There Was No World For Her, If There Was No Damon

Damon's Alive

Damon's POV:

I stood in the doorway while my family gawked at me. Elena's eyes were full of confusion as they took me in. She shook her head and started to back away.

"What kind of sick joke is this, Stefan?!" Elena growled at my speechless brother then shot me a cold glare.

"Elena," I reached out to her, but she flinched away from me. Hurt shone across my face.

She looked so different and so..broken. Her brown hair was cut short and she wore a black blouse over a pair of dark jeans. Pain and anger contorted her beautiful face as the tears made wet trails down her cheeks. I knew what she was feeling because I felt the same way when I thought I had lost both her and our daughter.

"You turned it off," I whispered more to myself than to her.

Her bottom lip trembled ever so slightly,"This isn't real. You're not real. I saw Klaus rip your heart from your chest! I saw him murder you!"

I was suddenly in front of her grabbing her wrists. She tried to escape my grasp, but was too weak.

I put one of her hands on my solid sternum,"Does this feel fake to you?"

I moved Elena's hands up to my face so she now had one hand on each of my cheeks,"Does this feel real?"

I gradually released her hands then gently cupped her face in my hands and wiped away her tears with my thumbs. I could tell she was fighting so many inner feelings inside of herself. I then leaned down and kissed her with so much passion like I had never kissed her before. I slowly pulled away and looked down at her to see her expression.

"Did that feel fake?" I asked softly as I placed my forehead against hers and gazed into her eyes.

I got no reply so I sighed and went to turn away. She suddenly wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me in for another kiss. Her lips were wet and tasted salty from her tears.

"Turn it back on," I murmured as my lips brushed her ear. "Please."

Her eyes that had been cold and dead were now dancing with life as she looked up at me and smiled. That's when I knew she had listened to me and had flipped her switch back on. I pulled her into a hug, glad to have the woman I loved back in my arms where she belonged.

"How are you even alive?" Stefan asked as he studied me.

"Klaus's witch put a spell on me. I technically was dead, but only for a certain period of time. They kept me in a coffin," I answered.

My eyes traveled from my brother's thoughtful face to the young girls who were peeping out from behind Katherine's legs. Elena pulled away then followed my gaze to our beautiful daughter.

"Hey," I said softly as I knelt down to get a better look at her. "Do you know who I am?"

Stella's eyes flicked to Elena then back to me as she nodded. She slowly came out from behind Katherine then bolted into my open arms.

"You're my daddy," She burrowed into my chest happily.

I stood up with her in my arms and turned so she could see Elena. Stella immediately hid her face in my shirt, her eyes full of fear.

"What's wrong, Stella?" I studied her face. "It's just your mom."

"Mama hurt me," She whispered sadly.

I looked at Elena and saw the guilt written all over her face.

"I didn't mean to, Sweetie. I'm sorry," Elena reached her hand out to stroke Stella's hair, but Stella flinched away.