READY TO BEGIN.
Woken at 6am by the constant sound of tiny rain droplets dripping and hitting against her window, Elena felt slightly dissatisfied. Elena put on her light brown silk robe and went into the kitchen, hearing Caroline in the next room, breathing heavily, still asleep. Elena put the water to boil and then quickly ran downstairs to get the morning post. Now, sitting in the kitchen stood, which was covered in soft and comfortable material, Elena did the crossword of the French newspaper. Then she made herself some tea and for Caroline a cup of coffee. Afterward, Elena prepared for them some toast and also cooked an omelet, by the time she finished Caroline peeked out of her room, after smelling the delicious smell of the omelet. Caroline sat down at the table and began to eat hungrily, but Elena had no appetite. Caroline noticed Elena's reluctance to eat or even to smile and turned to her with a worried look;
"Elena, please don't look so upset. You'll ruin my morning," Elena gave her friend a smile and laughed to herself quietly. Elena took a sip of her vanilla tea and then yawned, "Will you meet Damon again?" Elena looked at Caroline doubtfully, wondering whether or not to tell her about their arranged date. Caroline also still had no comprehension of what had even happened between them. All she knew was that they were in love, but she didn't know about Millemont, about the endless nights she'd spent in his apartment, Klaus, Katerina, and Versailles and also the event which caused them to accept reality.
"We've decided to have a coffee together today, actually," Elena tried to mention it as casually as possible. There was no need for extensive and dramatic scenes. All she wanted was to be near him and once again hear all of his breathtaking stories and his very intellectual and exciting views on life.
"Coffee? I don't believe you could be so naïve Elena. It will very obviously be more than a cup of coffee," Caroline rolled her eyes, but Elena's widened in slight anger as she believed that Caroline could not possibly judge her situation.
The rain did not alter its strength. It was such a naturally beautiful autumn day. The rain did not overcome the city with sadness at all, but merely enhanced the seasonal atmosphere. Each leaf now looked twice as bright against the gray and gloomy background, while the frightful and dark sky made each individual feel cozy and glad in their own homes or sitting in the small French cafes. Elena walked the streets and rather than choosing the sidewalk, where possible she walked through the piles of leaves that seemed to be waiting for her. The red coat she was wearing emitted warmth and colour and each passerby regarded her with an admiration and kindness. Elena made her way to Le Fumoir. Her heart beat faster each time she realized she'd see Damon there. It had been years since they'd shared their affections with each other. It had been years since they were intimate with each other. It had been years since they had even had conversation. Elena understood fully that what had been missing from her life really had been Damon Salvatore.
Damon rushed into the bookshop the minute it was open. He browsed the shelves for his treasure and when he found it he felt warmth in his heart just by setting his eyes on it. It was the book by Elena. Entitled – Love Lust And Desperation, and on the front page it was added in slightly smaller letters – in other words the story of eternal love. Damon smiled as he read the alternate title and after he bought the book he braved the rain, rushed to his hotel, which now seemed cozier than before and sitting down in his arm chair turned page by page. There was such passion in these words that he could hardly keep himself from rushing to their meeting earlier. The book showed very piece of Elena's soul which she wanted to give to the world and after reading several stories, Damon finally noticed a pattern. The pattern which was clearly intended for him and about him, the constant questions that were asked to thin air as if a certain reader must answer them, the powerful anger that was presented in its most graceful form as a warning for Damon himself. It was all for him. Damon felt himself go as pale as chalk. Even after he had committed such a crime against Elena's innocence she had loved him and written to him through the public eye, but he had been a blind fool. Damon quickly grabbed his coat and walked to Le Fumoir.
As Damon entered the café, it took him a mere second to find the exquisite brunette, sitting at the table by herself reading a book. Damon quickly approached her and sat down, without even taking a breath. Elena looked up at him from her book and her dark brown eyes seemed so painful and sad that Damon had to look away. Elena carefully closed her book and put in her bag. For a moment they watched each other waiting for the other to begin a conversation. Words once again seemed too dull and meaningless. A silence emerged, despite the loud background of the café and the busy noise of cars behind the café walls. Damon finally brought up the courage in him and looking as deep into Elena's eyes as he could reach questioned;
"Is it forgivable?" Elena wanted to look away, but Damon's stare kept her locked in place. Both Elena and Damon breathed in and each waiting for their own were unable to release their breath until the other was answered. Elena suddenly moved her hand upon Damon's. Damon, still admiring the wisdom and depth of Elena's eyes, simply smiled as she did. An answer had been found through the still of that moment. Elena finally closed her eyes and then took a sip of her coffee. It was now a clean slate. They had come upon it quite unexpectedly and without warning so now, left with a perfectly new range of possibilities, each held their silence and wondered what was appropriate. At once Damon dropped some money on the table, for Elena's coffee, took her by the hand and without even a single protest from Elena, they went outside. The rain still dominated the day and it was unlikely it would calm, but that mattered no longer. Damon and Elena walked. They walked for a long time until Elena felt her feet begin to hurt. She proposed they'd go to her place, since Caroline had plans that night.
They arrived at the small apartment. Once Elena walked in and turned on the lights and lit the candles, which by the look of them were burned quite regularly Damon could feel Elena's spirit and soul in the place. Elena and Damon went into the kitchen, where the small window allowed them to enjoy the still flowing rain and the dark skies which filled the frame of the window and looked even more pleasant with the lights in the foreground. Elena made tea and as they sat at the table and Elena played with a chocolate with her fingers Damon could not stop looking at her. During their walk Damon had learned all about Elena's life all the while he'd been gone as well as told her his story.
It appeared that Elena had finished school very successfully, being the second best in her class. Klaus had been expelled from school because of the use of narcotics and was even now still in a sanatorium, due to a severe case of depression. Elena had told him about how it came about that her book was published. Also about her experience in university, which she was still attending at the moment. Damon contributed to the story, by revealing what he knew about Katerina; apparently she remained in Mystic Falls till this day and had recently married Mason Lockwood. Elena felt herself blush at the mention of his name, but held her calm attitude. Damon told her of his exploits in Italy and his success in writing, because he found the profession of being a teacher had almost driven him to very dark and depressing state. While they shared their story, they both unconsciously wished that they'd been together through each and every moment of these events.
Now, sitting in the small kitchen, feeling the autumn breeze chill them, Damon could not help but wonder what the next step was. Elena pondered the same to herself, whilst playing with the already melting candy, but not a moment later she could feel Damon's lips upon hers. Such lust and calm overcame her. As Damon moved his hand to her cheek, she caressed it gently and felt like she could cry at any given moment. There was such a bittersweet melancholy that passed through both of them, but as they sank into their kiss, they forgot everything else and devoted themselves entirely to this act of passion and longing which they both wished they had not had to wait so long for. Damon stroked Elena's hair and Elena could hear nothing else but her heart beating as fast as he could. They somehow appeared in the living room, nothing but the candlelight illuminating their luscious and sculpted bare figures. Elena stood in her undergarments and as Damon kissed her lips, her neck and her décolleté, he slowly removed the remaining items of clothing still separating their bodies. Once they were completely exposed and in each other's grasp Damon pulled Elena close and felt her shiver as the wind blew in from the open window. They lay down on the large sofa and Damon felt Elena's petite, but absolutely perfect body await, beneath him. Damon moved his hand gently over the curve of her hip and traced along her figure, making Elena's heart spin and jump as much it could. Damon felt Elena's anticipation and he finally entered her, satisfying his arousal. As their bodies became one, each felt something they had missed for such a long time. They had become one person before and now as they came together, it was the most beautiful and honest of reunions as had ever been experienced. They made love in the dim light, exposed to the world as the large full wall window, showed perfectly the Paris skyline in all its darkness of the rainy afternoon. Elena breathed as much she could, but still found herself quite out of breath. The mere lust and passion she felt for Damon was enough to take away all her consciousness and her will. Damon kissed each part of her and Elena did the same for Damon, leaving soft and loving kisses all along his neck and chest. As they satisfied each other, such a powerful ecstasy came with it that they realized they must never let go again. Elena lay on Damon, her head tightly pressed against his chest, the fingers tracing along it and she had never felt happier. At long last she was in the arms of her love and he was hers. This time forever, although Elena at no point had settled with the thought that she had lost Damon. Some rain now managed to make its way into the apartment, but Elena and Damon, too wrapped up in each other's love and devotion, let it go completely unnoticed.
Elena awoke under her duvet in her own bed. She sat up in her bed and was greeted by sunlight and a beautiful autumn morning. Remembering the events of last night, her whereabouts now made her unsure of what had happened, but as Damon appeared in the doorway of her bedroom and explained he'd carried her to her bed in the middle of the night, things became clear. Elena put on her blue dotted pyjamas and went to the kitchen. They made peppermint tea and then sat in the living room, having a light and carefree conversation about a book they'd both read quite recently. All of a sudden the sound of keys turning was heard and Caroline walked swiftly into the apartment whilst already saying something to Elena and stopped mid sentence, because of the unexpected situation she came upon. She saw the couple, so fitting for each other; sit side by side on the comfortable sofa, the morning sunlight bathing them in its warmth and grace. Caroline felt lost for words, because the sight was simply too marvelous, too out-of-a-film type of shot. She now slowly walked towards them, but instead of the awkwardness she expected, Damon spoke with a kind smile;
"I am sorry to surprise you like this in your own home,"
"So, I gather you spent the night," Caroline gave Elena a naughty look, but Elena simply blushed and shook her head, whilst smiling at Caroline's words and the honesty behind them. Caroline excused herself, but was back in a moment, in her comfortable clothes and after pouring herself a cup of coffee, she tiptoed back into her room under the pretense of leaving them alone together, but was actually eavesdropping behind the wall. Consequently, Elena knowing Caroline's over curious nature, she invited Caroline to join them and they had a very pleasant morning with muffins, coffee and a chat.
When Caroline had gone to take a nap, Elena decided they must go out for a walk, it being such a beautiful day. She quickly dressed and they were out of the door in a minute. As they walked and kicked the leaves and saw them fall to the ground even more alive than they were, Damon and Elena felt so free and powerful that they would laugh at anyone who stood in their way. The day was neither cold nor warm and was as stunning as a picture or a painting. They walked Elena holding her head upon Damon's shoulder and listened to the last of the birds chirp, yesterday's rain drain down into the ground, the rustle of falling leaves and people admiring each aspect of this city, where autumn was the season to see. Now they felt like a couple. There was no stopping them. Free, independent, a perfect fit, they walked the streets of Paris together, feeling all the love they felt back then and more.
Note/ This feels quite unexpected, but there is a part of me which definitely knows the story must come to an end now. I have only the epilogue to write. I feel this simply because I fear I will have the urge to destroy everything between them if I go on, just because they are once again perfect. Well, to me they are, some might find flaws and disagree. I am quite ecstatic that I am done, because as it was said in Atonement - "I gave them happiness, but I was not so self-serving as to let them forgive me," and oh how true it is! But not to worry, I will most certainly not be abandoning writing, so perhaps you might enjoy another work of mine. That is it and I really wish you found this chapter a pleasure to indulge in!