Damon Pov
...
She was mad, pissed even, but she said that she would forgive me, eventually, if I was on good behavior. I closed my eyes for the thousandth time, trying to get sleep, because I needed it, really bad. We had all stayed up pretty late, well, the guys and me, at least. Just playing cards, drinking, messing around. Ansel was proving to be fun to hang around. Of course, the girls had gone to bed early, them being the more 'sensible' and smart ones. I hadn't seen Stefan and Caroline though I wasn't worried they used to be good friends. So they were probably, just catching up. Luna was already in bed resting, Klaus was with her, and I was okay with that but not completely.
Since, I was, quote on quote, 'a little overprotective,' according to my girlfriend. Who I loved, more than life itself.
But I think I was always going to be overprotective when it came to her. Luna was like a daughter to me, I pick her up when she falls down, and then I am there to dust her off when she does it again. I comfort her when something is wrong, or she is down, and I want to rip anyone's heart out, who hurts her. Luna was fragile. Enemies, popping up out of nowhere and dealing with her breakdowns. Still, I was confident that I would be able to handle it. I handled it before all those months ago, of course, with the help of Cami and Rebekah. Though I think I helped her more than they did with some things. She was important, to me, and I made a promise to myself that if it ever came down to it, I was not going to let her die, if given the choice, I would die for her in an instant, better me than her. I trusted Klaus a lot more than any other guy that wanted to be around her, or with her. If I had the power, I would've made them get together. So I could sleep peacefully, knowing that no one was ever going to hurt her again. Especially not with Klaus around, and she would be happy. They both would be. I would be satisfied because she was happy and safe, and so on and so on. It was a win, win for everyone, really.
I punched my pillow repeatedly, trying to get it to soften up. It closely resembled a rock right now. I looked over at Cami. Worried that I had woken her up, but she remained sound asleep. Even though usually she was a very light sleeper. Today had been rough, for her, and everyone else but especially for Luna.
I laid back down, this time I just thought about something boring. Like chess, or that twilight book series that Caroline made me read. I shuddered at the thought of those books. I still had nightmares about it.
I thought about that one night we were in the compound me, Luna, and Cami. Everyone had gone out for something, and we were all three of us, left to ourselves. Luna being curious, perked up when I mentioned twilight, and how much I wasn't a die-hard fan, not a fan at all. And so did Cami, she perked up just like Luna when I had mentioned it, apparently, she had read the whole book series multiple times (shudder). She had even seen the movies at least twice, hell even Elijah has seen them. Although the only comment he had for all the movies was that they had a nice soundtrack, and to be honest, they did. So Luna, Cami, and I sat in my room watching all of the movies. I sat between Luna and Cami, my arms around both of them as we watched the series. On my bed wrapped up in a thick, soft, comforter that Josette had given me as a gift because I was always complaining about how cold I was. Luna seemed very taken, she had said that this movie was relateable for her, although she never told me the reason why. After she said, that I noticed that Cami had given her this all-knowing look, and I remember wanting to know why it was so relatable for her, but she never told me. Now that I know her better, it wasn't that hard to figure out. Looking back even at that time, I was surprised that I had missed it. We somehow accomplished this in one night. Of course, we did have some help; soda, carmel pop-corn (with the peanuts), chips, Cheetos, and sour patch kids (the most important, snack in my opinion, but that's if you asked me. Luna and Cami weren't a fan of the colorful sour-tasting worms, in fact, they dis-tested them). As I thought more about that night, I found myself drifting away, further and further into sleep.
...
My plan must have worked because when I opened my eyes, I wasn't in my bed, with Cami lying beside me. I was alone lying on the grass, an unusually soft grass.
I stood looking and taking an observation of my surroundings.
This could be bad, very bad. But it felt comforting here, for some reason, I couldn't explain. The sun was shining brightly, it had to be at least noon by the positioning of the sun, the sky was a pleasant forget-me-not blue, and there were no clouds to ruin it.
There were flowers and butterflies everywhere. That was another thing I noticed that wasn't normal. Different species of butterflies didn't just cluster together, and as far as I knew, there weren't any butterflies the size of books. Hope would have been happy here, she loves butterflies and flowers. I hoped this wasn't some Alice and Wonderland type deal, because I didn't have time for that. I just wanted to sleep, and have no dreams. Was that too much to ask for?
I spun around, feeling like I was being watched my senses on high alert. I strained, trying to hear something, anything, but I heard nothing. I didn't smell anything odd either. I turned around to find something behind me, but it was not a person but a thing. There was now a playground behind me. I shook my head, thinking that this was so bizarre. I gave in, sitting on the end of one of the many slides.
"This is so trippy," I said, touching the slide and the wood chips at the bottom. Just to make sure that I wasn't seeing things. This had to be a dream, but everything feels real. Everything felt right if that made sense.
But this couldn't be real, could it?
"Ohh, it is," said a voice. I jumped up, hitting my head on the slide. That voice sounded oddly familiar, like I had heard it before.
"Damn," even that hurt, okay something was up. I just hoped that I wasn't stuck in here. I'm sure it's happened to someone, but I didn't want it to happen to me. I wanted to drink so more egg-nog tomorrow. I also had to go Christmas shopping, and that was just stressful by itself. And Cami, of course, Luna too, I didn't want to leave them behind, couldn't. I hadn't pissed of any witches recently, or at least I hoped I hadn't.
"What is?" I asked, standing up, walking away from the slide, looking around, trying to see where that voice had come from.
"This place, everything in here is real, you should trust your feelings more often."
I blanched and turned around, surprised to see Bonnie standing there. But her clothes weren't bloody, and she didn't have the dark circles around her eyes. She wore a simple light blue dress, and her hair was long and plaited neatly and evenly. She was smiling widely, a clear sign that she was happy.
"Bonnie?" I asked, still not sure if it was truly her.
She didn't look dead. Her body wasn't riddled with bullets like Kathrine and hers had been before they were burned.
This could potentially be some witch's tricks, and that would make me sad. I hoped this was real, and really Bonnie. It was possible, wasn't it? She nodded, "It's always good to see you Damon. I've missed you. It's nice to see you not so angry. Standing here, looking confused as always."
Bonnie took my hand and started leading me into the woods. She gave me a hug, and I hugged her back. It looked like Bonnie, it smelled like Bonnie, and it felt like Bonnie.
Could it really be her?
She led me away from the playground and away from the surprisingly soft green grass. "Where are we going?" I asked, and she said nothing at first, just smiled.
"I am taking you to see her. She's been waiting for you." I dropped her hand, stepping back. Getting a bad feeling.
Could I trust her? Should I?
No, that in itself would be too dangerous...
She could be someone else...
"How do I know if I can trust you?" I asked, stepping further away from her, as she continued to walk closer to me.
"What do you feel, Damon?" She asked, putting her hands on the sides of my face, looking into my eyes. I shifted my feet, feeling uncomfortable at her sudden closeness, sure maybe this was in some dream state. But I was still in a very committed and serious relationship with the woman of my dreams. She was everything I could have ever asked for. She was beautiful, smart, funny, and a great personality. She made me feel like I was someone, someone great. Someone who mattered, someone with a purpose.
I honestly don't know who or what I would be without Cami and Luna.
Probably a homeless drunk vampire, with a perfectly good home to go to, with the people he cared about. But he was just too stubborn. In all honesty, if I would have never met Cami or Luna. I would have gone back. Back to Elena, to try and win her heart. Knowing that in the end, I would never be good enough for her, that she would always choose Stefan over me. But I already had someone, someone amazing, someone I wouldn't trade for Elena. Caroline had said that she ended her life, even if she was still alive, I wouldn't choose her over Cami.
I decided to answer honestly. "I feel like I should trust you, that I should let you take me wherever you're taking me. But-" I started to say, but she cut me off by putting her finger on my lips.
"Then that's what you should do. Always trust your feelings, they will always lead you down the right path," she said, reaching down grabbing my hand again, but this time I didn't pull away. I wanted to see where she was going to take me.
She closed her eyes, and I copied her. When I opened them up again, I wasn't at a playground surrounded by grass, and forest. I was in a house, not just any house, though.
"Why are we at Elena's house?" I asked, looking at Bonnie. She again said nothing but smiled.
"You will see soon."
I nodded, still feeling confused and frustrated as ever. "Goodbye, old friend. You won't be seeing me any time soon. Enjoy your life, don't make the same mistakes I did. If you have a choice, no matter what it always choose what you feel is right. Take care of yourself. Thank you for being there for me when no one else was, and being my friend when I needed one."
Her eyes were watery, and her lower lip had started to tremble. Instinctively I reached down and hugged her. She pulled away, looking me up and down before smiling again. "And remember what I said, always trust your feelings. They will help you when nothing else will, I guarantee it."
Bonnie then started walking back, slowly away from me. She then turned, running up and hugging me again. I laughed a little. Even in this dream state, Bonnie was still a hugger, but I didn't mind she had always been one of those people that once they were your friend they would never leave you or give up on you no matter what.
"Sorry," she muttered, pulling away from me and looking down, ashamed. "I just couldn't help myself," she said, still looking down.
"Hey, don't be, sorry I missed you too. Even if this is only some crazy messed up dream that my head came up with. I want you to know that," I said, sticking my finger under her chin, making her look up at me. I pulled her into another hug. Then as quickly as she came, she disappeared in my arms literally, fading away.
Leaving me all alone in the empty Gilbert household.
I shook my head, I had drunk too much. Having crazy dreams like this, but why did it feel so real?
Before I drove myself crazy, I walked around the room, desperately trying to clear my head. The fireplace was exactly, how I remembered it. The walls even felt the same as I ran my hand against them, and they were even the same color. Pictures that had been destroyed by the fire, had now been restored, or so it seems. I remember when we re-built the house from the ground up, we tried to find the same things that had been in there. Like the furniture, the floor tiles, the color of the walls, the fireplace. But we couldn't find everything that looked the same, and that seemed to upset Elena even more if that was even possible. I remember her breaking down on the floor, crying over and over again because the floor hadn't been the exact model as it was before. She just repeated over and over again how it was wrong and that it needed to go back.
I walked further into the house. Reliving memories, the food fights, and the real fights we had here. Past the kitchen, and the living room. Everything was identical to the way it was before, even though this house was supposed to be burnt down. I found myself going up the stairs, past Jeremy's room and into Elena's. I smiled a little walking inside. Her bed was always made, and her room, always crazy clean. Even after Jeremy died, she kept it clean. Even when she was drunk out of her mind, if the smallest spec of dust was on the floor, she would lose it. Tearing everything apart, then putting it back together again. Change was not good around Elena, she liked to keep things the same.
I sat on the edge of her bed, and thought about all those times I used to sneak up here, in her room. When our enemies consisted of the whole Mikealson family. I didn't miss those days, and I frequently regretted some of the choices I made. I'm not going to lie, I cared very deeply for her. Still did, and I always would care for her, even though she was gone.
"You know I always thought that was creepy at first, you watching me sleep. But now I realize how endearing that was, and I should've told you how much I appreciated it."
Elena looked like the first time I had seen her. She was standing there not too far away from me. Wearing a red t-shirt that accented her body, showing the great figure she had, wearing a pair of jeans that flared out a little at the bottom.
"Elena?" I asked, it could've been one of those doppelgangers for all I knew. I only knew of Kathrine and Tatia, but there could be more. Elena was the only one who knew I used to watch her sleep, for hours sometimes, even all night. And that was all I needed to confirm it was her, even if this was all just some crazy dream that I was having.
She smiled, and that's when I knew it was her. Kathrine's smile wasn't warm, it was the exact opposite. I've never seen Tatia before, but I felt like this was Elena. I decided to listen to Bonnie and trust my feelings even if I was wrong. I wanted to try it.
She ran forward and hugged me. I stood there, frozen for a moment, not knowing what to do. I decided to hug her back, just like old times. Whenever Stefan wasn't there she would hug me instead, and I enjoyed those little moments as a friend.
Elena took my hand and led me to the bed, to sit down. "I never thought I was being creepy. At first, I just wanted to be around you as much as possible, because of her, Kathrine. Because the two of you looked exactly alike. I missed her. Then you spoke, and I wanted to know you more. You were different."
Elena smiled and patted my shoulder. We were now laying down, it was something we did before Jeremy died and everything went to shit. It wasn't romantic, at least not for me, not now anyway. It was just comforting to be able to do it again, even if this was all still some crazy dream.
"I've missed you so much. Stefan too," she said, her head now laying on my arm. Her hair was just as silky, straight, and as long as I remembered. Cami's hair was blonde, different shades of it throughout. Her hair was wavy and usually down around her shoulders. Her hair remained me of the suns, soft and enlightening.
"I miss you too, every day. You didn't have to do that thing..." I said trailing, off. Not being able to say the word. It hurt too much to even think about. Even if this was real like Bonnie had said, I would wake up next to Cami, and walk downstairs to find that one of my closest friends wouldn't be there. I didn't want to believe that this was real, because then she was gone. And I didn't think that I could accept that, at least not yet anyway. I didn't think he wanted to admit it, but Stefan took it better than I did.
"What kill myself?" Elena asked, picking her head off my arm, looking at me. Her eyebrows raised, she did this when she was confused. I shuddered when she said that sentence. Not being able to help it. It still made me sick to my stomach, just thinking about that.
"What?" She asked, tilting her head to the side, confused. I had just gotten up, my head in my hands. Uhhh, I was so stupid for thinking for a second, just a second, that all of this madness could be real. I was essentially, getting myself all worked up for nothing.
I threw my hands up in the air, growing more frustrated as the seconds and minutes of silence passed by. The air was tense like it was about to storm, at least that's what it felt like.
"Well, I don't know, Elena, this is all crazy. I mean, you can't be talking to me because your dead, and so is Bonnie besides, theoretically, if this was real, which by the way it's not, wouldn't you rather say goodbye to Stefan and not me. We both know that you loved him the most," I said, making her frown. She was standing now, her arms folded across her chest.
"Damon, I love both you and Stefan equally. You were one of my best friends, and you just left."
"What did you want me to do, Elena? Watch you fall apart every day, and be there to pick up all the pieces. That sounds more like Stefan's job than mine. I couldn't handle it anymore. It hurt me to see you like that, I beat myself up every day. I still do. I still blame myself," I muttered, folding my arms against my chest.
"I'm not mad at you, and I don't blame you for leaving. I'm a little glad that you did. I never was mad at you. I was sad that you left. I just simply stated the truth. And if you can't handle the truth, then you need to leave." She said, stepping to the side, allowing me to see her bedroom door.
"What can't I handle?" I asked, frustrated with all of this. Was I just arguing with my subconscious that had taken the form of first Bonnie, and now Elena? I told myself to sit back and relax because Jeremy was next.
Elena sneered up at me, looking more like Kathrine but with straighter hair. She pointed her finger angrily at me as she spoke.
"UHHH! I just can't believe you. That right there! You always doubt everything and everyone, even yourself! Can't you just believe for one second that this is something unexplainable? Can't you just live with the fact that I'm dead, and I am not coming back? Even if I could, I wouldn't want to..." She said, her voice growing slightly softer towards the end.
"You are dead, but the thing is everybody seems to forget that no one ever stays dead, not in Mystic Falls anyway. Besides, I already have a plan to bring you back, I have a good friend-"
"You mean Luna," Elena said, and I nodded. She shook her eyes. "You would ask her to risk her life and well-being to bring me back? She is going through a lot right now, and she has more hard times to come. She needs a break, even if it's just a short one," Elena said, and I heard her grit her teeth.
"Well, when you say it like that, just remember that I have other witch friends."
"No, Damon, you don't understand, I don't want to come back, I'm happy here. I am at peace, and for once in my life, I feel whole."
I shook my head, not wanting to believe that this could be it, for our friendship. I didn't want to lose another friend. "I just don't want to lose you."
It became aware to me that I was fighting back tears.
I didn't want this dream or whatever it was to end. Because when I woke up, she wouldn't be there, and I wanted her, to be there as my friend. I wanted her to be in my life. I wanted her to meet Cami and Luna. I just knew that the three of them would get along great together. Maybe not Luna so much, that's counting the fact if Elena still hated Klaus.
"Hey, it's okay." She said, walking up to me, wrapping her small arms around my torso. And we stood there for a while.
"No, it's not, I shouldn't have left you. I should have stayed-" I started off mumbling into her shoulder, but she cut me off.
"And what delay the inevitable, it would have happened sooner with or without you. And besides, you had to leave, to meet her," Elena said stepping away from me, and grabbing a tissue from her dresser, handing it to me. I blew my nose and grabbed another wiping my eyes.
"It's okay to cry, don't be ashamed. Real men cry and show their emotions. Chic's dig it."
"Thank's El," I said, using my old nickname I gave her.
"And you are very welcome, by the way, Demon," she said, and I shook my head at the use of the nickname she gave me. I guess I deserved that she had always hated that nickname.
"How do you know about her?" I asked, turning to Elena. She smiled, "Don't freak out, but I do sometimes watch over you."
I smiled and hugged her again, tightly, not wanting to let her go. "I don't want you to go, do I have to go? Why can't I just stay here with you?" I said into her hair.
She sighed, pulling away from me. She drew back her fist and punched me in the shoulder. Oww, that hurt.
"What the hell was that for?" I asked, still astonished that it had hurt me. She laughed, I'm guessing, because of the expression on my face.
"Well, you said something really, stupid. And I'm not apologizing because you deserved it," Elena said, matter of fact. Folding her arms over her chest again, but this time she had a more playful tone of voice, and there was a mischievous gleam in her eye.
The kind that she only wore when we would take turns pranking Alaric and his girlfriend Josette.
"I know you want to stay, but you have a great life back home. I didn't, I have anything to go back to. Besides, I have everything I need here. And if there's anything wrong, or someone is trying to kill you or anyone back home. Just have someone kill you or knock you out, temporarily, of course, and I'll be here waiting. Helping you and giving you advice if I can. I had to pull a lot of strings to get you here."
Her facial expression was no longer playful, the mischievous, gleam in her eyes gone, replaced by a more of a somber expression on her face.
I frowned at her words, feeling down again. "I know, but what about you, it just feels wrong. You being up here and me being down there isn't right. Maybe we aren't meant to be in love, but we are meant to be friends, I know that much," I said, and Elena laughed again, it sounded nice hearing her laugh again.
Maybe she was really happy here. And maybe, that meant that this wasn't all some crazy dream I was having, that this was all real. Elena laughed a little again walking up to me, her hands on her hips. She usually did this when she about to say something sassy, kind of like Caroline, actually the more I thought about it. Maybe Elena had got it from her, it seemed like a reasonable explanation.
I nervously stepped back, worried about what she was going to do. I didn't really like this side of her, it was too much like Kathrine.
She lunged forward, grabbing my ear, bringing me down to her level. "Owwww!" I yelled, protesting, but she didn't let me go.
"Now you listen to me, Damion Salvatore, you will not, and I repeat you will not whine or complain about me being up here and you being down there. You have a good life, a great life. You are an amazing father figure for Luna, what would happen to her if you left? And don't you dare say that she would be fine. What about Stefan and the Mikealson's, you can't just leave them one less brother, they need you, whether you realize that or not, but they do. And what about Cami, did you ever thank about how she would feel, how they would feel? She wouldn't get over you, not ever. You would ruin her life, is that what you want. Do you want to be selfish-"
I cut her off ripping, her hand off of my ear. "Ohhh," I said, laughing unamusingly, pointing to myself.
"You want to accuse me of being selfish, me? Elena, you are the selfish one. I mean, come on, really? You took your own life because you were depressed-" She caught me off guard, slapping at my chest a couple of times, but it wasn't playful like all of those other times had been in the past.
"I was broken, Damon, broken. Do you understand what that means, what that feels like? I had lost my aunt, the closest thing to a mother that I had left. The person who would make me breakfast and a cup of coffee every day before I went to school. The person that when I came home, she would ask me how my day was. The woman who had put her life on hold to take care of Jeremy and me when our parents had died in that awful accident, she was gone. I wouldn't ever get to taste her coffee again or learn how she ever made hot chocolate so good. Because she was gone, and there was nothing I could do. I had lost my brother, my little brother, Damon. Who I used to read bed-time stories to him when I was five years old when my mom and dad didn't have the time or the means to do it. I saved up all of my allowance money around Christmas time, just so I could get him something nice for Christmas, because Santa never really got him anything good. I used to lie for him, whenever he would sneak out. I hated it because I knew he was outgoing to parties, getting drunk, and high. Coming home, completely wasted. But I covered for him because I knew he would do the same for me. After all, he loved me, and I loved him. I had lost my home. The place where I grew up. When it burned down, I didn't know what to do or what to think. I didn't just lose the furniture and the floors. I had lost the irreplaceable pictures of me, Aunt Jenna, and Jeremy. I even had a few pictures of Jeremy, me, and our parents. It wasn't much, but that's all I had left of them, but that was gone too. It was like they never existed, and all I had were a few memories. Yes, I flunked out of med school, because of the drinking and the self-medicating. But Jeremy used to do it all the time, someone needed to fill that place. Was it wrong? Yes. Did it make me feel like I now shared something with Jeremy? Yes. Did it make me feel better because I didn't have to live in the reality that I had none of my family left? Yes. I did all of those things because it made me feel numb. I felt like I could just not worry or feel sad about anything, because I couldn't feel anything anymore. And I liked that feeling, it was a whole hell of a lot better than crying on the floor, trying to hold yourself together, but always knowing that you wouldn't be able to help yourself, or pick yourself up because you felt so weak and powerless, and miserable. Yes, I had you, Matt, Vicki, Stefan, Bonnie, Alaric, Jo, and even Caroline, but I always felt like I was taking up you guys' time to have fun and just live your life because I was always to busy moping around. I didn't want you to feel sorry for me, hell I didn't want to feel sorry for me, not anymore. I took my life. I couldn't handle the pain anymore because I had no reason to go on, no one to live for. Even though you guys' were the greatest, friends I could ever ask for, you would never compare to my family; you all lacked the love of a mother, the pride of a father, the lessons of an aunt, and the unconditional love and adoration of a little brother. And it's not your fault, I don't blame anyone. And you shouldn't either. But don't you dare accuse me of being selfish, because I couldn't take it. You let me know when you feel broken enough, to take off your daylight ring and burn. When you feel the flesh melt off your bones, when you feel, your body incinerates, into nothing but ash. You call me, and you let me know."
Elena turned to leave before I could say anything.
I heard whistling, it sounded like it was coming from behind me. I turned around surprised to see who was standing there.
"You just had to piss her off again. I thought you would have learned not to do that, after all this time. But I guess you still have a lot to learn." Jeremy said, holding a lighter and what looked like a cigarette between his fingers.
"Are you smoking in here?" I asked, shocked, I wondered if they had bourbon up here because I really needed one right now. Even though my head was pounding. "Dude, I am here at peace. I get to do whatever I want." He said, taking a puff from his cigarette.
"You want some?" Jeremy offered. I shook my head, "Oh no, thanks bud, you can have that all to yourself. You deserve it more than I do."
"Oh, would you cut the shit, damn, Damon? I go off and die, and you go as soft as a teddy bear's ass. What the hell happened to the badass Damon Salvatore who loved to break girls' hearts' including my sister's, which you keep doing over and over again even when she is dead, it's sad really," he said, taking another drag from his cigarette. I smiled, shaking my head. His attitude still hasn't changed.
"I missed you to Jeremy," I said, and he nodded, his face turning sincere, almost sad but only for a moment.
"Yeah, well, I miss being alive, but I'm over that. Now I get to sit up here in this after-life- peace shit and drink my life away," He paused looking at me, "Well, not my life per se but my afterlife, for lack of a better word."
I nodded, laughing along with him.
"So which one of us is going to do it first?" Jeremy asked, taking a long drag from his cigarette and blowing it in my face.
"Do what?" I asked, confused. Jeremy rolled his eyes, annoyed. "We both know you need a hug, it's okay to admit that," he said, patting me on the back, before tossing his cigarette out of Elena's window, she used to hate it when he smoked in her room because the smoke would stink it up and ruin the walls.
"Whoa, Jeremy, saying a whole twelve worded sentence, and not one word was a cuss word."
I pulled him in for a hug. Jeremy was right, I had needed one. Even though I wasn't 100%, I still felt a lot better than I had a few minutes ago.
I was the one who pulled away, I could tell it was killing Jeremy to have hugged me for so long. I could tell that much because of how loose his arms were, and how tense his body was.
Jeremy had never been much of a huger, but I was thankful that he was at least trying.
"Thank's man, I really appreciated that." Jeremy smiled, pulling a bottle of pills out of his jacket. I shook my head, watching him throw them into his mouth.
"It's no problem really, but don't expect me to hug your sorry ass every time. That's why you have Elena and that blonde girl of yours Cami."
I smiled here, I thought he was different even in this weird dream state, I was expecting peaceful, but his mood swings hadn't changed at all. I was happy that he remained the same. Except here, he was a little laid back, and more confident.
"How's Vicki?" He asked, now holding a bottle of vodka in his hand. I frowned and said, "huh," not hearing what he said. To busy thinking, in my own little world.
Jeremy sighed, "Christ take this, you need it more than me. Could you try not to act so damn desperate?"
He handed me a bottle of vodka. I un-capped it and tipped the bottle up, emptying the scalding liquid into my throat. I shook my head. I could even get drunk in here and face no consequences. That sounded like a dream, maybe that's why this wasn't completely real.
"Now, could you please answer the damned question?" Jeremy said, sounding aggravated and agitated. Oh no, here we go with the mood swings. I shrugged, not knowing what he was talking about.
"Okay, well, it's obvious that you don't need this now," Jeremy said, snatching the bottle of vodka out of my hands and throwing it on the floor. The glass shattered onto the floor. Since Elena had so many rugs in her room, the vodka went there. Absorbed, into a soft pink one. I think I remember Caroline getting it for her. She was rather fond of it, she wasn't going to be happy with me and Jeremy. But since she was already mad, she was probably going to blame it on me.
"Jeremy, what is going on up there. Does mama Jenna need to come up there?" I smiled. Not having heard Jenna speak in a while, it was good to hear her again. I wondered if I was going to see her, in this dream state, of course, because none of this was real.
He rolled his eyes at me before yelling. "Nope, everything is fine, Aunt Jenna, I'll be down in a little bit."
"Jer, you know how we've talked about you drinking and smoking before dinner. No one likes it when you smell like that stuff, if you're doing any of that right now, please take a shower like we talked about. When we are trying to eat your mother's meatloaf, we don't need to smell cigarette smoke and vodka under your breath. And believe me, honey, that's hard enough," Jenna yelled, causing me to laugh a little. Jeremy smiled too, shaking his head at me.
"What was the question?" I asked, Jeremy, and he looked at me before tipping yet another bottle of vodka in his mouth completely draining the contents from the glass bottle into his stomach. He sighed, setting it down.
"How is Vicki? V-i-c-k-i fucking Donovan. Matt's sister, you know the one you turned." Jeremy said, and I frowned at the mention of Vicki's name. It's been so long since I've heard it.
"Ohh, yeah, Vicki and Matt, uhh, yeah they are both doing fine," I said, scratching the back of my neck, subconsciously. I didn't know what to say. As soon as I woke up from this dream, I was going to have to call both her and Matt and ask them how they were doing.
"You lying son of a bitch-" Jeremy started out, but the door burst open, banging onto the wall, it had been opened with so much force.
"Come on, kiddo. Oh, hi Damon, shouldn't you be waking up by now." Jenna said, walking over and giving me a hug.
She then took my hand, and Jeremy's leading us down the stairs.
"Alright, you have one chance to apologize to her, and only one chance you don't have that much time left. I like your girlfriend, by the way, she's cute, Camille is a french name, so she is a keeper, nice hair, and she has a cute butt," Jenna said, pushing me into the living room. I sighed, seeing Elena standing there. Her back to me, her face to the roaring fire in the fireplace instead. Jeremy pushed me closer to Elena folding his arms and glaring at me.
I decided that the best thing to do would be to approach her slowly and carefully. Since right, now we weren't exactly on the best terms at this moment in time.
I bent down, wrapping my arms around her small torso like I used to. Whenever, she used to be mad at me. I put my head on top of hers.
"I'm sorry, El, I didn't mean to hurt you like that. I know that saying sorry isn't good enough, but I want you to know that I am. I just miss you that's all, honest. You are right, I don't know what being broken feels like, and I hope I never do. And I'm sorry that you had to feel that pain. I feel sorry for anyone who has to get through that," I said, hoping to have pleased her with my apology.
Usually, when I apologized, it was never this sincere, and I was always sarcastic, hopefully, she saw how much I meant it this time.
She turned around, hugging me back, her head was now on my chest.
"Don't be sorry. You'll waste your life away if you keep going on like this. You have to let me go. You have to know and feel that it wasn't your fault. You have to let Jeremy's, Bonnie's, and Aunt Jenna's deaths go too. Just because you didn't get there in time doesn't mean it's your fault. Stop blaming yourself for something you had no control over. You have to let go, it's the only way you are going to get past this and move on with your life."
"For once, she's right you know. You have to let go, just like I let go of Vicky," Jeremy said walking to stand beside me and his sister. "You let go of Vicki?" I asked, turning to Jeremy.
He scoffed, "Well, yeah, I mean, what the hell was I supposed to do, keep dating her when I was a ghost. Hmm, I can only imagine the great dinners we would have had. Oh and, going out dating in public..." Jeremy said, and I rolled my eyes. He could be so sarcastic sometimes.
Elena seemed to be annoyed too because she punched him in the arm. In the exact same place, she punched, me. "Damn it," Jeremy said, glaring at Elena. She put her hands on her hips and frowned at him.
"Come on, Jer! Can't you just be serious, just this once?" Elena said in a disapproving tone, and Jeremy's frown only seemed to increase. Before he slowly turned to me.
"Yes, Damon, I let go of Vicki because she is alive and I'm not, it's as simple as that. Now are you happy, can't you just get off my back?" He said, turning to Elena, who was still glaring at him, her brows furrowed.
"Well, Jeremy, if you want me off your back, I suggest you start telling the truth and the whole truth," Elena said, and Jeremy, for once, seemed to have no comeback. He now had the expression on his face he wore in the room when he first saw me. It was almost somber, sincere, just sad, really.
"Okay, so, maybe I didn't give up on her right away, maybe I didn't let her go right away, it just hurt knowing we couldn't be together anymore. Then I found out that she wasn't going to be alone, heartbroken, and crying over me forever. I found out that someone else was going to come along. Someone better than me. I am at peace with the fact that eventually, someone is going to come along and heal her broken heart. I am at peace with the fact that she is not going to be alone forever, that she is going to be fine, happy even."
Elena rubbed him on the shoulder, trying to comfort him. "Is he with her now?" I asked, more confused than ever. Jeremy's somber expression turned more peaceful than sad.
"No, he hasn't arrived yet," Jeremy said, smiling at my expression.
"I am very confused," I said, and Jeremy and Elena both sent me sympathetic looks.
"Well, I don't understand all of this shit either, thinking about it too much get's my head spinning you know, so I just don't really think, up here you just go with the flow," Jeremy said, lighting yet another cigarette, with the same lighter he used before, Vicki had gotten him that same one for Christmas, he would go threw them so fast like they were nothing. I nodded, and Elena looked at the watch on her hand. I smirked seeing it, Stefan had got her that for her birthday, a couple of years ago.
"Well, you have to go, and remember what we said. Bonnie too," Elena muttered, hugging me again. Then Jeremy hugged me too, although it wasn't as long as Elena's was it still made me good, and warm and fuzzy on the inside.
"How do I know you guys are going to be alright?" I asked, not wanting whatever this was to end, at least a part of me did. The other part wanted to leave make peace and live my life, taking the advice that everyone had given me to heart.
"Look, we are fine, we aren't going anywhere. You can't even really get in trouble here. But you have to go, and live your life. You, my friend, have a beautiful destiny, and if you mess it up by not leaving here, I am personally going to kick your ass."
Jeremy took a long drag from his cigarette.
Elena left me to stand beside her brother. "Yeah, I agree with what he was saying, you are going to have a wonderful life filled with surprises. And if you don't leave-"
"Or what?" I said, interrupting Elena. "What are you going to do kick my ass, like your brother?" I asked, and she frowned at me.
"No, I believe she was going to say we were."
A voice said, and I turned around to see Aunt Jenna. With a dis-grunted expression on her face. She walked over to stand between Elena and Jeremy, right where she should be.
"Tell Vicki that she will always have a ghost to back her up, for anything," Jeremy said, stepping forward to hug me one more time.
"Of course, I'll call her as soon as I get out of this dream or whatever this is." Jeremy nodded, appearing to be satisfied. I patted him on the back, I was going to miss his 'go fuck off and die attitude.'
"Tell Alaric that I wish for him and Josette to be happy because they both deserve it," Jenna said, rocking back and forth and the ball of her feet, she happened to do this whenever she was nervous.
I nodded, planning to call him too if I still had the number, he changes it frequently throughout the year.
"I will," I said, and she smiled, walking over to me, standing on her tippy-toes, kissing me on the cheek, and giving me a short hug before walking back to stand in-between Elena and Jeremy.
Elena stepped forward, wrapping her arms around my neck, pulling me in close. "Tell Stefan and Caroline that I never meant to hurt them, not this way or any way. I just wanted to be free, from everyone. Free from the pain, I wanted to make my own choices, and not let anyone decide what was best for me. Only I can make that choice, and I did. That's why I am here right now, talking to you. I wanted to tell you how sorry, I was and I wanted to say goodbye. I hope you can forgive me," she said her voice, breaking at the last word.
"This isn't goodbye, and I forgive you, I'm sure that Stefan and Caroline will too," I said, hugging her again.
"I mean you will always have a place in my heart, just reserved for you, and only you. Not that he would ever admit it, but I think Stefan does too, and I am sure that he always will. If somehow, someway, I have children, I will tell them about you. This isn't the end, I am sure that there will be some rouge witch or vampire trying to kill me. Then you could help, and if not. You are free to come to haunt my room, and my house if I ever get one. Just don't stand over me and start possessing dolls because then you will have to leave."
Elena laughed, putting her head into my shoulder. I rubbed her back trying to soothe her, but she just cried anyway.
"Come on, dear, it's his time," Jenna said, pulling Elena, gently off me. Elena nodded, standing up on her tippy-toes, grabbing my face kissing me on both of my cheeks, and turning to leave, to stand beside Jenna.
"Okay, Damon, I need you to think about how much you want to leave, and then leave," Jenna said, and Jeremy frowned.
"That's it, we pulled all those strings and shit, but all he has to do is think about how much he wants to go home. Man, that's a bunch of-" Jeremy started out saying, but Jenna cut him off.
"I know it's not, but that's just how it works, and by the way, I completely agree with you."
"So, I just think about how much I want to go home, and I'll just be there?" I asked, and the three of them folded their arms over their chest in sync, glaring at me.
"What the fuck did Aunt Jenna just say, you are just stalling," Jeremy said, shaking his head.
"I love you guys," I said, opening my eyes to look at them. "Yes, yes we love you to Damon. But you need to wake up, can't you hear her calling you?" Jenna asked, pointing at the ceiling. It was silent for a moment, before I heard it, her.
Cami calling my name, worriedly.
"Go to her, Damon," Elena said, the ghost of a smile on her face.
I smiled, closing my eyes, thinking about Cami and Luna. I had to go Christmas shopping for them, and that was a big motivator for me. It would be the first Christmas that we would all be together as a family. Well, not Luna and Klaus, Hayley and Elijah, because they were more than that, even if they were too blind to see it for themselves.
I felt strange like I was floating almost, I looked down to see that I was fading away. It kind of reminded me of the Thanos snap from the comic books, Josh for some godly un-known reason loved those things. He was the comic book nerd of our family. The Mikealson one.
They waved at me, and I nodded at them before I was in the darkness again.
...
I opened my eyes and regretted that in an instant. The sun had blinded me. I still sat up searching for something warm, but I found no one. Cami wasn't here, at least not in bed with me anyway. I sat up smelling breakfast.
"Oh, it's good you are up, I've been trying to get you up for a while now, you must have had a rough night," Cami said, walking away from the closet clad in winter clothes. It must be pretty cold outside because Cami was not easy to get cold. Unlike me, on the other hand, she calls me a big baby all the time because sometimes in the compound I'll walk around with my blanket around my shoulders. So I would say that I'm her big baby, and then she would come love on me. It can get quite cold in there, inside the compound.
"Hey, are you okay?" Cami asked, sitting down beside me. I sat up, pulling the sheets with me I had my shirt off like always, but it was a little chilly. I sighed, thinking about how I was going to tell her about seeing Elena. I knew she wouldn't get mad about me because I hugged Elena and Bonnie, she wasn't like that.
However, I decided not to, at least not until tonight. I had a busy day ahead of me, going shopping with Rebekah was not going to be a piece of cake. We had assigned partners since no one had recently thought about the holidays until now. The assigned partners were Hayley and Luna, Klaus and Stefan, Elijah and Ansel, me and Rebekah, and then Josh and Davina.
We were going to take at least three separate cars, or the other option was an SUV and a car. I would have to ask him where he went, and why he was gone all night. Anyway, back to Hope, I hoped (Ha ha ha, how ironic is that me hoping while thinking about Hope). That Klaus would be okay with Alaric and Josette babysitting her. I didn't tell Alaric who she was, because it seemed like too many people knew of Hope's existence, and they shouldn't have, but he promised to keep her safe, etc...
And Alaric was a very close friend of mine, so I trusted him with my life. And that was the equivalent of him watching over Hope for less than a day.
"How is Luna?" I asked, throwing the comforter and the sheets off me. Cami sighed, turning around, "I don't know she hasn't come out of her room," she said, and I frowned.
Luna didn't sleep in as late as it was unless she was super tired. Because it was the designated shopping day, and just like all women, she wouldn't miss it for the world. Even Hayley, who didn't like shopping was excited, and Luna loved it so, why would she miss it? I asked myself, wondering if something could be wrong. We had so many fun plans for today. I kissed Cami on the cheek, and then on the lips, promising to see her tonight. After the long night, we were going to eat out at a chinese place a state away. It was well known for its egg rolls and crab rangoons. Luna happened to love chinese food. So that led us to make reservations there.
Of course, we had made these plans before even coming here.
I got out of bed, stretching, and yawning. I winced and looked down at my arm, the bruise that Elena had given me. It was still there, it should have healed by now, but it was there. I smiled at it, I would have to show Stefan and Caroline.
I sighed, putting on one of the very few sweaters I owned. This sweater was a turtle neck, a dark gray one at that, and I absolutely dis-tested it. The one time I wore the thing, it felt like it was choking me. It had been a gift from an ex-girlfriend. But it was either that, the glittery one (Damon Salvatore did not sparkle), or the Christmas one Caroline made me. Put it this way it wasn't that hard for me to choose. I was going to have to upgrade my winter season clothes. I put on the one pair of winter boots I owned. I put on one of my three heavily insulated leather jackets. So I would look like a badass and so I could be warm. It was a win, win really. I put on some of my cologne, and I ran a comb through my hair to try and make it less of a mess.
I walked out of my and Cami's temporary room and walked down the hall to Luna and Klaus'. I frowned, hearing laughing. But it didn't sound like Luna at all. Then there was a pause, before more laughing. This time it was male.
"Stefan," I said to myself. What was going on, did I really want to know. Yes, I did.
I tried to open the door, but it was locked. Well, there's only one other way, I thought to myself. I raised my foot and kicked the door in. I tilted my head to the side. Confused and horrified, Caroline was on top of Stefan, straddling him. Her hands on his naked chest. Uhhhh, I looked away, horrified. I had so many questions.
Question 1: Why?
Question 2: WHY???!!!
Question 3: Where the hell was Luna and Klaus???!!!
I couldn't help it, I just screamed. "WHY???!!!"
They both looked up at me, horrified.
"Damon, what the hell, why didn't you knock?" Caroline yelled standing up, holding the sheet around her body, leaving Stefan nothing to cover himself up with. But I was too busy to notice that fact.
Where in the hell was my daughter? Well, not my daughter, at least not physically. But we had bonded like a father and daughter, and I felt like she was my daughter, and she was okay with that, in fact, she even called me dad sometimes.
"First of all, where are Klaus and Luna?" I asked, looking in between both of them. Stefan now had his clothes back on, and so did Caroline. I never noticed that because I was still focused on the fact that Luna wasn't in this room, and neither was Klaus.
"Sorry, Damon, but I can't tell you," Stefan said, looking guilty as ever when he scratched the back of his head.
"She pulled the friend card, Klaus did too, you know the whole cover for us thing," Stefan said, making air quotations with his fingers when he said 'cover for us.'
I turned to Caroline, hoping she could give me some answers. But she put her hands up looking, flabbergasted, "Well, don't look at me! I'm not going to tell you anything. She had every right to go out, and have a good time with Klaus," Caroline's eyes grew wide, and she put her hands over her mouth, just realizing her mistake.
I nodded, frowning, pacing the length of the room. My hands, shaking in anger. Why would she leave, when she was hurt, and people were out there trying to kill her? Why would he go along with it? I thought he had been smarter than that.
"Damon, come on, it's not that big of a deal," Stefan announced, by now noticing my temper flare-up.
Caroline stepped forward, putting her hand on my shoulder. I lightly cringed away, "Damon, she's just a teenage girl, who wants to have fun. You shouldn't be upset, you know Klaus he wouldn't hurt her, and he'll protect her with his life."
I shook her hand off still mad. "He wouldn't hurt her, intentionally," I said, running my hands through my hair. Being a parent, even a parental figure was hard.
I vamped out of there, and deeper into the house. Looking for Luna or Klaus but mainly Luna. I ignored everyone downstairs, too focused on my task at hand. I was now outside. They weren't in his car or the surrounding area. I smacked myself on the back of my head, mentally, of course. Rebekah had been talking about a barn and how nice it was.
Maybe they were in the barn since they couldn't get into their room because of Stefan and Caroline.
I vamped to the barn, opening the doors to find the horse named Danger, in its pin sleeping peacefully. As I walked, further I could see Luna and Klaus, both of them were ontop some hey. There was a blanket thrown under them, I guess not to get hey on them. Luna was facing away from Klaus, although he had his arms around her waist, holding her against him. I cracked my knuckles, growing impatient. I was pleased to see them fully clothed.
Luna yawned and stretched, turning around, this time she was facing Klaus. They were almost nose to nose. I just couldn't take it anymore.
"SO DID YOU HAVE FUN ON YOUR DATE LAST NIGHT?!" I yelled, causing both of them to stir, bumping each other on the head. I winced but quickly recovered when they were both standing and now somewhat awake, slightly glaring at me.
"I'm sorry, Damon, I just wanted to get out. And have some fun and spend some time with Klaus. I had a really good time," Luna said, looking at Klaus who was smirking at her, making her blush.
I shook my head, folding my arms against my chest. "You could have been killed and taken, or worse. Did you even think about that?" I asked, turning to Klaus. He frowned at me and opened his mouth, but Luna spoke first.
"I knew of the risks, but how am I supposed to go out live my life, and have some fun if I can't leave to go do something. Damon, everything is fine, nothing bad happened," Luna calmly said. A part of me knew she was making sense, but the parent part of me was fuming on the inside.
"And what's with all the sex hair?" I asked Klaus and Luna.
Noticing for the first time that their hair was messy, tangled, and filled with bits and pieces of hey.
Klaus and Luna blanched looked at each other. Luna was the first to look away. I've never seen her face that shade of red before.
"I wouldn't have sex in a barn, are you crazy? As cold as it is." Luna said, recovering from her embarrassment, but only slightly.
"So you're saying you would have sex with him anywhere else?" I asked, and Luna said nothing, and I put my head in my hands.
This was absolutely unbelievable, unbelievable...
Klaus stepped forward, I noticed that his cheeks had a slight tinge of pink among them. Hmmm, it must be because of the cold air...
"Besides, Damon, I like to tear clothes off and rip them to shreds piece by piece. And as you can, see Luna is fully-clothed," Klaus remarked, causing Luna to splutter and go into a coughing fit. She looked like she was dying of asphyxiation, her face was so red. Her eyes never left the ground.
"Luna, why don't you go get ready to leave everyone's about to go shopping. I'm just going to stay here and talk to Klaus a few minutes okay," I said, and she didn't look back as she ran out of the barn.
I watched as Klaus watched her leave. "You promise nothing happened."
Klaus said nothing at first and folded his arms across his chest. "So, what if something happened? Here's the answer for you if something happened between us, it's betweenus, not you or anyone else. There wouldn't be anything you could do about it. And I'm not promising you that nothing happened last night, and I won't promise it for the future."
Then he was gone. Of course, how had I been expecting him to react?
I put my head in my hands again. This was just great I thought sarcastically.
...
Luna Pov
...
"So what do you think?" Klaus asked, we were sitting at a table inside a bar. We both had hot chocolate like he promised, and just like Klaus had also said the hot chocolate was amazing.
"It's to die for."
I took yet another sip, even though my throat was burning in protest. It heated my whole body.
My nerves were starting to get to me, I didn't want to mess this up. Everything was perfect. The ride into town on Danger had been unexpected, but I had loved every moment. Being in front of Klaus on a horse couldn't ever be a bad thing.
"While you were away did you do anything of interest?"
I nodded, blocking out the painful memories successfully. I know I wouldn't have been able to accomplish this without him, here with me.
"I got my GED, my driver's license, and I went to a few months of college."
Klaus' eyes were wide as he stared at me in surprise. I looked down, blushing under his gaze.
"Luna, that's fantastic! I'm not surprised because I doubted you, I just wasn't expecting it. I am proud of you. I guarantee you were the most intelligent one there. Why haven't you told anyone?"
I shrugged lightly, shifting in my seat. I was sure if I had still been wearing my jacket, I would be sweating through it.
"I just told you."
He smirked and reached over to take my hand. "I couldn't be happier to know that I'm the first you decided to share it with."
There was no point of trying to hide my blush. If he saw it, then he saw it, there was nothing I could do. It was too late.
I wondered what he would think.
"Did you do anything of interest while I was away?"
He chuckled, a sound that I wanted to be replayed. He was genuinely happy. It made methrilledto know that part of the reason was because of me.
"If you count murdering nearly half the city as interesting then yes."
I laughed, shaking my head only imagining the things he could have done. When I was able to breathe again, I saw that he had a more serious expression on his face.
"Wait, you're serious?"
His thumb started tracing circles on the back of my hand, looking down. I took the last sip of what was left of my hot chocolate before I looked over at him again.
From the wind outside his hair had been tousled. His hair had grown out, I was pleased to see this fact. I always wondered how different he would look.
It didn't really matter to me. Short hair, long hair, I would still feel the same way.
There were things people didn't see or notice about him. The kindness in his eyes when he was helping someone. The compassion he showed animals, horses, especially. Elijah could play the piano beautifully, what they didn't know was that he could too. How passionate he was about art. The tone of his voice would grow soft when he would describe painting snow on pine needles, or falling leaves. He would use his hands, demonstrating how the brush would move across the canvas, emphasizing the delicateness of the process. He would have this look on his face...He thought that he was boring me, but that just wasn't the case. I was the exact opposite of bored, I hung on to his every word, no matter how simple.
"Bad things happened when you were gone. I was angry, mostly at myself. You know how I rationalize everything to be my fault."
I didn't say anything, only held his gaze. "I didn't think I was going to see you again," his voice broke on the last few words.
"Crazy, how we felt the same way. I couldn't think your name for the longest time. I-it hurt too much."
Strange how we were laughing and smiling in one moment and serious, in the next.
"Let's try and stay together next time, for the sake of our insanity."
I nodded, and he picked up my hand, kissing it. I let out a shaky laugh.
"How dead do you think we'll be once we get home?" I asked, him and he chuckled lightly, putting his cup down.
"Not too dead. Besides, Stefan is covering for us, right?" Klaus asked, and I nodded.
"Then everything should be fine. Don't worry so much, love." I resisted the urge to shiver.
He never called other girls love. I noticed that it was something he only called me.
Klaus leaned closer, to me. He was almost across the table.
Looking at me.
Maybe my make-up was messed up, or maybe my hair. Or maybe something was on my face. I wished it was for another reason, but I dismissed it. He wasn't the one who had feelings for me, I'm the one that had feelings for him. I was positive that I was the only one who wanted him to kiss me, for him to be more than my best friend...
"What?" I finally asked, not being able to take all the silence anymore. My stomach twisting in knots as he got closer. My nerves got me every time I'm around him.
He put a piece of hair behind my ear, and then sat back down. Still looking at me as if I was the most interesting, thing in the room. I stared back, trying to remain confident and cool.
I didn't know what to say, I was very moved. My body had immediately warmed up when his hand brushed the side of my face. It was accidental, wasn't it? I rationalized, trying to make sense of that. Usually, whenever I had hair in my face, Damon would do that. But it wouldn't make me squirm in my seat, or make my heart feel like it was going to beat out of my chest. Or maybe it was on purpose. Rationed another part of my brain. But the longer he stared at me, I could feel myself cracking away at the edges, those eyes. They were so captivating and-
Klaus stood up immediately, stopping my train of thought. He held out his hand to me.
"May I have this dance?" He asked, his famous smirk plastered on his perfect face. Uhhh, Damn him and those dimples, Mmm, he was so cute, nope definitely sexy, that was a good word to describe him. I thought as I looked at him.
I felt my heartbeat quicken if that was possible, and I could hear the blood rush in my ears. If he ever kissed me, I was definitely either going to faint or go into cardiac arrest.
My heart might just give out and stop, especially with him looking at me like that.
I took a deep breath, trying to recollect myself before saying, "You may." I took his hand then, and he led me to where everyone was dancing, we somehow got our little corner though, all to our selves.
He put his hand on my waist and pulled me closer to him. I put my hand on his shoulder. And we stood there for a moment, just swaying to the music. He twirled me around, and I laughed, feeling giddy inside.
This bar played everything, nothing like the jazz I was used to hearing, but I didn't mind.
Sandman by Metallica played next, and Klaus scrunched up his nose. Something I noticed he did when he was irritated.
"What what's wrong? You don't like Metallica?" I asked, and he twirled me around before replying, "Kol loves this song, so naturally, whenever he is in the car he will play it. It's not that I don't like it, it's just overplayed for me."
I nodded, understanding what he meant.
"How are you supposed to dance to a song like this anyway?" He asked, looking at me clearly amused.
"Well, we can always do what they are doing," I said, gesturing to a couple that had been dancing in the very back. Dancing wasn't the right word, they were just headbanging the whole song. I needed an Advil just watching them do it. I winced when they collided. Hitting each other on the head, hard to. I heard it sound off.
"I think not. Love, haven't you been hurt enough today?" Klaus said, picking me up this time, spinning me around. "No, not at all. You took a bullet for me," I cleared my throat as he set me down. "Actually, five. Thank you, by the way."
"That is the fifth time, you've thanked me. It's not necessary to do so, I was just doing my job."
"Your job?"
"Protecting you at all costs," My breath hitched, and I wanted to melt. He wanted to protect me. That enough was to make me warm on the inside.
"Next time, how about you let me take the bullets."
He smiled, laughing. "I had no idea you were a comedian." Klaus stepped back, kissing my cheek.
"I'll be back."
Then he was gone, leaving me breathless. I had to regain my senses again. Klaus for the second time tonight had knocked the air out of my lungs, and I knew it wouldn't be the last, that I was sure of. It was a dizziness that I found to be a definite side effect from my addiction to the way he made me feel.
When he came back, he had a mischievous look on his face. "Is everything okay?"
"I put in a request," he said, placing his hands where they were before.
Further questioning wasn't necessary as I heard the song. We danced for the first time to Perfect by Ed Sheeran. And here we were again.
"You remembered?"
"How could I forget?"
It was effortless dancing with him. I forgot to be nervous. I put my head in the crook of his neck, bathing in his warmth, and musky scent. "You look beautiful, love."
I was glad he couldn't see my face as I quietly replied, "Thank you."
"We should do this more often," he said, causing my breath to come out as a shudder.
I smiled, "Us being alone, dancing?"
"Mainly the us being alone part."
Then it happened. Some man came over and threw up directly on my shoes.
I gasped in shock.
Honestly, I was more upset with the fact that our dance had been interpreted. I could care less about my boots.
The man started rambling apologies. I would have been happy to step in and accept, but Klaus was having words with the man. I felt flattered that he would go off on someone like this, for me.
As he was doing that I walked outside, feeling angry, and disgusting. I sighed, looking down at the boots. They were messed up, there would be no saving them. Luckily there was a trash can, so I just took off the now newly ruined boots, leaving me in my very thick ivory socks.
"Is everything alright, love?" Klaus said, and I turned around and hugged him. Noticing he was still angry.
"Yeah, I'm feeling fine, I'm just-"
"Cold?" Klaus asked, interrupting me.
"Alright, just sit tight I'll be right back. After I kill that man, I will get you a new pair of boots and then-"
"No, it's fine, really. It's just been a long day, I had a great night with you despite it being unexpectedly cut short. I don't want to take up too much of your time-" I said, and Klaus frowned.
"As I have said before, Luna, you never take up too much of my time. And you are not an inconvenience, for me, not now and not ever. So stop saying that you are."
"I want you to be happy," Klaus continued, stepping closer to me, caressing my face. "I know, but what about you. Are you happy? Dealing with me, I mean, it can't all be that great. Emotional roller coaster would be a good description of me."
Klaus smirked, which surprised me. "Emotion is good. Before you, I didn't want to feel. Luna, it's been a long time since I've been happy, and when I'm with you, I am. It's just I get frustrated every time I try to take you out, something bad always happens, or someone dies. I just want us to be able to spend some time together. I want to take you someplace nice, and not in any dump like this. You deserve so much better, in fact, I feel ashamed of taking you here," Klaus said, gesturing to the bar we were currently standing in front of. But we were so deep in our conversation that we didn't notice all the people at the window gathered to watch us.
"Ohh," I spoke, not expecting it. "Then why were you looking at me like something was wrong-"
I started out saying, but Klaus shook his head.
"I wasn't looking at you because something was wrong, Luna. I wasn't the only one looking at you like that, trust me I knew exactly, what they were thinking, and they are lucky I didn't tear them apart limb from limb. Have you looked at yourself tonight, you are-"
Klaus was interrupted by someone pounding on the glass window of the bar. "Damn it," I said, angered yet again that when I had been working up the chance to tell him how I felt about him, and we had been interrupted, again.
I looked over, annoyed to see everyone from inside the bar looking at us.
"Kiss her!" They all shouted, and that's when I turned to Klaus. Trying to contain my embarrassment. The people didn't have such a bad, mind track, but Klaus didn't need to know that. He looked furious like he was about to charge in there. He probably would, he was giving them the 'I'm going to rip your head off in five seconds just because you pissed me off' look.
"Please go get Danger," I said out of the corner of my mouth. He still moved forward, but I put my hands on his chest. "Please," I said in a pleading tone, effectively stopping him.
"Come on, Luna, know you know I won't bite. At least not that hard. Please, it won't take ten minutes..." I laughed a little was he asking my permission to go kill everyone in that bar?
"Listen, as much as I would love for you to do that," I said with gritted teeth when the people from the bar started laughing. "You can't, and besides, I have a feeling that we are going to get in trouble, and we don't need to be in any more than we already will be."
Klaus chuckled lightly. "Love, I don't know if you've noticed, but I am a grown man."
He said, sticking his chest out, I smiled, shaking my head.
I folded my arms around my body, chilly. "And that's going to matter to Elijah, Hayley, and Damon, how?" I asked, and his smirk dropped off his face at the mention of Elijah.
"Okay, I'm getting Danger, but if they say anything else and if I hear about it, they had it coming for them," he replied before speeding away.
A few minutes later and Danger arrived with Klaus on his back. "Come on, get on," Klaus said, holding his arm out to me.
I took it without hesitation. I held onto him the whole way back. When he helped me down off of Danger, my heart decided to torture me and skip a beat.
Of course, he noticed. Looking me over, a worried expression on his face. Him looking at me certainly didn't help things.
"Are you alright, love?"
"Yeah, just tired, I guess..."
...
Klaus Pov
...
"Are you comfortable?" I asked, looking at Luna. We were now sitting down on a blanket we had laid out on top of some hey. We couldn't go up to our room because, well because it was being occupied and it would be unavailable until the morning. So, we both decided that we would sleep out here rather than getting caught.
We would wake up early enough to kick Caroline and Stefan out of our room, sleep on the couch, and then we would both rest. Relieved, that no one would know or find out about our little nighttime adventure.
"I didn't mean to doubt you back there it's just I was scared and very embarrassed at that moment in time. Sometimes I feel like I can't do the simplest of things," Luna said, sitting up and looking at me.
"Not everyone knows how to ride a horse. I feel honored enough that you were willing to jump out of a window for me."
I reached out for her hand. She didn't hesitate as she did before, but we were in a different situation now. "I would do it again," she began smiling before she frowned, "As long as you were there to catch me."
I laughed, and she joined in.
"You make everything look so effortless and easy," she said, looking at me with a smirk on her face. She looked more like Hayley in that specific moment in time than any other. Not annoyed but calm, there was a more serene look to her.
I was taken back by her words, I admitted that at least to my self conscious. "But it's okay, you don't have to hide your greatness from everyone." I laughed again, caught off guard.
What did she see in me that made her think I was this great guy? When in all reality, I was just a monster, a beast. It just depended on who you were asking.
"Why am I so great?" I asked, and she automatically looked down, thinking for a moment. I knew that look on her face.
"You are helpful, generous, and kind. Overly protective and possessive of people you care about. You don't back down to anyone, to name a few things. But why are you asking me this haven't I already told you these things?" Luna asked, now looking up at me. It was hard to form a sentence. Her eyes were beautiful, of course like her personality, unique.
When she looked at me like that it was hard to concentrate. Sometimes I thought she was studying me and analyzing me because she was staring at me for so long, it was like she was staring right into my soul.
But why? I asked myself. I thought to ask her, but I have to talk to Elijah about that first to see what he thinks, maybe even Kol. But not Damon or Hayley, I frankly didn't think I could trust Cami or one of the girls anymore.
"I just wanted to know your opinion," I said, trying to look as innocent as possible. I think it worked, at least for the time being. "Thank you again. I really appreciate-"
Before she could thank me for the fifth time tonight, I stopped her by grabbing her face, gently pressing my lips to her soft cheek. "Not to worry love, all you have to do is ask, and I'll take you anywhere you desire."
Luna smiled at me before letting go of my hand. Laying down facing me, on her side.
"Is everything alright?" I asked, trying not to be as hurt as I was when she had let go of my hand.
It had been going great so far, and then some idiot decided that it was okay to throw up on her boots. Maybe I had said something wrong. I did have a few well-chosen words with him. But I wanted to do so much more to him. But why I don't know. I just felt this urge, to rip anyone to pieces, who so much as looked at her the wrong way.
"Yeah, I'm just tired, it's been a long day. But tonight was the highlight of my day since I got to spend it with you," she said before yawning widely.
Here she was laying in front of me, looking as beautiful as ever. My fingers itched for something to draw her with, or even paint. Her dark hair was in a messy bun on top of her head. However, not all of her hair could fit inside the bun. Therefore there were strands of her curly hair framing her face. Her lips were a soft pink color, I would always lose my concentration when she would bite them. Her eyes were greener than usual, I noticed that away. I noticed the dark eyeliner on her lower lid. She was wearing a dark red sweater dress and leggings. I had never seen the color on her before and wanted to see her more in it. She looked stunning, and she was beautiful. She embodied that word even when she wasn't dressed in formal attire or wearing the most pristine of make-up products. You could have put her in a trash bag, and she would have been able to pull it off.
I think I was just starting to realize how much she meant to me. And I was terrified that she might already know. But if she did what would she do? How would she react? Does she have feelings for me? If we both had feelings for each other then what would happen? Would something have already happened by now?
Hundreds of questions swam around in my head, each of them begging to be answered. Luna turned, putting her head on my chest.
I had to get out, to think clearly...I tried to get up without disturbing her, wanting to go out on a nightly stroll, wanting to clear my head. But her fingers latched on tighter to my shirt.
"Stay..." she murmured into my chest. I froze before kissing her on the forehead. Whispering that one six-lettered word, that I only used just for her under this particular circumstance or any like it.
What did all of this mean?
I needed help dealing with this. I needed to talk to Elijah so I could sort out my feelings. So I could figure out what to do next. Whether to act or to wait. Doing nothing couldn't be an option forever, I knew that.
One thing that wasn't going away were my feelings. I loved her. That was a fact.
I wouldn't be able to handle it if something happened to her. But because I loved, her that meant that her life was in danger, and that was my fault. I couldn't stop loving her, therefore, I had to protect her. But right now, all I wanted to do was enjoy this, us curled up together in this old barn. The circumstances might not have been ideal, but I think we were both satisfied with tonight's events. I drifted off to sleep with the sound of her breathing and her heartbeat like the sweetest song.
...
I later woke up in a cold sweat. I had just had a dream, or rather nightmare, that Luna got pregnant. Jake was the father, and they got married. I had asked her to stay, pleaded with her, but she left anyway...
She wouldn't leave me...Not after everything between us...I knew that I meant a lot to her...Luna wasn't the type to not sanctify something or someone...
I relaxed when I saw her pretty little head laying on my chest, not pregnant, and not married to Jake, she was just sleeping.
Perfect as always. Her head lay right where my heart was. If only she knew...
...
A/N: Please comment and tell me what you think. Your feedback would be greatly, appreciated. The next chapter is going to be about Christmas. Warning this is going to be a very, very long chapter. Things are about to get rough prepare yourselves. Have a great day!
