Chapter 5 – It's alright Ma, I'm only bleeding

Damon was already at the school gate when the bell rang. Once Sophia saw her dad, she started running towards him while William, being William, just walked past Damon to simply get in the car.
"I love when you surprise us like that Daddy!" said a smiling Sophia in her dad's arm. Damon simply smiled back and hugged her.
The drive home was silent, except for Sophia who was chatting unstopping about her day.
"How come it is you who is picking us up?" asked William. Damon instantly stiffened in his seat and held the wheel even more steadily. William had always been the observing kid and it was the moment Damon had silently prayed would never come, or at least later…much later.

Damon evaded the question and took them to the park. He knew William was not a dumb kid and that his son had caught up that something was wrong. He just had not expected him to blunt out the question like that.
He could not tell them yet he had to. He had no choice but till then, he decided to let them have some fun while it lasted.

2 hours later, back at home

"Sophia, William! Dinner is ready. Come on!" Damon shouted. He heard Sophia's little feet running towards the kitchen and smiled to himself. She was so like her mom Damon thought.

"Where is your brother Princess?" Damon asked.
"Brooding like always" which made Damon laughed, his daughter might have her mother's look but she definitely had his wits.
"Come on, sit down. I'll bring him here and we'll eat, okay?"
Damon went in search of his son and found him just like Sophia said, brooding.
"Hey buddy, what's up with you sitting all alone up here?" Damon questioned him.
"Where is mom Dad?"
Damon breathed in and looked into his 10 years old son eyes. He knew there was no point in lying or in evading now.
"Son, your mother will be gone for a while. She and me we had that fight and she was upset. And she left. She left because of me but she loves you. She loves you more than anything else. It's all my fault so do not feel grudge her. Be angry with me if you need to, I can understand. I drove your mother away. And you can hate me for that." Damon felt his heart breaking as he spoke those words, as he tried hard to keep his tears at bay. He watched his son, who stared at him, his blue eyes meeting his own.
He heard a little sniffle behind him and turned.
"Soph"
Damon immediately took his sobbing daughter in his arms. He tried to soothe her as much as he could, knowing no words could stop the pain his kids were feeling.

He felt something wet on his shoulder and what followed next literally broke his heart. William was breaking down. And Damon lost no time in hugging both his kids tightly against his chest. And even if he felt guilty for feeling what he was feeling, Damon felt anger deep inside. He felt anger for Elena walking away like that, without looking back. He knew she was hurt by what he did, but was it really necessary to just walk away from it all?
And in the heavy silence of the room, where only the little sobs of his kids could be heard, Damon heard his son's little voice,
"I don't hate you Dad."