Using the reins, Damon guides the carriage through the streets of Chicago on the way to the docks. Looking down at his five year old twin sons, Robbie and Ryder, he smiles proudly. They both look exactly like their mother, each has chestnut hair and warm brown eyes that show a hint of gold when the sun hits them just right. Trotting through the neighborhood, Damon points out some of the areas that were laid to waste by the fire that destroyed a lot of the city. Almost immediately after the rains finally put out the fire, the rebuilding started. Construction began even before architects and engineers could complete a design.
After the fire, laws were passed requiring new buildings be constructed with fireproof materials such as brick, stone, marble, and limestone. These building materials, much more expensive than wood, are held together by a sticky, strong substance called mortar. The construction technique using mortar is called masonry. Masons are a skilled group of construction workers.
Many poorer Chicagoans couldn't afford the fireproof materials or skilled masons to rebuild. In addition, many could not afford fire insurance. Without the means to rebuild or insure their property, thousands of people and small businesses were crowded out of Chicago. Many other businesses simply ignored the new building laws. Wood often replaced stone, and builders decorated their buildings with wooden awnings, cupolas, and cornices.
Two events stopped this phase of reconstruction. The first was the failure of a bank, Jay Cooke and Company, in September 1873. The bank's failure triggered a nationwide depression that halted much of the Chicago construction. The second event was another, somewhat smaller fire, in July 1874. This fire destroyed more than 800 buildings over a 60 acre swath of the city.
After the 1874 fire, the slow and expensive process of rebuilding with fireproof materials began. Big banks and businesses, which handled millions of dollars in revenue every year, dominated Chicago's new business district. Terra-cotta clay emerged as a popular and effective building material. By the mid-1880s, terra cotta tiling made Chicago one of the most fireproof cities in the nation.
The renovation of Palmer House, a luxury hotel is an example of how reconstruction efforts used terra cotta. Palmer House had opened only thirteen days before the Great Fire. When it looked likely that it would be destroyed, its architect, John M. Van Osdel, buried the blueprints in a hole in the basement, and covered them with a thick layer of sand and clay. Sand and clay are the chief materials used in the building material known as terra cotta. The blueprints survived the fire, and Van Osdel became convinced that clay terra cotta tile would make an excellent fireproof materials. Terra cotta tiles became roofing materials for the new Palmer House hotel. The building itself was made of iron and brick.
Terra cotta would also be used in the Montauk Block, on Monroe Street, often regarded as one of the world's first high-rise buildings. The Montauk was 10 stories tall, with 150 offices. After the fire, clay tiles formed fireproof insulation around the building's iron frame. The Montauk was also the first building in Chicago where the construction didn't stop during the winter, and it was the first building in the world to be built at night, using the new technique of electric lighting.
"See the church there?" Damon mentions, pointing to the huge cathedral sitting on a corner lot. Even on a weekday, the patrons are attending daily Mass, their rosaries wrapped safely in their hands.
"I see it daddy," Robbie says, bobbing his head up and down.
"That's where mommy and I got married," he tells them as the horses trot slowly past it. Although her station in life was far superior to his, Elena bucked protocol as it were saying that nothing or no one was going to stop her from marrying the man that she loves. Much to his dismay, she received much grief from first her aunt and then her friend Rebekah, Elena wasn't to be deterred. What were considered societal norms made no difference to Elena. And although Damon offered to bow out and let her live her life, she actually slapped him, making him promise never to utter such words again. The fire's death toll was around three hundred people and with society growing and changing, some people, not all, began to be more accepting.
Nicklaus Mikaelson walked her down the aisle and gave her to Damon in marriage. Although it took some time, actually a lot of time, she and Rebekah were finally able to reach some common ground after Nick told her what kind of a man Phineas really was. And even though they are on friendlier terms and do speak to each other at social occasions, their friendship isn't what it once was.
"Do you Elena take Damon for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," she says, smiling through the veil that covers her beautiful face.
"Do you Damon take Elena for your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," Damon says and the rest is a blur till the Celebrant tells him that he may kiss the bride. Lifting up her veil, he cradles her face with his hand and joins their left in a searing kiss.
"Mommy told me that," Ryder announces, raising his chin at his dad.
Chuckling, Damon shakes his head. "I'd save some of the piss and vinegar for someone who can't take a switch to your backside," he cautions his son.
"But you don't spank us daddy," he protests, sticking his lower lip out.
"No, I haven't but there's a first time for everything," he adds, raising an eyebrow at his more rebellious son. With his little lip quivering, Ryder scoots back and doesn't look at his father again. The boy is a lot like his little sister Caroline. She's nineteen now and is being courted by one of the young men in their neighborhood. Although Damon worries about his little sister, he knows that Stefan is a fine young man. Because his father needs care that Caroline is unable to provide such as lifting him, Damon insisted that his dad and Caroline live close to him and Elena. Finally they found an estate with a groundkeepers cottage. Even though it's called a cottage, it's quite sizable. It's bigger than his uncle's house that they all lived in prior to the fire. Having them close but still having the privacy of their own place has worked out well for all. This way, Damon can easily go back to the cottage to help him when needed and if he's unavailable, Elena hired a groundskeeper whose duties include helping Joseph should the need arise.
Even though Elena desperately wanted Elizabeth to come to work for her, the woman didn't want to leave Jenna and the children. In a stunning development, Nick and Jenna married two years ago and have a one year old son named Elijah in addition to Timothy and Gina, her children with John Gilbert. Elena was thrilled when they announced that they were seeing each other as she's exceptionally fond of Uncle Nick as Damon's sons refer to him.
Pulling on the reins, Damon guides the horses to turn the corner and continue their trek towards the docks. Once they reach them, he parks the carriage and ties them up. After lifting the boys out, they walk down the planked wooden boardwalk towards Lockwood Fish and Shipping to say hello to Brady. With both Elena's and his families encouragement, he went back to school to get his high school diploma. Afterwards, he took some postsecondary education courses to learn bookkeeping and other office skills, earning him an office job. But because he loves being on the water and working with his hands, he still goes out on the boats. Not wanting to forget his roots, Damon will still grab a bucket of pitch and start working on boat repairs. Although he took a fair amount of ribbing from his co-workers for marrying up, they respect him for still being the same Damon.
"Uncle Brady," Robbie squeals when he steps out of the office. Turning around, he smiles widely and stoops down, taking Robbie into his arms when the boy runs into them. Lifting him up, he nods to Damon.
"What do I owe the pleasure?" he asks, offering Ryder his hand. Together the three of them, followed by Damon walk further down the docks to watch one of the boats as it chugs along towards the dock.
Once they arrive home, Damon tells the boys to change out of their good clothes and into some play clothes. Walking over to the window, he sees his dad sitting in the garden with a book in his hand. Pressing his palm against the glass which Sheila will probably scold him for later, he can't help but admire the man. Despite his terrible accident, he's always been there when Damon needed someone to talk to. Although he hates that Caroline had to grow up sooner than she should've had to, he's grateful that he can give back to his father and sister. It's been a difficult adjustment for the Salvatore family having gone from near abject poverty to living in a place like this. When John died, Jenna was left with his considerable fortune and Elena was given access to the funds that her parents left for her. Even though John hesitated to give up control of her assets when he was alive, he did a fine job of managing her money. Her holdings were much more lucrative than when her parents were killed in the stagecoach accident. Elena never expected him to be less than he is but still sometimes, Damon just felt like he wasn't a part of her world.
With love and compromise, they got over their differences. Still, Damon refuses to have someone drive him around in the carriage. He's perfectly capable of doing that himself. Having his dad and Caroline close by was a must for him. Elena understood which is why they chose their home. Elena did offer to hire around the clock help for his father but Damon wouldn't hear of it. Because marriages take compromise, he agreed to have someone available should they have an engagement to attend and of course when they went away for a short honeymoon trip. But with a little give and take and a few arguments, eventually things smoothed over. That said, occasionally there are people who know of Damon humble beginnings that turn their nose up at them. With Elena at his side, they hold their heads high and put all the doubters to shame. When he hears a voice, he turns around and gives their housekeeper and trusted friend a huge smile.
"What are you doing getting your fingerprints all over that window?" Sheila scolds, her hands on her hips, her brows quirked.
"I'm sorry, Sheila. I was just looking at my dad."
"I'll get the cloth, you can clean it," she adds, raising her eyebrows at him.
"I'd be happy to as soon as I check on my wife. Is she in the setting room?"
"I believe she's in the nursery."
"Thanks, Sheila," he says, giving her a wink before he leaves to trot up the staircase to find Elena.
With the door slightly ajar, he knocks softly. Peaking in, he sees Elena seated in the rocking chair with their newborn daughter, Daisy at her breast. Stepping close, he bends over to drop a kiss to his wife's hair while stroking the tiny girl's cheek with the back of his finger. "She's so beautiful, Elena."
"She looks just like her father so of course, she's beautiful," Elena teases, raising a hand to cup his cheek. Stooping down beside the rocker, he can't take his eyes off of the baby. They had almost given up on having another child after the twins. After Elena suffered a devastating miscarriage, they stopped for awhile at the doctor's recommendation. Two years later, they were overjoyed to find out that Elena was finally pregnant again, this time it was uneventful which was what they'd hoped for. Once Daisy lets go of her breast with a plopping sound, Damon takes her into his arms to burp her. As soon as they hear it, he lays her in the crib and covers her with a light blanket. Offering Elena his hand, he helps her to stand up after she covers herself.
Taking her hand, he leads her over into their bedroom. The nursery is connected to it. Damon, with Brady's help, built a doorway between the two rooms after they found out that Elena was pregnant with the twins. Dropping down on the bed, Elena scoots up to give Damon some room. Crawling on top of her, he wastes no time in kissing her so passionately that her blood begins to roar in her ears as her heart pounds wildly against his chest.
"Where are the boys?" she breaths, licking her lips.
"They're outside with my dad. I suppose I should go check on them," he says, dropping his forehead against hers. Several seconds pass before he rolls off of her. Throwing his legs over, he stands up, drops on more pert kiss to her lips, whispering against them, "Later." And with a wink he leaves her to go to check on their sons.
As soon as he walks into the backyard, Damon is blindsided when a ball hits him on the side of the face. Once the initial shock wears off, he starts laughing and picks up the ball, throwing it as hard he can and then watches his sons run after it. Shaking his head, he walks over to where his dad is, taking a seat on the stone bench that's next to him.
"Thanks for keeping an eye on them, dad. I wanted to check on Elena and the baby."
"They're my grandsons, Damon. It feels good to be doing something productive in all honesty."
"Dad, you're always productive. You taught me how to be self sufficient. As far as the boys, you have already taught them so much, like fishing and helped with their swimming lessons even though you directed them from shore. I'm grateful that you're here."
"Thank you, son. I'm glad to be here too, seeing the boys grow up. I only wish your mother was here..," he adds, his voice trailing off.
"Me too, dad, me too," Damon agrees, giving the man's forearm a squeeze. When they hear footsteps, the dying leaves crackling beneath them, they both look up, smiling when they see it's Caroline.
"Hi," she greets them, pressing a kiss to her dad's cheek before she takes a seat beside her brother.
"Did you have a nice afternoon with Stefan?" Damon asks, taking her hand in his for a moment.
"Very nice. He told me that he wants to talk to you, daddy?"
"Does he have marital aspirations?" Joseph asks, winking at Damon.
"I don't know what his intentions are but I hope that's what he wants," she gushes, a wide smile forming on her face.
"I'm happy for you, Care," Damon adds, taking aback when the ball hits him in his midsection this time. Standing up, Damon picks up the ball and runs after them. "This is war," he teases. Robbie and Ryder are squealing when he drops the ball, picks them up, one in each arm and drops to the ground, tickling them unmercifully. Before he can blink, Caroline joins in the fun, tickling them too. Before long, she turns on Damon and starts to tickle him, the boys jumping on top of their dad to help out.
Staring at her family from the bedroom window, Elena smiles widely, her heart filling with so much happiness that she can hardly breathe. Deciding to join them, she tells Sheila to keep an eye on Daisy and then she hurries outside and joins in the fun, dropping onto the grass with the rest of them.
As soon as his wife steps into their room after feeding the baby, Damon stands up and walks over to her. With deft hands, he disrobes her. Taking her large breasts in his hands, he loves feeling the weight of them. Their eyes meet as he takes on nipple into his mouth, suckling on it greedily, moaning at the taste of her breast milk. Feeling her wobble slightly, he pulls back and carries her over to their bed. After taking the time to disrobe himself, he joins her on their marital bed. Laying between the cradle of her legs, he kisses her soundly, making his own heart pound in anticipation. With their mouths engaged, he lowers his hand and slides his fingers between her legs and over her pearl of pleasure.
"You're so wet already," he breathes, sucking her lower lip into his mouth. Letting go of it with a plop, he blazes a trail of heat from her mouth down her neck and behind her ear. Taking the lobe into his mouth, he sucks and when he lets go, he whispers how good she feels.
"Damon..," she moans, lost to the feelings that he's eliciting in her. Wanting more, Elena lowers her own hand, wrapping it around his length and stroking him with urgency.
"Elena, that feels amazing," he groans, dropping his face into the space between her neck and shoulder. With her own deft ministrations, his hips begin to piston in time with her strokes. Wanting his release inside of her, he gently pulls her hand away, raising it to his mouth to press a kiss to it. Taking himself in hand, he places his cock at her entrance, already drenched and ready for him. Linking their hands, he raises them above her head, pushing inside at the same time he captures her lips in a searing kiss. The intensity of it alone makes her stomach do somersaults while her heart beats wildly against his chest.
"Oh my heavens," Elena mumbles, digging her nails into his hands with each stroke he makes inside of her. Her breathing is heavy and with a little effort, she pulls one of her hands loose and grabs onto the curve of his ass to pull him in even deeper. Feeling the bite of her nails on his rear end, he drops kisses to her shoulders and then lower his mouth to her breast again, pulling a nipple into his mouth. Suckling and biting and using his tongue, he teases it. Her chest starts to heave and his own heart skyrocketing when he feels the heat begin to coil and burn in his lower belly. Wanting her to go first, he lets go of her other hand, snakes it between them and rubs her nub. Her eyes shoot open, a scream leaves her mouth and then he can feel her inner walks contracting and fluttering around his length. Taking her lips in another scorching kiss, he starts to push in and out harder and harder till he erupts in a cascade of white light and indescribable pleasure.
Laying in bed with Elena sleeping quietly in his arms, Damon hears his baby daughter start to whimper. As carefully as he can, he gets out of bed, throws on a bathrobe and then goes to her. Picking her up, he takes her in his arms and sits in the rocker with her. Gently brushing her chubby little cheek with his fingertip, he starts to sing to her while he rocks back and forth. Moments later, she's soundly sleeping again but he doesn't want to let her go just yet so he continues the rocking motion. Dropping his head back, he closes his eyes. Never in his wildest dreams could he ever imagine a life like this. When his eyelids start to get heavy, he looks at the ceiling surprised to see his wife smiling down at him. Without saying a word, she takes Daisy in her arms and places her back in her crib. Standing up, Damon drops his head on her shoulder while staring down at the little life they created. Once Elena covers her up, Damon steps back, wraps an arm around Elena's shoulder and leads her back to bed where he shows her just how much he loves her over and over again till exhaustion pulls them both into slumber.
fin
Thank you my dear Eva. I love you to pieces.
Huge, huge, huge thank you to all of you. Thank you so much for embracing this version of DE too. I'm just not ready to say goodbye to them. I don't know if I ever will be. I have another period piece written that will begin posting in the coming weeks. We also have an idea for another one set in the 1800's as well. We haven't started working on that one yet.
Chapter title: 'When You Came Into My Life' by The Scorpions.
EOT, TTBTR and ICEM are in progress.
Please remember to review.
Be safe and have a fantastic day and a wonderful week ahead. Thank you all so much.
