N: Another really short chapter I'm afraid, but most of you prefer short chapter every day to long ones every now and then, so I hope you're not mad. Also, thank you all for all your nice reviews, I'm sorry I didn't have time to answer them…so busy with the holidays, but I'll get to them after. I certainly don't deserve the credit, the plot totally belongs to Sandra Brown, and I'm just adjusting it for Delena.

Bad news, I won't be posting for a few days since I'm spending New Year's Eve away and get back home only on Monday, but you'll get a big chapter in a day or two after I get back.

Thank you Dez2sweet for looking over this!

We survived

Elena looked at the big, round clock on the wall. It showed 2:45 pm. Elena was so nervous that her heart rate went crazy and the nurse told her that either she calms down or she'll get another sedative. The last thing she needed was to be asleep when Damon and his daughter will come visit her. She took a few deep breaths – not without pain – to calm herself down.

The situation reminded her of her first interview. At least then she could talk…. This was after all an interview; it was possible that the little girl might detect what others couldn't. Truth was that she wasn't ready to have everyone point a finger at her and yell 'who are you?' It wasn't like she chose to become Katherine Salvatore. Some cosmic power had made it happen.

Damon seemed so happy when she agreed to see the child and she was more than willing to go along with this and be there for his daughter for now, to repay his kindness.

A few minutes later, a nurse came to arrange the thin scarf on her head. Her hair started to grow as promised, but it wasn't more than an inch long. "There you go," the young woman said kindly. "Not bad at all; I'm sure everybody's telling you, but you are healing marvellously. In a few weeks, that gorgeous husband of yours won't be able to take his eyes of you," the nurse said and Elena smiled weakly. "All the single nurses and half of the married ones are madly in love with him; you must be used to women lusting over him all the time, right?" she asked adjusting Elena's nightgown. "How long have you been married? Four years, right? I thing that's what he told a nurse who asked him a few days ago; you'll make the prettiest couple in Washington."

"You sound very confident about that," Damon said from the doorway and Elena's heart picked up speed. She blushed when the heart monitor gave her away.

"You have my vote," the nurse said calmly making her way towards the door as Damon got in.

"Thanks, I need it," he smirked in that particular way he did every time he was slightly flirting and Elena felt jealous that he wasn't doing that only for her.

"I thought you're bringing your daughter today," the nurse said and Elena raised an eyebrow at him, letting him know she was wondering that too.

"I did; she's with the nurses downstairs. I wanted to talk to you first," he said looking at Elena and the nurse mumbled a 'good luck' and got out, leaving them alone.

"Katherine, I wanted to…" he stopped and looked at her from head to toe with wide open eyes. "My God!" he exclaimed and Elena held her breath.

That's it, he figured it out; he knew that she was not his wife. How would she explain? She still couldn't purge a word and her hands were still unable to hold and direct a pen to write.

"You lost so much weight," he said and Elena let herself breath again. She chose to ignore the relive that came with the fact that he still believed she was Katherine Salvatore. "Don't get me wrong, you look good," he continued and Elena blushed slightly. "I'll go get Anna," he said and rushed out of the room like he was running from something.

Elena closed her eyes, waiting for Damon's return.

"Kat?" she heard him murmur. He was using this penname from time to time and Elena still hadn't figured it out what it meant. She immediately opened her eyes and saw him walk in the room, holding the child against his chest. The girl was wearing a navy blue dress that made contrast with Damon's white shirt.

"You can give mommy what you brought for her," Damon whispered putting the girl down. She had an olive complexion, just like Katherine and Elena, but she had Damon's pricing blue eyes. She was a beautiful child. Her hair was dark-brown, a shade or two darker than her own and it was shorter than she remembered.

Anna walked over towards the bed with careful steps and handed Elena a small bouquet of daisies. Elena's fingers were unfortunately still too numb to hold on to it and she dropped it on the bed. Damon smiled towards his daughter and took the small bouquet from the mattress.

"I'll put these in some water," he said and walked towards the tiny bathroom, the little girl followed him immediately. He took a glass and placed the flowers inside; he let the glass on the nightstand and took a seat by the edge of Elena's bed, placing the child between him and her.

"Mommy's hurt," the girl said reaching towards Elena's face to caress her bandages that were still covering her left cheek.

"Those are the bandages I told you about that protect mommy's face until it gets better, just like they protected your hand," Damon explained. "I thought they're taking that off today," he said and Elena blinked heavily.

"Tomorrow?" he asked.

She nodded.

"That's good."

"Daddy…mommy's crying," the girl whispered.

"I think it's because she's very happy to see you," Damon said and Elena smiled and nodded. She was happy the child survived. She just realized that both of them could've been dead and the realization hit Elena at full force.

In one of those sudden, unexpected moves that only a child can execute, Anna threw herself against Elena's chest, curling her tiny hands around her neck. Elena moaned in pain and Damon reached over to take Anna away, but Elena responding to an impulsive maternal urge responded to the child's affectionate hug by closing her right hand around her tiny body and holding her close.

"Mommy, I've been good, I didn't spiel milk on my dress," the little girl said and Elena could see tears forming in her blue eyes.

She wanted to hold her tight and tell her that the milk didn't matter, that nothing mattered because they survived.

A few minutes later Damon took Anna back to the nurses.

"I think it went well," he said and Elena nodded. "I hope it's ok if I bring her again next week."

Elena nodded again.

Damon sighed and took a seat beside her. She wondered if he had any idea how good she felt when he was close to her….

"She's just…I don't know; I don't mean to complain, I know she's just a kid, but nothing seems to get through to her. She doesn't really smile, she doesn't get mad or upset. She was always a shy child, but now…she spends hours and hours in complete silence…"

The desperation in Damon's voice broke Elena's heart. From instinct, she lifted her hand to brush a strand of hair off his forehead.

He jumped at the unexpected contact, knocking her hand away. Elena pulled her hand back; the sudden movement sending an electric shock of pain through her arm, making her moan softly.

"I'm sorry…I'm so, sorry, Katherine. Do you want me to call someone?" he asked and Elena shook her head. "I'm sorry," he said again and she blinked. "I'm just so stressed."

Elena could tell that and she just wished there was something she could do. He practically owed this man her life; she would do anything if only he'd ask.

"Well, I'll be going now. I don't mean to exhaust you more then we already did. Good night Katherine," he murmured. He got out of the room, leaving her alone once again and this time, he didn't even brush his fingertips against her hand.

N: Hope you enjoyed Anna's visit; review and let me know.

Happy New Year!