Here we go the wedding. :). No smut until next chapter though. this one is just the ceremony, next one is going to be the reception and the wedding night. Any wedding song 1st dance ideas, let me know. I have no idea which song to use. I think I like Elena's vows better, but I'd like to see what you think. I think this is the best wedding I've written yet and I hope you agree. Let me know what you think. So review, and let me know which song you think would be good for their first dance.
PS I own nothing except my writing and Aiden and Aurora. All other characters are property of LJ Smith and the CW network.
"This is ridiculous Care. Why cant I just sleep at home?" Elena asked as Caroline drove her to her house to spend the night with her and Tyler.
"Because Elena, you are not supposed to see your husband at all tomorrow, until the ceremony. It's bad luck." she said.
"I think that rule only applies when the bride is in her wedding dress, and besides I hardly think our luck can get any worse than it has in the last year." she muttered.
"Maybe. Maybe not. I'm not taking any chances. Now onto more important matters, your dress will be here at 9 am tomorrow morning, the hair and makeup team will be here at 10. the wedding is at two at your house, the limo will be here at 1 sharp. You'll get into your dress at the house, but your hair and makeup will be done here. You'll finally get to see your husband at 2 when you walk down the aisle. I have this perfectly planned out, and so help me God if anyone ruins it." Caroline stated.
"It's fine. Tomorrow is going to be a great day." she assured her best friend.
"I know it will. Nothing will dare stand in my way at your wedding." Caroline stated perking up considerably. When 9 pm rolled around Caroline ushered Elena into the spare bedroom.
"Get to sleep. You have to be well rested for tomorrow. You need your beauty rest. Aurora will be here early tomorrow morning." she said.
"Why could Aurora stay at the house but I had to be taken hostage my you?" Elena whined.
"Because you are wound up so tight right now that it would have taken Damon absolutely no effort to make you snap. I cant let that happen." Caroline said shoving Elena into the room and shutting the bedroom door. Elena decided it would be safer not to argue with her at this point, just wait until the wedding was over and then her life could finally go back to normal.
When the next morning rolled around Caroline yanked Elena out of bed and ushered her into the bathroom. Pushing her long brown hair into a shower cap she pushed her into the shower.
"Do not get your hair wet." she warned her before leaving the bathroom. She shook her head completely bewildered at her best friends intensity. She heard both Aurora and Bonnie walk into the house during her shower and knew that it was time for the makeup and hair team to work their magic on her and the rest of the girls. When Elena got out and wrapped herself in the robe Caroline left on the back of the door she walked out of the room and saw Caroline barking orders to the hair and makeup team.
"Where do you want me?" she asked.
"Right there. Sit down. Maurice will do your makeup." she said taking a seat in her chair to get her nails done. Everyone else sat down at their stations and got the work all done.
"Are you nervous yet dad?" Aiden asked as the four men put out chairs in the backyard of their house.
"Why would I be nervous? I don't get nervous." he stated.
"You've never actually had a real wedding before dad. You've got to be nervous." Aiden stated.
"I know that. But its basically me telling her that I will love her for an eternity which is easy. And then kissing her in front of everyone we know. It'll be pretty much the only action I've gotten in the past two weeks." he stated.
"Thank God Aurora and I are staying at grandma and grandpa's tonight." Aiden stated chuckling. Tonight was going to be loud, it was already foreseen.
"God how many people are coming to this thing?" Alaric asked as he panted after moving so many chairs.
"Most of the town." Damon said shrugging his shoulders.
"And how doesn't that make you nervous?" Alaric asked.
"What part of it would make me nervous?" Damon asked.
"Perhaps kissing your wife in front of half the town." Alaric suggested.
" I've done more than simply kiss her in front of people before." Damon noted.
"Oh God. Lets get these chairs down and end this conversation before it turns X rated." Stefan suggested looking at the glint in his brothers eye.
"Good plan, you don't want to know what almost happened on the dance floor at the Lockwood costume ball. We got a little hot and heavy. It didn't help that Elena was dressed in a skin tight cat woman costume." Damon said smirking widely.
"Dad! That's my mom." Aiden shouted plugging his ears.
"Sorry." he muttered as he continued to move chairs.
Elena dutifully sat through the make up guy applying her make up while she thought about finally getting to the house. She knew Caroline would make sure that Damon was nowhere near the house when they got there, and that he never came near the house. When Maurice was done with her makeup, she got up and moved over to the seat that Aurora had just vacated upon getting her hair down. The bridesmaids were all done in similar styles as Elena's would be. Soft and slightly curly pulled to the side in a low bun. The hairstylist started brushing through her hair and pulling it around. Elena bit back a growl, she was antsy as it was, she didn't need hurt and angry added to that list.
"Can you be a little gentler?" she asked with a sharp lilt in her voice.
"I'm sorry ma'am." the stylist announced not sounding sorry at all. Elena bit back a retort, deciding to go back to thinking about her husband. Oh what she would give to lock Caroline up somewhere for a couple hours and go see her husband. No doubt he missed her worse than she missed him. So many times over the past two weeks she had almost given in. But that would have potentially ruined everything, and with the luck they had had over the past year, they couldn't risk it. First Aurora being kidnapped, then their first fight where he walked out, then Giuseppe, which led to their biggest fight where she actually drew up divorce papers. This was a new start, it was time that they started anew. When the painful tugging of her hair finally stopped she stood up and walked over to the manicurist.
"Have a seat Mrs Salvatore." she said gesturing for the massage chair that had been brought in. Elena picked up the remote and switched it on so she could massage her tense muscles. Her husband hands were much better than the chair but it would have to do. It wasn't exactly plausible to get out of the chair and drive home in order to get Damon to massage the knots out of her back. When everyone was done their beauty treatments, Caroline looked out the window and seen the limo just pulling up.
"Perfect timing. Ladies, out to the limo we go." she said as she grabbed the piles of dresses and carried them out to the limo. She stopped by Tyler on the way out who had hidden away for much of the morning. "Darling, wait here until the beauty team is done cleaning up their stuff then you can go over to the house too." she said kissing his quickly before leaving the house.
"I cant tie this damn thing." Grayson called into the bathroom to his wife who was busy putting her makeup on.
"Are you nervous Gray?" she asked coming out of the bathroom dressed in a cream coloured dress suitable for the mother of the bride.
"Of course I am. I am finally getting to formally give my daughter away, and I don't want to do it." he said.
"Technically you gave her away when she married him the first time."Miranda corrected her husband while she helped him tie his tie.
"Maybe, but now it the time where I actually have to walk her down the aisle and place her hand in his, and the idea is killing me." he said.
"Nothing is going to change. They are simply renewing their wedding vows. She is still the same person she was yesterday, or the day before." Miranda assured her husband.
"I know, I'm having the first wedding jitters now. I wasn't supposed to have to do this, once she eloped with him." he muttered.
"So you're saying you don't want to walk Elena down the aisle." she clarified.
"I didn't say that. I'm nervous, and I don't want to give her away." he stated.
"It's going to be the same as it was before." she assured her husband and walked back into the bathroom to finish getting ready.
Giuseppe crossed the "Welcome to Mystic Falls" sign as he drove to his sons house where the wedding was to be held. Katherine made some valid points, and maybe she was right. Maybe she wasn't. He wasn't sure, and he decided that it wouldn't be smart to burn this possible bridge with his family until he was sure. He could always play nice here tonight, but then decide to hurt his son later on. He drove to the house and seen cars parked along the street and in the drive way. He parked down the street and walked along the flowered path to the backyard. There was a sigh on the door instructing wedding guests to congregate in the backyard. He seen Aiden and Damon talking with some people. Damon looked up and caught his fathers eye. Patting Aiden on the shoulder he moved off towards Giuseppe.
"You came." he said surprise coating his voice.
"I had to. It's a right of passage to watch your son get married." he said.
"I'm here to say one thing to you. Don't you dare ruin this wedding Giuseppe. I don't trust you. You're only here for the kids, but just remember that I don't trust you, Elena doesn't trust you, and none of our friends trust you." he warned him.
"Point taken. I'll behave. I promise." he said. Damon nodded before moving off to socialize with some more wedding guests. Damon saw Katherine walk in and walked over to her. She had a dramatic black hat hiding half her face.
"Clever disguise." he told her when he walked over to her.
"I know. I didn't want to confuse half your guests." she said.
"Thank you. I think this might be the second time in your entire existence that you thought of someone else besides you." Damon acknowledged.
"Maybe." she agreed smiling before walking off to seat herself. She took a spot in the very back row beside Giuseppe who had sat down. Damon walked by them towards his son who was still talking with Alaric and Jenna.
Upstairs Caroline was flitting around at vampire speed trying to get everyone ready for the ceremony in 30 minutes. She helped Aurora tie Elena into her dress, the strings partially confusing the teenage girl. When Elena was dressed Caroline quickly changed into her dress. When everyone was ready she took a deep breath and let herself relax for just a moment. Back outside everyone was getting seated and Damon, Aiden, Stefan and Alaric took their places at the head of the aisle. There was still a few minutes to go yet and as much as he tried to deny it to everyone else there was a small fluttering of butterflies in the pit of Damon's stomach.
There was a knock at the door in the bedroom where the girls were getting ready. Caroline rushed over to answer it.
"Mr and Mrs Gilbert. Come on in." she said stepping aside to they could come in. They both walked over to their daughter.
"Oh sweetheart you look beautiful." Miranda said.
"Being undead kind of helps." she muttered.
"Are you nervous?" she asked.
"A little bit." Elena admitted.
"That's to be expected. I'm sure Damon is too." Miranda assured her daughter.
"If he is, he'll never admit it." Elena responded smiling.
"Your dress is beautiful sweetheart." Miranda said of the strapless white dress that grazed the floor and was made of soft flowy material. It was a very simply wedding dress with only a small glittery belt right under the bust. The push up bra she wore underneath the dress ensured she had a small amount of cleavage, keeping the dress just sexy enough, but still mostly pretty.
"Thank you. Aurora picked it out." she said smiling at her daughter who was wringing her hands together.
"Are you nervous sweetie?" Miranda asked her granddaughter.
"Oh yeah. I'm not good with crowds." she said.
"You'll be fine. You're not alone up there. But I better get to my seat." she said glancing at her watch.
"I'll see you in a few minutes mom." Elena said hugging her mom. Caroline quickly flitted around her checking her dress to make sure everything was perfect.
"You're ready." Caroline said. She didn't wear a veil, figuring it took away from the simplistic approach she had gone for. Caroline disappeared for a second and brought in the bouquets. The bridesmaids had a smaller version of Elena's daisy filled bouquet.
"Alright Bonnie after you." Caroline said gesturing for Bonnie to head to the door. Everyone walked downstairs to the french doors leading to the aisle.
"You look so beautiful Elena." Grayson said kissing her forehead.
"I'm sorry you never got to do this 17 years ago." she said.
"I am too. I never should have kicked you out." he said.
"It's okay. If you hadn't my life wouldn't have turned out like this. I wouldn't have gotten married that night, so I wouldn't have gotten pregnant when I did. Everything would have been different."she said.
"I love you. You know that right?" her dad asked.
"Of course I do. But the music is starting. It will be our turn soon." she said. When Bonnie began her walk down the aisle, Caroline followed closely behind her. A few seconds later Aurora began her walk in her baby pink strapless gown. When the wedding march began Elena smiled and her and her father began their walk down the aisle. The look on Damon's face was perfect and it made her want to sprint headlong into the aisle. She didn't want to take this slow, and gracefully walk up the aisle. She wanted to pick up the hem of her dress and sprint, but she knew Caroline wouldn't appreciate that. She spent a lot of time planning this, and she wasn't allowed to ruin it with her need to get close to her husband. When they got to the mouth of the aisle Damon stepped down and in a gesture as old as time Grayson placed his daughters hand in her husbands. Damon stared for a moment at the ringless state of her left finger for just a moment before smiling. In a few short minutes that ring was going to be back on her finger for the rest of eternity.
"Please be seated." he minister stated. When everyone was seated Elena turned to Damon and smiled softly at him. He returned the smile and felt his heart clench. Here was this woman and she was standing here willing to rededicate herself to him for another eternity.
"I could say so many things about love and commitment, but I choose to instead listen to what this man and this woman have to say to each other instead. They have been through so much hardship and so much love in the past 17 years that it is fitting to have them tell us about love. Damon if you please." he said nodding to Damon.
"17 years ago, I pledged my loyalty to you, Elena, as your wedded husband, to live together under God's ordinance, in the holy state of matrimony. I promised to love you, comfort you, honour and keep you, in sickness and in health. I further promised you that forsaking all others, I would keep myself only unto you, so long as we both shall live. During these 17 years, I have been faithful to that pledge. Now again, at the beginning of our 18th year together, in the presence of our family, and in the presence of our friends, who have gathered for this happy occasion, I renew these vows, pledging myself to continue my devotion to you for as long as we both shall live." he stated his voice sure and passionate as he said those words to her.
"Elena." the minister gestured for her to take her turn.
"My dearest love, as we stand here today, I think back to all the wonderful memories we have shared. There is no greater feeling in life than to have your best friend by your side everyday. Though we have had our struggles, our love has been strong enough to conquer it all. I am thankful for you being in my life each and everyday. You are more a man than I ever imagined could come into my life. You are confident, independent, caring, nurturing, and supportive. You make everyday on earth a day worth waking up for. My wish today is that as we say these renewals you my love will once again say "I do" you are my world and my everything. For you I give my heart, my soul, body and mind every second of everyday. I take you today not only as my husband yet again, but as my friend and lover, my confidant, my shoulder when I need to cry, and the person whose arms I could not picture being without. Today I pledge to be by your side, to be your strength when you're weak, to never leave you, to be understanding, and to keep being the wife you deserve." she said with a single tear at the corner of her eye. She could hear soft sniffles coming from behind her and in various positions in the audience. She knew Aurora had shed a tire or two.
"Alright, now Damon, do you renew your commitment to Elena?" the minister asked.
"I do." he said with the slightest amount of hoarseness in his voice.
"And Elena do you renew your commitment to Damon?" he asked.
"I do." she answered.
"You may place the rings on the third finger of your spouses left hand." the minister stated. When the wedding rings were back where they belonged permanently the minister smiled.
"Now by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife again. You may kiss your bride." he said smiling.
"Finally." he whispered before descending his lips upon hers. He kept it mostly tame this time and a couple minutes later when they broke apart and the clapping commenced.
"I now introduce you to Mr and Mrs Salvatore again." the minister said as they walked back up the aisle being followed by Aiden and Aurora who was still trying to dry her tears, Caroline and Stefan, and Bonnie and Alaric.