(No) Silent Night (Damon)
Our first Christmas together, by Celtic Thunder
"Don't mind the snow that's falling,
The carol singers calling,
I'm just happy
To be spending our first Christmas
Together.
And I'll be more than jolly
With the mistletoe and holly
Tonight as we are counting down to Christmas
Together.
Just you and me."
When Elena reported that Dr. Fell had come because Helen had a bleeding, it had scared the shit out of me. I was more than relieved when I found out that everything was fine. The shock had hit home and I would've loved to pack her up in cotton wool from now on. I was fully aware of the possible complications in this house. Three vampires and a bleeding human... if Elena hadn't mastered her thirst - unthinkable. Helen had recognized the situation and I knew she would be able to fight back with magic, but the whole incident had shown the complexity of us living together. The tension had scratched at her composure, but I had managed to calm her down. We had to discuss our future, no question, but I wanted to do it after Christmas. Now she stood before me, begged kittenish with her cornflower- blue eyes and gave me a hard time saying no. "But you won't climb the ladder, promise," I insisted. "I promise," she whispered and gave me a kiss. Within a short time, we three had decorated the tree and the dozens of boxes and cartons stowed away again - thanks to vampire speed and with Helen's help. Helen hung the last bauble on the tree and then stepped back to examine it. "Very nice," she whispered. I looked at her from behind as I entered the room again. Her outline was still slender, with the exception of her waist around which the child nestled. Amazing what a human body can endure, I thought to myself.
I wrapped my arms around her middle and pulled her softly close to me. „And what do we do now?" I whispered and tried to nibble on her earlobe. „I will make a phone call," she said. Puzzled I let her go and looked at her. „To talk with my mother. Only John knows that I'm here," she added. I frowned. „That was pretty risky, don't you think?" I replied. She shrugged. „I didn't want to fight with my mother about you," she said. „Why this?" She squirmed a bit. „Well, you could say she's not at all delighted that I'm in love with a vampire and…" She stopped explaining when Elena came back. „Anyway, I'll go upstairs. Oh, and Damon? You should really talk to her," she added quietly, pointing her thumb toward Elena who gave her a puzzled look while she headed upstairs. „Where did Stefan go?" I asked. „He's picking up Caroline and Tyler at Liz' place," she replied. „And, what is it I should talk about with you?" I pressed, crossing my arms. Hesitantly, she came a little closer. „I didn't dare mention it up to now, but… When I met Helen in Baton Rouge, she showed me your diary to convince me…," she whispered and looked to her feet. So that's where the wind blows from, I thought. „And?" I replied neutrally. She took a deep breath. „I just wanted to apologize for hurting you so much," she added quietly and gave me a pleading glance.
My jaw almost hit the floor. „And you come up with this now?" I asked incredulously. „After two years?" Embarassed she ran her fingers through her hair. „I know it's late, but…," she started. „Damn late, Elena!" I snapped. „But I don't care, because I don't love you anymore," I stated coldly. She looked at me with a shocked expression. „But… you…," she stuttered. Impatiently I shook my head. „What did you expect? You left me to die alone!" I hissed. „I loved you so much, Elena, I would've done anything, really anything for you and you knew it, but you destroyed me," I added bitterly. The pain was still there, a rather numbed version of it, but it still stung. Her eyes filled with tears and her lower lip started to quiver. „Does that mean… you'll never forgive me?" she breathed sadly. I scrutinized her. The pain on her face was the mirror image oft he pain I had carried with me until I had met Helen. I sighed audibly and approached her. „Oh, Elena, is it really that important for you?" I asked softly. She nodded and a tear rolled down her right cheek. Her guilt touched me and she was short of crying. I didn't want that. Maybe it was time to wipe the slate clean between us. Frowning, I cupped her cheek and wiped her tear away with my thumb. „Hush now," I whispered and wrapped her into my embrace. „It's all forgiven," I added quietly and tightened my hold. She inhaled deeply and tried to suppress a sob. „Thank you," she whispered and buried her face at my chest while I caressed her hair and closed my eyes. Inwardly, I felt a big lump dissolving in my chest.
"What the hell is that?" a familiar voice sounded from the door and yanked us out of our reverie. Elena was about to disentangle herself hastily from me, but I held her back. "Don't, everything's fine," I whispered and smiled at her before I slowly let her go. She relaxed and bravely returned the smile. "Nothing is fine! What are you doing with Elena?" Caroline hissed. I turned slowly to face her. "That 's none of your damn business, Barbie," I growled. "I would say, caught in the act!" she replied triumphantly. "What? Nonsense, Caroline! Damon only comforted me," Elena replied unnerved. "Oh really? You expect me to believe this?" Stefan and Tyler entered the hallway. "What can't you believe, Care?" Stefan asked, still clueless. She rolled her eyes. "That Damon held Elena only to comfort her," she spat. "But I believe it," Stefan replied. "Since when do you take Damon's side?" Blondie asked aghast. Stefan put down the bag and stood in front of Caroline. "With some interruptions, actually always," my brother replied and crossed his arms. I hadn't expected this statement from him, and I felt almost uncomfortable. She looked at him in astonishment. "Care, I believe it's enough now," Tyler said softly.
"What's all the noise?" I heard Helen's voice from the stairs. All eyes turned to her, but she proceeded unimpressed and came to me. She put an arm around Elena's shoulder. "Everything alright?" she asked softly. Elena nodded with a smile. "Great," Helen said relaxed and smiled back. She wrapped her arms around my waist and kissed me. "Thank you," she whispered. I kissed her tenderly and ignored everyone's attention. ,I love you' I mouthed as I let her go again. For the first time, Caroline Forbes was speechless. "May I introduce you to my girlfriend - Helen Corey," I said, putting an arm around Helen. Helen gave me a brief glance of surprise, but then she relaxed again. I smirked and wasn't aware I'd done anything wrong. After all, it was true. Blondie seemed to be frozen in speechlessness, only Tyler responded perfectly. "Pleased to meet you, Helen, I'm Tyler Lockwood, Caroline's boyfriend," he said and shook Helen 's hand. "The pleasure is all mine, Tyler," Helen replied with a smile. "And this is Caroline Forbes, my - probably - best friend," Elena said with a raised eyebrow in the direction of Caroline. Helen held out her hand. "Nice to meet you, Caroline," she said and took a step towards Blondie, who blinked stunned, but quickly recovered again. "Um, yeah... nice to meet you, Helen. Will you stay some time?" she asked. Helen glanced at me. "Maybe," she replied before looking at Caroline again. Her response sparked joyous shivers in me. Inwardly, I rubbed my hands that Caroline was so thrown off track. Not that I hated her, but she was somehow gnawingly self-righteous which got on my nerves.
Stefan defused the situation. "Care, Tyler, why don't you come upstairs with me, I'll show you the renovated guest rooms," he said and grabbed a travel bag. "I'll join you," Elena said and threw me a grateful look. I just nodded to her. Caroline watched us, hesitated for a second and then followed Tyler and Stefan with a grim look. Poor Elena, I thought, she'll probably never hear the end of it. Helen took my hand and pulled me towards the living room. "Tell me, is she always that bitchy?" Helen asked me with a frown. I just grinned. "Caroline Forbes is, shall we say, sometimes a little difficult," I retorted. I knew that Care could hear me upstairs. Helen rolled her eyes. "Well, that'll be fun," she grumbled, plopping down on the couch. "Oh, come on, darling, you won't judge your own cousin just from that, would you?" I joked and poured me a glass of bourbon. She snorted. "I'm not sure if I should be happy about such a relation," Helen grumbled. I sat down beside her and put an arm around her. "I can understand she doesn't like you because you've treated her badly back then, but what the hell was that with Elena? She behaved as if she was her supervisor," she said grudgingly. I took a big gulp. "Elena's closeness to me it has always been a thorn in her side. Just let it be, Helen, I'm used to that," I said.
With my super-hearing I could follow the discussions on the first floor. Caroline was obviously abuzz about the fact that I had a mortal at my side. "What do you mean, he loves her? And since when does Damon play with pregnant women? That's disgusting!" She worked herself up. Inwardly, I began to boil. "Caroline Forbes, either you keep your mouth shut or you can leave again. Damon is back and has his pregnant girlfriend with him, basta!" Wow, Stefan puts his foot down, I thought, raising an eyebrow. "What do they say?" Helen asked. I grinned at her. "You've noticed it?" She shrugged. "It isn't really difficult to read on your face," she said and looked at me questioningly. "Barbie accuses me that I would abuse you. Stefan is about to throw her out," I replied. "What?" Helen's eyes flashed angrily. "No matter what she has experienced with me in the past, I would never do something like this," I said bitterly and took a big gulp of bourbon. "That's not fair," Helen muttered before standing up. "Where are you going?" I asked. "Upstairs, to end it," she said and ran for the stairs before I could stop her. "Helen, wait!" I called and rushed after her. "It's not worth it," I said and she turned around on the stair. "You're saying you aren't worth to fight for?" she asked. She had seen through me. "No, I meant you shouldn't upset yourself like this, it's not good for you," I answered, holding her by the arm. She stopped and searched my face. Then she shook her head and sat down on a step. "You're worth every effort, Damon Salvatore," she sighed. "She has only met your worst side, but that's not how you are anymore. Why can't she see it?" Helen shook her head again and I sat down next to her. "I can still be bad, darling, if I have a reason," I replied and brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"Let's talk about something else, Helen. It's Christmas, finally," I tried to distract her. She smiled a little. "Oh, you mean the thing with the pregnant woman stranded in the last hostel?" She winked at me. "Only that our baby won't come into the world tonight," I replied and kissed her. "You said it again," she whispered, placing a hand on her belly. "What?" I replied softly. "Our baby," she replied, and I put my hand on hers. "It is our child, yours and mine. That's the true miracle," I said softly and kissed her cheek. She smiled. "You're such a sweet-talker, Damon." I pulled her to me. "Licorice is after all, a medicinal herb," I whispered. "Then I beg you, oh wise healer, what name will you give your son?" she replied with a mischievous smile. Surprised, I looked at her. "You want me to... ?" She just nodded joyfully. "And if it's a girl?" I asked breathlessly. "Then we'll just have to decide anew," she just said. "I think about it," I promised and stood up. "Where are you going?" she asked. I pulled her up and led her down with me. "I'll get your jacket. If we can't have peace here, we'll go somewhere else to celebrate," I said, taking Helen's jacket from the cloak rack. "Where to?" she prodded curiously. "To Mystic Falls' best because only bar, the Grill." I felt like celebrating tonight.