Here is installment 2 out of 5 for today! OA

Chapter 18: An idea

Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the characters in this story. There owned by The CW, CBS Studios and the companies that work with the network. Any dialogue and or story likeness is coincidental and not intended to offend anyone.

I think we were silent and sorting for about an hour and a half when we finished. We cleaned up after ourselves and as we were going out an employee came in. He said good morning and then looked at the job we had done. He asked if we had done that and when we said we had done so, he went into the expected speech. Thank you very much but that is my job, you are guests here and you should enjoy yourselves and not work. Well, he didn't really know what had happened last night and hadn't gone around to hear about it apparently, for which I was thankful.

Out of the whole thing I think that the consequence I dread the most is the pity looks I will be getting from everyone that knows about what happened, which is probably everyone cause this kind of information travels fast, for God only knows what reason.

As we left the room, I looked back and saw the smile on the kids face. I was glad that my idea of distraction was actually a favor to the kid who, I can bet, was working here for some extra cash for himself, a girl or college tuitions.

Damon and I decided that we would head to our rooms to take a shower and get changed to meet the family downstairs so we could get some breakfast and get on with our day.

Once I got to my room I decided that I wasn't going to be sad about what had happened, if anything it made me stronger, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right? So after my shower I opted to put on a bright and fun sundress, some flirty strappy wedges, do my hair in light curls and do a fresh looking makeup. It wasn't high profile but it wasn't a "walloping in pain" look. It was more of a "I'm a survivor and this won't break me" kind of look.

Everybody was already there when I got to the table. As I approached them, they smiled and Damon got up to pull my chair. I was thankful that none of them had the pity look. I love my family, they know me so well. They know what I need and how I am feeling even if I try to convince them of that the opposite is true.

"How did you rest sweetheart?" My mom asked as she passed me a plate of fruits.

"Honestly mom I didn't even sleep a minute. I was tossing and turning for about half an hour after we all went to our rooms and then I decided to go down. There was nothing to do so I ended up back at the reception area polishing and sorting out the silverware." I told her as I added some cream cheese to a bagel.

"Honey, if you wanted to talk or have some company you should have woken any of us up." Pops said as he looked at me right in the eyes.

I lowered my eyes from his as I answered. "I know pops, but honestly I just wanted to be alone but busy and that seemed like a good thing to focus on. Well it was either that or work, and I think you would have prefered that I didn't work. Besides, you all were so exhausted that I wanted to let you all sleep."

"Honestly Lena I was up for a while and caught like 20 minutes of sleep before coming here. And before you ask, I was catching up and watching episodes from the different series I like. I am like a month behind on all of them!" Caroline said as she waved a fork with a strawberry in my direction.

"Well now we know why she hasn't had a date in a while." Stefan said as he drenched some pancakes with syrup.

"And why is that?" Caroline retorted while rolling her eyes at our brother's sweet tooth.

"Because you are too busy with your shows that you are dating them instead of human beings." He answered as he took a huge bite of his breakfast.

"Nice one. Especially from the science nerd that took almost two years to talk, just talk to Rebekah, let alone ask her out. And what were the words you told her the first time you approached her? Oh that's right "Hi, awkward silence, well bye". Smooth, very smooth brother." Caroline said as she crossed her arms after acting out our brothers flunder.

We all started laughing at this, even Stefan and Rebekah.

"Well at least he came up and said something!" Rebekah said as she tried to control her laughter.

"True, so true!" Caroline said throwing her hands in the air, a sign that she gave up in the conversation.

"Well, I was up for a while working a little bit on my manuscript while your brother slept, so I could have helped if you wanted it." Rebekah said to me as she took a sip from her glass of water.

"Guys don't worry. I appreciate all of your concerns but I wasn't alone down there for too long. Damon came down looking for me and stayed with me until he escorted me back to my room to shower and come here." I told them as I kept eating my breakfast, enjoying the way my family could make me feel better without even trying to.

"Now I feel better knowing that you weren't alone down here. Who knows what can happen to a young woman who is alone at those hours." Pops told me as he asked for a refill of his coffee.

I didn't say a word because all I wanted to say was that I can defend myself, but knowing pops that would have only brought on a fight that I was in no mood to partake in.

After a moment of silence mom says: "Lena, honey, I was thinking, that, umm, since it is already paid for, umm, you could go on the honeymoon alone."

I was shocked that my mother even thought that this was a good idea, so I just stared at her since I found that my voice had left me.

"You see sweetie, you have always said that you wanted to go to Hawaii and this is a great opportunity to do so. Besides its a great way to keep you mind of what happened."

"Honestly mom, I think that going there would be the complete opposite. I would be thinking all the time about what he did to me and that I was supposed to be there at that moment as his wife." I told her.

"Sweet heart, you would go and focus on seeing the great things that place has to offer. It would be like the vacation alone you have never had. Or you can take a friend with you so you won't be alone and they could make sure that you don't think, just loosen up and have some good, old fun!" Mom insisted.

"If you want I can try to get some days off, from the hospital and we can have a girls only vacation." Caroline said as she dug in her purse for her cellphone.

"Thanks, but I am not going on a vacation. Its not that I wouldn't love to go with you is that I don't feel like going on one, not now. Plus there is a lot of work at the firm that I need to do." I told my sister as I played with the cloth napkin resting on my lap.

"No there is not. You know that you left everything done ahead of time so that is covered for the duration of the trip and maybe another extra week. Besides, any other thing that happens I can take care of it. You were the one that left me in charge of everything remember? So you are better than fine to go on this trip." Damon told me with a smug smile, telling me that there was no way I was going to win this battle, even though I was glaring at him.

"Honestly thank you all, but I am not going on that trip and that is final." I said as I picked up the fork and continued with my breakfast.