Happy 2015! I never intended to take this long to update. Shortly after posting Chapter 40, I started running a fever and got extremely sick. I was able to go back to work just this week. It started with the flu and snowballed into several other illnesses on top of that. So, I know it's January and there are Christmas references but such is life. I apologize for the wait and I hope this was worth it.
Chapter 41: Always Have, Always Will
"Why are you so jittery? My mom loves you!"
"I'm not nervous, I'm excited!"
Damon and I are standing at Frannie's front door and I am ready to jump out of my skin.
"Ready?" Damon gives my gloved hand a squeeze. "Let's go make the old woman's day!" he says with flared eyes and a grin.
"Damon, behave yourself!" I say, giving his behind a swat.
"Funny that's not what you said last night," he growls in my ear as he swings open the door. "Ma! I found an elf on the front porch!" he calls out before tossing me over his shoulder in a fireman's hold and striding into the family room while I squeal and giggle for him to put me down. Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas" competes with Damon's laughter as Frannie greets us. Damon slides me down his body and loops his arm tightly around my waist.
"Mio caro, mia cara!" Frannie engulfs first Damon then me in a bone-crushing hug. "I was afraid that the snow might keep you from making the trip," she adds, brushing snowflakes from Damon's hair.
"I didn't know that was an option. Lena, let's head back home!" Damon turns and pretends he's going to head back to the door when I catch his hand and pull him back.
"Frannie, I wouldn't miss it! I'm looking forward to spending a real family Christmas for the first time in a long while," I say.
"Well, come have a seat by the fire and get warmed up! Damon, hang Elena's coat for her. Don't forget her hat and gloves." I glance at Damon at the mention of gloves.
"Umm, baby, your hands get so cold. Why don't you just keep your gloves on until you're really warmed up?" I try to hide my smile as I go over and sit on the couch in front of the fire. Damon quickly follows and sits beside me and picks up my hands. "So, mom, when are Stef and Bex coming over?"
"They said they'd give us some time to visit then head over a little before time for the party to start. That gives me plenty of time to teach Elena how to make your favorite cookies," Frannie beams. "So, how have you kids been doing?"
"We've been good," I say.
"Damon told me about what happened with that horrible boy. I wanted to come take care of you but Damon insisted that I stay here. Are you OK, dear?"
"I'm really am. It was scary but Damon handled it." I look at his handsome face and trace my hand across his jaw. "He really is my knight in shining armor."
"I prefer badass in black leather but whatever," smirks Damon. "I think your hands are probably warm now. Don't you?" I grin and nod my head as Damon removes first my right glove then my left. "Of course, I understand why your hands stay cold when you have a piece of ice on your finger," he grins.
"What?" asks Frannie. "Ice? Why do you have…" she trails off as she catches a glimpse of my finger. "Well as I live and breathe! Damon Francis Salvatore, did you finally listen to your mother?" Quick as a wink, Frannie is out of her seat and has us both wrapped in her arms as tears pour down her face.
"Best advice you ever gave me, mom," chuckles Damon.
"Oh, Elena, welcome to the family! I could not be happier!" She plants a kiss on each cheek then turns and does the same to Damon. "Well, tonight's Christmas party just became an engagement party! I've got to pull out the good wine! Damon, come help me in the wine cellar!"
~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~
Christmas was wonderful. The annual Salvatore Christmas Eve party was a huge success. I met all sorts of people from Damon's childhood including a couple of girls that I am fairly certain were part of his fan club in high school. Catching up with Stefan and Bex (yes, I've started calling her Bex) was surprisingly enjoyable. In fact, after being plied with enough wine to be dangerously honest, I had a very revealing conversation with Bex. The two of us were in the kitchen working on putting away food after the party and started reminiscing about old times.
"I'm so glad that you're going to be part of the family! From sorority sisters to sisters-in-law, sounds good to me!"
"Bex, I feel like I owe you an apology."
"What in the world for?" she asks with a quirked brow.
"Well, in college, I was pretty grumpy with you sometimes," I hedged.
"Oh, water under the bridge! I wasn't the easiest thing to live with, I'm sure!"
"Well, it was, um, well, to be honest…I thought that you had a thing for Damon and I was so insecure that it made me insanely jealous. I'm so sorry!"
"Lena! Oh my gosh!" Rebecca throws her head back laughing heartily. "Oh, I wish I had known. No! Well, I mean, every girl on campus wanted him at some point, but once I met Stef I just wanted to impress his big brother. That's why I always paid him so much attention. I was going for the sibling approval!" We're still hugging it out when Damon and Stefan walk in the in the kitchen.
"Are you two drunk or did someone kill a puppy?" Damon asks.
"Shut up, bully. We're just doing some girl bonding," Rebecca explains with a wink.
"I was hoping maybe we were getting ready to see some footage for 'Former Sorority Girls Gone Wild,'" Stefan laughs.
"Watch it!" growls Damon who is being surprisingly territorial considering he's talking to his brother. Rebecca adds an exclamation point to Damon's response by throwing a baguette at Stefan before she and I laugh knowing that we are now able to move beyond our past and truly be family.
~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~
"Hi baby," Damon breathes as he wraps his arms around me from behind. I have been standing by the tree, watching the snow falling outside the picture window.
"Hey," I sigh contentedly when he places a sweet kiss on my neck.
"Are you happy?" Damon asks almost nervously.
Turning to face him, I am stunned by the vulnerability on his face.
"I am happier than I can ever remember being."
"This crazy Italian family isn't too much?"
"They are just right. After I lost my parents, I didn't think I would ever have this again. Then I met you and was too scared to trust. We all know how that worked out. For ten years I just existed. I'm finally living again. And I love every loud, boisterous second of it."
"Lena, you'll never know how happy to make me."
"Now, the real question is, are you ready for my family? It may just be Jeremy but he has no idea we're even back together, much less that we're engaged."
"Little brother? I can take him," grins Damon.
"You haven't seen my little brother since he joined the military. He'll be home in February. We'll see how he takes the news then."
"I'm sure he will be Ok once he sees that you are happy. Either way, we're in this together, Lena." He backs up that sentiment with a toe-curling kiss. "Shall we go slip you into my room and see how well mom's Ambien works?"
"Salvatore, you won't do!" I laugh.
"Oh but I will and you know it!" Damon playfully growls into my ear before drawing back and looking me in the eye. "I love you, Lena."
"I love you too, Damon. Always have, always will."
AN: It is with tearful excitement that I tell you that this marks the end of Now and Then but not of the story of our characters. It will probably be one or two weeks but I have started working on a sequel and will start posting it ASAP. I am so touched by the support that my readers have given me. You guys are amazing. The reviews, favorites and follows are so appreciated. Many times, when I was struggling with a chapter, reading those reviews gave me the "umphf" to keep working through it. I started this story when I was stuck at home on bed rest following a surgery. At the time, I figured I would be the only person to ever read it. Then I decided that it would be good to get some feedback and decided to post in the hopes that one or two people may read and review. I am touched and humbled by all of you. Thank you seems so inadequate but I mean it. You are appreciated more than you know! I will not mark this as "complete" yet so that I can let you know when I post the first chapter of the next part of the story. Our couple will be facing new challenges, we'll meet Jeremy, have a wedding :) and see just where their journey takes them. And, of course, there will be enough lemons for a vat of lemonade! ;) I hope you decide to join me as we continue this ride. Thank you again!