene in front of him that he didn't even comprehend that he let his meal and newest toy walk right out the door with the beautiful brunette. He shrugged and glanced over to behind the bar that was now void of the bartender.

"You're mine, now" He murmured as her reached over the bar and grabbed the half-full bottle of bourbon, still drunk on the scent of pomegranates and roses.

A/N: There's chapter two, folks. If you haven't figured it out yet, Sera's is the woman who Damon's been obsessing over the past three years. What's so special about her? Why was she ushering Katie out of the bar? Why did Damon leave her? Ah, so many questions to be answered... stay tuned! Damon and Sera's first official meeting is happening in the next chapter. Also, we'll find out just how much Stefan actually screws the pooch while Damon is in Miami. Again, please use Vanessa Hudgens as your Sera model. See you soon! Oh, and please review. Offer up your suggestions about the story! What would you like to see happen? Who is Sera? What happened throughout the Damon/Sera relationship? How'd he end up in Mystic Falls three years down the line? I'd really love to hear your opinions, because nothing is set in stone. I'm still not completely sure where to go with this, and I need your help! So... PLEASE REVIEW! It truly means the world. You fellow authors know what I mean:)

-CassieJ