N: I finally ,made some time and wrote this for you guys, hope you like it.

Life is about the choices we make

"You have to do this, Damon. We've already denied more than we can afford, you need to give some damn speeches or we might as well give up now!" Elijah snapped.

Elijah Smith was usually a very calm and collected man. He was so organized that he was driving everyone around him crazy with all his schedules and preparations. Damon thought about this more than once, that maybe letting your best friend handle your public campaign wasn't the best idea, but he did prefer having someone he could trust around.

"I can't leave my wife, Elijah…she's still recovering and I've been pretty clear from the start about my priorities," Damon protested.

"I know that, Damon but you've been neglecting the campaign too much and people started to wonder if you're giving up."

"I'm not giving up, I'm just looking after my family first, I'm sure they can understand that."

"They can and they did…for a while. Damon, people relate and you have their sympathy, but they also want a congressman; one they can trust to have their best interests at heart…"

"I do have their best interests at heart!" Damon interrupted.

"I know that, you know that, but do they? That's why it's called a 'public campaign' because that is your way of letting the people know your intensions."

It all made sense, Damon knew that and he also knew Elijah was right, but just thinking about going away for two weeks and leaving his daughter and his wife alone to deal with a heard recovery after a plane crush just broke his heart. He couldn't do that.

"I can't Elijah, I'm sorry. You'll just have to find another way. I can't leave Kat, not now."

"Oh for Christ's sake, Damon!" Stefan exclaimed. He was 100% supporting Elijah and Damon was perfectly aware of that. He kept saying 'he's right' from time to time just to let him know. "We all agreed it will be better to have Katherine in a private room at the recovering center instead of at home, she will be treated like royalty there and we will all be looking after Anna while you are gone," he explained.

"She's…she's still so…fragile…' Damon whispered.

"Are we sure we're still talking about Katherine?" Stefan asked sarcastically. "That woman doesn't even deserve your consideration."

"Enough!" Giuseppe shouted and everyone in the room stopped talking. He had that ability to make himself heard anywhere by anyone.

"Damon, why don't you take a walk, I'm sure some fresh air would do you a lot of good," Giuseppe suggested and Damon stormed out of the room. He took out his favorite horse and stopped only when Vervain stopped. He named the horse after a flower because it seemed to really like eating it. A few minutes later he heard another horse approach.

"Here you are; I suggested a walk not a horse ride, but…whatever works, right?" his father said calmly.

"I needed to put some distance between me and…" Damon didn't finish his sentence. He didn't need too; his father already knew the rest of it.

"Damon, you know that your mother and I don't like to interfere with you or your brother's personal life. We prefer to keep you two close to us and we respect your intimacy."

"I suppose you're getting somewhere with this?" Damon asked inpatient.

"Yes… I think Elijah might be right on this one."

"So you think I should go?"

"I think there's not much you can do for Katherine at this point. She is still recovering and it's just a matter of time," Giuseppe explained.

"I know that, but… you'll probably think I'm crazy, but I think she's changed. Yesterday when I took Anna for anther visit, she was actually waiting for us. She looked terrible in that wheelchair with all those transfusions in her veins and her hands were shaking, but there she was, in the hallway waiting for us. She looks so sad every time I tell her I have to go, like she's losing all hope…"

"Well, being face to face with death changes people. It makes them more…grateful for what they have and they appreciate life more. But…"

"But you think it's just a temporary state because she's still so vulnerable and in shock?" Damon offered.

"I'm saying, don't expect miracles. Maybe she really is changed, but maybe she's not, only time will tell. In the meantime, I think you shouldn't neglect your other responsibilities."

"A week, that's all I can give," Damon said finally and Giuseppe smiled softly at his son.

"I'll go inform Elijah, you take your time, your mother's making sandwiches," the older man said leaving Damon alone.

He got closer to his horse that nuzzled at his neck, making Damon smile.

"You understand don't you?" he asked the horse.

She actually tried to comfort him. With the little force she had, she wanted to touch him…a shy, tender touch. She was usually so cold and calculated, everything had a purpose, a meaning, she didn't even breath without a specific motive. But that gesture was pure instinct and he didn't know how to react to it. He pushed her away and probably hurt her.

Also, the way she was looking at him with those big, golden brown eyes of hers was breaking his heart, every single time. Those eyes that made him fall madly in love with her in the first place. She looked at him like he was the only thing that mattered, like was her salvation. He wasn't used to it.

Maybe his father as right and it was all just a temporary effect from the painful trauma she's been through. He got back on the horse and chose to ignore how much he wanted it to be permanent.

***lucky 13***

"We're really sorry to take him away from you, but you know it is necessary," Stefan explained and waited until Elena scribbled something with a thin pen on a piece of paper. He bent over to read it.

'It's ok'

"I'm glad you understand. Just so you know, he never wanted to go, he wanted to stay here and look after you and Anna, but it needs to be done. He'll be back before you know it," he finished smiling.

A few days ago Elena realized she was able to hold and handle a pen, even though it hurt her so much she was actually crying, she was happy to be able to express herself, even with a few words on a piece of paper. She was even able to moan and a weak sound was actually coming out of her mouth, but the doctors said she shouldn't push too much because her cords are very sensitive. They told her they will send someone to work with her on that in a few days.

"Goodbye Katherine, we all wish you the best and hope to have you home soon," Stefan said getting out of the room. Elena could bet her car he didn't mean a word, but she didn't care about that. Actually, all she cared about was that they were taking Damon away from her and she was terrified to do all this on her own. She understood why he had to go away and she supported him, but that didn't help her feel less lonely and scared. He wasn't doing much. He just came to visit her every day, bringing her flowers and telling her all about Anna's progress, about Ty, which Elena understood was a dog. But all that mattered to her. She got so excited every time he was bringing Anna to see her. She came to care about that sweet and shy little girl with deep and sad blue eyes, much like her father.

Even since three weeks ago, Elena never touched Damon again. His reaction surprised her and she didn't actually know how to react to that.

"Damon, didn't you noticed something strange about her?" Stefan asked his brother. Damon shrugged. "She's…well, Katherine's right handed, right?"

"Yes, so?"

"Why is she using her left one now?"

"Oh my God, you're right. I didn't even notice. I had so much on my mind."

"I'm sure it's nothing, it was just…weird."

Stefan smiled softly and disappeared behind the elevator doors and Damon returned to Elena's room. He took a seat by the edge of the bed, just because he was way too exhausted to stand.

"Why are you writing with your left hand?" Damon asked and Elena's hear rate picked up speed. She looked around, like she was trying to find an answer there. She couldn't believe she hadn't considered that. She was left handed. It wasn't like she couldn't use her right one it just felt more comfortable to her.

She picked up the pen and Damon saw her shape an 'H' on the piece of paper.

"It hurts when you're using the right one?" he asked and she nodded, letting out a soft relived breath.

"You scared Stefan," he said smiling and Elena couldn't help but think she looked absolutely stunning doing so.

"Well, I have to go, see you in a week, Kat," he said brushing his fingertips over her cheek. He enjoyed how soft they were after the operation. The doctor was right, her skin looked better than ever. She smiled at him, but as soon as he stepped out of the room, she closed her eyes to hold back the tears.

She lost it when he asked her why she was using her left hand instead of her right one. The fear of being discovered before she wold figure out who wanted to harm Damon was killing her…she wanted to tell him the truth, but really, who would believe that someone close to them, someone they love is trying to kill them. She would sound like an insane woman, and she understood that. She couldn't make an accusation like that, not without proof; proof she didn't have.

And there was also the problem of exposing herself. Once the killer would realize he or she had actually confessed murder to Elena Gilbert, young reporter and not Katherine Salvatore, she would probably be in danger as well. Whoever this person was, he was clearly working with Katherine and Elena thought it t wouldn't take long before he would contact Katherine again. As long as he still thought of her as Katherine.

Elena closed her eyes. This was insane! She couldn't believe she was actually considering this. But then again, Elena Gilbert was officially dead. She had no one waiting for her at home, not even a pet. Her mind was working fast, putting the pieces together; she was pretty sure she had enough information to actually do this. It was the only way she could save Damon and maybe her career. She had to stay Katherine Salvatore, at least for a while, to figure out who was trying to kill Damon and leave Anna without a father.

Elena Gilbert was dead and she…she was now Katherine Salvatore. she didn't choose that, but it was now her destiny, her responsibility and she will not back off until she fixes everything the real Katherine destroyed.

N: Don't forget to leave me a review.