Chapter 2 – Curtains Fall

Elena was fuming while she drove through the crowded streets of New York. She had got an emergency call from the kids' school saying that no one picked them up. "How could he forget to pick them up?", Elena exclaimed out loud.

Damon had forgotten to pick up their kids, too absorbed in a so-called important meeting. Elena was beyond pissed. Arriving at the school premises, she literally jumped out of her SUV and ran frantically towards a sobbing Sophia and a clearly angry-pouting William.

"See told you mom had not abandon you Soph. Now stop crying like a baby for god sake", muttered William. He simply walked beyond his mom and got into the car without saying anything. Sophia was calming down in her mom's soothing embrace while Elena walked them towards the car.

Back home…

"How could forget your own kids Damon?", yelled Elena. She had arrived home, dined with her kids, checked their homework and tucked them into bed. Damon had arrived past midnight again except this time, it was not a sleeping wife that was awaiting him but rather, a fuming and beyond pissed one. One look at Elena's face was enough for him to know that there was no way out of this conversation or fight whichever that was.

"What are you talking about Elena?"

"Damn it Damon! You were supposed to pick them up after school, remember? I can't believe we are actually having this conversation right now! That you forget me, I can deal with it. But your own kids, I won't have them suffer Damon. I can't do this anymore. I won't do it anymore. I am tired Damon… I want a divorce." Elena felt empty, but though she tried hard, she found that she had no tears anymore. She just felt cold.

Damon was shocked and at lost for word. Elena Gilbert Salvatore had finally pronounced the dreaded word "Divorce". Damon stared blankly at the woman in front of him, realization dawning over him. They had grown apart since a while ago. Why for damn sake wasn't he surprised he wondered. His wife had just tell him that she was leaving, that she was done with their marriage yet, he felt nothing.

Elena and Damon both looked at each other, feeling the same – cold and empty and emotionless.

After a while, Damon simply uttered, "I am tired. We'll talk tomorrow morning. Goodnight Elena."

For the first time that night, Damon slept on the couch downstairs, leaving a tired but sleepless Elena upstairs. Both tossed and turned restlessly, realization of their situation dawning upon them, and both that night thought about the two kids whose lives were going to change forever after tomorrow.

The Next morning

Elena and Damon were both up early for the simple reason that none of them slept through the night. After helping the kids get ready, the little family were having breakfast in the kitchen, with only Sophia's chattering breaking the silence.

Damon and Elena stared at their kids all throughout breakfast. Sophia and William seemed completely oblivious to what was going on around them.
How to announce to your kids that you are breaking the safest place they've ever known? How do you tell them that after today, there won't be any 'home' anymore?

Elena sighed looking at Damon, who just nodded to her.

"Alright Soph, Will, Mum and Dad has something to tell you…"