Here we go! They're finally married. There might be three chapters left in this story. The timeline keeps switching in my mind and I add new things. As always let me know what you think. Thank you to my amazing beta Courtney, you are amazing.
When Elena woke up the next day Damon was already gone, just like he promised he'd be. There was no trace of him in the room except for his scent on the pillow that he had laid on last night. She rolled over and glanced at the clock on her nightstand. 8:00. Caroline should be barging in any second to get her up and ready for her wedding. Elena grinned and giggled, excited for her big day. It was finally the day she would be Mrs. Damon Salvatore. It was the day she had waited her entire life for. She was ready. Like clockwork, Caroline barged through the bedroom door looking serious and determined.
"Up, up up." Caroline demanded clapping her hands together.
"I'm awake at least. That should be something." Elena muttered.
"It is something, but it doesn't matter. Breakfast is waiting for you downstairs, then we have things to do. You have to be spectacular today and it's my job to make you that way. Did you sleep at all last night? You have dark circles under your eyes." Caroline admonished as she tossed Elena a pair of black yoga pants and a t-shirt.
"I didn't sleep very well at first." Elena admitted.
"Wedding jitters?" Caroline asked sympathetically. Elena nodded, aware she was lying to her best friend. She didn't want to tell her that she had a nightmare about the sicko who attacked her before calling Damon.
"I'm a little nervous. But I'm mostly excited. There's no cold feet at all." Elena assured her best friend, knowing she needed the assurance after all the work she put into the wedding.
"Good. Cold feet are not allowed. Now get dressed. I'll meet you downstairs. If you're not down there in five minutes I'm coming to get you." Caroline warned her before striding out of the room. Elena smiled and laughed before doing what the blonde said and getting dressed in the clothes she laid out for her.
"Today is the day sweetheart. You're about to become a Mrs." Miranda cheered when Elena made an appearance at the breakfast table.
"I'm so excited. Hungry too." Elena noted seeing the pancakes on the table.
"Well then eat up quickly. I know you have to go with Caroline right away to get ready for the wedding." Grayson said looking down at his plate.
"Are you okay dad?" Elena asked cautiously.
"I'm fine. I was just thinking that this day came sooner than I thought it would. It doesn't matter. Eat your breakfast and go with Caroline. We all have things to do this morning." Grayson commanded.
"Alright." Elena agreed, knowing she would have time alone with her dad right before they walked down the aisle.
"Your dad's right Elena. Hurry up. We've got places to be. The manicurist is coming at 10." Caroline stated as she glanced at her watch.
"Lots of time. Speaking of which, I need to make a stop on my way over to the plantation. I'll just meet you there." Elena decided.
"You are not going to see Damon. That is against the rules. You can wait until you walk down the aisle to see him." Caroline demanded refusing to let Elena out of her sight.
"Actually I was going to see Anthony. He and I need to have a quick chat." Elena stated.
"Okay, that's fine. Don't be late. We have tons of stuff to do and not enough time to do it ."Caroline huffed as she grabbed her ever present clipboard and walked out of the house without a single goodbye.
"I better go. Wouldn't want her to freak out when I'm late." Elena told her parents as she picked up her purse and walked out the door.
"Gray are you ready for today?" Miranda asked when Elena left.
"As ready as I'll ever be. This is going to be a long day. We should get cooking." Grayson said getting up and walking to the kitchen counter. Miranda nodded knowing her husband didn't want to talk about losing his last child at the moment. But he was right, the wedding feast needed the stuff they had to deliver.
Elena parked in her usual spot and stalked into the building.
"Elena,what are you doing here? It's your wedding day. I'm so excited for the wedding." Chelsey asked surprised to see Elena walk in.
"I'm here to talk to Anthony. It's a conversation that needs to happen." She stated as she walked through the double doors. Chelsey shrugged her shoulders as Elena marched through the office, earning glances from everyone working in the office.
"Elena?" Dennis murmured seeing her. Dennis was dressed in a nice suit, clearly reflecting the fact that he had a wedding to attend.
"I'm just here to see Anthony. After that I will be heading over to the plantation so Caroline can have me poked and prodded." Elena muttered shrugging her shoulders.
"Okay... Why are you here to see Anthony? I thought the two of you weren't on speaking terms." Dennis asked baffled.
"We're not. But he tried to ruin my wedding so I am here to rub it in his face that it's still on." Elena spoke.
"Are you sure that's wise?" Dennis asked concerned.
"Why not. I am just exercising my right to freedom of speech. He deserves to know that his efforts were essentially futile. I have to go. Caroline will be waiting for me." Elena said as she walked past Dennis.
"I'll see you at the wedding Elena." Dennis called, as he walked back into his office and shut the door. Elena turned at the corner and walked into Anthony's office without knocking.
"What are you doing here?" Anthony demanded seeing her walk in.
"I just wanted you to know that I'm getting married. Today. Your efforts failed and I'm still getting married." Elena gloated.
"How are you still getting married. I tried everything I possibly could." Anthony asked demanded, a frown gracing his lips.
"I have the best soon-to-be-husband on the planet." Elena bragged.
"What did he do? Use his powers to force someone to cook for you?" Anthony demanded.
"No, he asked all our friends and family to help with the meal. Everyone is bringing something, Damon included." Elena beamed.
"Hm." Anthony muttered, not sure what else to say.
"Yep. Now I have to go. I have a wedding to be a part of." Elena said as she strode out of the office while Anthony watched her, dumbfounded.
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Caroline stood before Elena applying her makeup while the manicurist worked on her fingers. Caroline wanted her to be ready a bit before the ceremony so that there was no rushing.
"You can't rush perfection" was what Caroline had been saying all morning. Elena decided since she had no say in what was going on, she would just lay back and relax. She could hear people outside, setting up chairs and whatnot. Also people downstairs. It was beginning to feel real.
"Elena, whatever you do don't get nervous now. I don't need you sweating off your makeup." Caroline told her firmly. Elena nodded and smiled at Caroline.
"I'm cool as a cucumber Care." Elena assured her as the manicurist moved to her other hand.
"Good. Let's keep it that way." Caroline demanded.
"I'll try. Don't make me worried." Elena demanded as she closed her eyes and went to her happy place. The place aspect of it kept changing since Damon hadn't told her where they were going on their honeymoon. But they were together and that's what was important.
"Only a few more hours... then you will be Elena Salvatore." Caroline enthused. Elena smiled brightly at her best friend as an annoyed Bonnie came out of the bathroom.
"I am fully capable of washing my own hair Caroline. You don't need to hire someone to do my hair." Bonnie hissed.
"I'm sorry that I wanted this to be perfect. I am the maid of honour at this wedding and I have to make this perfect." Caroline hissed, her stress level rising.
"It's okay Care. This wedding is going to be perfect. Just calm down." Elena told her.
"I'm trying. I promise I'm trying to keep calm." Caroline murmured, taking a deep breath.
"You're doing great. This is going to be the best day of my life." Elena promised.
"Okay, I know it will. I have to go get ready." Caroline said as she got up and walked away from Elena.
"I'm sorry if I stressed her out." Bonnie whispered.
"It's okay. She's just a little crazy right now." Elena replied as the manicurist finished up on her.
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"Are you two coming or what?" Damon demanded of Stefan and Katherine who were sitting in the parlour with a drink.
"We were waiting for you." Stefan answered as Katherine adjusted her old fashioned looking veil to hide her face. She had been told by both Stefan and Damon that no one could see her face. They didn't need the questions on why there was a
woman who looked exactly like the bride at the ceremony.
"Good. Let's go. Much to do. I just want to get married already." Damon spoke eagerly as he walked out to his Camaro with Katherine and Stefan. Stefan looked at Katherine and smiled adoringly. He had never seen his brother this happy before. He was positively buoyant. They climbed into the car and Damon sped away from the Boarding House, eager to get to the plantation.
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Elena stood at the window looking out over the alter where she would be standing in a short while with the love of her life. She heard his car before she saw him. Moments later he walked onto the grass and her breath got taken away. He looked amazing in his simple black tuxedo. He must have felt her eyes on him, so he turned around and their eyes locked. She was dressed in her robe and her hair was all done up as was her makeup, so they weren't breaking any rules. He hadn't seen her in her dress yet. That was the important part.
"Elena come on. It's time to put on your dress and your veil." Caroline insisted pulling Elena away from the window.
"He's here." Elena whispered.
"I know that. I saw him. Now lets go get you dressed so you can go get married." Caroline insisted as she pulled Elena away. Elena followed Caroline into the room where her dress was hanging over the door.
"Are you ready for this?" Caroline asked as she unzipped the garment bag.
"Uh huh. I have a few butterflies now though." Elena admitted.
"That's normal. Take your robe off." Caroline commanded. Elena obliged and stepped into the dress when Caroline lowered it for her. She felt the material sliding up her legs, hips and stomach. She slid the sleeves over her arms and Caroline zipped it up.
"You look so beautiful. Damon is going to fall even madder in love with you when he sees you." Caroline whispered as she grabbed the veil and clipped it above the ornate bun in the center of Elena's head.
"Can I see yet?" Elena asked, desperate to see if she looked as pretty as she felt. The girls had covered all the mirrors until they were done getting ready.
"Not yet." She whispered as she slipped the jewelled headband into her hair, finishing off the look. They both heard a knock on the door and Bonnie opened it, letting Grayson and Miranda through.
"Oh my Gosh, sweetheart you look so beautiful." Miranda cooed when she saw Elena.
"Thanks mom." Elena replied as she hugged her mom tight.
"Baby girl you look so grown up." Grayson whispered, his voice tight.
"Thank you daddy." Elena whispered back.
"We wanted to bring you these. Something old and something blue." Miranda murmured gesturing to the earrings and bracelet in her hand.
"These were your great grandma Gilbert's. She wore them on her wedding day. Your grandma on hers and I on mine. They are good luck." Miranda said of the teardrop shaped diamond earrings. They were gorgeous and suited the dress perfectly.
"Thank you." Elena said as she put the earrings in her ears.
"This was mine. Your father gave it to me when we were still dating. Many years ago. It's a sapphire." Miranda noted of the gem. The bracelet was beautiful in its simplicity. It was a simple silver bracelet, with several small sapphires going around it. "I want you to have it now."
"Thank you mom. I love it." Elena whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Don't cry sweetheart. We don't want to ruin all of Caroline's hard work." Miranda whispered, wiping some tears from her eyes.
"I'll try not to, though everyone cries at weddings." Elena replied.
"I should get down there. It's almost time." She said as she left the room slowly. Elena smiled and took a deep breath.
"Daddy are you ready to walk me down the aisle?" She asked.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be. I love you Lanie, you know that right?" He asked.
"I know. I love you too. You'll always be my daddy, no matter how old I get or where I end up." She told him.
"Thank you sweetheart." Grayson said. Caroline swooped in and pulled Elena to the side pressing a lacy garter into her hand.
"Oh." Elena breathed as she quickly rushed to the bathroom to slip it into place.
"Where did Elena go?" Grayson asked.
"Oh we forgot one very special detail in her outfit. She's just rectifying that." Caroline explained as Elena returned. The flower girl, and the bridesmaids left the room. Elena and Grayson followed close behind them but waited at the garden doors for their turn to walk. A traditional melody started up as the flower girl, one of Elena's cousins, made her way up the aisle. Bonnie followed closely behind her and Caroline followed a couple moments after her. The weather was perfect for such an occasion. The sky a bright cloudless blue and the temperature perfect.
"You look so beautiful sweetheart." Grayson said as the music changed. The new song made Elena smile and recall the night they chose their wedding song.
Flashback
"Have you chosen a song yet?" Damon asked when he found Elena lying flat on the bed with a book over her head.
"No, there are so many good ones. I can't pick a favourite." Elena whined, her voice muffled from the book.
"I have a solution. Why don't you let me pick?" He offered.
"You want to pick our song?" She asked.
"Yeah. I haven't contributed much to the wedding and that's fine. But I know of the perfect song for us." He said as he pressed play on the stereo.
"We can't choose this song." Elena stated sitting upright on the bed, having the book fall into her lap.
"Why the hell not?" He asked thinking the song was perfect for a human, vampire love.
"Because it's Edward and Bella's song." Elena stated as if he was of significantly lesser intelligence.
"I don't care if it's Bella and Edwards song. It's perfect for us. Because I know for a fact that I have loved you for a thousand years and I will love you for a thousand more. Besides the song didn't actually play at their wedding, it played in the movie scene. There wasn't a piano or someone singing this song. Hell I didn't even see a stereo. Just admit it, the song is perfect." Damon insisted.
"The song is kind of perfect." Elena agreed.
The instrumental version of the song started to play and Grayson looped Elena's arm through his.
"Are you ready for this?" He whispered.
"Yes." Elena answered certainly. The decision to have the song as both their first dance and her walk down the aisle was another made by Damon. He thought it was perfect for her to walk down the aisle to and it turns out he was right. Everyone stood and watched her walk down the aisle. Miranda sat clutching Jenna's hand as they both sobbed. Bonnie and Caroline were smiling brightly and Damon couldn't take his eyes off of her. Jeremy and Alaric looked handsome as the groomsman and best man. Damon stepped off the step and held out his hand for her. Grayson in a symbol as old as time placed his daughters hand into Damon's. He kissed his daughters cheek before taking his seat next to his wife.
"Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offence and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other peoples sins, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes." The officiant started and Elena beamed at Damon.
"I love you." She mouthed to him and he repeated the action, rubbing his thumb over her hand softly.
"This couple chose to write their own vows, not ever finding something that conveyed what they felt for one another. So now without further ado, Damon, your vows please." The officiant stated.
"Elena, before I met you I wasn't the man that I knew, deep down I could be. I had no reason to try to be that man. But somehow one look into your beautiful brown eyes made me flip that switch and want to be a man good enough to be seen with you. A man good enough to be called your man. I will love you and protect you for as long as we're together. I would love you until eternity if given the option. You make me into a better person and I love you so much for it. You are my forever. I love you." He told her, his voice strong.
"Now Elena, your response." The officiant indicated. Elena nodded and turned to Damon with a small smile on her face.
"I never knew what love was before I met you. Sure I had seen it unfold on TV shows or in movies and books. But I had never felt it. I had never felt the total all-encompassing feeling that I get when I'm with you. You're in every thought I had and when I'm not with you I want to be. You saved me from my life and which was dull and drab but now filled with colour. Everything is so much brighter now since you came into my life. You gave me something to hope for. Something to want. You also gave me someone who I could give my whole heart to and not fear that it would end up broken. You fixed me Damon and for that I will be eternally grateful. You saw something in me before I even saw it myself. It took no time for me to fall head over heels in love with you and I will stay like this forever. I fall in love with you more everyday and now standing before you saying these words I fall even harder. You have saved my life, literally and figuratively. With you by my side, I feel like I can accomplish anything. You are my happiness, my forever. My love." She whispered, her voice strong and true. Her eyes never deviating from his. Their gazes locked on one another.
"Damon, take your ring and place it on the fourth finger of Elena's left hand." The officiant instructed. Damon pressed the engagement ring and wedding band onto Elena's finger where it would stay for the rest of their lives and gently kissed her hand causing her to beam up at him.
"Elena, take the ring and place it on the fourth finger of Damon's left hand." The officiant instructed. She pushed the ring onto his finger and smiled at them.
" Now by the power vested in me by the state of Virginia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Damon, you may kiss your bride." The justice said before Damon muttered "finally" and swooped in kissing her passionately. He didn't try to deepen it, he just held on tight and kissed her until she couldn't breath.
"I now present you to the new Mr and Mrs Damon Salvatore." The justice called out and Damon took her hand, leading her back up the aisle into the plantation with the rest of the wedding party following closely behind.
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Right after the ceremony, the wedding party and the parents all left to go get pictures done at the park. It was the perfect place for wedding photos and Damon was getting annoyed.
"How many pictures do we have to take? I want to go back to the plantation, eat dinner and then dance all night." He complained.
"Only a few more Damon." Caroline stated as the photographer snapped pictures of Elena and her parents. And Elena and Jeremy.
"Ugh fine." Damon whined when he was forced into the pictures. He put a smile on his face and wrapped his arms around his wife. They took pictures of their hands interlocked, displaying their wedding bands, pictures of the entire group. Over and over again pictures were taken until the photographer was satisfied.
"These look wonderful. I can't wait until they're developed and you can see them." She said smiling at the happy couple.
"I can't wait either." Elena said.
"Me neither. Let's go." He said leading everyone back to the limo.
"No making out this time. You make everyone very uncomfortable." Caroline decreed as they all shuffled into the limo.
"When we get back we get to do our first dance. That's happening before dinner so that when dinner is over the party can begin." Elena explained.
"What about the father daughter dance?" Grayson asked anxiously.
"Right after our first dance." Elena assured him.
"Can I have more than one dance throughout the night?" he asked.
"Of course." Elena assured her dad.
"Good." He acquiesced.
When they got back to the plantation where everyone was having a few drinks, they walked into the ballroom and the DJ asked everyone to clear the floor for the customary first dance. The regular version of the song came on and Damon pulled Elena into his arms and they gently swayed to the song.
"It's our song now Mrs Salvatore. Edward and Bella can pick a new one." Damon whispered into her ear causing her to smile.
"It definitely is." She agreed as they danced.
"I can't wait to leave town tomorrow for two weeks." Damon whispered in her ear as they swayed.
"Where are we going?" She asked hoping he'd finally give in and tell her.
"Can't tell. You'll find out tomorrow." He promised her.
"Not good enough. Tell me now." She insisted.
"Nope." He demurred. Elena sighed and buried her head in his chest listening to the faint beating of his heartbeat.
"I love you anyways." She sighed.
"That's good because I love you too." He told her kissing the top of her head. She smiled against his chest as the last few notes of the song played.
"Now the bride would like to share a dance with her father before dinner." The DJ announced as the opening notes for "Butterfly Kisses" started up.
"This is the most epic father daughter song." Elena murmured.
"Yes it is. It's been our song since you were little. I always dreamed of dancing to this song with you at your wedding day. It just came faster than I expected." Grayson murmured.
"It happened so perfectly. Thank you for being everything I needed for my whole life." She thanked him.
"If I had been everything you needed you would never have moved out. I was a terrible father." He told her shaking his head.
"No you weren't." Elena demurred.
"Yes I was. I lost both you and Jeremy. What kind of father loses his kids like that?" He asked shaking his head.
"The kind that loves his kids so much he wants to protect them from everything. That's all you did. You wanted the best for us but neither of us appreciated it." Elena whispered.
"I was too hard on you guys. But both of you are happier now than you ever have been. I guess in a way I did my job right.
My children are happy. My daughter is married and my son is in a committed relationship with a girl who is good for him. My kids turned out alright." He said smiling.
"We have you and mom to thank for that." Elena whispered.
"It was all you and Jeremy." Grayson argued.
"Whatever you say dad." Elena smiled as the song started coming to an end. When the song was over, the DJ called for everyone to find their tables.
"It's dinner time everyone. The first table to have all four people sitting at it in assigned seats gets to eat first. After the wedding party of course." The DJ announced and everyone filed to their seats. Elena and Damon sat at their small table for two at the front of the room with the rest of the wedding party next to them.
"I can't wait until dinner is done because this party is going to kick some ass." Jeremy called over to Elena.
"I look forward to dancing with my little brother." Elena replied.
"Of course I'll let you have one dance big sister." Jeremy mock sighed.
"You have no choice in the matter. It's my wedding." Elena insisted, sticking her tongue out at her brother.
"This is going to be a fun party." Damon sighed, already counting down the hours until he could take Elena home.