Hey guys new chapter!

TVD is over now (still crying inside) like I mentioned before feel free to message me to talk about it. Aaaand this story is coming to an end too; we only have one more chapter after this and then the epilogue, so I'm really hoping you like this one.

Huge thanks to everyone still reading and to Lorena for being an awesome beta with this.

P.S I started a new story and I was still deciding whether to publish it or not but like it seems I'm not ready to let Delena go I'm going to go with it and I want to ask a huge favor of you. As you may or may not know English is not my birth language so I really need a beta for this one, if any of you would like or know of someone who would like to help me out please let me know.

Love,

Sam

"Your gorgeous chaos was a danger to my beautiful ordinary life, and I knew that. Then suddenly, we became extraordinary together"

R.M Drake

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Elena leaned down onto the kitchen counter as she scribbled the ingredients she would need in her little notebook. They were short on groceries and she would need some new things for dinner tonight so she thought of going to the store after she visited Damon in the restaurant.

"Good morning" She heard Bonnie's voice behind her and she straightened up to greet her former friend.

"Good morning" Elea said with a genuine smile "There's breakfast in there" She motioned to the covered dishes on the table.

"Thank you" The girl answered and moved towards the table "What are you doing?" She asked when Elena went back to her task of grocery listing

"I'm just jotting down the ingredients I need for tonight's dinner" Elena answered nonchalantly, too engrossed in her task to pay attention to the other girl.

"I hope you don't plan on doing something with red peppers. Damon developed a phobia after an incident with Stefan in Atlanta" Her tone was casual enough but Elena detected a hint of something else that made her stop her pencil midair "Of course you wouldn't know that but just make sure not to include it" Bonnie shrugged and started digging into the pancakes Elena had prepared this morning.

Elena took a deep breath, forcing her temper to cool before answering. She had been having jealous feelings over Bonnie the last few days, forcing her to be maybe not as welcoming as she was supposed to but she thought they were past that now. Clearly Bonnie thought differently because that last comment had been too intentional to be casual.

"Is there something you want to say to me Bonnie?" Elena asked as she pinned the girl in her spot with hard eyes, Bonnie looked like a deer caught in the headlights and Elena realized that her former friend hadn't realized she had changed as well and was no longer that innocent little girl someone could fool and she would be dammed if she let her make that kind of comment in front of her.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me" Elena dropped her pencil on top of the notebook and went around the counter "You have feelings for him right?" She walked towards the table and took a seat in front of the other woman. "You feel something for Damon that is more than friendship"

"I don't know what you're talking about" Bonnie averted her gaze and started cutting another piece of pancake

"Oh please Bonnie, let's just cut the formalities" Elena said with annoyance "You have feelings for him and hoped your friendship would develop into something else, which is why you hate so much that I'm back"

Bonnie stayed in silence and looking everywhere else but her friend's eyes, Elena almost wanted to laugh at the irony of it all. The girl who once had told her being with Damon was the worst thing that could happen to her was now head over heels in love with him.

"Fine, you're right" Bonnie finally said while raising her eyes and meeting Elena's "Somewhere along the line I developed feelings for him and yes, maybe a small part of me hoped for something else but I'm not a fool enough to believe it could actually happen" Her hand was gripping the fork too tightly as her eyes turned hard "Because there would never be another girl for Damon but you. I don't think he's even realized what I feel for him because his mind can't even think of another woman that way because of you." Bonnie nearly shouted, surprising Elena who stared at her without saying a word. The other woman took a deep breath and composed herself before continuing "And yes, a part of me resents you because I've never had that, I've never had a man be so devoted to me as he is to you and now that I realize how wonderful Damon is I know that there must not be anything more wonderful in the world than being the girl he loves"

Elena stared at her former friend without knowing what to say, she realized Bonnie had feelings for Damon the minute she hugged him when she first arrived but never expected for her to confess it and be so open and honest with her.

"But that doesn't mean I'm not sorry about what happened between us Elena" Bonnie said in a much softer tone "We've known each other since we were little and I hated how things ended between us"

"I know, I hate it too" Elena answered honestly

"I would like for us to be friends again, regardless of what I feel for Damon. I won't ever come between you two Elena. I know how useless that would be, there's no other woman for Damon but you" Bonnie's expression was sad and Elena couldn't help but feel a little bit bad for her "I know things won't ever be the same as before between us but I would like to try"

Elena remained silent for a few minutes; so much had changed in her life in a span of months and it dawned on her in that moment that she didn't want to carry old grudges around. She and Bonnie were never going to be the best friends they were before but what was the point of being resentful and angry towards her? It was clear that the other woman knew that there was never going to be a chance for her and Damon so there was no reason to keep this feud between them. "I will like that too Bonnie" Elena answered finally.

They remained in the kitchen talking about trivialities for a few more minutes, the air was still thick around them and an uncomfortable feeling lay between them but they didn't let them stop them. They were trying and everything took time and effort.

Bonnie told her she was leaving because she felt she and Damon should have time to be alone with each other and she had intruded enough already. Elena wondered if maybe she should stop her but decided not to do anything because the truth was that she did want to have alone time with Damon.

Bonnie said she would go and say goodbye to Damon at the restaurant and Elena decided to head towards the store to give them some privacy and alone time, she was after all his best friend and he deserved to spend time with her. So there on the wide porch of the house in front of the river Bonnie and Elena said goodbye once again but this time knowing they would meet each other again, this time no one was shouting and there was no resentment of bitter feelings. Just two people who used to be best friends acknowledging the fact that sometimes there are things you can't fix completely but that doesn't mean they have to stay broken.

After her final goodbye with Bonnie Elena went to the store to retrieve everything she was going to need for dinner, dropped everything off at the house and then headed to the restaurant to see if she could spend some time with Damon. There was no denying that Wilmington was a beautiful place, it reminded her a lot of Mystic Falls but with less gossip and judgment, maybe it wasn't the place but the time they were on, or maybe it was the fact that in these people's eyes she hadn't done anything wrong.

Once she reached Damon's restaurant she spotted him working behind the bar and stayed a few minutes outside in the street watching him work. The way he moved and talked exuded confidence, Damon had always been that way even though deep inside he was a scared little boy sometimes, but there was something in his movements that hadn't been there before. He looked at peace, comfortable with where he was, not an outsider like he had been so many years ago.

"Excuse me?" A voice made her tear her eyes away from Damon "Could I take your picture?" A young looking man asked her while holding a big camera in his hand. "I saw you in a show a few weeks ago where my cousin danced and I wondered…" He trailed off with a small smile.

He had longish light brown hair and soft eyes, he seemed really nice and Elena liked him immediately "Of course" She agreed with a smile, even though she was a back dancer she was used to these kinds of things back in New York.

She was wearing a yellow mini shift dress and a pair of flat white sneakers and her hair was now blowing in the wind as she posed for the picture with her back to the river.

"Thank you" The boy said with a crooked smile

"You're welcome" Elena answered "You said your cousin danced on the show?"

"Yes" He nodded eagerly "His name is Liam"

"Really? Elena asked in surprise "How small the world really is, he and I are friends"

The boy was about to answer when Damon's voice made them turn around to the restaurant entrance from where he was coming from. "Trevor, nice to see you" He said with a tight smile

"You too Damon" The boy said, looking very nervous before turning to Elena and saying goodbye and scurrying away.

"What was that about?" Elena gave Damon a questioning look

"He's a nice boy" Damon answered as he watched the boy walking away "But he shouldn't be taking pictures of you"

"Oh Damon" Elena sighed and rolled her eyes and was about to tease him when she saw his clenched jaw and his blue eyes cold as steel as he looked at the boy "That can't really bother you?"

"It does" He moved closer and took her in his arms "I know you're beautiful and that your job might include these sort of things but I don't like them coveting what is not theirs"

Elena smiled in spite of herself and placed her hands on his chest "And who do I belong to? I'm I an object?" She faked indignation as she dug her nails a little into his chest.

His bad mood seemed to have gone missing as he smirked at her and nuzzled his nose with hers "Of course not but you're my girl. Only mine"

"Of course I am darling" She stepped onto her tippy toes and kissed his lips softly. His arms went around her waist and he held her to him in front of his restaurant as people walked by them.

"I hope they all realize it soon enough"

"Damon" Elena laughed while throwing her head back and looking at him with amusement.

"I can see them staring at you" He half growled "I can understand them because it's hard not to look at you but I don't like it, not one bit"

"You're overreacting darling" She told him playfully while lacing her fingers behind his neck and caressing his nape softly "I am only yours and they know it" She faked annoyance but deep down she knew that Damon being this jealous gave her a thrill she was ashamed of admitting.

"Let's go inside doll" He said, releasing her but taking her hand between his and walking towards the restaurant. Elena went all the way with the biggest smile on her face, feeling happier than she had ever been before.

Later that same day Damon was alone in the living room going through some bills while Elena took a bath when the phone rang. He stood up and went to answer it, his mind still on the papers scattered around the table so he didn't give much thought to the call, however, the first words that were uttered managed to rob him of his breath.

"We found her" The voice belonged to the one and only, Caroline Forbes, and Damon knew exactly who she was referring to.

"Where?" That was the only word that left his mouth as he stood frozen with the phone on his ear; he couldn't believe this was happening. Damon had hoped it would but never imagined they would succeed so soon.

"Georgia"

"You sure?"

"Yes, Damon, of course, I wouldn't call you if I wasn't sure" The voice of the blonde girl sounded exasperated and his brother could be heard in the background.

"I know Caroline but this is my daughter we're talking about so I want to know for sure. You certain this is her?" His voice wobbled with emotion and tears threatened to spill from his eyes, his heart was out of control in his chest and he had no idea how to calm it down.

"Yes Damon, I am positive" Caroline said more softly now "Everything fits, we know for sure that this is your daughter" Damon gripped the phone more tightly and leaned his forehead against the wall.

"My daughter Caroline…"

Damon had no idea what they were supposed to do now, could they just march into the child's house and ask to see her, he had no idea what they were supposed to do but knew they couldn't stay sitting doing nothing. He would have to come clean with Elena so they could finally go to their daughter.

"I know Damon"

"She is my daughter Caroline"

"What have you done?" His head snapped back at the accusing voice of Elena and even the blonde girl on the other side of the phone remained silent.

"I'll call you back" Damon closed his eyes in pain briefly and hung up the phone before turning around to find Elena's reproachful glance. Her eyes were glistening with tears but the set of her jaw and the way her hands were clenching and unclenching at her sides told him she wasn't going to let him see a single tear.

"You have been lying to me Damon" She got out each word slowly

"Elena I-"

"No" She raised her hand in front of her to stop him "I don't want to hear a word of what you have to say. You saw where the lies of the people took us and now you're the one throwing them at my face" Her voice broke down and he walked a step closer but stopped when she moved back.

"I didn't want for you to get your hopes up in case it didn't work" He told her gently. His blue eyes pleading for her to understand his reasoning.

"So the best option was to just keep things from me?" She spat at him "And not only you but my best friend lied to me as well" She shook her head as she eyed him with disgust "I can't believe you would do something like that to me" She turned around and walked out of the room.

Damon cursed and followed her immediately "Elena you need to understand; I know you've been through a lot. All of the pain you endured" As she continued walking down the aisle he realized she wasn't going to stop so he moved faster and took a hold of her arm, forcing her to turn around and face him "I wanted to look for our daughter but I didn't want you to suffer any more in case I couldn't find her but I did Elena, I found her"

Elena closed her eyes in pain and breathed deeply to stop the tears from coming "It doesn't matter Damon"

"Of course it matters"

"She's not ours to keep anymore" She shouted at him

"How can you say that?" He bit out, her words slicing through his heart.

Her eyes were looking anywhere but him so he cupped her face with his hands and forced her to look at him "I know how much pain you're still in but-"

"She's not ours to keep because I let them take her away" Her voice broke down as the tears finally started to fall "I wanted to be strong" She cried "When they took her away… I felt like I was going to die" She fisted her hands in his shirt "I watched them walk away with her and there was nothing I could do to stop them"

"It's okay darling"

"No it's not, Damon" He took her in his arms and she started sobbing against his shirt "I let it happen, I let them take her"

Not a day went by where Elena didn't blame herself for what happened with her daughter. Every time she saw Caroline with Lizzie she thought that could be her if she had been strong enough. She felt ashamed for being so weak and letting them rip her away from her arms, because once she really thought about it there was no one to blame but herself. There was never a gun pointed to her head forcing her to give her up, that had been her decision and it had been the wrong one.

"You couldn't have done anything" He murmured into her ear while stroking her hair softly "You were a child Elena"

"But I knew better" Now that the tears were flowing easily there was no way she could stop them.

"No, darling look at me" He moved her so he could stare into her face. Her nose was red and her eyes were swollen, the sight was enough to break Damon's heart "You were a child, they knew better. They knew you wanted to keep her but decided to give their backs to you. They knew I was going to support you, that we were going to be a family and they ripped you away from me. Everything is on them, not you. Nothing is your fault, my love"

"But Damon-"

"Stop blaming yourself Elena" He moved so their foreheads were pressed together, tears falling from his eyes now as he let go of everything he had been carrying around for the last decade "You need to stop blaming yourself just like I need to stop blaming myself too"

"You have nothing to blame yourself for Damon" She told him "They put you in prison, you didn't know. There was nothing you could have done"

"Every day since the day we were supposed to run away together I've been thinking about you waiting for me in that dance academy, Elena" She took a deep breath as the pressure inside of her chest grew, that day had been the worst day of her life and the pain from it was still raw in her soul. "I thought that if I had been more careful or if I had done things differently… but it's useless"

She looked at him and stroked his tear stained cheeks with her hands "What happened, happened doll and there's nothing we can do to change it. You have no idea how many nights I've laid awake at night wishing I could go back to a certain day when we were happy but I couldn't" Their faces were so close that their breaths mingled when he spoke "We only have the present and what we can do with it. So we just have to stop living in the past"

"I don't know how to do that" Her voice sounded so tiny and broken and he wanted to do nothing but hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay.

"Just let go darling" He said, their lips almost touching "Forgive me and forgive yourself and just let it all go"

"I don't know if I can"

"I'm going to help you" He stroked her hair and pulled her into him once again, her head resting above his chest "We're going to help each other, how about that?"

"I like that idea" She answered as she let herself be comforted by him. By his words and his touches, the only one who could ever make her feel better by simply being around her. "What are we going to do now?" Elena asked him.

She didn't know what people normally did in situations like this. Could they simply show up with their daughter's new parents and ask to see her, she didn't think so but didn't want to dwell on it too much for now.

Damon knew where their daughter was and that was the most important thing. She was closer to her than she had ever been before and she had him by his side to face it all.

"We will do whatever you want to do"

They stayed in the hallway embracing each other for what felt like forever. Elena knew they still had a long road ahead of them, she still had a long road of forgiveness and redemption but they had given the first step already.

She had to learn to let go and accept things she couldn't change, she was sure that having him by her side would make everything easier because Damon had always been her strength, her passion, the one thing that could help her keep going.