Oh my gosh! I was planning on this being a sweet short story(but obviously couldn't fit a one-shot) but all the reviews were amazing! Completely made my day. I wasn't expecting such a big response from this story, and I'm definitely considering expanding it some. As a song fic it will still be kind of short, but I will absolutely try and make it longer!
A few years had gone and come around
"Elena, come on, you have to stop moping around," Caroline insisted.
"I'm not moping."
"You so are, Bonnie, tell her."
Bonnie sighed, "You kind of are, Elena."
The three were in the school library, trying to study, but Elena had been distancy and withdrawn.
"I'm sorry guys," She exhaled, letting her face fall into her hands.
"Elena, Damon's going to come back." Caroline insisted.
"I know that, Care, it just sucks having to say goodbye again. And it's college. Stuff happens. What if we break up, or he meets someone else, anything..."
"God, Elena, Damon loves you. You two survived six years of separation and came back stronger. It will be fine. And you'll see him over Christmas, Spring Break, Summer, and he's going to the same school you've been talking about attending for the past three years...it'll be okay."
Elena sighed again. "Yeah, I know."
"And you're hot, a senior, a cheerleader, and an all A student, who in their right mind would dump you?" Caroline reasoned.
Elena laughed, "Oh I love you."
"I know," her friend smiled.
"Congratulations babe!" Damon smiled, pulling his girlfriend into a hug.
"Thanks! Though I doubt I can pull this gown off as well as you did." She winked at him.
"Whatever, you look hot."
She laughed and looked around for Caroline and Bonnie. She found them a pulled them from the crowd of classmates and parents.
"Guys, we need a picture."
"Okay, okay." Caroline laughed.
"Hey, Damon, take this, please!" She asked, handing him her camera.
"Sure." He snapped a few pictures of the smiling girls, and in return Caroline took a few of him and Elena. Soon her parents were waving her over for their own pictures.
They day followed with more congratulations and after parties, but Elena was just glad Damon was able to make it. Even though he promised her he wouldn't miss it, she'd had her doubts.
That evening, after opening a few gifts and eating cake, Damon nudged her.
"Come with me?" He asked, and she nodded, taking his hand.
"We'll be back in a bit,"He called to their parents, the last remaining guest in her house.
"Alright, be safe!" Her mom called with a smile, and she noticed her share a look with Mary, who then looked up at her husband, who nodded to Damon.
She looked up at him a little confused.
"Come on, babe." He motioned to the door and she followed.
He took her over to the camaro, and opened the door for her.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"Our spot."
Understanding, she smiled and grabbed his hand.
We were sitting at our favorite spot in town
They pulled into the clearing a few minutes later. A little light still remained in the sky, but the lights from the town were already twinkling beneath them.
She got out and moved to his hood. A habit they'd perfected on the many nights they'd come out here to make out and talk.
"I brought this," He grinned, holding up a bottle.
"Champagne?" Elena lifted an eyebrow.
"Well it does follow the tradition of celebration." He reminded her, sliding her to the edge so he could stand between her legs, instead of joining her.
"I love you, Elena," he told her, wrapping his arms around her. She laid her head on his chest, and his head leaned on top of hers.
"I love you too."
"Forever?" He asked, playing with one of her hands.
She smiled, "Forever."
He pulled back a little, gazing down into her face. "You would spend forever with me?"
She brushed a kiss on his lips. "Even forever wouldn't be long enough with you, Damon."
He smiled and his eyes lit up. He leaned down and kissed her softly one more time.
Then pulling back, he dropped down to one knee.
"Then marry me, Elena." He said, pulling a ring from his pocket.
Her eyes widened, then teared up. "Damon..."
"I know we are young. But your moving into my apartment next to campus anyway. We can wait for the wedding if you want, whatever you want. I just need to know that I can keep you. That you're mine until death. I love you so much. And I want forever with you. Please, Elena...marry me."
She smiled, pulling him up, "Okay, yes, I'll marry you."
His answering smile burned brighter than any of the stars above them.
He placed the delicate ring on her finger, then pulled her into his arms.
"God, I love you." He murmured against her hair.
Elena looked up at him through the tears in her eyes, and couldn't think of a time she'd been happier.
And you looked at me,
Got down on one knee
"I can't believe this!" Caroline squealed.
"Well believe it," Elena smiled, having just showed Caroline and Bonnie the ring.
"What did your parents say?" Bonnie asked, smiling.
"Oh, I think they were more excited than I was. Mom was crying. Mary was too, and Dad was just happy it was Damon, you know."
"This is crazy! So have you guys talked about wedding dates?"
Elena laughed, "Not yet, Care. We just got engaged last night! But I want to wait a little bit, get some college out of the way first."
Her friends considered this, "That's probably a good idea," Bonnie agreed.
"Can I plan your wedding?" Caroline asked, and Elena giggled.
"You can help."
Caroline considered. "Not the same thing, but I'll take it!"
"Well you might be off in New York by that point, Miss world fashionist."
"Yeah, but come on, it's Elena's wedding!"
The girls finished talking over their lunch and soon, Elena was checking her phone.
"Hey, guys, I should probably go, Mom's texting."
"Okay, we'll see you later!"
She hugged them both, before walking out to her car.
Take me back to the time when we walked down the aisle
"You ready babe?" A voice called from behind her.
"Yeah, just got the last of the bags packed," Twenty-one year old Elena called over her shoulder.
"Okay, because the rehearsal dinner starts in a few hours and both of our moms would kill us if we're late."
She laughed, turning to face her fiancee. "Well you'd seriously think that with all the test we've had the past few weeks, they'd be a little more understanding."
He wrapped his arms around her, "Well if I recall, darling, you were the one who wanted a June wedding."
She shrugged. "I did, I do. I just didn't think it through too much. It's lucky that Caroline's classes ended early. Her and mom have taken care of most of the details. Now we just have to get there."
Damon grabbed her bags, "Well the camero's already loaded up. Just waiting on you."
She nodded, running around making sure she didn't forget anything.
"Okay lets go."
It took them a few hours to drive back to Mystic Falls, and they arrived with just enough time to shower, change, and head to the church for the rehearsal.
The next day was hectic. Following tradition, Elena had slept in her old house, with her parents, and Damon in his. Of course they'd opened the windows, like old times, and talked about officially being married in less than twenty-four hours. Eventually though, they'd decided sleep was a good idea. Now Elena was wishing she'd gotten a little more of it. She dragged herself down stairs for some coffee, before facing the day ahead. She had a nail appointment at nine, hair appointment at eleven, going to the church by noon, getting dressed, applying make-up, and final preparations, then the wedding started at two.
Her mother was already at the dining room table with her own coffee.
"Hey mom," Elena called, going to pour herself a cup.
"Good-morning sweetie," her mother smiled.
Elena joined her at the table.
"Today's it then, huh?" her mom asked.
"I guess so."
Her mom gave a small laugh, "You know, I think I've known this day's been coming for years. You and Damon. That was almost guaranteed the day they moved in when you were five. Do you remember?"
Elena smiled, "Of course I do. I almost got hit by the moving van."
"And Damon pushed you out of the way,"Isobel finished, "You two were practically inseparable even then...guess some things never change."
She laughed a little, "I'm happy they didn't."
Isobel smiled, "I'm glad your'e happy. And Damon is the best thing that ever happened to you."
"No arguments there," her daughter joked.
"I'm so proud of you, Elena, really, I am."
"Thanks, Mom." She hugged her mother to her, both of their coffees ignored.
"Come on, now, go get dressed, we have a long day." Isobel said, wiping an eye.
"Yes mam," Elena hurried up the stairs, excitement filling her.
Our whole town came and our mamas cried
The church was packed, Damon noticed, taking his place in the front. He recognized many people, and even some strangers. Apparently he and Elena were more known than he'd originally thought. He had to admit he was a little nervous though. Elena was his world, the best part of his childhood, and the love of his life. And she was about to become his, forever, in the most binding legalized way humanly possible. She'd said yes, to him, and he couldn't help but be amazed. These past few years with her had been a crazy roller-coaster After the engagement, when she moved up to the college in Chicago with him, things got easier. She decided to live her first year there in the dorms on campus, instead of in his apartment, said she wanted the whole college experience, and he was okay with that. He still got to see her every day, and she stayed over a lot. Then finally, she did move in with him, and the past year and a half had been eventful to say the least. But he was the happiest he could ever remember being, until now.
The music had started and people were beginning to walk down the isle. Caroline and Bonnie were the bridesmaids, escorted by his best man, Ric, and his cousin, Stefan. Then the tune he really wanted to hear started. The wedding march. And then she was finally coming toward him. Her ballgown styled dress framed her body perfectly, falling down in streams. He noticed it had a caramel colored ribbon around the waste, come on, you can't lie in church, but her face is what stunned him. She was always beautiful, but today, she was breathtaking. Her hair framed her face in ringlets, and her eyes shining like her every dream was coming true. She stopped to hug her mother, tears streamed down Isobel's face, the turned to his own mother, who was sobbing just as hard. He even noticed John was choking back some tears. Then with a few more steps, she was in front of him, smiling like there was no tomorrow. John placed her hand in his and the world stopped.
Their vows were the traditional ones, shared by many other couples over the years, but he didn't care. He meant every word from the bottom of his heart. The heart that almost exploded when he heard those long awaited words.
"I now pronounce you man and wife, Damon, you may kiss your bride."
He reached up to cup her face, tears coming lightly down her cheeks now. He wanted to remember this moment for the rest of his life.
"I love you." He whispered, then leaned in, kissing her deeply.
You said I do
And I did too
Elena was ecstatic She and Damon had just ran through the rice and were safely tucked away in the limo the Salvatore's had rented to take them to the airport.
She leaned into his side.
"We're married, Damon."
He smiled at that. "Yeah we are. You're officially Elena Salvatore now."
She leaned up to kiss him. "I can't believe we are really going to Hawaii."
"It's what you wanted, so of course we are."
She rolled her eyes smiling, "Careful Mr. Salvatore, you don't want to spoil me too soon."
He kissed her again, "Oh I plan on getting plenty out of my end of the deal."
She playfully smacked his arm laughing.
"Look at that, married an hour and you're already abusing me."
She just shook her head smiling.
The air was thick with the smell of the ocean, and Elena couldn't bring herself to shut the window. Damon had rented them a condo and the balcony overlooked the ocean. Dark had fallen, but the temperature was still perfect. She heard the glass door slide open behind her and smiled as a pair of arms encircled her waist.
"You are so beautiful, you know that right?" Damon asked, kissing her head.
She leaned back against him. "I'm so happy, Damon."
He smiled, "I'm glad, babe. You need to be happy."
"Did you ever think this would happen? I mean, through all those games of tag, and coloring books, all the mud pies, bug collecting, and stupid fights we had."
"We were just kids then, I didn't know to think of this kind of stuff." He told her.
"I loved you then," She said, "I don't think I was quite in love with you. But I loved you."
"I loved you too, but I fell in love with you after we came back."
"Oh yeah?" She asked, turning to face him.
He smiled, "It didn't help that you had gotten so damn sexy."
She laughed, and he continued. "I mean, the first time I saw you again, you were wearing that short little cheer-leading uniform, then it was just like the old you was back, and I've never been as close to anyone as I was with you 'Lena. Add that to this newly developed sexual attraction, and it was bound to happen."
"How many I told you so do you think our parents will give us over the years?" she asked, smiling.
"Too many," He answered, kissing her forehead, "But I don't care, because I'm glad they were right."
She pulled his face down to meet hers. And they kissed under the light of the moon, exactly where they both wanted to be.
Tell me what you think :)