Planning a wedding, even a small one is a nightmare. From the start, Damon and I agreed not to do anything over the top. For one thing, the people we really wanted there could be counted on two hands.

Jeremy

Caroline

Alarik

Matt

Bonnie

Lizzy

Josie

Out little nieces Lizzy and Josie had school and wouldn't be able to make it and Bonnie was in Africa and wouldn't be back on time. Thus, shortening our guest list even more. The painful part was when we remembered the people who should be there but would only be there in spirit. Stephan being at the top of that list for Damon. He was up there for me as well but above him were my parents. After learning all I had about my father's role in the torturing of vampires, I developed a bitter taste towards him. But in the end, he was still my dad. The man who taught me how to ride a bike, chased monsters out of my closet or from under my bed. Regardless of everything, I still wished they were both here.

In the end, we decided on an intimate roof top ceremony. One of the many perks of our new home was full access to the roof of our building. The second level bedroom area, which was equally massive, had a pull-down staircase that led to the most beautiful view in the city. That would be where Damon and I said I do.

Down in our elegantly large bathroom Caroline fussed over every detail.

"I steamed this vail 4 times and it still has creases in it!" she stewed, making her red silk Matron of Honor dress shimmy.

"It's fine,"

"No, it's not fine! This is your wedding Lena. The epic ending of you and Damon as star crossed lovers. Romeo and Juliette never got this but you guys do. Everything should be perfect."

"I hardly think of today as an ending of anything Care."

"You're right but, I just want everything to be perfect for you guys. You both deserve all the happiness in the world."

I couldn't help laughing like an idiot at how sincere she was about mine and Damon's wedding.

"Oh, glad to see that I amuse you, meanie."

"I'm sorry." I said catching my breath, "I was just picturing you at that Miss Mystic Fall's pageant, remember? The year after you won?"

"Ok…"

"Stephan and I had just broken up because I had feelings for Damon. And you looked like the world was going to collapse because you thought Damon was up there with Charles Manson. Now here you are helping me get ready to marry the guy you once hated and are saying we deserve every happiness in the world." My giggling slowly morphed into tears.

Caroline started laughing/crying as well. I said the 'S' word and I knew today was harder on her than most of us being that she hardly had any time with Stephen after they were married.

"I'm sorry Care, I didn't mean…"

"No, it's ok. Stephan isn't here but I know he's still here." Caroline touched her heart. "And in a way, I bet he's with us right now telling us to buck up and get this show on the road."

Someone knocked on the bathroom door, "You guys good?" It was Jeremy. He would be giving me away.

"Just a sec!" I shouted and turned back to the bathroom wall mirror. My dress was knee length with a bustle skirt that poofed out a little but was snug at the waist and bust. It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline and made from silk organza and lace. My shoes were the same shade of ivory as my dress with bluish-grey jewels sewn on the straps that went around my ankles and toes. They were my something new. My something old was a pin that belonged to my great grandmother that I wore at the center of the dress's sweetheart neckline. Borrowed, was the hairclip I used to hold my vail, thank you Caroline, and blue came out to be my Tiffany blue finger and toe nails. My hair was straight and down and the only jewelry I wore were a pair of pearl earrings that had been my mom and my engagement ring. Simple, elegant, a little fun with the short dress and totally me.

"Ok, let's do this."

Care opened the door and Jeremy took a step back, "Wow,"

"Good?" I asked needing to hear some approval from the only blood family I had left.

"Great." He said and hugged me. "Mom would have cried at least 12 times by now." He said getting misty.

"And dad would have made a crack about the town running out of tissues." We both laughed.

"They would tell you that you're the most beautiful bride the world has ever seen."

"Thanks Jer,"

"Shall we?" Jeremy held out his arm to me. I took a deep breath and looped my arm through his. Together with Caroline leading us, we headed to the roof where my fiancé and the rest of our family waited.

Damon's POV

"Seriously, how long does it take to zip up a dress?" I asked the powers that be. Rik, Jeremy, Donovan and Bon-bon (via facetime) watched me like I was a ticking time bomb. It was genuinely starting to bug me.

"Relax groomzilla, are you forgetting who's with her in the bathroom?" Rik reminded me

I groan and fiddle with my bowtie, it was unseasonably warm for September. "Save me, they'll be down there for a week."

"Most likely," Jeremy said with a chuckle from his perch on the roof ledge.

"Fortunately, your best man came prepared." Rik pulled a flask from his back pocket and handed it to me.

"You are a god," I told my bestie and started to chug. As I came up for air I suddenly felt better. "You didn't happen to bring 10 more of those, did you?"

"I brought a whole case,"

"I love you,"

"But it's not to be opened till after the ceremony."

"I hate you"

"What are you so anxious about?" Donovan asked. "You're about to marry your dream girl."

"Well Donovan, here's the deal. Every single step of the way, Elena and I have been madly in love and have constantly had obstacles in our way,"

Little Gilbert of course, chose that moment to interject his 2 cents. "Actually, you weren't in love the whole time, there was…"

"Silence young padawan. As I was saying, this is the first time that there's no cosmic boot ready to kick me in the nuts as far as me and my girl are concerned and that makes me… what word did you use? Oh yea, anxious."

"So, your worried because there's nothing going wrong in the world? Yea that makes sense." Donovan assessed.

"Actually it makes perfect sense." Rik spoke up taking the flask from me.

"See?" I pointed to Rik while looking back at Matt.

"You're worried that without all the universal drama you two have experienced Elena will final see what a dick you are and walk away." Rik spoke plainly and took a sip.

That wasn't exactly what I was going for but more or less, Rik hit the nail on the head. Still, not cool to put things so bluntly on my wedding day. "You know what Rik, you're fired, give me that." I said taking the flack back and helping myself to another swig.

He laughed. "Come on Damon. Elena loves you, if she was going to walk away, she would have done it already. God knows we've all tried to talk her into it at some point or another."

"Remind me why you were all invited again?"

"Because we all eventually came to see exactly what she sees in you and we love the two of you together."

"Fine you're rehired."

"I thought so,"

"Bon-bon? Anything to put in here?" I asked the iPad with Bonnie's face.

"Nope, just enjoying watching you all bicker like a bunch of old ladies."

"Alright boys, bring it in." Rick waived us all together in a huddle. He handed out plastic shot glasses filled with bourbon and toasted.

"To our boy Damon. The one of us with the most wit, gall, and as far as I'm concerned, the one who most deserves happily ever after. Cheers!" We all drank and tossed the plastic cups over the ledge.

"I better go check on my sister." Jeremy started to make his way towards the stairs.

"Wait," I told him and took out a packet of Listerine strips. "Your sister will kill me" It didn't matter that the kid was almost old enough to drink legally at this point, she still treated him like a 12-year-old. He laughed, rolled his eyes, took a strip and went.

Once he was gone, I was hit with another realization, "Crap, she'll kill us all. Guys!" we each took a strip and went to our places. Music played from inside our apartment and I knew this was it. Suddenly I couldn't breathe. Was this really happening? Elena, my Elena. The love of my life, the girl of my dreams. Was I seriously going to marry her? Was I that lucky?

I saw Caroline first. She looked great as she made her way over, but I needed to see Elena. I needed to look in her eyes to know this was all real. Then I saw her. She looked like an angel in her ivory dress and thin vail over her face and if I thought I couldn't breathe before, I was under water now. It was real, and she would be mine, till death do us part.

Jeremy brought her over to us and Donovan, our officiate, asked what was in my opinion, the dumbest question ever.

"Who gives this woman to this man?" I mean really? Is that question a must ask? But screw it, Elena was about to be handed to me forever. Jeremy lifted her vail and gave me her hand. I couldn't hold back the urge that went through me. So, I held her face and kissed her. A few snickers erupted from the peanut gallery and blondie cleared her throat.

"Um Damon, you're supposed to do that after the ceremony."

I pulled away from Elena only enough to address blondie's comment. "I don't give a damn."

We finally kept some distance between us and Donovan went through the whole song and dance. Rik handed me Elena's wedding band, a ring of pure D color white diamonds, thank you very much.

The ring she picked for me was a platinum band with a row of square sapphires that went around the middle of the ring. As she guided the ring onto my finger Elena whispered to me "They match your eyes." I smiled and my eyes went back to our joined hands.

Looking down at the perfect slender fingers I held, I couldn't help thinking those rings together looked like they were made for our hands. We used traditional wedding vows and it's a good thing because I don't think my brain could do anything but repeat whatever I was told to say. Then we got to the I do's.

Not sure how it happened as I've never been and emotional guy, but upon the moment Elena said her line,

"I do,"

A pool of tears flooded my eyes and ran down my cheeks. Elena's face at my show of emotion was so beautiful and full of warmth I just wanted to kiss her again. But this time I held myself back. It was my turn now.

Donovan asked, "Do you Damon Salvatore, take this woman, Elena Gilbert to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"You bet your ass I do." Everyone laughed.

"Then by the power vested in me by the internet, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife."

I pulled Elena to me and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. Someone popped a bottle of champagne and started spraying it at us but we didn't move. It was perfect. My girl, my wife and our lives every day together would be perfect.

Off to the side of the beautiful sight, some unseen guests shed some tears on their own.

"She looks perfect." Miranda Gilbert dabbed her eyes with her sleeve.

"He better take care of her." Grayson Gilbert held his wife closer taking in the sight of their daughter on her wedding day.

"I think he will" Miranda nestled deeper into her husband's arms.

"She really does love him, doesn't she?"

"Yea, she does."

"I wish I could have giver her away."

"I know honey, but we're with her, and that's all that matters."

Stephan approached his brother and Elena as they kissed and put his hand on Damon's shoulder, "Way to go brother."

Before he left, he went to his wife Caroline, "I wish I could tell you how beautiful you look today. I love you Caroline," He kissed her cheek and left.

Caroline felt a cold sensation on her face and froze. Looking around she saw no one there but knew what had happened. She smiled and closed her eyes.

"I love you too Stephan."