This is a long one. Hope you enjoy it! Couldn't cut much out since some of it comes into play in the next coming chapters.
Dear Diary,
Over these last few months I have found myself desperately wanting this modeling career to get off the ground but just when I think I have a break Connor just seems more and more disappointed with me and there is nothing I can do.
I've had a few more auditions some successful but they don't pay that much. My mom still isn't too keen on the idea of me pursuing this modeling gig and finds Connor a bad influence. In the last few months my mother and I have fought more then we have ever and there have been days where we don't talk at all. She doesn't know Connor like I do and I know that one of these days all the hard work I am putting into this modeling is going to pay off. I just wish my mom and friends would see that.
Bonnie
"Nationalism is like patriotism and when people identify with their county and show extreme love for ones country. For homework I want you to read about how Nationalism played a part during World War I. " Alaric said a loud to his class as he walked in between the row of desks as the students took notes or pretended. For the most part he knew that they were all just trying to wait out the final minutes until lunchtime. "And I hope you all find the time this weekend to finish reading the chapter since there will be a test Monday" this statement got groans from everyone in the class. Elena and Bonnie shared looks of disappointment beside each other. There went their free homework weekend.
As the bell rang to end class everyone slowly collected their belongs as they left the class and giving Mr. Saltzman a look of disgust on their way out of the class. "And here I thought we were going to get to slack off on our last week before Christmas break" Bonnie said with a sigh.
"Well I'll have to find time to study on the road since Claire and I are going down to visit Damon tonight." Elena explained.
"You bought your bus tickets?" Bonnie asked.
"Yep, and we got a hotel for the weekend since their isn't really room in the dorm for me and a baby with Damon and his roommate" Elena told her. "Damon is making some pretty good money bartending so the trip is paid for.
"And your okay with him bartending? I mean bars aren't exactly the place where future mother Theresa's hangout" Bonnie stated her discreetly but Elena read in between the lines.
Elena rolled her eyes at her friend who seem to be insinuating that Damon was maybe having a little fun on the side with some of the girls while serving them drinks. "Look I know what you're getting at but Damon wouldn't do that," Elena stated.
"Elena there is a reason guys like Damon make good money bartending," Bonnie told her.
"Bonnie I'm not naive I know bartenders make more money when they flirt with their customers but there is a line and I trust and know Damon won't cross it" Elena told her.
"I'm just saying you should be careful," Bonnie told her, "My sister…"
"Okay you need to stop with the he did this and that to my sister because that was a long time ago. I'm choosing to trust Damon so I think you should respect that and not be waiting and hoping for a chance to say I told you so" Elena told her as she was getting really fed up with Bonnie's hate for Damon especially when she hardy ever sees him.
"I'm not waiting to say I told you so" Bonnie defended.
"Then lets just drop it" Elena told her as the two stood in the school hallway by Elena's locker. "I'm tired of defending Damon when he has done nothing wrong."
"Nothing wrong? Elena you're a teenage mother because of him" Bonnie scoffed.
Elena slammed her locker shut and let out a frustrated sigh, "Maybe you should pay attention in health class Bonnie it takes two. Would it make you feel better if I dumped Damon and not only was teenage mother but a single mother and Claire being brought up in a broken home?" Elena snapped before leaving her friend standing there speechless while she head for the cafeteria.
Bonnie watched her friend as she stormed off and felt a little bad for the things she had said. Of course she was just trying to look out for her friend but maybe always reminding her of Damon's past wasn't the best way to help. She was very bias about him because of everything her sister had told her about him but obviously Damon had changed if Elena was still with him.
With a sigh Bonnie was about to head towards the cafeteria when she suddenly saw Connor standing near the school entrance. Looking quickly around the hall she made her way over to him and once he saw she was coming towards him he stepped outside. "Hey what's going on?" she asked him.
"There is a gig, and you could be exactly what they are looking for. The audition is in a few months in Atlanta," Connor told her with excitement.
Bonnie's face lit up in excitement at the news and found herself speechless at the chance to go to Atlanta!
Connor smiled as her excitement and then continued by pulling out a bathing suit ad that was dated for the following year out of a plastic bag. "Here is a idea of what it is but the only thing is they only have one swimsuit size that you are going to need to fit into" Connor told her.
"Okay, what size?"
"Size 00" he told her flat out, "And you will have to lose the weight fast" he told her.
"I'm a size 4, how am I suppose to loose enough weight in such a short period of time?" Bonnie asked as she slowly saw her dream drifting away.
"That is what I am here for," he told her with a smile. "I can help you and the way to look at it is that it is only temporary," he told her as he reached into his bag that had the swimsuit ad and pulled out a small bottle of pills and what looked like breakfast bars. "This is a quick fix, these pills will help keep down your appetite and when you are hungry I want you to eat these instead" he told her.
"This can't be healthy" Bonnie told him, as she was a little unsure about his solutions.
"Well all you have to keep in mind is that it is only for a little while for the chance to be in this ad that will make you $5,000.00" he told her and he watched as Bonnie became speechless again. "Like anything you have to suffer a bit to get a lot so the question is are you invested in this and want to be taken seriously?" he asked her.
There was a lot that Bonnie could do with $5,000 as she looked at the diet pills and breakfast bar and then the swimsuit ad. It would only be for a couple months and then afterwards she would she could go back to normal. "Okay I'll do it" Bonnie told him, and Connor gave his client a huge smile as he handed her the bag or diet pills and special breakfast bars for her to eat.
Caroline sat on the leather couch and all she could hear was the ticking clock on the wall. The bright room had a somewhat welcoming feel to it with bookcases filled with books, plants in the corners, that seem to make the room feel a little more alive, or that was the attempt.
Sitting across from her lawyer; a very patient Elijah with a pen and pad of paper in his hand. He looked at Caroline as she sat there quietly trying so hard not to make eye contact with him. Finally Caroline couldn't take the silence anymore and looked at her lawyer. "I really don't see the point in going over all of this" Caroline blurted out in frustration from all the silence.
"It will make it easier when it is brought up in trial" he told her. "Your father's lawyers are going to be asking these questions and its good to be prepared," he told her as he sat back in his chair and adjusted his suit.
"I'm sorry" Caroline mumbled, as she knew he was right but still didn't like the fact she would have to go over everything from her childhood.
"Look why don't we take a break, we can try again after the holidays, if you want you can have a female ask you the questions, maybe you'll open up a bit more" he suggested as he shut Caroline's file and set it aside.
"Yeah, maybe" Caroline said with a nod and then got up from her seat. "Thank you" she told him and as Elijah gave her a slight smile she left the room in a hurry wanting to do anything that would get her father and the trial out of her mind.
Leaving the room she was pulling on her coat as Klaus came walking down the hallway probably heading to see his brother. "Caroline!" he said with a smile and with a little spring in his step when he saw her and quickened his pace to meet up with her.
"Oh hi Klaus" she said to him trying to force a smile.
"You okay?" he asked her seeing how distracted she seemed.
"Yeah just not a really good day" she told him and then started to walk towards the exit while Klaus decided to follow her.
"I'm sorry to hear that, would you like to accompany me for some coffee" he asked her politely.
"I should really be getting back to school," Caroline told him honestly.
"You've already missed the morning, what is the big deal missing the afternoon? Besides you seem upset and I'm not sure you would be able to concentrate there anyway. We can go somewhere and talk about anything you like?" he told her
"Yeah okay" she agreed since he was right she wouldn't be able to focus on school today anyhow.
Just then Elijah came into the hallway and glared at his brother while Caroline had her back to him "Good I'm meet you outside" Klaus told her and watched her leave before winking at his brother.
"I thought I told you to back off!" Elijah whispered once Caroline was out of sight.
"I took it under advisement" he told his brother with a smile and then turned around and started to walk out the door Caroline did, "And I decided not too!" He added with a smirk while Elijah glared at his brother and shook his head not wanting Klaus to take advantage of Caroline.
As Elena arrived in the cafeteria with her lunch tray she still hadn't really cooled down from her argument with Bonnie and Stefan took notice. As Elena sat across from him she set her tray down with a little more force then necessary and Stefan peaked his head over his laptop too see that she wasn't in such a great mood.
"Tough morning?" he asked her.
"You could say that" Elena mumbled as she stabbed her salad with her fork. "Bonnie was being her unsupportive self about Damon. She still can't seem to get it through her head that she doesn't get a vote, nobody does, plus now there is a history test I have to study for, " she snapped.
"Sorry, I know you were looking forward to just getting away this weekend and forgetting about school" Stefan stated.
"Guess that would be asking for too much, for just a relaxing weekend with Damon and Claire" Elena stated with a sigh. "So how are things with Rebekah going?"
Stefan smiled and nodded his head, "Good we have found time talk on the phone every couple days but with the holidays coming up it might be harder. She isn't quite sure where she is going to be for Christmas."
"Sorry," Elena said as she saw how sad Stefan was by this news, "Though I heard Caroline saying Klaus wasn't going to England for Christmas this year so who knows what they are doing."
"Rebekah said there has been a year or two where their parents didn't see them at Christmas at all because they were working so maybe this is one of those years." Stefan explained.
"Not being able to spend the holidays with your family on Christmas is so sad, especially in the Mikaelson's case, its not like they have a shortage of money, you would think they would at least give them the option to come home?" Elena stated.
Stefan just shrugged his shoulders while he check his email in case Rebekah had messaged him at all.
"I guess Damon and I don't really have it that bad if you think about it, I mean we're all going up to the cabin for Christmas this year. I remember going once or twice when I was a kid visiting our grandparents but it's been a long time since we did that.
Stefan nodded and then as he was turning back to his laptop he noticed his Skype was alerting him of a caller and then he realized it was Damon. "Well speak of the devil" Stefan said with a grin and turned his laptop so that Elena could see Damon pop up on his screen.
"Hey, I see I caught you on lunch" Damon said as he was sitting in his dorm spinning a bottle.
"Yep this day seems to be going very slowly," Elena complained with a sigh.
"Well you'll be here soon enough!" Damon told her with a smile as he flipped the bottle in the air.
"I see university is teaching you a lot of life experience," Stefan teased.
"Shut up Stefan, I have a shift in about an hour," he told his brother. "Sage just taught me a new trick," he told them and then back up a bit to show them.
"Well Elena if the university thing doesn't work out as least he has a career in bartending to fall back on" Stefan joked and Elena just laughed.
"I can still hear you dick," Damon snapped.
Stefan shrugged his shoulders while Elena couldn't help but shake her head at the brothers. It was obvious that even though they didn't like to admit it they did indeed miss each other.
"So everything all set?" Damon asked as he moved closer to the screen and set the bottle down on the desk beside the computer.
"Yep, all packed, in Jenna's car all I have to do is pick up Claire and then we head for the bus" Elena told him. "I'm hoping Claire doesn't give me too much trouble on the bus though, she has never been in a vehicle that long before," Elena reminded him.
"She should be fine, if not just call me and I'll come pick you up wherever the bus driver throws you off" he teased but Elena didn't find it that funny.
"So is it just you working the afternoon at the pub?" Elena asked.
"Um no Sage is working too, that way I can leave and pick you up as soon as you get here and then I'm all yours," he told her with a wink. "You me, a hotel room…"
"And that is my cue to leave" Stefan stated as he got up from his spot and decided to take a walk while Elena finished talking to Damon.
Elena laughed but quickly turned her attention back to Damon, "So do I finally get to meet the girls who take up all your time during the week?"
"Maybe…"
"Maybe? Are you serious come on what do you think she is gonna do make me leave you for her?" Elena teased.
"Sage is a smooth talker," Damon explained.
"Sound like someone I know" Elena suggested as she winked at him.
"Yeah and honey thanks to my smooth talking you're coming to visit me with OUR 19 MONTH OLD!" he reminded her.
Elena shook her her and let out a sigh, "You can't hide her forever" she told him.
"I'm not hiding her, I'm hiding you," he corrected.
"Jealous, I thinking I like this Damon" Elena teased.
"Hey I don't get jealous!" he told her in a firm voice.
"Oh my mistake" Elena said with a giggle.
"Well, anyway I got to get going my shift is in about 20 minutes" Damon told her sadly.
Elena's smile faded as she knew she had to say goodbye now, "Alright I'll see you tonight, I love you" Elena told him.
"Yeah, text me when you leave and safe trip, love you too!" Damon told her before he had to end the call.
As the screen went blank Elena let out a sigh and shut the laptop. Looking around she wondered where Stefan had wandered off to as she went back to eating her lunch forcing herself to remember that tonight she would have the whole weekend to spend with Damon in Petersburg.
Come on Caroline we have to get going!" Tyler called from the Forbes front door as he waited for Caroline to get dressed. What had started off with a quick change had turned into Caroline trying on about a dozen outfits and then not being completely satisfied with it.
"I just want to make sure I wear the right one" Caroline said as she came in wearing a red dress and a black shawl.
"You look beautiful," Tyler said as he stepped closer and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Wait should I wear blue? This is a Hanukkah party I should wear blue," she said as she started to doubt the dress choice.
"Do you have to red or green to your Christmas parties?" Tyler asked her with a chuckle knowing how nervous Caroline seemed to be about meeting his whole family especially on a special night like tonight.
"No of course not" Caroline said shaking her head but the doubt was already there and if she didn't change she would be worried about it all night.
"Go ahead" Tyler said reluctantly as Caroline ran back to change and go with black because it was safe no matter what.
Tyler shook his head as Caroline ran back to her room to change. He knew that she wanted everything to be perfect tonight. Although Caroline wasn't Jewish she was eager to have Tyler tell her everything about the faith especially around this sacred time that he spent with his family. He had explained each day to her and what they did and tonight she would be able to in a way participate.
As se came out wearing a sparkling black dress Tyler found himself speechless. She looked so beautiful that no words could describe how he felt. "So?"
"You look beautiful" Tyler told her and then leaned in for a kiss.
"So tell me again what is going to happen tonight?" Caroline asked as she started to pull on her coat.
"Well being the eight day we finish lighting the menorah as a family we say eight things we are thankful for or people we are happy to have in our lives. Which is why I'm glad you're coming," he told her with a kiss.
"Thank you for inviting me" Caroline told him and then leaned in for a kiss.
"Shall we?" Tyler said asked as he held out his arm for her and with a deep breath Caroline linked her arm with Tyler and made her way to celebrate Hanukah with his family just like he enjoyed and participating in some of her Christmas traditions.
As the bus pulled up to the station Elena looked over at 19 month old Claire fast asleep as the bus came to a stop. While passengers started to disembark Elena reached for the baby bag overhead and then brought it over her shoulders as she looked at Claire sleeping soundly. A part of her didn't want to wake her up but there was no way to get her off by herself and keep her asleep.
"Need some help?" came a friendly voice from a young man who was sitting behind them.
Elena smiled at him and nodded her head "that would be great," she told him. As Elena handed the kind stranger the baby bag she moved in to unbuckle Claire out of her car seat and slowly carry her off the bus. The tired little girl stirred a bit at the transition into her mothers arms but didn't wake. As Elena started to move off the bus the stranger picked up the car seat and followed Elena off.
Stepping off the bus and into the bright sun, Claire hid her face in the crook of her mother's neck. Waiting for them only a few feet away was Damon and he had a huge smile on his face as he saw the two. Walking over to them he gently embraced them as to not wake Claire. He gave Elena a quick kiss on the cheek as his fingers brushed her hair back, "You made it!" he said happily.
"Yeah, I just wish she would have slept more then just the last 10 minutes" Elena told him with a laugh.
"Don't worry she was very good" came the strangers voice as he set the car seat and baby bag next to Elena.
"Thank you so much" Elena told him while she still had Claire snuggled and fast asleep in her arms.
"Don't worry about it," he told her with a smile, "Enjoy your stay" he told her and then headed off on his own to meet his own loved ones.
"Alright, lets get your stuff because I know how you pack and you bought a lot more then a baby bag" Damon laughed as he made his way over to the bus to get her suit cases, stroller and playpen. Opening up the stroller Elena carefully set the tired little girl in and pushed her towards the car while Damon packed all her stuff into the car.
"So have you eaten?" Damon asked after Claire was strapped into her car seat in the back and both Damon and Elena climbed into the car.
"Um no not really, I had a few snacks on the bus" Elena told him as he started up the Camaro. "What do you have in mind?" she asked with a smile while pulling on her seat belt. She was so happy to be in Petersburg with Damon and get an idea of his life here at school. Plus this stay would be one of many so that she could get to know the school she was hoping to go to as well.
"I figure we could stop by the pub for dinner" he said with a wink.
"So your gonna let me meet them now?" Elena said with a laugh talking about Sage and Rose.
Damon shrugged his shoulders "Well she said that she would find a way to meet you anyway so better now then her scaling the hotel windows" he told her as they drove off towards the pub.
As they were pulling up to the pub, little ladybug in the back was starting to wake up as if she knew that they were hoping she would sleep their dinner. Rubbing her tired eyes she wasn't quite sure what was going on and hadn't taken much notice of Damon and that he was here. As Elena go her out of her car seat she decided to bring in the stroller in just incase she fell asleep again.
Damon had gone in ahead so that he could find them a seat so as Elena pushed the stroller in she stepped inside and was just in time to see a redhead girl jump at Damon in a big hug. For a second the jealousy set in but then she quickly saw that the girl was looking around as if she was looking for someone and then her eyes fell on her and Claire.
"Oh I was so sure he wasn't going to introduce us to you" said the excided redhead as she came over to say hello and held out her hand. "Hi I'm Sage," she said to Elena as Sage gave Elena a hug. "Oh and this cutie must be Claire!" she said as she knelt down to talk the little girl who was just starting to wake up.
While Sage was gushing over the baby, Rose was just taking her break and quickly came over to meet Elena and Claire. "Yay I'm so glad we finally get to meet! I must say your picture doesn't do you justice" Rose said as she came over to join the group and hugged Elena.
"You must be Rose, you keep them all in line I understand" Elena stated and Rose couldn't help but laugh.
"I do my best!" she said.
Rose then knelt down so see Damon's ladybug as she was slowly starting to wake and rubbed those big blue eyes of hers. She looked at the strangers and the unfamiliar surrounding and immediately started looking for someone she knew. She was getting a little worried until her eyes fell on her daddy and at that point no one else in the room existed anymore. With her soother in her mouth she mumbled "Daddy" and reached her arms out for him to pick her up.
"You're awake ladybug" Damon said with a smile as he stepped over to the stroller to lift her up and had her immediately snuggled in close with her head resting on his shoulder and her little index finger and thumb started to play with his earlobe.
Rose and Sage thought it was so adorable how Claire really adored her dad and couldn't' help but be in awe of it. "Don't feel bad" Elena told the girls, when ever Damon is around everyone else is invisible to her," she explained as father and daughter got in some cuddle time.
For a good part of the evening as they had dinner, Sage had joined the table as well as Damon's roommate Vaughn who was looking forward to having the whole dorm to himself. The group told stories including about how it took Vaughn a good week to realize that Sage was gay and that he had no shot with her. Elena found herself pretty comfortable with the group and got along great with Sage and Rose especially. She couldn't' help but smile as the girls seemed so doting on Claire.
Elena spent a good part to the evening laughing and joking around with Sage and Rose at the table. While Damon was breaking up pieces of French fries to feed to Claire he was happy Elena was getting along with his friends but it got to the part Damon thought they were getting a little to comfortable with his girl. "Alright I think we need to break up this girl bonding, nothing ever good comes of it" Damon said as he made room for himself between Sage, Rose and his girlfriend.
Rose smiled at how Damon was getting all protective, "Well, well so this is a jealous Damon" Rose pointed out in a very amused tone that made everyone at the table laugh.
"I don't do jealous," Damon stated as he shook his head and put his arm on the back of Elena's chair.
"Is he usually like this?" Sage asked Elena, totally ignoring Damon's denial.
"No this is new," Elena laughed as she rested her hand on his thigh.
"I'm just saying you have each other, back off my girl," he told them with a laugh.
"Oh I like this Damon a lot" Sage laughed nodding to Rose and Elena.
"I'm not the jealous type" Damon repeated but it was no use he knew that whether he wanted to admit it or not when it came to Elena he could in deed get jealous.
"Quit while you can bro" Vaughn warned his roommate.
"I think it's really hot" Elena whispered as she gave him a kiss on the cheek and nibbled a little on his ear.
"Oh hey there is a baby present!" Vaughn complained but when they all looked over at the stroller, Claire was out cold after having fun dancing with Rose and Sage earlier.
"Well we should probably get this one to bed," Elena said as she leaned over and stroked Claire's chubby cheek.
"Yep family hours are just about up here, and I have to get back to work" a pouty Sage said as she got to her feet. Well Elena it was very nice to meet you, and I hope you come visit us down here again." She told her and the two girls shared a hug with Elena and they held on a little longer just to get Damon all riled up.
"Bye, Elena have a merry Christmas!" Sage called as she and Rose head to the bar hand in hand.
Elena and Damon waved goodbye before the started to head for the door. "Okay those two are a bad influence on you" Damon said with a chuckle as made their way to the car.
"You really are adorable Jealous" Elena told him and leaned in for a kiss.
"I don't get jealous," he reminded her.
"Oh right I'm sorry," she said with a laugh and they leaned in for another kiss as together they held each other and pushed the stroller out of the pub.
Following their arrival to the hotel the young family had some much need time alone together as Claire was in great spirits with her parents. Damon really enjoyed the time when it was just the three of them and with them being in Petersburg they had the advantage of not being interrupted. This was time Damon especially needed with them because he had a lot of exams coming up because the Christmas break so he wouldn't be able to go home next weekend to see them.
Reading Claire a bedtime story as Elena got the playpen set up, the little ladybug snuggled with Damon while sucking on her soother, holding her plush ladybug in one hand and her other was playing with Damon's earlobe as he read to her. Elena quickly snapped a picture of the two while they didn't take any notice of it at all. Both Damon and Claire were just so focused on the story and each other it was so adorable to see. Claire's eyes were starting to get heavy by page three of the story and by the time Damon turned the page her index finger and thumb that were playing with his ear had dropped and her little head rested more against his chest.
"It was a busy day for her" Elena said with a smile a she gently sat on the bed in front of them.
"Yeah getting all that attention is exhausting," he replied as he thought back to how Sage and Rose were dancing with Claire earlier. Although Claire wasn't too sure about them in the beginning she soon warmed up to them and wanted to play. With a smile on his face Damon gently picked up his ladybug and with her cradled in his arms he carried her over to playpen that Elena had set up at the bottom of the bed. Lying her down she snuggled to her ladybug and Damon draped a blanket over her and for a moment he just stared at the little miracle that had changed his life so much and was the spitting image of the woman he loved more then he ever thought possible.
"She still asleep? Elena asked as she was climbing into the bed and getting under the covers.
Bringing him back to reality he nodded his head. Making sure the door was locked he shut off the lights and joined Elena in bed and immediately wrapped his arms around her and started leaving kisses from her ear to her lips.
"I'm glad you came" Damon told her softly against her skin.
"Well I need to start scouting out the place if I'm going to go to school here next year" she told him with a smile as they lay in each other's arms. Damon smiled and pulled her in closer as he thought about what it would be like living down here. They could rent an apartment near the campus and Claire could grow up with them all living together after being separated for a year.
"So when are you guys heading up to the cabin for Christmas?" Damon asked while their legs intertwined under the covers.
"Friday night, there are a few things I have to pick up with Bonnie before, although I'm not sure Bonnie and I will be talking at that point or not" Elena said with a huff as she remember the fight she had with her friend.
"Do I want to know?" Damon asked.
"Probably not, plus it doesn't matter anyway" she assured him and gave Damon a tender kiss. "Anyway Jenna wants to get there early and our guest list keeps changing so who knows who will be coming by Friday" Elena told him.
"Mystic Falls still a town of drama a see" Damon joked.
"Yep" Elena agreed with a nod. "When do you think you will be up?"
"Lucky me my last exam is Dec 22" he told her sounding very annoyed. "The last possible day for one too" he added.
"That sucks, your going to miss all the decorating" Elena said.
"Well seeing how Jenna will have me doing most of the cooking I think I can miss out of the decorating," he laughed.
"That is true, which reminds me I'm suppose to get a list from you of everything you will need"
"Is she seriously going to make me cook everything?" Damon asked as he realized his last conversation with Jenna, she may not of been joking at all.
"Hey we have had to cook since you left for school, we need a break" Elena told him with a laugh as he rolled them over so he was now hovering over her body and captured her lips.
"I can't wait until the break, just you, me, Claire for Christmas in a cabin." He whispered against her lips.
"Yeah and ten or fifteen other people" Elena pointed out.
"They are not all staying in our cabin" Damon pointed out since they had pretty much booked the all the cabins on the lake. "Also is Jenna going to make us sleep is separate bedroom again?"
Elena bit her lip since she had already had this fight with her aunt and it didn't end well. Without her saying anything Damon knew the answer and rolled his eyes, "Does she think the time at summer camp was our one and only?" he asked because still whenever he stayed at the Gilbert house he slept on the couch.
"She said just until I'm out of high school, she just wants to try and prevent anything else from happening" Elena told him. "At least under her watch" she pointed out. "Don't worry with all the Christmas traditions and fun I'm sure we can find time to sneak off" she told him with a sly smile as she leaned up for a kiss and one that was a lot hotter and passionate then their earlier kisses. No this kiss was on that made it pretty clear they were not going to bed anytime soon.
Jenna walked into the busy coffee shop with her hands full on bags and magazines looking very overwhelmed. After ordering her drink she make her way to one of the back booth and just threw her stuff down and collapsed in a huff.
"You look stressed" came Caroline's voice from across the café.
Jenna nodded her head and then held up one of the wedding magazines that showed Caroline that Jenna has spend a good part of her morning researching for her upcoming wedding. "God I had no idea planning a wedding would be like living in hell," she said in frustration.
Caroline gave a smile from her spot and then picking up her cappuccino walked over to join the flustered bride to be. "Not a very successful morning I take it?"
"Well I told them I was thinking simple and who knew there were so many different options for a simple wedding" Jenna said as she shook her head. It was nuts Elena and I were like deer in headlights compared to some of the bridezillas that were there. "I say white roses then they showed me dozens of white rose displays, I say Blue and white and they give me hundreds of blue and white Wedding themes."
"You're in over your head huh?" Caroline asked.
"I'm in over my head" Jenna admitted just as the waitress was bringing over her coffee. "Thank you" she said to the waitress. "How are you doing? I know the trial is coming up in a couple months."
Caroline gave a nodded as she looked down at her cappuccino in her hands and then tried to bat away some tears. "I'm fine, I'm good… I'm getting through it," she told her sadly. Caroline remained quiet for a moment and then decided to changed the subject back to Jenna's wedding "Look it needs to be you and Alaric, something that fits your personalities, not something that they show is bridal shows. You want simple, go robin egg blue and chocolate/coffee brown. We could have white roses and maybe some kind of blue flower. The table and place settings could be different shades of from chocolate to dark coffee coloured and the robin egg aqua color would just pop on the table. Oh my God the chocolate wedding cake with aqua icing would really stand out" Caroline said as she started to get really excited about the wedding and Jenna was really liking the description she was giving her.
"You know I never thought of going with brown but that just sounds so beautiful," Jenna told her.
"It's a gift, and plus I've been planning weddings since I was a little girl" Caroline told her honestly.
"Hey, you know what Elena and I really suck at this, I mean Elena pretty much walk in saw how much work it was going to be and said that she just gave Damon a baby so thinks she's off the hook for a wedding for about ten to twenty years" Jenna teased.
"She's not serious is she? I mean come on Weddings are so much fun" Caroline told her.
"Well then how about I hire you as my wedding planner, you'll be a lot more help then Elena is" Jenna told her. "Plus I'm sure it will help get your mind off some things."
"Oh Jenna I would love to!" Caroline squealed. "Oh I will give you the best wedding ever and then after I will work on our Elena problem because she is so not missing out on a wedding and I will get Damon into a tux!" Caroline promised.
"Well how about we worry about mine and let Elena maybe finish collage first?" Jenna suggested. As much as she wanted to see her niece and Damon get married there was definitely no rush and a part of her was glad the two didn't seem to see a rush in it either.
"And what are you two lovely ladies up to?" came a curious British voice and both girls turned to see Klaus standing there.
"Wedding planning" Caroline told him as he took a seat next to Caroline.
"Oh I love weddings," he said happily.
"I know there are so much fun and I'm trying to get Jenna excited about weddings too!"
"I never said I wasn't excited, it's the planning that is a bummer," she told her as she rolled her eyes. "Anyway planning will have to wait for another day, I have a few errands to run before out trip to the cabin for Christmas."
"Okay, but if you don't mind can I borrow these?" Caroline asked as she reached for the bridal magazine.
"Yeah sure" Jenna told her and then left the two alone at the table.
"So you're the wedding planner now?" Klaus said trying to act all interested.
"Yeah I am and it's going to be an awesome wedding when I'm done with it" she told him getting pretty excited about the idea.
"I'm sure it will be," he told her while Caroline took a sip of her cappuccino and got whip cream on her upper lip. "Oh you got a little…" he started to say as he reached his index finger out to wipe away the whip cream away and very slowly. It was this time that Tyler stepped into the coffee shop and the scene with the two looked a little more intimate then it maybe was.
"What is going on here?" he asked in an annoyed tone as he approached the table they were sitting at. Caroline looked shocked to see him and Klaus seemed to be amused that Tyler picked this moment to show up.
"Ty!" Caroline said as she backed away from Klaus and closer to her boyfriend who didn't take his glaring eyes off Klaus.
"Oh we're just talking about the wedding Caroline is planning but I'm sure you know all about that" Klaus said and watched as Tyler looked at Caroline all confused because unlike Klaus, Caroline had never mentioned a wedding to him.
"What wedding?"
"The um aunt of that adorable little Claire's mother" Klaus said as he snapped his finger trying to remember Jenna's name.
"Jenna" Caroline stated and Tyler watched as Klaus played dumb about not knowing her name.
"That's the one," he said with a smile.
"Why didn't you tell me you were planning the wedding?" Tyler asked as she took a seat at the table.
"Relax Tyler it just happened like two minutes ago," she told him as she shrugged her shoulders.
"But you told him" Tyler snapped as he pointed to a smug looking Klaus.
"He just showed up too, Tyler can we not do this" Caroline asked politely.
"Yeah buddy you are overacting" Klaus chuckled but he was totally loving seeing Tyler so jealous.
"And what was that I just walked in on?"
"Tyler…" Caroline said with sigh not wanting to fight with her boyfriend especially in the middle of a small café. "Can we not do this now…"
"You should listen to the lovely girl," Klaus told him.
"YOU SHUT UP!" Tyler yelled having had enough of seeing the smirk on Klaus' face.
"TYLER!" Caroline shouted back not liking that he was causing a scene.
"So your telling me that it was nothing, him touching your lips is nothing! You going to the movies or to dinners with him are nothing, all the texting and laughing you two do like you have an inside joke is nothing!"
"Tyler please" Caroline repeated
"Come on Tyler, Caroline and I are friends, we enjoy each others company especially during this hard time. I'm someone she can talk about involving the upcoming trial with her father" Klaus told Tyler.
"Klaus!" Caroline hissed knowing that hearing that she had talk to Klaus about the upcoming trial before him wasn't going to come off well.
"What?" Tyler asked in total shock considering every time he had tried to get Caroline to talk about her meeting with her lawyer or the trial she always changed the subject. He always figured she would talk when she was ready but had no idea that she would rather talk to someone else. "You talk to him? Really?"
"Tyler I'm sorry it just sort of happened" Caroline said as she felt the tears well up.
"How could you talk to him instead of me? I would know better then anyone about what you are going through because I have gone through with it! You were the person I turned to so why wouldn't you let me be there for you?" Tyler yelled.
"I'm sorry Tyler. I never meant for it to happen this way," she told him.
"Yeah, well it seems that has been your answer when ever it comes to him, it just happened. Look Caroline I can't do this I can't be the one begging you to talk to me when you would rather talk to someone else. This is not how this relationship is suppose to work."
"Tyler please"
"He has been hitting on you from the moment he met you and all you tell me is that I'm overacting and then turn around and trust him more then me" Tyler called out.
"That's not true!" Caroline cried.
"Then why won't you talk to ME!" he cried back as both of them were now in tears.
"I don't know," she cried as she wiped away her tears.
"Well maybe you need to figure that out" he told her and then got up from his seat at the table and made his way for the door.
"Tyler" she called out as he started to walk away. "TYLER!" she cried again but he didn't turn around and left her there crying and wondering how she could of screwed this up so badly.
"So what happened are they broken up or not?" Elena asked as her and Bonnie were walking down the festive Mystic Falls Main Street doing some last minute Christmas shopping.
The two girls made up pretty quickly especially when Elena got a call from Bonnie about Caroline. Putting their disagreement behind them Elena and Bonnie were there for their friend that was dealing with her break up from Tyler and was taking it pretty bad. That last week at school before the Christmas break was a hard one for Caroline who was stuck with having Tyler avoiding her when ever she tried to talk to him. She had hoped he would of calm down and the girls tried to assure her he just needed time but now they were all unsure how much time he would need.
"Tyler won't talk to her so I think it is safe to say things aren't looking good" Bonnie told Elena as they girls walked down the street as Elena was pushing Claire in her stroller.
"Poor Caroline" Elena stated as they entered the grocery store along with their list of everything they would need to buy before they headed off to the cabin for the holidays. "So is Tyler coming up to the cabin?" Elena asked.
"Well as of now it doesn't sound like it" Bonnie told her while she grabbed a cart and started to fill it with produce they would need. The girls walked through the isles picking up everything Damon and Jenna had put on the list. With their grocery bags packed they left the shop while Claire sat in her stroller drinking her bottle and allowing the girls to do a little last minute Christmas shopping.
"Hey we should stop and get something to eat" Elena said as they arrived at the Mystic Grill.
Bonnie bit her lip and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not really hungry," she explained while she followed Elena into the restaurant.
Elena gave her friend a weird look as she pushed Claire's stroller up to a table. "How can you not be hungry we have been shopping all day" Elena asked her.
"I don't know," Bonnie shrugged as she took a seat at the table wanting to change the subject. "I had a big breakfast," she told her with a smile.
Elena nodded her head as she picked up the menu to see what she could order. "Come on big breakfast or not we have a long drive up to the cabin so you may as well eat now" Elena told her and Bonnie reluctantly gave a nod and ordered a salad with no dressing.
As the girls ate Elena would give Claire the odd piece of chicken but the little girl was more interested in eating her cheerios more then anything. The girls discussed everything they would be able to do up at the cottage and how this year Claire was going to be so fun at Christmas as she would get to open her presents. Following their meal while Elena was cleaning up the mess that Claire had made during her lunch Bonnie took this opportunity to sneak to the bathroom.
Once she was in the bathroom she checked the stalls and waited until the one girl that was looking in the mirror finished fixing her hair and left the washroom. Once she left Bonnie quietly moved over to the door and turned the deadbolt to lock it so that no one else would come in. She checked herself out in the mirror for a second and ran her hands over her stomach before she entered a stall and started to force herself to cough up her lunch.
As she came out of the washroom Bonnie put a smile on her face as she found Elena waiting at the front door for her. "Ready?" Elena asked and Bonnie gave her a smile.
When they arrived back at the Gilbert house Bonnie found her mother helping Jenna pack up the car as it looked like they would all be leaving soon. "Ready to go!" Jenna called to the girls as they walked up the driveway.
"Grocery shopping is all done!" Elena said as she started to get the bags off Claire's stroller and with the help of Jenna get them into the car.
"Perfect" Jenna said happily as the car was all packed up and ready to go. Turning to Claire who was sitting in her stroller Jenna smiled and picked up the nineteen month old and danced her around the driveway. "Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la." She sang while she twirled the little girl around and making her laugh. "Now say Jenna, Jenna!" she tried desperately but alas Claire just giggled at her great aunt and made no effort to say Jenna but instead found her funny.
Elena and the others laughed at Jenna's failed attempt and then the Bennett's prepared to leave. "Well we have to go finish loading our car so we will see you guys up there!" Dr. Bennett said as she wrapped an arm around her daughter.
"Bah bye Ba-me!" Claire called out as she waved and Jenna just rolled her eyes
"Sure you almost have Bonnie down but refuse to give Jenna a try" Jenna said to the little girl as she started to tickle her tummy and making her giggle.
"See you guys there!" Bonnie called as she and her mother headed down the driveway.
"So I say we finish our packing and then grab some dinner" Dr. Bennett suggested.
Bonnie scrunched up her nose and looked at her mom, "Actually Elena and I had a big late lunch so I'm not that hungry" she lied as the two headed home.
With Christmas music playing in the background Elena and Stefan and with a little help from Claire were decorating the Christmas tree in the main room. While Stefan and Elena were setting the ornaments on the tree, Claire was taking them off and playing with them. "Hey!" Stefan said with a laugh as the little girl ran off with yet another ornament from the tree.
As Stefan took off running to chase after her Elena laughed and shook her head while continuing to decorate. She could hear Claire's squeals as she ran around the cabin with Stefan chasing her. When he finally caught her he set the ornament down and then playfully held Claire upside down as she shrieked in delight. Claire's squeals could be heard throughout the cabin and as Jenna and Caroline came into the room both of them couldn't help but smile. For Caroline especially it was a good thing since she hadn't smiled once since they had arrived.
"Effen!" Claire cried as he held her upside down and then after a moment flipped her right side up.
"No more stealing ornaments" he growled playfully as he pretended to eat her tummy and making laugh all over again.
"Whose torturing my ladybug?' came a voice from the front door that Claire recognized right away.
"DADDY!" She shrieked and started looking around for him. As he came into view Stefan set Claire on her two feet and then toddler took off running over to her dad and fell into his arms as he knelt down to hug her.
"Hey there ladybug" he said to her while giving her a kiss on the cheek. "What was Effen doing?" he teased looking up at Stefan knowing the name bugged him.
"Can you not encourage it?" Stefan groaned as he watched Damon pick up his daughter and give her a hug. Damon had always found it hilarious that Claire called him Effen because it was almost like the little girl was cursing without knowing it.
"Yes Damon don't encourage it!" Elena scolded as she walked over to give her man a kiss.
"What it's funny, just like the way she says clock," he told her.
"Well you would not fine it funny if you were with us when we take her to church and she starts yelling cock and pointing at the clock and have it echo throughout the church."
"Cock!" Claire called out and then looked around the room until she found the clock on the mantel and pointed to it.
"CLOCK" Elena tried to correct.
Claire looked at her mother confused because that what she said and then pointed over at the clock again, "cock!"
Damon just laughed and kissed his ladybug again while Elena rolled her eyes knowing they were stuck with her saying cock instead of clock for a little while longer. "Anyway I'm glad you're finally here," she told him as she gave him a hug and another kiss.
"Us too because we're starving!" came Jeremy's voice as he entered the room.
"Nice to see you to baby Gilbert" Damon said with a smirk while he headed to the kitchen to see what they had brought for him to cook. As he set Claire down on the floor she took of running again and Stefan just rolled his eyes as she headed straight for the Christmas tree.
"So1st semester is officially over" Stefan said to his brother as he took a seat on a bar stool while Damon scouted out the kitchen.
"Yep exams are done and now I have to buy all new $300 books," he said with a smirk. "So how are things?" he asked his baby bro.
"Alright, house is quiet, Uncle Zack has a holiday deadline so he was away and isn't coming to the cabin. Also this long distance relationship is getting challenging…" Stefan told him with a sigh.
"Well she's hot so it should be worth it" Damon teased.
"Yeah that's why I keep you around" Elena stated as she entered the room shaking her head.
"That and my sparkling personality?" he teased as he wrapped his arms around her from behind and pulled her closer to him.
Stefan shook his head at the two lovebirds as he continued. "I've tried calling to wish her a Merry Christmas but I've got no response.
"Maybe she ended up meeting up with her family for Christmas after all" Elena suggested while still in the comfort of Damon's arms.
"Yeah, maybe" Stefan replied while looking down at the counter not sure what to think of her avoiding his calls.
Damon gave his brother a smile knowing that long distance relationships were hard and that was why Damon had every intention to spend the next two weeks with his girls until the last second. As he started to leave kisses on Elena's neck she started to giggle because it was ticklish and Damon knew all to well but loved the sound of her giggle.
"Hey, can we focus Damon and make some dinner!" came Jeremy's voice as he entered the room and took a seat next to Stefan.
"Geez Gilbert did Jenna not feed you at all while I was gone?" Damon asked.
"Pretty much" Jeremy mumbled.
"Hey I heard that!" Jenna called out and Damon and Elena just laughed while they finally broke from their embrace and got started on dinner for everyone.
On Christmas Eve the families gathered at the Gilbert cabin. With the Forbes, Bennett's, Salvatore's and Gilberts all together around the Christmas tree sharing stories and laughing about the adventures they had all shared together this year.
While everyone was thinking of the happy times it was also not hard to remember those who weren't with them. Caroline kept checking her phone hoping for a message from Tyler but after being here for a few days she was really starting to lose hope in hearing from him. Stefan just returned to the group after he had sent Rebekah a Merry Christmas email but hadn't got anything back from her.
For Elena and Jeremy this would be their third Christmas without their parents and this time was still not an easy time. They found comfort in sharing old family Christmas stories but missing them never went away. As Elena was changing Claire into her pajamas in her bedroom Claire was running around with a lot of energy. The little girl ran over to a basket in the corner of the room and pulled out an old blanket and brought it back over to her mom.
When Elena saw the blanket she felt a little tug of her heart and then reached out to touch the old baby blanket. Biting her bottom lip she then looked up at the photo on the wall of Elena's mother holding a baby Elena wrapped in the blanket and rocking her in the rocking chair that was now in Claire's nursery back home now.
"Bank-e" Claire said a she held the blanket and Elena gave her daughter a smile and pulled her in for a hug. She felt a tear well up in her eyes at she thought about her mother and how her mom, dad and Claire never had the chance to meet.
"Hey you all right?" came Damon's voice as he entered the room and found Elena and Claire sitting on the floor hugging each other and the blanket.
Elena looked up at Damon with a weak smile as he slowly knelt down on the floor in front of her. Claire smiled at her daddy while snuggling with mommy and holding on tight to the old baby blanket.
"Just thinking about my parents, this time of year always has me thinking about the Christmas' Jeremy and I spent with them in New York."
"Yeah, it get easier but feeling of loss never goes away" Damon told as he reached out and touched her hand while thinking about his and Stefan's childhood Christmas'. Sure his parents weren't exactly role models he looked up to but at least when they were younger Christmas time use to be the odd time they all got along and seemed happy. "So are you ready!" Damon said to his ladybug, "I hear Jenna has a surprise for you" he told her and tickled her tummy.
Elena smiled and then got her and Claire up off the floor as Damon too stood up. "Well while Jenna has a surprise for her, I have a little Christmas surprise for you" she said with a wink and then glanced over at the victoria secret bag on the bed.
"Don't tease me when we have to leave the room" Damon groaned as he put his hand on Elena's hips from behind and started kissing her neck while Elena was carrying Claire out of the room.
"We'll find our time," she told him and the turned her head to give him a quick kiss before they headed down the hall to join the others.
"There she is!" Jenna called out as Elena set Claire down on the floor and Claire took off running over to Jenna and where everyone else was sitting. "Aunt Jenna has a surprise for you, now say Jenna, Jenna!" Jenna tried again but Claire just laughed. "I swear she does it on purpose."
Everyone laughed and Damon wrapped an arm around Elena and gave her a kiss and then moved over to a free armchair. While Damon took a seat he pulled Elena on to his lap and as she snuggled against his body, Damon ran his fingers through her hair and gave her a kiss on the temple as they watched Jenna with Claire.
"HO, HO, HO!" Came a voice from the front door and then a man dressed in a red suit and white beard appeared. As soon as the new guest enter the room many figured out right away who it was and couldn't help but laugh.
"Teacher my day Santa by night!" Damon called out in laughter.
"It's a once a year gig" Santa or also known as Alaric said entered the room and was carrying a bag of presents.
As Elena got up and grabbed her camera Jenna was slowly taking Claire over to see Santa. "Alright we better do this quick before she screams," Elena said as she knelt down and got ready to take the picture of Claire on Santa's lap for the first time. Jenna sat the 19 month old on his lap and Claire immediately looked up at the stranger wondering who he was. Elena quickly snapped the picture just in time before Claire reached out for someone to take her away from the stranger and Jenna gave a laugh as she pulled Claire back into her arms.
"Alright, and here is a little present for the lovely girl" Alaric said in his best Santa impression and handed Claire a wrapped gift. She seemed unsure at first but in the end gently accepted the gift and then ran over to her daddy to show him what she had.
As the gang laughed there was a knock at the front door and everyone turned their heads wondering whom it could be since everyone was accounted for. After a moment Stefan got up to check to see whom the unexpected guest was. As he made his way to the door he could hear everyone in the background laughing and having fun with Santa Alaric especially when Jenna got a kiss.
When he reached the door he slowly turned the door handle and as he pulled it opened her was shocked at who he found standing on the other side. It was the last person he had ever expected to see and he found himself speechless as he stared into her eyes. "Rebekah!" he was finally able to say and he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her and held her in a tight hug,
"Surprise" Rebekah told him and she held on to him tightly.
"I can't… how did you…" Stefan found himself stuttering to find the words.
"Since my family wasn't going to be around for Christmas I decided to book my flight here to surprise you and spend Christmas with you" she told him with a big smile on her face.
Stefan was still in shock but leaned in and captured her lips in a tender kiss. "Merry Christmas" he told her as he brushed her blonde hair back.
"Merry Christmas" she responded while Stefan wrapped his arm around her and lead her into the house to greet everyone else.
They joined in as they watched Damon and Elena help Claire unwrap some presents. Caroline and Bonnie were sitting on the couch watching as Damon and Elena tried to get Claire excited about her new toys but she was more interested in playing with the wrapping paper. As Caroline laughed she felt her phone vibrate and as she pulled her phone out she saw that she had a text from Tyler. Quickly clicking on the message it came up and read "Merry Christmas" she felt herself fighting back tears as she hoped this was a sign that things were headed in the right direction for their relationship.
After everyone decided to call it a night and Claire was tucked in for the night as she cuddled with her ladybug and Elena's old baby blanket, Elena just sat there on the bed and watched her daughter sleep soundly in the playpen. With a smile she looked back up at the photo of her mom rocking her as a baby. "Merry Christmas mom and dad," Elena said softly and with a smile on her face. She then checked on Claire one last time before quietly leaving the room and tiptoeing to the room down the hall that had light peaking through under the door. As she reached it she gave it a gentle knock and when Damon opened up the door they both shared a smile as she slipped into the room and silently shut the door behind them.
Let me know what you think!