Greetings everyone! I hope you all are having a super awesome day. I very much enjoyed writing this next chapter, so I hope you enjoy reading it. Comments are welcome here. Thanks for being awesome.

Damon's POV

It has been four days since we got back from Memphis. Cadence is going back to work today so I am home with the kids. Stefan is planning to go back home in a couple days, but Elena is unsure of what her next move is. I am trying to get my wife back to her normal peppy routine. She is quiet and has been going out alone a lot, but I am being patient.

"Daddy?"

"What's the matter baby?"

"Why mommy so sad?"

I bend down to be level with her eyes. "Mommy has been through a lot, but she will be happy soon. I promise." I notice a tear run down her cheek, so I wipe it away with my thumb and wrap my arms around her. I hold her until the sniffling stops and then Cadence comes down the stairs.

"I'm going to work," she says bluntly, kisses Rose on the head and starts for the door.

"Will I see you for dinner?"

"Nah, I gotta work late tonight, so don't wait up." I hear the car start and then the sound of the motor disappearing down the road.

I put Rose and Ashton in their highchairs with cheerios and their Sippy cups filled with blood. After I get showered and dressed, I sit at the kitchen table and think back to what Imari said; I have a feeling that something is up. It isn't uncommon to learn or see things on the other side. Ever since she was brought back to life, she has been distant, emotionless, and impassive. She won't talk about the attack or about the other side at all. She barely talks to the kids or me. I thought it was shock at first, but now I am at loss. I know that I need to know what is going on, except that I am not sure what I will find out.

She has a ninety minute lunch break every day at 11:30. I have put off confronting her for longer than I intended, so I pull out my phone to make a quick phone call.

"Elena?"

"Damon? What's up?" she asks curiously.

"I need you to watch Rose and Ashton for a little bit. I'd take them to daycare or get a sitter, but they are not vampires with super strength."

"Sure, do you want me to come over now?"

"Yes."

She hesitates a little. "Can I ask you why."

I swallow hard, "I need to know why my wife is acting like I'm a stranger. She won't touch me, she is barely talking to me."

"Ok, I'll be there in a few."

I make a fresh pot of coffee and tidy up the house a little bit. As I am straightening pillows I realize something; I don't straighten pillows. I don't tidy up the house for anybody but my wife. I sit on the couch to keep my head from spinning. I finally understand everything. It isn't uncommon to learn or see things on the other side.

I kissed Elena and Cadence knew it. She worked hard to help me get over her, but I go and kiss her once, destroying all that effort. Elena is my weakness, and I had relapsed.

A knock at the door disrupts my thinking.

"Hi Damon," Elena says as I let her in the house.

"Hi," I answer, but get right to the point, "I have already locked up, so no worries there. They can eat whatever if they want, but have them split a blood bag at lunch. I don't know what time I'll be back, but it should be pretty soon. Help yourself to anything in the house."

"Ok, no problem. Go do what you need to do."

"Thank you." I rest my hand on her shoulder, but leave before she can say anything.

It is 11 o'clock by the time I reach the hospital. I head straight for the elevator and the fourth floor where Cadence works. I walk over to the waiting room, but see Cadence through the window of her office. I stare at her for a moment until she spots me. I take a deep breath and open the door.

"Hi," I say calmly as I make my way to the chair across from her desk.

"Hi. Did you need something?"

"I know you know." I blurt the words out without answering her question.

"Know what?" she asks, but I can hear the edge in her voice.

"You know exactly what. You have been avoiding me and I've been walking around eggshells with you. We both know why."

She purses her lips together, "I am aware that you are aware…I just want to hear you say it."

I can tell she is hurting, but I speak anyways. "I kissed her."

"Who?" she raises her tone of voice.

"Elena. I kissed Elena."

She leans back in her chair and nods her head. I notice the glazed over look in her eyes.

"Please. Talk to me," I beg.

"I didn't just see you kiss. I went back in time and saw you two together in 2012. I saw how you looked at her, how you interacted with her. I felt how you feel when she says your name. I thought you had gotten over her, but you hadn't. I just buried your feelings for her with myself, our kids, money, a flashy city, a new life. When she showed up at the park, I figured that seeing her would be good for you, but it just brought those old feelings to light."

"I'm sorry. It just happened. I am so sorry."

"I know," she whispers, "I also know you love me, but it took me a hundred years to distract you from your own emotions to get you to fall for me. How do you expect me to do that again for the second time?"

I don't have an answer, so I close my eyes and stare at the floor.

"Look at me," she says calmly, "it was only a matter of time."

"I love you," I cry.

"I love you too, but my mom used to tell me that we have many loves, but only one is perfect and we both know I'm not yours." Her voice is full of compassion and understanding, which almost makes it harder for me to face her. For the first time since I walked through that door a tear falls down her face and clings to her smooth skin. She starts to rearrange the papers on her desk, so I take it as a cue to leave. I exit the building and head to my car.

Two weeks ago I was simply making macaroni & cheese for our kids while Cadence drank a cocktail and smacked my ass every time she passed by the stove. We had a picture perfect life. It was simple and pretentious, but I guess that is just it. I'm not simple. I am a complicated guy in a trouble-free life and something about that doesn't quite fit.