A/N: Alright everyone, its wedding day! But first, a little DE time:
I wake up with the sun shining on my face; I roll over and pull Elena's body flush against mine "mmm" she sighs
"Good morning" I whisper in her ear and follow it with a trail of kisses down her neck
"Now this is a wakeup call I could get used to" she smiles
"Glad to hear it" I smile and continue peppering her skin with kisses until I'm hovering above her "Did you sleep well?"
"I did" she nods "except our little peanut kept making me go to the bathroom"
"Just the beginning of many nightly interruptions I assume"
"You're probably right" she reaches up and cups my cheek "I love you like this" she smile
"Like what?" I question
"In the morning, I love your sleepy eyes and your bedhead" she runs her hand through my hair
I close my eye at the feeling of her fingers dancing over my scalp and lean down to press my lips against hers.
I've grown used to my mornings with her, if there is anything life has taught me it's that it is too short to not to stop and take time to just hold the one you love every morning.
I feel her moan as I deepen the kiss and reach down to cup her breast in my hand, I run my thumb over her nipple and she hisses, it's amazing how sensitive they have become already, she leans into the kiss and presses one hand against my chest, I let her roll us over so that she can straddle me
"God, these hormones are driving me crazy" she sighs and continues to kiss me
"Oh now come on baby I'd like to think I have a little something to do with it too" I smirk against her lips
"No more talking" she nibbles on my bottom lip
Just as she's about to continue kissing me we're interrupted by the sound of her phone, I look over to the nightstand where its charging and see Caroline's name on the screen "I have to get that" she looks at me apologetically
"No" I pout and wrap my arms around her waist, securing her to me
"Damon, I have to, it's her wedding day"
"But I'll get cold" I squeeze her tighter, but she gives me her best puppy dog eyes, the ones she knows that I can't deny "Fine" I resign with a sigh and let her go
"Hello" she answers
I can hear the faint mumbling of Caroline's most recent freak out on the other line
"OK, Care, calm down…yes…ok… I know…I will… but…will you please…"
I doesn't seem like Caroline is going to let her get a word in edgewise
"Ok, I'll be right there" she hangs up with a sigh and looks over at me apologetically
"It's ok, duty calls" I shrug "I should probably go check on Stefan too"
"I'm sorry" she pouts "I promise I'll make it up to you later though" she smirks
"Look at that smirk, you've been spending way too much time with me" I laugh "and I'm going to hold you to that Gilbert" I point at her as she makes her way into the bathroom
"So, I'll see you at the wedding?" she says before turning on the shower
"I'll be the one in the suit" I smile
"Hey Groomie, how's it going?" I ask as I approach Stefan who is busy appraising his appearance in the mirror in front of him, based on his lack of response and the pensive look on his face I can tell something is going on "Hello, Stefan, anyone home?" I wave my hand in front of his face to try and grab his attention
"Oh hi Damon, how long have you been standing there?" He questions
"Not long, how long have you been off in dreamland?" I retort
"Excuse me?"
"Just now, you were all spaced out and you looked a little…" I pause trying to find the right word "Spooked" I settle
"I'm not spooked…"
"Ok, freaked?" I try "are having second thoughts?" I ask "Cause if you are just say the word and I'll get you out of here" I smirk, half joking because deep down I know he wouldn't do that and Elena would kill me, but if push came to shove I would do just about anything for my brother
"No!" she snaps "I just… Caroline has been so crazy through all of this, I'm just trying to remember who she was before all of this"
"Hey, I know this is your wedding day too but weddings sometimes mean a little bit more to the bride, she's been dreaming about this day since she was a little girl according to Elena, and she just wants everything to be perfect"
"You really think that's all it is?"
"Stefan, when Andie and I were getting married she went on and on about how they didn't have the exact chairs that she wanted, she found the ones she wanted from another company but it was going to cost a couple thousand extra dollars that would have blown our budget so she didn't do it but throughout the whole planning process she would bring up how awful the chairs were, but once she stepped onto that aisle and we said our "I do's" I never heard another word about it, then a couple days later when we were on our honeymoon I asked her what kind of chair she sat on at our wedding and she looked up and me thoughtfully, smiled, and said 'I have no idea'" I can't help but smile at the memory "my point is that while Caroline might seem a little bit like a stranger lately, but the moment she steps through those doors none of it will matter anymore and this will all be worth it, I promise you brother because for as much as I tease Caroline she really is great and I know that she loves you to the moon and back, and will continue to do so forever"
"Thank you Damon" he turns to hug me "Do you realize that you just talked about Andie and smiled, I'm so proud of you"
"I couldn't have done it without you brother" I clap in on the back and pull away "now let's finish getting you dressed, and I'll go throw my suit on because we've got a wedding to attend"
I glance over at Stefan who is nervously looking down at his feet while he awaits his bride; I'm lined up next to him with his friend Mason to my left and Alaric on the end, just as Stefan starts to look like he can't take any further anticipation the music begins to play and the large doors at the end of the aisle open and Caroline's friend Jessica steps through in her long floor length black dress and thoughts of my actions with her that night at the bar come flooding back making me feel sick, god that all feels like so long ago.
I push those thoughts away and focus as Bonnie steps through in a floor length grey dress; they both look beautiful that much is obvious but nothing could prepare me for the next face to step through those doors.
When Elene steps through the doors my heart starts doing summersaults in my chest at the sight of her, she's wearing a one shoulder floor length silver dress, each girls dress lighter than the one before. For a moment I can't help but imagine the dress she's wearing in a shade of white, and I'm the waiting for her at the Alter.
She's breathtaking, her hair swept to one side in a bun at the nape of her neck revealing her delicate collarbones, god how can a collarbone be such a turn on. When I truly look at her face she gives me a soft smile and locks eyes with me, my gaze following her all the way to alter, when she finally takes her stance she mouths a small "hi" to me, and I wink in return
All attention is suddenly drawn to the back of the room as the door opens for a final time and the wedding march begins to play, Elena pulls her attention from me and turns to take in the sight of her best friend making her way down the aisle.
Caroline is a gorgeous bride, with her dress fitting her like a glove and her golden curls perfectly in place, the look on her face is one of pure joy as she makes her way to Stefan and just like that I know that Stefan's Caroline is back, I take a second to look at Stefan whose expression is almost identical to Caroline's and notice that the tension he had been carrying all day is suddenly nowhere to be found.
As Caroline reaches the alter Elena steps forward to take the brides bouquet so that she can hold her grooms hands.
"Family and Friends we are gathered her today to witness the union of this man and this woman" The minister begins, and though his words are filtering through the room I can't tear my gaze away from Elena, I can't help the thoughts that are spinning through my mind and the flips they're causing in my stomach, I know just yesterday I admitted out loud that I love her, but in this moment I'm struck with just how much that means, I love this woman, deeply and immensely, we created life, we are going to have a family together and some day when the time is right I will get down on one knee, and ask her to be my bride.
"Let us begin the vows" the minister says and I force my thoughts to the back of my mind and focus on my brother and his bride "Stefan" she minister nods, encourage him to go first.
"Caroline, when I first met you, I knew that I liked you, but I had no idea what that would mean or what it would grow to be, you soon became everything to me, you became the first person I wanted to call when something good or bad happened to me, you became the first face I wanted to see in the morning, you invaded my mind body and soul, and I knew that my soul had found the one that it loves and that you were the one that I want to do life with, to laugh with, to cry with, and to love with, and so I ask that today you make me the happiest man alive and become my wife"
Caroline nods frantically as her eyes shine with tears "Caroline" the minister says
"Oh Stefan, how do I follow that" she smiles "my kind, wonderful, loving Stefan, you have one of the most beautiful souls I have seen, it's pure and loving and loyal, and when I met you I knew I just had to know you, and just like you I had no idea what that would mean or what it would come to evolve into, but I knew that I had to know you in some way shape or form because I could just feel what a wonderful person you were, it was as if my soul knew that it needed you, just as you said, it was like my soul knew you were the missing piece, the one that it loved, and so nothing would make me happier that to leave here today as your wife, because I love you with all that I am and all that I'll ever be "
I look up and Elena and see her wiping a stray tear from her cheek
"Stefan" the minister says "Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health until death do you part?"
"I do" he smiles
"And Caroline do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health until death do you part"
"I do" she giggles
"Ladies and gentleman I introduce to you for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore, Stefan you may now kiss your bride"
Stefan leans in and presses a gentle kiss to Caroline's lips before placing a hand on the small of her back and dipping her back and kissing her deeply as the crowd cheers
I look over to Elena and mouth "I love you" and watch as blush creeps up her cheeks
"Hey you two save some for the honeymoon" Stefan's dumb friend Mason clears his throat and they pull apart unapologetically, Caroline turns to retrieve her bouquet from Elena and they make their way back down the aisle
I walk over to Elena and hold my arm out to her as we practiced the night before and she gladly accepts it "you look stunning if it isn't obvious" I whisper in her ear
"You look pretty sharp yourself Mr. Salvatore" she smiles up at me warmly
An hour and a half later the reception is in full swing, with the music blasting and Stefan and Caroline dancing blissfully in each other's arms
"Hey Damon, it's good to see you!" I look over and find my uncle sitting in the empty chair next me
"Uncle Zach! It's good to see you man" I smile "god, how long has it been?"
"I think at your wedding" he laughs before realized what he said "Shit Damon, I'm sorry, and I was really sorry when I heard about the accident, I meant to come see you but you know how sometimes things come up and it just doesn't happen"
"No man, it's ok, I get it and besides I wasn't very good company for a while, I got your cards and your messages though, which meant a lot"
"Here, I brought you some champagne for your toast" Elena walks up holding a champagne flute out for me to grab
"Thank you" I smile
"Hi, Zach Salvatore" my uncle extends his hand out to Elena
"Oh" she smiles and gladly shakes his hand, probably not used to a warm introduction from a Salvatore "Salvatore, are you a cousin?" she asks
"Uncle" he corrects "Giuseppe is my older brother, by several years so Damon and I are to being mistaken for cousins or brothers"
"I can see the resemblance, it's so nice to meet you, and I'm Elena Damon's… girlfriend" she says hesitantly, probably because of the way my father reacted after the first time I publically called her that
"Damn, and I here I was going ask to you dance and try to steal you myself" Zach teases
"Watch it buddy" I chuckle
"And you're both flirts" she laughs
"Oh I don't know, I think I'm a little more charming then my nephew here, I mean I taught him everything he knows" he nudges me
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, times have changed old man, you may have taught me how to pick up girls when I was sixteen but I've learned some things on my own over the years"
"Old man" he pretends to gasp "you wound me nephew"
"Well whatever it was he sure charmed me" Elena giggles and runs her finger gently through my hair
"It's nice to see you like this Damon, you deserve to be happy" he adds on a more serious note
"I am" I smile at Elena "it took a while but I truly am"
"You are what?" my father's voice cuts into our conversation
"Oh goody, dad's here" I say sarcastically and Elena glares at me, I know deep down she wants my dad to like her
"Zach, it's good to see you bother" dad says
"Likewise Giuseppe, I was just catching up with Damon and the lovely Elena here"
"Ah yes, Elena" my father turns his attention to her
"Hello Mr. Salvatore, it's nice to see you again" she says politely
"Yes" he agrees "and so soon"
"Yeah that's kind of what happens when you're the maid of honor in the wedding that we were rehearsing for just yesterday" I add
"Honestly Damon I'm not dense it was just an observation" he sighs
"And on that note, I need a refill" Zach stands up and I shoot him a dirty look
"I'll come find you later" my father adds without looking away from Elena
Zach mouths a wordless 'sorry' to me as he walks towards the bar
"So Elena, how long have you been seeing my son?"
I interrupt Elena before she can speak "No, we're not doing this here, this is Stefan's day, and it's not the time for you to interrogate my girlfriend"
"Who said anything about interrogation son? I'm simply trying to get to know this girl that is clearly important to you"
"I know you to well to fall for your party tricks Dad; I might have believed that when I was a teenager but not anymore"
"Damon, it's ok. I want to get to know your family" she almost looks embarrassed by the fact that I've been speaking for her
"I know baby" my voice softens "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to stop you from getting to know each other, this really just isn't the place" she doesn't understand him like I do "how about Friday night" I turn towards my father "we'll have dinner and we can all talk and everyone can get to know everyone, but right now Elena and I have some speeches to give"
"Ok" he agrees "I'll see you both Friday night, six o'clock at my place"
"Alright" I nod
"Don't be late" he adds before walking away and I have to stifle my groan
"He always has to have the last word"
"It sounds like somebody else I know" she laughs
"Ugh, please don't compare me to that man" I say dramatically
"Damon, it's going to be fine, I keep telling you that parents love me"
"And I keep telling you that while I'm sure that's true and as much as I love you I just think that you're underestimating him"
"Ok, well I'm going to need you to back off a little bit because you always on the defense ready to jump in and speak for me isn't helping anything, he's just going to think something is wrong with me that you're trying to hide, and it makes me nervous"
"You should be nervous" I warn
"Stop it" she points
"But you're so cute when you're irritated" I smirk and lean in to kiss her but just as our lips are about to touch the wedding planner interrupts us
"You guys are up in Five minutes"
"Ugh, this whole day is just one interruption after another"
"Well don't worry, I still owe you one when we get home" she smiles
"Trust me, I'm counting on it" I wiggle my eyebrows
End Note: Hey guys! I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year, I wanted to get this to you a little bit quicker but it took me awhile to edit. I don't know why I feel like I'm better at dialogue then descriptions of what's happening, so I struggled a bit with this one, but it's here and I think it's the longest one yet. Next chapter we'll see the dinner with Papa Salvatore. Let me know what you guys think, I hope you enjoyed it!