Hello, everyone! Oh my God – I'm so sorry for the incredibly long absence! Ugh, you won't even believe how busy I've been. I honestly had to write this in the precious few hours of time I've had over the past few weeks. I just wanted to let you know that I'm still busy and it won't let up for at least two more weeks. I really hope to be updating the rest of my fics by then! Thank you for your patience and understanding! : )

With that said, this is the final chapter of Ice. Wow – I can't believe we made it this far! Thank you so much for your overwhelming support – it's astounding. I really do hope you enjoy this – please review and let me know! It means so much. : )

Happy reading, all, and I'll hopefully see you in a few weeks!

Ice
Part X: Everlasting

In the middle of the night, I may watch you go
There'll be no value in the strength of walls that I have grown
There'll be no comfort in the shade of the shadows thrown
But I'll be yours if you'll be mine

Stretch out my life and pick the seams out
Take what you like, but close my ears and eyes
Watch me crumble over and over

I have done wrong, so build your tower
But call me home and I will build a throne
And wash my eyes out never again

But love the one you holdAnd I'll be your goal
To have and to hold
A lover of the light

Skin too tight and eyes like marbles
You spin me high so watch me as I glide
Before I tumble homeward, homeward

I know I tried, I was not stable
Flawed by pride, I miss my sanguine eyes
So hold my hands up...breathe in, breathe out.

But love the one you hold
And I'll be your goal
To have and to hold
A lover of the light

And in the middle of the night, I may watch you go
There'll be no value in the strength of walls that I have grown
There'll be no comfort in the shade of the shadows thrown
You may not trust the promises of the change I'll show
But I'll be yours if you'll be mine

So love the one you hold
And I will be your goal
To have and to hold
A lover of the light

So love the one you hold
And I will be your goal
To have and to hold
A lover of the light

-Mumford & Sons, "Lover of the Light"

Elena let her eyes flutter closed and gave herself over completely to Damon's tender kisses and touches; his lips were currently burning a trail down her throat while one hand caressed her sides through the thin cloth of her red tank top. She arched her back when she felt his mouth touch her collar bone, his tongue flicking out to swipe itself sideways across her heated skin. He paused only for a moment to lift her slightly, tossing the towel underneath her body to the floor. God, it felt amazing to be this close to him, to be so emotionally invested while he simultaneously took her to new heights. If she opened her eyes, she knew it was quite possible that she could come again just by locking gazes with his smouldering blue eyes.

Damon loved her soft sighs of pleasure as he continued to trail his mouth down her body. He flicked his eyes up momentarily and saw that her own were closed. Slowly, he lifted his head up before sliding his hand up her tank top and ghosting his fingertips over the toned flesh of her stomach. With his other hand, he lifted it up and began placing small, quick kisses on the exposed skin. He heard her moan softly at his ministrations and he resisted all urges to completely abandon the slow pace that they had set. He placed a soft kiss on her stomach before urging her to sit up so he could pull the top over her head.

Elena lifted her arms and let Damon discard the flimsy material, shivering when the cold air suddenly hit her bare, exposed chest. "Mm," she said softly when he pulled her close to him and they were touching, skin on skin. He was so warm against her, and she could feel every muscle of his lean body thrumming in absolute anticipation – much like her own was.

Damon carefully pushed her back down, kissing her mouth sweetly before moving down and lowering his mouth to her rounded, perfect breast. He let his hand trail over it as he sucked the nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the hard bud. He felt her arch up against him and cry out in pleasure softly. He switched to the other, paying it the same kind of attention, before lifting his head up to examine the beautiful sight in front of him. Her creamy breasts heaved in front of him, the nipples now dark and rosy from his ministrations. He cupped one in other hand, squeezing and massaging gently, watching her face as he pleasured her.

Damon's touches were intoxicating, and Elena never wanted them to end. He was so careful, attentive, and loving. Every soft touch or breath on her skin sent her into fits of pure anticipation. She felt his hand slowly trailing down her stomach until it came to rest between her slick thighs. She groaned softly when he began to stroke her teasingly. "Damon...that feels so good." She lifted her heavy eyes to meet his, and the slight smirk and cocky half-smile in combination with his skilful hand almost undid her.

"You feel good," he whispered, shuddering as he grabbed the hem of the shorts and began to tug them down her legs. He tossed them to the floor and stared at her, completely relishing in her nakedness. God, she was so beautiful. He didn't care what anyone said – Elena didn't look anything like Katherine, even naked. The thought had crept into his mind a few times, but God. She was her own person and she was fucking intoxicating. He lowered his mouth to her stomach and began to place teasing kisses along the creamy flesh, occasionally nipping at her skin.

Elena blushed when she felt his lips touch her thighs, and his tongue sneaking out to lick her sensitive flesh slowly. She brought her lip between her teeth, biting it and gasping softly when he began to nudge her legs apart with his hands, and she shuddered when he placed a kiss at her very center; it was one of the most intimate moments she had ever experienced. She stroked her fingers through his jet black hair, revelling in its silkiness. "I need you inside me, Damon," she said quietly, but her voice was emanating raw passion.

Damon flicked his eyes up to hers before slowly crawling up her body again. He kissed her lips and pressed himself completely against her. For the first time, they were aligned completely; lip to lip, breast to chest, hip to hip. He could feel every inch of her against him and it was divine. He kissed her slowly, exploring her mouth with complete patience. He felt her hand come up to his hair, threading itself there for a moment before it trailed down and touched his cheek.

Elena smiled against his lips, somewhat nervous as the butterflies in her stomach increased tenfold. "Love me, Damon," she whispered against his ear, nibbling on the lobe. She opened herself up to him and brought her hands up to grasp his shoulders.

Damon swallowed hard before lowering himself to her, lining himself up with her. "I love you," he whispered before thrusting into her, burying himself completely in her indescribable heat with one stroke. She fit him absolutely perfect; tightly, like a custom-made mould. He could already feel the reactions of their bodies finally meeting this way; tightness in his stomach, and her legs automatically coming up to clench around his hips.

Elena moaned at the feeling of him inside her. It was beyond her wildest fantasy; the feeling of him that close to her – inside of her – was completely overwhelming, and she needed to feel everything that he could give her. She raised her hips tentatively to his to encourage him to start moving and God it felt good.

Damon groaned softly when her hips met his and he began to thrust slowly in and out of her, steadily and rhythmically. Her heel pressed into the back of his thigh was driving him crazy. Every time he moved, their flesh met again, lined up so perfectly, so beautifully, setting fire to his body. He suddenly brought one of his hands down to tangle with one of hers, completely entwining their fingers as he moved.

Elena clenched against him and began to move faster, the arrival of her need slowly moving through her. She squeezed his hand tighter and suddenly brought his face down to hers with her other hand and kissed him fiercely, biting his bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. She sucked the liquid through her lips and moaned at the taste of him; sweet and sultry, just like she remembered.

Damon gasped softly, watching her take his blood from him, and began to thrust faster, feeling his orgasm curling against the tight muscles of his stomach. He felt her clench around him, felt the first waves of her own pleasure and that was enough.

"Damon," Elena whimpered, her mouth suddenly at his neck as her body lost all control. The waves of pleasure started out small, but suddenly she was rocking against him as hard as she could, letting herself go completely. She felt the seemingly endless contractions as she gasped for her air, groaning out incoherent things into his sweat-coated flesh. She tightened her legs around him even more.

Damon's body shook as he cried out her name, his own body going into shockwaves of pleasure. He buried his own face on her neck, breathing hotly against her as his muscles tightened and he was suddenly releasing his seed into her, his lower body shaking and jerking against hers uncontrollably. And then her hand was on his cheek stroking his skin softly. He looked down at her, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes before kissing her lips chastely.

Elena returned the kiss and whispered, "I love you, Damon Salvatore," against his swollen lips. She never wanted the feeling of their bare flesh pressed against each other to end.

"I love you, too," Damon returned, carefully pulling out of her and then laying next to her on the bed. He draped a sheet over them and then pulled her close to his body. He never wanted to let her go; never wanted to live without her warm body pressed tightly against his. She gave him something he had never had before: love and security.

Elena rested her head against his chest and kissed his collarbone. "Damon," she murmured softly, "I want to spend eternity with you; for me, there will never be another. It will only ever be you and I think it's always been you. You need to know that I'm going to protect you just as fiercely as you protect me."

Damon looked down and his blue eyes met her brown ones. "I know," he said, his voice wavering slightly. "And that scares me more than you can imagine." He stroked her hair softly with the back of his hand. "I love you, Elena. You've saved my life in more ways than one."

Elena didn't say anything; she simply touched her lips gently to his before shutting her eyes and leaning her head against his solid, warm chest. "Forever," she whispered. "That's what we are." She found his hand and squeezed it tightly before letting waves of relaxation roll over her. Pure exhaustion set in and before she even realized it, she was sleeping deeply, her hand still entwined with Damon's.

Damon, though, had a difficult time sleeping, his mind more awake than his body. He was content to watch over Elena until he finally felt his eye lids drooping, and he thought that he could still hear Klaus in his mind, still feel the compulsion ebbing slowly through his brain. And he inherently knew, at that very moment, that if he wanted to save Elena, he was going to have to die.

If it meant saving the one person who had ever loved him back in his life, then he was perfectly content with death. And though he tried to ignore it, he could hear another voice whispering at him; Elena's voice. He heard that one loud and clear: "Turn me and we're all saved," it said, echoing through his weary mind.

Damon shuddered softly against her, ignoring the warm tears suddenly rolling down his cheeks. He rested his head in the crook of Elena's neck, holding her even more tightly against him. The voices were unsettling, but he knew one thing for damn sure: he was not going to give up without a fight.

He loved Elena and he would willingly give up anything and everything to Klaus to protect her...including his own life. He shivered, stroking Elena's wrist softly, armed with the newfound knowledge of what he had to do, as the ice encasing his soul finally began to melt. This, this right here, he thought, is love. And no one can take that away, even in death.

For Damon, the return had forged a brave new world, even as bad moons rose and he was forced to revisit memory lane. He knew that it was an instance of kill or be killed, for there was no 'plan B' to save them this time. The masquerade of people in his life – Rose, Katerina – had inadvertently helped him protect Elena from the sacrifice.

By the light of the moon, the descent had exposed him wholly for what he was, including deeply rooted issues with his father. Never would he cry wolf, even if he was forced into moments of trickery and betrayal at an unplanned dinner party with uninvited house guests.

To keep Elena safe, to protect this girl whom he loved so completely and so beautifully, he would have to know his enemy; he would store his energy and save the last dance for Klaus. "On the last day," he whispered, closing his eyes as sleep finally claimed him, "the sun also rises, even as I lay dying."

Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go,
Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go,
I hate to leave you, but I really must say,
Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight.

-The Spaniels, "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight"

Fin