Mystic Falls June 4th 2019

Damon had a visitor. It was probably his brother trying to accuse him of being a drug dealer and promising him to save his life. Exactly what he needed now, someone to question him.

As he suspected, his brother was sitting at the other end of the table.

"No Stefan, I had nothing to do with the drugs. I don't care if you believe me. Yes it would be great if you got me out of this mess. Anything else?

"I know you had nothing to do with this. Look you may have always been trouble but you were never a drug dealer. There's a lot we didn't agree on but this, I know about you."

" Wow you have me in tears little bro"

" Stop with the sarcasm Damon. This is serious. I… I called your old gang back in. We both know this will lead back to Kol and if you wanna get through this, you're gonna need them"

"What are you talking about Stefan? What members of the gang? I want them as far away from this as possible. Please tell me you didn't call her? Anyway, I doubt she would want anything to do with me after everything that went down"

"Well brother, she gets here in a few hours. Bonnie and Enzo get here in 2 days and Klaus and Caroline are already here. So the gang is back together to save your life"

"She's coming back? To save me? Why ? After everything? Why? Stefan you should not have called them" He was getting angry. The people he cared about the most, were in danger" What is wrong with you? I need them away from this? If this is Kol, I can't be the reason any of them is hurt again. I just can't"

" Damon. Stop with your sacrificial attitude. You need them. There is no way they would want to be anywhere but here. Not everything was your fault that night bro. And as for why she is here, the last time I remember your initials were still carved on her back. She loves you Damon. You were her fiancé. We're all getting together tomorrow strategizing and we'll be here to visit you"

"I don't know what to say to her. I… How do I face her?"

" You'll figure it out bro. Right now we need to focus on saving your ass"

Damon nodded and relayed back all the facts of what happened to Stefan. The police had invaded his garage and found heroine in 2 of the 4 cars he had put up for sale. No one knows who tipped them or how the drugs got there in the first place. If he were to really think about it, they all knew it was Kol and his damn gang.

After his brother left, he sat in his cell thinking about her and how he would face. God he had never stopped loving her. He hated himself for how he left things and he was haunted by that week forever.

June 8th, 2016

He looked at her sleeping in the hospital bed so pretty and so fragile. He can't believe he could have lost her. He had caused them so much pain. Because of him, their future kid was dead. She thought he didn't know but he had seen the test. She wanted to surprise him that night and he didn't want to ruin it for her. And then that accident happened. He couldn't stay with her. She had to graduate and go live a happy safe life because she would never forgive him and he would never forgive himself.

He had to let the love of his life go to protect her from himself. He never should have let her race.

He got out of bed left the letter on the table next to her bed and turned to leave.

" I never thought you were a coward Damon. A martyr hogging or the blame yes but not a coward. You're walking away and leaving me a letter?"

He couldn't turn around and face her. He knew if he did he would never leave her side. But he knew he had to.

"You know I can't look at you. I could never say goodbye in person. This is the only way I can get myself to walk away. You almost died. You almost lost your leg, your life and your future. You have a bright future ahead. All I have is crappy family and my driving skills. I am god to no one and especially not to you. You should be with someone like Stefan. Someone good"

She cut him off " But I love you… I don't want anyone else just you. I'm in pain and I need you here by my side. Please don't leave me. We're engaged. You promised me forever. You can't walk away. Please come back to me"

"That's exactly the problem. I am the kind of person to walk away. I am reckless and irresponsible and I break everything I touch. I can't break you anymore. Goodbye Elena"

She screamed at him and her whole body was hurting

"You walk away now, we're done. Don't bother coming back. Don't bother calling me. Remember you left me hurting. You left me when I needed you the most. You don't get to walk away not knowing you hurt me."

He froze in place for a few seconds. He could not stay. He had to do this for her. He left without saying another word. Tears were coming to his eyes as he heard her sobbing echoing.

Mystic Fall June 4th 2019

Elena knocked on her aunt's door hoping she was home. She did not call to let her know she was coming. She barely had any time to pack.

The door opened and there was Rick looking surprised as ever seeing her here.

"What are you doing here? Not that I am not happy to see you"

He wrapped her in a hug and ushered her in.

" You know why I'm here. How bad is it?"

She could hear high voices in the kitchen and could make out on of them as being her aunt's. She would go in to see her in a minute but she needed to hear Ric's side of the story. Ric was her aunt's husband of 4 years and one of Damon's closest friends. So he would definitely know what the hell s going on with her ex-fiancé.

"I guess Stefan called you. It's bad. They found heroine in 2 cars in his garage and got him arrested and charged for heroine distribution"

"What ? Damon would never? And why now? What would Kol want with Damon after all these years?"

"Damon helps coach the kids at the local high school. He also gives them a job at his shop to save them from getting into drugs and Kol. So I guess Kol is very pissed at him disrupting his business and wants to put him out of business and out of his life."

"Damon is coaching at the school? He's… " She paused and took a deep breath. He just had to make it hard on her to hate him. She could barely breath. Her Damon was saving kids. He was a local hero. He broke her heart and left her alone to mourn their unborn child. She had to remember that anger and hold onto it or she would be lost again.

She looked back at Ric. " I can't deal with all this at once. I should go talk to Jenna. He can be a fucking local hero but he could not be my husband. God I hate him. I love him but I really hate him for what he did"

"Listen Elena, I know he broke your heart but…"

"No. Please don't do this. Don't defend him. I can't do this now. I need to talk to Jenna"

In that moment, her aunt came in looking for Ric having heard all the commotion. Another woman came in from behind her. Elena remembered seeing her around her aunt. Her name was Rose and she was widowed young. Her husband Trevor had died back in Iraq in the war.

Jenna wrapped her niece in a hug "What are you doing her? I missed you so much. I didn't expect to see you here before the wedding." Then her eyes went big in realization and she turned to Ric. "No no no. You did not call my niece back here to save him. He's your best friend but he broke her heart." She turned back towards Elena "Please don't tell me you're here for Damon"

"Look aunt Jenna, Ric did not call me. It was Stefan. I know what you're going to say but this is big. I cannot leave him to rot in jail. If Kol is involved I can help. I may be angry with him but not enough to leave him there"

At that moment, Rose came closer and was addressing Elena.

"Thank God. We really need all the help we can get. I was so scared when I heard they had arrested him. That asshole Kol just never gives up. "

Elena was surprised by the turn of events. Why was Rose suddenly so interested in anything Damon related. "Excuse me and how does all this concern you?"

"Wowww. Calm down lady. I am just trying to help. I really care about Damon and I may be fooling around with him but I know my place and I know who you are. Elena Gilbert. The love of his life. The one who got away. After all the tattoo on his body says it all"

Elena could not stop the next words that came out of her mouth

"He still has that?"

"Why are you surprised? Don't you still have yours?"

" How the hell do you know about that? Look I have been on a plane for hours. I am here to see and save the man who shattered my heart into pieces. So I really have little patience for anyone"

Rose looked at her with kind eyes, took a deep breath and said "I'm sorry. You don't know me and here I am blabbering about your ex-fiancé. I don't mean to be rude. I am Rose. I just want to help save Damon. He's a good man. And I know you're angry, tired and hurt. But for what it matters, he really has changed and grown. He never stopped loving you. Just remember that when you see him"

Elena nodded towards Rose and turned to Jenna letting her know she was going up to take a shower and sleep. Tonight was dramatic enough as it is.

She was scared and angry and jealous. She should not be jealous. Damon was her past. She really likes Liam. He was a good man. But she couldn't help it. The moment she heard Rose talking about his tattoo, she lost it. She knew he was probably seeing someone, but meeting her and talking to her made it real and painful. She remembered what she told her "he never stopped loving you". All she could feel now were butterflies and the pain of losing the most amazing thing their love brought. Her baby. He had died because she was reckless. She just had to drive that night and it cost here everything.

She felt the tears coming to her eyes and let them take over her. Maybe they would wash away the pain inside of her.