Vampire Diaries Imagines

Remember Me (Part 2)

Damon made his way up the stairs, his footsteps silent on the polished wood. He stopped outside YN's door, leaning his head against the frame for a moment to collect himself. He knew this conversation wasn't going to be easy-YN was stubborn as hell, and when she wanted to shut people out, she was a master at it. But wasn't about to back down, especially when it came to the people he cared about. And one of the most important people in his life was drowning in her own head. He wasn't about to let that continue.

He knocked once and then let himself in, not bothering to wait for permission. YN was sitting on the edge of the bed, her back to him, her hands fiddling with the hem of her sweater as she looked out her window.

"YNN," Damon said, his tone softer than usual. "We need to talk."

She didn't turn around. "Not now, D. I just needed a minute."

Damon raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the doorframe. "A minute, huh? You've been gone for almost four hours, YN. Four. And don't even try telling me you weren't where you were. I know you too well."

Her shoulders tensed, but she didn't respond.

"You were in the old cemetery," he pressed. "At the family plot. Don't even try to deny it."

YN turned her head slightly, her jaw tightening. "Why can't you just let me have this, Damon? Just let me be for once!"

"Because you're not okay," Damon snapped back, his voice rising slightly. "And I'm not going to stand here and pretend you are when you're clearly spiraling!"

"I'm not spiraling!" she shot back, standing abruptly. Her hands clenched at her sides, and her voice cracked as she continued. "Why can't you just believe me? Why can't you leave me alone, just this once?"

Tears spilled down her cheeks as the words tumbled out, and Damon froze. Seeing her cry was rare-YN was too proud, too strong to let her emotions show like this. But here she was, raw and vulnerable, and it hit him like a punch to the gut.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "YNN, I know exactly where you were. I know where you've been standing for the last four hours."

She swallowed hard, looking away, but he wasn't about to let her retreat now.

"You were at your headstone," he said quietly. "And don't even try to deny it, because I've seen that look before. I saw it the day they buried that fucking casket."

YN's lip trembled, but she didn't speak. Damon took another step closer.

"You stood there for hours that day, and you didn't say a word not until we left anyway. You said that's when you knew you were a monster, that your family would've been better off if you'd stayed dead. And now you're back there in that mindset again, thinking the same damn thing. Don't think I can't see it, because I can. You're not hiding it from me."

Her tears fell faster now, and she sank back onto the bed, burying her face in her hands. Damon crouched in front of her, his voice softening.

"You mean the world to Stefan and me, YN," he said, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. "Even when Stefan and I were at each other's throats, when I swore I'd never forgive him and I'd make his life hell, you were the one who made me remember the love I had for him. Even when I didn't want to admit it, you were always there, reminding me that I wasn't as far gone as I thought. What of that makes you the monster your head is telling you that you are?"

Her hands lowered slightly, her tear-streaked face meeting his intense gaze.

"And Ric?" Damon continued. "He's crazy about you. You're the one person who made him believe he could have a life again. That man loves you without a second thought, YNN."