12; Why Are You Running Away?

"No, you're not going to run away again, Ces." Damon stated.

"I'm not running away, Damon, I'm just leaving. But, only for a little bit. I will come back." Francesca promised.

"No, I'm not going to agree to this plan."

"Damon, just listen to me. I'll leave, Henry will follow me, then I'll throw him off track and come right back." She explained.

"At least stay until we find out if this ring is the real thing or not." He said to her, while holding the sterling silver claddagh ring that once was Francesca's wedding ring.

She sighed in frustration before saying,"I already told you, it's the real thing. That ring was my wedding ring."

"I'm not trying to call you a liar, all I'm saying is it's been a long time since you have seen it. So let's make sure what Katherine's saying is true before you go running off."

"There isn't time for all of that." She said, standing up from the bed and grabbing her bag to start packing. She knew it was only a matter of time before Henry found her.

"Ces, stop it! You're not going anywhere." He yelled at her as he pushed her bag off the bed.

"Damon, I have to go." She said slowly, trying to get him to understand.

"What else did she say?"

"What?" Francesca asked with a confused look as she grabbed her bag off of the floor.

"What else did Katherine say to you? It must have been bad if you're packing to leave, unless this was your plan all along."

She turned to look at him before asking,"What do you mean 'my plan'?"

"Oh, come on, this is typical, Ces. As soon as things get too real, you run. Stupid me for thinking it would be different this time." He said bitterly.

"It is different this time. I don't want to leave you."

"Then don't!" He yelled.

"I have to!" She yelled back.

"Why?"

She shrugged before saying,"What's the point in telling you? This is just 'typical' of me, right? This was my 'plan', right? If that's what you really believe then you must not have been listening to me the last few days. I told you, I love you and I want to be with you. But I guess my words don't mean anything to you."

"Not when your actions are running." He said bitterly.

"Maybe you'll believe me when I get back, because I am coming back to you, Damon." She promised as she threw her clothes in her bag.

"Don't." He scoffed

She turned to look at him, he was standing behind her with his arms crossed over his chest and looking very angry.

"Don't what?" She asked confused.

"Don't come back."

"What?" She asked shocked.

He took a step closer to her before saying,"If you walk out that door and leave me, don't you dare come back."

"But, Damon-"

"No, Ces, I can't do this anymore. I can't keep getting my hopes up thinking you're finally going to stay for good only to have you leave again. I won't do it anymore." He interrupted her.

"Damon, I have to do this." She whispered, pleading for him to understand.

"Do what you have to do and I'll do what I have to do." He said angrily.

She felt tears fill her eyes, when he laid the claddagh ring in her hand then looked into her eyes before whispering,"Goodbye, Ces."

He turned around and walked out of the room. He made his way downstairs and into the study, he suddenly needed a very strong drink.

Francesca sat down on the bed and covered her face with her hands as she cried. She really didn't want to leave, she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Damon. But she couldn't risk it, if she stayed Henry would show up and kill everyone she loved. She would never forgive herself if she let that happen. She had to leave.

Downstairs in the study, Damon stood in front of the fireplace and tried to ignore her cries that were coming from her room. He wanted nothing more than to run upstairs, wrap his arms around her and take everything back. But he couldn't do it, he had to be strong this time.

They were suppose to be a couple, they were suppose to fight together, but like always she would rather do things on her own then include him. He was tired of being left behind, broken hearted, so this time he was telling her goodbye for good.

He closed his eyes when he heard her walking down the stairs. She paused at the doorway, she could hear him inside the room and she wanted to walk in there and ask him for help. She knew he would help with Henry, she knew he would even die protecting her, but she couldn't let him do it. She had to do this on her own.

She sighed sadly as she walked to the front door and opened it. She turned to look at the doorway one last time, she secretly hoped he would come running to her and fight for her; fight for them, but she knew he was done with her now. She had lost him forever.

She wiped away a tear that fell on her cheek then walked out the door. She left the front door wide open as she walked to her car.

Damon set his glass full of dark liquor down then used his vampire speed to rush across the room to the huge floor to ceiling windows. He pushed back the dark-colored curtain and watched her as she opened the car door and sat down behind the wheel.

There was a huge part of him that wanted to rush outside and stop her from driving away, but instead he stood frozen in the same spot as she cranked the car and drove out of sight.

Damon was still standing in the same spot minutes later when Stefan and Elena showed up. They rushed over to him, wanting to know what was going on and where Francesca was.

As they fired off question after question, Damon remained silent. He was in no mood to talk to them or anyone at the moment, instead he grabbed his glass and left the room.

He slowly walked up the stairs and into his bedroom, then shut the door and leaned against it. Once when he was safely alone in his room, he slid down the door and began to quietly cry.

•••

Francesca parked her car beside Fell's Church then got out. She walked over to the Katherine, who was standing off to the side, deep in thought.

"I knew I would find you here." Francesca said, coming to a stop beside Katherine.

"What do you want, Franny?"

"You win." Francesca said sadly.

"What?"

"I said, you win. I broke Damon's heart and I'm leaving town. That's what you wanted, right?" Francesca said bitterly.

"Wow, I can't believe you actually listened to me. I thought you would fight me on it."

"I didn't have a choice. I'm not going to let Henry kill another man I love."

"Aw, how sweet." Katherine cooed sarcastically.

"I just want to make sure you'll hold up your end of the deal. I leave town and you'll keep your mouth shut, right? You won't tell Henry about Mystic Falls or Damon?" Francesca asked her.

"That was the deal. I won't say a word, my lips are sealed." She said pretending to zip her lips.

"Thanks." Francesca mumbled as she turned to walk away then turned back around. "Oh, one more thing."

"What?" Katherine asked, feeling annoyed.

"Where's Henry?"

"Why?"

"'Cause I'm going to kill him for good then I'm coming for you, Katherine." She flashed her a look, before adding forcefully,"So watch your back, bitch."

"You'll never find him, just like you'll never kill me." Katherine said with a smug smile.

"We'll see about that." Francesca said with a sweet smile as she turned and walked away. She didn't know how she would do it, but somehow she would stop them both and get her life back.

•••

A/N; Thank you for reading. Big thanks to xoxobianca13, David Fishwick and shippolove844 for reviewing the last chapter.

Happy reading!
xx