Tear me apart | a delena fanfiction | Completed

11. Forever family

The next two days felt like a century. Elena spent the whole day crying and Damon holding her, making her hot chocolate and trying to comfort her. He was desperate, he didn't know what to do. He hated seeing her so shattered, destroyed and completely broken.

Elena wouldn't speak to him, just to say thank you and to assure him that she loved him. But not more. The night was the worst part for both of them. Elena didn't sleep, she would go to the living room and stand there, staring at the TV and Damon didn't sleep either, he was sick worried about her. He'd sit with her on the couch and would wait for the sun to rise.

But the third day Damon was tired of seeing her so depressed so he decided to have a talk with her.

"Elena, we need to talk." he said to her while sitting on the couch beside her. She was wrapped in a blanket and had a mug of hot chocolate in her hands. When she didn't reply he went on. "Elena, I know that losing Jenna has hit you. Hard. But you can't lock in yourself. I want to comfort you, to ease your pain and to let you know that I'm here, but I don't know how."

"Damon," she started "I know that you love me and that you don't want to see me like this. And I love you too and I don't want you to be worried about me."

"Elena, how can I not be worried about you? You don't sleep, you won't speak to me and I think it's enough. Today you're going to eat properly and tonight I'll have to give you something so you can sleep."

"Ok." she simply replied.

"Ok? You're not gonna fight me or something?" he asked, surprised. He knew Elena well, and if it were the real her right now she would complain. But he didn't want her to think that he was against her.

"No, I know you're right. I just don't know what do. I know I need your help and I want you to help me. It's just that I feel like I can't take it anymore. After my parents died I still had Jenna to take care of us. I feel like I'm not old enough to take care of Jeremy, of a house and to make a living. God, I'm still in high school. And I'm here hiding from some crazy vampires with my desperate vampire boyfriend when I should be there with Jeremy. He needs me Damon, we need to go back."

"No, we're not going back Elena. Jeremy's been with Alaric these days and, I didn't want to tell you but Jeremy's on his way. He will be staying here with us. There's another room and he can stay there."

"Damon, really? You did that for me?"

"I'd do anything for you." he said and she hugged him and kissed him tightly. "Thank you." she whispered in his ear. "I love you so much."

"I love you too." he replied.

When they pulled away, Elena had a small smile in her lips.

"Are you ok?" he asked her.

"Yes, I am. And it's because of you that I'm a little happy. Thank you really Damon."

"Elena, you need to stop thanking me. I did it for you. I want to see you happy. It's unbearable seeing you hurt and suffering. I know I don't get along very well with emo boy but I'll try." he promised.

"Would you stop calling him that?"

"Well it's that or little Gilbert or ring boy. You choose."

"I like Jeremy, thanks."

"Well sorry but Jeremy is not available."

"Fine. Little Gilbert then. Yup, I don't mind that one."

"When is he arriving by the way?" Elena asked. She was really excited about having her little brother with her, especially after everything that happened, losing Jenna hit both of them really hard but Jeremy was more affected. Elena felt the need to protect her little brother, and with Damon she just felt stronger. She knew with him by her side, she could fight anything, anyone. Nothing would ever come between them. They were strong enough, she was sure of that.