A/N Hey guys and welcome to the fourth chapter of the story. Sorry for less update speed, okay? Dad has been hospitalized, but I'm cranking stuff out using the power of my laptop while I'm here with him.
I repeat, come hell or high water, I will update promptly because I owe that to you guys.
Of course, thanks for the reviews and I hope I can persuade you guys to send in even more feedback. Can we hit the 40-reviews range soon? Honestly, feedback is the main thing keeping me motivated. Mad props to everyone, special mention to onerepublicgirl and LetsChaseCars for their super-involvement.
Miss ayna93 - I will indulge you with an ice-cream fight, I promise!
Chapter 4
Elena was woken the next day by the rustle of paper on her cheek. As her skin encountered the smoothness of card paper, the sensation prompted her eyes to flutter open. Groaning audibly, she turned to find that Damon was not in the bed. He wasn't even in the room.
"What on Earth," she whispered to herself, as she rose and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Grabbing the folded card, she unfurled it and began to read.
Dear Elena,
Good morning, princess! Hope you're feeling oh so great this morning, because I know I am. I'm definitely hoping there's way more cuddles in our shared future. Maybe even something that gives greater satisfaction? ;)
Anyway, we have a busy day ahead of us, and I don't want you passing out on me in hunger. That is so not cool.
So, what I want you to do is to freshen up for the morning. After that, go to the concierge in the lobby. She'll be the next important step in your epic adventure for breakfast nourishment.
Your hot, alcoholic and supernatural road trip buddy,
Damon
Elena found that she simply couldn't help it. The end of the message brought a huge smile to her face, completely erasing the lethargy of her just-woken state. Inevitably, her grin also reminded her of his behavior the night before.
Did Damon really just cover me in neck kisses? Oh God, our relationship has changed so much. Shit, I better not be covered in hickeys, or I'll stake him myself.
She rushed to the bathroom and inspected herself. Horrified, she discovered a number of the telltale marks, covering her neck like wallpaper patterning. She touched one of the hickeys and a new look dawned in her eyes.
I really am gonna kill that man.
Hoping to relax and prepare for her coming face-off with Damon, Elena decided to strip and just take a long, hot bath.
Let him wait, wherever he is. Frigging vampire caveman.
Inside the hotel's kitchen, Damon was busy staring at the head chef with an intimidating glint in his blue eyes.
"You cannot screw this up, you hear me? Or it will be your head on a platter and trust me, I mean that literally."
The head chef, Alberto Girardi, nodded nervously. "Of course, Mr. Salvatore. I assure you, I won't disappoint."
"Good." The anxious vampire turned to the other staff. "How are we all doing? She'll be down here soon I'm sure, and I better not find out there's nothing cooked yet."
It was the pastry chef who answered. "Sir, the crepes are prepared, so is the fruit selection and the dairy. The omelets take very little time to cook since the ingredients are already on-hand, and the pastries are finishing as we speak."
"The beverages?"
A line cook was the one who replied. "Hot chocolate, freshly brewed coffee and a selection of juices is ready to be served when you wish, Mr. Salvatore. Even the soups are already finishing their cooking time. There's nothing to worry about."
"There better not be or I swear, your jobs are all on the line. I've never brought my guest here before and her opinion is all that counts in this entire matter."
Come to think of it, her opinion matters in all areas of my undead life, but you don't need to know the complicated story of dear old Elena and me. Just know, if you fuck this up, it will not be a happy ending.
Inside the elevator, Elena had no idea what was in store for her. Dressed in an elegant top and dark jeans, she waited for the stop at the lobby. Once she was out, she walked straight to the concierge's desk.
Recognizing the employee from last night, she gave a small greeting and said, "Hi, I was told that there was something here for me? From Damon Salvatore?"
Apparently, the employee didn't share the same recognition, but Ms. I Don't Remember did recall Damon's name.
"Name please?" she said, in a completely droll tone.
"Elena Gilbert."
The concierge female once again checked her computer and finally handed Elena a card similar to the one from when she woke up. As the card passed hands, Elena heard the girl mutter, "Wish I had a guy who wrote me stuff like that. The message was so romantic."
Out of the blue, she ended up saying, "Please learn the courtesy of not reading correspondence meant for other people." After that, she walked away leaving the employee stunned.
Same as her first card from him, the message contained a new set of instructions.
To my feisty but forgiving Elena,
Hey there! You've made it this far, which is a good thing. I thought the complex elevator would defeat you. Don't get pissed - I'm just messing with you, Gilbert. I also wanna say, good morning again!
Now for your task. Please cast your eyes around. I'm sure there's going to be a framed floor plan hanging on one of the walls nearby. Do your best to understand one (I hate it, personally, do you really need all the markings?) and get to the hotel's Le Citron restaurant.
There's a surprise waiting there for you.
I'm sure you look nice and I can't wait to tell you you're beautiful. You know, you always are to me.
Always yours,
Damon
Despite her misgivings over the hickeys on her neck, Elena smiled widely because of his letter.
While she cherished her moments with Damon, this was a whole new level of sweetness for him. In equal degrees, she was shocked but elated at his gestures. He had never been this overtly romantic back in Mystic Falls, and Elena found herself liking the change he'd exhibited.
Finally, when one of the hotel staff members passed near her, she decided to ask instead of consulting the floor plans.
"Can you show me the way to Le Citron?" she said.
The startled young man smiled back at her. "Sure. It's a long way from here, so best we go together, miss. Please come with me."
Elena nodded, and the two of them began walking beside each other. True to what the guy said, the restaurant really was a long way off, so Elena made the effort of saying some pleasantries.
"Thanks for coming all the way with me," she said, when they were about midpoint to their destination. "Have you been working here long?"
He shook his head. "About two years or so." Extending his hand, he added, "My name's Will, by the way."
She took his hand and shook it briefly, saying, "I'm Elena."
"Nice to meet you," he said, and that had been the end of their conversation.
The reason behind the ending was another member of the staff, whom Damon had assigned as lookout for Elena. The sprightly redhead had been near the restaurant's entrance, and had seen Elena from a long way off. She checked the small picture she had been given for confirmation.
Clicking the small pager-like device in her hand, she sent the kitchen into overdrive plating mode, serving as Elena's temporary distraction and tour guide.
"You're Miss Elena Gilbert, right?" she said, quickly shooing Will away with a serious glare. As Elena said yes, Ms. Lookout added, "Well, please come with me. Mr. Salvatore insists you have to see something important."
"But I'm supposed to be inside Le Citron." She pointed to the elegant entrance to the hotel restaurant.
"I understand that miss, but Mr. Salvatore says I'm supposed to take you somewhere else first."
"Where?"
"We have a viewing deck only a little distance away, open only to selected customers. According to my instructions, that's where I'm supposed to take you."
Elena fidgeted for a moment but finally acquiesced. "Lead the way then. Oh and uh, I didn't get your name?"
"I'm Diane," the redhead said, before she pointed to the general direction they were supposed to take. The clack-clack of her heels could be heard across the expensively-tiled floor.
Suffice it to say, Elena had been blown away once she got to the spacious but still intimate viewing deck. There was a small table with no seating, a bouquet, and a rolled-up letter with a ribbon. The mere presence of the letter itself brought a smile to Elena's face, this time one of anticipation.
Meanwhile, Diane pressed her pager again to send the final signal, while Elena was already reading the contents of Damon's correspondence. The tone and wording of message was vastly different this time, and she felt as if she was back in 1864, the effect which Damon intended and expected.
After all, he'd decided that it would be good for her to see yet another side of him - the romantic Southern gentleman within the uncompromising vampire.
Dearest Miss Gilbert,
Back in my time, we conversed extensively through the use of various flowers. Hence, I am doing the same at this very moment.
The first one in the arrangement is a hydrangea, which means earnestness and perseverance.
Let me say, I am not seeking a temporary joining between us. If we ever will be joined, my lovely beauty, we will be joined forever. With this in mind, I will persevere as I have in the past, earning your affections with sincerity and the most earnest of efforts.
If you will look back at the arrangement, your second flower is a gladiolus, which has come to represent strength of character. I see that strength inside you every single day, and I deeply admire you all the more for it.
Now, in connection with this strength of character, your next flower is a freesia. Though the meaning in my time was of innocence and friendship, modernity has turned the freesia into a bloom representing grace during moments of difficulty. It is with this grace under pressure that you have won my utmost respect.
The flower is also appropriate, as it represents the goodness and innocence with which you view life, in addition to the significance of our peculiar but special friendship.
Lastly, there is ivy in this arrangement, for one purpose and one alone. The ivy represents fidelity, which I will always give to you with the truest devotion.
If you will give me your heart, I promise to take care of it like the rain takes care of parched earth, much the same way that a loving relationship will only work if both parties promise to take care of each other. My sincerest hope therefore, is that you may give me the chance to care for you as you so rightly deserve.
Eternally yours,
Damon Salvatore
Once she got to his name, she felt a solitary tear escape her right eye at the emotion in his message. Before she knew it, she was already running back to the restaurant and straight into Damon's arms.
"Whoa. You're enthusiastic today," Damon said, as he caught Elena in his arms and gave her a long embrace. The gesture was clearly filled with the promise of his love and protection.
On Elena's part, she gave him a sweet kiss which nearly derailed Damon's plan for that morning. Though her lips brushed over his only for the briefest of moments, he felt as if it was an unending validation of his efforts. The kiss rendered all his work, both past and present, worthwhile.
Once she pulled away, she cradled his face in her hands and whispered, "Thank you, Damon. For this and for everything, okay? Really, thank you."
"That was one hell of a thank-you. And you're very welcome." He led her to the decked-out middle table of the restaurant, which prompted her first question.
"Are we the only ones here, Damon?"
"Yep," he said, popping the last letter. "As part-owner, I get lots of perks. I ordered Le Citron to be kept closed for today's breakfast crowd. And may I just say, you look absolutely beautiful."
His statement prompted a blush. "Thank you for the compliment. But what about the guests who wanna eat here?"
"There are other restaurants in this hotel, Elena, so please don't worry yourself." He sat down opposite her, reaching over to caress her cheek. "I wanted every day of this trip to be special and that operation began last night. Today it continues."
If you choose me, Elena, I promise you one very crucial thing. Every single day we spend together will be as special as this one, no matter where we are or what we're doing. I can promise you that.
Though he voiced none of his thoughts, Elena latched on to the emotion brewing in his expressive eyes. Somehow, staring at him reduced her to pensiveness as well.
I can't believe Damon did all this for me. This definitely takes the cake as far as our road trips go. And Lord help me, but his letter was impossibly amazing.
Elena's thoughts were broken by the sound of his voice. "You okay? Should we wait before we eat?"
She shook her head, clearing her mind at the same time. "What are we having?"
"Anything you want, Elena." Truthfully, he didn't just mean food.
In response to him, she tried to think of an appropriately simple choice. "How about an omelet and some French toast? Do we have fruit?"
Damon nodded and turned to the head chef, who standing some distance away with an anticipatory look in his eye. "Cart everything out." At that, a simple breakfast turned into a morning feast.
As far as omelets went, the chef wheeled out a portable stove, on which he cooked her food complete with her choice of omelet ingredients. In addition to that, breads and pastries of every conceivable type were brought out in a procession of carts. Next up were the beverages, before the fruits and dairy products were finally brought out. Everything was carefully arranged to create attractive, elegant plating.
The only thing Elena could say to the whole spectacle was, "Wow." The stunned simplicity of it made Damon chuckle.
"I wasn't kidding when I said you could have anything you wanted. So, go pick as you like."
He waited for her to make her food and beverage choices, before he finally made his own. In the relative silence of the early Virginia morning, Damon and Elena ate, looking for all the world like the perfect couple in love.
"So what are we doing today, anyway?" Elena asked, in the middle of cutting up her omelet.
He took a sip of his fruit juice. "We're hitting the road, and I'm giving you a real taste of the Virginian lifestyle all through the day, until late afternoon. We also have some fun stuff to do in the evening, just so you know. We can't shut ourselves up in this hotel forever, though if it serves our needs then I'm sure it would be an enjoyable lockdown." He gave her his signature leer and smirk.
Seeing it, Elena rolled her eyes and took a bite of her French toast. Little did they know, the rest of that day would literally change not just their road trip, but their lives. It would redefine their limits, their conceptions of reality, and most importantly, their relationship.
After all, the course of true love never did run smooth. Damon and Elena just took the concept to new heights.
A/N Was wondering whether I would make this longer, but it seemed perfect to stop where I did. Please review, okay? Reviews are the crack version of encouragement, let me tell you. Also, I wanna reiterate the amazing happiness I've drawn from the positive comments on this story. I am blown away by it all, and I really can't believe you all grew to like it this much.
