Ch. 19

Elena's tears had finally subsided. She certainly still had her doubts about Damon, but she was finally willing to put them to the test. She loved Damon, and whatever life threw at them; she had decided she didn't want to give up on him. Although, even at the moment it seemed that he had given up on her.

She fought for control of her heart and did the best she could with the dull ache in her chest. She had a trip to pack for, and she certainly knew it would be a painful one if he weren't there. Getting out of bed, she got dressed and put on a dark purple blouse that hugged her curves and a pair of black pants that looked exceptionally great. They were also comfortable, which is what she was looking for. She put aside a sweater for later in case she got cold and began packing for her trip. She tried to stifle the tears, and pretend that she had indeed won a trip to Paris. At least then she wouldn't be crying into her makeup bag…stuffing her carryon with her much needed undergarments she heard her father come in.

Grayson was a good man, and he could usually tell when she was upset. He'd heard about her flying home to Paris, and although his heart ached to see his daughter leave him, he knew she had in fact become the woman he'd raised her to be. Standing by the window in her room he chose to finally tell her about his secret. She was deserving of it, and she would need the assistance once she got to Paris. He'd already lined up a very lovely apartment near her favorite bridge in the city and he was certain she wouldn't understand how he'd acquired it if he wasn't honest with her now.

"You know your mother and I had many wonderful years here at the Salvatore mansion. When we first started she was the cook and I the chauffer. We had no additional expenses to worry about. Eventually the years seem to fly by. We soon discovered after only two we had saved up $15,000. I was driving Mr. Salvatore Senior at the time, and he never closed the window between us. I never asked why, I suppose he felt comfortable with me there. He transacted a lot of business on the daily commute, and I learned to pay attention. When he bought stocks I bought, and when he sold them I sold."

Elena, who had only been packing, and listening to her father asked him absentmindedly, "Dad, are you telling me you have a million dollars?"

"No, that would be an absurdly low amount. No I'm telling you I have a little over two million."

Elena stopped packing and looked up in shock. She knew her father had saved over the years, but she'd never imagined it had been that much. It was his lively hood.

"Elena, Miranda, your mother and I, were so happy here. We always dreamed what it would be like to do this for you and for Jeremy. To give you a life you deserved. Two million dollars might have exceeded our expectations, but you've always exceeded mine. I want you to take it with you."

"Oh dad," Elena said, dropping the shirt in her hand and going over to hug Grayson. "You can't do this, you can't give it all to me. What about Jeremy?"

"Well Jeremy has done quite well for himself in his sports, and I have a nest egg for him as well. This one is for you darling, and I won't take any arguments. You're my only daughter, and I love you."

"I love you too dad."

"I know what he told you to do. I'm telling you the plans have changed!" Stefan practically yelled in to the phone in his office. "Well get me someone who will listen then, I need to give them new instructions." He barked. Stefan had been at this all morning. He had a plan. Damon might have been willing to throw away this merger for some girl, but he sure wasn't. Although he would admit, watching Damon fighting for the woman he loved made him realize what a fool he'd been with Caroline. She was of course everything he had always wanted, and in spite of this merger he needed her. He knew he'd neglected her and mistreated her, and if she'd let him he'd spend the rest of their lives making it up to her.

He'd called her first thing this morning, asking him to meet him at the offices. She still hadn't shown up, but he was still holding out hope. Which was why when the man on the other end switched to his operating manager and Caroline walked into his office all he could say was,

"Just get things started and I'll call you back," as he looked intently upon the beautiful creature in front of him. Caroline had always been able to take his breath away, and today was no exception. She stood before him in a pink dress that flowed down her curves. He longed to caress every inch of those curves, and her eyes were a sparkling blue. He wouldn't mind looking into them forever, although right now they did seem a bit fierce, and he contained himself again.

"Thank you so much for coming."

She gave him a look that suggested she didn't want to be there at all. But she came inside the office and closed the door, turning on him.

"Stefan Salvatore, you better have a very good excuse for treating me the way you have. I have half a mind to break off this engagement right now."
"Look, I know I haven't been myself. I've hurt you and for that I am sorry, but I have to tell you a story and I need you to tell me how it's going to end." Stefan said standing up from the desk and standing before her. He was going to tell her everything and heaven help him if she didn't want him after.

Damon stood looking out of his window once more. Noon was soon approaching and he knew he would have many people in here in a moment that didn't give a damn about him, or the reasons why he was giving up this merger, but he had to try. Elena needed to be happy, and if that meant her riding off into the sunset with Stefan he was going to allow it to happen. He took a breath as a pain slashed threw his heart knowing her flight had just left and his brother was probably with her right now sipping cocktails and, dare he say it kissing her.

His Elena.

The pain was excruciating, but he knew it wouldn't be anything compared to the hell he would obtain from his father. Moments later he turned to see Donovan and Lockwood coming in to escort his mother, father, and Bill Forbes followed by Rose. He had heard their off handed murmurs coming in, "surly you know what this emergency meeting is about?" coming from Bill, and his father replying, "Sir, if I only knew what my son was up to I'd tell you, but he's a stone fox on his own. I'm sure its necessary."

Coming in and taking their seats, all except for Bill who at the moment seemed a little hot under the collar.

"What the hell is this all about?" he asked bluntly. Damon, in his three-piece grey suit rounded the desk and came to speak to the party in question.

"We've known each other a long time Bill. We may have played hardball on occasion, but I believe we have a healthy respect for our individual business abilities."

He noted looking at Bill that he seemed flattered by his comment. His father on the other hand looked put out. He never liked not being in the loop, and something told him he wasn't going to stay quiet for long, so he decided to drop the bomb now, and take the retribution that came with it.

"When we set out to merge our two companies I won't say it didn't have a lot of potential. I don't doubt that anyone could have known this was a smart play and would have been and enormously successful opportunity." Damon stated, as Bill replied,

"Would have been?"

Giuseppe's ears perked up at that comment. "Son, don't be coy now. What's your angle?"

"This meeting was to inform you all that at this moment, my brother Stefan is…"

"Late as usual, sorry about that." Stefan said, striding into Damon's office with Caroline on his arm no less.

Damon was floored. Stefan was supposed to be sipping champagne with Elena on AIR FRANCE right about now…what the hell had happened?

"What are you doing here?" Damon asked harshly as he noticed his mother take in an audible sigh of relief.

"Well we wanted you all to know that Caroline and I have decided to elope!" Stefan stated drawing Caroline closely to his side and kissing her cheek.

"Wonderful!" Bill replied, smiling from ear to ear, and his father couldn't look smugger if he tried.

Damon saw red. This wasn't how this plan was supposed to go. Not at all. What about Elena? Ignoring the professional setting he spoke to Stefan directly. Hell with social norms.

"Stefan, where's Elena?" he asked directly as the room fell silent. The energy in the room suddenly filled with tension and everyone was locking their eyes on the brothers.

"Are we merging are we all one now?" Stefan asked brushing off the seriousness of the moment and Caroline went to sit next to her new mother in law.

This was insane!

"Who's Elena?" Bill asked confused.

"You didn't go with her?!" Damon practically screamed.

"Well obviously not brother, I mean here I am right? She's probably having her beverage service right about now."

"Who is?" Bill asked again.

"Elena." Laura chipped in.

"Who's that?" Bill asked again.

"The chauffer's daughter." Giuseppe chimed in.

Damon rounded on him. She wasn't nor could she ever be diminished to a simple title. She was more, so much more. "Don't call her that." He snapped, pointing at his father and glaring him down. He would not diminish her again.

Then Caroline spoke up, "Well it seems she was after Stefan for awhile, then apparently she switched to Damon. She seems to have decided that he was the one with more power or you know…money."

"Is that what he told you?" Damon asked his anger seething as he pointed to Stefan. He could kill him. Elena wasn't some gold digger.

"He told me everything Damon." Caroline supplied, as everyone in the room got quiet again to see how this would play out.

"And you didn't see her before she left? You didn't even talk to her?!" Damon shouted, panic seizing his chest.

"Well sure I said goodbye, and I think I wished her luck. I told her I've never been one to accept my brother's hand-me-downs. I told her not to take it personally and that you've always been very generous to your women in the past, and I was sure she'd be more than compensated for…whatever." Stefan stated, adding a smirk.

That smirk was all it took for Damon's anger to boil over, and he returned the punch to the jaw that Stefan had given to him only the day before. Putting all the anger and hostility into it that he could.

Only Stefan didn't stay down for long, as he stated to the whole room "See I told you he loves her!"

"Who?" Bill asked.

"Elena!" Giuseppe stated, looking annoyed by this dramatic display.

"Is he packed?!" Stefan shouted out.

"Yes," came a reply from Rose. Everyone had practically forgotten she was there taking notes. But there she stood by the door ready for Damon to get with the program.

"Is WHO packed?" Damon asked as anger still reeled in his mind.

"You are. Just one bag." Rose said.

Damon was confused; he had no idea what this could possibly mean.

"Wait a minute. You packed my clothes? You went to my apartment?"

"I went with her." Laura stated standing up and coming to hug Rose's side. "We were up to our elbows deep in your underwear drawer."

"It was like touching the Shroud of Turin." Rose added, they both exchanged amused glances.

"Here, sign this." Stefan said shoving a paper at Damon from the chair he now sat in. Damon took it unaware of what it was.

"It's your authorization for the completion of the merger, and this," he added shoving another paper his way, "Is for the raise I'll deserve once I take on the new position. There's a car waiting for you downstairs. A helicopter at the corner of East 60th. The Plane ticket has been changed to the Concorde. It leaves in exactly 39 minutes, and if you make it you just might beat her there."

Damon couldn't believe it. His brother, for the first time in his life had finally thought of him and his happiness. He couldn't think, everything was changing so fast. He knew what he wanted to do, and what he should do but he wasn't sure how that would look to his father.

"Go Damon don't think!" Caroline said reassuring him.

"Go on son. We'll deal with everything here." Giuseppe supplied, and for a moment Damon was astonished. His father had never done anything for him. Perhaps he had finally seen the sacrifices he was willing to make for this company and for his own life just to make him happy.

"But…she must absolutely hate me." Damon said his courage waning.

"She'll get over it we all do." His mother stated, encouraging him to go.

"This is crazy. You just expect me to drop everything and walk out of here?" Damon asked in disbelief. They were all still in his office after all.

"Running would be better." Stefan said, checking his watch again.

"I think you're all nuts." Bill declared sitting down near the window.

"Damon, you know I love you. No mother could be prouder, but I think it's high time you ran away from home."

"But sign these first" Stefan said, and Damon turned and wrote his signature for the merger and for his brothers new position at Salvatore Industries. Looking up at his brother he silently thanked him and put his hand on his shoulder. Then saw Rose emerge from the hall carrying his passport, ticket, and baggage in hand.

"If you all would excuse me. It appears I have a previous engagement." He stated, taking his baggage from Rose as she thrust his passport/ticket in his hand. He practically ran out of the office and into the awaiting car that would finally take him to Elena. If only she would accept him, then his life would be made.

Sitting in the town car and getting stuck in bumper traffic it occurred to him of the person sitting in the front seat. Elena's father, Grayson Gilbert. He'd been his chauffer for several years, and he knew he was a good man, but his countenance seemed unapproving. Damon knew what he would say, but he needed to clear this matter up once and for all.

"Go ahead, say it." Damon stated to Grayson, their eyes meeting in the review mirror.

"You don't deserve her." Was all Grayson said.

"I know that, but I need her, and I don't need anything."

With that Grayson steered the car into the side of the road and said, "Well then its time to make a run for it." And got out. Damon followed suit and their eyes met across the car.

"I just want to make her happy." Damon said.

"13 rue des Beaux Arts." Was all Grayson supplied, and Damon knew it was an address. He'd given him the location to where Elena was along with his blessing. Damon, seizing his bags and passport muttered a thanks and ran towards east 60th with all the strength he could muster. Catching the helicopter he flew to the airport and ran to the gate. Dripping with sweat as he reached the entrance to the gate as an announcement for final boarding aired over the intercom.

"Welcome to Concorde Mr. Salvatore." Said the flight attendant taking his ticket, "Will this be your first time flying with us?"

"It's my first everything." He replied, getting on the plane and flying to his home, to the woman he loved, Elena Gilbert.

Elena watched the city lights of Paris fly by as she reached her new apartment. The city felt like home, and she had felt comforted by it. She knew she could heal here, but that it would take her heart a long time to forget Damon Salvatore. Just the simple thought of him caused her heart to hurt at the loss of him. Stopping in front of the building she would call home, she got out and collected her baggage from the cab driver, paying him and thanking him for her safe return to the town she loved most.

Standing up she glanced across the street, and in the shadows stood a man. Not just any man, a man with blue eyes as deep as the sea, and she knew. She knew he had come for her. Her limbs stilled and dropped her bags as she saw him walk towards her. The streets empty due to the hour of the night, and his nonchalance grace went with every step he took. Her heart could barely take it. He was here.

"You once told me Paris is always a good idea. You said I'd be happy here. You couldn't have meant without you." He said coming closer to her and putting less distance between them. Her body sang for him, but her heart retaliated, along with her head. He'd said he lied to her. He'd told her he didn't love her…hadn't he? Her mind fought for strength.

"How…how did you know where to find me?"

"You're father. I told him, I need you." He said breathlessly, and she knew he meant it.

"I told him I'd make you happy. I promised him."

"I thought it was all a lie." Elena said, holding him to his word.

He came up closer to her, and took her trembling hands in his.

"I thought it was too, but something happened. It was a lie, and then it was a dream. A dream to be with you."

"I don't know how to believe you," She countered, loosing her sanity, as tears fought for control to leave her eyes. "How can I ever believe you again?"

"Because you know me, Elena. Better than anyone else. I think you know I love you, and I always have. That was never a lie. Holding you, being with you, I could never have lied about the way that made me feel. The way I always feel when I'm with you."

He placed his hand upon her cheek, and she sighed into it, her tears escaping down her cheeks.

"I've been following others' footsteps all my life. Save me, Elena Gilbert, you're the only one who can. You're the only one I want with me, forever." He said, and she knew somewhere deep inside that his words were in fact sincere. That he had crossed an ocean to be here, and the nights they spent together could never be traded, because they were real. As real as his hand resting on her cheek, and she knew.

Knew that in that moment she loved him more than words could say. Elena, realizing this all but fell into his arms. Holding him tightly to her heart, knowing that she never wanted to let him go. Holding her tightly, Damon lifted Elena up against him, twirling her around, and laughing in joy. He knew that she wanted him, and when their eyes met on that dark Paris Street, he set her down once more and met his lips with hers, tenderly and beseechingly. Exploring her mouth in ways he would later explore her. She had him heart and soul as he had her, and would now and forevermore.

THE END

AUTHORS NOTE*****
YAYA! Happy Endings are the best endings! I'm so very glad to have finished this fanfic and for my wonderful readers. Its been great getting feedback from you and for your support in finishing this terrific story. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope to continue more stories for you in the future. Thank you again!

~iHeart1202