Marriage Counsellor

Author's notes:

The character's does not belong to me only plot is mine.

Thanks to Scarlet 2112, linax 24, Tia Salvatore, Lysette 90, The Doner Party, Blue tulips 1995, Damon fan girl, Taffe Marie, Starlight So, Orion Belte, Ana 4267, AJay 1208 and my guest reviewer for your reviews and thanks to my reader who favourite or follow my story.

Thanks to Carol for her help and to Starlight So who beta this chapter and this chapter is dedicated to our one year of friendship . Lucky to have you as my friend Sohela.

Like a customary New York morning people were rushing through the roads, heading to their destination. Among the folk of people there was a couple, unlike the other they weren't in a hurry, in fact they looked little nervous and uncertain to some point.

The luxurious car halted outside the building and a man got out of his car and rushed to the other side to help out his pregnant wife.

Together hand in hand they went inside the building and took the elevator.

She latched on to her husbands arm, not because she needed support to stand but she needed to have physical contact to calm those wild nerves that made her tremble with anxiety.

''Hey it's going to be alright ." She felt her husband's soothing voice whispering in her ear.

She gave him small smile, soon the elevator stopped and the door opened with a ding sound.

They both walked out and proceeded through the long corridor, coming to halt at a door that had the sign board "MarriageCounsellor Office".

With deep breaths they entered and made their way towards reception table.

There they saw a girl sitting behind desk working on laptop when she saw them approaching her so she sat straight and greeted them politely. ''Welcome to Doctor O Connell's office, how may I help you."

''I am Damon Salvatore, we have an appointment with Dr O Connell."

She told them to wait for few minutes as Doctor was in session with another client.

They both sat on couch while waiting for their turn, after few minutes of silence Elena stared at her husband who was checking his mails in phone. "Do you think this therapistwill be nice? I mean will we be able to open up to this person..." she trailed off when she saw her husband's amused expression. ''Okay I am rambling again, aren't I?" she laughed nervously and her husband nudged her playfully. ''No, don't be embarrassed I love your nervous ramblings and yes I too hope our therapist is nice."

They both smiled and for moment lost in each other's eyes when they heard a voice and saw the young woman with blonde hair and bright eyes standing in front of them admiring them.

''Mr and Mrs Salvatore I'm Dr Camille O Connell, your 'nice therapist' but please call me Camille ."

They both stood up and shake her hand. ''Please come inside." She ushered them to her office.

The ambiance was soothing, the room had minimal furniture, but it looked cosy with light green wallpaper and a clear glass centre table and the plush couch.

She took a seat on chair in front of them and motioned them to settle on couch.

''So, Mr and Mrs Salvatore before we start, I wantto assure you that this is safe space and you guys can discuss anything with me without hesitation and please try to open up without getting scared of your partner reactions because from this moment on opening up with each other with honesty is only thing that can help you save your relationship."

She saw couple nodding seriously and from observing them she could sense that this couple is willing to do anything to save their marriage.

''In your file it's stated that Mrs Salvatore wanted divorce but then on signing day she changed her mind while you Mr Salvatore refused to sign at all." She stared at Elena who looked clearly guilty and ashamed while her husband also had look of guilt on his face as they nodded quietly.

''Don't worry today we will not discuss that topic but I should tell you to be prepared, that we will discuss those issue that led you on the verge of ending your marriagein future sessions ."

They merely nodded their head because both of them are not ready at all to dive on that subject. Camille smile at them and sit comfortably to start their session.

"So Today on our first session, How about we begin with you guys telling me little bit about yourself?"

She picked a notebook on her side table and take out pen ,all this while Damon and Elena stared at each other unable to decide who should speak first.

Seeing that none of them is keen to start conversation she picked candidate herself. ''So Mr Salvatore why don't you take lead?" she smiled at the startled looking man who wasn't expecting to be first one to talk.

''Well..." he sat straight and rubbed his neck nervously. ''I am Damon Salvatore but you already know that and please call me Damon ." Camille smile in acknowledgment.

''As you know I am married to this beautiful woman and we're expecting a new member in our family soon, our daughter, the due date is close and…" She saw couple's face lit up at mention of their daughter and they stared at each other affectionately, something she rarely saw among the other couples she counsels.

"I am a businessman and besides Elena my younger brother is my immediate family, his girlfriend and my close friendswho are an integral part of my life. The bond got stronger after I married this girl."

He gave a genuine smile while finishing his brief introduction.

''Now Mrs Salvatore ." She turned her attention towards Elena. ''Tell me little bit about yourself."

Elena fidgeted little, being nervous under her penetrating gaze but when her husband squeezed her hand, feeling a bit relaxed she started, ''I'm Elena Gilbert but now Salvatore, I would really like if you can call me by my name. I am married to the man sitting beside me." She smiled glancing up at her husband.

''I just completed my first year of culinary program at ICC, its my dream to be patisserie, I also work at Delicious Bakers ."

She leaned back in her seat as she got comfortable and conversation was free flowing, ''I have younger brother and few distant relatives. It's been years since I had the privilege of having a real big family, but that changes as I fell in love with this man and now his brother and friends are part of my family."

Camille was quiet for a while and then she asked. ''In your introduction you both didn't mention anything about your parents?"

She saw both of them got tense at this question. Where sorrow was evident on Elena's face, Damon was indifferent, but the hidden pain didn't go unnoticed by her keen eyes.

After few second Elena glanced at her husband before answering their therapist. ''Both my parents and his mother died when we were young, his father..." she stared at her husband again. "he passed away when..." They both glanced at Damon who was still as statue but the way he fisted his hands making his knuckles go white was enough for them to see how much this question was affecting him.

He finally lifted his steely gaze finished where Elena left off. ''He passed away few days after I graduated from university."

Camille detected bitterness in his tone and can sense how much their parents death impacted them both. ''Look I understand this is painful topic but its also essential for you both to discuss these details no matter how painful it is to you but believe me sometimes these painful part of our life can also be one of reason that is affecting the way we live, our personalities and sometimes our relationship ."

Seeing Damon needed moment to compose himself, she turned her attention toward Elena.

'' So Elena, tell me something, the past year has been eventful for you, I mean you started university, fell in love, got married and you're expecting, how did you cope with these changes knowing that you have to take care of everything all by yourself without your parents seeing these monumental changes in your life?"

Elena looked surprise but a bit relieved as the doctor didn't press for the details regarding her parent's death.

''I missed them a lot, in fact there are numerous moments when I wish they were alive, here beside me but.." she was unable to complete her sentence as tears started rolling down her eyes.

Damon wrapped his arms around her while Camille offered her tissues which she took and wiped her face. ''Thanks." Elena told her.

'' It's okay take your time." She smiled at Elena and offered her water.

Few minutes later Elena was able to complete her answer. ''These last few months were really hard and in those days I wished more than any thing for my parents to be alive, I missed their support and guidance but I missed most their loving nature."

Camille nodded her head in understanding. ''It seems you really missed them, tell me something how you did cope with their death, specially when you were so young?"

Elena went quiet at this question and Damon was worried when she got still for few minutes.

''Lena? Are you alright?" Her husband rubbed her shoulders gently when few more minutes passed in complete silence. Feeling her husband warm touch snapped Elena out and she looked at her therapist again who was still patiently waiting for her answer.

''I ..." her voice shook little so she took deep breath. ''I have younger brother as I told you before, after my parents accident my mother died that very day but my dad slipped into coma." She grasped Damon's hands like a life line as she remembered those days. ''For three days I took care of my brother we were grieving for our mother while being terrified for our dad'slife. My Uncle and Aunt were there for us and they tried everything in their power to support us but only I could handle Jeremy at that time. For him I had to stay strong and thenthree days later our father also..." her voice shook as new tears replace old.

Damon stared at their Doctor pleadingly. ''Dr I think it's enough." He was cut off when Elena shook her head. ''No , I can complete this session, just give me few minutes." She say last part to her therapist who nodded her head.

''Take as much time you want Elena." She assured them compassionately.

'' I guess after they passed away I put my entire energy into taking care of Jeremy and to be strong for him." She finally admitted. ''As for me the pain was there but I never really.." she couldn't say but their therapist understands. ''You never had the chance to grieve them." It was not question but Elena nodded her head feeling ashamed to admit this.

''I am so sorry." She held her face down not even knowing what exactly she is apologising for.

''Elena, there is no need to feel guilty or afraid, in fact you were there for your brother to support him during this hard time, forgetting that you were young girl too who lost her parents, you stepped up to take care of him."

Damon nodded his head in agreement. ''She is right, Elena the way you took care of Jeremy all these years and even held up on your dreams of going to ICC for him, She is a remarkable sister." She gave a shy smile at her husband's praise.

''Its nothing compared to what you did for your brother." she turned to face Camille who was watching this exchange. '' Damon really is best brother in this entire world in fact Stefan often says Damon was more of a father to him than brother."

Camille stared at Damon who seemed relax now. "Its seems you and Elena both have another thing in common, tell me Damon why your brother thinks of you as a father figure?"

He tensed again but he felt his wife's hand on his giving him a light squeeze, encouraging him to ahead. "I took care of my brother since forever." His voice got hard with each word. ''My father.." he closed his eyes and Camille noticed deep pain etched on his face. ''Well let's just say he wasn't around, so I had to fill-in and take care of my brother and then after my mother passed away I was only one he could look up too."

It was obvious that Damon had difficulties in opening up about his past which impacted in more ways then he was letting on.

''So Damon how did you cope with grief after your mother's death?" He stared at Camille but didn't flinch at her question. ''It was hard time but I stayed strong for my brother and luckily we have few nice people in our life to support us during hard times." He didn't said anything about grieving and that didn't go unnoticed by therapist.

''What about your father? How you cope with his death?" if his face shows pain at mention of his mother's death, At mention of his father's death his face turned hard and voice turned bitter. ''My father he..." he clenched his hands into tight fist and Elena held his arms to calm him little. He stared at his wife and gave her tight smile before answering their therapist. ''My brother needed me to be best person I can be, for him I turned all my energy to be best brother I can be." This answer was true but a deflection to real answer and Camille decides to not push his limits today.

''Thank you Damon and Elena, for your cooperation, I can understand how hard this must be for both of you." She smiled sympathetically at couple who looked mentally exhausted.

''I know it's hard to open up to stranger, specially with something so personal but as couple you both know each other inside out, you can feel each other's happiness and grief."

Damon stared at Elena's smiling face as they both agreed with their Doctor.

''You know couple's therapy not only deals with combined but also individual issues as well. "Thecouple in front of her looked little confused while still waiting for her to elaborate.

''What I meant is that even in perfect and happy couples problems arises not because they don't love or trust each other but because they both are dealing with something as individual that later in turn affects their partner and marriage."

Damon glanced at his wife who seem to process all these knowledge quietly, where as he himself felt a bit at unease with this newfound information.

Camille could sense both of them struggling to accept her words.

''Don't worry as these sessions proceed you will understand what exactly I mean. So as your first couple exercise I wantto give you chance to grieve together,I want you to talk about that moment of loss and let it all out. This time you won't be alone in your grief because you have your partner to support you and take care of you." They both were taken aback by Camille's words but she smiled in understanding.

''Trust me this will help you in long run and bring you closer as couple." Feeling sceptical both of them nodded their head.

''Very well I willsee you in next session." They stood up and shook her hand before leaving her office.

They were quite the whole ride back, each going through session in their own mind.

The second they reach home they saw Stefan and Caroline with packed luggage waiting for them.

''Thank God! " Caroline sighed in relief at sight of them. ''We thought we had to leave without seeing you." She stare at them before looking at Stefan, who like her sensed their distressed state. ''Hey how did it go?" he asked his brother.

''Draining." He replied truthfully while staring at his younger brother.

He then stepped close and hugged his brother. ''Take care of yourself and Care." Stefan hugged him back and felt it was not just a safe trip hug and before he can dwell more and ask what is going on his sister in law shook her head behind his brother to stop him and stepped forward. ''You both go and enjoy your trip."

She embraced Caroline and then Stefan.

''Just come back soon before your brother's birthday." She remind them making Damon groan. ''Guys no birthday party for me!" he told them but they all ignored him and they went outside to see them off.

''Have safe trip bro." Damon tapped his back and held Elena as they drove away.

''Come let's go upstairs ."

Elena led him inside and she asked Mr Palo to bring their dinner in their room.

Damon was way more quiet than usual during dinner and Elena knew he needed some time to process what happened.

After dinner Elena touched his arm.''You go take shower while I ask someone to clear this up." He smiled and nodded at her suggestion, kissing her forehead he went in their closet to grab pyjama pants and went to take shower.

Under the steady stream of shower he tried to relax but his mind kept repeating those question that he didn't answer, clearly because truth is he doesn't know where to begin with.

He leaned his head against cool tiles to soothe his headache while he kept thinking about things he sealed deep inside himself.

He finally turned off shower and got changed, feelings exhausted then ever he stepped out and saw his wife sitting in on their bed change in her night clothes, her back resting against headboard with support of pillows.

''Hey." She smiled sweetly at him. He gave her small smile and laid on his side.

''So some session huh?" Elena tried to start conversation to which her husband scoff in reply. ''I don't know, how grieving our parents death now is going to save our marriage?"

He stared at Elena who was looking at him sadly. ''Well I think it's going to help us. I mean what she said about individual issues affecting our relationship." She took a deep breath as she admitted. ''I think she is right about that."

Damon stared at her still feeling unconvinced but if it helps him getting Elena back then its worth giving shot.

Making that decision he sat straight and stared at his wife. ''Okay let's get over with this." He held his hand bringing her in his embrace. ''Ladies first." He told Elena and suddenly words escape his wife while her body went ridged.

''I don't know what to say." She told him in small voice.

He contemplated for a moment then lifted her face to see into her eyes. ''How about you tell me what you felt when you heard about accident?" his voice was so gentle as soft as a caress somehow this made her melt.

"I didn't want to believe it first. The whole way to hospital I kept praying that it was false call that my parents can't be in an accident." She blinked tears away and he cupped her face to wipe them off.

''When they told us that mom passed away on impact I felt numbness crept through my body making me refuse to believe single word they told me." A sob finally escaped her making her shudder at that memory.

''They took me to morgue to identify and I saw my mother..." she stared at him with teary eyes.

''Nothing in this world can describe what I felt, I mean I saw my mom two hours ago waving me goodbye with a smile on her face as she told me I am in charge and then she was gone! Taken from me forever just like that."

She broke down and finally cried in her husband's arms pouring out years of grief.

Damon rocked her like child saying soothing words to her, comforting her with his presence and she hold on to him tightly finally letting go of pain that she hid deep inside her.

''It was me who told Jeremy that she had gone, my brother he was in agony but I comforted him any way possible because Itaught it's only matter of time when dad will wake up, until then I can forget my pain, lock it deep inside off me and take care of him."

Her eyes were red as she rubbed her belly. ''He never woke up and by that time I learn to use Jeremy's pain to mask my own, uncle John and aunt Jenna tried to help me, Matt tried to comfort me but I put brave face in front of everyone because if I loose myself into pain then who would have taken care of Jeremy?"

Damon listened to her and his heart hurt for her, seeing her in pain was painful for him. ''But you understand me right? After all you did same."

There was no point in denying but that didn't mean that he have to agree with her. '' I may have done same thing as you but it's not same situation baby."

Elena tilted her head in confusion. ''I was harnessingpain ever since my mom got sick along with anger, resentment and hatredtoward my dad, All these feelings were like slow poison and it destroyed part of me before I even knew it."

Elena shook her head denying what he is saying. ''No Damon don't say that, you are hurt, God knows we both were hurt but no part of yours is destroyed!"

Damon left her embrace and stood up. ''She was dying and he wasn't affected by that at all! He was drowning in his luxuries, turning a blind eye to my mom, ignoring the fact that she was in pain and that pain killed her slowly day by day!"

Elena flinched at his tone but let him speak. '' looking after Stefan was not reason to hide my pain, it was necessity that kept me sane, make me feel human, my brother is only reason that I didn't turned into that heartless man my father was."

His eyes were wet but he refused to succumbs to that pain. ''If I let myself feel pain I would have been weak in front of my father. I would have been weak in front of my dying mother who was counting on me to look after my brother and most importantly I would have been weak in front ofmy brother who needed me because I was all he ever hadand then after our mom passed away, I was the only family he had left."

Damon's voice shook as he let in those feelings. "Stefan never knew what my dad was like before he loose his mind to success, I don't even think he ever got any happy memory from our parents but I remember that man, a loving husband and father who loved my mom and me, who taught me to ride bike, who built my first ever go cart and cheered proudly when I won, we used to sit in garage and he used to tell me everything about cars, it's because of him I fell in love with cars ."

He stared at his wife, his eyes lost. "You know when I was little around three years old, he asked me what I want to be when I grew older and I told him I want to be like my daddy." He averted his face as first few tears shed unwillingly. ''I remember everything Elena but he forget his love for us the moment he became successful."

He collapsed on bed with his back turned so his wife won't see how destroyed he was. ''You lost your parents three days apart but I lost them both on Stefan's birthday when my Pappie busted him with his whore. I have been suffering that pain seeing them fade away, first to life and then to death! So tell me how can I feel grief over something I lost ages ago?"

Her husband body shook and she knew he was crying as he clutched his face to hide his tears from her. For few minutes they both sat quietly crying and then Damon felt soft hands wrapped around him and tears on his shoulder, he held her arms around him finally letting his grief flow from his body .

They both stayed that way unable to face each other yet unable to let each other go.

Finally he felt Elena trying to pull him towards herself and without meeting her eyes he turned around and laid them down with his head nestle above her belly. He kissed their daughter and Elena felt his tears through her thin shirt and in that moment their daughter made her presence known. ''See that's proof that you are not destroyed." His wife loving voice told him softly.

She softly touched his hand on top of her belly where their daughter is lightly kicking. '' You created that with me and how can someone destroyed will able to create something so beautiful?" he lifted his face and it was Elena turned to wipe his eyes and hold him in her embrace.

''You know when you were in hospital." Elena nods her head feeling relieved to hear his calm voice. ''I for first time loathed my existence."

He saw his wife shaking her head. ''Hear me out please I need to say this." His pleas were enough to make her agree. ''I saw us at same spot as I saw my parents years ago and I was scared to loose you just like I lost my mom because of that man."

He touched her face in both hands. ''I never wanted to loose you but knowing that I was going to loose you and our baby that day because of me!" he closed his eyes to shield her from seeing his pain.

''Don't you see Elena, that man destroyed a part of me and all was left was man who lived his insecure life avoiding pain, I wanted everything and I got everything by any means necessary . I lived my life in constant lie, pretending to be something I am not because I was ashamed of that destroyed part that poured hatred to my father leading him to commit suicide."

He broke down then and Elena comforted him this time. ''I killed him Elena, he was a monster, he was reason of all pain that killed my mom but he was still my dad and because of me.." he couldn't carry on as his agony took over and only thing that was keeping him together was his precious girls in his arms.

He felt warm lips on his forehead as his wife rocked him in her soft embrace . ''It's okay Damon Shh, let it all go. You need this, I need this."

So they cried, cried for their parents, cried for that happiness that was taken away from them, cried for that pain which now they let free and most importantly cried for each other and at same time bringing comfort to each other.

They didn't know how many hours passed but as time passed away so did most of their pain and for first time in many years they both felt huge weight lift off their shoulders.

They laid quietly still wrapped in each other arms when finally Elena break their silence. ''Damon?" he lifts his face and saw worry in her red teary eyes.

''What's the matter?" she sat up and meet with concern eyes of her husband. ''What if.." she bit her lips nervously. ''What if, God for bid something happens to us? I don't want Zenia to be left alone. Who will take care of her?"

He stared at his wife and realized this whole day is making her scared for their daughter's well being . ''Come with me there is something I have to show you."

He helps her standing up and led them outside their room to next one on their wing.

She was surprise when he stopped at room with cream colour double door that Rebecca left during their tour.

''Go on, open it." Her husband encourage her. She turns knob and open door that take her breath away and brings tears of joys as her eyes fell at replica of their baby's nursery.

''Damon?" she stared at her husband who smiled at her as they stepped inside. ''You see how loved our daughter is already ." She stared with wide eyes, noticing that every detail of room was same accept this room was way huge than one in their old home and it was already filled with toys and when she lifts her head at ceiling she gasp seeing beautiful pink clouds with Sun peaking behind them. ''Yeah Klaus went overboard and said this room is large enough to add more colour." He rolled his eyes remembering his friends enthusiasm.

''When?" his wife asked him in wonder while touching their baby crib. ''We started building this nursery same time when we were doing at home, you know just in case because I was planning to confess after Zenia's birth."

He told last bit in small voice.

''Oh Damon!" she wrapped her arms around him. ''None of that right now, okay?" he nodded his head and she turned around to touch her blanket and felt arms encaging her in embrace as her husband settle his head on her shoulder. ''We brought crib and other stuff after you agreed to move in with me. Room was already painted and baby proofed so all there left was decorating it and we did that in few hours."

She was in aww seeing the length he and their friends took to re create this nursery. ''I am glad its you who shows me this room, thank you so much." She told him sincerely from heart and felt soft kiss on her neck.

''I was going to surprise you after her birth but when you said who will take care of her? Well see this room Elena our daughter is most loved girl on this planet and between us, our family and friends their is endless supply of love store for her."

She nodded her head and beam at her husband. ''You are right our daughter will always have people who will love and care for her, that's all I ever wanted for her Damon."

He turned her around and kissed her forehead. ''I can't promise everything but I can promise you that our child will get all kind of love in this world and she will never go through that pain like we gone through because there will be always someone to take care of her."

They both wrapped in each other arms standing in their daughter's room, Finally letting go of their painful past and revelling in promise of loving future for them and for their daughter.

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Authors note.

So here is first therapy session and our another favourite character to help Delana saving their marriage . Sorry if I wrote something that is wrong in therapeutic sense then I apologize in advance but I did little research and mostly used my imagination.

So please send me your reviews and stay tuned because the day Delana is waiting for is finally arriving in next chapter and let me give you one hint, ''Surprise!"