Tell Me What You Want Me To Say
Damon/Elena A.U./A.H.
Summary: Damon and Elena have been together almost their whole lives. They know each other, they love each other fiercely . . . so why does it seem as though their marriage is falling apart? Will they find their way back to each other or . . . will their story not find its way to an epilogue?
Author's note: All titles (both the story title and the chapters of titles) are lines of lyrics from songs. 'Tell Me What You Want Me To Say' comes from the Florence & The Machine song "No Light, No Light." And the prologue title 'I Believe The Faithful Fell' comes from the La Rocca song "Nonbeliever."
Disclaimer: I don't own the show or the characters (except for the ones i made up). I also don't own the song titles or lyrics i may use to interpret Damon and Elena's love story.
PROLOGUE: I BELIEVE THE FAITHFUL FELL
Love doesn't just disappear – not completely. Not for two people who've known each other their whole lives and go from playmates to friends to lovers to partners. Not for this man and this woman who are everything to each other and have gone through thick and thin together. Their love is pure and destined and fated and written in the stars.
If they can't find each other again . . . what hope do the rest of us have?
flashback
"Elena, sweetheart, these are the Salvatore boys," Miranda Gilbert held her two-year-old daughter's hand as the tyke stood behind her mother's skirts – peeking out at the new people. The young girl fisted her favorite pink and purple blanket tightly, holding it over half her face.
In the other room, Miranda's husband Grayson and Giuseppe Salvatore were catching up after fifteen years apart since college. Giuseppe had recently moved his boys back to Mystic Falls for a fresh start after losing his wife Guliana a few months before.
"Hi – I's Damon," The elder Salvatore boy smiled very charmingly for his five years at the little girl across the room. Elena smiled for a brief moment before hiding completely behind her mother's legs and the blanket. Miranda chuckled at her shy little girl. The other Salvatore boy who was the same age as Elena – Stefan – sat on the floor beside his brother playing with a toy train. Young Damon leaned over to pick up one of the trains his brother wasn't playing with. Then he held it out, smiling again. "Play with me, 'Lena?"
Miranda smiled, amused with how cute and bold this small boy was and how shy her usually boisterous little girl was. Elena let out a deep breath, still holding on to the fabric of her mother's skirt. "Go on, honey, it's okay. Go play with the boys while I check on your brother." Miranda stepped back, gently pushing Elena forward toward the boys.
Elena cautiously stepped forward one step, her thumb now in her mouth as she started to suck on the little finger. The girl turned back to her mother, who nodded. Letting out another breath, Elena faced the front and stepped forward more. Little Stefan was quiet, oblivious to his brother and the girl next to him.
"Train for you," Damon held the train out again, and this time Elena grabbed on to it with the hand that wasn't in her mouth. Damon smiled victoriously and Miranda quietly chuckled from the other side of the room. The mother swiftly left the room, leaving care of the children to the slightly oversized sleeping golden retriever – Scruffles – in the corner of the room while she went to the nursery to check on her six-month-old son Jeremy.
Meanwhile, Elena held the train and sucked on her thumb – not quite sure what to do with this 'train' now that she had it. She stared back and forth between Damon and the train in her hand. Damon just stared at her too, raising his eyebrows. Finally, the elder boy let out a frustrated huff of breath.
He plopped down on the floor next to his brother – who didn't even flinch – and picked up two more trains. "Like this." He crashed the front of the trains together, making a sound effect as of a real crash.
Elena immediately starting giggling, dropping her thumb and letting her blanket fall to the floor. A few seconds later her butt followed her blanket's path and she excitedly landed on the floor with a harsh thud. For a moment her eyes started to water from the unexpected pain but then Damon burst out laughing too and her tears went away. The pain forgotten, she crashed her train into the one in Damon's hand. Both Damon and her laughed again as Damon's train was knocked out of his hand to the floor.
Elena picked up her blanket and giggled again, laughing as Damon decided to return the favor and knock little Stefan's train out of his hands. Stefan's face reddened for a moment but when he saw Damon and Elena laughing, he started laughing too. Now, all three tykes were laughing hysterically as they continued knocking the trains out of each other's hands.
Then Elena looked up at Damon and stopped laughing. Her big, brown, doe eyes widened in wonder. Damon noticed she'd stopped laughing and he did too, also staring at her. Elena pointed at him, eyes still wide and jaw dropped, and one word fell from her tiny lips: "Boo . . ."
Damon raised his eyebrow. "Huh? " He looked at Stefan, who was still laughing and playing with the trains. Elena's finger still pointed at Damon.
It was then that Miranda descended the stairs with little Jeremy in her arms. She saw that the kids were sitting together and smiled. She glanced at the dog, who snored away in his own little world.
"Boo . . ." Elena spoke again, this time more firmly – still pointing at Damon.
Miranda stopped in her tracks, frozen by her daughter's first word. She walked over to the kids, rocking her sleeping son in her arms. "What was that, honey?"
Elena smiled, pointing at Damon, and turned her head to face her mommy. "Boo." She giggled.
"What's she saying, huh Damon?" Miranda chuckled, amused by her daughter's sudden verbal activity.
Little Damon shrugged. Elena's eyes furrowed, frustrated. She pointed again, "Boo!" Damon looked back and forth between Elena and Miranda, confused. He blinked his little eyes, unsure of what to do.
"What's going on, honey?" Grayson spoke as he and Giuseppe entered the room.
"Elena's talking!" Miranda told him and he smiled. "But . . . I can't figure out what she's trying to say."
"Boo!" Elena shouted angrily, still pointing at Damon.
"Son, do you know what she's saying?" Guissepe asked his son.
Damon just shrugged. "No, papa."
Elena let out a frustrated groan and dropped her blanket and the train. She crawled over by the elder boy and trampled over him. She pushed her fingers in his face near his eyes, practically poking his eyes out. He pushed her away just enough so she wasn't in his face and she giggled. "Boo."
"Oh!" Miranda nodded, chuckling. "Damon's eyes . . . they're blue. That's what she's saying: blue."
"So her first word is blue?" Grayson said. Miranda just shrugged. "Well, guess we don't have to fight over whether she'll say mama or dada first."
"Boo!" Elena giggled and Damon started tickling her. Miranda and Grayson and Giuseppe all glanced at each other as they watched the children play.
"Boo!" Damon repeated, still tickling her, and Elena continued to giggle.
end flashback
Elena Salvatore stared at the toy trains on the tray of her child's high chair and let out a melancholy sigh. When she was a little girl she'd never expected her life to turn out this way. She'd never planned on being a probably-soon-to-be single mother. No, her plan from little on had been to spend the rest of her life with her best friend and, well, she'd almost gotten that.
"Mom, we're going to be late for school!" Her thirteen year old son, Michael, ran through the room and out the front door. Moments later, her ten year old son Alexander followed his brother out the door as well.
Elena glanced at the clock on the coffee pot and her eyes widened. "Shit!" She exclaimed. Across the room in his high chair, her four year old son Daniel crushed his cheerios with his toy train.
"Bad word!" Daniel giggled, still crushing his cereal.
"Mommy didn't say anything," She sighed, hoping he wouldn't pick up on that. She gathered her keys and her purse and Daniel's backpack. "Charlie! We gotta go, baby!" She shouted for her middle son, the seven year old.
"Coming, Momma!" Charles appeared a few moments later – dressed in his usual mismatched outfit with his Batman backpack on his shoulder.
Elena smirked, regarding the black and purple striped shirt and red and blue plaid shorts. Then there was the two different shoes and two different socks. "Ready, baby?" Elena said. Charlie nodded. "Okay, can you take your brother's backpack for me please?"
The boy held out his hands and took his little brother's Blue's Clues backpack in hand. "Okay, we're set to go."
Elena put her purse over her shoulders, put her keys in her jeans pocket, and went over to her youngest. "Hey baby boy, it's time to go to school." She picked up the train and handed it to Charlie. Then she released the tray of the highchair and set it on the kitchen table. She unlatched the chair seat belt and picked little Danny up. She held him on her hip and his eyes went wide.
"School?" He said and when his mother nodded he smiled. "Yay, school!"
"You're so cute, baby boy," Elena chuckled.
The three of them set out of the house and Elena locked it behind her and pushed in the code for the alarm. Mikey and Alex were already in the minivan. Mikey was in the front seat impatiently texting away on his phone while Alex was in the back playing with his gameboy.
"Momma, when's Daddy coming home?" Charlie asked as he got in the van.
Elena strapped Danny into his booster seat, a pang of complete unbearableness striking her heart. She swallowed her sadness, trying to keep her composure. She refused to cry in front of her boys. She gulped. "Daddy's on a business trip, remember? He won't be home for a couple of weeks."
Charlie pouted, "Weeks?!"
"Why so long?" Alex grumbled.
Mikey turned around, "What the hell, he said he'd take me to the hockey game next weekend!"
"Mikey, you watch your mouth!" Elena scolded. "I'm sorry boys, but we know how this works. Your dad will be home when he gets home, okay?" The boys were quiet as Elena got in the driver's seat and started the minivan. As she drove down the long road of the driveway and turned onto the main road, she glanced at Mikey. He was still on his phone – no doubt complaining to his friends that he wasn't going to the game anymore. She sighed. "Maybe your Uncle Stefan will take you to the game, okay?"
Mikey sighed, "Yeah, maybe . . ."
A ringing sound filled the van and Elena recognized the ring tone. "Mikey, baby, can you dig out my phone from my purse and put it on speakerphone please?"
He grumbled but did it anyway. He pulled the phone out and made a face. "It's Aunt Kat."
"Mikey, just answer it and put it on speaker please," Elena sighed. Sure, her younger sister was a lot to handle but she still loved her. Her eldest boy, however, didn't really get along with her for whatever reason. Elena still remembered the day she found out she had a sister.
flashback
Jenna Sommers held her five-year-old niece Elena in her arms while Miranda and Grayson sat nervously on the couch across the room. Jenna bounced little Elena up and down and the girl giggled.
"Jenna, I'm not sure I like this." Miranda swallowed, her hand on her knee.
"I think it'll be good for Elena," Grayson held on to his wife's hand and gave it a supportive squeeze.
"It'll be fine, Miranda," Jenna assured her sister as she put Elena on her hip.
Young Elena giggled, grabbing on to a chunk of her aunt's hair. "Jen play wit me!"
Jenna pulled her hair out of her niece's grasp. "Hey Elena . . . you have someone new to play with today."
"Boo?" Elena stared at her aunt quizzically, using the nickname she'd given to her favorite playtime buddy, the now eight-year-old Damon Salvatore.
At this, the three adults smiled, knowing how quickly Elena had become attached to the elder boy and vice versa.
"Someone new, sweetie," Jenna chuckled. "But you can still play with Damon and Stefan and Jeremy too." Elena just stared, not really understanding what her aunt was saying.
The doorbell interrupted, and the dog barked. "Hush, Scruffles!" Grayson scolded and jumped up to answer the door. The dog stopped barking and pouted out of the room.
At the sound of the doorbell again, little Elena's eyes went wide and her mouth formed an "o" of surprise. The girl looked to her aunt. "Who dat?" Jenna giggled.
Grayson opened the door. On the doorstep stood Alaric Saltzman – Jenna's new 'special friend' and the new history teacher at the high school. "Nice to see you again, buddy." Grayson shook Alaric's free hand.
"Thanks for having me over, Grayson." Alaric nodded. "Especially with this new . . . situation."
"Yeah, no problem. We're all family now, Ric." Grayson stepped aside. "Come on in."
Alaric held on to the car-seat in his hand with both arms. Upon seeing a now standing Miranda, Alaric nodded. "Hello, Miranda."
"Hello, Alaric," Miranda smiled softly as she let out a nervous sigh.
Alaric walked further into the room, letting the diaper bag on his shoulder gently fall to the floor beside the coffee table. He turned around and saw Jenna, freezing in his step. A goofy grin appeared on his face. "Hey, Jenna."
"Alaric," Jenna greeted, blushing slightly. She adjusted Elena on her hip.
Miranda and Grayson glanced at each other, sharing a knowing smile. Grayson cleared his throat. Jenna and Alaric were still staring at each other.
A cry from the car seat in Ric's arms broke the two perspective lover's thrall. Jenna and Ric blinked. In Jenna's arms, Elena's eyes were wide. "Baby!" The little tyke gasped.
Jenna blushed again. "Elena, sweetie, this is my friend Alaric."
"'Larc?" Elena tested the name on her tongue.
Everyone chuckled. Alaric chuckled. "A little tough to say, huh kiddo? Trust me, it wasn't easy growing up with it either."
"What about 'Ric'?" Jenna said. "Elena, can you say Ric?"
"Rik," Elena said, her c turning into a hard k.
"Works for me," Ric shrugged. The baby in his arms fussed again. "Oh boy, I'd hoped she'd sleep a little longer."
"It's fine," Jenna said. "Now Elena can meet her."
Elena pointed at the car-seat. "Baby! Jer?"
The adults laughed. "No, sweetie, your brother is upstairs sleeping." Miranda said.
"Who baby then?" Elena asked.
Alaric set the car-seat down on the floor and unstrapped the child inside. "Elena, this is my daughter―Katherine."
"Katty?" Elena giggled. "Kitty . . ."
Jenna knelt on the floor beside Ric and Elena reached for baby Katherine. "Elena, honey, there's something we want to tell you about Katherine."
Miranda sucked in a breath and Grayson wound his arm around her waist, holding her close to him.
"Sweetie, you were adopted. You have another set of parents that you came from," Jenna explained.
"More Mommies and Daddies?" Elena raised her little eyebrow.
"No, Elena," Jenna shook her head. "Your brother Jeremy came from his real mommy's tummy―from Miranda." Miranda bit her bottom lip.
"And my daughter Katherine came from her mommy's tummy―my wife Isobel." Alaric said.
"Me come from Mommy's tummy too," Elena reached for her mother―for Miranda.
Miranda stepped forward and sighed, bending down to take her daughter from her sister's hold. She picked Elena up and held her on her hip. "No, sweetie. You came from your first mommy's tummy―Her name was Isobel."
"Dat Katty's mommy," Elena said, confused.
"Yes," Alaric nodded. "You and Katherine have the same Mommy."
"Mommy not my mommy?" Elena bit her lip, tears forming in her eyes.
"Yes, sweetie. I'm still your mommy. You just didn't come from my tummy."
Elena sniffled. "Why?"
"It's hard to explain, sweetie, but I promise when you're older you'll understand." Miranda told her, holding her tight in a hug.
"Daddy still my daddy?" Elena sniffled.
"Yes and no," Miranda sighed.
"Rik my daddy too?" Elena said.
Alaric's eyes widened. "No . . . kiddo, it's hard to explain. I hadn't known Isobel when you were born and . . . she never told me about you."
Elena's little yes brightened. "Katty be my Jer too?"
The adults chuckled. Miranda hugged her again. "No, Katherine isn't your brother like Jeremy is." Elena's face fell. "Katherine is your sister – your little sister."
"Sisser . . ." Elena tried out the word. "Me play with Katty?"
"Well," Alaric said. "She's a little tiny right now – she's only four months old. All she really does is eat and sleep and go to the bathroom."
"Oh," Elena nodded. "When Katty older?"
"Yes," Miranda nodded. "You can play with your little sister all you want when she's older."
"Yay!" Elena cheered.
All the adults sighed in relief – first meeting of the new sisters was a success.
End flashback
Back in the present, the phone still rang as Elena drove her boys to school. Her first few months were her little sister hadn't been very exciting. But once Katherine – or 'Katty' as Elena had affectionately called her for years later even if she didn't like it – had gotten older the two half-siblings were as close as siblings could be. Elena was even closer to Katherine than she was Jeremy or Stefan. Damon and Elena's bond, however, always stayed stronger than their relationships with anyone else.
Of course, that could be part of the reason Stefan and Katherine were so close.
Elena blinked, remembering that the phone was still ringing. "Mikey answer it" She let out a breath, slightly annoyed.
"Alright, geez," The preteen sighed, pushing the talk and speakerphone buttons.
"Hey sis!" Katherine's high-pitched squeal echoed through the minivan.
"Hey, Katherine," Elena said. "Say hi to the boys, you're on speaker."
"My handsome nephews aren't getting into trouble, are we?"
"No, Aunt Katherine," Mikey, Charlie, and Alex said at the same time.
"Good boys," Katherine said. Mikey rolled his eyes. "Michael Grayson I can hear you roll your eyes!"
Elena chuckled as Mikey sank in his seat. In the back, young Danny looked around confused – probably trying to find where the familiar voice was coming from. "Katty!" Danny giggled.
"Hey there, little man." Katherine said. "Did your mommy tell you to call me that? She used to call me that all the time when we were little 'cuz she couldn't say my full name."
"What's with the early morning call, Kat? Aren't you usually at class by this time?" Elena said.
"Yeah, but . . ." Elena's younger sibling squealed again. Elena smirked. "I took today off. Or actually we both did. Stefan's here too."
"Hi Elena, hi boys," Stefan's voice appeared.
"Hey Stefan," Elena said. "What, are you both sick?"
"No, Elena, we're not sick." Stefan said. Elena could hear Katherine whisper and giggle in the background. "Actually, we―"
"No, let me tell her!" Katherine cut in. "Please?!"
"Okay, baby," Stefan sighed.
"We're engaged!" Katherine squealed louder than before, laughing. "Stefan finally proposed!"
"Congratulations, guys," Elena smiled sadly, remembering when Damon had proposed to her.
"We're getting married in six months and guess what big sis?" Katherine said.
"What's that?" Elena turned the corner, sighing.
"You tell her, babe," Katherine said.
"Okay," Stefan said. "Elena, we would like Damon and you to be the Best Man and Maid―I'm sorry Matron of Honor." Katherine squealed again and Stefan laughed.
Elena heart instantly fell in her chest. A wedding that Damon and she would be half responsible for? Working with Damon on the wedding? With everything that was going on between them?
"Elena?" Katherine said. "What do ya say, will you help me get married?"
Elena swallowed, trying to hold her composure. Must not cry – don't cry!
"Mom?" Mikey gave his mom a worried look.
Elena blinked, letting out a deep breath. "Y-Yes, of course. I'd love to be your Matron –of-Honor."
"Thank you so much sis – you have no idea how much this means to me, to us."
"Yeah, thanks Elena. You're just as much a sister to me as Damon is my brother." Stefan said. "Do you think he'll want to be my Best Man?"
"I know he'd be honored to," Elena nodded, still trying to hold her tears in.
"Mom, we're at the school," Mikey said quietly.
"What? Oh, right." Elena blinked again, turning into the school parking lot "Stefan, Kat, can I call you back later? We're at the school."
"Yeah, sure." Stefan said. "We'll let you know more details later. Oh, and don't say anything to Damon – I'll let him know myself."
"Sounds good." Elena sighed. "Bye guys."
"Bye! Bye kids," Stefan and Katherine shouted – Katherine was still giggling.
Mikey hung up the phone and put it back in his mom's purse. The three older boys filed off and ran into the school as Elena got out to unstrap Danny.
to be continued . . .