The Other Side

Reunions

3 minutes. I run as fast as I can through the woods. I enter the witch house and get into the basement. I place Elena's soul in her body.

That's when my phone beeps.

~Flashback-Mystic Falls, 22 years ago~

"Elena, let me do it."

"I can handle it."

"Elena-" We tug back and forth over a whisk. She smiles and I do too. "Come on, let me do it."

"No-" I pull it out of her hand and she pouts then smiles at me. "It's Evie's first birthday. I'll handle the cake, you control Barbie on decorations. What goes up must come down." She laughs and a cry goes off on the baby monitor. "I'll go get her." I nod and press my lips to hers gently. She runs upstairs and I smile after her. She comes back downstairs 30 minutes later with a new outfit, and Evie has a teal bow and a onesie in the same color that says:

I'M CUTE
MOM'S HOT
DAD'S LUCKY

"Oh come on."

"What? It's her favorite." Evie giggles and we both smile at her. "You're damn lucky you're cute."

"Mmm hmm." She kisses me then looks at our beautiful daughter. "We got through the first year."

"Even though we moved to New Orleans and both of us shut our humanity off, we made it." I laugh and I grin at her then kiss Evie's soft raven hair. "Dada." I smile and she looks up at Elena. "Mama." We kiss but it's cut short, since Evie's hands go on both of our faces. "No, no." She laughs then Elena puts her in the high chair.

"I'm gonna-" I hand her a sippy cup full of blood and she smiles smacks me on the back of the head. She puts it on Evie's high chair and the little vampire drinks it all gone.

"I think it's going to be a good day."

"Me too." I kiss her, then we go back to making Evie's cake.

~End of Flashback~

ELENA

I can hear everything. Whispered conversations, worried voices. Everything. I open my eyes and I see people standing above me. Not just any people- my family. The people I love. But... Where is he?

"Damon?" I sit up and I look around. Stefan, Katherine, Ari, Evie, Sam, Ricky, Farah, Caroline, Bonnie, Jeremy, Alaric... Where is he? He's the first face I wanted to see... The last thing I remember is dying, nothing else. Evie looks scared and Sam looks distraught. Stefan is just sad and Ari looks broken. "Damon?" I croak. My throat is so sore. I begin to hyperventilate. No. No, no, NO! This can't be happening. Caroline hands me a blood bag and I drink gratefully.

"Where is he? What's happened? Stefan?" He looks at me and I plead with him, desperate to see the love of my life again.

"I'm sorry Elena. He never came back."

"NO! STOP IT!!! STOP LYING TO ME!!!"

"Mom, please." Evie and Sam look at me and I place a hand over my mouth, taking in a shaky breath. "He's gone?" Katherine bends down to me. "Elena... We'll find a way." I shake my head.

"Don't touch me." She pulls away, hurt written across her features. "Why- What-" Ari looks up at me. "He had one day to get you back and he did but... He didn't have time to get into his own body." I shake my head. "I don't want to live without him!"

"Mom, please." I look at my kids.

"Where is he?" I ask. They step aside to reveal their father, collapsed on the floor. I crawl over to him. "He isn't dead, Mom. He's trapped in a coma." I stroke his face gently, which still has warmth. He breathes gently, and I curl into his chest. "Please, come back to me, baby. Please." He stays in the same place, and I run out of the house.