Even though he's a bundle of nerves inside, Damon forces himself to relax and take his time. He can't help the beaming smile that forms on his face over the fact that she actually invited him to come over. As badly as he wants to be with her right now, he also wants to prolong this glorious feeling that makes him feel like he could walk on air.

The first thing he needs to do is take a shower, shave and change into some clean clothes. It's too early for dinner but he wants to get an early start so he can stop somewhere and pick up some flowers for her. When he's all done, he splashes her favorite cologne on his face, grabs his things and then walks out of his room, locking the door behind him.

Just as he's about to go into the elevator, his phone rings for the millionth time today. This time when he looks at the number, he's sporting a big smile yet again, well to be honest, it hasn't left his face since he said goodbye to Elena... He never wants to lose this feeling.

"Uncle Zach!" he answers. Looking around, he quickly detours into the stairwell so he won't lose phone reception as he makes his way to the parking garage.

"Damon? I can't believe what I've been seeing and hearing all day. I'm more than used to seeing Elena's face in magazines and on TV but you? You could have knocked me over with a feather when I happened to catch a portion of your interview."

"Do you buy tabloids, Uncle Zach? Damon teases when he can get a word in.

"I only buy them to keep tabs on Elena. Now spill."

He chuckles nervously. "Yeah, it was kind of a spur of the moment decision. She needed to know that I was serious about fixing us."

"What does Elena have to say about all of this? Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of you but shouldn't you have discussed it with her first?"

"Yes, I should have, Zach, but I didn't know how else to get the message out that I was serious about her and us."

"What did she have to say about your... err... announcement?"

"I'm actually on my way to see her...," there are signs of uneasiness in his voice. "I guess she'll tell me then."

Zachary is clearly amused. "Well, you're still breathing so I think that bodes well for you. I know I cautioned you that it wouldn't be easy, I still believe that... A lot has happened in the past three years but with all of that said, I have to hand it to you. You're a purposeful man and have a reason for doing everything you do. Oh and remind me never to bet against you."

"Thanks, Zach..." he adds. He's truly happy that his uncle called to give him some encouragement.

"Good luck Damon! I hope everything works out for the two of you... I really do. But listen, I have another call coming in so I'm going to say goodbye but there's one more thing I want to say.. Don't make yourselves so scarce."

Damon stuffs his phone back in his pocket then climbs behind the wheel and starts the engine. He takes a breath to calm his wildly beating heart.

A little on edge herself, Elena takes a look out of the window now and then, she's still waiting to see his car pull up. She's not worried that he won't show, not at all but she can't help the tangle of nerves that is gripping at her belly. It makes her wonder if Damon is feeling the same.

If Enzo was there, he would laugh at her and crack jokes to lighten the mood. Instead he decided to give her, them space and left to spend the night with Bonnie. Elena isn't absolutely sure that Bonnie is really in town or if Enzo just used her as an excuse to get out of the house for the night. Either way, she's grateful.

When she hears the sound of an engine, she pulls the curtain aside. Finally, she sees Damon parking his car. She watches him get out then reach for something in the backseat. She smiles when she sees the flowers. As soon as he starts walking towards the house, Elena rushes to the door, pulling it open before he can raise his finger to push the bell.

Damon pauses, swallowing thickly at the sight of her. She's so incredibly beautiful dressed in a casual pair of yoga pants and one of his old tee shirts. In his mind, she's never looked more beautiful. Suddenly he feels very possessive and literally has to stop himself from touching her like he so desperately wants to. When she steps aside to let him pass, he wraps the fingers of one hand tightly around the flower stems while tucking the other one into his jeans pocket. He congratulates himself for keeping his composure by cracking what he hopes is a convincing smile.

Elena feels like she's in a dream, one she never believed would actually come true. She gestures for him to go to the living room and follows behind.

"I know it's not that late and I don't know about you, but I'm famished. It's been such a crazy day," she adds, winking at him.

Damon knows she's just joking but he still feels guilty because her insanely busy day is a direct result of his interview with Shane. He swallows another apology, because there's no point in repeating it again and again. Instead he gives her a small smile.

"I know what you mean by crazy."

Her smile is radiant as she leads him through the living room and out of the house. On the terrace, there's a table set up surrounded by a few chairs. She motions for him to sit. Before she can join him, her phone starts ringing with the familiar melody. She looks at the display and presses ignore and Damon once again fights to maintain control of his emotions. He turns to face the sea and comments, "Your view, it's gorgeous, the beach is so close..."

Elena nods and excuses herself for a minute. She's back quickly, carrying two plates. She actually made dinner for the two of them.

"Now eat Damon, we can talk later."

"Alright...," Damon slowly takes the knife and fork, "just tell me one thing. Wasn't that song supposed to be my ring tone, mine alone? Why would you change that?"

Elena pauses at the unexpected question - but she's done pretending. "I just missed it, Damon," she says simply but truthfully. "You stopped calling and I wasn't sure I'd ever hear it again. So I use it for everyone."

Damon takes the last bite of his Chicken cordon bleu, swallowing it down with a sip of the Prosecco that she served with it. Along with the chicken she made a salad with a delicious vinaigrette dressing and asparagus. The meal was heavenly so much so that he licks his lips after polishing off what was left on his plate. Damon sets his fork down, picks his napkin up to dab his mouth and hands before refilling their wine glasses.

He would like nothing more than to praise her from the rooftops but he's so embarrassed that he ever doubted her, he finds himself at a loss for words. It's weird how the mind works. He wishes there was something that he could say to make everything alright between them but there isn't.

How he yearns for the simplicity of the old days when things were just that, uncomplicated. The one thing he knows with absolute certainty is that he needs to rebuild her trust in him. It's going to be a step by step process. However long it takes, he's not going to run away, not this time or ever again.

He's literally exhausted by the time he picks up his glass to take another swallow. He stares in awe at the woman in front of him. If only he could turn back the clock, he would do it in a heartbeat. His mouth feels dry so he takes a long pull from the flute. After clearing his throat, he is finally able to utter a few words, his voice sounding half strangled with emotion.

"Dinner was incredible, Elena, thank you."

Elena smiles radiantly. "Thank you. I thought you might enjoy it.

What a fool he's been? He doesn't deserve her now, he didn't then either and if he's to be honest with himself, he knows he doesn't deserve a second chance.

He can tell she's just as reluctant to start their much needed but inevitable conversation as he is so the first thing they do is carry the dishes into the kitchen. He surprises her when he takes charge of washing them.

As soon as he finishes, he knows they could both use a drink. He takes some ice out of the freezer and finds his way to the living room bar without any trouble. He opens the refrigerator and pulls out the fresh fruit. Elena cocks an eyebrow when she watches him whip up her favorite Watermelon Margaritas for the two of them rather than have his usual bourbon.

"Where is Enzo?" Damon asks when they settle back in the living room with their drinks.

"He decided to spend the night at Bonnie's, at least that's what he said. Tomorrow's probably going to be a busy day, so he wanted us to have a break... If, this, can be considered a break," she adds as an afterthought, her hand gesturing back and forth between them.

This would be funny if Damon wasn't so nervous.

"When...," Elena continues, "are you leaving?"

Damon looks at her closely, she's still worried. "Not before we figure this out, Elena."

Elena nods and he can see she's starting to relax a little bit more.

The elephant in the room needs to be dealt with. They are both nervous and anxious but if this is what they want, then there's no reason to hesitate any longer...

He makes the decision, gets up and joins her on the couch. Elena looks at him curiously but it warms his heart that she doesn't move away. He takes her hand in his.

"C'mere."

Elena shifts a little closer and with a gentle urging of his hand, she leans against his side. It feels so right. Damon closes his eyes for a second relishing the feeling of having her close again. He didn't realize how much he'd missed this till he breathes in her orange blossom perfume. It's still his favorite.

"We will figure it out, Elena," he murmurs into her hair.

And just like that the dam breaks, he can feel tears begin to prick at his eyes. He takes several deep breaths to try to pull them back.

"I'm so, so very sorry for making you feel like I didn't love you. I've done so many things to hurt you, so many things that made you feel anything and everything but happy. I was such an idiot. It's entirely possibly that my picture is next to the word in Webster's," he laughs rather inappropriately, smiling tightly when he feels the simultaneous squeezes of his heart and his hand in hers.

"But I do love you Elena, so much. You were right, I was stupid and didn't want to give in, I don't like losing control and it happens all the time when I'm with you. But being without you is much worse."

Elena's silent for a minute, before she looks up at him and damn, he so wants to kiss her but he's frozen, mesmerized by the sight of her big doe eyes staring right into his soul. No, he won't kiss her. She deserves better. She's his wife.

"I know that I have no right to ask you for anything but do you think that you can forget about the divorce..?" he whispers. Somehow he's able to withstand her searching gaze, although the intensity of it makes him very, very small.

"You're the one who showed up here waving those papers before my eyes," she points out.

"Actually it was you who wanted it first...," there's no accusation in his voice, just curiosity. "Why did you, Elena...?"

She looks aside, but knows she needs to say it. The healing needs to begin right now.

"Because... I was hurt. Angry at myself and at you. That's when I went to a lawyer."

"But... you never finished. And now when I...," he can't even repeat how stupid he was, "you didn't sign either?"

Elena sighs and looks back at him. "When you didn't sign mine, I was hoping... thinking that maybe the fact you didn't meant that you really did not want to lose me anymore than I wanted to lose you. I was hoping that you'd come for me."

Damon can't believe how badly he screwed up. He convinced himself that it was Elena who abandoned him when in reality it was he who did the abandoning. He would tell himself over and over it was for the best and that despite the gnawing feeling inside, he somehow thought that Vanessa was the one for him. Not only did he hurt Elena terribly, he also hurt Vanessa. He'll thank the stars till his dying day that he had his epiphany before Elena could sign the divorce papers, still he wishes that he could erase his relationship with the other woman.

After finishing their margaritas, they link hands and go for a walk along the beach. Elena takes her shoes off and digs her toes in the sand, occasionally dipping into the Pacific itself. The sky is a beautiful blend of colors, pinks, oranges, yellows as the sun sinks, beginning its descent into the horizon. Topaz sunbursts of light reflect against the calming blue of the ocean, the waves lighting up like cylinders of flaxen gold light. Small waves crash against the shore and the salty smell rushes into her nose as she breathes in the fresh air.

Somehow they end up in her summerhouse. He's glad that she's enjoying the evening here despite the fact that Shane violated this sanctuary not very long ago. Damon pauses to take in the sheer beauty of this place. The halo of towering cliffs color the edges of the beach, they rise up into the sky as the gods gallop across the pinky orange crests of the clouds. He snaps out of it when he hears the dulcet tones of her soft voice.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, anything."

"How did you get Atticus Shane of all people to write only what you wanted to be revealed rather than our whole story?" Elena asks, concentrating on him as if she's reading his thoughts.

Damon gives her a small smile. "That's for me to know and for you to dot, dot, dot..." he quips, gesticulating wildly with his finger.

Elena giggles, "You will have to tell me though. We're going to have to fix our reputation."

Damon moves closer to her and for a long while they just sit and listen to the sounds of the ocean. Damon is enjoying this peaceful moment immensely but he knows there's one more thing that needs to be addressed tonight. He reaches for his wallet, carefully pulling out the precious picture, revealing it to Elena.

"You still have it?" Elena's stunned, he can hear it in her voice, it's also a little shaky and he knows if he looks into her eyes, he'd find them glistening, the same way his are.

"I finished the book. On the flight from NOLA," he knows it's the only explanation she needs.

"Ah... I'm stunned, you hated it, saying something about it being shallow, far-fetched entertainment."

"Surprisingly I actually didn't hate it. It has little in common with Da Vinci and science," he laughs, winking at her, "but it was quite entertaining. As you well know, I didn't do fun back then. When you gave it to me, recommending it highly, I wasn't ready to delve in just yet. Nor did I want to admit that I enjoyed it."

Elena carefully takes the sonogram picture from his hand, gingerly smoothing the edges.

"I remember tucking it in the book's pages to keep it safe. I know it's silly but I kept it in my sock drawer. Maybe I, maybe she was waiting for me to come to my senses."

Damon puts his arm around her and pulls her into his chest, staring at their unborn daughter's picture in her hand.

"I was so horrible to you and to her. We should have mourned together, instead I drove you away. I would give everything I have to be able to turn back the clock but I can't, Elena. I'll regret that time for the rest of my life. I'm so very sorry..." he repeats again, brushing his lips over her hair so wispily that she doesn't feel it.

Elena's voice is shaking when she whispers, "Let's mourn her now for a few minutes, just the two of us, Damon. I'm so sorry too that I wasn't more careful. You were right, I should have kept her in mind when I decided to fly..."

"No, no, Elena, you weren't wrong, you didn't do anything wrong. It was all me. I shouldn't have asked you to stay home, I should have come with you instead to make sure you were both safe. It was a horrible, tragic accident and please believe me when I say this, it wasn't your fault. It was one of those freak things that happen to good people sometimes," he pauses to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. With blue staring into brown, he tilts his head slightly adding, "I want to say something else that I've come to realize."

"What's that?"

"When two people are meant to be, nothing and no one can end them. They may get lost a time or two on their journey but true, real love will always win out in the end. Nothing can compete with it. Others may attempt to fill the void but eventually the two will be reunited. That's the beauty of true love, Elena, you always end up with the right person at the right time regardless of anything else. I'm sorry that I didn't fight for you and for us, for all three of us, I'll regret that till my dying day..."

"Damon?"

"We've been given this incredible opportunity to start over, Elena, I'm never going to let you go again."

"We did lose our way," Elena whispers, her voice thick with emotion. She can't hold her tears any longer. She turns to him, throwing her arms around his neck. For the first time since that tragic day, she cries in her husband's arms.

They needed this. Both of them.

Damon keeps Elena close and doesn't care that many tears have also escaped his own eyes. Their loss was so unimaginable. She'd be three now, sitting on his lap while he reads her a bedtime story. God, why did he waste so much time being away from his wife, time that he'll never get back?

Some time passes before Elena raises her head to look into his eyes. Tenderly he brushes her hair from her face, tucking it behind one of her ears. "I should probably go..."

"Now?" Elena sounds surprised and that warms his insides.

"I can't, I won't pressure you into anything. I kind of forced your hand with my big announcement and speaking of that, I don't think I said thank you for not turning me into shark bait." She laughs, it's real and genuine, the sound is music to his ears.

"You're welcome, but really, Damon, you don't have to leave. You can stay in the guest room if you want? I mean, you'll need to be here in the morning anyway. My publicist Roger is going to be here and Enzo will be back. We have to decide what we're going to release to the public."

"Alright," he agrees, despite his hesitancy, he doesn't want to leave her now. He doesn't want to leave her ever again...

In the end, they spend the night right there in the summerhouse, falling asleep with their bodies entwined.

Eva and I want to thank you all so very much. You keep us excited and motivated, without your support, we wouldn't be here.

Thank you Eva. I love you dearly.

Chapter title: 'Whatever It Takes' by Lifehouse.

I did update "Welcome to the Jungle" yesterday. It's officially our longest story ever. It's a crime drama, slow burn DE story.

Thank you all again, you're the best there is in the DE fandom. Have a wonderful day and weekend, we'll see you next week.