'Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing' Abraham Lincoln
The sun is streaming through the cracks in the blinds when I wake up this morning only to find Elena is still snuggled in next to me. Her cheek pillows my heart with each breath she takes. I wonder if she feels and hears the way it's thrumming just for her? My feelings for this woman are exploding all over my consciousness. I'm certain I look like a goofball with the big teethy grin I'm sporting right now but holding her like this must be what heaven is like. So content am I laying here with her, all I want to do is spend the day just like this. Gently I press a kiss to her forehead, soft enough so I don't wake her before pulling her in even closer.
When I first met Sage, I thought I wanted this type of relationship with her. Her fiery red hair and olive green eyes sucked me right in. With the benefit of hindsight, I was so stupid to even contemplate starting something with her. She played her part so very well. That woman wined and dined me, told me everything I wanted to hear. It didn't take long for me to fall for her deception, hook, line and sinker. I worked computer security for Finn Mikaelson's advertising agency. Every time, we were ready to land a client, another firm would step in with an almost identical pitch to the one we were already planning. We knew there was a mole somewhere in the company. Little did I realize, that the mole was me. I did a lot of work from my encrypted home computer but somehow she was able to decipher the code and access a lot of private, high level information. I wasn't even aware till I was called into Finn's office. He had all the computers in the firm as well as the satellite computers examined by a forensic computer specialist. Sage was using my computer to sabotage Finn's company.
In what was a last ditch effort to save both my reputation and career and with a little help from my team, we spun a big web and waited for her to take the bait. We built a ghost corporation with a big bank account. Then we planned the operation around that. I downloaded the fraudulent information onto my home computer. Sage ran with it, costing her bosses millions of dollars. She was livid when she found out that I had orchestrated her downfall. She swore she'd have her revenge and stalked off. I haven't seen her since.
As my thoughts return to this precious woman lying here with me, I'm aroused from my reverie when I feel Elena begin to stir in my arms. Her eyes never leave mine as she raises herself from my chest a little bit.
Dropping a kiss to her forehead, I smile and whisper,"Good morning, beautiful."
"Good morning, Damon. Um.. um.. Can you carry me to the bathroom? I need to empty my bladder," she says, her face flushing a brilliant shade of red.
Smiling even wider, I pull her onto my chest and roll her underneath me as best I can. I pull back a little to straighten out her legs. "Last night was... no words Elena. Nothing and no one I've ever been with comes close. Thank you for giving us a chance," I tell her, wearing my heart on my sleeve.
When I feel my chest getting damp and her body trembling, I pull back. I'm crestfallen to see her crying. "Elena?"
She shakes her head ever so slightly before raising those tear glistened eyes to mine. "I'm sorry. It's just... Look at me Damon. Why?"
"Why what?" I ask her, hoping she can read the concern written all over my face about what has her so upset this morning.
"I'm.. I'm paralyzed. You could be with any girl. Why do you want someone who's damaged and imperfect?"
I pull back in shock, shaking my head from side to side. "Imperfect Elena? No, I've never been with anyone more perfect. Yes, it's tragic what happened to you. It's not your legs that drew me to you, Elena. It's what's here," I tell her, pressing my palm to her heart. "It's what's in here," I whisper, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"Do I wish you could walk again? Absolutely, but legs don't make us who we are, Elena. I care about you so much and I want to be with you. Please don't end what we have before it's really even gotten off the ground," I whisper almost pleadingly.
As her tears continue to rain down her beautiful face, she wraps her arms around my neck. "Just hold me," she whispers.
I envelope her in my arms pressing kisses to her tear stained cheeks. "Let me love you, Elena," I whisper then press another kiss to the shell of her ear.
When she nods, I let a breath escape. We lay there in each other's arms, just holding each other for the longest time.
"I really need to use the bathroom," she says.
Unable to help myself, I drop another blistering kiss to those plump lips before standing up and handing her one of my tee shirts while I pull on a pair of boxers. After she slips it on, I lift her into my arms and carry her into the bathroom. Carefully, I sit her perfectly imperfect body on the toilet seat, making sure she has her balance before letting her go.
"Can you get my bag for me? I have some catheters in it."
"Sure." Once I hand her what she needs, she smiles and asks for a little privacy. "Just call when you're finished," I tell her before closing the bathroom door.
"Damon, are you going to pick up Elena for the auction or are you meeting her there?" my mom yells from the bottom of the staircase.
"She's riding to the Grill along with Ric and Jenna. I'm going to bring her back here after the festivities are over for the night," I answer, jogging down the stairs to where she's standing.
"You do clean up nicely young man. I like this look on you," she says smiling before reaching up and palming my cheek.
"What look is that mom?"
"You know, that look you get whenever someone mentions Elena's name. You have it bad for her don't you?" she teases.
"I can't deny that mom. Whenever we're together, it just feels like my heart is going to beat right out of my chest. It's like nothing I've ever felt before. It feels good."
"I'm happy for you," she says then pulls me in for a hug.
"Thanks mom. I love you."
"I love you too. Listen, if things continue for you two, maybe we'll have to make some modifications to our house as well. This is your home too. I want her to feel welcome here."
"That's a great idea mom. Maybe we could retrofit my entrance with a ramp? That wouldn't take much work. Dad and I could build one in a few hours."
Just then my dad joins us. "Are you two ready to go? Damon, are you driving yourself or are you coming with us?"
"I'm driving so I can bring Elena back here after the auction."
"Are you sure it's Elena you'll be going home with? What if someone else outbids her?"
Crestfallen, I turn to my dad. "Don't say that. I've just gotten her to the point of trusting what we have. Her self esteem really took a hit because of everything that's happened. I don't want someone to sow the seeds of doubt in her head again. She really means so much to me, dad."
"I'm proud of you son. We'll work something out. If worse comes to worse, hell, I'll bid on you," he says before smacking me on my back and breaking out in raucous laughter.
"Ha.. ha, dad," I gasp, unable to stop myself from laughing right along with him.
The Grill is jam packed. I hope we're not violating the fire code. When I see Elena, I walk over, press a kiss to her cheek and take a seat next to her. "You look stunning, babe."
As that radiant blush colors her features, she turns to me for another kiss then whispers, "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."
I can't help but smile back before wrapping my arm around her shoulders.
Linked arm in arm with Caroline, who flew here from New York to help out Elena's cause, Bonnie arrives not long after me. When I wave to attract her attention, she and Care make their way over to us. Bonnie takes a seat on Elena's other side while Caroline sits next to Bonnie. "Hey Elena," she says taking her hand and squeezing it gently. Caroline bends over to pull Elena into a hug. "I wanted to surprise you."
"Thanks Caroline. It means so much to me," Elena whispers into her ear while they're sharing a hug.
"Damon, how's the knee doing now that I no longer get to ride roughshod over you?" she says, smirking.
Before I can utter a reply, my mom takes the microphone asking for everyone's attention.
"Good evening everyone. I hope you're all excited. I want to thank each and everyone of you for coming tonight. As you know, the money raised tonight will be donated to the Elena Gilbert fund at the bank. We hope to raise enough money to pay for an elevator for her home. So, I hope you all came with full wallets. We have some very fine looking young men who have generously volunteered themselves and their time to aid our cause. Gentlemen, come join me on stage."
I press another kiss to Elena's forehead then get up to join the other guys on stage with my mom. Stefan runs up to stand beside me. "Sorry, I'm a little late, had to wait for a train to cross the tracks."
"No worries, Stef. You aren't late. Besides, it's not me you'd have to apologize to. You'd have to answer to mom," I tease.
"Yeah, she'd have my ass," he laughs.
"All right ladies, are you ready for this auction to commence? I want to introduce you to our bachelors for this evening's festivities. We have my boys, Damon and Stefan Salvatore. Over here, we have Mason and Tyler Lockwood. Then we have the Mikaelson quartet from left to right, Nik, Eli, Kol and lastly Finn. Please give Finn a round of applause. He made a special trip to town just to participate in this. He owed me one," she chuckles.
Finn rolls his eyes. Our friendship took a hit after everything that happened with Sage. Since we did grow up together, he trusted that I wouldn't intentionally sabotage his business. Eventually we got to a good place again.
"We also have Enzo Scott, Jeremy Gilbert, Jess Bennett and Ric Saltzman. Ric owed me one too," she says to him with a wink.
"Gracie, I don't think there's anyone in this town who doesn't owe you," he says before walking over to my mom and giving her a hug. "You know I love you."
Mom's smile reaches from ear to ear. "Let's get this show on the road shall we? Ladies, are you ready?" she teases as cat calls and wolf whistles erupt from the women in the crowd.
"First up we have Mason Lockwood. Fine specimen isn't he ladies? The bidding starts at one hundred dollars. C'mon ladies.."
Mason was bought for three hundred dollars. Nik brought in three hundred and forty dollars. Eli didn't waste anytime teasing Nik when Andie Starr bid four hundred and fifty five dollars to spend the evening with him. Kol brought in three hundred, Finn three hundred and ninety dollars. The haul from this evening should easily allow us to surpass our goal of ten thousand five hundred dollars. This was such a brilliant idea of my mom's. Meredith then bid five hundred dollars for Stefan. He elbowed me in the ribs with a raised eyebrow. I shake my head at his antics. I do love my little brother.
"Alright ladies, now we have my dashing nephew, Enzo. I've listened to many of you swoon over his good looks. Which one of you is going to be the first to bid on him?" my mom teases, clearly enjoying seeing Enzo squirm a bit.
Someone shouts two hundred dollars. Enzo grabs the microphone from my mom then proceeds to turn on the charm. "Ladies, Ladies," he says before pulling my mom close and wrapping his arm around her shoulder. When he whispers something in her ear, I couldn't help but notice how he never fails to make my mom blush. Her smile widens when without warning, those two are dancing across the stage much to everyone's delight.
"Let's hear a round of applause for 'Fred and Ginger', I yell, stepping forward to lead the applause, unable to control my laughter.
When Enzo lets her go, mom breathlessly grabs the microphone again. "Now ladies, who will give me three hundred dollars for Enzo?"
"Three hundred and fifty dollars," Caroline yells, waving her arms frantically.
"Any more bids for this fine man ladies," my mother asks as Enzo steps behind my mom, dropping his chin onto her shoulder. Mom is so reveling in Enzo's flirtations.
"Four hundred" yells some unknown woman.
"Five hundred," Caroline squeals, upping the ante.
"Anyone else?" Mom says to the crowd. When no one else challenges Caroline's bid, Mom bangs the gavel, "Sold to Caroline Forbes for the sum of five hundred dollars. Congratulations."
I'm the last one to be auctioned. Elena starts the bidding at one hundred dollars. Carol Lockwood ups the ante to two hundred dollars. My dear sweet Rose bids three hundred for me. Heck, she didn't even bid on her own son. Gosh, I love that lady, I think to myself.
Elena raises her arm and bids three hundred and twenty five dollars. Next someone unseen yells aloud from the rear of the Grill, bidding five hundred dollars for me. I look around to see who made that bid. When I see her, my eyes widen at the same time my mouth drops open in shock, Sage...
Elena raises the bid to five hundred and twenty dollars.
"Six hundred," Sage yells.
"Mom," I say with my teeth gnashed together.
"Seven hundred," my mom yells.
"One thousand dollars," Sage says triumphantly.
I look down and my heart drops when I see a clearly dispirited Elena, her eyes looking everywhere but at me. This has to stop I think to myself. I had my fill of Sage a long time ago. Nothing, no amount of money will make me spend an evening with her.
"One thousand and one hundred dollars," Bonnie bids, squeezing Elena's forearm gently.
"Five thousand dollars," Sage bids, clearly enjoying my discomfort.
I turn to my mom who looks just as shocked as I am, "Mom, I won't go out with her. I won't do it."
"I know how you feel. I don't want you within a thousand miles of that... that devil woman either. But, I'm going to have to call it," she cautions when no one else bids for me.
"Sold for five thousand dollars to the lady in red."
All my thanks to Eva. And a special thanks to all of you who do take that extra moment to write a couple of words. Please do look at "Pieces of Eight". It's a Delena story woven around the real life search and recovery of a treasure laden Spanish Galleon that sunk in 1622. It's actually been my favorite story to write because I love history. I hope you all have a wonderful day. Thank you all again for reading, following, and reviewing. Until next week.