TITLE : Last Christmas
DISCLAIMER : I don't own TVD or any of the publicly recognizable characters. Sadly, the series belongs to L.J. Smith, Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec, Caroline Dries, et al.,and CW Network. I just use their universe as my playground.
AUTHOR'S NOTE : This is a story requested by my friend Penny_Royalty_, who's been begging me to write a Delena Christmas story. Not STRICTLY compliant to the current TVD storyline, meaning it's canon until it's not.
PROMPT : Write a Delena Christmas story where Elena finally loses Damon and must personally find a way to get him back. Angst is a must. Fluff is welcome. Hurt is optional. Smut is encouraged. Happy ending is a necessity.
SUMMARY : Just when things are finally looking up for Elena, another tragedy strikes on a day that was supposed to be a time to rejoice. Now, she has to find a way to fix things while she's not allowed to alter the outcome.
PAIRING : Damon/Elena
WARNING : Major character death.
CHAPTER ONE – Last Christmas
Elena kept pacing back and forth inside their dorm at Whitmore. It was the night before Christmas, and Sheriff Liz Forbes decided at the last minute to bring some Christmas cheer to Whitmore College...Caroline and Elena's dorm room, to be exact. The older Gilbert was making herself nervous as she waited in anticipation. She had one amazing gift to give to one amazing person...a gift that she is more than eager to give. Impatiently, she would look out the window, and tap her foot. Periodically, she monitored the door every time it opened, to see who just entered, and then checked her watch over and over for the time.
"Elena, stop fidgeting!" Caroline scolded her, as she puts some holiday finishing touches to the mantel. "It's not going to make Damon walk through that door any sooner."
"You don't understand, Care," Elena told her, shaking her head. "I've been trying to get a hold of him for days now. He's not answering his phone. I've texted him hundreds of times, and he hasn't replied once. I called Stefan, and even he doesn't know where Damon is either."
"I'm sure he's okay," Caroline tried to reassure her. "Have some eggnog. It'll help you relax."
"What will help me relax is when I finally talk to Damon," Elena sighed. "He doesn't know yet. He needs to know that I remember everything, and he needs to know tonight." She could hardly wait to give Damon his Christmas present.
"Any idea how you're going to tell him once he gets here?" Caroline asked curiously.
"I'm not sure," Elena shook her head. "I have this whole speech that I've been rehearsing inside my head, but I don't think it will be enough. I have a feeling there's some grovelling involved. Hopefully followed by a lot of kissing. Then after that, who knows?"
"Grovelling? Pfft! " Caroline scoffed. "He should be thanking his lucky stars for this Christmas miracle! I mean, HELLO? Forgetting that you ever loved him was the best thing that could've happened to you in the past few years-"
"Caroline!" Elena admonished her blonde vampire friend.
"Sorry," Caroline apologized half-heartedly. "Okay...I'm back to my 'supportive best friend' mode. Go, Team Delena! Yay..." she added with feigned enthusiasm.
Elena was about to say something to her, when she heard people coming in through the door. She turned to see Alaric walking in with his girlfriend Jo, closely followed by Tyler, who came with Liv as his date.
"Elena! Merry Christmas!" Alaric greeted her with a tight hug, before doing the same with Caroline.
"Ric, Jo...Merry Christmas!" Elena greeted in return. She smiled and exchanged greetings with Tyler and Liv.
"Thank you for still inviting us...even after everything that has happened lately, " Jo said, giving her younger sister a weak smile.
"Everything looks...nice," Liv added, clearly very uncomfortable being with present company, considering what a disaster their last Friendsgiving celebration was.
"Actually, this was all my mom's doing," Caroline chimed in. "From the decorations right down to the food."
"Wow, Care, your mom really went all out this year," Tyler told his ex, as he whistled in admiration.
"Well, after all that what we've been through this year, she figured we could use a day of celebration," Caroline explained.
"I just wish Bonnie could be here..." Elena muttered softly.
"We all do, Elena," Alaric assured her.
"Why don't you just say out loud what everyone else is thinking?" Liv rolled her eyes dramatically. "Bonnie would be here already, if I didn't end the spell prematurely."
"Liv, that's not what I meant..." Elena tried to apologize to the blonde witch, only Liv was quick to storm out.
"Liv!" Tyler called her back, but she kept walking away. "Excuse me..." he said, before following his girlfriend. "Liv, come on!"
"Wow..." Caroline said with raised eyebrows. "She and Luke are just...so different. Like how you and Kai are different...not that I'm comparing Liv to Kai or anything."
"It's okay. It's the nature of twins, at least in our family," Jo tried to explain. "One has to be more dominant than the other. Otherwise, the merge would be a draw, and at no point in all of our family history has there ever been a draw. There has to be a winner. Our coven needs a leader."
"So...basically, you're saying that Luke is pretty much screwed once he merges with Liv?" Elena asked the lady doctor.
"No...not at all," Jo replied. "Liv's strength lies in her powers. Luke has his own strength, only it lies in some place else."
"Still, pitting siblings against each other...that's beyond barbaric," Alaric pointed out.
"It's the rule of our coven's magic. And you of all people should know, magic isn't perfect," Jo told Ric. "Luke will have to face Liv during their merge. Either way, I still lose one of them," she said with a heavy sigh.
"Speaking of whom, where is your little brother tonight?" Alaric wondered.
"Oh, our grandmother decided to come to town and spend Christmas here at the last minute. Luke volunteered to stay with her, considering he's the one who's closest to her out of all of us," Jo explained.
"You should've brought her with you," Caroline told her. "I'm pretty sure my mom cooked enough food to feed the whole building. Seriously, we could invite the entire college, and there will still be leftovers afterwards."
Elena immediately lifted her gaze when there was another knock on the door, curious and hopeful as to who it was that's about to enter. Liz came out of the kitchen and rushed towards the door.
"I got it," Liz told them. She opened it to let another guest enter. "Honey, it's another one of your friends," she yelled for Caroline.
Elena couldn't hide the look of disappointment when she saw that it wasn't Damon at the door. Then, she turned to Caroline and gave her a suspicious look. "Seriously, Care?" she asked, as she watched Liam put his coat away.
"I'm sorry," Caroline said to her with an apologetic look. "I ran into him earlier, and I found out that he was spending Christmas by himself. Nobody should ever spend the holidays all alone, Elena. That's the whole purpose of this party," she explained.
"I'm assuming you extended the same invitation to Stefan then?" Elena asked through gritted teeth.
"Uhm...I...well..." Caroline stammered.
"Oh, don't worry," Liz whispered to Elena. "I made sure that Stefan was invited tonight."
"MOM!" Caroline protested.
"Sweetheart, Stefan is one of your closest friends," Liz told her daughter. "Whatever issues you have with him at the moment, you can put it off for one night. If you can open up your dorm to acquaintances, surely you can extend the same courtesy to your friend," she pointed out. "Set aside your differences, even if it's just for tonight. Be grateful for everything and everyone that remain in your life. Don't ever take for granted the fact that the people that you care about are still here. They're alive, healthy and safe. That, in and of itself, should be a good enough Christmas present. That's what this little gathering is all about," she added, her fingers gently patting her daughter's cheeks.
"Good evening," Liam greeted everyone as he joined in on the group. "Merry Christmas! I brought fruitcake."
"How nice," Caroline said. "Isn't that nice of him, Elena?" she nudged her friend. Elena only answered her with a death glare.
"It's no big deal. It was on sale. I picked it up at the bakery before they closed tonight," Liam replied.
"Good, that means it's edible, which is more than what I would say if I were to make it," Liz joked, before taking the tray from Liam's hands. "I'll put this on the table." She then turned to the others. "Dinner will be served in half an hour," she informed everyone, before returning to the dining room.
"Hi, Elena," Liam greeted her timorously.
"Hello, Liam," Elena greeted him in return.
There was an awkward silence for a while, before Caroline suddenly chimed in. "What's that, Mom?" she pretended to hear. "You need my help in the kitchen?" She turned to Elena and said, "Mom needs my help."
"I didn't hear anything," Elena hissed inconspicuously.
"I have excellent hearing," Caroline answered. She turned to face Alaric and Jo. "I'm sure Mom could use your help too," she told them as she none-too-subtly shoved the two gently towards the kitchen, ignoring Elena's silent protests.
"Well," Liam said when they were finally alone. "That wasn't obvious at all."
"Yeah, subtlety is not one of Caroline's strong suits," Elena chuckled.
"I haven't seen you at the hospital lately," Liam said.
"Yeah, I couldn't quite keep up with a full load course, so I had to cut back on my volunteer work at the hospital," Elena explained, feeling a little awkward that she had to lie to Liam yet again. "Uhm, I'm gonna go see if they need another pair of hands in the kitchen," she told him, before she proceeded to walk away.
"Wait," Liam stopped her. "Hold it right there," he said, before walking towards Elena.
"Uhm...Liam," Elena muttered, uncomfortable with how close he was to her.
Liam looked up and smiled. "Mistletoe," he pointed to the decoration hanging from the ceiling, before leaning towards Elena, his fingers tilting her chin up, closing the distance between their faces.
Stefan had been debating back and forth whether or not to proceed towards the dorm room and attend the Forbes-Gilbert Christmas Eve dinner party. He didn't want to make things more awkward between him and Caroline, which is how things would be if he were to attend. Letting out a deep sigh, he turned around to leave. He was surprised when his exit was blocked by the sudden reappearance of his older brother.
"Hello, Brother," Damon greeted him with a smirk on his face. "What you got there?"
Stefan then noticed the almost-forgotten dessert that he was holding in his hands. "Oh...it's, uh, Christmas pudding trifle," he answered.
"Ah," Damon said. "A bribe to get back into Caroline's good graces...or get into her pants?"
"More like a 'Thank You' gift to Liz, for inviting me tonight, and putting in a good word for me," Stefan corrected his brother. "Did YOU bring anything?"
Damon held out his hand, showing him a small plastic container. "Rum balls."
"Really, Damon?" Stefan asked, surprised at how plain it was. "That's all you brought? You didn't make anything scrumptious that will jolt Elena's memory back?"
"Nope," Damon replied, with the usual resounding 'P' at the end. "I've decided to give up that ghost."
"Damon-" Stefan wanted to express his sympathy.
"Stef..." Damon held out his hand to interrupt him. "I don't wanna hear it, alright? Elena is never going to love me again, not if all that she can remember is what an evil monster I am. I'm going to have to learn to accept that."
"And can you, really?" Stefan asked him.
"What other choice do I have? I've tried everything. She can't, or won't, or don't want to remember," Damon replied, the sadness evident in his eyes as much as he tried to hide it.
Stefan sympathized with his brother. He knew first-hand how deeply it hurts when Elena Gilbert falls out of love with you. He decided to change the subject. "So...where have you been anyway? I've been trying to reach you for days."
"Out and about, on a fact-finding mission," Damon replied mysteriously.
"Can you be less cryptic?" Stefan pressed.
"Nope," Damon answered. "Doesn't matter anyway. The whole trip was a bust," he added, stopping when they were finally in front of Elena and Caroline's dorm room. "You going in?"
"After you," Stefan replied.
"Just get your ass inside," Damon urged him, in an annoyed tone.
"You first," Stefan repeated.
"No, thank you. You go ahead. I insist," Damon said firmly.
"It's just a party, Damon. Never known you to refuse a good party," Stefan reminded him.
"A party with people I'm not allowed to eat or compel," Damon pointed out. "Where's the fun in that?"
"I'll go in if you go in," Stefan made a deal with him.
"Why are you being so..." Damon wondered frustratedly. "Oh," he said once it dawned on him. "Caroline..." He smirked. "Still? Seriously? I thought you two have patched things up?"
"We did. We have. We're okay. We...tried," Stefan stammered uncomfortably.
"Uh huh...then why are you so afraid to go inside?" Damon asked boldly.
"I'm not afraid," Stefan grumbled.
"Scaredy cat..." Damon teased his little brother.
"Am not!" Stefan protested.
"Little brother, one of these days, we are going to find out if you actually do have a functioning pair of balls when it comes to your approach with the womenfolk," Damon cheekily commented.
"Look who's talking?" Stefan scoffed. "You're the one who wouldn't go inside because you're afraid to face Elena."
"I'm not afraid," Damon proceeded to correct him. "I'm annoyed. And displeased. And a little bit pissed. And sooo not in the mood to be jolly."
"Grumpy cat," Stefan teased him in a singsong voice.
"I'm leaving," Damon announced, sounding a little irked.
"There's hard liquor inside," Stefan reminded him.
"It's a college dorm, with a sheriff as chaperone. How hard can their liquor be?" Damon pointed out.
"I bet Alaric has good booze," Stefan told him.
"Alaric's taste in booze is just about as good as your taste in hair style," Damon scoffed.
"Ahhh...I take it you two still on the outs," Stefan assumed.
"He threw the first punch...literally. Closely followed by a second one," Damon retorted.
"Well...you shouldn't have compelled him," Stefan tried to reason with the older Salvatore.
"He shouldn't have compelled Elena!" Damon replied furiously. "Shit happens. Life's not fair. Even the best fall down sometimes. If he can't move on from that, then he can kiss my ass."
"Come on, Damon. It's Christmas," Stefan urged him. "Can't you find it in your heart to let bygones be bygones?"
"I'll have to find my heart first...and dust it off," Damon answered sarcastically.
"'Tis the season to forgive and..." Stefan began to say.
"Forget?" Damon finished the sentence for him.
"Okay, poor choice of words," Stefan shook his head and sighed.
"Gee...ya think?" Damon scoffed.
"Let's just go inside, say 'Merry Christmas' to all, have a drink, then we'll leave," Stefan resorted to a compromise.
"One drink?" Damon asked him, considering his brother's idea.
"Well...it starts with one..." Stefan replied with a smile.
Damon was almost sold on the idea, when something caught his eye. Through the window, he saw Liam and Elena standing so close to each other, Liam leaning in for a kiss. "On second thought..." he suddenly changed his mind. "I'll take a raincheck on that drink, Little Brother," he told Stefan, the look of hurt spreading in his expressive blue eyes.
"Damon-" Stefan tried to stop him from leaving.
"I'm sorry, Stef...but I can't be here," Damon said, before he shoved the container of rum balls into Stefan's hand, and walked away in a mad dash .
"Damon!" Stefan called out to him, but it was too late. Damon had already disappeared. Reluctantly, he knocked on the door to join the party.
Elena saw what Liam was about to do, and immediately pulled away without hesitation before Liam could continue. "Liam...I'm sorry. I can't."
"No, Elena...I'm sorry," Liam said apologetically. "That was inappropriate and out of line. We work together. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Elena nodded and accepted his apology. She was about to join the others in the dining room when she heard a knock on the door. She excused herself, and went to answer it. She was glad to see the person at the door.
"Stefan!" Elena exclaimed. "Merry Christmas!" she greeted him. She looked around if anyone else was with him. "I thought Damon was coming with you?" she asked confusedly.
"He was," Stefan replied drily, as he entered the dorm room. "His foot was almost inside that door too."
"What happened?" Elena asked worriedly.
"You happened," Stefan answered gruffly.
"Excuse me? I...I don't understand," Elena said.
"Well...you and Liam happened," Stefan elaborated.
"No..." Elena muttered, shaking her head as it dawned on her what Damon might have seen. "It's not what it looked like. We weren't..."
"Elena, I know that Alaric compelled your memories away...but I didn't think that your compassion went away with it," Stefan said accusingly.
"Stefan, please...this was all just a huge misunderstanding," Elena tried to explain.
"Stefan...there you are," Liz said as she came into the living room. "Right on time too. Dinner's almost ready."
"Merry Christmas, Liz," Stefan greeted her, handing her the rum balls and the trifle. "Damon sends his holiday greetings."
Alaric chose that time to come out of the kitchen, followed closely by Jo and Caroline. "Hey, Stefan," Ric nodded his head at him, before setting the Christmas ham down on the dining table. "I thought Damon would be joining us tonight."
"He lost his festive mood," Stefan replied icily, staring at Elena, who was already on her cellphone.
"Damn it! He's not answering his phone!" Elena grumbled in frustration.
"Why would he? So you can rip his heart out some more?" Stefan scoffed at her.
"What's going on?" Caroline asked curiously.
"Nothing, Care," Elena replied. "There was just a bit of confusion," she said, before dialing Damon's number again.
"Damon saw Elena and Liam almost kissing," Stefan told Caroline, his tone was very accusatory.
"That was totally my fault-" Liam interjected.
"I got this, Liam!" Elena hissed at the young medical student. She held Liam's gaze with her eyes. "Go back to the dining room. Have a seat. Wait there until we join you for dinner," she compelled him.
"Elena!" Caroline admonished her friend, as she watched Liam do exactly what he was compelled to do.
"Not now, Caroline!" Elena said through gritted teeth, before turning her attention back to the younger Salvatore. "Stefan, you got it all wrong. We weren't kissing!" Elena protested. "Liam and I, we're done. I broke up with him last Thanksgiving."
"Did Liam know that when he had his hands on you?" Stefan retorted.
"Stefan!" Caroline chastised him. "Elena has her memories back. All of it," she informed him. "She had all the intention of making up with your stubborn brother. Against my advice, I might add. I admit, I've been rooting for Elena to be with Liam, but she won't have him," she defended her best friend. "Can't you see? Elena remembers that she loves Damon. Only Damon. And if I can find it in myself to be supportive of her, then you can too."
"She shouldn't have forgotten him in the first place," Stefan pointed out. "You call me a crappy friend for not being there for you for months while you were in grief? What do you call a woman who chooses to forget everything that is good about the man that she loves?" he argued.
"And I take full responsibility for that," Elena told him, her ears still glued to her phone. "Believe me, I'll be apologizing my heart out to Damon...once I find him."
"If he even lets you find him, that is," Stefan said to her, before walking away to join Liz and the others for dinner.
Dinner came and went, the interaction between the other guests were uncomfortable and awkward. Only Liz made the effort to make sure that everyone was at least civil to one another. Much to her relief, nobody left the party early. Everyone complied out of respect for her. After dinner, Caroline moved everyone to the living room, for some eggnog and dessert. They sang carols and exchanged stories until they lost track of time. Eventually, the clock chimed at the stroke of midnight, and everyone greeted each other 'Merry Christmas' and began to open presents.
Caroline tried to get Elena to joined in on the festivities, but she was busy on her cellphone, leaving more messages for Damon. She sighed worriedly as she noticed Elena grew more and more upset. Liz noticed the guilty look on her daughter's face.
"Caroline?" Liz broke into her daughter's thoughts.
"This was partly my fault, Mom," Caroline told her mother.
"Go to her," Liz told her daughter.
Caroline nodded her head, and went to Elena. Liz was about to rejoin the others, when her cellphone rang. She seemed confused when she saw who it was on the caller ID. She went back to the kitchen to answer the call in private.
"Still no answer?" Caroline asked Elena.
Elena shook her head. "Where is he? Damn it, Damon! Answer your phone!" she said frustratedly.
"Look, he promised my mom that he'd be here. He'd come, eventually, " Caroline assured her.
"The party's almost over. It's been hours, Care," Elena pointed out. "I'm beginning to get worried. What if...what if he left town already? What if he's left me for good?"
"Nah, I'm sure he's just letting his head cool off," Caroline reassured her. "He'd be walking through that door any moment now."
Elena was about to say something, when she saw Liz come out of the kitchen, seemingly upset, and walked towards Stefan. Curiously, Elena decided to join them, with Caroline right behind her.
"Stefan? Can I talk to you in private, please?" Liz asked the younger Salvatore.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Caroline asked her mother.
"I'll tell you in a moment, Sweetie," Liz replied with a sad smile. "Right now, I need to speak with Stefan."
"Mom-" Caroline tried to press the issue.
"Caroline, please!" Liz begged her daughter in a slightly raised voice.
"It's fine, Liz," Stefan assured the sheriff. "You can tell me whatever it is right here."
"It's Damon..." Liz began to tell him.
"Oh, great. What did he do now?" Ric retorted.
"Alaric, I believe Liz was talking to me," Stefan hissed at him. There was an uncomfortable feeling sinking in the pit of his stomach, telling him that it was wrong to let Damon run off all alone, when his brother was obviously very upset.
"You see? This is why we should talk in private," Liz reminded him.
"Liz, just spit it out!" Stefan snapped.
"They found Damon's body," Liz informed him as calmly as she could.
Stefan remained silent for a while, not quite sure if he heard the sheriff correctly. "Well...that has to be some mistake. Wait an hour or so. He'd be back on his feet again," he said nervously.
"Your brother was in Mystic Falls, Stefan," Liz told him. "He was...human," she added, pausing for a bit to let the news sink in. "My deputies found him outside his Camaro, face down on the ground. Preliminaries say that he died from a gunshot wound to the chest."
"I don't understand," Stefan shook his head, still in denial. "I was just talking to him earlier..."
"I'm so sorry, Stefan," Liz tried to console him.
"This can't be happening," Elena whispered in a pained tone. "Not again..."
"Elena..." Alaric tried to comfort her.
Elena flinched away from Ric, and moved towards Liz. "No...your people are wrong!" she told the sheriff. "Damon can't be dead. I can't lose him again! I haven't even told him that my memories are back! He can't be dead!" she hysterically sobbed in denial. Caroline wrapped her arms around her to comfort her crying friend.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Liz tried to calm her down, tears starting to fill her eyes as well. She went to face Stefan again. "I'll arrange for his body to be transferred to Whitmore Medical Center Coroner's office, so you can positively ID him..." she patted him on the shoulder, before excusing herself to make the phone call.
"Stefan..." Elena sobbed, as she caught his eyes with her own.
"Not now, Elena," Stefan muttered softly. "Not now," he repeated, before turning around, and storming out of the dorm room.
The next day...Christmas day...Liz had Damon's body transferred to Whitmore Medical's Coroners Office, like she promised. Stefan headed over there to identify and claim his brother's body. He tried desperately to keep his emotions in check, not wanting to break down and lose control, if only for his dead brother's sake.
"Stefan Salvatore?" he turned his head up at the sound of his name.
"Yes," Stefan answered softly.
"Mr. Salvatore, my name is Dr. Parish-" a young lady doctor was talking to him, but was interrupted.
"Lanie..." Dr. Jo Laughlin called the other doctor, as she ran towards them.
"Jo? What can I help you with?" the woman asked curiously.
"I got this," Jo told the young medical examiner.
"Dr. Laughlin, this is hardly procedure..." Dr. Parish answered reluctantly.
"Lanie, please," Jo pleaded. "He's a friend. And it's Christmas..."
"Alright," Dr. Parish relented. She turned to face Stefan. "Mr. Salvatore, my condolences for your loss. I'm sure that you'd be more comfortable with Dr. Laughlin walking you through this," she told him, before turning around and walking out of the office.
"You ready?" Jo asked Stefan as soon as Dr. Parish was out of the room.
"No," Stefan answered softly. "Nothing will ever prepare me for this. But if we wait until I'm ready, we'd be waiting here for all eternity. I'm pretty sure I can outlive you," he told Jo. "Let's do this."
Jo nodded her head. "Right this way," she told Stefan, ushering him into an adjacent room.
"Wait!" Elena yelled, as she burst in through the door.
"Elena?" Stefan whispered.
"I wanna see him," Elena told Stefan. "Please...don't turn me away!"
"Elena, that's not necessary," Stefan said, his heart aching as he watched her crumble.
"No, I have to do this," Elena insisted. "I have to see for myself!"
"Alright," Stefan finally agreed. "We'll do this...together," he said, offering her his hand.
"Thank you, Stefan," Elena whispered gratefully, before taking the hand that he offered. Together, they stepped forward, and followed Jo into the next room.
The two stood a few paces back, as Jo opened storage freezer. Jo motioned for them to step closer. Supernatural or not, there was no easier way to do this. Slowly, she pulled down the sheet that was covering the cadaver's face. Stefan slammed his eyes shut, as the distinct smell of dead flesh hit his nostrils. It took him a moment to open his eyes again, to confirm what he's already been told. There, in that cold metal slab, laid his brother's dead body. As much as he fought them, the tears soon filled his eyes. All of a sudden, Elena gasped, before collapsing to the floor, Stefan not quick enough to catch her.
"Oh God! Oh God! It's him! It's really him! It's true! He's gone!" Elena sobbed hysterically at the sight of Damon's corpse.
Soon enough, Stefan knelt next to her, taking her into his arms, as she to continued to fall to pieces. They stayed there crumpled on the floor for a while, lamenting in grief at the loss of the man they both loved dearly.
A few hours later, they returned to Elena's dorm room back at Whitmore. Stefan initially opted for a quiet burial, but Elena begged him, insisting that Damon deserved a service. In the end, she won the argument, and Stefan spent a lot of his time on the phone, making funeral arrangements for his brother on Christmas day. Caroline tried to offer him her help, but just like before, he brushed her off, and instead, told her to make sure that Elena was alright.
It didn't take long before others visited the dorm to offer their condolences. Alaric was the first one to arrive, giving Elena his warmest embrace. He tried talking to Stefan, but the vampire only ignored him. Another knock on the door, and the Parkers were let in. Luke tried to offer his condolences on behalf of his family, but by that time, Elena had frozen everyone out. Caroline had offered her a blood bag earlier, worried that it had been a while since she's fed, but Elena acted as if she didn't hear her. Not long after that, Elena had slipped into a catatonic state, which had Caroline genuinely concerned that her best friend might be close to flipping her switch again.
All of a sudden, there was another knock on the door, closely followed by Jeremy's head poking inside. "Merry Christmas!" he greeted loudly, oblivious to everything that had transpired.
"Prove it!" Stefan snapped at the younger Gilbert, before angrily storming out of the room.
"What the hell is up with him?" Jeremy scoffed. "And you say that I don't have any Christmas spirit!"
"I forgot to tell him about Damon," Alaric explained apologetically.
"What did that dick do now?" Jeremy retorted.
"He's dead," Elena managed to whisper. It was the first time that she spoke to anyone in hours. "Excuse me," she said to no one in particular, before she stepped out into the balcony to get some air.
"What did she mean that Damon's dead?" Jeremy asked confusedly. "He gave me a call just last night."
"What did he say?" Alaric asked.
"I...I didn't take the phone call," Jeremy admitted. "Look...I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, least of all, HIM," he tried to explain.
"My mom said that his body was found inside Mystic Falls," Caroline informed the young man. "You think maybe he was on his way to see you?"
"I can't see why," Jeremy replied. "I've been an ass to him ever since he returned without Bonnie."
"Then what the hell was he doing, setting foot inside Mystic Falls?" Alaric asked in frustration. "He knew what would happen if he did!"
"You think he might have done it on purpose?" Jeremy asked the history professor. Ric merely shrugged.
"It's a possibility," Caroline muttered reluctantly. "Look...I wasn't supposed to say this, but I overheard my mom earlier on the phone," she said with a deep sigh. "They found Damon's body, collapsed outside of his Camaro. He was parked outside Bonnie's old house...clutching Miss Cuddles in his hands," she revealed.
"Wait, what was he doing outside Bonnie's house?" Jeremy asked confusedly.
"Isn't it obvious?" Caroline replied exasperatedly. "It all finally caught up with him. The guilt of coming home without Bonnie. Elena losing her memories of him. His best friend switching loyalties for a woman he'd just met-"
"Hey!" Alaric warned her.
"I'm just saying, there's only so much hurt a man can take," Caroline reasoned.
"So, you're telling us that there's a chance that Damon may have offed himself?" Jeremy asked incredulously.
"I don't believe it," Alaric said to them, shaking his head.
"Elena's been blaming herself. She really believes that it's her fault that Damon is dead. She thinks that she may have upset Damon with the whole Liam mix-up. And we all know that Damon has this habit of doing impulsive things when he's upset." Caroline told them.
"Damon would never commit suicide. He's too ornery for that," Ric refused to believe it.
"Uhm, hello? He committed suicide month's ago! Which is what started this whole problem in the first place!" Caroline reminded him.
Alaric shook his head again. "He went on a suicide mission, he didn't commit suicide. There's a distinction," he pointed out. "He sacrificed himself to get his brother back...to get people like ME back...from the Other Side," he said, filled with guilt. He sighed when his argument was met with silence. "I need a drink," he told them, before turning around to leave the room.
Elena remained at the balcony, tuning out the conversation coming from the living room. She continued to stare into blank space, as her mind was filled with thoughts of Damon. She began to play the 'if-only' game. If only Damon answered his phone. If only Liam hadn't tried to kiss her. If only Damon had stayed. If only he knew her memories had returned. If only she had been strong enough instead and not ask Ric to compel her memories away. If only. If only.
"Beg your pardon..." Elena was startled when she heard an unfamiliar female voice from behind her.
"What?" Elena turned around and snapped at the woman.
She was an elderly woman, in her early 70's, dressed in a long, black dress, and had dark glasses on. "Excuse me, dear. I'm a bit parched. Is this the way to the kitchen?" the woman asked politely.
"No, this in NOT the kitchen!" Elena replied angrily. "This is the balcony! Are you blind?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am," the woman said, as she took her glasses off to show her eyes. They were all white, and there were burn scars around the lids.
"I'm so sorry-" Elena tried to apologize to the old woman.
"Rani! There you are!" they were interrupted by Luke, joined by Liv.
"You know her?" Elena asked them.
"Yes," Liv answered. "I told you, if you wanted to bring her here, she's your responsibility," she scolded Luke.
"I looked away for half a second!" Luke replied. He turned to Elena. "I'm sorry if my she disturbed you."
"Yeah, the useless old hag is as blind as a bat. Can't do anything for herself," Liv said rudely.
"The old hag is blind, not deaf," the grandmother admonished the young blonde witch. Liv huffed and walked away. She turned her attention to Elena. "Romana Shipton. I'm the grandmother of Josette, Lucas and Olivia," she introduced herself, as she held out her hand.
Elene took the old woman's hand and shook it. "And Kai's..." she said.
"Unfortunately," Romana answered sadly.
"My name's Elena Gilbert," Elena introduced herself.
"I know," Romana told her.
"How?" Elena asked curiously.
"You doppelgangers are famous in our circuit," Romana answered.
There was an awkward silence for a while, until Luke spoke up. "I'm sorry we disturbed you," he told Elena. He then proceeded to guide his grandmother back inside. "Let's go, Rani."
But the old woman wouldn't budge. "He was yours?" Romana asked Elena.
"Excuse me?" Elena was confused at the question.
"The man that we are mourning today...he belonged to you," the old woman clarified.
Yes," Elena answered. "He was mine, as I was his."
"Ah, a love that defied death, and time, and the universe," Romana said mysteriously.
"You seem to know a lot," Elena replied suspiciously.
"I see beyond what normal people can," Romana answered. "You have something that belongs to him," it wasn't a question.
"Yes, I do," Elena replied, reaching for Damon's ring that was on a chain around her neck. She 'borrowed' it from Stefan earlier.
"May I?" Romana asked, her palm stretched out.
"I don't know..." Elena said reluctantly, as she looked at Luke for answers.
"She's a psychometrist. She can see things by touching personal items. It's the only ability she has left, since she lost her powers to Kai that night he blinded her," Luke explained.
Elena hesitated at first, before she took off the chain from her neck. "Alright..." she said as she handed Damon's ring to Romana.
Romana took the ring and placed on the palm of her her hand, before she covered it with her other hand. She remained in silent concentration for a while, before she gasped. "His was not a life filled with joy," she said, as tears came falling down her cheeks.
"No, it was not," Elena muttered silently.
"The final three days of his life, he spent in misery," the old woman revealed to Elena.
"I...I have no idea where he was the last few days before his death," Elena said, tears filling her own eyes.
"You have another friend...Bonnie. His last moments, he was thinking how she should have returned instead of him. That he didn't deserve to come back..." Romana added.
"NO!" Elena screamed. "They should BOTH be here!"
"He loved you," Romana calmly told Elena. "With all his heart. But he never believed that he was truly worthy of your love. And he hated himself for not being good enough for you."
"That's not true!" Elena protested.
"I'm only telling you what he felt, dear," Romana explained to her.
"I love him! And he...he loved me!" Elena said, as she grew more agitated.
"And if love were enough, you'd be together right now," Romana pointed out, before returning Damon's ring to Elena.
"He shouldn't have died," Elena whispered, grief-stricken.
"On the contrary, dear...the only time you seem to know his true value, is when you lose him," Romana pointed out.
"Okay, Rani...that's enough," Luke told his grandmother. "I'm sorry to upset you," he apologized to Elena on behalf of Romana.
Luke guided his grandmother back inside. And once again, Elena was left in the balcony, all alone in her grief.
A few hours later, Elena knocked loudly at Luke's door. When there was no answer, she started banging her fist louder to get his attention.
"I know you're in there!" Elena yelled. "Open up!"
In a few moments, the door opened. "Elena!" Luke chastised her. "You might disturb the neighbors."
"Nice try...everyone else is home for Christmas break," Elena reminded him. "Is your grandmother here?"
Luke hesitated for a while, "Come in," he invited her inside. He ushered her into the living room, where his grandmother was having tea. "Rani, Elena would like to talk to you."
"I've been expecting you, dear," Romana told Elena.
"Mrs. Shipton..." Elena said.
"You may call me Romana," she told the young vampire.
"Romana," Elena repeated. "I was wondering if you knew a way to bring Damon back?"
"Elena..." Luke interjected. "I told you, my grandmother is powerless. Kai drained it all."
"That doesn't mean that she has no magic," Elena argued. "And you can help her with the spell! Please, Luke! Help me bring Damon back!"
Luke let out a deep sigh. "Even if we agree to do this, we wouldn't know where to start. The Other Side is gone, Elena," Luke reminded her. "There's no spirit world for Damon to go to. He's not in some other worldly time prison with Bonnie. He's just...dead. Damon's gone, Elena. The best thing we can hope for is that he's crossed over and found peace."
"But he hasn't!" Elena protested. "You heard what your grandmother said. He was angry...and miserable...and broken-hearted...when he died. He hasn't found peace!"
"We can't alter fate, Elena. You know the rules of magic. Balance is required. Everything comes with a price," Luke reminded her.
"Then I'll pay for it!" Elena snapped at him.
"Perhaps, you don't have to," Romana interrupted their discussion.
"Rani..." Luke shook his head at his grandmother.
"What do you mean?" Elena asked, suddenly filled with hope again.
"Well... it is the season for second chances," Romana answered. "We can't change fate...not without consequences. But perhaps, we can interrupt it."
"I don't understand..." Elena said, her eyebrows furrowed.
"What if I tell you that there's a chance...a way for you to go back...return to a time when Damon was still alive? Will you take it?" Romana asked her.
"YES!" Elena answered immediately.
"A Time-Rewind spell?" Luke realized what his grandmother was trying to say. "Rani...I've never done that spell. I've never even tried."
"There's a first time for everything," Romana told him.
"I don't know if I can!" Luke said.
"I believe in you," Romana replied. "Maybe, it's time that you believe in yourself. Lucas, your magic is just as strong as your sister's. Only you have something that she refuses to use. You have a powerful heart. Use it to help your friend."
"You can do this, Luke," Elena encouraged the young warlock.
"Fine," Luke agreed. "I'll do it. I'll help you," he told Elena. "What do we have to do?" he asked his grandmother.
"Do you still have your lover's ring?" Romana asked Elena.
"Yes," Elena answered, handing Damon's ring over to Luke.
"Put it on the ground," Romana told Luke. He did as he was told. "We need your blood, Elena," she said.
"Why?" Elena asked her.
"We need it to connect you to him," Romana explained.
Elena bit into her wrist. "Now what?"
"Make sure your blow flows into the ring," Romana told her.
Elena held out her arm, and drenched Damon's ring with her blood. "Done."
"Good. Now pick it up pick it up and put the ring on your left ring finger," Romana instructed her.
"It has to be my left ring finger? It doesn't fit," Elena said to the old witch.
"It doesn't matter," Romana replied. "It just needs to be on your left ring finger, because it's the only one with a vein that's directly connected to your heart. For this spell to work, we need to link your heart with his. It's the only way we can lead you back to him," she explained. "Now put the ring on."
"Okay," Elena put Damon's ring on her left ring finger, as instructed.
"Before we proceed, you must remember the rules, Elena," Romana reminded her. "You have 72 hours. That's all you get. And whatever you do, you can't change his fate. Damon will still die on Christmas Eve...a few minutes before Christmas."
"No...you...you don't understand," Elena shook her head. "I love him! If there's something...anything...I can do to save him...to prevent him from dying... then I have to try!"
"Those are the rules, Elena. You must adhere to them," Romana said sternly.
"Three days?" Elena choked on the words. "That's not enough time!"
"Elena, those three days are a gift," Romana reasoned with her. "It's a chance to make him happy in his final moments. You say you love him? Make sure that he knows that. Give him all the love in the world. Consider it your present for Damon on the last Christmas of his life."
"And if I violate these rules, what then?" Elena challenged the old witch.
"Then the spell will be broken. And you will be dragged back here, right where you are," Romana answered.
"Elena, Damon died believing that he wasn't loved," Luke reminded her. "If you can ease that pain, even just for a little bit, you can make sure that he finds peace in the afterlife."
Elena nodded her head, as more tears fell from her eyes. "Fine, let's do this."
Romana and Luke joined heir hands together, forming a small circle, with Elena in the middle. "Lucas, repeat after me," the old witch said to the young warlock.
"OMNIS VERTO MASVENIT PRO REDINTEGRO PRO ELISTA!"
A/N :
*Put the pitchforks and the torches down, people! This is just the introduction!
*This was supposed to be a short prologue that mutated into a long chapter. Hope you stay with me in this journey, as the story progresses.
*Right...predictions on how exactly will Elena give Damon the happiest last Christmas of his life? That has to be a struggle for her, right?
*After this chapter, the story will mostly be Delena-centric. This is a DE fic, after all. But there will be occasional appearances and mentions of the other characters.
*Not a fan of the Parkers or any of the Gemini coven, so I had to write my own character. But the person who made the prompt is a fan of Luke's, so I had to find a way to write him in.
**To my Loyal Readers...
I know I have other stories pending, and I know some of you have been anxious for updates. The thing is, some time during the PCA voting, my POS computer went all out FUBAR on me. Lost all my data, research, outlines and all the chapters that I have written so far. It will take me a while before I can update, seeing as I am rewriting them from my own memory. So if you or someone you know are a fan of my previous stories, I implore you to be patient. I will update them, I just don't know exactly when. At the moment, I have no choice but to write stories from the plot bunny drawer. I hope you enjoy them just the same. Thank you kindly for your patience.
Love, IcyJadeXOXO