Hello, everyone. Welcome to the first chapter of "Bottom of The Ocean"

I'm super excited for this story. I want it to be like UDDTP and I plan on having it like that. I specialize in Delena marriage angst. That's what I'm good at so I'm returning to it! This story shouldn't be long, maybe 10-11 chapters. I hope you all enjoy. I worked hard on this first chapter, especially towards the bottom.

This is based on, "A Husband's Regret" by Natasha Anders

I want to thank my very dear friend, scarlett2112, for the title. It's so beautiful. She has so many amazing and beautiful Delena stories. One's like, "Tomorrow" "The Night We Met" "This Isn't What We Meant" and many more.

And, my beta, Salvatoreboys4ever, she has some good stories as well. "The Power Within" "Captive of Her Beauty" and many more as well. Go check them out. Love you all. Tell me your thoughts. Enjoy.

"Elena... are you okay?"

Elena blinked, the voice snapping her from her thoughts. She shook her head and nodded, silently, before bringing the warm coffee mug to her lips. She took a few sips, hoping it would not only wake her up but keep the memories away. It was a source of caffeine that she loved to drink like a sailor new to whiskey. And, soon she was smiling broadly once more as if nothing had even wrong at all in her life. She sat the cup back down and pushed her hair behind her shoulder before looking at the woman that stood before her. The other brunette had an eyebrow raised, questioning the silent nod that was given to her in an attempt to make her quit asking. Elena gave a smile, hoping she wouldn't press the issue, and sighed to herself in relief when the girl visibly backed down.

"I just came to ask if you wanted to have lunch on your break because I have nothing planned other than stuffing my face with food" Bonnie said, smiling, playfully rolling her eyes at herself.

Elena nodded. "Of course. I don't have anything planned, either..." She said before turning back to the computer monitor and checked the time. "My lunch break is in an hour, exactly. Not much longer" She said, making the other woman laugh.

"How do you like this job? I know It's not anyone's dream job to be sitting at a desk. It's definitely not mine. But, it does pay bills and school until people can get the actual job they want. What's your thoughts or opinions on this? Is Mason a good boss?"

Elena nodded again, putting her hands in between her thighs in a comforting motion. "Yes, it's a good job. And, yeah, it does pay bills. So, I'm completely happy with it at the moment. I've already been through college and got my degree. I do this for my daughter and because the job that I want to have is on the back burner at the moment. And, yes, Mason is a terrific boss. I couldn't have asked for a better one. He's a gentleman"

Bonnie's eyebrows furrowed atthe response. "What do you mean the job you want is the on back burner? What did you get your degree for?" Bonnie paused for a moment. Her eyes suddenly became twice their original size, a glint in them, and her mouth dropped, excitedly. "Wait. You have a daughter?" Elena nodded, smiling at the mention of her baby.

"Yes, I do have a little girl. Her name's Emily. She's my entire world. She's so beautiful and so nice. My boyfriend and her are so close. She's a sweetheart" Elena said, her smile widening at Emily's giggle and the way she talked for such a young age. She turned back to Bonnie, realizing she had daydreamed about little Emily.

"And, I want to be an author. But, writing a book that readers will enjoy takes time. So, I'm happy that I'm making money, providing for my daughter and that I genuinely enjoy working here. It's not a nightmare to come to work. I mean of course, there's always a few clients that have some attitude problems but overall, there's more good than bad" Elena responded, taking another drink of her coffee.

"You're going to write a book?" Bonnie asked, her mouth dropping once more. "I bet that's going to be a good book... Honestly Elena. I can just tell that you're going to be very successful and I will definitely be reading the book or books you publish in the future"

"Thank you, Bonnie" Elena said, her cheeks reddening. Bonnie held up a finger, her smile suddenly vanishing. Her fun, carefree look suddenly turned serious.

"But... about this boyfriend... I don't mean to pry but I really enjoy your friendship Elena. And, I hope you don't get angry at this. That is not my intention..." Bonnie said, warning in her tone. Her eyebrows were raised as if asking permission to speak. Elena nodded her head after a moment, telling her to continue. "Please, tell me he works. Because, I don't want a man that sits around at home doing nothing but eating all day while you work your ass off. You deserve someone so much better" Elena immediately shook her head, defensive.

"No, he works as well. He's a very sweet and caring person. He's actually offered to work and take care of me and that I didn't have to work. If I wanted, I could be the one to stay home and look after Emily but I don't want to be like a housewife and do nothing but clean and take care of the children. I like being here and going out. I don't want to be cooped up inside my home. I like coming here to interact with people and make friendship. We wouldn't have met if it wasn't for this job" Elena said, a teasing smile on her face. Bonnie giggled and nodded, agreeing.

"Yeah, you're right. I am very glad you have someone that's cares not only for you but Emily. Not many men stay and take care of a child as they should. They eventually get sick of it and leave or just don't want the baby at all..." As Bonnie continued talking, Elena could see her mouth move and her eyes on her but her ears stopped listening. There was a sudden ring in her ears that didn't stop. It kept going on and on as she relived one of the worst days of her life.

"What do you mean you're pregnant?"

"I thought we were going to wait..."

"I can't believe you would do this..."

"You mean you made it without my consent"

"...I don't want a kid!"

"Elena?"

Elena looked back up to Bonnie, smiling, as if she had been listening the whole time. "Yeah?" Bonnie's eyes squinted at the brunette, scanning over her face, suspicious.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Elena nodded and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I just keep day dreaming and dozing off" she forced a laugh after a moment. "I guess I didn't get enough sleep last night. I promise I'm fine though. My head is just aching a little bit though. Emily wouldn't go to bed last night. And, when I finally did get her to bed, she woke up at 5 am ready to get up. Thankfully, Matt, took her and watched SpongeBob with her until she fell back asleep. She was still sleeping soundly and so was Matt when I got up to leave this morning" Bonnie nodded and leaned against the wall behind Elena.

"Oh, okay. Sorry for being so suspicious. It's just you started dozing off like three times now and it just seemed off. But, then again, I don't have a child or sibling so I wouldn't know it feels. At least you have... Matt to help you. Is that your boyfriend?" Elena nodded, showing off her pearly whites to the world at the mention of her boyfriend.

"Yes, he's so amazing... I'm so happy that I met him. I was kind of in a dark place when we met and he's kind of like my savior besides my little girl, of course"

"Mommy," Emily said in a small voice, grabbing the white bed cover, her fingernails scratching against it to wake up the brunette. Elena moaned in her sleep, hearing the voice and buried her face further into the pillow. Her eyes tightened and squeezed them harder from the light that came from the hall that now shined down on her, that keep Emily happy so she would drift off to sleep.

Emily reached her arm out and placed it on Elena's cheek. "Mommy" Emily said again, louder this time. Emily suddenly whipped her head around to the hall, her body visibly shaking. She looked back at Elena and whimpered, her eyes tearing up.

"Mommy" Emily said, banging her fists on the mattress to wake her mother up. Elena's eyes shot open and she sat up hearing the crying child. She turned her head and her eyes grew wide at the blue eyed child. Elena immediately picked her up and sat her in her lap, petting her hair.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Elena asked as Emily pressed her wet cheek against Elena's neck. Emily stayed quiet and stood up, wrapping her arms around Elena's neck, pulling her hair as well, and buried her head into Elena's shoulder. Matt shot up from the bed at Emily's cry. He looked over at them and gave Elena a silent look asking what's wrong. She just shrugged at him and put her hands on Emily's back.

"Emily?" Matt asked, putting his hand on Emily's arm. Emily stopped sniveling and turned at the motion and warm hand on her arm, her mouth open, tear stains on her cheeks, her eyes red and puffy.

"Tell us what's wrong, sweetheart? Why are you crying?" Emily took a breath before removing her arms and plopping down on Elena's lap with a huff. She crossed her arms, pouting her lips, sadly and looked down at the white blanket that covered Elena's body.

"I had a nightmare..." She said, licking her lips.

"What was it about?" Matt asked, pushing further. Elena turned her head at the blonde man and raised an eyebrow at him, angrily, asking why in the hell he would tell her young daughter to explain her nightmare. He looked at her apologetically before turning back to Emily to avoid Elena's piercing gaze.

"A giant bug ate mommy. It came from the bathtub" She said in a sad voice that made Elena giggle. Emily looked up at her from her dark lashes, confused at why she was laughing.

"Oh, baby... it's okay. It was just nightmare. That would never happen. I would never be taken from you" Elena said, cupping the child's cheeks. She rubbed the tear stains away softly with her thumbs as the child watched with nervous eyes, fearful something would happen to her mother.

"Do you want to sleep with us, baby?" Elena asked, pulling Emily into her arms and she laid her head on her mother's chest, nodding silently. Elena pulled the blanket out from under Emily's legs and laid over top of both of them. She reached her hand out and closed the door, too lazy to turn off the light and laid back on her pillow with Emily in her arms. Elena pet her chocolate brown hair and kissed her forehead as Matt laid on his side, watching the two. Elena smiled at him and clasped her hand in his and Emily watched the action, silently. He moved closer and kissed Elena before Emily closed her eyes and finally drifted off to sleep.

"How old is Emily anyway?" Bonnie asked, her tilted at the thought. Elena scratched behind her ear, scolding herself for getting caught up in her memories once more.

"She is now 4 as of two months ago" Elena answered, drinking the last of her coffee that was now cold. She sighed at the cold taste and sat it back down far away from the computer.

"I bet she's adorable. What does she look like?" Bonnie asked, coming closer to Elena's desk. Elena pulled out her phone from her pocket and pulled up a picture, handing it to the brunette.

"That's her. She's so beautiful. She is the exact copy of her father..." Elena said, a bittersweet smile on her lips that thankfully Bonnie hadn't noticed and instead stare at the picture with wide eyes.

"She is so beautiful, Elena! Her smile is so pretty... and her eyes... they're so gorgeous. Oh my God..." Bonnie said, looking off from the phone and to Elena, her mouth open. She turned back to the screen when Elena smiled. "I can't get over how beautiful she is. You have the perfect child... Does she look like Matt?" She asked, handing the phone back to Elena. The brunette sighed and shook her head, placing the phone back into her pocket.

"No, Matt isn't Emily's father. Emily's father is actually, my ex-husband's. I was pregnant with Emily when I met Matt. She looks just like her father" Elena said, pursing her lips at Emily's father. Bonnie's mouth formed an 'o' shape at the news.

"Oh, is he still around? Do him and Matt get along?" Bonnie asked, her tone soft. Elena turned her chair around closer to Bonnie, silently. Elena sighed, looking to Bonnie's feet.

Behind the masked smile she wore on her face, there was sadness. She anxiously looked at her left and right, repeatedly as a single sound passes by, checking for signs of danger that will not come. Terror filled her mind and body like sharp knives stabbing into her heart as the memory that always came back and play on her mind over and over again like a broken record.

"What do you mean, you're pregnant?" Damon demanded after minutes of silence. His back still turned to her as she continued to at it. His arms were crossed, facing out of the window, glaring at the glass as if it would somehow make this better or it would go away. She shivered from fear at the literal cold shoulder she was getting and hoped it would soon pass before his temper got out of hand.

"I thought we were going to wait, Elena. I thought you said, your just starting college. And, I'm still training with my father to take over the company. We haven't even been married for ten months. We're practically still kids ourselves," He said in complete disgust. He turned after a moment. "Tell me this is a joke. There is no time or room for a kid, Elena. Tell me you are joking. This can't be happening" He said, clutching his head in his hands.

Elena felt her husband's furious words hit her like a pile of bricks, sending waves of fear down her spine. She stared up at the livid man, his eyes narrow, and didn't recognize the man in front of her. He was shocked, surprised, that was it. He was just thrown by her news. Nothing more. Her words would sink in soon enough and he'd go back to being the man she adored, the wonderful man to whom she had completely entrusted with her heart without a second thought. She just needed to give him time to get over his shock. But, the more she tried to rationalize his unexplainable reaction to what should have been joyous news, the more the insidious little voice in the back of her mind kept telling her that she was lying to herself and that his reaction wasn't based on shock. This was a side of Damon that she had never seen before—one that he had never allowed her to see—and she was terrified of what that said about their ten-month marriage and what they had jumped into.

Elena desperately tried to hide how fearful she was. She could control the tremor in her voice... to a degree. She couldn't believe her eyes. She didn't want too, anyway.

"I know it's really soon, Damon. Maybe even too soon," She said softly, trying to maintain an even tone of voice and keeping the hurt, that dared to creep in, out of it. "But, this is the reality. It's real life. I was surprised too. But, we're having a baby... a baby, Damon. That is such a wonderful thing. It's beautiful. He or she will be both of us"

"I can't believe you would do this. That you would stoop this low," He spat out bitterly. "This was supposed to be a joint decision. An agreement between the both of us. And, were supposed to wait!" Elena gasped when Damon slammed his fist onto his polished wooden desk in his study. His dark eyebrows were furrowed and arched in obvious irritation at this entire conversation, like he could care less about the baby but also fear in his voice. "I'm not ready for this, Elena. I don't want a kid!"

"But, it's our baby! We made it! It's not like I got myself pregnant! I didn't cum inside me! You did" She yelled, defensive at his attitude, trying but failing miserably to keep the hurt from her voice. She was surprised she hadn't burst into tears yet. Her confusion doubled at his angry demeanor. Why couldn't he be happy about this like she was? She tried to find a sight of the man she loved inside this cold shell but found none. She questioned for a moment on whether the warmth he had shown was just an act. She wondered if the man she had fallen for had ever really been there.

"You mean you made it without my consent. I had nothing to do with this"

He could barely meet her eyes, and if they did meet, it was only a fraction of a second before he turned them away once more... and she was grateful for the action because the pain in her tears she tried to keep at bay finally started to fall freely down her olive cheeks. Pure terror surged through her veins, icy daggers straight to the heart, every other emotion pushed from her being.

She bit her tongue, trying to hold the tears that threatened to leave her eyes. And that's when she couldn't hold them back. First, one small crystal bead escapes from her right eye. She could feel the warmth, sliding down her cheek, and rolling off her chin. Then another. And another. Until her eyes flood with them, coming like a rainfall. Sniffing every ten seconds, they fall, and fall, and she let them. Her shoulders shook with grief, tears streaming down her already wet cheeks.

"I don't know why you're being like this but stop it!" She cried, almost ready to stomp her feet on the floor like a disobedient child. "I didn't plan this, Damon. I didn't plan any of it. It just happened. The birth control was useless while I was sick a few months ago. I didn't know the pills wouldn't work while I was sick" He didn't respond to her words and instead walked out of his study. A flash of fear shot through her body, terrified he might take off during their argument and followed him up the stairs, ready to talk him out of whatever he planned.

Once he reached the top of the stairs, he went straight to their bedroom and as she opened her mouth to beg him not to leave, he threw open the drawer where she kept the birth control pills. Her mouth snapped shut at the sight.

"What are you doing?" She asked, baffled. In response, he continued searching without responding.

"Have you been washing the pills down the toilet?" He questioned, his back turned, examining the bottle. "Are these even birth control pills? Or, pain pills? Because they look the same" He wondered out loud, purposely, and she found herself hating him for asking.

"You know I wouldn't do that, Damon"

"Yeah, right. Do I though? It's clear you're not who I thought you were and I clearly don't know you as well as I thought I did"

"Damon, of course you know me" She whispered in a soft, childlike tone, trying to appeal to the reasonable man that had to be in there, somewhere. She walked closer and laid her hand on his arm, but felt the cold sting of rejection when he practically jumped at the touch away from her.

"Get out of here" He spat, his eyes cold and angry.

"What?" She asked, broken. Her eyes began to tear up all over again and increased the small hatred for this man standing before her. Darkness seemed to wash over her being sending a chill down her spine. She had seen darkness before in movies, the kind that made the streets like an old-fashioned photograph, everything a shade of grey, growing up. This wasn't like that, though. This was the type of darkness that robbed her of her best sense and replaced it with a paralyzing fear. In this darkness, she sat, muscles cramped and unable to move. She only knows her eyes are still there because she could feel them blink, still instinctively moisturizing the organs she had no current use for. She couldn't hear anything, either. Any sound that bounced around in her ears before had turned into a repetitive ring, the rest of the world drowned out. The only thing she saw through blurred eyes was Damon's muscular figure. This baby's presence alone hung like a threatening hail-cloud over the darkening cloud that was her life at the moment but she in no way regretted this baby. Damon could act like a teenager throwing a temper tantrum all her wanted but she wouldn't change her mind just because this baby was unwanted around him.

"Get. The. Hell. Out." He seethed, crossing his arm. She blinked away her tears to see his face and her blood ran cold when she didn't see any expression. Just a blank mask. She didn't know this man at all. Who had she married? "Now"

The heartache was like a red hot coal placed in her chest, it glowed and burnt her at the same time, but it did not cool quickly like a coal in water, it throbbed and tortured her in all her walking hours and there was no relief to be found. The pain flowed through her veins and deadened her mind. It was a poison to her spirit, dulling her killing off her other emotions until it was the only one that remained. It was as if a black mist had settled upon her and refused to shift, and no matter how bright the day would be, she would feel no sun and hear no bird song. For the world was lost to her and she knew of nothing that would bring it back into focus. Where there was the love, the light, the laughter is an aching hollowness.

She turned, finally breaking down and did as he commanded. She fled.

"No, he isn't around. He didn't want Emily so we divorced and I left him. I haven't seen him since that day I fled" Elena said as the tears flowed unchecked down her cheeks and dripped from her chin. She was too sad to cry out or wail, she just sat there as still as a statue while the magnitude of her loss swept over her. Once again, she was lost in the torrid vortex of the moment. It was a moment that carried her forwards until only death could release her from its clutches. She was forever tormented by a past that could not be undone and a father Emily would never get to meet.

Bonnie's eyes instantly saddened when Elena finished her sentence. "I'm so sorry, Elena. He doesn't deserve you or Emily. I'm happy you and Emily have Matt, that way she'll have a father figure. I bet this still hurts you, doesn't it?" Elena nodded, tasting salt on her lips.

"Yeah, not because I still have feelings for him but the fact that Emily will have to grow up and find out that her biological father didn't want her, is going to destroy her. I can't even imagine what it will do. I can already see her going off and looking for him and once she finally does find him, he'll slam the door in her face. It breaks my heart to think about" Elena said, her tears flowing from her eyes faster.

"Why would you marry a man like that, Elena? I'm not juding you but did you know he was so mean and heartless? Or, was it young love? Because, I can't see you walking into a marriage knowing this man was so cruel"

Elena shook her head. "No, I wouldn't have if I knew the real him. And, it was a little bit of both. He showed me kindness and warmth and overshadowed his real persona with my love for him. He showed his true colors the day he told me he didn't want a baby and told me to leave. And, when we met, in was fresh out of high school and he just graduated a year before me. I don't regret Emily but I regret walking into this marriage blind. We hadn't been dating long before we got married, secretly, that his family wasn't too happy about... I just wish he would have at least took a chance on being a father because in the end it's only going to continue to hurt Emily"

She finished, letting the rest of her tears fall before grabbing a tissue nearby and dabbing at her eyes. Her eyes were red and puffy and she begged silently for it to go down before her boss or someone else saw she was crying.

"Well, the bright side is at least Matt is there for Emily at a young age so she can bond with him. Maybe the blow won't hurt as bad as it would have if there wasn't any man in her life at all. Elena, maybe, she won't even try to find her father. Maybe she'll accept that he didn't want her and just say fuck it?" Bonnie finished in a question as if trying to make the situation better by giving the brunette false hope. Elena shook her head.

"No, she'll go after him. I know she will. She'll want to know why he didn't want her and she'll be hurt even more when he still doesn't want her. I want her to never have a second thought about her father when she does find out but that's not how anything works, especially emotions and pain. She'll question it and keep thinking about it before she eventually gives in and will want to know why. The only thing me and Matt can do is be there when she comes running home, crying and heartbroken all over again" She said, wiping the last of her tears away, pushing out the thought of Emily's broken face away before she could start crying all over again.

"I'm so sorry, Elena. I wish I knew what to say but I have no idea how I can make this better... You're right. Emily will be heartbroken and she'll want to know why... And, nothing will be able to stop her from trying to find her father" Bonnie blew out a heavy breath at the mere thought. "It seems like you've really thought this through" she laughed nervously, in an attempt to make Elena feel better. To her relief, Elena gave a small laugh from under her breath.

"Yeah, I tend to do that" She said, throwing the tissue away. "But, Matt has been helping me for a while not to get so stressed out over things that haven't happened or something small. It's better but I still do it every now and then. He's been a huge help in my life and Emily's and I love him for it" Bonnie smiled.

"Matt sounds like a great guy. I'm so glad you have him, Elena" Bonnie said, moving closer to Elena and wrapping her arms around the woman and hugged her. Elena smiled and squeezed Bonnie at the gesture. Bonnie pulled back after a minute and sighed. She gave a smile and laughed.

"How long until that lunch break again?"

Elena smiled and laughed before checking the time. "Still twenty more minutes. It'll go by quick. Don't worry"

Bonnie smiled and leaned against Elena's desk. "I'll be counting down the seconds" She teased as the elevator dinged, signaling someone had came from downstairs, no doubt to see Mason. Elena looked at the time and sighed in relief when it was just a scheduled client. She buzzed Mason, telling him the client was here when the man came into view.

Her breath caught in her throat, coming out a loud gasp, causing the man to turn his head at the sound. His eyes widened at the sight of her, the shock quickly wearing off and his eyes squinted, hard and narrow. Elena covered her mouth in surprise, her body becoming hot at the man that stood in front of her. She felt the panic begin like a cluster of spark plugs in her abdomen. Tension grew in her face and limbs, her mind clouding with fear. Her breathing became more rapid, shallower. In these moments before her personal hurricane and under the gaze of her past, she understood the drug addict, the alcoholic... anything to stop the primal surge to flee. Her body became hot with her boiling blood and her chest suddenly became tight as it was chained down and she couldn't breath. Her throat closed up as she tried to take a breath of oxygen and scared herself further when she could get barely any. Bonnie came closer, fear on her face.

"Elena are you okay?" She asked in a rush, her voice drowning out in Elena's ear. She was too focused on trying to catch her breath and avoid looking the man's eyes when her eyes suddenly closed and her body became light as if it was floating. All that she could hear before passing out was a scream that came from Bonnie's lips before darkness consumed her.

Hope you all enjoyed the first chapter. It was a little ordinary at the beginning but oh well. It got better and will have more drama and angst in the future. *smirks*

Who was the man? Guess.

And, lol. Elena and Damon's daughter is Emily and I love that name so I use it often and I will in the future. Sometimes she will have a different middle name or she'll look different but I most likely use that name for Damon and Elena's daughter. So, get over it.