"When seahorses find a mate, they wrap their tails around each other so the tide doesn't drift them apart. They have that one mate for the rest of their lives. When the mate dies, they do too"

-Unknown-

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They arrived at Wilmington with the first rays of sunshine; Elena had been quiet the entire time. There was happiness bubbling inside of her after what had happened between her and Damon in the road but right next to that happiness there was also fear clawing at her, fear of rushing things, fear of finally getting what she always wanted.

"You're going to love it here doll" He told her as they crossed the very brand new Cape fear bridge, Elena's eyes were looking at the water below her, its slow movements having a calming effect on her.

"It's so beautiful" She answered, it was certainly very different from the bustling New York streets. It didn't surprise her that Damon had found a home in this place, in so many ways it seemed to resemble the old Mystic Falls.

They continued driving for a few more minutes, the soft music coming out of the radio the only sound in that chilly morning. Damon maneuvered the car through the quiet streets, putting distance between the rows of houses and them until they arrived to a very secluded part of town.

"Here we are" He couldn't hide the happiness in his voice and Elena smiled with the knowledge that bringing her to his home could make him feel this giddy.

She was about to tease him about it when she truly paid attention to where they had arrived. The property was way bigger than she thought it would be, green land surrounded the house and a few trees were scattered around; beyond the house the lake extended and shined with the sunlight.

"You built this?" She asked in awe as she opened the door and fixated her eyes on the house.

The house looked like something out of a fairy tale or a beautiful postcard, it looked like happiness and love, but for her it looked like the promise of a future she never thought she would have.

The house was a mix of capecod and craftsman architecture, Elena was taken aback at how talented Damon was if he had been able to build something like this place from scratch.

It was a two story home with a steep roof and a central chimney; the exterior was painted in a soft cream color and had lots of woodwork. There were two windows on each side of the big mahogany door but what brought tears to Elena's eyes was the wide spacious porch, with tapered columns supported by a low pedestal made of stone.

"I built this place for you" He whispered as he snuck up to her from behind, his arms circling her slender frame and his head resting on top of her head "I've sat in that porch every night imagining that you're there dancing for me"

"Oh Damon" Elena covered her mouth with her hand, trying to contain the sob that was fighting its way through her throat.

"Welcome home darling" He kissed the side of her head and released her when he felt her trying to move around.

Elena turned around until she was facing him, his arms were holding her close to his body and his face showed nothing but happiness; ever since he came back into her life this was the first time Elena had seen him truly happy, like he was free.

Her hand caressed his face and he nuzzled into her palm "Is this real?" Her voice was filled with disbelief and more than a bit of awe. "It can't be real"

"It's all real doll" He took both of her hands between his and kissed them. Her eyes watered and she stared at him in silence for a few seconds before bursting into tears "Hey, it's okay. Don't cry" She tried to hide her face but he took her chin between his fingers and stopped her from moving

"God you must think I cry all of the time" She tried to joke but he was having none of it. He wrapped her in his arms and she could no longer hold it, she clang to him and buried her face into his chest as the tears flowed freely.

Being in this place, seeing the house she had dreamt about so much and to realize he had built it for her was bringing back so much pain and happiness at the same time. It was like she was contemplating the life she was supposed to have but wasn't able to and there was nothing more bittersweet than seeing what could have been.

"I'm sorry" She said between sobs as he stroked her hair softly

"Let it all out" He encouraged in a soft voice as he continued petting her. The chilly air of the morning rustled the trees and if she breathed in deep enough she could even smell the water from the river. A little piece of paradise, that's what this place was and Elena understood why Damon had eagerly decided to call it home.

They stayed at the edge of the property even after her sobs had died down, they held onto each other and swayed as the birds passed on top of them and the noises from the small town started to reach their ears.

"Are you ready to go inside?" He asked her

"Yes" She nodded and laced her fingers with his, giving him a small smile in the process. After all the crying she had done her chest was feeling a little lighter now and as the sun shined above them and his blue eyes gazed at her with adoration she finally understood that everything was going to be okay.

Damon was here this time and he wasn't going anywhere.

Elena Gilbert was finally home.

After they showered and changed their clothes Damon told her they were heading to his restaurant, Tiny Dancer, the minute he told her the name of the place her eyes had filled with tears again, but she let them fall with the biggest smile on her face this time. They were happy tears.

The place was next to the river and was much bigger than what she expected; it had a cozy and homey tone to it and was already filled with people when they arrived. They walked in hand in hand and every head was turned towards them the moment they put their feet inside.

Elena was wearing a deep red shift dress paired with white flat sneakers and had her hair up in a simple ballerina bun, she noticed a few men staring for way too long and felt Damon's hand grip hers tightly. His jaw was clenched and his eyes stoic.

"Who can really blame them?" He whispered only for her to hear and she couldn't help the small smile that curved her lips. Elena was a beautiful woman and as a dancer she was used to receiving praise about her looks but having Damon feel so angry about it was something new and exciting that she couldn't help but feel giddy with the knowledge of his jealousy.

Elena watched as most of the people waved or smiled over at Damon, on the way towards the back they had to stop at least three times so he could greet someone. It was so different from the way it had been in Mystic Falls, where everyone turned their heads whenever he was around, here Damon was loved, he was one of them.

He walked her past the kitchen and into a small office where a very beautiful and sweet looking elder woman was sitting. "You finally made it back boy" She said, standing up and walking towards them "I thought you were never going to return." She took both of his cheeks between her wrinkled hands and kissed them both. "And who might this little lady be?" Her eyes moved towards Elena who smiled timidly at her.

"Lisa, this is Elena Gilbert. Doll, this is Lisa" Damon introduced them, unable to erase the small smile on his face. Lisa had been the closest thing he had to a mother in the last few years, she and her husband had embraced Damon and Stefan as if they were their own; they were the family Stefan and Damon had built for themselves there.

"The Elena Gilbert?" Lisa raised an eye brow in the direction of Damon and took Elena's body into a warm hug. The girl returned the hug gladly; there was something so sweet about the woman that had Elena liking her instantly. "I'm so happy that you're finally here"

"I'm happy about that too" Elena said with a smile when they broke apart, Damon's hand finding hers instantly once again. "What do you mean the Elena Gilbert?"

"Sweetheart, you're all this man is capable of talking about" She laughed warmly and patted their joined hands "He always said he was going to find you, I'm so glad he did"

"I'm glad too" She smiled sweetly at them and his eyes shinned in response.

"Oh what a beautiful thing love is" Lisa sighed and spoke to herself while watching the young couple exchange glances. "I'll leave you two alone for a moment and then I need to discuss some things with you, boy"

"Of course Lisa, thanks for everything"

"It was nice meeting you Elena" The old woman gripped one of Elena's hands

"It was nice meeting you too" She returned the squeeze and smiled at her when she passed them to walk out of the door. "She's really nice" Elena told Damon the minute the door closed behind the elderly woman.

"She is, she's been like a mother to me and Stefan" There was true fondness in Damon's voice and Elena was glad to know he had met some good people along the way to help him when he was in need "So what do you think?" He asked as he moved to the desk, forcing her to walk with him since he hadn't released her hand from his grip.

"I think it's very beautiful" Elena answered truthfully "You've done good Damon, I'm proud of you" The air got stuck in his chest at her words. He sat on the big black reclining chair and moved her so she was sitting on his lap.

"You know it's all because of you darling" He told her as he tightened his arms around her slender frame, her face was pressed to the side of his and she placed a soft kiss onto his temple "You're the one who made me want to do something for myself, to be better." Elena stroked his hair softly, a pang of nostalgia hitting her as her hands went through the scattered grey hairs "Back in that town… nobody expected anything from me. They all thought I wasn't worth it…except you. You decided I was worth something and took a shot with me. Even if we've been apart all this time, the memory of you was always present and it was the one thing that kept pushing me forward. You've made me a better man Elena"

"Oh Damon" Elena sighed "You can't just say things like that to a girl" Her voice quivered as she wiped the corner of her eyes

"Why not?" His eyes found hers, they shinned with love and happiness "You're my girl"

"I'm your girl" She gave him a small smile and dropped her head to press her lips against his "I've always been your girl"

They continued kissing for many more minutes, relishing in finally being together and safe as well, they didn't have to hide or be scared anymore. They were in love and wanted the whole world to see.

When Lisa knocked on the door to let them know she wanted to run something by Damon he asked Elena to stay in the office but she declined, wanting to give them privacy so Damon ruefully agreed to let her go, much to Lisa's amusement.

He arranged for her to get a table in the outside part of the restaurant next to the river and told every single one of his staff members to treat her only with the best attention. Elena smiled at seeing everything that Damon had built, how far he had come from that boy working at a diner so many years ago.

As she watched the water of the river flow she started wondering if she could call this place home. Elena had no idea what her plans were, what was going to happen with her and Damon, she had a life back in New York and couldn't just give it all up for him.

Or could she?

Later that day Damon was standing in the kitchen entrance, one hip pressed against the wall as he watched Elena move around. She had told him it was time she showed him what an amazing cook she had become over the years so dinner was on her. He had no idea what she was making but it smelled delicious, it smelled like home.

Damon felt like his heart could burst from too much happiness at any minute, seeing her there in the house he built for them was everything he always dreamed about, it was a vision he had wished for so long that it was almost unbelievable for it to be true at this moment.

He went to retrieve her camera and when he returned she was humming along to a tune as she placed a tray in the oven, he smiled and snapped a picture. "Hey, that's not fair" She turned around the minute she heard the camera.

"Why not? You look beautiful"

"I doubt it" She huffed, she was wearing the same clothes she had on in the morning and her bun had already turned into a messy one

"You always look beautiful"

"Now you're only trying to woo me Mr. Salvatore" He placed the camera on the counter and moved towards her

"Is it working?" He asked as he took her in his arms, her hand lacing behind his neck and his resting on her waist

"Maybe" She titled her head to the side and smiled at him. He nuzzled her nose with his and Elena let out a delighted laugh at the gesture "You're distracting me Mr. Salvatore"

"You're the distraction doll"

Elena laughed once again and released herself from his arms "Hey, that's not fair" He whined as she moved back to the stove.

"It is if you want to eat dinner"

"What is it that you're making?" He asked as he took a seat on one of the wooden kitchen chairs

"I am making Swedish meatballs and Iceberg wedge salad and a tunnel of fudge cake for dessert" She told him with a wide proud smile as she chopped a clove of garlic on the counter.

"Sounds fancy" He told her with a smile and she only shrugged.

Elena had developed a love for cooking over the last few years; it was an activity that helped her calm down and release stress. Caroline hated cooking so most of the times Elena cooked for both of them while Lizzie always helped her, so she owned a million cooking books and had learned to do hundreds of recipes.

"You're going to love it"

"I know I will"

The phone rang and brought them back from their delightful home bliss, Damon told her to keep working as he went to the parlor to answer the phone. Elena continued cooking but a lot of time passed without Damon returning and when she heard his raised voice she decided to go check on him to make sure everything was all right.

"Yes I know Stefan but there's got to be something more" Elena stood behind the stairs and watched as Damon gripped his head with one hand as if in despair "I've talked to them myself and got the same answer" He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall "No, she can't know that"

Elena felt a pressure starting to grow in her chest at his words "I know keeping it from her is not the best option but it's all I can do right now" Elena took a deep breath and went back to the kitchen, trying to be as quiet as possible. She didn't want to hear anything else; afraid that whatever he was hiding could indeed break her. She wanted to hold onto her blissful ignorance for a bit more.

Damon returned to the kitchen a few minutes afterwards, he looked the same as he was before leaving, like he hadn't been in a heated argument with his brother minutes ago.

They spent the rest of the night eating and having fun like they had no care in the world but something was nagging Elena at the back of her mind, telling her that maybe trusting Damon had been a big mistake.

Hope you enjoyed this. Leave me a review?

P.S I know I used the title of an Elton John song for Damon's restaurant, I know the song came out years after but who knows maybe Elton stole it from Damon? lol