Chapter 35

Elena tried to sleep for a few hours but she was just to excited to fall back asleep. Her phone rang and she sprang up it was an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Elena Gilbert?" It was a man.

"Yes who is this?"

"I'm Brian Thompson of Thompson's antiques and restorations. Your assistant emailed me pictures of the staircase you would like restored the other day."

"She did?" Elena said getting excited. "Do you think you can do it?"

"It's going to be a challenge but yes. I can restore it." He said.

"This is wonderful, the timing you just don't even understand, thank you so much Brian. When can you start?" Elena asked.

"Tomorrow if you'd like." he offered.

"Great. Email Anna you're pricing and we'll meet at the Salvatore house tomorrow morning." Elena smiled feeling elated that this was finally coming together.

"Sounds great I look forward to meeting you." He said.

"You too thanks again." She smiled jumping a little as the doorbell rang.

"Oh crap Anna."

"Hm?" Jeremy asked from the hallway looking like he just stumbled out of bed.

"I forgot to call her and give her the day off...why aren't you at school?" She asked.

"I have Mondays off now." He yawned the doorbell rang again and he suddenly looked alarmed realizing what he looked like.

"You do not have Mondays off." She groaned as he raced into the bathroom.

"Hey Anna." She answered the door in a rush. "I am so sorry. I meant to call you this morning. We're taking the day off."

"Really why?" Anna asked as Elena slowly held up her ring. "Oh!"

"Yeah!" Elena squealed.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so happy for you Elena!" Anna exclaimed giving her a big hug.

"What's going on?" A more presentable looking Jeremy asked coming down the stairs.

"Didn't you notice?" Elena said holding up her ring and beaming. "I'm getting married!"

"Alright congrats cuz." He smiled giving her a hug.

"Hey Anna." Jeremy said.

"Hi don't you have school today?" She asked curiously.

"I have Mondays off now." He explained.

"You do not." Elena interjected. "They don't just give high school kids a day off. That's called Saturday and Sunday."

"Whatever, you are way to happy to scold me right now." he smirked.

"You're right." She admitted beaming again and doing a little jump. "I have to tell Car and Bonnie. I'm trying to decide phone calls or in person."

"In person." Anna said.

"But I'll spill on the phone just calling them to meet me." Elena bit her lip.

"Text 'em." Jeremy shrugged.

She nodded and sent them each a text to meet at the diner in an hour. Hopefully they both made it. How was she supposed to wait an hour to tell them.

"Where's John?" Jeremy asked. "He's usually home by now."

"Oh crap." Elena sighed. "If he's not here by now it's because Damon's there so..."

"You sent Damon straight into the fire pit all alone?" Jeremy laughed.

"I told him not to say anything." Elena said.

"Elena you're dad is awesome but I've seen him with Damon. He knows how to make him squirm." Jeremy said.

"Did you know Damon actually asked his permission." Elena said softly.

"I wish I could have seen that." Jeremy laughed.

"Oh Anna the restoration guy called me today it's a go. Thank you!" Elena said giving her a hug.

"Oh great!" Anna exclaimed. "He seems really nice."

"I was also going to see... if you want I can get you a car. It will make it much easier for you to get around then the bus. During construction I'll be spending most of my time there making sure it looks right and stuff." Elena explained.

"Wow a car..I couldn't.." Anna started.

"Between the ground work for the charity, this project and wedding planning, Trust me Anna you're going to need a car. We're going to be busy." Elena smiled.

"Okay." She relented. "Thank you. You've been to generous."

"I could take you to look at some cars today if you want." Jeremy offered.

"I mean I'm sure Elena will pick it out." Anna said nervously.

"No that's cool pick out what you want within reason. Use the business card for it if you find one today. Jeremy knows cars he's a good person to take with you." Elena said.

"Okay." Anna smiled. "Guess its a good thing you have Monday's off then."

"Sure is." He smiled leading her out the door.

Elena watched them leave smiling softly.

"Mm Hm." She said out loud staring after them with a knowing look for a minute before racing upstairs to get ready and head to the diner.

Damon was waiting outside for her with a sheepish look on his face,

"I have a confession." He said as she walked up to him.

"I know dad would be home by now unless..." She smirked.

"Are you pissed?" He asked with a wince.

"No I know how you are with my dad." She laughed. "I'm sure you tried."

"He read you text and then he couldn't let it go." Damon said flashing her an innocent look.

"I'm to crazy in love right now to get mad at you." She laughed kissing him.

"I'm glad you said that because uh..John's not the only one in there who knows." He said awkwardly.

"Oh my god you said Isobel was there with him so she was there when.. oh great Damon. Just fricken great." She groaned.

"You're to crazy in love to be angry remember?" He said giving her his best dazzling smile.

"I am so not ready to have some big moment with her Damon." She moaned.

"I'm sorry she was there when it came out." He said pouting. "You forgave me when it was just John."

"It's okay I'm not mad at you. I'm just not ready for her." Elena assured him with a sigh. "How was she? Judgmental I'm sure."

"No, she was a little concerned but I told her my intentions are good and she's good, she seems happy for us." He said.

"You didn't have to do that." Elena said. "Ease her mind."

"I know but she was all caught up on the age thing. I didn't want her having the wrong impression of us. My intentions with you are solid and I'm not afraid to tell her that." He said.

"I get why you did it but you didn't need to. She can think whatever she wants. I don't care, she doesn't get to worry now and your intentions with me are none of her business." Elena said in a sharp tone.

"Elena...just relax. She was worried yes, worry is an emotion one you usually have for people you love. You don't have to earn feelings. She can worry about you and I know what you mean I get it, I was there in that angry place once. But today it was between me and her and I am on your side always but that doesn't mean I want your mother to have the wrong impression of me estranged from you or not." Damon said his voice calm and even.

She took a long and heavy breath. "I understand that Damon I'm sorry I snapped."

"It's okay my little bridezilla its cute." He said squeezing her into a hug.

"I was not being a bridezilla!" She exclaimed. "That freak out was completely warranted."

He chuckled and kissed her just as Caroline and Stefan pulled up.

"Car!" Elena exclaimed her worries forgotten as a curious Caroline got out and looked at her. Elena started running and Caroline's face lit up guessing it already racing to meet her.

"Let me see, let me see." Caroline chanted as they met and she grabbed Elena's hand.

"It's amazing." Caroline breathed. "I'm so excited for you!"

"Congratulations Damon." Stefan smiled giving him a hug. "Finally." He added in a whisper.

Damon smiled gazing at Elena's animated movements as Caroline gushed over the ring.

"I'm getting married!" Elena squealed and they jumped up and down hugging tears coming to their eyes.

"We're going to be like sister, sister in laws or something." Caroline cried.

"I know!" Elena cried.

Stefan and glanced at Damon and they both chuckled.

"Bonnie's here!" Caroline screamed as Bonnie's car pulled up.

"Let me tell her." Elena hushed her.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Bonnie asked getting out.

"I'm getting married." Elena gushed running over to show her the ring.

"Oh my god!" Bonnie cried hugging her tight Caroline ran over and joined them and they huddled together for a few minutes.

They all gathered together in front of the restaurant as Isobel came out almost running into them.

"Elena, hello." She said softly.

"Isobel." Elena said politely.

Everyone awkwardly headed inside expect for Damon and Elena.

"Congratulations, I am really happy for you." Isobel said sincerely.

"Thank you." Elena said letting herself relax a little.

"I'm actually going to get Maggie now Robert has a flight to catch." Isobel told her.

"Why don't you bring her back here?" Elena suggested. "I can't wait to tell her the good news."

"Okay." Isobel said smiling slightly. "That sounds great. I'll be back soon then."

"That was nice." Damon said softly.

"It's what you said about being angry..I don't want to be angry anymore. I have to many great things in my life to waste it on bitterness." Elena sighed.

"I love you." He whispered.

"I love you to." She said taking his hand and heading inside.

"Elena." John greeted her right away. "I know already."

"Yeah I got that dad."

"I'm happy for you and Damon." He said smiling.

"Thanks Dad." She said giving him a hug.

"But it sucks letting you go. You're all grown up and getting married." He said tearing up slightly.

"Oh dad, I've been grown up for a while now." She teased.

"I know but now you're going to have a husband you won't even need me anymore." He said frowning.

"That's simply not true." She said. "Who's going to be the voice of reason when we fight? Who am I going to vent to when I'm frustrated? Who am I going to come over and have beers with every Sunday. You dad. Not to mention we want to get our own house if things break we're going to need you. Not Damon's forte, and what if we have a daughter someday? Someone has to teach Damon how to make the poison."

"Don't start talking about daughters." He said his eyes wide.

"Dad, my point is I'll always need you, we both will actually." She said in quiet voice glancing at Damon over at the table. "You know the reason your approval is so important to Damon is because he needs you dad. You're family to him just as much as I was to his dad."

"Really?" John asked looking touched.

"Really, he really respects you dad." Elena said honestly. "Damon and I are always gonna need you okay? No more of this teary goodbye stuff okay?"

"Deal I'm no good at that anyway." He smiled giving her another big hug.

"I love you dad." She whispered.

"I love you to daughter." He said. "But I can't ever give that recipe away."

"Dad." She smiled. "Actually we might need it when Maggie starts dating."

"You tell me I make it. Damon doesn't get the recipe." John said firmly. "It's top secret."

"Every top secret has to get passed down to someone...come on dad he's your son in law." Elena said she had to convince him to do this she had been dying to know what was in that drink for years now.

"Not yet." John said.

"So when he is?" Elena prodded.

"Maybe," He finally relented. "I need sleep. I just gave in way to easily."

"Night dad." She chirped happily rushing over to the table.

"Good news." She said sitting next to Damon.

"I know we're getting married." He smiled.

"I mean more good news." She laughed. "I got my dad to say maybe to showing you how to make the poison."

"No way." He sad his eyes wide. "You gotta make it happen."

"I almost want to try it just to say I did." Caroline mused.

"We could have a poison party." Damon smirked. "See who can out drink who."

"I got you beat Salvatore." She scoffed.

"Please sis, no chance. I've had the stuff twice now. You'll be on the ground in seconds." Damon rolled his eyes.

"He's not going to make it for us to party with." Elena laughed.

"If he teaches me how to make it." Damon waggled his eyebrows.

"I'd try it." Stefan admitted. "I'm curious now."

"I've only tried it once. I passed out right away." Elena said.

"I'll pass." Bonnie laughed.

"No fair Bonnie you did a beer bong for Car's wedding." Elena pouted.

"Since when is this a wedding thing?" Bonnie asked.

"It's an engagement slash poison party." Caroline quipped.

"It was not you just made it that." Bonnie argued.

"What's done is done and to be fair you have to honor Elena in the same way you did Caroline." Damon smirked.

Bonnie glared at him and crossed her arms. "Fine, one shot that's it."

"My dad did say after you're his son in law and he did only say maybe." Elena warned them.

"That's close enough, We'll convince him." Damon shrugged.

Isobel came back in a little while later with an excited Maggie who was going on about M shaped pancakes.

"Hi!" She chirped racing up to the table to give Damon a big hug before running over to Elena to greet her. Elena introduced her to Bonnie and Caroline and they both awed over her.

"Maggie guess what?" Elena said a smile spreading over her face she geld her hand behind her back.

"What?" Maggie asked.

"Damon and I have some big news." Elena told her. "We are going to get married."

"You are?" Maggie squealed her eyes wide.

Elena nodded and showed her the ring Maggie squealed with delight.

"Is that okay if I marry your big sister Maggie?" Damon asked kneeling down to her level.

"I promise I'll be real good to her and make her happy." Damon said softly.

"Just like a prince and a princess and you have to buy her a horse too." Maggie said.

"Maggie." Elena laughed softly.

"Okay if she wants a horse it's hers." He smiled.

"Okay then you can marry her." Maggie smiled giving him a hug.

"Maggie I was wondering if you would want to be in my wedding?" Elena asked taking her hand. "I need a flower girl."

Maggie gasped and beamed jumping up and down. "Really? Can I mommy?"

"Of course." Isobel smiled tears in her eyes.

"Is that a yes?" Elena asked.

"Yeah!" Maggie smiled throwing her arms around Elena's neck.

Damon and Elena were quiet later as they walked hand in hand through the graveyard. They sat by Damon's parents graves and set flowers down.

"Hey dad." Damon said out loud Elena took his hand.

"Elena's here with me." He smiled.

"We have big news." Elena said squeezing Damon's hand.

"Is mom around? You should get her dad cause Elena's wearing her ring." Damon smiled and looked up Elena looked up with him.

"I swear that star is glowing brighter up there." He said pointing up.

"He heard us and he's elated. I know he is." Elena said leaning her head against Damon's shoulder.

"Thank you Giuseppe for bringing me to Damon in your own way. For giving me this ring, her ring, it means so much to me. You believed in us before we did. I'll never break my promise to you. I promise you I will always take care of him and make him happy and Elizabeth your son is so amazing. I am so lucky to have him. I wish I could have met you. I hope I can be half the mother you were." Elena said her eyes tearing up.

"I love you so much." He whispered squeezing her.

"I am so happy right now, I wish you could both be here to see it. But I know you're watching that's why we had to come here tonight and tell you guys together. I kind of told Elena's parents by myself." Damon laughed even as tears ran down his face. "I know you're both cringing. Lucky for me my bride to be is very forgiving."

"I wish I would have had more time with both of you. I am where I am because of you and I want to thank you for that. I love you mom and dad." He said letting out a few tears and long breath before pulling Elena into a tight embrace.

Thanks for reading! I hope you liked the update, I have some fun chapters coming up. Please review! :)