The shadow stood on the balcony watching Elena as she slept. He had seen in Elena's mind. He had seen her dream slip from his control, and take on images he wished he hadn't seen. Then, as she had walked to the gardens, with him flying above her, he had seen her come to her decision. He had felt overjoyed at the thought of Elena choosing his world, and making up her mind to tell Stefan. But then he had spoken her out of it. It had taken his will to do so, but he had done it. Now, Damon smiled. He knew that she had finally accepted what was between them, but he had realised that he wanted to see her and his brother together, and happy. Stefan was just starting to get strong, Damon didn't wish to see him crumble. In the form of the crow, he sat on the balcony throughout the night, making sure Elena slept. His thoughts on the dress she had chosen for the wedding.

Stefan arrived some time during the night, and watched Elena sleep, with a small smile on his lips. He had noticed Damon then, and had gone out to speak to him.

"About tomorrow…" Stefan began.

"Relax, little brother, I'll be there." he saw the relief on his brothers face. "But not as the best man." he finished. Stefan looked at him, puzzled. Damon looked through at the sleeping Elena. "Tomorrow, I'm going to be the one who gives her away."

Stefan watched as his brother left, before heading back to his bride to be. She was in for a surprise tomorrow. Damon had chosen to be the one to give him away, the job her father should have had, and would have if he hadn't died years before hand. Then Matt came in and stared at Stefan.

"We have somewhere else to be Stefan. And you know it. It's bad luck to see the bride on the wedding day."

Stefan let Matt lead him to the Salvatore Villa. He looked at the room that had been his the first time he had left Fells church. Matt had taken Damon's. Stefan looked out the window and thought. He was confused as to why Damon had let them borrow the villa for the night, and why Damon had chosen to be the one to give her away. Was it because he had accepted she had chosen Stefan, and not Damon. Stefan lay on his bed and closed his eyes.

The day had arrived at last. Elena tried not to think about last night. She focused on getting ready. She focused on the vows she had made. And she thought about the following night.

She received the warning that it was time. And left the room, Meredith and Bonnie already having taken their places. She looked up to find Damon standing there, dressed in a suit that she had only seen him wear once. He smiled at her, his beautiful smile bringing her back memories. "What are you doing here?" she asked him. "You're supposed to be with Matt and Stefan." He held out his arm, and she just stared, aware that Bonnie and Meredith were watching.

"I'm going to be giving you away." He said, and Elena felt filled with pride. He was doing what her father should have been around to do. She took his arm. "Thank you." she said, as they followed Bonnie and Meredith down the isle. She met Stefan's eyes and smiled. He had known. She could see it in his eyes. Elena was stunned at how polite Damon was when he stepped forward, revealing that he was honoured to hand her over to Stefan. She only wished her Aunt, and Margaret could have been here, but she was dead to them. She wasn't ready to explain everything to them yet.

Elena and Stefan flew through their vows, and the next thing she knew, they were kissing. The kiss was as passionate as their first kiss had been, in his boarding house. The pulled back and looked into each other's eyes, smiling, and Elena turned her head slightly and met Damon's gaze. She had felt it on her all through the ceremony. And she knew that he had been right last night. She had married Stefan now, and it felt so right. She met Matts eyes, and he nodded at her, smiling. It was over. Elena Gilbert was now gone. She stood before everyone as "Elena Salvatore." she hugged Bonnie. She hugged Meredith. And then Caroline was there, and they were hugging also. Elena couldn't remember feeling so happy.

Stefan watched his new wife celebrating with her friends. Something about it reminded him of her return. They had rejoiced that night. Stefan looked at his brother. Damon met his gaze with an amused one and he turned to walk away.

Damon wait! He used his mental voice. His brother half turned, not looking at him. The celebration isn't over yet. That was just the ceremony……

I know how weddings go little brother. Came his brother's curt reply.

You don't have to leave just yet. Stefan looked at Elena. She wouldn't want you to leave just yet.

Very well, I will stay…for her. Stefan gritted his teeth. He wasn't stupid. He knew there was still an attraction between Elena and his brother. He had felt jealousy burning in his jaw as he watched her walk arm in arm with Elena up the isle. Was that why Damon chose to give her away? But Stefan shook his head. That had been Damon's way of letting Stefan know she was his.

"We would like you stay in our lives Damon." He said aloud. He hoped his brother would know what he meant.

"Oh would we now?" He asked, raising his eyebrows, looking at Elena. The two brothers stood side by side as Elena and her human friends danced their way over to them. Stefan felt Elena's happiness wash over him. He couldn't help but smile. She stood before him, in her beautiful renaissance dress, that reminded him of the dress she had worn that Halloween in Fells Church. It also reminded him of when he had been human.

Elena was looking at the ground, at his feet.

"Elena?" he asked concerned. Then she slowly looked up at his face, and a shy smile came over her face.

"It's photo time." she said. Stefan went cold. He had forgotten about the photo's. He looked at Elena. He had never been in a photo. He had chosen not to, for he had never known whether or not he would turn up. "Don't worry." She told him "You will show up. I'll explain later. Now come on." She grabbed his hand and pulled. He glanced at his brother. Elena looked at Damon also. "You too big brother! You're part of this whether you like it or not!" Stefan saw Damon's lips twitch. He was trying not to smile. Elena's happiness was catchy.

Come on Big Brother. He told his brother quietly. They had both noticed Elena calling him that. Elena grabbed Damon's hand, and he stared at it. But he let himself be pulled. They found themselves in front of a bed of roses. In the back was a bridge over the stream. The waterfall beyond that was impressive.

"Wait!" Elena grabbed Caroline, who was just following them. A started Caroline laughed as she was pulled into the photo. Stefan stood next to Elena, her arm in his. The only flower she had, instead of a bouquet was a single white rose. Bonnie and Meredith and Caroline stood at Elena's side. Matt stood next to him, and he felt Damon's quiet presence on the other side of Matt. Stefan looked at the lens as the photographer took their photos. Then they moved on. Stefan led the group to the other side of the gardens. They walked, one very happy group, to the building in which the rest of the guests were waiting.

The front door was opened. They found their way into the building, and were met by applause. Elena had made many new friends in Italy. He noticed some of his own guests there. People he worked with, business colleagues. They found their way to the bridal table, set up with red, white and yellow roses. Bonnie and Meredith placed their bouquets onto the side table, along with Elena's white rose. Stefan didn't sit as the other's did. He was expected to make a speech. So he waited for the room to quieten down. Before long, all eyes were on him, waiting. He raised his wine glass.

"I'm not one for speeches," He began, causing laughter to fill the room. "But I wish happiness on each and every one of you in this room. I have found mine, and it's been a battle, or two, but here we all are, after blood sweat and tears." more laughter. "My American friends here may have a few things to say." He sat down, wishing he had thought of something better to say. He felt Matt stand and smiled into Elena's eyes. He was so happy, he felt he could burst.

Elena didn't hear Matt's speech. But when Caroline stood, Elena glanced at her with an eyebrow raised.

"Not everyone from Fells church could make it to this wedding, but I'm sure that they would want Elena to be happy. I grew up with Elena, and we have shared a lot over the years." Elena glanced at Bonnie and Meredith, amused. "But Elena's last year in Fells Church was a strained one. The arrival of a stranger to our school may have caused rivalry between the two of us, but this ice princess always gets what she wants, and I wouldn't wish it any other way." Caroline turned her smile on Elena. "I wish you many years of happiness Elena. You deserve it." And she raised her wine glass in a toast, everyone else following suit. Elena was dazed. It was quite a speech for Caroline to make.

When Damon stood, Elena was in shock. None of them had expected him to make a speech. They had all assumed he would flatly refuse.

"Well I can see this was unexpected." He began, sounding amused. "But I found it appropriate to speak here. The fair Elena was quite the girl when I met her. My brother here was the luckier of the two of us." Elena smiled at that. "At first that was hard to accept, but it's obvious she chose the right brother. Either way, she is a Salvatore now, and quite the woman. We Salvatore's take good care of family. So I'm going to make sure these two are happy. I currently own the Salvatore Estate, and hand over the deed to the property. I wish your new home sees many years of happiness. My brother, and my new sister, I raise my wine glass to you both. You fought to have each other, and as Caroline said earlier, you both deserve it." As he sat down Elena felt Stefan's hand tighten. She glanced at him. He nodded. "I accept the gift." He replied to his brother. "Come now! The caterers wish to fill our tables with food whilst we are in the ballroom. Elena, lets dance."

Elena and the others went to the ballroom. Elena's breath caught in her throat. It was the same ballroom from her dream. Her eyes went to Damon, to see his expression. She met his gaze briefly. His amused expression was back. But then she was dancing with Stefan. They had practised these steps, her and Stefan. But she had danced with Damon in this very ballroom.

Elena enjoyed being this close to Stefan. The guests were starting to dance also. Matt asked Bonnie to dance, causing Stefan to grin. Alaric and Meredith were dancing. The orchestra were playing a slow tune. Then Elena watched, as Damon, always the gentle man asked Caroline to a dance. Her and Stefan exchanged a glance. Elena was impressed at how civilised Damon had been to everyone all day. He had been the one to give her away. He had made a speech, and now he was dancing with Caroline. The auburn haired girl knew what Damon was, and she danced with him fearfully at first. But Elena felt his Powers sweep around the two, and soon Caroline was relaxing. Then the music stopped. Everyone separated. This was where they were supposed to swap partners. Elena glanced at Matt, but before she could move towards him, Damon was there. His dark eyes full of amusement as they looked down at her. She looked up to see Stefan moving towards Caroline. Matt took up dancing with Meredith, and Alaric and Bonnie danced.

"Do you like dancing." Damon said the words from the dream. She looked at him firmly.

"Did you have something to do with this?" she asked him

"Oh, you recognised it then? Well I do own the gardens, so I guess I could have used it in that dream of yours. But we seem to be exactly as we were in the dream. So if you care to dance…." He didn't finish the sentence only holding out his hand. Elena took it and his entire presence surrounded her. They danced as they had in her dream. "No biting." Elena had told him, causing his amusement to grow. Damon danced with her through the very same music they had danced together in her dream. She thought about last nights dream. She thought about how scared she was that something would happen to him today. He seemed to read her thoughts.

"It seems that last nights dream was untrue." he told her. "And here you were worrying your pretty little head off about nothing." Elena agreed with him. Then she grew serious.

"You're planning on disappearing again aren't you Damon? After tonight, will any of us see you again?"

"Well, that depends."

"On?"

"On whether you agree with Stefan's earlier statement." Her and Damon were now standing still, just looking into each other's eyes. She waited for him to finish.

"Stefan has told me that you both wish for me to stay in your lives. Is this what you want Elena? Are you asking me to stay?"

"Yes." she whispered. Damon flashed his beautiful smile at her.

"I told you that we have different worlds though. You can't expect me to live in your world Elena." Elena grew frustrated slightly.

"We've had this discussion already….." she started. But Damon silenced her.

"Yes we have. I know what your plans for tonight are Elena. I have a proposition for you."

"A proposition?" suddenly she felt a strange sense of de-ja vu.

"Yes. When you have awoken a vampire again. I wish to take you hunting. You and Stefan have forever together. I'm not going to be around for the entire time. I would like to have you hunt at my side, even just once."

Elena thought about this. "I accept." she told him.