"In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins, not through strength but by perseverance." H Jackson Brown Jr.


"Damon, it's so good to see you. How are you getting along?" Brady asks when Damon steps through the hospital's double doors. Shaking Brady's hand, it dawns on him that he still feels a lingering sense of safety everytime he walks through them. That said, he also feels safe when he's with Elena. Even though he knows she wields the power to break him, he trusts her not to. His memories are still scattered and somewhat disconnected but he's hopeful that more will return. Although he's feeling cautiously optimistic about their future, he also knows that should the worse happen, she and Mellie would always be available to him.

"I'm actually pretty good, Brady. I'm here for my appointment with Dr. Mikaelson."

"And your little girl and Elena, I trust everything is good with them too?"

"Yes and no. Elena was in a car accident. I've never been so scared in my life, Brady, especially after what happened to me and all. Fortunately the worst she has to show for it is a broken leg."

"She's okay now though?"

"Yeah, thankfully other than complaints about her sore armpits, you know from the crutches, she's doing really well."

"That is good news, Damon."

"And Mellie... well, she's growing and changing right before my eyes," he says, his own drifting to something over Brady's shoulder.

"What is it?"

"I missed her whole first year of life, her first word, her first roll over, her first tooth. God, Brady, do you have any idea how that feels? I'll never get that back. Logically I know it's not my fault, I didn't ask for any of this but that doesn't change the fact that I did lose out on so much precious time with her."

"I can't even imagine, Damon but you can't feel guilty for something that was beyond your control. If you were a deadbeat dad, it would be different."

"I know... but I still feel guilty that Elena had to go through all of it by herself," he starts to say, pausing when he sees the clock above the reception desk. "It's time for my appointment, I'll catch you before I leave." Brady nods and watches as he disappears down the hall towards Elijah's office.


Looking up from his paperwork, Elijah gets up when he hears a rap on his door. Pulling it open, he steps aside to let him come in. "Have a seat, Damon," he says before sitting back down himself. "The last time I talked to you, things were a little unsettled between you and Elena. How are you doing with that?"

"We're getting along okay for now anyway. I mean, we really haven't had any time to ourselves yet to get to know each other again. She broke her leg in a car accident but she's okay otherwise. I moved into a little place about nine miles from Polson. I kept Mellie while Elena was in the hospital... it went well I think. I'm going to talk to Elena about maybe having a weekend with her after I get some kind of a bed for her."

"I'm glad Elena is on the mend. You say it went okay, having Mellie all to yourself, I mean?"

"Yeah, she's a good little girl. But you know, there's the two of us too, I mean me and Elena. I'd very much like to ask her if the three of us could have a weekend together sometime? But my girl has lots of friends and since she broke her leg, they've been coming every weekend so I haven't really been able to spend any time alone with her."

"Have you remembered anymore?"

"Um," he starts to say, his heart slamming against his chest as he thinks about that memory, "I remembered having sex with her..."

"I see, anything else?"

"We went fishing. Sometimes I don't know if they're real memories or if they're something that my imagination conjured up," he adds, a little frustration evident in his voice. "Um, Elena told me that the sex memory was real."

"How did you feel when you remembered?"

"It felt good, I mean, the memory, it was so vivid, it almost felt like I was reliving it. My body reacted," he says, glancing down at his groin for a moment. "I want to remember everything about us. But even without them, I'm pretty sure that I'm falling in love with her all over again.. what I'm feeling could mean no less. Still, I want to remember being in love with her before too."

"Give it time, Damon. It's not going to happen overnight. I know this isn't a very good segue but have you thought about finishing school, your future?"

"Actually yes, I'm looking into getting my GED. I found a test study book at one of the local book stores. I don't know if I draw good enough to do it as a career so I'm seriously considering becoming a park ranger. My dream job would be to work at Glacier or Yellowstone or one of those places."

"That is the best news, Damon."

"Thanks," Damon says. When their session is done, he shakes Elijah's hand. After making an appointment for next month, he goes to find Brady to say goodbye to him. Finding him outside with some of the residents, he doesn't want to interrupt so he waits till Brady sees him. After saying a few words to the others, he walks over to Damon. "I told you that I'd catch up with you before I left. How's your fiancé?"

"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about. I'd like to invite you to my wedding. She's due any day now so we're going to get married after that. It's going to be a small outdoor wedding at her parents ranch. It's near Missoula."

"I don't know what to say," Damon adds, a stunned look on his face.

"Well, will you come?"

"If you're sure you want me, yeah I'll come."

"Of course, I want you there and you can bring Elena too."

"I'll ask her. But I need to get going, I promised her that I'd watch Mellie for awhile this evening so she could go out with her friends."

"Why don't you go with them?"

"I don't know, I never thought about it but maybe I'll ask her. Thanks, Brady. Keep in touch," Damon adds, shaking his hand before walking away. When he gets in his car to drive back, he thinks about what Brady said.


Feeling good about things, Damon glances over at Elena. He never ceases to be amazed by her beauty. Once he pulls up to his place, he gets out of the car and runs around to her side to open the door. He invited her and Mellie to come over. They're going to study plus he promised her a home cooked meal. As soon as she swings her legs around, Damon hands the crutches to her. He quickly runs over and unlocks the front door. While she starts hobbling towards it, he pulls Mellie out of the back seat. With their daughter in his arms, he pulls open the screen door so she can get inside. She's only been here a couple of times when Jenna lived here. Looking around, she sees a framed 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' hanging above the fireplace. That's the same one that used to hang in his room at his parents house. Her eyes drift down to the mantle, he sees the pencil drawing of her and Mellie. She's sitting in Elena's lap, facing her mommy. Her hands are on either side of Elena's face, squeezing her cheeks together. Elena can't help but notice how happy she looks herself.

"That's really a nice picture, Damon."

"Thanks, I had a pretty nice subject to draw though," he teases, winking at her. "I do like to draw but I don't know if I want to make a career out of it. Would I enjoy it as much if it was a job? I don't know," he says softly, his voice trailing off for a moment. "And on that segue, I think I have an idea about what I want to do with my life, career wise anyway."

"What's that?"

"I want to be a national park ranger."

"That's great, Damon. You love the outdoors. But what will you have to do to become a ranger?"

"I need to go to college of course. I've been doing some research, I thought I'd go for a degree in forestry or wildlife management or maybe both. I guess it'll depend on if I pass my GED test."

"You'll pass," she says, making her way over to the sofa. She takes the cruches out, lays then against the back of the couch and sits down, putting her foot up on the end table.

"Da, da, da, down," Mellie says, squirming in his arms.

"Okay, baby," he laughs, putting her on the floor. Immediately she walks over to Elena, crawls onto the couch, finally plopping herself into Elena's arms.

"I've got some steaks marinating in the refrigerator. I'll just go to check on them," he says, pointing to the kitchen. After handing her the remote for the TV, he smiles at her then excuses himself to go to the kitchen to start supper. With his focus solely on getting the grill started, he doesn't notice that Elena is standing in the doorway. She watches him, admiring the way his muscular arms ripple when he lifts the bag of charcoal. Once he gets the fire started, he turns around, surprise turns to bliss when he sees her standing there.

"Did you hop?" he asks when he notices her absent crutches.

"Furniture crawling," she laughs, wobbling a little bit when Mellie steps between her legs. Laughing, Damon picks her up. "We have to be careful so mommy doesn't get another owie," he explains, kissing her fingers when she puts them on his lips. "Ma, ow ie?"

"Yes, if mommy tips over, she'll get another one." She looks at him and shakes her head back and forth. "That's right, we don't want mommy to get another one do we?" Elena can't help but smile when she shakes her head again, a serious look on her face.

"Why don't you bring her inside? I'll play puzzles with her while you work on our food. I'm hungry."

"Yes, mam," Damon agrees, offering Elena his arm so she can hop with her good leg back to the couch. "Do you want something to drink? I know we're underage but I have some Seagram's Escapes in the refrigerator. They're only like three percent alcohol but they're tasty."

"Sure, that sounds refreshing." After he gives her a bottle, he goes to put the meat and potato wedges on the grill. Once that's cooking, he sets the table, checks on their food and then opens a drink for himself. Plopping onto the floor beside Elena and their daughter, he hands her one of the baby Legos. When he smells something burning, he springs to his feet and runs outside. Fortunately he's able to save their supper. Rather than risk it again, he stays outside till the meat is done. As his eyes drift to the western sky, he's mesmerized by the pinks and oranges and yellow hues with a touch of blue left in the sky.

"I never realized that you loved the outdoors so much," Elena mentions, her back leaning against his front as they sit on the top of the mountain that they scaled. The sky is a beautiful blue color, the view from where they're sitting is outstanding.

"Yeah, Stefan is more of a computer guy, he's on it all the time. I'll admit, I enjoy it too but I'd much rather be out here, staring at the horizon with you in my arms."

"I rather like it myself," she whispers, shifting between his legs so she can plant a kiss to his lips. He moans as their lips mold and slide together. He can never get enough of her unique taste. Even though he's gone out with other girls, no one has ever turned his insides upside down and inside out with nothing more than a raised eyebrow.

"I love you," he pants when they separate.

"I love you too, Damon," she concurs, slamming her lips to his once more.

Jumping when he hears pounding on the screen door, he turns around, smiling when he sees Mellie standing there. "Eat, da," she says, her little fists pressed against the screen. "Okay, baby girl, it's time to eat," he says, plating up the meat and potatoes, he opens the door, realizing that in this moment, he feels completely happy and at peace.


"I hate math," Damon adds, dropping his chin to his chest in frustration. With her comfortably ensconced on the couch, Damon is sitting on the floor with the GED study guide. She has her own text books open on her lap. Mellie is already asleep in the little toddler bed that he and his mom found at a second hand store. He didn't want her to spend a lot because Mellie will grow out of it before long. They did buy a new mattress and bedding for it though. It's a crib mattress and the bed sits low to the ground so she won't hurt herself if she rolls off of it. Although she still sleeps in the crib at Zach's house, Elena has mentioned getting a bed too.

"Well, I hate biology," Elena teases, smiling at him. When their eyes meet, it takes his breath away. Completely enslaved to the depths of her brown eyes, his own dart back and forth from them to her mouth and back again. Suddenly he's seized with an overwhelming desire to kiss her. Feeling the change in the atmosphere herself, Elena leans forward at the same time Damon does. As their lips are about to touch, Mellie's screams ruin the moment. Sighing, he forces a smile and then gets up to get their daughter. Although he loves his little girl deeply, he wishes that she would've waited for just a few more seconds.


Before they realize it, the day arrives for Elena to get her cast off. Wanting to be with her, he picks her up to drive to the doctor's office. Rather than have Mellie get scared when they turn on the saw, they leave her with Mrs. Flowers for a couple of hours. When the cast is lifted off her leg, Elena frowns, sticking her tongue out at her hairy leg. Her skin is dry and beginning to peel off, new skin taking it's place. He laughs because he doesn't care what her leg looks like, he's just happy that she no longer has that cumbersome piece of plaster attached to her. After thanking the doctor, he decides to take her to Starbucks to get something to drink. Elena takes a chair while he gets in line to order for them. Hearing her phone, she answers it. "Hi mom."

"Happy Birthday, sweetheart."

"Thanks mom."

"Did you get the cast off?"

I did. It still itches though but the Dr. said that's normal."

"Has Damon remembered your birthday?"

"If he has, he hasn't said anything so I doubt it."

"I'm sorry, Elena."

"It's okay, mom. He's remembered quite a bit actually. It's a slow process."

"I hope so, sweetheart. Listen honey, someone is at the door. I'll see you this weekend."

"Okay, mom. I love you," Elena says, clicking off her phone. Looking up, she sees Damon walking towards her, drinks in hand. He hands one to her then sits down, taking a sip as he does.

"It's good. Thank you, Damon."

"You're welcome," he says, smiling at her. Sitting in comfortable silence, they finish their drinks then Damon drives her home. Once the car is parked, they get out. Rather than let her go into the house, he takes her hand in his and leads her over to Mrs. Flowers to pick up their little girl. As soon as Damon rings the doorbell, they hear her jubilant squeals. "Ma, leg," she says when Damon lifts her into his arms.

"Yes, mommy's leg is all better."

"Bet?"

"Yes, baby girl. Are you ready to go home?" Bobbing her head up and down, she starts squirming to get down.

"Thank you for watching her Mrs. Flowers. We really appreciate it."

"It's my pleasure, Elena. Bye, bye, Mellie. We'll see you next time," she says, waving at the little girl.

"Tell Mrs. Flowers goodbye," Damon tells her, letting her lean forward to give the older woman a kiss on the cheek. As soon as Damon puts her down, she takes each of their hands to lead them back to Zach's house. Opening the door, Elena is surprised that it's so quiet. When no one answers, she walks into the living room, her jaw dropping to the floor when all of her friends yell, "Happy Birthday." Seeing the big giddy grin on her face, Damon is grateful that Jenna happened to mention that her birthday was coming up. Although he feels a hint of melancholy that he hadn't remembered at least he was able to do something nice for her. With her enjoying all of her friends, Damon feels a little bit unsettled by the crowd of folks inside of Zach's house so he slips through the kitchen door to go outside. Walking down towards the dock, he breathes in the fresh air as he stares at the stillness of the water. Thinking he hears a noise, he turns around, smiling when he sees Elena approaching him.

"Hey, baby, what cha doing?"

"I love your uncle's place. His backyard is almost idyllic," Elena explains, kicking her feet back and forth in the water below.

"It is. I love it here myself... and I love you," he adds, waggling his brows. Sitting down beside her, he leans in to capture her lips in a quick kiss. When he pulls away, she gives him a devilish smirk and the next thing he knows, he's soaking wet, having been pushed in the water. Not one to let her get the last laugh, Damon pulls her in with him, dunking her under the it. As soon as he pulls her up, she starts lambasting him with colorful metaphors, interrupted when he latches onto her mouth once more in a bone melting kiss.

"What are you doing out here?" she asks, stepping beside him on the dock.

"I don't want to lie to you, Elena. I just needed a moment to myself, you know, the crowd and all."

"Do you want me to go back inside?"

"No, please don't. Did you push me in the water once, right here in this spot?" Damon nearly melts at the smile that lights up her face.

"Ah ha," she confirms, spontaneously jumping into his arms. Wrapping her legs around his waist, he wraps his arms under her pert little bottom. Holding her close, he kisses her, really kisses her, lips, tongue, moans and groans, the whole nine yards. His heart is hammering a chaotic cadence, his belly is erupting wild and his cock is hard, uncomfortably so. Wanting nothing more than to take her right here and now, he breaks the kiss when he hears someone call Elena's name. When he sets her down, his chest is heaving with desire. Looking into her eyes, already molten and brimming with lust, he shivers. When she winks at him, dropping her eyes to his bulge, she whispers that they're no longer alone. Turning his back to her for a moment, he rearranged his jeans before turning around with a smile just as Kol reaches them.

"Here you are! It's time for birthday cake. But judging by the looks of it, you were tasting something more yummy," he teases, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Stop it," she laughs, giving him a shove. "Are you going to come back inside, Damon?" Nodding, he extends his hand, letting her decide whether or not she wants to take it. Without hesitation, she does and with a huge smile on her gorgeous face. Feeling so happy in this moment, she feels her breath catch and her belly flutter excitedly. Although he hasn't remembered everything, she somehow knows it's only a matter of time.


After Damon kisses a sleeping Mellie goodnight, he tiptoes out of Elena's room, leaving the door ajar. Glancing at his watch, he goes to find Elena before he drives back to his place. Reaching the bottom stair at the same time that she comes in through the front door, he pauses, explaining that he put Mellie to bed. "I'm going to go home, Elena. Will you walk out with me?"

"Sure," she says, dropping her eyes for a moment. Taking her hand in his, they walk back outside, stopping when they reach his car. Without warning, Damon lifts her onto the hood before stepping between her spread legs. She stares at him intently, trying hard to decipher what's going on inside of his head. When the longing becomes unbearable, she brings his lips to hers. The warmth of his mouth ignites the already smoldering current that's burning hot between them. Elena moans as she loses herself in his hot breath and soft lips. Their kiss dives even deeper when she feels his hardness against her center. Unable to stop herself and not wanting to, she grinds against him. The embers smoldering between them soon ignite, a wildfire of flames begins to lap in her lower belly, intensifying with each grind of his bulging manhood against her core. Her survival instinct kicks in when the need for oxygen overtakes her desire. Dropping his forehead to hers, Damon sucks in a deep shuddering breath. Raising a finger, he steps away and opens the car door. Before she even has a moment to breathe, he's right where she wants him again. After stealing another quick kiss, he hands her a small box.

"Happy birthday, Elena."

Her mouth drops slightly agape before a smile forms. After carefully unwrapping it, she opens the black velveteen box. Inside is a Black Hills Gold ring with a single birth stone, Mellie's. "Damon, it's beautiful," she says softly, sliding it onto her right ring finger. "My mom helped me pick it out. She likes Black Hills Gold a lot." When their eyes meet again, he swallows thickly. Before he can stop himself, he drops his mouth to her ear, whispering, "I wanted it to be big enough to add more stones someday..." Without saying a word, she throws her arms around his neck kissing him again like it's their last night on earth.


Yawning when he steps inside his dark house, Damon flips the switch, illuminating the small space. Once he has the place locked up again, he goes straight to his room. Stripping out of his clothes, he walks into the bathroom to take a shower. Pressing his palms flat against the shower wall, he lets the water pummel his skin into submission. As soon as his hair is wet, he pours some shampoo on his hand and lathers up his hair. When his mind drifts back to Elena, he hardens immediately. Needing a release, he wraps his sudsy hand around his length and begins to stroke and squeeze till he's panting and groaning. Running his finger along the slit, he can already feel he pre cum beginning to bead at the tip. The more his mind focuses on her and how desperately he wants to bury himself inside of her again, he feels his balls tighten up. With one a few more firm strokes, he erupts. His knees weaken as ropes of ejaculate splatter against the shower wall. Nearly collapsing in ecstasy, his body jerks and shudders. As soon as he gets his land legs back, he washes himself then steps out. After cinching a towel around his waist, he goes straight to bed, falling asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. Although his body is in slumber, his mind fills with image after image as if a movie reel is playing on repeat in his head.

Having overslept, Damon runs into the school building. Rounding the corner, he runs smack dab into a someone sending them both sprawling to the floor. "I'm so sorry," he blurts out. Jumping to his feet, he offers her a hand. Helping her to her feet, he blurts out, "Are you okay?" It's then he realizes who it is that he knocked over.

"Yeah, I'm fine." After staring at her for a couple of seconds, he stoops over to pick up her books, adding, "You're in school already? The last time I saw you, you had braces and pigtails."

"We all have to grow up sometimes, Damon," she retorts, raising an eyebrow out him. Almost speechless he darts around her and hurries off to class.

Rolling over in bed, he buries his face in his pillow, soon his breathing evens out but his eyes flutter wildly under the safety of his eyelids.

"Elena?"

"Oh, it's you!?"

"I know you're who you are and I'm who I am but I'd really like to take you to the decade dance."

"You want me to go to the dance with you? Ha," she laughs, turning away from him.

"I'm not joking, Elena. I honestly want to go with you."

Restless, he turns again, his body twisting in the sheets.

"It's beautiful here. Thank you for bringing me," she says, smiling shyly as she lays on her back in the wildflower carpeted grass of the meadow. Laying beside her, also on his back, Damon turns his head to meet her eyes. With a smile on his face, he laces his fingers with hers, lifting her hand to kiss it.

"I love you so much."

"And I love you, my sweet.. Elena."

With his head a mess and too exhausted to even think, he rolls onto his belly and pulls the pillow over his head. It takes mere moments for him to drift into a restless sleep again.

The next scene that plays is them sitting in a diner having soda and burgers. "You don't like pickles, What's wrong with you?" he teases, taking it from her plate and popping it into his mouth.

Confused, he lurches upright in bed. His head is pounding like a kettle drum in a homecoming parade. Taking a swallow of water, he drops his head into his hands and closes his eyes.

"No matter the age, most women are a little scared when they come to see me." He takes the time to ask her a whole slew of questions, among them when her last period was. Damon nervously taps his foot against the linoleum, stopping only when the doctor raises an eyebrow at him. "Lay down," he says to Elena. Damon stands up to help her, taking her hand in his as the man spreads the gel on her belly. Using the wand, he rubs it around till a picture appears. The screen bursts to life and there it is, their baby squirming around, its thumb in its mouth. And wonders never cease, immediately Damon is completely in love with their child.

Barely able to breathe, he flies out of bed and starts to pace back and forth. Although he doesn't know if they're real or imagined, he grabs his phone. When he hears her barely coherent voice, a stunned Damon whispers, "I remember."


Huge thanks to my sister, Eva. I love you dearly.

Huge, huge, thanks to all of you. I really would not be here without you. Thank you for embracing this version of Delena. They're so young. They had so much thrown at them and still they persevere.

Chapter Title: 'Unity' by Shinedown.

Please check out my other stories. TTBTR updated Thursday. With this and PR winding down, I posted the first chapter of "Edge of Thorns". It will be dark and painful at times but remember this, "And why do we fall Bruce?... So we can learn to pick ourselves up."

Black Hills Gold is a type of jewelry that is manufactured in South Dakota's Black Hills. It was first created in the 1870's during the gold rush by a French goldsmith named Henri LeBeau, who is said to have dreamed about the design after passing out from thirst and starvation. Black Hills gold jewelry depicts leaves, grape clusters and vines. In order for it to be labeled Black Hills Gold, it must be manufactured in the Black Hills.

Please click the review button. I hope you all have a safe and wonderful weekend. We'll see you next week for updates on everything.