Here we are, I might be crying a little bit right now. This is the final chapter of this story, there is the epilogue coming up but then that's it. Thank you to everyone who came on this journey with me. Thank you to all the silent readers, the anonymous reviews, signed reviews and constructive criticism. Thank you for all the alerts and favs. I hope you like this, just a fluffy conclusion before the epilogue which should be out soon.
With the help of the servants personal items were moved into the new home. Elena was forced to stay put in the library, Damon didn't want her to see the house until it was fully furnished. It was such a romantic notion in a way, he wanted her to fall in love with the home immediately and for there to be no changes. She cooed softly to Elisabetta who had a wide smile on her face. She was growing so big, so quick and somehow Elena managed to fall more in love with her everyday. It was a love she didn't understand before she was born. Elena couldn't understand how she could feel more love in her heart than she did when she only loved Damon. It was like her heart expanded, Damon still occupied the same amount of space but now Elisabetta occupied the same amount. Elena would do anything to protect her baby and she supposed that was a mothers love. It was her duty as a mother to protect her daughter from everything from bad dreams to bad guys. When Elisabetta yawned against her mothers chest, she hugged the baby tightly and she closed her bright blue eyes falling deeply asleep.
"Elena, can we talk?" Stefan asked coming into the room, quieting down considerably when he saw the sleeping baby.
"Of course. What is there to talk about?" Elena asked motioning for Stefan to sit down.
"I suppose we need to discuss the way I've treated your relationship with my brother." Stefan pointed out softly.
"Why would we need to discuss that?" Elena asked coolly. She was still to this day not impressed with how Stefan acted during hers and Damon's courtship.
"I need to apologize to you for that. I am still hurt that you chose him over me, but it's something I need to get used to. You and my brother have a connection and I can't deny that anymore. Especially now that you have a child, and he's built you a home." Stefan explained.
"Thank you Stefan." Elena murmured softly not wanting to wake the baby.
"You're welcome. Uh... can I hold her?" Stefan asked.
"She's sleeping right now. If you don't wake her I'll pass her over." Elena offered.
"I'll try. I've never held a baby before." Stefan murmured nervous now that he was going to actually hold the baby.
"It's easy. Support her head." She instructed as she stood up and placed Elisabetta into her brother in law's arms.
"She's so small." Stefan murmured as he cradled the tiny baby.
"She'll get bigger, she's growing everyday." Elena explained smiling at them. Stefan had a small smile on his face and it was clear he loved the little girl in his arms.
"I can't wait until I have one of my own. I wish she was mine." Stefan sighed, not wanting Elena to overhear that.
"You'll have one someday. You just have to find the right girl." Elena promised.
"Thank you, but it's hard when you're taken with your brothers girl." Stefan sighed.
"You're going to have to get over that. I am married to your brother, that's not going to change." Elena stated firmly.
"I know. I'm sorry Elena, I didn't mean to upset you." Stefan apologized.
"It's okay, but you have to get over it eventually." Elena stated picking up her book from the coffee table.
"I'm sorry for upsetting you." Stefan muttered before turning back to the baby.
"It's okay." Elena muttered flipping a page on her book. They lapsed into silence as Elena read and Stefan held Elisabetta until a shrill cry rang out.
"What did I do?" Stefan asked worried when Elisabetta started crying.
"Nothing, she just woke up. She's probably hungry." Elena explained picking up the little girl and cradling her to her chest.
"Oh, okay I will let you go feed her." Stefan said awkwardly as Elena took Elisabetta upstairs.
"What are you doing brother?" Stefan asked walking outside to see Damon talking to Anne outside.
"I'm planning an evening for my wife and I." Damon answered.
"Oh, what are you doing with the baby?" He asked, partially smug now that with a baby they can't be as intimate as they used to be.
"Our evening will start when Elisabetta is asleep. Anne is going to show me how to make dinner for my wife, it's our first night in our new home." Damon explained.
"Oh. Do you need help?" Stefan asked shoving his hands in his pockets.
"If you could, distract my wife until I come and get her. I don't want her finding me." Damon told him.
"Sure." Stefan agreed walking back into the house.
"Thank you Stefan." Damon called as he walked away.
Elena laid Elisabetta down in her bassinet and kissed her forehead.
"Sleep well my darling." Elena whispered before walking out of the room and back downstairs. She saw Stefan sitting in the library so she walked into the room and sat down on the couch. "Have you seen my husband?" Elena asked curiously.
"He's busy today, he can't be disturbed. I just talked to him." Stefan explained, struggling to find an excuse.
"Oh. What is he doing?" Elena asked.
"He's out." Stefan muttered.
"Oh, we're supposed to be spending the night in our new home tonight." Elena pointed out excitedly.
"I'm sure it will all go as planned." Stefan assured her.
"Did he tell you where he was going?" Elena asked.
"No." Stefan told her.
"I don't want this to start in my marriage. I don't want him to start keeping secrets. Have you seen Anne?" Elena asked.
"Nope, she took the day off as far as I know." Stefan said. Elena shrugged her shoulders and picked up her book.
A few hours later Elena was getting annoyed, she still hadn't seen or heard anything from Damon. She walked around with a crying Elisabetta who refused to calm down. Elena couldn't put her to sleep because her bed was at the new house when the servants moved it a few hours earlier. She still hadn't been allowed to head over to the new house yet and she was starting to get mad. She heard the door open and saw Damon walk inside with a smile on his face.
"Where have you been?" She demanded as Elisabetta started crying harder.
"I've been out. Come, lets take Elisabetta to bed." He told her softly.
"Where have you been?" She asked again.
"Let's just get Elisabetta to bed, we'll talk then." He told her.
"Fine, lets go." She said following him out of the house. He kept up his stride beside her and handed Elena the key to unlock their new home. She took the key silently and unlocked the door before stepping inside. Her breath was immediately taken away when she smelled the warm dinner and seen the decor of the house.
"It's beautiful." She whispered.
"Let's go put Elisabetta to bed, then we'll enjoy our dinner." He told her kissing her temple.
"Who cooked it, we don't have a cook?" Elena asked.
"Anne helped me. I wanted to make tonight special for you." He told her leading her to Elisabetta's room. On the way he pointed out other rooms including two more spare bedrooms for additional children. He opened the door to the nursery and Elena smiled. It was beautifully decorated.
"It's beautiful." She whispered immediately placing Elisabetta in her bassinet.
"I hoped you would like it." He told her pecking her lips quickly.
"I do. Everything is perfect. Can I see our bedroom?" She asked.
"Not yet, lets eat first." He told her leading her into the dining room where there were plates of chicken, vegetables, potatoes and buns.
"Wow, you cooked this?" She asked in shock.
"Anne helped me a lot." Damon admitted.
"This is perfect. You are an amazing husband Damon." Elena told him kissing him.
"After this we'll go to bed, if you're ready." He suggested.
"I am ready to make love to you again." She affirmed.
"Okay." Damon agreed pulling her chair out for her and gesturing for her to sit. He poured them a glass of wine and Elena took a sip. They ate in silence, him holding her hand across the table.
"Thank you for this darling." Elena whispered.
"You're welcome. As my wife you should get used to being treated like a princess." He told her kissing her hand.
"As my husband you should get used to being treated like a king." She replied with a smile on her face.
"You already give me everything I could ask for." He told her kissing her forehead. When they were done eating he went and brought out a piece of apple pie from the kitchen.
"This is delicious." Elena moaned as she took a bite of the apple pie.
"I had nothing to do with this. It was a housewarming present from Anne." Damon told her smiling.
"It is amazing." Elena sighed taking another bite. He grinned, loving seeing her so happy. She had been so exhausted since Elisabetta had been born, always running around.
"I want you to relax tomorrow darling. Don't do any work, I'll take care of everything. Elisabetta and the house. All you have to do is feed her." Damon told her causing Elena to beam.
"You don't have to do that darling." Elena told him.
"I want to Elena. As your husband it's my job to make sure you're happy." He told her.
"You already gave me everything I need to be happy." She assured him.
"Are you ready for bed?" Damon asked after she finished eating her pie.
"Yes, I need you so bad. I miss making love to you." She told him. He grinned and stood up offering her his hand.
"Let's go to bed." He told her leading her to their bedroom. He opened the door and she gasped. Everything was dark wood with white linens. It was so beautiful and romantic.
"It's so beautiful." Elena whispered turning around and wrapping her arms around his neck. He bent down to kiss her, her tongue sneaking into her mouth. She could feel his hardness pressing into her stomach and she moaned desperately, needing him inside her.
He slowly worked through the buttons on her dress and she shrugged out of the sleeves. She wasn't nervous about being bared to him anymore, the way he looked at her naked body filled her with pride. He loved her body even when she was carrying more weight than usual. With nimble fingers she moved through the buttons on his shirt, needing his body to be bare to her.
"Please..." She begged, her larger than usual breasts heaving against her chest.
"You are so beautiful." He breathed, he picked her up and laid her on the large bed, following her down and bracing his weight on his arm. She reached up and kissed him passionately, while moving her pelvis against his. He peeled the dress from her body along with her panties and stockings, kissing his way down her body. When he had her completely bare for him he quickly divested himself of his pants and the rest of his shirt that Elena had nearly unbuttoned. She reached behind her and pulled out the hairpins holding her hair up. She slipped under the covers of their bed and he followed her in on his side of the bed. He rolled onto his side and kissed her. She clasped her arms around his neck and pulled him until he was lying astride her hips.
"Make love to me." She begged kissing him again. He took hold of the base of his erection and slowly eased himself inside her, filling her completely. She winced a little at first after being separated for so long.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine. Keep going please. Just a little tender." She assured him.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
"Yes, please keep going." She begged. He kissed her again and eased the rest of the way inside her before started to move slowly, refusing to hurt her. He shifted his hips back and thrust back in, hitting the end of her on every thrust. She raked her nails down his back and over his ass, begging him to go faster and harder. She needed more.
"I'm close." She warned him.
"I love you." He told her and kissed her. He left her lips and kissed down her neck, leaving little love bites as he went. She dropped her head back to give him better access as his hips never stopped moving within her.
"I love you so much." She breathed. She pulled her legs up to cradle him between them, giving him more space to work his magic. Without warning she came, with a keening cry of his name. She was relieved to note that she didn't wake up Elisabetta when she cried out. He followed almost directly after her, filling her with his release. He breathed heavily and rolled off of her.
"We didn't make that last as long as I would have hoped." He noted.
"It was perfect. It had been so long." She told him laying her head on his chest.
"What if we get pregnant again right away?" He asked curiously.
"Is it something you're open to?" She asked.
"I would love another baby." He agreed.
"Then if it happens, it happens. Ideally it would be best to wait a little while." She said smiling.
"I couldn't agree more. We have a good life don't we?" He asked.
"We have a great life. I'm so happy I have you. You changed my life. I can't believe it wasn't all that long ago that I came here, and was due to marry Stefan." Elena recalled.
"I fell in love with you the moment I saw you, but understood that you were meant to be with my brother. I am so happy you decided not to marry him." Damon admitted.
"I couldn't marry him because for me it was always you. It will always be you. I met you and everything changed for me. You let me in and I let you in. You complete me." She whispered.
"This is just the beginning for you and I. I am going to give you everything you've ever wanted." He vowed to her.
"You already have. I have everything I've ever wanted." She promised him kissing him.