AN: Thank you all for the reviews despite the ending of the last chapter. I'll try my best to get these two crazy kids back together again but it be a sad-difficult journey; just stay with me guys! I'll end my AN here b/c I know you're all dying to read the next chapter that follows the sad one…so here we go!

Chapter 25:

EPOV

I walk around my old childhood home taking it all in – all the memories good and bad of this place came rushing back. I walked by my old high school and smiled to myself because I would see Caroline, Bonnie, Tyler, Matt and myself sitting on the grass having lunch together.

I've been home here in Mystic Falls for almost eight months now and in those eight months I began to feel sort of myself again then again but I did have my bad moments whenever I saw a baby or a pregnant woman.

I run my hand over my flat stomach because I should be holding a small little bundle in my arms and going through the motions as a first time mother but instead I'm alone and empty.

I sometimes wake up in the middle of night because I hear crying in the distance but only to discover it was my neighbor next doo; she recently had a baby and whenever I saw them together happy I die a little inside. The sound of the baby's cries always woke me up and I ended up having to put headphones on to tune the baby out.

I never told Aunt Jenna my real reason for returning home I simply told her I was getting in with the wrong crowd and left before I fell in too deep – which was half true. She asked me once how Damon was taking all of this and with my short answer of "not good" she left it alone until I was ready to tell her more.

Bonnie came to visit me a few times since I've been here and she would fill me in on everything happening back in New York. I always wanted to ask her how Damon was doing or what he was up too but not like she cares about him enough to know what's up with him. So we normally talked about school, how her grandma was doing, how I was doing with my therapy, Caroline's new life as a married woman, and many other little things.

Speaking of the lovely and crazy Caroline Forbes well now Salvatore; she's been busy living the married life which is why I haven't seen her in so long because the two of them got married so fast they didn't have time to do all the preparation like finding a place to live and filling out all the fun paper work. Recently they found a lovely condo in the city and were settling in.

Caroline was go to person to ask about Damon since she's his sister in law but I always held back because Caroline will tell me the whole truth and I wasn't ready to hear if he has moved on or sleeping around with random women again. Even though I don't blame him for moving on I did break his heart. I'm no better than Katherine his evil ex-wife.

I still love him and I think about him all the time. I want to get better for him, for us.

I wanted to call him so many times just to hear his voice and tell him how sorry I am and how much I love him but every time I see his name on my phone I always chicken out.

He's probably still angry at me - with good reason - but I wonder if he's over me completely. I want to give us another shot to show him I changed and I'm the girl he fell in love with. I know he won't take me back with open arms; it's going to be baby steps for sure whenever I do return back home. Despite the things he said of how he only went after me was for the sex I knew he was lying he was only saying things to hurt me back.

I met with Jenna at a cafe near her job after my session with Dr. Perez. I search for her but she spotted me first as she waved her hand to show me where she was. "Hey. I got you a hot chocolate." She passes me my hot beverage. "Thanks." We did the basic small talk including how my session went with my therapist.

"Dr. Perez said I should start telling my love ones the reason why I ran from New York. She says it should help with my healing process." I began with.

She places her hand on mine to reassure me that she got my back for whatever I was going to tell her. "Elena, honey I know you were getting mix with a bad crowd and-"

I shake my head to stop her, "that's not why I came home. There's more to why I came back." She withdraws her hand and waits for me to say my darkest secret.

I inhaled sharply preparing myself, "I left New York because I was pregnant with Damon's baby. I had a miscarriage."

She sat there with a blank face so I went on, "The pregnancy was a shock to us both since we only began dating officially but we loved each other…a lot. I truly believe that he's it for me, Jenna." I look down at my steamy hot chocolate trying to gain courage to say the rest of my sad story.

"After I lost the baby a part of me was lost too. Whenever I saw the pain in Damon's eyes that just pained me more than my own. I felt like I failed him by losing the baby. I began to push myself away from him by going out every night – making friends with these people who were sad and pathetic like me. I got into drinking the pain away and if that didn't help I smoked weed too and even tried ectasy once or twice I can't remember. I couldn't bare Damon touching me because one touch from him and I felt sick to my stomach because I felt not worthy of his touch." Jenna was still quiet so I kept going.

"Damon and I got into an argument because he wouldn't let me go hang out with my friends. He begged for me to stay but I went any way. What he doesn't know is that I didn't go out; I didn't go out to drink and get high, instead I walked all over the city thinking about everything and that's when it dawn on me that I needed help; an escape. So I ran it was at the time the only logical thing I was able to think of and thought if I came home I'll get better. I miss him Jenna and I hating knowing that I broke his heart."

Jenna sat there in silence for a few minutes but I needed her to speak. I want her to yell at me for never telling her I was pregnant and yell at me for being stupid for running away. Yell at me please.

"Elena...I don't know what to say."

"Say anything. I promise I can handle it." I beg of her.

"Okay. If you're waiting to hear me say I'm disappointed in your or yell at you; then you thought wrong. I am sad more than anything because you didn't come to me the moment you knew you were pregnant. Elena I'm your guardian and you're aunt – I feel like I failed you by not being there for you when you needed me most then I wonder if my sister was still here how would she handle all this. Knowing her she probably knew the moment she spoke to you over the phone that you were hiding something and make you tell her. You and I both know your mom was great and she know the right things to say to you. I'll try my best so here goes."

She pauses for a few seconds then says, "I'm sorry this happened to you and what you're going through but I see the time you'll been here that you're starting to look a bit like your old-self again. Now as for Damon – I'm not a big fan of you two being together because he's older and all the stories Ric told me but it happened. The only way to see if Damon will take you back if you go back to New York and face him. Tell him everything. Maybe he'll forgive you or maybe not but at least you'll try and if the answer is no then you can move on. Elena you must prepare yourself for whatever Damon may say or do."

I got out of my seat not caring of prying eyes and I cried in Jenna's arms. "I'm lost Jenna, so lost."

"Shh, its okay Elena a lot of people you're age go through this; sure you're is a little more complicated but its natural. Everyone in their early 20s goes through a rough patch. You're a strong young woman; you'll get through this and I'll be here always for whenever you need me; remember that."

She truly was the best aunt ever! "I hope you're right Jenna but right now all I know is that I love him, Jenna. I love him so much. I'm nothing without him."

DPOV

The months have been hell since Elena left me but here I am still living life. I sold my home because all I saw was a ghost of Elena and then it didn't help that I would stand by the door on drunken nights waiting for her to show up one day like some dog until I said enough was enough and stop waiting.

I had to face the facts she was never coming back. Even if she did come back what be the point of it? I wouldn't take her back. Would I? I have more pride than that. We were over and I was done with her. She was just another girl in my book. Some random girl I bed and that's it, nothing more. A girl that meant nothing to me.

This is what I kept telling myself to help heal my broken heart.

I was now living a block away from Stefan because during this tough time I need my brother. I spend almost every other day with him and Caroline, my new and crazy sister in law. They were happy and in love - God I hate them but regardless I was happy for my brother, for them. Caroline was a good fit for him; Stefan was always a tight ass and brooding all the time but Caroline being very out going and because of her wild personality it actually made Stefan fun!

Then on nights I wasn't with them I was off in bars, drinking and bringing home new conquest after conquest. So many women that I lost count. I think at one point I had four women at once; how that went down I have no idea because I was too drunk to even remember.

Caroline tried her best to not say a word about Elena to me. All I knew from walking in on a conversation Caroline had with Bonnie that Elena was in therapy and it seems to be working for her but that's all I knew and that's all I want to know about her.

She's getting help? Well that was dumb, why couldn't she just get help here? She had to go run away to find help? Pathetic. Do I care if she moved on and banging every guy in Mystic Falls? Nah, she can do whoever she likes. Go get knocked up by some other poor idiot. Then when I think about her being touch by someone else my blood starts to boiled because despite this broken heart of mine caused by her she is still mine and only mine.

Today was dinner at Stefan's place but they were running late so I let myself in since I had a copy of their key. Caroline hates that I use this key whenever I want but I don't care as long I don't walk in on them having sex, I'm good. Since I had time to kill I search for Stefan's poor excuse of a liquor collection and pour myself a glass of Jack Daniels.

I walked around their living room and it was coming together nicely. Little by little they were unpacking all their boxes and setting into their place it took them a while to find something they both loved.

I see Barbie convinced Stefan to buy this huge entertainment system because she needed to show off all cheerleading awards and such. I look at a picture of Caroline with her mom on graduation day and then the picture next to it was picture of Caroline, Bonnie and Elena on their graduation day.

Elena was smiling bright a smile that she used to give me not that long ago. This Elena despite losing her parents still was here smiling and looked so happy. Why did she break with the lost of the baby versus breaking after her parents' death?

The thought of this ended when I heard the front door open and I move away from the entertainment system and sit on their new leather sofa.

"Hey bro. What brings you here?" Stefan pats me on the back after he sets his keys on the table. "You said dinner was at 7." I replied.

"Oh right. Sorry just Caroline and I had - uh something." His voice got high pitch towards the end.

"Stefan I can tell when you're lying. Your voice got all high pitchy. So come on spill it; what's up?"

He exhales loudly and began with, "Ok Caroline had a doctor appointment and – "

"Let me guess, you finally had her check into a loony bin? I told you that woman's crazy." I jokily said.

His face is pretty serious and pale and my joker-self went away, "Stefan, what is it? Is Caroline sick? What's wrong? Are you okay?" He now had me very worry.

He shifts up and down on the heels of his feet and says, "Caroline's pregnant. We found out today." He goes into more details how they weren't even trying or thought about kids but it happened. And then he said how she was feeling sick and throwing up a lot so for curiosity she took a pregnancy test, "after she took the test she took two more just to make sure and each one came out positive. So today we had our appointment to see if it's really true and it is."

He sits next to me on the sofa and says, "She's telling her mom right now over the phone. I'm sorry if this news – "

I put my hand up to stop him right there, "Don't be sorry. You're gonna be a dad! Congrats little bro." I bring him in for a big hug.

"You're more qualified for this job than I ever was." I jokily said to him. "Damon that's not true." He stated but I brush him off. Caroline steps into the living room and I quickly get up to congratulate her too, "I'm really happy for you two."

"Hmm so much for waiting to tell everyone, huh honey?" Caroline says to her husband.

"Don't be mad at him I sort of forced him to tell me. You know Stefan isn't good at lying or keeping a secret – it's always been his downfall and that's why he's the good brother."

I feel my phone vibrate through my butt pocket and took it out to see who it was, "Oh crap, I gotta go. Something came up at work; I tell you these idiots can run things without me being there. Save me a plate for next time." I gave them each a final hug, "Congrats you guys, I'm really happy for you." And left their place fast.

In the elevator I was having a mild panic attack. I lied I had no emergency at work I had to get out of there. Pregnant! The word pregnant stabs me in the gut. It was hard to be happy for them but it's not their fault for what happened to me not once but twice. They should be happy about their news and not feel like they can't tell me. And I should be happy for them too; I'm gonna be an uncle.

I got out of their building and looked up at the dark sky and taking in a deep breath trying to relax. I didn't want to go home so I turn the other direction and went to the bar down the block instead. I sat at the bar and order a scotch and turn around to scan the area out for my next target. I saw a pretty girl with dark brown hair sitting there all alone.

I got up and went over to her and she looks at me as I make my way towards her, "Hi I'm Damon and I don't mean to be rude or too forward but my god you are beautiful." She blushes and tucks a hair behind her ear. Something Elena did. I shake the memory of the woman that broke my heart.

"Can I buy you a drink?" I ask.

"Sure Damon." She smiles up at me and I slide into the booth to join her.

She tells me her name is Abby and that she was suppose to meet some friends here but they bail on her last minute. She was decent and didn't bore me too much with her stories. After a few drinks I noticed her getting a little looser with me like touching my leg, working her way up to my inner thigh and kissing my neck.

I led her back to my place and she giggle as I kiss her neck, "You know I never do this. Go home with a man I just met." She confesses shyly.

"Always good to try new things." I said against her slender neck.

I run my hands through her dark brown hair; god I miss this dark brown hair. As of late the women I took home all had dark hair and brown eyes. It was the only taste that can satisfy me for these painful months.

I let go of her neck to fetch my keys as the elevator doors open, "wait until I –" I saw a ghost standing by my door.

Abby's laughter stops as she sees my pale face, "Damon, you okay? Who is that?"

"Someone from long time ago." I said.

"Hello Damon." Elena said.

AN: I know you all must be hating me right now with ending the chapter right here lol. Eight months have gone by since the night Elena left Damon and so much has happened between the two characters. Is Elena okay again and will Damon take her back? We shall see! Until next time readers!