Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries. I'm just borrowing. The story belongs to me.
Note: Well, even though I didn't get any reviews for Chapter 6, I'm just going to go ahead with the next chapter of "Losing Your Memory." No spoilers, except the action takes place early the next morning. Don't ask, just go along with it.
Summer Home – Early Next Morning...
Elena moaned as she woke up. It was early morning and the sun was barely making its way into the room. She looked over and saw Damon asleep at her side, his arms wrapped around her. She wanted so badly to remember his name, but something was blocking her from it. Sighing, she gently removed his arms from around her and went to the bathroom to wash her face, looking behind her to see if he was awake. However, he was still asleep. Elena smiled slightly, not just because she was going to have some privacy, but because although she didn't have her full memory yet, she thought that Damon looked peaceful when he was asleep, almost angelic.
Of course, she did leave the door open a crack so that he could come in and check on her. Running the faucet, Elena leaned down and splashed some water on her face, turning off the faucet and drying her face with a towel that was hanging from a ring by the sink. Sighing, Elena then looked toward the tub and no sooner did she do that than another flash of memory hit her:
Candles were strewn about and a wine bottle stood by the tub, along with two wine glasses. Inside the tub, surrounded by bubbles, Damon and Elena sat across from each other, enjoying the serenity of the moment. Damon smiled at her, his blue eyes sparkling with love. Tonight was going to be a very special night for them, especially with what Damon was planning.
Elena returned his smile and said, "This was a great idea you had, Damon. After a long day of dealing with the demands of work, a bubble bath was just the thing we both needed."
"I'm glad you approve," he replied. "Though, there's another reason I suggested this."
"Really?" said Elena, the smile still on her face. "Well, don't keep me in suspense, baby, what is it? What was the ulterior motive for this bubble bath, other than the opportunity to be naked with me?"
Damon smiled again. Well, she was partially right, he did want to be naked with her, even if there were bubbles in the way of that voluptuous body that he had come to love. The other reason involved the little velvet box he had purchased from the jewelry store two weeks ago.
He took her hand in his and said, "Elena, I fell madly in love with you the moment I looked into your beautiful brown eyes. These past three years with you have been the best three years of my life. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, if you'll have me." He reached over and grabbed the velvet box, opening it and revealing a beautiful diamond ring. "Elena Gilbert, will you marry me?"
Elena couldn't breathe as she looked at the ring. How could she possibly say no to that, especially not when she loved Damon with all her heart? She then looked at him, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Yes, Damon Salvatore, I will marry you."
Damon smiled, placing the ring on her finger, and kissed her, wiping her tears away.
Elena let out a scream as the flash of memory subsided. Damon rushed to the bathroom, hearing his wife's screams. He took her into his arms and held her close to him, running his fingers through her hair to soothe her.
"What's wrong, love? What happened?"
Elena said nothing at first, just sobbed against his chest. Then, a few minutes later, she pulled away, her brown eyes meeting his blue ones.
"I had another flash of memory just now," she replied. "I looked at the tub after I washed my face and saw us in it, surrounded by bubbles and...candles were strewn about. Then, there was a diamond ring and a proposal, and..."
"Oh, you mean you saw the night I proposed to you?" said Damon. "Elena, you shouldn't be afraid of these memories that are flashing by you. That means that you're making progress." He brushed her face with his hand. "Just keep fighting, honey, and you'll be back with me."
Elena shivered at his touch and it was quiet again until she said, "Thank you for staying by me like this. You have no idea how much I appreciate it." Then, fresh tears stinging her eyes, she added, "I...I love you, Damon."
Damon blinked at her last statement. "Does this mean your memory is fully back?"
Elena wrapped her arms around his neck. "How's this for an answer?"
Before Damon could speak, he found himself silenced by a scorching kiss. He returned her kiss willingly, allowing himself to be enveloped by his love for her. At last, she had gotten her memory back and that was definitely the best thing that ever happened to him. Well, one of the best things.
That Same Moment...
Rebekah sighed as she drank the hot chocolate she had poured for herself. She hadn't had a wink of sleep all night, mostly because she was worried about Stefan. He hadn't called her since they left the mansion and she wondered just what Klaus was planning.
Suddenly, she was startled by a light tapping at the door to the patio. Looking over, she saw Stefan standing there. Not sure when or how he had gotten there, she carefully went to the door and let him in, closing the door beind her and checking to see if he had been followed. She sighed in relief when she saw that he hadn't and then embraced him, stepping back quickly because he was cold from being outside.
"Stefan, what are you doing here? What happened with Nik?"
"He wants me to help him get into Salvatore Industries," he replied. "He wants to seize control of it."
"Seize control? Of your brother's company?" said Rebekah. "You didn't agree to it, did you?"
"I had to, or he'd get suspicious," said Stefan. "I also got him to promise that he'd leave you, Damon, and Elena out of this. He said he would, but I'm not sure if he was lying or not. Anyway, the plan is going down tonight."
"I don't like this, Stefan," said Rebekah. "Shit, if only I hadn't gotten involved with you. This is all my fault."
"Don't say that," said Stefan. "Rebekah, meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you, never forget that. And I don't ever want you to blame yourself. This is Klaus' doing, not yours. He only thinks that I'm going along with this, but I'm actually pretending to until we're inside the corporate headquarters, and then I'll pull the double cross on him."
Rebekah looked scared. "It's not going to be as simple as that. Nik will see through your lies and he'll kill you."
"I'll take that chance, to protect you and my family," said Stefan. "Klaus can do his worst to me, I can take it. If I die tonight, at least I'll know it was for a noble cause." He pulled her to him so that their faces were inches apart. "A little something to remember me by."
With that, he kissed her, running his fingers through her hair, which felt like golden silk against his skin. Rebekah returned his kiss as a single tear escaped her eye and ran down her cheek.
Note: Chapter 7 of "Losing Your Memory" is complete! I know, better late than never, huh?
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