I don't own the vampire diaries and I don't own the characters.
This takes place after the events in my fanfic Soulmates always find a way.
The POV's will be from Damon and Elena.
Enjoy.
Feedback is appreciated.
Sorry it took so long to update. It's been busy and I wanted to write this chapter perfectly. Be sure to let me know what you think and I promise to get the next chapter up before the weekend.
Chapter 10- Memories...and change
Damon's POV
As I watched Elena embrace her old friend surprisingly I wasn't jealous like the old me would have been. I understood it now, they were just as close as she was with Jeremy or Elliot, so I decided instead of jealousy I'd give acceptance a try. I walked up to them and smiled along with them. "Yes, Elijah. Why did you try to kill us in the future?"
He looks at me and gives me this half smile and shakes his head. "Experimentation. I had to know if you would still have done whatever it took, whether that be kill or be killed, to protect Elena. When you fought me for her, stood between her and my brother, fought your own brother numerous times, all for her I knew. I knew that somewhere inside of you that you remembered. I didn't want to do it but as Asher's guardian I had to. I had to know and I'm sorry Damon, Elena." He turns to look at us both and we, well at least I, can see the truth in his words.
"Ash...Asher's guardian? What do you mean Elijah?" Elena voices the question before I can. I can't help but wonder what could have happened to make Elijah watch over a little boy who was of no relation to him.
"Yes. After I saw what happened to Elena and then watched Damon leave town already on his way into utter depression, which you will see what happens I can't say any more...I couldn't leave him on his own. I can't tell you a lot but I can give you my word that I will stick by you again, no matter what. I won't leave the two of you just like I didn't before. Damon, can we talk privately please?"
I give him a questioning look but walk out the front doors with him right behind me. He doesn't let me get far outside the door before he's in front of me halting my steps. "You wanted to talk to me?" I raise my eyebrows and notice the look in his eyes. Worry, Anticipation, Fear, Sorrow, the emotions pass so fast I convince myself I was probably imagining it all.
"Damon. I don't know how this will affect anything, I don't think it will but I have to warn you. Tonight...tonight is when it happens. The thing that puts you on the path toward Katherine." He turns around and walk in circles.
"When what happens?" I'm pretty sure I know but I don't want to be right. It hurts too much to think I'm right.
"Niklaus gets to you." He sighs. "Well, him and his witch. Witches can compel people and it's different. It can only be broken by that witch and even if you transition you won't remember. I...I know you need time with Elena. I'll take the two boys out for a while so you can be alone with her. Just remember something, if not for me then for Elena, remember that you will find your way back. No matter what my brother does or says to you tonight just remember that you find your way back."
He clasps my shoulder as he walks by and back into the church. I don't move. I can't move. I was right, and it hurts. I walk to the side of the church and lean against the wall. I've never been a religious person, I've never believed there was someone up there watching out for me, but now as I looked at the sky I wanted to believe it. I wanted to have that hope that my mother used to have that everything happened for a reason and that God never gave you more than you can handle. Yet, I couldn't find it. "I am not going to cry. I won't be the weak one. I'll fight it. I won't let him make me forget." I repeat the words out loud about 100 more times. I know that I won't be able to fight it but I want to have hope, I need to have hope for Elena. I need to tell her that I'm strong enough to handle any of it. I'll be a good father, I won't be like my father. As I reach the doors to the church I pause and look up. "God if you are real, please don't take Elena and Asher away from me. I know it's selfish but I need them." I walk through the doors and Elijah nods to me. He grabs Elliot and Christopher and pushes them out the door. I walk over to Elena and take her in my arms. I know what I need, but I don't know if she needs it too. I grab her face and pull her lips to mine.
She doesn't pull away in fact she kisses me back just as passionately and just as needy. My mother would roll over in her grave if she knew what I was about to do in a church. I push the thought away as we quickly rid each other of our clothes. I tear my lips away from hers as I kiss every single inch of her. Her eyes, her cheeks, her jaw, her neck, that special spot under her ear lobe that drives her crazy. I move down to her chest and spend quite a long time at her breasts. I reluctantly move down her stomach and smile as Asher nudges me.
She laughs. "I think he likes it when you kiss my stomach."
I smile. "That's my boy."
I look up and smile back at her. I bring my lips once again back to hers and roll us over. Elena straddles me but our lips never break contact. Our tongues are still battling each other for dominance as she eases me into her. I catch her moan in my mouth and my arms caress ever inch of her body I can reach. She sets a slow pace and for once I'm fine with it. I don't want this moment to end. She takes her lips off mine and kisses each part of my body she can reach. I can feel myself getting so close to coming apart underneath her and I can feel she's getting there too. She rolls us over and I am very careful not to hit her stomach at all. I put all my weight on my hands as I hold myself above her. "God, I love you Elena."
"I love you too Damon."
We both find our releases together and I slowly ease out of her and lay beside her. I stroke her hair as I pull the blanket over both of us. I feel her breathing slow as she falls asleep. I can't stop looking at her, I memorize every little detail of her and I place my hand on her stomach. I had told myself I wouldn't cry but I knew what I was about to lose. I let the few tears fall as I held the two most precious things in my life close to me. I lay there with her for a few more minutes until I finally get dressed again. I make sure she's dressed enough to be comfortable but suitable for people as well. I kiss her forehead and then her stomach. "I love you both. I'll never forget either of you, not forever. I'll find my way back, I promise." I whisper the words in her ear and then make my way out of the church. I see Elliot, Christopher, and Elijah sitting on the grass but I don't say anything. Elijah meets my eyes just for a second and I know he's apologizing for what his brother is about to do, I nod my head and keep walking as I see him go inside, most likely to speak to Elena because even I know she wakes up very easily and is probably awake right now. Elliot and Christopher don't move and don't question where I'm going. I get a few feet away from the church when I hear my name being called. "Damon!" I keep walking. "Damon don't do this!" Elijah must have told her what was bound to happen at some point tonight but I force myself to keep walking. I can't turn around because this is what I have to do. I have to do what Klaus and Katherine tell me to do for the next year all so I can protect my family. I'll fall in love with Katherine and drink from her and turn into a monster just like I remember but this time I'll try to remember why I'm doing it, for Elena and for Asher. I'm about halfway home when I feel myself being pushed into the side of one of the buildings. I look my attacker in the eyes and show him that I'm not one bit afraid of what's to come.
"Damon Salvatore."
"Niklaus I presume?" I had to let him think I didn't know him because I didn't the first time I was here. It would be too weird to call him Klaus now when I didn't even know the guy.
He lets go of my chest and raises an eyebrow at me. "Stop the Niklaus shit Salvatore. I know that you remember the what 6 or 7 months I spent dating Caroline and becoming your, what did she call it...oh yes, bestie. Not that I could replace your drinking buddy Alaric but hey we bonded, being bad guys and all." He sits down against the wall and motions for me to sit with him.
I stare at him very confused. "You...you're supposed to compel me, or someone is. Right?" I slowly sit next to him.
"Ah yes, the witch. He's dead like he's supposed to be so...I guess we'll have to pretend that you were compelled. You can do that right, act?"
"Act? But why..."
He raises his hand and I shut up quick. "As for why I can't bring myself to make someone make you forget Elena...call it a change of heart. You may think of me as a cold heartless vampire with no redeeming qualities but...I'm not the same vampire I was the last time I was in this century." He looks at me and nods his head. "And yes, a certain blonde vampire is the reason for that."
I give him a half smile. "I can act. Who would have thought that you'd actually have at least one redeeming quality. But...speaking of blonde vampires...how is Caroline? I know Elena feels bad, she knows Caroline has to be worrying about her."
He smiles and the expression on his face looks out of place, like it hasn't been there for a while. "Caroline will be fine in about 45 minutes."
I shake my head. "Whatever you say. Wait!" I jump up and glare at him. "If you remember Elena and I why the hell did you threaten her at Christopher's?"
He chuckles. "Appearances. And to give your witchy little brother a push to tell Elena he knew she was sent back in time. But...we better get going. I have a plan to explain to certain people."
He starts to walk away and I'm unsure whether or not to follow him. So many thoughts are going on in my head that I actually have a headache now. I said goodbye to Elena and set out knowing Klaus would take my memories and now he's not because he remembers becoming my friend. He remembers Caroline and he didn't mean to scare Elena when he threatened her. I shake my head as I try to clear the thoughts out of my mind. I decide that I'll turn the other way and just go home. I'll deal with this all tomorrow but now I just need to go home. I stop when I find Klaus in front of me.
"Are you coming? I have a few...gifts and surprises for you and Elena." I don't move so he grabs my arm and leads me the opposite direction. "Just come with me. You won't regret this, I give you my word."
I nod and he lets my arm go. We aren't heading anywhere in particular just walking through the woods. Part of me is seriously curious as to what Klaus could possibly have waiting for me in the woods. The other part is telling my curious side to shut the fuck up and flee the original vampire. Curiosity killed the fucking cat. I laugh as I picture the many scenarios that could play out from this walk. I mentally note that this is the part in the horror movies that the music changes and people almost always die, and yet I'm the only one who could die but something in my head tells me that Klaus no matter how much of a bad ass he thinks he is won't let me fucking die. The silence in unnerving and then once we reach a clearing he just stops. He fucking stops now, when nothing could possibly be waiting here. I look around and all I see are fucking trees. "Nice. Trees. I see them all the time. Goodnight Klaus, see you later." I turn to walk away and I'm halted when I hear my name being called.
"Yo! Damon!"
Holy mother of shit this can't happen. He can't be here. I turn around and I'm floored. "Gilbert? Jeremy fucking Gilbert?!" He laughs and Klaus laughs along with him.
"Nice to see you too dick. Look he brought us here and now we need to tell you the new plan."
Wait a motherfucking second. Klaus brought THEM here? Who is them and how the hell did they get here? I'm about to ask but I'm rendered fucking speechless when Bonnie and Caroline step into my line of sight.
"Hey Salvatore senior."
I nod my head, noting I have a smile on my face. "Vampire barbie." I walk up and give her that your my friend one armed hug. "Witchey." I turn and give the same hug to Bonnie.
"They get a hug and all I get it a curse word for a middle name? I'm your brother in law, well not legally but technically."
I laugh and grab him in a headlock. I'm thrown to the ground and end up coughing while trying to get my breath back. "Damn it. I forgot you were a vampire." Everyone laughs at me, silly little human, they don't say but I know them better than they think and I know they're thinking it.
"Oh!" Bonnie yells and she pulls something out of her pocket. She seems excited. I'm surprised when he hands me a picture that's been folded in half. I look at her a raise one eyebrow. "I thought you'd want that. It might help when you act like you're falling for Katherine and have to be away from Elena." She nods her head and I slowly unfold the picture.
I feel the fluttering feeling in my stomach and I can't help but smile at the picture. It's been photo-shopped and printed out but Bonnie did a good job. It looks like we were all together when the picture was taken. I see Elena and I smiling those ridiculous I'm happier than ever smiles with the lake behind us. I rub my thumb over her cheek and I look at the other face in the picture. Asher, he's at the lake obviously the backgrounds fit almost perfectly. He's smiling and he looks happy. I'm sure if anyone were to see this they'd think we were all together for this picture but we weren't. Other people would also assume that Asher would probably be my brother but I knew the truth now, he's my son. I feel Bonnie hug my shoulders from behind me and I turn my head to look at her. "Thank you Bonnie. This...it's...just thank you." I feel her nod her head.
"You're welcome. I found him and he's fine. He's with Ric and Jenna at the lake house. He can't wait to see you and Elena again now that you know who he is."
"Ahem." I glare at the original vampire who cleared his throat. "This is all very touching but can you two continue this talk at the church. I have a doppelganger to apologize to for scaring her and you three need to stay in a place where you won't be seen, hence said church. Let's move!" He walks off and I fold the picture and put it in my pocket.
I stand up and Bonnie keeps her arm around my shoulder. Jeremy walks next to us and Caroline walks next to Klaus. Bonnie drops her arm and pulls something else out of her pocket and she unfolds two pieces of paper and quickly reads them. "He gave me something for you and Elena, wanted to make sure I had the right one. Here." I see Jeremy smile on the other side of me and he nods his head towards the paper. I take it from her and open it. There are only four words but they seem to say a lot more and they leave me speechless for the rest of the walk.
I love you Dad.
Elena's POV
I watched as Damon left, left me and left our son. I had known it was bound to happen and yeah Elijah had explained everything to me but it didn't help the fact that it hurt. I called his name but he didn't acknowledge that he heard me. When I finally couldn't see him anymore I went back inside. I sat on the pile of blankets where Damon was just laying, I didn't want to let go. I didn't want to lose him. I know it's selfish but I need him. I could live without everyone else in this room; Elijah, Elliot, Christopher, I could live without them as long as I had Damon and Asher. Be honest Elena. Stop lieing to yourself. Regret, if I was being honest that was the emotion I was feeling the most. I had spent so many years in the future trying to stay away from Damon. I regretted every moment of it. I should have told him when he took me to Georgia for a five minute time out that I loved him, that I needed him, that I was so beyond happy that it was him who saved me from the vampire my car hit. I also regretted not spenind more time with Asher. He had been there for Damon and I when we needed him but we, well I was, so consumed with protecting each other and our friends that we didn't spend that much time with the boy who looked oddly a lot like the best parts of each of us. I ran my hand through my hair and fell back on the pillows.
"Elena, he'll remember. I know that..."
"Just don't Elijah. He left. No goodbye, no I love you, he just left." I get up and try to walk away.
"He's hurting too Elena. You know that. You know Damon better than anyone, and he did say goodbye. He held you until he had thought you fell asleep. He didn't want to hurt you."
I chuckle at him."Yeah, right. Damon didn't want to hurt me so he walked off to get every fucking memory of my erased. That hurts Elijah no matter how you look at it. Hell, he didn't even look back."
His grip tightens just a little on my arm. "He said something before he came in. You didn't hear it but I did. He's not a religious person but in that moment, when he knew what he had to do, he let himself have hope. He hoped that if God was real Elena that he wouldn't take you and Asher from him, not again. He knows it was selfish but he knows he needs you two so don't you say that he never looked back. He loves you and that's why he left."
"Elijah...I..."
Before I could finish my sentence I was being rushed to the wall and pinned behind Elijah. He was crouching protectively in front of me and Christopher took a spot next to him. Within just a minute the door opened and Klaus walked in. He had his hands up in surrender and he spoke not to his brother or to Christopher but to me.
"Elena. I'm sorry about a few weeks ago. I know that we don't have the most...trusting past but I'm hoping that you will give me a chance to show you something. Please, doppelicious?" He raises his eyebrows and gives me the smile that I've come to know is from the 'I'm totally in touch with my humanity and consider you a friend' Klaus, and he used his funny little nickname he had for her.
I smile and step out from behind Elijah and walk right up to him. "Doppelicious? Really Mr. humanity loving OV?"
He laughs and pulls me in for a hug and I return his friendly hug. I feel myself being yanked backwards and once again Elijah is in front of me. It hits me then that Elijah never really saw Klaus and I become friends or Klaus and Damon become friends. I put my hand on Elijah's arm and he steps to the side. I sit down and pat the seat next to me for Klaus and he sits down.
"Well sweet Elena. I have a few things for you. You see, I knew a very powerful witch and lets just say he owed me one. I turned one into three so...get ready to be really happy." He gets up and goes to the door again. "You can come in now, not that you need an invitation."
I look back and I'm floored. Jeremy, Caroline, and Bonnie all come walking through the door. I immediately jump up and hug my little brother. "Jer! Oh my God I missed you!" He returns the hug and kisses my forehead.
"Me too Lena. Me too."
I feel Caroline grab me and bust into a stream of, "Eeeeeekkk! Elena Margret Gilbert I am so going to love seeing you pregnant! We have so much to talk about but it can wait go hug Bonnie." She pushes me towards Bonnie and I wrap my arms around her.
"I missed you BonBon."
"I missed you too LeeLee." I smile as we both still use our childhood nicknames for each other.
She pulls back and hands me a folded piece of paper. I look at it and slowly unfold it. I gasp when I see what it is, a family picture. Yeah it's been put together on a computer and it's from the next century but it's still our family. Damon, Asher, Me...and we're all smiling. "Bonnie...I..." I can't voice all my thoughts. I look at Damon and me and I see the memory come back. We went to lake house after everything had happened and Damon and I were human again. We had so much fun that weekend, we got to know each other all over again. We got drunk, we played pictionary and lost horribly, we sang karaoke and we rocked the house, he threw me in the lake and I pulled him in with me, but we also fell in love with each other all over again. He took a lot of pictures on his digital camera and I know this was his favorite, it was taken on the dock at the lake the morning after we had made love for the first time when we were both human. It was...indescribable. I look at Asher's picture and I can tell that it was taken on the same dock. Bonnie or Jeremy had to have taken him there because no one else would have known exactly where to sit him to make it look like he was in the picture with us. "I love it Bonnie. Thank you."
"I know Elena. I know they are both important to you. I found him, he's safe, he's with Ric and Jenna. He can't wait to see you and Damon again."
I smile up at her and the moment is interrupted when Klaus clears his throat. "Ahem. I don't want to break up this little family moment but I do have one more thing to tell you Elena."
I sigh, "What now Klaus? You already brought my two best friends and my little brother from the future somehow because of a witch who owed you a favor what else could you possibly give me?" I raise my hands and let them fall back on my lap.
He smirks. "I didn't do it."
I look at him confused. "You didn't do what?"
He sits down next to me and puts the picture back in my hand. He puts his finger under my chin and makes me look him in the eyes. "I. Didn't. Do. It."
I think about his words and then I gasp. I stand up suddenly and I hear the door open. I turn around and Damon's here. He holds up a picture and it's the same one I have. "He didn't do it baby. He's changed. He couldn't do it."
I stare at him and I look at Klaus who stands up and kisses my forehead. "Who would I be to break up a family? I couldn't do that, not now. I do have another plan and it involves some acting but it should work and this time Damon will have his memories. Now...go hug him so we can get on with the planning and catch up talk. Chop chop doppelicious." He pushes me towards Damon and I fling myself in his arms.
We sit down and agree to hear out Klaus's plan. He basically wants Damon to act like he's been compelled to forget me. Damon needs to 'go off to the war' when really he'll be with Klaus somewhere around Mystic Falls in hiding making sure no one hurts me and Katherine doesn't find out about me before she's supposed to. He'll come back and act like he's falling completely in love with her, but this time he'll be here with me. He'll remember me and he can come to me whenever he wants too because Klaus will help him. Klaus also said that as long as Jeremy, Bonnie, and Caroline have a strong foothold here they should be able to stay for a while as long as no one sees them.
I can't help but feel a spark of hope that maybe this can work. Maybe we can change this part of the past and keep moving forward. Maybe there doesn't always have to be some big bump in the road that keeps us all from being completely happy and carefree. The talk about the plan had stopped a while ago and now we were just laughing and telling jokes. Elijah had taken a seat next to Klaus and no matter what he couldn't help smiling when he saw how his brother was with Caroline, he could see the change in Klaus just as easily as Damon and I could. Christopher and Elliot had joined us and quickly became friends with everyone. They loved hearing about the little things that Care, Bonnie, and I had done that made us smile and end up laughing like crazy. We all told funny stories about the future and the past. As I looked at everyone around me it's like for this moment we all fit together. There were no walls up and we were just us. No vampires, or witches, or hybrids, or humans, just 9 people who were friends and enjoyed being together. I was happy to see that Bonnie and Jeremy had found their way back to each other and were happy together. I was happy to see that Klaus and Caroline had been able to keep their relationship going and they too were happy. Elijah was happy that his brother had finally found someone who could love him for his good and his bad and he was happy that Klaus was acting like his brother, I know that's what he has always wanted. I knew that Christopher and Elliot were happy just because their siblings, Damon and I, were happy. I smiled and looked up at Damon and he smiled back. "I love you." I mouthed to him.
"Always, only you." He mouthed back as he ran his hand through my hair.
Bonnie then handed me a piece of paper. I opened it and my heart soared and a tear ran down my cheek.
I love you mom.
I sighed and found myself asking God for something silently. "God, if you are up there please don't let this be the end. We may not look like it but we need each other to be strong and to be happy. We are all a family even though we don't always act like it." Little did I know that this, would be one of the last carefree happy moments we'd have until the future.
