Epilogue

One year later

Elena practically skipped to her car as school let out. She'd finished all her courses this year with flying colors and was ready to have the summer of her life. Next year would be last her year but she'd already scored an internship at a great place in Richmond where she could really hone her craft as a writer. She was starving and couldn't wait to get Maria's meals to see Damon and grab a bite to eat.

He'd been busier than ever this year getting the little cafe set up, but it was flourishing now. Tyler had started out helping with dishes and what not, but eventually worked his way up and was now one of Damon's best cooks.

Caroline struggled a little with finding a job, until Carol offered her an opportunity to assist in planning all the founding events. She'd even helped Caroline build an online profile for herself using all the beautiful pictures from the various events. She was working around the clock to get her name out there and was hoping to start planning weddings and stuff soon. Tyler and Caroline had been weary to take any help from either of his parents at first, but over time it really did seem like they wanted to help and make amends for some of the wrong they did. Richard wasn't thrilled that his son was working as a line cook, especially for one of the Salvatore's but eventually he came around. He even stopped into Maria's meals every so often to grab food for his office. Elena thinks secretly he's proud of Tyler for standing up to him and going his own way.

The parking lot to the store was packed. Partially because people are stocking up for the nice weekend ahead, but also the little cafe. People loved it. Elena was beyond proud of Damon.

She stepped inside and waved and smiled towards the cashier before she headed over to the little cafe in the store.

"Hey Lena!" Tyler greeted her from behind the counter as she stepped inside. "Just in time to try my new creation."

"I don't think so, Ty!" Elena laughs. His creations were usually loaded with calories and bikini season was right around the corner. "Just my usual, please."

She grabs a seat at the counter and sets her purse down as she peers behind the counter for Damon.

"Lena it's officially your last day of school, live a little." Tyler said sliding a massive sandwich in front of her.

"What is it?" She asks raising an eyebrow.

"It's a BLT but made with two grilled cheese sandwiches as the bread and I added avocado." Tyler grins.

"This is insane!" Elena laughs picking up the huge sandwich, "how do I even eat this?"

"Dig in and get messy." Tyler says with a grin, "you're going to need your energy."

"What does that even mean?" Elena questions. "Where is Damon?"

"He'll be back soon." Tyler nods "Eat up."

Another customer comes in and sits down before she can question him further. She doesn't have to wonder long; Damon soon breezes in, wearing a pair of faded jeans and a plain white tee shirt. His hair looks slightly disheveled.

"Hi princess, your chariot awaits," he drawls out as he takes her hand.

"My chariot?" Elena questions as she allows him to pull her to her feet.

"Well by chariot I mean my 'vette." He smirks, "which is waiting for you outside."

"Where are we going?" She asks.

"That's for me to know and you to, dot dot dot." He teases as he pulls her through the store and out the door.

"Put this on," he says holding up a blindfold with a little smirk.

"A blindfold, really?" She sees he's serious and scoffs but puts it on, allowing him tie the back, he helps her into the car.

"Come on, Damon. Just fess up. We're going to my parents or your parents and they're throwing a party for my last day of school." Elena guesses after a while of driving. "Which is really silly, I don't graduate till next year."

"A party that celebrates, you, for any reason could never be silly, Lena." Damon counters, "also you're wrong it's not an end of school party."

"So, you admit it's a party." She said smugly, "Now can I take this dumb blindfold off?"

"I haven't admitted a thing." He says. "And no."

"But Damon..." she groans.

"We're almost there." He says.

"We are? We've only been driving for like fifteen minutes." She murmurs as the car finally comes to a stop.

"Okay, you can take your blindfold off now." Damon says and she does.

She blinks in confusion, they are stopped on the road that leads towards the Salvatore's but a good bit away, "are we going to the creek?" She asks it was just a little ways ahead from where they are stopped.

"Not exactly." He hands her a pair of tennis shoes. "You're going to need these."

He points to the woods they're standing by. "We're going that way."

She raises an eyebrow her curiosity piqued as she puts her shoes on, he takes her hand and pulls her into the woods. A rough trail has been forged and Elena wonders if that's why he looks so disheveled. Why was he out bushwhacking? Not exactly his thing...

"So, why are we walking through the woods?" she puts her curiosity into words, huffing a little as they continue along for what seems like forever.

"You'll see." He says.

After what seems like forever he finally comes to a stop in a small clearing in the woods. She's surprised to see two lawn chairs set up on a blanket with a bottle of champagne on ice.

"Damon what is this?" Elena asks.

"Well princess," He says putting an arm around her and gesturing towards the little chairs. "It's not about what it is right now. I want you to think about what it could be." He says. "That could be a living room, where we sit at night."

She stares on slightly confused. "Or a kitchen if you prefer, we could do that open layout everyone likes so much," His tone is filled with excitement as he continues. "But the best part is if we build an upstairs the creek is across the street, we'll have a great view of it."

"The creek? Upstairs?" Elena slowly starts to realize what he's getting at her heart fluttering a little.

"I couldn't get the land the creek is on." He says a slight frown forming across his lips. "It would have been better."

"You bought this land?" Elena blurts out in shock.

"Almost. All that's left is signing the closing papers, but not unless you approve." Damon says a slight apprehensive look crossing his face. She realizes he's mistaken her shock for hesitancy.

"Of course, I approve. I'm just stunned!" She exclaims. '"You're going to build your own house? Like your parents did? That's amazing!"

"No Lena." He says in a soft voice. "What I'd like to do is…" He stops and drops to one knee and she feels her entire body freeze to the spot, her lips part in a soft gasp and remain there her gaze fixed on him as he nervously looks up at her with an almost boyish expression on his face.

"What I'd like to do is, build this house together, you and I, and I want your input and approval on every piece of it. But before we do that, I have something pretty important to ask you." He says and Elena can feel her heart pounding her eyes already beginning to well with tears.

"Yes." She blurts out quickly.

"I haven't asked yet," he says with a soft laugh.

"Then hurry and ask!"

"Elena Gilbert, I always pictured a life here in this town with a woman I'd love more than anything. I just never saw her, for some reason. When I got back here from the war and I saw you I knew in that exact instant who she was. It was you and it was always you, Lena. I don't want to go even more one day without showing you mow much I am committed to you and us. Please baby make me the happiest man on earth and be my wife?"

"Damon, "she cries dripping to her knees in front of him. "Yes, Yes! It's all I've ever wanted. I've loved you my whole life."

Her hand shakes as he gently raises it and reaches into his pocket.

"Oh my god, it's the ring!" she exclaims as she gazes in wonder at the ring he'd sent her all those years ago that she had tucked into a drawer for safe keeping.

"Where did you even get it?" She asked wide eyed.

"You dad found it when he was doing some remodeling after you first moved out. He said he kept it in a safe place all this time."

"You asked his permission?" Elena's heart was soaring so high she wasn't sure her beats would ever return to normal.

"Of course, I did, and he was ecstatic to give his blessing." Damon says. "The ring was an awesome surprise. Man did my army buddies ever give me crap for buying for it, back then. I didn't know then why it so important you had something to remember me by, but I do now."

"I can't believe it. Its perfect!" She holds her hand up and wiggles her finger with a soft teasing smile. He takes the hint and slips it on. It still fits perfectly after all this time.

"I am planning on getting you an actual engagement ring with an actual diamond before the wedding though." He says looking down at the quite simple braided friendship ring that he bought in a gumball machine so many years ago.

"No way. I am never taking this off." She says. "It's perfect."

"You're perfect." He responds and lifts her chin to his and kisses her softly and slowly until she stumbles and they both fall into a pile of leaves.

They both burst into laughter and lie there for a while before he helps her up to her feet again.

"We're engaged!" she exclaims the news just hitting her as he pops the bottle of champagne.

"Best day of my life." He grins pouring them each a glass. "Until the day I call you my bride, that is."

They clink their glasses together and she takes a hearty sip.

"This is amazing. I can totally see a little house here." She says softy as she gazes around. "The walk might get to be a bit much though."

"We'll put in a long driveway just like my folks place."

"I want our bedroom to have the view of the creek, with a big window seat just like mine. I can see myself sitting there and writing." She murmurs as she makes short work of the very tasty champagne Damon bought.

"Go easy, princess." He advises. "We still have a party to get to."

"So, there is a party." She makes a tsk sound. "Liar."

"I never said there was, and I never said there wasn't. I just said it wasn't a end of school celebration." He smirks.

"Plus, the party was our moms idea. They insisted, even though I wanted to wait an extra day. What if you said no." He shudders at the thought.

"There is no way in a million years I was going to say no." She says softly cupping his face with her hands.

"Well good, because there is no other future for me, you're it, princess." He says leaning in to kiss her once again.

After what seems like an eternity they finally pull apart and she releases a soft sigh. "I could stay here all night, but we do need to get to this party."

"We do hmm?" He murmurs happily brushing a lock of hair from her face. "You're usually in no hurry to get to these events."

"Normally yes, but I have a bunch of people to say I told you so too." She says with a smirk.

"You do?"

"I told everyone that would listen when I fourteen years old, that one day I was going to marry Damon Salvatore. So now I'm going to go tell them I was right." She says with a huge grin spreading across her beautiful face.

"Then let's go, my soon to be bride." He says.

He takes her hand in his and they walk off together down the path that one day soon will be their path to a home they'll build together and live happily ever after in.

~ The end

AN: So I decided to do an epi after all. I felt like all of you deserved a happy little Delena ending and I hope I delivered! I hope you enjoyed it!

The ring is from I'm coming home Christmas flashbacks for anyone that didn't read that.

I re-uploaded to make a few very small changes and edits.

Also after writing this I'm scraping my crossover idea for now...because I'm going to write a sequel to this! It'll be light and fun with a dash of drama here and there, as Delena navigate through their first few years of marriage, building the house, her starting a career, and so on. Stay tuned, should be posting the first chapter soon. It's going to be called either we're coming home, or we're building home something like that.

Please review!