Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Bear with me. Please.
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Once when I was really little we went to visit Uncle John. He lived in a small town home with all sorts of scary things on the walls. That's what I remember about his house. There were scary things there. There were weapons and instruments of pain. He had collections of knives and collections of axes. Every space was taken up by them and they made me feel unsettled.
Sometimes in the middle of the night I'd wake up and he'd be watching me. He would put a finger to his lips and shake his head. It was a secret and I wasn't supposed to tell. Years later I would wonder if it was meant to be creepy. He never touched me. He never leered at me. He never said inappropriate things. All he did was watch.
He wasn't exactly an ideal uncle though. He didn't buy me gifts or ask me about my toys. He didn't tell stories about him and my dad. He didn't do anything but watch my mother cook for him and play chess with my dad. I was an afterthought usually but that was okay.
He lived by this really large meadow. It was always colorful and filled with trees on the edges. Sometimes I would find big rocks or large tree trunks in the meadow. I could play for hours out there, only returning home to eat meals. Mommy would tuck me into bed and promise I could play out there again in the morning.
I did remember this one time I stayed with Uncle John before my parents died. Daddy had to go on a business trip and Mommy went with him. Years later I would find out they were trying to adopt a little boy since Mommy couldn't have kids anymore. I always wondered how my life would have been different if they'd lived. Maybe I'd have a little brother now.
Anyway, I was staying with Uncle John...alone. He didn't seem to know what to do with me so I spent most of the day in the meadow. He didn't think about food much and I usually ate a sandwich I'd make when I got hungry. Uncle John was busy talking to some lady. She was really pretty but he'd never told me her name.
She brought me a doll but it was scary looking and I didn't like it. She looked at me appraisingly or at the time...too intensely for my liking. As a five year old I could read people incredibly well and I didn't really like her. She didn't like me and I didn't know why. I only knew she was really pretty.
That was one of the last times I'd ever seen Uncle John. He'd been at the funeral when they lowered my parents into the ground. I'd understood what death was and I knew they were never coming back but he didn't offer me any words of comfort. He said nothing to me that entire day. He just stood next to me and stared at the ground.
Later when I was in his car, he handed me my teddy bear. I held it to me and wondered if I'd sleep in the room I always had at the townhouse. Maybe we could change the color? I hadn't been listening then but I'd heard him explaining I would be staying with the Salvatore's, not him. I'd stared at him for a long time before I remembered something.
There had been a beautiful boy at a party who'd given me a cookie. He was the prettiest boy I'd ever seen! He'd held my hand softly and had whispered to me I would be his bride someday. I knew he was being silly at the time but now when I looked down at the beautiful ring he'd given me, I wondered if he really believed it then.
I hadn't seen John since he'd dropped me off at the Salvatore Manor. I hadn't watched him drive away but I had thought, 'at least I don't have to live in that house'. Moments later the prettiest boy in the world offered me another cookie. I was a goner from that moment on when it came to Damon Salvatore.
It was years later when I was preparing to go to college that I realized I'd never seen any money from Uncle John. Surely my parents had insurance, right? They also had a house and bank accounts. Peppe had looked into it for me and discovered just enough money left to send me to college. The rest had mysteriously vanished and there was really nothing I could do about it.
Peppe and Gia didn't realize I knew where the bulk of the money came from. They outfitted me with everything I needed and took care of all the bills, promising the money came from insurance money from my parents. I didn't have the heart to tell them I knew they were paying. I tried to make it up to them any time I could. They loved me like a daughter and I was so grateful.
I didn't need Uncle John and he'd made it perfectly clear he didn't want me. So why was he at our party and staring at my pregnant belly like it was a disease?
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"Uncle John?" I heard my voice say. It sounded strange but I couldn't figure out why. Damon was staring at the man surprised to see him. Klaus was looking at me before turning to look at the newcomer. His hand tightened on mine and I looked down out of concern. He looked scared and I'd never seen him look like that.
"Hello Elena," he repeated. Klaus closed his eyes tightly and I pulled him into my arms. He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed.
"What's wrong Klaus?" I asked softly as I rubbed his back. He looked up at me fearfully and I stared down at him.
"Make him leave Mommy," he said softly. "I don't like him." My eyes darted to Damon and I felt the anger rolling off of him. He was turning into a protective husband and daddy. He didn't like it when we felt uncomfortable. He wrapped his arms around us and glared at John.
"I came to speak to Elena and I'd prefer to do it alone," John said quietly.
"Absolutely not!" Damon stated. "Over my dead body."
"Damon..." I murmured. "Maybe I should speak to him." Why was he here? Why after all this time had he decided to show up? He hadn't cared about me for nearly 18 years but now he wanted to talk? It had to be important for him to come here when he knew he wouldn't be wanted.
"No, Elena," he replied. "I won't leave you alone with him when you clearly don't want to be."
"You take very good care of me," I said softly as I rubbed my fingers over his cheek. "I need to do this."
"Are you sure?" he asked softly. I nodded and he sighed. I was determined and he knew he couldn't stop me. He leaned down and scooped Klaus up. Klaus seemed incredibly upset and tried to grab me. I'd never seen him this scared and I leaned over to give him a kiss. He settled when I hugged him to me whispering I was okay. He seemed to calm down once I reassured him and I remembered Gia telling me something once. Kids could sense fear and maybe...just maybe he was reacting this way because I was so uncomfortable.
"It's okay honey. I'll be fine," I told him. "Now why don't you go show Daddy some of your presents?" He nodded and turned to Damon. He looked at me questioningly but when I nodded he turned hesitantly. He glanced back twice before disappearing into the crowd. I watched them for a second more before turning to face Uncle John.
"There's an empty room in the back," he offered. I nodded and followed him, rubbing my belly softly. The twins were wide awake and kicking up a storm. I sighed when I thought about that banana split and those sweet, sweet cherries. It seemed so long ago.
He led me back out of the party and towards a wooden door near the kitchens. He ushered me in and I sought out a dusty couch to rest. My feet hurt when I stood too long and I was incredibly tired.
"You look well Elena," he said softly.
"Thanks, I guess?" I replied. The twins were driving me crazy but I had to stay focused.
"Look I know you don't really like me but..." he began.
"You know, you're right," I said. "I don't like you but let's be honest. It's your fault." The anger thing was relatively new. Every so often when my pregnancy hormones decided to attack my common sense, anger seeped in for no apparent reason. Why the fuck was I even talking to him at all?
He started laughing a little and I narrowed my eyes. If I ripped his head off for laughing at me would anyone care? Did he even have friends? Had he ever had friends? In fact my mother had seemed to hate him so why did we even bother to visit him in the first place?
"Something amusing you?" I bit out. He stopped laughing.
"I'm sorry but you just look so much like your mother," he said. I digested the information slowly and couldn't quite understand it. My mom had been blonde and well I wasn't. She was pale-skinned while I was olive-skinned. I looked like my Dad...not my Mom.
"No one's ever told me that since she died," I murmured. "Is it a mannerism or something?"
"Not Miranda," he replied. "Isobel. You look like Isobel."
"Who is that?" I asked. Something about the name niggled at my brain but I couldn't understand why. Who was Isobel? Something bad settled in my chest and I grasped the couch cushion tightly.
"Your biological mother," he replied. The earth fell away from me as I tried to deny it. I tried to rationalize this feeling but somewhere deep inside I knew it could be true. I never had looked like Mom and she'd never told me about me being born. She always referred to it as they day they got me. The day...I came into their lives.
He was still talking and I'd missed the majority of what he was saying. At some point I realized he was going on about how I'd been an accident at the time and pretty much unwanted. They were young and somewhat in love but a baby?
"Grayson and Miranda always wanted a child and she couldn't have any so..." he continued. My eyes darted up to his and widened. Oh God! He was...they were...oh god!
"What?" I whispered. "No..." John was...my father? That's why I only vaguely resembled my dad. He was my uncle!
"Look it's been years and I...regret what happened. I want to be a part of your life if you'll let me," he said softly.
"Why?" I whispered. He moved closer and reached out to touch my shoulder. I recoiled and he hesitated. He kneeled down in front of me and looked up at me, sadness in his eyes. I couldn't bring myself to care.
"Isobel passed away three weeks ago and she told me the biggest regret of her life was not being a part of your life," he said sadly. "She heard you were pregnant and we knew you married Damon and...she wanted to see her grandchildren before she died."
"I'm supposed to care?" I asked my voice low in my throat. I sounded strange and I didn't like it. I felt strange like I'd never...like I wasn't...here. I unclenched my hands from the couch cushions and formed fists. I was fucking pissed.
"Elena?" he finally asked.
"She abandoned me," I replied. "You both did. Get away from me!"
"Elena, please," he cajoled. "I'm trying to fix this."
"Get the hell away from me! Where were you when I was five years old?" I yelled. "Where were you when Peppe and Gia helped pay for college? Where the hell were you when I had nightmares about the car crash?"
"Elena stop!" he pleaded. He looked distraught but I couldn't care less.
"No! You were too busy being a bachelor and probably whoring around! Get the fuck away from me and leave me alone!" I screamed.
"I'll try again when you aren't so... moody," he said softly. He walked towards the door and I stared at him seething. I don't quite know what possessed me but I watched my shoe whiz through the air and hit him in the back of the head. His head smacked forward but he just sighed loudly. "I hope you'll forgive me someday."
When the door clicked shut I seethed for two more minutes before collapsing onto the couch. I put my head in my hands and pulled my legs up as close as possible. I started sobbing as I wrapped my arms around myself. My entire life had been a lie! How could no one tell me? What else had they lied about?
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"Elena, sweetheart?" Damon called. I tried to wipe the tears from my eyes but I knew he'd know. I couldn't hide anything from Damon, ever. I stayed in the makeshift ball-form and just cried softly. For nearly 23 years I'd been Grayson and Miranda Gilbert's daughter. Now I was an unwanted accident.
"Elena?" He asked as the door opened. I didn't raise my head to look at him but I heard the soft gasp leave his lips. "What's wrong?" He slid on his knees until he was beside me. He wrapped his arms around me and I melted against him. Only Damon could make me feel this safe. "What happened baby? Did he hurt you?"
"Damon!" I sobbed. He wrapped his arms around me and just held me as I cried. I knew I was devastated but also the hormone thing was probably not helping. The twins were quiet and I was thankful. My arms were like steel bands around his neck and finally he stood up, lifting me in his arms until we could sit comfortably on the couch together.
"Please baby, tell me what happened," he begged. I knew I was scaring the shit out of him but I couldn't form the words. How do you tell your husband you were adopted because you were an unwanted mistake?
We sat quietly for a long time as he rocked me back and forth. It was soothing and I found myself drifting off. He rubbed my back softly as my eyes drifted shut. He knew I was hurting and immediately shifted into soothing, comforting husband. It was lovely and I wished I could appreciate it at this exact minute.
"Shh...go to sleep Elena. We can leave the party and go home," he whispered when my eyes fluttered shut. "Someone will come looking for us soon and we can leave." I felt his lips on my forehead and then...nothing...more.
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I woke up slowly to the sensation of warm hands moving over my skin. My eyes fluttered softly as I felt a warm mouth move over my sensitive breasts as he nudged himself into me. My hands gripped the sheets tightly as he thrust into me slowly. My eyes fluttered open as his tongue, hands, and body made me soar.
"Oh baby," he whispered softly when he felt my body clench around him like a fist. My eyes shot open as I clutched at him suddenly. My mouth opened in a soundless scream as waves of pleasure rocked through me. He stilled inside me as I came down before resuming his slow thrusting.
"Damon," I murmured as I felt the familiar tingles begin again. He kissed up my body, sliding up my neck and up to my nose. As his pace sped up he kissed me, holding my face still. I shuddered uncontrollably as he brought me over the edge again. I felt his warmth inside me and I sighed in satisfaction. I loved it when we did this.
"How are you feeling baby?" He asked softly as I kissed his neck. For a second I forgot what happened. Where were we anyway? I glanced around at the master suite in our new home. The only furniture in the room was the large bed we were currently laying in. There were no curtains on the windows and the moonlight streamed in over us, the only light in the room.
"I don't know," I replied honestly. I didn't know how I felt about this at all but I knew I felt safe here. I kissed Damon softly and he sighed contently. He moved off to the side, flopping down onto the pillows. He pulled me against him and I went willingly, loving the security and stability he gave me.
"What did John do?" he asked. "Please tell me."
"Damon he..." I started. I swallowed and blinked away gathering tears. I wouldn't cry, dammit. "He told me he was my father." I buried my head against his neck and nuzzled him softly. His familiar scent engulfed me and instantly I felt better. Maybe everything would be okay as long as I could stay here.
"What?" He asked loudly. His fingers dug into my skin until I tensed. "Sorry, sorry." His grip released a little and I rubbed his chest gratefully. "Elena, what happened?"
"He told me he was my father and my mother was some woman named Isobel," I began. "I was an unwanted mistake and they just gave me to my Mom and Dad."
"That bastard," Damon bit out. "How dare he tell you now?"
"Isobel died a few weeks ago and now he wants to play Daddy," I replied quietly. He ran his fingers through my hair softly and I blinked away another round of gathering tears. He soothed me quietly until I could resume talking.
"He said he regretted not being a part of my life but...but..."I croaked. "My parents lied to me!"
"Elena you were five years old. Maybe they were going to tell you when you were older," Damon offered.
"I got all their papers and I saw everything when I became 18. There was no indication they planned on telling me at all! They were going to lie to me forever!" I exclaimed. I sat up and removed myself from his embrace. He followed me quickly, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.
"They were your parents Elena. They loved you," he said softly. "You were their daughter and maybe they didn't want to tell you. Maybe Grayson was protecting John."
"I don't give a fuck about that man! He's not my father and I want nothing to do with him!" I argued.
"Maybe not but don't be mad at your parents," he said softly. "They loved you and they wanted you."
"Maybe...but I...DAMON!" I screeched. His arms tightened around me. "DAMON!"
"What? God what Elena!" He said as he moved to look at me. He took one look at my face before he saw my hands clenched over my stomach. "Oh God!"
"It hurts Damon! It hurts!" I cried as I was wracked with another pain. "Please Damon, stop the pain!" He froze as I stared at him, tears starting to leak down my cheeks. He suddenly snapped out of it and grabbed his cell phone. I heard him rambling into the phone before he told them the address. Seconds later he was holding me, pleading with me to stay with him, to focus on his voice. Could this day get any fucking worse?
"Baby, they're sending an ambulance," he said worriedly. He rocked me back and forth for a moment before scrambling for clothes. He threw on a shirt and pants before grabbing my robe and wrapping it around me. I was shuddering in intense pain and I glanced down at belly.
"DAMON! I'm bleeding!" I cried. "NO, NO, NO!"
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So I'm going to go hideā¦
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