Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or the show the Vampire Diaries. I only use them and their remarkable relationships as inspiration. Enjoy! :)
Elena lay in bed, staring at the same spot on her dull, white ceiling. The darkness that enveloped the room was interrupted by an overwhelming flash of light, followed by the crushing sound of thunder. Elena wasn't sure if Mystic Falls was experiencing one of their worst storms in years, or if her vampire senses just heightened the elements of the storm. It was 3:52 AM. Three weeks ago at this time, she was making the hardest decision of her life: whether to feed or not. After waking up in the hospital morgue, everything seemed to pass in an excruciatingly, slow-motion blur. Every tear she shed, every hug she received, every heart-felt discussion of pleading or understanding from her friends, seemed to weigh on her. Although there were a billion things going through her mind, including memories that she did not think existed, she came to a conclusion surprisingly fast. Or maybe it wasn't so surprising at all. She had to turn for Jeremy. It was that plain and simple. Yes, she never wanted this life, never wanted to be frozen in time with no chance of moving forward and creating a family. But her love and devotion for Jeremy pushed that to the back of her mind, and helped her drink the first drop of blood from one of Damon's crystal glasses. She was expecting it to taste awful, but found it to be better than her favorite spaghetti her dad used to make. This thought both pleased and terrified her. She didn't want to enjoy any part of feeding, but couldn't seem to help herself.
Since that fateful night, her days seemed to be stuck on repeat. It was a constant cycle of learning everything she could about her undead life: control, bloodlust, overwhelming emotions, and holding onto her humanity. Stefan and Damon, although their relationship had taken another devastating blow due to Stefan's choice to save Matt, had teamed up with Caroline to try and help Elena feel comfortable in her new body. Each had their own approach, but each remained understanding and patient. Although Elena was appreciative of their support, she couldn't help but feel frustrated and alone. No matter how hard anyone tried, they couldn't possibly understand the emotions that seemed to be swallowing Elena whole. Her grief and sorrow that were constantly held in a guarded part of her heart while she was alive, were now consuming her in her undead life. She also felt tremendous loss for all her loved ones that had left this world and for the life she would never have. Alaric's funeral seemed to bring all these emotions to a head. And although she remained strong and stoic for the ceremony, she was completely shattering on the inside.
Confusion was another emotion that controlled her thoughts. Confusion on who to be, which vampire path to take (human or forest creature), and which Salvatore brother to call hers forever. Although she had chosen Stefan in a pure vulnerable moment as a human, she wasn't quite sure if that choice was the best for her now less than human-self. She never made her choice known to Stefan, who seemed to not be focusing on that particular dilemma at the moment. He was more concerned with saving her humanity. Elena also never confronted Damon about memories of mysterious strangers in the middle of nowhere, and love declarations in her very own bedroom. She figured he was aware of the compulsion wearing off, but neither had dared to mention it. She would enter that dangerous territory when she figured out how she honestly felt about it, and when the time was right. Until then, the three of them danced around each other with quiet understanding: all focused on helping Elena come to terms with her new, limitless, never-ending, future.
So now she lay in her illuminated room, painfully awake. Elena wasn't very sure if vampires were even meant to sleep, but found that her emotions and thoughts made it an impossible task. As the rain continued to flood the Earth, she decided she needed a change of scenery. Deciding to pour herself a glass of wine with the hopes of calming her senses, she checked on a sleeping Jeremy, and descended the stairs. However, she stopped dead in her tracks when she reached the front door. Although she was a baby vampire, Damon had taught her how to sense others. And right now, she could sense him. It was difficult through all the rain, wind, and thunder, but she would be able to sense him anywhere. Debating with herself for a split second whether she should make her presence known or not, she decided she had nothing better to do, and pushed open the door.
Elena stepped out onto the porch and leaned casually against the doorframe, facing the vampire sitting on her porch swing. Damon, who seemed to be focusing on the rain, turned to face her with a knowing look. Of course he had heard her every step out of bed.
"Elena." Was his greeting for her, said in that way only he was capable of.
"Damon." She replied quietly. "I'm guessing it's your shift?" Damon and Stefan had been taking turns watching the house every night for the past three weeks. She assumed it was to make sure she didn't do anything rash, and it annoyed her that they assumed she wasn't aware of this plan.
His eyes widened, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I actually just love sitting on your porch swing every time there's a hurricane that descends upon Mystic Falls." If it wasn't for his trademark smirk, she would have considered believing him.
Elena gently smiled back. "Do you really think I'm that bad of a student?"
Damon furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"You teach me to sense others, and then expect me not to notice when the two people I've memorized with every sense are lurking just outside my house?"
Damon let the fact that she just admitted to having him permanently engraved into her mind slide. "I wouldn't call it lurking…just casually lounging outside, recreationally."
She scoffed and let out a small laugh. Deciding to end the light banter, she became serious once again and stared at Damon with the most honest look. "You don't have to spend your nights here waiting for me to break. I'm not going to break, Damon." It was not lost on Elena that this echoed a previous conversation she had had many months ago with Damon while arguing about chili.
Damon looked at her with his intense, sapphire gaze. "That's not why I come here, Elena. I know you're not going to break. Just like I know you are stronger than most people think."
"Then why do you come?" Elena questioned.
"When I first turned, I remember the nights of the first couple months. I could never sleep with all the thoughts that seemed to be flying through my head." He paused for a moment and took a breath. "And all I remembering wanting, was someone to talk to. Not necessarily about all the things I was thinking, but just talking, about anything." His eyes clouded over with sadness. "But I never had anyone to talk to, and I remember how lonely and isolated I felt."
Elena just stared at with him with empathy. "I'm sorry, Damon."
Damon waved his hand, "No need to apologize, it was a long time ago. The point is, I don't want you to ever feel that lonely. So I sit here and wait for a time, like right now, when you just need someone to talk to."
Elena was constantly surprised by how Damon could know exactly what she needed, before she even realized it herself. She gave him a loving smile, walked over to the porch swing, and sat down beside him—far enough away to keep their carefully constructed space, but close enough for either of them to reach out and break through that wall.
They sat in comfortable silence, despite the worsening storm surrounding them. Elena couldn't help but compare this present moment to their lives. They were constantly surrounded by some sort of chaos and impending doom, but Damon and she had always found a way to be each other's rocks. When one of them started to feel the crushing weight of hopelessness, the other would grab hold and assure that they would get through it, that they'd always survive. She was brought out of her reverie by Damon's words,
"So, I'm curious. If you were aware of me sitting out here for the past twenty-one nights, why have you never just offered me a spot on the couch, safe from the elements?"
She looked to find him smiling at her, attempting to break through whatever serious thought he knew she was thinking. "I figured you were a big-boy-vampire who could handle a few cold nights and rainstorms." She continued the banter.
He heartily laughed, "Although that may be true, my favorite leather jacket would have to disagree."
Eyeing the jacket that had become so accustomed to her, the look, the smell, the feel, she realized it was looking a bit worn and weathered.
She moved closer so that her arm was resting against the soft leather. "Well, the jacket is always welcomed to a nice spot on my couch from now on." Although her smile was joking, her eyes revealed the deeper meaning of that statement. Damon of course caught this, and accepted the offer by placing his hand on her small one that was currently resting on his arm. Their eyes met, and seemed to say all the unspoken things that had been avoided since she transitioned. Not ready for that emotional hurricane, she broke the tension by shifting their focus back to the rain.
"You know, when I was younger, I would always come out here and sit on this swing during rainstorms." She looked to Damon, who encouraged her to continue with a slight nod.
"The rain always had a way of calming me. It was like no matter how frustrated or upset I was, I could come out here, close my eyes, and just let the steady rhythm of the rain consume me. It would remind me of how there are such bigger things in life, and would make me feel so….human." She trailed off, reminiscing about that feeling, wondering if it could work now, even in her undead state.
Damon, as always, seemed to read her mind and squeezed her hand. "Try it now." He whispered.
Elena did as he requested, closed her eyes, and let her senses focus on just the rain. It worked. But there was something different than all those times she spent sitting on this swing. Something else that comforted her—Damon's presence. He stared at her with all the admiration and love he felt, and for a second, he imagined her still as his human Elena.
Suddenly, Elena opened her eyes, as if another memory had just came to life in her mind. She turned to face Damon, noticing that their hands were still intertwined. He looked at her expectantly.
"Every time I sat here, I always came to the same conclusion. I wanted to run into the rain and just let it soak me. Something about the idea sounded so thrilling and alive." He smiled, hanging onto every word she spoke, relishing in her human memories.
"But right when I had entertained the idea enough to actually try it, my mom would always come out with a blanket and tea, and tell me to come in before I caught a cold." Although the memory was happy, she couldn't help the twinge of sadness that entered her voice.
Damon knew the look well, and held her hand tighter. "Sounds like you had an amazing mom."
She nodded and they settled into silence once more.
Just as Damon thought she had been consumed by sorrow and nostalgia, Elena abruptly released his hand and stood up. Before he could ask what she was doing she quickly said,
"I'm a vampire, right? Why not enjoy some of the perks of my eternal life?" She smiled down at Damon, who was feeling a bit whiplashed by her change in attitude, but had a slight idea of where her train of thought was going.
"Vampires can't catch a cold." He smirked.
"No, they certainly cannot." And with that, she used her new speed and was off the porch and in the midst of the storm before he could even blink.