Sorry everyone. This update took WAY too long, and I apologize. My move really disrupted things far beyond what I expected…and this chapter need a great deal of editing. I didn't want to just throw it together and post it. I'm much happier with this version, and I hope you will be as well.

Author's note: The standard reminders apply - I don't own TVD. The characters aren't mine.

Warnings: Rated M, sensitive subject matter, adult content, language, character death

I had a few questions about the reference to Damon compelling Elena to love Stefan. I've always thought there was an unplanned moment where Damon inadvertently (at least partially) compelled Elena that Stefan was the better man for her when he returned her necklace to her during the "Rose" episode.

It didn't take vampire senses to hear Elena's sigh of annoyance. Even from the living room, Damon could feel the waves of displeasure radiating off her. Curious to discover just what could set her totally on edge this close to Bonnie's wedding, he glanced at Claire, currently happily asleep in her swing, before risking making her mood even less amicable by going in to check on Elena.

He climbed the stairs, trying to make his steps on the stairs more pronounced than normal. If she didn't want to see him, she needed to make that known now.

Something thudded against marble. Hairbrush on the vanity was Damon's best guess. Brushing his fingertips against the bedroom doorway, he pushed it open. Since she was standing in front of her full-length mirror glaring at her reflection with her hairbrush just out of arm's reach, he assumed his guess to have been correct.

She was so intent fidgeting with the beaded neckline that she didn't realized he'd entered the room. For someone who spent most the last of her teen years running from one threat to kill her or another, that lack of response was a bad sign. A very bad sign.

"What's wrong?" Damon couldn't put off the inevitable any longer – not when Caroline should have arrived to collect the member of her bridal party almost a half-hour ago. Running late wasn't very Caroline, but when the theme to Bonnie's wedding was a tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood, even a vampire could have some hair issues.

"Ugh. Just. Oh." Elena seemed to have lost the ability to form sentences. For a writer, that was probably a bigger danger signal than the fact she'd allowed him to enter the room without even a glance in his direction.

Her eyes glowed a little too brightly as she shook her head and tugged at the bodice of the dress. Bonnie's wedding coordinator was leaving little to chance, even if that meant the women were wearing the dresses two days in a row.

"Doesn't look like nothing."

She shook her head and stared at the floor. "It's just." Her teeth clamped onto her lower lip as she tried to adjust her dress again. "It's really tight."

God, he wished she hadn't mentioned that. When he'd walked into the room, he'd deliberately avoided letting his eyes drift too far below her face. But now he couldn't help it.

The dress, something that would have been appropriate for Audrey Hepburn to have worn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, fit Elena far better than anything the actress had been fortunate enough to wear. The skirt may have hit a few chaste inches below her knees, but the almost-backless dress clung to her well-sculpted waist and accented the curves of her chest far beyond what should have been allowed on a bridesmaid. No one was going to be looking at the bride with Elena standing at her side.

"Maybe you're right." Her stunned expression stared back at him from the mirror. He came behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his body close to hers. He knew she had to be able to tell just what he thought about her dress. "Every single guy in the room's going to be staring at you."

He pulled her back tighter against his chest, dropping his lips to meet the delicate curve of her neck. The temptation to make her seriously late for the wedding rehearsal was almost too much to bear as he felt the strumming of her pulse just beneath the surface of her skin.

Dual hungers pulsed inside him, and as her heart sped, he knew he wasn't alone in his desire.

"Oh, because a 28 year old widow with a four month old is such a catch." She pushed out of his embrace with a surprising amount of force.

"You have no idea how much you underestimate yourself." He brushed her hair over her left shoulder, trailing his hand lower. Even through the fabric, he could feel breast responding to him. Even if they made love every day for the rest of Elena's life, he'd never tire of the way her body reacted to even his slightest touch.

Her breath caught in her chest. "Do I?" Her eyes flashed deviously. She'd gone from annoyed to turned-on in less than five minutes.

"Are you flirting with me?"

"Possibly." Elena pulled his head to her and met his lips with hers, giving a moan of satisfaction. His lips parted and her tongue skimmed his teeth.

Caroline was due here almost a half-hour earlier. They didn't have much time to spare.

She shuddered as his hands slid up under her skirt. "We don't have time for this."

He ignored her words, letting his fingers trail over the damp lace at the edge of her silk underwear. She was beyond ready for him. He was a vampire. "I can be very fast." He teased the spot he knew would make her forget her attempts at resistance.

"Damon," she growled as her knees gave out from beneath her. Never had his own name sounded more sexy. She clawed at his back as her body sought more contact with his. Her fingers struggled with the clasp of his belt.

The doorbell rang and she stood so quickly, Damon almost thought she was the vampire in the room. He fought back a laugh as he heard Elena whispering.

"We'll just have to pick back up where we left off." He gave her another hungry kiss as he smoothed her skirt back into place.

"How do I look?"

Damon stared intently. Her lips were swollen. Her cheeks were flushed. Her heartbeat still churned excitedly in her chest. She looked like she was minutes away from having the best sex of her life…which she had been. "You look incredible."

He was being honest. A large part of him wanted to run down the stairs and tell Caroline he'd be driving Elena later. Much later. Much, much later.

But the moment was broken, and Elena was already moving toward the doorway, still a bit unsteady on her feet.

The doorbell rang again. She reached back to link her fingers with his for an instant. "Wait up for me." She smiled coyly over her shoulder as she jogged down the stairs.

"What took you so long?" Caroline peeked over Elena's shoulder and saw Damon waving at her. "Oh, no, I don't think I want to know."

Elena tugged her jacket on as she hurried through the cold wind to Caroline's waiting car. "My mom was right." Caroline closed the driver's side door as she backed the car out of the driveway. "She told me, but I didn't believe her. You and Damon." She turned to study Elena's expression. Elena felt her cheeks flush as she fidgeted with her purse at her feet. "You're blushing!"

"No I'm not." Elena smiled as she leaned back in the seat. She was breathing hard, and she was fairly certain it wasn't from the short run down the stairs. What had come over her back there? Taking a long breath, she tried to steady herself. Difficult, when so much of her wanted to run back into the house to Damon and finish what they'd started.

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. It was going to be a long night.

"Oh, yes you are." Caroline beamed back at her. "Don't worry about it. Judging by the expression on your face, he's actually good for you."

"He is." Elena felt like a teenager again - confiding in Caroline as they rode in the car.

"So...when was the last time you slept alone?"

"Caroline!"

"Just seeing what stage the relationship was in. I'd say that you answered my question, though." Caroline reached over and turned the radio on. "Bonnie was right."

"Right about what?" Elena remembered the hushed conversation she'd partially overheard earlier in the week. She knew she'd heard Damon call Bonnie by name.

"Forget I said anything." Caroline almost tripped over her words in her hurry to change the subject. "So, do you have pictures of Claire?"

"You don't think she's wearing vervain, do you?" Caroline leaned over and whispered in Elena's ear. Elena's eyes widened in shock. "I mean, if she makes us practice the wedding march one more time..." She narrowed her eyes at the wedding planner as she spoke with Bonnie.

Elena kicked her heels off and leaned over to massage her foot. "Is she out?" She peered over the back of the pew at Kennedy curled onto her side.

"She was asleep before all of you went up the aisle that last time." Jenna pointed in Jackson's direction. "I don't think he's going to make it much longer either." Jackson appeared to be attempting to hide an oversized yawn behind the pillow he'd carry in the ceremony.

"Why don't you take them home? They need to actually be awake for the wedding tomorrow." Elena folded her arms and leaned against the pew back before allowing her head to droop. "Unlike some of us." Kennedy snored peacefully as she used Jenna's leg for a pillow. "Have you gotten any texts from Hannah and Jeremy?"

"Jeremy said Madison's fine." Jenna laughed. "Apparently it's just Claire that doesn't like Hannah."

"She normally likes everyone." Elena let her eyes drift closed.

"You're lucky you have Damon, then." Jenna said earnestly. Elena felt the blood rushing to her cheeks. What had Caroline told Jenna? Then she realized Jenna was talking about his ability to babysit Claire.

Caroline snickered in the distance. She obviously hadn't missed Elena's reaction to Jenna mentioning Damon's name. With a devious smile on her lips, she crossed the room, making a straight line for Elena. "Do I need to get you some coffee? I saw Damon's expression when I picked you up." Caroline teased as plopped into the seat next to Elena.

Thankfully, before Elena had to muster an answer, Marilyn turned away from her conference with Bonnie. "Alright people, let's do this again. Try to get it right this time." She gave a pointed glance in the direction of the groomsmen.

Caroline leaned close to Elena as they both stood up. "Really, I could compel her."

"No." Elena hissed.

"Damon would approve."

A single mention of his name, and Elena's heart skipped a beat. She'd never expected being with Damon to be this intense. Her thoughts flickered to what was waiting for her back at home.

Elena tossed her hair over her shoulder before she stretched her back. "One more time up the aisle. If she makes us do it again after that, I agree with you."

She was going to hell for this.

"I'm so sorry." Bonnie whispered to Caroline and Elena. "She came with the chapel." She took her place behind Elena.

"I remembered her. I think Damon may actually have compelled her during my wedding, though."

"Oh Elena." The light moment was gone. A shadow fell over her friend's face. Bonnie rested her hand on Elena's shoulder. "I wasn't even thinking. I wouldn't have reserved this chapel."

"Bonnie." Elena smiled. "This is a beautiful chapel. It makes sense for you to have your wedding here. You don't need to think about me. I want you to enjoy your wedding. I have really happy memories of this place."

"Ladies!" Marilyn yelled in their direction. "The music has started." She clapped her hands like the ballet teacher Elena had in elementary school.

Caroline turned and winked at Elena.

"That rehearsal wrapped up remarkably quickly." Elena leaned her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes. The seat heater had already begun to warm the car, and she couldn't fight the drowsy feeling much longer. "You had something to do with that, didn't you?"

"What would make you think that?"

"We only did the recessional once...and the groomsmen were in the wrong order." Elena fought back a yawn. "Trust me, Marilyn would never let that go."

"If I hadn't done anything, we'd still be there at midnight. Since we have to be at the chapel by 9, you should be thanking me."

"Oh trust me, I am."

Elena jumped as someone shook her shoulder.

"Elena, we're at your house." Caroline unlocked the doors.

"Did I fall asleep?" Elena blinked while she attempted to wake up.

Caroline nodded. "For about thirty minutes."

"Ohhh. I was wanting to find out how everything was going for you. I haven't heard about how your girls are doing at all. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"I'll tell you tomorrow. I thought you might need to rest up for your plans tonight." Caroline looked like a cat that had gotten into the cream. She was enjoying this far too much. "Yep. Looks like someone waited up." Caroline smirked as Damon's shadow was visible in the window next to the door. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Elena ignored Caroline's comments as she fastened her jacket against the cold before she ducked out the door. "Thanks for driving me. I'm not sure when my car's getting out of the shop."

"No problem. Tomorrow, I'll pick you up tomorrow at 8."

"I'll be ready." Elena waved over her shoulder while jogging up the sidewalk. As she anticipated, the door opened just before she reached it.

"You'll be ready for what?" Damon embraced her as she stepped through the door.

"For Caroline to pick me up tomorrow."

"Sad." He feigned disappointment. "I thought you were talking about something else." He kicked the door closed since his hands were otherwise occupied.

"And what might that be?" Elena smiled coyly back at him.

"Need a reminder?" His lips crashed down to meet hers as he pulled her in the direction of the couch. A roaring fire in the hearth spread warmth throughout the room. Damon noticed Elena looking at the fire. "I didn't want you to be cold tonight." He slid his hands up the back of her sweater as he felt for the clasp of her bra. For a moment, an uncertain look came over his face before he smiled. "Mmmm. I like this one." He slid his hands to the front of her chest and made quick work of the closure.

Elena leaned back on the couch as he peeled her dress off. Somehow the majority of his clothes seemed to have removed themselves along the way. She sighed in contentment as his lips trailed to her newly exposed skin. He slid farther down her body and tugged the rest of her clothing away before depositing it in a pile next to the couch. As he kissed the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh, he glanced up to look into her eyes. "No one would see a mark here." His teeth skimmed her leg as he waited for her response.

Her heart sped in her chest as she met his hungry gaze. That would definitely be a new experience for her. She gave a hesitant nod as she tried to relax.

"Trust me." She watched his face change as he applied the lightest pressure to her leg. An overwhelmingly pleasant feeling overcame her as she tangled her fingers in his hair.

A log snapped and tumbled in the fireplace as his fangs lengthened. Elena closed her eyes, giving in to the new sensation.

"She's lovely." An unexpected voice came from behind Damon. He turned just as Lucy came to stand next to him. She smiled sweetly at Claire. Reaching out, she stroked Claire's light brown hair. "She's Stefan's?"

Damon nodded as he stood to look Lucy eye to eye.

"I didn't know if it would really work." Lucy ran her finger over Claire's rosy cheek. "But Bonnie said he was desperate."

"So Bonnie came to you for help?"

"I have access to some things that Bonnie doesn't. She made the right choice...as you can see." Lucy smiled at Claire's attempt at a grin.

"Thank you." Damon's forehead wrinkled with the sincerity on his face. "Thank you for helping Bonnie. Being able to have Claire...that was really important to my brother and Elena."

"I saw her with you just now. She's doing better? Bonnie's been worried about her."

Damon looked in Elena's direction and smiled as she hugged Liz Forbes. "She is."

Lucy studied Damon's face as he watched Elena. "Damon, what if I told you there was one more spell you might be interested in?"

"What spell?"

"Later." Lucy glanced at the people standing closest to them. "I'll come by your office tomorrow to talk."

Caroline appeared at Damon's side. "You can't keep my goddaughter all to yourself." She extended her hands in anticipation. Damon handed Claire over and sat back down at the table. He motioned to Elena as she waded through the crowd milling around on the dance floor.

"Where's Claire?"

"Caroline wanted to show her off." Elena followed Damon's gaze and saw Caroline standing next to her mother - a smiling Claire in her arms. "Come here." He pulled her into his lap and wrapped his hands around her waist. "I don't think I've had the chance to tell you how gorgeous you look today." He kissed the nape of her neck. "Tired?"

"Keeping up with Kennedy has been an adventure." Elena shook her head.

"But everybody loved her."

Elena began to laugh. "Everyone except for Marilyn. You should have seen her face when Kennedy started throwing the petals into the air. They did look pretty, though." Elena glanced toward Jenna's table. "Where is Kennedy?"

"Look at the groom." Caysen was dancing with Kennedy, holding her in midair as she squealed in delight. "If your flower girl is going to upstage you, you might as well make the best of it. Shall we join them?" Damon stood and took Elena's hand in his before leading her out onto the dance floor.

Elena relaxed in Damon's arms while she watched the other guests engaged in conversation. They'd danced until her feet threatened to revolt, and now she sat in his lap for the second time that afternoon.

A cluster of young women from Bonnie's office began to talk excitedly as Bonnie took her place in the middle of the dance floor while holding her bouquet. "I guess its time to throw the bouquet. Caysen's mom looked like she was getting tired. Bonnie said they were going to try to speed things up so she could stay until the end of the reception."

"Alright everyone!" The DJs voice echoed through the room. "Time for all the single ladies to get out on the floor."

Amid squeals and excited chatter, Elena was surprised to see Caroline at her side. "Come on, you too." Somewhere along the way, she'd handed Claire off to Jeremy. Caroline reached out and tugged on Elena's arm.

"Oh no." Elena grimaced and shook her head. "There's already more than enough people out there. They can fight over the bouquet."

"I don't think Bonnie's taking no for an answer." Caroline pointed at Bonnie who was staring at Elena. "We'd better get out there."

"Fine." Elena removed herself from Damon's grip and joined Caroline at the edge of the knot of unattached women.

"Come on, Mom." Caroline called out as she waved in her mother's direction. "Bonnie's waiting."

Sheriff Forbes reluctantly came to stand at her daughter's side. "If it is coming to me, I'm going to hit it your direction. You know that."

"I'm not getting married any time soon, Mom. Sorry."

Finally satisfied that most of the eligible women, and some very young girls, were assembled around her; Bonnie turned her back on the crowd. "Are you ready?"

"Yes!" The crowd squealed in delight.

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

The cluster of participants scrambled as the bouquet arced high above the crowd. As they pushed and shoved to get a better chance of catching the bouquet, Elena quickly stepped back to get out of the way of the surging crowd. Just as the squeals peaked around her, the bouquet thudded against her chest. Blinking in surprise, she reached out and caught it. Elena turned around and looked over her shoulder where Damon stood, a satisfied smirk on his face.