Saddle Back Cay, Bahamas, 1980

FS*FS*FS

"Marry me?"

Felicity's eyes widened as her they were shooting between Damon's face and a beautiful ring he was holding in front of her. It was Georgian style with pink amethyst set in a gently domed gold mounting with intricate engraved detailing. It was understated and elegant. Perfect. Looking at it Felicity felt her eyes start to water.

"Lis?" Damon's smile faltered.

"What?.. No... I-I can't." Felicity jumped to her feet shaking her head. She took few steps backwards, her crystal blue eyes shining from unshed tears. She opened her mouth to say something, to explain, but she just shook her head again before turning away and running down the beach towards the villa, tears trekking down her cheeks.

DS*DS*DS

Damon was confused by Felicity's reaction to his proposal. Yes it might have been too soon, but... He surely didn't expect her reaction to be like this.

After few moments staring into the space she vacated he stood up and went after her.

He found Felicity back at the villa. She was sitting on the edge of their bed. Felicity was hunched over; her elbows placed on her knees palms covering her face. Her shoulders shaking as she cried.

Damon was didn't understand what he did wrong. But he couldn't stand seeing her crying so he come closer and put his hand on her shoulder, relieved that she didn't shy away from his touch.

"Lis." She didn't move. "Felicity, I don't know what's wrong. If it's what I said earlier, we can forget it. If you not ready or don't want to..." Damon trailed off.

Felicity wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand and finally turned to Damon meeting his eyes. Hers were red rimmed and still misty.

"Damon." Her voice cracked, but she continued. "It's not that I don't want it. The problem is that I do." Felicity took Damon's hand. "I love you, Damon. But marriage... It- It's the most important promise two people can make to each other, joining their lives... I just don't know if I can do this again."

"Again?" Damon asked. She never talked too much about her family, he knew that she had few brothers and sister all of them vampires and her family was very old. But they weren't in speaking terms - in two years Damon knew Felicity she never spoke to either of them and only person she went to visit was Nadine. And of course she invited him to join when she went to New Orleans to the king of the quarter Marcel. But not once she mentioned ever being married or any serious relationships.

Felicity was still facing him and when she noticed slip of her tong her bright blue eyes widened. She took deep breath steadying herself, before starting her story.

"In my times people would marry young. I was sixteen when my father gave my hand to neighboring village leader's son. I was happy. My mother wanted me to marry this older man who already had four wives before, all of them died in suspicious circumstances. But Arvid - that was his name - was nice, gentle man. He became my savior, my protector. Not a year after the wedding our first son was born. Daughter and another son soon followed. It was simple life."

Felicity was shivering as she talked. Her voice was trembling, but the smile curving her lips as she mentioned her children was real even if colored by sorrow. She released his hand and went to her vanity and picked up old delicately carved wooden box standing on the edge. Coming back to sit on the bed she placed the box in between them and bit into her finger. Small drop of blood gathered in the spot where skin was pricked before it sealed. Felicity placed her finger on top of the box, letting the drop of blood land in the centre of main carving. There was small click, and box opened on its own.

Damon watched as vampire in front of him took out old, yellowed piece of paper. She was holding it gently if it was her most prized possession. Once again sorrowful smile crossed her face as she gazed at the paper, before sighting and giving it to Damon.

It was a drawing of three children. Oldest one - the boy with raven black hair and Felicity's blue eyes - about looked about eleven, twelve years old. He stood with serious expression on his face, overlooking younger ones. Next to him stood laughing girl, she was a miniature copy of Felicity with curly blond hair, blue eyes and that sunny smile. She appeared to be about seven years old. Between his older siblings sat chubby toddler, no more than two years old. He was laughing with his big sister showing off toothy smile. He was more similar to his brother but Damon could still see the hints of his love in him too.

"Eldest's name was Alfr. He was always so serious, just like one of my brothers. He was the responsible one, looking over his siblings. My little girl Eir was such a happy child. One smile from her would brighten my day even in the darkest times. She was gentle and loved all the animals." Felicity chuckled. "She would bring home injured birds from the forest asking to help them and I just couldn't turn her away. She was like one of those Disney princesses, with all animals and birds flocking around her."

Damon smiled at hers description. He would never say that out loud but he did watch some of those animated films.

"And Gunnar was my baby. He was so active. I barely managed to run after him. Even just three years old - already showing signs of magic. I had my hands full with him, and when my younger brother visited... They both together could bring down the house." Felicity smiled even if unshed tears shone in her eyes. "They were the light of my life."

The deep sadness in her eyes, her memories of her children going just this far. Damon felt his heart breaking for her. He was ready to stop himself from asking her more questions, but something in her expression told him that she wanted, needed to talk about it. That she wanted him to know, but was not sure if she could tell him without some prodding.

"What happened?" He asked softly, not wanting to spook her.

"On the other side of the forest a pack of wolves lived. One night during full moon my youngest brother Henrik, just year older that Alfr, went to the woods to look at the wolves, my other brother Nik followed after him to make sure our youngest sibling would be safe. Henrik died that night and father asked mother to find a way to make sure that our family would no longer be vulnerable to the shifters. Long story short she turned us into vampires. No one asked what we wanted, one night after dinner father stabbed us with his sword and latter we woke up craving blood." Absent mindedly Felicity traced her chest just above her heart as if feeling phantom pain from long ago.

"What about your husband and children?"

"Arvid come looking for me next day, demanding that I go home to look after children, but I couldn't leave because sun was burning my skin. He didn't understand, neither did I but still... We had a fight and he saw my vampire face, I almost ripped his throat out but thankfully Nik and Eli stopped me. He told me that I was a monster and if he saw me anywhere near him or our children he would kill me." She let out a sob. "I waited and as soon as sun set I was through the door. I went to my home and I could hear Gunnar crying but I couldn't come inside. My heart broke more every second I stood there listening to my baby wailing and couldn't do anything to stop it. To this day I've never felt so helpless."

Damon didn't know what to say. From her reaction he saw that her story didn't have a happy ending and he never was good at consoling, he never could find the words. But words in his experience didn't help in situations like this. Fortunately it looked like she didn't need any words.

"Arvid come out the house with the sword in his hands and pierced my heart with it. After waking up second time from dying after sword went through my heart in just as many days, house was empty without any sign of them. They left and I let them, because I didn't want to endanger my children. Before I could control bloodlust, another problem rose up and my sibling and I had to run to the old lands. Ten years later, when everything calmed down I came back to find them, but they already moved on. Arvid remarried, had more children and I didn't want to intrude. I couldn't offer them anything, my life was a mess. Most time we spent moving from one place to another, I didn't want it for them and they seemed happy where they were - creating families, normal life. So I watched from afar before leaving."

At the end of her story Felicity was sobbing again. Damon couldn't stand seeing her like that, so he tried to comfort blond vampire, ease the pain of the past. He gathered her in his arms, not caring that she was too lost in her memories and her sorrow. She tried to resist him at first, but her tries were half baked at best, as she was older and could easily escape from his grasp, but Damon overpowered her and drew her even colder to his chest. After a moment, his familiar scent and touch broke through her foggy mind and she went slack in his arms.

"I'm sorry." Felicity whispered huskily as she fingered wet spot on his shirt which were left by her tears.

"Hey, it's okay." He softly kissed the crown of her head. "That's why I am here."

"For me to ruin your shirt?" Felicity tried to joke, but it felt flat.

"Shh. Go to sleep now. We can talk in the morning."

She nodded her reddened eyes blinking heavily. But first she unbuttoned his shirt quickly and pushed it down his shoulders.

"What are you doing?" Damon asked.

"Wet." It was only answer Felicity gave.

"I can change."

"No." Woman mumbled already burrowing into his bare chest, placing her ear on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

Holding her tightly Damon laid down in the middle of king size bed. He didn't let go of her, instead gripping her tighter and drawing her closer. He muttered sweet nothings into her hair, calming her until her breathing evened out and she fell asleep in his arms.

Still holding her he thought about what she told him. She was turned against her will. But looking at her he could say that she strived in her supernatural life. After everything she had to through, it didn't snuff out the light in her or joy for life. She loved being alive and showed him that vampire life wasn't just about blood. Last two years living in New York she showed him evolving culture, amazing foods, street and stage performers, everything he missed while he was too immersed into strictly vampire lifestyle.

Small smile played on Damon's face while he thought about last few years he spent with her. Pleasant thoughts in addition to Felicity's steady breathing lulled him to sleep too.

FS*FS*FS

Felicity woke up slowly. It was still dark outside, only light in the room was moonlight streaming into room thought opened windows.

Bit by bit event of last evening come back to her. Original vampire felt twinge of embarrassment due to her meltdown, but talking about family she lost always brought to surface chaos of emotions. Felicity was more surprised that there were no nightmares fallowing her confession. She suspected that it was because of Damon, his presence was protecting her even in her dream state. She felt safe with him. And against her better judgment she trusted him. She felt actually better, lighter after telling him about her past and what she lost about her turn.

Felicity was feeling better, but dried tear tracks on her face was lightly pulling her skin. She shuddered even imaging how terrible she looked. So she carefully extracted herself from tight grasp Damon was holding her in and headed to the shower silently trying not to wake other sleeping vampire.

Hot water hitting her skin helped her feel even better. It washed away all signs of tears she shed last night and eased stiffness in her shoulders.

After she stepped out of the shower she didn't bother to dress. Felicity come back to the bedroom with only a towel knotted securely over her breast covering her still damp body.

Damon was still in the same position she left him in. Ring lying on his bedside table caught her attention. As if someone possessed her, Felicity come closer and picked it up to examine it. With ring still in her hand she slid into bed to resume her previous position on Damon's chest.

"It was my mother's. She gave it to me on her deathbed to give it to the one who will have my heart. It is the only thing I have of my mother and I was holding on to it for over hundred years. If you don't want to marry me it's okay, but I still want you to have it. You are The One for me."

Felicity didn't know what to say to that. But she decided to trust her heart, which was telling her to give in to the love she was feeling for Damon. So after few silent minutes she slid antique ring with pink stone on her ring finger and placed her hand on Damon's heart as she rise over him.

"I love you." Felicity whispered with conviction, before leaning closer to kiss him with passion, while her other hand untied the knot holding her towel together.