Chapter 14 Dress-Up

"Daddy, can I be a princess on my birthday?" asked a little Sophia, looking at Damon with those big brown eyes that reminded him of someone every time he looked in them.

"A princess? I thought you were one already Soph", replied a smiling Damon.

"I know daddy, I was just messing with you. Of course I am a Princess.", said a giggling Soph wrapping her arms around her daddy's neck.

Damon kissed her daughter's forehead and hugged her tightly. Ever since Elena had left, he had noticed how Sophia would always take an opportunity to hug him. She had stopped asking about her mother and barely even talk about her. He had promised himself that he would do everything in his power to make his kids never feel alone or neglected. He knew he shouldn't but he pampered them too much and couldn't find himself to say no to almost all they asked.

"So sweetie, I was thinking, you're going to need a Princess dress for that birthday party, right?"

"Yes!" squealed an over-excited Sophia in Damon's arms.

"Okay, alright Soph, no need to deafen your old dad," laughed Damon. "Well, how about I ask your aunt Caroline to take you shopping for that dress? I'm sure she'll be better help to you that I will".

"Yes! Auntie Caroline is so pretty! It could be a girls' day!" a clearly joyful Sophia said.

Damon smiled at his daughter, hiding the sadness he felt at his daughter's word. That was supposed to be Elena picking that dress with her and he knew all he had to do was ask call his wife. But he refused. He did not trust her not to run away again and though, he felt he was being a little harsh here, he preferred not having her around the kids until he was sure she would not leave…again.

At Caroline's place

"Hey Care. You want to hang out today?" asked Elena. She had been inside the house for four days now and Caroline had been out mostly every day. She was clearly avoiding her and Elena wanted to pop that bubble already.

"Hmm I'd love to but Damon called me earlier. It's an "emergency" as he said it", Caroline said vaguely. She felt weird, being caught between her best friend and that very best friend's husband who was also her boyfriend's brother. Not to mention how she adored those two little kids she had been helping Damon with for the past weeks.

"Emergency? What is it? Is anything wrong with my kids? Tell me Caroline!" Elena asked frantically.

"Nothing is wrong Elena. The kids are fine. It's nothing you need to worry about." Explained Caroline. She was feeling ill at ease and embarrassed at telling Elena that it was about helping Sophia picking a dress for her birthday. She did not want her friend to feel bad.

"What is it Caroline? You're acting all weird. What's going on?"

"Okay! Damon called asking me to help Sophia picking a dress for her birthday party!", said a clearly uneasy Caroline.

"Oh." Was all Elena said, clearly sad and disappointed?

"Elena, come on, don't be angry be with me! You didn't sincerely expect Damon would call you and ask you right?"

"No Caroline, you're right I shouldn't expect my husband to call me about my daughter's birthday. As you told me clearly last time, he specified I was NOT invited at my own daughter's birthday, right? And you didn't exactly defend me…Anyway, you should go."

Caroline could not believe what she was hearing. Was Elena actually blaming her for what was happening?

"Are you implying that it is MY fault now that you are not allowed to even go near your own kids? You walked out on your family. You contacted no one except Bonnie, who you knew HATED Damon! So you knew she would not try to convince you to come back! You were the one to make him doubt you Elena! So don't you dare blame me for what YOU have done.
Instead of sitting idly here around for days, why haven't you even tried to actually go and see YOUR family? What is it Elena? Have you forgotten even the way to go there?", shouted a clearly pissed off Caroline.

Elena felt ashamed for her previous behavior and looked down. "I…I am sorry Caroline. I shouldn't have said that to you. You took care of my family and I should be thanking you. Sorry."

"It's okay. We'll talk later. I need to go before Damon gets Sophia call me every 2 minutes", she laughed.

Elena watched her best friend go. She could not help but felt jealous of her best friend. She knew it was wrong; she was the one to walk out. She wanted to be the one hanging out with Sophia, to pick up the dress, to help Damon prepare that party. And her little boy. She so wanted to see her son. But William being so like his father would not even want to look at her by now.
Looking at a picture of her two kids on Caroline's fridge, she grabbed her back and took her car keys. She wanted to see her kids, she was going to help Sophia pick that dress whether Damon wanted it or not.