Chapter 15 – The Plan comes together
Caroline freaks, "What I am not ready, I didn't.. there isn't a… we didn't… she and I haven't…" Caroline took a deep breath and lowered her arms in an arch to her chest. In classic Caroline fashion, the orders started rolling out of her mouth, "Bonnie is going to marry you two, I will make sure she has the ceremony ready. I will be matron of honor, Damon can grow a few flowers for the bouquets. I'm going to stand up for her. Stefan is the best man, you can wear your tux, oh wait, it burnt. You can wear your navy suit, you look so handsome in that one. Jeremy and Ric will walk with her. I will go see what they have. I know Ric has a navy suit. Jeremy, will he is another subject, I'll figure that out. Matt, Enzo and the girls will have the rings, they will be standing behind her, surrounding her with love. She is going to love it. It is going to be perfect." Caroline picked through some of the dresses, she finally found the one, she held it up. Caroline stated, "I will wear this dress!" Damon agrees, "Perfect choice." Caroline looked at Stefan who spoke after Damon, "That is the one."
Damon sat on the edge of Stefan's desk and watched his sister in law, it was so entertaining to watch her go from freak out to completely in control of every detail as fast as turning on a light switch. He glanced at Stefan, who was giving him an evil eye, he shrugged his shoulders back at his brother. Damon would have to admit he did this to Caroline on purpose. He made his dramatic announcement knowing that, Caroline would have a momentary coronary, then pull it all together and have a plan for all the specifics just the way Elena would want them. Who better to know the exact details what Elena would want than her very best friends. Damon smirked, after all, he had the big plans done. Stefan walked over to Damon and hit his shoulder, "That was a good move. Not very nice, but a good move, she is going to be busy for the rest of the day." Damon nods his head and walks out of the room.
Damon back on the move, heads to his and Elena's bedroom. "I missed the show." walking in on Elena pulling her shirt over her head, "Feeling better?" Elena answers, "Yes, on both accounts." Rolling her eyes at him. "I did rest for a few minutes, being pregnant does take a bit out of me." Damon's chest got a little bigger, Elena rolled her eyes again. Damon held out his hand, "What about a drive? Feel up for that? It is a gorgeous day, you and I should all the couple'y time we can before we are a 'Three-some'. We do have a lot to talk about." Elena tries not to let her suspicion show, "That sounds perfect, I've been cooped up in the house too long anyhow. It's never to early to do some baby furniture shopping." Damon not thrilled, but agrees "That is a plan, I do have to drop some drawings off at the plantation. If you don't mind one errand on the way. If you are interested, we can take a dip in the temple pond or not. You can let me know how you & the baby feel once we get there." Elena thinks 'he is trying to get me to the temple. Geezz, another ritual.' She does roll her eyes. Damon catches her eye action, he smiles, 'gotcha, you have no idea'.
As there are driving through Mystic Falls, he pulls into the parking lot of the New Café "Do you mind grabbing us a couple of Iced Tea's for the road?" He hands her his wallet as she gets out of the Camero. He gets his phone and dials Stefan "She has no idea, she thinks we are heading to the temple for some protection ritual or something Damon unnecessary. She actually rolled her eyes. How long do you need? Ok, we will be there in 30 minutes. She's coming gotta go." Elena is walking out of the Café, Damon gets out of the car, walks over to open her car door, takes one of the glasses in hand, and kisses her on the mouth. Elena leaning into him, "What was that for? Damon smiles, "You are the mother of my child, I think that gives me certain abilities, one should be to kiss you whenever the mood strikes. Watching you walk with the sunlight shining through your hair, was magnificent. My lips were moved to touch yours." Elena reached up and kissed him back, "I agree". She settled in the car, thinking to herself 'he is so adorable when he is up to something, it is worth it, whatever ritual he needs to do to feel like we are safe.' She put her hand on her stomach 'little one, Daddy doesn't understand that you and I can do amazing things together to protect each other. That part of you is him, that part stays with me all the time, constantly protecting us, and I will never let anything happen to us, either of us.' Damon sees Elena, he puts his hand on top of hers, "How's my child doing?" Elena corrects him, "Our child is happy, comfy and safe. We were just having a chat." Damon wonders, "A chat, what was our child saying to Mom?" Elena explains, "Just how much love he or she feels from both Mom and Dad." Damon agrees, "Yes, Our child, you are very loved, by Mom and Dad."
Damon pulled on to a newly paved driveway. Elena questions, "Where are we?" Damon answers, "This is the driveway to the plantation cottage. I just need to drop the drawing off. Did you decide if you wanted to take a dip in the pond?" Elena frustrated, "Ok Damon, you can give it up. I know you brought me, I mean us up here for a ritual, protection or health ritual of something for me and the baby. So the gig is up. The baby and I have decided that we love you, regardless of how much you underestimate our combined power to protect each other. So let's go, get this ritual over with, that way you'll be happy and we can go home."
Damon smiles "You think you have it all figured out. Don't you! Well, while you are figuring everything out, I'm going into the cottage to drop these drawings off of the backyard so the landscape architect can get working on them tomorrow. Would you like to come inside and take a look at the cottage? It will some furniture, Stef and I figure you and Caroline will take care of that."
Elena is very confused, she follows Damon up the cobblestone path surrounded by amazing greenery and gardens, at the end a two-story home with a wide porch, In the middle was bright blue double doors with stain glass oval designs, Damon takes Elena's arm, "welcome to the temple cottage or family playhouse. Stef and I took bits of Caroline's family home and the Gilbert family home added a dash of the Salvatore plantation."
As they walk in the front door, Damon "We decided the entire downstairs should one big family room, the original idea is so we could keep an eye on the twins, but now" Damon put his hand on Elena's stomach "we have another consideration to keep an eye on. The bedrooms are upstairs, they are on the smaller side, just enough room for a bed, closets are also compact, just enough for weekend getaways. Most of the efforts were put into the downstairs, the kitchen and porch. What do you think?" Elena looks everywhere, "I love it, it is absolutely perfect" Damon stops, "The porch swing isn't up yet, that is one of the drawings, it is a custom build, I made a few design changes with our additional family member on the way." Walking into the kitchen "Most of the appliances are here, we just waiting on delivery for a few speciality ones." Elena walks around the island, looks out the big open sliding glass doors that lead to the back yard. Elena comments, "Woww, you and Stefan have really been working on this." Damon with a little pride, "Well, yes, you and Caroline had a point, Stef and I are going to be spending more time here. Our families should be comfortable, so we are making that happen. Hey, want to see the secret pathway to the temple?" Elena interested, "Yes, secret?" Damon cautiously, "Yep, that way, if anything ever happens, everyone can get to the temple safely. I carved the cave out myself, we have to enter through the basement, I will take you down, but I'm going to let you find your way out on your own, I'm curious to see if I made the path Salvatore friendly and evil confusing. I want to make sure that if anyone else found the tunnels, they would get lost and end up at the end of the driveway or the quarry. Is that ok?" Elena is a little confused, but this isn't unusual behavior for Damon, safety first, especially hers and now the baby's. Elena "Ok, What if I get lost?" Damon confidently, "You will not get lost, I'm positive. Don't worry, I'll be right there with you, you just will not see me. You know magic." Damon leads Elena down to the basement, down the stairs, the room is four walls with no door. Elena looks at Damon "a magic door right? Salvatore, Gilbert, Forbes bloodlines only I assume." Damon loves how smart she was, and how well she knew him. She walks around the room, she saw it, the Salvatore Crest on the wall, she walks directly to that wall.
She touched the wall, and her hand disappeared, she continued walking through the wall until she was completely on the other of the basement and in the tunnel. The tunnel was brightly lit with candles and a path of rose petals leading down the corridor, she turned around and Damon wasn't there.
She walked down the petal covered path a few yards, there was a table, with a note card standing up, a filled Champaign flute and a velvet covered box. She picked up the card and started to read it, 'You are the love of my life' This isn't Champaign, it is refreshing for you and our baby. Please wear what's in the box, it is only a token of what you mean to me.' She took a sip of the flute, it was amazing and refreshing, she put the flute down and picked up the velvet box. It wasn't small, it wasn't heavy, it wasn't light, she knew it was jewelry, she slowly opened the lid. Her breath got caught in her throat, it was gorgeous, a platinum setting with 3 circles of diamonds and sapphires intertwined, she understood immediately, their love, vampire, human, and witch, they always found their way to each other. She took it out of the box and put it on. She put her hand over it, and wished for a mirror.
She picked up the flute and continued on her adventure, she could hear faint music ahead, Elena thought she must be getting to the end of the tunnel. 20 yards in front of her stood another table, to be specific a vanity with chair, and hanging was a beautiful long white dress with a lace detail. She looked at how beautiful it was, it reminded her of a more elaborate version of the dress she wore graduation night when she told Damon that she loved him for the first time. She corrected herself, this dress was nothing like it, so beautiful, so elegant, still just a hint of remembrance. She could help but smile, Damon was such a romantic at heart and a sentimental fool, of course, she could never tell him that, he would bark and deny it, he was much too much a reformed serial killer to be a romantic. Elena put her hand on her stomach "I know that you will be a romantic at heart too, just so you know, you get from dear ole dad. Cause Mom burned her family house down the first chance she got." Elena couldn't help but laugh.
She looked at the vanity table and saw another notecard "You have been right, I'm up to something. I hope that you are interested in playing along. This dress is for you to wear, this table has everything you might want to use to complete the look you want for this dress. There is another box in the drawer, I hope that you are pleased with my choices so far. I love you. Damon." She opens the drawer, there is another smaller velvet box, she pulls it out and opens it, she finds a note inside the box that says 'Gilbert family heirloom'. The box contains the most beautiful pair of antique sapphire drop earrings she had ever seen, she looked at them, she didn't remember them from anything in her father's family photos, or photos from the Mystic Fall Founders Archives. Elena put them on, she loved how they looked, how they made her feel.
She opened the rest of the drawers, she found her makeup, hairbrushes, hair clips, perfume, her botanical oil and undergarments that she was sure Damon personally picked out. She had to admit, she was having fun, she started to undress when a wave of nausea hit her, she sat down, her hand went over her stomach, "Hey little one, are you hungry?" She picked up the flute and finished every drop.
Caroline suddenly appeared "Hey there, Damon sent me to check on you, he sensed something was wrong and since I have vamp speed. Are you ok?" Elena relieved, "Yes, we just got a little dizzy, I think little one is a bit hungry." Caroline remembering those days, "I'll get you some food, stay here I'll be back in a second." Elena curious, "Hey Care, do you know what Damon is up to?" Caroline puts her fingers to her mouth and mimics a key turning a lock shut. Elena suspected as much, "Are you in on it too? Or just back up because I got dizzy?" Caroline "I'm not going to answer. Just go with it, Elena. Enjoy it. I'll be right back" Caroline whooshed out and 2 minutes later she whooshed back in. Elena surprised, "Even for vamp speed that was fast" as she is eating what Caroline brought. Caroline ignoring Elena's timing question, "Do you want some help getting dressed?" Elena knowing her friend isn't going to give up any information, "I think so, what do you think I should do with my hair?"
With her hands in Elena's hair, Caroline's finger designing the brown strands in place, "How about a partial up'do? Let me work on it while you eat" Caroline uses a bit of vamp'ing to help Elena along, she knows that Damon is getting very antsy waiting for Elena to get through the tunnel. Elena is done eating, just as Caroline puts the last hairpin in. Caroline likes the finished look, "What do you think?" Elena looks in the mirror "I love it!" Caroline hurries her friend up, "Let's get you in the dress. This beautiful, I wonder where he got this from, I'm sure not from any of the Mystic Falls shops." Elena agreed as she stepped into it, turning so Caroline could zip the dress up. Elena wants to get a bit of information out of Care, "He thought of everything, right down to these amazing shoes. He is planning a celebration for the baby? Some sort of magical pregnancy ritual witch thing? Right?" she stares at Caroline looks for any sign of acknowledgement. Caroline looked at Elena "You look amazing, Damon is going to burst." Not getting what she wanted in any way, Elena turns to look in the mirror, turned for a side view, she wasn't sad, or even upset, she did see that her had a slight baby bump showing, she laughed. Caroline agreed, "He will notice and love it" she knew what Elena was thinking. Elena flattened her hands down the dress. Caroline concerned about her friend, "How are you feeling? Better?" Elena relaxed, "Much better, you better tell Damon that I'm ok, he is getting ready to start some spell that is going to cocoon me and the baby somehow." Caroline amused, "You have a point. Keep following the roses, you are almost there." Elena appreciates her friend, "Thanks, Care. Thanks for making sure I don't ruin this for myself too." Caroline winks at her and whooshes away.
Elena looks one more time in the mirror, and then takes one more bite. She is really looking forward to the romantic dinner that Damon is planning at the temple. He is celebrating the baby. Elena says out loud as she puts her hand on her stomach "Your father had a rough start, I guarantee he is going to be the best Dad. If you are a girl, I will truly believe that the universe really does have a voice in our lives." Elena laughs out loud as she follows the rose petal path, she thinks of a young version of her, another doppelganger bouncing on Damon's knee, her laughter echoes throughout the tunnel.
She see the light flickering in front of her, as she gets closer, she realizes it is the temple. Her eyes start to adjust to the additional light. There is Damon standing just beyond the entrance, he is wearing a tux, and so handsome. He looks straight into her eyes as he walks to her, she puts her arms out to hug him as he gets closer, he stops, he drops to one knee. Her hands retreat back to her chest with a deep breath "Damon!" Damon boosting, "I told you, you wouldn't have to guess. Elena Gilbert. I waited 173 years for you to come into my life, to change my life, to make me whole, to give me a soul, to give me a life. Now I ask that you give me the honor of being my life, my soul, my partner, my wife for the rest of my days on this earth and whatever existence is next. Will you please marry me?" Damon opens a small ring box with a large princess cut diamond surrounded by sapphires and diamonds. Elena goes pale "Yes, I will, But, Damon, catch me" as she falls into his arms.
Damon "Elena. Elena... Stefan get some water, she is passed out." Damon has Elena in his arms, smiling, almost peacocking. Elena slowly opens her eyes "Damon, we are getting married tonight, aren't we?" Damon nods, "Yes, Baby, we are!" Damon smirks, "I was wondering how long it was going to take you to figure it out. Slowly, Elena, we have all the time in the world. You already said Yes before you passed out. I have witnesses." Elena looked up, Caroline, Stefan, Jeremy, Ric and Bonnie were all there with worried looks on their faces. Elena feeling better, "Can I stand up now?" Damon released her legs, still firmly holding on to her waist. She looked around, the temple was decorated with candles, vines, flowers and floating candles in the pond. The fire pits were blazing.
Stefan brought Elena some water that was fizzing, she knew he has 'added' his touch to it. She drank it down slowly at first, when she immediately felt better, she gulped the rest of it down. Elena handed the glass back "Thank you Stefan, may I have a little more." Stefan relieved, "Coming right up" Elena looks up at her brother, "Jeremy, when did you get in?" Jeremy resting his hand on her shoulder, "I wasn't going to miss my sister getting married, even if it is to this dick." Slapping Damon on his back like a brother would. Stefan hands the glass back to Elena, she nurses this glass slowly as she stands next to Damon.
Damon gets everyone's attention, "Excuse me, everyone, now that Elena is conscious, there is a bit of formality to dispense with." He brings the box from his pocket, pulls out the ring, and puts it on her left ring finger. "Now that makes it official, you, Ms. Gilbert are officially engaged. Shall we get this engagement party started?"
Ric hits the remote and the music starts playing, Matt pours a drink to make the first toast about loving Elena first and keep an eye on Damon to treat her right, she blushes then hugs him, Damon shakes his hand and tells him that he will always cherish her. Ric toasts to family, then congratulates the Dick for getting the girl. Jeremy makes sure Damon knows that Hunters can still kill ex-vampires as easy as vampires. Caroline let's Damon know that even thought she is his family, Elena was first and she can still beat him up.
Bonnie takes a moment "I guess I should say something about two of my best friends getting married. Right now, it doesn't feel like something that is weird or different. If you would have asked me 8 years old ago my answer would have been different. But today, you two belong together, the journey that you went through, I see now, you have always belonged together, no matter what I or anyone else saw or thought back then. I want to say, I'm sorry for not seeing it earlier. Elena, do you remember the day before the big bonfire, before the car crash, you and I went to the Grill lunch, you were teasing me about my psychic abilities. Do you remember?" Elena looked at Bonnie, she nodded yes. Bonnie asked "When I held your hand, what did I tell you I saw in your future?" Elena looked at Bonnie then she looked at Damon, she started re-telling all the words that Bonnie had said all those years ago, "You told me you saw, me smiling walking in the fog, with a crow flying over me, surrounded by blood." Everyone was quiet. Bonnie realized that she had predicted their relationship, "I never understood that vision, I forgot about it until last night, I dreamt it again. Damon was always intended to watch over you, to be your protector, he is the crow, his fog covered you, his blood kept you alive. Everything that was coming for you, Damon had coming into your life to protect you from it. No one knew, not even Damon." Damon's eyes were bright, he had never heard this, he wasn't sure he could believe this. Bonnie walks to Damon and takes his hand, "Yes, my friend, you have always been hers. Neither one of you knew it. The fates decided your destiny long ago. We just got in the way. I am sorry."
Elena reminiscing about Bonnie's conversation so long ago, looking around, when the look on Damon's face caught her attention, "Damon, what are you thinking?" Damon looked around at all his family, "Honestly, I was thinking about my mission for coming back to Mystic Falls. It wasn't about being your protector, it wasn't about you at all. It was about the comet and getting Katherine out of the tomb." Stefan interrupted, "Damon, Katherine was never in the tomb. The fates knew that. You spent 150 years focused on Katherine, someone who looked just like Elena, or maybe the fates were keeping your focused on Elena, the doppelganger that was worth saving, the one that would be the true savior of us. Katherine was the fill-in until Elena was ready for you. Katherine was never worthy of you or your protection. She was never worth of either of us, and the fates knew that, they just had to keep us occupied until Caroline and Elena came around. Hey, it is my turn to toast the engaged couple." Stefan moves to the middle of the group.
Stefan takes a drink of bourbon, "I have to admit I have been waiting a long time for this moment. For over 150 years I never thought I would get the opportunity. Because of one woman, I get to stand before you and tell you a story. And the story starts like this, my brother was my best friend, then my sworn enemy, my rescuer, and now we are brothers bonded in magic for entity. I thought Elena was the love of my life before she taught me what love was by loving my brother, she became my sister without ever telling me I needed one, because of her, I found the love of my life, my wife, because of her I got my brother back, because of her I got my life back, my soul. I toast my brother for doing all the wrong things for the right reasons until he met the person who showed him doing the right things for the right reasons is even better." Everyone clinks their glasses together, toasting Elena and Damon.
Damon overwhelmed by his brother's words, "Brother, I wish I could take issue with any of your words. But I can't. I knew nothing of what being in love was or what is was to be loved. Elena Gilbert changed that for me. She fought to keep my eyes clear. Even when I thought all was lost, she was in the background, fighting for my soul, for our love, never letting it go. She continues to prove how much stronger we are together, I ever was alone, even with vampire strength. Because of that strength, we have an amazing future, and I how powerful the magic of love is. To my bride, before her I was nothing, with her, I have everything." Everyone Toasts again.
Elena pulls on Damon's jacket lapels to whisper in his ear "I'm ready. I want to be married to you now." Damon looks down into Elena's big brown eyes, the look on this face is pure joy. Damon raises his hands "Ok, everyone Engagement Party is over, my fiancé is tired of her title, she wants to change it to… Spouse." Silence comes over the group. Damon demands "Caroline, you're up!" Caroline jumps, "OH! Places everyone! They are getting married NOW!" Elena smiles. Caroline turns to her, "Ok, let's get the bride ready, you to follow us!" takes Elena by the hand. Ric and Jeremy follow them. Elena isn't really sure what the plan is. Elena not sure what is going on, "Care, What's the plan, where are we going? Are we going to the courthouse?" Caroline confidently leads the way, "Nope, Damon and I have everything figuring out. Ric and Jeremy are giving you away, the twins are your flower girls, I'm the maid of honor, Stefan is best man, and Bonnie is marrying you guys, she is a Wiccan priestess for the witchy part and she is legal from online ordained. Now let's get down to wedding business, your necklace is blue & new, your earrings are old – Stefan found them in a safe in the plantation, they must have been part of a founders party and never returned until now. Now for the borrowed, Bonnie bought this for my wedding to Stefan, so I think you should borrow it for yours." Caroline pulls out her tiara and places it on top of Elena's hair, then puts the veil.
Stefan comes over with two bowls from the altar "Elena, we are hoping to give you a wish, we are going to need some doppelganger blood, and do you mind?" Elena holds out her wrist, Stefan takes a knife and cuts the skins, a stream of blood collects in the empty bowl after a few seconds, and Stefan takes Elena's wrist and dips it into the other bowl full of water. Instantly the cut disappears, heals completely. Elena understands what just happened, she takes some of the water in her hand and brings it to her mouth to drink. "Just a little for the baby, Uncle Stefan's magic makes him or her very happy." Stefan winks and takes the bowls to the large altar in front. Elena leans around Ric, she sees Bonnie cut herself, as does Stefan. Elena thinks two doppelgangers and Bennett Blood, they are performing a very powerful spell.
The music starts. Stefan, Bonnie, and Damon are standing side by side holding hands, all the elements are active, and Elena notices that their hands are covered with blood. The trio starts chanting, and raising their hands above their heads, the blood is caught in the swirling wind above their heads. Soon the wind swirl and opening, rays of sunlight pier through. 3 translucent images appear, Damon and Stefan let go of Bonnie and take their places. Elena stares at the images, not really seeing them clearly. The twins start walking down the aisle, and then they run toward Stefan. Caroline walks down next, Stefan watches her with all the love and cherishing that two people can have for one another. Elena sees Stefan's eyes, she knows he is happy. Her arms are intertwined with Ric and Jeremy, they start their stroll.
The outlines become more recognizable, it is her mom, dad and Jenna. She sees them, and they are looking at her, smiling at her. Elena cries, "Mom, Dad, Jenna are you really here!" Miranda answers, "Yes, our spirits are, we can see you, hear you, talk to you. We love you so much. We are so proud of you. We have seen you and watched you. Seen everything. We are so proud of you." Grayson talks to Damon, "Son, I'm sorry, I didn't know. Please accept my apology. I have seen you protect my daughter at all costs. I know you love her. I trust you will love her forever. My grandchildren are blessed to have you as a father. You know how to teach them not just to do good but what evil is and what it isn't. I'm so sorry." Damon listened as a tear ran down his cheek. "Elena we don't have much time, if we want them to be with us." Miranda nods, "Yes, I want to be here for this, please go." Elena continued toward the altar.
Thousands of thoughts were rushing through Damon's mind not all of them were good, he knew himself well enough now, he knew the self-destructive parts, how they worked, Elena taught him how to stop them. All of this was so good, so much better than good. He felt Stefan's hand on his shoulder, Damon turned his head to look at Stefan, Stefan leaned over and whispered in his ear "She deserves your love, you are the only person who can love her with the love she deserves. You know that. Only YOU, Brother. Only you!" Damon nodded his head and turned all his attention back to Elena, he had never seen her look so beautiful.
She moved her boutique of flowers, he couldn't catch his breath, his focus was on that gentle bump that barely disturbed the flow of the fabric of her dress, he heart couldn't stand how amazingly beautiful she is to him. His control was at its limit. He wanted nothing more than to run to her, take her in his arms, to feel her face. He blinked, he felt the softness of her fingers gently wipe away the tear that had escaped his eye. Elena leaned over to him and whispered, "You are perfect too." Ric grabs Damon's shoulder and whispers, "Hey, Dick, you got the girl forever now." Damon looks at him and nods. Jeremy takes his sisters hand and puts it in Damon's hand "She will always take care of us, whether we want it or not." Elena reaches up and kisses his cheek "Don't you forget it, there is nothing stronger than the bond of family". Elena hands Caroline her flower boutique, Damon takes both of her hands and wraps them behind her back, pulling her body close to his, he leans in to whisper, "TORTURE" Elena laughs out loud, and Caroline giggles. Damon releases Elena, they take a few steps toward Bonnie.
Bonnie begins the ceremony, "Today we come together on this sacred site of nature's truth, where the real source of magic comes from the earth and love. Despite many obstacles, many evils, and Damon (laughter from everyone) my two best friends stand here before all the people who they love and who love them to receive the magical blessing from the ancient bloodlines and legally bind themselves in matrimony. As the high Priestess of the Blood Magic line, I call upon the Bennett Bloodline to bless this union of Damon Salvatore, our brother earth/wind warlock and our magical blood sister Elena Gilbert" The candles flare and the feathers float. Elena leans over the Damon and whispers "they approve." Bonnie winks, she continues "I call upon the ancient bloodline of Nature's magic the brother twice, the balance of all, the corners of elements." Bonnie takes both Stefan and Damon's hands, Demetrius appears with hundreds of spirits around him, "We bless this union with the power of love and all the ancients hereby relinquish all powers to these brothers and their bloodlines from this day forth, may the Salvatore bloodline protect and honor natures magic with love and balance for the rest of time." Bonnie feel the power channel between Damon and Stefan, she didn't know exactly what just happened, but she knew they had received a gift. Damon and Stefan looked at each other and let Bonnie's hand go.
Damon stood by Elena, he took her hand in his, and waited for Bonnie to speak. Bonnie "Now that Damon and Elena's union has been magically blessed by both bloodlines. It is time for Damon and Elena to publically make their vows to each other to make it legal in the state of Virginia. Damon, you are up" Damon starts, "I've had time to think about this, three weeks two days and about 19 hours, I see you standing in front of me, and there are no words to describe how beautiful you are, you literally take my breath away, and when you to walked towards me, I had to pinch myself, and blink, I had to make sure I wasn't dreaming, I opened my eyes, and you were still walking towards me. Then, Jeremy put your hand in mine, I don't know how, I don't know when, my dreams because reality. But as of this moment, I promise to you, I no more questions, no more why, when, where, or how I got the girl. I promise to keep loving, earning, cherishing, protecting and deserving you. I promise to fight for us and never ever stop, whether I'm breathing or not. I vow to love you until the end of time."
Bonnie was deeply impressed, she never heard Damon so heartfelt and emotional, "Wow, that was good. Ok girl, Elena, your turn."
Elena tearing, "Once upon a time the word forever, scared me to death. You change that for me, forever became another word for hope and love. I stand before you, and I pledge to you the rest of my forever, without fear, without anguish or concern. My heart, my soul, my life is yours, Damon, forever, until the end of time." Damon grabs Elena, bends her backwards, and kisses her passionately.
Bonnie laughs, "WE aren't at that part yet Damon." Laughter erupts. Damon's lips are still completely attached to Elena's as he says, "I am". Elena pushes gently on Damon's chest, "You can wait a few more minutes." Damon stands up, "Get on with it Bon," Bonnie motions to the twins, "Honey Bears, can you bring Uncle D and Auntie E rings to me?" The twins jump up, Lizzie answers, "coming Auntie BeeBee" running to Bonnie, they stop and wait for their Auntie BeeBee kiss before standing by Mom. Bonnie takes the rings two platinum bands with diamond insets in the middle. Bonnie continues, "These rings have been consecrated in the presence of the ancient ones, they have been blessed by both bloodlines, they are filled by diamonds that have memories of the pure love shared by Grayson and Miranda Gilbert." She hands them to Damon and Elena. Elena puts the ring on Damon's finger "With this ring I thee wed, forever." Damon puts the ring on Elena's finger "With this ring I thee wed, forever". Bonnie "Now with the power granted to me by the state of Virginia, I legally pronounce you spouses. Damon you may NOW, kiss your wife." Damon exasperated, "Finally" he takes Elena into his arms, leans her over and plants the most passionate kiss he has ever come up with, after a few moments have gone by, he rights her. Drops to his knees, and puts his hands on her stomach and kisses her little baby bump, "Now my child, you are safe."
Damon stands up and takes Elena in his arms, and carries her down the aisle. Elena grins, "Damon, put me down, just a second" .. She walks over to her parents outlines "Mom Dad, thank you, thank you for everything you done for me. "I have so many questions, about Isabelle and John, but right now, they just don't seem so important. I am almost a mother and realize that you made decisions for the benefit of me, thinking of only what was best for me. So thank you. Some day, when we're back together, you can answer all those questions, but for now, I'll know that you are watching over us, you are happy and you'll know that I love you." With that statement, Miranda, Grayson and Jenna disappeared, Jeremy hugged his sister, "You are amazing, I'm so lucky to have you as a sister."
Stefan hands Damon a glass of bourbon, "For finally getting it right, Brother." Ric, Jeremy, Enzo and Matt's glasses are already in the air waiting for Damon to join. The sounds of glass clinking followed by gulping sounds and laughter, makes Elena turn her head, Caroline argues, "I'm telling you, there are two heartbeats" Elena disagrees, "Caroline, the Dr already did the ultrasound, there is only one baby and one heart," Caroline distracted, "Girls, be careful, you don't want to get your dresses dirty." Elena turned to look at Caroline "Care, seriously, there is dirt everywhere, exactly how are you going to keep them clean, Uncle D isn't going to help at all, he's got them trying to catch dirt balls with wind swirls. Ever since you told him that you trust him with the girls, he's been letting them siphon him every chance he gets. I caught his laying in the front yard the other day, the girls were holding on to his knees, doing sparkler spells that Bonnie taught them. He loved every minute of it. He said that Stefan did a cloaking spell so no one could see them." Damon stretches out his hand "Wife, Can I have this dance?" Elena puts her hand in his, "It is tradition." Stefan follows "My brother is only getting married once, I better take advantage, Wife, Can I have this dance?" Caroline repeats, "It is tradition." Bonnie and Enzo follow suit, the twins take Ric, Jeremy and Matt as their personal dance party.
Damon holding Elena tightly, "I can't figure out what I want more right now, to stay at this party or to get the honeymoon started." Elena answers for him, "Honeymoon, Oh my god, my fictional honeymoon, pregnant with my fictional baby. How did this happen?" she laughed, Damon couldn't help it, he had to smile on that one too. Damon "Boy, did we not play that game right. Actually, I did talk to the doctor, and she said we could travel. Tomorrow we are leaving for a surprise destination. That still doesn't help me on right now, this moment, this dress, your body and the things I want to do to it. Tough problem." Enzo glides Bonnie closer, "Mate, you have changed, a vamp speed to the nearest dark corner would have been in order." Damon covers Elena's ear with his hands "Excuse me, not in front of my wife." Bonnie and Elena laugh out loud.
Damon motioned to Enzo, they changed partners "Thank you, you were amazing, I couldn't have asked for a better person to marry us. How do you feel? I know you felt the ancients' power relinquished to us." Bonnie answers, "Yea, I felt it." Damon concerned, "Are you and.. ok?" Bonnie looks at Enzo, making sure he attention was focused on his conversation with Elena "Yes, I am fine, everything is fine, I felt a moment of charging, nothing more." Damon worried, "Are you worried about anything" his eyes looking at Enzo. Bonnie nodded, "No, not at all, the wedding has been a priority, you and Elena needed a moment that was yours. And then, we will have our moment." Bonnie laid her head on Damon's shoulder, he whispered in her hair, knowing that Enzo couldn't hear, "I'm so happy our kids will grow up together."
Stefan tapped Damon on the shoulder, "My turn, I want some Bonnie time." Damon bowed, and took Caroline's hand, lead her directly into a spin. Caroline immediately became dizzy, when Damon pulled her back into his arms, she looked pale, and grasped his shoulder tight, to the point of actually hurting him, "Care, are you ok?" Caroline steadied herself, "Yes, just caught me off balance a bit, not sure I should have worn these heels." Damon felt a little hand tugging on the back of his pants. He looked down, it was Lizzie, "It is my turn, Uncle D." Damon bowed to Caroline with the most official 1860's gentlemen bow, "Ma'am I'm afraid, I'm amiss, I have reserved this selection on another's dance card." He turns and repeats the bow to Lizzie, picks her up and begins a Founders Day Waltz. Josie is not happy, Stefan decided to detour any issues, he walks over to her, mimics Damon's bow, "Ms Josie, may I please have this dance?" Josie giggles, "Zio.. You are silly." Stefan responds, "Ms Josie, is that a yes." Josie says, "Yes, Zio." She jumps into Stefan's arm and off they go.
Jeremy walks over to Elena, "Hey, since this is Founder Waltz time, we are founding family members, may I, sister?" he bows, Elena curtsies, they join the dance. Enzo and Bonnie add to the couples. Ric and Matt are talking with bourbon in their hands, Caroline walks directly over to them "Excuse me" Both look up at the same time. Caroline demands, "Seriously, how am I the only one not dancing, you two get it together, Matt, you can start, then Ric after the 4th turn you can come in and take over." She takes Matt hand and drags him, as he hands Ric his glass. Ric just smiles, that's Caroline. Caroline gets straight to the point as only Caroline can, "Isn't it time you started meeting people again?" Matt changes the topic, "Well, hello, Caroline, the wedding was nice, the twins are growing up so fast. Why yes the sheriff department has me so busy. God, Care, you jump straight in." Caroline replies, "Yes, Matt, we are all pairing up, it's time for you and Ric to think about finding a person to pair with. We all want you to be happy" Matt sends her into a turn, "Care, you always play the matchmaker when you're in a happy relationship, and you are going to be impossible now that Damon and Elena are happily married." Matt twirls Caroline, she stumbles gently into his arms, Matt "You ok" Caroline "Wow, Fred Astaire, you are a really good dancer" Matt feels Ric taps "Her Majesty demanded" and made the gentlemen's bow, Caroline backs up with a curtsy of her own, "Thank you Matt" She takes Ric's hand. As Matt let's go "Get ready for the you should be dating speech" Ric "I've been hearing that one for a while now" Caroline snarls, "It's not a speech, it is just a healthy reminder of what an amazing person you are. How incredibly lucky some woman will be to have you in her life." Ric "You know I don't know this dance at all, you should have stayed dancing with Matt, he knows all the steps." "Daddy, Daddy, Look at me, I'm dancing" Lizzie says as she passes by in Damon's arms. Josie adds "Zio and I are dancing faster, Daddy, Mommy watch us."
Caroline tries to watch, she smiles, Ric notices she doesn't look quite so normal "Care, are you ok?" Caroline says, "Yes, I'm fine, it's been a long day, I don't think I've had enough to drink." Ric asks, "Can I help? Where are the blood bags?" Stefan was by her side "You need to feed?" Caroline answers, "I got a little weak, it's ok, I'll be fine, I can feed a little later. I just want to sit for a while. Josie can you dance with Daddy for me, so Zio can get me a drink of water?" Josie is excited, "Daddy, Let's dance" Ric picks up Josie and twirls her around in circles. Stefan looks at Caroline, "You aren't doing ok. When did you last feed?" Caroline thinks about it, "This morning I had an entire blood bag, I don't understand, that was plenty to last me all day." Stefan "You need to feed some more, that is why you are so weak, let's dance, I have an idea, the girls will not notice." Stefan takes Caroline in his arms tightly, he puts her head close jacket, pulls her hand high toward her mouth and holds it with his thumb, exposing his wrist to her mouth, while her arm covered everything, It simply looked they were romantically slow dancing as Caroline fed to regain some of her strength. Stefan worried why she was getting weak so fast, he knew this wasn't normal for a vampire. He held her tight, and kept her feeding from everyone.
The time honored tradition of cutting the cake had approached. Elena stood in front of a 3 tiered, elegantly decorated wedding cake, crowned with a glass sculpture. Damon he presented an aged rectangle box as he walked over to the table "Open it" he said. Her eyes opened wide, inside was her parent wedding cake knife. As she picked it up, Damon "I found it in the attic of the Lakehouse. I knew you would like to have it part of our day." Elena noticed the engraving of her parents names and the date they were married, and underneath, Elena Gilbert Salvatore & Damon Salvatore with today's date. She looked up "Nice touch Mr. Salvatore." Damon replied, "Go for it, cut the cake, Mrs. Gilbert Salvatore." Elena looked at him with a crooked smile "Me cut it, don't you mean WE cut it?" Damon wasn't completely sure of the tradition, "I cut the cake? That is ok, I think you can cut cake just fine." Elena did a snarky laugh with that statement, "You didn't read up on this wedding tradition, did you? Get over here, old man. Now put your hand on top of mine, we cut together." Damon did as he was told, not understanding why at all. They cut a piece of cake, and Elena served it onto a plate, Damon reached for a fork. Elena grabbed a piece of cake with her fingers, "This is the way we do it in Mystic Falls" and shoved it into Damon's mouth, getting most of it into his mouth, with just a bit of icing around his lip lines. Bonnie and Caroline laugh out loud. Damon smirks, "The husband gets a turn too" He takes a big piece in his fingers, and slowly moves it toward Elena's lips, he circles her lips lines with the icing, touches the corner of her lip with his thumb, puts half of the piece of cake on her tongue, reaches down with is mouth and takes the rest of the piece in his mouth, follows up with a full open mouth kiss, lingering his tongue around her lips to catch any icing leftovers. As he pulls away "I could get into this wedding tradition."
The evening continued with family fun, the twins enjoyed attention from all the adults, Ric and Caroline sat and watched their children being cherished by this extended family that somehow was brought together by a web of grief, violence and most of all love. Ric leaned into Caroline, "You did it. I don't know how, but you did it. You brought me back to life in every sense of the word. You made me a family, you gave me the girls, you showed me I can love again then you made me see, I deserve to be loved, and now, I'm sitting here in the middle of this amazing crazy family surrounded by life and love. You did this for me. You went from being my friend to my salvation, to me wanting you, to loving you, to gently breaking my heart, and you never left my side during any of it, I came out of all that grief and pain with a life partner, friend, and sister that I know will always be there for me, who I'm honored to the mother of our girls. You, Caroline Forbes Salvatore, are a miracle." Caroline emotional, "Your Alaric Salzman are drunk" Ric stated confidently, "Not even a little!" as he gets up, he kisses her cheek. Caroline touches his face as he straightens, "I love you too" The twins are on their way toward Caroline with big pieces of cake, "Mommy, Look what Uncle D gave us, it is so yummy, we are going to eat by the fire bowls, do you want to come with us?" Caroline answered, "I can see you from here, you two stay together, try not to get any dirtier, those are pretty dresses." And off the twins ran, as fast as they can. Stefan sit down next to her "Well, I have a feeling a sugar rush is going to be followed by a major meltdown." Stefan has a fork full of cake "Would you like a bite?" Caroline opens her mouth, Stefan's smears a bit of icing on her lips, his lips replace the fork and his tongue glides over the icing sending erotic currents through her body. He captures her mouth in a kiss, she leans into him, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him tight, opening her mouth, enticing him to deepen his possession. Caroline pushes on Stefan's chest "You make me forget where we are." Stefan smugly, "I like when you forget where we are, I like that I can make you loosen that control of yours. It makes me ache for you." Stefan lifts her up and settles her on his lap, "Right now, I could create a wall of fire around us, strip you of your clothes, make love to you until our skin matches the heat of the flames." Caroline's eyes started vamp'ing, she closed her mouth on his and took their kiss to a level, even he was not prepared for. Stefan lowered his head, kissing a trail down her neck, stopping at her collarbone, "Care, I have to stop, or I will not be able too. I will have to have you, right here, right now, in front of everyone." That got Caroline's attention. The twins were 30 feet away blissfully unaware of their mother's wanton behavior. Caroline stood up and walked away. Stefan took a deep breath, crossed his legs, and leaned forward, he thought 'damned my wife for just leaving me like this. Torture'.
Stefan looked around, he saw the closest friends and family he had ever had, gathered together talking and loving each other. Stefan in a loud voice, "As the Best Man, I get to toast the bride and groom. If you would have asked me 10 years ago, would I be standing up here that my brother's wedding, having hard time choosing from the many amazing, wonderful memories that I have with him, I would have told you, you are crazy. Everyone here knows it for the last hundred and fifty plus years Damon and I have had a hard time figuring out how to be brothers. And then one day, this woman came into our lives, her name is Elena. That one day, changed our lives forever. Damon didn't know he had first laid eyes on a woman that would help him find hope, that wouldn't repair his heart, and complete his soul. I did not understand, I had met my future sister, the person that would bring my brother and I back together, would heal us, help us create a bond that is now unbreakable. The Salvatore Brothers did not know that we had met our savior. I ask you to join me in holding my glass up to toast the union of Damon and Elena, my brother and sister, in wishing them forever happiness." Damon walked over and hugged his brother "No words, brother, just no words" he said with appreciation. Elena leaned up and kissed his cheek "You saved me too, never forget that!"
Caroline starts her toast, "As matron of honor, I get to say a few words, although, Stefan didn't leave many for me to say. Everyone knows that I wasn't exactly Team Damon when Elena let her feelings be known. My relationship with Damon over the past 4 years has been unexpected. Today, I stand here and say that this man, Damon Salvatore has fulfilled the most deepest desire I have ever had, one that not even, Elena, my truest friend since before, I can remember, has known." Caroline paused, she realized that everyone was looking at her, especially Damon. Caroline has an inner smile, she really had him on this one, she was going to play with it for just a little longer. She took Stefan's hand, and squeezed, hoping to give him the signal, not to worry, she had Damon just where she wanted him. "My secret might not exactly be appropriate for to reveal at a wedding, I should have told Elena before now, but Damon is the only man on this planet who could make it come true and today, is the today I get to say Thank you with all my heart. Thank you so much for making Elena Gilbert, my sister." The laughter roared, Damon actually exhaled, he hugged her, whispered, "I'm not sure if I should say you're welcome or get you a cigarette." Caroline looked smugly at him. Elena was next in line with the hugs "We have always been sisters!" said as she embraced her official sister Caroline Salvatore.
Stefan slid his arms around her waist and nestled his chin into her shoulder, "For the record, I knew you were up to something before you took my hand, but the look on Damon's face was worth it all, good job wife"
Damon and Elena kissed passionately while everyone clapped and laughed. The music continued to play as everyone started to talk among themselves, when someone started clinking a glass to get everyone's attention.
Damon stopped tapping his champagne glass when everyone was looking at him, "Family, 8 months ago, I got the privilege of officiating the marriage of my brother and this amazing woman I get to call my sister. They taught us what love looked like, they pledged their lives together while we waged a war with hell. Their reception was cut short, more importantly, I didn't get to give my best man speech. So from this point on, this is now the Salvatore Family Reception and I am finally going to give my speech. Damon walks over to Stefan, puts his hand on Stefan's shoulder. "That wedding was forced to draw out our enemy. What we didn't realize at the time was the lessons that Stef and Care were teaching us. No matter what the battle or war is, love will always give us strength. Listening to Stefan and Caroline explain how they felt about each other, knowing." Damon paused and shook his head, "NO, they expected, a full-on attack from our enemies any second, yet they were still pouring their hearts out to one another, it was inspiring. They are partners, trusting, and respecting in life, in battle, in love. It may not have been the wedding of their dreams, there is no doubt, these two people are exactly as they should be from that day, every day, this day and tomorrow. My toast is to Stefan and Caroline may their love live in each heartbeat that carries it."
Bonnie looks at Damon as she stands up, their eyes meet. Bonnie looks around, "I'm glad we are doing this today, and not on that day. I was so filled with sadness, I wasn't able to give a speech of happiness as I can today. I look around, I see my family, in love, with realities brought about by one person. By Stefan. He will tell you that so many losses are his fault, I look around, I realize every decision he made was a sacrifice for one of our lives, he has sacrificed his humanity for each of us, with the trust that we his family, would find a way to bring him, he knew we could, and we always did, he trusted us, yet he stills blames himself, even though he saved our lives, the twins, Elena, Damon, myself. Yet, I look around, because of his trust, I see Damon holding a pregnant Elena in his arms smiling genuinely happy, Caroline and Ric are holding their sleeping daughters, Stefan and Caroline are married and blissfully happy, Matt is Sheriff of a thriving community and he is ready to happy again, Ric is putting together a school for the supernatural children of the world, how crazy is that. And I'm here with Enzo, alive and in the flesh, because Stefan sacrificed himself, he wouldn't let Katherine harm any of us, any longer." Bonnie paused, she looked at Damon and nodded her head "Damon, I'm ready. Enzo, we could be alone, this is our family. I know you will understand why I'm doing now in just a minute, can come here with me?"
Bonnie reached out waiting for him to touch her hand. With his hand in hers, she guided him to sit in front of her, she didn't let his hand go. "Please be patient with me for just another minute, I promise everyone will understand. When Stefan gave Damon the cure, the domino effect is still being felt in ways that none of us ever dreamed. Damon and Stefan are the destiny High Priest Witches of Natures Full Magic, the most power warlocks of modern-day, Stefan's doppelganger blood addition made the spell work to bring you back, Damon and I checked, without it, I would have lost you forever, the spell would not have worked. Enzo, we wouldn't have a family." Bonnie looks at Damon, "Damon go ahead, lower the cloaking spell. Stefan's blood tipped the scales, it made the natures magic and Bennett blood magic strong enough to bind them to your spirit to re-create your human organs. That's why you can't live on human blood only, the only part of you that is a vampire is your bones, everything else is human. I guess, what I'm trying to say, is Stefan, I want to thank you for your sacrifices, and even for taking Enzo away from me. Because, if you didn't, you couldn't have brought him back to me, and we couldn't have made our family. Enzo, can you hear?"
Damon chants and waves his hands, a cool breeze swirls and stops as quickly as it began. Enzo puts his hand on Bonnie's stomach, he looks up at her, "It can't be" Bonnie continues to explain, "Damon and I have done every test, check and double-check, it is. We double-checked the doctors too." Bonnie leans down and whispers in Enzo's ear "Can I tell everyone it's a girl?" Enzo mumbles in surprise, "A Girl" Everyone exclaims, "Girl" Bonnie smiles "Yes, during the 'testing, we had to be sure, the Bennett bloodline spell determines magical capabilities and gender basically from day one."
Enzo stands up at vamp speed, goes to Damon, grabs him by the neck "On Elena's life, Damon, Elena's life. Is Bonnie in danger?" Damon demands, "Enzo, put me down!" Enzo not realizing what he was doing, puts Damon back on the ground, Damon puts his hand on Enzo shoulder and looks him straight in the eye, "It's ok, on Elena and our baby's life, Bonnie and your little lady are healthy. We have two perfectly healthy pregnant women on our hands. I suggest we stock up on pickles and ice cream." Everyone is surrounding Bonnie, Ric moves to the side, and then Matt, a path between Bonnie and Stefan clears. There are tears in each of their eyes, Stefan takes 3 giant steps toward Bonnie, and she jumps into his arms. Stefan holds her tightly, "Bonnie, I love you so much, I'm so happy for you and Enzo. I never ever meant for you to hurt, ever." Bonnie with tears staining her cheeks, "Stefan, I know, I always knew, I just couldn't get past the pain. I'm so sorry. I was always happy for you and Caroline. Always."
Enzo back at Bonnie's side, "Love, are you sure? A baby? Really? Mine, I mean, Ours? I don't understand." Bonnie puts her hands on Enzo's cheeks, "Yes, my love, our little girl is safely cooking inside me." Damon explains, "Excuse me, Little Bennett witch to be exact, just like her mom." said with a gleam in his eye. Bonnie turned her head, "Yes, Enzo, she is a Bennett witch through and through, Damon was hoping she would have some Nature's magic, she doesn't, she is all blood magic. She is safe and healthy, like the Bennett's before her, the entire bloodline is protecting her now." Enzo went down to his knees, he put his ear to his daughter, he could hear her heartbeat, he couldn't stop the tears as they left his eyes. He looked up at Stefan, "Mate, I was wrong, we will never be square again. I will owe you for the rest of my existence." Stefan walks over to Enzo, they embrace with sincere joy, "Hatchet buried my friend, we have children to raise and protect together." Elena had her arms around Bonnie, tears streaming down her face "When did this happen, we grew up, we survived, and now we are all Mothers."
Enzo's eyes widen, his legs shift, his posture straightens, his voice takes on an army general's tone "WAIT" Damon starts laughing out loud, "I was wondering when he was going to put it together." Elena questions "What are you talking about?" Damon puts his arm around her, "You'll see, just wait for it." Enzo towers over Bonnie and looks her straight in the eyes, "Bonnie Bennett, You are the mother of my child. My daughter!" Bonnie smiles and reaches up to touch his face, "Yes, Enzo, she will be here in the spring". Enzo not wanting to be soothed, he takes her hand in his and starts pulling her toward the cars, "THAT DOES IT, we are leaving now... Matthew.. Can you get the judge or pastor, someone out of bed, now? Tell them it is an emergency of the highest order."
Matt looks around at everyone trying to figure out what is happening, "Why? What is going on? What's the emergency?" Bonnie tugs at Enzo's arm, "Enzo, what is wrong? Why do we need a judge? What is the emergency? Talk to me? You are scaring me? Damon stop laughing, what is so funny? Stefan, not you too."
Bonnie's words stop Enzo in his tracks, her worried tone, he doesn't want to scare her, he also was going to solve this problem now. He realized another answer, he looked around and found the person who could solve it, stared right at him, Damon nodded his head back at his friend wordlessly supporting his friend's cause. Enzo getting the support he needed took Bonnie's hands in his and looked straight into her eyes "You, the amazing love of my life are going to marry me tonight, actually NOW, Damon, you can marry us NOW."
Bonnie's head is about to explode, "WHAT... Wait. Hold on. Enzo, stop." Enzo is not taking any pity on Bonnie "NO, we aren't waiting one more minute. My daughter has been alive long enough without having married parents. Damon, let's get started!"
Elena and Caroline are dizzy from all the movement, Ric and Jeremy are confused from all the laughter coming from Damon and Stefan. Elena finally gets her wits together and hits Damon's arm, she reminds him, "You have to help Bonnie, she doesn't want to get married like this. You know this isn't her style. Damon, she is your best friend. Our best friend. She needs to get married for real and the right way. Damon… Do something!" Damon regains control, he pats Elena's hand that is on his arm. He looks at Bonnie who is in tears and takes pity on his best friend, he walks over and puts his hand on his buddy's shoulder "ENZO, breath Buddy it isn't 1890. Let's just take a minute, you don't have to rush this. Stefan and I, we totally understand where you are coming from, we know how you think, how you were raised. Trust me, I had my share of 21st-century issues with Elena. Here's what your focus has to be, your daughter's safety and happiness. Look at all these people here, no one is going to let anyone harm her in any way." Enzo looks around at all the faces of his 'family', each one of them nodding.
Damon slaps him on the back with a bit more force, "Let's face it, you gotta give Bonnie a minute or two, maybe she just doesn't want to marry you." That got Enzo's attention and Bonnie's, she turned her head and saw the glimmer in Damon's eye that was followed by a wink. She knew he was setting her up to take over, so she did "I don't know if I want to marry him or not, he hasn't asked, he simply demanded. No pregnant woman wants to be told to do anything, let alone to get married "NOW" like a dog" for dramatic effect, Bonnie followed up with a "heel & sit". Bonnie continued "If I were to marry you, I will be ask properly, I will have a wedding for us, I will not tell our daughter that we got married at her Uncle and Aunt's wedding because father was an Old fashion sexist pig that did not support the battles women had won fighting for her rights since he was born."
Caroline cheered "That was a good one, go Bon" Jeremy laughs, knowing full well from experience Enzo has completely lost this battle. Enzo tries to convince her, "Bonnie, I come from a time, well, a gentleman doesn't get his lady, his love, in a way, without doing the right thing."
Bonnie straightens up her posture "I'm thrilled to hear that you are going to teach our daughter how a gentleman does the right thing, 2019 style, with photos and memories that our daughter will be proud of. She is a St. John but make no mistake she is a full Bennett witch." Enzo drops to his knees, puts his hands on Bonnie's stomach "Your mother is strong, powerful, a bit stubborn and knows exactly what she wants. I already know that you are going to be just like her."
Enzo looks up at Bonnie, he pulls a box from his pocket "Ok, the right way, in front of all our family, Bonnie Bennett, I have had this in my pocket for the past 3 weeks – you can ask Damon. I've been trying to find the right words to ask you, to tell you how much you mean to me, although I still don't have them put together in the way of a master poet or a composer would, perhaps the words that come out will not even make sense." Enzo opens the box, Bonnie looks down at the most exquisitely shaped oval diamond surrounded by green emeralds set in a platinum ring "Today you gave me something that never ever enter my mind as possible. It wasn't even a dream. I spent an existence looking for parts of a long lost family that was diluted, but not really part of me. Today, you gave me, a family of my very own. Magic, love, fate, destiny, or all the above, the only truth I can see, is I belong to you as long as you will have me. Please, please be my wife, my life?"
Bonnie with tears in her eyes "Yes.. oh yes" Enzo stands up, Bonnie is in his arms, his lips are over hers before her feet leave the ground. Stefan wraps Caroline in his arms, Damon takes Elena in his arms and kisses her. Jeremy announces "Ok, I'm happy for everyone, too much mushy, I need a drink, where's the bourbon?." Matt and Ric "Agreed"
The music continued to play, the couples mingled, each of the men shared the ladies for a dance or two. It was Stefan's turn with Bonnie, he held her tight "I can't tell you how good it feels to be able to hold you like this. I thought that our friendship was gone forever, and I never ever wanted that." Bonnie "Stefan, today is about the future and everything that comes with it. You and I both feel it, there is something new coming. We are stronger, we are more equipped to fight. We also have more to lose. The past is gone. You and I, we are family, now and forever." Damon taps on Stefan's shoulder "Does a BFF get one more turn on the dance floor?" Stefan let's go of Bonnie, "Speaking of BFF's, I will go find your wife, brother" Damon takes Bonnie into his arms "You are glowing, Bon Bon" Bonnie swaying to the music, "Thank you for everything, you really came through for both of us, all of us, Damon. What has got into you." Damon grumpy, "Don't know, this witchy thing, it's messing with my mojo." Damon twirls her around and brings her back into his arms "What can I say Bon Bon, I'm going soft in my old age" Bonnie "No, Damon, the real you just can't hide anymore. You've always been a goodie" Enzo taps "Damon, I'd like to hold my girls now" Damon agrees, "You definitely have your hands full, Mate, with your Girls."
Damon walks away, looking around, finding Elena dancing with Jeremy. Ric and Stefan each have a twin resting on a shoulder, gently swaying to the music while talking to Caroline. Damon walks over to join. Caroline puts her fingers over her lips before Damon can speak a word. Stefan speaks with a lower rhythmic voice "The twins are sleeping, we are discussing getting them home and in bed. Our flower girls have been partied out." Caroline "I can take them back to the house" Damon "Look at Elena and Bonnie they are almost sleeping on their feet. Jeremy is basically holding Elena up, she is so tired. Care, you are looking like you could use some rest yourself. Let's put this wedding day literally to bed. I'll go tell the dancers. Everyone can crash at the house."
All the nods agree to the plan, Ric & Stefan follow Caroline to Ric's car. Damon taps Jeremy "I think it is time to head back to the house. Do you have to head out or can you stay around for a while?" Jeremy "I can stay for a couple of days, not much more than that. Elena is ready to call it quits." Elena disagrees, "I am not. I'm having an amazing wedding. It is the best time. I could dance all night." Damon sweeps Elena into his arms "You, my wife are going to relax and take care of my growing child inside of you by getting some much needed rest. No arguments" Elena puts her arms around Damon's neck, laid her head on his shoulder and decided to have the argument when they were home alone in their bedroom, she many times to tell him about his possessiveness. He was going to get a mighty talking to. She was asleep before they reached the car.
