The Other Side

Halfway

It's been 3 weeks now. 3 weeks since we started the ritual. I've been seeing and hearing Elena everywhere I look. I can't handle it anymore. I'm going insane.

We moved to New York 1 week ago, since we got 25 souls in Mystic Falls. Now we've gotten 25 more in New York, and we're halfway there.

Jade and Christian walk into Billy's Bar. Stefan, Sam and I follow close behind, watching them.

"Damon, don't pretend you can't hear me." I grit my teeth and I swallow.

"Damon, talk to me." I turn to my son and brother.

"I'm gonna go get a drink." They nod and I walk up to the bar. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No!" I walk into the alley. "Elena, you're dead! This is all in my mind!"

"Damon, please. Don't push me away."

"This isn't real. You've been gone so long that this is a HALLUCINATION!"

"Don't yell at me!"

"I can do whatever I want! This is in MY head! Go away and leave me alone! The real Elena is on the other side which is where she shouldn't be!"

"I'm right here! Why get the real thing back when you have me? I'll do whatever you want, I'll be whoever you want! There's nobody better than me."

"I want the mother to my children back. I want them to be able to see her! I want them to have pancakes in the morning made by her and to have her hum while she does it! You're not her! You're just a copy that my brain made, so kiss my ass." I walk back inside and I try to think of anything else.

Elena and I were thinking of having another baby when she gets back.

I snatch a bottle of bourbon from behind the bar then I walk with Sam out to the alley. We sit on a dumpster.

"So. I wanted to run something past you."

"Sure." I bring out another glass. "If you tell your mother, she'll kill me so don't." He smiles and nods at me. "Before she died, your Mom and I were talking about having another Salvatore." He looks at me. "What would you think about having a little brother or sister?"

"I don't know. It would be kind of cool."

"Pick a name." He thinks then tips the glass back. He barely winces. "You are a Salvatore. Your sister loves bourbon. Your mother doesn't know about that either." He nods while laughing.

"Ally."

"Ally. I like it. What if it's a boy?"

"Then you and Mom can pick." I smile then we drink a little more. "We should head back to the motel." I say, reading a text from Christian.

"Do you think he's good for her? Christian?"

"Surprisingly yes. If Evie's happy, so am I." He smiles. "I didn't even get to spend a year with her." He says, looking down at the glass.

"I know, Sammy. But I promise that when we get the girls back, you'll have the rest of eternity for you and Evie to be brother and sister." He smiles then nods. "Yeah." We head to the old warehouse where we set up the ritual. Farah runs up to me. "Uncle Damon, guess what?!?"

"What's up Monkey?"

"I got my compulsion down!" I smile at her. "Nice job. Keep working, sweetheart." I look over at Stefan. I walk out of the building and I motion for him to follow.

"What?"

"Who the hell are you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Who here is more of a father to Farah? Me or you?"

"I'm still her father."

"How old is she?"

"Twelve."

"Stefan, she turned thirteen years old in February."

"What?" I shake my head. "I get it, you're grieving. So am I. I lost my wife and my little girl. You know, before all of this happened, before we knew that she would die, we were planning to have another baby! I'm getting through this while still being a father to my son and my future son in law! Have you ever considered how Jade feels?!?"

"I need her! I need Katherine back! I need to see her every morning when I wake up and when I go to sleep. I want to have more children with the woman I love but she's dead, Damon!"

"Do you not remember that I have a wife too?!?"

"I don't care about Elena or Evie! They were always collateral damage!" I shake my head.

"Get out of my face. You're no longer my brother, and if you come anywhere near me or any of us again, I won't hesitate to kill you."

"Damon, I- I'm sorry I just... I didn't mean it."

"I don't care. Get out of here."

"No. Damon I need to make sure we get Katherine back."

"Fine. But don't speak to me or Sam. If you do, I swear to god," I turn away from him, "I'll make you regret it." I walk back into the warehouse and Farah looks up at me. "Uncle Damon, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, Monkey." She looks down at her feet for a minute. "Do you think that my Dad would let me date?" I raise an eyebrow. "Who are you interested in?"

"Nobody... Well... There's this boy in Mystic Falls. His name is Alex and I really like him."

"I think you should go talk to your Dad about that." She nods then runs over to him. I head outside and I stare up at the sky.

"He picked Ally, baby." I whisper to myself.

"Damon." I spin around. "Didn't I tell you to get lost?!?"

"Damon, it's really me. I don't have much time. But Klaus put a spell on you that's why you're seeing me." She bends over, wincing. "Damon, you have to think about the real me to make her go away. You have to think about the first time you fell in love with me or just a memory and then Ariana has to do this spell." I look at her, stroking her cheek although I can't feel it. "How is this possible?"

"I don't know. You guys are getting close, that must be wearing the veil thin." I smile at her. "Elena... I love you."

"I know. But what were you saying? Something about Sam?"

"Well, I told him that we were planning to have a baby when you get back." She smiles. "What did he say?"

"Ally. And I was thinking Rose for the middle name."

"Ally Rose. I love it." She smiles and tears brim in her eyes. "It's so good to see you, talk to you. I miss you so much."

"I miss you too, Elena. More than you know. I'm barely making it without you. How are the others? Evie, Katherine, Ricky?"

"They're fine. We're all fine. But in order to get Tatia, you have to get someone."

"Who?"

"All I got was a name. Enzo."

"Come again?"

"Enzo or Lorenzo. I got the name and the city. He's here, Damon. In New York."

"Do I know him? How do you know this?"

"Esther wants Tatia gone more than we do. You have to get Enzo. He can get Tatia here. You need to trap her in a coffin, spell it shut. To get rid of psycho bitch me, do the spell. I have to go." I shake my head. "Damon I don't have a choice." I nod.

"Elena, when you get back, I'm going to give you the most mind blowing night of your life." She blushes. "I'll see you then."

"I love you."

"I love you too." She begins walking away and I watch after her. I look at the paper in my hands then Ari walks out of the building. I look up at my sister.

"Ari, I need your help. Now."