Hi Folks,

I'm baaaaack! I am so sorry that it has been so long since I posted. I ran up against a brick wall called "writers block" and just could not get past it. Sometimes it's difficult when you know where a story is going but you have to figure out the best route by which to get there. Sort of like going on a road trip without a GPS. ;) Finally, I have powered through. This is short but it sets things in motion. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4: Location, Location, Location

"What do you mean you are going to get married in 2 months? How is that even possible?" I have just told Caroline the date of mine and Damon's upcoming wedding and her reaction was to panic about the short notice.

"Care, it's quite possible. You see, Damon and I will show up at the same place, we say 'I do', we kiss and it's done," I quip. The look on Caroline's face is the same as I imagine it would be if I had told her it would be fine to where white after Labor Day.

"Elena, you are the best event planner I know but even you cannot plan a wedding in that space of time! You have to secure a photographer, musicians, dresses, a ceremony site, a reception site, a caterer, a florist, select a cake…the list goes on and on!" Caroline ticks off her checklist on her perfectly manicured fingers.

"No I don't." I calmly interject.

"Excuse me? Have you completely lost your mind? Of course you do! You do this professionally so you of all people should know that none of this happens by magic. And don't you dare tell me you are going to elope. Oh my God! You're going to elope!"

"I'm not going to elope."

"Thank goodness because I would hate to have to string Damon up by his balls for convincing you to run off and get married!" Caroline breathes a sigh of relief before arching her brow and asking, "So, would you please explain why you don't need to do all of the things that are required for the big white wedding?"

Taking Caroline's hand, I lead her over to sit down on the chaise in the family room. It is the closest thing we have to a fainting couch and I fear it will be needed for the news I'm about to deliver. "Care, honey, I don't need to do any of those things because I'm not going to have the big white wedding." Her eyes practically bug out of her head as she gasps, "WHAT?"

"Care, I don't want to have a huge wedding," I explain.

"Of course you do! It is the very foundation of your profession! Everybody wants a big wedding!" Caroline's shock and exasperation are clearly written on her face.

"And I am thankful that so many people have booked me to handle their big day. I would not be where I am without it. But I have seen every type of wedding imaginable and I want ours to be specific to us. I don't want it to be a duplicate of anything I've planned before. I want it to be personal and far removed from the events I usually do."

"I can understand that but, Elena, it's your wedding. If you are worried about it becoming work, don't be. Tell me what you want and I can make it happen without you doing anything other than being the bride. Sweetie, every little girl dreams of her wedding, of walking down that aisle to marry the love of their life."

"And they walk down that aisle on the arm of their father while their mother sits on the front row clutching a handkerchief. Believe me, I had that dream but I also have had to realize that real life doesn't always look exactly like the dream." I see a single tear roll down Caroline's cheek. "It's okay. I came to terms with that fact a long time ago. That doesn't mean that I can't still have a dream wedding that looks different from what I originally imagined."

"Elena, I'm so sorry. I wasn't trying to be insensitive. I just want to help you have a perfect wedding day. Please, tell me what you have in mind." Caroline's entire demeanor has changed as she settles back to hear my plan.

"Well, Damon and I have discussed it and at first he was just adamant as you that we have a big wedding but we quickly realized that between the two of us the number of people that we know is pretty daunting. We knew we had to approach this one of two ways: have a huge wedding that could potentially turn into a circus or have a simple, intimate wedding with just family and close friends. We both thought the second option suited us best. He pushed to plan the wedding himself and just let me show up and, though the sentiment is sweet, I quickly put the kibosh on that."

"Aww, I think that's romantic," sighs Caroline.

"It is but, as I explained to him, just because I want a small wedding doesn't mean I don't want to plan it."

"True. Please tell me you have at least secured a location?"

"I'm going to make a call and lock that down today."

"Ooo! Where is it going to be?"

"I haven't told Damon yet so I'm afraid you're going to have to wait to find out." With that we settled into an afternoon of planning everything we could about the wedding without revealing the location details.

Damon walked into the kitchen sniffing the air and looking confused. "You cooked?"

"I heated. Aramici's cooked." I had picked up dinner at a little Italian market where you could buy items and simply warm them at home. "Do you mind selecting a wine?"

"Sure. White or red?" Damon asks as he kisses me on the cheek on his way to the wine storage.

"Red would be lovely."

"No, babe, you are lovely. Wine is delicious. Well, you're delicious too."

"Okay, Romeo, I love you too." We have settled into being together with an ease that bodes well for our impending marriage. I carried our plates over to the table that was beside the fireplace in the large eat in kitchen. I remember the first time I was in this kitchen. I had come over to help Damon prep for a wine dinner which was actually code for saying Damon had found whatever way necessary to lure me into his lair. I immediately fell in love with the house and the fireplace in the kitchen was a delightfully unexpected feature. Tonight the crisp winter air has made it a perfect opportunity to enjoy a romantic dinner by the fire especially since this is our first weekend since Jeremy moved into his new house. We have just finished with our dinner and are enjoying the last of our wine when I announce, "I have some news."

"I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that, since you're on your second glass of wine, you aren't pregnant," grins Damon.

"Damon! No! I am not pregnant! Why do you always guess that when I say I need to tell you something?"

"Because I can't wait to knock you up and watch as your belly grows," he laughs.

"Aww, that's such a romantic way to put it," I roll my eyes.

"I mean it, no matter how I say it. I cannot wait for you to wake me up in the middle of the night to feel our baby kicking inside of your tummy. I cannot wait to see you with that pregnancy glow. You know I want a houseful of kids so the sooner we start the better in my book." Damon leans over and softly kisses me as I blink back tears and whisper an "I love you."

"I love you too, baby. What's your news?"

"I nailed down our wedding venue today."

"Really? That's awesome! I still don't see why you wanted it to be such a secret. Where did you decide on?"

"We're going to get married at your mom's," I smile back.

"What?" I'm not sure what to make of Damon's expression. "You want to get married at mom's house?"

"I do."

Pulling out his phone as though to make a call, Damon quips, "Wait! Let me get the preacher over here, you can say those two words again, and this will be a done deal!"

"Damon, stop. I'm serious. I want to get married at Frannie's. I talked to her today and it's all settled. And, I must tell you, she is thrilled beyond belief!"

"Baby, I would love to have our wedding there but are you sure that is what you want? We're only doing this once so I want it to be exactly the way you want it to be."

"This is exactly what I want. Damon, other than Jeremy I have no family. Well, and Caroline since she really is like a sister to me. I love family but after my parents died I lost that. It wasn't until the first weekend at Frannie's that I felt like I was part of a family again. It would mean so much to me to get married in a place that is filled with so much love and joy." When I finish my explanation, Damon pulls me into a hug and kisses me on top of my head.

"I would be honored to marry you at mom's. I think it is perfect. But, there is one problem." I lean back and look at him quizzically.

"But Frannie said," I start.

"There's the problem. She has told you that you can call her 'Mom'."

I grin from ear to ear. "I know but sometimes I slip. The name 'Frannie' just suits her so well!"

"Well, I think having the wedding at mom's is a wonderful idea. You know what else is a wonderful idea?" Damon asks.

"I don't know but I have a feeling you're going to tell me," I giggle.

"Going to bed early," he answers.

"But I'm not sleepy."

"Exactly," Damon naughtily whispers in my ear before scooping me up and heading for our bedroom.

AN: So, there you have it. Thank you for all the love you always show me. If you have time, I'd love to hear from you in the reviews. We'll come up on the wedding really quickly, a hot honeymoon, then their life as a married couple. Yes, there will be trials but they will face them together. Thanks for reading!