With a Little Help from My Friends – Chapter 3

Damon sat heavily on the side of his bed dressed in pajama bottoms and a singlet, his phone at his ear. His features looked drawn and tired and his skin paler than usual.

"Thanks Caroline." Damon said with disappointment and hung up his phone.

"Anything?" Elena asked walking out of Damon's bathroom. She too was dressed for bed.

Damon shook his head. "No sign of them at the apartment, and of course they neglected to leave a forwarding address with the landlord."

"Anything more we can do?" Elena asked with concern. She also looked exhausted teetering slightly where she stood.

"You're asleep on your feet. Elena." Damon said compassionately. "Get some rest and we'll make a fresh start in the morning."

Elena nodded but made no move to leave.

"You can crash here. Plenty of room. Sheets are clean." Damon offered patting the bed.

"No. I'm set up in Stefan's room." Elena said.

"Suit yourself." Damon said lying back. "I'm wiped." He sighed.

Still not willing to leave, Elena stared at him with mix of fear and protectiveness.

"Hovering..." Damon said in mock annoyance.

"It's just..." Elena said her eyes pleading. "We lost Stefan... and you...I can't..." She tried to explain.

"I know." Damon said with understanding. He got up and pulled his leather wing back chair right next to the bed. He guided Elena by the shoulders and sat her down.

"Great for curling up in." He said gently wrapping an afghan around her shoulders.

"Thanks." Elena said with a small smile pulling her knees up and making herself comfortable.

Damon lay back down and closed his eyes. "Thank you Elena." He said sleepily.

"For?" Elena asked.

"Hovering." Damon said and promptly fell asleep.

Elena watched him marvelling at the ease and trust with which he slept. His features relieved of the stresses of 145 years revealed a beautiful almost angelic creature. Elena watched him for a few more minutes before allowing her own eyes to close.

Elena, dressed in a comfortable pair of jeans and a sweater, found herself approaching a broad gateway flanked by familiar solid brick pedestals. The entrance opened to a circular drive leading to an elaborate antebellum house.

Two young men dressed in civil war era clothing roughhoused on the manicured lawn. When Elena stepped into the driveway the darker haired of the two looked up. He used one hand to sweep a mop of dark curls out of his eyes.

"Elena!" Damon called, beckoning her to join them.

When she approached Damon wrapped an arm around her shoulder and brought her to Stefan.

"Stefan, this is Elena." Damon said with enthusiasm. "She is very important in our future."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Elena." Stefan said in his most gentlemanly manner. "But I am afraid I must take my leave. I am needed in town to prepare. We will soon be overrun by refugees of the Atlanta fires. We suffer from a serious lack of lodgings."

"I have procured two rooms in the main house." Damon informed him.

"How were you able to get father to agree?" Stefan asked surprised.

"Convinced him with my charming manner." Damon grinned broadly.

"Thank you." Stefan said with true sincerity.

"Whatever you need, brother." Damon reassured him with a clap on the shoulder.

"You admire him very much." Elena observed as they watched Stefan walk away.

"He is the best person I know." Damon admitted then offered Elena his arm. "Would you like to see the estate?" he asked.

"I would love to." Elena smiled taking his arm. Damon led her through the grand entry and up a sweeping staircase.

"The bedrooms are up here. We have several reserved for guests." Damon said opening several doors to reveal elegantly appointed rooms.

"And these are Stefan's and mine." He opened two adjacent doors revealing two simply arranged rooms. The only obvious luxuries being the large four poster beds and the myriad of books scattered in both rooms.

'You like to read." Elena observed.

"There is much to learn about the world." Damon explained leading her down the back stairs.

As they returned to the main floor they could hear voices speaking passionately in one of the rooms.

"Father's study." Damon explained "He and the founders spend much of their time discussing the progress of the war."

"Mr. Fell, I appreciate that Mr. Lockwood believes slavery is a God given right, but we must not allow ourselves to be swept away by the words of others. We must judge for ourselves." Giuseppe Salvatore's words came clearly through the door.

"Excuse me Father. I was wondering if I could be of service to you and Mr. Fell." Damon said opening the door.

"Mr. Fell, You know my eldest Damon." Giuseppe said motioning for Damon to enter then continuing with his speech. "But on one thing we are in agreement. Virginia is our home and we must defend her and the Confederacy with all we have, even our lives if necessary. It is our duty."

"Yes. " Mr. Fell agreed."Damon you are of age I believe. What are your thoughts about the merits of the war?"

"I am afraid my eldest's sense of duty might be lacking." Giuseppe interrupted. "He has not yet stated his position."

"I am giving it serious consideration Father." Damon said respectfully. "With your permission I will go and check on the progress in the fields."

"Certainly." Giuseppe waved him away.

"Your father can be very intense." Elena observed.

"He is very strong minded." Damon agreed. "And perhaps he is right. I should do my duty in defending the Confederacy."

They walked around to the back of the house. Damon led her through the labyrinth built from hedges and rose bushes, then stopped by the pond.

"Those rare winters when it freezes over provide a wonderful excuse to invite the lovely young ladies of the town for some ice skating." Damon grinned mischievously eliciting a smile from Elena.

"Hello Maizy." Damon said as one of the field hands walked by. "How are the children?"

"Growing like weeds Mr. Salvatore." Maizy smiled then hurried away to her work.

"We have numerous acres planted in various cash crops, primarily wheat. " Damon explained. "The war has brought much hardship to Virginia but being so far south we have managed to do well, providing both for the needs of the military and civilian population. '

"I never pictured you as a farmer." Elena said with an amused smile.

"Gentleman Farmer." Damon protested. "We don't actually do any work. But I do have a plan."

"A diabolical plan?" Elena teased causing Damon to laugh.

"Science is progressing so rapidly. If we can adopt some of the new farming methods our yield could double easily. I intend for the Salvatore Estate to be the most productive in the whole Shenandoah valley." Damon said proudly.

"You never fail to think big." Elena said with admiration. "Thank you so much for the tour Damon. Your home is beautiful."

"Thank you for sharing this day with me Elena." Damon said with a heartfelt smile. "You don't realize how much I appreciate your company."

"You are a good man Damon Salvatore." Elena added with conviction as they walked back toward the house hand in hand.

Damon rolled over in his sleep, his arm flopping to the edge of the bed, finding Elena's hand hanging from the chair. Never quite waking up, he entangled his fingers with hers, and fell into a deeper sleep with a contented smile.