After giving Chris a long stare, he gestures for me to follow as we walk slowly towards the front door.
It feels as if I'm in a slow motion movie as I haltingly raise my hand to the doorbell. I can't quite summon the strength to push it.
"Go ahead, Damon. It's going to be alright."
Nodding, I close my eyes and push. My nerves are alight and I almost feel like a caged animal, trying to find any escape route. I'm almost to the point of hyperventilating when I feel Chris as he places his hand on my shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. I turn to look at him with my terror filled eyes when suddenly the door pulls open. My mouth drops open when I see the woman standing before me.
"Damon?" she whispers in shock as she pulls me into her arms, her tears falling immediately. "Is it really you? Oh my gosh, you're all grown up! Everyday I prayed for this day to come," she says softly, continuing to hold me tight against her frame.
"Mom?"
"Yes, yes, Damon. It's me," she blubbers, still holding me close to her bosom.
"Millie, is that them?" I hear coming from inside the house.
"Yes, it's him, he's home...," she blurts out, finally letting me go. Grabbing onto my hand, she pulls me into the house before turning to Chris. "Please come in Detective Williams. Thank you for bringing our son home. Joe and I, we'll never be able to thank you sufficiently enough," she weeps, hot tears pouring from her eyes.
"Damon?" I turn to the man who's staring at me. "My son," he whispers, grabbing onto me as he pulls me into a hug too. "My prayers have finally been answered. Let me look at you, son," he asks, stepping back and eyeing me.
"We never lost all hope that you would someday find your way home again. I love you son," he tells me then pulls me into his arms once again. Hesitantly, I bring my arms up to hug him back.
"Can Chris stay for a little while? He's been a good friend to me," I ask, my voice shaky.
"Please do come in Detective Williams. You'll always be welcome in our home for bringing my boy back," he says softly, his voice cracking a little at the end.
"Excuse me please, I'm just overcome with emotion. We've searched for him for so long. We sent his picture to every state in the union. Even to some of the Canadian Provences in hopes that one day our boy would get home. It's truly a miracle that you're here, Damon," he says, his voice full of gratitude and emotion.
"Mommy?"
"Caroline, sweetheart come here. Sweetie, this is your big brother. Damon, this is Caroline," my mom says to introduce us. "Oh where are my manners. Damon, Detective Williams, please come into the family room and have a seat. Joe, why don't you go out to the car and bring Damon's things in."
"I'll go with you, Mr. Salvatore," Chris says, giving me a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder.
Once we get to the living room and after taking a seat, Mom mentions, "We kept your old room, just as you left it. Of course, we bought you a bigger bed when we found out you were finally going to come home. Please forgive me, I just can't stop crying."
"Are you sad mommy?" Caroline asks, still clinging to my mom.
"No baby, these are happy tears. What do you think of your big brother?"
"He's quiet," she says, her eyes on mine.
I can't help but smile at her innocence. "Caroline, I've been gone for a long time. This is all so new to me. I hope you'll help me out?" I ask her.
Nodding, she comes closer, raising her little arms to hug me. "I know you. Momma and daddy have your pictures on the wall. See," she points out. My mouth drops in awe as I scan the walls to see my six year old self. Swallowing thickly, I'm in shock when she crawls onto my lap. Momentarily stunned into silence, I take a breath, "It's nice to have a little sister. I've never had anyone," I tell her. Looking around, I take in the room, trying to see if anything else sparks a memory when it dawns on me that I haven't seen him yet. "Um mom, where's Stefan?"
"You remember him?"
"Yes, I remember the day dad took me away from you," I explain. When I see the shocked look on her face, I slap my hand across my mouth, realizing I called him dad. "I'm sorry, they made me call them mom and dad. I'm so sorry," I utter, apologizing profusely.
"Damon, sweetheart, it's okay," she says, trying to placate me but I know I hurt her.
Suddenly I hear a loud voice, "Where is that grandson of mine?" When I look up I see that man behind those words.
"Grandpa?"
"My boy, it is you," he says, rushing over to me.
"Grandpa," I say, tears beginning to prick at my eyes as I stare at him.
"Do you remember me, son?"
Unable to speak, I just bob my head up and down as I do have vague memories of him.
"Grandpa, do you know my brother?" Caroline asks him.
"Yes little girl. I do know your brother. He was my first grandchild," he explains to her. "You're such a lucky little girl to have your big brother back."
"Ah ha," she tells him, bobbing her head. "Mommy, can I go back upstairs and play with my Barbie dolls?" My mother presses a kiss to her head then nods.
"Goodbye Damon," she squeaks, waving bye as she walks away.
"He doesn't have much for luggage. I bought him a pair of shoes, a few pairs of jeans and some tee shirts," I hear Chris tell my dad. "Um, maybe I should go with them?"
"Nonsense, your dad can carry it. You seem pretty nervous, Damon, are you okay?"
Expelling a puff of air, I look at grandpa, my eyes conveying my fears and anxiety. "Although I understand fully, your parents love you son. They never stopped looking for you and neither did I. And while I know things are going to be bumpy for awhile, just know that you're a Salvatore and we look out for each other. You can always come to talk to me if you need to, okay?"
"Thank you Grandpa. Do you know where Stefan is? She never really answered me," I ask curiously.
"He's probably out with his friends. He can be kind of a handful sometimes but then again, he bares the Salvatore name," he says with a laugh. When I hear footsteps, I look up to see Chris and my dad step back into the room.
"Well Damon, I should head home. Why don't you walk me out to my car?" he says.
"Um okay," I utter, getting up to follow him outside. "Do you have to go Chris? I...I.. don't know what I'm doing here.. Can't you stay for a little while, please?" I practically beg him. I think he must take pity on me because he agrees. My dad was watching the whole interaction so I know he realizes that I'm a nervous wreck.
"Detective Williams, please stay for awhile if it'll make Damon more comfortable," he offers.
"Thank you, da...dad," I tell him sincerely. "Would you care if Chris and I go for a little walk? Maybe it'll help calm my nerves a little bit?" I can almost see the fear in his eyes. The last time I left this house, I didn't come back. "Chris will be with me, nothing will happen. I promise I'll come back."
Finally he nods. "Be back in a half hour to forty five minutes. Your mom will have food ready by then, okay?" He stands staring at me for a long moment before he hurries over to me and pulls me into his arms. "I love you son," he whispers, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
Not knowing what to say, I shake my head, agreeing with him. He's my father. I'm supposed to love him right? I don't know him though. I don't know any of them anymore.
"We'll be back in a half an hour Mr. Salvatore. I won't let anything happen to him," Chris assures my dad. He gives Chris a look then turns around and goes back into the house but not before turning around and looking at me. When he nods, Chris and I start to walk down the sidewalk.
"This is the park where he took me," I tell Chris as I walk around, running my hands on the rope ladder that I used to love when I was a little boy. Pointing in its direction, "And that's the bathroom, he took me from when I walked out." Suddenly that memory begins playing like a movie reel in my head.
Chris raises a steady hand to my shoulder. Somehow he knows how to calm me down. "Damon, you do know that the Parkers will be brought to trial. You'll have to testify," he mentions, his eyes on mine.
"How can they ask me to do that? I never want to see them again. They destroyed my life," I whisper, holding back a tear.
"Maybe the judge would allow you to record your testimony. I'll help you in anyway I can. You trust me right?"
Nodding, "Yes."
He takes a look at his watch. "We better get back. I don't want your parents to worry about you again."
"I don't want that either. I don't want you to leave Chris."
"I'll stay for supper then I really need to head back. You can call me anytime, day or night, Damon. Just give your family a chance. You're as much of a stranger to them as they are to you."
"I know," I reply as we start to walk back to my parent's house.
"Whose car is outside? Is he home?" I hear someone yell.
"It's Stefan," my mother tells me, smiling. Caroline jumps out of her chair and runs out of the room. In mere minutes, she's tugging Stefan into the room with her. I can only stare.
"Damon?"
"Um... Stef? It's good to see you again."
As he walks towards me, I stand up. Just as I'm about to extend my hand to shake, he wraps his arms around me too. This family is sure hands on, emotional. I get a little prickly with all the touching. I don't have great memories of my parents, I mean the Parker's touching me.
"I'm glad to have you home, brother."
"Stefan? Where did you go?" I hear a girl say.
"In the kitchen. Come here, I want you to meet someone," he tells her. My mouth literally drops open when I see the girl who steps through the kitchen doorway. She's beautiful.
"Elena, this is my brother Damon. Damon, this is my friend and our next door neighbor, Elena."
Extending her hand, she smiles widely. "Hello Damon, I'm really happy to meet you."
Taking her hand, I immediately feel the electricity when our palms touch. "Ah.. um, it's good to meet you too," I stutter. The rest of the room just fades away as I'm completely lost in her burnished yet endless brown eyes.
Thank you all for the wonderful response to this so far. A huge thanks to Eva, her brilliance makes my stories infinitely better. Vanagonne has a brilliant story called 'Bloom'. She just commenced a new one called 'Not the Way it Was Supposed to Be'. She's a gifted writer. Go show her some support too. 'Nothing Else Matters and 'Shatter Me' will update Saturday. Remember REVIEWS ARE LOVE! Have a wonderful weekend. Stay tuned for more next week.