Damen walked upstairs a couple of days later to see Stefan sat worriedly on the edge of the bed, brows furrowed as he reached to cup his fiancées cheek gently. A low hiss escaped his lips when their flesh made contact, and the older brother could only guess it was because she was still running a fever. She was laying on her side facing him, face flushed and forehead slightly damp with sweat, her hair lay tangled beside her, and Damen shut his eyes sadly.
"Bro come on, the weddings in three days, you really think she's going to be able to walk down that aisle." He said and leant against the door frame.
Stefan sighed, "No, but... she does."
He said and gestured to Elena who rolled further towards him and squeezed his hand timidly. He bent forwards to kiss her cheek.
"Has she taken her meds yet?" Damen asked.
Stefan nodded, "She can't have anymore for a couple of hours."
Damen sighed, "You need sleep, I'll watch her."
"No way." Stefan shot back instantly, Damen backed away slightly with his hands up, like he was shocked by his brothers reaction.
In reality he wasn't, Stefan was anything but rational when it came to Elena, and now she was sick, Damen knew he had to tread carefully.
"Stefan, she's asleep, let her rest, you're not doing yourself any favours by staying up late, go on, go to bed."
Stefan sighed and kissed her forehead, getting up and walking past his brother into the hall.
"You'll shout me if..."
"If she so much as moves yes." Damen said and watched as his brother went into the spare room, slamming the door behind him and sinking into a much needed sleep.
"Stefan?" Elena croaked, her hand running up and down the edge of the bed anxiously, Damen went and grabbed the glass of water, pressing it to her lips gently.
"Drink." He said simply, in truth he had no hostility towards Elena, she had of course, once had a place in his heart, she still did, but it was a different kind of place, she looked at him like she cared for him, and there was love there. But it was the love Stefan and Damen had for one another, not like his brother and Elena, they were in love, where as they only loved him.
"Where's Stefan?" Elena asked, opening her eyes to look around the dimly lit room.
Damen put his hand deep in his pockets, "He's asleep, the poor old boy was beat, hanging around waiting for you to wake up."
Elena sniffed, "How bad was he?"
Damen shrugged.
She sighed, "As long as you're in such a nonchalant and sarcastic mood I will make you do something of me, I need you to check my dress and bring me the receipt that's around the neck." She asked him, pointing tiredly to the wardrobe.
He turned and opened the door, pulling a long white garment bag out. He unzipped it and blinked at what he saw, he pulled the hanger out and held it up, the light form the lamp shining off of the crystals.
Damen let out a long breath, "Stefan's probably going to faint when he sees you in this."
She laughed and rolled her eyes, and although she was obviously shattered, she seemed in much higher spirits than she had before.
Damen removed the label and handed it to her, she glanced at it then placed it in the drawer beside the bed.
Damen put the dress back in the wardrobe and laughed.
"You know I think I might Google image that for Stefan, I'm sure he'd love to see..."
"Don't you dare!" Elena cried, he looked at her chocked, her eyes were clearly upset.
"This is my one chance for me to look truly right beside him, when he is so much more special than I am." A tear rolled down her cheek and Damen sighed.
"Your right I'm sorry, you should go back to sleep, he'll murder me if I keep you up." He said.
She laughed and sniffed "you can practice your best man speech."
Realisation dawned on the older brothers face and he cursed, having forgotten all about the damn speech.
"What time is Stefan picking Jeffery up?" She asked quietly, her brows furrowed as she tried to remember.
"Honestly these human memories, you know it's one of the things I don't miss..."
"Damen."
"Ten O clock." He said finally, she nodded and sunk back into the bed,
"Night Damen."
"Night Elena."