Dangerous Minds

Chapter 19

A/N: Hey all! I'm kind of back to writing. I know it's been forever. Although, I hope you all are still reading my stories and thank you for those who have been patient with me. I truly do appreciate it.

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Dangerous Minds- Chapter Nineteen

-Stefan-

I keep waking up from the same nightmarish memory. It leaves my clothing soaked from sweat and my heart shattering. It leaves my eyes moistened from crying and my throat dry from screaming. As much as I try, I can never save her and that's when I remember it. The night my life and Elena's changed forever. It was the same night we had gotten into a huge argument over custody of Addison. Laying in bed, I can still hear her screams, those blood curdling cries for help and it makes my mind go crazy with wonder. I wonder if things could have turned out differently, I wonder if I had known, could I had been the one to save her?

"She is my daughter and you can't fucking take her like this!" I had screamed at Elena. We had been arguing for the last hour and a half regarding Addison and the new court ruling that was now placed between us. Elena wasn't allowed to see her anymore, and it was up to me regarding if I wanted to place her up for adoption or try to raise her on my own.

She was rummaging through bags of clothing and blankets, holding Addie in one had as she was rocking her soothingly, telling her that they were just going to go on a little adventure. "I'm her mother, Stefan! I don't give a damn what the courts have to say about it. I am still her mother and she is going to stay with me until someone rips her out of my arms. Do you understand?" She spat back at me, angrily staring me down as I stood in front of the door, blocking her way out.

"Let us go. Please." She begged, looking up at me through watery eyelashes and reddened cheeks. This was killing her inside, knowing that if she were to leave now that I could flip her whole world around and never allow her to see our daughter again. That I had the power to take everything that mattered in her life away from her within the blink of an eye. "It's not up to me, Elena. The judge made his choice and I have full custodial rights now. You just gave yours up, remember?"

Her bottom lip is trembling as I unravel my arms and she slowly hands Addison over to me. "I just want my baby! Stefan please, just give me my daughter and let us go. Please, let us start over!" Tears spilled over her cheeks as she stands in front of me sobbing. After a few minutes, she finally speaks again. This time, her tone is barely there. "I don't want to fight you anymore." Elena says in a defeated tone. The look in her eyes, this broken and distant stare makes my heart break as she picks up her bag and leaves our daughters diaper bag on the floor. "Tell her that I'm sorry for the things I've done. Tell her that I wish I could have been a better mother to her and maybe one day, she'll have that. Someone who isn't me. Someone who'll always be better for her than I clearly am."

Holding Addison in my arms tightly now, I watched Elena leave that night and I let her go. It was the best thing, I had thought at the time. Although, just hours after we had gotten into our argument and she vanished. I hadn't realized that the outcome was going to be so devastating. Addison and I had fallen asleep on the couch when we were awoken by a loud vibration coming from my cell phone.

Picking up the phone into my hands without looking at it, I answered. "It's 4 in the morning. What do you want?" I asked, my voice raspy as sleep still filled my eyes.

"Stefan. Please, I made a mistake. I'm sorry. Stefan, please! You need to help me. Please, I'm scared..." My head snapped up, remembering that I had placed Addison in her crib in the middle of the night made me feel better as my body sprang up off the couch.