DIsclaimer: Unfortunately don't own Vampire Diaries, or any of the characters associated with it. Wouldn't it be nice though.
A/N: (SPOILERS) Alright folks, this is going to be my second attempt at a Vampire Diaires story. I took many elements from my first story and am using them to different degrees in this one. It is an AU, takes place after season five, all those events still took place HOWEVER Damon is still alive. He made it through before Bonnie died. Sooo please enjoy... -Cat
Preface
Mystic Falls 1864
Romeo and Juliet they were not. Never had been, never would be. They were perfect for each other and the whole of Mystic Falls knew it and enjoyed seeing the young lovers strolling together. Their families rejoiced at their coupling. Why wouldn't they? He was calm, steady, intelligent and strong. She was bright, fiery, a force to be reckoned with. They were the bright future of the South and nothing could stop them.
She waited on the porch, bouncing on the balls of her feet. It wasn't like him to keep her waiting.
"Miss Grace, you come in the house this minute! Standing out there like some harlot, my oh my, if your father saw you now he would hide you from here to Savannah!" Her lady's maid called to her from the upstair's balcony.
Grace ignored her like usual. Suddenly there he was hiking up the street, jacket thrown casually over his shoulder, his cravat undone and collar open. Grace gave a little hop before gathering up he skirts and dashing down the front steps of her families manor to throw herself into the arms of the man she loved in a very unladylike fashion.
"MISS GRACE BELLE LOCKWOOD!" Her lady's maid was near conniption. "BEHAVE LIKE THE LADY YOU ARE!"
The young people ignored the woman's balling. Most of their lives they had been yelled at by the help and most of their lives they had ignored them… it was quite a skill actually.
Grace struggled back from his embrace and looked into the face of the man she had loved since she was eight years old. "Where have you been? I've been waiting!" The fake pout in her voice masked her worry…. expect to him. He could see through her antics.
"I'm sorry my love, I lost a wheel on the buggy so... unfortunately our plans for this afternoon have changed." He smiled down at her and his brown eyes shown in the sunlight.
"I was so looking forward to going out for a ride." Her pout pulled her full lips down at the corners. He stared at the gregarious Grace Lockwood who stole his heart the first time she ran in to their front yard, bare feet, hair flying and told him that she was going to marry him back when he was all of nine years old.
He took in her big dark brown eyes, the Lockwood eyes. Her bright strawberry blonde curls piled onto her head in an ornate up-do. Her robin egg's blue gown that held the body that could have so much grace and be so delicate that he was surprised cushions moved when she sat on them, but at the same time she could run almost faster then him, climb higher than him and swim just as fast as him.
She wrapped an arm around his waist and he followed suit as they began to stroll around the front garden. "I know but I figured you would be able to come up with something entertaining for us to occupy our time with."
"Hmmm, well, George is out with our buggy so we can't do that. I don't know why father won't just get me my own." Grace shrugged. "I am reading a wonderful new novel, I could get it and we could sit and read by the reflecting pool?" She looked up at him with a bright smile.
"That sounds wonderful," He kissed her forehead lightly. Her smile amplified. He was always boggled by that, just when he thought he had seen her brightest smile she could still become even more radiant even more amazing.
She turned and walked towards the house, but stopped and turned to look back at him. "Stefan!" She called back to him, "I love you to…."
"The ends of the Earth," He said responding with their constant term of endearment.
"And back." She responded before running into the house.