N: First I want to thank you all for your support on this story – so different from what I usually write. Now, I know the chapters are short, but I do update every day. Would you prefer longer chapters every two days or so? Let me know! Until then, enjoy!
Thank you Dez2sweet!
There's this thing I wanna do
"I might bring Anna to see you tomorrow since the swelling's almost gone and she'll be able to recognize you."
Elena returned his gaze. He smiled, but Elena knew she looked far from 'good'. They took the bandages off several days ago; her face was red and inflated, with small bruises here and there. She hadn't been allowed to look at herself in the mirror yet. The doctor said it won't be doing her any good. She saw pictures of Katherine; she had been an incredibly beautiful woman. She had long chocolate hair, much like her own and golden-brown eyes, exactly like Elena's. Katherine's cheek bones were a little higher than her own, but since her face had been reconstructed, now she had high cheek-bones as well.
There was a young doctor coming in every day that made her squeeze a rubber ball with her hands. He promised her she'll be able to hold small objects in a few days. As soon as she could write, she had to tell Damon everything.
She was finally breathing on her own and even if it hurt at first, she was most grateful for it. As the doctors warned her, she wasn't able to speak. They told her she won't be able to make herself be understood at first, but she'll get her voice back with slight changes.
"Do you feel good enough for a visit?" Damon asked in a soft voice.
He smiled again and Elena knew his heart wasn't really in it. She pitied him. Having so much to deal with must've been exhausting. He was always so nice and polite with her, telling her she's doing a great job and she's healing so fast. All the nurses and the doctors were very proud. What did they know? She couldn't move, she couldn't speak…she could've been raging on the inside. She wasn't. What good would it do? None; the damage had been done. Elena Gilbert's face was gone and replaced by another. Tears formed in her eyes at the thought of living with another woman's face for the rest of her life. Damon misinterpreted her tears.
"I promise not to keep her long, just a short visit. I have a feeling she thinks we're lying to her when we tell her you're coming back. She's home now, everybody's spoiling her, even Rebecca, but…I don't know, Katherine, last night she had another one of those nightmares. She woke up and told me her mommy's dead. That's why I want her to see you."
Elena followed him as he took off his sunglasses and placed them in his chest pocket. She took a deep breath and took a seat by the edge of her bed. As promised, the sight in her left eye had returned, it was still a little blurry and the doctors were positive she'll be able to see just like before in a few weeks. His raven hair had grown an inch and Elena thought it looked just perfect. He was freshly shaved and she could see his mouth. His bottom lip was just a hint fuller than his upper one; he had a beautiful mouth. But that wasn't the most beautiful trait on his face…he had the most impressive eyes Elena had ever seen. They were blue, but not just blue; they held a drop of gray and a drop of green inside making them look out of this world.
She felt sorry for him; all these visits to her room were taxing. Yet, she was sure that if he stopped visiting her, she would die. Damon Salvatore had become the center of her tiny universe.
"So, what do you say? Should I bring her or not?" he asked.
How could she refuse him after everything he did for her? If that would make Damon happy, she would play the role of Anna's mother just this once. She nodded – something she'd been able to do with just a light pain since her surgery.
"Good," he said and this time his smile was honest. One thing was for sure, no matter what was wrong between him and his wife, Damon loved his daughter. "I'll check with the nurse. They said you could start wearing your own clothes. I'll bring you some robes and nightgowns from home.
Elena nodded again.
The sound of the door opening made both Damon and Elena look in that direction. Giuseppe and Antonella made their way inside.
"Would you look at that, you look great Katherine," Giuseppe said cheerfully.
"Yes, she is much better. She agreed to let Anna see her," Damon said, carefully waiting for his mother's reaction.
"Are you sure it's wise?" Antonella asked.
"No, I'm not sure, but even if it won't make any good, it can't make it worse," Damon said getting up from the bed. He walked over to his mother and Elena could hear them whispering, but she couldn't understand the words.
"Have you told her about the nightmares?" The woman asked.
"She knows she's not sleeping well. No, she doesn't know how bad it is. I don't want her to worry."
"It is your decision to make, Damon"
"I know, I think it's worth a shot."
After Antonella left for some coffee, Damon and Giuseppe started talking about the campaign. They were talking about Elijah, a name Elena came to associate with a well-dressed, always shaved and polite man. He came to see her once or twice always telling her she made great progress.
Stefan was Damon's younger brother. He was an attractive man, just not as attractive as Damon. Every time he came in her room he was apologizing because his wife and daughter didn't make it.
They were all kind with her always complimenting on her ability to heal so fast, but Elena didn't get that love that usually goes on in a family.
A few minutes later Antonella came with Damon's coffee, she handed it to him and both his parents left, not before telling her again what a beautiful job the doctors had done and she looked great.
"We'll come after Anna's nap, around…three o'clock," he said once they were gone. She nodded. "She might not react as you're expecting her too. Just remember, she's just a kid," he said.
He stood up and told her he'll be back tomorrow. As always, he brushed her fingertips with his own. He didn't kiss her; he never kissed her. Not that there was much of her that he would be able to kiss, but she was sure a husband would find a place to kiss his wife if he wanted to.
When the door closed behind him, loneliness took over and she wanted to yell after him to come back. She wondered how she would be able to tell him that his wife was dead and most of all that someone he loved was planning to kill him.
She tried many times to convince herself that her visitor that night had been just a dream, but the truth was that, the more she thought about it, the more real it was. She knew it must've been a close friend or family member. Strangers weren't allowed in her room.
Giuseppe? Nah, it wasn't possible, it was clear that both parents absolutely adored Damon. Stefan? He just didn't seem the one to hold a grudge and he was right there supporting his brother as much as he could. There was this brotherly tease between them, but it was clear they loved each other. Elijah? He and Damon had been friends since high school from what she heard and he was treated like a member of the family. The camaraderie between him and the Salvatore brothers was certainly there and he was devoted to Damon. She had yet to meet Caroline Elisabeth Salvatore and Rebecca, but she was pretty sure the voice she heard had been a man's voice.
One thing was sure; the man was not a stranger to Katherine. He spoke to her as if they've been on this for a long time.
Did Damon suspect that his wife was conspiring with someone to have him killed? Elena knew Damon had given her what everyone was expecting him to give: care, concern, and support, but not love…something was clearly missing in their marriage, but Elena doubted Damon had the slightest clue someone – let alone his wife – was trying to kill him.
God, she wished she could sit down with Alaric and analyze this complicated situation; he was so good when it came to complicated stories like this. It was like he had a sixth sense about these things.
Thinking about all of this gave Elena a light headache and she was happy when the nurse came with a dose of sedative. She imagined how good it would feel if she: Elena Gilbert, will find the killer and save Damon's life. She would be a heroine. She laughed in her mind at the thought before falling asleep.
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