Gravity

Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from The Vampire Diaries.

AN: Can I just confess (it's probably so obvious by now anyway) that I absolutely know nothing about law, never mind US law so everything you read below is not at all factual (that I know of) and is all complete fiction. Thank you!

March 8th 2017

Wednesday 10.30am

Mystic Falls

"What's taking so long?" I ask impatiently as I hover around the prison car park. I let out a nervous breath of air. Damon was supposed to be meeting with an emergency parole board at 9 o clock this morning. It's now over an hour later and still nothing.

Apparently because murder wasn't the only crime he was charged with, it's not as simple as him just getting released. A bunch of strangers need to decide whether or not he is no longer a threat to the public and then it needs a judge's approval.

I mean come on, hasn't he suffered enough?

"I'm sure there's a lot of paperwork he needs to go through." Klaus replies as he lights up a cigarette beside me. His eyes are covered by sunglasses as he casually leans back against the car.

Damon's Camaro, to be precise. I figured he would appreciate it if he saw his baby again.

I glance at Klaus and nod slowly, hopefully. Klaus insisted on coming with me to the prison. When Grayson called me first thing this morning to say that there was a chance Damon could be released today, I was on my way out before he even ended the call.

Klaus was waiting for me in the driveway. Apparently Elena had called him with the news. I'm also guessing it was Alaric who informed her.

Not that she has bothered to show up.

It's probably for the best.

"I still can't believe it was Will who did it." Klaus mutters in disbelief. "I mean for one I didn't think he had it in him."

"Yeah well sometimes people surprise you." I mutter.

"Like you," he turns to face me, a serious look on his face and I raise my eyebrow at him curiously – waiting for an explanation.

"Me? What?"

"You surprised me. All of these years you've been working with Detective Gilbert – I had no idea. I honestly believed you had given up on trying to find a way out for him and that you were too busy partying it up in college to worry about Damon."

"Brothers don't give up." I reply firmly.

"And what about Zach?"

I tense immediately. "He's been arrested for conspiracy to murder. That's all I know." I reply honestly. My Dad was furious when he found out what happened. He was waiting for me at the station before I even got back from Will's. Apparently news traveled fast. He didn't believe it at first, he insisted that although Zach wasn't exactly perfect, he would never do that do his own family, no matter how betrayed he might have felt.

I told him that Zach was more than capable of doing such a thing. We argued for most of the night once we got home. Eventually he calmed down and he came to find me to apologize.

He would be here right now if it wasn't for the fact Damon hadn't let him see him at all since he was arrested.

"What a bastard." Klaus mutters angrily. "I can't believe all this time he was behind it all. I would be impressed if I didn't think it was so evil."

"Tell me about it." I squint as the sun glowers down onto me. It's actually quite a hot day for March.

I hear the sound of a beeping and a gate opening and I sit up straight. My heart starts to pound as I see a figure being escorted out through the gate.

"Damon!" my smile widens as he strolls out in a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants, a tiny see through bag is in one arm. "Holy shit! I can't believe this is happening!"

We meet half way and I don't care – I hug him tightly.

"Man am I glad to see you, little brother." He pulls back with his signature smirk. "I hear I owe you a drink or one hundred."

"Try ten thousand." I tease, slapping his shoulder. "Oh man, it's so good to see you out here."

He nods slowly, a small smile on his lips before looking over my shoulder. "What's up buddy!" he grins at Klaus who chuckles as he approaches him.

I watch as they hug briefly, albeit a little awkwardly. "Check you out, Salvatore, you've bulked up!" Klaus teases with a smirk on his lips but he's right. Damon is definitely a lot more built than I remember.

"Figured I would take advantage of the free gym." He shrugs casually before I see his eyes widen. "My car!" he darts towards it, his hands reaching out and pressing against it. "Oh man, I've missed this rusty old thing." He grins before scowling and turning to face me. "You son of a bitch drove this here without my permission?"

"Hey! I just got you out of a life sentence you ungrateful bastard." I smirk and Damon laughs and nods slowly, his smile fading.

"Seriously though, Stefan, thank you. My lawyer told me what happened, how it was you who went in and got Will's confession."

"I didn't do it alone." I reluctantly confess. "Detective Gilbert did most of the hard work."

He frowns, a look of surprise on his face. "I thought my lawyer was joking at first. Fuck, there's a shocker." He shakes his head in disbelief. "I didn't think he would ever help me."

"Don't get too sappy, he still hates your ass." I smirk, lightening the mood.

Damon laughs again and oh man is it good to see. Throughout the years on the rare occasion he allowed me to go visit him he could barely muster up a smile, never mind a laugh.

"Come on then," he turns to face us both. "Which one of you is going to buy me a beer?"

I wait anxiously in my Dad's office at work. He didn't come last night because he had far too much work to do with Will's arrest for murder, Zach's arrest for many other things apparently, and of course…the fact that Damon should be getting exonerated.

I haven't slept. How could I possible sleep? I never thought this day would come. I stopped believing. I gave up.

I hold back the tears. I should have done more to help. I should never have stopped looking. I shouldn't have listened to everyone around me telling me to let it go. I shouldn't have listened to my father when he told me that there was absolutely nothing I could do.

I feel like a failure. I feel like I've failed Damon.

I jump up to my feet when the door opens and my Dad sighs loudly when he sees me. He looks tired, he looks like hasn't slept in weeks. Maybe he hasn't.

Maybe I don't care.

"Well?"

"Well what?" he closes the door behind me and I try my best to keep my anger in check.

"When were you going to tell me you were working on Damon's case? That you've been working on it for the entire time!"

He blinks slowly but remains calm. "I didn't want you to be disappointed if nothing came from it." He explains as he walks around his desk. I follow him with my eyes, my body turning in his direction.

"Disappoint me?!" I look at him in disbelief. "But you can lie to me instead? You told me to move on! You told me that there was nothing to look for, that there was nothing I could do to help Damon! You made me believe that it was useless!" I feel the tears fall from my eyes and I groan in frustration. I don't want to cry.

I want to be strong.

"Look I'm sorry that I lied to you, Elena, but I did it for you. I didn't want you to put your life on hold for something that may never have happened."

"But it did happen!" I snarl at him through gritted teeth. "It has happened!" I run my hand through my hair. "You lied to me yesterday! You promised me that what had happened with Stefan and Zach had nothing to do with Damon! You lied right to my face!"

"I did it to protect you!" he defends himself and my blood boils.

"No!" I scream back at him, watching as he leans back in shock at my outburst. "I am so sick and tired of people using that line! Lying to protect someone doesn't make it okay! It doesn't make what you did any better! I don't need protecting! I can look after myself!"

"You're just a kid, Elena! You're my little girl; I don't want you involved in that world!"

"Well I was involved! I was very much involved! And I'm not a kid! I grew up a long time ago! You need to learn that you don't need to protect me because I am more than capable of protecting myself." I hiss at him before letting out a shaky breath trying to calm down.

"Elena, please, let's not do this right now. I haven't slept in two days and I'm exhausted."

"Fine," I hold my hands up in defense. "But just so you know, we are not okay." I tell him seriously, ignoring the guilt from the look of pain and hurt that flashes across his face. "I want to thank you for what you've done," I continue sincerely, my voice shaking. "Thank you for freeing him, thank you for not giving up…but…we are not okay. I don't think we ever will be after this." I whisper before turning on my heel and leaving his office.

"Oh man, I have missed this." I swallow the small sip of bourbon, trying to savour the taste. We stopped at a random bar not far from the prison. I needed a drink. I needed it. I'll just stick to the one, I want to be the one who drives my Camaro back to Mystic Falls.

This feels surreal. Just being out here…with Stefan and Klaus…being able to walk around whenever I want without an explanation, being able to just get up and walk to the bar to order a drink.

I don't quite believe this is even happening.

"Well, there's plenty more where that came from." Klaus smirks as he reaches across his own glass. I tap it against his and smirk, taking another sip.

"Look at us," I grin at my brother. "Ordering our own drinks at the bar without a fake ID."

He shrugs happily. "You know, we should celebrate your 21st – it's a big deal."

"I'm 22." I point out, ignoring the jab in my chest of how much time I have missed. How much I have missed out on.

"I know but you never got to celebrate. You never got to celebrate my 21st either. We should go to Vegas or something."

I can tell he's had one too many beers already.

I let out a dry laugh. "Sure, why not? I'll just use my imaginary money and we can take Klaus' imaginary private jet?"

I miss out the part of telling him that I've already been to Vegas. A vision of happy sparkling dark eyes flashes through my mind.

Klaus laughs but Stefan's not impressed. "You can sue you know…now that you've been exonerated. You can sue for false imprisonment. I heard people get thousands, millions even."

I scoff and shake my head. "I pleaded guilty – I won't stand a chance." I reply. "Besides, I just want this all to be over with. I'm ready to just…forget about it all and move on with my life." We all fall quiet; my mind briefly wanders back to prison life.

It wasn't exactly a walk in the park.

I look up at them both and they both look awkward. I immediately know why. "Neither of you have mentioned her yet."

They shift uncomfortably on their seats. "Who?" Stefan tries to act innocent.

"Who do you think?" I challenge him before looking at Klaus expectantly. "Is she okay?"

He nods. "Yeah she is."

My shoulders sink in relief. "Is she happy?" I ask again.

"Yes."

"Good." I answer. I try to push back all other thoughts, all other questions. "That's all I care about."

Elena's health and happiness is what's more important. Everything else can wait.

I text Klaus to ask him what's going on, it's getting late now. Alaric already confirmed to me that Damon was released this morning. He heard it from my Dad, whose calls and texts I have been avoiding since our argument earlier on today in his office.

Damon has to be back in Mystic Falls by now.

I don't know what to do.

I can't get him out of my mind.

I'm freaking out.

I pace anxiously up and down my bedroom with my phone clutched tightly in my hands. Klaus still hasn't replied.

I can't just sit around here and do nothing.

I grab my jacket and bolt from the house, luckily my Mom is already in bed and my Dad is still at the station dealing with all the Zach stuff.

Honestly, I don't care what happens to Zach – I hope the bastard rots in hell.

I wander the dark streets. It's a little chilly, complete contrast to the warm weather we had while the sun was out. I feel sick with nerves. I ignore all my calls from Caroline and Bonnie, clearly they have found out about what has happened but I can't deal with them right now.

I have a couple of missed calls and unanswered texts from Liam too but I can't even bring myself to look at them.

I can't get Damon out of my mind.

Where is he? How is he? Is he a different person? Has prison changed him? I hope not. I hope he's okay. I hope he's healthy.

I keep on walking, and before I realize it I'm walking up the old dirt road towards the town border. I blink shocked because I don't even remember the walk here.

My phone beeps. It's from Klaus.

I quickly fiddle with my phone, my shaking hands making it much harder to use. I open up the text.

Sorry love, phone died.
We've been back in Mystic Falls for an hour or so.
Damon crashing at my place but has currently gone AWOL.
Text you with update tomorrow.

AWOL?

What does that mean? How the hell can he go AWOL?

A pit of worry hits my stomach and I go to turn back around to head back into town, it's kind of creepy out here at night, but the sight of car lights in the distance stops me.

I don't know why but I have this feeling inside of me that is telling me that I need to go check it out.

So I keep walking up the dark muddy road towards the border, ignoring the nervous pit in my stomach that is telling me that this is a bad idea. It's late and it's dark and there is no one else around to hear my scream for help-

I gasp, coming to a halt.

There sit's a silhouette, completely still, on the hood of his Camaro with a bottle of bourbon in his hands. I would recognize him anywhere.

"Damon," his name falls from my lips shakily. I see him freeze, the bottle stopping mid-air in his hands.

I stand frozen, and Damon doesn't move either. My heart is pounding furiously and painfully against my chest. I cannot believe this is happening.

I have dreamed of this moment for what feels like forever. I have conjured lots of different scenarios in my mind of how this would happen but now that it's actually happening I have no idea what to do.

I'm frozen still. I feel like I can't breathe.

I don't know what to do.

That's until he speaks. "Elena?" he slowly slides off his car onto his feet.

Before I know it, I'm running towards him like my life depends on it. My body crashes against his roughly, not all at elegant, and a sob falls from my lips as I cling to his body tightly.

His arms slowly come to wrap around me.

Oh god.

I never thought I would be in his arms again.

The feeling is surreal. This whole moment is surreal. I feel like I am having an out of body experience.

I start to cry like I have never cried before.

I cling to him tightly, my face dug into his shoulder. My legs are tangled in his, one arm wrapped around his shoulder, the other around his waist.

I continue to cry. I keep crying. I don't think I will ever be able to stop.

"Hey," he whispers into my ear and a shiver runs up my spine. He's here. He's really here. "Elena," he slowly tilts back to look at me and I'm shocked to see his blue eyes staring back at me. They are filled with tears but unlike mine, they don't fall.

"Elena," a small smile grows onto his lips. He slowly brushes my hair from his face. "What are you doing out here in the middle of the night all on your own, hmm?" he questions softly like it hasn't been three and a half years since we last saw each other.

A shaky breath escapes my lips and my hand reaches back and slaps him across the face.

Hard.

"Oy!" Damon whines in pain, his hand immediately landing on his cheek. He looks at me in disbelief but before he can say anything else my other hand reaches back and slaps him again across his other cheek.

"Jesus Christ, Elena!" he gasps but a small laugh falls from his lips. "That is not the welcome home I was expecting." He smirks amused.

I groan in frustration because my body is reeling with mixed feelings. I stare at him in complete disbelief before throwing myself into his arms again.

He chuckles softly into my ear and holds me tight.

I finally feel safe.

"I've missed you too." He whispers softly and I start to cry again.

Damon is the one who eventually pulls away first. He smiles at me softly before silently turning off his car engine and grabbing his bourbon.

"Come on," he nods his head at me in a motion to follow and I silently do. We trudge through the woods without question before it brings out into a small alcove.

Damon sighs loudly and sits down, taking another swig from his bourbon. He passes it to me and I take it from him silently as I cautiously sit down onto the muddy grass.

Damon doesn't seem to care much; he leans back on his hands and looks up at the stars peeking out between the trees.

I don't know how I expected our reunion to go but it wasn't like this. It's quiet. So quiet and yet I can't bring myself to speak first.

I feel nervous.

I stare at him, unflinchingly, but I don't even think Damon notices. He is too busy looking up at the stars. He seems different. I know it's an odd observance to make considering we haven't even had a proper conversation yet, but his entire stance seems different.

I can't explain it.

He looks a little different too, a little older. His hair is shorter but he looks like he hasn't shaved in weeks.

It surprisingly suits him.

He looks bulkier too; his arms are more muscular than I remembered. I lick my lips slowly before looking away with a blush.

Now is not the time to think about that.

"You know," Damon's voice breaking the tense silence makes me jump. "I never thought I would miss this."

I wait for him to continue. He still doesn't look at me.

"Just being able to sit outside in the dark and look up at the night sky. I didn't think I would miss stars, you know? Or the moon. It's been nearly four years since I last saw the moon." He lets out a dry laugh. "I suppose people don't think about that when to they go to prison, huh?"

"Are you okay, Damon?" I ask him softly. I want to take his hand in mine; I want to feel his touch. I want to comfort him but he is sitting too far away. He is sitting just out of reach.

"Yeah," he smiles slightly but it's different. It's unfamiliar. "I'm just taking this all in, it's kind of surreal, you know?" he turns to face me finally and my breath hitches in my throat.

I don't know how long it's going to take me to get used to him looking at me like that again.

My heart is beating fast as he doesn't break my gaze. "How have you been?" he smirks slightly.

I swallow the lump in my throat. "Good." I reply honestly. "I'm at college now." His smile widens.

"Do you enjoy it?"

"Yeah." I admit, feeling guilty to tell him. Another image flashes through my head, reminding me of something else and now I feel sick.

How the hell am I supposed to tell him about Liam?

I swallow the lump again in my throat. We have so much to talk about. So much to discuss. I have so many questions. Why did he plead guilty? Why wouldn't he let me see him? Why did he return my letters without reading them?

I have so many questions.

But first…I need to do this properly. I can't lie to him, I can't keep things from him. I never had been able too.

"I've been seeing someone." The words blurt out of my lips suddenly and Damon looks slightly taken aback.

"Oh." His eyebrows crease slightly and I feel like I'm about to throw up. "Okay."

I let out a shaky breath, my hands are trembling. "His name is Liam. I uh…it's still…it's been about six months or so…I met him in college…"

He stays silent. I try to work out what he's feeling but his face gives nothing away. "Do you love him?" the question falls from his lips and I stutter.

"I…" I blink once, twice, three times. Holy hell. I feel like I want to curl into a ball and die. "I care about him." The words fall from my lips automatically. My brain can't function. My heart is hurting. I think back to the night Liam told me he loved me, I think back to the moment I told him I loved him back.

I look at Damon right now in this moment and I realize how unfair this all is.

He smiles slightly, sadly, seemingly noticing my unwillingness to answer the question.

How can I answer the question when I no longer know the answer?

"I didn't think I would ever see you again." My voice cracks. "I admit it, okay? I admit I gave up on you and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Damon." Tears fall down my face. "If I had known…"

"It doesn't matter." He shakes his head sadly.

"It does matter."

"I wanted this life for you. What could I have given you from a prison cell, huh? That would have been no life for you and you deserved better."

"You didn't even give it a chance." I hit back, the fire back in my belly. "I tried everything for you to see me but you refused. I tried for two years to prove your innocence but it was all just disappointment and dead ends. I had to move on. I was going insane. I had too." My voice is breaking again. I need him to understand. I need him to believe me.

I need to convince myself just as much as him.

"You don't need to defend yourself, Elena. I understand."

"No!" I practically cry out. "You don't get to understand! You need to be mad, Damon! You need to be angry! You need to be hurt! Please stop being so calm and understanding!"

"I'm sorry." He offers. "I'm sorry that this isn't the reaction that you wanted. What do you want me to say, Elena? That I like the idea of you being with another man? I don't. I don't like it but what can I do? I left you. I was the one who turned myself in, I was the one who gave up first. I didn't ask you to wait for me and you didn't. What else can I say?"

He seems so eerily defeated. The old Damon would have been furious. He would have been hurt. He would have lashed out and said some horrible things and we would have probably spent hours in a screaming match.

That is what I expected when I told him about Liam.

Instead he just seems so…exhausted.

"You're different." I state simply.

He actually looks a little surprised by my statement. It's probably the most he has given away this whole night.

He takes a long swig from his bourbon and stares right at me. "Prison changes people." He takes another swig too. "But you're different too." He comments and I probably look just as surprised as he does.

"So where do we go from here?" I ask quietly.

"I don't know, Elena." He sighs and runs his hand down his face tiredly.

"Can we just…can we just stay here and pretend like everything's okay?" I ask quietly, shyly. A nervous pit rests in my stomach as I wait for his reply.

He smiles slightly, holding out his arm. I smile back and shuffle closer to him. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and I lean my head against against his own shoulder slowly. He carefully lowers us backwards so we are both laying on our backs looking up at the stars.

We lie here for hours without speaking a word to each other. I sigh contently, my hand landing on his chest.

I have so many questions that I need answers too. I'm sure Damon does too. We have so much to discuss, so much to talk about.

Explanations are needed and I really need to evaluate my life on where to go next. My feelings are all over the place. I feel like an emotional wreck but it can all wait until the morning.

Tonight belongs to us.

"I've missed you, Elena." He whispers softly, his lips pressing briefly against my forehead.

"I've missed you too, Damon."

Thanks for reading :)

There's plenty more DE angst to come - they both need some answers and explanations. It won't be easy!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to review the last chapter, I know I say it every time but it really is appreciated.

Until next time!