The next morning arrived with gentle rain tapping the windows
Emma stayed curled under the sheets
Her body warm
Her mind drifting between dreams and the soft hum of life outside
Damon stood in the kitchen
Pouring coffee
His hair slightly messy
His eyes distant
He watched the rain for a while
Then turned as Emma walked in barefoot wearing one of his shirts
You should still be sleeping he said quietly
Could not sleep without you beside me she replied
He walked over handed her the cup
Held her fingers a little longer than needed
She took a sip
Then looked up at him
You are thinking about something
He hesitated
Then nodded
It is about the man who sent that letter last week
Emma blinked
The one who mentioned your past
Yes
I never told you everything
About how deep I went before I met you
You told me enough
And I saw it in your eyes
I know what kind of man you were
He sat down
Hands clasped
But this is different
This man
He was there the day I lost everything
She sat across from him
Waiting
His name is Marcus
We were partners once
But he betrayed me
Made me take the fall
Cost me my company
My friends
And someone I loved like a brother
Emma reached across the table
Held his hand
Do you think he wants to hurt you again
No
I think he wants to see if I still bleed
She stayed silent for a moment
Then spoke
Then show him you do not
Damon looked at her
For a moment his mask cracked
A flicker of something old and painful flashed across his eyes
You do not have to face him alone she said
I do not want you near this
He is not like anyone you have met
You said that about yourself once too
He smiled faintly
You always win these arguments
Only when they matter
Later that day Damon made a call
Told his men to find Marcus
Discreetly
Quietly
No mistakes
Emma stayed close
But said nothing
She knew this was part of his healing
Part of breaking the chains from his past
That night Damon walked into his office
The lights dim
Rain still tapping the windows
On his desk was an envelope
He opened it slowly
Inside was a photo
A woman
Dead
Lying on concrete
A name written on the back in red ink
You remember her do you not
His jaw clenched
It was the woman who once tried to protect him
The only one who saw light in him before Emma
He burned the photo
Watched the flames consume the past
Emma entered quietly
Her eyes went to the ashes
He is testing you she said
He will not win Damon replied
Two days later his men reported back
Marcus had been spotted
In the city
Using a different name
Running an underground network
Same games
New faces
Damon prepared to leave
Emma stopped him at the door
Let me come
No
You promised
No secrets
He looked at her for a long moment
Then nodded
Wear something dark he said
We are going to a place where light rarely enters
They drove in silence
The city blurring past
The rain still falling
Damon pulled into an old warehouse district
No signs
No people
Only shadows
They entered
And inside stood Marcus
Tall
Slick hair
Eyes like knives
Well well
The ghost returns
And with a wife no less
Damon did not speak
Marcus walked closer
Look at you
Tamed
Married
Soft
Say what you came to say Damon said
Why so cold
You used to be fire
Now you just smolder
Damon stepped forward
You sent me that photo
Why
To remind you
That no matter how clean you try to live
You were built in dirt
Like me
Damon's hands clenched
Emma stepped in front of him
Her voice calm
Then let me remind you of something else
The difference between you and him is not the past
It is what he chose to become after it
Marcus laughed
Feisty
No wonder he chose you
He turned to Damon
But remember this
If you ever forget what you are
I will be there to drag you back
Damon stepped forward
No words
Just presence
And Marcus flinched
Just slightly
That was enough
They walked out into the rain
Emma exhaled
He is afraid of you
No
He is afraid of losing control
What now
We live
We love
We move forward
And if he returns
Then we remind him again
And again
And again
They returned home
Wet
Tired
But whole
That night as they lay together
Damon whispered
Thank you
For what
For standing with me
Even when it gets dark
Always Damon
Always