So…long time, no see. Sorry I've been gone so long, I really am, but I've almost literally been up to my ears in work. Free time is a myth to me these days. Also, my inspiration completely burned out. When the show gives you almost everything you want, it's harder to invent your own stories, because that's what I think fan fiction is for – unfulfilled wishes. And I must say, this season, most of mine have been fulfilled (except for waking Elijah, *cough cough*). I hate to leave my other story unfinished, but I can't really pick it up again unless I get more time and inspiration for it. But I do have a few new ideas floating around in my head that I hope to get written down soon. Anyways, Holiday two-parter coming right up! I know I'm a little late for Christmas, but part 2 is New Year's, and I'll definitely have it up on time. Happy Reading! (I hope)

… … …

Elena stumbled through the dark, musty attic, searching for the box full of fake garlands, wreaths, and red bows. She squinted into the rising dust, trying to read the faded labels on each box – labels that her mother had written over a decade ago. She felt the cool grit of dust coat her hands as she snatched up the box she needed and coughed dryly as she picked her way back across the rafters and down the retractable wooden ladder.

She wasn't sure why she was doing this; decorating the house had always been a family affair. Her mother had always arranged imitation greenery over every mantle with the utmost care, while her father had always made a big show of dragging in a real tree every year. Hell, even Jeremy had loved to decorate gingerbread houses when he was little.

But now, Elena was alone in the house, the old festivities merely echoes bouncing across the cool walls – echoes of a happier, simpler time. She didn't even have sullen Jeremy around to help her now; he couldn't seem to get over the whole Bonnie/Anna fiasco, and he'd cut town a few weeks before. Alaric had managed to convince her to give him some time – assured her that he'd come back soon enough. But after two weeks with no sign of the kid, even Alaric began to worry. Jeremy hadn't answered his phone, and Alaric had finally driven off to look for him three days before. Elena realized there wasn't really a point in her sprucing up the house; she'd be the only one seeing it, and she wasn't exactly chipper these days as it was. Even so, there was something disturbing about walking around a house two days before Christmas that didn't show a single sign of holiday cheer (plus, if Caroline managed to drop by and find the house that way, Elena would never hear the end of it).

Elena set the box down in the middle of the living room floor, not really caring that a little cloud of dust rose and settled into the rug. She yanked the cardboard flaps open and pulled the crackly old garland out, wrapping it around her arm and clearing off the mantle with the other. She tried to smooth out the kinks in the old greenery, but in the end just left it to snake across the smooth white wood above the fireplace. Dusting off her hands, she stood back to admire her handiwork before returning to the box for some of the red velvet bows. She twisted their worn golden ties around every other rung supporting the banister on the stairs, and wove another, longer garland around the handrail, setting off the bows nicely (in her humble opinion).

She trudged back down the stairs, turning at the bottom to criticize her work. It wasn't much, and it certainly didn't help her along in the way of holiday cheer, but it was enough for now. She was too tired to do anything more. It didn't really take much to wear her out these days, and she resented the fact; she wasn't fragile. She didn't have the leisure to be fragile anymore. If only – if only Damon had come to help. She technically shouldn't have expected him to show up; she didn't call to ask. But usually, she didn't need to. Damon was always there when she needed him (for the most part, anyways – she chose to overlook the fateful senior prank night). But he wasn't there now; come to think of it, he'd been absent more than usual as of late. She had no idea what he could be doing, either – they'd decided to let Stefan go, Klaus was nowhere to be seen, and even Rebekah was still facedown on the floor of the Salvatore's basement. Surely Damon had to have a reason for his disappearance. A reason tugged at the edges of Elena's mind, and she shook her head as if to clear the mental fog, but it was no use. She was too tired to think. She was just going to sleep it off – maybe she'd remember in the morning.

… … …

Elena rummaged through her sock drawer, trying to find her misplaced toboggan. It was snowing outside – a white Christmas Eve – and the sun had already gone down. It was time for the annual Mystic Falls Christmas Eve luminary stroll. Elena and her family had been doing it for as long as she could remember. Almost everyone in Mystic Falls lined the closed streets carrying candles and singing carols as they walked together. It was the first year Elena would be going alone; she would've skipped it entirely if not for the incessant badgering from Bonnie and Caroline. She was tired of putting on a brave face, and she thought one more night of festivities might just do her in, but it was Christmas Eve – and she couldn't turn her best friends down.

She gave up on the toboggan and settled for her favorite maroon and navy plaid scarf, tossing it around her neck while shoving her toes into some old boots. She shrugged into a knee-length coat before stepping onto the porch and slamming the door behind her, not even bothering to lock it. All of the townspeople would be at the luminary stroll, and in the off chance that a new vampire came in to town and wanted to kill her, she wouldn't be home, and they couldn't get past the door frame.

She'd made it all the way down her street and around the corner before she realized she'd forgotten her candle. She rolled her eyes at herself, but did not return to fetch one; people always had extras. Surely enough, a few minutes later, an eager freshman from school bounced over and offered Elena a short white candlestick, even lighting it for her while gossiping on mindlessly. Elena nodded in thanks and was off, hoping to god she was never that annoying.

Plodding along at a tired pace, she scanned the half-singing, half-chattering crowd for her friends, but saw no sign of them (somewhat to her relief). She found herself near the back of the group, but she didn't really mind; socializing wasn't really one of her strong points these days. She sighed deeply, watching her breath puff out visibly in front of her.

"You know, at that speed, you might finish the route by New Year's," a voice quipped from behind her, stopping her dead in her tracks.

Damon.

"Sorry I'm not blessed with supernatural speed like you are, asshole!" she snapped back, feeling some life seep back into her veins.

Damon suddenly materialized in front of her, his palms up in defense. "Hey, I'm not complaining," he remarked, walking backwards to face her as she began moving forward again.

"Where the hell have you been lately, anyways?" She asked, somehow simultaneously upset and relieved at the sight of him.

"You know where, Elena," he said somberly, his face falling into seriousness.

"Well if you expect me to remember, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed," she huffed, her nose growing icy.

"It doesn't matter now," he muttered, shaking his head. Elena closed her eyes against the falling snow, confusion cluttering her brain, her teeth rattling involuntarily. Damon stopped moving, nearly causing a full-on collision. "You're freezing," he noted, concern etching his features as he held his hands to either side of her face. She shuddered at his soft touch, hit with a surprising pang when she realized how much she missed having him around every day (and most nights). Why couldn't she remember where he's been?

He pulled her worn scarf up so that it covered her head, blocking some of the wind from her face. His eyes never left hers as he did so, and she felt warmer than she should. His fingers laced though her disheveled hair, tugging it through the scarf, his knuckles brushing her collarbone.

"I look like I should be riding a donkey to Bethlehem now," she complained, a wry grin working its way to her lips. Damon rolled his eyes.

"And here I was, thinking you were actually one of those girls that cared about something besides her looks. Come to think of it, you do seem to be letting yourself go a bit. I mean, those boots? What are you, an ex-marine?" Damon gave her a salute, and she batted his hand down, trying to look annoyed.

"Why'd you decide to show up tonight, anyways? You don't exactly have a great history with town events," Elena reminded him, thinking back to the horrible founder's events of days past.

"No one really does, if you think about it." Elena nodded in acquiescence. "Actually, I just came to tell you something."

"What is it?" she asked, rocking back and forth on her toes.

"Merry Christmas," he said casually, leaning forward to press a lingering kiss to her cool cheek. She closed her eyes, leaning in and taking an aching comfort in his nearness. Her stomach hollowed out when he pulled away, his eyes wide.

"What's wrong?" she asked, somewhat alarmed at his bewildered, solemn expression.

"Nothing," he murmured, grimacing and glancing down. "You should really watch the candle, you know. Don't want the wax to burn your hands." She looked up, lost by the abrupt change in his demeanor.

He was gone.

She looked around, twisting back, hoping to find him laughing behind her, but he was nowhere to be seen; he'd left her as quickly as he'd appeared. She bit her lip as her throat suddenly constricted, her eyes mysteriously stinging. Her head dropped in defeat, and she noticed that her candle had been snuffed out, the light burning no more.

… … …

To be continued…

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