Here we are, this story is winding down. But here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy. I just want to thank everyone for all the support they've given this. It really means the world.
Thank you again to my wonderful beta Courtney.
"Antonio dear, what does one wear to a wedding attended by only 2 people plus the minister, not including the bride and groom, at Juliet's Balcony in Verona?" Bella asked her husband as she stood in front of an open closet. They could both hear the children splashing about in the pool and weren't overly worried. They were both excellent swimmers.
"I suppose whatever you would usually wear to a wedding as long as it's not fancier than the brides dress." Antonio answered after thinking about it for a moment. "One can never out dress the bride."
"Okay, would you go check on the children dear?" Bella asked.
"Certainly." Antonio agreed as he set out to check on Lucia and Franco.
"I really have to go shopping for a wedding dress." Elena mused as she looked through her bag and found that there was nothing even closely resembling a white dress in her bag.
"You should have a white dress no matter what for our wedding. Every bride should be wearing a beautiful white dress on her wedding day." He told her kissing her temple and running his hands down her arms.
"I'm going to miss this place so much when we leave. It won't be the same when we're back in Mystic Falls. This place is practically paradise, I don't think I would even need to leave to be happy. I could be happy just staying in this house on a permanent basis." Elena told him turning around and wrapping her arms around his waist.
"It's always an option." He reminded her.
"But then I'd miss our family and friends. They're such a big part of our lives and I don't want to leave them all behind." She told him.
"Well the two things aren't mutually exclusive. We could spend half a year in Mystic Falls and half a year here. Hell your family and friends could always come visit us here, I'm sure they'd enjoy that." Damon suggested. "I could easily pay for their trip down."
"Well that's if they're still speaking to me after finding out we eloped." Elena reminded him dryly.
"They'll get over it. I know they will. Like we discussed we'll give them a reception and then they'll be fine." He reminded her. "They'll understand 'Lena."
"I know you're right, as always." She told him her eyes glinting.
"I'm always right, I'm glad you're finally admitting it." He answered with a wide grin on his face.
"It's hard to argue with the facts. As hard as it was to admit that. So what time are Bella and Antonio's son and daughter-in-law picking up Lucia and Franco?" Elena asked.
"Soon I think. I have two rooms booked in Venice again for all of us. You and me in one and Antonio and Bella in the other." He told her as he picked up their small duffel bag.
"You know it's hard to believe that we're getting married tomorrow." Elena told him as she followed him out of the bedroom, flipping the light off as she went.
When the couple got outside, the kids were practically being wrestled from the pool by their parents.
"Lucia, Franco it is time to go. Grandma and grandpa are busy today." Alonzo insisted as he tried to pull the kids out of the water into the waiting arms of Maria. She was armed with towels ready to wrap the kids in them.
"Come, we have to go." Maria called to the kids.
"If we don't go now Mr. Salvatore will never let you guys here again." Alonzo tried desperately.
"We love swimming here." Franco shouted.
"Then maybe you should get out now so your parents will bring you back." Elena told them.
"Will you let us come here to swim again?" He asked calmly.
"If you listen to your mom and dad then yes. But you have to listen." Elena told them firmly.
"Alright we'll get out." Franco decided as he swam to the edge of the pool and climbed up the steps.
"Very good." Elena approved as Damon carried their bag to the car.
"Do you want to ride with us? There's not much of a backseat but it's enough room for two." Damon asked Antonio.
"That would be wonderful. I don't know Venice well enough to drive there." Antonio agreed.
"Then it's settled, we should really get going though." Damon said as he walked them to the car. The kids by now were out and drying off.
"Hurry just get in the car please." Alonzo insisted as the kids were very slowly drying off.
"Will you be here when we come back?" Lucia asked Elena.
"Maybe, we might be on our honeymoon there or back at home." Elena told the little girl.
"I want to see you again. You're pretty." Lucia told her sweetly.
"Well I'm sure you'll see us again soon enough. I love it here." Elena told her.
"Where is your home?" She asked her little eyebrows furrowing.
"Mystic Falls Virginia. It's in the United States." She told her.
"Oh, that's a long way away." She responded.
"Lucia it's time to go." Alonzo called.
"Okay daddy." She said getting into the small SUV.
Once the family drove away, Antonio and Bella turned to Elena and Damon.
"Shall we leave as well?" He asked.
"Yes, we should probably hit the road. You're not apposed to very fast driving?" He clarified.
"Just how fast are we talking? Wouldn't want you to get a ticket." Bella asked wringing her fingers.
"I've never gotten a ticket, I am very convincing when I want to be." He assured her as he let them into the backseat of the car. Once they were in, he tilted the seat back to it's normal position and slipped behind the wheel as Elena climbed into the passenger seat.
"Let's go." Elena said excitedly.
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A while later when they were parked at the hotel, Elena and Bella went off in search of a store to buy a wedding dress in.
"This should be something you're doing with your mother." Bella noted as they browsed racks of white dresses.
"My mother died a long time ago. The only family I have left it my Aunt Jenna and my brother Jeremy." Elena confessed.
"Until tomorrow, then Damon will be your family too." Bella reminded her.
"Damon is already my family. He's the love of my life, the only one I could ever picture doing this with." Elena admitted with a small smile curling her lips up.
"I'm happy he's found you. My husband and I have been working for him for years and the last time we saw him he wasn't nearly as happy as he is now. He was miserable and he never spoke to us. He's a completely different man now. He has changed so much, just not physically." Bella explained. "He looks exactly the same as he did thirty years ago."
"That's Damon for you. He's lucky, he'll look like that for the rest of his life." Elena told her.
"I don't question it. I have my assumptions of what he is, and by extension, what you are, but I'm not worried. If you meant us harm you would have hurt us already. I trust you and Damon." Bella told her as Elena continued to browse.
"What do you think we are?" Elena asked curiously.
"It doesn't matter. It's insane to even think it. It's just the way that I feel but I also feel safe." Bella told her.
"You're right to feel safe. We would never hurt you." Elena promised her as she pulled a knee length white dress off a rack.
"How about this one?" She asked. The dress was pure white and at the waist a sparkly band went around her. It had a sweetheart neckline and the entire dress had a lace overlay over it. It flared out at the hips creating a beautiful silhouette.
"You should try it on. In my day wedding dresses were beautiful gowns." She noted.
"I know, that's what I always wanted. But we're eloping and it's perfect." Elena explained.
"Isn't your family going to be disappointed?" Bella asked.
"My best friend is going to be so mad at me, but I figure she'll forgive me when I promise to have a reception when I get home." Elena answered.
"That would appease her?" Bella asked.
"Most likely. I know Caroline would never say no to a good party." Elena laughed.
"Do you have shoes to go with your dress?" Bella asked.
"I brought a pair of slip on heeled sandals that are silvery that will work." Elena added on.
"You don't want a brand new pair of shoes for your wedding?" Bella asked.
"Nah, I got the dress. I have the jewelry. Everything else is perfect." Elena told her as she went to try on the dress.
It was like it was meant to be, the dress fit perfectly. Elena went to the cash desk and the girl there rang through her purchase. Elena handed her the credit card and she ran it through. The worker spoke in Italian and Elena couldn't understand but Bella conversed readily with her.
"Back to the hotel now Elena?" Bella asked.
"Yes, the sooner we get there and get on with our day the sooner I get to get married." Elena told her.
"You must wear a shawl of some sort so Damon doesn't see your dress. Or maybe we could rent a car and drive over separately." Bella suggested.
"That's true. I'll rent a car at the hotel. I saw they had a car rental place in there." Elena told her as they started walking back.
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The rest of the night was just spent hanging out together. The last night of single life for both Damon and Elena. When it became late enough to go to sleep, Bella and Antonio insisted that Damon and Elena sleep apart for the night. It wasn't right to share a bed before the wedding night and it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.
"Alright fine. I'll sleep on the other bed in your room." Damon sighed as Bella took the other bed in Damon and Elena's room.
"A marriage needs as much luck as it can get. You must not risk ruining that." Antonio insisted as he ushered Damon down the hall.
"We're going to see each other before the wedding anyway. We're travelling there tomorrow together." Damon reminded them.
"No, Elena and Bella rented a car to go there on their own." Antonio told him.
"I see." Damon muttered as he walked into the room and collapsed onto the bed.
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The next morning Damon and Antonio left early so there was no chance of Damon seeing Elena before the ceremony. Damon drove and he could honestly feel some butterflies in his stomach. That was a feeling he hadn't had since he was human, it was a very distant memory.
"When is your wedding?" Antonio asked.
"The first one this morning. I just needed the ceremony, I didn't need any sort of reception or even guests for that matter. We're just doing the thing and then going back to Sarteano." Damon told him.
"You're referring to the wedding as "the thing?" Antonio asked.
"Fine, the wedding. I am so excited to be getting married to Elena, it's just never been that important to me before her. It's hard to start referring to it as something important and enjoyable." Damon told him.
"I understand, you used to value your independence above everything else. But then when you met her everything changed. I used to be the same before I met my Bella." Antonio recalled.
When Elena got up, she quickly showered and pulled her wedding dress on. When she was dressed Bella came in and did her hair while she quickly did her makeup. Bella pulled her hair off to the side and put in in an intricate but loose bun. Elena loved it, especially when she found a little white daisy and put it in her hair.
"Thank you." Elena told her smiling at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like any other blushing bride in the world.
"I never thought I'd ever get here."
"This is going to be the best day of your lives together." Bella told her.
"I know and I can't wait for our lives to start." Elena whispered as she slipped her feet into the shoes and picked up the bouquet of wildflowers the two women had picked out at a fresh flower stand near the hotel the day before.
"Are you ready to go?" Bella asked.
"Yes, I should drive so we get there on time." Elena noted.
"I'll hold your flowers. Do you drive as fast as Damon does?" She asked curiously.
"Today I will be. The rest of my life is waiting for me in Verona." Elena told her grinning.
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"Signor Salvatore, it is a pleasure to have you here. I hope today will be to your exact specifications." A heavily accented minister mentioned as he walked over.
"I'm sure it will be. You know exactly what we want. Now we just have to wait for the bride." Damon answered turning towards him.
"Yes, it is my understanding that the bride does not speak Italian, so you want the ceremony in English?" He clarified.
"Yes. My vows will be in both languages." Damon told him.
"Beautiful. This will be a memorable occasion." He told Damon and Damon grinned back. It had only taken the smallest possible amount of compulsion to get him to be completely on board with whatever they wanted in their wedding. He knew that in some way compelling your way to the perfect wedding ceremony was a bad way to go, but he didn't care. This was Elena's day and it had to be perfect.
A couple minutes later Damon saw the small car that Elena and Bella had rented pull up. Damon rushed over and opened her door for her.
"You look so beautiful." He whispered as he leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you. You look very handsome" She told him smiling as she linked her arm through his.
"Let's go get married shall we?" He asked leading her over to the minister who then gestured for them to walk inside. They walked up the stairs and ended up on the balcony with Bella and Antonio standing just off the the side.
"Now before we start if I may recite a Sonnet by William Shakespeare. Sonnet 18." The minister started.
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee.
It really was only fitting that they used a Shakespeare sonnet, considering they were marrying on Juliet's Balcony. When the minister stopped reading he turned to them.
"I can speak about love endlessly, but this is your day, I would like to hear the words you have to say to one another. Damon." He said gesturing for him to start.
"Lo, Damon, prendo te Elena come mia sposa e prometto di esserti fedele sempre. Nella gioia e nel dolore, nella salute e nella malattia, e di amarti e onorarti tutti i giorni della mia vita.
I Damon, take you Elena as my wife and promise to be faithful to you always. In joy and in pain, in health and in sickness, and to love you and everyday honour you for the rest of my life." Damon spoke, his voice clear and honest. His eyes locked on hers the entire time.
"Elena." The minister prompted. Elena quickly took a deep breath to calm her emotions, she had started crying the minute he started speaking in Italian to her. There was just something so beautiful about the wedding vows in Italian, she only wished she could say them too.
"Damon do you take Elena to be your lawfully wedded wife from this day forward for as long as you both shall live?" He asked.
"I do." Damon answered without hesitation.
"Now slide the ring onto the fourth finger of Elena's left hand." The minister instructed. Damon slid the newly attached wedding and engagement rings onto her finger where they would stay forever.
"Elena, do you take Damon to be your lawfully wedded husband from this day forward as long as you both shall live?" He asked again.
"I do." She answered clearly. She took the ring from Bella when prompted and slipped the ring on his finger.
"Now by the power vested in me by God, I can now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." He told them as Damon took her in his arms and kissed her. Bella and Antonio clapped with wide smiles on their faces as a crowd that had gathered on the street started cheering and clapping.
"I know introduce you all to the new Mr and Mrs. Damon Salvatore." He announced as he stepped aside to let them down the stairs.
"Oh my Gosh we're finally married." Elena enthused as they got out of the building and were walking along the road.
"Yes you are finally Mrs. Damon Salvatore. Took long enough." He teased as he leaned over to kiss her again.
"That was a beautiful ceremony." Bella said as she and Antonio caught up after signing the witness spot on the marriage certificate. Elena and Damon had signed their part before coming down.
"What should we do next?" Damon asked as they walked.
"I think we should head back to Sarteano so I can change my relationship status on Facebook." Elena suggested.
"And then we should go to my villa on the Amalfi Coast. You'll love it." He told her.
"We'll spend a few days there for our honeymoon then come back to Sarteano for few days. Then it'll be time to head home and face the backlash." She clarified.
"Yep. Sounds about right." He nodded.
"Okay, well then we should get going." Elena decided as they drove back to the hotel to hand the rental car back in and make sure they didn't forget anything in the room.
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"Remember tonight is your wedding night, you should spend it alone together." Bella reminded them.
"Don't worry we are. After we repack we're driving to the coast and taking a boat to my villa. We'll have our wedding night then." Damon told them.
"I'm sure your house on the Amalfi Coast is beautiful. I would love to see it." Bella sighed.
"The keys are in the house. If you ever want to go there, just go. I don't mind." Damon told them.
"That would be a lovely holiday. How many bedrooms, I'm wondering if we could bring the grandchildren." She wondered.
"There are seven bedrooms. Lots of room for your entire family. Also a pool and private beach." He told her.
"Sounds lovely." She sighed as Damon drove considerably slower down the highway.
When they finally arrived back at the Sarteano house, they all went their separate ways. Bella and Antonio to their guest house and Elena and Damon into the main house.
"You have no idea what I'd give to make love to you right now." Damon sighed when he followed her into the computer
room.
"No time baby. Get us to your villa quickly and then we'll talk." She told him as she logged onto her Facebook account. She clicked on her profile and found her relationship status. Clicking it she changed it from "in a relationship" to "married."
"How long do you think it'll be before they react?" Damon asked.
"Very soon I think." She said as she held her hand out and snapped a picture of her rings with her Iphone. Before shutting down the computer she sent the picture to Facebook.
"Are you ready to go?" He asked.
"More than you know. Let's just pack a few things then go. I'll check Facebook again in a few days." Elena told him.
"Sounds perfect. Let's get out of here." He said as they rushed to the bedroom to throw together another duffel bag.