Damon's standing near the sliding glass doors in his parent's home, his palm flat against the cold glass as he watches the darkened gray smudges of clouds threaten and surround the sky; like a predator about to encircle its prey. A startling low rumble rings loud in the cool winter air, the sky roaring with satisfaction. The water droplets fall like they simply cannot think of anything better to do. There is a laziness about them, as if they can barely be bothered to conform to the will of gravity.

When he slides the door open enough to stick his hand out, the droplets splatter on his outstretched fingers. They are large and soft. He tilts them upwards and watches the remnants of the drops run downwards like tiny rivers. The sound on the roof is comforting. He can't help but think of Elena - God, he misses the way she'd barge into his office to demand answers, the soft feel of her lips on his and the slide of his body against hers when they made love. And that's what it was, he's had enough to know the difference between sex solely for pleasure's sake and something meaningful like it was with her.

Damon's tried calling her since Caroline told him she was gone. He also tried to explain everything to the blonde tornado but he couldn't get a word in edgewise, she ripped him a new one six ways from Sunday. Having gotten nowhere with her and rather than argue, he finally threw up his hands in frustration and left Elena's home. Since then, he's wanted to call her to plead his case but she deserves a face to face so he's stuck in a holding pattern till she returns.

He knows she's with her brother in law, he can't shake the uneasy feeling he has about that. With his own brusque behavior, is it possible that Elena could turn to him - Niklaus Mikaelson? His fingers curl into a fist at the thought... it's not outside the realm of the impossible. He's seen the way that man looks at her and remembers the streak of green that flashed behind his own eyes as he watched.

Although Damon made a valiant attempt to keep him in the state, Judge Forbes allowed him and his twin babies to leave for the holidays on the condition that he return to Texas by January 3rd. Truthfully he knows that Elijah Mikaelson is an ethical attorney and won't let his brother do something stupid like run away.

The thunder rolls overhead like the fury of the gods. It tumbles through the darkened clouds, spreading out into the night. Sighing, he withdraws his arm and slides the door shut. He'd love to leave it open but his mom would have his ass for getting the carpet all wet. If he was at his place, he'd leave the window open, that way he'd be able to hear the steady drumming while he turns age worn pages of a long forgotten book.

Sighing he steps away from the door and looks around. The Christmas tree is ridiculously tall for their living room. It scrapes the ceiling as his Dad wobbles on a ladder to hang the angel, Damon races over to steady it so his old man won't tumble off and break his neck. Truly the tree belongs in a forest but he suspects Ali had a hand in choosing the huge thing.

Packets of tinsel lie unopened on the floor, not just the snake kind, but the stuff that's loose strips too. His mom plugs in the lights and he can't help but smile remembering how excited he and Stefan would get to decorate it, same as Ali does now.

"What do you think?"

"It's beautiful, mom, just like always," he kisses her cheek.

Liliana scrutinizes her son then links her arm in his and drags him with her to the kitchen. The tea kettle is whistling so she pulls it off the burner, pulls a couple of mugs and hot chocolate mix out of the cupboard then mixes it up. With a twinkle in her eyes, she moves to another cupboard, lifts up a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream, adding some to each cup. After screwing the lid back on, she hands one to Damon then sits opposite of him on the kitchen table.

"Why don't you tell me what's bothering you? A girl maybe?"

"Where's your crystal ball?" he takes a swallow, "It's good," he remarks and licks off the residue from his upper lip.

"I don't have a crystal ball," she arches an eyebrow, "But I do know my son. Now talk."

"Fine, I'm working on a murder case. The victim's sister is beautiful and perfect and full of fire. I like her... a lot."

"And that's a problem?" Liliana takes a sip.

"Not in the sense that I like her but I just feel that I should close the case first, I don't want anyone to question my work based on my relationship with the victim's sister. My guys trust me and I don't want to give the appearance of impropriety. I'm a professional, I would never cross that line but I need to my actions to mimic my words. I just hope she'll be willing to wait for me."

"Explain it to her. If she cares about you the way you obviously care for her, she'll understand," she extends her arm and clutches Damon's fingers with her own.

"She's out of town for the holidays, I think she deserves more than a call, I want to talk to her in person. I have tried to reach her but my calls go straight to voice mail, or if I can leave a message, she hasn't returned any of them, not that I blame her," he adds as an afterthought in a low tone.

"I'm not going to get personal, I don't care to hear about your sex life..."

"Mom!?" his mouth drops.

"Don't act so scandalized, I'm not naïve, Damon. If you really like this girl, then be persistent, don't give up. I suspect she has a reason for giving you the cold shoulder?" she meets his eyes.

"Yep," Damon finishes what's left in his mug, stands and sets it in the sink. I'm going to my room to do a little reading, I'll see you in the morning. What time are Stefan, Rebekah and Ali coming?"

"Around 10, I'll get you up early so you can help me put the presents out."

Damon nods and pushes the kitchen door open, but turns back when she says his name. "Is there something else?"

"I just wanted to say thank you, I always love having you stay over on Christmas Eve. I love you."

"I love you too, mom," he steps over and gives her a hug when she stands. He says goodnight and leaves the kitchen for the privacy of his childhood bedroom.

"They're asleep," Nik walks into the living room and plops down on a recliner. "Thanks," he smiles at his mother when she hands him a mug full of eggnog and blackberry brandy.

"It's nice that you all could spend the holiday with us," Esther looks at Elena then moves to the rest of them, Jenna, Ric and Jeremy.

"Yes, lord knows we have plenty of room in this old estate," Mikael squeezes his wife's hand then takes a swallow from his mug.

Elena's standing by the window, watching the snow whip around as the wind stirs it up, adding to a tall drift. It's beautiful as it's illuminated by the street lights. Pressing her hand against the glass, she wonders what he's doing tonight? Does he miss her too? Although she's still angry with him, she can't shake the nagging feeling that maybe there was more to it. Maybe the next time he tries to call, she'll answer, if nothing else than to satisfy her own curiosity? She's snapped out of her thoughts when Jenna shifts and accidentally bumps her.

"Sorry," Jenna gives her arm a squeeze.

"It's fine, aunt Jenna," she listens to the soft instrumental Christmas music that's playing, takes a breath and stands up. "I don't want to be sad today but can we just take a moment to remember who's not here?" Elena raises her glass after a moment of silence, "To Katherine."

"To Katherine," Nik repeats and raises his glass followed by everyone in attendance. "I miss her so much, I wish she was here," he sets his glass down and pinches the bridge of his nose - trying to get his emotions in check.

Feeling the same, Elena stands up, walks behind him and puts her hand on his shoulder to give it a squeeze. "She's here, Nik, she wouldn't want you or any of us to be sad all the time."

Nik reaches up and squeezes her hand, "You're right, Elena." Looking at how bare the bottom of the tree is, he winks at his mother, "It's Christmas Eve, we have some presents to put out before Rebekah, Finn, Elijah and Kol's kids show up in the morning."

"I concur," Mikael sets his glass down and pulls out a piece of paper. "Nik, you, Ric and Jeremy go out to the garage and put the bikes together for Natalie and Hope. Elena, Esther and Jenna, your job is to put the doll houses together and there's many boxes to wrap. Now look, I know this Christmas has a pall on it because one of us is missing," he pauses for a moment and drops his head. "I don't want to cast a dark spell over the holiday for the children, we want them to be happy."

"You're right, dad," Nik stands up, crooks his hand for Ric and Jeremy to follow then leads them to his father's workshop to put bicycles together. Mikael quickly hurries after them. Esther leads the women to her craft and present room, where she has a multitude of gifts waiting to be wrapped. Elena's eyes nearly pop out of her head at the sight but is more than grateful for the distraction. After grabbing a roll of pretty paper, a scissors and some tape, she plops down on the floor, grabs a present and gets to work.

"Uncle Damon, will you play Barbies with me?" Ali tugs on his sleeve. She was awake at the crack of dawn to see if Santa Claus had come, fortunately Stefan made her go back to bed for a little while but it was still an early wake up call for everyone in the house.

"You want me to play Barbies?" Damon points his index finger at himself.

"Please?" she pouts and he sighs, knowing how much power that little downturn of her lower lip has over him.

"Oh Ali," he picks her up, throws her over his shoulder and runs up the stairs to her room. Setting her down, he sits on the floor with her. She thrusts a Ken doll and some clothes in his hand, telling him to change his outfit. Sighing he does what she says and looks up to find her staring at him. "Something wrong?" he asks.

"You look sad. Didn't Santa give you what you wanted?" she starts combing her doll's hair.

"No, sweetie, Santa was good to me. I was just thinking about a girl I know."

"Is she sad?" Ali looks up, takes the Ken doll and gives him a girl Barbie to dress.

"Ali, I don't know," he quickly puts the pants and shift on the blonde haired doll.

"How come?" she slides closer to him.

"Because she's with her family for Christmas. I haven't talked to her."

"Why not, can't you call her?"

"Ali, you have a million questions that I don't have answers for so how about we put the dolls down and play one of your board games or work on a puzzle instead?"

"Okay," she smiles, puts the Barbie's in their suitcase then goes into her closet and comes out with some Legos and together the two of them start to build a pirate ship.

"Finn, thank God," Nik rushes over and pulls his brother into Noah's room in the Emergency Department.

"I got a page that you were here. What's going on?"

"Noah tripped and hit the footboard, look at his eye," Nik points to the split in his son's eyebrow.

"Let's have a look Noah," he smiles at the boy whose eyes are puffy from crying and he has dried blood on his face that the nurse is cleaning off.

"Hi Finn, they were playing and it was an accident."

"He'll need a couple of sutures, getting a Mikaelson mark early young man," Finn winks at him.

"Mikaelson mark?" Elena asks, stepping forward.

"Oh hi, Elena, I didn't even notice you. All of us have gotten stitches at some point. Rebekah's is in the eyebrow same as this, Nik had a bike wreck, his scar is on the knee, Elijah sliced a finger cutting some watermelon, Kol wrecked his motorcycle and tore up his elbow, do you need me to continue?" he laughs.

"No," she shakes her head, "Will it leave a scar?"

"It'll fade and be barely noticeable as he grows up." Finn puts some sterile gloves on and takes a syringe while the nurse holds up the vial of lidocaine.

"I think I'll step out, I don't want to watch," Elena picks up her purse, steps out of the room and goes in search of a soda machine. Finding one outside the ED in the waiting room, she digs some coins out and drops them in the machine, stooping to pick it up when it drops. Opening the can she takes a long swallow then starts to walk back to Noah's trauma room.

"Katherine?"

She doesn't move, she doesn't even breathe, she's frozen to the spot. She can feel her heart pounding in her chest...

Lub dub.

Lub dub.

The hairs on her arms and neck bristle, and a chill marches down her spine. The beating gets louder and louder in a cacophonous thrumming rhythm. She slowly swings around...

In front of her is a man with the name Dr. Maxfield embroidered on his lab coat.

Elena's fingers go flaccid and the soda can crashes to the floor...

Hi everyone. How's day ? of quarantine. I can't wait till it's over. I'm lucky, I can go to work but it's still monotonous. Thank you all so much for all your support for this fic. There's so many other great writers on this site. We're just one of many trying to extend the DE legacy. Thank you Eva.

Chapter title: Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms.

I hope you all are able to have a terrific weekend despite our circumstances. Be safe and take care, sending hugs and love. We'll see you next week.