Gravity

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

THERE IS A GRAVITY TRAILER!

They've done it again! Ele ( noralsel) and Caro ( _LightToMyDark) have created another beautiful trailer and I am the lucky one to have it be Gravity. So when you get a moment, go search for it on YouTube I promise you will not be disappointed!

Second, I want to apologise for how long it has taken me to finish this chapter and post it. I can give you a million reasons but I suppose none of it really matters so I won't offend you all with excuses and will just let you get on to the reading part. Hope you like it…

(Side note, we're going to see a little bit of this from Klaus's POV, it's been a while!)

July 11th 2017

Tuesday 4.30pm

Mystic Falls

My hands tremor as I pick up my cold glass of water from the bar. The speeches were over by the time I composed myself and walked back inside leaving Damon alone.

I smile slightly when I see Jenna and Alaric dancing happily on the dance floor, crowds of their friends surrounding them looking like they don't have a single care in the world.

I jump slightly when I feel a hand press against my arm; I turn to see Caroline who has a smile on her face as she motions down to my glass.

"Good to know that I'm not the only one stuck to water tonight."

I chuckle softly and nudge her playfully with my hip. "My reason differs massively to yours." I wink at her and she lets out a loud sigh.

"Tell me about it, what I would give right now to just go on an adventure without a care in the world."

I scoff slightly. "If only it were that simple." Her face changes to a slightly sympathetic one but I immediately feel bad for brushing off her problem…her literally growing problem. "Sorry, how are you anyway? I feel like I've barely seen you lately."

"Well that may have something to do with me literally running out of town." She smirks slightly and I join her, not missing the irony that I'm basically about to go and do the same thing. "Honestly, it's getting kind of boring up at Whitmore all by myself."

"So come home." I tell her encouragingly.

"You know that it's not as easy as that. I still haven't told my Mom, Stefan and I are arguing loads…it's just better if I stay away."

"No it's not. Your friends are here, your family are here. You need to tell your parents, Caroline, especially your Mom. You know that she will support you."

"She hates Stefan. I think she would even prefer the baby to belong to Klaus over Stefan." She bemoans almost dramatically. "Who speaking of, by the way, hasn't stopped sending me puppy dog looks all day!" She scoffs in annoyance but personally I think she is secretly flattered.

True to her word, my eyes scan the area and I see Klaus standing with his older brother Finn while trying to discreetly look our way.

"I think he still likes you." I tease playfully but Caroline does not see the funny side.

"No. No way, that is done, done-zo."

"You sure?" I raise my eyebrow at her curiously.

"Yes Elena, very sure."

"Does a certain fair haired green eyed Salvatore have something to do with that?" I nudge her again and she groans loudly.

"I'm not the one who goes after Salvatore boys." She tries to turn this back on me but she doesn't stand a chance.

"Urm, says the girl who is pregnant by one?" I lower my voice so to avoid lingering ears.

She glares at me in announce. "Silly mistake. It doesn't mean that I want to date the guy."

"So there are no feelings there, whatsoever?" I question her, somewhat seriously now.

Caroline stays silent for a long moment. "It doesn't matter anymore, Elena, there is now something more important to me than my love life."

I blink at her surprised because this is the first time I have heard Caroline speak about the baby without any kind of annoyance or inconvenience.

"Things with Stefan are complicated, very complicated." Caroline continues. "I don't even know if I trust him completely. I believe him when he tells me he wants to be here for the baby but anything outside of that is currently in the red zone for now."

"Maybe you need to be single for a bit? You're right; you have more important things to worry about now."

Caroline nods slowly before looking at me with a sneaky smile. "Maybe you should take your own advice."

I tut and let out a loud sigh. "Not the same thing."

Caroline smiles in immediate surrender before scanning the room. "Where is he anyway?"

My stomach clenches with nerves as I have also realized that Damon never returned to the room. "Probably running miles away from me and my proposition as he can get."

Caroline sends me a sympathizing glance. "Maybe he'll surprise you."

"No." I shake my head, a bad feeling suddenly hitting my gut. "He is probably giving me a wide birth and to be honest I don't blame him."

I look down at my warming glass of water suddenly wishing that it was something so much stronger.

Caroline presses her hand against my arm soothingly, a comforting smile on her face.

"There's still time, Elena. You've waited this long, don't give up now."

I let out a shaky breath and nod firmly, hoping that things will work out for the best this time.

"What are you doing sulking out here when there is a free bar inside?"

I spot Damon leaning against a wooden fence at the end of the property, a cigarette hanging from his lips.

"I thought you'd given up that thing?" I try to take the cigarette from Damon's lips but he slams my hand away.

"I need it." He grunts out, his eyes glazing out across the front parking lot. "Weddings stress me out."

"Hmm." I pull a face. "Weddings or Elena?"

He immediately scowls. "Oh come on, everyone in that room who even knows a snippet of your past together knows that her speech was directed at you. You're swift exit followed by her chasing you didn't exactly help prove them wrong."

I watch as he gulps, taking a drag from his cigarette before stubbing it out on the ground. "She asked me to leave town with her."

I have to admit that I'm shocked by this admission. "She did?"

"Yup." Damon looks tense, and now I understand why. "Pretty much gave me an ultimatum."

I whistle, somewhat impressed. "Wow."

Damon doesn't say anything but I can see the worry in his face and the wheels turning in his head. "Are you going to go?"

He scowls. "No."

"Oh come on." I scoff in annoyance at his stubbornness.

"I ended things for a reason, Klaus. Our problems don't change just because Elena has decided she doesn't want to stay in Mystic Falls."

"You need this, Damon. You both need this."

"But what happens when we get back?" He asks me harshly. "She'll go back to Whitmore and we'll be right back to where we started."

"You know it won't be like that if you go on this trip with her. Things will be like they were before but better, you won't have to hide and you sure as hell won't have to run. Don't you see it, Damon? You have everything you have ever wanted standing in front of you and your stupid ass now doubts that it's worth it?"

"If it were as simple as me getting in her car and driving off into the sunset together don't you think I would do that?" Damon replies in annoyance. "It's not that simple, Klaus. So much has happened, stuff you don't even know about. I love Elena, I will always love Elena but that doesn't mean that I'm good for her."

"You need to give yourself more credit. You make Elena happy, she loves you. She's tried to move on and it didn't work, she came back to you. You'd be a fool to let that kind of love go again. You're lucky, Damon. I let someone go who I love and now it's too late." I swallow slightly as a flash of blonde hair and blue eyes cross my mind before I push it away again. "It's not too late for you. So why don't you do the right thing for once and go get your girl."

"What did Damon have to say for himself?"

I smirk when Caroline approaches me, not even bothering to hide the fact that she's been watching us.

"Not one to beat around the bush, are you Miss Forbes?" I grin at her and my smile only widens at the look of frustration that crosses her face at my response.

"Clearly not, so why don't you actually answer my question?" She demands me harshly.

I suck in an exaggerated breath and raise my eyebrows. "Why would I do that?"

"You know why." She hisses through gritted teeth but I just look at her in fake blankness. She groans in frustration. "Elena is my best friend."

"I'm very much aware of this, darling." I smile at her growing annoyance. "Damon is mine."

"Which is why you will probably be the only person to know how he is truly feeling, right?" She pushes me for some information but unfortunately for her she is barking up the wrong tree.

I laugh, this time it's not even in a teasing way. "You clearly don't know Damon. If anyone knows how he's really feeling, it's most likely Elena, not me."

"Well Elena doesn't know how he is feeling, which is why I'm asking you." I go to reply but she just throws up her arms in frustration. "Do you know what? Forget it! I knew it was a bad idea approaching you."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." I reach out and grab her arm before she storms away from me. "Calm down princess, clearly your hormones are in full gear tonight."

Her face turns red with rage. "Don't you dare blame this on my hormones! You have absolutely no idea what I am going through right now, never mind how I am feeling, pregnancy hormones included or not!"

"Hey," I hold up my hands defensively. "I never said I did know, I mean…you sure as hell made sure of that."

I watch as a flicker of guilt crosses her features but it doesn't last long. Stubborn Caroline is back and she sets me a challenging stare. "I didn't think you cared."

"Of course I care," I respond honestly. "I care about you, Caroline. I always will care about you." Her strong stance weakens somewhat and I take a tiny step towards her. "How have you been?"

"Fine."

"Caroline…"

She lets out a loud sigh. "Fine. I'm exhausted and I'm so fed up of morning sickness which FYI, isn't just in the mornings." She pulls a disgusted face before continuing. "All I want to do is have a strong alcoholic drink but I can't. I still haven't told my Mom and I'm bored and sick to death of hiding away at Whitmore alone this summer but there is nothing else I can do. If I go home, my Mom will know something is up and I'm still not brave enough to tell her yet. Plus, I need to be at Whitmore to study if I want to try and get as many credits as I can next semester before I have to take a year out to give birth to this thing. Not to mention I'll need to get a job to pay for it."

I smile slightly but part of me is worried she is putting herself under too much unnecessary stress.

"How exactly is Stefan helping you in all of this?"

I see her defense rise immediately.

"I knew this would all go back to Stefan!"

"Whoa," again I have to defend myself. "I'm not attacking Stefan, just asking you a simple question."

"Well don't." She snaps coldly and I sigh loudly.

"Fine."

"Fine." She repeats.

I shake my head, somewhat dejectedly. "Do you love him?"

I watch as her expression changes immediately, she opens and closes her mouth and with each second that passes by I realize what her true answer will be.

"It doesn't matter." I speak again before she can eventually respond. "Stefan may or may not be your current love," I take another step closer. "But either way, I intend to be your last." I watch as her face to changes to one of shock and I smile softly. "Congratulations, Caroline." My eyes dip down briefly to her stomach before I look back in to her soft blue eyes.

I take step back and walk away before she can even find the words to say anything else.

"Elena, right?"

I jump slightly as I feel a hand press against the small of my back and I turn around at the unfamiliar voice to see a light haired man staring at me with a smile.

I smile politely and I think he senses my confusion as he chuckles softly and holds out his hand.

"Sorry, my name is Dale. I'm one of Ric's cousins."

"Oh right," I smile again in recognition and shake his hand. I notice he holds on for a second longer than usual but my hand falls back to my side and I don't think anything else of it. "It's nice to meet you, Dale. Are you enjoying the wedding?" I question him casually.

He nods while grinning. "I sure am. You know you can count on Ric to provide good liquor and open bar." He winks at me and holds up his glass and I laugh softly.

"It's probably the only part of the wedding Ric actually arranged." I smirk and we both share a laugh.

"Probably," He smirks back before glancing down to my glass. "Will you let me buy you something stronger than water?" His hand not so discreetly brushes against my arm and stays there.

I raise my eyebrow and go to answer but someone beats me too it."

"She's fine, thanks."

Suddenly the room temperature doubles and my heart starts pounding furiously against my chest as Damon appears out of nowhere at my other side.

Ric's cousin doesn't falter, nor does his hand fall from my arm. "I believe I was asking Elena, not you?" He challenges Damon.

Damon chuckles but it's cold. I swallow hard, my cheeks no doubt a shade of red as I awkwardly step away from Dale so his hand gracelessly falls from my arm.

"I'm just sparing you the inevitable rejection buddy, now move along." His fake smile is still there but the warning is clear not only in his voice but his ice blue eyes too.

Dale stares Damon out for only a few seconds but some sense knocks in to him. He clears his throat, looks back at me. "Maybe I'll catch you later for a dance?" He tries again.

Damon practically growls behind me and Dale's quickly scurries away before I can even answer. I swallow hard and slowly turn around to face Damon who then turns away to order a glass of bourbon.

I wait expectantly as he thanks the bartender and takes a sip from the glass before looking back at me.

"What?" He asks me innocently and I look at him in disbelief.

"Are you serious?"

Damon pulls a face, "Is that a trick question?" He questions me simply.

My mouth opens and then closes again, completely stumped at what to say.

I watch like an idiot as Damon takes another sip from his bourbon. "What?" He asks me again, this time there is a slight edge to his voice as he shifts to a somewhat defensive stance. "Were you seriously going to accept a drink from that loser?"

I raise my eyebrow at him challengingly. "So what if I was?"

He scoffs and shakes his head.

"Why would you care?" I continue.

"Don't play this game with me, Elena." He steps towards me. "It doesn't work."

I shake my head in annoyance and turn away, my eyes falling across the room to where Ric and Jenna are dancing without a single care in the world.

My eyes start burning and my heart clenches when I realize that I may never have that. I may never be able to dance up there with the love of my life in front of all my friends and family who are so happy for me.

I wipe away a single fallen tear as I watch the pure unapologetic loving looks they are sending each other. I bite on my lip as Ric playfully dips her down before pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

"Dance with me."

My heart stops.

I turn to look at Damon speechless, he has an odd look on his face but he offers me a small soft smile before holding out his hand.

I nod silently and let me hand land in his, my heart rate speeding up as his fingers loop through my own before he leads me on to the dance floor.

I close my eyes as his arm wraps around my waist and he tugs me close against him. We start to sway to the music, as Adele's All I Ask starts to play. Many couples who on the outside look just like us pile on to the dance floor. I open my eyes to see Ric and Jenna, heads pressed together, soft smiles on the faces and I smile.

I listen to the lyrics as I get lost in the feeling of being in Damon's arms again. His hand grips my waist as his other clutches my hand.

My eyes flutter open when his lips brush against my temple and I pull back just an inch to look at him.

There's something in his eyes, something that is so familiar and yet I can't quite work it out.

"You look beautiful by the way," he smiles softly and squeezes my hand. "Absolutely stunning."

"Thank you," I whisper, somewhat embarrassingly. My cheeks flush as he stares at me long and hard. I fight a tiny smile. "You don't look too bad yourself."

He smirks for the briefest of moments. "Thank you." His smirk falls and then he is looking at me again.

The lyrics of All I Ask are hitting me in the face and I think Damon realizes it too.

I swallow hard and my eyes start to water when I realize I know where I know that look from.

It's the same look I saw his eyes on that dark night in Portland all those years ago.

It's goodbye.

My lip wavers but only for a second before I snatch my hand out of his strong grip.

"Elena…"

I shake my head silently and when he tries to grab a hold of my hand again I pull away.

"Don't." My voice cracks and I hate myself for it. "Just don't." I take another step back, my eyes blurred due to unshed tears. "Goodbye Damon." I turn on my heel and push through the crowded dance floor without looking back.

I should have known.

I don't think I have ever felt pain like this before.

I let a sob fall from my lips as I leave the main hall area, I ignore the surprised turned looks of concern from various staff members and guests who are outside of the room and push open the door outside.

"Elena!"

I ignore the voice calling my name.

"Elena, sweetheart, please wait!"

"Leave me alone, Mom."

"Sweetheart, please." She grabs my arm to stop me from going any further. "Oh Elena," I see the heartbreak on her face as she takes in my broken appearance. Her arms wrap around me tightly and I can't help but sink in to her, my face landing in the crook of her neck as a roll of sobs escape me.

"I love him, Mom." I stutter out between cries. "It hurts, it hurts so much."

"I know, I know, honey." She runs her hand up and down my back soothingly. "It'll be okay, it'll all be okay."

"No it won't!" I pull back, another cry falling from my lips. "It won't be okay, Mom! How can it be okay? I can't live without him and he doesn't want to live with me. How can I do this again? I can't do this again." Another sob falls from my lips and I feel sick.

I feel like my life is about to crumble around me all over again.

"You're strong, Elena." I shake my head and I'm shocked when my Mom grabs my face between her hands and makes me look at her. "Listen to me, you are strong. You have pulled yourself up from a situation far worse than this. Against all odds you turned your life around, you finished school when no one thought you would, you went to college when everyone, including myself, believed it would be a lost cause. You did that, Elena, because you have strength inside of you that many women, hell men too, admire and wish they had."

"I can't live without him, Mom."

"Yes you can." She cuts me off sternly. "You can live without him, Elena. You love Damon, but Damon does not define you, do you hear me? No one defines you but you."

I shake my head, her hands sliding from my cheeks. "I don't feel very strong right now, Mom." My voice cracks and my eyes are stinging with the remaining tears that are still fighting to fall.

"I know sweetie," she smiles sympathetically. "But you are. Come on," she wipes some tears from my eyes. "Let me take you home."

I nod with a somewhat pathetic sniffle, my Mom smiles softly at me and starts to walk towards the family car which is parked across the lot when suddenly my feet stop working.

"No."

My Mom pauses and turns around, a look of surprise on her face. "Elena?"

"I'm not going home." I let out a shaky breath before continuing. "I told myself that I would leave town tonight, with or without Damon. And despite the fact I truly hoped that it would be with him, the fact of the matter is, I still need to leave regardless."

"Elena that's not true."

"I can't stay here, Mom. I can't stay in this town and see his face every day knowing that he doesn't want to be with me. I can't stay in this town with people who judge me, who still see me as a silly teenage girl who ran away with her boyfriend. I'm not saying that I'm going to stay away forever, Mystic Falls is my home, it will always be my home, but as for right now…I can't be here."

I expect my Mom to react angrily, or at least be upset. Her previous comments about my plans to leave haven't exactly been positive, which is why I'm stunned to see a smile cross her face.

"I told you baby girl," she grins almost proudly. "You're strong."

I feel bad for leaving without saying goodbye to the bride and groom but despite my sudden burst of resilience, I still can't face going back in there.

I send a text to Caroline to let her know and ask her to tell Jenna for me, somehow I feel like a text to the bride on her wedding day would be somewhat insulting.

I'll call her when she's back from her honeymoon.

I take a deep breath as I close the trunk of my car, making sure that my quick checks of important essentials were all there.

"Elena."

I freeze.

My hand stills on the trunk of my car and my heart starts to pound against my chest.

"Elena…"

I slowly turn around to see Damon standing just a few feet away from me. I swallow hard but stay silent as he takes two steps closer.

He looks at my car for a moment before looking back at me.

Time seems to stand still.

It takes another few moments before he eventually speaks.

"I'm sorry Elena, but I won't be getting in that car with you."

My heart sinks all over again. Why would he come out here just to repeat what I already know? Does he want to me punish me that much?

I was trying to expect the worst when he first called my name, but nothing could prepare me for the pure heartache that one sentence has just hit me with. I try to pretend that I'm okay, he's already seen me cry one too many times today.

I blink back the tears and nod slowly. "It's okay, Damon." My voice somehow doesn't break. "I understand." I whisper.

Damon tilts his head to the side and looks at me with a bemused look on his face. "Why are you so upset?"

I blink in shock, not quite believing he has just had the nerve to ask me that. My jaw literally drops at his unapologetic stance. Is he serious?

He takes another step closer.

"I said that I wouldn't be getting in your car, not that I wouldn't be coming with you."

My heart stops.

I watch in what feels like slow motion as his lips tilt up in to a smile.

My ears are ringing.

My heart starts to pound uncontrollably.

"Wh-what?"

"Do you really think I would let my poor Camaro miss out again on the chance to drive cross country?" He smirks and I can't help but just gawk at him in complete shock. "No way in hell, Gilbert. Come on, grab your things."

I don't move.

I feel like a fish out of water.

Damon's smirk doesn't leave is face.

"Stop looking at me like I'm an idiot. I fucking love you. Now you either need to hurry up and kiss me or I'm going to have to come over there myself."

Again I don't move.

"Fine, have it your way."

Next thing I know Damon is in front of me, his hands gripping my face as his lips crash against mine.

It doesn't take me long to respond and my arms wrap around him tightly grasping on to him for dear life as I deepen the kiss, our tongues brushing against each others hungrily.

My fingers slide into his hair and even though it really hasn't been that long since his lips last brushed against mine, it feels like it's been a thousand years.

"Shit," Damon breaks away from me breathlessly; one of his hands falls to my waist while the other brushes some of my hair from my face softly.

I look at him confused, frazzled, breathless.

"I'm way over the drink drive limit." He breathes against me and I smile in relief. Part of me was terrified he was about to change his mind.

I slide my hand in to his front pocket and he lets out a pleasurable moan as my fingers brush slowly against him before I eventually find what I'm looking for.

I pull out his precious keys with a wide naughty smile.

"Looks like I'm going to have to drive!" I press my lips against his quickly before stepping backwards out of his grasp.

Damon blinks in shock before suddenly realizing what is about to happen.

"Nah uh-" He shakes his head and tries to take the keys back from me but I keep walking backwards, my feet moving faster and faster as he follows me. "No way in hell, Gilbert!"

"Looks like you're going to have to meet me in hell then, Salvatore." I turn on my heel and run away and giggle loudly as Damon chases after me.

He catches me quickly, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind in a bear hug before swinging me around and pressing his lips against mine in a slow passionate kiss. I get lost in it immediately, his keys pathetically dropping to the floor behind us as my fingers get tangled up in his soft locks.

When he pulls away his smile takes my breath away and I feel like I'm in a dream.

My heart is bursting with love and I don't want this feeling to ever stop.

"Hell, Heaven…Denver, California…Vegas…Portland. It doesn't matter where you go baby, I will always be right behind you."

Ahh! We are nearing the end, very soon! Thanks for reading, and sorry again for the delay. I hope you enjoyed this one.

Until next time!