Elena felt his lips on hers, the softness of his touch and the new-found feeling of a ring on her finger! She pulled back from the warmth of his body against hers and stared at the sparkling diamond, letting the light catch it.
He has asked her to marry him! She was engaged!
"I love you so much Damon," she moaned into the kiss.
"Mmm, I love you too...Mrs. soon to be Salvatore..." he whispered, grinning and tangling his tongue with hers.
Elena loved the sound of that and pulled him closer, capturing his soft lips again before she started jumping up and down in his arms. She was in awe that she could be this happy. It felt surreal. She pulled him down to the hay bale beside the archway, kissing him deeply...the very same archway where they had shared their first kiss.
Damon had laughed and fallen down on top of her as she dragged him with her. Their lips crashed together again as she lay in his arms, holding him closer while still seeing her ring sparkling on her finger.
The ring had been dangling from the mistletoe in the center of the archway and Damon had taken her skating there exactly a year after they met. It was a chilly day then too with them both in leather jackets and fuzzy warm sweaters, scarves and mittens. Damon had asked her to meet him there and gotten her skates on. They laughed and joked about Elena being just as bad at skating this year as when they met and she said she had been practicing.
"Without me?" He had given her his world class pouty face and she had tangled her fingers in his hair as he had been knelt down in front of her, tying her laces up.
She nodded, licking her lips at him. "Yes baby, Kat has actually been patient with me and tried to give me a few lessons. I am still pretty shaky on my feet but I am trying."
Damon smiled and leaned into her touch on his cheek and turned his head to press a kiss to her palm. In no time he had her up and she was skating! No hand holds and no falling for at least the first few minutes and he was impressed, she could tell. She flew back into his arms at the edge of the rink after skating a full circle around without falling!
Damon had said he had gotten it all reserved just for them for the night. She had been curious and even more so when he got out a bottle of champagne and said they needed to toast to a year of being together. The glasses clinked, foam dripping from the side of the bottle as she beamed at him as they sat together.
After the drinks, he held up his scarf and tied it around her eyes. "No peeking love," he breathed against her cheek.
She nodded eagerly, excited for the surprise. Elena leaned in, stealing a kiss while he was busy tying the scarf. His hands slid between the strands of her hair and she whimpered as he moved in closer, his body knelt between her legs as they kissed long and leisurely, tasting and reveling in each other. She loved him so much.
Damon finally drew back from her lips, gently pulling her to her feet. He guided them back onto the ice and spun her in a few circles so she had no idea which direction was what. Then he led her, skating them around the rink, his hold firm and secure around her waist.
When he slid to a stop he let his black scarf fall from her eyes. She opened them and he said to look up. Elena saw they were under the archway again and there hung a gorgeous ring from the mistletoe!
She had gasped and looked back at his huge goofy grin. He untangled the ring from the greenery and knelt to one knee right there on the ice. The brunette almost slipped then and would have landed ungracefully on her ass at such a romantic moment, however Damon steadied her with his other hand as he held out the ring.
"Marry me Elena. Be my everything, forever. I think I loved you the second you crashed into me that night, right here on the ice. But getting to know you more and more I realized I want to love you for the rest of our lives. I want to have babies with you and watch them grow up and have families of their own."
He was still on his knee as he looked up so achingly sweet into her already teary eyes.
"I love you and I want to grow old with you and experience all of what life throws at as, good or bad. I want it with you and.."
He paused and wiped his hand across his face and Elena saw he was emotional too. That made her even more is awe of this moment and tears started slipping down her face. She was already so eager to say yes but she knew he needed to say this and she wanted to give Damon everything he ever dreamed of.
"I don't care where we end up, or how successful we are in our careers. I just want to be able to love you and show you how much, till I breath my last." He wiped his face again and held out the ring, his own hand shaking. She grabbed for it to steady him.
Elena nodded, words totally escaping her for a moment as she held out her other hand. "Damon, yes. Yes, yes, yes I will marry you!" She was nearly jumping up and down and forgot she was still in skates and grabbed for the archway to stay upright.
His raven head bent, his lips so warm on the skin of her hand, kissing down her finger before slipping the ring on. She had tried to kneel down too to kiss him, but ended up slipping.
Damon caught her and they fell laughing to the ice as she screamed. "I'm engaged!" she cried out even though there wasn't a soul around, except the two of them.
He dove in, swallowing her screams with his lips. Damon pulled on the ends of his scarf around her neck, bringing her to him and they lay kissing on the ice. Blissfully happy and so, so in love and excited for the future.
Elena turned back to look at their daughter. Lily was fast asleep, her hand still ready to turn the next page in her Little Mermaid book. She was the most excited to see Ariel and all her friends. That had been her favorite movie for a year now and she loved anything to do with Ariel.
The plane was shifting slightly back and forth as Elena tucked Lily in under her blanket. They could move around and unbuckle but Elena preferred to stay put, her seat between her daughter and the window, knowing she was safe. Her eyes started closing too, knowing they would be in the air awhile yet.
The sun was just peeking up over the horizon, casting such a colorful glow. She closed the window a bit, to keep it darker and laid back, feeling so sleepy herself. Elena cradled her belly, feeling the slight kicks and laid her head down on the seat above Lily's.
The lack of sleep was catching up with her and she closed her eyes thinking back to more happy moments, more laughter and romance, before all the busyness of parenting. Back when they had promised each other forever in front of all their family and friends...
Damon and Elena were married a few months later on the most beautiful sunny May afternoon. The flowers were blooming, the birds singing, the romantic music drifting through the air. They decided to make the location even more meaningful and got married there too.
In spring the ice rink was nothing but hay bales, strung with lights, all pure white at Elena's request for their wedding. The tiny bulbs cast such a romantic glow. They decorated the archway in a sea of fresh colorful flowers, red, pink and white roses, lily's and iris' and more greenery.
Elena made sure there was one sprig of mistletoe hung in remembrance of their first kiss.
The chairs were white and lined the aisle with more flowers. They stood under the archway, saying their vows and exchanging their rings, promising each other forever together.
Elena chose a simple strapless white dress that hung in soft waves of shiny fabric down to her feet. She had her hair down, falling in soft waves across her back. A diamond and pink gemstone wrapped headpiece encircling her head, the simple sheer veil attached at the back. She wore a soft pink necklace with matching earrings and bracelet her mom had given her as a gift.
Katherine was the maid of honor and two of her close friends, Carolyn and Bonnie both whom she met in nursing school were bridesmaids. They were all dressed in soft pink strapless, silk dresses and carried bouquets of red, white and pink roses.
Damon was dashing in the black suit with brilliant white vest and shirt. His brother Stefan was his best man along with two other friends and fellow teammates in the army Ric and Enzo were his groomsman. The men wore pink roses and Damon's rose was red.
Stefan was in the army too and he had been the reason Damon was even at that ice rink that night and prided himself in helping his brother find his soul mate. Said brother looked to be making eyes at the maid of honor too and the elder Salvatore was curious if another love connection had been brought to life.
Damon froze, seeing his beautiful bride walking toward him and suddenly nothing else mattered.
Nothing but her.
Elena walked down the aisle carrying a full bouquet of red roses, tied with a pink ribbon hanging down. She smiled at her groom, meeting his eyes as she started to walk toward him.
It was as if everyone else melted away in that moment.
All she saw was him.
His gorgeous smile back at her. His crystal blue eyes sparkling. His pure joy that this day had finally come. His warm hand took hers as she stepped up under the archway beside him.
When they came to the part where he kisses the bride, Elena gently pulled the sprig of mistletoe out from where it hung and held it up over the two of them, her eyes dancing with excitement.
He met her lips, his own hands cradling her face as they kissed to the clapping of the guests as they stood. They parted, beaming at each other, leaning their foreheads together before the newly married couple raced down the aisle to the sound of romantic music in their ears.
The ice rink became the dance floor, a little stage made up for the band and tables all around for first the meal and then the dancing. Damon twirled her around in his arms, holding her close as she laid her head on his chest and swayed to the music.
Their first dance was to 'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas' even though it was May. They didn't care. It was their song, to hell with playing Christmas songs almost in summer!
They hugged everyone goodbye saying huge thank yous all around for such an amazing day. Family was welcoming and her mom hugging her groom tight with tears in her eyes, her dad offering Damon a firm handshake and a hug. His parents held her close too, saying they were so happy they found each other and everyone said to have a great honeymoon.
The door of their suite slammed shut behind him as Damon had carried her across the threshold and kicked it closed with his foot. He stumbled them toward the bed as she was tugging his shirt out from his pants while kissing him hungrily. They fell onto the bed, kissing and panting for breath, Elena kicking off her white high heels. Damon started unzipping her dress as she moaned while she went for the zipper of his dress pants, yanking it down and tugging his pants down his hips.
"God, Elena," he rasped, his voice shaky. He looked up, his ice blue gaze searing through her before his lips crashed back onto hers. He got the zipper all the way down, and she wriggled out of the silky fabric till it pooled at her bare feet enough for her to kick it to the floor. Damon carefully took her diamond studded crown and veil out of her hair and tossed it aside too, burying his fingers in her silky tresses.
Elena got his shirt unbuttoned and pulled it off his shoulders, while still kissing him every second she could reach his lips. She pulled his head down, tugging at the dark raven strands of his hair as her lace clad hips grinded into his.
He whimpered into the kiss and fell onto her, snaking his hand behind her back enough to pop the clasp of her bra. He threw the offending item across the room and kissed down her throat, sucking her skin in his mouth, laving her pulse point with his tongue.
"Mmmm, Damon," she moaned, throwing her head back, her fingers tugging at his hair. "I love you SO much."
He lifted his head, his hair falling in unruly strands onto his forehead, taking in how beautiful she was beneath him. He bent to pull her bottom lip in his mouth. "I love you too. So, so much baby girl," he whispered against her lips.
Elena tore the dress shirt down his back, exposing the hard muscles under it to her probing fingers as he shook his arms free of the sleeves. She ran her hands up and down his bare back as they kissed ravenously, tasting, needing, aching for every part of each other. He was hurrying to shimmy out of the dress pants and pulled his boxers down at the same time, kicking off his shoes and socks as fast as he could.
Damon stood up enough to toss his clothes to the side and the knelt at the side of the bed seeing the sexy little lace garter on her thigh. With a wink and wiggle of his brows, he tugged it down her leg with his teeth and threw it to the floor. His hands had glided up her hips and skimmed her lace panties down her legs in the same movement before he dove back down, finding her lips again.
They kissed long and wet, open mouthed moans and whimpers piercing the air. Elena's head was back as his mouth blazed a trail down her skin, taking a nipple in his mouth as she cried out his name. He laid between her spread thighs and nudged her opening. She was more than ready for him.
"Damon, please..." she begged, pulling on his waist, rubbing herself up along his rock hard length, teasing him with her wetness. He plunged in, cradling her head in his hands and rocked his hips back and forth as she panted under him.
"Elena," he gasped out, his head falling to the bed above her shoulder. "God, you feel so good." He kissed and licked up her neck as he pushed in and out of her warmth. He spun them so she was on top, her lips and tongue sucked on his shoulder, kissed along his chest and up his neck. He held her hips tight, his palms around her curves as he thrust more into her before spinning her again under him, tangling them in the silky white sheets.
They came to an earth shattering climax, calling each others names before Damon's head fell to lay beside hers. She turned enough to kiss him, his lips trembling as she tasted his moans of her name.
"I love you so much Elena. God, I can't even describe how much," he groaned against her salty tasting skin.
Elena smiled, kissing a path from his jaw to his lips. "I think you did a great job describing how much baby. I love you too, forever." They nuzzled in, Damon rolled over for her to lay against his chest and they fell into a blissful sleep.
"I love you too...so much Damon," Elena mumbled to herself, her fingers tangling in his necklace. She pulled it out from her camisole and kissed the metal before tucking it back in. She didn't know when she had woken up from dreaming of him, to replaying their wedding night in her head.
It had been incredible, every moment. Every day of their honeymoon they spent more time in their room than anywhere else. Maui was beautiful Elena realized, but they saw more of it from their hotel window. They would just have to go back again another time. A second honeymoon would be amazing, she had thought then.
Elena glanced down to see Lily still fast asleep. The little girl only started to open her eyes once they were coming in to land. She held her mom's hand and was so brave. Her camel was tight against her chest and she was so excited when she could see the other planes from her window as they taxied into the terminal.
They had made it. Halfway there. Everything would be easier once they got there. Elena was glad to stretch her legs now and realized she was probably almost waddling already as they made their way down to their gate. There was a layover here in Nashville International for a few hours before they boarded their plane to Florida.
Lily was pulling on her mom and already looking for another play structure. Elena knew it was very much in her best interest to find one, so that her big girl could get out some much needed energy so she could relax on the last leg of their journey. Traveling with a little child was proving busy enough on top of being pregnant too. She hadn't felt any nausea the whole plane ride so far but now Elena could feel her stomach flipping.
Her held Lily's hand tight as they made there way to the nearest bathroom and Elena raced into the family one, pulling her daughter in with her.
"Stay right here baby. Mommy is not feeling well but I need you to stay right here against this wall." She had closed the over sized stall and firmly set Lily against the wall away from the door and she fell to her knees by the toilet.
The bags from her shoulders dropped as she gagged and threw up most of her last meal. There had not been a meal on the short flight from New York to Tennessee but even the snack and juice she had before, was coming up.
"Mommy, are you okay?" Lily asked moving closer. Elena was leaning her head to her arm over the seat and gagged more.
"Just stay right there sweetie. Your baby brother or sister is not happy." Elena saw the fear in the little girls eyes fade as Lily stretched out her hand and rubbed her mommy's back.
"Oh, you mean they didn't like the airplane Momma?" Elena nodded yes that was probably very true. But her morning sickness did not just stay in the mornings or even only in the first 3 months. This baby was determined to show her a more rocky journey than their big sister had been.
She thought back to not even knowing if they would be able to have a baby…
The years felt like they went quickly. Damon had training in Florida when they were still dating and now they had moved to Texas for a few years before moving back to New York. Elena had done well in her schooling and gotten a job at a nearby hospital close to both bases and never had a problem finding another job if they moved.
He had been sent on one tour roughly a year after their wedding and quickly became the go to guy with his team to disassemble I.E.D.'s. He worked for most months in the year overseas and was home only a few weeks either in summer or over Christmas. Elena was kept busy by her job or she would have missed him much more.
There was always a whirlwind of celebration when Damon got home. He would hold her like she had imagined and dreamed about for months at a time. They would talk on Skype and write letters often when he was away, just to feel closer to each other, but nothing felt better than having him back in her arms after so long.
His brother had been showing interest in her sister at their wedding already and unbeknownst to anyone, the couple started dating that summer and were married the year after. The wedding was just a few short weeks from when they both served their first tour.
Stefan was a quick study on the explosives and they worked as a team with Ric and Enzo who they had met on the army base that first year and saved hundreds of lives. If he wasn't overseas, Damon was training, learning and becoming the best bomb team leader in the army.
They had only started trying for a baby after their second anniversary. He had a year when he was working right from the base and could be home every night and so they decided to try to get pregnant.
Damon had found her one night laying on the ice at 'their' rink. She had thought he was fast asleep but he must have noticed her side of the bed empty and followed her. It wasn't much of a surprise for him to find her there. She came there at any season, to think or to be alone. It was almost spring and they had been trying for a baby for almost a year with no luck so far.
He stepped onto the ice with his boots. It was almost time for skating season to be over. Her husband saw her laying in the middle of the ice and she had thought ahead this time and brought a blanket to lay on in the middle of the night. He moved closer and laid down beside her. Elena remembered him opening his arms, and her nuzzling in on his shoulder. Her arm went over his body, pulling him close as they stared up at the sky.
She knew barely a word had been spoken that night but they both knew what they were thinking. Damon had just gotten word his detachment was leaving after the weekend for another tour. She had him home a full year and did not know how she could possibly let him go for so long again. He knew she was scared and how much she had wanted to be pregnant by now to have a piece of him stay with her while he was gone.
Damon knew it was a constant worry to her too that he was always so close to the explosives and yet had such a talent for dismantling them. He was doing what he dreamed, saving lives and she could not be more proud.
But that night they just laid there in silence, clinging to each other knowing they could not stop what was coming. Not unless they both ran away from their responsibilities.
He took a picture of them snuggled up on the ice and had it developed so he could take it with him. She lay in his arms, on the blanket just watching the stars twinkling in the night sky.
Once they both were too cold, he stood up and helped her up. She leaned into his chest, her fingers clinging to the edges of his leather jacket. They still had not said anything but they needed this time.
Damon had walked them home, the blanket around them both, shielding her from the cold and picked her up in his arms as they stepped through the door and kissed her deeply. He held Elena up in his arms, pushing her against the closed door and kissed her all over. He slowly peeled her jacket, shirt and pants off her, tugging off her boots. They kissed passionately, with moans and whimpers of pleasure.
Falling to the floor, they undressed each other fully and he made love to his wife on the blanket in their living room. He whispered promises and declarations of love as he kissed her and had her crying out his name as he held her as close as he could.
Elena cradling him within her...staying molded together as long as they could...was everything she needed right then. They fell asleep like that, wrapped in each others arms and woke up to the bright light of the sun shining in the windows.
I will post part 3 in a few days, sooner possibly. Its great seeing people are enjoying this little story. It is very much a memory story but I encourage you to hang on till the end to understand it. Thanks and please review!