Chapter 16: Epilogue

The next day I woke up in Damon's arms feeling well rested and happy. I wasn't proud of the way we had made up especially after I had promised myself I would wait to find the man I really loved to give myself to. I had my doubts about Damon but being with him, next to him like this, made me feel secure and loved.

I turned around to look at him. He was sleeping soundly, his lips half open, his hair sticking out at every direction. He looked so cute! I got out of bed silently and peeked outside the window. The cruiser was just pulling in. I rushed in my room and made a show of waking up. I didn't have to as dad didn't check on me though. I took a shower and then went downstairs to clean up my mess.

After breakfast Damon and I sat down and had a talk. He told me about the 'condolences card' Stefan made him sign and how he had freaked out by that and flew straight here. I chuckled. When I told him about the strange secret Valentine's presents I got it was his turn to chuckle and he told me his side of it. He had received a poem that he threw away and a bear that sat on his study at home. How he screwed everything with a vagina and a heartbeat but didn't move on. He told me about Katherine and what really happened the night I caught them kissing and afterwards.

"Why didn't you call me or try to talk to me?"

"Why did you leave like that?"

"I was upset and really wanted my mother. Since we arrived in Mystic Falls I was afraid of what would happen. To tell the truth I thought I was a poor man's Katherine place holder, seeing you two confirmed it and I had to leave"

"I was ashamed of what I did. I sat on a tree for days and then I was sure you wanted nothing to do with me"

We were both being silly and afraid. I still believe that some space did us good though. Definitely gave me the time I needed to get better. In the afternoon Damon had a talk with Charlie about moving back in and I confronted Angela who admitted up to talking and conspiring with the Mystic Falls crew. I laughed and thanked her.

Damon and I fell right back in our relationship. We refrained from sleeping together immediately though, we both held each other higher than just a romp in bed at the end of the day.

The next days and weeks passed quickly. Everyone had accepted Damon and we were happy. I even applied to colleges as Angela, Elena and I wanted to live the college experience. Damon had no problem with making me a vampire but I wanted to be a little older so that I didn't have to repeat high school again and again. Elena was thinking along the same lines and so it was decided. we'd be attending college and since vampirism was public in our families I wasn't too freaked out by telling Charlie. Renee was another story though.

On graduation day I got a reply from the colleges I had applied. All three of us plus Mike, Stefan and Matt got accepted in the same college. Damon would never attend and we all knew it. He'd simply come along for the ride.

The next chapter of my life was starting and I am all in.

THE END