Elena takes deliberately slow sips, reveling in each one. Mysterious local guy has outdone himself with his latest offering, a pomegranate and mixed berries masterpiece that completely obscures the taste of protein powder. Mornings are her new favourite time of day. At 4 am, Ric delivers a daily food package that mysterious local guy has meticulously made from scratch. Mysterious local guy is her saviour. If not for him, she would have already lost to Kat by way of desiccation.
Elena hugs Ted-DE to her chest and inhales. Mysterious local guy's scent lingers. Maybe. He has not been in her room for six weeks. The lingering scent may be a figment of her imagination, but it comforts her nonetheless. He gifted her her beloved Ted-DE teddy on her sweet sixteen. He roused her with his presence in her bed at 6 am that morning, the adorable Ted-DE cuddled to his chest. At first, she was pissed the fuck off. "6 am? Seriously? Do you really have nothing better to do at 6 am?" Then, she was legit LMFAOing. On closer inspection, Ted-DE was wearing a risque pair of Agent Provocateur red lace panties as a shirt. "Put these in the 'Yes' pile," mysterious local guy grunted in a bear voice. Well, more like a bear in heat voice, if there is such a thing. She opens the underwear drawer of her dresser. She reaches for those red panties, ones she has actually never worn before. The lace feels comfortable underneath her fingertips, which is uncharacteristic of this form of fabric. Almost like satin. Leave it to him to be so thoughtfully pragmatic.
She opens the bottom drawer of her dresser. His drawer. She reaches for one of his Whitmore College T-shirts and slips it on. The scent of bourbon, maple, and something indescribable floats around her. This is the real deal. Yet still only a substitute.
These substitutes will not be able to carry Elena through the rest of her life. On the other hand, she is not able to forgive just yet. Ric insists that the journey to forgiveness starts with understanding. Although, he used more vivid words. "I was gonna take a beat, cause you need to focus on being boss in your fight. But your myopia's pissing me off! Damon's human, he fucked up. But maybe, just maybe he had his reasons. Maybe the way you feel about being a girl fighter is the way he feels about being a deaf guy. Your dad's a full-grown alpha male douche bag, but I don't see you cutting him out of your life. I've been a sexist pig a few times, even to Isobel. To live is to fuck up."
The whack on her door signals the arrival of the UFC Primetime crew. Ugh. The crew has had to come film for the past five consecutive mornings for an airable 10-second snippet of Elena's morning ritual. One particular crewmember has a hard-on for a certain UFC champion. He keeps interrogating about said champion, fishing for information about said champion's whereabouts. "Damon make that?" he asks, pointing to the juice in her hand. She forces a curt smile, effectively shutting him up without words. Or not. The crewmember repositions the items on her bed to prepare for the shoot. "Damon give you this?" he asks, holding Ted-DE. Elena reminds the crewmember that this shoot is about her, not anyone else.
Jeremy leans against Elena's door to their shared bathroom. He admires his sister's strength. He is sure he would not be up to fighting in a fucking cage if he and Bonnie were on the outs. Then again, maybe being locked in a cage where your opponent is seeking to end you would be the perfect distraction. He returns to his room to continue packing. Elena's fight is six weeks away and Ric is battening down the hatches. Jeremy is on nighttime Damon-watch, starting tonight. Ticket to free booze!
On his way out, Jeremy passes by a framed picture of the Gilbert and Salvatore children at Dunham Lake 16 years ago. Elena and Damon were eight, Jeremy and Stefan were one. Damon had just dressed Stefan up in a onesie with Koala bear ears on the hood, and everyone was oohing and aahing at the adorkableness. Jealous Jeremy was yanking at the hood for attention. Jeremy marvels at how the Gilbert-Salvatore situation crumbled into messy complication.
John catches Jeremy's moment of nostalgia, prompting his own. John has not been the most supportive of Elena's recent decision to fight on the grandest cage in the world. To avoid confrontation, he has made himself scarce in her life, aside from trying (and failing) to make her food and drinks. He never would have chosen this life for his Baby Princess. He thought she would find a good man, get married, have 1.5 kids and a golden retriever, and live happily ever after in a home with a white picket fence. He never thought she would become a cage fighter, making a living by beating other women to a pulp or breaking their limbs. He never thought her good man would be ...
Author's Note: Thank you for the feedback, follows, and favourites. Special thanks to vamomoftwins, Debbie1689, bellax0xchristina, livialovesdelena, and ParfaitCherie.