With a shake of Elena's head, she resolutely decides to stop staring at her reflection in the mirror of the bathroom. It's ridiculous really, her friends and family absolutely can't tell that she's married just by looking at her. There is not a glow on her skin like Damon says there is. She sighs happily thinking about her husband who's currently across town at his father's place, getting ready for Annual Lockwood New Year's Bash. It goes without saying that it's Black Tie; always has been, always will be.

Deep down, Elena is feeling a little guilty and that might be the reason it's taken her this long to curl her hair. She knows lying to her family about being married to Damon is a "dick move", leaving a cheap taste in her mouth. (Shush. It's a little alarming how many phrases her inner monologue has stolen from Damon. And he's never gonna know, nope.)

Elena squints at herself in the mirror, contemplating her "dick move" for the hundredth time since she's been home.

It's not as if her mom and dad asked about Damon when she walked through the front door weeks ago when she came home for Winter Break. They have no reason to ask about Damon. And of course, Elena isn't going to casually namedrop him either. That would have been way too suspicious. As far as the Gilberts are concerned, Elena doesn't know Damon. Well, doesn't know him beyond what the rest of their small town thinks about him.

While leaning forward to apply mascara, Elena has to admit that sneaking around behind her parents and Mr. Salvatore's back these past few weeks is fun for her. The thrill of adrenaline gets her all riled up and the sex they've been having might be their best yet. And that's saying something! But it'd be more fun if Damon didn't have to always look like a kicked puppy every time they left each other to sleep in their respective bedrooms in their childhood homes. Elena sighs because the shine of her engagement and wedding ring hanging loosely and low around her neck is starting to feel like it weighs 10 pounds. Damon is rich, but not that rich. No, that weight is her guilt and yes, it's eating her from the inside out.

Elena puckers her crimson lips a few times, making sure her gloss is perfect and evenly applied. Normally, she isn't this vain, but this is the end of the line of their facade. Her life is about to change. God, she wasn't even this nervous on her wedding day. Then again, it'd been in Vegas with a bunch of strangers. Tonight, Elena is determined to come clean to the whole town, reactions be damned. She's a married woman now and nothing is going to change that.

Bravado or not, Elena's heart feels like it's going to jump at her throat any minute. So, she might need a drink first before going over to the Lockwoods. Instead of finding her flask, she's interrupted by Damon's blaring ringtone on her phone, "I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt, so sexy it hurts". (He'd programmed his custom ringtone before they'd even started dating and sometime along the way, she stopped saying that she was going to change it.)

"Hello, Sexy." Elena answers with a whisper, while walking to her bedroom to put on her full-length gown. Her mom always finds her the best one every year, it's their Mother-Daughter tradition.

"Ooooh, is this going to be my favorite kind of call?" Elena practically sees Damon wiggling his eyebrows at her from the other side of the phone.

Elena huffs a laugh while managing her zipper with one hand. Ultimately, she places her phone on speaker because it's just too complicated.

"What are you wearing?" Damon asks seductively.

"Something you'd really like."

Elena decides to play along flirtatiously just to keep Damon on his toes. With the volume down low, of course, in case anyone walks by her room.

"I've got such silky-satin stockings on... mmm, Damon... they are so soft. They make my legs look good. And feel sooo good." She coos, dropping her voice lower, the way she does when they share a dirty secret. "And they run all the way up to these red garters. They're a perfect match for my little panties. The panties' small little lacy red bows..."

"Elena. Stop." Damon half groans, half whispers over the phone.

She just laughs because he sounds like he's gonna choke. He's never played the inexperienced virgin in their roleplays. Hmm, could be interesting?

"Really not looking to sport a chubby in the same room as my father and my little brother." He explains in a strained voice. She faintly hears a fake cough over the phone.

Wow, buzzkill. Nothing like a parent that does it better. Sure, she'd only been playing around and if she started to get wet, well, it's no one business (except Damon). But it wasn't like they have time for phone sex, so she can't actually be pouty about it.

"I'm almost ready." Voice back to normal, Elena announces after zipping up her dress and adding padding to her breasts. The elegant black and red (Damon's favorite colors) gown covers her front completely while her back and lower back will be left exposed to the cool January air.

"We're meeting-."

"- On the second-floor balcony." Damon cuts her off, no doubt eye rolling. "Yeah, got it. The first 10 times that we went through this."

"Just checking." Elena teases with a large smile on her face. The kind of smile you just can't fake for pictures.

"I can't wait to see you. Are you wearing the tie I got you?"

"My Father beckons. Text you later." Damon replies and abruptly hangs up.

Elena just stares down at her phone, as if the inanimate object personally offends her. But yeah, she knows why Damon scrambled off like that.

Elena and Damon have only been arguing about going through the Lockwoods door together for the past 2 weeks. Elena just doesn't want the spectacle they'd cause while Damon vehemently still protests how much he doesn't give a shit. Damon's taken to reminding her every second that he's her husband. Elena swears it on her life that Damon's favorite word is 'husband'.

With one last glance at the full-length mirror, Elena grabs her purse and heads downstairs to be inspected by her parents before leaving to the Lockwoods.

Not bets on this one, it's a sure thing, it's going to be one crazy New Year's Eve.

Be Good & Review!

This is an a2a gift story for my friend dannielle1989. I have to finish editing the rest, but it'll be up tonight (?).

Happy New Year, my darling #DEFAMILY. Forever hardcore Damon/Elena. We are legion.

I'll update my Tumblr with updates about my other stuff, so don't comment about that pretty please.