Hey everyone! Oh my goodness, second to last chapter! I got chocked up writing this. I'm just way too emotional. I'll be posting the epilogue later today or tomorrow! Thanks for reading! Please review!
Love,
Alex
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing!
Chapter 12
"I can't believe it's my last day in Europe. It's really sad. I don't want to go home." Elena said as she put more clothes into her suitcase.
She was packing all of her clothes up before they went off and explored Verona.
Damon was lounging on their bed watching her pack, trying to ignore the pang in his heart.
"It seems like we just met, doesn't it?" He asked.
"It does." Elena said with a smile. "But we still have today to spend together."
"And tomorrow morning. I'm taking you to the airport, right?" He said.
"If you would be so kind." Elena said with a wink.
"Plus I'll be back in the states before you can even miss me." He continued. "After I drop you off at the airport, all I have to do is pack and finish a few last things, then ship everything over, and then you'll be back in my arms where you belong."
"You should come and see me in Mystic Falls before we go up to Columbia." Elena said as she attempted to squish another pair of shoes her already stuffed suitcase.
"Think your aunt would let me stay with you?" He asked, as he got up to give her a hand.
"I think so. I'll ask her when I get home. It won't be for very long. Just until move-in day." Elena said. "I can't believe I'm going to college."
"It's a weird feeling. I remember my first day. It was certainly an experience." He said. "Here, you sit on the suitcase and I'll zip it."
Elena sat on top squishing everything down so Damon could work the zipper around.
Elena let out a breath, "I didn't realize I bought so much stuff."
"You didn't buy that much. You BROUGHT a lot of stuff." Damon said.
With her suitcase packed, they left the hotel for the busy streets of Verona.
"I feel like there's so much magic in the air." Elena said as she practically danced down the streets.
"I think you're insane." Damon said, "Or very much in love."
"The latter." Elena giggled.
Damon smiled and joined her in practically dancing down the streets. What a man who's in love does for the women he loves.
They traveled down the majestic streets, where they stopped at Casa di Giulietta.
"I want to write a letter to Juliet!" Elena said, as she dug out a Sharpie to write on the wall.
"Now this is nothing like the movie." Damon laughed.
"No, this is very different." Elena laughed along with him as she wrote-
Damon+Elena= Forever and Always
He leaned over to see what she had written on the wall amid the myriad of other scrawls proclaiming love.
"Forever and Always, I will love you." He whispered in her ear.
She smiled and kissed him, in the middle of the courtyard, beneath Juliet's balcony.
They continued walking around, with Damon keeping an eye on the time so they wouldn't be late for his surprise.
Later that night, Damon took Elena by the hand and gave her a blindfold for the first part of his surprise.
He led her to the outskirts of the city, up a hill overlooking the city, where the concierge service from the hotel had set up a romantic picnic for them.
"You can take off the blindfold now." He said as he let her sit down on the blanket beside him.
She took off the blindfold and gasped, "Damon! This is gorgeous."
The lights from the city were beautiful. It was quiet enough that they could hear bits and pieces of the opera that was going on in the coliseum.
They dined on food from all over the small city, along with a bottle of wine. After, they lay back on the pillow and looked at the stars.
"Thank you for my surprise. It's amazing." Elena said as she gave him a kiss.
"My pleasure, darling." Damon said as he played with a strand of her hair.
"This reminds me of our first night together in Rome, when you took me to The Vittorio." Elena said.
"Who would have known that we would have fallen in love after a month?" Damon said.
"There was that lady in Venice who thought we were a couple." Elena looked back with a laugh.
"You're right." Damon said, "I'm so glad I came on this trip with you."
"I am too." That was an understatement. She was thrilled to have met this incredible man, who she had a feeling, she would spend the rest of her life with.
It was the perfect last night in wonderful country that was Europe.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next day, Damon took Elena to the airport in Rome. He didn't want to say goodbye.
They sat together talking, getting as much in as they could before Elena's plane was called.
"So, I guess this is goodbye." Elena said her voice shaky with unshed tears.
"Only for a few weeks." He said, brushing a tear that had slipped out away from her cheeks. "I'll be with you again in 21 days. You'll have an e-mail from me waiting for you when you get home." He continued.
"I can do 21 days." Elena said with a small smile.
"You're going to miss your plane." Damon said as he heard the last boarding call.
"21 days." She said as she wrapped her arms around him.
"21 days. I love you. And I'll see you soon." He said brushing a kiss onto her forehead.
"I love you too." She said, breaking into tears.
He tilted her head up, her cheeks between his hands, and kissed her goodbye.
"This is the absolute last boarding call for Flight 2100."
They broke apart. She turned to pick up her bag, and with one last kiss, was gone.
"I'll see you soon!" She called out, as she ran over to the ticket lady.
"21 days, my love!" He called back to her.
He stayed in his exact place while people rushed around him watching her plane take off. He would see his love in 21 days. Once he saw her plane take off, he left the airport. He had an e-mail to write. And lots of packing to do.
