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( it's a fair question.

it's one that comes like a small punch in the gut, but it's fair. )

Because ... love isn't about what you deserve, and neither is forgiveness. We forgive people because they need it. ( she shakes her head, unsure of whether that makes sense, unsure of whether it's enough. ) When vampires turn their emotions off for so long, they lose what makes them human. They forget to care. But despite how hard Damon tried to hide it, I saw his humanity. I believed in that part of him.

( humanity is ugly at times, after all. it's cruel and spiteful. it feels. )

And being hated was always easier for him, but I think deep down he needed me to believe until he could believe in it himself. That there was good in him, and it was worth loving instead of self-sabotaging. I don't regret that choice. ( she'd stand by it through everything they've ever lived together. )

God, you could be talking about me and Lucifer.

[ She covers her face with her hands, letting out a frustrated sigh. Elena's right, though, and Chloe knows exactly how she feels. Maybe Lucifer wasn't a vampire but he was... Well, the Devil. And through it all, through his arrogance and selfishness, she had seen down to his heart. The pain he had suffered. The person he truly was, when he actually made the effort to care.

Of course, the difference was, Elena loved Damon. More importantly, Damon loved Elena. Chloe didn't have that with Lucifer.

It made forgiving him harder, even if he did need it. ]

How'd you get so smart for a kid?

Honestly? By not feeling like a kid 99% of the time.

( after her parents died, the landscape of her life changed significantly. she no longer felt like she could only be jeremy's sister. she felt a bigger responsibility, like that of a co-parent. of course, jenna was there -- and god, jenna tried so hard -- but elena's guilt didn't allow her to do anything but shoulder as much of that burden as possible. it was her fault jeremy was orphaned. it was her fault their parents drove off wickery bridge in the first place, and all for some dumb party she didn't even enjoy.

she didn't get to be careless anymore, not when being careless is what cost her so much. )

I just know ... I've yet to regret looking for the good in someone. ( you usually find it. )

Yeah. Me neither. [ Chloe stares into space thoughtfully. She is always the one that is known for seeing the good in others. The one who is known for being good, even when she doesn't feel like she is. Even Lucifer sees that in her and told her as much. While she would like to think she's been foolish with that grace, that kind of trust, she knows she hasn't. Maybe her marriage was a bad call but she had Trixie for it, and maybe things with Lucifer weren't easy but he has shown her a kind of life that is better for having him in it.

Yet here she is, being schooled by a young woman who knows way more about the world than Chloe will ever know. It doesn't feel bad, though. It's pretty much exactly what Chloe needs. Someone to talk some sense into her.

She finally smiles, turning her gaze back to Elena. ]

Well, if you ever need to feel like a kid, I read a mean bedtime story.

( she ducks her head with a laugh. )

You know what? I'm going to hold you to that.

( as someone who once planned on being a novelist, elena likes a mean bedtime story. she'll often poke at damon until he reads her one, and he'll bitch and moan about it the whole way, until they're curled up in bed and she's drifting off.

then there are other kinds of stories. the ones that are less fictional. elena can tell that she's given chloe some food for thought. she can only hope it's been the helpful sort. she gives chloe a meaningful look, reaching out to lightly squeeze her hand. )

I promised Billy I was going to meet him at the Youth Center later. Are you going to be okay?

[ Chloe squeezes her hand in return. She means it, too - not just how thankful she is for Elena's words and kindness, but that Elena is allowed to be a kid around her if she needs to be. Vulnerable, even. Chloe is pretty good at bringing out the vulnerability in people, as it happens. ]

Nah, you go do... Whatever it is you kids do around here. I'll be fine. I have... Plenty to catch up on. [ She gestures to the collection of books and Elena's notes scattered everywhere. ] Talk to you later?

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