March 4, 1861

Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as sixteenth President of the United States today. Seven southern states have already seceded but war has yet to be declared. It's coming though, the drums of it are beating steadily. Father is away at the Confederate Convention in Montgomery. He wired home that they have already adopted the "Stars and Bars" as the new nation's flag. I feel torn, I like Mr. Lincoln and what he stands for. I love my country and hate to see it torn apart. But what do I do? Father would surely disown me if I refused the call to duty. Yours truly, Damon J. Salvatore

March 10, 1861

Father is still away, no doubt raising in his fist in support of a new nation, at the convention in Alabama. Zachary and I escorted mother to the church supper today. Mother made her choke cherry cobbler. It's my favorite dessert. When I went up to get second helpings, I stepped beside Martha. Her shiny blonde hair was pulled back and tied. She had a pretty blue checked dress on the sash around her waist made her curves even more prominent. I can't help the way my body reacts when I see her. I sat down at the table with her and her parents, we chatted, I was bored but I tried not to show it. I didn't want to hurt her feelings or upset her parents. Fortunately Zachary came over to tell me that we need to take mother home as she wasn't feeling well.

Being the gentleman that I am, I bowed to Martha and then took my leave. I still want more. I want to see the world, experience all it has to offer before I even think about settling down and taking a wife. As pretty as Martha is, I just don't believe that she's the one who is meant for me. Yours truly, Damon J. Salvatore.

Stefan turns onto the long gravel road. He rolls down his car window to breathe in the fresh country air. He might enjoy it more if he was passing through the area for different reasons. When the familiar log home comes into view, he slows down and turns into the driveway, stopping the car when he finally reaches the house. Sucking in a fortifying breath, Stefan gets out and walks over to the door. He stands there for several moments then pushes the door bell. When no one comes, he presses it repeatedly. His patience is wearing thin. He's certain Damon's at home, probably doing research or whatever he likes to call it.

When he's in the thick of it, he's retreats into his own little world, completely oblivious to everything around him. Stefan will never understand why his brother wastes so much of his time on the old and boring history of the Salvatore family. He almost falls inside when Damon suddenly opens the door without bothering to be even mildly polite.

"What are you doing here, Stef? Did you drive all the way out here to lecture me once again about how I'm wasting my time, indeed my entire life because I'm doing something that you don't approve of? There's nothing frivolous about studying history, brother."

"'Studying history' you call it?" Stefan snorts. "No, Damon. I came to tell you, you should just stop wasting time with this... this nonsense."

"You made your point, brother. Congratulations, thank you for enlightening me about how my life sucks, you can go now. I'll even call dad or your soon to be wife and tell them you're absolutely not to blame for your failure here today. I'll tell them that it's all my fault like everything else always is."

"Can you be serious for once? Look, we, Caroline and I, are having a dinner party for our family and friends, you know before the wedding, I actually came to invite you. We both want you there."

Damon looks at him with interest, "Is this your sly way of setting me up to meet someone? You're also hoping, scheming that it'll work so well that maybe, just maybe, I'll drop everything that I hold dear... Because Stefan, you're not that good of an actor. I'm not buying what you're selling and furthermore I don't believe for a moment that you drove all the way out here just to see little old me."

Stefan's guilty face tells him he's not far from the truth. "Come on, Damon. I'm not here to pressure you, okay? But if you find her..."

"Oh, no. Hold on Stef. You came, you saw me and now you can be on your merry way. You know you'd rather spend the evening without me anyway.

"All right, Damon, have it your way, I'll go. But you can't hide here for the rest of your life."

"I'm not hiding. I just live my life the way I like it," he gives Stefan a roguish grin and practically shoves him outside. "Bye, Stef!"

Stefan has no other choice than get in the car and drive away in defeat.

Walking over to the window, Damon pulls the curtain back and watches the cloud of dirt that Stefan's car stirs up when he leaves. Shaking his head, he walks over to the bar and pours himself two fingers of bourbon. He takes a swallow, savoring the burn. He walks over to his leather sofa and sits down. He gets comfortable, resting his feet across the end table and then picks up the book again. By now, he knows the diary by heart but he often re-reads parts and passages, fascinated about how often they inexplicably parallel his own life.

His ancestor's story has stayed with him since he first found the diary when he was a young teenager. Whenever he opens it, the fading words written on the worn and tattered pages seem to come to life, It always feels so real.

With time and a lot of research, he was able to find some details about his namesake's death, he died at Gettysburg. He was one of the 7,300 Confederate casualties who died in the ill fated Pickett's charge on July 3, 1863. By sheer luck and thanks to one of his friends, his diary was found and returned to the Salvatore family.

Damon's brother Zachary kept it and later passed it on to his children. It had been lost to history for generations until Damon found it quite by accident but sometimes he wonders if he wasn't fated to find it. He doesn't know how or why but somehow he knows that it was meant to be. Because of his obsession with his great-great- great-great uncle of his, most of his family considers him to be more than a little eccentric. Damon doesn't care, he's happy with his favorite hobby so most of the time, he just ignores them the same way they do him.

Taking one more swallow of his drink, he starts to thumb through the pages. Several of them are dog eared so he can find familiar passages quickly. He's certain there's a parallel here somewhere... ah yes, Damon's brother Zachary's wedding...

April 6, 1861

Today is Zachary's wedding to Bonita Fell. I always thought that he was sweet on Honoria but his best friend swooped in and married her when rumor had it that she was with child. They moved away right after the wedding to somewhere in Pennsylvania. Bonita is a very nice girl too, very pretty. Zachary is over the moon for her. I'm supposed to be his best man.

Mother and Father are busting their buttons with pride for their golden boy. Mother has brought up Martha repeatedly lately saying that she would make a good wife for me. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get through to either of my parents that I want more. I must go, the wedding is about to start.

April 6, 1861

Bonita was a vision in white satin and lace. Zachary looked fine in his tuxedo and rose bud boutonniere. They spoke their vows and I handed my brother the ring. It was a pretty gold band that he slid on her finger. Now I have a new sister. I danced the Virginia Reel with Martha and with Bonita. I had a grand time but now I'm tired after such a hectic day.

... I fell asleep again, waking up with my head laying on my folded arms. Goodnight diary, Damon J. Salvatore.

Damon's eyes snap open when he feels someone touching his arm. He relaxes when he sees it's his dad. He'd fallen asleep on the couch with his precious diary spread across his chest.

"Dad, what are you doing here? Is something wrong? Stefan?" he asks, in rapid succession while quickly sitting up.

"Relax, son. Stefan told me that you were rather gruff with him so I thought I'd drive out. Why don't the two of us take a walk?"

Damon sighs and nods his head. He gets up and puts the diary safely in his bookcase then follows his dad outside.

"Come on, Coop," he whistles, smiling when his dog scampers over to him. He ruffles his head a bit then steps in beside the older Salvatore the two of them walking down the well worn trail towards the lake that sits on Damon's property. When they reach the water, they sit down on an old but huge downed tree trunk. Damon leans over to pick up a couple of stones and skips them across the water. Cooper keeps himself busy dipping in and out of the water.

"So the diary, I know that you've read it repeatedly since you found it but can you tell me what it is that so fascinates you, Damon?"

"I don't know what it is dad, there's just something about it. I know this sounds insane but it's like I'm drawn to it, sometimes.. it's like I'm reading my own life, my own thoughts. I carry his name and you carry his brother's name."

"You're so reclusive, Damon. I worry about you."

"I'm fine, dad. I'm happy, isn't that what every parent should want for their child?"

"Of course, I want you to be happy but are you really or are you just saying that to get me off of your back?"

"Dad, come on? I'm fascinated by it, I don't know how else to describe it."

"I love you, Damon. I don't want you to be alone forever."

"I'm not alone, I have you and I know I can be hard on Stefan but he's always belittling me, my choices, my life. It's my life, I don't tell him how to lead his, I expect him to give me the same courtesy and respect my choices."

"Alright, Damon. I have something for you." Zach reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a small stack of letters, they look old, very old. Although he has a tentative look on his face, he hands them to his son. "Your Aunt Patti found these in an old chest in her attic. Most of them were written by Damon to his brother but some were written to his parents."

Damon's mouth parts in shock. He can hardly wait to get back to the house to read them. "I don't know what to say. Thank you dad. You don't know how much this means to me."

"I think I do," the older Salvatore says, patting his son's leg. He's not sure if he should be supporting his son's obsession but he also knows that Damon would never forgive him if he didn't give him the letters. "Come now, let's go back, I can see you're practically drooling to get started reading them."

"Dad.. do you want to stay for supper? I could make us something?"

"Not today, Damon. I'll let you study those. But I expect you to be at Stefan's dinner party. You'll like Caroline. She's a good girl and she has enough spunk to keep your brother in line."

"Alright, I'll go."

Overwhelmed, Damon gives his father a hug when they both stand up. He calls for his pet, reeling back when he shakes his wet fur out on his master. Damon rolls his eyes and then walks back with his dad, Cooper trailing behind.

When they reach the cabin, he goes around the outside of the house with him to say goodbye. He doesn't go inside till he sees his dad's car disappear down the long gravel road.

As soon as he gets back inside, Damon goes into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water after which he returns to the couch. Once he gets comfortable, a pillow behind his head, he kicks off his shoes and spreads out on the couch. He carefully pulls a letter out of the stack. The envelope is yellowed with age, the paper brittle so he's very careful when he unfolds it.

December 26, 1862

Dear Zachary, I hope this finds you and Bonita well. I am excited to meet my new nephew, Clarence. I hope he isn't keeping you awake at night.

I was injured in the Battle of Fredericksburg. I am convalescing at the home of a young widow, her name is Elena. She's so beautiful, Zachary. I think I'm in love with her already. She has eyes as dark as chestnuts, her hair is long and shimmers in the sunlight. And she is kind. But even more than her physical beauty, she has the soul of an angel. She opened up her home to me, staying awake to tend to my every need while my fever raged. I am alive only because of the tender care she's given me. If she'll have me, I'm going to marry her when the war is over. Her husband was killed at Fort Sumter, she's been widowed for nearly a year and half. I will end it here, I'm very tired, my strength is nowhere near what it should be. Please give my love to our parents and your family.

Sincerely, your brother, Damon J. Salvatore.

Damon knows from reading and re-reading the diary that entries were more rare after he joined the Confederate war effort. And it seems after he met Elena. The letter is dated in December of 1862 and the young man died in July of 1863, there really aren't a lot of entries during that time. Perhaps these letters will fill in some of the blanks. Damon does remember reading something about Damon waking up in a field hospital, Elena above him, her distinctive eyes were dominant in his thoughts.

He also added later that he mentioned her in a letter that he wrote to his brother, "This letter," he says aloud, holding the treasure in his hands. Carefully he folds it back up and puts it in the envelope and then he reaches for the diary again.

December 17, 1862

On November 14, General Burnside, now in command of the Army of the Potomac, sent a corps to occupy the vicinity of Falmouth near Fredericksburg. The rest of the army soon followed. General Lee reacted by entrenching his army on the heights behind the town. On December 11, Union engineers laid five pontoon bridges across the Rappahannock under fire. On the 12th, the Federal army crossed over, and on December 13, Burnside mounted a series of futile frontal assaults on Prospect Hill and Marye's Heights that resulted in staggering casualties. Meade's division, on the Union left flank, briefly penetrated Jackson's line but was driven back by a counterattack. Union generals C. Feger Jackson and George Bayard, and Confederate generals Thomas R.R. Cobb and Maxey Gregg were killed. On December 15, Burnside called off the offensive and re-crossed the river, ending the campaign.

I was shot in the belly, certain that I'd bleed to death but by some miracle, when I opened my eyes, an angel was looking down at me. Hers were endless, it's like I was seeing heaven reflected back at me. Her smile lit up her whole face but it was her eyes that stood out, I was simply mesmerized by them. She dabbed my fevered skin with a wash cloth to cool me off. I don't know if she was real or truly an angel. She stayed with me, holding my hand, even singing to me. She told me her name was Elena.

Tired, Damon closes the diary and lays it on the table beside him. He feels sad that Damon never got a chance to marry this girl or have a family. He died on a bloody battlefield in Pennsylvania. Suddenly feeling incredibly fatigued, he rolls over and closes his eyes, mere moments pass before he drifts off to sleep.

Hopefully someday he'll find his own Elena.

Thank you all so much all of you. YOU ARE ALL THE BEST.

And Eva, thank you for everything you do for me. Love you.

Chapter title: 'Forgotten Memory' by Zakk Wylde.

The final chapter of 'Tomorrow' will post later this week. When it's complete, I'm going to post the sequel chapter I wrote for 'Burnt Ice'. DE are competitive pairs figure skaters in that one.

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful day and week ahead. Thank you all again. We'll see you next week.