Title: Remember, Love
Summary: Elena Gilbert is betrothed to Stefan Salvatore but on the night that they announce their engagement, a terrible accident happens that leaves Elena without her memory and far away from the only home she's ever known. Stefan's brother, Damon, is the best guard on the royal guard and is given the assignment of bringing back his brother's future bride. But what happens when the journey back makes them realize they belong with each other. Will he betray his brother? Or will he help Elena find out who she really is?
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made from this work.
A/N: Car porn by Jenn! She's the best! Katherine/Elena's dress can be found here if you need a visual - http:/27(dot)media(dot)tumblr(dot)com/tumblr_lbqu2lK6w41qdtt9eo1_500(dot)jpg
The person she saw in the mirror didn't even look like herself. Katherine's hair was set into intricate braids with a veil safely secured atop her head by her mother's yellow diamond hair comb. Her dress was strapless and hugged her waist. Jeweled crystals created a dancing pattern around her breasts and down the center of her stomach till it reached the beginning of gathered fabric. White fabric bunched up all over the bottom half of her dress creating delicate waves. Underneath was a hint of royal blue so dark it seemed black. There was her something blue.
Despite the beauty and elegance of the dress, her face was what stood out among the white. Her skin was cream and roses with huge, wide eyes that were framed with long, thick lashes. She had to admit that she looked beautiful even with the slight frown that graced her mouth.
Even though she looked beautiful and the wedding was sure to be beautiful, she felt as if they were pushing her down the aisle and forcing her to marry someone she wasn't in love with. Stefan was nice and sweet and he was going to make an amazing king but he wasn't made to be with her. She didn't smile at the thought of him. Her heart didn't ache when he wasn't near her. When he touched her, her body didn't feel as if it was on a livewire.
"There," Katherine's Lady in Waiting stated. She appeased her dress through the mirror and smiled. "You look beautiful, Lady Gilbert."
Katherine smoothed down her dress, unconsciously. "Thank you. Do you know if the Saltzman's have arrived?"
"They have, Miss. They're getting a tour before the wedding begins."
With a nod, Katherine gave a small smile. "I'm going to find them."
"But, Lady Gilbert, Prince Stefan can't see you in your wedding dress its bad luck! Please, let me find them and bring them to you."
"He's holed up in his office until the wedding begins and if I don't get out of this room, I'll faint."
The other woman nodded unsure and let Katherine pass, her dress swishing behind her. She followed down the corridors and stairs until she reached down the marble huge marble staircase. With a hike to her dress and click of her new heels she went to step down the first step until she noticed a slightly open door. Curiosity got the best of her and she found herself transfixed on the door, turning away from the staircase she walked towards it. Katherine couldn't explain what was going on but by some unknowing need she had to enter the room.
She pulled open the door to see a fully stocked library. Why had she never seen this place before? Her fingers brushed against the worn books and the soft fabric of the chairs. Light streamed in through the window and it casted her in an angelic light. Her body turned around, setting her back against one of the bookcases as she sought comfort in the calming smell.
Then her body stiffened and her eyes widened as an onslaught of memories passed through her mind. Her first memory of dunking her best friends face into a chocolate cake when she was three. Vacation up north with her parents. Thousands of galas and coming out parties. A waltz with her school crush Matt Donovan as he twirled her around in her blue dress. Finding out she was betrothed and crying the entire week after. Her eighteen birthday and the drive to the castle in her dress that wrapped her like the present she was to be. Stefan's proposal in front of their family's and the way her eyes drifted to bright blue eyes. Those blue eyes were the last focus her memory took. Damon's eyes. Damon's eyes and the way she had almost kissed him. The way he kept her secret all this time.
Finally, the memories stopped and she stood there knowing full well who she was. She was Elena Isobel Gilbert. The daughter of Lady Miranda Sommers and Lord Grayson Gilbert. No longer was she hidden from who she was or what she was capable of. A lifetime of memories now were readily accessible to her.
But the one thing she knew from all of this was that she was marrying the wrong brother.
Stefan's guard opened the door for Elena, sending an appraising look at her attire. She hadn't had time to change out of her wedding dress once the reality of what she was about to do hit her. Her short time under the identity of Katherine had given her strength. She needed to go after what she wanted and that started with cutting the last bind that held her to the old Elena Gilbert, the one that did everything that was asked of her.
At her entrance, Stefan looked up from the papers he was signing. His eyes bugged out when he noticed she was in her wedding dress and he quickly looked back down, his arms firmly planted on the desk. "Elena, what are you doing here? It's bad luck for the groom to see the wedding. You look beautiful, by the way."
"That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about."
A chuckle escaped Stefan as his head shook lazily. "Pre-wedding jitters? No worries. Your memory will come back in time. We just don't have time to waste."
"I know who I am now," Elena stated firmly the truth evident in her voice. "And that's why I can't go through with this."
"Excuse me?"
"I can't marry you, Stefan," she rephrased. "We don't really love each other and, to be honest, the reason behind this engagement doesn't exist anymore. Don't you want to spend the rest of your life with someone you truly love? Someone who makes you feel alive?" Her voice was practically pleading at this point but she continued, "Someone who brings out a part of you that you didn't think existed?"
Stefan was quiet for a moment, studying her face, the rise and fall of her chest. "You're in love with Damon, aren't you?" The way he said it was matter-of-factly. There no hint of anger or jealousy in his voice. If she were being honest she knew he must've known all along. There had been no hiding the fact of their attraction since her return to the castle. Obviously Stefan must've seen.
Words escaped her as she answered with a nod. She wasn't ready to verbally admit to those feelings, to say them out loud, unless Damon's ears were the ones that heard the message.
With a nod, Stefan's body relaxed and he walked over to her. His hands cupped her neck, angling her chin upwards so that he could look her directly in the eye. Elena saw such understanding in those eyes that it was hard for her to look away. Stefan leaned forward ever so slightly and pressed his lips against her forehead. "You're free from our arrangement. Go make my brother happy. I'll handle my father."
Elena couldn't help the jubilant smile that crossed her face. "Thank you, Stefan. Some girl is going to be so lucky to have you for a husband. I'm sorry it wasn't me."
Stefan's hands dropped and he clasped her hands in his. "No you're not," he laughed. "But if I had to lose you to anyone I'm happy it was Damon. Have one of the guards give you his address and take one of the cars in the garage."
His hold released her and it felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders at the gesture. She was free. Now all she had to do was get to him. "Thank you so much! Take care of yourself, Stefan."
Elena, dragging her extravagant dress along with her, rushed into the garage to find Damon's beloved Audi R8 sitting there. Perfectly waxed and polished, and without a scratch in sight; she was pleased to see one of the things he loved was still intact. She was suddenly grateful that Alaric had taught her how to drive a stick shift when she noticed the gearshift perched perfectly in the front cabin of the vehicle. The car, just as she remembered it, screamed sex just as much as Damon did. Hopping into the front seat, Elena got comfortable and adjusted the steering wheel to suit her shorter stature, along with the seat itself; now moved up. With one glance at the rearview mirror, she freed her hair from its intricate braids and let it cascade down her back in waves. She then gave herself a moment and familiarized herself with the gearshift and the clutch before bringing the car to life, feeling it rumble beneath her.
Elena hadn't any time to even think about how squished her dress became in the driver's seat or how upset the guests would be with her for her sudden departure, or even Stefan. She only worried about Damon and getting to him as fast as she could, and she knew that Damon's car would bring her to him faster than it seemed possible.
As the car announced her arrival, she saw all heads turn into her direction. The guards lined up outside the establishment hurried to help her out of the vehicle as they noticed the predicament her ruffled dress had caused. With a rushed 'thank you', she asked, "Where's Damon?"
"Inside… Lady Gilbert, I presume?"
Elena nodded, shyly. "Guess you don't have to complain about missing a Royal Wedding!" she joked.
The guards laughed as one of them, the one with his hand still perched on her arm began ushering her toward the building. She got looks as she walked through the busy building but her mind was too focused to care. The guard brought her to a door and knocked twice before she heard Damon's gruffled voice yelling for the knocker to come in.
"It's all you now, Lady Gilbert," the guard stated with a bow and a salute.
With a smile she whispered, "Thank you" and opened the door.
Damon stood there with his back towards her, frantically rustling through the scattered papers on his desk. She could hear his frustrated breath as he muttered a curse and slammed his hand, papers and all, onto the desk. As much as she wanted to soak him all in with fresh eyes, she needed his hands on her and she couldn't wait another second.
"I didn't marry him," she whispered and Damon froze.
In slow, precise movements, he turned towards her. He rubbed at his eyes and blinked twice as if expecting her to disappear. She walked towards him and placed her hands on the sides of his face, feeling her body exhale at the union of skin upon skin. For a moment they just stared at each other, his eyes melting her brown. It seemed like eternity for he spoke. "What?"
"I couldn't marry him," she breathed as her body inched closer to his.
His brows furrowed. "But, Katherine…"
She shushed him to stop him. "It's Elena, actually."
Shock registered his features as he heard her words. "You mean…?"
"I remember," she began. "I remember everything."
Damon's eyebrows wiggled as he whispered, "It was just a moment… in a library."
"It was a lot more than that and you know it. And that road trip and all the days after were a lot more, too. You mean something to me, Damon. You mean a lot more than I ever expected you to. I know it's kind of fast but since I walked out on a Royal Wedding for you, you're just going to have to listen."
He grabbed her hands and pulled them away from her, his head shaking in denial. "No. You probably just want a little fun time with the wild brother before you go racing back to Saint Stefan after you realize what a mistake this is."
"No, it's because I love you, you idiot!"
For the second time, he froze. His eyes stared at her in wonder before he grabbed her face and crashed his mouth to hers. Elena melted into the kiss, her hands finding solace on the strands of his raven hair. Damon twisted them around so that her ass was pressing against the metal of the desk and he quickly broke their kiss and sent the full power of his blue eyes on her. "I love you, too."
"I know," she smirked. "Now help me out of this damned thing!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Elena twisted in his arms and heard the telltale sound of a zipper as Damon slowly eased her out of her dress. Using his shoulder for support she stepped out of the dress and took a deep breath as Damon peered back up at her. She was dressed in an elegant lace bustier and panties that were attached to garters. His eyes darkened as they followed the trail from her heeled toes to her cupped breasts.
He stalked towards her, ever the predator, and wrapped a firm arm around her waist, crashing her body to his. She could feel him straining in his jeans and before she could make a move to relieve him, his hands reached behind her and pushed everything off his desk. Easily, she hopped onto the cool object as Damon slipped between her thighs.
Her hands immediately went to his jeans and flipped open his button and easing down his zipper before pulling down his briefs and jeans. Damon helped her with the material until it was completely off him and then her hands went to where he was throbbing for her as she massaged him with her hands.
Damon's hands tugged on her silky strands until they were everywhere. They skimmed along her skin until they cupped her breasts, his thumb rubbing against her hardened peak. She was aching for him and if she didn't find release soon she was sure she would burst. Elena pulled at his v-neck, easing it easily off of his neck before he was on her again.
He slowly leaned her body back until her skin felt the desk. Damon kissed down the valley of her breasts, along the flatness of her stomach before coming to the lacy beginnings of her panties. He pulled the material down each long leg, causing Elena to sit up on her elbows. Damon glanced at her from his spot between her thighs before slipping a digit between her slit and coating it in her wetness. "Someone's ready," he smirked.
"Months of foreplay," Elena answered. "Months and months of foreplay."
"Then I probably shouldn't keep you waiting any longer." Elena shook her head and that was all the answer he needed before she sat up and he moved and their lips met in the middle. His tongue swirled with hers as he placed his hands on the side of her face. "Are you sure?"
"I want you," Elena sighed.
And then Damon positioned himself at her entrance and in one swift movement he sheathed himself in her. Elena's body froze as the onslaught of pain came only to be relieved my Damon's gentle kisses along her collarbone and neck. She lost herself in his movement, letting her body get use to this new intrusion before he slowly pulled back and eased into her again. He started off slowly, letting his speed build up and relying on Elena's soft little purrs to spur him on. Her legs were tangled in his, on his hip the other wrapped around his thigh.
She felt so full with him inside her, filling her to the hilt, her walls molding to him. Elena felt a stirring start deep in her belly and build before it shot out too all of her and she began to scream out until Damon muffled her with his kiss. It was the most amazing experience she had ever had and she let her head lull to the side with a blissful smile, as Damon's lips moved back to the length of her neck.
She couldn't help but mumble words like: amazing, phenomenal, god-like.
Elena began moving with him, her hips meeting him with each thrust and her back arching against him as one hand held her firmly and the other was giving free reign over her body and everything she had to offer him. His thrust became more frantic and with one last, deep thrust he spilled inside her. Damon relaxed his head against her chest and her hands went into his hair, massaging his scalp as they calmed down.
After a few mintues, Elena's voice cut the comforting silence. "What am I going to wear out of here?"
Damon chuckled and kissed the side of her right breast. "I think I can find something."
And she was sure she felt that familiar smirk against her skin.
Elena sat on the deck of the compound looking out at the field, coffee in hand, as the sun set in the horizon. Her knees were tucked tight into her body as she hugged herself. Damon had given her a button up that the Guards wore and a pair of his slacks that she had rolled to fit. The blissful state of mind she was in could do nothing but keep a brilliant smile on her face. Life couldn't get more perfect for her if she had written it herself.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up to see Damon smiling down at her. "What did you do that's got you smiling like that?" he smirked.
"Took control of my life. Plus, I just nailed this pretty schmexy guard a couple hours ago."
He moved to sit beside her on the swing, his arm wrapping around her shoulder. "Schmexy, huh?"
Elena nodded. "Totally schmexy."
"So, you think you got a future with this schmexy stud? Sound a bit like a one-night stand to me. One of those hit 'em and quit 'em deals."
With her lip slipping between her teeth, she faced him and shook her head. "Nope," she answered with a pop of the 'p'. "He's one of those forever kind of deals."
"I see," Damon drawled. "Well, beings as you and schmexy got a forever kind of thing going on, what you say if he asked you to run away with him for a few years? Explore the world before we return to the craziness that is sure to be my family."
Elena narrowed his eyes, playfully. "Who said you were schmexy? I had to thank that sweet guard who brought me to you somehow," she winked.
"Elena…" Damon warned.
She snuggled closer to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. Damon kissed her hair as Elena answered, "Let's visit everywhere. I want to see the world with you. Make some new memories.
"Anything, Elena. The world is ours." And he meant it.
A/N: Next up the epilogue! Thanks so much for reading! R&R!
