Vampire Diaries Imagines

Happy Place - Alaric Saltzman

YN stared at the old photo of Ric and Isobel that hung on the wall in his room, her heart heavy with a mix of curiosity and a newfound determination. They had all recently discovered the truth surrounding the woman's supposed "death" and she couldn't shake the nagging feeling in the back of her mind that maybe finding her and bringing her back would give Alaric the closure he needed. She also had the feeling of finding Isobel for herself, hoping she would have the answers to mending his broken spirit back together.

"I know what you're thinking." Ric's voice was like a gunshot in the silence. "I can see it on your face."

When she looked over, he was standing there, leaning against the doorframe with arms crossed. "You deserve to know why." She said with her eyes never leaving his.

"Maybe so, but it's not your job to get those answers for me." His words were gentle, but she could still hear the tinge of sadness that was laced through them as he spoke. "Over the past three years, she has had ample opportunities to come back and tell me why, but she didn't. Instead, Isobel let me and her whole family believe she was dead. That's on her, not you." Ric explained and placed his hands in hers. "YNN, you have to understand, she doesn't matter anymore."

"You may have left her in the past, but Ric, she's still a major part of you and who you are." YN said with her voice firm and her resolve unwavering. "I can see how knowing what happened is affecting you. Well, Damon's side of it all anyway. I can see the hurt behind your eyes, and I can't stand it. So, if finding her and dragging her happy little ass back into town to get you the closure you need then so be it."

Alaric sighed, realizing there was nothing he could say or do to change her mind. He reached up and gently cupped her face. "You are surely going to be the death of me. You know that, right?" He questioned as he pushed a stray strand of hair out of her face.

YN let out a small giggle at his words. "My father used to say the same thing about my mother."

The corner of his eyes crinkled as he smiled. "Well, we can add that to the list of things me and the old man would have bonded over." His eyes darted between hers and with another sigh, he asked, "There's nothing I can do to change your mind, is there?"

YNN shakes her head slightly. "You know me all too well to not know the answer to that, Ric. I'm doing this because I love you. I want you to get the answers you need and not just want. You need to find your happy place in your life again and I know some of it was left with her. I promise I'll be back in no time. I'm a better seeker than Isobel will ever be a hider."

"I don't need to find my happy place, baby." Alaric told her. "You are my happy place. Whatever miniscule amount of happy I left with Isobel has since returned and has found a home in you. I don't need whatever bullshit answers my ex-wife can come up with. At this point, as far as I'm concerned, she can stay the way she was in my mind. Dead." He pulled her into his embrace and rested his head lightly on top of hers. "But if I know anything, it's that you won't rest until what you have set out to do is accomplished." Ric is silent for a moment. "Then again it would be good to see her again just to give her a piece of my mind." he said with a chuckle.

"It's sounds like you're more on board with me going to find the chick than you were five minutes ago." she stated with a lighthearted smile.

"Maybe I am." He said and smiled back at her. "As long as you promise to come back in one piece... and alive."

"I promise. Well as alive as I can be considering I'm already dead in a since." she vowed with a small laugh to which he returned.