Cosmic Love

I woke up with a damp washcloth being pressed against my head. As my eyes fluttered open I gazed into Damon’s ice blue eyes. “You’re out,” I said happily with a smile on my face. “You’re safe.” I tried to sit up but Damon held me down.

“You need to rest,” he said soothingly.

“Damon, I’m a vampire. I’m fine,” I protested but let him keep me against the bed.

“You were taken down by a witch’s spell. You need time to wear it off.” He put the washcloth on the nightstand before crawling into bed beside me. He stayed above the covers but put his arm around me, letting me rest my head on his chest.

“Damon?” I asked softly.

“Hm?” came his response.

“Damon, what happened? Why are you here?”

“Do you not want me to be?” he asked jokingly.

“No, that’s not it,” I said. I wasn’t up to matching his teasing tone. “I just figured you’d be…with Katherine.” Saying it caused a lump to form in my throat.

“Katherine wasn’t in the tomb,” he said after a moment. I could hear the deep sadness in his voice. “She had gotten let out.”

“Oh, Damon,” I said and clutched him tighter to me. I moved slowly and softly until I was the one cradling him. “Damon, I’m so sorry that you have to go through this.” I could put the pieces together. Katherine had gotten out and never told Damon and never contacted him. She had let him believe he was down there. When she didn’t want him at all. “I wish you had someone to love,” I said softly into his chest.

“Maybe I do,” he said quietly. So quiet even I almost didn’t hear it. We turned to look at each other and you could feel the tension building between us. It was now or never. Then slowly, haltingly Damon bent his head and pressed his lips to mine.

I ran my fingers through his soft, feathery hair. I pulled him to me and he eagerly supplied. I crashed back down onto the pillows with Damon supporting himself above me. I was slowly losing myself in him as we continued to kiss. Then suddenly I pushed Damon off of me and moved away from him.

“What?” asked Damon looking surprised. “Come on, Emma. You know we’re such a good team together,” he said moving closer again. I put my hand on his chest to stop him from coming any closer.

“I care about you, Damon. I do. But we can’t do this.” I got out of the bed and stood on the opposite side of Damon. It just felt wrong.

“Why not?” he asked confused. Not many people turned down Damon Salvatore.

“You’re just here because Katherine isn’t. You just want to turn it all off.”

“What makes you say that?” he asked irked at my accusations.

“Damon, I’ve watched you grow up,” I almost yelled in frustration. How many times did I have to say it? “I’ve seen everything you’ve gone through. I was there to watch everything. I’ve seen the way it hurt you.”

He stayed silently on the bed. I could tell he was holding it in. He was turning it off. Damon Salvatore didn’t show emotion. “I can’t do this, Damon. I can’t let myself go there.” I could feel tears welling in my eyes.

“Why not?” he asked rather harshly.

“Because it’s never going to be me and it’s always going to be her.” He looked stunned like I had just slapped him. “Tell me I’m wrong,” I challenged. “Is it always going to be Katherine?” Painfully a part of me hoped that he would say no. But I knew it was useless even as I did.

“Yes,” he said sounding defeated.

“And that’s why, Damon. I don’t know if I can stand to watch you do this to yourself. I don’t know if I can watch you do anything to get her back when she never wanted you.” I watched the pain cross his face. I felt guilty but at the same time I knew he needed to hear it.

“What are you saying?” he asked.

“I am not going to be second,” I said fiercely. I felt weak and tired all of sudden and sat down on the edge of the bed. My back was to Damon. I couldn’t look at him. “Please leave,” I said weakly.

“Emma—”

“Leave,” I said harsher. A few tears spilled down my cheeks. I felt the mattress move slightly and then Damon was out of my room.

Damon’s POV

I sat on the couch swirling the liquid around in the glass. I took a quick drink before setting it down on the end table. Stefan appeared standing beside me.

“You’re upset,” he commented. “Why?”

“Katherine wasn’t in the tomb,” I said taking another sip.

“No, this is something else,” argued Stefan.

“Emma’s upset,” I said staring into the fire. I wished I could turn it off. I didn’t want to feel this way. Explains the glass in my hand.

“What’d you do?” asked Stefan.

“I told the truth for once.”

“Where is she?” asked Stefan worriedly.

“Hell if I know,” I said finishing the drink. “I’m going to go to bed,” I said standing up next to Stefan. “Goodnight, brother.” I clapped him on the shoulder before going upstairs.

Emma’s POV

“Damon,” I said standing in the middle of his room as he came in. He seemed surprised on seeing me. The surprise turned to concern as he saw the tears run slowly down my face. “I’m leaving. I can’t stay here anymore. Not like this.”

“Emma, you don’t have to leave. I—”

“Don’t, Damon. Just don’t. The only reason I’m not gone already is because I wanted to give you this.” I held out my hand having it closed in a fist. As Damon held out his hand I placed it into his palm. Before I opened my fist I couldn’t help but look into his eyes one last time. Opening up my palm I watched as Damon looked down at it in astonishment.

“My mother’s necklace,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I was going to give it to Stefan,” I explained. “But I figured it would mean more to you.” I stood there as he held it up to the light and admiring the way it caught the light and shone. I could almost see tears shimmering in his eyes as he stared in awe at the necklace. “It’s always Katherine,” I whispered as a reminder to myself. I then fled the room before I could never leave.