Chapter 12 : 'You have to stay'
"Have you guys lost it! Guns down! This is my wife. She has every right to be mad at me or hit me or shout at me. STAY OUT OF THIS," Damon growled at all the guards pointing guns at his wife.
Their guns lowered immediately.
"Elena! I know you're mad…" he trailed off when Elena pushed him.
"Where is my brother? What did you do to him?" she shouted in outrage.
"You sick heartless motherfucking asshole. What did you to him? How dare you hurt my brother?" she added, shouting, attacking him, slapping him over and over again, scratching his face with her perfectly manicured nails.
"Get off him, you winch," Rose tried to defend him as she walked over to them. Damon held her hands and held them close to his chest. Not even a bit mad at her outburst.
"He is fine. He is safe. I would never hurt someone you love!" Damon said.
"but you did hurt him," Elena accused.
"We only roughed him up a bit. To make it look convincing. He is inside our bedroom, napping right now. He is safe, doll," Damon explained. Elena was enraged. He was talking like kidnapping her brother and threatening her was a normal thing. Of course, it was. He was a fucking mobster for fuck sake.
She slapped him again. He didn't even defend himself. "Elena! We only did that to get you out of hiding. We would never hurt your family." Rose came forward.
"Shut up! Shut the hell up! I know what you people are. You're all killers! Mobsters! You kill people for money and power!" she shouted at Rose, turning around.
"Baby, we were worried about you…" she heard Damon say to her as he touched her wrist to turn her around.
"No! Don't touch me. You sick fucking asshole. What kind of a guy kidnaps his wife's brother and threaten her?" she shouted at him, pushing him again, crying now.
"The kind of guy who loves his wife a lot. Baby I was desperate. I was so worried about you. I know this is all too much for you. You feel scared and hurt. But, love, you have to trust me. I would never dream of hurting you. I love you so much," he replied as he tried to wipe her tears but she pushed his hands away.
"Love? You're incapable of feeling that emotion. YOU ARE A MONSTER. I saw you kill Mason. You're a killer." she replied, panting now.
"Baby! Calm down. You get panic attacks when you get too worked up," he said, moving closer to her. She shivered when he touched her. She was going to push him away again when her hand touched the gun tucked in his denim hidden by the blazer he was wearing. She reached for it and pulled it out pointing it to him.
"Oh God," Rose shouted.
"Drop the gun now." Enzo barked at her from behind, pointing his gun at her. Bonnie was too far in shock. Elena looked around. Every person in the room with the exception of Bonnie had pointed their guns at her.
"Elena, drop the fucking gun now." Rose shouted in outrage. Damon didn't look affected at all. He actually looked amused. She was holding a gun at him, eyes filled with furry and rage. Yet, she looked so scared so fragile. Tears pooling her eyes. She was too pure and innocent for even holding a thing that took lives.
"Let go of Jeremy now." she shouted.
He held his hands up with a smirk, mocking her.
"Elena. Drop the fucking gun." Rose warned again.
"Didn't I tell you all to keep out of it. This is between us. Guns Down all of you." Damon ordered.
Elena stared at him, her eyes filled with hatred. He flinched. Now this was something that hurt.
"Tell them to call my brother. Let him go." Elena ordered.
"Or what?" he said, stepping closer to her.
"I will KILL you." she hissed back.
"I will like to see you try." he replied, stepping closer. She stepped back, reflexively.
"Let my brother go or I will kill him." she threatened the gang, while pointing gun at Damon, their boss.
"Go ahead! Kill me." Damon said. She warned him to stay back, but he just kept walking closer, challenging her to go ahead and shoot.
"I am not bluffing. I will kill him." she said looking at Rose who didn't even move an inch. It was clear, they weren't intimated by her threats at all. Especially Damon.
"It's not how it works you know, beautiful." He took the gun easily from her outstretched hands. She yelped. "First, you push the slide back." he said, sliding the ejection port back. He handed the gun back to her, making her grip it. He held the gun to his heart. "Now it's ready for you. All you need to do is pull the trigger and I am dead." he said, teaching her playfully.
Elena was terrified. She had a deadly weapon pointed at her husband's chest. He wasn't even a bit afraid. He was confident she would never hurt him. Her chest heaved heavily. "You wanted to kill me right? Here you go." he said letting go of her hands.
The gun was still pointed to his chest. Her eyes danced from the gun held to his chest to his smirking face. She was terrified. She was scared stiff. She took a step back.
"You can't kill me. Because believe it or not. You love me still, knowing I am a monster. A killer. Sick heartless motherfucking asshole." he said, wiping tears that were rolling down her cheeks, nonstop ever since she got here.
She took a step back, sobbing. "You might be right about that…" she whispered.
She sobbed heavily as she pointed the gun to her temple, "All I need to do is pull the trigger now. Right?" she asked, looking at his horrified expression.
"Lena! Baby! Get it away from you. You'll hurt yourself," he stuttered in a panic stricken tone as he tried to get closer to her.
She took a step back. "No!"
"Elena! Baby! Stop this madness. What are you doing?" he shouted, for the first time, alarmed and petrified.
"Tell them to bring my brother here." she demanded.
"You heard her. Bring the kid here," he said, panic stricken, eyes not leaving her face.
Rose nodded, gesturing Rin to come with her.
"Elena! Sweetheart, we will do whatever you say just drop the gun. You'll can harm yourself." Bonnie said as she took one step toward her.
"Stay back! All of you!" Elena warned as one of her finger lingered toward the trigger.
"NO. No! Don't. We won't come close. I promise." Damon said, taking two steps back.
Rose appeared dragging Jeremy with her. "Elena!" Jeremy said, alarmed.
"Let him go!" Elena ordered.
"Not until you hand us that gun back," Rose replied.
"Damon! Tell her to leave my brother or else." Elena ordered Damon, knowing she could make him do anything right at this point.
"Rose! Let go of him now." Damon snarled at her.
"See. Baby, we will listen. Give it back." he looked like he was about to cry.
Rose gritted her teeth but pushed Jeremy toward her.
"Elena, for fuck sake, this thing can hurt you," Jeremy said, eyes widened as he walked toward his sister.
"No time to talk right now! Let's get out of here." she held her brother's wrist.
"You're not going anywhere." Rose blocked her.
"Like hell I am…" she shouted back.
She felt someone grip her from her back, snatching the gun from her hand. She turned around. Icy blue eyes met brown. He held her wrist not painfully behind her back and threw the gun toward Bonnie who caught it expertly.
"Don't touch my sister," Jeremy tried to fight him off her.
Rose held Jeremy from his collar and threw him off in the opposite direction. Rin and Kevin ran toward him, holding both his hands behind his back.
"Don't hurt him." Elena shouted, squirming hardly as Damon held her against his chest.
"Let go of me." she shouted as she hit him continuously on his chest. He smirked. As if she could ever hurt him with those tiny adorable punches.
"Elena!" Jeremy shouted.
Elena started sobbing again. "Don't hurt him, Please! Please." she pleaded, crying.
"We won't. If you co-operate with us," He said, harshly now.
"I am not doing anything," She tried to push him off her. Blood. Icy blue eyes. Mason's lifeless body. Jeremy trying to get himself free from Rin and Kevin. Her breath rate increased.
She was gasping for air and her vision blurred. She tried to fight the darkness taking over her vision but she failed.
..
..
Soft mattress. Warm blankets and familiar scent of her husband's cologne. Her eyes fluttered open. She found herself in Damon's arms. His head dipped in her neck. Everything felt right again. His face was filled with childish innocence He didn't look like a killer. Her thoughts trailed off.
Icy blue eyes.
Mason's lifeless body.
"That you killed Rebekah" His voice boomed in her ears.
She remembered running. She remembered the cold storm. She remembered Jo and Robert. She remembered Jeremy groaning in pain in the video clip. Jeremy's bruised face. She remembered pointing gun at her husband's temple. She remembered his fearless eyes as he challenged her to kill him.
She stiffened immediately. She was cuddling with a dangerous ruthless cold hearted murder right now who was holding her brother captive, she hoped he was safe. She pressed her lips, restraining herself from sobbing. She was scared stiff.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. She tried to squirm out of his hands without waking him up. She managed to untangle his legs from hers. He was still asleep to Elena's relief when she got out of his arms. A plan formed in her mind. She was going to find Jeremy and run the hell out of here for now.
Her hands went down to her flat stomach. She had a baby on the way now. There was no way she would give birth to him or her in between all these criminals. She would run away as far as possible from Damon's world. Her child should never know about its father. It should never know about the horrible truth. Nor should Damon ever know about their child. Or maybe he'll turn it to the monster that he was.
He had lied to her, he had manipulated her into falling for him and marrying him. She moved toward the door when she stumbled on something. She held the dresser for support but unfortunately the glass plate lying on the floor hit the dresser and shattered into pieces.
"Sorry! I forgot to take them back to kitchen," his voice startled her. Before she could dash out of room she heard him continue, "Don't even bother. We have about forty people on guard duty today," he added.
She turned around, finding him right behind her, smirking. "Don't look at me with those judgey little eyes." he mocked.
"Where is my brother?" she demanded.
"Safe and sound. Sage will be guarding him. We need him here for a while. Since he knows about us. We will let him go once we are sure he won't create problems for us and keep his lips sealed," Damon continued.
"Are you even listening to yourself?"
"I missed you, Elena. I missed the way you smell," He nuzzled into her hair.
"Get away from me." she snarled but before she could, he pushed her against the closet, holding her hands to her either sides.
"I know you're scared and hurt and what you saw might be one of the most terrible things you have witnessed but…"
"You lied to me…"
"I didn't lie. I just didn't tell you the truth." Any other time she would have found this adorable.
Slap.
He pressed his lips restraining himself from doing something he might regret. She had every right to be mad at him.
"Baby! I know your upset,"
"Oh no! don't baby me," she shouted.
"Elena! My Angel! I completely understand how you feel but-,"
"No! You don't can't possibly understand how I'm feeling right now. I found out a week ago that my husband, the man I had been living with for a year now, supposedly the love of my life is a KILLER, a MOBSTER. You killed someone without even so much as flinching."
"Yes. I am all that. I am a mobster. I am a killer. I am a monster." he spat, agreeing. "and the reason I didn't flinch even once was because we all know what the deal is when we step into this world. He betrayed me thus earning him a death sentence,"
"and…and you hurt Elijah?"
"He was trying to charm his way to your panties, Lena! He had it coming the moment I noticed him eyeing you. He is lucky he is still alive. You know I am very possessive, no?" he bluntly accepted the truth.
"You're sick." Elena commented, disgusted.
He didn't miss the disgusted look she gave him. Nothing hurt him more than that did. Her eyes used to be so filled of love and devotion for him. Now they were filled with hate and disgust.
"I have been called worst," he replied, chuckling, taking a step toward her.
She reflexively took a step back.
"Why are you scared of me? Kitten! I wouldn't dream of hurting you," he said, as he caressed her cheek.
"Don't." she pushed his arm away.
"but if you do that, I might do something I would regret." He hissed, holding her mouth.
She gasped, taking deep breathes.
"Why did you, why did you kill Rebekah?" she asked.
"Isn't that obvious? She hurt you. I killed her." he answered as if it was no big deal. "She was waste of space anyway," he added.
Elena flinched. "How could you?" she mumbled.
"It was easy." he replied.
"You killed someone, Damon and you're talking about it as if it's no big deal. To think a human life meant this little to you."
"It meant nothing to me Elena. Her life meant nothing to me." he replied. "It actually feels nice to come clean to you," he added.
Her eyes widened. How could she ever miss that? Was she blind? How could she never detect the dark aura surrounding him?
His cold eyes.
His madness.
"I know you're scared but I promise I won't ever hurt you. You're safe with me baby. I love you so much," he said, wrapping his hands around her waist. She flinched at his touch.
"Love? Do you even know what that word means? Damon." she shouted with angry tears in her eyes.
"You manipulated me. You lied to me throughout the course of our relationship. You cheated me into marrying you. This is why you brought me here right? So I wouldn't know the type of ruthless cold hearted murderer you are. Right?" she asked.
"You separated me from my family here. I gave up my dreams for you. I gave up my independence for you. I can't believe it. All this time I had been rolling around with a murderer… a MONSTER. Oh God!" she started sobbing dropping on bed, hiding her face with her hands.
He knelt down on his knees, removing her hands from her face. "Don't cry. Baby… Angel! I know it was wrong to bring you here but you're safe here. I have enemies, terrible enemies who want to harm you. We are both safe here."
It clicked. Things started to make sense. His panic whenever she would go out without guards. The intense security measures. Everything made sense.
"You're my weakness baby. I love you so much." he said wiping her tears and kissing her lips.
Her husband was a murderer. She was married to a killer. She had been sleeping with a killer and she was pregnant with his baby. A cold shiver went down her spine.
"Get away from me," she pushed him away.
But he held her and pushed her against the bed, covering her body with his.
She gasped, looking into his eyes. She was suddenly scared of him.
"Elena! Don't be scared of me, baby! I would never hurt you."
"You kidnapped my brother and threatened me to come or you'll kill him. You're still keeping him captive as we speak. You already hurt me too much." she spat.
He rolled off her, sitting now, he held her hand and pulled her up.
"Yes. I did kidnap Jer but I swear I wouldn't have harmed him even if you didn't show up. Your family is my family. You're my wife. I love you. How many times do I have to say it for you to believe." he promised, holding her hands. She pushed his hands away, disgusted by his touch. He bit his lower lip painfully, hurt by her reaction.
"No. No. No. You are a murderer. You're going to stay away from my family. In fact, you're going to stay away from all of us including me- ESPECIALLY ME. I don't want anything to do with you. I think it's safe to say that this whatever the fuck was between us is over." she shouted, mustering up all her courage.
It felt like his brain stopped. His stomach tied in knots. Feeling of suffocation took over him. "No,"
"I am not staying here. I have to go." she rose up.
"No! You're not." he growled pushing her toward the wall. "You can't leave me."
"Don't touch me." she warned him.
"You're my wife I can touch you as much as I want." he said, his hand snaking toward her waist.
"Yeah about that. I will be applying for divorce the second I reach home." she spat.
She regretted the second those words left her mouth. "No! No you won't. I love you and you love me."
"No I don't love you. I can never love a cold hearted ruthless killer."
His eyes glistened. "You do love me. You're just scared right now," he said it more to himself then her.
"No I don't. You manipulated me. You lied to me. Everything about us is a lie. You used me. You violated me. You "RAPED" me." she shouted.
"Rape? RAPE? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?" he shouted enraged. "I NEVER…I WOULD NEVER…" he punched the wall right beside her head. She whimpered.
"Please don't hurt me,"
"I might have hidden a lot of stuff about me from you but I never ever forced myself on you. I didn't even kiss you the first month we were dating no matter how much I wanted to. Everything that happened between us was with your full consent. You're my wife and I have every right to touch you but even now I wouldn't touch you without your permission. " he spat. His eyes softened when he saw fear filled her features.
"Just sex wasn't my agenda with you baby. I wanted to have you on my side throughout my life. You are the love of my life. You are my wife. So accuse me of anything but that. I am a terrible person and I know that but I always did right by you. I did everything in my power to keep you happy and safe…" he said cupping her face.
"I just want to go home. I don't want to stay here with you." she said, crying.
"You're not even listening to me! Look at me Elena! I am the same guy from a week ago. Nothing changed between us. I love you so much baby." he pleaded.
"Don't hurt me please. Don't hurt me." she begged, her eyes closed.
"Elena! I would never…"
"LEAVE ME ALONE…" she shouted.
"Fine." He said, coldly. "But you're not going anywhere. I don't care what you think. I fucking own you. And if you so much as think of leaving, I would kill everyone you ever loved, or even met for that fact." He threatened.
"I am going to leave you alone for a while." he said backing off, hands in front of him.
She fell on the bed and he had to fight a strong argue to go back and hold her. She looked as scared as an abandoned kitten. He stood by the door and heard her break into heart wrenching sobs. He slid down the door way and hugged his knees listening to her cry. He felt an overwhelming need to cry too as he listened to deep, tortured sobs that ripped his heart apart.
..
..
"Did she eat?" Damon asked Hannah, one of the kitchen staff.
"Yes, she did," she answered mechanically.
He took a deep breath. It had been a day to his last conversation with Elena. Elena refused to talk to any of them. Even Bonnie couldn't manage to get her to talk to her. She even kicked her out of the room. She wanted to meet her brother, she had been crying for him all the time. She was scared Damon would lose it and take all his rage out on her brother. She wanted to go back to US. She wanted to go back to her home in Mystic Falls. She wanted to see her parents.
"Great, now you will eat too," Rose huffed.
"I am fine,"
"You have been starving yourself ever since she kicked you out of her room not to mention a week before that when she ran off after she saw us at the warehouse."
"Well. I am sorry I lost my appetite after my wife uncovered one of the biggest secret of my life and the only relationship that ever meant to me is at stake now." he replied. Rose snickered. "You're not the only one who is losing someone close to them I am losing my best friend too," she replied after a minute.
"How ironic huh? Just when I thought…" he trailed off
..
Flashback
..
"and here you go Princess! The Doll Houseyou wanted." Elena said sweetly to a nine-year-old girl.
"It's just like the one in the magazine I showed you." The girl squeaked in excitement.
"It is! Well what a coincidence? Right Mr. Salvatore?" she asked Damon who was standing beside her.
"I am in state of shock as well Mrs. Salvatore!" he replied just as playfully.
"You got this for me?" she asked Damon.
He looked a bit uncomfortable. He wasn't this type but when your beautiful wife bats her eyelashes at you and asks you to join her to give away her childhood toys to shelter kids, even the cold hearted ruthless mobster inside him couldn't turn her down. She was after all the good he wasn't. If she wanted to do something good for someone he will help her out. Besides, here he was just needed to carry the boxes filled with toys that Caroline and Elena's mother sent them.
The story of this Doll House however was different. Two days ago Elena had come to him asking for his help. She wanted to buy a Doll House which was a little weird first. But then she explained it was for a girl in the shelter. The problem was the model which the little girl, Tamara, wanted just came out and wasn't available in the stores of their town.
"Please, I want to gift it to her on her birthday," she pleaded.
"Sure! Baby! I will get Linda to search it up. We will ship it from abroad if it isn't available in Italy." he instantly agreed, being the whipped ass husband he was.
"Really? Thank you so much." she squeaked in joy throwing her hands around him.
"Oh come on! Baby! It's just one doll house? I mean toys! Really? Give me some real challenge!" he said, huffing.
Unfortunately, that particular model was quite famous and had already been sold out in throughout the country. He couldn't even order from abroad because even with fastest shipping the package would be delivered a week after Tamara's birthday. He felt ashamed, all the power and money and he couldn't manage to buy some toys his wife wanted to gift to an orphan.
Thankfully, Linda his secretary spared him from the ultimate shame and managed to reserve one piece. One problem, they didn't provide delivery and the store was in a city three-hour drive away from their town. He could have sent anyone. He had countless men at his disposal. But, No! Being the romantic sap he was, he drove all the way, all by himself three hours, bought the damn toy Doll House and drove all the way back home, again three hours. Fucking six hours for some toy.
It was worth it when he walked in with the big Doll House in his hands. Elena squealed in surprise, jumping in excitement. That smile right there was worth it. Besides he did promise her the world in return for her love.
"Yeah, I did!" he replied. "It's all yours" he added to the little girl with a huge grin.
"Now Tami! What do we say to people who gifts us such pretty stuff." Alizah, the head of the shelter, said?
"Thank you Mr. Salvatore! Thank you Elena!" the little girl said, smiling.
Elena held his arm. "You're welcome Honey! And Happy Birthday again." she said.
Damon just settled for a smile. This was so not his thing. When Tami ran off. Alizah looked at Elena with gratitude in her eyes "You didn't have to bring them all gifts."
"Oh! Psh! Of course! I had to or they will end up fighting over toys," Elena reasoned.
"Besides it's all my freshly turned teenager cousin's stuff, she outgrew them, and a couple of stuff from my teen days." Elena added.
"Thank you again," Alizah said.
"Come on Zee I have been working here for a month now. You don't have to thank me for every little thing I do," Elena huffed.
Alizah smiled. They talked about a couple of other stuff before Alizah excused herself.
"Thank you for helping me with party decorations," Elena whispered in his ear.
"Anything for you," he replied. He was munching on the chips she handed him a while ago.
"and thank you again for buying Tami that doll house. It was very sweet of you,"
"As I said anything for you."
"Look at how much she is smiling now," Elena said, beaming pointing at the girl who was showing off her new toy.
"Yeah," he replied.
"You were asking me the other day why I spend all my time here in this shelter right? This is why I come here. I love to be the reason of those smiles," she replied holding his arm.
"You're the reason for my smile," he added.
She giggled. "Yes! I love to be the reason of this smile as well" she hooked her arms around his neck.
"Didn't Rose cook for you today? I specifically told Rose that I'll be busy all day planning for Tami's birthday?"
"Yes she did! She nearly burnt our kitchen to the ground and yet the potato was so under cooked it could play part in toy story the sequel and don't even get me started on…"
She pecked him when he wasn't expecting. He smiled, blushing.
"You're blushing,"
"Stop that." he said
"I made you blush."
He huffed annoyed.
"Do you know how much I love you Damon?" she said, her forehead resting on his.
He didn't reply, arguing her from his eyes to continue.
"I love you so much it makes my heart hurt but in the best way possible," she said kissing the tip of his nose.
A loud cough interrupted their moment.
"Sorry! I didn't want to ruin your moment but… there are children here." Alizah said, smirking.
"Oh! I AM SO SORRY." Elena blushed.
Before Damon could say something extremely sarcastic she held his hand and dragged him to the playground. Sitting near the swings. She settled between his legs, her back resting against his chest. His hands tied on her flat belly.
She laid her head against his shoulder. "Everything is so perfect, I am so happy," she said.
"Mission accomplished." he murmured in her ear.
She giggled. " How did I get so lucky?" she asked.
"You deserve it. You deserve everything perfect. There is too much damn good in you," he murmured in her ear.
"You're a good person too," she replied. "the best" she added.
"I am not…I am a terrible person…"
"That was the past baby. What matters is this! We are together and we are happy." she chirped.
"You don't know a lot of stuff baby! I mean I have been a very terrible person…" he trailed off when Elena cut him off.
"No! You're not a terrible person. You're my hero who would do anything to make me smile and I love you for that. I don't care what you did in past. I don't even want to know about it. You drove six hours just for a toy Doll House to make a little girl happy. That makes you a good person."
"Elena! I didn't do it for her neither did I do it to be painted as a good guy. I did it for you. Trust me! I am not a good person…" he said shaking his head. Lately, the guilt had been over powering his will power to lie to his wife.
"No! You're not. I have seen this lot. Why do you always intimidate people? Why can't you show people this side of you? You're a beautiful human being and I am not talking about your physical appearance, you have a gold of a heart. For a change let people see the good in you." she huffed.
"I don't want anyone to see the good in me. People take advantage of that. Besides when people see good they expect good and I don't want to live up to anyone's expectation"
"What about my expectations?"
His eyes narrowed.
"What about it? I made sure you're happy. I try my best to make you the happiest woman in the world," he said almost in a childlike tone.
"I have never been happier…"
"but that still doesn't answer my question."
"I think it's too late for me," he answered.
"Every saint has a past; every sinner has a future. As long as we are alive it's never too late to start over. Don't let your demons scare away the goodness in you. Whatever you did is in the past. We will deal with everything together" she said kissing his forehead.
"I wish it was that simple," he whispered.
And then something clicked.
"If I ask you to run away with me. No question asked. Will you? You know to start over," he asked.
"I would,"
"Leaving your family?"
"I would,"
"Why?"
"Because you're my world now" she answered simply.
When the birthday ended, they were on their way home, walking, hands in hand.
"Someone is really happy today." he noticed.
"I am always happy"
"What's so special today?"
"Nothing. It's just Tami reminds me of my sister."
"Kat…Katherine?"
"Yes. Kat loved to play with dolls. She was all about doll houses and toys…" Elena said smiling.
"Aha…"
"We use to save up money back when we were in shelter. Kat saved money for dolls and toys and I saved up for makeup and dresses," Elena explained chirpily. She was so lost in her past memories.
"but it wasn't always enough. Things were really expensive. We couldn't afford it. Our shelter was really low on fundings. We use to yearn for all the stuff rich kids had. Life gave us a second chance and Miranda-Mum and Daddy found out about us. They adopted us immediately. We were so happy that day. We finally had everything we wanted. Just like the rich kids in our school. The thought of a kid without parents scares me. I mean I know how hard it is. I want to help these children. I never want them to feel that desperateness that I felt before mom and dad came," she trailed off snapping out of her memories.
She only noticed when Damon wiped tears rolling down her cheeks. "Hey. Hey." he cooed as he hugged her.
"I am okay," she said hiding her face in the crook of his neck.
"It's just Tami. Tami was so happy. It got me all nostalgic…" she said in between a giggle and a sob.
"You miss Katherine?" he asked.
"It's been awhile I have visited her grave." she said pulling away, intertwining her fingers through his.
He felt guilty again. He stole her from her family, from her friends and from everyone she loved. This was wrong but she was holding his hand and her eyes were filled with love, the guilt eased. He would steal her from the world if it meant he could keep her.
"I am sorry,"
"For what?"
"For keeping you here,"
"I am staying here because I want to. Don't feel guilty. I like it here now. Maybe We could even settle down permanently here…" she said.
"What? but what about your family and…" he trailed off.
"I can visit them anytime I want. Sure it's far but I like it here with you. I want to be where ever you are," she said. "and I kind of think our kids would love it here rather than Mystic Falls, it's more safe and why are you looking and smiling like an idiot?"
"Kids? I thought you weren't ready for that…"
"It doesn't seem like a bad idea now. I mean I want to have your child…" she shrugged.
"but not like right now. Let's take time. I still want to clear first year of my residency." she added before he could pounce on her.
"Damn it. And I was really hoping to knock you up before Christmas " he cursed, playfully. "That means like in about one year"
"Yes and you will have to wait for it…" she said pushing him slightly.
They arrived had dinner that Elena cooked. They made love for hours and when she was in deep sleep in his arms that's when the thoughts kicked in.
He wanted to have the perfect white picket fence just like Elena wanted. But having kids would mean more weaknesses. Even the thought of Elena in danger killed him. He couldn't imagine the constant panic he would be in when he had children to protect too.
No. This couldn't go on for long. That's when he made up his mind. He would do everything in his power to become the man Elena deserved. He has to leave this world behind. But leaving Zach would mean signing Stefan and Elena's death certificate. Stefan, his one and only family before Elena came into the picture.
He couldn't bear the thought of his brother hurt either. He made a deal with Zach eight years ago. He promised to do whatever Zach wanted in exchange for his brother's life. He knew If he ran away with Elena, Zach would turn his brother in to police using those false evidence against him that they somehow got on that fateful night when their father died, or worst Zach would kill Stefan. He couldn't bear that. Stefan was his baby brother.
He talked about this to Rose about it after a few days.
"Are you insane?" she shouted.
"I can't do this anymore, Rose…"
"Yes! I got that part but Damon, you know Zach would hunt you two down and kill both of you and did you forget about Stefan, you know, your brother?" she growled.
"Zach would kill him. Do you want to build your white picket fence on your brother's dead body? Are you really that selfish?" Rose spat.
"I have it all worked out. I pulled some strings. In a few days, Stefan will get appointed in college in Brussels, Belguim. I will make sure he stays undetected by Zach and his men. Once he is, my wife and I will dash as far away as possible," he said in a serious tone.
"but I don't get it. All these years you never wanted an out?" she asked, puzzled.
"Eight years ago when Zach cornered me and my brother. I took the fall for him without so much as thinking because I didn't have any reason to live. My brother's life was at stake. Zach would have killed him and I did everything I could to protect him. I lived in this… this darkness for eight years. I became a monster. I did everything Zach asked me to without so much as flinching because I could go to any lengths to save my brother. I didn't care even once about my life." he trailed off.
"but now, I found a reason to live, reason to fight the side of me that enjoys bloodlust, a reason to change, a reason to fight it all, I found a reason to show everyone a side no one knew existed in me. That reason is her. All her." he completed.
"We grew up in this Damon. We grew up seeing our parents killing people for power. We grew up seeing them do everything for power. This is what we are, you can't escape that,"
"I don't want to do this anymore Rose. I know redemption in my case is impossible but I have destroyed my childhood running away from my dad and eight longs years for Stefan. I don't want to be this monster anymore. I deserve to be selfish for once. I am running away with the love of my life who also happens to be my wife to a place very far away from all this and I won't return until Zach is dead in dirt," he said, determined.
"and what about the said 'love of your life'. Is she ready to run away with you? Is she ready to give up her family, her work and her identity for you?" Rose questioned.
"She would. She would leave everything for me, no question asked," he quoted his wife.
"Will you ever tell her about us?"
"I can't. I can't even risk it. Losing her would untimely kill me. I am sorry but I can't,"
..
Over
..
"Are you okay?" Rose seemed concerned touching his tear stained cheek.
"No, I am not."
"I had it all. And then the worst thing happened. Fate keeps playing with me like that…" Damon added, hiding his face in his hands.
"Hey. It will be okay…" Rose said.
"Just give her some time,"
The loud thud of the door startled them. Bonnie entered, angry as ever.
"She has been crying all day. She wants to meet her brother." Bonnie said, glaring at them.
"Well, she can't. They will start scheming," Rose replied.
"Damon, she is upset. She is scared. She is afraid you will harm her brother. This is all too much for her. Just let her meet Jeremy?" Bonnie requested.
"I think we should let her meet Jeremy." Damon instantly added.
"Are you nuts? They will plan something up, this is a bad idea Damon." Rose commented.
"Take Jeremy to her room." he ordered Bonnie, ignoring Rose.
..
..
Elena lay on the bed staring at the fiber optic star ceiling that gave the illusion of laying under open star filled sky. She once told him she loved star filled sky. He even got her that. Imagine her surprise when she got into her bedroom after a tiring day only to be surprised by a ceiling filled with twinkling lights that gave illusion of real life stars. She was awe struck by this gesture.
Now it scared her. The idea of him scared her. She flinched again remembering him murder Mason. She had to get out of here. As soon as possible, she rose up. Her door bust open. She screamed hiding inside her comforter.
"Leave me alone!" she shouted.
"Are you okay?" she heard his voice. The monster. The killer.
"Go away," she shouted hysterically.
Damon looked at her. She was shivering in fear from him. He never hated himself more than he hated himself now. "Elena! Baby? It's me. It's me." he said holding her face. She pushed his hands away. He flinched at her rejection.
"Don't touch me…" she shouted dragging herself toward the headboard.
"Ok! Ok! I won't. Calm Down. I won't touch you" he said, his arms rose in surrender. Elena opened her eyes looking at him.
He looked miserable. It was like she was torturing him. He looked broken. He looked like he had been starving for days. She tore her eyes from his.
"I thought I told you to stay away from me," she spat.
"Why are you so scared of me?" he asked, he looked like he was about to cry.
"You're a killer. You will hurt us…" she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks again.
"I would die before I lay a finger on you," he pleaded.
She looked away from his intense gaze. "I want to see Jeremy. I want to go home to my parents."
"Jeremy is coming, here he is." Damon said pointing at door.
Jeremy entered with Bonnie and Sage behind him. Elena jumped from bed, running toward her brother. She hugged him and Jeremy immediately hugged her back.
"You're okay…" she said, sighing in relief.
"Yes. I am okay. I am okay and so are you," Jeremy said as he broke into sobs.
Elena pulled away cupping his face. "Did they hurt you? Of course they did! They are all monsters." she said looking back at Damon.
Damon had seen Elena's love. He had seen how much she loved everyone but this was the first time he had seen her truly display her hatred for someone. And ironic, that someone was him. When in life he only wanted her. He only loved her. No correction. He loves her. But she hated him now with passion. It crushed his soul. He loved her so fucking to death.
"We will get through this Jer. They can't keep us here forever," she said, looking back at her brother with eyes filled with concern and love.
"Did you eat anything? Should I make something for you?" she asked, trying to soothe her crying brother.
"No. I have had dinner. I am fine." he replied finally pulling himself together.
"It's just…"Jeremy trailed off when he looked at Rose who somehow, now was standing beside Damon. None of them noticed her enter.
Elena eyes narrowed. She saw fear in Jeremy's eyes. She turned around to see the person who would scare her brother like that.
Brown hurt and angry eyes met Icy blue sad and devastated eyes. Jeremy meant the world to Elena. She literally raised him. She could die for him. Mustering up all her courage, she took a deep breath. Somehow she knew Damon would never harm her, even though she was scared shitless of him.
"What? Staying here to for the show? Get out! All of you! Get out now," she spat.
"Elena…" Jeremy warned her, he reached out for his sister and held her close to his chest as if scared for her life.
"No. Really? What do you want from us?" Elena shouted, pushing Jeremy's hands away.
"Lena. You need to calm down…" Bonnie said as she moved forward.
"Don't. Bonnie. Just Don't." Elena spat harshly toward her ex best friend.
"Elena, They will hurt you." Jeremy said coming forward, holding his sister back.
"No. No. Jeremy. Don't you see they already destroyed me," she said.
Damon felt a sharp pain in his heart. He closed his eyes to restrain the tears from falling. She hates him. She hates him so much. And he couldn't live with that. He had never felt so much pain in his life.
"He DESTROYED me." she said as she broke into sobs.
"You're okay. You're safe. I won't let anyone hurt you I promise." Jeremy said, trying to calm her down.
"No. No. No. I know what to do. I know." she said pushing her brother away.
She looked at Damon, eyes filled with hatred. He flinched. A tortured expression on his face. "I know what it was all about…" she said, taking a step toward him.
"I was a game to you. Just some side fun going along with murders and illegal activities-huh-your guilty pleasure." she spat, seething.
He took a step back. She smiled but not that smile that use to brighten the room. A totally new smile. A smile filled with hatred and disgust.
"Lust. That was all what I was to you. Why did you do this to me? What did I ever do to deserve YOU?" she said, in tone filled with venom.
Before he could answer she tore off her button down shirt. Half-moons of her breast visible through the dark black lacey bra. "Here. Take me. Do what you want to me. I am all yours. Screw me out of your system and then leave us alone. What are you waiting for? This is what you wanted right. But after this I never want to see your face ever again after will leave me, my brother and my family alone. You will never lay a finger on my brother again. Come on. Do it." she spat.
He felt disgusted. He felt nauseated. This was what he got for loving this girl to death. For locking up his demons for her. For loving her so much that he lost himself in her.
He grasped her from her forearms and spun her around slamming her against nearest wall. "Noo!" Jeremy shouted. "Noo! Damon! Please! Don't hurt her!" Jeremy pleaded from Rose's and Sage's grasp.
Bonnie whimpered. He stared into her eyes, his eyes filled with so much anger that it scared Elena.
"Sex wasn't what I wanted from you Elena. I. LOVE. YOU. I LOVE YOU. Believe it or not but this is true. I love you crazily, obsessively and dangerously. You think I wanted to do what I did. No! Elena. I didn't voluntarily fell for the you. It just happened. I tried to be a better person for you what I was with you was the real me the real me before life fucked me and I ended up being a monster…" he growled.
"You're incapable of feeling love or falling in love…" Elena spat back.
"No. Elena. I feel it more than you or any other person do because no one ever loved me until you did. I craved it. I live for it. You don't know how much I need it. I would die without it and you know how I knew I love you? I knew it was love because this emotion what I felt for you was foreign. It was strong and raw and I knew I had to have you or I would die yes-you're beautiful. Your body is amazing and I love fucking you but this is not the reason I was with you, I Love you more than anyone could ever love you. I know that I wasn't honest with you but what other choice did I have. Look at you… You hate me now… that's what I was scared of…"
"And you're forgetting the fact that I married you. You're my legal wife-my lawfully wedded wife. So you can't INSULT MY LOVE LIKE THAT. YOU CAN'T CALL MY LOVE LUST! WHAT I FEEL FOR YOU IS RAW, STRONG and REAL…" he shouted at her.
"Damon, my head hurts," Elena said but he didn't listen.
"I don't care if you like it or not you're staying."
"Damon, you're hurting me,"
"You're never going anywhere or I'll kill you and then I'll kill myself."
"Damon, my head hurts."
Her breath unevened. She felt like her head was going to explode but she kept staring at him with utmost disgust.
"DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT. I CAN'T BEAR THIS HATRED IN YOUR EYES FOR ME. THIS WILL KILL ME. PLEASE DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT." he shouted.
Pain. A lot of pain. Fire. Katherine… Dad… car… Matt. Damon… kissing… promises… Marriage.
Her baby.
Icy blue eyes.
Mason's dead body.
Rebecca.
Her vision blurred.
"Elena, Elena. Oh god. Elena…" he said as her eyes closed. She fell in his arms.
"Shit. Baby…" He muttered. Panic Attack again. He shouldn't have shouted at her. She was scared. He shouldn't have been so angry at her.
"Elena…" Jeremy said as pushed Rose and came toward her. "She gets panic attacks. She always faints. She is okay. Don't worry," Damon said as he rubbed her palms.
"You fucking asshole. Leave her." Jeremy said as he pushed Damon.
"Wrong move, little Gilbert. I don't want to hurt you. So stay away from me…" Damon warned him.
"Stay away from my SISTER," Jeremy growled.
"She is MY wife,"
"Rose. Get him out of here and lock him up in the room again," he added.
Jeremy struggled but he was no match for Rose. Once he was out. He repeated the routine whenever she passed out. He checked her blood pressure. "She isn't vomiting so good sign but…" he was mumbling something that Bonnie couldn't hear.
"we should call a doctor" she suggested when Damon covered her up with sheets and held her hand kneeling on his knees on the bed side.
"Yes, this is the second time this week. Call Meredith now." he said, his eyes stuck on her face.
"Ok…"
She left but not before she caught him kissing her hand frantically and mumbling words of love to her. He did love her a lot but Bonnie knew Elena would never love him back now. She felt sad for Damon.
..
..
"We need to run some tests Damon. Something tells me this isn't the second time she fainted this week," Meredith said.
"She had been really stressed with what she found out about me," he replied.
"Yes. That's a big reason to be stressed but it's not just that…"
"What do you mean?" Damon asked, alarmed. "She is okay, right? Health wise?"
"Yeah…"
Damon sighed in relief. The last thing he needed was Elena being fatally sick. No one would snatch her from him. Not even God.
"I have some doubts. I'll let you know when I am sure…" Meredith said as she took the blood sample from Elena.
Damon nodded in agreement.
..
..
"Don't worry Caroline. I promise you. I will get her out of there. I have some of his men on my side now. We would sneak her out of that place. I promise you she won't be in danger from him anymore." Caroline heard the man on the other side of the call.
"I can't believe he is a-. Damon is a- Don. And he was involved with my Tyler's death. I will rip him apart. Just you watch."
"We will deal with that but first thing first. We have to save Elena from him."
"Thank you so much."
"Don't thank me. I love her. This is the least I could do."
..
..
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