Amber dressed carefully for the occasion. She chose a modest black dress that ended at her knees. The dress itself was covered in lace and from the top of the bodice was made of lace. The sleeves stopped at her elbows and were also made of lace. The only jewelry she wore were silver dangle leaf earrings and a silver bangle bracelet. Black peep toe heels that connected at the ankles adorned her feet. Her curly hair lay in ribbons around her shoulders. She added a light amount of make up. A light layer of powder, a touch of blush, eyeliner and she finished off with a clear lip gloss that accentuated her pink lips.
Elena came into her room, hugging her. "Are you ready?" Amber nodded. "Yes. It's time to put them to rest." She grabbed the container of her mother's ashes and Elena grabbed the container of her father's. They both made their way downstairs and outside, where everyone else was waiting. Amber paused, shock in her eyes. There were tiki torches everywhere to light the way and everyone had a paper lantern in their hands. In the faded light, everything looked beautiful. She turned to Elena, tears in her eyes. "Who?" Before she could get the question out, Elena answered, smiling softly. "Damon did it."
A tear fell down her cheek and she looked at the oldest Salvatore, questions in her eyes. He was dressed sharply in a white button down shirt and black slacks. "I didn't know them, but they deserve to go out with a bang. She smiled as he walked towards her and hugged her tightly, breathing in her scent. Tyler looked ready to kill but Elena caught his eye and shook her head, silently telling him no. Amber needed all her friends with her here.
Damon led her down the pathway and onto the pier, Stefan leading Elena. Everyone gathered behind them, their lanterns in their hands. Amber turned to them, tears in her eyes. "We are here to celebrate the memory of my parents, and to follow their last wishes." She laughed, looking at the canister in her hands. "Not all of you knew them, but they were great people. Always lending a helping hand to people in need. They were supportive parents. They always had my back on something. Even if they didn't agree with it. I will love and miss them forever."
As she spoke these words, a wind began to pick up. Everyone looked to Bonnie, who had her eyes closed. When they opened, she smiled to Amber. "To help them on their way." Amber smiled to her gratefully and opened her canister, looking at Elena who opened hers. "Mom, Dad, you're free to fly on the wind. You're free to watch over us and protect us all. Tell grampy and granny I said hi." She whispered as she and Elena shook them, releasing the ashes into the wind. As they did this, everyone lit their lanterns and released them into the sky.
Tears fell down Amber's face as she watched the ashes of her parents mingle with the lanterns as they flew away. Elena hugged her cousin, tears falling from her face as well. Everyone took turns hugging her, Tyler not wanting to let go. When it was Damon's turn to hug her again, a sob left her throat and she hugged him tightly. He rocked her softly as he hugged her, frowning as she sobbed into his shoulder. He watched the light of the lanterns fade into the dark and he kissed her head. "I am going to do everything in my power to protect you, Amber." He whispered into her ear.
Her fingers fisted in his shirt and she nodded, grateful to have him in her life. When he finally released her, she wiped her eyes and looked at everyone, who was also crying. "Thank you all for coming. It means so much to have you in my life." She straightened her dress and sighed, looking at them all again. "You guys don't have to stay here another night. You guys can go if you have other things to do." Caroline shook her head and made her way over to Amber, putting her hands on her shoulders. "Now what kind of friends would we be if we left you at a time like this?" She turned to the rest of the group. "I think it's a great night for a pizza and movie binge."
As the group nodded, Amber smiled at them all. "My parents will be glad to know that I have such great friends." She made her way into the house, Tyler grabbing her hand and following her. Damon scowled as he watched it but there was nothing he could do about it. It was her choice.
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Amber changed out of her dress clothes and into a pair of leggings and a t shirt. She looked at herself in the mirror as she wiped her makeup off with a wipe. She fingered her necklace, vowing that she'd make her parents proud. Her door opened and she turned to see Tyler watching her. "Hey." He closed the door behind him and Amber tried not to feel nervous. "Hi." she answered, brushing her hair from her face. She watched as Tyler sat on the bed in front of her. "Are you okay?" He asked, taking her hand.
She shrugged, looking down at him. "I'll deal." She replied, moving closer as he pulled her hand. He pulled her onto his lap and hugged her for a moment, kissing her lips softly. "I'm here for you, you know that, right?" She looked at him and nodded. "I do. Thanks for being here." He smiled softly to her for a moment before kissing her again. Her eyes closed and she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. He took that as a signal to keep going and in a flash, she was on her back, looking at the ceiling.
She swallowed nervously as he looked down at her. She smiled nervously and he kissed her again. She closed her eyes, trying to get into the flow of things, but as she felt Tyler's hand lift her shirt, she pulled away. "Tyler..." She whispered, not comfortable with it. He just moved to kiss her neck, thinking she was enjoying it. When she felt his hand on her stomach, she took his shoulder's and tried to push him away. "Tyler, wait."
He didn't flinch. "It's alright. You'll feel better." She started to feel scared. "Tyler, no!" Then out of nowhere he was thrown off of her and he crashed into the bathroom door, shattering it. She sat up to see Damon standing before her, rage in his eyes. "I think she said no, wolf boy." Tyler got up, growling as his eyes flashed. "Why don't you mind your own business?" It wasn't long before everyone came into Amber's room. "What's going on?" Elena asked.
Damon turned his eyes to her. "Why don't you ask Lockwood here? Ask him why he was trying to force himself on your cousin." Elena gasped and turned to Tyler. "Tell me this isn't true! Tyler!" She yelled, anger in her eyes. Tyler sighed. "It was a misunderstanding. We were making out and it got out of control. Why don't you ask Damon why he's listening in on other people's lives?" He shot back, causing Amber to frown. "Because he said he'd protect me." She answered, causing everyone to look at her.
She sighed and lowered her gaze. "Tyler, you should go." Tyler blinked at her. "What? No!" Damon, Stefan, Alaric and Jeremy stepped forward, anger in their eyes. "We can make you." Caroline sighed, looking at her ex. "Come on. I'll take you home." She grabbed his arm and pulled him away.
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Amber stared at the ceiling, everyone having cleared out to give her some space. Everyone but Damon that is. He sat on the bed next to her, reaching to lower her shirt that still was showing her stomach. She flushed and covered it with her hands. "I didn't think you'd want that flashing out." She shook her head. "Never." She sat up, sighing as she looked at him. "I sure can pick them, huh?" Damon scowled. "I almost took his head off. How dare he do that to you? Especially tonight!" He stood, pacing the floor. "Damon, calm down. Let's go downstairs and have pizza and watch movies with everyone."
He turned to her, shock in his eyes. "How can you be so calm right now?" She shrugged. "Why should I be upset?" He was in front of her in a flash, anger on his face. "He could have RAPED you, Amber!" He yelled. She sighed and she stood up, looking into his eyes as she put her hands on his cheeks. "But he didn't, did he? No, because you kept your promise. You saved me, and I'm thankful for that. And because of that, I'm not worried." She answered, caressing his cheek, causing him to visibly relax. She smiled as his eyes closed and he lost himself in the feel of her touch. "What are we going to do with you, Damon?"
His eyes opened and he grinned. "Time will tell, won't it?" She leaned forward to kiss his cheek but he turned at the last moment and met her lips. She gasped and looked at him as he pulled away. "Sorry." She watched him for a moment before putting her hands at the back of his head and pulling him into her. She kissed him and he wrapped his arms around her, returning it. He pulled away again and looked at her. "What about Tyler?" She looked into his eyes and shook her head. "Tyler who?"
He groaned and kissed her again, his hands in her hair and on her hips. She gasped as she felt her back meet her bed once more. They kissed frantically, hands roaming and touching each other over their clothing. His hands wandered her soft curves as he spread her legs, smirking as they wrapped around his hips. She gasped and her eyes shot open as she felt his hard length pushing against her through his pants. She locked her ankles and pushed against his lower back, causing him to rub against her.
They both groaned at the contact and Damon kissed her fiercely as they began to move. His hardness rubbing her through her clothes caused more friction and she jerked with the intensity of it. He pulled back and looked down at her face as he thrusted against her. Her eyes opened in time to see his face change. But this time, she wasn't afraid. Her hand lifted up and traced the black veins under his eyes. He looked at her uncertainly as she did this. She leaned forward and kissed him. "You're beautiful, Damon." His eyes close and he sighed, his movements stopping.
He unlinked her legs and turned them so they were laying on their sides. He hugged her tightly, breathing in her scent. "You have no idea how much that means to me, Amber. To know that you accept me." She smiled and hugged him back, her hand running through his hair. "I do accept you, Damon. I always have. And I always will. I care for you deeply." He pulled back and looked at her. "I care for you too." A knock at the door caused them both to look. "Pizza's here!" It was Caroline's voice.
Amber smiled. "Coming!" She sighed and turned to Damon, who was pouting. "Can't we just make out some more?" She laughed and shook her head, sitting up. "Come on, let's go. I'm hungry." He smirked and got off the bed. "Fine, but you might want to change your pants. If I can smell your arousal, they will be able to too."
She gasped and threw a pillow at him as he left, quickly changing her pants. What did this mean? For her and Tyler? For her and Damon? She wished she knew. She was just mucking things up all over the place. She sighed and left her room, forcing her thoughts to circle around pizza.