Chap 7
Let me first start out by saying, not all monsters are hideous creates that repulse us. The worst monsters in life are beautiful to the eye. That's what makes them so dangerous is that they are extremely deceiving. Just saying.
"Wow two times in a row, could this be love", a man teased. He had dark brown hair combed to on side and brown eyes that resembled those of a lion. Damon shot his friend a dirt look as he got into the passenger side of the BMW.
"Shut up Enzo". Damon hated Enzo's sense of humor he always teased him about the wrong thing at the wrong time.
"It's ok mate it all happens to up one point or another" Enzo continued a slick smile on his face. He started to pull off, he could feel Damon burning a hole into his head with his eyes. "Too soon"? Enzo asked.
"Maggie", Damon reponded plainly. THe smile quickly left Enzo's face his eyes serious.
"Got it, too soon" Enzo spoke. Damon now that he was the one dishing it out. Damon could barely stand the sight of Elena, her face alone was so annoying and all it did was remind him of Katherine. His Katherine, the very real Katherine, but she would have to wait. First he would have to deal with the thief. Damon pulled out his phone and pulled up his car security app. He had a bug installed exactly for this reason. He smiled to himself thinking. Just you wait.
Elena arrived in a full day's drive, the sun high in a perfect blue sky. Music danced off from the car radio filling the car with a cheerful vibe. With each passing mile ELena could feel a crushing weight slowly bit by bit start to come off her shoulders. Jack was also in a good mood laughing and talking to himself in baby language. Elena pulled into the town just after one, she felt like she had just won the lottery. Like she won a chance to live in eutopia. No Stefan or any other Mikaelsons just the perfect town of East Bay, in North Carolina. THe pavements were clean, the sidewalks spotted with tree's and flowers. The buildings had an old make up all original in there own way ranging from colors of the rainbow. ELena couldn't help but look in aw as she drove down main street.
Elena pulled into the gas station a bit nervous herself. Paying the clerk for gas ELena's eyes fell upon the disposable camera section.
"BY on you get the other free", the sales clerk said seeing her eyes on the camera.
"OK", Elena agreed. She realized that she never took a picture of Jack. At first the realization frightened her but she quickly remembered she was no longer in the same situation. She took the two small disposable cameras and returned to the car. Elena first changed Jack into the best one piece that she had, then she changed herself into a a descent blue band v neck t-shirt. Strangely enough it was a present Alaric had sent her a year back when that band use to be her favorite. But she hadn't thought about that sort of thing ever since her parents died. Elena knew she had a few hours before Alaric came off from work so she and Jack she decided would site see. Once the car was parked Elena took off walking down main street with Jack in her arms. Her ribs still throbbed but Elena couldn't let it slow her down. Not today, today was a good day.
Elena stopped at a street bench sat with Jack and stretched her arm out and took the picture of the two of them. She then took another of just Jack sitting on his fat bottom, with the brightest smile on his face. Elena quickly took the picture knowing that the moment would quickly past.
"DO you want me to take one of you two"? A strange asked. Elena couldn't help but flinch just a bit. She quickly turned to find an older woman standing there. The woman had gentle eyes and a warm smile, Elena instantly feeling trusting of her.
"Yea, thank you". Elena agreed. Elena picked up Jack and sat on the bench with Jack in her arms. She tickled Jack as she herself smiled down at Jack starring in aw. She forced herself to look away from Jack to the woman who was now focusing the camera.
"Beautiful", she exclaimed after a moment. "He's just beautiful". The woman handed Elena the camera back.
"Thank you", Elena could feel another little bit of that weight come off of her. No one had ever really said anything positive about Jack. All of them just judging him because of me Elena thought. "You don't know how much it means to hear someone say that, but thank you so much".
"Your welcome dear", the elder woman responded. She softly rubbed Elena's forearm before looking at Jack one last time. "Now you two have a blessed day", she said before she started off back on the sidewalk.
"You two", Elena responded. She could feel tears threatening to fall, she quickly blinked them away. Today she would not cry.
After a few hours of site seeing Elena returned to the car and drove to Alaric's address. She parked a few houses down, not wanting to be spotted by him from the car. Once she made her way to his front day Jack in her hand, Elena froze. Negative thoughts filling her head, of what if. Elena just started to turn to go when the door opened and Alaric himself froze foot still in the air as he was about to step.
"Elena"! he exclaimed. He looked surprised in a good way, Elena noted. Elena smiled nervously as Jack started to talk again in his baby language. Alaric's eyes fell to the baby in Elena's arms, a broad smile growing on his face. "And who's this little guy"?
"Jackson William Gilbert", Elena answered. She had made his middle name the same as Jeremy as a way to honoring him without Stefan knowing.
"Well Jack it's nice to meet you two", Alaric replied. He stepped aside for Elena to come in.
"You look like your busy we could come back later", Elena suggested.
"Nonsense I was just about to go check my mail box. I'm never too busy for you", Rick responded. Elena shifted her shoulders, it now growing lighter and lighter a bigger smile stretched across her face. Alaric house was large and spacious. You could tell that a guy lived the way everything was set up for sole efficiency and nothing else. A sofa and a recliner in the living room all facing the Tv, which was a few feet from a fire place. Old artifacts decorated the living room shelves. Elena assuming that these were all the ones he himself had found or collected from traveling.
"Wow uncle Rick, the place looks good". Elena sat on the sofa Jack's eyes exploring the new room slowly, amazed as well. Rick took a seat on the end of the recliner looking around shyly at his work.
"Yea thanks, I know your mom would probably wants to take all the credit", Rick responded. Smiling at the memory of Elena's mother first introducing him to collecting in college. Rick fell in love wit it instantly, liking that the object had such a rich history. Lost in the memory he didn't notice the smile vanishing off Elena's face. "How is she doing"? Rick asked. Now turning his attention back to Elena.
Elena could feel her heart ache, she never had to tell anyone before. Everyone had known. She remembered Alaric was traveling when they had the funeral, no one was probably able to get in touch with him. "They uh died a few years back", Elena spoke her voice shaky. "I'm sorry I thought someone would have told you, I didn't even think to write to you". She couldn't write to him if she wanted to Stefan wouldn't have allowed it.
"What? How? What? No", Rick stood up. Disbelief evident on his face. He quickly brought himself together when he noticed Elena start to get upset. "I'm so sorry, Elena I should have been there for you. I should have visited".
"It's fine, I'm fine", Elena replied wanting to get off the subject. A silence stretched out in the room. Jack had drifted off into a peaceful slumber. "I was wondering do you know of any jobs available here"? Elena asked.
Ever since she had told him that his best friend was dead Rick was starting to notice things. ELena was too slim, bags under hey eyes. Her tan skin stained by blackish blue marks on her arms. He could even see a bigger one on her chest that was being covered by her T-shirt. What have this poor girl gone through? he asked himself.
"What you kidding, you can work for me over at the university", Rick answered. "Oh you'll love it Elena do you still like astronomy"?
Another thing Elena didn't have time for, she use to have a telescope in her back yard, she use to lay out in the back yard on a cool summer night star gazing with her shook her head no unable to speak.
"Don't worry, we will get you back into in", Rick said. He sat next to Elena and wrapped and arm around her pulling her in to lean on his chest along with Jack.
The tears started to flow and they wouldn't stop, no matter how much Elena tried. Tears of joy and relief for making it, and tears of sorrow and pain. Because now it became more real, her parents were gone. She never before had a real opportunity to mourn her parents death. Stefan hadn't wasted anytime. For weeks on end after there death, she was rarely out of his site. Only after a year was she able to get away with her job. When she had gotten pregnant he was full out avoiding her. But as soon Jack ws born, he didn't waste time. As if making up for lost time. But then he came around less at her house not wanting to see Jack. He started to just get everything out of his system at school. On rare occasions would he come to her house her bedroom. In than time Elena didn't have time to just sit down and cry there was always something 10x more important to do. Taking care of Jack, work, school and bills etc. Her mind had been distracted for so long.
Now sitting in Rick's house, Jack was asleep in Rick's bed with a pillow barrier around him. Elena didn't have anything to worry about. She cried like she never had before, her mouth making sounds she never heard before, her nose running. Rick's arms wrapped around her in a close embrace, he himself crying as well. After what felt like hours Rick let go of Elena, wiped his eyes with a clean tissue. He slowly wiped the tear streaks off her face.
"You going to be ok, your not alone, not anymore". His voice small, but his words so powerful to Elena. She hugged him tightly more tears streaming from her eyes.
"Enzo, come on", Damon said annoyance in his voice.
"Oh come on, let her have a little fun, let us have a little fun". Enzo pushed another glass into Damon's hand.
"I can't drink", Damon declined the glass.
"Come on it's not like you have a car to drive, look I'm drinking and driving" Enzo pushed his words slurred.
"No your not", Damon stated. He pulled out Enzo's car keys.
"You know that's probably a good idea. More for me". Enzo took Damon's glass and downed it quickly. "Wooooow", he exclaimed. Damon rolled his eyes at his oldest friend. "What ever happen to finding Katherine"?
"Katherine can wait" Damon answered. Enzo looked at his friend shocked. Katherine was the only girl Damon ever talked about for years.
"Ok, I know you don't want to hear this but it's starting to look like you have a thing for this Elena chick".
"She has my nephew living in god knows what type of conditions. The only love I have is for that little boy that deserves someone who will look out for him and protect him".
"I'm sure she's taking care of him just fine" Enzo reassured Damon his words a little less slurred.
"Enzo you didn't see it, she had him in an old cut up cardboard box, with filthy sheets. He was in a shitty reusable diaper that wasn't properly washed, she's neglecting that child. She allows the father to respond to it as a thing". Enzo grew serious for the first time seeing the real seriousness of the situation.
"What's his name"? Enzo's voice serious. His eyes focused now on his friends.
"She called him Jack". Damn paused his throat closing up. Enzo held Damon's shoulder tightly.
"Lets go get your nephew", Enzo spoke. This girl had now made things personal for Enzo when he saw Damon wipe away a tear.
