Chapter Six: Could this really be love?

As they approached town, Emily and Damon slowed their speed down. They stopped at a stable that was meant for the richer people. Damon got off of his horse as he placed it in one of the boxes. He walked back to Emily and helped her down, placing both of his hands on her hips and gently placing her on the ground. He did the same for her horse while placing it in its temporary stable box. He walked over to Emily as she took a hold of his open arm. "Thank you for your gifts Miss Emily. You shouldn't spend so much money on a man of my wealth."

"Mr. Salvatore, I wouldn't have spent the money for just anyone. You are more than a man of wealth. There are characteristics of your personality that I can see that everyone else looks over. You are fighting for our country in the Confederacy Army, and you chose to do that. Your father thinks that it makes you weak, but I see that it makes a man stronger than his physical being. You were strong enough mentally to not run out of town the second we all found out about our arranged marriage. I would have run if I were you. I should have already been married by now and have a child." Emily said as they entered the sun's warming rays in the center of town.

Damon placed his left hand over hers which was around his arm. "That's the reason I didn't run. You may think that you don't know yourself, but you do. You are kind and strong yourself. But you think highly of others and lower of yourself. A woman at your status shouldn't think of such comments about herself. You remind me of my mother. She always knew what to say to make other people feel better about themselves."

Emily smiled to other people as they passed, yet not letting them hear about their conversation to each other. "Mr. Salvatore, I was wondering, between you and me, what are your feelings about our upcoming marriage?"

Damon coughed once at the shock of her question. How was he supposed to answer that? "I would like to hear your thoughts first."

Emily sighed as she looked up at him. "I think that we can place our past behind us and start new. We have grown up from children into adults together. We know everything about each other. I know you better than you know yourself. Sure we may not have done this if we didn't grow together, but taking this from a sibling standpoint to a marriage standpoint, I'll be ready."

Damon let her words soak in for some time. She was ready to give up the fact that they were never related and start new with him. Her thought must have been little things placed together. "I feel that the situation was going to go wrong from the moment it left my father's mouth. But since the party, last night in your room, the gifts you gave me; I feel the same as you. I can and will be ready whenever you are. I can learn to love you as more than just a sister."

Some of the town's women were standing in one spot looking at the two, conversing to each other behind their fans and hands. Damon gave them a quick glance before saying, "Maybe we should go to Miss Pearl's apothecary. I hear Stefan's new interest works there. I didn't know she was boarding in the Estate. She doesn't seem to eat."

Emily nodded as they took a right and walked into one of the buildings. When they walked in they both saw Pearl and her daughter, Annabelle. Annabelle welcomed them into the shop. A girl with long curly chocolate brown hair had walked from behind the counter. "Mr. Salvatore, Miss Clearwater. It's my pleasure to finally meet you both. Stefan has told me such wonderful things about you. I am Katherine Pierce." She curtsied to the couple as Damon bowed and Emily returned her own curtsy.

"I say it is wonderful to meet my brothers love interest. It was kind for my father to let you board in our home, Miss Katherine." Damon told her taking Emily's arm again under his.

"Well we all know that it hasn't been the first time your father has let a stranger live in his home." Emily said in a kind and sweet tone that was to kind and sweet. "I hope you are happy with you accommodations Miss Pierce."

Katherine smiled at the both of them. "I am perfectly happy Miss Clearwater. I am sorry that you had to go through your life living a lie you had no idea about until yesterday. I can see though that is not a problem for you two." She hinted at how close they were acting.

There was no doubt that she was told to inform his father of everything they did. Emily smiled as she took her free hand and placed it on his face, gilding it with the tips of her fingers to hers, and gently touching his lips with hers. Damon had closed his eyes and kissed her back. He was screaming in his mind when she made the first move, but now after touching her soft, pink rose lips; it didn't feel like incest. It felt like he was kissing any other woman. He pulled away and looked back at the three women in the room. Anna was giggling quietly while Katherine and Pearl smiled. "Here take this Miss Emily. Consider it, an engagement gift." Pearl said handing her a bottle.

Emily opened the bottle and smelled its wonderful contents. It smelled of jasmine and vanilla. "Thank you. You are all very kind."

Damon smiled as he looked at the other women. "Well if you don't mind us, I think I want to go out and show the men of Mystic Falls, what they can't have, because she is mine."

"Aww, such the southern gentleman he is." Emily said bidding the other women a due. The two left together and whispered to each other. "Sorry about that kiss in there. But she might be reporting everything back to your father."

"Don't apologize. Your kiss was wonderful. Thank you." Damon said picking a rose off of a bush and handing it to her.

"Well, why not show the rest of town?" she asked him smiling.

He dropped the flower and kissed her. Everyone in the town square had stopped where they were and looked at the two of them, gasping and gawking at how fast they were taking their new relationship.