Author's Note: This epilogue is for you guys who want to catch glimpses of Delena's lives in the not-so-distant future. For all intents and purposes, Chapter 26 was the real ending. This is just the extra bonus for those who can't seem to say goodbye just yet. BUT, THIS is the 'END' end. I know I said that the last chapter, but I really do mean it this time. Let's all celebrate! *passes champagne to everyone (sparkling water for those who are underage)*
CHEERS!
*after twenty seconds*
*wails* Who am I kidding? I can't bear to say goodbye to these characters! Not after everything they've been through! Damon and Elena are finally together! And happy! Ric and Meredith are getting married and getting their freak on! Stef and Care Bear are dating! Elijah is...he has his gun! Pig has Mr. Cuddles! I love them all! I mean, it's an end of an era for me!
I blame you all! You heard me! GAH! *sticks tongue out at you*
WARNING: NOTHING BUT GROSS HAPPINESS. YUCK.
Chapter 27: Epilogue
(SEVEN MONTHS LATER...)
[Damon's POV (Just because I'm nice since you guys prefer the story told from his view-point, anyway)]
The atmosphere is tense, the air... heavy. The room is filled to the brim with what looks like the entire population of Mystic Falls. Everyone seems to be sitting on the edge of their seats and holding their breaths, waiting. Just waiting.
I glance down at the hand I'm holding, amazed that the owner of that hand seems utterly relaxed, calm even. I sneak a peek over to my right, catching my girlfriend in the act of staring at me thoughtfully from the corner of her eyes. When I lift an enquiring brow, she simply flashes me a smile with a squeeze of her fingers.
"You seem worried," she whispers, leaning in closer until I can actually smell the shampoo she had used this morning. It reminds me of a fruity bubblegum.
I shake my head and lift my left hand, holding my thumb up. "I'm not worried. I'm completely zen-like. See?"
I put on my most nonchalant expression but who am I kidding? I am worried. I'm so tensed, my butt cheeks haven't been clenched this tight since my last food poisoning episode. Anyway, how could I not be? This is a huge moment for all of us, especially for Elena. We spent months waiting patiently for this very day, the day when we can finally put all the bad things that happened behind us. It's supposed to be a momentous occasion but then it could also go horribly wrong.
Sometimes, the universe just decides to screw with us just for the hell of it. I sincerely hope that this isn't the case, because otherwise, there's going to be a major whooping of some major universe's ass.
"It's going to be fine, Damon. You'll see."
I marvel at the confidence in Elena's voice but then am completely distracted as the stern-looking lady judge addresses the jury seated to the side of the room.
"Has the jury reached its verdict?"
"We have, Your Honor," a tiny woman who acts as Madame Foreperson replies with a nod, her voice ringing loudly in the silent room. I can almost hear a pin drop as the entire courtroom practically leans forward simultaneously to hear Lockwood's fate. As petite as she is, the cold and unsympathetic look she pins Lockwood with is downright scary. "We, the Jury find the defendant...guilty of all charges."
A deafening roar of approval erupts around us, cutting off the rest of the reading of verdict, but it's enough for me. The nightmare is over. That bastard is judged and convicted. The universe is smiling again.
I stand up and fist-pump into the air before pulling Elena up to her feet, wrapping my arms around her slim frame. She hugs me right back but then suddenly rears back just as I was going to pull her chin up for a kiss.
"I'll be right back, okay?" she tells me, and I watch nervously as she carefully makes her way over to the front.
I almost die of shock when she actually crosses over a low banister, heading straight for my sworn enemy, the man who was sentenced to goodness knows how long in prison. Call me mean or inhumane, but I sincerely hope that he never gets to see the light of day again. Such monsters do not deserve my compassion, nor do they deserve second chances, in my opinion.
Amidst the departing crowd, I stand motionless in the middle of the room, my eyes keeping a close watch on the brunette across the room who seem so intent on speaking face-to-face with the man who is responsible for every single darkness in her life. That man fucking caused her to lose her entire family in one night!
From a distance, I note with satisfaction the look of curiousness with which he regards my girlfriend, followed by a flash of guilt on his worried face. Well, what do you know? The monster has feelings. Alert the media.
I don't realize that I'm holding my breath the entire time, not until Elena comes back and I have to draw in a deep breath in order to ask her what the hell that was about. It doesn't help that she's getting exceedingly good at inducing a heart attack from me.
"Oh, nothing. Just saying goodbye to my past, that's all," she answers when I quiz her about it. Upon seeing my exasperation, she launches into a lengthier explanation. "I wanted to let him know exactly what I thought about him. I told him that I forgave him for the part he played in my parents' death."
"What?! The guy practically murdered them!"
"I truly believe that it was an accident and that he didn't mean to cause their deaths. I suppose his presence on the road that night played some part in causing the crash, but I just don't think that it was deliberate," she says slowly as if I might have trouble understanding. She's right. I don't understand. "Carrying around that kind of guilt does something to someone and I didn't want him to be burdened by the self-blame any longer. It was eating at him from the inside and it turned him into this monster that we know today. I wanted to absolve him from that so that he can begin to heal."
Is this girl running for the next Mother Teresa or something? "Elena-"
"And then I thanked him," she blurts out, cutting me off. My eyes bulge out from their sockets as I wonder if she's lost her mind. "I told him that if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have realized how strong I really am, and thanks to him, I now know how to knee anyone in the balls who wants to hurt me ever again. Then I said that I want him to get everything he deserves and more."
I shake my head as I release a chuckle in relief. Turns out, she's not crazy. Just one ballsy chick telling her ex to go fuck himself. That's my girl!
"So you mentioned that you bid farewell to your past, huh? What about your future?" I ask as I tuck her close under my arms, guiding her out of the courthouse.
"My future? I'm taking him out for some ice cream."
So I guess we're going for ice cream!
(Weeks later)
Fucking hell.
I miss her.
I want to throw my shoe at whoever it was that came up with that stupid rule about brides and grooms not being allowed to see each other on the eve of their wedding. He or she sucks and obviously exists solely to torment people like me; a pathetic besotted fool. The worst part of it all is that I'm not even the lucky bastard who will be saying 'I Do' at the altar tomorrow.
In case I sound like a totally insane person, it's been two hours since I left Elena at home with the other girls. That might be a hundred and twenty minutes to normal folks, but in Damon Salvatore's world, it's a gazillion light years away.
What's the big freaking deal, one might ask?
Sure, we've been apart for longer than that on some days, especially since she started attending classes again after things had finally settled down. Our time apart would have been bearable if I knew that we'd be seeing each other again later on in the day, perhaps for dinner or working alongside each other at Ric's center like we've been doing ever since her debut 'Unsilenced' meeting.
At the very least, we'd make sure to end each day lying side-by-side in bed, giving a rundown on how our day went followed by some kissing, cuddling and more often than not, some tender lovemaking until we were spent.
But not tonight.
For the first time since we started dating, we will be spending the night apart; me with the guys and Elena with Care Bear and some of Meredith's colleagues. Why? Because my inconsiderate best friends are getting married tomorrow and tonight marks the end of their singlehood.
In other words, Ric gets a free pass at doing whatever a typical bachelor might do before getting hitched; he gets drunk and seems to think it's a good idea to strip down to his boxers in an apartment full of penis-owning men. The worst of it is that he somehow managed to get the rest of us to strip down to our shirts, socks and boxers, too.
Of course I've wondered why I couldn't find myself a normal best friend who parties at strip clubs on his last night as a bachelor rather than prance around his house in his underwear.
"Come on, Dee Dee," the tipsy and semi-naked groom-to-be calls out from his living room, making me cringe at hearing my most hated nickname of all time. If the guy didn't have to look his best for his wedding tomorrow, I might not be able to resist the urge to introduce my fist to his face just then. "Stop hiding out in the guest room and come have some fun! You'll see her in the morning."
Exactly.'Morning' is a whole twelve hours from now, which means an entire night without her by my side. No touching, no kissing, no hugging, nothing. I might just die.
"I'm a little concerned about your idea of 'fun', Ric," I reply, raising my voice a little to be heard over the racket my buddy deems as music. Listening to endless replays of the song 'I'm Too Sexy' was not exactly how I imagined a bachelor party would go, especially when accompanied by disturbing grinding hip-action with other scantily-clad men who don't seem to find anything wrong with such things.
Odd balls, the lot of them. It's a sad day indeed when I'm considered to be one of the 'normal' ones. I miss my girlfriend, my huge bed, and my dog. Hell, I even miss Mr. Cuddles.
I hear the sound of heavy footsteps approaching my temporary room and I turn around just in time to see the man of the hour stumbling his way into the door frame, almost spilling a glass of bronze-colored liquid onto the floor -Bourbon, from the looks of it.
After regaining his balance, he swivels around and makes his way clumsily to where I've been standing by the window, gazing out into the darkness while my thoughts are filled with my missing brunette. The alcohol must have messed with his depth perception because the next thing I know, I have Ric barreling into me, his forehead bumping painfully into mine.
"Woah, are you okay? You seem….magnified all of a sudden," he mumbles, his eyes crossing as he tries to peer into mine, our faces merely an inch apart now.
I'm seeing stars but it has nothing to do with the moonlit view outside the window. I rub my tingling forehead as I reach out to steady the swaying man in front of me. "That's because you're in my personal space, buddy."
Figuring that it is safer for us if I get him off his feet, I lead him over to my makeshift bed on the floor and push him down onto it. He lands on his butt with a bounce, miraculously still holding onto his glass without spilling a single drop.
"Tell me, Dee Dee," he says, pointing at me. "Is it weird that I'm not at all nervous about getting married? I mean, I'm a guy, right? Aren't I supposed to freak out over not being able to sleep with another woman for the rest of my life? But I'm not; I'm completely calm about it. Isn't that strange?"
Oh boy, here we go. The not-able-to-have-sex-with-other-women talk that plagues every future groom at one point or another. Serious stuff.
"Umm, no, it's not weird if you really love Meredith and only want her in your future. The thought of being with anyone else will never cross your mind as long as you're in love with her. Every other woman just pales in comparison."
He nods along thoughtfully, taking a sip of his drink. I shake my head when he offers me some, keeping my promise that I would never touch alcohol again. Then, he flashes a smile at me. "You're absolutely right! And do you know how I came to realize that I only want Mer as my wife?"
I shake my head, genuinely curious now. Perhaps Ric's revelation might serve as a benchmark to ascertain my own readiness to settle down with Elena soon. Really soon.
"I accidentally walked in on her when she was on the toilet one day," he announces gleefully, as if he just discovered the secret location of the Holy Grail. "You know how we men don't expect girls to do any of those disgusting stuff, like poop or dig their noses? And if they fart, it'll come out smelling like roses?"
At this point, I'm just gaping at him, kind of afraid to listen on but yet unable to stop him. I just know I'll regret not changing the subject.
"Well, I went in there, and she was in the midst of doing a number two, and it stank like hell. It was like an entire septic tank had exploded in my bathroom! But that didn't change how I felt about her at all, and that's when I figured out that I really really love this woman. So, I decided right then that she was the one," he says with a smug expression, looking mighty pleased with himself.
Yup, definitely regretting it now.
"You decided to marry Meredith while she's doing her…business?" Oh, sweet Jesus! How am I supposed to look at the bride tomorrow morning and not picture her backing one out on the toilet?!
To my relief, Ric chuckles loudly and shakes his head. "I waited until she flushed first, and when I still felt the same, that's when I made up my mind," he grins. "What about you? Have you ever thought about putting Elena through the poop test?"
The poop test? Is that what every couple is doing these days?"Umm, well…it never occurred to me to watch her poop and see if I still love her after. I-I've seen her without any makeup on…does that count?"
"Yes!" comes Ric's enthusiastic reply, as if that seals the deal somehow. "Well, it's better than nothing, I guess. I hope you guys will be as happy as we are some day. I really love you, man. You deserve nothing but the best, so I hope you'll pop the question after one of her pooping sessions. You 'da man," he praises, clapping his hand on my cheek before letting out a loud guffaw and scrambling to his feet with some difficulty. "Now stop moping and come out and join the party. Black Santa's going to show us how to twerk!"
"I'm staying put, then," I hurriedly inform him, watching as he walks on unsteady feet and then bumps into the door frame again. "Watch the face!"
Ric lets out another laugh and goes on his merry way, leaving me on my own again when he closes the door behind him. I look down at the phone in my hand, the one I have been holding as I contemplate if I should call Elena to bid her goodnight before Ric interrupted me and basically rendered me unable to ever look his bride in her eyes again.
Well, if I can't see Elena, at least I can hear her voice. That should be able to tide me over until morning comes. Heaving a sigh of relief, I quickly press her speed dial number as I make myself comfortable on the mattress Ric just vacated. The call connects after some time but all I can hear are some loud techno music and a bunch of ladies cheering in the background.
"Hello? Elena? Can you hear me?" Where are they?
"Hey, babe! Missed me already? Hello? Damon? Oh shoot, it's too noisy in here," I hear her shouting over the commotion, but listening to her voice provides an instant relief to my troubling thoughts. "I can't hear a thing. Care, I'm going to find a quiet place and-"
"No! You can't leave, Elena! It's your turn to slip a dollar bill into his thong…" Blondie's voice reaches my ears and I almost drop the phone in surprise.
A thong? Dollar bills?! The girls have a male stripper over at my house?!
I hang up, seeing as she can't hear me anyway and immediately start up my messaging screen.
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
What are you doing slipping bills into a guy's thong?!
I wait for her reply in near agony, my mind conjuring up various scenarios that involves male body parts and my girlfriend in the same room. My fingers feel as if they can suddenly crush metal. I exhale in a rush when my screen lights up with an incoming message.
NEW MESSAGE FROM ELENA:
Hey, you! Sorry about just now. The girls have the music so loud in here!
How convenient that she ignored my question. But she's not going to be able to sidestep this one.
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
PLEASE tell me you girls didn't get a male stripper for the bachelorette party!
NEW MESSAGE FROM ELENA:
Okay, I won't. So, how was your night so far? :D
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
Elena 'Asparagus' Gilbert!
NEW MESSAGE FROM ELENA:
Damon 'Brussel Sprouts' Salvatore!
No, we're not mentally unsound. We recently decided to give each other cringe-worthy food-related nicknames as opposed to using our given names. It just so happens that we are in the unfortunate 'vegetable' phase right now.
And apparently, I remind her of brussel sprouts, the most unpopular of vegetables.
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
Stop evading the question, baby corn. Is there a male stripper over at my house?
NEW MESSAGE FROM ELENA:
Umm…technically…no.
Despite my instant relief at her somewhat evasive answer, I can't help but think that something's up back at the mansion. And then she sends another one that immediately sends my blood pressure sky-rocketing.
NEW MESSAGE FROM ELENA:
There's kinda-sorta more than one.
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
MORE?! LIKE HOW MANY MORE?
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
Why are you girls allowed to have almost naked guys for your party while we….okay, actually we also have almost naked guys over here, too. Hmm
NEW MESSAGE FROM ELENA:
Wow, your party sounds really interesting. So tell me about it.
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
That's not the point, my dear cauliflower.
NEW MESSAGE FROM ELENA:
Look, it's not my idea, okay? Turns out that Mer's colleagues really went all out for her. Who knew that a bunch of lady doctors and nurses could be so wild? They really know how to party, ya know?
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
HOW MANY?
NEW MESSAGE FROM ELENA:
Umm…seven. One guy to be shared among 3 girls, while the bride gets one of her very own. Again, not MY fault.
NEW MESSAGE FROM ELENA:
I love you so much, my purple cabbage ;)
A winky face? My girlfriend gives me a winky face after declaring that she gets access to a third of a thong-clad guy who's probably gyrating and dancing erotically in front of her face on the one night she's not getting some Damon-loving?
Not happening!
Time for a sneaky attempt to put a stop to the girls-gone-wild party at Casa de Salvatore. Pretty sure the only girl not impressed with the lewd display of thong-clad penises is my faithful pudgy dog, Pig. If dogs could talk, I'm sure she would have yelled at everyone to go home by now so that she can get her beauty sleep for the big day tomorrow.
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
Love you back, beetroot. Remember THAT in case you're having too much fun. Wanted to hear your voice and say goodnight but I guess it's not the best time for that.
NEW MESSAGE FROM ELENA:
I know! This sucks. I'm not sure if I can actually sleep without you next to me. You spoiled me rotten with your spooning and cuddling and tickle-fights at night. :D
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
Same here. All I'll have is my blowjob mistress, so it's going to be a looooong night.
Bwahahahaha! Take that, Miss Gilbert.
NEW MESSAGE FROM ELENA:
WHAT?! WHAT BLOWJOB MISTRESS?!
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
Sorry, I meant to type blow-up mattress.
I smile to myself as I imagine her expression at my earlier text. Knowing that it was a typing error probably set her mind at ease, but I have no doubt that those half-naked men are no longer occupying her mind right now. I congratulate myself on my quick-thinking and choice of words. Now all she needs to do is reply and I'll convince her that all is well over at Ric's loft. Well, besides the fact that there are also half-naked men here, dancing and gyrating to sexy beats of songs from the 80s and 90s.
I wanna go home.
I stare at my screen expectantly until it blacks out due to the lack of activity. It has been more than five minutes and Elena has not responded. For a moment, I wonder if she's deliberately ignoring me for my lame joke or if she really is distracted by what's happening over there.
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
Sweet pea? U there?
I wait several more minutes and an uncomfortable feeling that my trick might blow up in my face occurs to me. Perhaps I wasn't as adorable as I thought I was.
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
You know I was only teasing, right? I sometimes think I'm funnier than I actually am. Not that bright, either.
NEW MESSAGE TO ELENA:
Elena? Are you really ignoring me?
I sigh deeply, thinking of the massive damage control that I have to do tomorrow morning before the ceremony. I don't want to go through my best friends' wedding knowing that Elena is unhappy with me. Just as I am starting to come up with plan A, I hear a faint metal sound coming from the window. I quickly make my way over there, listening intently as the thuds become louder until…a face appears in front of the glass, scaring me half to death.
Carrot sticks?!
A beaming smile appears on my girlfriend's face when she sees my bewildered expression, and then she knocks on the still-closed window.
"Hey! How did you get up here?" I whisper as I quickly pull it open and move out of the way to watch Elena first swing one leg over the frame, revealing a massive amount of bare skin under her dress before the rest of her body follows.
"I used the fire escape, my genius little turnip!" she answers with a grin before flinging her arms around my neck. I decide to forgive her for my latest unsexy nickname since I get to wrap my arms around her waist. "Thank God I got the right room! I was so worried that I climbed onto the wrong apartment, or worse; accidentally see a half-naked Ric."
I'm too shocked to react when she immediately presses her lips onto mine and covers me with brief pecks all over my face.
"You climbed the fire esc- but that's so dangerous!" I manage to gasp before she kisses me fully, silencing the rest of my admonishment. She's getting too good at distracting me these days.
My little monkey wrestles me down onto the bed by the window, the one my brother was supposed to be sleeping on, and I end up sprawling on my back with a very energetic woman straddling my hips. Our tongues engage in their own wrestling session, and my mood quickly escalates from the previously woebegone state to instant arousal.
Her hands move to grasp my face, tilting my head to various angles as she explores the deep recesses of my mouth, while my own fingers find their familiar place on her butt cheeks. They squeeze and knead the soft but firm flesh and then they are stealthily pulling the hem of her dress up and over to feel –
Nothing!
Okay, not exactly nothing. I was expecting to feel another layer of silky fabric covering her writhing bottom, but I surely did not expect to be met with bare naked skin instead.
"No panties?" I exclaim breathlessly when I finally manage to pull my lips a fraction away from hers.
She shrugs and resumes her kissing motions down the side of my neck. "Nope. I figured, why bother, right?" she mumbles against my tingling skin. Yes…too darn good at distracting me.
"But Elena, you probably flashed Ric's entire neighborhood when you climbed up the fire escape in a dress! Without any underwear on!" I growl in my effort to concentrate on the matter at hand.
"Hmm," the she-devil responds, still intent on driving me crazy with lust and passion as she continues her exploration of my body. "Explains the draft, then. It's okay, really. It was dark and I was in a hurry."
That reminds me. "About that text message earlier-"
"The one about your blowjob mistress?"
My eyes drift close of their own accord when her lips find their way down my chest, her nifty little fingers undoing the buttons down the center of my shirt before tugging them off completely. My back arches off the bed when I feel a wet and warm tongue circling my nipple, my extremely swollen penis straining against the lone button at the gap of my silk boxers.
"….was just….ahhhh….joking…." I mutter incoherently as I surrender to her sweet and torturous assault.
Her wandering hands move downwards, seemingly able to tell exactly where I am most craving for her touch. Her fingers graze the very tip of my hard member, making it twitch and leak with pre-cum, and then they are moving under the elastic band at my waist.
"I take everything you say seriously, Damon," she informs me teasingly, her voice sounding low and extremely sexy. "You mentioned something about spending a long night with your blowjob mistress, so I am just doing what I'm told. I'm a good girl that way."
Funny, she sure doesn't sound like a good girl just then. I open my eyes slightly to find her eyeing me with an evil gleam in her own eyes, and then I watch, transfixed as she lowers her head even as her fingers pull my remaining garment down my hips.
"Mercy…" I breathe out when I feel her lips enclose around me, my head falling back onto the bed as I clutch at her hair fanned around my hips.
All thoughts of the wedding, the guys on the other side of the closed but unlocked door, Ric's so-called poop test, and Elena's pantiless crotch fly out of my mind. The evening started out pretty lonely and crappy, but it's a whole new kind of awesome now. It's not even about my girl going down on me - which doesn't suck (although there's plenty of sucking motions involved) - but it's the fact that she's here, with me, of her own freewill on the night where she gets to spend it partying with male strippers!
My best friends are geniuses for getting married. Ric's bachelor party officially rocks!
At twenty-two years old, I consider Elena to be relatively young in terms of having sexual experience. Considering her past with her ex and what happened to her, we seldom engage in anything kinky or particularly experimental. I usually don't expect her to perform oral sex on me because some people might find it degrading to women, and I didn't want to simply lie back and receive pleasure as if she was supposed to 'service' my needs. I try to focus on her pleasure, preferring to pay attention to her for hours and enjoy each other's closeness instead.
But this time, the way she's eagerly swallowing me whole as if I'm a particularly tasty treat, I can't help but to get lost in the pleasures she is invoking in me. She seems to know exactly how to make my toes curl, cause my hips to lift off the sheets, and draw the deepest grunt out of my throat as she casts her spell on me. She reaches down with one hand to scrape her nails over the sensitive line down the middle of my testicles and I release a loud hiss that I'm sure my buddies could hear, even over the music.
Finally, I can't take it anymore. As much as I'm enjoying the attention she's lavishing upon me, I can no longer remain an inactive partner. I have to have her, all of her. I lurch upright and reach out for her, grasping her gently by her underarms until she's once again straddling my hips. She seems to mirror my sense of urgency, as proven when her dress ends up on the floor on the opposite side of the room, exposing her fully nude body to my heated eyes for the first time today.
She went braless as well?!
"Do you normally attend a bachelorette party without wearing anything under your dress?" I ask her gruffly, too busy feasting my eyes on her firm breasts with their pointed peaks to be jealous or upset.
"No," Elena pants, shaking her head as she gaze down at me with half-lidded eyes. She rubs herself on my erection, her hips moving back and forth in an effort to tease me further. I can feel her wetness dripping on my thighs, coating my aching manhood. "I took them off in the car on my way over. My panties were very,very damp to be worn any longer so I peeled them off at a traffic light. I tossed my bra onto the backseat just as I was taking the last corner over here."
Oh, Lordy.
Dirty, lustful mental pictures are flashing in my mind right now, and it is all that I can handle. My control snaps – not like I had that much to begin with – and with some fancy hip swiveling, I am buried to the hilt inside her, thanks to her earlier oral ministrations that made sure that I was slick and hard.
"Ahhh," I groan out as I clutch her tighter to me, making sure that every single part of our bodies are joined together. What the hell was I thinking when I first agreed to spend the night away from her?
Stupid, stupid man!
"Damon," she moans out shakily, her voice betraying her need for more.
I am a good boy and I, too, am good at doing what I'm told, even silent pleas for some rough loving. I grip her moving hips, halting her movements and then I took over. I drive my hips upwards in a thrusting motion while pulling her weight down, driving myself deeper and harder into her velvety tightness. I swallow her screams with my lips, our teeth clashing when my next thrust jerks her entire body forward so that she is now leaning down on my chest as I fall back onto the bed.
The new position enables me to gain more control over the angle of my thrusts, so I hold her steady, my nails digging into the fleshy part of her buttocks as I jerk my hips upwards repeatedly. Her body is bouncing off of me as she surrenders to my administrations, trusting that I would bring us both over the edge soon.
Her flexible body enables me to position her in such a way that makes sure that I'd rub against her exposed clit every time I move. When her breathing changes, I increase the speed of my movements and deepen the penetration, making her bite her lower lip as she suddenly stiffens.
I watch with fascination as she shudders on top of me, her neck arching backwards while her fingers hold onto my arms in a death grip. Her muscles squeeze me from within, sending me right into the abyss along with her with a groan of her name. She collapses onto me a few seconds later, our skin now covered with a light sheen of perspiration as she nuzzles against my neck.
"That was…wow," I mumble, still trying to catch my breath.
"Mmm, you took the words right out of my mouth."
Her mouth. Her sexy, pouty mouth capable of such obscene things. Even make me forget that there were other people in the apartment and that any one of them could have walked in on us while we were getting our freak on.
"That was quite some workout. I don't think I'll be able to move for a few hours at least," she sighs, her entire body relaxing onto mine.
I chuckle softly, the exact same thoughts running through my head at the same time. I don't plan to move from this spot, ever. "I'm sorry, was I too rough?"
I feel her head shaking and then her laughing response, "It was perfect! You've always been so gentle before, treating me as if I would break, so seeing you give in to your passionate instinct makes me so hot. I should probably go without underwear more often."
Oh dear God, she's so perfect. I tilt her head up and plant my lips on hers again, vowing to have many more 'wow' sessions with her until we both can't walk.
Knock, knock. "Damon? Are you….doing inappropriate things to yourself in there?"
That hesitant question came from Tweedle Dee, otherwise known as Elijah. Hearing his voice, both Elena and I freeze as we both simultaneously turn our heads to the closed door, afraid to make a sound. Then, the doorknob rattles and turns, and I suddenly discover that I could fly. Flinging a very naked Elena sideways, I race over to slam my shoulder against the door just as it opens a few inches and I can hear a loud curse on the other side of it.
"Owwww! What the hell?!"
"I'm not decent!" I yell back, panicking and gesturing wildly for my girlfriend to get dressed. She searches around the bed for her dress, but it was flung so far away during our passionate tryst that she simply grabs at the nearest item of clothing; my shirt.
Damn, she looks exceptionally gorgeous in my clothes. It makes me want to –
"Dude, you're never decent. Do you even know what the word means? Are you really self-servicing in a houseful of men?"
"Umm," I say in distraction when I catch sight of Elena's Cheshire grin, her brown eyes twinkling with mirth at Elijah's conclusion. I gesture to my exposed nether region, hoping that she'll get the hint to throw my discarded boxers over but the naughty vixen just puts her closed fist in front of her mouth and move it up and down as she pokes her tongue at the side of her cheek from within; the universal sign of a blowjob.
I have to swallow a sharp bark of laughter at the sheer mischievous nature of my girlfriend but sadly, I have to decline…for now. "Pants, please," I reply instead, shaking my head when she pouts and deliberately takes her own sweet time to retrieve the item. Then my eyes widen as she saunters over to me before sinking down to the floor, her face in extreme proximity to my crotch while she holds my boxers at my feet.
"Damon?" Three rapid knocks near my head rouses me from my impulse to just lock the door and carry her caveman-style over to the bed. I step back and open the door a crack when I'm finally covered below the waist, only to see a suspicious-looking detective in his own pair of boxers covered with smiley faces, his shirt and socks.
"Umm, she can explain," I tell him, opening the door wider so that he can see for himself the reason for my absence and the odd noise coming from my room. And that reason is currently leaning out sideways from behind me, her arms wrapped around my waist and smiling broadly at the shocked detective.
"Hey, Elijah. Sorry I crashed the party, but I miss my man over here," Elena giggles at him, completely oblivious to the way my buddy is sweeping his gaze over her disheveled appearance, from her messy hair to her glowing cheeks and down her body covered only in my shirt.
"Well damn, I miss being in a relationship," he sighs, sounding dejected.
Somehow, I don't think it's just being in any relationship that makes people happy. Personally, I think it's being in a relationship with Elena Gilbert. But seeing as there's only one of her and I'm definitely not sharing, I guess the rest of the male population would have to find their own version of her. Tough!
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find someone soon," I assure him. "In the mean time, take your eyes off my girlfriend!"
He averts his gaze immediately, standing at the doorway awkwardly with his eyes trained at the ceiling."Uhh, anyway, the reason I came looking for you is that I think you should see what the guys are doing out in the hallway. And bring a camcorder or something because this is something we can definitely blackmail the guys with…for as long as they live."
As much as I hate to leave the room and stay in bed with Elena, I'm intrigued, to be honest. I peer at her behind me with a lift of my brow, only to see her nod enthusiastically. "Okay, but she's gonna put on some pants first," I inform my buddy.
"Aww, does she have to?" he asks, the edges of his lips curving into a smile. "Fu- okay, okay, okay! I was kidding! Gosh," he complains when I smack his head, watching in satisfaction when he skedaddles out of view.
I turn back to glower at Elena. "Stop being sexy and irresistible, spinach! And please put some pants on before I decide to lock you in here with me for the rest of the night."
"Wait, that's supposed to be a threat?" she jokes playfully while skipping over to retrieve her dress.
A short dress with no panties? What, is she trying to kill me or something? "Here, wear this."
She turns back to see me taking off my boxers, then offering it to her before I reach for the pair of jeans that I showed up in. We can't help but drink each other's semi-nakedness up with a smirk as we change.
We exit from the room and I hear a familiar tune over the speakers. I frown as I try to recall where I've heard the song before, and then we come across a hilarious scene out on the hallway; Uncle Maurice aka 'black Santa' was dressed in red shorts and a wrinkled red shirt, sliding across the narrow hallway in his holey socks while holding onto a bottle of tequila as the other guys burst into cheers and laughter. Matt Donovan, the blue-eyed blond bartender is next in a similar getup.
Then it hit me, where I've heard the song before. It was from an infamous Tom Cruise scene from 'Risky Business', where he slides into the scene to the song 'Old Time Rock and Roll' wearing dark shades and dancing with a fireplace poker.
"Aww, I should have been here sooner! This beats male strippers, hands down," Elena laughs beside me, clearly enjoying herself. "Who are all those people?"
I glance over to where she gestured, seeing a bunch of unfamiliar faces gathered along the corridor, joining in the festivities. Then I notice that most of the doors along it are now wide open. "I think Ric's neighbors decided to join the party."
"What have we here? A rose among the thorns? The taco amongst the burritos?" my upbeat best friend greets upon noticing the presence of Elena. He makes his way over to enclose her in a crushing hug and then I hear him whispering in her ear, "Feel free to poo in my loo at any time of your convenience."
"Umm, thanks?"
I chuckle at the expression on her face, a cross between incredulity and uncertainty as she peers over his shoulder at me. "I think that's Ric's way of welcoming you to his home…or the hallway leading to his home," I inform her without going into the details of the importance of poo in Ric's world. I intend to marry this girl one day. I don't need her to be 'weirded out' by my friends.
"And why are we hanging out in the hallway again?" she asks.
"My apartment's carpeted. We can't slide on carpets. Come on, you two! It's your turn now," Ric exclaim excitedly, gesturing us over to what seems to be the starting point of the socks-slide-mania.
"I think Elijah should go next. After all, he's the best man, isn't he?" I smirk at the laughing man, immediately turning his smile upside down with my suggestion.
Oh yes. I have never been happier that I suggested that Elijah be the best man for the wedding. At the time, it was because I found out that Meredith had chosen her cousin as her Maid-of-Honor, which means that Elena would be sitting among the guests. So I passed on being the best man in favor of sitting right beside her, holding her hand while she wipes away happy tears with the tissues I'm going to provide when the couple exchanges vows. But now, it seems I have another reason to be happy; I get to record a very well-respected detective pulling a 'Tom Cruise' in his underpants. Oh, the hits I'd get on YouTube!
"W-what? N-no, I don't think I can-" the man with perfect hair arches stutters while shooting me an exasperated look, obviously feeling betrayed.
"You can and you will! Look at him gooooo," Uncle Maurice hollers right after giving a massive shove to the reluctant man, sending him flying down the narrow lane just as the elevator doors slide open at the end of it.
Now I get what Westlife meant by 'Flying Without Wings'.
Perhaps it was the momentum of the push, or it could even be due to his arched fringe, but he doesn't seem to be able to stop and I watch, horrified when he slides right into the lift, only stopping when his hands automatically reaches out to slam against the back wall of the cabin.
The doors start to close and then a hand appears out of the lift to block them and then two ladies step out of what I previously thought was an empty lift. Meredith and Blondie seems a little rattled at the sudden reception with Elijah almost waltzing into them plus what appears to be the entire male population of the fifth floor of Ric's building and one Elena, all turned towards them.
"Mer? What are you doing here? I thought we're not supposed to see each other on the eve of our wedding?" Ric asks, sounding ecstatic to see his bride despite his questions. He practically bounces over to hug her in greeting.
The brunette drags her puzzled eyes from Elijah to meet her fiancée's. "We're not, and I was supposed to have my eyes closed when I arrived, but Elijah's sudden appearance made me forget. What the hell is up with him?"
I don't see Elijah exiting behind them, so I move forward, dragging Elena with me until I see him standing with his back to us, still in the same position with both his palms flat against the back panel. Surprisingly, he's not alone, because there's another head in between his spread hands.
"I'm sorry," I hear him apologizing to the female he's standing nose-to-nose with.
"That's an interesting name, Sorry. I'm Jenna, Meredith's cousin and Maid of Honor. Are you friends with Alaric?" the mystery woman replies, not sounding the least bit surprised to be talking to a half-naked guy in such close proximity. In fact, she doesn't seem fazed at all to be practically pinned to the wall.
I like her already.
"He's uhh, he's my groom. And I'm his man…I mean, the best one. The best man."
Elena and I share a look and then we both roll our eyes at his answer. I've never seen Elijah flustered before like he is now. This woman must be real pretty.
"That's really cocky of you to say, no pun intended," Jenna replies teasingly with a quick duck of her head, obviously referring to something below the waist.
I could be best friends with this woman. I'll settle for her being my best-friend-in-law one day. I can already feel my Cupid's arrow getting restless in the quiver.
Step one of match-making: Make Elijah be best man so that he can spend time with the Maid of Honor.
Done. I'm so efficient.
Step two: Get the ladies to stay over so that the two can bond. And so that I get to hug Elena to sleep tonight.
"Hey, Ric. Since the girls are here, I think we should all have a joint slumber party tonight. It'll be a blast, right Elena?"
I nudge her and subtly nod my head, encouraging her to agree with me, which she does rather hastily.
"What a wonderful idea! I know the girls missed their boys earlier tonight. Besides, I daresay we'll start a new trend with a sleepover party on the eve of a wedding. Nothing says 'I love you' better than to spend your last night as single people with the one you're gonna spend forever with. Besides, the night is still young and we have booze and music," Elena adds for good measure.
Smart move, adding the booze and music. Our suggestion is received with enthusiastic response, the loudest one being Uncle Maurice at the mention of alcohol. "You had me at 'booze', dollface!" he exclaims happily.
With a happy sigh, I gather Elena close and we make our way back into the apartment with the rest of the guys while the neighbors return to their own homes. Sometime later, I notice Elijah and the now-revealed Jenna coming through the front door but they seem oblivious to everyone else but each other.
I spent the night blissfully spooning Elena on my makeshift mattress on the floor, Ric and Mer in their own master bedroom doing whatever it is that two people do in bed when they are slightly drunk, horny and high from their upcoming nuptials, whereas baby bro and Blondie slept uncomfortably in the bed by the window (after complaining about the strange and suspicious-looking wet patch on their mattress).
Elijah's bed doesn't even look slept in when I woke up in the morning. That man-slut!
(One year three months later)
"We'll have to be stealthy about this, okay? I don't want Elena to find out what we're doing behind her back, so promise me you won't tell her about this," I tell the brunette in my embrace, watching her smile and giggle as I run my fingers across her smooth skin.
I grin back at her when she writhes and twists her body to avoid my wandering hands.
"Damon Salvatore! I can't believe you!" a familiar voice comes from the doorway behind me and I quickly stand upright, surreptitiously pulling a sheet to cover over my secretive project I have been working on all morning.
"I can explain," I hastily say, uttering the universal words as a response whenever someone gets busted for doing something behind somebody's back. I keep forgetting that Elena's no longer attending morning classes because she just graduated with a Degree a week ago. "We were just….umm….feeding each other."
"I leave you two alone just for a few minutes and now I have to send both of you to take a bath?" Elena grumbles, giving me her angry eyes.
I glance down at the tiny version of Meredith with a little hint of Ric and she gives me an innocent look as if to say I'm on my own in this case. The little traitor! So what if I am a little messy while feeding the six-month old baby? I'm her god-father and I can very well incorporate a little play time in with her meal time when I'm babysitting, right?
"She started it. I was doing perfectly well until she sprayed baby food all over me. Sienna thinks it's hilarious to smear food all over my face with her chubby little hands, ain't that right, little lady?"
I make a funny face at the little brat and she flashes a toothless grin at me in response. I am human and I have flaws. Besides, I've always had a soft spot for enchanting brunettes, and it just so happens that I'm caught in between two at the moment. I'm screwed either way.
So, newsflash: Ric and Meredith have a daughter. Apparently, my best friends didn't think they needed to practice safe sex so they conceived a baby the night before they officially tied the knot. How scandalous. No, not really. We were overjoyed when we heard the news, and we all got so excited to have a new addition to our family. And then, approximately six months ago, we all welcomed baby Sienna Saltzman into the world.
I fell in love with her at first sight, and she began to twist me around her tiny fingers as soon as she was born. Ric and Mer named me God-father, and I get to babysit her when her parents need a timeout for some 'personal husband and wife time'. It doesn't take a genius to know what that means; they probably need some uninterrupted sleep for more than eight hours at a time. I don't mind because she's such a sweet-tempered baby, and it gives me and Elena an opportunity to play house.
It's the occasional scowl on my girlfriend's face that ruins it for me. Like the one she's sporting now.
"Did Sienna also decide to pour baby food all over herself?" Elena asks, pointing to the baby's heavily stained shirt, her yellow and gooey toes, elbows, and most of her face. "Did she ask to be fed nine bottles of her food?"
Nine? That's got to be some kind of new record. The most we went through was five, and I already got into trouble for that. "Err, I might have eaten some of that, too. They are really yummy. Except for the banana flavored one. That's really gross, ugh," I gag for emphasis. Sienna seemed to agree with me on that one because she sprayed that one on me the most out of all flavors.
"Okay, Damon? I'm only going to tell you this one more time: you're not supposed to eat the baby food. The baby's supposed to eat the baby food. You're supposed to feed it to her and keep her clean at the same time. So, do you know what's going to happen now?"
"I stand in a corner and pull my ears?" I venture a guess, worried now at the sight of the stern expression on my girlfriend's face.
To my relief, she shakes her head. "You get to bathe the baby."
"And then who's going to bathe me?" I counter, my brows wiggling suggestively.
"You can ask Ric when he picks his daughter up later. While he's lathering you up, maybe you can explain to him why he has to buy more of the super-expensive baby food you love so much," she snickers at me, not sympathetic in the slightest. Maybe I'll force-feed her one of the flavors someday. She shouldn't knock what she hasn't tried.
"Or I can get Pig to give her a tongue bath," I suggest instead, whistling to the dozing pug at my feet. Upon hearing her name, the obese bitch climbs up onto a chair and eyes the food-covered baby. She sniffs around her body for a while and then tentatively runs her tongue over a cheek, testing the water first. Then she settles in closer and proceed to lick the baby clean amidst gurgling laughter from the infant.
Job done. Dog's happy. Baby's happy. Elena….not so much.
"Damon! You can't just expect Pig to clean up after you every time you engage in a food fight with Sienna! Honestly, it's like I'm taking care of three babies right now," she complains, snatching my wriggling god-daughter away from the hungry pug.
I always get a jolt in my stomach whenever I see Elena holding Sienna. There's something very maternal about the way she holds her close, the way her body molds itself around the baby protectively and the natural ease she has with her. The sight makes me yearn to see Elena holding another baby one day, one that bears my likeness mixed with hers.
Soon. But first-
"Umm, Elena, do you think you can give her a bath? I'll clean up this mess and freshen up. And then we can all sit down and watch a cartoon together." Or not. Maybe something else will happen and depending on her answer, I'll either be crying of happiness or heartbreak. I vote for the former.
Elena ponders for a bit and then she looks relieved, for some reason. "Deal! After her bath, we both have something to show you, and we'll need your opinion on it. It's really important, okay? See you later," she smiles softly and leans over to press her lips on mine briefly before she puts Siena's chubby hand up in a wave and then hurries upstairs.
I peer down at Pig just as she turns her head to return my gaze and then we both turn over to the sheet of cloth I had pulled to conceal my top secret project from Elena's eyes. I lift up the cover and read the words below it again, feeling my heart thudding violently in my chest.
"This is the moment of truth, Pig. This is it! It's finally happening. I've been waiting for this moment for far too long and I won't let anything ruin it. So, you know what to do, right? You stand guard while I clean up, okay, girl?" I ask the dog, scratching her behind the ears as she lets out a whine in answer. If Elena comes back before I do, act nonchalant, got it?"
I flash her a stern look and wonder if the pooch understood what 'nonchalant' means. With a shrug, I get to work. I have the kitchen straightened up in record time, and take a super-speedy shower and change into fresh clothes, making it back just as Elena comes back downstairs with a powdery-smelling baby.
For some reason, Elena looks nervous and sheepish as she rounds the stairs railing, cuddling little Sienna close to her chest. I reach out with both arms to take the baby off her hands but to my surprise, she shakes her head. For a moment, I panic, because I had envisioned this moment with both our hands free. Then, she starts talking.
"Damon," she begins. Uh oh. "For the longest time, I've wanted to say thank you for everything you've done for me. I came into this house for the first time as a young girl who was so lost and sad, without a right place in the world. Then, you made this into my home and gave me everything I never thought I could ever hope to have. You gave me a family, a job, an education, even hopes and dreams for a better future. I don't have much to give you back. All I have is my heart, my body, mind and soul. And if you're willing, they are yours for as long as you want me."
My eyes are wide with shock and disbelief as I watch her draw in a deep breath before she turns the baby around to face me. The first thing I notice is the punky wet hair on the miniature brunette, and then my eyes shift lower and my heart skips a bit.
Little baby Sienna is wearing the cutest little outfit; a new diaper and a tiny tee-shirt that I'm guessing Auntie Elena got for her. The tee-shirt had a yellow Batman logo on it.
Either Elena's trying to tell me that my god-daughter wants to have inappropriate relations with me, or – the more likely and logical alternative – that Elena is ready for the next step in our relationship. Which means…
"So, Damon Salvatore," Elena continues, "will you-?"
"Wait!" I yell out, stopping her mid-question. Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! This is so super duper freaky, but in a good way.
"Wait? You don't want to-?"
I note the disappointment in her voice, and I can see the hope draining from her eyes. No, no, no!
"You, my dear, are stealing my thunder. I can't believe that we're actually doing this at the same time. I have my own question for you," I tell her as I take hold of her hand and lead her over to where my dog is waiting, her eyes wide as she observes us.
Keeping my eyes on Elena's puzzled expression, I pulled off the cloth with a flourish and wait for her response.
"Who is Moo?" she asks, her brows furrowing.
Wait, what? Moo? "Huh?"
"You spelled out, 'Will You Marry Moo'. Why do you want me to marry Moo?" she wonders out loud.
I take a quick peek at the board I had set up this morning, complete with the alphabet cereal I had Ric picked up at Walmart for me. Sienna and I spent the entire morning picking out alphabets to spell out my proposal. I couldn't find the letter 'E' or even a question mark, so I used an 'O' with part of an 'I' placed horizontally to make a small 'E' to spell out 'Me' and then used an 'S' and another 'O' to make the question mark at the end.
Somebody ate my 'I' and 'S'! The 'Me?" became a 'Moo'!
I immediately cast an accusing look at my dog, certain that I had found the culprit. "Dammit, Pig!" I burst out at the glutton. She lowers her head and slinks down from the chair, flashing me her guilt-ridden eyes. "It's a long story, but I'm beginning to realize that it's a bad idea to use animals as part of a marriage proposal. That was supposed to spell out 'Will You Marry Me?' instead," I explain dejectedly.
"You proposed to me using cereal? And you got Pig to help?" Elena gushes with an adorable grin.
"The baby helped, too."
"Awww," she chuckles in my ear as she wraps an arm around my waist in a hug, with one hand still holding the baby.
I hug her right back and then relieve her of the infant, placing the oblivious girl inside her playpen while I attempt to salvage what's left of my proposal. "This whole thing didn't exactly go as planned, but I intend to get one thing right, at least," I say as I sink down on one knee and pull a ring out of my pocket. I hear a gasp above me, and then I'm looking up into soft and slightly wet brown eyes while I hold the ring out in front of her.
"Elena, you said the sweetest things to me earlier but I couldn't let you ask the question I've been waiting my whole life to ask the girl of my dreams. I've imagined this scene in my head thousands of times before this, but never is it this nerve-wrecking. I know with every fiber of my being that we are put here on earth to find one another, that we are two different halves to a whole. We even decided to propose to each other at the exact same time. I can't imagine anyone else I'd rather babysit with, or sleep next to, or hold hands with. I love you, Elena, and I want to spend the rest of my life trying to make you the happiest woman on earth. So, Elena Gilbert…will you marry me?"
My voice breaks a little at the end, as consumed by emotions as I am right now. I have never uttered those words before in my life, nor will I utter them again in the future. This only happens once, and I have never been more sure of anything in my life.
My heart explodes with joy as she, my future wife, smiles and nods. Then she's on the floor with me, pulling me close and kissing me with everything she's got.
I'll take it.
A fair distance away, a group of friends are gathered around a dining table, all waiting as the clock ticks loudly in the unnatural silence. This group consists of three couples, holding hands as they await for news.
"Any moment now," Ric speaks up suddenly, his voice sounding particularly loud.
"Wait, so Damon told you he was proposing," Caroline says in response. "But Elena told us she's proposing."
The six people surrounding the table all regard each other in confusion. "Yes, but Damon told Ric to pick up that alphabet cereal thing for him this morning. So I know for a fact that it's happening on his end," Meredith confirms, backing her husband up.
"But I went shopping with Elena the other day and she had some fancy plans that involves Sienna and some kind of Bat signal thing," Jenna pipes in as she turns to shrug at her boyfriend, the thoughtful Detective Mikaelson. "I can't be sure but I think it's their own private joke of some kind."
"Call me crazy, but I think they're both doing it right now," he announces, sounding confident in his assessment of the situation as each new information comes to light. "About time, too, since Lockwood's behind bars and Elena just graduated."
"What do you mean by 'doing it'? You don't think they are having sex, do you? My daughter's with them and I know just how kinky those two can get," Ric laments with worry just as they hear six separate beeps on their phones.
FROM ELENA: He said YES!
FROM DAMON: She said YES!
Joyful whoops and screams erupts within the confines of Ric's apartment, the close friends feeling ecstatic for their friends' engagement news. They are all of the opinion that those two deserve every happiness coming their way.
Amidst the excitement, however, only one person remains unmoved. With furrowed brows and an uncertain expression, Stefan Salvatore addresses the group, desperately raising his voice to be heard over the celebratory atmosphere.
"Hold on a minute, you guys! They both said 'Yes', right? But how do we know what was the question?"
A chorus of groans comes in response to his naive question, followed swiftly by a perfectly-aimed smack to the back of his head from an exasperated blonde woman.
"Jesus, Stef! How in the hell are you a lawyer again?!"
THE END
First off, a massive THANK YOU to my beta, Kristi (tukct81) for all her contributions to this story. Without her, I would have never finished it or sound remotely coherent. I appreciate you from the very bottom of my heart, which sounds kinda yucky and bloody, but you know what I mean.
Shout out to Angela, my dear friend who sparked the start of this story in the first place. Without her sharing with me on what happened to her cousin, I would have never found the inspiration to write this story to spread the awareness of domestic violence.
Thanks Mara, for pre-reading this chappie.
Also to Carol, my go-to medical advisor in this story...I love you; Layla & Bibi – for the invaluable legal advice, and Kate, for the support. I take my hat off to you all.
To all my loyal readers and reviewers: This story would be nothing without your support. THANK YOU.
I realize that I'm not a perfect writer, nor do I claim to be a great one. I have made mistakes here and there, grammatically, spelling-wise, usage of expressions, etc. Please excuse all mistakes that you might find and I vow to improve on my writing skills as I attempt to grow into a respected writer.
Thanks for reading. And for caring. Be a hero. Save a life!