It's later in the day when Damon finally returns home. No sign of Alaric in town. It just makes him worry more. Because without the herbs, he is inclined to think that something else is going on. And they don't need that right now. He sets the takeaway bag on the dresser and frowns at the lack of Daphne in his bed. Mostly because he thought she was going to be there for the long haul.
"Red?" He asks. He knows she is still in the house, he can smell her and hear her. She steps out of his bathroom and his breath catches in his throat. She's dressed, like a flapper. A blue dress with silver details that catch the light. She gives him a look and holds out her hands at her side.
"Happy?" She asks him. He smiles and nods. He is very happy with this look on her. "About earlier..."
"Stop" He moves closer to her. "It's been a bad few days and I shouldn't have made the joke" He mumbles the last part. He is not very good at admitting fault. But he knows that she wasn't in the mood for a joke and he shouldn't have made it. He touches her arms, brushing his thumbs over her skin. "We're fine" He assures her. She gives him a small smile and nods. "You look great," He tells her. "You just have this dress lying around?" She rolls her eyes fondly and chuckles.
"No" She admits. "I did a little magic"
"So you're feeling a little better?" He asks, she shrugs.
"Not really" She admits quietly. "But the world doesn't stop because I want to curl under a blanket and cry for the rest of my life" She adds and gives him a sad smile. "And there is too much going on here for me to ignore it" She looks so defeated right now. So drained and hurt. He lifts a hand to brush his fingers over her cheek. Once this threat has been dealt with, he'll take her somewhere nice. Or just somewhere. Maybe they could spend some time in London. Though that house doesn't hold happy memories right now. Perhaps they can take some time at the Gilbert Lake House. It's peaceful out there, maybe that will make her feel better. Even for just a little while. He leans closer and kisses her. Feels her sinking against him, her arms wrapping around his back.
"We get through the next week" He starts when he pulls back. "Let's go somewhere, just you and me...."
"Where?" She asks him. He takes a deep breath and shrugs.
"Wherever you want" He assures her softly. "As far as you want, for as long as you want" He promises, she looks up at him softly and then smiles.
"The 'L' bomb was dropped and now you want to run away with me?" She teases him, he chuckles and shrugs.
"Well, Red, you're a knockout" He admits and pulls her closer. "Anyone would be crazy not to squirrel you away to themselves" He teases softly. "Plus I think we've earned some R and R" He adds, she hums a little.
"R and R or....S and M?" She counters, he pulls in a breath through his teeth and then lets it out with a smirk, the two of them share a heated look. Well, he is glad to see that she is not completely curled in a ball in her bed anymore and that some of the old her is still simmering there.
"I won't say no" He assures her, leaning closer to kiss her, heatedly. There is promise there, between the two of them. That they are both willing to walk away once the threat has been dealt with, even just for a few days, just to themselves. He pulls back and then nudges her nose. "Let me get changed" He offers. "Then we'll go" She hums and moves to sit on the bed to wait for him.
........
.........
At the school, the party is in full swing in the gym hall with lots of students dancing to the music, including Bonnie and Jamie. Daphne clutches to Damon's hand as he walks slightly ahead of her, leading her forward into the hall. She already feels like this was a mistake. She shifts closer to Damon, releasing his hand to look around. Her eyes do soften a little watching Bonnie smiling and laughing, it's been so long for all of them that maybe it was worth it. Bonnie smiles wider and waves at Daphne who forces a smile back, lifting her hand to wave back at her. Bonnie raises an eyebrow in question but Daphne shakes her head a little, turning away to stop that from going further. She is not ready to talk about why she is hurting, not with them. Because they are just like her. They will blame themselves.
"Hey," Elena greets softly, moving to her sister. Daphne turns to face her. "Jeremy told me what happened to Kreacher" Daphne nods a little and swallows. "I'm so sorry"
"Yeah, me too" Daphne agrees, her voice breaking a little. Damon curls his hand around her waist. Elena looks lost as to what to do here. She doesn't think hugging Daphne is going to help, and she doesn't know what else to say. She is sorry and she's said as much.
"Is there anything....?" Elena starts. Daphne shakes her head.
"It's all been sorted" She assures her. "Harry and the others, they came to the house and...." Daphne nods a little and then glances at Damon.
"Yeah," He whispers, seemingly understanding what she needs from him. An escape. "Let's get you a drink" He gives Elena a look and then steers Daphne towards the drinks table. Elena lets out a sad breath and closes her eyes. Daphne was free of all of this before she came back. She didn't see her friends and family put their lives on the line almost every single day, she wasn't here when Jenna, John, or Elena herself died. Kreacher is the first person she has witnessed dying because of the vampire drama. Because of this life. Sirius and Tink were already dead, and whilst tough, it was not the same. Kreacher died for her. And that's not something she can easily get over.
"You okay?" Stefan asks, Elena shrugs and turns around to face him behind her.
"Daph" She whispers to him, Stefan nods a little. He knows. He heard her and Damon through the night. The crying and the comforting. He hasn't said anything to Damon because his brother would likely deny how soft he was being with her, but he was. He was there, comforting her through every nightmare and all the tears.
"She'll be fine" He assures her. "She's tough" Elena nods and lets out a small laugh. Daphne is the toughest person she knows, so seeing her look so broken, it's worrying for her. "And she has Damon" He adds, Elena snorts and shoots him a look.
"Because he's known for his warm and fuzzies" She counters, folding her arms over her chest.
"For her" Stefan reminds her with a soft look. Elena softens a little and shrugs. She wants to believe that Damon can look after Daphne and her current mood, but he's not exactly sensitive or tactful. "He's doing okay" Stefan adds. "You said she spent days as a dog when she had to send her parents back" Elena nods. "It's been two days and she's dressed up" Elena sighs and glances over at Daphne. "He's doing okay" He repeats, firmer this time. Elena has to concede that point. She is not in dog form or hiding in the dark. She's on two legs and dressed and attending a school dance. That's better.