Dinner was more awkward than Libia could have imagined. Libia wanted to apologize to Damon for creating such a stale atmosphere, but every time she looked at him with eyes that asked if she was at fault, he would roll his own and shake his head as if she were being absurd. And maybe she was, but she felt as if there would be reprecussions for her words - perhaps his parents forbidding him to see Libia ever again. 

The food was delicious, as she made known to Jack many times throughout the meal, whether it be telling him outright, or the indulgent smile on her face every time she'd take a bite. And he enjoyed every minute of praise, grinning as he ate his meal proudly.

Of course his parents simply had to ruin it.

"You could have seasoned the meat a little more." Lisbon murmured.

"The broth tastes store bought," Rich added in after.

Jack's smile faded, as he turned his eyes back down to his food. Libia then didn't regret a single word she'd said to them both. Cassidy was right - hatred only bred hatred, and it was biting into Libia like a rabid dog.

After dinner, Lisbon and Rich excused themselves to their office, and while Jack and Carol cleaned up, they insisted that Damon and Libia go and be alone for a while. And while Libia was hesitant, wanting to help clean, Damon pulled her along nonetheless. He led her back up to his room, ushering her in and closing the door after her. She walked over to his bed, settling down on the matress, which conformed to her position, as she realized it was memory foam. 

"I've always wanted to have a bed like this," She mused, bouncing slightly.

She looked up to find Damon staring at her from a few feet away, as if taking her in. Tilting her head, she smiled and asked,

"What?"

He shook his head, walking over to where she sat and settling down next to her. 

"I just never thought that I'd actually ever have you in here. It's a strange feeling - you've always seemed like such a far away dream."

She couldn't help but look away, her cheeks flushing. "I'm not that good a person, you know," She murmured. 

He sighed, "Libia, no one's perfect, but compared to me, you're a diamond."

She lifted her hand to his chest, over his heart. It was pounding. So his heart beat as fast as hers in these situations?

"You're not a bad person, Damon. No matter what you say, I'll never believe that."

He smiled down at her as she lifted her gaze to his, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Thanks, Babe."

She laid her head against his chest, as he pulled her completely into his lap. It always made him pause at how small she was - she could curl into his chest with such ease. But she was warm, and soft, and her silky hair against his hand as he stroked the individual strands caused him to shiver slightly. There was no doubt in his mind, he was in love.

"Damon," She murmured on a sigh, and he knew that she was getting tired.

"Hm?" He murmured as he shifted them both so they were lying down.

She settled on his chest, burrying her face into his neck. "Do you think...," Her breath on his collar bone caused tingles to run down his spine. "Do you think that we'll grow apart?"

The question stalled him. He blinked up at the ceiling, processing the words in his mind before asking,

"What makes you think that?"

"What if we're reliving our parent's mistakes? What if we thought that we belonged together, but...we grow apart...grow to hate each other?"

He stared up at the ceiling, feeling the warmth of her tears on his chest. He knew where she was coming from, because he had the same fears. But he pushed past them. He refused to live in the shadow of his parents, in any way.

"That won't happen," He murmured, his voice strong.

"But...," Libia trailed off as he turned them over, dropping her onto the bed, his hands on either side of her head.

"It won't happen - I won't let it happen, Libia. What I feel for you isn't that teenage infatuation that my mother felt for my father. It isn't just carnal desire. Libia I...," She stared up at him, brown eyes slightly reddened and hair splayed around her. His heart lurched. "Libia, I love you."

He said it. His arms shook with nerves and his heart pounded so hard in his chest that his breath was slightly labored. Libia wasn't doing any better. The words swirled around her head, as her lips parted in shock. Her gaze was locked onto his, although she blinked many times. 

"D-Damon...," It was only a whisper. Her heart was soaring, but also weighed down and heavy in her chest as it pounded like a hummingbird's. She tried to grasp the situation at hand, tried to understand exactly what those words meant.

"Damon...," It was all she could say, but this time she said it on a laugh. "Damon!"

He studied her face nervously, wondering if her laughter was a good sign, or a bad sign. 

"Say it again, Damon," She finally said, a smile rising to her face.

He furrowed his eyebrows, heat rising to his cheeks.

"I love you."

"Again!" She demanded, grasping his shirt in her fists.

"I'm in love with you, alright?" He said, wanting her to stop making him say it already.

She let out a giggle that warmed his heart to the core, and suddenly pulled him down, his shaking arms buckling easily to his elbows, as she leaned up, meeting his lips halfway. He couldn't breathe, as he realized what this kiss meant. But as fireworks exploded behind his eyes, he deepened the kiss, and slipped his hand into her hair, cradling her face with his other.

He couldn't stop smiling, and neither could she. She didn't have to ask him any more, for with each time their lips parted, he whispered those sweet words to her,

"I love you." 

She shivered as his fingers ran the length of her arm.

"Libia, I love you."

Even as her eyes were closed, she could see his face so clearly in her mind.

"I'm so in love with you."

Her eyes fluttered open, as he trailed kisses down her neck, whispering his confession with every peck. But as she closed her eyes again, smiling, she heard her phone ring in her pocket. 

Damon paused, as she dug her phone out and looked at the ID. She groaned, bringing Damon back up to press her lips firmly to his again, before pulling away and sitting up.

He sat up with her, eyes dazed as he watched her answer the phone.

"Hello." Oops. she thought, my voice is just a little too rough.

"Libia Fields, where the hell are you?" Ben's voice growled over the other line.

She pulled back the phone and looked at the time, it was only around seven.

"Did you just now see the note?"

"That's not the point!" He said, and she rolled her eyes. "The point is, I told you that you were not allowed to see him anymore! What are you doing - getting another tattoo? Or perhaps he's buying you a new motorcycle."

She looked at Damon, who sat cross-legged in front of her, playing with her fingers with a soft smile on his face.

"Wow you hit the nail right on the hammer, Ben. Yep, he's buying me a new motorcycle. It's a really nice one, too. What kind is it again, Damon?" Libia held out the phone to Damon giving him a wink that said to play along.

He leaned forward into the mic, and without missing a beat, he said, "It's a Honda CBR. Very fast. it fits her well."

She pulled the phone back to her ear. "Well there you have it. A Honda CBR."

She could just feel him fuming on the other end. "Whatever, just get your ass back home before I tell mom what you came home on the night of your date."

Her breath caught, and Damon glanced up at her when he felt the change. He tilted his head in worry.

"Fine," She said to him, showing him through her voice how clearly she didn't appriciate his tactics. "I'm coming home."

She hung up without another word to him, and shoved her phone back into her back pocket.

"Stupid, overprotective...," She grunted in frustration, as Damon smiled a bit sadly at her.

"Time to go?"

Her expression softened. "Yeah. Time to go."

He let out a heavy sigh. "Alright. I'll take you home. But just so you know, I'm not scared of your brother."

"My brother, I'm not worried about. It's my mother I'm worried about," She murmured. "She doesn't know I came home on a motorcycle, you know, that night - if she ever found out...let's just say I like your face the way it is now."

He winced, and then let out a laugh. "Ouch."

She smiled.

When they made their way downstairs, all was quiet. Jack and Carol had probably gone back up to their rooms. She wished she could have said bye to them, but she'd see them again - she'd make sure of it.

Damon draped his coat over her shoulders, as he knew it was chilly outside. She smiled in thanks at him, and he opened the door for her, his hand slipping under the jacket to press to the small of her back. It felt warm.

When they settled in the car, Damon turned to her. "You know, you never did tell me what happened that I should be proud of you for."

"Oh!" She exclaimed, a smile coming to her lips. "I forgot."

He laughed, and waited for her to continue.

"Yesterday, after the fight over the tattoo with my brother, I went to the store to get some things for dinner, and you'll never guess who I ran into - Jackson!" Damon glanced at her, his eyes hardening at the mention of his name. "Don't worry," She assured him, "You'll love this. He was following me around, prattling on about how I'd changed or something, and he came onto me, like, came onto me. It was gross." Damon's fists tightened on the wheel.

"And I should be happy about this, why?"

"Just let me finish," She insisted, so he obediently pressed his lips together. "I did the only thing I thought natural. I stomped him on the foot," Damon's face brightened, and he nodded. "I slapped him in the face," She listed, and he grinned.

"Go on."

"And to top it all off, stomped him in the other foot. It was really quite liberating."

He let out a booming laugh, reaching over and clasping her hand in his. "You're right, I'm so proud I could kiss you!" 

She beamed at him. "See? I knew you'd love it."

"Ah, but am I allowed to punch him the next time I see him?" Damon asked, glancing at her.

"You're allowed to threaten him. I won't have you suspended," She said to him in a motherly tone.

He groaned. "But I really want to punch him!"

"If you punch him, you won't get to protect me at school for at least a week. You can threaten him, that's all."

"Maybe just a smack?" He pleaded.

"No!" She laughed. "I already smacked him hard enough."

He sulked. "You're no fun."

She rolled her eyes. "You're too violent."

"Speak for yourself!" he told her, squeezing her hand affectionately.

She grinned. "Violent and proud of it."

"Yeah, Baby!" He grinned.

When they pulled up to the curb, Libia noticed the curtains twitch. She rolled her eyes.

"Should I walk you to the door, or will I get punched?" He asked, turning off the engine and looking over at her.

"You can get out of the car and see me off. Better not get too close to the house, though."

He snorted, and watched as she stepped out onto the road. He stepped out with her, and they met at the sidewalk.

"Well," She sighed, glancing over at the curtains which she knew her brother was peeking out of, shamelessly at this point. "I'll see you later."

He smiled down at her, "Sooner, I hope."

She smiled, and leaned up to press a small kiss to his cheek. He jutted out his bottom lip comically at the lack of contact, and she laughed.

"He's going to kill you if you do anything else."

He let out a sigh, which sounded a little more like a pained groan. 

"Goodnight, Babe."

"Goodnight, Damon. I...," Her cheeks flamed as she murmured in a shy voice, "I love you."

It was her first time saying it, and it caused her heart to go crazy in her chest. She was just trying to catch her breath against the sudden emotion, when Damon took a step closer, causing her to look up. His blue eyes were determined, and rebelious. He looked absolutely devilish.

"If I die, I die. Let him see how much I don't care."

And then he slipped his hand in her hair, using his other hand to tilt her back onto her heels, pressing his lips to her in a deep kiss that sent tingles from her scalp all the way to her toes, and back up again. She had to grab onto his shirt so she could keep from falling, but his hand splayed across her back, ensuring that she wouldn't fall an inch.

He pulled back, and felt a smile pull at his lips as he took in her expression. Her lips were parted slightly, her eyes molten chocolate that seeped down into his soul and solidified like concrete. He was lost, and he never wanted to find his way out again.

He let her go, just as the door slammed open, pulling them both from their haze. He grinned at her, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek just as Ben came storming out of the house.

"Bye, Baby."

And then, as Libia lifted her hand in a dazed wave, he jumped into the car, turned it on, and pulled off, waving at Ben as he did.

Ben was beyond furious, but Libia was far, far beyond noticing, as she pulled his jacket closer to herself, not even noticing the giddy smile on her lips as she said,

"We should go inside."

And without a moment's hesitation, turned and made her way inside, Ben watching her with incredulous eyes. She almost closed the door on him, as he followed her back in, but he caught it just before it could latch.

"Libia, do you realize how-." His words were cut short, as he came into the kitchen to find Libia putting her fingertips to her lips with a dazed smile.

The night's events took a turn for the best, and Libia could feel herself glowing with happiness. She was in love, and Damon loved her back. She couldn't stop repeating those words in her head, as if saying them made it more real. She was in love, and Damon loved her back. 

"Libia!" She blinked, looking up.

Ben stood across the counter from her, glowering with anger. She blinked back into reality, wondering why in the world he was so angry.

And then she realized that most people didn't share her happiness.

"Ben," She murmured, "Why do you hate him so much?"

His words died in his throat, at her soft inquiry. He furrowed his eyebrows at her.

"Libia, he took you out to get you a tattoo. He rode you home on a motorcycle. He-,"

"Cheered me up after Jackson dined and dashed on me," She murmured, her eyes never leaving his.

It took him a moment, but he settled down in the stool in front of her, eyes losing some of their anger, and being replaced with confusion.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"That guy, Jackson, the one I originally went out with - he charmed me, complimented me, and then made an excuse. He said that his wallet was in his car, so he left to go get it. I saw his headlights come on, and poof! He was gone. I was humiliated, and livid. I left the restaraunt in tears, and ran into Damon. That's why he brought me home that night."

Ben stared down at his fists on the counter top, before looking up and meeting Libia's eyes. "Why didn't you tell me this?"

"It didn't feel right. I didn't want you to worry. Ben, Damon tells me almost every time I see him how little he deserves me. He's never forced me into anything, or influenced me in anyway. He's always been kind to me - too kind, in fact."

Ben put his forehead in the palm of his hand, groaning. "So what you're telling me, is I should be out hunting this Jackson guy down?"

"No need," Libia murmured, "Damon already beat the hell out of him."

He looked up at Libia, sulking. "So I can't do anything?"

"You could go hunt him down if you wanted, but I'm pretty sure he gets the point."

He glared at the counter top, grumbling something about people taking his job from him. 

"So you're, what, his girlfriend now?" Ben asked, not exactly thrilled with the idea.

Her cheeks flamed, as she remembered his words. "I...I think we are."

"You think?" Ben got up from his seat and walked over to the fridge, pulling out a water bottle, "You mean he hasn't specified?"

"Well, he told me he loved me," She said, and Ben choked on his water, taking an agonizing second to swallow before he started coughing uncontrollably.

Libia jumped up to pat him on the back. When he calmed down, he wiped his mouth with a tired grimace. "I'm going to lay down."

She watched him go with a simpathetic smile. This was all too fast for him. 

Libia was wired, though, and sleeping was far from her mind, as she settled down on the couch in the living room, turning on the TV and settling on a comedy that she hardly payed attention to. She was trying to doze, but all that resulted in was her picturing Damon's smiling face, and feeling his lips on hers. She wasn't getting anywhere.

She had just decided to actually pay attention to the sitcom, her phone buzzed at her side. She picked it up when she saw the name, holding it to her ear with a giddy smile.

"Hello."

"Is the cost clear?" He asked immediately.

Libia crooked an eyebrow at the TV. "Well, Ben went to bed a few minutes ago, if that's what you mean."

"That's what I mean," He confirmed, and she could hear his smile. "Come outside."

She pulled the phone back from her ear when he hung up, and screwed up her mouth in a puzzled smile. Still, she stood up and slipped her shoes back on, walking over and unlocking the door as she shrugged his jacket fully on.When she stepped out into the night air, all that she could hear for a moment in the distance was the soft sound of a dogs bark. And then she heard the suttle purr of an engine getting closer, as a car turned around the corner, one she recognized immediately. When it came to a stop in front of her house, she shook her head with a grin as she made her way out to it.

He rolled down the window as she approached, grinning devilishly at her as she leaned into the opening.

"You didn't think I'd just leave after that, did you?"

"If he finds out he'll kill me," She told him, reaching up to play with his hair as she already knew why he was still at her house.

"That's what being bad's all about, Babe," He told her, making her laugh.

"I suppose you're right. Where are we going?"

He was hesitant to say, as he knew that she would remove her hand from his hair to get in the car, and he quite liked the feeling of her soft fingertips on his scalp. But, nonetheless, he gestured for her to get in as he said,

"I'm taking you on a date - a real one."

"A date? Oh, Damon, how romantic," She teased, although her cheeks flamed with happiness at the idea.

He laughed, and nodded, "I'm a real Cassinova. Now get in."

She laughed and walked around to the other side, jumping happily into the car and shutting the door as quietly as she could, while also closing it firmly - she didn't want her brother to hear.

He reached over and grabbed her hand, appraising her appearance.

"I like you with my jacket on. You should keep wearing it."

She tilted her head back against the headrest, eyes closing. "Damon."

"Yeah, Babe," He said as he pulled away from the curb.

"I like it when you call me Baby. You should keep doing it."