Part 1 of 5. This was supposed to be my Christmas one shot that got much longer than planned. I hope you enjoy it.

All I Want for Christmas will updated and posted hopefully done within a week yet. Sorry for the delay.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Elena stood in the doorway of their house, looking around and making sure she had everything. Passports? Tickets? She felt around in her bag confirming they were both there. She could not afford to forget anything. They would be gone a week and there was no rushing back once they were in the air.

It was still so early in the morning though that it was as dark as night outside and she was running late as it was, yawning and moving far too slowly. She took in the tidy but busy looking space that was her kitchen. The calendar beside the desk had this day circled in bright blue pen. It was finally here and time to go.

"C'mon Mommy! C'mon. I want to see the plane! We need to go!"

Elena looked down as their little girl was trying to pull her out the door. She was whining and grunting at how heavy her mom was. The 4 year old was a mirror image of her daddy, jet black hair that curled at the ends and fiery ice blue eyes. She had the longest dark eyelashes Elena had ever seen. Without a doubt she would be a heart breaker when she was older, that was for sure.

The little girl's bottom lip came out in the most adorable pout and Elena laughed out loud bending down to her level to smooth a lock of her long silky hair behind her ear. "Lily bear, we have plenty of time. Don't worry about anything."

Lily's blue gaze softened and she reached out and gave her mom the biggest hug, her little arms around her neck. "I love you Mommy. Daddy loves us too. Can we go now? I can't wait anymore!"

She was jumping up and down, her frilly pink skirted top twirling around her body. She was wearing pink and purple striped tights underneath and a pink headband in her dark hair. She had insisted on dressing herself but she did really well for an almost 5 year old.

Elena smiled at the bright, excited little girl that was far too awake for so early in the morning. "You bet baby. Do you have everything?" Lily was nodding her dark head and holding the fleecy green camo colored blanket up.

"Blankie, yep. Lumpy...he's right here," she stated holding up her stuffed camel. "You got Daddy's necklace and our pictures? You told me to remind you to bring them."

Elena thought Lily sounded so grown up already. She ran her fingers down the chain around her neck and nodded to Lily before tucking it in under her white camisole and tugging the navy blue long sleeved shirt lower. She slipped her feet into her brown almost knee high boots, pulling them over her skinny dark washed stretchy jeans.

Grabbing her brown leather jacket and twinned a red scarf around her neck, the young mom was ready. She patted her carry on bag. "Pictures album is right here little lady."

Taking her daughter's hand, she swung her bag on her shoulder and pulled along the suitcase with the other. Lily put on her pink fuzzy jacket and brown ugg style boots. She held her own special bag she wanted to bring, stuffing her blankie and camel in it as they closed the door and made their way down the walkway.

The taxi Elena had called was waiting on the street and the man had already gotten out to help them with their luggage. He extended his hand and Elena let go of Lily's to step down carefully onto the road. She passed the gentleman her luggage and he loaded it into the trunk as Elena turned back to Lily and reached for her hands to help her down off the slippery curb. The roads were slick with a fresh sprinkling of frozen rain from last night and the ice coated everything like a sheen of glass.

Elena helped get Lily settled in her seat and maneuvered her way in and closed the door, buckling them both up. The snowflakes started falling as they drove, the flakes getting bigger and thicker, sticking to the windows, revealing their perfectly unique shapes and designs before melting away.

She was pulled back into her memories of the first time she met 'him' as she watched the snow fall, so softly, so silently to the window panes as they drove.

"Elena! I told you this was going to be so much fun! C'mon, you get your skates here."

She was trying to think of something to say to somehow get out of this. She hadn't gone skating since she was a kid and the idea of trying it now more than a decade later, terrified her. Her twin sister had said they had come here to see all the hot guys from the military base that was not even a mile away.

"Okay, okay Kat, just slow down. I am probably going to make such a big fool of myself out there. I mean look at them! All those guys are so..." She could not even finish her sentence, her mouth hanging open as she saw one guy wave and another guy wink at her as she shakily smiled back and fumbled to get her skates on. Pretty? Hot? Handsome? Gorgeous? A myriad of describing words flooded her mind.

Kat was yelling at her to just push off and have fun. She disappeared onto the rink and was twirling and skating with ease in circles around some of the younger skaters. Her sister was the pro here, skating all through high school and in competitions, almost making it to Olympic level before she chose to focus on college. She had let it go when two winter Olympic games came and went without her making the team. Katherine said she had other passions she wanted to pursue too, so skating then became a fun hobby for her.

Elena however had gone out less times than she could count on one hand after she had been 10 years old. It wasn't for her and she had gotten plenty of bumps and scrapes to prove it. She preferred fixing those bumps and scrapes and had a passion to go into nursing. She had just got in at Jefferson Community College in New York that September and was soaking up everything she was learning and loving it.

Clinging to the archway that all the people walked through to get onto the ice, she stepped forward, swinging herself around. She nearly landed on her butt right away, feeling her feet try to slip out from under her.

Elena took a step, rearranging her warm red sweater to not have the sleeves keep falling past her hands. She needed her hands to grip something, but past the archway there was nothing but hay bales at various heights, some stacked a few high and some low enough to sit on. They were strung with colorful lights all around, giving the large oval style outdoor rink such a beautiful ambiance. There was another archway on the opposite side of the ice but nothing else to hold onto here.

She was ready to give up when she heard her sister calling and motioning her to skate toward her. Elena shut her eyes, cursing her sisters idea of fun and took a deep breath, pushing off. She felt herself falling almost right away and shifted her body to re balance as she kept speeding forward on the ice. She had forgotten how to brake completely and was trying to steer herself more or less toward Kat. Her sister looked like she had already made friends with a few guys skating around her.

However just as she had almost gotten to her, one of the guys, a blonde, wrapped his arms around Katherine's waist and pulled her backwards away from where Elena was going. The younger twin yelled at them and then in trying to turn her body, felt herself falling more.

Elena was almost to the other side of the ice and going to crash. She called out, trying to warn the people between her and the safety of the hay bales, but it was too late and she had plowed right into someone, taking them down with her as she fell to the ice.

"I'm so sorry!" Elena called out, mortified that she had crashed into them. The person turned, flipping a head of dark hair, moving the unruly strands away from his face. Her breath caught in her throat, no words coming out, making her look even more ridiculous.

He was gorgeous.

An easy going smirk graced his full lips. His eyes were like pools of crystal blue ocean and in the moments they stared at each other Elena swore she saw waves crashing in their depths.

She was staring, she knew it but could not help it...her palms were flat on his chest as he had caught her careening toward him and yet somehow flipped them so he bore the brunt of their fall, his back on the ice.

Elena was leaning over him, seeing every little fleck of color in his eyes as they darkened. He felt strong. She could feel how chiseled he was beneath his thin black shirt. She didn't know if she was dreaming but did not dare blink, in case he disappeared.

Things like this... falling into the most handsome man did 'not' happen to her. Guys like this noticed Katherine for her grace, poise and confidence. They looked exactly alike...but Elena was the klutz, the shy one. The one that would rather hide in her room lost in a book, than have an awkward encounter with a hot guy. She had no idea how to talk to him, 'at all'.

When it didn't look like anything intelligent or not was coming out of her mouth, he shifted and lifted her up to sit her on the hay bales. His hands were firm and warmed the skin of her midriff even through the sweater. She felt such a rush in her body at his touch and she did not even know his name yet.

"Hey," the Adonis spoke. "Are you okay?" He dipped his head, gazing right in her eyes, his own such dark blue in the twinkling of the lights around them.

She nodded numbly, as she felt her breath catch again as he smoothed her hair from her face, twining it between his fingers to tuck the strands back, that were a tangled mess in front of her eyes. She had partly liked the hair across her face. It gave her a way to hide from him. Anytime he locked his eyes to hers she would drop hers, avoiding how intense everything about him felt.

His lips curled at the ends, his own voice held a hint of timidness in its tone. Maybe he was nervous with her too? "Anything broken? Can you move? Can you speak?"

She looked down at her legs all wrapped around his as they sat on the hay bale. She did not think she could move or say anything, but not because she was injured. Her tongue felt three sizes bigger in her mouth. She was so nervous to talk to someone this beautiful. Elena was sure his girlfriend would be along any moment and rip him back out of her world.

However no mystery woman came and Elena caught herself sneaking a peek at his ring finger...it was bare. He was young, so was she really expecting to find a ring? She had no idea where her head was at.

He looked down, following her line of sight and stretched out his hand, flexing the fingers. "I'm...not with anyone," he confirmed to her silent curiosity, "Are you?"

Elena swallowed the giant lump in her throat and shook her head. Her eyes were down but she heard him sigh. Was he relieved? Happy? She found herself aching to look in his eyes again but she was scared too. He held out his hand, his fingers lightly tracing over the skin of her own hand.

"I'm Damon..." he breathed out and she felt her fingers tangling with his, almost as if there was force greater than either of them at work in connecting their lives.

"Elena." She forced her name past her fear and he nodded and whispered her name, as if tasting it on his tongue to see if he liked the flavor.

God she was already in love... no wait that was not possible after a few minutes. Lust, it must be just pure carnal lust that someone that attractive was 'actually' talking to her.

"Elena," he repeated and stood up, his feet steady beneath him and held out his other hand.

The music that had been light and cheerful suddenly fell to a low and soft Christmas ballad. 'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas' wafted through the air as he stood up in front of her.

"Dance with me," Damon whispered it as a statement and not even a question. Elena found herself very willing and eager even, letting him pull her to her feet. She felt her heart pounding, as her skates started slipping and she fell into his arms, gripped his leather jacket tight.

Damon held her steady, his hands wrapped beneath her arms as he skated slowly backwards, pulling her with him. She felt herself standing more steady, trusting in his firm grip, holding her up. She wavered again, feeling her feet try to slip out from under her and moved to grip his shoulders tight, her body pressed to his.

Elena could feel his breath against her cheek, as she clung to him. "Hold on tight Elena, I won't let you fall." He smiled down at her, his bright blue eyes so beautiful in the dim glow of the lights. She looked up, captivated by his gaze as he held her close, skating them backward as the song played such a soft, smooth melody.

Just then snow started falling, and Elena looked up to the sky, seeing more and more flakes falling and caught a few with her tongue, as she smiled and giggled. She saw Damon beaming at her, watching her and he opened his mouth to catch some on his tongue too.

It was magical, like in one of those books she read about, meeting the perfect guy in such a romantic setting. She could hardly believe it was happening to her...

Elena smiled, watching the flakes falling and seeing the bright Christmasy décor all around them as they drove. There were beautiful designed lights, hung across the whole expanse of the highway in swirls and bright colors. They drove under each one as Lily oohed and ahhed at how amazing everything looked. Elena watched her pointing to more and bright decorations and huge, Christmas trees that sat in bunches, in various courtyards along the main street towards the airport.

Lily was practically jumping up and down in her seat, seeing all the sparkling trees around them. She pointed to houses and business' that had bright lights or Santa displays, or manger scenes and glowing blocks in shape of presents all piled up. When the scenery dulled as they made their way further away towards the airport Lily came and snuggled in against her mom, cuddling her little camel tight to her chest.

"Can you just once Mommy?" Lily asked and Elena nodded and dug under the zipper of the stuffed animal and flicked the switch on. Damon's smooth, sweet voice echoed in the car as they drove before Elena flicked it off and Lily nuzzled in, cuddling up to the camel under her chin and her mom at her side.

Elena smoothed the dark strands of her hair back as they drove and ran her fingers across Damon's necklace, feeling the smooth and intricate design. She sighed and saw the signs for the Watertown International Airport just ahead. Lily was quiet, laying against her and Elena thought back to more times when they were still so young and so carefree.

She had gone home that night swooning over how amazing 'he' was and they had already made plans to meet there the next evening.

Every day that week Damon met Elena at the ice rink, the last few days he even helped her into her skates and she would hold onto him, letting him steer, trusting him to keep her safe.

Sure they had fallen down a few times and laughed and laid down on the ice staring at the sky. But Elena could not remember the last time she had that much fun with anyone before him.

Damon had skated her around and around on the ice. She held on tight, feeling a chill one time and felt her body shiver, in her thick navy blue sweater. She had thought it was warm enough without a jacket today.

Within seconds her handsome dance partner had shrugged out of his jacket and passed it to her, wrapping her in it before she could protest. He was fine, he insisted when she tried to give it back to him.

"I'm good Elena. Really. I have a thick sweater to keep me warm. It's simple. You are cold and I want to help keep you warm." Damon said, not taking no for an answer.

She nuzzled into his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder. "You are keeping me warm, Salvatore."

Yes, she knew his last name. They had talked for hours just sitting on the hay bales till there was no one else around that first night. She had shooed Katherine away without so much as an introduction and Damon friends had all left without him too.

Her and Damon had exchanged numbers and he texted her asking her her likes and dislikes and she had replied and asked him more questions about himself all week.

He was in the military and lived on the Fort Drum base that was so close by. He wanted to join the army since he was a kid playing cops and robbers. It was his dream to go overseas and help people.

They had talked about their childhoods, and school and first loves and hopes, dreams and plans for the future. Elena going into nursing and Damon was leaving at the end of the week for training out in Florida for a few months.

They had grown close and Elena could not imagine him being gone from her life tomorrow. It was late Sunday night and his team left first thing Monday morning.

He had talked her into skating one more time, knowing that when he got back in a few months, the rink would be too warm and would be closed for the rest of the year. She had slowly been getting better, balancing on her skates. How he talked her into going as many times this week as she had. she had no idea.

She told Damon jokingly that he probably was only interested in her because she would cling to him, knowing she could not skate herself. He had laughed and rapidly denied that, saying there were many reasons he liked her. Elena laughed too and pulled him closer. She felt the same way. There were many reasons she liked him too.

This last day, she was wearing her leather jacket that was plenty warm for the cooler day. Her soft cream colored toque kept her head warm as the day was chilly enough for mittens too. Her hair fell down her back, in long silky strands that she noticed Damon loved running his fingers through.

He passed her a hot chocolate, asking for extra marshmallows, just how she liked it and they sat on the hay bales watching other people skate while Elena leaned into him, resting her back against his chest. He would nuzzle in by her cheek saying how much he would miss her. She nodded, echoing his feelings wondering how she could handle months without him.

They stood back up, disposing of their cardboard drink containers and Elena grabbed for his hands, tucking her mittens in her pockets. She pushed off, him still skating backwards as she led him using her momentum to move them across the ice. She was smiling and laughing, so proud that she wasn't falling and he was beaming at her, very obviously impressed.

They were almost to the other side of the ice when Elena felt her foot slip out from under her and she grabbed hard at him to steady herself. But he slipped at her weight coming down so fast too and they landed in a tangle of limbs, sliding right underneath the archway.

Damon's weight was on her, his whole body pressed to hers as he gazed down at her. They both started laughing at the same moment and Elena looked up into his gorgeous face leaning down to hers. His arms were bent at the elbows, keep most of his weight off her as his hands moved to cup her face.

Laughter faded as Elena felt the intensity of this moment. She blinked once, then twice seeing a sprig of mistletoe dangling from the archway above them. She motioned him to look and he did, his eyes dilated even more when he leaned back over her.

She nodded at his silent question, seeing his heated gaze locked to hers. The ice blue of his eyes looked darker, like night, as his eyes fell from hers to study her lips. Elena's heart was racing as he leaned in and she closed her eyes to the crashing of his open mouth on hers.

This wasn't soft and sweet, no this was all out war. She had fantasized about kissing him for days already and could not believe it was really happening.

Elena opened her mouth to his seeking tongue, tasting him, reveling in him, feeling his hands caressing her cheeks. Her own palms slid around his body, under his black leather jacket to feel his rock hard abs through his long sleeved button down as they were pressed so closely, her body under him.

She had no idea how long they had kissed like that, unaware of anyone nearby, smiling at the whistles of strangers skating around them. Elena gave herself over to the feeling of security she felt in his arms and the passion of his kisses.

When she finally opened her eyes, he had pulled her up and she was straddling his lap on the ice, just under the archway. Her voice was shaking, her breath so fast. "Wow..." she whimpered, pulling back to see the sky blue eyes so dark, his whole being vulnerable and open.

Damon's lips curled up in a slow smile as he had her wrapped so tightly in his arms. "Wow, is right…" he breathed out, his warm breath visible in the cold air.

"Wow! Mommy look at all the big planes! They are so close!" Lily was jumping in her seat again as she pointed to a plane that had just flown overhead and roared past them to land on the runways behind the buildings.

Elena shook her head and pulled herself back to the present as she nodded and smiled at their daughter's excitement. She had never been on a plane before and Elena knew that exuberance could change to being scared soon enough.

Mentally checking her bags once more, she hoped that they had remembered everything. She had packed gum for the air pressure and bought Lily a whole case of Disney books that she could listen to on her own while they were up in the air. She had her camo blanket and Lumpy, and some coloring books and new crayons and a few snacks, so Elena had hoped that was all it would take to keep Lily calm on the flight.

The taxi stopped at the curb and she paid him along with a nice tip and they got out. Lily was very obedient and stayed right by Elena's side as they unloaded their bags. Elena stacked them up together so she would only have to pull the larger suitcase. Tossing Lily's carry on bag on her other shoulder, she grabbed her daughter's hand and led her into the terminal.

It was busy being so close to Christmas. People were everywhere, running, yelling, checking watches, getting tickets and loading bags. Lily was pointing upstairs to the play structure that was visible from the main floor. Anytime Lily and her were waiting for Damon to come home, she would love racing down the slides, up the ropes and climbing in the cages to pass the time. Often flights were delayed by weather or otherwise and it gave Elena time to relax and mentally prepare for all the changes of having him home.

They got their tickets, checked their suitcase and Elena helped Lily carry her bag, while swinging her own carry on onto her other shoulder. Security was quick and in no time Lily was laughing and playing tag with the other kids at the play area.

Elena fell into one of the seats, where she could see Lily when she came out the big covered red slide and onto the soft mats that surrounded the whole area. Lily had thrown her big pink jacket on her mom's lap as she kicked off her boots to run and play.

"Stay close Lily bean. Mommy needs to see you at all times."

The little girls head bobbed up and down. "Yes Momma, I will."

Elena would have loved to close her eyes and rest a bit. She had not gotten much sleep last night. This whole trip had been so exciting and yet she was nervous too. Flying like this would be a first. She had not flown anywhere since before Lily and only came to airports to greet Damon coming home.

A woman leaned over and smiled at Elena and nodded a greeting. Elena politely smiled back, unzipping her leather jacket and moved to watch Lily who had been climbing the cargo net now, her fluffy skirt swishing around her as she moved.

"How far along are you?" the woman asked, smiling more at Elena.

Elena spread her palm over her belly, rubbing it just slightly, feeling the familiar kicks and stretching of the baby within her. "Almost 6 months," she replied to the other mother. She was showing a lot more with this one than their first. She had literally popped at 3 months and just kept climbing since then. Even not eating as much these last few weeks had not curbed her weight that was steadily increasing.

The other mom looked like she was going to ask another question when she suddenly jumped up calling for her child to wait his turn at the top of the slide. She had walked forward a bit and then when her son stepped back she moved to sit back down.

Elena had slipped her ear buds in by then and hoped the woman wouldn't try to to talk more. She was nervous flying in her 2nd trimester and hoped everything would go well and didn't really feel like any kind of small talk right now.

Lily laughed and played, running and tagging the other kids all while holding her little camel tight in her hand.

Damon had come back from Afghanistan with it after his first tour and she had been overjoyed at the soft, squishy, stuffed camel. Lumpy went everywhere with her and she slept with him every night. Elena had even stitched a fabric picture of the three of them laying on the ice at the ice rink they met at on Lumpy's body so Daddy was always with her, even when he was half a world away.

Elena stood up, seeing the time on the huge wall clock ahead of them. "Time to go Little bean!" The whines and complaints of the little girl just wanting a few more minutes were shushed by Elena saying it was time to go on the big plane! Lily also made a face at the nickname Damon loved so much, calling her a little bean since that was one of the ways he described her size when she was still in her mom's tummy.

Lily came running and slipped on her boots and jacket. "Why am I still Little bean? I thought the baby in your tummy would be Little bean now that I am so big." Lily looked totally serious and very scoldingly at her mom. "I am almost 5 Momma. Tomorrow I'm 5. I am not little anymore!"

Elena laughed and smoothed Lily's hair back. "You are right, my very big girl. You 'are' almost 5 and we can call the baby Little bean if you want."

Lily was nodding and smiling and moved to give her little sister or brother a hug before helping her mom up from her seat and they walked hand in hand to their gate.

A huge wall of windows appeared around the next corner and Elena nodded to Lily's asking to go closer. The little girl ran ahead, her raven hair swishing behind her. Tiny fingers pressed themselves to the window as Lily's eyes were so huge, watching the planes coming in and taking off as Elena met her at the window before moving them to stand in line.

The woman took their tickets and ushered them on through the door. Elena had gotten a window seat for Lily and tucked her bag up in the overhead storage. She unzipped her own carry on and ran her fingers across the smooth fabric she tucked in the front pocket and closed her eyes for just a moment before turning back and sitting down.

She buckled them both up and soon the plane was taxiing for takeoff. Lily was more excited than scared and held onto Lumpy and her moms hand tight as she watched the ground rush away, leaving them gliding over the thousands of lights below.

Lily seemed to have exhausted herself and snuggled into her camo blanket and started listening to one of the Disney books while flipping each page.

Elena watched her for a few minutes before picking up a magazine and flipping through it. She paused at a picture of a man and woman under an archway, kissing and closed her eyes…

This story is complete already and I will post the other chapters every few days, so watch for updates!

Please take a minute and let me know what you thought of the beginning.

Have a safe and happy weekend.