Huge thanks to ThroughMySoul44 for her help on this chapter!
2 Years Later
"I don't know," Elena said as she tapped her hand nervously. "I mean, I've been on my own for two years now. It was hard at first, but I think I'm doing a lot better."
"Are you really sure, Elena?"
"Yeah," Elena replied, her voice almost trembling. "I know that I still have a lot to work on, but everything is falling backinto place."
"I told you that it would be best if you don't go and visit Mr. Salvatore," The man took off his glasses, "Are you following my advice?"
"Mr. Mills," Elena spoke slowly and stood up, "You are my psychiatrist, and I appreciate your help, I really do. But as I told you before, if it weren't for Damon, I wouldn't be able to even pay for these sessions."
"I didn't mean to offend you, but I don't think…" He began.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Mills…"
"My name is Richard," The man insisted.
"I'm sorry, Richard…but I don't think you understand me."
"I do. And it's because I do and it's because I care about you more than just a patient that I am giving you this advice. You need a man in your life, Elena. A man who loves you and protects you and not someone who is in jail because he had kidnapped you. I know that you hate it when I mention Stockholm Syndrome but it is what it is, Elena."
"No," Elena shook her head in disbelief, "I'm done taking anti-depressants and coming to these visits. I know what I feel. It's been two years and I'm still in love with Damon as much as I was during that time."
"I'm sorry, Elena…but I think you are not making the right choices here. If you give me the chance…" Richard stood up and came forwards, touching Elena's face. Elena's eyes widened as she took a step away from him in shock.
"I want to be more than your psychiatrist…" He told her when he saw the confusion written on her face.
"No," Elena jerked away from him. "I belong to Damon."
"You need help, Elena…a lot of help."
"And I thought you were giving it to me," Elena said sadly. "I was wrong."
Elena left the office without even glancing back.
Damn, she missed him. Nothing had been the same ever since she found herself alone. Everybody she loved was in jail, including her brother and father. Isobel had tried to contact her many times but Elena never accepted her apologies or invitations. Soon, even her birth-mother stopped trying.
The first few weeks after the sentence, Elena fell into a deep depression. She barely ate and soon she was ordered to go to a psychiatrist at least for a few months. Richard Mills had been not only her psychiatrist, but also her advisor. Yet she soon started to realise that not even the doctor understood her.
She had gone to visit Damon in the first week he had been in that horrible place. He had grabbed her hand and whispered apologies to her as she had cried in front of him; telling him how lonely she felt. To make matters worse, she couldn't keep up with the payments at first, and she hated her old home badly. In the beginning, even Social Services disapproved of her living alone. Once she was finally by herself, she immediately agreed with everyone...she really did feel alone, even though she was about to turn eighteen. She was about to be an adult and she felt like a helpless child yearning for some company. Nothing about that place made her feel secure.
Flashback:
"How are you, Elena?" Damon asked her, gently stroking her hand.
Elena just replied to him with a silent tear streaming down hercheek beforesaying, "I miss you like crazy."
"I know, sweetheart, I miss you too," Damon told her as he kissed her palm.
"Are they treating you right?" Elena asked him tearfully.
Damon smiled. "Yes…they are."
"Good." Elena smiled back, wiping a tear away. "I'm working hard to keep my payments up. I have two jobs as a waitress."
"What?" Damon's eyes widened as he looked at the girl in front of him. "You're working? You are supposed to continue your studies."
"I know," Elena muttered. "But there was nothing I could do. The worst part of it all is that I hate the house I'm living in. I feel so insecure and lonely. Jeremy and Jeremy still have to serve 7 years...because of the fire and what they did in the organisation."
"Elena," Damon told her gently. "Leave. I own a lot of properties. There is one which is not toofar away from Mystic Falls. Go in the wardrobe of the main bedroom. There is a secret passage there which I used as a storage. You'll find a big luggage there and you'll find a lot of money to help you live comfortably. I know it's not decent money but it's all I could offer you. You shouldn't suffer for my mistakes. I want you to continue to study so that you'll become a great lawyer ordoctor…or anything your heart desires for that matter."
"Damon, I can't…" She told him, wide eyed.
"You can," He kissed her hand again. "Please, Elena…I'm begging you."
Elena threw on a black cardigan and a pair of kitten heels she had packed inside of her bag instead of her Converse, and headed into the car. She put some makeup and perfume on and drove all the way to Santa Monica's prison. She went through the usual check-ups and then she was finally able to get to Damon. Even after all that time, she still felt like she was meeting him for the first time when she visited.
He was waiting for her at their usual table, looking dead-tired yet handsome as usual. He even kissed her hand like he always did and then helped her to sit down.
"You look beautiful," He told her, causing her to blush. "And you look a lot better, too."
"Thank you." Elena played with her hair and Damon smiled. "You have grown so much, Elena. You've matured, and you've become strong."
"Thanks to you," Elena added, "I wouldn't have done this without your help…both emotionally and financially."
"Today marks my two years in here," Damon told her with a sigh. "Just another two years to go."
"Yes…" Elena said sadly. "I know."
"Hey," Damon grabbed her chin and tilted it up, gently. "Don't give me that look. They'll pass, you'll see."
"I know," Elena replied.
"When I'm out of here, I will make sure that you'll be given anything your heart desires."
"I just want you," Elena said. "I'm just scared that once you're out, you'll forget all about me…"
"Elena," Damon gasped, wide eyed, "What are you saying?"
"Look at me, Damon…It's been two years but still I'm not as strong as you."
"You should never say such things," Damon told her. "Never."
Elena looked down, but soon, Damon smiled at her and came to kneel in front of her. Elena looked at him in shock.
"What are you doing?"
Damon smiled at her and got a red box from his back-pocket. "I know that this wasn't the way it's supposed to happen…but Elena, will you marry me?"
Elena looked at him in shock, holding her hands to her mouth as she looked at the beautiful engagement ring Damon was holding. She nearly choked. It felt as though some good had finally come into her life. After all her fears of being alone, she felt irrevocably happy. She knew deep down that Damon was meant to be with her and here he was...promising to be hers forever.
"Yes! Of course I'll marry you!" Elena screamed as all the prisoners and their visitors cheered them on. Damon held Elena tight to his body and kissed her hard on her mouth. "I love you, Elena."
"I love you, too," She said through teary eyes. "More than you could ever imagine."
After that, things changed. Elena couldn't believe that she was going to be Damon's wife in the future. Sure, a lot of time had to pass, but she still couldn't believe that she was someone's fiancée. Whenever she looked down at the beautiful ring on her finger, her heart started to beat fast against her chest.
"Look," Elena said again the next time she went to see Damon, "What do you think about this wedding dress?"
"Technically, you should be the one to decide…" Damon teased.
"Argh, I just want your opinion."
"Elena," Damon held her hand tight. "I know that you are happy, and trust me, I am too. But there are still a lot of things to talk about. You know that we have to wait at least two years more to have our wedding day."
"I know," Elena sighed. "I just wish that you could just…get out of here."
"I do, too," Damon said sadly. "But it is what it is. Tell me, dear…how are your studies going?"
Elena smiled again. "Well…as you know, my course in writing is going great…I even started to write the first few pages of my book!"
"Really? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was going to show you the book when I finished writing the first chapter. It was supposed to be a surprise."
"Well, I love surprises…" Damon raised his eyebrows at her, and Elena smiled, until she looked at her wrist watch.
"Damon…" She began nervously.
"You're going to see Stefan and Tyler, aren't you?" He accused, and his eyes sunk.
"Damon…" She repeated.
"Why?" He asked curiously.
"I already told you. I feel that it's the right thing to do," Elena whispered.
"Even if they don't even bother to answer you when you talk to them?"
"That's their problem…not mine," Elena said as she kissed him on the lips.
"You're a saint…you know that?"
"Hardly," Elena smiled against his lips.
"I love you, Elena," He told her sincerely.
"I love you, too."
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