Chapter 15
Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries. I'm just borrowing. Only the story belongs to me.
Note: Okay, guys, I'm going to update "Cat and Mouse" again, since I've already started the sequel and thought I'd finish the first story before I continue. Thank you for the reviews you've so far. You guys rock! No spoilers, except the action takes place two months later.
2 Months Later...
Elena smiled as she looked at her reflection in the mirror, loving how she looked in her gown. Today was the day she had been waiting for. She was going to be marrying Damon Salvatore, the man she loved, the man she had saved. Caroline fussed over as she did some last minute adjusting. As Elena's maid of honor, Caroline made sure that everything was just right.
"Caroline, I think it's straight enough."
"Nonsense," she replied. "A wedding dress can never be too straight."
Elena rolled her eyes. "Damon isn't going to care about that. He's marrying me, not my dress."
"True as that is, you still want to look your best," said Caroline. "Does Damon know how lucky a bastard he is to be getting you as his wife?"
"Don't tell him that, he'll get a big head," said Elena. "But, you're right, he is pretty lucky. Though, I think it's the other way around. I think I'm the lucky one. Until I met Damon, I didn't think I was ever going to find true love. Don't get me wrong, I did date, but I felt like the guys I dated weren't what I expected. Then, Damon came into my life, and all that changed. True, we didn't meet under the best of circumstances, but as we got to know each other, our love just grew."
"That's in your vows, isn't it?"
Elena nodded. "Yeah, but it's true. My life has taken on a whole new meaning with Damon in it and I don't think I can ever have it with anyone else."
Groom's Dressing Room – That Same Moment...
Damon looked over his vows for what seemed like the fiftieth time. He and Elena had written vows for each other, but since he wasn't allowed to see what she had written, he couldn't compare it to what he had. He also wished that he could see what she looked like in her dress. Whoever came up with the rule about the groom not seeing the bride before the ceremony must've either been a woman or a sadist. Either way, Damon thought it was bullshit.
Stefan sat nearby and watched what his brother was doing.
"Will you relax?" he said. "How many times are you going to read those vows?"
"I just want everything to be perfect."
"It will," said Stefan. "You're marrying the woman you love. What could be more perfect than that? Plus, you've got your family here, which makes today even more perfect."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," said Damon. "It's just that I never thought that this would be happening to me, you know? After all the shit I went through with Klaus, something like this seemed like a pipe dream." He sighed. "Of course, when I met Elena, it was though God answered every single prayer I ever prayed. She's an angel, Stefan, my angel. I owe her so much, it's not even funny. If it takes the rest of my natural life, I'm going to thank her every day for what she's done for me."
Stefan nodded. "She's a wonderful woman, Damon. I'm proud to have her as my sister-in-law."
Damon was about to reply when Jeremy Gilbert, Elena's brother, walked in. "Elena's just about ready, Damon. You can head out to the altar."
Damon nodded at his future brother-in-law. "Right, thanks, Jeremy."
With that, he and Stefan walked out of the room and headed out to the sanctuary, where a small group of guests were sitting. Although he would've loved to have given Elena a big, fancy wedding, Damon was glad that she agreed on something small and simple, which made him love her even more. Elisabetta smiled at him from her place in the audience, overjoyed that her son was marrying the woman he loved. She already considered Elena to be part of the family, and that made everything easier.
No sooner did he take his place at the altar than Caroline was seen coming down the aisle, her lavender maid of honor gown making her seem like a Greek goddess, namely Aphrodite, because she seemed to glow with love. She smiled at the Salvatore brothers, mostly at Stefan, taking her place at the altar. Once everyone was positioned, the bride part of the wedding march began and Damon felt his breath leave him as he saw Elena walking down the aisle toward him. She truly did look like an angel in her gown and his heart skipped several beats knowing that she was just moments away from becoming Mrs. Damon Salvatore.
He left the altar and met her half way down the aisle, leading her the rest of the way, smiling at her and whispering in her ear, "You look beautiful, Elena."
His whispered words made her tremble as she replied, "Thank you. You look very handsome."
Damon smiled again and said nothing as they reached their destination and Elena handed her bouquet to Caroline before taking Damon's hands in hers, squeezing them. They then nodded toward the priest, who smiled and began the ceremony.
"Dearly beloved," he said. "We are gathered here today to witness the union of this man and this woman in the bonds of holy matrimony."
Damon and Elena exchanged looks as the priest continued, wondering how long it was going to take to get to the vow exchange, since they were both looking forward to sharing what they had written and weren't allowed to share.
After what seemed like an eternity, the priest said, "Damon and Elena have each written vows that they will now share with each other."
Damon smiled and looked at Elena lovingly, squeezing her hands before saying, "Elena, you have been a blessing in my life ever since I met you. I was in a very dark place and I was looking for a way out. Then, you came into my life and was as though God had answered my prayers to send me a savior to get me out of the dark place I was in. I love you and if it takes the rest of my life, I intend to thank you every day for what you've done for me. You are my angel, my love, and the best friend I could ask for."
Elena felt tears welling up in her eyes and she wondered how she was going to top that. Of course, she knew that this wasn't a competition and cleared her throat as she proceeded to share her vows with him.
"Damon, until I met you, I wasn't sure if I would never find true love. True, I did date, but when I met you, I knew that all of those other guys couldn't hold a candle to you. I know that we didn't meet under the best of circumstances, as I got to know you, our love just grew. You are my savior, my rock, my home, and my heart. It makes my heart sing with pride to become your wife today. I love you so much, Damon, and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you."
Damon struggled to keep from kissing her as she finished her vows. He loved her more and more at that moment and the only thing keeping him from kissing her was the fact that the ring exchange hadn't taken place yet and the priest hadn't pronounced them husband and wife yet, so he had to control himself.
The priest continued the ceremony and just like before, Damon and Elena exchanged looks and wondered when they were going to exchange rings. Finally, the priest asked for the rings and Damon took the ring he was going to give Elena from Stefan.
"Damon, place the ring on Elena's finger and say, 'With this ring, I thee wed.'"
Damon nodded and placed the ring on Elena's finger, saying, "With this ring, I thee wed."
Elena then took the ring she was going to give to Damon and the priest said, "Elena, place the ring on Damon's finger and say, 'With this ring, I thee wed.'"
Elena nodded and placed the ring on Damon's finger, saying, "With this ring, I thee wed."
The priest then smiled and said, "And by the power invested in me by the state of Virginia, I now pronounce you husband and wife." He nodded at Damon. "You may now kiss the bride."
Damon smiled and pulled Elena into his arms, pulled up her veil and kissed her passionately, not giving a shit about the applause from the crowd. Elena returned the kiss and ignored the applause as well. The only thing she cared about was the fact that she was now Mrs. Damon Salvatore.
Note: Here we go, Chapter 15 of "Cat and Mouse." Next chapter will be the last one.
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