Chapter 17: 'His heaven on earth'
"I just turned sixteen. I was shit scared of my father. I knew that he will severely punish me if I got caught. So here I was a runaway teenager all alone on streets." Damon said sighing.
"How long?"
"Seven months,"
"Oh…"
"At first living on the streets was very hard. I was cold, hungry and in danger constantly. I had no place to sleep. I had no money, so food and clean water was mostly out of question. Then there were always some people who tried to uhh- let's say take advantage of me. You have to stay safe from them too and when you fall ill there is no one to take care of you…"
"How did you manage to stay seven months like that?" Elena asked caressing his cheek.
"I…Illegal street fighting. Money out of it wasn't much but it got me food and a room in a very small and revolting motel." he said scrunching his nose remembering something.
"Street fighting?"
"I was physically stronger than guys my age. I use to work out back in home obviously since my father didn't want a wimp in house. I actually beat the shit out of a lot of guys way older than me back in my street fighting days until there was this twenty-six-year-old germen dude who broke my arm,"
"Oh my God."
"I was hurt and I didn't have enough money to fix it up. Soon I was out of money, and I couldn't fight because of my broken arm. I starved for days and I was on verge of passing out when Rose's mum found me." he completed.
He noticed her look at him intently, tears filled in her eyes. His pain was her pain. She looked like she genuinely felt his pain. Like she had been through this as well. He dipped his head and kissed the palm of her hand. She smiled. Caressing his cheek she made him look up at her.
"Rose's mum worked with my dad too. She took me home and fixed me up. I begged her not to inform my dad about it. She did it anyway. But she somehow managed to convince my father to let me stay with her-not that my father wanted me back. According to him, I was a worthless coward pussy who ran away and embarrassed his family's name," he said.
"No-you're not. I mean I don't support children to run away but you had it all so bad, you didn't have any choice, you are not coward and certainly not worthless," she comforted him.
"Doesn't matter anymore,"
"So, I guess after that you lived with your cousin Rose and her mother. You completed your high school and got accepted in Boston University-but then if you managed to escape then why did you return?" she asked shaking her head a bit.
"I told you, I returned because of my brother,"
She urged him to continue with her eyes. Her hands on his cheeks. A mere touch enough to keep his demons locked up.
"With me gone-our father's focus shifted on Stefan. Stefan was trained just like they trained me before I ran away. Stefan, like me, was confused but he, just like me, he was also scared shitless of dad and he did everything our father asked him to do but he got caught in a drug racket,"
"The drug racket that you were arrested for 9 years ago,"
"Yeah…the very one,"
"but if-if Stefan was involved in that drug racket then how come…" she trailed off.
"He was only sixteen, I couldn't let them arrest my brother, I took the fall for him,"
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Flashback
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Coming back from a tiring class to his dorm. He threw his binder on the desk. Finals were coming soon. He needed to prepare. Damon was preparing a study schedule in his mind when he caught sight of a sixteen-year-old boy sitting on his bed, his head in his hands. Damon recognized him immediately. "Stefan?"
Stefan's head shot up. A smile appeared on his face. He looked so relieved. "Damon. Hey," he moved toward his brother and caught him in a bear hug.
He was caught off guard. It's been five years since he last saw his brother. But he managed to hug his brother back. "Didn't even bother to contact me," he caught a few words Stefan mumbled in between his shock.
"You're really here," he said as he pulled back.
"You never contacted me," Stefan complained with a little fury in his eyes. "I. Actually-woah-you've grown up," Damon said as he examined his sixteen-year-old brother. Five foot ten and quite well built for a sixteen-year-old. He knew why. He didn't like that thought though.
"I missed you," Stefan stammered. "Me too. but how are you here? Does-Does dad know?" Damon asked still overwhelmed by different emotions, finally seeing his brother after five years.
The smile on Stefan's face faltered. A look of dread came on his face. "Damon. I. I made a huge mistake." He stammered.
And there it was.
"What did you do?" he asked in a grave tone after a pause. He was sure he wasn't going to like the answer.
"I-I got caught in the drug racket in our company. I am on the run-you have to save me. I don't want to go to jail. Please save me," Stefan begged in between dry sobs. A look of horror on his face.
"What are you talking about?"
"Damon-I only did it because of Zach. He was telling me to man up or something and I just freaked out and I-There was this raid by police and-I was the in charge at the warehouse. I-they will lock me up for years."
"Stefan. Calm down."
"I can't calm down. They caught 10 grams of cocaine. I am going in for life time imprisonment. I don't want to go to jail-you have to save me. Please! Please!" Stefan begged shaking in fear.
"Stef! Dad won't let that happen. They are not gonna lock you up…"
"Our company's reputation is already in jeopardy. I don't think he really cares about me. He told me to give myself up and they will have me out in a few months. I can't go to jail Damon. I have good shot at scholarship at a med school. I didn't want to be involved in this first place but dad and Zach-, My future will be destroyed. Fuck it! I am on the run. It's already destroyed," he said sobbing falling on the bed again.
"Hey. Stefan! Stefan! Calm down buddy! I am here…"
"You'll save me Right? Promise me you won't hand me over to them?" Stefan said sobbing.
"Of course, I will save you. You're my baby brother," he replied instantly.
"I knew you will…" Stefan said rubbing his face with his arms and hugged his brother again.
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Over
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"He was caught in pretty deep shit. Even being a minor couldn't help him. Police had some witnesses against him. It would have been on his permanent record for life. Even being involved with Zach, he was still a very good student. So I did the only thing that could have been possible. I took the fall for him." He completed.
"You took all his charges," she asked.
"you took life time imprisonment charges for him," she added surprised.
"Yes." he sighed and she hugged him, weeping a bit. "That's why you had to drop out of college,"
"I didn't stay there for long. Just six months. Stefan managed to get dad to use his connections and get me out. Stef was thorough he made sure all the traces of this incident was removed from police records. They sent me off to London since I wanted nothing to do with dad or Zach." he said.
"That's when it started?" Elena asked.
"No. I made sure to tell my father that I didn't want anything to do with him and I advised Stefan to stay away from Zach and dad too," Damon said.
"but then…"
"Zach had some dirt on Stefan, some proofs that he was in fact involved in that drug racket. He made Stefan do his dirty work. Stefan never told me about that. I was under the impression that Stefan like me was done with them for good,"
"Damon I don't get-,"
"Stefan got tired of Zach black mailing him. He tried to put an end to it. He informed police about Zach's activities. He started working as double agent for them…"
"Something tells me it didn't end well," Elena interrupted wincing.
"No. It didn't. Zach was smart. He knew Stefan was up to something. He informed my father about it. But my father protected Stefan furiously instead of taking an action against him. I guess that's when Zach found out my dad was in it too. Somehow, Stefan had convinced him to leave their dark world. Stefan was all he had. I had left him ages ago and in our brief encounter I made sure he knew how much I hated him and I didn't want anything to do with him. The guilt for everything he did was eating him."
Pause.
"There is no escape from our world Lena. Once you're in it, the only way out is death. He was ready to leave it all for Stefan. Besides, the fact that he couldn't help his own son when he got caught in the drug racket without my help, was eating him. He didn't want to lose Stefan. Stefan called me. He told me he was finally going to put an end to it all. I immediately left everything behind and rushed to help my brother. Zach was dangerous and I knew it. I knew he won't let my dad fuss up about his activities. My father was Don. Don means Boss. The fall of the Don means the fall of his base. We would be giving up everything. Money, power and property. Stefan's proofs against Zach and my father's confession would have been enough to put an end to all."
"I wanted my brother to be out of this mess. I helped him as much as I could. Unfortunately, someone in the police department reported this to Zach. Zach was out for blood now. He was suspicious but this was worse than he expected. He was my father's right hand man. My father's fall meant his fall and besides the last five years it was him more who was running the business. He didn't want my father to fuss up. He had him killed."
"Oh God."
"Just a week before…"
"Oh No."
"then next came Stefan. The biggest thorn in his way. Since Stefan still held proofs against him."
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Flashback
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"You were supposed to meet me at Cannon's an hour ago," Damon barked on phone at Stefan.
"I know. I am here at the station. I need to drop by Bill's first. He is the one who has all the files,"
"Are you sure this is gonna work Stef? We still have time. We can leave this all behind."
"I want him behind the bars Damon, He killed our father. He killed my dad." Stefan growled. "and he still has the proofs for that drug racket against me. I need to put him behind the bars for good,"
"Ok. I will call you back," he hung up as soon as he saw a man following him. Damon took a left trying to dodge him. He ended up behind an ally. That's when he noticed a three other people on the left corner eyeing him. "Shit."
"We need to have a little talk," a voice boomed. He turned around. Zach was standing there, fuming.
Damon looked around to search for anyway out. There were some people on his left. They circled him. "You boys never learn, Do you?" a tall well built man pushed him nearly knocking him out. He felt a blow and he fell. Blood dripping from his nose. "Uncle Zach…"
He kicked his opponent on his leg knocking him down on the rough ground. His street fighting days coming handy. Before, he could rise up. He felt a blow on his neck and he felt dizzy. Before he knew it he was pinned to the ground. "One brother down, one to go." Zach said in a sing song tone.
"Did you really thought I would never find out?" Zach said pointing a gun at his temple.
Damon struggled to get free but it was one against three. They managed to pin his hands behind his back. Zach knelt over him and kneed him on his face. Damon shouted in pain. "Planning to lock me up huh?"
Damon saw hatred, pure raw hatred on Zach's face. "and that baby Salvatore, I am gonna shred his limb from limb and have him burn alive,"
"Nooo." Damon said, eyes widening. He struggled again. This time he succeeded. He launched himself on Zach but before his fist could connect with Zach's face someone pulled him from behind and kicked him hard.
It was five against one now. They kicked him and punched him over and over again. He took the blows one after another. His head ached and he was sure every square inch of his body was covered in bruises. He was lying on the ground barley breathing, bleeding with his eyes closed.
He felt someone throw liquid on him. Kerosene. They were going to burn him alive. He couldn't move. He couldn't defend himself. He was ready to die but his brother's face swam before his eyes. No. He wouldn't let them harm his brother.
"Any last wish?" Zach said eyeing him smugly.
"Please don't hurt my brother,"
"Well. Damon your brother messed with me. Trust me. It pains me to kill my own nephews but you both have to die. Your brother had been nothing but pain in the ass from the very start. He could have ran away like you but nooo-He had to mess with me. He is gonna suffer consequences now. It's only fair,"
"I will do anything," he whispered, panting.
"I have no use for a coward like you," Zach said showing him his gun.
"I will do all your dirty work for you just let Stefan go."
"I can't let Stefan go he have some really important proofs against me. He has to die." Zach said.
"I know about them. I can help you find and destroy them," he negotiated.
"I am listening,"
"In return I just want my brother's life spared,"
"Hmmm. How do I know you won't double cross me?"
"You have proof against Stefan, don't you? About his involvement in that drug racket a year ago. I can't possibly double cross you even if I want to," he bargained.
"A slave for lifetime and you will do all my dirty work too. No question asked?"
"I will do anything," he replied immediately in a shaky tone.
"I feel merciful today you've got yourself a deal,"
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Over
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Elena was weeping. It was him this time that needed to comfort her. "Then why does he hate you so much?"
"Because he thinks I double crossed him. I was the one who destroyed all the proofs. He considers me the killer of our father. He thinks he had Zach cornered. He thinks Zach bribed me with the promise of power to side with Zach. I deceived him. But I only did it to save him Elena" he replied as he wiped her tears.
"I told him that my undying loyalties remain with Zach and if he doesn't want me to kill him he should stay out of our way," he added after a while.
"I have been with Zach ever since…" he added.
"I was forced to become this. But this is my fate. From the very start, one way or another I had to become this monster that I am and I have accepted this side of me,"
"Don't say that-I am here-I will save you." Elena replied cupping his cheeks again.
"I don't need you to save me Elena. I can't be saved. What I need you to do is stay with me. Because I don't think I will be able to survive without you," he replied nuzzling her neck.
"Damon-I-," she trailed off. She didn't know what to say. He had been through so much in his life. He was forced to become what he was now. He wanted to run away. Hell he did ran away once. But, somehow, circumstances and fate made him what he never wanted to become. She knew bringing him out of his world would be difficult. She could sense that he had grown fond of power as well with time. Some part of him enjoyed blood lust. All the pent up frustration with fate and childhood tragedies had played important role in triggering his inhumane merciless side.
She refused to subject her child to what her husband had been through. Straight up demanding his withdrawal from his gang and giving him an ultimatum to choose between her and his gang wasn't a good option especially when she knew how unhinged he could get when she talked about leaving. Last time, she did leave he ended up kidnapping her brother. She wouldn't risk it again.
So, she was going to accept him with his demons and she would do her best to remove them from his life. She would have to leave her family forever but it was a small price to pay in exchange for him and her baby and the idea of having a functional family.
"I know you have been through a lot. I can see that you never wanted to become this. I understand. I would have done the same for Jeremy if I were in your place. I understand, Damon. That doesn't make what you did right but I understand. I am aware that ever since you joined Zach, you have done some terrible things. But, I am not giving up on you. Not now, not ever. I will be with you no matter what. I promise my love to you till the day I die…" she whispered slowly wrapping her arms around his neck.
He needed her. She knew that. Asking him to suddenly leave his gang would be wrong move. Especially now that she knew about Zach's deal with him. She was going to take it slow. And she knew for sure her plan would work.
She slowly placed her lips on his, taking him into a searing kiss. "You are so beautiful," he whispered, kissing her softly on the lips. "I can't believe I got to have you."
"and you're so brave, so loving and only mine," she said, a possessive streak in her tone. He rolled her over kissing her jaw. "All yours,"
"I love you so much…" she whispered and he shuddered in pleasure. He couldn't believe it. She was still here. She was still in love with him. Knowing what he was. Knowing the reasons, he had become this. She wasn't scared of him. In fact she promised she still loved him. "I love you too baby,"
"I want you," she said nibbling on his neck. He stiffened. Not that he didn't wanted her. He needed her too bad she was just giving him a chance again. He didn't want to make her do something she might regret later.
"Are you sure?" he asked, confirming. Any other time he would have jumped on without her asking twice.
"Yes, I want you in every way. The taste of your skin, your scent, the feel of your skin against mine. I want you all tonight," she said huskily. In a second he was hovering above her taking most of his weight on his arms, yet she was pinned helplessly beneath him. She could feel the warmth of his legs between hers, his chest against her.
The warmth of his lips were on her lips. So warm, so soft, so gentle and now they were being parted by his tongue, she moaned in pleasure. She could feel his love for her in the kiss. His lips trailed down to her neck as she whimpered.
She felt him remove her button down. She rose up removing his shirt, roaming her hands over his pinned her to bed hands slowly roamed her body. She moaned in appreciation. His lips trailed down her chest. She whimpered when he palmed her breast slowly, kneading them. She yelped when he took one in mouth. "Oh…" she moaned.
He paid the same amount of attention to other. His lips trailed down to her belly to her waistline. He removed her pants frantically. " I wanted to taste you, but I really rather ram you." He whispered huskily and she moaned pressing herself against him like a cat in heat. She grabbed the belt he chose to wear and took if off faster than he put it on this morning.
He collapsed upon her, holding her tightly, pressing her into the bed, he positioned himself between her legs and directed his own self in her dripping core. He pushed slowly into her being greeted by her warm wet spot
"Holy shi..." Damon groaned as he pumped all the way into her feeling her all around him.
He remained still within her, still fully ensconced in his body as she caressed his flanks, his back, ran her fingers through his hair. "Oh…God! I love you so much Elena" he groaned. She gripped him more tightly, pulled her thighs to the vertical and linked her ankles around him. "I love you too" she moaned as he began to rock back and forth against her. No frantic fucking, just steady, deep strokes. His face descended for their lips to meet in the another searing kiss.
But when she moaned his name, his slow strokes changed into frantic pounding within minutes and she found herself screaming her release soon after that. His release followed her behind, calling out her name in between whimpering from pleasure.
They didn't separate for ages and rolled into the scissors position to hold and caress each other until they both fell asleep.
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Damon woke up to her caressing his hair, smiling at him. "Good Morning." she beamed. "Huh…Morning…How are you feeling champ?" he asked, smirking as he shifted to face her. "Jello…I feel like I can't walk," she replied chuckling.
"No excuses, it's your turn to make breakfast," he replied yawning.
"and for that we have to stock up the fridge,"
"Don't tell me those idiots forgot to do that," he groaned.
"Ok. I won't tell you," she smiled.
"Ugh. I hate grocery shopping," he groaned
"Well! You have to go anyway," she beamed.
"Someone is in a good mood," he said smiling kissing her hand.
"I got laid last night," Elena replied with a chuckle. He let out a chuckle before his expressions became serious again. Playing with her hair he bit his lip. "You don't regret it. Do you?"
"Lust. That was all what I was to you. Why did you do this to me? What did I ever do to deserve YOU?"
"You manipulated me. You lied to me. Everything about us is a lie. You used me. You violated me. You "RAPED" me"
Her words still boomed in his mind.
"Of course not. I love you and I wanted you last night. In fact, this might be my prego libido talking but I think I want you now." she whispered.
"but I am also hungry as hell so let's just make breakfast first," she added hurriedly. Right on cue, her stomach rumbled.
He laughed. "See what I am talking about-your son is driving me nuts. Food is all I think about these days. I eat every fucking thing that I see. Even pickles. You know how much I use to hate pickles. Now, I love them. Ate a whole jar back home few days ago," she rambled.
He smiled as she continued rambling about how her eating habits were getting out of control. "I mean it's bad for my skin and I am already losing a lot of my hair and…" she continued talking without any care in the world. Just like they used to before she found out about him. She was awfully girly and he loved that about her.
"but I think if I use my mum's homemade moisturizer then-, are you even listening to a word I said?" she fumed looking at his dazed expression. He shook his head but as soon as her eyes widened he nodded. "Of course I am listening"
"You better. You don't know how cranky I get due to my prego hormones. You don't want to mess with me now," she threatened.
"Yes Ma'am."
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"This is taking forever." he groaned in frustration.
"When you say low fat yogurt. How much calories do it exactly have?" Elena asked the helper girl again.
"Uhh. Let me check. I think 154 calories," the girl replied.
"Can you tell me the percentage of carbs in it?"
"It should be on the box."
"It's not on the box. See, that's why I am asking you." Elena replied.
"Let me check with my manager." she replied sweetly.
"Baby, can we please hurry up?" Damon said impatiently. It's already been an hour and they were nowhere done. He cursed himself again for not stocking up fridge.
"Ma'am! It contains 43 percent carbs," the girl said coming back.
"Oh! Ok." Elena said taking the box and placing it on her shopping cart.
"Now, we have potatoes, cabbages, uncooked dry beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, snow peas, and celery to serve as a snack and toss into salads, my cereal, fruits for your breakfast, oranges for both of us, powederd soups, milk and whole grain bread." She said looking at her cart.
"Are we done?" he asked, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"No, we still have to buy salad dressings and oil" she said as she moved toward another shelf.
"Oh. God. No." He groaned.
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"That would be €432," the man on the counter said.
Damon stuffed his hand on the back pocket to take out his wallet when Elena handed over her credit card toward to the man on counter.
"That's not the card that I gave you," he asked eyeing it.
"Oh, that's my card. My own card," she replied nonchalantly.
He nodded frowning.
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She set his fruit salad on counter. He dove in immediately. Munching and thinking hard. "What're you thinking so hard about?" Elena asked as she took seat next to him eating her pancakes.
"what was that about in store?"
"What are you talking?" she asked narrowing her eyes.
"You could have let me pay or use the credit card I gave you instead of yours," he said, seriously.
"Does that matter-we share everything. What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours." she said avoiding the topic.
"Elena…"
"Can we not talk about this?" she said irritated.
"We are here to talk. Aren't we?" he asked, eyes fuming.
She swallowed a limp in her throat. Her hand reached his. She turned a bit, facing him. This was her first step to bring him out of his world. She had to be careful. This could backfire on her.
"I am not judging you for what you did in past and I know that you have strong reasons to stay like this but I have child inside me. I don't want to subject him to everything you faced. I don't want him to be involved in your world." She said softly.
"This baby is mine as well Elena. Of course, I don't want it to go through what I went. I will keep you both out of this. No one will dare harm you two as long as I am alive," he promised.
"and how will that be possible?"
"I am very powerful… You have no idea about the extent of my power." He replied, a dangerous look on his face.
"That's exactly why I don't want him involved Damon. Because one day he will follow your footsteps. I don't want him to become a criminal," though she said it softly, it was still a harsh slap on his face.
"Criminal. That's what I am to you, right? I thought you understand-,"
"You're getting it all wrong," she said shaking her head. " Damon. I love you. I really do but look at what you and Stefan had to suffer because of this. Would you want your child to go through that?" she asked cupping his face.
"That's what I am saying. I am powerful enough to keep you both safe. I can give you both everything you. The world will be at your feet…" he said pressing her hand on his cheek.
"but that would mean you will stay here. That would mean you plan to be this person, Don Damon Salvatore for the rest of your life."
"Yes Elena. I am gonna be like this for the rest of my life. You can't leave our world behind. The only escape from our world is death," he said in harsh tone.
"We could run away Damon. Only three of us. We will leave this behind forever. No one would find us." she said, her eyes pleading.
"That's not possible."
"but you said that to Rose didn't you? You told her you wanted to run away with me."
"That plan went out of the window the moment I found out you're pregnant. You and my child don't deserve a life on run." he said shaking his head.
"We don't deserve a life in between criminals either." she spat.
His head shot up, looking coldly at her. "You don't understand Elena. I can't leave all this behind. I have enemies, dangerous enemies, who would harm you the moment I turn my guard down for a second. I have to stay powerful like this. I need this power to save you and our child." he was pleading now.
"and besides if Zach even caught a whiff of this he will kill Stefan and you in a second," he said panting now. The very thought tortured his soul.
"Stefan isn't a baby anymore. I am sure he will handle himself." Elena said.
"He is my brother I won't throw him to sharks like that. I am selfish but I refuse to build a white picket fence ending with you on my brother's dead body," he spat.
"Rose will hide him. We will come up with something." she pleaded holding his hands.
"Zach isn't stupid. If it was easy like you make it sound I would have left Zach a long ass time ago," he said looking at her.
"Excuses. Excuses and more excuses." she huffed as she got off her stool.
"Excuses? This is realty Elena. I can't be what you want me to be." He spat, hot on her heels.
"So you're saying that you are doing this to protect me and your brother," she said turning around fuming. Calm down Elena. She mentally shouted to herself. Baby steps remember. But the moment was long gone.
"Yes, I am staying because I need power to protect you, my brother and our baby," he whispered, pleadingly. "You have to accept me like this," he added.
Screw baby steps. It was now or never.
"How could you ever expect me to accept you like this? I will not allow you to bring my child into your sick cruel world. You have no idea what the emotions I've had to deal with feel like ever since I found out what you are. No Damon. I won't accept you like this. You have to leave this all behind. Start over with me." she pleaded holding his hands.
"I would keep you two separate from my world."
"Damon please…"
"I can't." he spat, tears brimmed eyes. She snapped. "I think you're making excuses. I think that you like being a monster. You like the power, the rush and the money coming from this blood lust. You're using me and Stefan as an excuse." She spat.
"Elena…"
"Protecting me? Killing and terrorizing others to 'protect' me is beyond the most sick, cruel, messed up thing! This is all about YOU, Damon. It's never been about me or Stefan. If it was ever about me I wouldn't be crying every day and thinking about escaping from you every chance I got, now would I?" Elena spat. She was beginning to shake as all of the anger and hurt began bursting out.
"I can't love you, Damon. Especially now… I can't and never will if you don't stop your activities at once." She added after a second, breaking him completely.
He laughed dryly. "So last night was a waste of time then."
"I understand what you did in the past but I can't live with you if you continue doing this," she whispered.
"Fine. You want to leave me. Go." he stuffed his hand in his pocket and took out his phone. "It's no use staying here Elena. You obviously don't want me in your life. This kid will be better off with you too. Call Rose. She will get you out of here. I love you irrecoverably and illogically so I am not going to make you stay. I will protect you from a distance. If I have to stand in front of your house for the rest of my life I will do that in order to protect you but don't worry, I won't bother you again. I won't even show you my face again." he said after a while in a shaky tone. He span around to leave. Tears streaming down his cheeks. He stifled his sob pressing the back of his hand to his mouth.
He had always held on to her. The idea of him leaving her broke her. It felt like she was drowning and nothing made sense. Then sadly came the emotional breakdown. She couldn't even bear the idea of living without him.
Once that first tear broke free, the rest followed in an unbroken stream. Elena bent forward where she sat on the floor and pressing her palms to the mat, she began to cry in a way like she was being subjected to inhumane torture. Her hands covering her face.
Hearing her heart wrenching sobs, he spun around again. He sprinted toward her. He could never bear her tears anyway. Bending down he removed her hands. She immediately launched on him, hugging him. "Please don't leave me. I didn't mean it like that. You don't understand. I can't live in this constant fear that one day you will get caught and end up getting locked up or worst end up dead-with the stuff that you do," she said in between sobs. He held on to her tightly.
He bit his lip feeling guilty. He thought she was disgusted by him when the reality was far from what he thought. She was scared for him. She cared about him. She snuggled into his chest and hid her face. "I don't hate you, I didn't mean it like that but look at the situation from my perspective. We have both suffered a lot throughout our lives. I want to give my child a normal childhood. This whatever you are isn't normal. You terrorize people when they don't what you want from them. I would not want my baby to look upto a father like that. Damon you never loved your father. I don't want our baby to hate you." she reasoned as he ran fingers through her hair. She pressed against him and he closed his eyes due to the comfort of her touch.
"Elena…I…" he stumbled to find words wiping her tears.
"Please Damon. Please. You have to leave them behind." she begged in between sobbing clutching his shirt "that's what I want but if you don't I'm still staying with you. I can't live without you," she begged. She had never felt so desperate.
"Okay…" he said. Rose was right. He did lost capability of thinking straight when Elena was present.
"Okay?" she said finally looking at him.
"I will risk it, I will leave it all behind for you but I need time to sort some things first." he said sighing, circling his arms around her fragile figure.
"Really? You'll do it for me?"
"When have I ever denied you something," he said kissing her cheeks, wiping her still tear stained face.
"but you do know that this will ultimately mean leaving your family behind," he added reminding her.
"I know but I will have you," she said sighing in content, closing her eyes.
"What do you mean sort some things?" she asked looking at him.
"Stefan. I still have to make sure he is secure. Then there is this is little issue that you're pregnant. You can't travel much. Running away right now would be complete inconvenience for us during this time." he pointed out.
"So…after the baby is born?"
"Some time after that, I promise you." he said kissing her forehead.
"but we are staying here. I don't want go back to Glurns." she said, she knew once he was back he would change his mind.
"Okay…" he mumbled.
"and while we are here. Promise me you won't do anything bad or illegal?" she said looking at him with her widened doe eyes.
He couldn't ever refuse anyway.
"Elena…"
"Please. Please." she begged. "We are here on a break after all." she reasoned.
He finally gave in to her pleading eyes and nodded. She sighed. "I love you so much," she said kissing him full on lips.
"You better! I am risking my ass for you here." he whispered, smirking against her lips.
He scooped her in his arms. "What changed your mind?" she asked after he dropped her on their bed.
"You are an evil minx who just knows how to make agree to every fucking thing." he said pretending to be annoyed.
She chuckled. He jumped into bed with her. "No, seriously. What did?"
"I always hated my father for what he did. I don't want my child to hate me…" he said sighing.
"He won't. It took a lot of courage to take this decision. Trust me, you won't ever regret it" she said snuggling to him.
He knew she was right. He didn't want his child to grow in a world where he was a criminal. He would rather die than have Elena or his child hate him. He knew he would have to do a lot of scheming to get Stefan safe before he and Elena left his world behind for good with their newborn. But he couldn't help but have a nagging feel in the back of his mind like something very wrong was about to happen. When the girl that would clearly be the death of him caught him into a searing kiss he pushed all his thoughts back and decided to savor the moment.
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It's been two months to the time they moved to Rimini. Rose had been asking him on daily basis about his return. He kept lying to her. He was never going to return obviously. But nobody need to know that beforehand. He told her he wasn't going to return until the birth of his baby. Elena needed to relax and that kind of environment was poisonous for her. Rose agreed, to his surprise.
Since, Elena refuse to use the money in his bank account and hers were running out. He had no option but to work. He turned to his friend Bree. She immediately offered him a job as a bartender at her bar.
Elena was ecstatic when she found out. She was in her fifteenth week now. She had started showing which he loved. She was completely his now. That's what he thought, they had a small house, certainly not something he was used to. At times, he was short of money and he couldn't buy everything his wife wanted now. Not that she asked for anything. She was very understanding and was way better in managing money then he was.
And then there was the fear that Zach will get a whiff of his plans and will have Elena and Stefan killed. He had promised to leave his world behind after the birth of their baby but now the very thought scared him. Life on the run was extremely difficult. He knew that. He had been through that. This time he wasn't alone. He would have a wife and child to protect too but Elena was right. He had to do this for their child save future. What's to say, in future Zach demands his child assistance too once he or she was of age. Zach didn't even spare his own daughter. Their world was forced on her too.
Sarah lost the love of her life because of her father. He didn't want his child to go through what Sarah did. He didn't want his child to be subjected to that kind of pain. And the worst, he never wanted his child to know about what he was. He didn't want his child to look at him with disgust and hatred in his eyes just like he looked at Giuseppe. He was set on his plan now.
With all its imperfection, his life was still perfect. Just last night, Elena felt the baby kick. She screamed on top of her lungs in excitement. He was in the washroom. Of course, hearing her scream, his mind jumped on the worst scenario. So, he ran to her. She was standing near the kitchen counter wrapping her arms around her stomach.
"Baby, are you okay?" he said as he came close to her. "Is everything okay? Are you in pain? What happened?"
"He kicked." she said, somewhat awe struck.
"What?" he asked, dumbfounded.
"Ohh. Ohh. He kicked again." she said smiling.
"Baby, are you in pain?"
"Damon. He is kicking. Oh! You idiot. Come're," she said, smiling wildly, as she turned her back to him, wrapping his arms on her stomach, covering his arms with hers. "Wait. Wait." Then he felt a movement. "Wha…" he trailed off when he felt it again. That's when he figured it. His chest swelled with pride. This was his miracle. His baby. He felt that childish happiness again. He grinned. "It's her right? She is kicking," he said, grinning. "Yes. 'HE' is kicking." she emphasized on He.
"It's a girl for sure," he said rolling his eyes. "We will know in two weeks," she replied smiling. "She kicked again," he said, excitedly.
"Yes, He is very active," she said smiling at how happy he was.
He held on to her for the hours after that while they watched TV. She caught him smirk whenever he felt their baby kick. Obviously too proud. Men and their ego. He had never hidden the fact he was glad she was pregnant. He loved their child. His wife and his unborn baby were his world now.
At nights, Damon often caught himself thanking whatever positive force out there for making Elena for him. "You're made for me," he told her over and over again during the time they made love. She would always blush, smile and look down. He loved how he still managed to make her blush.
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Lying flat on his back, she crawled on top of him murmuring how much she loved him. She opened the buttons of his shirt, kissing the skin revealing by it. He withered underneath her. She always managed to drive him crazy.
Her lips trailed up from his torso to chest to his neck. She nuzzled him, trailing the path with her lips afterwards. "Your birthday is coming up. Anything special you want?" Elena asked, kissing a soft spot behind his ear.
"Nope. Nothing. I don't want anything. I have everything right here-" Damon said flipping them over so now he was on top. "under me," he completed grinning. Before she could reply, he crashed his lips on hers. Of course, he wasn't lying. He already got what he wanted even though he knew he didn't deserve it.
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She still got him something special though. There appointment for ultrasound to determine the sex of their baby.
"This might feel a little cold." Dr Eve said as She squirted some gel onto the probe and inserted it inside her.
"What were the readings last time?" she asked Elena.
"Length, 4 1/2 to 4 3/4 inches, crown to rump; weight, 3 1/2 ounces." Damon answered. He had it memorized as soon as they left last time.
"Week 18 is going good on it. Length, 5 to 5 1/2 inches, crown to rump; weight, 5 1/4 's soft bones are beginning to harden too…"
"We wanted to know our baby's sex too?" Elena asked, looking at screen.
Eve smiled at the impatient couple. "Wait. Last option to back off. Mrs Salvatore. I am telling I will win this bet." Damon said looking at her holding her hand.
"Not a chance." she replied smirking.
"Well, are you both ready?" Eve asked.
They nodded.
"Well congratulations. Mr and Mrs Salvatore, you're going to be proud parents of a baby boy. As you can see, it's almost as if the baby is sitting down, legs apart, so that his gender is clearly visible." She pointed at screen.
"Yes…" Elena cheered. "Told you so"
Damon didn't mind losing the bet at all. He was going to have his son in his arms soon. A grin spread on his face. He felt proud. A pride of creating life with the woman he loved. He never remembered being so happy.
"Damon. Are you okay?" she heard him whisper.
"It's him. It's really him. It's my son." he murmured, lost in his thoughts.
"Aren't you happy?" she asked, insecurity visible on her face.
"Happy? Elena Salvatore, you made me the happiest man on earth today. Thank you so much." he said as he bent down and captured her lips, she kissed him back immediately.
"Happy birthday baby," she whispered against his mouth.
Best birthday ever.
Everything was perfect. He had the woman he loved. He was going to be a father to son who was half Elena and half him. He hoped his son was just as good as his son's mother. Just as thoughtful, caring and loving like she was. This was his heaven. He was finally happy.
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Elena entered the bar her husband worked for. Even though she knew Damon didn't like it when she came all the way from home, alone. He was way protective when it came to her.
She took a seat near counter as she watched him hand over drinks to some skinny college girls. She saw one of the girl eye him and she saw red. Elena wasn't blind she knew Damon was way attractive. He was disbelievingly stunning. His dark hair, his well-built body, his contoured chest. The man was a drop dead gorgeous. His most attractive feature was his eyes, his beautiful blue eyes. She hoped her son had his father's eyes. She couldn't believe he was all hers.
"He is hot huh," A woman on her right said.
"Yeah." Elena answered, smiling lost in watching him from a distance. She knew he haven't seen her yet.
"Ohhh, he is definitely going home with me tonight," that woman purred.
Elena felt her blood boil. Her face reddened. "Excuse me."
"Watch and learn," she said as she opened her jacket revealing a shirt that displayed indecent amount of cleavage. Her mouth dropped open. That woman winked.
"Okay. That's it." she snapped as she held the woman by her wrist, blocking her way. The green eyed monster had took over her. The feeling of jealousy was slowly growing into her skin, filling her blood. Making her eyes go dark. He was only hers. Just hers.
"Oh No! You don't." she said blocking that busty woman's path.
"What the hell?"
"That guy over there is my husband and if you so much as look at him again like that I'll claw your eyes out. He is mine, only mine. " Elena spat. "Now scram before I make a scene and have security throw you out." Elena threatened. That girl cowered and span around, leaving redfaced.
Elena felt proud of herself. Of course, she was possessive of him. She knew in a room full of people he only saw her but she still didn't want any other woman around him. She knew she wouldn't be able to bear it if he stopped loving her.
When she span around, she caught a smirking Damon staring at her. Her eyes widened. By the expression on his face, she knew he heard everything. Her face reddened in embarrassment.
"Claw her eyes out, somebody is a little too possessive," he mocked.
She folded her arms on her chest. "I wasn't kidding I would do it if it comes down to that," she said rolling her eyes.
"Oh my feisty. I like-" he said as he pulled her closer to him.
"You're only mine. You should know that."
"What if I disagree?" he said, messing with her.
Her face immediately fell and there were tears in her eyes in a blink. She looked like he had hit or something. She looked like she was seconds away from dying.
"I was just kidding, oh my God, Baby, I was just messing with you," he said regretting his previous words immediately as he wiped her tears. "Of course I am all yours. I love you crazily and you know that," he said as he pulled her into a hug.
"This is not something to joke about," she said in a shaky tone.
"I am so sorry baby. I am so sorry. I love you and only you. You're going to be the mother of my child. I haven't loved anyone more than I love you." he said as he pulled back to capture her lips.
She was sensitive these days. He shouldn't have messed with her. What was wrong with him? He mentally scolded himself. She was already weak and very insecure these days. She was losing hair and she had gained hell a lot of weight. Even though he swore to her she was becoming more beautiful with every day she still wouldn't believe him.
"What are you doing here?" he asked when she pulled away gasping for air.
"I was missing you,"
"You shouldn't have come here all alone Elena." he scolded. "You should have stayed home and rested. Dr Eve told you that you're weaker than normal woman in their pregnancies"
"I am a whale. I am not weak." she said like a spoiled child.
"Elena, your body is weaker than normal women. You need to be extra careful. She told you never to overexert yourself," he scolded.
"I am fine, I missed you,"
"Then call me, you don't need to come all the way over here,"
"You're just saying that because you want to get rid of me, obviously! I am interrupting the time when you get to enjoy attention from younger and skinny girls. I will get out of your hair. I am going home." she spat and span around.
Yes, she was jealous. And yes, a sick part of Damon loved it. She loved him and she was possessive of him, he loved that. "Baby." he followed her in between heavy crowd.
"Just leave me alone." he heard her.
"Baby. Wait. Baby, you and I both know that you rule me, seriously you are the only one I see. Don't be mad at me please…" he begged as he span her around and held her to his chest.
She struggled to get free but he held on tightly. Finally she gave up. "I am sorry," he whispered pouting. "I am just worried about you. I don't want you to overexert yourself. You know if anything happens to you it will kill me Right?" he said. She nodded. "You're my humanity Elena. My personal sunshine." he nuzzled her neck. He kissed it before he dropped his forehead on hers.
"Tell you what I will tell Bree that I am taking off for tonight. I will get someone else to cover my shift and we will go home."
She smiled nodding. "Happy?" he asked, grinning.
She nodded.
"That's my girl."
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Damon painted her toes, kissing her feet in the meanwhile. He painted them carefully just like she wanted. He closed the lid as he finished the last one and placed the nail paint on the side table before falling back on her lap. He sighed in content.
She was reading a book of Baby Names as she ran her fingers through his hair. He purred in content. She continued caressing his hair tenderly. "How about Aiden?" she asked.
"Nay…"
"Benjamin?"
"Kids in school will make fun of him. Seriously Elena what's wrong with you?"
"Matthew?" she asked again.
"You want to name my baby after your ex-boyfriend…" he said in a dangerous tone. "He will keep reminding me off that prick. No way I am letting you name my baby after that wimp."
"Why do you hate Matt? What's he ever done to you?" she asked looking at him.
"He is my wifey's ex-boyfriend I am supposed to hate him," he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Jacob?"
"Nope. Not after that twilight guy either."
"How about Daniel? We will call him Danny at home," she asked placing the book on side.
"Better. Let me think about it."
"Please. I think we should name him Daniel. In fact we are naming him Daniel." she decided.
"Elena. He is my baby too I get a say in this decision as well," he protested.
"I will be shooting him out of my vagina obviously he is more my baby then he is yours," she said rolling her eyes.
"He wouldn't have been in your vagina if it weren't for me in the first place," he reasoned.
"Ok, fine, what name is on your mind?" she asked.
"Give me the book," he demanded. She huffed and gave him the book.
"Dylan." he said after a while. "Short so he won't have difficulty in learning his spellings."
"That's actually pretty cute name." Elena admitted.
She bent down capturing his lips. "Dylan it is." she said against his mouth. He smiled.
"Dylan Salvatore. I like the sound of that," he said, a strange pride filling his chest. His feeling of responsibility and safety for his child and the woman he loved was so strong. He knew he could overcome his every fear and his every problem for them.
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The bar was empty now. He was late again. Elena was going to be pissed. He cleaned the counter and just when he was about to leave, some people entered.
"We are closed," he said, softly.
They were five of them. A short man in a hood jacket, face was not visible in the dimmed light of the bar and due to his hood. Two men entered after him. They locked the door behind them. Damon stepped back a bit. His hand went toward a bottle. He broke it, holding the broken bottle in front of him for his defense.
"I wouldn't do that If I were you, you see, we have far more dangerous weapons," The one with the hood said.
Damon stiffened. He recognized the voice. He could recognize that voice anywhere.
"Kol." Damon seethed.
They circled him and almost immediately all of them launched on him.
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Elena heard a knock. As soon as she opened the door. Someone in a mask entered. He launched on her. She picked up a vase from side table to hit him but he held her arm and twisted it behind her back. "Let me go," she shouted.
She felt someone press a rag against her nose. She struggled to get free but the smell of the chemical on that rag weakened her mind. Slowly, her vision blurred. She tried to fight the darkness vailing her eyes but she failed.
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I had been busy with updating the other story that I didn't focus here much.
If you want to read more stories like this, follow DaddySadist, and read 'Her Man' and 'Night and Day'. They're inspired by this.
What do you think about Damon's story? Also, his and Elena's moments.
Please review. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this.
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