All You Got

chapter 20

Luna

I rush away from the house, tears in my eyes and get inside my car, starting the engine and driving away quickly. I shouldn't leave, leave my mom while we were talking, but I couldn't stay here and listen to this any longer. Not like I got mad at her for what she said. I'm just ... overwhelmed. The things I learned.

You're lost, right? Its been a week since Damon and I came back from New York, and today's the day I found the chance to talk to my mom about what I found out before I left. About Dad. What an asshole my "grandpa" was. I'm crying for my dad, for what he'd been through. I'm crying for the years my parents missed.

I drive to the spot Damon and I have, and park the car, looking directly at the view. I fidget and take deep breaths, holding the necklace Damon gifted me earlier in New York in my fingers. It's a very beautiful piece, a silver half moon. It's not something wow, but I love it. And the gesture.

I stay there some more. And then text Damon if it's okay to go to his place. I drive away, and make my way to the Desai's household, and see Damon.

It's like he sees right through me. He doesn't say much. He kisses my head and we go upstairs, laying down on the bed immediately. Actually, I'm laid down, he's sitting up, his back fully on the headboard.

I tell him everything. And start crying.

"Hey, hey..." he nudges me to his lap, my legs on my sides, and he holds my head to the curve of his neck and shoulder, my hands around him.

He holds me like I'm fragile, like he's taking care of me, like he's taking all my pain away with just an embrace. I'm with him for less than twenty minutes, and I almost don't feel pain. Almost.

"Look, you don't want birthdays, no birthdays." he exclaims and I sniff, chuckling sadly. I told him everything everything.

"Finding out all those things is harsh. But you're not alone." he makes me look at him, and wipes away a tear that's running down my cheek.

"He didn't deserve anything that happened to him. He went through so much. They went through so much." tears run down again. He caresses my back and the back of my head with his hands and nods.

"I know, I know, love." Damon tells me and I sniff again.

"But he wouldn't want to see you cry, would he?" I shake my head in denial, agreeing with him.

"I never got to know him..." I say. Everything I'm feeling is out now. The first time I'm this "weak" in front of Damon. The first time I'm crying in front of him.

"That's where you're wrong. You know him, babe. You do ; from what your mom has told you, from the pictures, from the videotapes, from everything." I stare at him as he does the same.

"Yes, you didn't meet him. But you know him." he finishes and I cry, putting my head back on his shoulder, wetting his shirt, his neck, everything.

"And you're not alone. You have people that love you around you. And care for you." I nod, and take a deep breath.

"I'm one of those people." Damon says and I stay still in his embrace. He exhales deeply and stays still too, I feel him under me.

I lift my head, finally, and meet his gaze. He looks nervous, yet he looks at me like I'm his whole world, and that's a feeling I never want to end.

"You love me?" I ask him, a soft smile on my lips, my eyes red and dry tears on my cheeks. Damn what a sight I must be.

"I do, Luna. So much. So much you can't even imagine." he answers and takes another deep breath. I kiss him. Softly, caressing his face at the same time, when I pull away.

"I love you more, Damon." his eyes widen in surprise for a moment, before he can't hold himself but to smile, softly too.

And he kisses me.

I never thought I'd fall in love with Damon of all people, but how the tables turn, how fate brought us together. I love him, I love his soul. I love all of him.

We kiss for some more, before we fall asleep together, me in his embrace, while he's holding me tight, like he's protecting me.