Tried to make this one a bit longer for y'all!
Thanks for waiting :)
Elena wasn't sure what to do.
Not with this.
The reporter thing was beyond her world of founders parties, council meetings, school committees, and small town gossip.
And the man who would know what to do, aka, the father of her child, still wasn't answering his phone.
He was probably busy, she reminded herself.
The show had only ended half an hour ago.
She sighed, trying to calm herself.
Chris sat opposite of her, texting away, probably with April, as Elena waiting for Liz to get off the phone with Judge Fell, and give them some idea of what they could do.
And they had to do something.
She crossed her legs again, just as Liz walked back into the room.
Elena jumped up, "Well?"
Liz glanced at Chris, before turning to his mother, "The judge wasn't too optimistic. But this could be a bit of a process. Has Damon called?"
She offered for Elena to sit.
She did so, before answering, "No, Not yet. But I can fill him in. What did the judge say?"
Liz nodded, "Basically, that it depends on two things. What he actually prints, and how much money you're willing to spend."
Elena groaned, "That doesn't sound very encouraging."
Liz sighed, "I know honey, but it is what it is. The man has written countless articles, and centers around celebrity scandals. Freedom of the press let's him get away with it, but the fact that Chris is a minor does come into play. He's violating privacy rights, and could face harassment charges, but I'm gonna warn you, he'll have his lawyers stacked. Highly paid lawyers that are used to these kind of lawsuits."
Elena clasped her hands together, leaning forward, "So that's it? We can get a lawyer and go to bat. Pray for the best?"
"I know it's not what you wanted to hear, Elena, but this is a delicate situation as it is, and-"
"I understand," Elena assured her, "I just wish there was more."
Chris leaned back on the couch, "So he'll print those pictures?"
Liz faced him, "He's probably already sent them off to his editor. There's little chance that they could be recovered, even with a warrant, which I doubt I could get."
Elena hated the look on his face, "I'll talk to your dad, Chris. We'll figure something out."
Chris nodded, and Elena stood.
"Thanks anyway, Liz, I appreciate you making the call."
The two women hugged, "Of course, any time."
Elena led Chris out to the car, but sat there a moment before starting the ignition.
"Mom?" He asked.
"We'll figure this out," she promised him, "I swear, baby. I'm not going to let him harass you like that. This isn't Hollywood, and you aren't one of them. He has no business taking pictures of you for the tabloids."
Chris swallowed, "I guess that's what you get when your father is Damon Salvatore."
Elena sighed, closing her eyes.
She'd find a way to fix this.
Chris looked out his window, "You said Damon's coming back in a few days, right?"
Elena nodded, looking over at her son, "That's what he said."
Chris didn't turn, "And you're sure he's coming back."
Elena felt her face fall.
Her poor baby boy had already lived through so much disappointment in his life.
She'd personally kill Damon herself if this was a promise he broke.
Not that he would.
She had more faith in him than that.
"He'll be here, Chris. He'll come back."
He looked at her then, seeming comforted by the conviction in her voice.
"Good."
Damon had forgotten the hustle of this place.
Alaric had him doing one thing after another, after another, all morning.
Luckily, with each turn of the corner, he was met with excitement and positivity in regards to the situation with Chris.
He had high hopes that the worst of it was over.
"You'll have to do a press conference tomorrow, to nail down the formal questioning, but overall, everything seems to be on schedule," Alaric was saying, as they ate lunch.
Damon stared out the window of the restaurant, at the ocean view.
It was so warm and beautiful, same as it always was, yet he still found himself missing the brisk oncoming winter air of Mystic Falls.
He needed to get home soon!
With that thought, he pulled out his phone, sure that Elena had tried to call by now.
He was right.
However, he wasn't expecting the six missed calls and three texts to pop up.
Worry flooded him.
"Excuse me, Ric" he noted, standing.
By the third ring, he was outside and Elena had answered.
"There you are!"
He chuckled, "Sorry sweetheart, it's been a crazy morning. I just saw your calls...Is everything okay?"
He could hear her inhale, before, "No, not really. Your reporter friend apparently decided that since you blew his big bombshell, he'd find another story. He got a cameraman to take pictures of Chris while he was in town."
Damon groaned. Just fucking perfect.
"I'm so sorry, Elena. Listen, I have a conference at noon tomorrow, but I'll catch a flight after, and I'll be there."
She sighed, "I don't want you to have to rush home early if there's still stuff you need to do."
"It doesn't matter," he assured her, "I can come back after I deal with that asshole."
"Damon," she chided, "I don't want to be rash. I just need to know what to do. I already talked to Liz, but she thinks he'd lawyer up if I pressed this, and I just...It's bad, Damon."
He hated the sadness in her voice, "Hey, it'll be okay," he promised, "Chris is tough. Some douche reporter isn't going to break him, babe. We'll get this sorted out. Garrison is just fishing for a story, that's it."
"Yeah, well, he may have found one," Elena told him, "Chris was with April when the camera guy bombarded them. According to her, the images aren't exactly innocent. And I can only imagine the story that's being fabricated to go along with it."
Damon cursed under his breath. Of course Garrison would get his hands on that kind of picture.
"Damon?" Elena prodded, and he knew he had to do something.
"If you want to fight this, I have the lawyers," he stated, "Just say the word."
He could feel her hesitation, "Is there no way to just make it disappear?"
Damon considered that.
Garrison was probably the type to accept a pay off, in any other situation.
But he'd been after Damon for years.
No way he'd let this go.
"I'm afraid not," he told her truthfully, "But I'll make a few calls, and insure that this never happens again."
"Thank you," she breathed, though still sounding worried.
"How's Chris?" Damon asked.
"He's fine," Elena assured him, "A little upset, but fine. Just um...hurry and get through up there, okay? Hurry back to us."
He smiled a little, "Of course, baby. I love you."
"I love you," she promised, then the line went dead.
Damon sighed, walking back inside to his table, where Alaric was reviewing the check.
"Hey, Ric," He started, "I need you to get me some numbers."
Elena had just finished washing the dishes from dinner. She was surprised to note how lonely this usual daily chore had become.
How quiet the house was now, with just the two of them.
And Chris was sticking to his room, not saying much.
She really couldn't wait for Damon to come home.
She'd talked to him once more, after that afternoon, when he'd called to tell her he'd be home the day after tomorrow, the latest, but if he got lucky, maybe even tomorrow night.
He'd also told her that he broke lease on his apartment, and was officially giving it up.
His stuff would arrive within the next few weeks.
She couldn't help but feel a little excited about that.
A small part of her had been a little afraid that he'd get to California and start to doubt things, but maybe that wasn't the case.
It was obvious in his voice that he missed them.
God, she just needed him home.
Her phone rang then, and she jumped a little.
When lost in thought, she'd tend to forget that the rest of the world existed.
She checked the I.D, expecting Damon again, but was surprised to see Caroline's name on the screen.
"Hello?"
Her friend was full of concern, "Hey! I talked to my Mom, and she told me about that idiot reporter. Are you okay?"
"Trying to be," Elena admitted, moving to the living room so she could sink into the couch, "I just hate feeling like I can't protect my son."
"Oh sweetie," Caroline sighed, "I wish there was something I could do. Maybe you should just get Damon to beat him up!"
Elena laughed, "Don't think I haven't thought it! But I kinda feel like that might break more than it'll fix."
"Never know until you try it," Caroline offered.
"I'm trying to get my family out of the spotlight, Care, not throw them into it face first!"
"Yeah, yeah," the blonde dropped it, "But I bet Damon would do it."
"Oh, I know he would!" Elena laughed, "I'm pretty sure he almost has!"
"And here I thought he was acclimating so well," Caroline sang, "Speaking of which, I caught the show earlier! That was so beautiful! Seriously, I was crying. Kinda forgot what a softie Damon was when it came to you."
Elena's brows furrowed, "What are you talking about?"
Caroline was silent for a moment, "...did you not watch it?"
"I did," she corrected, "Well, most of it. Then all of this came up and...anyway, what did you mean?"
"Oh God! Please tell me you recorded it! Or at least that you're watching the second preview now!"
"Um, no?" Elena grew confused.
"Then turn on your TV, right now! Channel 8! I'll talk to you later!"
And just like that, she was gone.
Elena sighed, putting down her phone and reaching for the remote.
Sure enough, Caroline was right, and a second premier of the show was playing.
Damon's face reflected back to her, as he answered questions about them, and dropped the Chris bomb.
Fifteen minutes passed before Damon got up to perform.
She smiled at the look on his face, but was surprised when he actually looked into the camera.
"Elena, I hope you're watching sweetheart, because this is for you."
His voice was happy, obviously pleased that he could now say that in the public eye.
The music began as he played his guitar, and Elena couldn't look away.
"They say there's a song in the south
It picks you up, let's you know what's what, tells you what you're all about.
I guess when you're young, it's easy to hear, easy to see
Every line, every key, every beat of that sweet melody
They say that it's clear, it'll keep you straight.
Like the roads I took, that took me away
Yeah there's a song in the south, and I can hear it play.
Playing as I drive away.
It's words are the warmth of your arms, wrapped around me tight.
The tune is the beat of your heart, that sings me to sleep at night
You're everything I hate to miss
Dark skin, soft heart, whispered name, and the breath of a kiss.
You're the song that plays in my heart, brings me back where I belong
You're the song that calls me home."
She immediately understood Caroline's urgency, and hated that she'd missed this earlier.
She'd have to call Damon back.
After she got through crying of course.
"They say with age comes a knowledge, I never thought I'd see.
You were the small town girl next door, just a little too good for me.
Fire in your eyes, glued to my side
Back when I knew everything
When the music played loud and clear all day and we didn't have a thing to lose.
When dreams were strong, the nights were long
and my only song was you
It's words were the warmth of your arms, wrapped around me tight.
The tune was the beat of your heart, that sang me to sleep at night
Baby, you know I still can't figure out,
How'd I let you go, walk away, forget so long,
the song I'm all about..."
The tears definitely poured now, and she couldn't wait anymore.
She grabbed her phone and dialed.
"You're the song that plays in my heart, brings me back where I belong
You're the song that calls me home.
Cause it's words are the warmth of your arms, wrapped around me tight.
The tune is the beat of your heart, that sings me to sleep at night
You're everything I hate to miss
Dark skin, soft heart, whispered name, and the breath of a kiss."
"Elena?" He answered almost immediately.
"You're the song that plays in my heart, brings me back where I belong"
"Damon," she breathed, overwhelmed with her love for him.
"You're the song that calls me home."
"What's the matter, baby?" He whispered.
You're the song that calls me home.
She clung to the phone, "Promise me that this is real. You and me. Promise me that this is forever."
"I promise."
I really hope you guys liked it!
Can't wait to read the reviews :)
Oh, and just saying, I don't know the official laws on all this stuff, but I'm googling as much as I can, so if something isn't absolutely right...Just pretend otherwise lol.
Thanks!