A/N: This took me forever to write, but I think it is one of my favorites for this sequel so far! It is a little dark, but it does involve Derrick.
Please let me know what you think. I thrive off of your feedback. It helps me formulate ideas and clarify things.
Also, I will be gone all next week again, so I will not be updating. I hate doing this to you all, but I need to spend time with my friends. Please forgive me and I thank you for your patience in advance!
Elena sat perfectly still as she watched Mystic Falls disappear further and further behind her. Derrick hadn't said a word to her since she had gotten in the car. "So where is my car, anyways?" Elena asked, her voice direct and forward as she tried to keep control over the situation.
Derrick smiled, but kept his eyes on the road. "In a lake" he answered smoothly. Then he smirked. "You're lucky the little brat didn't go in with it" he added.
Elena felt her heart beat against her chest more forcefully. "She's just a child" Elena reminded him, her voice cracking some.
"What's she to you anyways, Elena?" he asked. "Stefan's niece?" he questioned. "She's not even your own blood" he pointed out.
"You know what she is to me" Elena said through gritted teeth. He was starting to play a game with her. One she knew she wouldn't like.
"Here's something that I have been pondering since you called me" he said, scratching his chin. "If it came down to choosing between the two of you, who do you think Stefan would choose to save?" he asked. "You, his fake, means-to-an-end wife, or his precious little Lily?" Derrick asked, shooting a curious glance at her. Elena clenched her right hand. "I've told you before, Elena. He won't ever love you the way you want him too. No one could ever love you that much. I mean, for one, you're really not that pretty" he said, turning his attention back to the road. "You're not that great in bed either, but I'm sure he knows that by now. I'm sure he figured that out the first night you two met" he added, hinting towards her being a bit on the promiscuous side. "He can do better, Elena. And he will. He'll give up on looking for you after a while. You know, after he shows his family that he's devoted to rescuing you. Then he'll give up. And probably thank me for making it easier on him to get rid of you."
Elena felt tears prick at the back of her eyes. It wasn't true, but he was playing on her insecurities. "Stop it" Elena told him calmly. While what he said hurt, she found great pleasure in thinking about what Stefan, and Damon for that matter, would do to Derrick once they found him. It would be slow and it would be agonizing. Elena had to hold on to that.
"I'm just telling you the facts" Derrick said.
Elena decided to change the subject. "How are you even alive? Stefan saw you get killed" she pointed out somewhat defensively.
Derrick smiled. "No, no my dearest Elena. Your little Stefan saw me get shot" he corrected. "I will admit, it was a close one. Even I thought death was my fate. But, the doctors were able to revive me" he told her. "You do remember my connections on the police force, don't you?" he asked her. "My family thought I would be a lot safer if I was pronounced dead, you know, seeing as how the Salvatores are not too entirely fond of me" he pointed out. "Faking your death is easy, Elena, when so many want you dead" he concluded.
Elena glared at him in disgust. It made her physically sick to think that his family would protect him, after everything he had done. She had met them twice, his family, and she knew they would support him until the day he died, no matter what awful things he did. They had never liked Elena, anyways.
Derrick turned off of the road they were on about an hour later. He followed a dirt road for about half a mile before parking the car.
Elena looked around and saw nothing. Her heart began to pound inside her chest. Derrick was going to kill her, right there. "Where is she?" Elena asked, swallowing past the lump in her throat.
Derrick chuckled to himself. "You really think I would make it that easy for anyone to find us?" he asked. Then he pointed ahead of him. "We have about a mile walk that way" he said.
Elena looked down at the frail slip-on shoes she was wearing. The ones Stefan had made her buy three hours into their day out because she couldn't stop wincing from the cute, but not practical, heels she was wearing. And now Derrick wanted her to hike through the bushes in them. Derrick started walking off, expecting her to follow. "She's just a child" Elena called out, reminding him once again.
Derrick stopped and turned slightly to acknowledge her. "A child who would be safely tucked into her own bed had you not left me in the first place" Derrick reminded her. Elena's entire expression turned to one of guilt. "Come along, Elena. Lily is probably … dying to see you" he said with an evil grin that illuminated his eyes.
Elena reluctantly followed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Damnit!" Stefan yelled, kicking a kitchen chair. Damon entered, staring wide-eyed at his brother. "They found Elena's car in the bottom of the lake. There goes any chance of tracking them down" he said, closing is eyes and running his hands through his hair in a frustrated manner. Then, he shot his head up abruptly. "She's smart. She's a damn idiot for running off, but she's smart" Stefan said, more to himself than to his brother. "She's going to be fine. They both will" he added, his voice shaking slightly.
Damon neither agreed nor disagreed with him. He was present, physically, but not mentally by this point. He was exhausted, having spent every waking hour working with countless people to find his daughter. Having to console Katherine who was inconsolable. Having to look in on his brother who was about ready to lose it. "I have a few phone calls to make" Damon said, his voice flat and tired. As quickly as he came, he left.
Stefan sat down, his legs tiring on him. He looked at the photographs laid out on the counter before him. The ones used on the missing persons posters that were being hung up all around town and broadcasted on national TV. One of Lily, in a green shirt that made her eyes stand out. Stefan had taken that picture a month ago in his backyard. And one photo of Elena, in a burgundy sweater, taken just before she graduated. He had taken that one too. They were both smiling, at him, he thought. He would give anything to see them smiling again. Anything.
He rested his head against the cool countertop and closed his eyes, willing himself to think of a happy memory that could get him through the next painful hour.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
He heard her sneak back into their bedroom, quiet as she could be. It couldn't have been even five in the morning, judging by the lack of light filtering into the room. Stefan strained his ears to hear what she was doing. It sounded like she was closing something.
Moments later, she was slowly climbing back into bed with him, careful not to wake him. He felt her lean over and kiss his forehead before settling back down into the comforter. He smiled. He loved when she thought he was asleep, but he really wasn't. "What were you doing?" Stefan asked, his eyes still closed.
There was a brief pause. "Nothing" she said quietly, though he could hear it in her voice that she was hiding something from him. And she was excited about it too.
His fingers found the bottom of her tank top before slowly making their way under it. He felt Elena squirm just slightly. "Didn't sound like nothing" Stefan said, finally rolling over on top of her suddenly, catching her by surprise. "Are you going to tell me?" he asked, slowly dipping his head to kiss along her neck. His hands moved to her back, gently massaging her skin.
Elena closed her eyes and smiled. "Sur … surprise" she barely got out as his hands began to travel upwards, taking her tank top with them.
"Surprise, huh?" he asked, lifting her forward slightly and removing her top.
Elena knew exactly where this was headed. "Stefan, it's four in the morning" she reminded him in her half-hearted attempt to stop him. "Only vampires are up and about at this hour."
Stefan licked from a spot on her shoulder all the way back up to just behind her ear, nibbling on her sensitive skin as he went. She squirmed beneath him again, clearly being driven crazy by what he was doing to her. "So let's pretend we're vampires" he whispered into her ear. He moved his lips down along her neck and bit her a little harder than he had earlier, causing her to yelp. Not from pain, but from surprise and the overwhelming feeling that it caused that spread through her body. She wrapped her arms around his back, trailing her fingers lightly along the curves that defined each and every one of his muscles.
And then he stopped. Everything. Kissing her. Touching her. Elena looked up at him with alarm. It wasn't like Stefan to just stop in the middle of something like this. "What's wrong? She asked, letting her hands fall back to her sides.
Stefan simply smiled. "I just want to tell you how much I love you" he said, moving a strand of hair out of her eyes. "I love you, Elena" he said, this time, his voice serious as his hands held her face.
Elena reached up and held his wrists, capturing the way he was looking at her, with so much love and devotion, and storing it in her mind.
"I love you, Stefan" she said softly. "Always" she whispered, feeling the tears prick at the backs of her eyes. God, she loved him. After everything she had been through, she was able to love someone. Really, truly, be in love with someone.
Stefan grabbed her left hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her wedding ring. He looked at it and then smiled before returning his eyes to hers. "Always" he repeated. After just a short time being married to her, he was proud to say that word. Always.
An hour later, maybe two, Elena rolled away from Stefan closing her eyes and panting for breath. He laughed at her current state, though he was doing the same thing. "Let's do that again, after lunch" he said, his voice filled with amusement.
Elena smiled, finally being able to open her eyes. "Do you want to see what I have for you?" she asked, rolling over onto her side and propping herself up on her elbow.
Stefan grinned. "You mean, that mind-blowing sex we just had wasn't my surprise?" he asked, his mouth dropping open as he feigned surprise.
Elena smacked his arm playfully as she got and went to her dresser. Stefan watched her, enjoying the view very much. She grabbed a large book and made her way back to bed. "Here" she said, handing it to him.
Stefan looked at her curiously as he took the large leather bound book from her and opened it. Inside he found pictures of Lily, and some with him and Lily. There were also drawings and various artworks that Lily had given to Stefan over the years. All compiled into a scrapbook. He looked up at her in complete silence, having no idea what to say. "I was cleaning out a closet and found boxes of photos of you and Lily and all of these pictures she had made for you" she explained, feeling nervous all of a sudden because he hadn't said anything. "I just thought you might like to have them all in one place and so you could easily flip through it all" she added.
Stefan went back to looking through the book, still not saying anything. There were photos of when Lily was born, all the way up until the previous week when Lily had been over. The artwork ranged from preschool all the way until the end of the last school year, and a few pictures she had drawn for him during that summer. "This … this is amazing" he finally said, looking up at her. She seemed to sigh with relief upon hearing this. "I just …" he said, lost for words. He never thought someone would do something like this for him. Lily meant the world to him, and Elena had proven her acknowledgement of this by doing something so thoughtful. "You are amazing" he said, setting the book aside and pulling her into a hug. "I love it. Thank you." Elena smiled as she hugged him back. "What's this for? I mean, what's the occasion?" he asked, letting her go. It wasn't his birthday, or Christmas.
Elena shrugged, finding it a little sad that he thought it had to be a specific day or occasion for him to receive something that meant a lot to him. He gave her things all the time. "Just because" she answered him.
Stefan looked at her with a playfully raised eyebrow. "Just because?" he repeated.
"Just because I love you" she smiled, leaning in and kissing him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Derrick pushed open the door to a rundown old fishing cabin. He held out his arm, inviting her in. Elena carefully slid past him and inside. The inside didn't look any better than the outside. Her stomach flipped thinking about Lily having to stay in this place. Elena whipped around upon hearing Derrick close the door. "Where is she?" Elena demanded.
Derrick smiled. He walked past Elena to the back of the cabin. He kicked a rug over and pulled a door open from the floor. A set of stairs were revealed. Elena swallowed nervously. "She's down there" Derrick informed her.
Elena walked cautiously over to the opening and looked down. It was completely dark and silent. "Lily?" Elena's voice croaked. "Lily, are you down there?" she asked again. Panic set in when Lily didn't respond. "Lily!" Elena yelled.
A muffled cry filtered up through the stairs and Elena bolted down there, taking the old rickety steps three at a time until she was at the bottom. It smelled like mildew down there and Elena had to cover her nose in order to not gag. "Lily?" Elena called out, bumping into things as she searched in the dark.
"Elena?" a small voice squeaked from a corner in the back.
"Yeah, it's me Lily" Elena said, failing to keep her tears at bay any longer. Elena could make out the shadow of a small figure emerging from under an old desk. Elena ran towards her, scooping Lily up and holding her tight. "I'm here" Elena cried, holding Lily as close to her as she possibly could.
Lily cried too, clinging to Elena. "I want to go home" she sobbed, clasping Elena's jacket tightly with her small hands. "I want Daddy and Mommy and Uncle Stefan" she continued to sob.
Elena's heart continued to break, but she knew that she needed to be strong. Because being strong and smart was going to get Lily home safe. Elena got down on her knees so that she was eye level with Lily. "Listen to me" Elena said, wiping at Lily's tears. Elena lowered her voice and held Lily's face in her hands. "I'm going to make sure you get home, okay?" she told Lily. Lily nodded as she sniffled. "But for right now, I need you to stay with me and do exactly what I tell you to do, okay?" she asked. "Okay?" Elena repeated, a little more desperate this time.
"Okay" Lily cried softly.
Elena pulled Lily back into a hug, saying a silent prayer that she was still alive. "Good" Elena whispered. "Come on" she said, picking Lily's shaking body up and carefully navigating her way back towards the stairs.
When Elena emerged with Lily, Derrick was sitting in a chair facing them. He was fiddling with a small handgun. Elena glared at him. "Put that away" she ordered.
"This is just in case any of you decide to run" he stated, looking over his gun again.
"No one is going to run. Now put it away" she said firmly.
Derrick smiled and reached over to open a drawer. He placed the gun in it and shut it again. "You are feistier than I remember" he said. Then he stood and walked towards her, standing face to face with her. "Don't let it get you in trouble" he warned before going and sitting back down.
Elena quickly went into the bathroom area and shut the door. She sat Lily up on top of the old rusty sink and started the water. Lily was a mess. Her tears had left trails down her dirty face. She had dirt under her nails, her hair was messy and full of cobwebs. She was cold and pale, too. Elena put water on her hands and began to wash Lily's face the best she could. "I'm hungry Elena" Lily whimpered quietly.
"I'll find you something to eat" Elena promised. She took Lily's dirty jacket off and went to work on her hands and arms. "Did he hurt you?" Elena asked quietly.
Lily sniffled again. "He grabbed my arm real hard" she told Elena, pointing to the arm he had grabbed.
Elena forced herself to be calm. When all she really wanted to do was go out there and scream at him for doing this to Lily. "Did he touch you anywhere else?" Elena asked hesitantly. She wouldn't think Derrick would do such a thing. But then again, how well did she really know him?
Lily shook her head no. "But he calls me mean names" she said sadly. "He's a scary meanie" she added as Elena let her own hair down and used the ponytail holder on Lily's hair.
"I'm sorry he calls you mean names" Elena said, smoothing out Lily's hair.
"I hate him" Lily said sadly.
"I do too" Elena said, allowing herself to say it as well. "But I'm going to figure out how to get you out of here" she promised, helping Lily down from the sink. "I just need a little time" she added quietly.
Elena opened the bathroom door and Lily immediately reached her arms up, demanding to be picked up. Elena reached down and grabbed her, feeling Lily practically wrap her body around her. Derrick was still sitting in his chair, watching them. "Wow, you almost look pretty again" he said, directing his comment towards Lily.
Elena glared at him. "Leave her alone" she warned.
"Or what?" Derrick asked. "What are you going to do, Elena?" he said in a threatening tone.
Elena immediately backed down. She couldn't defend herself or Lily with Lily clinging so tightly onto her. "Here, stand on your own for a minute" Elena said, setting Lily down. Lily clung to Elena's leg. "She's hungry" Elena mentioned.
Derrick shrugged. "What do you expect me to do about it?" he asked.
Elena took a slow, calming breath. "You need to get her something to eat" Elena told him. "You're the one who decided to kidnap a child. Now you have to take responsibility for her" she pointed out.
Derrick stood abruptly, not liking what Elena had to say at all. "You better check yourself right now, Elena. I don't like your tone" he warned.
Elena swallowed, pulling Lily closer to her. "I'm just telling you, you have to feed her" she said, quieter this time.
"How about you just shut the hell up and stop talking?" Derrick suggested, his eyes narrowed.
"Don't talk to my Aunt Elena that way!" Lily yelled at him, her own little eyes narrowing in on his.
"And what if I don't?" he asked, taking a step towards Lily. Elena pushed Lily farther behind her, shushing her.
"Then my daddy is gonna beat you up and so will my Uncle Stefan" she told him matter of factly. Derrick looked amused now. "And then my mommy is gonna kick you in your private parts so hard that you won't be able to walk for a week!" she yelled at him. Elena didn't even want to begin to question Lily about where she had heard that. Because Elena knew that Katherine had more than likely told Lily this and had probably shown her where to kick a man to bring him down, too.
Derrick took a few more steps forward. "You listen up you little brat" he told her harshly. "If you know what's good for you, you will keep your damn mouth shut or I will take you out to the middle of the lake and drop you in it" he told her angrily.
Lily crossed her little arms and glared at him. "Do it. I can swim" she challenged him.
This only infuriated Derrick more. Before Elena knew it, he was yanking on Lily's arm, pulling her forward and raising his other hand to hit her. And before Elena knew it, she was throwing herself in front of Lily, taking the blow that would have undoubtedly knocked Lily to the ground.
Lily cried out and Derrick stepped back. Elena grabbed the side of her face, tasting blood in her mouth. She hadn't tasted blood in a while. Because Stefan didn't hit her. Stefan kissed her, and held her, and told her how beautiful she was. "Elena!" Lily cried, clinging to her again. Elena wrapped her arm around Lily and held the side of her own face with her other hand. She felt the familiar sting and knew that her face would begin to swell soon.
"That brat needs to be taught respect" Derrick growled at Elena. Then his eyes darkened. "And you apparently need to re-learn it" he added before turning and walking out the front door, letting it slam. Elena held a now sobbing Lily against her as she watched Derrick exchange a conversation with a man outside. They both looked towards the house and then Derrick disappeared.
He was having the place watched. Their chances for escaping where slim to none.