Chapter 10 - New Beginnings

Elena POV 2/7 9:30pm-2:00am

Once his eyes open, so do mine. My eyes open to all the hurt I had been hiding and the way I had been treating everyone for the past month and a half. They only tried to help me, but I pushed them away with my apathy. But now was not the time to think of them, for my feet were already running full speed towards Damon. His eyes flutter a few times before he notices me advancing.

      “Elena,” His voice calls to me as the corners of his lips raise into a smile. I plow into him and wrap my legs around his body, sending him stumbling backwards as he slowly encloses his arms around my waist. Tears begin to fall from my eyes - I’m not sure if they are from joy or sadness, but in that moment all I can feel is relief. The feel of his arms around my waist makes me feel secure and safe, a touch that I had craved since he had been gone. His hand strokes my hair and I bury my face in his neck, smiling into his skin. But as I nuzzle his neck, I feel the blood rush to my face and my canines extends from the warm crimson liquid pulsing through his veins beneath his skin. I pull back quickly as my vampire instincts rescind, looking into his blue eyes with utter shock.

      “Are, are you human?” I stumble over my words and my voice cracks on the word ‘human.’ He looks puzzled as he meets me gaze. “You’re… not a vampire. Wha-“ My voice trembles as I realize what is happening and he slowly sets me down, his hands cupping my face. “How is that? How is that even possible.” Bonnie slowly comes up behind me and answers my question.

      ”We knew that this might happen, but it was only a small chance and there was no other way,” Bonnie continues on about everything Shane and her had talked about, but I tune her out for the most part until then end, “But that wasn’t the side effect we were most worried about. It’s possible too that he…” she trails off, but I turn to her and furrow my forehead, waiting for her to finish, “It’s possible that he will have memory loss. Or not remember anything at all.” My stomach drops and I twirl to face Damon one more time, searching his face for any signs showing that he remembers me.

      “Damon?” Stefan walks around us and puts his hand on Damon’s shoulder, his eyes boring into those of his brother’s. After a few silent moments, Damon smiles and grabs Stefan, holding him tight with a few pats on his back. Stefan immediately returns the embrace and pulls him closer.

      “I missed you, brother.” Damon laughs and holds Stefan and arm’s length with a smile. A single tear falls from Stefan’s eye and he pulls Damon back in for another hug.

      “Of all the times I’ve wanted you dead, I never knew how much I’d miss having my big brother.” Stefan whispers. Caroline pats Stefan on the back and he releases Damon, stepping away.

      “Hey. Welcome back.” Caroline smiles at Damon and can’t help but suppress a smile. I step in front of both of them and pull Damon’s face towards mine.

      “Hey, I need to know. Do you remember us?” I look longingly in his eyes, searching deep within them to try and dig up an answer. He looks down as he twirls a strand of my hair on his finger, letting a smile creep onto his face.

      “How could I forget my little brother, the witch that has saved us more times than I can count, Vampire Barbie, and the girl that I love?” He lowers his eyes to meet mine and I can’t help but smile. “And of course little Gilbert and the quarterback.” He yells over so Matt and Jeremy can hear him and I hear one of them chuckle. Damon pushes past us and walks over to Jeremy with a smile. Jeremy opens his arms and embraces him in a hug.

I try to suppress my laugh, but I can’t help it. I’ve never seen Jeremy and Damon get along, much less care about each other. They break their hold and Damon puts his arm around him, mussing up his hair as Matt follows close behind them. When they get back to the group. Jer laughs and pushes Damon off of him. Damon walks slowly towards me, making the inside of my chest flutter with anticipation but when he opens his mouth, the words take me by surprise.

      “Punch Matt in the face,” He looks at me with a look of intent, but I return a look is sheer confusion and aversion, shaking my head no. Matt looks around confused and puts his hands up in surrender. “Elena,” he continues, “I need you to punch Matt.”

      “What? No, Damon. I’m not punching Matt in the face.” I look at him as if he was ridiculous for saying such a thing, which he was. His request make no sense and to make things more baffling, his trademark smirk creeps onto his face.

      “That’s my girl.” He smiles and pulls me into another hug and it finally fits together. He was testing the sire bond. He wanted to make sure it was broken, and I guess it was! I quickly pushed him away at arm’s length and smiled.

      “It’s broken! The sire bond is broken.” Damon laughs and backs away, nodding.

      “Took you long enough ‘Lena! I’m pretty sure I worried Matt a little.” He nods towards Matt who, still slightly tense, lets out an apprehensive chuckle. Damon seems a little different though as he smiles. Less spiteful and sarcastic.

      “Well, let’s go inside. It’s getting late.” Stefan laughs and turns to head into the lakehouse with the rest of us on his heels. Once we get in, Matt takes a seat on the couch and Jeremy jumps over the back, landing on top of him. “Nice Jer.” Stefan chuckles and sits down on the far end of the couch, lifting up Jeremy’s legs and setting back down on his lap. Caroline and I take a seat on the loveseat with Bonnie on the floor in front of us. The atmosphere feels relaxed for the first time in what seems like forever. The thought of Klaus being trapped for only a few days surfaces into my head, causing my nerves to return, but I shove it to the back of my mind. I want to delight in this moment of joy as we all sit around talking. Damon casually walks over and takes a seat in the arm of the loveseat by me, lightly brushing against my arm. I tilt my head up and bite my lip, looking at his beautiful face. A subtle smile creeps on his face as his eyes angle towards mine.

      “Hey! I am not that high maintenance,” I hear Caroline shout light heartedly as she throws a pillow at Matt, “I just like to take a while when I get ready.” Caroline smiles widely and nods at me, “Don’t compare me to this one, she never takes the time.” I turn towards her with my mouth hanging open, faking a hurt expression.

      “Wow, thanks Care!” She simply shrugs with a grin and we all share a laugh. Damon abruptly stands up and walks around the back of the couch to the kitchen.

      “Well I’m going to make something to eat.” Jeremy sits up and pushes Matt to the side as he leans against the back of the couch.

      “Hey, want to make me a sandwich?” I can’t tell if Jeremy is being sarcastic or not, but Damon’s middle finger flies up regardless of the tone. Quiet laughter fills the room, and I can even hear Caroline’s giggle. Jer simply jumps up and joins Damon behind the kitchen island, making the food himself.

After a few hours pass of laughing, teasing, and relaxing conversation that has been a long time coming, we decide it’s probably time to go. Jeremy is sleeping on the couch, Matt, Caroline and Bonnie got into the alcohol and the rest of us are just tired, especially Damon. I caught him dozing off on the loveseat next to me a few times, eventually leaning on my shoulder. I lean over to his ear and softly shout.

      “Hey, sleepyhead!” He shoots up and looks around drowsily. “Not used to actually needing sleep rather than just enjoying it?” He playfully shoves me and pushes me down against the couch with his shoulder. “Thanks.” I bite sarcastically. “How about we get some sleep, everyone seems pretty tired so we can stay here. Stefan can stay in Jeremy’s old room, Matt can stay in the guest room, Bonnie and Care can stay in our parent’s old room, the sleepy one over here can stay where he’s been, and Jer and I will stay out here to keep an eye on things.” I smile tiredly and the rest seem to agree with staying the night. Caroline and Matt seem too drunk to go anywhere anyways.

      “Alright, let’s get you two to bed.” Bonnie smiles and helps lead our two inebriated friends down the hallway to their rooms. Stefan chuckles and stands up, setting his glass of bourbon on the coffee table as he walks over to Damon and pats his back, helping him up off the couch. They head off down the hall but not before Damon can sneak a look over his shoulder to me and smile.

      “Never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad he’s back.” Jeremy leans on the arm of the couch and laughs to himself. His laughter is something that I’ve missed, he hasn’t seemed happy for the past couple of months, but then again, none of us have.  “But I think you’re the one who has missed him the most. It was,” he pauses and looks down, “terrifying to see you like that. Without anything,” A long pause follows his sentence before he looks up and smiles weakly, “But I’m glad you’re back. I kind of missed having my pain in the ass sister.” My genuine smile fades into a smirk as I walk over and shove him down onto the couch. His laughter once again fills the room as I sit on the couch underneath him, placing his head on my lap and stroking the hair from his face.

      “Remember when I was 12 and we use to stay out here all night just like this, watching mom and dad dance in front of the fire?” I smile and look at the dark fireplace, reminiscing. It’s been 6 years since then and I can’t help but try to remember. Jeremy closes his eyes and smiles, obviously remembering as well. After he falls asleep, I stand up and place his head back down on the couch, grabbing my suitcase from behind the counter and changing out of my clothes. I grab a grey t-shirt and black shorts, pulling them on before I go to lie on the floor in front of the fireplace. I lie on my back and turn my head to the side, watching the dying embers in the fireplace as I try to drift off into sleep.