AN: So I just thought of this story randomly and I really wanted to share it with you guys, give me feedback and maybe I'll update ;) but seriously, tell me what you think of it. This is probably one of the most complicated topics I've written about and I wanted to give it a shot. Plus there will be Delena! xx So here is chapter one:

The sound of an alarm rang through Damon's ears and in an instant he was up and alert, out of the large king size bed in which he slept alone most nights and rubbing his eyes thoroughly as he pulled a plain white t-shirt and dark blue jeans from his closet, dressing himself quickly before closing the door of his room behind him an heading for the one situated just opposite his own.

Damon, twenty-seven and still young had been living in California for five years after moving out of his old home in the small unknown town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. He now lived in a huge apartment in LA, the city of Angels. It was pretty much his dream home with its massive bedrooms and their fancy en-suites, its state-of-the-art kitchen, the packed game room, the study filled to the brim with his favourite books and the modern living room complete with cream coloured couches and armchairs and the biggest flat-screen money could buy.

If most people saw him or his home they would figure that he was the happiest guy in the world, but that would make those people the shallowest fuckers on the planet. Because, if someone really looked at Damon, really looked at him they would be able to see the weariness and pain in his eyes, eyes that glistened crystalline ocean blue yet that held more emotion and age than anyone his age should have to deal with in their entire lifetimes.

His footsteps grew heavier as he approached the door covered in colourful stickers of horses and ponies, riding, galloping and grazing. He sighed as he reached it, finding that his arm suddenly felt like led and couldn't be raised to twist the door handle and let himself in. Come on Damon, he chastised himself, you'll see her next weekend as well, get a grip and open the door man. While he prepped himself he gathered the courage to open the door, walking in and closing it quickly before he turned around, forcing himself to smile though inside he was already breaking down.

Elena wiped her brow and ignored the shouts and wolf-whistles she'd been receiving for the past two hours, focusing on the drinks being ordered and the fact that her shift would finish in a few minutes. By looking at her anyone could tell she was miserable, and most people who did look at her already knew her, living in Mystic Falls meant that everybody knew each other, whether they liked it or not. Sometimes it was a lot less than the ideal lifestyle. Especially for Elena. She had dreamt of making it, living in a big city, at the least actually living. She didn't even know how it all went downhill, one moment she was graduating as valedictorian and the next she was getting rejected from all the schools she applied to and had to take a job at the grille as the bartender. It completely crushed her and her parents.

So five years later she had finally given up all hope on ever breaking free of the prison that is Mystic Falls. Grayson and Miranda were none too happy with this. They had been the ones who had drilled it into her head that she would be able to make something of herself, especially Grayson. His daughter was his pride and joy and it destroyed him every day to see her so miserable and stuck in this fucking rut, waiting on a second hand pick me up that they both knew would never come. But he was supportive where his wife was disappointed, he was still pushing where Elena and Miranda had given up, he was determined that his daughter would succeed, he knew she would, he just needed her to believe that as well.

"Shift's up Lena." Matt strolled up to her, his signature wash cloth draped over his shoulder, his blonde hair looking slightly greasy and grimy.

"Thanks Matt." Elena smiled, Matt was one of her oldest friends, and they'd even dated a while in junior year but broke up when he decided to pursue her best friend Caroline. Things didn't work out between those two either but despite it all Elena was able to salvage her friendship with Matt.

She slung her small bag containing just her phone and wallet over her shoulder and made her way out of the grille and home. Elena liked walking home; it gave her some time alone to think. Although, life at home was considerably quieter ever since Jeremy had left to go to an arts school in LA. She was proud of him, she really was, she just couldn't stop the twinge of jealously that bubbled up every time someone mentioned how proud they were of her brother or how well he had done for himself.

On her route home she always passed the Salvatore boarding house. The Salvatores were probably the most reclusive family in Mystic Falls, they kept themselves to themselves and nobody questioned it. That's why the whole 'Damon thing' was such a mystery. Five years ago Damon Salvatore, the elder brother of the two had left town abruptly. Nobody knew why, the only person he had told was his best friend Alaric Saltzman who left town only a few weeks after Damon himself. Some say he left because his father Giuseppe favoured Stefan, others say it was because of Katherine, his bitchy ex who had left him around five years ago and run away with Mason Lockwood, god knows where to but it was right after the two had returned from a private holiday together and they had been gone for almost a year, eleven months. It was common knowledge that Damon had been heartbroken when she left him. Personally Elena believed it was something entirely different. She didn't know what or why but she felt that Damon wouldn't just skip town on his mother like that. Teresa Salvatore had been utterly devastated when she found out Damon was gone. Elena remembered that day; she was walking home from work again when she had heard shouts coming from the boarding house. Giuseppe had been yelling at Teresa about Damon, she had caught certain phrases like, 'disgrace to the family', 'pathetic coward' and 'not my son'. It had been harsh and Teresa had been sobbing throughout the whole exchange. However, she had recently been taking quite regular vacations to California and Elena had a hunch that she was visiting Damon, even though no one but Giuseppe knew exactly where she had been going. The whole situation was extremely complicated and Elena knew she wasn't supposed to be meddling in other people's business yet she couldn't help but be intrigued by the Salvatores. She had always had a little thing for Damon. It didn't matter anymore though and was most definitely gone but she still felt curiosity towards him.

"Hello? Damon?"

"Yeah Ric it's me."

"What's up? Thought you'd be with Cassidy."

"Yeah Ric, about that, you need to come over."

"Why? I mean if it's about Cassie sure, I'll come straight to yours but you have to explain."

"No, come to the hospital we're over there, had to bring her in earlier. She needs you here."

"What? Damon hold up, what happened?"

"She has to stay here for the week, okay? Just like always remember? I'll fill you in properly when you get your ass over here. Hurry up, she's getting antsy."

Damon hung up the phone before Ric had the chance to ask further questions. His friend was a successful and extremely good doctor who specialised in a very helpful field. He couldn't begin to explain how grateful he was to Ric, his friend had left his whole life behind in Mystic Falls and joined him in LA, straight away getting into Med School and graduating with flying colours. All for Damon's sake. And of course Cassidy's. Everything Ric did for Damon he did for Cassie. Every move Damon made was for Cassie. She was his world.

"Excuse me, Mr Salvatore?" Damon whipped around as soon as he heard the assistant's annoying monotone voice calling his name.

"Yes, what?" He spoke quickly, taking a few big strides closer to her.

"Doctor Saltzman is waiting for you in the foyer; we will send someone to inform you when you can visit the ward."

"Thanks." Damon muttered, disappointment clear in his voice. He had been hoping she would tell him that he could go inside to say goodbye to Cassie, he wasn't exactly going to be able to talk to her properly for the remainder of the week as she'd be sedated again, just like every single week for the past five years.

He made his way to the foyer where sure enough Ric was waiting, his hands wrung together nervously. When he saw Damon he stood up.

"What's going on, they won't let me in yet!" He started fretting, pulling at his short hair, his eyes darting from Damon to the assistant standing in the doorway.

"Relax dude, they're just doing the normal check-up but Cassie started crying for you. She doesn't get why you aren't her doctor. I tried to calm her down but they made me leave so I called you down here."

"Oh, phew." Damon tried not to laugh at the look Ric had on his face. He looked so... touched when Damon told him Cassie had been crying for him.

"Mr Salvatore, Doctor Saltzman!" Both men turned as they heard the familiar voice of Cassie's primary doctor, Doctor Freedman hurrying towards them. "I have some things to discuss with you."

"So, as you know Cassidy has been receiving chemotherapy for a while now." Doctor Freedman began, settling in his chair. Damon had been in this office way to many times for his liking. He just wanted to get this meeting over and done with so that he could go back to Cassie.

"Yes, what about it?" Ric asked worriedly.

"We are extremely happy to inform you that she is making excellent progress! Initial chemotherapy is designed to shrink the primary tumour and I must say that it's working very well!" If the smile on Damon's face had been just a millimetre bigger his face would have split. He let out a happy laugh as Ric started grinning like a fool and even giggling a little like a nutty schoolgirl or something.

"Now I don't want you two to get your hopes up but I must say things are looking pretty bright from here on." Doctor Freedman continued excitedly. "Oh, yes," He ruffled through his papers and seemed to remember something. "She will start losing hair soon, is that okay?" Damon's smile immediately dropped. He was fine with it, obviously but he just knew she would be devastated. She loved her long chestnut locks and every morning she was with him he could remember her carefully brushing it before choosing a different hairpin everyday to clip it back as she hated tying it. He forced a pained smile.

"I'm sure she'll be fine." He lied. Ric gave him a sideways look that said, dude she's not going to handle this well. "Okay, bye Doc." He stood up abruptly and walked out. He was aching to see Cassie now. Sure, she'd be upset about her hair but truthfully he couldn't care less. She was getting better, making excellent progress. That's all that mattered to him. Maybe, just maybe everything is going to turn around and get better. The thought he'd been refusing to think slipped into his head. He knew having too much hope was a bad thing and looking too far ahead into the future was a worse thing, he'd been warned against it so many times but he couldn't help it this time.

His daughter was finally improving.