Space Between Us

Author's note:

The characters does not belong to me only plot is mine.

Thanks to Scarlett 2112, Starlight So, Anna 4267, Orion Belts, Damon fan girl, Ladybugs 95, Blue Tulip 1995, Anne 1994, The Donner Party, Jade Salvatore and my guest reviewer. Thank you all for your reviews and thanks to my readers who follow or favourite this story.

Now to all my readers this chapter is second last chapter of this story, but don't worry Damon and Elena story is not over yet. I have decided to split this story in two parts. So enjoy your new chapter.

SPECIAL Thanks to Starlight So who beta this chapter.

Damon's P.O.V

My world stopped spinning the moment Elena stepped away from my sight. That day it felt like I lost her all over again. The pain is excruciating but I have no choice, I deserve every bit of sorrow that's directed towards me.

Stefan brought me back to mansion, but the Damon they knew was gone, what's left is a shell of a man that was once fulfilled by love, her love…

In this nebulous misery I had one ray of sunshine that I could hold on to, my child. Few days ago I received a sonogram image of our daughter with a message from Dr Joe that both my baby and Elena are now out of danger. They're both safe and healthy, and I pray that, they never be in distress especially because of me.

I just wished I was there with them. This place doesn't feel like home anymore, it's a lavish mansion but it can never be my home if my wife and baby are not here with me.

My train of thought was broken by a knock, I didn't bother to answer, as expect after a while the door opened revealing Caroline along with a food trolley.

''I am not hungry Care." I told her tiredly but she ignored me as she sat on the edge of bed while preparing my plate. ''Yeah I heard your message clearly that you send through Mr Paalo."

She handed me my dinner, her eyes glimmering with anger. "You do realize that you are only eating if Stefan or I force feed you?"

I rolled my eyes at her scolding me like some small child.

''I told you both that I will eat when I am hungry!" I reminded her in irritation. ''I don't need you two to baby sit me."

She smiled and ruffled my hair. ''Well you are acting like a small child so it's only fitting that we babysit you."

I shrugged her hand away and started eating my food to avoid this or any conversation with her .After finishing my dinner I put plate away in trolley. I thought she will leave but instead she called one of the staff to clear everything.

''So now that I am fed can you leave me." I told her gesturing towards door but she narrowed her eyes at me. ''You want me to leave you so you can wallow in your misery?"

I averted my eyes away from her but felt her hand grabbing mine. ''I know what you are going through Damon, I can understand your pain."

She sighed and stared at me. ''When Stefan and I were apart ,we both were miserable without each other."

She went quiet for a while before squeezing my hand. "That's why I can tell you for sure that Elena is also suffering from this separation as much as you are."

I know she and Stefan had gone through the same thing but I couldn't help but pin point how different our situation was. ''I want to hold on to hope Care but the damage I did is too sever. Elena is heartbroken and I don't know how I can fix everything without hurting her further more."

None of us spoke for a while, extending her hand she picked up the ultrasound picture from table. ''She will forgive you one day because the love you share is far bigger then any truth or lie and this baby is a living proof of that love."

She gave me picture back and tapped my hand. 'just give her some time Damon, once her anger subsides away she will able to understand rationally and then she will forgive you."

Her words brought little bit hope back. ''Thanks Care for being here, for loving Stef. If you can forgive him then maybe I can hold on to hope that Elena will forgive me someday too."

After all if I won't hope then it seems like I gave up and I promised Elena that I will always fight for her.

'' Damon your phone is ringing." I heard Caroline's voice and sure enough my phone was ringing that sat on table.

The moment I saw her name something inside me twisted, ''Its Elena." My voice was shaking like my hand.

I felt Caroline behind me touching my arm. ''Pick it up!" her voice held both excitement and hope that gave me courage to answer her call. ''Hello?"

I could hear her voice hitch on other side but not one word came so I tried again. ''Elena."

Saying her name brought out a gut wrenching sobs from other end, in that moment I didn't even needed words to understand her agony.

''Damon ask her where is she?" I heard Caroline's voice who I guess understood what is going on.

''Lena, baby where are you? Please tell me so I can come to you." I begged not even caring about the surrounding when I pleaded my wife just to hear her voice.

Slowly her cries dimmed and I could hear the shaking voice of my Angel. ''Home, can you come?"

I closed my eyes while my heart soar at these words. She is at our home and she wants me to come there.

''I will be there, just wait for me please."

It sounded desperate in my own ears, and I'm certain she felt it too, before the line went dead I heard her reply, ''I am waiting."

With that she hung up and I saw Caroline with tears in her eyes but she was beaming at me. ''Go, and don't worry I will inform Stefan. You just go and please be patient with her." I barely nodded as I rushed outside and went to my car.

My nerves were rocketing high but I tried to concentrate on driving. I don't know how but somehow I managed to reach our home without causing any trouble.

As I walked towards my destination, my emotions were messing my head but I remembered that hope and it gave me courage as I used my keys to open the door to my home.

The moment I went inside, it seems I never left, our small apartment still held same warmth that I never felt anywhere else in my entire life.

Everything reflected our love for each other all changes that Elena did in this place to make it more home, be it those small plants at windows or blue and green cushion she brought for our couch or various pictures in frames that scattered some on wall while other at shelves and table.

Every small knickknack and decorating piece in kitchen and living room reminds me how much we love our life, our simple home and it was destroyed because I wasn't man enough to tell her truth.

I looked around as I stepped closer to our bedroom.

With heavy sigh I opened door and saw my wife sobbing as she sat in middle of bed with her head hiding under her arms supported by knees, surrounded by our memories.

''Elena." At my voice she lifted her head and it felt someone ripped my heart out with bare hands, as I saw her bloodshot eyes, tears streaming down from those endless pool of brown, her face reflects pain as she whimper my name. ''Damonnn."

Hearing my name was enough for me as I carefully make my way toward bed and put picture books aside to gather her in my arms.

She went in my arms without any fight, clutching me tight to her as if I am her life line.

The way she was crying was worse than our first fight and I remember her words then. "Don't break my heart".

I felt wave of agony crashing over me as I remembered these words and I did exactly same thing, I've broken her heart.

''I am so sorry baby, I am sorry that I lied to you, that I broke your heart, I am sorry that I lied, I hurt you and our baby."

I felt her shaking her head against my chest as we cried in each other arms.

Finally she lifted her head to touch my face. ''I, I am so sorry, I didn't mean those words I said that day."

I shook my head, my heart broke at her words. "Don't apologize, specially not to me! I deserve all this and more." I told her, I won't let her apologies after everything she gone through because of my lies.

Her eyes were wide as she shake her head in anger. ''Stop it, how can you be okay with my inhuman behaviour, the things I said to you, how my family treated you because of me." She closed her eyes as her grip on me tightened. ''There is no reason to justify my behaviour. I should have listened to you but instead I choose to listen to my mind that was feeding my anger and my hatred."

I was speechless as I saw her agony. ''God Damon everything is so messed up, all I had been thinking how it was bet, our marriage was bet for you to boost in front of your friends."

She kept saying how these thoughts were feeding her anger but only one word makes me sick.

"You thought it was all some kind of bet or revenge for humiliating my friends?"I asked her aghast.

Her eyes tear up more as she nodded her head. ''Damon please tell me it's not true I want to hear your side of the story, I am going crazy coming up with worst scenarios about this whole lie."

The way she pleaded with me and sounded so desperate, it make me believe that she is coming up with worst conclusion on her own.

Taking deep breath I held her face to make her look at me. ''Elena, I will tell you everything but please first clear your head with all these rubbish about revenge or bet because that's certainly not true baby." I told her in determinant voice.

She stared at me long and I can see through her eyes the battle that was raging inside her. I touched our forehead and called out to her.

''Please hear me out first, shut those voices away that are stopping you from believing me."

At my voice her eyes flickered and I felt resolution set behind her eyes when she nodded her head.

Sighing in relief I began. ''It was just like any other day. I was at my home getting ready to meet for dinner with Michelson's when I got call from Elijah. He told me to come soon because Kol was creating scene."

Her eyes widen with understanding. ''So you were there? but how? I didn't saw you with them?"

I shook my head to clear her confusion. ''I arrived when Kol was flirting with you and you kicked him, I saw whole scene from far and trust me if you haven't kicked him then I would have. Seeing you changed something inside me. You stole my heart at first sight."

She blinked her eyes in wonder but didn't say anything so I continued. ''You know when manager told us he fired you we all were so angry but I felt as if I lost something precious without even getting it."

I smiled at that memory. " You know I prayed for first time in many years." I touched her face tenderly. ''I prayed for you baby, I prayed to have a chance with you and you know what happened? He heard my prayer and I saw you in that cafe sitting alone."

She contemplated all this quietly while a frown appeared on her face. ''So you lied because you heard things I said to Kol?"

I nodded my head. ''That was my reason at first and then I lied because I want to strengthen our bond first so that once truth came you love me enough to forgive me, I guess I was wrong on that part." I confess last words bitterly in shame and guilt.

''Why Jackson? She inquired and I smiled at her .''that's my middle name, given to me after my grandfather Jackson Salvatore."

Her eyes widen in surprise. ''Your middle name? So there was some truth in it." She asked mostly to herself then me. She closed her eyes for second before looking at me.

"Why didn't you tell me truth after…?" She didn't complete her sentence, she didn't have to.

I held my eyes down unable to meet her eyes. ''I tried confessing Lena, maybe not that much but I tried telling you truth few times but I.." I trailed off as I saw her distress look.

''When?" She asked hoarsely.

Taking deep breath I began telling her. ''First time before we made love, second time when we had our first fight and I came to meet you at your dorm."

She nodded her head in understanding. ''I remember, you tried to tell me but I stopped you both time."

I felt relief that she remembers each moment as me.

''After our first fight I got scared of losing you, truth is part of me was scared because deep down I knew your reaction."

She shake her head as if she want to deny. ''I understand Elena, you always wanted simple life, you valued love more than materialistic things and truth is the more I spend time with you the more I love and respect you for it."

I wiped her tears away that flows rapidly.

''The day you moved in I got call from Stefan, you have no idea how scared I got those days, you know how Steff is, I knew he won't encourage my lie, remember when I told you about my parents?"

She nodded her head. ''Well I missed one detail in that story, our family got destroyed because the more wealth my father gathered the more he lost his humanity."

I felt repulsed thinking about how much my past still affected me.

''I was scared how Stefan would react, I knew he won't approve of this lie so I asked my friends to help me, El and Rick were so angry but somehow they agreed after they saw how much we loved each other, how much that love change me for better but they were also as clueless as me to convince Stefan."

I stopped talking as I braced myself. ''As usual the second Steff found out he burst in anger, apparently same thing Stefan did with Caroline that resulted in break up for a while. I guess with our painful childhood and the pain he caused Care was enough to set him off."

I touched her swollen belly and felt my daughter as I said the next words. ''That day on thanksgiving Stefan and Caroline convinced me to confess everything. After feast I was about to tell you everything when you… I saw that box..."

I was unable to finished my sentence but she realized what stopped me as she wrapped her arms around me . ''Oh Damon!"

I held her tightly in my arms. ''I couldn't put yours or my baby's life in danger so I kept lying and so did everyoneelse who knew this secret."

I closed my eyes as I told her one last truth. ''We never wanted to hurt you baby, in fact we were waiting for baby to born safely. I would have confessed then in fact I almost did at our wedding rehearsal but then you fainted and I just couldn't..."

I was shaking with guilt when I felt her soft hands on my face and talked to me in soothing words. "It's okay, you can stop now, I understand everything now clearly."

''You understand? Can you forgive me?" I asked her with hope in my heart.

''Of course Damon, how can I not forgive you? You never wanted to hurt me in fact you were protecting me and our baby, if I was in your place I would have done same thing."

Each words that came from her mouth raised more hope in my heart and I couldn't help but take her lips for kiss to show her my gratitude.

I felt her lips moving against mine with same passion that was burning inside me.

After we broke apart for much needed air I laid kisses all over her face with promises. ''Thank you so much baby for forgiving me, from now on I promise I will never lie to you, I will do whatever you say and don't worry about anything, I brought our home from Ric, so if you want we can stay here or you can move in Mansion with me or we can live anywhere you want and I even brought that bakery for you so you can bake as much you want and I will take care of baby, I can work from home, I will take care of everything..."

I stopped my ramblings when I felt her stiffen in my arms. I stared at her and found more tears in her eyes as she disentangle herself away from my arms.

''Elena?" but she shake her head while crying, she caressed one of our pictures and somehow the way she touched our pictures scared me because it felt like she is touching them for one last time.

''These last few days made me realize what kind of person I am, I never acted like this before the way I acted when..."

She held our wedding picture and clutched it close to her heart. ''I don't ever wanted to be that person again."

I scoot closer to put my hand on her back. ''It's okay, I am not angry with you. We all were prepared for your reaction..."

I stopped when she flinched away from me as she stood up to face me. ''So its okay when I throw you out of my life! God Damon ! I was going to snatch our daughter from you! Tell me my words didn't ripped your heart that day?"

I wanted to deny but I just promised that I won't lie anymore, so I stayed quiet instead which she understood completely.

''You see! You never wanted to hurt me but I kept hurting you intentionally, its me who don't deserve to be in your life not other way around."

My eyes widen in horror at her words as I stood and step closer to her. ''What! Elena, baby please hear me out. Let's just leave this all in our past ,we can start a new life."

She stepped back in anguish. ''What life Damon? I am small town girl, you are rich tycoon, what life we can possibly have where we can be happy and won't hurt each other again?"

This was all going downhill. ''We can work things out..." but she shake her head. ''Don't you see the second I realize our perfect world was lie, I turned into this person who caused you so much hurt! I became worst kind of human being who trampled all over your heart."

She held her head down. ''As long I was happy everything was great but the minute everything got hard I couldn't handle it. I am a failure as wife Damon but I can't be failure as mother."

She stared at me with love but also something else that I am afraid to understand. ''We both are born in different world and we do bad if we tried to be in each other world. You lied to be part of my world and I hurt you when I found about your world."

She step closer until our forehead touched each other. ''There is vast space between us and I don't know how to cross it, so I will love you from distance and be happy that at least we both can be part of our daughter's life even if I can't be part of your life, you will always be part of mine."

I felt numbness, I wanted to scream at her and tell her that my whole life is her only but somehow words couldn't escape my mouth.

''I am so sorry for everything Damon, I will always love you and hope that you found happiness you deserve in your world."

She kissed me sweetly as I felt our tears mixing together. ''Good bye Damon, be happy for me please."

But happiness was gone forever as she left our room, our home , as she left me.

Author's note.

Hey everyone first of all don't hate me but this chapter has to happen before final chapter of first part of marriage built on lies. That's right the story is not over yet only one more chapter to end this part. I will reveal second part title in my next and last chapter so stay tuned, keep your fingers cross and please send me your reviews.