Previously:

I raise my eyes when I hear a click only to see Stefan, gun cocked and pointed at my heart.

Marshal Saltzman:

When I hear a commotion, I rush quickly to the direction it came from. I'm taken aback momentarily when I see Bonnie laying in a heap with a trickle of blood coming from her forehead. She moans then starts to raise her head. When she looks at me, I mouth for her to stay down knowing Salvatore and Lang are very close.

Very stealthily, I maneuver my way around a couple more towers of boxes accidentally causing one of them to topple over.

Damon:

When a box behind us topples, Stefan turns away from me aiming the gun squarely on Marshal Saltzman. Without thinking, I throw myself on Stefan from behind. I hear a loud pop as the gun goes off when it skitters across the floor. The Marshal steps out from behind the box kicking the gun out of Stefan's reach. He falls unconscious when I land one more vicious blow to the left side of his jaw.

I can only stare when the Marshal picks up the weapon, stuffing it in his back pocket before extending a hand to help me stand up.

After staring at him for a long moment, I whisper, "I didn't kill my wife."

"I know," he answers just as deputies flood into the room, cuff a still unconscious Stefan and carry him out on a stretcher.

"Damon?" I hear then look up to see Elena as she's running towards me and into my arms.

After wrapping my arms around her, I whisper, "It's over."

She steps back for just a moment making eye contact then mouths, "I love you."

"I pull her back into my arms and bury my face in her hair. "I love you too."

Marshal Saltzman:

"You okay, Bonnie?" I ask when she makes her way over to me.

"Yeah, it's just a bump on the head. The bastard surprised me," she says, clearly annoyed.

"Dr. Salvatore, I'm going to have to cuff you to take you out of here. Then we'll go downtown and see what we need to do to get you officially released from prison," I tell him. He nods and holds out his arms allowing me to handcuff him.

Damon:

After Elena steps in beside me, Marshall Saltzman and his deputies surround the two of us, leading us safely out of the hotel. Once we step outside, I struggle to comprehend the circus like atmosphere. The place is teaming with police, reporters, TV lights and cameras. Reporters are being held back by the swarms of police. Marshal Saltzman motions for me to look ahead and to my left. When I do, I see a handcuffed Connor Jordan being directed into a squad car by a couple of officers.

"Marshal Saltzman," A reporter yells.

"There are unconfirmed reports from police of evidence exonerating Dr. Salvatore. Can you comment on that?"

"No comment," he replies, his focus on getting out of this mayhem.

"Dr. Salvatore, is it true you can prove your innocence?" another one yells loudly.

The Marshal steps over to one of the officers demanding some crowd control.

Just then a car pulls up. "Watch your head, Dr. Salvatore, Miss," one of the deputies says as Elena and I crawl into the back seat. Marshal Saltzman jumps in beside me and removes my handcuffs.

"I thought you didn't care," I utter with a hint of sarcasm.

He gives me a look before leaning in next to my ear. "Yeah about that. Don't tell anyone," he whispers then tells his deputy to head out.

Eighteen Months later:

"I'm home sweetheart," I yell aloud when I step into our home.

"In the kitchen," she yells back.

"Ric said to tell you hi. I actually beat him at Frisbee golf today," I chuckle, raising my arm in victory as I step into the kitchen.

Her back is to me as she's doing the dishes. I step behind her, pull her hair off her neck and start nuzzling...

She starts squirming when I tickle her not only with my mouth against her neck but also when my fingers start teasing her ribs..

"That tickles, stop it," she yelps.

"But it's so much fun," I tease.

"You know what's fun," she whispers huskily then starts to unbutton my shirt.

Unable to disagree, I lift her tee shirt over her head, pick her up and carry her into our bedroom.

In no time at all we're both naked as the day we were born. I pepper kisses all over her beautiful body.

Her eyes roll back when I take a nipple into my mouth while I tease the other one with my hand. I suckle gently on one breast before releasing it to encircle the other.

"Please, Damon," she whispers breathily.

With as much passion as I can summon, I press a kiss to her lips so full of love that it makes my body tingle. "Did you feel that?" I ask. She nods before opening her legs a little wider allowing me to thrust into her. The feel of her is beyond compare as I thrust in and out of her. Without warning she flips us and takes control.

Anchoring her palms flush against my chest she raises herself up and down in a frenzied manner. The feelings begin to stir in my lower belly as I surge up into her. Instinctively I reach for her hips and pull her down harder on me. She throws her head back when I feel her begin to quiver around me. I sit up and pull her flush against me then thrust up once more. In seconds, I'm drowning in ecstasy, shuddering right along with her. I keep her wrapped in my arms, squeezing her lovingly and dropping kisses to her face till the tremors begin to recede.

"I love you," I tell her softly while pressing a kiss to her ear, her jaw and then her lips. She rolls off then snuggles against me, her back to my front. It takes mere moments for her to fall asleep. I reach around and caress the swell of her belly. My smile widens when I feel a flutter.

"Somebody's awake," I whisper ever so softly before dropping a kiss right there. After petting her bump one last time, I close my eyes letting sleep overcome me.

The End

I want to thank each and everyone of you who took the time to review this story for me. I really appreciate them so much. A special thank you, hugs and love to Eva for her patience when I was inundating her with chapter after chapter, revision after revision and for her insight. Thank you and much love to Kate for the fabulous cover and so much else. Also Charlotte and lastly Jarka, who was the first to tell me that I could write a story and that was just from reading reviews that I'd leave for other stories so thank you dear friend. Please check out my story, 'Breathe'. Again thank you all for your support and encouraging words. Hope you all have a wonderful day...