Disclaimer: I own nothing of Vampire Diaries: Just borrowing the wonderful characters. Chapter One: So Much To Do... "I can't believe you're leaving so soon." Elena stared at Stefan in disbelief. "I'm sorry Elena but it's necessary." Stefan replied with a steady voice although his heart was breaking in two. "Why is it necessary? Why can't Damon go?" Elena's voice cracked and a single tear spilled out of the corner of her eye. "Because my father asked me to come, not Damon." Stefan zipped up the duffel bag. "I understand that but why now? We have a wedding to plan." Elena sighed. "Honey, the wedding is in six months. I will be back in a week. Two at the most." Stefan walked over to Elena and pulled her in his arms. For a few minutes the whole world felt safe and warm in his arms but then he released her and she was back to the reality of the situation. "I love you." Stefan placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "I love you too." Elena whispered. Walking to the front door hand in hand she hoped he kept his word about returning to her. She had a bad feeling ever since he informed her of his father's strange request. Stefan and Damon hadn't spoken to their father since the day they buried their mother ten years ago. Why now out of the blue did he want to speak to Stefan? Her gut instincts warned her that trouble lies ahead for Stefan and that meant it would soon find its way to her as well. XXX A month later... Elena studied the invitations that had been set in front of her. She had been sitting in the same spot for over a hour. She was starting to think that sending invites through email made more sense. It was taking forever for her too chose the right color, the right font and then she needed the total number she would be purchasing. At this point in the day she was wondering if she would be getting married at all. Stefan called her the night before to apologize for once again, another delay for his return. He explained that his father's health was poor and that he needed to help run the family business until he was physically capable to take on the responsibility again. Elena was still dumbfounded with how easily Stefan had given into his father's request after he had told her time and time again how he never wanted to even look upon the man's face. "I like this one." Caroline pick up a card and placed it in front of Elena's face. "Yeah, it's nice." Elena replied without blinking an eye. "Are you sure you want to get married?" Caroline teased. "Uh? Yes. Of course I do." Elena shook her head and tried to concentrate on the task in front of her. If Stefan had been here with her he would have made the choice easier. He had such good taste in things like this. She was more of a simple girl. She didn't need extravagant and expensive stuff in order to feel like her life was enriched. "So I take it he won't be home tomorrow." Caroline bit down on the tip of her tongue as she spied the tears forming in Elena's dark brown eyes. "Nope." Elena dropped her head and tried to refrain from crying. She knew it was senseless and that as long as he made it in time for their wedding, that's what really mattered. "It's okay honey. We get to keep you to ourselves a little longer." Caroline smiled warmly at her. "Oh yeah." Elena chuckled and push her hair out of her face. "Yep. So let's make a quick choice of it and then we can go hang out for awhile." Caroline pointed at a card that she favored. "I will take that one." Elena handed the salesman the card. He gave her an approving look before he walked back to the counter. "Come on." Caroline hook her arm in Elena's and they left the shop wearing identical bright smiles. XXX Damon received a call from his brother the night before asking him if he could stop by and check on Elena. Damon had been stupefied by the request. They both knew that Elena had a strong dislike for him. It irked Damon that he had been the one to spot her that night at the bar but it was Stefan that she gave her number to. He didn't care much for romance or marriage but it still hurt his ego that she had never given him a shot to prove he was the better man for her. They had dated for two years before Stefan proposed marriage. Damon had been miserable for the past two years. Each time he found a woman interesting she would open her mouth and remind him that she was a moron or just not worthy of his attention. He didn't want to compare them to Elena but of course subconsciously he did. He hated how she made him desire her without even trying. She was all wrapped up in her love for Stefan to give him any attention at all. It was until six months ago when he hooked up with her cute blonde friend that he got a reaction out of her. She made it crystal clear that she didn't think he was even good enough for her friend Caroline. He had one hell of a time proving her wrong. He made it his top priority to romance Caroline off her feet. He knew that girls discussed all the details of their relationship with one another and he hoped that Elena got to envision the kind of guy and lover he could be. Driving up in front of her family's home he stepped out of the car and made his way to the front door when Elena's little brother Jeremy came barreling out of it. "Woah. Where's the fire?" Damon asked with a smug grin. "They are trying on dresses and I'm not in the mood to hear them talk about how fat they look." Jeremy replied. "There is not one ounce of fat on any of them ladies." Damon sighed. "I know but you can't convince them of that." Jeremy jump into his truck and drove off. Damon sucked on his lower lip as he stared at the house for a few minutes trying to find a possible excuse for showing up. From the report Stefan had given him, Elena was deeply upset that he wasn't around to help arrange their special day together. He reminded his brother it would be easier to just simply elope but he argued against it. He wanted their wedding to be a day that neither of them forgot. "Damon what are you doing here?" Caroline exclaimed as she stepped out onto the front porch. "I was hoping to get a chance to see you. Your mom told me you would be here." He lied through his teeth. "Oh. Well Hi." Caroline flew into his arms and kissed him hard on the lips. Normally he would be pleased by her show of affection but today he had other things on his mind. "Come inside. I want to show you the dresses we picked out so far. You can help me argue against Bonnie's choice of bridesmaid dress." Caroline drug him up the steps and into the Gilbert home. "Hey guys, look who showed up. He couldn't stand to be away from me." Caroline joked but Damon sensed she believed it to be true. "Hi Damon." Jenna and Bonnie greeted him. Elena was coming down the stairs wearing a wedding dress that made Damon grimace. "Ohhh...that's so beautiful." Bonnie covered her cheeks with her hands. Caroline gave Damon a knowing look. "What do you think Jenna?" Elena chewed on the corner of her lip. "Uhh...I don't know Bonnie. It seems a bit too old fashioned for my taste." Jenna gave Bonnie an apologetic smile. "Caroline?" Elena look at her other friend and then she realized they weren't not alone. When her eyes landed on Damon she felt her cheeks grow hot. "Damon." Elena pressed her lips together and tried to force her lips to curl up in a smile. She knew that Stefan looked up to his big brother even when he saw the flaws in the man. "Hi Elena. I'm with your Aunt on this. Not you. Maybe more Bonnie." Damon looked at Bonnie and smiled politely. "I agree." Caroline sighed. "Okay." Elena turned and ran back up the stairs to try yet another dress. "Is she holding on?" Damon looked at her friends and Aunt for an answer to his question. "She misses him like crazy and has this far fetched fear he won't show up for their wedding." Jenna revealed despite the looks Elena's friends gave her for divulging so much information to him. "He will be here. My brother is not perfect by no means but he is a man of his word." Stefan nearly choked on the words that spilled from his mouth. He hated to say it but it was true. "I told her that." Jenna sighed with relief. "We finally got the invitations ordered yesterday and now we are working on the dresses and Friday we have to go put a downpayment on the reception hall she finally made a decision on." Caroline said. "Sounds like you ladies are going to be quite busy." Damon pointed out. "Yeah, well she can't do it alone." Bonnie snorted rudely. "Bonnie!" Caroline cried out. "What? Come on he asked her to spend the rest of her life with him and yet he can't even be here to help her plan their wedding?" Bonnie snatch her wine glass and gulp down the contents. "I'm sorry Damon. We are just all starting to feel her stress. We love her and we worry that she might have a nervous break down and do something irrational." Jenna explained cautiously. Only a few people knew about the time that Elena had spent a few months in a rehab center after the sudden death of her parents. She began to drink far too much and then started to mix in her antidepressants with it and almost killed herself. That had happened before Stefan had come into her life. When she got involved with Stefan they all were relieved to see the old Elena starting to resurface. She was the smiley, happy and laid back girl that they once knew and loved. "I should go check and see if she needs help getting out of that dress." Jenna offered and made her way up the stairs. "What about you ladies? Have you chosen your dress for the event?" Damon asked while pouring himself a glass of wine. "We are down to three dresses. Let me show you." Caroline slipped out of the room to fetch the dresses they had been given to try on. "She is really crazy about you?" Bonnie commented in between taking sips on her drink. "Who?" Damon wasn't entirely sure who she was talking about for a second and then felt foolish for not realizing she meant Caroline. "Caroline. She thinks you're her prince charming." Bonnie's eyes look at him and he saw a cold malice in her eyes. He wasn't sure about the details but he recalled Caroline telling him once that Bonnie had fallen head over heels for a guy who proposed to her while they were in college but then he died in a motorcycle accident a few weeks before graduation. It was easy to see how much she loathed the whole wedding ordeal but at the same time she was willing to put her own troubles aside to be there for her best friend. "I've never claimed to be a prince or charming." Damon replied with a smirk. "I agree. You don't appear to be either in my book." Bonnie rolled her eyes sarcastically. "Why is it exactly that you hate me so damn much?" Damon decided to call her out. From the first day he was introduced to Elena's friends she was the only one who didn't seem to fall for his charm or quick wit. She gave off the impression that he repulsed her somehow. "I don't hate you. If I hated you it would mean I would have to feel something for you. I don't." Bonnie walked away. "Here they are." Caroline came bouncing in with three dresses. They were all the same royal blue color but each of them had a style of its own. He studied them carefully and had Caroline put each one up to her. "For you, I would suggest the short length dress. You have lovely legs and should show them off more." Damon stated. Caroline's face turned beet red and he could see it pleased her whenever he complimented her. She was good to him. She knew when to give him space and she was a willing bed partner. She didn't mind anything he suggested. He wondered if Elena was half as good or willing in the bedroom? Shaking that last thought out of his head he tried to focus on the woman in front of him but when Elena came downstairs this time, she received his full attention. The dress she wore show off curves he never knew she had before. He was definitely seeing her in a new light. The girl definitely had a body she often hid beneath sweaters and loose dresses. He had to hand it to his brother for snatching her up before anyone else did. "Wow. I love that one but where did you get it?" Caroline frowned. "OH MY GOD! It's breathtaking." Bonnie gasped when she entered the room. "You really think so?" Elena looked at them skeptically. Damon couldn't take his eyes off of her. Her body in that dress was making his pulse rise and his heart to beat faster than it ever had. "Damon! Hello earth to Damon!" Caroline snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Uh?" Damon blinked. "What do you think about the dress? Do you think Stefan would love it?" Caroline repeated her earlier question. "I...well...who wouldn't enjoy seeing their future bride in that?" Damon coughed nervously as he felt certain parts of his body starting to grow hard and excited. "Okay. So yes or no? Would he like me in this?" Elena looked at him with a uncertainty in her eyes. "Trust me. He will love you in it." Damon answered. In the back of his mind however he was thinking about how much he would loved to see her out of that dress and laying on his bed back home. XXX Damon started to leave with Caroline but Elena stopped him. "Can I have a word with you. Alone." She gave Caroline a pleading look. "Sure." Damon replied hesitantly. "I will meet you at your place." Caroline leaned over and placed a quick kiss on his cheek. "What's up?" Damon crossed his arms over his chest while he studied her facial and body language. "I hate to sound like I don't trust Stefan, cause I do but is there any possible chance he might be getting cold feet about this wedding?" Elena poured herself a glass of cold water while trying not go make eye contact with Damon. She already felt foolish as it was by asking Damon such an intimate question in regards to his brother's feelings for her. "I have no clue. I mean, he told me that he hoped to be home by now and that he hoped you forgave him for not being here." Damon replied. "When did you talk to him last?" Elena sipped nervously on the water. "Last night." Damon answered. "Is your father going to pull through? I mean, it sounds like he is on the brink of death." Elena knew she was being inconsiderate but she just couldn't shake this feeling that somehow their father might be corrupting Stefan's views on marriage. "I honestly don't know. I try not to talk to Stefan about our "father's" health. He means nothing to me. " Damon replied roughly. "How can you say that?" Elena asked with curiosity. Stefan never gave her the background story for his and Damon's dislike for their only living parent. "Easy. I hate the man. He is a manipulator Elena. He has no heart. I can't stand to be in his presence. He knows this and I can guarantee you that is why he asked my beloved little brother instead of me to help in his hour of need. I swore I would never step inside of his house nor work a day of my life at the office where he spent most of my entire childhood at." Damon wasn't sure where his sudden anger had come from but it had felt good to say the things he felt out loud. "Did he hurt your mother?" Elena spoke softly. "Yes. Yes he did but not in the way your thinking. He never laid a hand on her. Of course he had other ways of hurting her without leaving any proof of the pain he forced on her." Damon snickered and his eyebrows drew together as he recalled how fragile his mother had been in her final days. His father had pushed her so hard that eventually she had nothing else to give and she gave in to her pain. It was his fault their mother had killed herself. He had argued with them both that he loved their mother and would gladly change places with her if he could. It was no consolation prize for him to hear the bullshit spewing from his father's selfish mouth. "I'm so sorry Damon. I shouldn't be so noisy." Elena reach out and laid her hand gently on his arm. Damon looked at the small hand lying on his arm and for a millisecond he wished he could feel it on his face. He suspected it was softer than rose petals. "It's okay. You should know what sort of family you are marrying into." Damon stepped back, causing her hand to slide off of him. "You make it sound so horrible." Elena replied nervously. "Well, we sure as hell aren't the Waltons." Damon laughed rudely. "No family is perfect Damon." "Yeah well, trust me ours is far from even likeable on most days." Damon looked away and he fought back the anger that had begun to seep into his pores when he recalled his mother's last year of her life. "Hopefully that will change. Maybe your dad and Stefan can find a way to patch up things." Elena suggested. "I sure as hell hope not." Damon cried out furiously. "Why?" Elena looked alarmed. "Trust me sweetheart you don't want to encourage Stefan to become closer to dear old dad." Damon warned her. "Why not?" Elena repeated. "Because our father had plans for Stefan's future and trust me you weren't in them." Damon watch as his words sank into her head. Tears began to fill her eyes and he felt like such a jackass for giving her something to worry about. His purpose for being over here today was to give her assurances that Stefan loved her and would prefer to be here if he could. "I'm sorry Elena. That came out wrong. I"m sure if he met you, he would adore you." Damon back peddled but the damage was already done. "It's okay Damon." Elena put her hand up to block him from coming any further. "I mean it. I'm happy Stefan found you." Damon found himself lying not once but twice today. "You are?" Elena looked amused. "Sure. Now he doesn't focus all his attention on trying to make me a better man." Damon teased. "I think you are perfect just the way you are." Elena was surprised by her own admission but found that she meant it when she saw the shock in his eyes. "I will hold you to that." Damon warned her with an endearing smile. "Seriously, let me know if you need any help. I can be Stefan's replacement until he returns." Damon offered. "Wow! Seriously?" Elena gave him a skeptical look. "Seriously." Damon knew he would later come to regret his promise but it was the only thing he could think of to help put a little peace in her already hectic world. "Good. I should get changed. I have to meet Jeremy and Jenna at the Grill for dinner." Elena smiled warmly. "Okay." Damon turned and walk out of the house. Climbing into his car he felt the urge to scream loudly. He wondered how he found himself once again stepping in for his little brother? Stefan had always gotten what he wanted in life. Damon wondered when his lucky break would make its appearance? He was tired of pretending to enjoy living in Stefan's shadow. Just once he would like to be the guy that the girl looked at with love and acceptance. ` XXX "Why can't you make it home for just a weekend? I'm really missing you Stefan and it is starting to feel like you don't want to get married anymore." Elena's voice crackled as her heart ached to see him in person. She was growing tired of the skyping and phone calls. She needed him here, face to face. "Honey, I do want to get married to you. I can't wait to see you walk down that aisle. I love you, that hasn't changed I swear." Stefan replied with a hint of agony. "Then why can't you jump on the family jet and come see me? You said he was getting better. Come on, do it for me." Elena pleaded one final time. "I want too, I really do but this weekend I have to attend an important fundraiser. I am the representative from our company and we are offering a large donation so it's necessary that me or my father be present. He still can't walk and refuses to be seen in a wheelchair. He thinks it's a sign of weakness and fears his competitors will try to take advantage of him." He replied sadly. "Okay." Elena sighed in defeat. "What's so important about this weekend for you?" "Nothing. Just more wedding stuff." "How are we doing? Remember I told you price is not a problem. I will pick up the tab." Stefan hoped he didn't insult her by paying for it all. He knew her family had some money from the life insurance policies her and Jeremy had been benefactors on. Still, he had more than plenty of money to cover everything. He wanted to do this for her. He wanted her to have the perfect wedding and hoped he could make up for the lost time apart. "We are doing good. Invitations should be in this week. I still need your final list of guests. I've paid for flowers and the catering but I haven't picked out the entertainment. I've never had to choose a band before." Elena grumbled. "Damon. Damon would be a perfect choice for that. He actually has good taste in music and knows quite a few people in the industry." Stefan felt awful for volunteering his brother once again to stand in his place but he didn't want her to do all the planning by herself. It wasn't fair to her and Damon was a good choice. He wasn't lying. "Seriously?" Elena giggled. "I mean it. I think he will surprise you." Stefan chuckled knowingly. "Okay. I guess I will give him a call." "Alright. I need to go. Early day tomorrow. I love you." "I love you too." Elena whispered. Sitting her phone down on her bed stand she looked at the empty bed before her and envisioned him lying there, wearing his famous tender smile at her. Tears glisten in her eyes. Sadly, she couldn't recall the last time they had slept together. Pulling the blanket back, she crawled underneath it and stared up at the ceiling. The pain began to subside when she thought about Damon. She didn't tell Stefan that Damon had made a point to drop by once a week at least to see how things were going and offered to help in any way necessary. Caroline thought he was the best boyfriend ever while Elena couldn't shake the feeling that Damon had a motive. He smiled politely, joked, and kept a safe distance between them but there was moments when she would find him staring at her in such away that her skin would burn and her stomach would do somersaults. Then he would blink and suddenly the magical moment that made her feel dizzy and a bit uneasy would disappear as quickly as it came about. Closing her eyes she tried to put Damon out of her mind but later when she did manage to fall asleep she dreamed of Damon holding her in his arms, kissing and loving her the way Stefan use to do. XXX
Rating: Mature
Genre: OC/AH
A/N: Okay this is my first attempt at writing an All Human version of VD. So please be gentle with the reviews. I'm debating on if I should continue this story at all. xoxo August
Song Inspiration: When Your Love Came Into My Life by Scorpions
Title: When Love Changes You...
