Two years later:
Elena stares at the precious little human in her arms. Her newborn baby smile is as sweet as a summer strawberry and fills her with a sunshine she never knew existed in the world. Hearing a rap on her hospital room door, she raises her eyes. "Come in."
"Hey," Enzo greets her, a bouquet of yellow roses in his hand.
"Enzo, they're beautiful, thank you," she watches as he sets them down among the myriad of other flower- filled vases, plants and cards.
"If she isn't a beauty," Enzo strokes her fat little cheek wispily with the back of his index finger before sitting at the foot of the bed.
"She really is," Elena's mesmerized by tiny fingers curling around her pinky. She watches her newborn peer through brand new eyes at what must be such a strange world after life in the womb. Her legs kick in a tiny jagged motion.
The sound of the door creaking once again demands Elena's attention. This time the man standing there is her lover, her soulmate, the man she married and the father of their daughter.
"I suppose I should give you two - three a little privacy," Enzo starts to stand.
"Oh no Detective, you don't have to leave. Surely your cohorts are capable of doing without you for a little while?"
"They absolutely are," Damon winks at Elena then lifts his baby girl to his shoulder. Tiny toes peek from her blanket. Her head, a crazy mass of dark curls. He can't believe how tiny new humans are, how vulnerable, how awe inspiring.
When newborn cries fill the room, her daddy tries to soothe her but he knows what she wants and hands her back to Elena.
"That's my signal to go. I'll see you, Elena." Enzo nods at Damon then leaves the room.
Through her exhaustion Elena smiles, exposes her breast and brings the baby to lay on her bare skin. Almost immediately her tiny girl begins to root, mouth wide, her instincts strong. The let-down part feels like a sharp, warm tingle in her breasts. Once the baby's latched on, she feels a little squeezing and gentle scraping from her tongue.
She wants to drink this moment in, this moment with her little girl in her hands. Her eyes are more brilliant than she could have dreamed they would be, her hands more delicate. She feels so light, looks so perfect and smells so divine.
Damon watches in awe. He'll be her protector, their protector for as long as he lives and his love for them will last till he takes his last breath and beyond.
It's mid morning, the sun is shining brilliantly, its glare is bright and cheerful. The weather is warm but not too hot, only a smattering of wisp-like clouds dot the sky. Wild flowers are blooming on the hilltops that surround the solemn place, it's a beautiful repose for those who have been laid to rest there. Elena takes Damon's hand as they slowly walk to her sister's grave.
The cemetery is cool and there is dew on the grass. The air is fresh and, unlike the unloved graves further away, here they are covered in bright blooms. She feels her eyes moistening as they walk the somber path, Damon's holding the baby carrier in one hand while clutching onto hers with the other.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he stops her for a moment.
"Yes, I need to," she smiles sadly but is grateful for his ever present concern for her.
She can recall the details of that day better than any birthday or Christmas, it's clearer in her mind than even last weekend. Seeing her like that is forever emblazoned in her mind, she'll never be able to forget the horror of finding her sister's body. Elena remembers how happy she was when she pulled into the driveway to tell Katherine all about her promotion. Now that horrific day will forever be one of melancholy and remembrance.
Here she is, again walking this stretch of grass but this time Elena has her husband and daughter to support her. Still being here floods her with raw emotion that swells at knowing her beloved sister will forever rest in this place. Her life could never be marked by a gravestone, something so cold and immobile - yet it is.
Upon reaching it, Elena nods at Damon then approaches it herself. Laying the spray of flowers on the earth beneath it, she runs her fingertip on Katherine's face, now permanently engraved into the marble along with her name.
"Hi Katherine. I'm sorry it's been a little while since I've been here. I hope you can forgive me, it just hurts to have to come here for a visit. But today is different, Katherine," she waves at Damon to join her.
"This is my husband Damon. He worked dilligently to bring you the justice and peace you so deserve." She's aware that many people worked together to bring their nightmare to a close but for her, Damon is one who really went above and beyond. "He's a good man," she reaches up to wipe the tears that are forming at the corners of her eyes.
"Hello Katherine," Damon unbuckles the safety belt, lifts their baby out of her carrier and hands her to Elena.
"We brought you a present. I know it's not your birthday yet or Christmas but I couldn't wait," she kisses her daughter's forehead then looks into the eyes of her sister's image, tears blurring her vision. "This is our baby girl, Katherine Rose Salvatore."
Damon lays his hands on her shoulders, his simple touch sends a wave of butterflies coursing through her veins, their fluttering wings easing the sadness that had settled inside her. "Let's go home," he whispers.
Elena secures baby Katherine in her carrier, takes her husband's hand and stands up. She lays her own on top of the smooth marble, squeezes her eyes shut and croaks, "Goodbye Katherine."
Nodding to Damon that she's ready, she hands him the baby, entwines their fingers and together they walk away...
Elena sighs after putting the final touches on the display table. There are pictures of Katherine graduating from the 8th grade with a beaming smile on her face and an arm around Elena. Another is the father -daughter dance with Ric. There's one from her junior prom wearing a chic off-the-shoulder mauvey-pink dress with a crown of flowers in her hair. Smiling, she picks up a smaller frame, it's the two of them swinging in the backyard. And then one of she and Katherine sitting in front of the Christmas tree surrounded by presents with Jeremy's head peeking out from behind it. And of course their Halloween as Aurora and Belle.
"Here you go," Damon hands her a vase full of peach colored roses - Katherine's favorite - to place on the table.
"You did a good job, the place looks fit for a celebration," he pulls his wife into a hug. She has the living room decorated with balloons and ribbons. She's had Katherine's favorite foods catered in and has invited their family to reminisce and celebrate her life.
"I think it looks good," her voice trails away when a cry comes from behind through the baby monitor.
"I'll get her, guests are arriving," he nods to the window where Nik, Camille, Noah, Nadia, Esther and Mikael are walking up the sidewalk towards their door.
"Thanks," she gives him a peck on the cheek, smiles when he darts up the stairs while she lets their guests in.
"Auntie Elena," Nadia runs to her.
"Hi, what a pretty dress you have and those pigtails," she winks at her.
"Hello Noah," Elena ruffles his curly blonde hair, so much like his dad's.
"Hi, can we go play in the yard?"
"I'll go with them. The place looks great, Elena. Katherine would be so pleased," Esther gives her a hug then leads the now four year olds outside.
"Nik, Camille, Mikael, please come in," she steps aside when Ric and Jenna appear then shuts the door behind them. "Have a seat, Damon went upstairs to get Katherine."
"There she is," Camille squeals and goes to take her from her father. "She's getting so big," she sits down and Nik takes the spot next to her, letting little Katherine wrap her fist around his finger.
With Jenna's help, Elena and Damon set out the food and call the twins inside, their guests fill their plates and offer their remembrances of her beloved sister. When they're done, Elena leads them outside. Damon comes to stand next to her holding a bunch of helium balloons.
"Thank you all for coming today to help me celebrate Katherine's life," she pauses a minute when her eyes start to mist. "I have a poem I'd like to read and then we'll release the balloons." She nods at Damon who distributes them.
"So go and run free with the angels - dance around the golden clouds – For the Lord has chosen you to be with him and we should feel, nothing but proud. Although He has taken you from us and our pain, a lifetime will last – Your memory will never escape us but make us glad for the time we did have," her voice cracks a bit and Damon takes her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.
Taking a breath, she continues, "Your face will always be hidden deep inside our hearts – Each precious moment you gave us shall not, ever depart. So go and run free with the angels as they sing so tenderly – And please be sure to tell them to take good care of you, for me - for us." Damon takes her into his arms and rubs her back. Then the balloons are released, and begin to rise.
The sky is dappled by the clouds, a beautiful blue to commemorate the day. Elena lets her eyes gaze upward to follow the balloons as they ascend and dance in the breeze.
"This is for you, Katherine," she whispers as she takes her daughter from Esther and leans into her husband's warm embrace.
"Here you are, Elena," Katherine hands her back the dolly after putting its hair in pigtails. She picks up her own and starts digging through the clothes, looking for a pretty dress. They're taking their baby dolls to the store today and then they're going to have a tea party with them and Aunt Jenna.
"Thanks, she looks so pretty," Elena twists the pigtail around her finger, her mouth opening when a blue dress comes flying in her face.
"Put that one on Annie, Nadia is going to wear the pink one."
"But I like pink," Elena pouts.
"I called it first," Katherine sticks just the tip of her tongue out at her little sister.
"When we get big and have real babies, do you think we can play like this too?" Elena sticks a piece of red licorice in her mouth while looking at Katherine.
Touched, Katherine scoots over to give her sister a hug. "I'd like that, Elena. I'd like that a lot..."
"The valiant never taste death but once." William Shakespeare
So we come to the end of another story. Thank you for joining us and for all your reviews and interactions, pm's. Never have I been so frustrated writing a story, Eva had to talk me out of deleting it more than a few times. I don't know why, maybe cause I wanted it to be 'short and sweet' but these characters insisted on having their stories told.
Chapter title: 'Candle In The Wind' by Elton John.
It's been such an honor to be part of this fandom, I - we have made so many friends and acquaintances. We cannot begin to says thanks to all of you amazing people for making my - our time here so special. Eva and I are very proud of the fact that each and every story is marked complete. Goodbye.
Have an amazing day.