Prodigal Return
It had been something Damon knew he needed to do on his own. There was no need to ask his brother to come along, even if he might have been useful, simply because he’d rather know Stefan was back in Mystic Falls to keep company to or keep an eye on Katherine. And he wasn’t about to take her and their newborn son with him on this potentially dangerous journey. Besides which, he had expected it to be rather short, and the quick turnaround would have only stressed mother and child.
It was only once he was in Firenze that he realized that it was a huge waste of travel time to visit without stopping to truly see the city. Still he had no time to waste; he needed to be back to his family as soon as he'd found the item of his query. Tracking down the location of his ancestors estate hadn't been a piece of cake, and it further frustrated him upon the realization that what he sought was of course not in the main residence of the long gone Salvatori. Of lesser nobility, he hadn't expected them to have land in the heart of Emilia-Romagna where his quest had then taken him. He prefered to work alone and not alert anyone, but pressed for time he'd managed to track down a true Strega who was able to help him find what he sought.
He would not declare his mission a success until he'd set foot on American soil and made it past the front door of the Salvatore boarding house, but that didn't stop him from shopping a few gifts for his beloved wife. One does not simply go to Italy without getting something for one's woman! More than that however, he knew she would be upset at his absence, and he knew she was further annoyed when he wouldn't tell her exactly why he had gone in the first place. This would be his chance to apologise for the secrecy, however necessary it had been, as well as apologise for his absence, something that was unsual for the couple.
It was with a sigh of relief that he, at last climbed the steps leading up to the heavy front door of the boarding house. He let himself in, his voice bellowing and echoing through the spacious halls as he called out.
"Honey I'm home!"
