Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created by L.J. Smith, as portrayed in the TV series created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. The plot is based on the novel The Cardoss Luck (1974) by Janet Louise Roberts. All rights to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Author's Note: This chapter is dedicated to Roi (XxVampireXLoverxX) for brainstorming with me and helping jog my thought process with this story. I'm sorry if this feels rushed, but it's this or nothing… I'm planning to wrap up this story very soon. Enjoy.

FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE

~ XII ~

"Have you lain with her?" Elena asked in such a broken whisper that had he not been so fully aware of her every breath, he would have missed it.

"No," he answered, causing Elena to turn her head to look at him.

"There is no need to lie, Damon," she said, tears threatening to spill. "I understand if you… I mean, before we were…"

He turned her over completely, cupping her face. "I didn't."

"But Katherine…"

"Katherine is a virgin."

"That is not possible. I heard her say…"

"She is also manipulative and deceitful. She has created an image for herself, and she uses her charms to get what she wants, but she does not follow through on her promises."

"She told you this?"

"Caroline did. She was drunk one night and furious with Katherine for flirting with Tyler, and she started talking."

"You were with Caroline?"

"I am not going to pretend I have not lain with other women before you came into my life, Elena, but I can assure you I have not lusted after another woman since you proposed."

"Not even Katherine?"

"Especially not Katherine."

"Why? I mean, she's a beautiful woman…"

"And she's cruel and manipulative and I could not bear to spend a minute longer in her company than what is absolutely necessary."

"Really?"

"Really," Damon confirmed and quelled her concern with his lips.

"I must go soon," Elena said regretfully, leisurely caressing Damon's arm, which was securely wrapped around her.

"It is not yet dawn," Damon objected, pulling her closer.

"I must pack."

"Take Emily with you."

"What?" Elena blinked and turned around to face him.

"I cannot bear the thought of you alone with him. Would it not be improper for a lady to travel unaccompanied in the presence of a gentleman?"

"But can you spare her? David…"

"David will be well looked after, I assure you."

"All right then. I should let Emily know we'll be leaving shortly…" Elena said and moved to get out of bed.

"Uh-uh, Mrs. Salvatore," Damon said and pulled her back to him. "We're not finished here."

"Damon…"

"You will be gone for… who knows how many nights. I must leave you something to remember me by," he winked.

"As if I would forget you, my love," she smiled and kissed him fondly.

It was raining heavily when they set out for Atlanta. Mason was less than thrilled that Emily was joining them, but made no mention of it.

Elena had wanted to say goodbye to David, but he was sleeping so soundly, she couldn't bear to wake him. Instead, she kissed his forehead and left him a short letter saying she would return shortly. Her heart ached as she left the Salvatore mansion behind.

They stopped at an inn that evening. The horses needed their rest, as did the driver. Elena made the arrangements for them all to have a nutritious meal and the inn keeper gladly accommodated her request for three rooms – one for herself and Emily, one for Mason and one for the driver.

The two women had just fallen asleep when there was a knock at the door. Emily went to answer it.

"Pardon the intrusion, ma'am," the inn keeper said, his eyes on Elena. "But there is a young child here… he gave your name, ma'am."

"A child?" Elena blinked. "David? Where is he?"

"My wife is tending to him, ma'am. He came on horseback, and was practically asleep when he arrived."

"Take me to him," Elena said and wrapped a shawl around her.

"Right this way, ma'am," the inn keeper said and led her into a small room with a roaring fire and a couch. A little boy with black hair lay wrapped in blankets, his tiny form shivering with cold.

Elena knelt on the carpet by his side, gently stroking his wet hair out of his pale face. "David. Darling boy, what are you doing here?" she whispered to him.

"Miss Elena?" the boy whimpered.

"Yes, my darling. It's me," she said eagerly, tears brimming in her eyes.

"I found you," he said with a small smile on his lips and leaned back against the cushion.

"Yes. Yes, you did. Why did you come looking for me? I promised you I would return."

"John said…"

"John? My uncle John?" Elena blinked, perplexed. How was he even still at the estate? She threw him out.

"He was leaving, he said you had gone and he was going to meet you. He said you weren't coming back… He said you were bored with me…"

"Oh, my precious little darling," Elena cradled his face. "That is a vicious lie. John is a mean, cold-hearted man and you cannot believe a word he says. I could never be bored with you around. I love you like my own, David."

"You do, Miss Elena?" he mumbled, drifting off.

"Yes, I do," she said earnestly, caressing his pale face. He was burning up.

"Emily," she called over her shoulder. "Have them fetch the doctor. He is coming down with a fever."

"Mason," Elena knocked on his door.

Mason opened with a smile. "I knew you would come to me," he said and reached for her.

Elena pulled away. "David's here, he's ill. I must take him back to the estate."

"What?"

"He followed us, in this weather… I fear for his life, Mason."

"What do you need me to do?"

"If it's not too much trouble… would you go to Atlanta and speak with Elijah for me? Ask him to please come see me?"

"But Elena…"

"Mason, please," she pleaded with him. "He's just a little boy. I will not leave him when he's sick, but it is imperative that I speak with Elijah."

"Of course," Mason inclined his head. "Anything for you, Elena."

With the help of the inn keeper, Elena settled into the carriage with David in her lap. A doctor had been called and would meet them at the Salvatore estate. It was a restless journey for Elena, who was constantly checking the boy's forehead for fever. Emily suggested she take over, but Elena refused to let him go.

"This is all my fault, Emily," she said, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I should have explained to him… no, I never should have left him."

"Please, ma'am, blaming yourself will not restore his health. You need your rest as well."

"No. I will rest when he is well again."

"As soon as we get back, I will make him some special tea," Emily said, reaching out to cover Elena's hand with her own, reassuring her.

"Thank you, Emily," Elena said softly and squeezed the other woman's hand gratefully.

It was early evening when the carriage entered the Salvatore estate's courtyard. The first one to meet them was Damon.

"What happened?" he demanded, climbing into the carriage. "The doctor arrived a short while ago, saying there was an emergency."

"He followed us," Elena said, looking down at the perspiring, pale boy in her lap.

Damon picked him up and carried him out of the carriage, handing him over to one of the manservants. "Take him upstairs. Tell the doctor I'll be up shortly."

Elena was about to climb out when her legs gave out and she would have fallen had Damon not scooped her up in his arms.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she insisted. "I suppose my legs have gone numb from the long ride, is all. We should go with him," she gestured to the boy being carried inside.

"And we will. But you look as though you need to rest, my love," he said as he gently set her back down on the ground.

"Rest? Rest, Damon? How can I rest when my… when David is ill?"

"I will sit with him."

"Where were you?" she said suddenly, distraught.

"Pardon?" Damon blinked at her harsh tone.

"Where were you? You said he would be safe with you. How could you let him go off alone?"

"I didn't know."

"You promised, Damon! You said he would be safe with you," she repeated, tears streaming down her face and her small fists hitting his chest.

Damon covered her hands with his own, holding her close.

"You need to rest, Elena. You will be no good to David if you make yourself ill."

Elena shook her head.

"Emily, please take Mrs. Salvatore to her chambers and make sure she gets some rest, yes?"

"Certainly, sir," Emily agreed and led Elena towards the house.

"Emily, please, I want to sit with him," Elena objected as her handmaiden freed her from her corset and ushered her towards her bed.

"Mr. Salvatore is tending to the boy, ma'am. As is the doctor. I will go see him when you have fallen asleep."

"How can I possibly fall asleep now?"

"You are exhausted, ma'am. The long trip and the disrupted night's rest… you must take care of yourself. You are looking much too pale."

"There is nothing wrong with me, Emily," Elena insisted. "I am weary, yes, but I wish to see him. He should not be alone when he is ill."

"If you catch the fever from him, you are not only risking your own life, ma'am," Emily said gently.

"What ever do you mean?"

"Mr. Salvatore will surely be devastated should anything happen."

"I…"

"Please, ma'am. Get some rest and I will see to it that the boy will be better when you awaken."

"You cannot promise such a thing, Emily."

"Doctors are good and all, but my family knows how to remedy ailments such as this. He will be better in a matter of days, I assure you."

Elena nodded and laid back against the pillows. Emily's teas were indeed potent.

When Elena awoke, it was the middle of the night, and she was not alone. She turned her head to see Damon beside her, his arm draped protectively over her. She carefully escaped his embrace and slipped out of bed, wrapping a shawl around her and tiptoeing out of the room and over to David's. She gently edged open the door. A light was burning and Emily sat in a chair beside the bed, reading. She looked up when Elena entered.

"Ma'am!" she whispered disapprovingly. "You should be resting."

"How is he?" Elena whispered, ignoring her handmaiden's reproach.

"Sleeping soundly."

Elena walked over to the bed, reaching out to hold his hand. "He's cold," she said, concerned.

Emily frowned and reached out to touch his other hand. "No, ma'am, his temperature is quite normal."

"Do not tell me I am hallucinating, Emily," Elena said sternly. "He is cold, I tell you."

Emily got up and walked over to Elena, feeling her forehead. "It is you who are much too warm, ma'am," Emily said, concerned. "You have caught the fever as well."

"Nonsense," Elena said abruptly. "I feel fine."

"Let me make you some tea, ma'am," Emily insisted.

"I told you," Elena said, "I feel…"

The rest of that statement remained unsaid, as Elena collapsed and slumped to the floor, Emily's arms only being able to hold her up partially.

Elena was not heavy by any standards, but Emily was not strong enough to lift her off the floor. Instead, she laid her down gently and ran over to Elena's bedroom to fetch Damon.

Damon awoke to the sound of impatient rapping on the door and realized Elena was gone. He hastened to open the door.

"Emily?" he blinked. "Where is Mrs. Salvatore?"

"I need your assistance, Mr. Salvatore," Emily said simply and headed back to David's room. Damon followed and swore under his breath when he spotted Elena on the floor.

"What happened?" he said and kneeled beside her, stroking her pale face. "She is burning up!"

"It seems she has caught young David's fever, Mr. Salvatore. Please help me get her to bed and I shall prepare her some tea."

"Tea? She needs a doctor," Damon growled and picked her up. She felt heavy in his arms, like her spirit had left her body. Damon shuddered at the thought.

"Of course, sir."

Damon carried Elena back to her bedroom, tucking her safely under the covers.

"Bring me a clean washcloth and a bowl of water. Then call for the doctor," he ordered Emily.

"Yes, sir," Emily said and scurried off.

"My sweet, stubborn Elena," Damon mumbled, stroking her hair.

Emily soon returned with a washcloth and a washing bowl.

"I have sent a manservant to fetch the doctor."

"Thank you, Emily."

Emily curtsied and left. Damon carefully undressed Elena and began dabbing her fevered skin with the washcloth. When he was finished, he covered her with blankets.

Emily soon reappeared with an offering of tea and soup, which Damon took from her. He crawled up on the bed with Elena, cradling her in his arms and bringing a spoon to her lips. Somehow, this simple act got through to her and she swallowed a little of the liquid.

"Send the doctor up when he arrives," Damon said to Emily and turned his attention back to Elena. "Oh, and make sure someone sits with David, as well. I know he is doing better, but…"

"Of course, sir," Emily cut him off.

"Thank you, Emily."

Elena remained relatively unresponsive, merely mumbling in her fever-induced sleep, but Damon was relieved to find that by each passing hour and with every spoon of Emily's tea, her temperature was dropping, until it was practically normal.

By the time the doctor arrived, Elena was sleeping comfortably. He was amazed at the rapid improvement, but recommended bed rest and plenty of fluids until further notice.

Elena couldn't say how many days had passed when she was finally allowed to receive visitors other than Damon and David, who was up and running as though he had never been ill.

Her first visitor was Elijah Smith, who had agreed to come to Mystic Falls when he heard of the young child's misfortune and Elena's predicament.

Elena knew she was in a strong bargaining position in her seemingly weakened state. She did not fell ill at all, merely tired. Elijah Smith was a gentleman, and it would trouble him greatly to deceive a delicate lady such as herself.

This was her plan as she asked the servant to leave them and offered him a seat opposite her in the sitting room, where her feet were propped up and she had a blanket covering her legs.

"Elena, my dear," he began most affably, "how it pains me to see you in such a weakened state."

"Thank you for coming, Elijah. I have indeed missed your company these months."

"I apologize I did not call on you prior to this. I was…"

"There is no need for apologies. Mr. Lockwood has informed me of your strained relationship with my husband and his family."

"Please do not think that I…"

"No, I know you do not include me in your aversion. But I have asked you here to beg of you to let old trespassings be left in the past. I wish for our families to get along. Do you think you could grant me my wish?"

"Elena…"

"I fear my husband is misunderstood. He has the heart of a lion and the soul of an angel. He would not wish for a feud between our families. His only wish is for his nephew to have the life he deserves – the life his father and grandfather wished for him."

"Elena…"

"I know you worked for Mr. Lockwood at one point. I also know he had a close friendship with Giuseppe Salvatore. I am asking you this as your loyal and humble friend – is there cause to believe the will that made Giuseppe Salvatore single heir to the fortune was forged? And that the papers stating Giuseppe was indeed adopted were falsified?"

Elijah sighed deeply and leaned back in his seat. "I was a young man when I came to work for George Lockwood. I had my heart set on a career in the legal profession, but at Lockwood's practice, I saw the darker side of the law. I signed a confidentiality agreement, and thus my lips are sealed to what I may or may not have witnessed on the premises."

"Elijah… I beg of you," Elena pleaded.

"I know of a man who can tell if a document is forged or not. I will get you in contact with him. I'm afraid that is all I can do," Elijah said apologetically.

"Thank you," Elena said emphatically, rising from her seat to grasp his hands in an expression of her gratitude, but before she reached him, she cried out in pain and collapsed to the floor.