Author's Note; I own nothing TVD or Covenant related.
The last chapter and the next few were the hardest ones to write, but I'm hoping they'll be easy to read.
Please read and review.
Chapter 37.
It been two weeks since any one had seen or heard from Verity. She had hidden away in the house with Grace and had all her shopping delivered so she didn't have to leave. A part of her was worried that if she left the hose, even for an hour, Stefan would come back and see was gone and then leave again.
In those two weeks, Verity had put on a brave face for her daughter, but cried herself to sleep every night. She made sure the house was kept clean, did her schoolwork well enough to finish high school and made sure Grace was fed and clean and happy. Verity was taking better care of the baby and the house than she was of herself; she was looking thin and gaunt, her skin was pale and her hair was limp and thin. None of her clothes fit her anymore, they simply hung off her too-thin frame.
Verity would tick off each day on the calendar, as if counting down to the days her husband would return. Since that one phone call, she hadn't had any further contact with him. Ann had left messages for her, crying that Kol was still gone. Pogue would text her every day saying he was here if she needed him, Lena had become distant in the absence of her brother and Caroline seemed to have followed in her brother and Kol's footsteps and left too. Verity had never felt so lost, bewildered, hurt or alone.
The doorbell chimed, bringing Verity out of her trance. Walking slowly to it as if her body were burdened and heavy, she eventually looked through the peep hole and saw her mother standing at the door, her hand raised and about to ring the bell again. Not wanting Grace to be woken from her nap, Verity opened the door. She couldn't find any words to say, so she simply looked at her mother in silence.
"Verity." Her mother said sternly, walking in to the house without an invite. Verity closed the door silently and followed her mother in to the kitchen. Katherine had begun to make coffee for herself and her daughter.
"You look thin. And tired." Katherine folded her arms and watched as her daughter sat down at the small table and nodded.
"This isn't health you know. Four you or for Grace. You need to stop mourning your failed marriage and pick yourself up."
"You think my marriage has failed?" Verity managed to say, her voice emotionless.
"Yes I do. You married far too young, adopted a child you should never have adopted and rushed in to a life too mature for your years. Of course it failed; he left you. And now you're here alone to pick up the pieces."
"How do you know he left? He could come back."
"From what your friend tells me, he left with his friend and sister and he won't be back. He hasn't contacted you at all or made any effort to return. He's gone Verity. You should dust yourself off and go to college. Give up waiting for him." Katherine insisted.
"And what about Grace?"
"You take her with you. She's your responsibility and she deserves better so stop feeling sorry for yourself."
"You talked to my friends?"
"Ann called, she's fallen apart and needs her friend. Pogue turned up insisting I talk some sense in to you."
"Some sense?"
"Yes, some sense! You need to stop wallowing."
"You think I'm wallowing? My husband has vanished! I don't know where he is, if he's safe or even if he's alive! I can't pick up my life and move on! I'm not as heartless as you are!" Verity shouted, her voice now full of anger and rage towards her mother for barging in and toward Stefan for leaving her alone.
"I am not heartless!"
"Yes you are! When you found out dad had an affair and had another daughter, you were cold. You didn't even tell me about it until much later!"
"And now I have two daughters! You have no idea what it's like living with my husband's mistake. Your husband left, you have no mistakes of his live with."
"I think you should go." Verity said, her voice icy as she stood up.
"Verity I-"
"GO!" She shouted, picking up an empty mug from the table and throwing it as hard as she could against the wall near her mother. Katherine jumped and gave her daughter and shocked look, she picked up her back and left as fast as she could.
Breathing quickly, Verity tried to calm herself down. She held her breath to hear if Grace had woken, but the house remained silent. She picked up the dustpan and brush from the cupboard and began to clean up the mess she had made. Once that was done, she began to clean, peel and chop a variety of vegetables, boiling them up and making a large pan of vegetable broth. Something she hadn't done in a long time. She also made a cheese sandwich and ate it hungrily. It had been two weeks since she last ate anything more than a few biscuits or crackers. Her hunger took over and she made and ate another. The kettle had boiled so she made herself a cup of herbal tea, went in to the living room and sat down and turned on the TV, a daytime movie was showing about a woman whose husband had left and had gone on holiday to Tuscany and had fallen in love with an old and nearly dilapidated house. Verity smiled and laughed a little as she watched the woman battle to make the house suitable for living in and along the way fell in love with a charming Italian gentleman.
The film was over and she heard Grace begin to cry out, Verity raced up the stairs and in to her room and gave her first real smile to her daughter.
"Hey beautiful girl! Are you ready for a nappy change and some supper?" Verity smiled, holding her daughter. She sand sang and made faces while she changed Grace and chatted to her as she took her downstairs and placed her in the high chair by the kitchen table. Verity poured a bowl of broth out and mashed up the soft vegetables in to a puree and began to feed Grace, who appeared to be enjoying having her mummy back to normal.
Verity giggled and gurgled along with Grace as they ate, played with rubber ducks while she bathed Grace and then told her a story until she slept. Verity made her way downstairs and suddenly stopped at the doorway to the living room. Was this her life now? A single mother? Her own mothers words about having to live with her husband's mistake echoed in her memory. Would she be Stefan's mistake for the rest of her life?
She often wondered where her husband was, hoping he was just supporting his friend. But right at that moment she wondered who he was with; surely he wouldn't have left and be feeling the same hurt emotions she had been feeling? If he was, then he would have come home by now, right?
Maybe her mother was right maybe she had gone in to this to young, maybe that was the reason he had left; she was just a child to him. Stefan had lived, seen the world, experienced so much and she was just a kid. She was a kid who now had a kid. She went to the kitchen and took her phone down from on top of the fridge and scrolled through her messages and listened to her voice messages. It seemed that Ann had now pulled herself together and wasn't calling and leaving tearful messages, but leaving messages of support for her friend. Damon and Jazi had both left messages stating that If she didn't leave the house they were going to drag her out, Alice had left a few messages asking if she needed anything. But most of the messages were from Ann.
Verity pressed the re-dial button to call her friend, hoping she wouldn't pick up.
"Verity! Oh my God! I've been so worried about you!" Ann chirped down the phone, causing Verity to wince a little.
"I got your messages." She simply said, hoping Ann would take over the conversation. She wasn't disappointed.
"Good! I've been worried, I've managed to get out the house and get back to a little normality.
"That's great."
"I was hoping to come visit you! Are you free tomorrow?"
"I have an appointment tomorrow, I was wondering if you could maybe babysit?" Verity lied.
"Sure thing! What's the appointment for?"
"Ummm, it's my sister really. Can you have Grace for a few hours?"
"I'd love to! Shall I come to you? Or shall I have her here? I made myself busy and since I inherited the house, I've gone nuts and redecorated the entire place!"
"You did? That's great."
"Of course! Which is why I've been hoping you'd bring Grace to visit!"
"I'll swing by tomorrow about eleven and drop her off. I don't know what time I'll be picking her up yet though. But you'll be okay though, right?"
"Sure we'll be okay! We'll have so much fun together! And she could stay over sometime too, I have a cot she can use." Ann shrilled excitedly.
"Sounds amazing Ann, thanks. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay sweetheart. Bye!"
"Bye." Verity hung up the phone and sighed. If she was going to be her husband's mistake, she might as well have fun at the same time.
Getting Grace ready and packing a bag of overnight things for her daughter, she text her sister.
Alice, you want to come over to the house for a girl's night? We could go out for some cocktails and come back here with pizza and a chick flick? Ver, xx
Verity had been welcoming to Alice, but hadn't spent much time with her, she had planned to but then Stefan had left and all her plans had been put on hold. Almost immediately, her phone beeped with a reply; VER! I'd love to! Pick me up ASAP? I have a new outfit I've been dying to wear! Al xx
Verity smiled, she was glad at least one member of her family seemed forgiving about her total absence lately. She quickly typed her reply and told Alice to be waiting at the door in twenty minutes, she slid on a pair of white cotton shorts and black lace vest and slipped on some heels. She brushed her hair and put it up in a messy top knot and slicked on some lip gloss and sprayed herself with some perfume, Grace squealed in delight and clapped her small chubby hands, Verity gave a small smile. "It's time this hot momma got out the house. And it's time to deposit you with someone who actually has managed to pull her life together. Let's go kiddo." She said half-heartedly, as she scooped up the young toddler and her bag and made her way to the car.
She strapped Grace in to her seat and drove out to Ann's place, which was on the way to her parents place.
She grabbed Grace's bag and scooped her out of her car seat and carried her to the door, ringing the bell. Ann answered immediately, eager and happy to see the pair that stood on her doorstep.
"There she is! The most beautiful baby girl in the whole world!" Ann gushed as she took Grace form her mother's arms. Verity rolled her eyes a little as Ann went ga-ga over the little one in her arms.
"Well, you should find everything she needs in her bag. I'll pick her up sometime tomorrow. You guys have fun." Verity said half-heartedly as she dropped the bag inside the door.
"We will, wont we baby girl? No need to rush, I'll take good care of her." Ann smiled as she bounced Grace on her hip, the youngster laughing loudly.
"Right, See you." She gave a small wave and made her way back to her car, leaving her friend concerned.
Verity had picked up Alice, who was looking smoking hot in a deep purple mini dress and silver heeled shoes and drove them to Nicky's bar. She pulled up and followed her sister in to the bar. Alive smiled brightly waving as almost every one they walked past said their hello's.
A lot of people also whispered at Verity's appearance in the bar, people were shocked to see her since they had heard Stefan and his friend had skipped town. No one knew why they had left, and no one had seen Verity around town either, if it weren't for Alice telling everyone she could that her sister was still in Mystic Falls, they would have thought she had left too.
"Can I get two Tequila and orange juice's please Nicky?" Alice smiled sweetly, the middle aged man smiled back.
"Coming right up. Verity? Good to see you girl, it's been too long." Nicky smiled warmly, Verity could only give a weak smile in return. She felt emotionless.
"It has." She answered.
Alice pulled out her purse and Nicky placed their drinks in front of them.
"On the house ladies, good to see you both." Nicky said, before moving on to another customer.
Verity and Alice sipped their drinks, looking around at who was there; all the regular faces that used to make a regular appearance when this was Verity's place to let her hair down.
The sisters were on their second round when non-other than Tyler Simms walked right up to them with a big smile on his face.
"Hey Verity! God to see you again! It's been far too long!" He smiled as he placed a quick kiss on her cheek.
"Tyler Simms, haven't you grown." Verity observed. He smiled and turned to Alice.
"Hey there Fire Cracker, you want to dance?" He smiled, stroking Alice's arm.
"Of course I do Blue Eyes, is that okay Ver?" She gave her older sister a sincere smile. Verity nodded.
"You go ahead. I'm going to stick around for a few and then get home. Will you be okay for a lift?" She asked.
"I'll make sure she gets home Ver, I promise." Tyler answered her question.
Verity gave them both a pensive look before answering.
"Okay then. Just be sure she does okay? Alice text me when you're home." She ordered.
"I will. Love you sis." Alice gave Verity a brief hug, Verity slightly tensed.
"You too Al."
Verity watched while Alice and Tyler danced. She could see Pogue looking over at her, he was making his way slowly through the crowd. Verity ducked and made her way to the back door near the ladies room and slipped out. She got in her car, bucked up and drove home in silence. She couldn't seem to feel anything, it was as if she was numb.
Verity didn't pick Grace up from Ann's the night she got home from Nicky's. She didn't pick her up the next night either. It had been four days since Verity had seen her daughter, and when she went to collect her, Ann was not at all happy to give Verity custody of her own daughter.
"She's my daughter Ann! I'm her mother." Verity pleaded, wanting nothing more than to see her baby girl.
"Then start acting like it Verity!" Ann hissed. "If social services knew you'd left her with me, they'd have a fit and you know it! You've Pretty much abandoned your baby Verity, they'd take her away if they knew. And Stefan isn't here to compel them to allow her to stay."
"What? How dare you! Stefan's ability had nothing to do with it Ann and you know it! your baby Verity, they'd take her away if they knew. And Stefan isn't here to compel them to allow her to stay."
"What? How dare you! Stefan's ability had nothing to do with it Ann and you know it! You're just jealous that she isn't yours! Now give me my daughter!" Verity spoke through gritted teeth.
"No. Go home Verity, and pull yourself together." With that, Ann slammed the door in Verity's face, leaving her feeling lost and defeated. Verity didn't allow herself to cry, she simply walked to her car and got in and drove herself home.
It wasn't until she got through the front door and locked it behind her did she finally succumb to her emotions and cry with the overly large burden of grief that pressed down on her, sobbing and shaking so much she felt nauseous, she run up to the bathroom in her marital bedroom and vomited until there was nothing left.
Verity sat on the floor feeling empty and unloved. She had done to her daughter what her husband had done to her; she had abandoned Grace.
Getting up off the bathroom floor, Verity shakily walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out her old school bag where she had been hiding an expensive and aged bottle of Stefan's favourite brand of Scotch. She dropped the bag and held on to the bottle, peeling off the wax coating that surrounded the top of the bottle, she wrestled with the cork stopper until it came out of the glass bottle with a pop, Verity dropped it to the floor and took in a deep breath. She held the bottle to her lips and glugged back deep swigs until a quarter of the bottle had gone. It burnt her mouth and the back of her throat, the heat seemed to pierce her chest and invade her stomach in an unpleasant way. She doubled over, bottle still in hand, feeling she might be sick. Verity reasoned with herself that there was literally nothing in her body to bring back up. She took a few deep breaths and stood upright once again, feeling dizzy and disorientated. A wave flooded over her, she didn't know what the wave signified but assumed in was inspiration. Stumbling over to the table Stefan had kept a few paces from their bed she placed the bottle down with a thud and smiled, looking at a picture of the two of them on their wedding day. They looked so happy.
"How could you leave me?" Verity shouted out through tears as she picked up the frame. "I loved you unconditionally, like I promised. Why didn't you love me? Why didn't you stay?" She screamed out as loud as she could, hoping some sort of answer would come to her, but all she heard was her own sobbing.
"Well screw you Stefan. SCREW YOU! I held up my end of the bargain, sure I wasn't perfect but I tried like Hell to be! So screw you." She walked over to her rucksack. "You made me lose everything." She whispered as she put the photo frame in the bag. She looked around as if she were struck by a genius idea and got on all fours and pulled out their overly large suitcase from under the bed and placed it heavily on the bed, opening it, she panted. She looked at the wardrobe and yanked all his clothes out of the wardrobe and stuffed them in, not caring if they were still on the hangers or if they were scrunched up.
Once the wardrobe was empty, she began to collect up all the pictures in the house with him in them and stuffed them in to the suitcase too, once all of them were shoved in to the case, she closed the lid and sat on it in order to close it. And just like that she zipped away the contents of her life and marriage to Stefan Salvatore.