'If we're free to dare and we are - If we're free to give and we are - then we're free to shape the future and have within our grasp all that we dream the future will be' Ronald Reagan
"That's it Elena. The head is out," I gush in awe. I drop a kiss to her sweaty forehead, knowing she's exhausted. "You can do this sweetheart," I encourage as I push one of her legs, knee bended back as Jenna does the same with her other leg." She's breathing heavily, her head thrown back against the pillow.
"I can't," she whispers, completely drained.
"You can do this baby. You're so much stronger than you realize."
"You're doing beautifully Elena. But I need you to push one more time," Elijah encourages then turns away for a moment to look at the monitor before turning his gaze back to Elena once more.
"With this contraction, push as hard as you possibly can," he instructs.
I give her my other hand. She squeezes with everything in her, curling her upper body as best she can.
"You have a boy. Congratulations mom and dad," Elijah says as he suctions out his mouth and nose before gently placing our crying baby in Elena's arms.
I bend over to press a kiss to his little forehead. My knees weaken when he wraps his little fist around my pinkie. Elena is smiling wider than I think I've ever seen as tears fall from her eyes.
"He's so beautiful," I babble, completely in awe of my new son. "I'm so proud of you," I whisper, lifting a sweet kiss from her lips.
"Elena, he's perfect," Jenna whispers, pressing a kiss to Elena's sweat dampened hair.
"Oh Damon, he has your eyes," Elena says softly, her voice full of wonderment.
"Here you go mommy. I think someone is hungry," I say, cradling my wailing son before dropping him gently into Elena's waiting arms.
Once she pulls her shirt and bra aside, he latches on immediately. "He's really tugging hard, he must be hungry," Elena says, gently petting his raven black hair.
Elena was truly born to be a mother. She's been amazing with Kit. We have a cradle right next to Elena's side of the bed. That way when he starts to fuss during the night, she can easily lift him into the bed with us to nurse. Usually he wakes me up too so I try to support her. There's really nothing I can do for him when he's hungry. I do usually get up and change his diaper when she's done feeding him. Sometimes she just lets me sleep.
I'm trying to come up with a crib design. Because of Elena's disability, she can't stand up to lift him out of the crib. I'm going to build one that will allow her to lower one of the sides but I have to make sure it's safe for Kit. He's only a few weeks old so I have a little time yet. It's convenient to have him in our room right now to facilitate Elena's breast feeding.
Mason did an amazing job renovating my house for Elena. He redid our bathroom adding a larger bathtub and a shower big enough to accommodate a shower chair for Elena. We also had a hot tub installed on the deck. I can't begin to explain how much I love relaxing after a long day of chopping wood. He made a lot of improvements like the keypad locks and the electronic patio door. He had to widen a couple of the doorways to allow for wheelchair passage.
Elena has a lifeline device that she keeps either around her neck or in the pocket that's attached to her wheelchair. That way should anything happen, she can push the button which alerts us that she needs help. It sounds in my parent's place as well as sending calls to not only my phone but also Ric and Jenna's if I'm out of cell phone range. Sometimes when I'm in the mountains, there's no cell phone signal. Fortunately she hasn't had a situation arise that necessitated her sounding the alarm.
"Damon quick, grab your phone. Just look at him smile," Elena squeals excitedly.
"Hey little man. Are you smiling for mommy?" I ask, as I snap picture after picture of him. Ever the proud papa, I shoot off text after text of our smiling Kit to all of our friends. Soon I'm inundated with congratulatory messages all of which I share with Elena.
Christopher 'Kit' Salvatore is really the perfect blend of both of us. He has my hair and eye color but the rest of him is all Elena. I couldn't be happier about that.
"Happy Birthday Kit," we all yell on the occasion of his second birthday. I don't know where the time has gone. Elena and I are happier than ever. Just after Kit's first birthday, Elena went back to work for our local newspaper. I supported her decision wholeheartedly. This way she's able to get out of the house a couple of days a week. She also hopes to someday write a book about the trials she's gone through both before and after she became a paraplegic. She wants other people to know that happiness is achievable despite the disability.
We purchased a small car for her, retrofitted to deal with her disability. The brakes, gas, everything is hand-controlled allowing her to drive. You should've seen her face the first time she took me out for a spin. It's really given her a lot of her independence back.
Our little boy really is the light of our lives. He's about to become a big brother. Elena has had a more difficult pregnancy this time around as far as morning sickness goes. We see Elijah frequently as we did when we were expecting Kit. Again, we've chosen to wait for the surprise but we are hoping for a little girl this go round.
Kit is so excited. He's tearing into his presents like a champ. "It's time for birthday cake, little man," I tell him, scooping him up in my arms and securing him in his highchair. He's digging into his cake while we're singing happy birthday to him. "Mama, cake!" he squeaks delightedly.
Enzo and Caroline eloped not long after Kit was born. Their daughter, Melanie turned one just last week. They too were surprised by a visit from the stork. Ric and Jenna married last year. Unable to have their own children, they adopted a boy, Michael who is a firecracker and a little girl with special needs. No one wanted to adopt Angela because of the medical care she requires. She's a precious child. We all love her but it's Ric who's completely at her mercy.
Stefan and Meredith are planning their wedding. Meredith grew up in upstate New York so that's where she wants their wedding to be. Although selfish, I have asked Stefan about the possibility of having the wedding closer. It's just hard to travel that distance with Elena. Due to her paralysis, she's prone to pressure sores if she has to sit in one spot for an extended period of time. Both Elena and I are very conscious of that fact so we make sure to take every precaution to prevent them. She did develop a small sore while in labor with Kit. Elijah arranged for us to see the hospital's wound care team. I had to bring Elena to the hospital twice a week for care till it was healed.
"I had to read him 'The Three Little Pigs' again but now he's out like a light," I whisper when I crawl in bed next to my beautiful wife.
"I know. I can't believe he's two already," Elena laments.
"Me neither, sweetheart," I answer, caressing her barely there bump. She cradles my face pressing a searing kiss to my lips. She rolls onto her back and I roll on top of her after repositioning her legs. After pulling her nightie off, I pepper her neck, her face, the swell of her breasts with kisses.
"That tickles," she giggles.
"Does it now?" I tease, tickling her without mercy.
She's squirming yet trying to tickle me back, knowing my ribs are my weak spot. She pulls the big guns out when she reaches down and grabs a hold of me.
"You don't want to go there, Mrs. Salvatore," I warn trying to sound gruff but unable to hold in my laugh.
"That'll teach you not to mess with me," she purrs.
I stare at her for a long moment before crashing my lips to hers for a bone melting kiss. When I pull back, I begin to work my way down her body, pressing kisses here and nipping there, before pulling her nipple into my mouth suckling gently. I notice her grimace a bit so I let go with a plopping sound. "Does that hurt?"
"My breasts are a little tender like they were when I was pregnant with Kit," she says running her fingers through my hair.
"I'll be gentle." When she nods, I resume my ministrations. "You're so beautiful Elena. I love you so much," I say, worshipping her body with my tongue.
Soon she's fisting the sheets, "Damon, please..."
I take one last swipe with my tongue before crawling back up her body. Entwining our fingers, I raise our arms above her head, pressing a sweltering kiss to her full lips. Pulling back breathlessly, I can't help but smile when I see her mouth drop open when I press into her. I pull back and push in again with a little more finesse. "Tell me what you need, sweetheart," I urge.
"Harder," she moans before biting onto her lower lip. In no time my hips are pistoning with each back and forth into her body. Soon both of us are covered in a light sheen of sweat. Elena untangles her fingers from mine then reaches down to cup my ass pulling me in deeper. Moans begin to escape her mouth as she continues to squeeze my buttocks. In turn, moans pour from my lips when she lets go and starts to run her nails along my back. Chill bumps start erupting on her skin and mine just before she yells, falling headfirst into the rapture. When I feel her trembling, I speed up, thrusting more forcefully for a couple of strokes before I shudder and tumble chaotically onto the most amazing peak I've ever reached.
Once I waft back down to earth, I raise up and kiss her passionately before rolling off to the side. "It gets better every time, Elena," I whisper.
"I know..." she says bewitchingly.
"Goodnight," I tell her pulling her close, her back to my front. I curl my arm around her, palming her belly softly before closing my eyes.
"Welcome to the world, Reagan Kate Salvatore," I whisper pressing a kiss to her tiny cheek. Born at thirty seven weeks, she weighs exactly five pounds and is eighteen inches long. She has a mop of brown hair but she does have my blue eyes. Because Elena developed 'autonomic dysreflexia', Elijah ordered an emergency cesarean section.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart," I ask, gazing at Reagan who's sound asleep in her mother's arms.
"My incision hurts, but I'm good. The nurse gave me some pain medicine a little while ago. I'm just so happy," she says blissfully, dropping a kiss to our little girl's forehead.
Out of nowhere, we hear Kit yelling. He runs into the room just ahead of my parents. "Mama, me see," he yelps excitedly, jumping up and down.
"Come here little man," I tell him, scooping him into my arms and sitting him beside Elena on the bed.
"Daddy, baby!" he squeals. "Me give baby kiss," he says, raising himself up to kiss her cheek.
"Damon, get on that bed so I can take your picture. You too Gracie," my dad directs. I wrap my arms around my mom from behind as we squeeze together for my dad's picture. I'm so lucky to still have both my parents. They've done nothing but support me, give me the freedom to spread my wings before welcoming me back with open arms. Dad and Elena have grown especially close. Who knew Elena was a sports fanatic? She and my dad have a standing Sunday date during football season. They have a date to see a 'Washington Nationals' game before baseball season is over too. Elena and my mother have an amazing relationship as well but it's different than what she has with my dad.
Just then a nurse walks and volunteers to get a picture of all of us. "Smile," she says when we're all in position.
After everyone is gone for the evening. Mom and Dad are watching Kit tonight. I help Elena reposition herself in bed so I can sit beside her. As she cradles Reagan, I cradle her.
"That's nice," she whispers, turning her eyes to mine.
"Very nice," I whisper lifting a kiss from her lips. "You know the movie, 'It's a Wonderful Life'. That's what you've given me Elena, a wonderful life. I love you."
"Damon," she says, tears filling her eyes.
"I never dreamed I could have a life like this when that bullet went through my spine. You've made my life so full and so happy. You saved me Damon."
She reaches over lacing her fingers with mine, brings them to her lips, kissing them softly. I lean our heads together, pull her closer and close my eyes. "Thanks for the wings, Damon," she whispers just as I'm drifting off to sleep.
The End...
Freedom is the right to dream - to follow your dream or stick to your conscience even if you're the only one in a sea of doubters' Ronald Reagan
And that's all there is. I gave a little nod to 'It's a Wonderful Life'. I so love that movie... And I do admire President Reagan and that's him in my icon with Marilyn. I hope you enjoyed the conclusion of 'Breathe'. It crossed the 200 review threshold. I can't tell you how happy that makes me. Thank you all for taking this journey with me. A big thanks to Eva for without her, there would be no stories. And to Kate who always finds the time to make me the perfect cover image for my stories. A big thanks to EACH & EVERYONE OF YOU for supporting my work. No matter how TVD ends for DE, I'm going to keep them in my little bubble and give them the stories and HEA's that they've more than earned. "Nothing Else Matters' and 'Pieces of Eight' are still in progress. Please give them a look too. Again, I thank you all and have a fabulous weekend. Carol