THE TRUTH IS DEADLY, THE LIE IS NOT

Author's note: First of all, I'm so sorry for taking such a long time to get this posted. It has been a really busy week for me. Again, I apologize! And don't forget to prepare yourselves for the surprises I've got in store for you! Now, go on and read your butts off.

Chapter 6: You And I Tonight

ONE YEAR LATER...

ELENA'S POV

It has been almost a year and a half now since Stefan passed on. It still feels like yesterday, though. Recently, I've stopped counting the days. I've even lost track of time. It had just occurred to me that I have been doing that quite often now.

Well, if there's anyone to blame, blame Damon. It's his fault for being so damn perfect at super gluing all my broken pieces together. It's as if Damon dug a hole so deep to bury all of yesteryear's sorrows. In fact, that is exactly what happened.

Speaking of – ever since then Damon had morphed into this guy who'd shop for groceries, go home and make dinner for me. And when I fell sick, he would patiently feed me chicken soup, give me impressive head massages and pass me the tissue after every earthshaking sneeze. As terrible as I looked, he would still look at me as if I was the most beautiful girl in the world, which I was certainly not.

All this time, I knew he was in love with me. But until now, I didn't know just how much.

Basically, he became the man I imagined him to be. The man he believed to have lost since Stefan had turned him.

The man I would love for... eternity.

Damon and I, we had this thing about getting up really early in the morning to watch the sunrise together. All of a sudden, standing at the balcony – arm in arm – and looking up at the sky became a daily habit for the two of us.

To me, it signified the arrival of a new day, where the past is cherished and not forgotten. I would always take the time to think back upon all the memories and relive them, even the bad ones, because they mattered just as much. In doing so, I would never forget the girl I once was, and above all, how I felt about Stefan, because the last thing I wanted to forget was him.

For Damon, he had always loved the sun. Although it was his biggest threat, he was not at all bothered by it. The heat reminded him that he was real... and human, for the most part.

"Damon," I murmured his name. Apparently, it was loud enough to seize his attention.

He glanced at me when I asked him, "Do you miss... being human?"

"Every single day," Damon stared at the beautiful dawning sky and got lost somewhere along the way.

He seemed to be awfully carried away. I was wondering what was on his mind.

"Elena, do you remember that day when we were at the beach? I said I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you," Damon continued to recall.

I stared blankly at him for awhile and nodded afterwards.

"I thought you were kidding," I tensed up.

"No, I wasn't," Damon turned pensive, "Wait, why would you think that?"

"No reason," I tried to laugh my nerves off.

"Anyway, I was thinking for almost a year now, about what I want. And my answer has always been you, Elena. It was always you," Damon wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.

His nearness, still to this day, sent chills down my spine.

"You're blushing," Damon pointed out.

Hiding my sheepish face in humiliation, I denied his accusations by declaring, "No, I'm not. I think you need to pay a visit to the optician."

"Oh yes you are," he lifted my chin up and lowered his mouth to mine. This time, my cheeks redden even more. Damon chuckled to himself as soon as he noticed it.

He rested both hands on my shoulders and coughed, preparing himself for a serious moment, "Elena, you bring back my humanity. Whenever I'm with you, I dread about the times when I'm not. It feels magical just being this close to you. It sounds stupid, I know, but it's the truth no one can deny. And I cannot live by another day without you knowing that I want to be with you, for as long as we are here, like this. Marry me, Elena."

"Marry you?" I tried to sound surprised despite the fact that I wasn't. I had seen this coming, but still I had no clue what to say.

"But why?" I questioned him. My heart was pounding on my chest harder and harder by the second as I waited for an answer.

He then shifted my hands and placed them to feel the tender beat of his heart, "You're the only reason why it's alive. This – it beats for you. That's why, Elena."

I couldn't ask for a better answer. I swear if it weren't for the pesky questions perturbing my mind, I would've said yes already. But no, I decided to be wise for a change.

"But we have our whole lives ahead of us, Damon. Why now?"

"Time isn't guaranteed. And that scares me, Elena. It scares the heck out of me. What if one day something bad happens and we don't have each other anymore? Have you ever thought about that? I want you, Elena, all of you," Damon told me.

Somewhere along those lines, I found myself tearing up. I didn't know what had got to me but Damon was right. I never thought that one day he would lose me. Or worse, I'll lose him. Nobody knows. I could see why Damon was afraid, and why I should be too.

– Insert song lyrics here –

Uncertainty is killing me, and I'm certainly not asleep. Maybe I've gone far too deep; maybe I'm just far too weak. And that's the last place I want to be.

Thousands were lost, maybe more. The question remains, what is this for? Maybe it came unexpected, maybe I'm left unprotected. And that's the last place, I want to be.

And there is so much we don't know, so we love and we hope that it holds. And either we say or we show, so I'm going to fight for my own. I'm holding on until the last, I'm holding on until there's nothing left.

– "Uncertainty" by The Fray

In circumstances like these, it's funny how marriage happens to secure everything.

I want to be with Damon forever, don't I? It was a question I beat myself up for asking.

"You know, Damon, I tried to picture my future just now, and I couldn't," I continued, "I can't picture a single moment of my life without you being in it."

"So is that a yes?" Damon asked for a confirmation as if I wasn't already clear enough. He was in the midst of breaking into a half grin.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes," I said continuously, sealing the assurance with a kiss.

Then Damon fell on his knees, copying the scene out of a romantic comedy, and asked sweetly, "Miss Gilbert, will you marry me?" He took a vintage-looking opal ring out of his pocket and presented it before my very eyes. They shined as hard as his eyes did.

It looked rusty, but indeed it appeared better that way. Damon must've gotten it for Katherine a century back. But even if it was so, I wouldn't mind a tiny bit. It was nothing less than beautiful, too beautiful for me to give it back.

I tried to stifle a laugh but I couldn't. I could hear him chuckling along with me too.

"It would be my utmost pleasure to, Mr. Salvatore," I told him, taking a bow. It was quite bothering that just a year ago, I could've said the same thing to Stefan, the other Salvatore.

I immediately shrugged off the thought as I watched Damon slide the ring on my finger. I couldn't help but smile at what I was getting myself into.

I'm getting married to Damon Salvatore. It took me quite awhile to register it. It all happened so fast I barely understood how we even got here.

I echoed myself and smiled while I was at it, "I'm getting married to Damon Salvatore."

I couldn't even believe it myself. So exactly how is everyone going to? I can only wonder.

"Oh my god, oh my god," Caroline and Bonnie both muttered in unison. I wasn't given the chance to open my mouth to speak yet. I planned to hide the news for as long as I could, but Caroline wouldn't let me. She spotted the shine of the ring seconds before she even walked up to me.

Caroline's high pitched scream nearly broke the glass windows, "Elena Gilbert, you're getting married!" She shook me vigorously, "How dare you hide this from us? When did he propose? And how? You better spill right this instant!"

"Last Monday, at the balcony. He got down on one knee and everything," I felt like such a girly girl squealing along with her.

"Oh my god, Elena! I'm so jealous," Caroline continued, "I guess we better start planning now. You don't want last minute disasters on your wedding day, do you?"

"Hold on, sister. I never said anything about a wedding," I shut her up the minute I mentioned Damon and I weren't going to have one.

"Are you serious? You can't get married if you're not going to have a wedding! I won't allow it, Elena," Caroline made it clear.

"Fine," I raised a white flag and sighed upon it. Evidently, Caroline would make me give in sooner or later. Something tells me that Caroline is more interested in planning the wedding than watching me getting married.

"Elena, are you sure this is what you want?" Bonnie had to interrupt the moment.

"It's all and more," I answered without hesitation.

"Don't be such a mood killer, Bonnie!" Caroline slapped her arm.

"You know I don't mean to, Care," Bonnie turned to face me, "I'm just worried for you, Elena. You're nineteen. You've got so much ahead of you to have something like this get in the way," Bonnie reasoned.

She stressed on my age as if nineteen was as small of a number like one or two or three.

"I'm not a child, Bonnie. I can make my own decisions – decisions I would like you to support. And marrying Damon happens to be one of them," I made my point.

"What she said," Caroline had my back from the beginning, "So are you in or are you out? We can't have protestors on board."

Bonnie suspired and nodded in defeat.

I placed a hand on her arm while I assured her, "I swear, I'm going to be fine, Bonnie. Everything is."

"So, when exactly is the wedding going to take place?" Caroline grabbed a book out of her camel bag and began jotting down notes. She was already deciding on the décor and the flavor of the cake.

"The end of the month," Damon appeared out of the blue and answered the question for me.

"Stop sneaking up on us, Damon," I bit my lip to hinder a smile, "It's rude to eavesdrop."

"Oh, will you ever forgive me, my dear Elena?" he muttered mischievously and chortled as he leaned down to kiss me.

"This month?" Caroline gasped in horror, "You've got to be kidding me. A wedding takes months to plan, and you expect me to make it happen like I'm some kind of a fairy godmother?"

"Hey, you were the one who suggested a wedding in the first place," I pointed out.

"Ugh, why did I agree to this?" Caroline stopped grumbling and gave me a really tight squeeze, "Oh, right, because you're my best friend and I love you."

I could only smile to express my gratitude.

"Aw, group hug!" Damon joked while both Bonnie and Caroline shot deathly glares at him.

Everything was going better than I had expected.

But it wasn't over yet.

The last person who yet to know was Jeremy. I didn't mean to have it like that. I just... I didn't know how to break it to him. "Hey Jere, Damon and I are getting married!" just won't cut it. God, I honestly cannot imagine what his reaction would be like. He was never a fan of Damon's to begin with.

Oh, the joy.

It was near to the week before the wedding. Ten more days, to be more specific. Caroline had already booked the venue, made wedding invitations, and set the menu for the reception. Damon and I clearly didn't want anything to do with the planning thus the welcome of Caroline's generous offer. As for the dress, everyone – including Damon – will just have to wait and see for themselves.

"Good morning, my sweet Elena," Damon breathlessly spoke as he brushed his lips gently on mine. They gradually crept to my hair, my forehead, my cheeks, my neck, and then back to my lips again.

He inhaled me and paused to hold dear to the refreshing, sugary scent. Not before long, we were feeding each other kisses without lacking the spoonfuls of passion we were so full of.

Along the way, I almost forgot why I was even up so early. His lips were too forceful and demanding to escape from. But as much as I didn't want to pull myself away from Damon and his bed, I had to.

I unlocked the wrap of my hands around his neck and held his face back, "I need to go, Damon. I've gotta see Jeremy."

"You can do that later, Elena. Don't go," Damon begged as he pouted.

"I have to," I grabbed my sling bag, all set to leave the room.

"What's the rush? I'm pretty sure Jeremy doesn't need any more potty training."

"I'm going to tell him," I sighed to relieve myself, "About us... marrying."

"You look tense," Damon noticed, "You know you don't have to be, Elena. Jeremy happens to be very understanding. He always has been."

"You're complimenting my brother? My, my, I'm shocked," I giggled.

"If you're heading to Jeremy's right now, you will be," Damon remarked.

"No, you're just saying that to make me stay," I realized.

Then we both smiled, "Oh, don't worry, Damon. I'll be back before you know it."

Damon's acting all fishy. Something's up, that's for sure.

"Jere, open up," I knocked on the door several times.

The squeak of the rust-brown door opening silenced me.

"Elena?" Jeremy groggily rubbed his eyes with the sleeve of his right arm, "What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk," I said sternly, "It's been long since we did, Jere."

Jeremy glanced at his watch in shock, "Damn it, Elena! It's five in the morning and you want to talk?"

I nodded with innocent, puppy eyes as I folded my arms for warmth.

My little brother sighed out of distress, "Ugh, just get your butt in the house. It's cold outside."

"I'm really sorry for waking you up this early," I sincerely apologized whilst I snuggled on the couch next to the fireplace.

"Anytime, sis, anytime," Jeremy spoke sarcastically as he made himself a bowl of breakfast cereal.

He then added, "So, what brings you all the way down here? I mean, I already know you're on your way to a happily ever after with Damon. Don't tell me you guys are not in on it anymore, because it would suck if I don't get to walk you down the aisle."

My jaw hung wide open for several minutes. I finally snapped, "How the hell did you know that?"

And then I recalled.

"You're complimenting my brother? My, my, I'm shocked."

"If you're heading to Jeremy's right now, you will be."

"Oh no, he didn't," I hissed, "Damon told you, didn't he?"

"Mmhm," Jeremy replied.

"Damon is so dead right now," I could feel the rage erupting in my eyes.

I was on my way out, already deciding whether or not I (option one) stake him multiple times in the eye or (option two) force down a jug of Vervain down his throat.

He totally deserves some butt kicking action from me.

"No, Elena, wait," Jeremy halt my exit, "He only told me because you were freaking out so much about it. Elena, I don't see why you needed to be. A marriage, a wedding, you name it, sis. I'm up for it."

"What exactly did Damon say to you?"

"He told me it would only make sense for him to marry you for he couldn't even explain how much he loved you. Well, how could he not? It's practically impossible for anyone not to."

Jere smiled at me with such maturity. My little brother is growing up so fast – too fast.

"Just look at you, all grown up," I held back tears being caught up in the moment.

"Aw, sis, don't cry," he wrapped his arms around me, "Mom and Dad would be so happy for you. I'm sure Jenna and Stefan will be too."

"Thanks, Jere," I was sobbing, "I needed this. I needed you. God, I honestly don't know what I'll do if you weren't here."

"But I am, sis," Jeremy beamed and stroked my cheeks soothingly with his thumbs, "Always."

DAMON'S POV

Last weekend, I went to see Jeremy, who apparently, doesn't know about the wedding yet. Normally I would let Elena do the honors, but this time, it was mine.

"Hey," I tried to imitate a seventeen-year-old's swagger. Jeremy raised an eyebrow, completely enthralled by my sudden visit.

"...Hi," he awkwardly greeted, "Where's Elena?"

"At home," I replied him, "She doesn't know I'm here."

"Oh," Jeremy mumbled, "Get in."

I was seated comfortably on the kitchen stool, "So, what do you think about Elena and I together?"

"I guess I'm alright with it," he scratched his head.

"I'm serious. Just be honest with me," I asked for it.

"At first, I couldn't believe that my sister would choose you. You're different now, I see that. But I want you to know that doesn't change things between us, Damon. I will always keep an eye open for Elena, because the last thing I want is her getting hurt again."

"We want the same things, Jeremy," I ascertained him, "I promise you, I will never do anything to hurt her."

"That's a relief," Jeremy added, "But if you do, I mean, when you do, I will kill you."

I muffled my laughter, "Well, you can try."

"Other than that, I'm glad she has you. But I gotta admit... I was mad. I was mad that you were there for her when I'm supposed to be. Nevertheless, for that, I owe you."

Not wanting to drag the news on any longer, I decided it was right time to say it.

"Elena and I," I blurted, "We're getting married."

His eyes broaden. His face was expressionless.

Jeremy stammered, "F-for real?"

I nodded slightly.

"What, how, when, why...?" He looked as if he was suffering from a heart attack. Oops, my apologies.

"Let me explain," I said calmly.

And then I began my speech.

"I can't believe you told Jeremy. You really shouldn't have," I smiled involuntarily, my fingers teasingly trailing along his chest, "You've been such a bad boy, Damon."

Damon wagged his eyebrows, "Yes, Elena, dear. Would you like to spank me?"

"Gladly," I couldn't stop giggling.

I raised my hands but he quickly caught them in his. Damon pinned them both down to the corners of the sofa and deliberately pressed his body weight on top of me.

His lips then travel to mine.

"Every time you kiss me like that, it feels as if my heart's going to explode," I placed his hands above my chest to feel the rhythm of my heartbeat, "It's beating so fast."

Damon murmured into my ear sensually, "I wonder what would happen to it if I did this."

His slick tongue graciously accessed into my mouth. The way he tasted, how brilliant he tasted – it was a sensation of everything I had languished for.

I was out of breath when I referred to the loud throbbing in my chest, "Faster." He didn't need more evidence, because the way I was with him had already said it all.

I was panting heavily in between Damon's movements, taking deep breaths however I could. Ultimately, it only triggered Damon to keep up whatever he was doing to me.

This is me solemnly saying that, I would love Damon forever, and be with him forever – only if forever meant not ever parting ways again.

– Insert song lyrics here –

What if I stay forever? What if there's no goodbye? Frozen for a moment here in time.

If you tell me the sky is falling, or say that the stars collide, the only thing that matters in my life, is you and I tonight.

Just you and I tonight.

– "You and I Tonight" by Faber Drive

There was a loud thud on the door. The inconsistencies of the abnormal knocking began to frighten me a little bit.

"Hold on," I had Damon wait for me in the living room as I made my way towards the entrance.

It took only a few large strides. I made the door creak wide open, only because it wouldn't budge the first time.

And then I saw him, right before my very eyes.

He was thinner than he was before, and much paler too. My eyes shifted down to his abdomen, where it was slit open, and then his chest, which gushed out a continuous flow of blood.

"Stefan?" I nearly swooned at the sight of him.

How could he be... alive? He's dead, isn't he? Klaus killed him and no one was able to find him anywhere. But there he was, proving otherwise to every single thing I had believed in from the start.

I took so many deep breaths and still I couldn't believe who I was looking at. A ghost on my front porch, to me, that was all he was.

I blinked my eyes, I pinched my cheeks, I coughed out loud – I did it all.

It was real. He was real. He was standing right in front me, alive and well.

"Elena..." Stefan breathlessly spoke of my name in a soft whisper.

He pressed his hands tightly down on his open wounds that bled profusely. And that was when I realized he was dying by the second – the seconds I foolishly spent standing there, as still as a rock.

My biggest, wildest dream and my deadliest, scariest nightmare – both of which fulfilled the reality I feared of.

I couldn't even think or feel anything. Nothing was functioning. I was practically dead. For all I knew, I could just be...

Author's note: In suspense? That's great! I guess you'll just have to wait up on my next update, which will be posted by the end of next week. Lastly, please review and let me know what you think. Think of it this way: more reviews = more motivation = faster update! And that's all I have to say... Ta-ta for now!