Thank you to my amazing beta Courtney. Check out her stories, they are incredible. (cdaye8184). you will not regret it.
Elena laughed as she walked into the bridal store in Mystic Falls with her mom and Caroline.
"Oh you have no idea how excited I am for this. I get to help my daughter choose a wedding gown." Miranda enthused.
"I get to help my bestie find her wedding dress." Caroline refuted.
" Too bad Bonnie couldn't have come, but she had to get back to class." Elena stated.
"Well I promised her I'd text pictures to her of you in every dress you try on." Caroline assured Elena.
"Even the ugly ones?" Elena asked wincing slightly.
"Even the ugly ones. If we have to see you in ugly dresses then, Bonnie does too." Caroline decreed.
"Okay, I don't even know what I'm looking for really." Elena sighed looking at the racks and racks of wedding gowns before her.
"Well do you want a large princess-y gown?" Her mom asked her.
"No." Elena answered.
"Do you want to go unconventional and wear a short white cocktail dress?" Miranda questioned.
"No. I want a floor length traditional wedding gown." Elena answered.
"Do you want strapless or do you want sleeves?" Miranda asked trying to narrow down Elena's search.
"I don't think it matters." Elena shrugged, unsure which style she wanted.
"Lace or no lace?" Miranda continued to grill.
"Either. I love the look of lace, but it's not a deal breaker for me." Elena decided.
"Empire waist or formfitting?" Miranda asked browsing racks as she questioned.
"Depends on the dress." Elena stated unsure.
"See you have preferences, now we just have to find something that you love. You will know it's the right dress when you put it on. The right dress will practically scream "I'm the one" at you." Miranda explained.
"Oh on a happier note, Damon and I picked a date last night." Elena recalled, nearly forgetting in her excitement to tell everyone.
"Ooh when. I need to make sure mine and your fathers schedules are completely clear for the entire week." Miranda cheered.
"June 4th." Elena answered.
"That is so perfect. Your father will book holidays and I make sure I have nothing going on either for the entire week of your wedding darling." Miranda spoke, writing the date into her calendar.
"Now back to the dress." Caroline insisted.
"Right." Elena remembered, turning to the massive shelves.
"Can I help you with anything?" The saleslady asked coming over to them.
"We're looking for a wedding gown for my daughter." Miranda told the woman.
"Okay, what style are you looking for?" The saleslady asked.
"I have no idea. So far I'm not seeing anything that speaks to me." Elena admitted.
"Well I have a new arrival that just might fit you. It's brand new, hasn't even made it out to the shelf yet. It's a size four." She told her.
"That will do." Elena agreed.
The older woman returned with a white garment bag which she immediately hung on a hook in a change room.
"When you're ready, you can try it on." She told Elena. Elena walked into the room immediately and shut the door. The change room had no mirrors which Elena found to be a bit odd. Elena stifled a sign when she unzipped the garment bag's zipper and saw the white gown before it. It was so beautiful. It had cap sleeves, sweetheart neckline, was elegantly beaded down the whole dress. The sleeves were lace and the back had a concealed zipper hidden by a row of pearls. It appeared to be formfitting, but it would flow out at just above the knees into a graceful skirt. Elena loved how the dress looked on the hanger, so she stripped out of her clothes and slipped the dress over her hips.
"Mom can you come zip me up?" Elena called out the door. She pulled her hair back and held it at the nape of her neck as her mom came in.
"That is so gorgeous." Miranda sighed happily.
"I don't know how it looks on me, but it was so beautiful on the rack." Elena agreed. Miranda gently slid the zipper up and spun Elena around.
"That dress certainly has my vote." Miranda told her daughter.
"Let's see if Caroline agrees, then I want to see." Elena decided. They walked out of the dressing room and Caroline's eyes literally almost bugged out.
"That. Dress. Is. So. Perfect." Caroline stated with her eyes wide.
"You like it too?" Elena asked.
"Uh huh. That dress has my vote. You have no need to try anything else on. You have to get that one." Caroline decreed. The saleslady walked a mirror over to them and set it in front of Elena. The owners of the store had decided long ago to stop having mirrors everywhere in the store because lots of brides to be hated seeing themselves in countless ugly dresses. They allowed someone else to see them in the dress but hated seeing it themselves until they were assured that it looked okay.
"Take a peak. I would say that dress was made for you Miss." The saleslady said gesturing for Elena to look at the reflection in the mirror.
"Wow." Elena breathed when she saw herself in the mirror. It highlighted her curves perfectly and showed just a hint of cleavage.
"All we would have to do is take it in slightly at the waist to give it the proper silhouette. Then it would be perfect. It is just slightly too loose for the style." The saleslady explained.
"Yes, I can see that." Miranda agreed.
"You totally have to get this dress." Caroline demanded.
"I want this one. This dress most definitely spoke to me." Elena told the saleslady.
"Are you sure you don't want to try more on?" Miranda asked concerned.
"That would simply be a waste of time. You told me I would know when I found the dress and I know this is it." Elena told her mom smiling.
"We want this dress. Since your father refuses to see the dress until the day of the wedding he told me today that on the off chance that you find your dream dress today to buy it." Miranda told Elena flashing her credit card. Elena beamed and went back into the change room to take the dress off and put it back on the hanger. Once she was wearing her jeans again she walked out of the room and followed the saleslady up to the cash desk.
"We will send the dress off to the tailors tomorrow and you will have it back in about two weeks. We will fit you once more and if it's still not right we will send it away again." The saleslady explained.
"Don't you need to measure me first?" Elena asked.
"I did when you were wearing it. We just need to take it in about a quarter of an inch, slightly less. Then it should be perfect. When is the big day?" The woman asked.
"June 4th." Elena answered.
"You have lots of time then." The woman assured Elena. Elena smiled as Miranda paid for the dress in full.
"We should go to the Grill to celebrate. I never imagined that I would find my dream dress in the very first one I tried on." Elena babbled.
"I would love to celebrate, but I really should get back home. Classes start up again tomorrow and Tyler's waiting for me. I was supposed to be home yesterday but I couldn't miss wedding dress shopping with my bestie." Caroline said hugging Elena.
"Okay, when are you coming back?" Elena asked.
"Next class break we have. Make sure you run lots of wedding plans by me. Even if I'm at school I can still help with wedding planning." Caroline told her,.
"I will, we will have wedding planning parties via email." Elena promised.
"We'd better. Have fun at lunch with your mom. I'll talk to you tomorrow probably." Caroline said before climbing into her car and driving away.
"So the Grill?" Elena questioned.
"Yes, let's go." Miranda agreed as they climbed into her car and made their way to the Grill.
They took their usual booth at the back of the restaurant when they arrived. Matt walked over almost immediately.
"Hey, Elena. Mrs. Gilbert. What can I get for you guys?" Matt asked.
"Menus please. I think we're having lunch." Miranda stated politely.
"Right away." He said walking away and returning with menus. "So how's the wedding planning going?" Matt asked conversationally.
"Amazing. I found my wedding dress today. It has been bought and paid for." Elena exclaimed.
"Congratulations. Have you two set a date yet?" Matt asked conversationally.
"Yep. June 4th. I sat Damon down last night and told him to help me choose one." Elena answered.
"Good job. I will make sure I have that day off. I wouldn't miss it for the world." Matt assured Elena.
"I would track you down and drag you to the hall if you even tried to miss it. Even if it made me late to my own wedding." Elena warned him.
"It's nice to know that I am that wanted at the wedding, that I could make the bride be late to her own wedding." Matt laughed. Elena smiled and looked at her menu before immediately putting it down.
"Mushroom and swiss burger with poutine." Elena said without fail.
"Shouldn't you be eating healthy to ensure you'll fit into your dress?" Matt asked laughing as he wrote down her order.
"I get lots of exercise." Elena shrugged.
The two Gilbert women sat around gossiping and eating their lunch when Elena suddenly darted out from her seat.
"Grant! It's been too long." Elena cheered running and hugging the guy.
"Hey Lanie, what's up?" He asked hugging her back, happy to see his favourite client.
"Just picked out a wedding dress. Yep, that's right. I'm getting married." Elena cheered.
"Wow, is it by change to the Damon guy whose name I tattooed onto your wrist a few months ago?" Grant asked.
"One and the same." Elena acknowledged.
"Awesome. So when is the next time you're getting some work done. My shop is boring and lonely without you and Care-bear there to entertain me with your teenage drama." Grant sighed running a hand through his hair.
"I'll come by and see you sometime. Care's at school." Elena reminded him.
"You'd better or else I'm going to make you start paying for body modification work." Grant warned her with a smile on his face.
"God I'd hate it if you did that." Elena shuddered in horror.
"Elena, who's your friend?" Miranda asked coming over to them.
"This is Grant. He is the brilliant mastermind who got me to get my first tattoo." Elena introduced the two.
"Oh. Nice to meet you Grant." Miranda said smiling. She held out her hand for the tattooed guy to shake.
"Nice to meet you too Mrs. Gilbert." Grant greeted.
"I have always been curious to know who talked Elena into getting a tattoo." Miranda mused.
"I only talked her into the first one. "Breathe" on her wrist. I thought it would be a good reminder to her to actually stop and take a breath. The rest were all her doing." Grant explained.
"I actually believe that." Miranda decided.
"Yeah, but I've got to get going actually. I'm just here to pick up my order and then get back to my shop. I have actual paying customers coming in this afternoon." Grant teased.
"Alright, I'll see you around. I'll tell Care I talked to you." Elena told him.
"Have fun planning your wedding. I will be expecting an invitation." He told her firmly.
"Don't worry, you're on my list." Elena laughed.
"Good. We would so not be friends anymore if you shut me out." He said dramatically.
"That would never happen. Where else would I get my body modifications from if not you?" Elena asked rhetorically.
Elena and Miranda sat there for a little while longer before Matt walked back over.
"You know, I always wondered what you did to rebel against your mom and dad, but now I know. You a tattooed and pierced rebel." He joked.
"Yeah, I couldn't tell you at first because I didn't really trust you not to run off and tell my parents." Elena admitted.
"I can't promise that I wouldn't have. But after you broke up with me I found our friendship. Our friendship is one of the most important things in my world. It's better now than when we were dating." Matt admitted.
"I know it is. You know you're one of the first people I tell stuff too. You were the second person to find out about my engagement, only after Jeremy, even before my parents." Elena admitted.
"I love being your confidant Elena. It gets me out of my own life Lena. But I better get back to work. Wouldn't want to get fired." Matt said walking away.
"Oh Elena, before I forget, Jenna's birthday is Saturday. She told me to tell you. It's a swimming party, which I know for someone her age is a little weird, but she rented out the entire public pool and is expecting you to be there. I'd wager Alaric is telling Damon too." Miranda recalled.
"I'll be there. I wouldn't miss Jenna's birthday for the world. Besides going swimming would be fun. It would get Damon and I out of the house for a while for something other than work." Elena promised.
"Good. But I better get going. I am helping Carol plan a party and I shouldn't be late. You know how she gets when people are late for things." Miranda sighed.
"Wait, mom! You have to drive me home first." Elena screeched rushing after her mom.
"Oh right. I'm sorry dear." Miranda stated slowing down and walking back to the car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~DE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday afternoon Damon was lounging across the bed in his usual uniform of black jeans and black shirt.
"Do I have to go to this birthday party?" Damon asked.
"Yes you do. Alaric told you, you have to. I told you, you have to. So regardless what you say, you have to go." Elena called from the bathroom where she was slipping into a pink bandeau bikini top with matching bottoms that tight up at the sides. She fastened the string of the top around her neck and tied it tightly to prevent Damon from having naughty ideas.
"Why?" He whined not wanting to spend his afternoon at the pool with all of Elena's family.
"Because I said so. Because since you're marrying me you have to get used to spending time with my family. Also because I will be wearing this." Elena explained walking out of the bathroom wearing only her bathing suit.
"That is fairly convincing." Damon decided.
"I thought the colour played up my tan a bit. Do you agree?" She asked.
"Uh huh. I like the new belly button ring you put in. I like that it dangles, much more fun than the barbell you had in there before." He appraised.
"I thought you'd like that. If you come to the birthday party and be a good little vampire, maybe I'll let you take this bathing suit off of me once we get home." Elena bribed.
"It's a deal, my hot, sexy, tattooed and pierced fiancee." Damon agreed.
"Good." She replied leaning down and kissing him passionately. She pulled away before they could get too carried away and quickly grabbed her bathing suit coverup slipping it over her suit.
"But I am not wearing a bathing suit." He told her.
"Fine don't, but please change into something other than black jeans please." Elena bargained.
"What would you like me to wear?" He asked sarcastically.
"Anything other than that. Don't you own a pair of shorts or something equally as cool. It is unseasonably warm for March." Elena told him.
"Fine. I'm sure I can dig up something." He decided walking into the closet. He came out with a pair of black shorts that still had the tags on them.
"That's a bit better. Pair it with a shirt that isn't black, then we're in business." Elena decided.
"So demanding." Damon muttered as he pulled on a white shirt with the black shorts.
"Very good." Elena approved and walked out of the room.
When they arrived at the pool, Damon immediately met up with Alaric and Elena walked over to Jenna.
"Happy birthday Aunt Jenna." Elena said hugging her aunt.
"Thanks Lena. I feel so old." Jenna sighed
"Come on you're only 32." Elena laughed.
"Go have fun. You're only young once." Jenna sighed.
"There are a lot of men here Jenna?" Elena noted.
"Uh huh, I need to feel that I still am hot. Even though I am perfectly happy with Ric and he makes me feel beautiful on a daily basis. They're all guys in my classes at the college." Jenna explained.
"I'm going over to see my awesome fiancee." Elena told her aunt.
"I still can't believe you got engaged before me. How is that even right?" Jenna demanded.
"My boyfriend is better than yours?" Elena offered.
"Don't even go there. Our boyfriends are best friends. It's a bit odd." Jenna mused. Elena laughed while walking over to Damon who was in deep conversation with Alaric. She overheard tidbits such as "stop making me look bad Damon" as she walked over to them.
"Hey." Elena said tilting her face up for a kiss. He obliged her and gave her a quick peck on the lips.
"I'm going to say hi to my beautiful girlfriend." Alaric muttered walking away from his best friend.
"Well I think my beautiful fiancee should take off her coverup and let me ogle her beautiful body." Damon probed.
"It'll be awkward... there are so many people here. I've never been around so many people wearing only a bikini before. All my tattoos are visible and my belly button ring..." She fretted.
"Look there are lots of women here in bikinis who are tattooed and or pierced." He told her pointing them all out. He had a point, there was one woman there that had one huge tattoo going from her throat down both her shoulders, both her arms and was working its way onto her chest. Her little tattoos wouldn't draw anymore attention to her than her engagement ring did. The shiny little charm in her navel wouldn't draw any attention either. The only people she was worried about were her parents. She nodded her head and quickly pulled her coverup off and as expected Damon's eyes widened.
"I am so happy you are wearing my ring. I don't think I could handle it if someone flirted with you here today." Damon sighed.
"Well if you stay by my side the entire time we're here then it won't be a problem." Elena suggested to him.
"I won't leave your side." He vowed. After mingling with people they knew for a while, birthday cake was called. Everyone at the party sang happy birthday to Jenna who blushed under the intense attention. After the cake was finished, Damon whispered in Elena's ear.
"Tell me when you're ready to go. I seem to remember being promised to be able to peel off your bikini later today." Damon whispered. Elena felt herself heat up at his words and nodded her head.
"I'm ready to go home now."