4 years Later
"Jackson William Gilbert", Elena called from the hallway.
"Momma I did it, momma I did it", a high voice exploded from the living room. Two small feet stomped across the living room at a rapid pace. Elena threw her book back into the cover and got in position. Jack leaped into her arms and squeezed her tightly. "I did it". He repeated excited. In his hand he held a piece of paper. On it he had written his name and a story he had made up himself.
"Let me see", Elena said. Releasing her son. Alaric watched them from the open arch way a smile on his face. Jack held up the paper nervously a part of him worried his mother wouldn't like it. But all self doubt vanished from the proud smile Elena wore reading his work. "Wow this is definitely getting framed", Elena spoke after a moment of silence.
"Exactly what I said", Alaric agreed. Jack's face lit up with excitement.
"Really"? Jack asked turning back to Alaric now.
"Yea buddy this is a very big deal, not all 4 year old's can do this".
"Now don't you go getting a big head either", Elena warned. Jack shook his head no.
"I can't get a big head because then my head would fall of my shoulders", he replied. Elena hugged Jack again just needing another one just because.
"Just making sure" Elena replied.
"How was school"? Alaric asked. Elena hung up her spring Jacket on the hook, Jack picked up her back pack for her and brought it to the kitchen for Elena.
"Thanks bud", Elena thanked him. "It's good coming down to the last few classes just reviewing for finals. Oh and Professor Abrams sent in the let of recommendation today, so fingers crossed".
Alaric went in for his hug. "Well, everyone has their fingers crossed for you, but if you don't get the job we'll be ok". Alaric reassured her.
"We really will be", Elena agreed. Caving into the hug she could feel his love wrapping around her like a warm fluffy blanket in the dead of winter giving her warm comfort and protection.
"Where's Jenna"? Elena asked finally pulling away from the hug. Alaric wrinkled up his nose.
"Kitchen, hope you had a big lunch on campus", he whispered.
"Hey I heard that", Jenna spoke up from the kitchen. Elena and Alaric shared a knowing look before the two of them joined her. Alaric wrapping his arms around Jenna as she attempted to cut up carrots. "Hey Elena", Jenna greeted Elena.
"Hi Jenna", Elena replied. The two still had an awkward prescence that they just couldn't shake. Too much was done, too much was said this damage couldn't be undone.
"Congratulations on your recommendation".
"Thanks Jenna", Elena replied smiling politely at her.
"Ready", Jack spoke. He had appeared in the kitchen dressed in his favorite blue ninja turtles pants and Iron man t-shirt in his hand a small action figure he called star boy.
"Where's your jacket"? Elena asked. Jack pressed his hand on his forhead.
"Uh oh", he said. Before he took off running back to his room.
"Where you guys off to", Jenna asked.
"Just down the block for some ice cream, I promised him I would when he wrote he wrote his first story we would celebrate", Elena explained.
"Oh, well dinner is going to be done soon, don't get him too much". "If you don't mind", she quickly added in.
"Ok I won't", Elena agreed. She and Alaric once again shared an all knowing look.
Elena walked with her son hand in hand, she couldn't stop herself from smiling; every day was a blessing she knew. And never again would she take one for granted. After ice cream Elena stood waiting for Jack outside the men's bathroom. He insisted that he could no longer go to the womens bathroom with her, since he was now a published author. At first Elena was against it, thinking about it now she had no idea why she did allow him to go in the first place.
Jack stood unsure on what to do. He had used the bathroom but he could see the soap anywhere. Or the sink for that matter. The toilet flushed and a man walked out. He didn't notice Jack standing there at first.
"Where is the soap"? Jack asked. The man stopped and looked down at Jack who was now standing on his right. The man starred at Jack for a full 10 seconds before replying.
"Here how about I give you a boost", the man offered. Jack liked the black leather Jacket the man wore, it reminded him of the human torch. This was the key factor that helped Jack decide to trust this man. He allowed the man to pick him up to reach the sink.
"Little young to be going to a bathroom by yourself don't you think"? The man asked. Jack looked at the man through the mirror. Jack never saw eyes so blue before.
"I'm actually a published author".
"Oh really, excuse me"? The stranger retorted. The man lowered Jack back to the ground and handed him a paper towel. Then turned his attention back to the mirror he fixed his black hair.
"From what" Jack asked? Starring up at the man, with his big green eyes with flecks of gold. "What's you name"? Jack asked. The stanger looked around the bathroom again thinking. Jack took that as a sign to introduce himself. "Well I'm Jackson William Gilbert published author". The stranger smiled down at Jack. He stooped down to be at eye level with Jack.
"I'm Damon, Nice to meet you Jack".
"You two DeeDee", Jack replied. Giving Damon a nick name. Again the stanger taken back stood up, lets get you back to your mom before she worries".
"Oh yea, she does that alot". Damon laughed. A worried Elena stood waiting outside the men's bathroom. Her eyes focused in on Jack she didn't notice the man who had followed him out the bathroom. She quickly pulled Jack closer and scanned him to make sure everything was in check. A habbit she developed over the years, Jack was an adventurous child.
"Momma I'm fine", Jack said, his face growing slighly red.
"Jackson William Gilbert you are going to be the death of me", Elena said to the 4 year old. "Never again".
"Hi", his voice filled Elena's ears. Elena looked up to see two familiar blue eyes looking down at her.
Damon had refused to do anything until Elena was released from Stefan, he also wanted to be present. He followed Stefan and Klaus to Stefan's room where he found Elena. Her body frail and covered in bruises and cutes and bodily fluid. He gripped his stomach, fighting the urge to puke right then and there. He glared at Stefan , his eyes seeing red. It took all of him not to attack him right then and there. Quickly Damon pulled sheets over Elena to cover her. Stefan reluctantly walked over and released the chains that held Elena's hands. Once free they fell like rocks, Elena caught in a state between conscious and delirious unable to understand what was happening.
"Everything is going to be ok now". Damon spoke softly to her. Elena's eyes fluttered open sleepily. She was dehydrated and malnourished. She needed to get to a hospital quickly.
Once Elena was being looked at Damon let out a breath of relief. This felt right in his gut he had done the right thing. Enzo had found and brought Rick in. At first Rick hadn't even awknowledged Damon's prescence , Damon didn't really care. A few hours in Rick finally stepped out into the hallway, the two stared at each other. Enzo watched the two men, unsure of what he was seeing. Finally Rick gave Damon a curt nod, which Damon replied. Damon grabbed his leather Jacket looked back at Elena one last time. She was safe. He motioned the wet nurse to come forward. She handed baby Jack over to Rick. With everything thing in order Damon looked at Jack one last time before leaving. Enzo followed his friend silently.
4 years later.
Damon was driving through a small town, he pulled into a small dinner needing to answer one of natures calls. He came out of the bathroom and saw a little kid standing infront of the sink. On his tip toes trying to reach the faucet. At first Damon washes his hands, ignoring the kid.
"Where's the soap"? Stefan's voice fills his ears. Damon freezes. It's impossible, he looks down to see Stefan looking up at him. He swears his eyes are playing tricks on him.
"How about boost", Damon offered. He could see the subtle difference in his hair, it was never that curly or dark. This had to be Jack, standing right before him. Time seem to have rushed by so fast it was only last week he held him as a baby. But a long and painful week it was, he missed him so much he found himself chocking up. Damon picked Jack up and held him in place for him to wash his hands.
"little young to be going to the bathroom by yourself don't you think"? Damon asked. Watching the boy closely it was so strange to see him like this. Able to talk, and walk and wash his own hands.
"I'm a published author actually", Jack responded.
"Oh well excuse me", Damon replied. Fighting a smile on his face.
"From what"? Jack asked, oblivious. Damon didn't know how to respond. "What's your name"? Jack asked. As Damon retuned the small child to the ground. His green eyes fixed on Damon.
"Well I'm Jackson William Gilbert, published author". Damon couldn't help smile at this.
"I'm Damon". He introduced himself. "Nice to meet you Jack".
"Nice to meet you too Dee Dee", Jack Shook his hand. Well more like 3 fingers but Damon appreciated the effort. It had been so long since Stefan called him that, but at the same time this kid was so different. There was an innocence in his eyes.
"Let's get you back before your mother starts to worry", Damon finally spoke up.
"Oh yea she does that a lot", At this Damon laughed. Damon followed Jack out of the bathroom. He watched his nephew run into his mothers arms. She fussed over him checking him over asking if he was ok. She was a good mother he could just tell.
"Hi", He spoke. His voice cracked. He gave him self a mental smack of the head. Elena rose to her feet quickly, her eyes watching his. He couldn't read what she was thinking. Maybe she wanted to punch him he would understand. After everything that he had done to her. What he didn't expect was a hug. So when Elena wrapped her arms around him and squeezed he stood dumbfounded. Jack oined in on the hug as well not wanting to be left out.
"Oh my god Damon", Elena spoke breathlessly. The embrace ended and Damon longed for it not to be over. Before Elena was just a scared girl, Damon had never turlly noticed how brown her eyes truly were. She had grown into such a wonderful woman. He starred in awe.
"Hi, I just met this little guy in the bathroom", he explained.
"Jack this is your uncle", Elena told her son.