Chapter 36: I Remember Everything, Damon
Elena awoke somewhere around noon. She was still tired from staying up that late, but she didn't mind. That night had definitely been worth it.
She stayed in bed for a little while longer, not bothering to move. Just as she turned to get off her bed, a vision engulfed her mind.
She and Damon were sitting on a small fishing boat, fishing rods in the water and he was hugging Elena from behind. She could feel, and see from his eyes that this place was special to Damon, even though she didn't know the reason why. Just as he leaned in to kiss her, one of the two fishing rods started shaking slightly, indicating that a fish was there. Damon groaned.
"Damn those fishes and their timing," he muttered, and Elena laughed softly.
"Easy, tiger," she whispered, pecking him on the lips before reaching for the fishing rod. She heard Damon chuckle as she started tugging at the rod slightly. He slid closer to her, his arms making their way around her waist again. He placed a kiss on her neck and she, startled, nearly dropped the fishing rod. Elena hit Damon's chest lightly.
"That's distracting, jerk."
Damon chuckled, lips still against her neck. She tried to suppress a shiver as his breath caressed her skin.
"But you love me."
Elena giggled as Damon pressed another kiss on her collarbone. She turned to him. As she pressed her lips to his, she confirmed, "I love you."
Elena returned to reality, distraught and confused. When were these things going to stop? She got up and padded over to the bathroom where she spend the next thirty minutes, washing up, clearing her head. After that, she went to have breakfast downstairs. She was very grateful when no one was there. She had just grabbed a bowl of cereal and was briefly wondering where everybody was when Damon stepped in, sipping from a blood bag, wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants. He stopped, surprised, when he noticed Elena in the room, and then a smile lit up his face.
"Hey," he said.
"Hi." Elena tried to smile, but it probably came out as more like a grimace as the visions were still worrying her. It didn't go unnoticed, of course.
"Is something wrong?" Damon asked, brows knitting together as he tossed the empty blood bag to the trash bin.
"No, nothing," Elena replied, looking away. A cold shudder ran up Damon's spine. Did she regret the last night? Did she wish it'd never happened? Had she lied? So many questions whirled in his mind, and he silently turned to go.
"Where are you going?" her voice stopped him.
"Hm?" Damon turned back around.
"No 'good morning'?" She seemed hurt.
"Good morning."
"What's wrong?"
"What makes you think something's wrong? Everything's perfectly fine." He could hear sarcasm in his own voice.
"I know you. Something's up."
"A lot on my mind."
"A penny for your thoughts?"
"You regret it, don't you?"
"What?" Elena's brows pulled together in confusion.
"Last night," Damon clarified. Elena's frown deepened.
"Why should I regret it?"
"It's all over your face. But it's okay, it always seemed too unrealistic."
Elena wordlessly got up and went to stand in front of Damon. She put a hand on his arm, looking him deep in the eyes.
"When are you gonna get over your insecurities? I don't regret it. It was my choice, my call to let you in. I meant every single word of what I said, and I'll never regret it." Her hands found his. "I'm just confused by these things I see - the ones I told you about. I saw it again, and-"
Suddenly Elena cried out, falling to her knees.
"Elena!"
Damon kneeled beside her, gathering her in his arms. She didn't seem to notice the movement at all. Tears trickled from her eyes as she cried out, "Hurts! Make it stop! Hurts!"
Damon winced, rocking back and forth, feeling helpless as ever. He had no idea how to help - he had no idea what was wrong. She was in pain, that was clear, but why? Damon just held her, stroking her arms, whispering, "It's gonna be okay, Elena. It's going to be okay." He seemed to be talking to himself as Elena was clutching her head in pure agony and shaking uncontrollably. Finally the shaking began to subside, and her sobs slowed down until there was only silence left.
"Elena?" Damon carefully asked, stroking her cheek. There was no answer. He shook her gently, worry clouding his mind.
"Elena?"
It was no use. Elena had passed out.
When Damon realized it, too, he started shaking. He pulled Elena up and carried her to his room, laying her on his bed. He sped downstairs, then, to fetch Elena a glass of water and returned as fast as possible. Elena was still passed out, sweat trickling from her forehead. Damon sat down beside her, taking a hold of her hand. A feeling of déjà-vu surged through him, and he didn't like it. For the first time in a long while, Damon was scared. Truly, utterly scared.
After what seemed like a horrible lifetime, Elena began to stir. Damon sat up.
"Elena?"
She slowly opened her eyes, blinking several times before focusing on his face.
"D-Damon?"
"Hey, it's me." He breathed a sigh of relief. "You're okay," he whispered. "You're okay."
He looked at Elena again.
"You scared me."
Elena sat up, falling deep in thought. Suddenly her gaze landed on Damon.
"T-Th-They... They were memories!"
"What?"
"The things I saw, felt. They weren't dreams, were they? They were memories! But how can that be...?"
Elena looked stricken.
"What are you saying?"
Elena looked at him again.
"I'm saying I remember everything, Damon."
A/N: So, as many of you guessed right from the beginning, the visions were memories! Be sure to drop a review, because if we get this to 260, I might just update earlier ;) ! Oh, and while you're waiting for the next chapter, why not take a look at my new one shot?
.net/s/7302825/1/You_Need_To_Let_Go I'd appreciate it :)!