AN:Hello! You all probably though I abandoned this story! But I havent! I was without internet for a while and have just gotten back into working again. So parenthood, work, and no internet had been kicking my ass. But I'm back and will be back to updating regularly! I really hope you all still give this a read. Please review! Enjoy!

Chapter 26

Add to the memory you keep

Remember when you fall asleep

Hold to the love that you know

You don't have to give up to let go

Remember turning on the night

And moving through the morning light

Remember how it was with you

Remember how you pulled me through

I Remember by Deadmau5 featuring Kaskade

Damon's POV

"So why exactly did you let your prisoner out of her cell?" I glare pointedly at my idiotic brother. He smirks in that annoying way that he usually does when he thinks he's being clever. That look suits me so much better

"I need you to help me decorate the house, it's Layla's birthday." Stefan raises his eyebrow in questioning.

"It is? I'm surprised you're not taking her out to some disgustingly expensive restaurant and then to a five star resort."

"As much as I'd love to wisk her away to Tuscany or do something else to own up to my reputation of being wonderfully dramatic, I can't. The safest place for her is in this house surrounded by a lot of vampires who can protect her and possibly kill her piece of shit mom. So as I said, you need to help me decorate." I grab a box off the floor in the entrance and gesture for my brother to follow suit. I'd had some things delivered earlier.

"How old would she have been?" He sounds sad and remorseful as always. But the question even makes me tense.

"Twenty three." As happy as I am that I can spend eternity with the woman I love, her becoming a vampire also means that I failed her monumentally. I couldn't protect her and she died. Her chance at normalcy, at growing old with someone, at children, it was stolen from her.

"Well let's get started. I'm surprised you're putting forth the effort to do all this yourself and you're not just compelling someone to do it, you really do love her don't you?" I roll my eyes as I push past my brother to start hanging these obnoxious little twinkle lights I found online.

"So Layla tells me you're planning on giving in to the archaic Christian ritual that is marriage." Stefan chuckles and shakes his head.

"How do you come up with the crap that comes out of your mouth?" He looks quizzically at the decorations in the box in front of him. Obviously trying to dodge the subject. He and I tended to avoid serious conversation.

"Just leave the lights to me, there are flowers in the kitchen start putting them around the house." God I sound like a gay man. He chuckles again but disappears into the kitchen.

We finish in a little under two hours, if we didn't have super speed it probably would've taken all day.

I pour us a couple drinks and stand back to admire the handiwork. The place is shining with tiny silver lights and bouquets of lavender and white flowers. I think Blondie will be proud of me. I didn't want to throw some party like we had for my birthday. I just want it to be the people that really matter. Something intimate and rememberable.

"Would it be really weird of me to say all of this is kinda beautiful?" I smirk at my brother and laugh at his lame ass sounding remark. He pats me on the back as if to say good job.

"It would mean a lot to me if you'd be my best man Damon." I look at Stefan a little shocked. He smiles in that I'm feeling awkward but sincere kind of way. I'm getting way too soft in my old age because I suddenly have the urge to hug my brother, I wont of course, that would just be wrong.

"Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself Stef? You haven't even asked her yet." He lets out an annoyed sigh. I pat him on the back like he had done to me earlier. "Yea, I'll be your best man; I am your brother after all."

Layla's POV

Caroline, Elena, Bonnie, and I are all having coffee at the grill. Of course I know Damons doing something for me; otherwise he never would have let me out of the house. I have no idea how he found out it was my birthday though, I never said a word about it. Birthdays seem a little pointless now that I don't age.

"I wonder what Damon's up to." I take a sip of my coffee. It's weird that I can still eat and drink like a normal person I guess, everything tastes different though.

"Something obnoxious I'm sure." I smile at my blonde friend and the other two nod in agreement.

"I never thought I'd see the day Damon Salvatore was sweet, but you've really changed him." It's not the first time Bonnie's said something similar to this, in fact most everyone I know had told me this. I guess I didn't really know, he's kind of always been pretty nice to me. The worst I'd ever seen him was when he had those college girls over, he's lashed out a couple times when he's upset but I've never seen the monster everyone claims he used to be.

"He's still an ass, the only thing that's changed is he doesn't kill people and sleep with any woman that looks his way." Elena smiles as she says this.

"Speaking of asses, what's been up with you and Klaus lately Care?" Caroline's eyes open widely at Bonnie's statement but she tries to quickly go back to her calm expression.

"What do you mean?" We all roll our eyes at her fake sounding innocent voice. There's been some serious tension surrounding those two lately. Caroline gets all embarrassed seeming whenever they're in the same room together and he just grins and follows her around.

"Spill it Forbes!" The truth is I saw the two standing outside the house last night looking pretty cozy together. I would never tell the others though, I'm pretty damn sure most of my friends can't stand the man.

"We're friends, ok? I actually kind of enjoy spending time with him lately. And yes I know he's an evil, horrible, murdering, asshole. So let's just drop the subject before we all get upset." Elena and Bonnie look taken a back and I can't help but smile secretly. I'm glad she's stood up for herself.

We all sit in silence for a few minutes, I think everyone's feeling a little awkward now. Finally Elena speaks up.

"Do you guys think Stefan has seemed a little off lately?" He's been a ball of nerves lately, he's really been worked up about this whole proposing thing. It's actually pretty cute.

"He seems fine to me." I don't want her worrying needlessly.

"Yea…maybe I'm just reading too much into things."

After we leave the grill Caroline tells me I have a hair and makeup appointment in a half hour, apparently she already paid for it. It's part of my birthday present from her. I thank her profusely even when she tells me she gave the stylist strict instructions on how to style my hair and do my makeup. The appointment takes way longer than any other hair appointment I've ever had but the results are great. My hair is in a very elaborate up do, with curly tendrils hanging down and my makeup is smoky and beautiful in a way I'd never be able to do it.

As I'm getting ready to leave I get a text from Caroline telling me to stop by her house and get my other gift. I'm surprised that it's her mother who answers the door and invites me in, Liz Forbes and I hadn't spoken in a while but she was always very kind to me. She hands me the box that her daughter instructed her to give me. It's an elegant emerald green lace dress, very expensive looking. Liz urges me to change into it.

"You look very pretty Layla. I know your grandparents would have been extremely happy to see how easily you've made friends here." My grandparents were good friends with Liz because of the founder's council. I smile at my reflection in Caroline's full sized mirror; I'm being treated like a princess today.

"Thank you. Your daughter is a really amazing friend." She smiles warmly at me.

"I have to say I'm really glad that Damon has finally settled down. He's done a lot of things that I don't approve of but I still consider him a friend and it's good to see him happy."

We chat for a few more minutes about various things before Elena texts to let me know I can come to the boarding house. I'm excited to see what Damon's spent all day preparing.

I kinda expected the whole town to be here in regular Salvatore party fashion but there are only a few cars here and all ones I recognize.

"Oh wow."

As soon as I get in the door I'm at a loss for words.

The house is gorgeous. Silver lights hang from the ceiling and banisters, looking almost like ic crystals, there's so many of them. Large bouquets of flowers sit on every table. It all looks so elegant, words don't do it justice. I hear the laughter of my friends in the kitchen and go to meet them.

The whole groups in here, even the Mikaelson's. Klaus and Elijah had become regular guests lately, I think helping Damon on his ever persistent search for my mother. Rebekah is actually smiling and laughing with Matt.

Everyone turns to look at me and breaks out clapping and smiling. It's incredibly embarrassing actually. All my friends are just as well dressed as I am, the men in suits and women in cocktail style dresses.

I receive happy birthday wishes and hugs from everyone. I can't believe everyone went through the trouble of doing all of this for me. The house looks so beautiful. The only thing missing right now is the man I need to thank the most. As much as I love getting out of the house these days I miss Damon when I'm gone.

My ears perk up when I hear someone descending the stairs in the other room. Even now when Damon enters the room I can feel my dead heart pick up its pace. He looks unbelievable in a suit, black tie and all. I suddenly want nothing more than to strip him out of his suit and put that tie to interesting use. I know it's just my heightened feelings and senses that are making me feel so suddenly sexually frustrated so I push it back so I can enjoy all that my boyfriend's done for me. Something shining in his eyes and rare bright smile has me thinking he too feels the electricity that's always so present between us. I smile back just as happily.

I close the distance between us and wrap my arms around him. He presses a tender kiss to my forehead.

"This is so beautiful; you really didn't have to go through all this trouble." He smirks and rolls his eyes.

"Stef might have done more work than I did and of course Blondie started fixing things the second she got here." I laugh and look to Caroline.

"Thank you so much for the dress, its so nice." She shrugs like it's nothing.

"It's the least I could do for you. You've been such a good friend to me Layla."

"I thought you deserved to have a nice normal birthday celebration since you've never exactly had a normal life. I would have liked to take you out to a fancy restaurant and taken you dancing or something but the circumstances have complicated that a bit so I figured chateau Salvatore would have to make do." God I love this man. I take his face in my hands and press my lips to his in a way that might be a little bit too intimate for company but everyone just laughs.

"It's perfect Damon. Thank you. I love you." Even now his eyes flash in disbelief when I say those words.

"We'll see if you're still saying that after you eat mine and Stefan's cooking." He takes my hand and leads me to the table.

Everyone is in a good mood, we're all laughing. Dinner was amazing, enough Italian food to feed an army. Elena and Bonnie even baked me a cake. I get a very interesting rendition of Happy Birthday sang to me and everything. I really haven't celebrated my birthday since my father died. My grandparents would always give me gifts when they saw me but I never had birthday parties or anything.

We've all moved into the living area to drink obnoxiously expensive wine and bourbon. Stefan clears his throat suddenly and breaks the multiple conversations going on.

"I uh, want to make a toast to the birthday girl." I'm surprised to say the least. Elena smiles at me and leans her head on my shoulder, obviously interested in what her boyfriend has to say as well.

"I want to thank you Layla, not only for becoming a really great friend, but for accepting this crazy world of ours so easily. You've embraced all of us so warmly. You've treated all of us as if we've never done anything wrong, you've accepted us as we are and never thrown our past mistakes in our face. You have no idea how incredible it is to have a clean slate with someone, an unbiased opinion. I know I speak for everyone when I say that there is no way that any of us could ever fault you for your past choices either, you should know how much you mean to us and how we will all do everything we can to protect you. And I want to thank you most of all for loving my brother with such abandon. Despite our many differences I've always wanted to see Damon happy, to see him smile like Elena makes me smile. You're an incredible woman that I'm proud to call my friend. Happy birthday Layla," I can't help that I've teared up. Elena has tears shining in her eyes too. Without any awkwardness at all I hug Stefan.

"Thank you Stefan." He nods his head and clinks his wine glass with mine.

"Happy birthday Layla!" Everyone toasts and laugh.

Elena walks over to me with a gift in hand.

"I've been putting this together for a while now." I take what looks to be a scrapbook from her.

It's a book of quotes and pictures. So many candid pictures I never knew were taken and a few my girl friends and I had playfully posed for. Its truly beautiful. Pictures of Damon looking at me before we were together, ones of us kissing, of laughing. I embrace my best friend, extremely grateful for the thoughtful gift.

"And this is a gift from everyone so no getting mad at only me." My eyebrow quirks in question as I take the small box from Damon.

I remove the lid, confused by the silver key inside. "What's this for?"

"That is a key to your new dance studio. Well really it's just a big empty building but you get the idea." My mouth hangs open comically. They bought me a place where I can start my business, I'm speechless. "Or you could always make it a strip club, whatever makes you happy." I elbow Damon in the ribs.

"I don't even know what to say. Thank you guys so so much." I'm tearing up all over again. I have the best friends in the world.

"You better get that place fixed up soon; we're all going to be taking classes!" I laugh at Bonnie's enthusiasm.

Everyone falls back into conversation after a few minutes. Damon is tracing his fingers up and down my spine, my dress has an open back, his fingertips barely ghosting over my skin is giving me shivers. He knows the effect he's having on me, I can tell from his constant smirk.

I take his hand and discreetly lead him out of the room and up the stairs. I'm sure someone had to have noticed but I think they're all tipsy by this point and respecting the fact that I want some alone time with the elder Salvatore.

"Having a good birthday?" He's still grinning.

I crush my lips to his and press him none to gently against the nearest wall upstairs. I pull back panting.

"Best birthday I've ever had but there's one more thing I need to make it perfect." His eyes are smoldering.

"I really hope you know what you're asking for. I'm going to do things you've only dreamed of." Only Damon could pull off making things that would normally sound corny sound unbelievably hot.

"I dare you." His smirk promises things dark and wicked for the night to come.