TW: Elena will talk in detail about her abuse in this chapter. If this triggers you, please avoid this chapter.

Chapter 35

Elena was so lost in her thoughts she didn't even hear Damon come into the library until she heard his voice.

"There she is."

She broke out her daydreams and back into reality her eyes met the ocean blue eyed star of said daydreams and she smiled softly at him.

"I just had to get away for a second." She said softly.

He walked over and sat on the edge of the desk facing her; he picked up the boots and grinned at them.

"Where did you get these?" He asked.

"I bought them when we went shopping. I know it's too soon to buy clothes and stuff, but I couldn't resist 'em" She admitted.

"Their awesome, just like mine." He said with a cocky grin.

"You don't say?" She laughed out loud.

"Is that sarcasm Miss Gilbert?" He teased leaning forward a little she looked up at him in his dressy clothes and tie. She licked her lips and gave him a seductive look.

"You look kind of good all dressed up like this." She said fingering the tie.

"Kind of good?" He raised his eyebrow.

She scoffed a little shaking her head, "Okay incredibly handsome and completely irresistible. Is that better?"

"Much." He pulled her chair close to his and gently pulled her up to meet him in a heated kiss. She ran her hands through his raven black locks causing him to moan into her mouth. She kicked the chair behind her out of the way and moved closer, so she was standing between his legs. His hands reached for the buttons of her blouse and it was undone in seconds under his skillful fingers.

He licked his lips at the lacy pink bra she had on underneath it. She started working his buttons next opening his shirt and marveling at his perfect chest she went to work quickly showering it with soft kisses. She felt his muscles tense and his body harden which only fueled her desire even further. She met his intense gaze his blue eyes brimming with lust and gave him a wicked smile. He stood up pushing their bodies almost impossibly close she could feel every inch of his hard manhood pressing into her and her entre body quivered with need.

He whirled them around and hoisted her up, so she was sitting on the desk and he was standing pressed between her legs. She reached for his pants and ripped the button off in her struggle to quickly get them off. He stepped back enough to finish removing the constricting dress slacks and she quickly did way with her own. His eyes pooled over with dark blue desire when he looked back up at her sitting on the desk in lacy pink panties and bra. It was another little trinket she picked up when they went shopping. Judging by his reaction it was well worth it.

"Beautiful." He whispered before he had closed the distance between them again bodies and lips crashed together with fever. He pressed himself against her and she moaned and dipped her head back. He started running his tongue up and down her neck and she writhed against him until they were both panting with need.

"Elena." He moaned out her name as he gently glided into her. She closed her eyes and threw her head back in pleasure and contentment when he filled her, and she finally felt complete again. "My angel," He whispered

"Forever." She said opening her eyes and meeting his intense gaze. His eyes grew a little wet a combination of love, lust, and pained need etched across his handsome face.

"Forever love forever." He said his voice soft and almost melodic. He finally started moving slowly and gently and the waves of pleasure hit her immediately.

"Oh god." She whispered.

He moved slowly building up a pace, his eyes raking over her exposed body underneath his she watched him with hooded eyes the world gone and all she could see was him. He slowly increased the speed and she tilted her hips up to meet him thrust for thrust until they were both gasping and writhing. She sat up slightly needing to be closer to him. He got it and nodded kissing her tenderly before glancing at the couch and she smiled a confirmation.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and hoisted her up. She straddled him with her legs, and they managed to stay connected as he picked her up and walked back from the desk towards the large mahogany coach. He stumbled slightly on the loose floorboard but recovered quickly making it to the couch in seconds, she laid her down gently. She frowned at the loss of contact, but he closed the gap quickly. His lips covered hers with a long slow kiss.

She took control then pushing him back up she got up on her knees and kissed him hard. He moaned into her mouth and she smirked a glint in her eye she pushed him back further unto the coach and climbed unto his lap. She impaled herself down on him and they both moaned out loud again when he filled her up. She moved in slow circles watching the lazy smile on his face. She slowly increased her speed and moving up and down on his lap. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he grunted she knew he was close. She increased her speed the waves of pleasure racked her body when he bit gently down on her nipple as they came together murmuring each other's names.

Damon had forgotten all about today and tomorrow in the midst of their love making and even afterwards as held her. He was laying back on the big leather couch. Elena was nestled in between his legs her head pressed against his chest. He had his arms wrapped around her. Her body still warm and flushed and lowing from the afterglow and he was buzzing. She did things to him no one else had ever done no one else could possibly do.

"I think we found our number one stress free hobby." She mumbled.

He chuckled a little and kissed her head." I think you might be right."

"I'm not scared anymore." She said in a soft voice.

"Honey it's okay to be..." He started.

"No I mean it. I came home tonight, and I was thinking about us and the future we are going to have. The past didn't plague it, it was wonderful." She murmured.

"It will be. I promise you it will." He said hugging her closer. He would do everything to make sure of that. He wanted never wanted anything more than a future with her, a life together. Whenever she reinforced that she wanted that too it filled him with so much gratitude and love it could be overwhelming sometimes.

"I know Damon." She said. "I know that it will be. I know who we are together and what's in front of us and I want it so much and I love you so much. I know now looking back at then… that I'm not that girl anymore I'm so far away from her now. I have you and the baby...I have us and our life ahead of me. I'm not going to let some ghost from my past take that away or anything else. "

He kissed her head a warm feeling coming over him.

"I'm not scared anymore." She said again her voice tinged with surprise but confidence and truth.

The next morning came quickly and Elena actually seemed calm even as they reached the courthouse. Damon was glad she was feeling confident and self-assured but he knew this day would be hard for her. Meredith would continue to push the domestic abuse issue today and if it got to Elena testifying, Meredith was going to expect her to talk about things that were difficult for her. They were difficult for him too. He hated to think of the things she had been through.

They all took their seats and things seemed to move a little faster than they did on the first day. Elena just ignored Craig's glare towards her today and turned to smile at Damon instead. He smiled back at her and then glared towards Craig himself.

Logan's first witness was a doctor who went over how someone can be so distraught over something they can go temporarily insane. Logan continued to have the doctor go over case studies similar to Craig's for what seemed like forever.

"No further questions." Logan seemed proud of himself when he seemingly proved Craig was indeed acting in some kind of blind rage and driven by the discovery of his wife with another man.

"Miss Sulez do you wish to cross examine?"

"Yes I do." She said briskly, she was wearing a fitted black suit skirt today and seemed to look more feminine than normal. Judging by his brothers fixed gaze Damon knew she'd gotten his attention.

"Doctor Martinez, let me ask you something. Can someone be in a blind rage for two weeks?" Meredith asked.

"No." The doctor said.

"Objection the time frame hasn't been proven." Logan said.

"Sustained." The judge said.

Meredith shrugged it off and continued a new line of questioning.

"Doctor you deal with all different types of mental issues involving anger and violence, am I correct?" Meredith asked.

"Yes." He said.

"Have you dealt with abusive spouses?" Meredith asked.

"Yes I have." The doctor said.

"When an abuser hits his or her spouse is it considered blind rage?" Meredith asked. "Or temporary insanity?"

"No." The doctor said. "In abusive situations, the abuser uses violence to control his or her victim."

"Objection relevance?" Logan stood up.

"It's very relevant your honor." Meredith said her eyes boring into the judges.

"I'll allow it." The judge said slowly.

"Doctor how often does a domestic abuse situation turn deadly?" Meredith asked.

"Very often. I don't know the actual stats but it's high." The doctor said.

"When a victim leaves his or her abuser, what is the common reaction of the abuser. In your experience, of course." Meredith prodded.

"In rare cases the abusive spouse left behind will hit rock bottom and seek help, but in most cases the violence escalates. The abuser will try to kill his or her spouse to keep them from being with anyone else." The doctor said.

"I have no further questions." Meredith said smugly.

After a short recess Meredith stood up and called Jeremy to the stand, this meant she was skipping Bonnie and ready to get to her point which was to prove Craig hurt Elena. He couldn't stand not being able to comfort her in some way. Damon finally said fuck it and squeezed her hand, the jury knew they were a couple anyway. He knew this day wasn't going to be easy for her, or him. But she had a brave face on as she watched Jeremy swear in.

"Jeremy Gilbert, can you please state how you know the defendant?" Meredith asked.

"I only know him as the man that hurt my cousin and was going to kill her." Jeremy said.

"Jeremy three years ago you went to Chicago you came and bailed your uncle from jail correct?" Meredith asked.

"Yes." Jeremy said.

"What did your uncle tell you?" Meredith asked.

"That Elena, his daughter, was in big danger. Her husband had been beating her and she tried to leave him. When she did Craig got Elena's dad arrested and he wasn't sure what he did to her after that, but he knew it wasn't good. "

"The husband you refer to is the defendant Craig Morgan, correct?"

"Yes." Jeremy confirmed glaring at him.

"What happened then after you bailed your uncle out?" Meredith asked.

"John told me to go get Elena and I started to leave. I heard Craig show up demanding they put John back in jail. John and Craig were screaming at each other and then a gun went off. I didn't see anything, but I guess John shot Craig. I didn't stick around for the fall out I left and went to her house to get her." Jeremy said.

"What did you find when you got to your cousin's house?" Meredith asked.

"She was beaten half to death." Jeremy said his lips trembling. "There were bruises all over face and body, she could hardly walk. Her lip was split open. Her eye was swollen shut." He stopped and closed his eyes a tear falling down his cheek. "And she was terrified."

Damon's heart clenched and his own eyes teared up. He looked at Elena whose lips were quivering, but she still looked like she was trying to be brave. He was certain the jury was all looking at her, but he held her hand anyway. It seemed to be keeping her grounded.

"What did you do?" Meredith asked.

"I took her to the hospital." Jeremy said. "She was so scared she had to be sedated while they treated her."

"What happened then when she came too?" Meredith asked.

"I did as my uncle asked and helped her escape." Jeremy said.

"You didn't call the police?" Meredith asked.

"No, Elena was too scared to call the police, he was the police. This was her only chance to get away." Jeremy said.

"Thank you Jeremy no further questions." Meredith said.

Logan strode over to cross examine him.

"Jeremy Gilbert, your uncle shot Mr. Morgan the night you helped your cousin leave you admitted that much correct?"

"Yes." Jeremy said.

Logan thumbed his fingers on the podium. "Was shooting Craig and helping Elena run some kind of set up?"

"Not intentionally." Jeremy said. "I happened to be there when they needed me the most. I think John saw it as an opportunity. He figured since I was around to help her it didn't matter if he went to jail. It wasn't planned out though; it was a desperate man to trying to help his daughter who had been brutalized." Jeremy said staring into Logan's eyes without a flinch.

Elena's eyes were wide she and teary as she listened to Jeremy. Damon felt a new appreciation for both Jeremy, and he had to admit Elena's father. He finally was getting just how far he had gone for her.

"But it worked in your favor, allowed you to bring Elena to some mystery hospital after this alleged beating that only you witnessed?" Logan questions.

Damon wanted so badly to tear that guy's head off.

"Not a mystery hospital we went to a hospital right outside of the city." Jeremy said.

"Do you have the records from this hospital?" Logan asked.

"You honor." Meredith stood up. "I do."

Logan's eyes widened and he turned around and glanced at Craig.

"I only brought her there." Jeremy said looking a little unsure.

"Mr. Gilbert you may step down." The judge said. "I want you both to approach the bench."

"What's happening?' Elena whispered as Meredith and Logan talked to the judge.

"It'll be okay. Logan just wasn't expecting this." He whispered into her hair. He felt Craig's eyes on him and turned to give him a sinister glare.

"I'm allowing new evidence to be added to the case. I believe this will allow the jury to make an educated decision on if the current crimes fall into pattern with previous crimes, we were unaware of." The judge announced once they were finished. "I'm calling for a brief recess we will reconvene in fifteen minutes."

Damon took Elena's arm gently and they waited for Meredith in the corner of the court room during the recess. Stefan was behind him and Damon was grateful for that. Stefan did have a sort of calming effect it was more that Damon knew if he flipped Stefan would hold him back. That was good because if he lost it here, he was likely to go strangle Logan and then tear Craig limb from limb.

"What's going on Meredith?" Elena whispered.

"The judge is shocked by the evidence so is Logan. I have the doctor here from that night. I have pictures too. Logan tried to stop me from using them, but he can't. They prove a history of violence." Meredith whispered.

"Pictures." Elena shuddered.

"It's okay sweetheart." He put his arm around her but winced at the idea of having to see what Jeremy had to see.

"I'm worried about you." She said gently. "You need to stay calm now okay. This is where things get intense and I have to say some things that are going to be hard to hear."

He cringed she had glazed over the details thankfully when she told him what had happened to her, he didn't want her to relieve it. He didn't want her to hurt like that ever again. But he knew she had to do this and here she was worried about him?

Suddenly he was too, seeing it and hearing it in the way he was about to wasn't going to be easy could he handle it? He made love to her less ten twelve hours ago and now he had to hear about how she was hurt the way she was. This was Elena. The woman he loved, the woman who was pregnant with his baby, his angel, it infuriated him just thinking about it. He couldn't do this, he suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe.

"Maybe I should wait outside." He said his voice meek he felt like he was failing her.

"Maybe you should." Meredith said slowly.

"You'll be okay Damon." Stefan said with an assured voice giving Meredith a look. "I know you will."

"I don't know..." Damon said his voice breaking.

"I need you in there." Elena took his hand and locked her deep brown eyes unto his.

"That's how I know." Stefan slapped his shoulder and Damon gulped and nodded.

"I'll be there sweetheart. I'll be fine don't worry about me." He assured her.

They found their seats again and Damon's heart was racing a little. Elena squeezed his hand and he remembered why he had to be strong. Leave it to his little brother to see where his strength lie. As long as he had to be strong for her, he could stop worrying selfishly about how this would affect him.

"The state calls Dr. Lorenzo St. John." Meredith announced.

A well-dressed man with dark black hair took the podium his face was he had brown eyes and was medium height he appeared to be in his mid-thirties.

"Please state to the courts who you are Dr. St. John." Meredith asked.

"I am an ER doctor at Mercy hospital in, Millsville Illinois." He said.

"Dr. St John you treated Elena Morgan the night her cousin brought her in?" Meredith questioned.

"Yes." He confirmed glancing at her with a flash of sadness. She narrowed her eyes as if trying to place him. The night was blurry for her he imagined.

"What was your first thought when she was brought it? What did you think happened to her?"

"I thought someone had tried to beat her to death." Elijah said the jury gasped. "She was so frightened. I've never seen someone that frightened before. I had to sedate her."

"I'd like to show the jury pictures that were taken of Miss Gilbert that night." Meredith put the pictures on a slide show and Damon had to turn his head away. It was terrible to see how anyone could do that to her, he wanted Craig to pay mercifully and vengefully. It took Elena's firm grip on his hand to keep him in his seat.

"Upon examining Miss Gilbert what did you find?" Meredith asked.

"She was brutally beaten. Her ribs were broken, her hip was dislocated, she was bruised everywhere. She had internal bleeding in the stomach… and… she had also been raped." He said his voice soft and quiet he gulped at the end, his brown eyes troubled. "Such a young girl it was terrible that something like that could have happened to her."

"Did you call the police?" Meredith asked.

"I did but Elena was sedated and couldn't give a statement. She disappeared from the hospital before they could take it." He said shaking his head. "I still gave one though and filed a report hoping someday she'd come back and decide to press charges against the monster that had done this to her."

Meredith took a long breath and then passed out the hospital records and report to the jury. They paused for a while allowing time for each juror to read the report.

"Thank you doctor I have no further questions." She said when they had finished.

"Mr. Fell?" The judge asked.

Logan seemed shaky and sort of nervous when he approached the doctor.

"Dr. St. John did Elena ever name her attacker?" Logan asked.

"No." he said.

"I have no further questions." Logan said in a clipped voice.

"Mr. Fell please calls your next witness." The judge said.

"The defense calls Officer Bryan Clark." Logan said.

The officer was sworn in and took his seat his face seemed a little strained and he was avoiding looking directly at Craig.

"Officer how long have you known the defendant?" Logan asked.

"Ten years." Bryan said his voice sort of awed.

"How do you know each other?' Logan asked.

"We were partners at one point and he's a good friend. Was one of my best friends." He said in a quiet voice.

"In this, ten years, have you ever know him to be a violent man?" Logan asked.

"I...yes." Bryan said his eyes full of strained disbelief and sick realization. Elena's eyes widened and so did Logan's but not in a good way.

"Excuse me?" Logan asked in a strained voice. "I remind you that you are under oath."

"I know and originally I didn't think so but now... I'm thinking about it and I realize he was. He always sort of was...sometimes certain perps and stuff would get to him and he'd lose it. He'd go too far. I just wrote it off as overzealous. I was blind I never really saw it until now." Bryan shuddered. "My god Elena, no one knew."

She gasped and looked up in surprise he gave her an apologetic look, he looked horrified. Damon couldn't imagine finding out your best friend had been doing this while you knew him.

"I ask the jury to strike Officer Clark's last comment from the records." The judge said in a quiet voice. "Please ask the question again Mr. Fell, and please answer directly, Officer."

"Yes, your honor." Bryan said.

"Did you ever know Mr. Morgan to be a violent man?" Logan asked his voice clipped.

"Yes." Bryan said with more certainty.

"I have no further questions." Logan said looking flustered.

"I have no questions." Meredith said.

"Miss Sulez, call your next witness." The judge said.

"The state calls Elena Gilbert." Meredith said giving Elena a nod.

Elena squeezed his hand one last time and bravely walked to the stand. She was wearing a long white skirt and a pink cardigan over a loose silky patterned shirt underneath. She had her hair pulled back in a loose braid. She looked so tiny and innocent in the large podium. He glanced over at the jury and several of them were looking at her with empathy and even pity on some of their faces.

"Elena please tell the court how you know the defendant." Meredith said her voice gentle, in a way he never heard before.

"I was married to him." Elena said.

"How old were you when you married him?" Meredith asked.

"Twenty." Elena said.

"How would you describe the marriage?" Meredith asked.

"It was sort of forced. I wasn't ready, but I was dependent on him. Throughout our relationship he controlled me he slowly pulled me way from everything I knew until all I had was him. Once we married that became more intense."

"Can you tell us how?"

"He became very controlling and possessive. When I started to defy him, he hit me. The first time was just a slap and he apologized, so I went back to him." Elena said.

"Things would get better for a while and then he just became more possessive and angrier all over again." Elena said.

"It got to the point where I wasn't allowed to have anything or do anything for myself. I wasn't sure who I even was anymore, and the violence didn't stop. He pushed me a few times and slapped me sometimes. He would grab my shoulders and just shake me when he got frustrated. He would always blame these attacks on me saying I pushed the button. I was supposed to know better." She said shaking her head angrily.

Damon took a breath he knew she had dealt with this for a long time, before things escalated to the point of her leaving. She had given him the version he needed to know to understand what she had been through. He hadn't realized the full extent of time Craig had pushed her around and brought her down. He never wanted to piece together the full details not because he didn't want to understand her. He did without that; he just was so horrified by it. It filled him with so much rage towards Craig it was incredibly hard to stay still.

"I had no life outside of him. I was losing myself and I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't live like that, so I confronted him about it." She said.

"What happened when you confronted him?" Meredith asked.

"He became violent again." Elena said. "It was much worse than any other time."

"How much worse?" Meredith prodded gently.

"He beat me badly; he hit me over and over to the point where I passed out. This time I did leave. I knew if I didn't, he would kill me, and I couldn't leave my dad alone in this word. I waited until I could slip away, and I went to my dad's. I tried to file a police report, but it all went wrong and then he arrested my dad."

"What happened after he arrested your dad?" Meredith asked in a quiet voice. Damon attempted to brace himself for this.

"I went to go bail him out and Craig found me. He dragged me home and threw me into the house." She said.

"I told him it was over. I was leaving for good." She said. "He said no way, never, and then he slapped me really hard. The next thing I knew he was on top of me. He kept screaming how he'd show me who I belonged to or I'd die figuring it out."

She stopped and a few tears rolled down her cheeks. Damon felt his fists clench up and he avoided looking towards Craig. Stefan put his hand on his shoulder seeming to hold him in place. He could see Jeremy ahead of him flinching as well. Bonnie had her hand on his shoulder and appeared to be keeping him calm, but Damon knew he was freaking out to. He suddenly was wishing he and Jer had just killed the bastard.

"Just support her, don't think of him." Jenna whispered from the other side of him. He looked up at Elena and gave her a nod and mouthed you're doing good.

"What happened next Elena?" Meredith asked her voice breaking a little.

"He was sitting on top of me pinning me down." She said in a shaky voice. "He just kept hitting me. He said if I ever left again, he'd find me, and he'd kill me. Then he'd mail my body parts to my dad."

She stopped and sobbed at that and Meredith handed her a tissue to wipe her eyes. Damon heard Jenna sob next to him and he had to bite his lip to keep from screaming at Craig or something, anything, to make this not have happened to her.

"His eyes were cold and serious." She said after a moment her body was shaking and her lips were trembling. "I've never been so scared."

"Then he got up and stared yelling at me to get up and get my ass to the bedroom." She shook harder tears rolling down her face but continued. "I couldn't, I was curled up in pain. He started kicking me really hard and yelling at me to get the fuck up. I just kept begging him to stop."

Oh fucking damn it…Damon's heart jumped into his chest and his entire body was almost shaking. Stefan kept his hand on Damon's shoulder applying some pressure. Jenna grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

"Just stay still." She whispered.

"God." He muttered through gritted teeth

"I know." She whispered tears rolling down her face.

"But he didn't stop." Elena was looking at the jury now. Damon glanced over to see most of them were crying and some of the men looked almost as angry as him.

"He picked me up by the hair and threw me down unto the bed." She said tears streaming down her face. "I was hurt everywhere, and I couldn't move. I couldn't even fight."

"He raped me." She said taking a breath, her gaze flickered over to Craig and Damon's heart stilled. She narrowed her eyes down to him.

"He raped me and the entire time he was raping me he kept telling me I belonged to him and I would never get away again. That this was all my fault. That I drove him to this point and only had myself to blame." She sputtered out still glaring at him. "I know those are the worst and sickest lies of all now."

There was a long silence in the court room and finally Meredith spoke.

"Judge maybe we should take a recess?" She asked.

"I'm fine. I want to be done with this. I hate having to look at him." Elena said pulled her eyes away and shuddered.

"Let's continue for now," The judge eyed her carefully.

"So you left after that, how long afterwards?" Meredith asked.

"I'm not sure. I was in and out of it for a few days. I was in a lot of pain. Craig would give me a shot of whiskey here or there, but that was it. Then he left one night, and Jeremy showed up a few hours later. Honestly, the hospital and all that is a blur. I was in so much pain I don't remember much at all after that." Elena said.

"You have been running ever since?" Meredith asked.

"Yes." Elena said.

"You still believed his threats to be true." Meredith asked.

"Yes I knew if he found me he'd kill me." Elena said. "I always knew that."

"What happened after Craig found you again at Andie's house?" Meredith asked.

"At first he tried to manipulate me into coming with him promising he changed. Then he started putting me down like he used to. But I'm stronger now and I didn't let him get to me like that." She said her chin up in that defiant way he adored. He couldn't be more impressed with her then he was now as horrified as he was at the same time.

He glanced at the jury again they were fixated on her, every single one of them. Many still crying, one of them was smiling a little most likely at her stubborn streak that came out there.

"He grew angry then and he was going to hit me, but Andie came out." Elena said, she recounted the rest of the evening her version matching both Andie and Damon's and leaving no doubts of what took place that night.

She looked relieved when she was finished.

"No further questions." Meredith said squeezing her hand.

Logan got up to cross examine her and Damon stiffened again. This was turning out to be ten times more difficult than testifying himself.

"Elena you said you tried to report Craig once what happened?" Logan asked. "Why didn't you report him?"

"The officer was being really horrible to me and I got scared." Elena admitted. "My dad got angry and things just fell apart."

"Your dad got angry?" Logan asked.

"At the officer for how he was treating me." Elena confirmed.

"Did he get angry often?" Logan asked.

"No." Elena said.

"He has quite an arrest record including shooting your husband." Logan said.

"Mostly petty stuff, he's not a violent man." Elena defended her eyes fiery now that her dad had come into question.

"But he shot your husband, was that not an act of violence?" Logan asked.

"It was the act of a father defending his daughters honor." Elena shot back.

"Just answer the question Miss Gilbert." Logan said.

"I believe she did answer the question." The judge said briskly, his eyes seemed saddened. Damon wondered if he had any daughters.

"Let's wrap this up the victim has been through enough." The judge continued when Logan looked sort of speechless. He really wasn't expecting Meredith to pull out proof or Elena to be so well Elena. Damon realized he had no chance and he was pretty sure Logan did too.

"By petty crimes could you be more specific?" Logan finally asked.

"Objection, relevance." Meredith said.

"Get to your point Mr. Fell." The judge said.

"Was your father a con man, Miss Gilbert?" Logan asked.

"Yes." She admitted.

"And are you?" he asked.

"No." Elena said crossing her arms.

"Then why Miss Gilbert, did you not stay at the hospital and report him?" Logan asked. "He was in the hospital himself. You had the chance and you just left. Was it because he wasn't the one who hurt you? Was it a con cooked up by your dad?"

"Objection, badgering the witness!" Meredith fumed and Damon felt Jenna and Stefan both tense up ready to hold him down by force if need be.

"Mr. Fell." The judge warned.

"I didn't report him because I was terrified, and I didn't know what to do." Elena said. "I was scared. I had left his house, I had left the city, and he would kill me for that. He told me so himself. I had to get away as fast as possible."

"But the police could have protected you." Logan said.

"Mr. Fell, my husband was the police." Elena said. "To me Craig was unbeatable. I just had to run."

He gulped and stared at her for a second.

"No further questions." Logan sighed Damon noticed the defeated look in his eyes.

"May I approach the bench your honor?" Logan asked.

The judge called for a recess and they all left the room.

Damon waited for Elena who ran right into his arms. He circled her in them holding her tightly.

"You'll never be hurt like that again; he's going to pay." He whispered.

She sobbed into his chest for a few moments and then pulled back and dried his cheeks with her thumbs.

"Shh it's okay Damon I'm okay." She assured him.

"You did so great." He said stroking her back up and down. "The jury loves you."

"I didn't let Logan get to me." She said proudly looking up into his eyes, which were gazing down at her with love and pride. His anger at her ex-husband and his damn lawyer was momentarily forgotten. He was so incredibly proud of what she had just faced.

"No you didn't honey." He stroked her cheek. "You were awesome."

"What are we waiting for?" Jeremy asked walking up with Bonnie, Stefan and Jenna in tow.

"Who knows," Elena sighed.

"Logan's scrambling." Jenna guessed.

"The jury believed you. I know they did." Bonnie reached out and hugged her.

"Elena honey," Liz Forbes rushed over from inside the room and came to hug Elena herself. "You have been through too much pain, no more." She stroked her back like a mom and Damon watched Elena close her eyes in comfort.

"You did so good though." Jenna stroked her hair and Liz let her go there were tears in her eyes.

Damon backed up a little and let Elena have her moment with all the people who had been helping her. He was really grateful to all of their friends. He was so glad she had so much support from such good people.

"That couldn't have been easy for you to do." Bonnie said softly.

"It wasn't." Elena admitted.

"But you did it." Jenna said smiling at her, "Because you are so strong and amazing."

"She's right you know. You even stared him down." Jeremy said. "He looked so guilty when you did that."

"I wanted him to hear what he did." She spat out bitterly.

Damon cringed he wanted to pound his face in for what he did.

"Elena I'm so sorry." Stefan looked at her sadly.

"Yeah me too, but the one who should be sorry is finally going to be so, I'm okay." Elena said.

"The reason why though is because of all of you, and Rick, Car and Vicky too, everyone. I couldn't have gotten stronger without roots. Roots help you grow and that's what all of you are to me, so thank you. Thank you for showing me what home is."

They all surrounded her in a group hug everyone pretty teary eyed himself included, though he stepped away a few feet and tried to hide it. Stefan nodded at him and rolled his eyes gesturing to the little circle. Damon shrugged and jumped in joining them making Elena giggle at the unexpected action. Hearing her giggle after what she just went through was music to his ears and he smiled gratefully.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the couch in the lounge everyone followed, and they all sat down and anxiously awaiting whatever was next.

AN: I know most of this chap was very heavy. I cry every time I read it so editing it was tough. I hope though that it really shows how much Elena went through and how much she grew. Also, for anyone that can relate to her story, you are not alone. I hope I wrote this sensitive enough not to upset you, but realistic.

Anyway, hope to have the next chapter up soon. I'm in a hurry to get these last 7 chapters I already wrote uploaded, so I can actually finish this story.