Elena, opened the creaky attic door. She could smell the dust, of days and years gone by. There was a small circular stained glass window at the end which gave off the light with a rainbow effect. The dust particles, illuminated by the color of the light streaming in, seemed to have an almost surreal heavenly look of tiny sparkly

little spirits dancing and playing in the air. It felt oddly peaceful. Elena found herself imagining how nice the space would look all clear. She had a small daydream about one day sitting up here and turning her diary into a book. A book that someday her little angel would sit up here and read. Then she would understand about both her mother and her father, and just how much she was an unexpected and improbable miracle. Then she would know why her mother called her Angel.

Many things were covered by old sheets. Each one that she unveiled felt like an unearthing of a buried treasure. Things from days gone by, as if she had just stepped back in time. Each piece was immaculate

and looked as if it belonged in a museum.

Elena never really had been a new age modern art sort of person. Even when younger when she would daydream about her perfect house, it was more colonial style. With big white columns and white wrap around porch on each story. Lacy table cloths, and lace valances, with shuttered windows. Rocking chairs on the porch, and a large 16 place settings ,dinning-room table.

Elena was in fact an old fashion type of girl, with Tarra from Gone with the wind being her ideal dream home. Elegant ballrooms and long southern style "belle of the ball" dresses. Which was probably why she had, had so much fun when Mrs Ulma made her and her friends the beautiful gowns in The Dark Dimension. It was like playing dress up when she was a kid, only better. Of course this was her secret which she had hid well in high school, always looking the part of an "in-style" modern "Fells Church girl". You didn't make cheerleader squad without being popular and looking the part.

Her mind drifted back the night of Bloddeuwedd's party. Dancing in Damon's arms. For that moment only the two of them had existed. No Stefan, no Bonnie. Just them. The more she thought of it the more she realized, that if not for the other stuff going on, she had actually enjoyed being in the Dark Dimension with Damon. "How odd" she thought to herself. When she took a moment and thought of the happiest times of her life, so many of them seem to involve Damon, and even odder yet the time she spent with him in The Dark Dimension.

There she had felt strong and capable. Solving clues like some great detective. Standing up to demons, and sometimes people who seemed even worse than a demon. She had met so many

different types of beings, yet for some odd reason, she had felt part of it all there. Not like an outsider, but more like someone important that was capable of making changes to effect many for the good.

Now the thought of being a cheerleader seemed outright funny. Her life before all that, is now what seemed like pretend, and shallow.

Oddly enough she found herself wanting to go back, and see her friends, See Mrs. Ulma, and her family, and Lakshmi. Be in the house with them...and him.

Of course back then she hadn't known the truth about him, it was before he fell for Bonnie. She knew in some ways she had deserved it. After all, when Damon was pouring out his heart to her, all she had cared about was saving Stefan. She had wanted them both, or well at least she had enjoyed knowing Damon had wanted her. Like a toy that the only time the child cares about it, is when another child wants to play with it. There was something so dangerous about him, that she couldn't trust him.

Well, that wasn't the whole truth. The truth was she couldn't trust herself around him. She felt like a different person alone with him. One where anything could happen at anytime. She felt alive. It wasn't the bracelets or even the word slave that she fought against, it was the fact that around him she did become a slave. A slave to her own body, who answered only to him, and he mastered so easily. How could anyone feel secure like that?

How many times in his arms had she forgotten her mission? How many times had Stefan's suffering not even been a distant memory as she floated on a cloud embraced in his arms, unable to have a coherent thought unless he allowed it? Deep down inside she knew that had she not seen Stefan, that last time in prison and seen that he would have been dead within three days, she would of dragged out his rescuing to enjoy as much time with Damon as possible.

When they had come home, it was not the happy home coming she had dreamt up in her mind.

It should have been perfect, it should have been a day of celebrating, a huge relief, and the beginning of their life together. However she had felt none of those things. Of course she couldn't admit that to anybody. Instead she felt like a person who had just been on a wonderful vacation, and now it was over and they had to return to the daily grind. She was glad they had rescued Stefan, he was in terrible condition when they had returned home. She was truly thankful for his recovery, but he was different some how. She couldn't put her finger on it, but his suffering had changed him. The real problem was she was different now too.

To complicate things even more there was Marcus. Of course none of that was her fault, but hadn't she learned to enjoy his touch. Learn... might not be the appropriate word. How many times had her body arched up pressing itself harder to his fingers, and touch?

"Oh Lord Elena what the hell are you doing thinking about this"? She audibly scolded herself, as she felt her body reacting to even the mere thought of him. How about the time, he threw you up against the wall, pressing himself on you while sneering at you. What about all the threats? You were his prisoner nothing more. "Yes," he may of shown you some gentleness, but what would he of done to you if you had disobeyed him? Towards the end he was never even home." Elena was embarrassed to admit to herself she had started looking forward to when he would come home, and his company, and she had started feeling rejected when he stopped coming to their..His bed.

Just like Damon, after he had gotten what he wanted he moved on to the thrill of a new toy.

"Damn Bonnie!"

She wasn't sure why she had started this walk down memory lane, but knew it was an emotionally unhealthy place for her to be, and set her mind back to the task at hand, the adventure of finding the treasures buried within the attic.

Once she had pulled off all the covering sheets, which included a sneezing fit, she beheld the sights surrounding her. The furnishings were grand, with each piece of furniture having rich carvings, and engravings. They were breath taking. She ran her hand over them wondering which ones Damon himself had done. She caressed them with her fingers, as if caressing the man himself.

She had spotted the bassinet, Stefan had told her about. It was remarkable how much similarity

there was in the one which Markus had bought. They must have been made in the same time period she told herself, as the explanation for it. Although the one Markus had gotten had a couple more details like the fact that it could rock whereas this one was stationary. The quality

of the fine engravings however was the same. Elena was thrilled by this, as she had been truly impressed by the ones Markus had gotten.

She noticed there were some things towards the back of the room still covered, which she assumed were paintings and made her way back there and uncovered them. Her heart stopped as before her was a full length portrait of Damon. Standing tall and proud in his Confederate uniform. So handsome and gallant looking. Yet she could see in his eyes which had been perfectly captured by the artist, a certain innocence. A look of hope and promise of things to come. This was the naive human Damon.

Elena, completely transfixed could feel the tears rolling down her checks, but no sound escaped her. Damon in all his glory, was the way she wanted their daughter to know her father. She couldn't believe this had been stuck up here, as a forgotten memory to fade away. Then she realized why. Obviously it couldn't be displayed down stairs or in one of the halls, as it would give away just how old the Damon that had been living here just a little over a year ago had been.

A year. So much can change in just a year. Elena tore her eyes away from the portrait, as she could bare to look at it no longer, and looked at the next. It was a picture of the boys with their father. Giuseppe was holding a baby Stefan on his lap with six year old Damon knelt at his feet.

Damon's hair oddly was a dirty blonde, more of a sandy brownish color. She would of never guessed that.

Although she had known plenty of kids who were born blondes, and had their hair darken over time. Even her own hair was not the platinum it had been when she was little. She looked back at the full length portrait and now noticed his hair was more a warm dark brown then, not the black she was so use to. His eyes were a warm chocolate, and looked so inviting. While he undoubtedly was still a picture of perfection with his chiseled GQ looks, like a model right out of a magazine, or a leading man, he looked human. Elena had never wondered before how becoming a vampire may of changed him. He wore vampire so well it just seemed he had always been that. Yet before her was the proof that was not the case.

It was obvious even back then he must have put every girls heart to a flutter, and he was still beautiful, it missed the coldness and sharpness he later became. Without the midnight eyes and black hair he didn't look as dangerous, more inviting. Although who knows maybe that made him more dangerous. As a vampire he had a look of danger to him. You were immediately filled with lust and knew you should avoid him if you had the power to, but this guy, seemed to welcome you to his arms. You would go peacefully without any hint of " not a good idea". She looked back at the boy Damon, and noticed his eyes were cast down. He looked sad, almost rejected. She had seen this before, and racked her mind to remember where. As if a light-bulb went off in her head, she remembered the boy chained to a rock. It was him. She couldn't help herself as she reached out and touched his face, even now wanting to comfort him. However she couldn't, it had no life anymore.

She cast her eyes away unable to look anymore.

It was then that she caught the glint of something, low on the floor. She bent down to reach what was shoved back under a desk. To her amazement it was a Kitsune ball. "What on earth would one of these be doing up here"?

Just as she was putting it up to her head she herd the front door and Bonnie and Stefan's voice.

She quickly put the ball back in place, vowing to return and find out what was in it, and existed the attic. She returned to her room, deciding she wouldn't mention the Kitsune ball to Stefan that was obviously hidden away for a reason.

When Stefan entered the room, he took one look at her and asked "what have you been up to, you are covered in dirt?" "Oh I went to the attic to see about that bassinet." Elena answered.

"You silly girl, I'll take care of that, you could of fallen or anything and I wouldn't of been Been here to help you. Heaven knows what all is up there, it hasn't been opened in years." He told her.

Elena agreed with him secretly knowing she would return first chance she got. Someone had been there recently was evident by the ball.