Dear Readers!

I'm really terribly sorry for being so late with this update. As you're all well aware that I was quite sick. Anyway, here it is. Do enjoy!

Chapter 3: 'An incomplete wish'

"Well. I'll tell you that after you have dinner." Damon said as he got up. He offered his hand to her that she accepted, standing up.

He led her back to where Caroline and Stefan were. They stood up as they saw Damon and Elena coming. Stefan rose a brow as if asking if Elena remembered anything but Damon's grim expressions answered him.

"Usually, you're the one hosting dinner but for today, I'll take over the kitchen," Damon said as he walked back to the kitchen.

"I'll help you out." Stefan followed him.

..

..

Caroline had shown her some of the movies she had performed in. She had to say she was quite impressed by herself. Was she so good? It didn't seem like her at all. She was still thinking if she was dreaming. This couldn't be true.

After the dinner, she just walked around the house, trying to get familiar with her surroundings.

She stopped in front of the picture she had seen when she first entered the house—her house. They seemed so happy. It almost seemed like a fairytale but was it really like it seemed.

"You two should stay for the night," She heard Damon order Caroline and Stefan like he used to do. Somethings never change. She thought. Even though he claimed he wasn't what he was.

"Sure." Stefan said like the ever obedient brother he was.

Elena shook her head. He hadn't changed a bit.

"Bab—Elena," Damon corrected himself midway. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable. She turned to him. "Um. You can take the bedroom. Barbie would accompany you. I'll share the guest room with Stefan."

Elena nodded, folding her hands on her chest.

"Are you feeling cold?" Damon asked, noticing immediately. He took off his jacket and handed it to her. "No. No. It's fine. I'll just grab a comforter." Elena replied, surprised by the gesture. Since when did he study her so keenly.

Stefan elbowed Caroline, giving her a signal that his best friend immediately understood.

"Damon. I actually have to go out for a while. I have to drop by some documents at my mom's. I'll be back in a bit." Caroline didn't wait for him to answer and hurriedly left.

"Oh damn. I need to use the bathroom." Stefan said, making a weird face. He took a few steps back and went inside the guest room, leaving the estranged couple all alone.

"So." Elena said, rubbing the side of her arm.

"Why don't I show you your stuff. You can change into your PJ's." Damon said, filling in the silence. Elena nodded.

..

..

"So this is your stuff. These are your PJ's." Damon said, handing her an oversized blue shirt and loose pants.

"This actually used to be my shirt. You loved it… thought it was very comfortable. So you tricked me into a bet and won this shirt." Damon said, smiling as he relished the memory. Elena smiled back.

"We seemed like a cute couple."

"As Stefan puts it, vomit inducing sickeningly sweet." Damon snorted.

Elena chuckled.

"What?" Damon asked.

"It's just-,"

"Unbelievable." Damon understood her, without her having to say anything.

She nodded again before looking back into her huge closet.

"Oh MY God." She squeaked. "Is this Kate Hudson's Versace dress that she wore at AA 2003."

"It sure is." He replied, smirking at her excitement. It was like witnessing the teenager Elena all over again.

"Do you know I-,"

"Yes, I know. This has been your dream dress ever since Middle school. You had your mom custom make it by a local designer. That dress tore right in the middle of the school dance. But you weren't embarrassed at all and kept dancing. In the end, you won the competition too, for your confidence. This dress gave you an aim and that is to become the most popular actress in Hollywood." He knew the story by heart. Elena had mentioned it so many times… but of course, that was in some other timeline.

He shrugged with a light laugh.
He raised a brow, cocking his head to a side, "What's so funny about that."

She shook her head sitting on the couch, "To think that just yesterday you hated my guts and today..,"

"Ten years ago," He reminded her.

She stopped laughing, looking at him. "So you know some stuff-,"

"Everything." He corrected.

She shook her head.

He sat on the other side running a hand through his hair, " Oh I do, don't challenge that."

She giggled, "I couldn't have possibly told you everything."

He folded his arms on his chest, "Try me baby."

She wanted to wipe that smirk off his face, "What's my favorite color?"

He rolled his eyes, "Ah. Dear Lord, Elena. This is the first question anyone asks when they start dating. Well, to answer you, black and red, black you like on Men, which is ehm ehm, me."

She raised her brows at him, "What's my favorite period snack?"

He narrowed his eyes as if thinking, "Every snack is your favorite period snack, but you love brownies dipped in Chocolate sauce."

She bit her lip in annoyance, "Okay, where do I feel ticklish?"

He gave her a naughty smile, "You didn't tell me this , but…"

He reached for her, touching a spot on her neck to the dip in her collar bone, "Right in this zone." She jumped a little, blushing deep.

"I am convinced." She bit her lip very hard

"Chickening out?" He smiled at her blushing face , "It's okay Elena, just for the sake of our new situation , I'll act vague, but to let you know that there's nothing in your life that I don't know."

She tilted her head on the couch to rest it, yawning a little, "Why did I tell you so much about me? I must have forced you to listen to all this stuff."

He pursed his lips, "No I wanted to know you, I had ways to get things out of you."

She laughed lazily, "Oh right ! I never stop talking . I mean you know everything so you must also know how I once made out with a Jared Leto's Poster."

He frowned, "Uh no and that's disturbing."

She giggled, "I am kidding or maybe not ."

She felt sleepy. Today had been a tiring day. From shifting from hospital to home and then trying to remember the house, she has had a very busy day. She felt uncomfortable this stranger, who claimed to be her husband yet at heart, she knew she was safe around him. She felt protected in a way.

She gave him a warm smile, her eyelids closing, "So what other secrets do you know?"

He grinned a little, "Oh things like you really don't like avocado as you claim, and you don't say it out loud but you never got the whole vibe about spice girls."

She said her voice raspy now, "You know more than you should."

Very slowly, the door of the room opened and Caroline entered, holding her night bag. "I'm here to-."

"Shh." Damon whispered.

"Okay." Caroline mouthed. "Is she sleeping?"

Damon rolled his eyes.

"Elena…," He whispered to check if she was asleep or not. When she didn't respond, he knew she was fast asleep. He stood up, picked her up and laid her down on the comfortable bed. She snuggled into the comforter.

He stroked her cheek with his fingers lightly, a very light smile on his lips.

"Ahm." Caroline's fake cough brought his attention to her.

"Well that sums up the adventures for day one, I'll be in the other room if you guys need anything. Goodnight."

Caroline whispered as soon as he closed the door behind him. "Elena Salvatore… I mean Gilbert, I know you're awake and so does he."

Elena's eyes snapped open, "Really?"

"You're not that good actress. Well. Not now anymore, pre-acting school Elena," She whispered.

"and he knows too."

"Of course. Husband!"

"Gosh. Stop reminding me over and over again."

"Okay. Okay." Caroline murmured. "Tell me, do you not like him."

"I don't know him." Elena replied. "Well. He's… hot." She blushed like a teenager. "But he's Damon."

"Trust me, Lena. You'll like him once you get to know him. It's just because you don't…,"

She pursed her lips, "I want to Caroline, I really do, I want to recognize him, there's something about him that makes me hold on to not moving on and getting a new life."

She sat on the bed, "It's just my head that doesn't remember him but the rest familiarity is too much to let go like that, like when we hold hands, it's like I do it all the time , I am trying to get his memory out in front of my eyes, but it's like it wasn't even there."

Caroline sat next to her wrapping her arms around her, "Elena it's okay."

"What if I forget him forever, I don't know why that is scary, he's right Care, he's a part of my life which is so essential yet I can't accept it ."

Caroline shook her head as Elena looked up at her, "You will, and if you don't, it's fine , maybe you will have another way back to him or whatever you lost."

Elena nodded comforting herself, "Do you like him? Last time I remembered you didn't ."

Caroline looked away, awkwardly, "He's okay like…,"

Elena threw herself on her pillow, "He's nice. I can see that. But I can't feel the love yet. I hope I do. I hope I remember."

"You should sleep. You're exhausted." Caroline suggested.

"Can't." Elena murmured grabbing her teddy bear. Like everyone, Mr. Huggers had changed. It was pretty old now, but it seemed like Elena still slept with it like she did as a teen. She had kept it all these years. "I just… tell me how it all happened."

"Not now, Elena. Tomorrow. I'm quite tired."

..

..

(Viewer Discretion required. This scene describes an anxiety attack, don't read if you feel triggered.)

Soon when the night set in darker, right about two in the night, Elena suddenly feeling way too uncomfortable, opened her eyes, she wasn't sleepy, she wasn't okay, where was she? Who was she? Her chest felt too tight and she found herself taking deep breaths, her lungs yearning for oxygen, that's when her eyes finally started concentrating around, she was all alone, shadows lurking her bedpost, she felt like if she moved she would be strangled or choked. Her body was way too powerless for any defense. She shivered heavily, trying to scream but she couldn't.

(Warning over)

She rolled over to see Caroline lying flat on her tummy, and even after her shaking her she didn't move, (Viewer Discretion required. This scene describes an anxiety attack, don't read if you feel triggered.) Elena felt the ball forming in her throat as she crumpled the sheets under her fists, her eyes were watery, she scratched her arms feeling some incoherent whispers in her ears, that's when she couldn't control it, (Warning Over). With a quick move, she held her teddy bear, she climbed down the bed heading towards the door looking back to see if it wasn't coming for her, "Wait!" she heard that predatory voice, "You can't run Elena."

She could hear steps reaching for her she quickly, with shaking hands, unlocked the door going outside, she ran into a wall, "AHHH!" she quickly cupped her mouth to stop any noise , someone was after her , he tried to kill her before and he was back.

She could hear her own muffled cries and it made her want to push her hand down her throat to stop it,

"Hide all you want."

She looked back hearing the approaching footsteps, all she could she see in the dark corridor was a dark shadow, soon the steps turned from walking fast to running.

"He's coming," she thought running the other way, downstairs, she could hear her shirt tear from the sleeve when it got stuck in a nail, she turned to the living room, she quickly got to the corner, hid behind the couch, cupping her mouth tight shut, but she knew the loud beat of her heart will have her killed. She hugged her knees closer to herself.

Cold blue eyes stared at her. She screamed on top of her lungs and shut her eyes, expecting an attack.

Lights turned on.

"Elena?" She heard her name said softly, she turned and looked up to see Damon, she swallowed thick, still shivering, "Damon D-Damon there-,"

She broke into sobs, he didn't wait more and pushed the sofa away picking her up in his arms, "Elena, my life, my love. You're okay."

She shook her head, "Damon, someone was here. He's… he wanted to kill me. He had this dagger, he followed me around the house and-," She struggled to breath.

"Baby. Take a deep breathe."

"Is everything okay?" Stefan and Caroline came rushing.

"Everything is fine. Elena is okay." Damon assured, his eyes fixed on Elena. "See. You're okay." He said again, addressing directing Elena.

He helped her stand up and took her to another room, and aided her sit on bed, he turned on another very dim lamp, and poured water to the glass, she was still shaking so he just held the glass to her mouth, "It's okay Elena. I promise he's gone, no one's gonna hurt you."

"Damon. He was right here. He tried to stab me." Elena wailed.

"But you're fine. You're absolutely okay. isn't she?" Damon said, turning to Caroline and Stefan. They both nodded, standing behind awkwardly letting Damon handle the situation. This certainly wasn't new to them.

Elena took a deep breath, feeling comfortable now. Damon's constant reassurances did the trick and slowly, very slowly, she was calming down.

"Damon, her hand is bleeding," Caroline pointed out.

Before Elena could react, Damon gave a small nod and a light smile, "Just a scratch. It's fine."

Even his voice was giving her comfort.

How weird? Elena thought. She remembered her parents freaking out whenever she had even the slightest panic attack, and seeing them freak out would freak her out even more but Damon didn't react like that, he kept himself calm and peaceful, and seeing him calm, assured Elena that nothing was serious.

"Let me get a band aid for you."

She held his wrist still sobbing, "No, Damon, please don't leave me."

"Baby, the aid box is in the living room."

She shook her head, "please, Damon, please."

He cupped her face sitting down, "Okay. Okay. I'm not going anywhere." He kissed her forehead.

"Stefan."

"On it." Stefan said as he rushed to the living room and returned with a band-aid.

While he kept reassuring her, Caroline slowly cleaned her arm, she dabbed a Q-tip of anti-septic under a gush on her cheek, "You should have woken me up."

"I tried." She sniffed, turning to Damon, the only man she felt herself protected with now, even though he was a stranger to her, "Damon, I saw him, trust me, I just know he's the one who made me forget everything, he's what destroyed what we –"

He cupped her face, "Elena it was a panic attack. You still have them… not as frequently but you do,"

She shook her head, "He's still waiting for you to go away so he can get his hands on me."

He stroked her cheeks smoothly, "I am not going okay, I am here with you."

He wrapped his arms around her, she rested her head on his chest as he moved back to the pillow, "You are safe now, you can sleep."

She shook her head against his chest, her voice still weak and it hurt him, "I can't, I'm scared. I'm scared of darkness, I'm scared of death, I'm scared of those whispers. I can't sleep anymore."

He started moving his fingers through her hair, his other hand rubbing her back, every once in few moments he'd whisper something like, "I am right here. Okay."

After a good fifteen minutes, he knew she was not crying anymore, just lying awake.

He had shifted most of her weight on his body, patting and rubbing her back softly. She purred feeling the warmness of his body she felt so safe, so protected, a feeling she hadn't witnessed before in her life… well, the life that she remembered. But at the same time, she felt awkward too. In her mind, it was wrong that she was wrapped up in arms of a man she barely knew, however, it still felt so right, like she belonged to him, like his arms were designed so he could hold her like that.

"Thank you." She pressed her face into his chest.

"For being there for you? You might not remember but you have been there for me when I didn't even ask for it, I can't imagine letting you fight alone." He said above a whisper, his voice felt like hot caramel to her, it was all the soothing she needed, even though her mind didn't accept it, he was everything her system needed for stability, his touch, his voice, his scent, everything he did.

"I can't close my eyes, I can't even think of sleeping." She changed the topic, this wasn't the time for decisions.

"Hmm. I have been crowned best storyteller." he joked

She looked up at him smiling a little bit, "I could use one, something about us." She blushed as soon as she said it, "I mean something I don't know, something about my life… our life. How did we… get married?"

He nodded concealing his happiness that she was finally opening to him. He hid his smile. "It's a long story. That I can't ruin just like that. You need to hear the whole thing to understand our story."

"Ok, then, tell me something else? Best day of your life?"

"Our wedding day. The second best day would be the day you said yes when I asked you out. Oh, let me tell you about the day when I arranged a birthday dinner for you, now this happened before I asked you out, the time when I was smitten by you,"

5 year ago

He rubbed his hands at putting another rose in the vase, then took a few steps back, "She's going to love it, don't be nervous."

His phone rung and he picked it up too hurriedly, "You can't cancel on me now."

"Hey it's me Stefan."

He groaned, "God! Stefan, you're the last person I want to talk to right now, you were going to put your worthless ass to use by helping me here but there you are."

"Yeah doing a project in New Orleans to help my doomed career booo… selfish me." He replied in a sarcastic tone.

"Don't make me feel guilty, Elena will be here any damn minute, and it's just not fair, she's not going to like this, I think Birthday dinner isn't the best gift, I should have done something out of this world."

Stefan's poker face voice was taunting him next, "Oh yes, put her in a spaceship."

"Stefan what did New Orleans do to you? okay, I've made the steak, the cake is ready, I've even made the pasta and no I checked for sugar this time." He sighed

"Cool, you don't need to worry brother, the way to a woman's heart is through her –"

Damon completed, "Her stomach, but-"

"NO BUTS, I gotta go, please don't use your stupid gorilla humor on her." Stefan begged, "Don't be witty, sarcastic, rude, don't sass her. Just don't be yourself okay?"

"Thank you, those words do define me, get back in town and I'll-"

He heard the doorbell and swallowed thick, "She's here, bye."

He went to the door and opened it, his eyes widened seeing her in front of him , she was wearing a red dress that hugged her body and ended just above her knees, she had black satin pumps on her hair curled and on one side to reveal her soft skinned shoulder, light smokey eye makeup, cheeks crimson, red lip gloss, she looked like a goddess . "I am overdressed." She sighed.

He didn't even move or blink, his throat was dry and palms going sweaty, "What?" He finally snapped out of it, "You're kidding, right ? I am underdressed."

He was wearing a black button up, not tucked in and matching jeans.

She smiled, "You're just making me feel better."

"If anything makes ME feel better than usual it's that dress." He said referring to her dress with his eyes.

She looked behind him, "Is that a mistletoe?"

He looked behind him and regretted his stupid idea, he gave himself a mental note to never try that again, he turned to look at her, "oh silly me, I forgot to take this down after Christmas,"

"It's been eight months to Christmas,"

"I am lazy,"

She giggled, "yes you are" She got ahead and wrapped her arms around his neck, "Well it is a tradition."

"Damn traditions right?" he faked a frown.
"We don't have to if you don't want." She whispered as she moved closer.

"But… that would be disrespect to tradition." He murmured.

She pressed her lips against his, her soft petal-like lips playing with his, he pulled back after a moment looking at her smiling, blushing face before capturing her lips again, he ran his tongue over her lower lip tasting her, he heard her moan and he wanted to go on forever but they were at the threshold he pulled back softly, "Dinner is awaiting you."

She bit her lip wiping his mouth off the color, "Mm lets go."

"So where is everyone else?" she asked casually.

"Um. Who?" He asked.

"You said there was going to be a party."

"Oh. Yeah. They canceled."

"Everyone?" Elena asked, raising a brow.

"Yes." He replied with a poker face. "So… I guess it will only be you and me."

He pulled out the mistletoe, "We'll be needing this after the dinner."

She giggled going inside followed by him.

Once in the dining room, he pulled out the chair for her.

She gasped, "You did this, oh God it's amazing,"

He bowed in a dramatic way, "Well I am glad you liked it."

A minute later he came back with a cake with a candle in the middle, " So I tried cooking and baking for the first time and it might suck, but it shouldn't be bad enough to… ruin my chances," he whispered the last part yet she heard.

She laughed, "Stop doing that, it looks great." She bit her lip.

He stood beside her, "Whenever you're ready."

She gave him a toothy smile, "I am waiting for the song."

"What song?"

"You know? Happy birthday, song." She rose her brows at him.

"Oh right! Ehm ehm... Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday little Elena."

"It's dear." She corrected him.

"I know you were the one telling me to sing the song, made you look like a kid." He said with a hint of humor in his voice, when she narrowed her eyes at him, he remembered Stefan's instructions, "Which is what I adore."

She blushed and leaned forward kissing his cheek.

She cut the cake picking up a piece, she took a bite and looked at him.

"How is it?"

"Mmmm it's so delicious, yum." She took a huge bite.

"Let me get a taste." He took it from her hand taking a bite before she could say anything.

Suddenly he felt the bile rising to his throat from the taste of this thing that he made, he looked at her and she pressed her lips together, he took out a tissue and threw all of it from his mouth into it throwing it away, "You're a lair."

"I am sorry Damon."

"Why are you sorry? I should be sorry, I suck. I destroyed your birthday." He groaned.

She cupped his face, "No you didn't, Damon this means so much to me, oh come on!"

He sighed.

"Stop doing that, it's just not your thing, it's okay, come on we can go outside. This is still the most special birthday ever."

"Why? " He huffed.

"Because I have you, and when I'm with you, I feel happy and alive. Everything seems more beautiful."

"You're such a sweet talker."

"Damon."

"Fine."

He was still frowning, having a hard time to get over the fact that he ruined what was supposed to be the best birthday of her life.

She let out a chuckle.

"What? Is there something on my face?" He asked, still frowning.

She cupped his face in her hands, staring deep into his eyes. She leaned toward him, breaching the gap between them to press her lips to his. Their lips danced together in a painfully slow way; then started to turn into a-frenzy that demanded a much speedier tempo.

..

..

Present time.

"What happened after you found out the cake sucked?" Elena asked.

"Nothing. We just went out."

"You're hiding something?" Elena asked.

He never answered.

"We… we just went out… we headed to the carnival and… it was a great day." He lied, but not so convincingly.

Caroline who had been sitting there the whole time decided to leave them be. She signaled Stefan that they should probably leave the couple alone, as Damon had her better handled than anyone else.

Besides, it was best that Elena develops a friendly relationship with Damon if they wanted to heal her memory issues. And it seemed like luck was on Damon's side because Elena and Damon seemed to be lost in conversation.

Caroline looked at them, biting her lip. She wasn't exactly looking at Elena. She was looking at Damon, her best friend's husband and… the love of her life. She felt like the worst friend in the world just as the very thought entered her mind.

But that was the reality. She was indeed in love with her best friend's husband. It hadn't happened now. It was a story as old as Damon and Elena's relationship. Just watching him be in love with Elena had made her fall hard for him. It had intensified every time he came to her to ask for her help regarding Elena, every time he needed her advice when he had to buy some gift for Elena, or when he had to throw her a party.

It may make her a bad person but she yearned for his attention, she yearned for the day he would forget Elena and love her. But would that day ever come?

So here it is guys. Do tell me was the end of this chapter a shocker? What do you think of Damon- Elena and Caroline? Is Elena really getting panic attacks or does someone really wants her dead? Is Caroline involved in the accident with Elena?

Elena and Damon's past story would be revealed in the coming chapters. We'll also get a new suspect.

Do tell me how you felt about characters of Damon and Elena.

I want to thank Scarlett2112 for supporting me so much, thank you! And also to Scarlet Rose, I am sorry to hear what you went through last year, I was aware of your condition through your review on ILWTE, and I always dearly wish for your health. Also know that I cherish your reviews and I wait for them eagerly as you always have the exact analysis of my characters. It warms my heart how much you notice details.

Thank you Amazing Aisha, BrandyDamon and everyone else. I'm so sorry I can't write all of your names but you're all the best group of people. I love you all so much. Delena Fandom is like the best fandom in the world! It's so heartwarming to see how much we all support and love each other, all because of this beautiful ship.

Reviews are like cookies, the more they are the better. They make me smile the whole day. So please make my day and do review!

~Love

May