Holly and I Only!!!

"Here's how my mother taught me to play," he took her hands and put them over the right keys to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". He pushed her fingers for the correct timing and hummed along witht he notes.

She smiled and moved so she was sitting on his knee and it was a bit easier for him to move her fingers.

He smiled and gently moved her hands so they played a more complicated song, though it was beautiful and flowed easily through the space of his quarters.

she smiled and let him help her, following his fingers. She liked this, felt happy to be so close to him, it was almost like he was holding her.

He smiled, sensing her bliss. He kissed her cheek gently as the song ended. "Congratulations. You just played your first song on the piano."

She smiled and turned slightly to kiss his lips for the first time. "thank you."

He smiled and kissed her lips softly, tenderly. "You're most welcome," he whispered.

she took a breath and started to lean in for another, deeper, kiss but stopped herself. Her face hovered above his for a few seconds before she stood, sliding out of his arms to go sit on his bed. Things were moving a bit to fast and it was scaring her.

He studied her emotions before he spoke. "I'm sorry," he murmured, truly looking so. "Please understand - you are my mate by blood. If, someday, you want to take me as your mate, than I will wait. If not, then say so and I will stop showing my affection," he said gently. "But know that I will always be loyal to you."

She nodded, not getting up but looking at him. "I'm sorry... This is just really fast. I never thought that I would feel this way about someone, at least not this fast."

"It's alright," he soothed her. "This isn't uncommon, actually. Talk to Niko about it sometime. Ask him in detail how he and his mate met."

"But he lost his mate... I don't want to cause him the pain of remembering."

"He's constantly being reminded, anyway. Fairly kind of looks like her. Same colored hair, same eyes. It won't hurt him anymore than he's hurting now."

She sighed and got up and went to sit next to him again. "alright. So, this is okay, how I'm feeling?" she asked.

He nodded. "Yes, it's alright," he chuckled gently.

She smiled slightly. "are you laughing at me?"

"No," he smiled, shaking his head.

She smiled and got up again, going to lay down on his bed, above his covers. "Your bed is more comfortable than mine. Hey, I've got a question. do you sleep in a bed or in a coffin?"

He chuckled. "I sleep in my bed. Get under the covers, silly. You'll catch cold," he pulled the covers over her. "Would you like me to lay with you or play the piano more," he asked her gently.

She smiled up at him. "Play the piano for me?" She asked.

"Of course," he smiled and kissed her forehead. "I'll play something relaxing." He went to the piano and began playing softly.

Baily couldn't help but fall asleep with the soft bed, the piano, and the feeling of Damon's presence in the room.

Damon finished the song, which ended not long after she'd fallen asleep, and carefully crawled into bed next to her, wrapping his arms around her gently and closing his eyes. He'd need to feed tomorrow night - her scent was almost overpowering.

Baily smiled, cuddling into him. She'd never felt safer in somebody's arms.

He held her close, kissing her forehead gently before he fell asleep.