xXx

"We, human beings, are all different, some say. Every one of us: a special snowflake. Magnificent. Magical. Unique. Being unique also means none of us exactly fit the prototype though. There is no 'perfection' among us. If no two are the same, then no two can be perfect. Some of us are funny, others sensitive, or ironic. Some kind-hearted, others guarded, or plain cold.

We are not like the others. In a way we are better and more flawed all at the same time. All of us are. We're all limited editions, but none of us are perfect, thus making the flaws in our system what sets us apart."

Elena closed the notebook in front of her, she was far too tired for anything profound, especially the musings of her 15-year-old self. Her words didn't hold the answers she was looking for anyhow.

She rolled around on top of the covers, burying her face in the pillow, effectively releasing the ceiling from her previous scrutiny. She had made a mistake. Full stop. She knew she had. On the other hand: she had been fifteen at the time. How could Damon refuse to take that into account? And even if so, even if she couldn't count on any mitigating circumstances, wasn't there ever a point where a sentence was served, a point where she was deserving of a new chance? Weren't ten years enough?

The phone on the nightstand beeped, informing Elena that she had pushed the snooze-button one too many times already. She had to get up and face him, even though she couldn't. Not after the day before. How many snide comments could a person truly take? How many more would she have to endure before he'd consider them even?

We all have our ways to make up for our flaws. Some of us are funnier than others, some are prettier, some smarter. And some of us choose kindness and warmth as our personal shield. We take a hit. We absorb. The question, however, is how much that shield can take before it dissipates…

xXx

Damon's foot was tapping impatiently on the hardwood floors of his office. He was flipping through random stacks of paper to occupy his mind, yet the tell-tale tapping sound kept betraying him. It was a nervous habit he'd developed over the years.

Tick. Tick. Tap. Tick. Tick. Tap. Swoosh. The clock had joined the nervous symphony in the room, completed by the sound of pages being turned. Damon forced his muscles to freeze as soon as he became aware of the collection of noises. He couldn't take it anymore. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Of course the clock remained.

It was 9:04 already. It was late. She was late. Punctuality was important to the company. Important to Ric. Damon knew that all too well. He could stand up and go talk to Ric, tell him about Elena's mistake. Perhaps this might be a valid reason for him to fire her. Hope bloomed in Damon's chest.

No way, he quickly reminded himself. Four minutes would never be enough. Perhaps she'd have a valid excuse? Or perhaps she wouldn't come back at all. Damon pondered that for a moment. Was he truly hoping for that, hoping for Elena not to come back? Would not seeing her be any less painful?

His phone started to vibrate. Somehow he stared a second however, before picking up on the second ring.

"Salvatore," he barked into the device.

"Good morning Mister Salvatore, this is Miss Judith speaking," an insecure, young female voice greeted him shakily.

Damon was instantly on high alert, straightening his back, snapped back to reality.

"Is Sophie ok?" he automatically demanded anxiously, forgetting to apologize for his lack of pleasantries.

"That's why I'm calling Sir, would it be possible for you to pick her up?" Miss Judith requested kindly.

"Is she sick?" Damon inquired.

"She insists that she's not feeling well, she's complaining of headaches, pain in her stomach," his daughter's kindergarten teacher informed him.

"Have you checked her temperature?" Damon questioned.

"I have," Judith replied. "She doesn't seem to be ill, I had the nurse check her out too and there doesn't seem to be a serious issue but it's just-"

"What? It's just what?" Damon questioned, still concerned.

"She's upset, Mister S-"

"Damon, call me Damon," Damon interjected, calming down a bit.

"There's something wrong, Damon. But I've had Sophie in my class for weeks now, she's always happy and playful, participating in every game or activity… But ever since your wife-" Judith swallowed audibly, unable to finished the sentence in the deafening silence.

"Lately Sophie just stares straight ahead in class. I can't make her smile, can't get her engaged in the stories we tell, the games we play. And this morning she insisted that she was ill and I-, I can't help but think that it might not be the worst idea if you'd decide to keep her home for a day or two… "

A pained sigh fell from Damon's lips. He knew. He knew his little girl wasn't the same lately, but to have someone else confirm it, wasn't exactly what he'd been waiting to hear. "Do you think she'll feel better if she's home? Isn't there a routine kind of thing we have to take into account or something?" Damon demanded.

"She just fell asleep in the nurse's office, Mist-, Damon. She's exhausted. She says she's been having nightmares. We can't place her among the other kids like this. She's not ok. I don't know what to recommend, but I do believe if would be best for her if you could pick her up. Would you-"

"I'm on my way," Damon quickly decided, before heading out of his office while shrugging his jacket back on, Elena completely forgotten.

xXx

"Sophie!" Jessica squealed enthusiastically from behind her desk, smiling broadly at the sight of the adorable five-year-old holding her father's hand as they both passed the reception desk.

"Hi," Sophie replied shyly.

"You've gotten so big! Last time I saw you, you were still a baby. I can't believe it's been so long. Don't you have school today?" Jessica started to gush, a whirlwind of words coming out of her mouth at an unstoppable rate.

"She doesn't," Damon replied chipped, holding his daughter's hand a little tighter. "She simply wanted to see the office again," he added evenly.

"Oh I understand. Your daddy does have a big office, doesn't he?" Jessica babbled, watching Sophie. "He has to share it with a new assistant now though, have you met Elena yet?" she wondered. "Oh probably not, huh? Elena's only been here for a few days. She looks a little like your Mommy. Funny, isn't it? How is your mom by the way? Is she doing fine? I haven't seen her in a while. I think I last saw her in the mall, it's four months ago already I guess. I waved at her but I'm not sure if she recognized me. Did she say anything to you, Damon? Has she mentioned th-"

Sophie's eyes went wide and for a moment she just stared, her feet stopping as if they were nailed to the ground. Damon instantly picked her up, wordlessly carrying her on his hip to the nearest elevator. Sophie didn't make a sound, nor did she cling to him like she usually did. She was simply undergoing what was happening, staring at Jessica until the heavy metal doors closed, blocking her view.

"Hey baby, are you alright?" Damon whispered softly once they we both locked inside the silver cabin.

"She said she s-, saw Mommy…" Sophie uttered confused.

"I know, sweetie, I know," Damon soothed her, stroking her hair.

"Is Mommy coming back?" Sophie questioned in a small voice, her chocolate brown eyes burning into Damon's blue ones the second she met his gaze.

"No." Damon replied simply, holding her closer. "Mommy's not coming back…" he admitted. "But we are going to be alright," he promised, before carrying her to his office on the fourth floor.

As soon as they were both inside, Damon set his little girl on top of his desk, smiling down at her with four markers in his hand. "Do you know what these are?" Damon questioned, forcing his voice to come out cheerful.

"Markers." A small smile played across Sophie's lips. Usually she wasn't allowed to play with markers, just pencils, but pencils were so boring.

"I have to go talk to uncle Ric for a minute. How would you like to decorate my placemat?" Damon wondered, pointing at the spotless white placemat that served for writing down notes and appointments.

"Really?" Sophie double-checked, lighting up already.

"Really," Damon promised. "I'll be just a second, alright?" Sophie nodded.

xXx

After six minutes Sophie began to shift uncomfortably in the big chair which stood in front of the desk. She was on her knees, her shoes neatly lined up next to the chair, so she didn't leave any soil on the leather. She had to go to the bathroom. She really had to go, but since her dad wasn't back yet, she waited. And waited.

One minute later, though, she couldn't hold it any longer and slipped of the chair, heading for the door. She opened it carefully, holding her hand above her head in order to reach the handle. The hallway was empty and on her socks, she hastily made her way to the other side, sliding the last bit. She loved to slide on polished floors.

She skidded to a stop in front of two heavy doors. One with the image of a boy, one with a girl. Bingo, she thought, as she reached up high for the left handle. The door was heavier than her father's had been though and she couldn't get it to open up wide enough.

xXx

Elena enjoyed the comforting and grounding feeling of cool tiles underneath her fingertips. She wasn't one to be late. She couldn't be late. So she hadn't been late. At 8:59 precisely she had swiped her card at the reception. She'd been on time. Whether that meant she was allowed to spend her workday hiding out on the floor of a bathroom stall however, was debatable to say the least.

A deep sigh fell from her lips as she watched the door handle. She could do this. She had to do this. She would straighten her dress, walk tall, and be the young and confident girl she knew she could be.

Tomorrow. Perhaps. Her shoulders slumped again.

Come on, you're going to get fired, she kept telling herself. What a pep-talk. She chuckled humorously.

Reluctantly she unlocked the door of her stall and moved to the sink to splash some cold water onto her wrists and cheeks. She had a habit of fainting whenever she was stressed and cold water always seemed to help. Before she could even reach the tap however, a soft clicking noise startled her.

She quickly scanned the room for company, but there was no one there. It was only logical, there weren't that many women on their floor to begin with. The clicking noise resumed however, louder than before, and suddenly Elena noticed the door handle moving.

Up and down. Up and down. Except for the fact that the door never actually opened. After staring one more moment, Elena moved forward and opened up the door, swinging it forcefully, accidentally sending the five-year-old on the other side flying inside from impact.

xXx

Elena watched, startled, as a little girl stumbled forwards onto the tiles. She quickly crouched to pick the child up, rushing out an apology: "I'm so sorry, so, so sorry! I had no idea there was anyone on the other side of that door. Are you ok? Did I hurt you?"

Sophie looked up confused, tilting her head as took in her new surroundings. "I just really have to use the bathroom, Miss," she mumbled ultimately, before allowing Elena to help her up. "Will you please unbutton the top button? It's a difficult one..." she insisted, her father was nowhere to be found.

Elena obliged after about three seconds, since that was the moment when it dawned on her that the girl was being serious. "Of course," she mumbled kindly, before kneeling and fumbling with the small jeans.

"And could you help? There is no step-stool," Sophie continued, eying the toilet which was about double as high as those she had access to in her preschool. Elena nodded, a little dazed. She didn't have kids of her own, nor did she have any experience with them. Helping the child somehow felt like a violation of the kid's privacy to her, yet the five-year-old in front of her seemed to disagree. Elena politely turned her head away, although she didn't close the door of the stall.

The sound of water trickling down broke the silence. "Just on time," the five-year-old sing-songed relieved. Elena couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped her lips.

"Daddy will be happy about that," the child added seemingly lost in thoughts.

"Can you get down yourself?" Elena wondered out loud.

"Hmm," Sophie affirmed. "But I'm not tall enough to wash my hands over there," she explained. It wasn't really a necessary comment, however, seeing the sink was placed at the child's height. "My Mommy really wants me to wash my hands when I use the bathroom."

Elena pondered the situation for a moment, taking in all forty inches of the little girl in front of her. "How old are you, by the way?" she questioned curiously after Sophie had shimmied her jeans all the way up again.

"Five. I just had my birthday," Sophie informed her with a broad smile. She stepped closer for Elena to button up the top again. "I got a kitten," she added.

"That's nice. Would you like me to pick you up so you can wash your hands?" Elena inquired.

"Yes please!" the child accepted the offer eagerly.

"How polite," Elena commented, lifting the little girl, so she could reach the tap. You were raised well, weren't you? Your parents did a good job," Elena noted smiling. She was surprised, yet pleased by young Sophie's manners. Elena was well aware of the fact that not every young child was that well-behaved. Aa single evening standing in line in the local supermarket was quite enough to prove that point.

"Daddy," Sophie corrected.

"Huh?" Elena mumbled, absentmindedly setting the small child on the counter next to the sink so she could grab her some paper towels.

"Daddy did a good job," Sophie explained.

Elena simply chuckled, not seeking any deeper meaning behind that statement.

"So, what's your name?" Elena inquired, feeling it might be time for a proper introduction.

"I'm Sophie," the small child informed Elena.

"Sophie, that means-"

"Smart!" Sophie completed the sentence with a huge grin.

"Wisdom, actually," Elena corrected, "which is even better than being smart in my opinion," she added on the side.

"What's your name?" Sophie wondered out loud.

"Elena," was the swift reply that followed.

"That's funny!" Sophie squealed happily.

"What's funny about that?" Elena inquired.

"The girl at the reception said something about you, that you looked like my Mommy. You do look a little like Mommy," Sophie explained, reaching out her hand to stroke Elena's hair. "Your hair is soft too," Sophie mused.

Elena couldn't help but smile at the innocent and sweet gesture. "I bet yours is too," she replied, picking Sophie up and putting her down again.

"So, Sophie, where do you belong? Are you a little lost out here?" she inquired, realizing that there was probably a parent somewhere looking for the little girl.

"I belong in school," Sophie mumbled a little ruefully.

"Right. School. Why aren't you in school now, then?" Elena inquired.

"Because I was sad and I told Daddy I was sick and he picked me up," Sophie admitted honestly.

"Where's your Daddy now, is he looking for you?" Elena asked concerned, wanting to bring the child back to her father.

"He is in a meeting. But he always meets long and I had to pee," Sophie explained. "I had to stay in his office," she added a little shyly.

"Alright." Elena nodded, considering what to do next. "Well, if your father is indeed in a meeting then it's indeed possible he'll be a while. How about this: I can take you to the break-room and warm up some chocolate-milk while you wait for him, he'll surely find you there," Elena suggested.

"I like chocolate-milk," Sophie informed her, beaming up at Elena through long lashes. "Let's go!" she added eagerly. A warm feeling spread through Elena at the sensation of the five little fingers curled around her ring- and index-finger. It was such a nice and oddly comforting gesture. The child's innocent faith in her, the genuine kindness and instant friendship... those were the kind of things money just couldn't buy.

xXx

Tenderly, Elena picked her little friend up again once they arrived in the kitchen. She placed the little girl on the edge of the counter next to the fridge where she had a clear view of the hallway.

"Why were you sad?" Elena wondered after a moment of silence. The little girl's words kept running through her head since she still couldn't make sense of them.

"Sad?" Sophie repeated, tilting her head in question.

"You told me that your dad picked you up from school because you were sad," Elena reminded her.

"Ow, yes," Sophie recalled. She was silent for a moment. "I don't like school," she murmured after a while.

"Why is that?" Elena inquired, stirring the chocolate milk before handing it over.

"Because school is waiting. And waiting. And waiting. And then you are happy when they pick you up. And then you're scared that they don't pick you up. And it's waiting. And waiting. I just didn't want to wait today," Sophie explained with a shrug.

Scared that they don't pick you up, the phrase kept ringing in Elena's ears. There was something about the casual, though pained way the little girl had said those words that made it impossible for Elena to hear anything beyond that.

Scared that they don't pick you up, as if it were a remote possibly.

"Are your mom and dad late then, when they're supposed to pick you up?" Elena couldn't help but probe gingerly.

Sophie nodded. "Very late…" she mumbled heavily, taking a long sip from the cup in her hands.

Elena tucked a loose strand of hair behind the little girl's ears. "You know… my parents were late sometimes too when I was younger, but it's not that bad, you know? The next time it happens, you can just sing a song or two and then they'll be there before you know it," she comforted the little girl.

"That's a lot of songs…" Sophie mused.

"Sometimes," Elena agreed, sitting on top of the corner next to the little girl.

"My Mommy is still gone," the little girl suddenly added, barely above a whisper. Elena looked up at her in surprise.

"What?" she questioned.

"My Mommy never picked me up again," Sophie told her, meeting her eyes with an even and unfazed expression, as if she was simply telling Elena that her socks were pink.

Elena was too baffled to respond.

"That's why I was waiting." Sophie explained. "But she never comes."

"When did she bring you to school exactly?" Elena asked concerned, needing confirmation before her head went to various dark places.

"When I was four," Sophie replied.

Elena didn't ask anything else. No how or why or when. She didn't know what to say. So she simply wrapped her arms around the small child and pulled her slightly into her side. She was acting purely on instinct, not even realizing what she was doing until five small fingers curled around the fabric near her belly and a slim body snuggled a little closer.

"You smell nice," Sophie mused, mumbling against Elena's dress.

"You have cute socks," Elena replied simply, not letting her go.

If there was a manual on how to deal with children's emotions, she sure didn't get a copy. Instead they just stayed put for quite some time. And Elena watched, watched the little girl that seemed to have enclosed her in her five-year-old heart already. Kids.

Oh how she wished she'd have a daughter herself one day…

xXx

"Sophie's not feeling well," Damon informed Ric the second he rounded the corner of the General Manager's office.

"Flu season, huh?" Ric commented, not even bothering to look up from his stack of files.

"No… It's euhm-, it's more like… Like she's feeling e-, emotional-" Damon managed.

Ric looked up from behind his laptop, eying Damon with raised eyebrows.

"Emotional? Never thought I'd ever hear you say that word out loud." Ric grinned.

"Shut it," Damon ordered dryly.

"Oooh, don't be embarrassed buddy. It's not a dirty word you know." He snickered.

"Oh cut it out already!" Damon mumbled irritated. "I'm serious." He glazed. "Sophie's feeling things and she needs someone to talk to… so I was thinking you and you're fluffy, mushy heart could take her for a stroll through the park or something," Damon prompted evenly.

"Whoa, thanks for the compliment, I'm truly touched," Ric replied, holding his hand over his heart to prove his point. "But as much as I love your little girl: she's your kid. I think she needs you," Ric reminded him dryly.

"Come on Ric, I'm worthless when it comes to the girly-girly things. I like it straight and to the point. No need to talk for hours and hours, rehashing feelings. But that doesn't work on Soph, I tried."

Ric huffed. "She's a girl, Damon. Your girl. Perhaps you might consider putting in some effort…" Ric retorted.

"I can't. Ok!" Damon nearly shouted. "Because the first and the last thing she ever brings up is her mother. And I'm not so good with her sad young magical eyes poking holes in my head. It kills me. She needs a parent who can hold it together for a change," Damon managed.

"Besides: our conversations never last over two minutes. I'm a guy's guy Ric, I didn't inherit the feelings-gene."

Ric sighed deeply. "How about your sister?" he wondered.

"Out of town," Damon replied, crossing his arms. "And no one else knows, remember?" Damon urged, aggravated.

"Well, perhaps telling people would be a start then, don't you think, genius?" Ric asked his friend animatedly.

"No." Damon replied automatically.

"Why. Not?" Ric demanded, becoming gradually more annoyed at his friend's behaviour.

"For starters: because they'll ask questions, duh…" Damon insisted, rolling his eyes.

"Then answer the questions," Ric deadpanned.

"There. Are. No. Answers." Damon spoke slowly, enunciating every syllable separately.

"Oh there are," Ric mused, "You just don't want to acknowledge them," Ric sing-songed, tempting Damon.

"You're an ass," Damon mumbled.

"And you're in denial," Ric shot back.

"I'm not. I know what's happening. I just don't need hours and hours to rehash the facts," Damon retorted bitterly, though the reply didn't come as swiftly as he had hoped it would have, diminishing the impact of his words.

"Fine. Give me the facts. Short and simple," Ric challenged.

"Yeah, we're not doing that right now, I'm not the issue here," Damon deadpanned.

"Ok. Different subject. Why don't you sum up the facts regarding you and Elena? That's clearly an issue here…" Ric insisted.

"None of your business." Damon flashed his eyes menacingly at Ric.

"See, that's where you're wrong, buddy. That's quite literally my business," he remarked, refusing to break eye contact. Damon just stared back though. Because everything had to be a contest.

"I've had enough. Sophie's waiting in my office. I'm finishing up the documents for Sea Real Estate and then we're having a loooong weekend," Damon informed his boss, effectively ending the conversation by leaving the office.

"Damon, come on, you-"

"Not listening," Damon sing-songed pulling the door behind him closed.

xXx

"Sophie, I'm so sorry that took so long," Damon apologized when he entered his office. "Uncle Ric was being a bully and I-" "Sophie?" he questioned, taking in the empty room.

"Baby, are you playing hide and seek?" Damon inquired, quickly scanning the room for his little girl, whose shoes were still neatly lined up next to his leather chair. He took a look at his placemat, Sophie had barely touched it. Suddenly anxiety grabbed hold of him, and he became increasingly nervous.

"Sophie are you here? Come out! Soph I'm serious, Daddy's worried, come out?" There was no reply, no little girl appearing form behind the curtains. Moreover, the more Damon came to think of it, his daughter wasn't that good at finding a hiding spot in the first place; she was still too young.

She wasn't there. The idea hit him like a freight train. Sophie was a good girl, and he'd told her to stay put. She wouldn't leave by herself, not without his permission. Damon rushed to the hallway. "Sophie!" she called.

That's when he spotted her, in the break room on the counter. Her eyes were closed as she leaned into Elena's embrace. Elena. Of course it had to be Elena of all people.

Damon opened the door briskly. "Sophie!" he demanded. The child's eyes snapped open. "Daddy!" she exclaimed, holding out her arms for her father to pick her up. Damon stepped closer and when his eyes met Elena's, they both looked down almost reflexively, as if struck by lightning.

"Daddy, this is Elena," Sophie introduced her new friend. Damon picked her up wordlessly, cradling her tightly against his chest. The second he had her in his arms he turned around, turning his back to his assistant.

"Elena, this is my Daddy," Sophie completed, watching Elena's baffled expression from over her father's shoulder.

It only took Damon three long strides to cross the distance from the counter back to the door. He was gone in the blink of an eye, Sophie was still waving her small hand when the door slammed shut.

One step. Two steps. Deep breaths. Damon reminded himself before heading back to Ric's office and entering without as much as a knock. He was seething, blood boiling in his veins and all that kept him grounded were the little fingers running through his hair.

"Damon?" Ric questioned.

"Need a moment," Damon managed, his voice strained. "Hold onto her for a moment. Don't let her out of your sight."

"Damon-"

"Not out of your sight. Not for a second. Got that?" Damon insisted seriously, eyes blazing enough for Ric to know he had no choice but to obey.

It took Damon seconds instead of minutes to reach the break-room again, wordlessly grabbing Elena by her wrist and drag her to their office. Both doors closed shortly after one another with a loud bang. Elena was dazed and Damon couldn't seem to calm himself down.

"ARE YOU RETARDED? Was the first thing he demanded, his voice far too loud.

"What?"

"What's wrong with you?" he demanded again. "You know that we have issues. You know I do not trust you and then you show up late and take my daughter for a stroll?! Do you have any idea what that's like as a parent?!" his voice boomed through the room.

"Damon, Sophie-"

"-would NEVER leave my desk on her own! I know her. I raised her. She does not disobey orders. And you dragging her around was a bad move, Elena. A really bad move! What did you hope to accomplish? Befriending her? Interrogating her? Or where you just trying to scare me, show me how much power you can hold? I'd be careful if I were you," Damon threatened.

"She was out of your office when we met! She had to go to the toilet!" Elena defended herself loudly.

Damon didn't falter and redirected his attack. "So you thought she'd be a viable source of information huh? The ideal way for you to snoop around in my life. My daughter is a HUMAN BEING Elena, keep her out of your sick and twisted mind-tricks, she deserves better!" Damon roared on.

"I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS YOURS!" Elena suddenly shouted back, almost spitting in his face. That seemed to ground Damon for a moment.

"I met a little girl in a bathroom. She needed help to climb onto the stool. I didn't know she was yours, I didn't steal her away. I helped her. She asked me to," Elena explained urgently.

"She asked," Damon repeated the words evenly, letting them sink in. He let go of the wrist he'd been holding onto, releasing her from his grasp. "Sorry," he mumbled barely audible. "I was-"

"It's ok," Elena replied relieved, massaging the slightly red skin.

"I shouldn't have-, I-" Embarrassment spread through Damon like wildfire and he grew slightly uncomfortable. He had reasons to be so anxious, Sophie had been taken from him once before, but Elena didn't know about that of course, all she saw was a controlling father.

"Hey," Elena insisted softly, searching for his eyes. "It's ok, Damon," she insisted "It happened, she's fine, we move on."
Damon nodded gratefully and took a seat on top of his desk.

"Sophie-, she's… everything," Damon mused, still coming down from the initial shock.

Elena smiled warmly. "I can see that…" she whispered.

They were quiet for a moment, allowing the tension to leave the room.

"Damon?" Elena tried softly, after a while.

"Yeah?" he replied evenly.

"What happened to your wife?"

xXx

I know a girl
She puts the colour inside of my world
But, she's just like a maze
Where all of the walls all continually change
And I've done all I can
To stand on her steps with my heart in my hand
Now I'm starting to see
Maybe It's got nothing to do with me

xXx