Forever Is Not Enough

Family

1864 - Mystic Falls, Virginia

Damon had Elena home just on time. Upon looking back at the slowly darkening house, he noticed a small light had illuminated from within her room. A shadow passed over the wall from inside and then she was there, smiling down at him from the window. He stopped to face her, a smirk on his face. She undid her shawl and let it fall from her shoulders to reveal her shoulders and the top of her chest, covering her mouth with her hand as though it was an accident. He laughed, hoping she couldn't see him blush. She gave a small curtsy, and he returned with a bow.

The sun had completed its descent into the horizon as he crossed through the large field that separated his and the Gilbert's house. The harvest was coming, and the tobacco was almost too tall for him to see over. The farmers had already gone home for the night. There was nothing but the cool breeze stirring up the sea of green around him. There was a foreboding in the air. An eerie feeling came over him as though there were two eyes grazing his back. He turned quickly just as something moved behind him. A chill ran up his spine and he did not waste another second returning home.

Upon arriving, he immediately went to find Stefan. The house was quiet as usual. There was no light in the parlor, forcing him to feel his way towards the staircase. He heard hushed voices coming from inside his father's study, and suddenly his mind went blank. Gone were the thoughts of Elena and strangers hidden by tobacco. Now he could only see Katherine. Give this to Stefan, she had instructed. The words rang over and over in his mind.

Without another thought in his head, Damon entered abruptly. "Stefan," he said.

His father looked at him like a fly that was too fast to swat. "We are speaking, Damon. Have you no courtesy?"

"It is important," Damon said, although he could not say why it was important - because he was not quite sure.

"It will still be important in the morning then," his father responded. He stood up from his chair, as if challenging his son. Stefan watched, uneasily standing as well.

Damon moved towards Stefan, going as far as he could around his father. His arm held the note out to Stefan, but before it could reach his brother, his father lunged at him. Strong hands came down on his chest, knocking him into the wall and, for a moment, out of his stupor. "You will do anything to disobey me, won't you?" Again Giuseppe slammed his hands into his son's chest, this time grabbing at his coat and a bit of flesh in order to raise him to his feet. He slammed him into the wall once, his head smashing into the hinge of the door. Damon's eyes never left his brother. He did not flinch, did not cry out. There was nothing but Katherine's voice in his head.

When Giuseppe finally let go, Damon handed the note to his brother. It wasn't until a second after that he seemed to realize what was going on around him. Pain seeped into his bones and blood rushed to his cheeks.

"You want me to behave like this?" Giuseppe growled. "Is that what you want, son?"

Damon's confused eyes went between the men in front of him, one concerned and the other cold. "I really needed to deliver that to Stefan," Damon explained, even though now it didn't make sense to him anymore.

Giuseppe advanced towards Damon again, knocking him on the side of his head with his fist. "You need to obey!" he roared. "Are you listening to me at all?"

At that, Stefan stepped forward, taking the baffled Damon into his arms. Looking back to his father, he forced a smile on his face, "I believe he is just tired. If you will permit, I will take him to bed now. Sleep well, now."

Once safe in his own room, Damon put his head in his hands. When Stefan asked what was wrong with him, he realized he had no idea; he couldn't remember. "What does the note say?" Damon asked after a moment of silence.

Stefan looked down at the small piece of paper, turning it around in his hands. Once he unfolded it, a smile hit his face like a ton of bricks. "It is from Katherine."

"Right! Katherine!" Damon knew that somehow. He laid back, pinching the bridge of his nose to ward off a pounding headache. "Has she confessed her love for you, brother?"

"It's just flirtation."

"But what would Father say?" Damon pressed, his face turning sour. "Nothing, of course. You could court our cow and it would not taint your status as the favorite."

Stefan sighed, "We both know old Betty is too good for me."

Damon laughed out loud. From the way his torso and back ached, he could tell he was not in good shape. Perhaps they were only bruises this time; he couldn't feel any open wounds. "What were you and father talking about?"

"You wouldn't believe me."

"I'll always believe you, brother."