Hello readers,

The twelfth chapter is here, so enjoy reading.

***For those who have already read it, this is the edited version of this chapter. I rectified some mistakes, so if you want, you can give it a read once again. No serious changes, just some typos and one or two words that I remembered after uploading it for the first time. :P

I do not own TVD, neither the characters, but this story is mine.

It is said that a healthy mind is the key to a healthy life, and honestly speaking, I was a literal proof of that saying. Last year when I used to be at home all the time, stuck to my wheelchair, but mostly stuck to the feeling of gloominess and despondency, I never thought that I would ever be happy again. But in the past week, things had started to look brighter and my days had become busier. Although I was still stuck to my wheelchair all the time, but I was glad that I could be productive once again, specially independent. Maybe not physically but financially, and that made me feel strong and good.

Everyday I woke up with a smile and went to sleep with good thoughts in my mind. It was not surprising that almost after getting nightmares throughout an year, the past week had been devoid of any. This made me feel positive and grateful about everything around me and that was because there was no sorrow in my mind, no hopelessness or feeling of dejection. Seeing Alaric for therapy sessions had literally turned my life for better, I had started seeing everything more clearly, understanding other's points of view, accepting myself the way I was, but also believing that there was no harm in trying to improve.

Then I had taken his advice and met Damon, earlier whom I had known just as a blue-eyed stranger, but very soon he came to be a lot more than that to me. There was no doubt that the first two or three days had been a little rough, however we became friends soon after that, and there has been no turning back since. Today marked a week of my first session with Damon and it was going great! We hadn't achieved much success, except the fact that I felt less exhausted after the sessions now. But we practiced everyday with equal fervor. He never showed any impatience with me, always the calm and supportive guide who took care of every movement of my body with genuine concern. As for me, I felt lucky to be under his care and guidance. He was a great physiotherapist but a greater friend to me. Within one week we had gone from dysfunctional to besties.

Okay...! Maybe that was too much, but honestly we used to talk more, laugh and joke with each other, shared food, and sometimes we drove each other crazy with our bickering. Damon was a changed person, he never behaved badly with me after that day, though it would be wrong to say that I didn't notice any faraway looks on his face or change in topics that were too close to his blind spot. But whatever he did, I didn't mind because finally we were working through this. He had also become more comfortable around me, and I took it as a sign of hope.

Everything was going well, even in case of my work. It was Friday already, and I couldn't be more grateful about the success of my first week at the Mikaelson Publishing House. My internship under Caroline was proving to be thrilling. She was an excellent mentor and helped me with anything I needed, she had literally welcomed me with open arms and I felt grateful to be working for her. She always spoke to me like a friend and not like a boss, it never seemed that we had been out of contact for years. Now, going to work was one of the things that I looked forward to everyday, and the best thing about that was, there was not one, but innumerable reasons behind it.

Since today was the last working day of the week, I was pretty excited to go to the office and had reached the premises before usual time. Reaching the sixth floor, I headed towards my seat. This being my first week, Caroline hadn't put much pressure on me. Therefore there was no such work load, but some edited works had to be submitted today, so I thought of starting with it. Adjusting my wheelchair to the table I started arranging my things when I heard footsteps and looked up, it was Kai Parker and he was walking towards my table with a grin. "Miss. Gilbert, how are you doing today?" I pursed my lips and forced a smile.

"As good as I was yesterday, when we met in the elevator."

He chuckled and said, "What put you in a mood at this early hour?"

Shit... Why was I being rude? He shouldn't know that I didn't like him! So I shook my head and smiled genuinely, "It's nothing, I didn't sleep well last night...so I came in early today, but what are you doing so early? That too on this floor?" He opened his mouth but hesitated.

"Nothing... I just had some queries with Mrs Mikaelson,... about the party tomorrow... but then I saw you, so I thought about saying hi."

I furrowed my eyebrows at his vagueness, "But Caroline never comes in so early."

He looked around and smirked, "Guess it was my mistake then, but not a completely fruitless one though."

He was now smiling down at me with a devious look in his eyes. I gritted my teeth but kept the smile in place, looking down I said, "Okay I think I should get back to my work." He nodded and turned his head, but again glancing back at me he said, "Are you going to the party tomorrow?" I looked up and said yes.

"So, do you have a date or are you going 'stag'?" He asked quoting the word 'stag' with his fingers in the air. Gulping, I shook my head, "No, I guess it's just me."

His grin widened but diminished slightly, as if he remembered something, "You see, I have already told someone that I'll go with them, or I would be glad to escort you."

What? Oh my God... as if I needed him to save me! I pretended to smile wider, "I am sure it would have been great Mr. Parker. Thanks, but I kind of like being all by myself." He gave out a chuckle and started walking towards the elevator, "See you there Miss. Gilbert."

Wow, what a start to my day!... Though it wasn't uncommon to meet Kai in the office, I had met him the previous day too. He always seemed very interested in conversing with me, though he never flirted openly, but the subtle hints were enough to rile me up. First Damon's warnings and then Kai's habit of putting his nose into every matter, altogether made me somewhat sour towards him. Not that I knew of any reason he would harm me, still I tried my best to avoid him.

Shaking my head I concentrated on the articles, it was refreshing after such a clingy conversation. By the time I completed editing that article, most people had come in, even Caroline had come in and while passing by my table she had asked me to meet her at her cabin.

I went towards the cabin and knocked, "Mrs. Mikaelson?", that's what I called her in front of others. "Come in Elena, how many times have I told you to call me Caroline?" She said with a soft grin and twinkling eyes. I went in smiling and said, "It feels weird, everyone else calls you Mrs. Mikaelson... I'll call you Caroline outside the office."

She laughed and raised her brows, "For that we have to go out first." I took the opportunity and said, "I am going for coffee today, with my best friend, would you like to join us?... Bonnie would also love to meet you."

Her eyes lit up, "Sure, I'll love to join you guys."

"Okay I'll call Bonnie and let her know." I said grinning widely.

She nodded, "I think this little outing will be a good thing for me. I am so stressed about tomorrow that I feel exhausted already." She said checking her watch and looking back at me with a sad expression.

"Why...is something wrong?" I asked with concern.

"No... it's just that I am worried what will happen if something doesn't work out. You know I wanted it to be a small gathering, but it is a 'Mikaelson party' so obviously the press got involved and now it has become a big deal... I just don't want our anniversary to turn into a circus." Holding her head in her hands, and slouching on her seat, Caroline looked utterly dejected.

I went towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Hey, don't worry everything is going to be fine. It will be perfect! Just as you imagined it to be."

She smiled and hugged me, "I am so happy you are here. After Hayley moved to L.A., I just don't have any close friends anymore... and these high society ladies, they just become your friend for the gossip you know? No one wants the real deal. But with you... I can be myself without any worries."

I nodded, "I am happy too, that we found each other again, you can share anything with me, Caroline. Now, don't take stress, just relax and think about tomorrow like this... it's your anniversary and you should be happy, the party is for others but the day is for you and Mr. Mikaelson. I am sure nothing will go wrong." I squeezed her in a hug once again, when we parted she thanked me, "Oh Elena, you are already making it sound so much better."

After that little emotional talk, I gave her the completed articles and she went through all my work, "Elena you are doing great. For an intern to do this much work is excellent." I felt glad at the compliment and thanked her, then she continued, "I think you are planning to transfer from my floor sooner than Elijah said. If you continue to work at this speed, within next week I'll have to send you back to the fifth floor." She said with pouted lips and I chuckled.

Finally, coming back to my table, I called Bonnie and informed her about the change in our plan. I was just sparing a moment for myself after having to hear her excited screech, which was still ringing in my ears, when I saw that I had received a message from Damon. Opening it I smiled wider.

You are in for a surprise today... Don't be late Miss. Gilbert.

I texted back saying, It better be a good one Mr. Salvatore, and also added a smirk face with it.

Yes, nowadays Damon texted me sometimes. To say that, it had become a habit of mine to wait for his texts eagerly, would not be wrong. Whatever he sent me, whether a greeting, a picture, or just a text about any random stuff, it made my day. Because all I could think about was that, he must be thinking of me at that time and nothing felt better than that.

But today it was different, he said a surprise was waiting for me and I couldn't wait, I just wanted the day to be over so that I could rush to the Salvatore House to meet my beautiful stranger. But as usual time was passing slower today, as if each second was longer than it should have been.

Though I had finished and submitted my edited articles, I kept doing some more work to keep myself busy. Because thinking about Damon was not helping. Specially the surprise part was already making me distracted, and I didn't want to be free enough to start daydreaming about him.

I mean, obviously I wasn't expecting anything like a candlelight dinner or romantic gesture, because whatever we had was platonic. Yeah! Those longing looks that he gave me now and then, didn't actually mean anything! The day he dropped me home by his car, we had a moment. He was gazing straight into my eyes, not even bothered by Jenna's call and I kept thinking that the air was thick with tension between us. Even when he had called me 'his girl', I felt special. But was it actually what he meant? Cause after that night, never did I feel any such electricity between us again. So, either it was me who was trying to read too much from a situation or Damon was extremely talented at hiding whatever he felt. I liked him, a lot, but it was of no use if he didn't like me the way I did.

Being friends was good, he was finally open about a lot more things with me, but whenever I was near him, I was engulfed with the thoughts of hugging him, touching his face, caressing his cheeks, kissing his perfect pouty lips, forgetting about every other thing in the world. I craved for his touch, for his affection, for him... but after that little incident about the death of his ex, I just couldn't bring myself to question him again.

And the most important thing was Damon could get anyone he wanted, so if he didn't choose me on his own or see me in that way, then I didn't want to impose my feelings on him.

I mean, being with me, would not be like being with anyone else, I was paraplegic, and I knew that no one would understand the hardships better than Damon, but this was totally different. Let's just say that the last time I was with someone, was before my accident, and after that I had never even thought about it, so I didn't know what or how or if I could ever be that girl again, and I didn't want him to compromise his happiness because of me.

Just then I heard someone calling my name, looking up I saw Caroline standing in front of me. "Elena, are you okay? I have been calling your name for a while. What are you thinking about?"

She had startled me out of my reverie. So much for not daydreaming!

Thus when I started to speak, it came out broken, "I... I was.. just... it's nothing!" I shook my head, but she was looking unconvinced, "Are you sure?" she asked raising her eyebrows and I nodded.

"Okay, though I think you need to take some time and clear your head, but you also need to go to Elijah's office, he wanted to meet you."

I furrowed my brows, "Me, but why?"

Caroline gave a soft smile, "Actually I sent him your finished work in the morning and he called my office and wanted to meet you. Don't worry I think he likes it." I didn't know what to think, because I was interning under Caroline, and it was not even for Mr. Mikaelson's department, so why would she send my edits to him in the first place?

I took a deep breath and told Caroline that I was going to head towards Elijah's office, and she went back to her cabin a while I was knocking on Mr. Elijah Mikaelson's cabin door, when he asked me to get in, I did so and greeted him, "Good afternoon, Mr. Mikaelson, you had asked to meet me?"

He was wearing a brown suit and tie today, leaning back on his chair with a hint of a smile on his face he said, "Good afternoon, Miss Gilbert. Yes, I had called for you to talk about your work. Today is the completion of your first week at the office, so I had asked Caroline to send me your editings to see how you are faring."

Okay! Now I felt nervous, he had asked to see my work personally? He wanted to see for himself whether I was good or bad at whatever I was appointed to do. I was taking deep breaths to calm my nerves, what if he hated it? Caroline was my friend, but he didn't have any obligation to be subtle with me, he could fire me if he didn't like my work, so God help me!

I was biting my lip out of anxiety, when he said, "Don't worry, I didn't call you here to criticize your work. You did a good job, I know you don't have any experience in this field but you did as good as we expect from an intern." My cheeks reddened at his words because not only did he appreciate my work but also sort of told me that I could do better. I gulped, "Thank you Sir."

I was not completely sure what to feel, but he looked at me with kind eyes and said, "You are a confident woman Miss. Gilbert. Just keep working hard, and you'll be able to achieve everything you desire."

Wow, I didn't expect to hear this from him at all, so I smiled, "Surely, I will do my best, Mr. Mikaelson." He nodded and got up from his chair, " I am sure you will, so I have decided to shift you from sixth floor to here."

I raised my eyebrows and parted my lips, "But I am thought my internship was for four weeks..."

He interrupted me by saying, "Yes, it is for four weeks. I just wanted to see how you work under Caroline. I thought you will need time to adjust but you have done well, so I am shifting you to my department. You will be an intern here, then you can start working on manuscripts, and I think that's what you wish to do in future?"

I nodded happily, and he continued, "I know you will be able to manage this quite well, so don't disappoint me."

I couldn't contain the amount of happiness I was feeling. It had only been a week and I was close to achieving what I wished for. This was so exciting, I smiled at Elijah and said, "Yes, thank you so much Sir. I am honored to receive this position and I promise to live up-to your expectations." He nodded and said, "That's all Miss. Gilbert."

I started wheeling out from his cabin when he spoke again, "So are you coming to the party tomorrow ?" I turned my head back and saw him looking at some papers on the table. "Yes, I will be there tomorrow."

He looked towards me and asked, "Is someone escorting you?" I shook my head, to which he didn't respond, but instead he said, "The party begins at 7. Don't be late Ms. Gilbert." I nodded and left his office.

Why was everyone asking whether I had a date or not? I was sure Caroline never mentioned anything to me, I would have to check with her again. Returning to the sixth floor I talked with Caroline and informed her about what Elijah had told me about shifting my position to his department. She was utterly surprised by the news but hugged and congratulated me.

"Oh Elena, I am going to miss you so much, but don't worry I will come to check on you everyday." She said as if I was moving to a different place altogether.

I chuckled and hugged her back, "Sure Caroline, at least I don't have to call you Mrs. Mikaelson all the time now." Both of us shared a laugh, but she had a thoughtful expression on her face. "What is it Care? Are you not happy for me?" I asked feeling insecure, though she was my friend, she had been my mentor in the past week. It was obviously important what she thought about this sudden change in my internship.

Caroline was sitting on the chair beside mine, she shook her head and placed her hand on mine, "I am happy Elena, and you deserved it, but it's just... Nothing... I am just thinking too much."

She was suppressing her thoughts, so I kept insisting her to share them with me. Finally after some time she huffed and said, "Elena, I am not doubting you or Elijah's decision. I am just surprised, because, believe me, Elijah is a very hard man to impress and if he has decided to take you as his own intern then you must have really awed him with your work."

I was still trying to understand the depth of her words, when she said with a smile, "Now let's go or we will be late, your friend must be waiting for us at the coffee shop."

When we reached the restaurant, Bonnie was waiting for us at the table with a huge grin on her face, I knew this was one of her fan-girl moments, seeing Caroline Forbes Mikaelson face to face.

"Hi Bonnie!" I waved at her and she waved back. Then I settled beside her at the table and she got up to shake hands with Caroline. After I introduced them to each other, they settled down as well.

We started talking about different things, how Caroline and I came to know each other and about Miss Mystic Falls competition, how Bonnie had also wanted to participate in the competition but she couldn't because she didn't want to lose the opportunity of visiting Salem with her Grams, which was the latter's original hometown.

Caroline was so intrigued with Bonnie and her profession as the occult studies lecturer, that it seemed as if she would start taking some lessons from her personally. In no time, all three of us were giggling and sharing childhood stories. It was an instant connection for both of them, now Caroline was looking like a fan-girl, ogling Bonnie who was very animatedly telling her why she chose occult as her subject.

Suddenly I heard my phone vibrate in my purse, so I unlocked it to see there was a text from Damon. Instinctively my eyes went towards the time and I realized that I was already getting late for the session. Once again the butterflies in my stomach were getting excited, opening the text I felt the giddiness beginning to rise in my chest, it said,

Your surprise awaits you Miss. Gilbert.

I bit my lip and smiled looking towards the screen, when I looked up, both the girls were looking at me with curious expressions. Bonnie's lips lifted into a smirk and she said, "I think it's getting late, we must head home now. Elena is getting late for her physiotherapy session."

She smiled innocently towards Caroline who was looking at both of us with furrowed brows. Then she shook her head and said, "Yeah, I should leave too, I have to see the final decorations for tomorrow." Turning to Bonnie she said, "Hey Bonnie you should also come to our party tomorrow. Just don't forget to bring a date." Bonnie nodded excitedly but asked, " A date? But us girls would be enough I guess?"

"It's a masquerade ball silly, you will need a date." Caroline said chuckling.

My mouth hung open at her words, "When we're you planning to tell me this Care?" She looked at me with horrified eyes, "Oh my God Elena... please don't hate me, I just didn't know if you would come to the party if I told you it was a ball, so I thought of keeping it a secret." She completed in a soft voice that was merely audible.

Now I finally understood why everyone kept asking me about my date. They thought I had no one to take me and Caroline didn't even tell me that it was a ball, because both she and the others felt pity for me.

"I am sorry Elena, I was being stupid, meeting you after so long and seeing you in a wheelchair, I just didn't know how to say about the ball without hurting your feelings. But I guess now I have already done that...Please don't cancel coming to the party for my ignorance."

I gritted my teeth in frustration, it was not Caroline's fault, what she had done was stupid but out of genuine concern. I remembered how my family members used to be so careful of what they were saying to me, after the accident. Always tiptoeing around, trying not to hurt my feelings in any way. I was also very sensitive at that time, but eventually I started accepting the reality and everything became normal.

So I looked up and said, "It's okay Caroline, you were just concerned about my feelings."

She was upset but she kept apologizing, and asking me to come. That's when Bonnie placed a hand on mine under the table and looked towards Care, "We will be there Caroline, I can call you that right?"

Caroline smiled sniffling and said, "Of course you can call me 'Caroline', and thank you so much Bonnie you are truly the best friend that Elena could have." Getting up from her chair she bent down and hugged me, "I will look forward to your arrival tomorrow, Elena." I smiled and nodded, then she hugged Bonnie and left.

I looked at Bonnie, who was looking at me with a soft smile on her face.

"I don't know what to do, I can't say no because Care would think I am angry on her, and even if I go where will I possibly get a date? Who would even want to go with me?" I said feeling deflated about the whole situation.

Bonnie tilted her head and said, "You could ask Damon to take you."

I shook my head swiftly, "No Bonnie I can't do that, being friends with my physiotherapist is one thing, but how can I even suggest that he should take me to a ball?" She caught my shoulders, "Don't think too much, Elena. Just ask him and see what he says, maybe then you will also understand what he thinks about you...just a friend or more?"

I nodded in a haze, already thinking about how Damon would react if I asked him to be my date at the party... could I do that? But how would I tell that without giving away hints about my feelings for him?

By the time I was in my car, the topic of the surprise had almost left my mind, all I could think of was that, it was going to be difficult to ask Damon to be my escort. Would he accept it?

I didn't want to force him to think I needed a savior. But I also wanted to see if he was truly happy to be my friend or did he feel something for me, just as I did for him. Whatever his answer would be, I promised myself not to ruin our friendship once again, but I had to do this for myself. Because being his friend was great, but Damon Salvatore had ignited some desires in me that was almost dead for more than a year, and I had to do something about it soon, or I would go insane.

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