"Good morning, Vincent," Elena greets him as she slides into the sedan.

"You look troubled, Elena. I'm a pretty good listener if you want to talk about it?"

Elena gives him a tight smile. "This is just all so strange. I'm guessing you know our story by now."

"Yes, I'm aware. Damon tends to confide in me. It must be a very confusing time for both of you."

"It is, Vincent, but it's not supposed to be confusing at all. I'm marrying Matt, he's marrying Rebekah. End of story."

"Except seeing each other again has stirred up some old feelings," Vincent comments sagely.

"You're very perceptive." Elena sighs and casts her eyes on Vincent. "Damon and I loved each other. But that was once upon a time and long ago. All of this is just pining for what might have been."

"Damon as I'm sure you know is complicated."

Elena nods.

"He told me about you not long after I started to work for him. As time passed, he focused on his work and he quickly moved up the corporate ladder. He met Rebekah at a holiday party thrown by her father. They had fun together and started dating soon enough. Now this is my opinion but I don't believe Damon ever got past the girl he left behind. He convinced himself that he loves Rebekah and asked her to marry him...and then you came back into his life."

"Oh, Vincent. He wanted Rebekah before I turned up. I think I should just go home. This whole charade has just gotten too difficult."

"May I offer some advice?"

"Go ahead."

"Do you care about Damon and his future happiness?"

"Of course, I do," Elena states sincerely.

"You see, this charade, it's also for your future happiness. As difficult as it may be I think you should stick with the plan. Stay till Monday."

"I don't know." Elena shakes her head.

"Everything will work out just as it's supposed to."

"My dad always said that." Elena smiles genuinely.

"Elena Gilbert, I'm glad I met you and I'm glad you're staying," Vincent tells her as he pulls the car next to the curb to let her out.

"I got this...," Elena concedes. "Vincent, you're my best friend in New York, you know that?" She gifts him with a beaming smile as she gets out of the car. "Wish me luck."

Vincent nods and watches her enter the building.

"Don't lose that girl, Damon," he says aloud as he drives away.

Elena enters the Pierre Hotel and is directed to a suite adjacent to the main ballroom. She walks through with her mouth agape at the opulence. The stunning room has recessed ceilings, gilded mirrors, a sunken main floor, and two massive crystal chandeliers.

Whew, she blows out a breath to get her bearings and locates the suite where Damon's wedding rehearsal is being held. She's never seen anything so grand. The only she has to compare is the Lockwood Mansion and it's nothing like this.

Elena has to admit, that Rebekah has excellent taste. She steps inside and catches a glimpse of Damon chatting with Ric and another man while Rebekah is huddled with a group of girls. She takes in her surroundings, eyeing every corner of the room before walking over to the window where she finds an incredible view of Central Park.

"Hey," Damon's voice comes from behind her. "I've been calling you all day. I thought you went back to Montana."

"No, I stayed. For everybody's sake."

"Vincent said you two talked," Damon mentions. "Is everything okay?"

"I'm fine, Damon...As far as I'm concerned, Monday can't come fast enough though."

"Look, I get it but I still think we need to talk about what happened."

"Nothing happened and it's not going to. So we don't have anything to talk about." Elena's voice trails at the sound of Rebekah's voice.

"Elena, I'm so glad you could come." Rebekah kisses her cheek.

Guilt wells in Elena's gut like an anvil but she forces a smile. "How was Atlanta?"

"You're so sweet to ask. It was my first magazine cover so thankfully everything went perfectly," Rebekah tells her excitedly.

"Great. You look beautiful," Elena adds as she looks at her blush-colored lace sheath dress.

Their conversation ends when the officiant tells everyone to take their places.

Elena sits down and watches as Damon and Rebekah come together and take each other's hands.

"Ladies, if you would assemble at the foot of the aisle. Gentlemen, if you would stand to my left. Now, tomorrow when all the guests are here everyone will stand as the bride enters with her father."

Elena's heart is in shreds as she watches and is grateful when her phone rings. She rushes out of the room to dig it out of her purse.

"Hey, Matt."

"I've got some bad news. Your mom caught her foot on a rock and tumbled down the hill."

Elena's heart starts to pound like a jackhammer. "Oh, my God. Is she hurt? How bad is it?"

"She's in the hospital, broken ankle, some cuts and bruises. I think she's more embarrassed than anything else. They're preparing to take her to surgery to repair her ankle. I thought you'd want to be here."

"Yes, I do. Tell her I love her and that I'll be home as soon as I can. Bye." Elena clicks off the phone just as Damon steps out of the doorway.

"You look upset. Is everything okay?"

"My mom had an accident and is having surgery. I have to go home."

"What about court on Monday?"

"I don't know, Damon. Ric will have to figure something out."

"What about your wedding? This will put it in jeopardy, too."

"I'm just going to have to try to explain it to Matt. Hopefully, he'll understand and forgive me for lying to him. Just have Ric send me the papers when it's settled."

"Elena?"

"I have to go, Damon. It's my mom. Goodbye," Elena holds his stare for several moments and her heart is breaking more as each one ticks by.

Feeling tears beginning to well up, and not wanting Damon to see them, she drops her eyes and walks away when Rebekah appears in the doorway.

"The runaway groom," Rebekah quips but frowns as she watches Elena step into the elevator and disappear.

"What happened? Where's Elena running off to? Is there a problem?" she asks as looks into Damon's troubled blue eyes.

"Yes, Rebekah, there is. A big one...You and I need to talk." Damon takes her arm to lead her into an empty room.

Damon explains everything and he can see that Rebekah's seething as she coldly stares out of the window.

"She's your wife?" Rebekah spits in a tone that's well deserved.

"If it's any consolation, nothing happened. There was only a brief moment." Damon despises himself for not admitting his feelings sooner and for hurting Rebekah.

Throwing up her hands, she laughs in disbelief, "I know I'm a little naive but you didn't think I'd notice the look on your face every time she was around."

"You are owed much more than an I'm sorry, Rebekah. I promise it was real, between you and me. I didn't go into this thinking I was still in..."

Rebekah raises her palm, cutting him off. "What? Still in love with her? Is that what you're going to say?"

Before Damon can formulate a response, she continues, "Technically you haven't cheated on me, not physically, anyway."

"Rebekah, don't-"

"No, Damon. I will not throw away everything we have, everything we have worked for, because there was some snafu with your annulment paperwork."

Not breaking eye contact, Rebekah lowers her tone. "Do you really want to throw away our whole future for a woman who is engaged to another man? For something that you think you felt ten years ago?"

Damon rakes his hand through his hair as he looks away for a moment.

"I will forgive everything, and go forward with the wedding if you promise never to mention her name again."

"Oh, my sweet girl," Miranda exclaims when Elena enters her hospital room.

"It's so good to see you, Mom. I'm sorry I didn't get back here in time for your surgery."

"There's nothing to apologize for. Now come here."

Elena approaches her mom's bedside. She looks at the scrapes on her cheek and arms. She pulls up a chair and sits down at the bedside. "How are you feeling?" Elena asks as she takes her mom's hand.

"Like an idiot. Matt told me to be careful. I thought I saw something in the dirt and next thing I know I'm at the bottom of the hill."

"I'm just grateful you weren't hurt worse." Elena kisses her palm.

"Since you're back already, it means you're going to miss your day in court. Do you want to talk about it?"

"There's not much to say." Elena looks down, unable to look into her mom's eyes.

Miranda is quiet for a few more minutes. "Damon would look at you the way your dad looked at me."

"Mom, why didn't Dad give me his letters or let me take his calls?"

"Your father wanted what's best for you. He thought you needed to grow up a little bit before you dove into marriage at 18."

"That wasn't his decision to make. It was mine."

Miranda studies her briefly before seemingly making a decision. "It must have been almost the end of his senior year when Damon came to the house one night looking for you. I think he'd had a little to drink but he wasn't slurring or stumbling." Miranda pauses to take a pain pill when her nurse, Sarah, enters the room.

"Here you go, Mrs. Gilbert," she scans Miranda's bracelet and the pill before handing it to her along with a fresh glass of water.

"This is my daughter, Elena," Miranda introduces them as she swallows the medication.

Sarah smiles, "It's nice to meet you."

"You, too," Elena returns the gesture.

"If you need anything, push the button," Sarah instructs and leaves the room with her medication cart.

Miranda takes Elena's hand again. "I think you were having a slumber party with Caroline and Bonnie. Your dad was at the hospital for some emergency. Damon told me he was searching for the perfect piece of jewelry. Now whether he remembers that, I don't know," she chuckles softly.

"Why are you telling me this now?" Elena questions, wondering where her mom is going with this.

"Elena," She turns her head to look at her. "Damon may have been a little drunk, but there's no doubt in my mind that what he was searching for was meant to be for you."

"You didn't answer my question. Why are you bringing all of this up now?"

"Because Elena." Miranda takes her hand, "I know you love Matt, but are you in love with him? I saw the look in your eyes when we found out that you're still a married woman."

"Mom," Elena jumps up and walks over to the window, she stares at the trees that bend gently with the breeze.

"I don't know why you're doing this." Elena swallows heavy tears unexpectedly gathering in her throat. "Damon has Rebekah now. Matt's been so good to me; how do I live with myself if I break his heart?"

"Listen, Elena, I know you care about him deeply and he's been such a friend to both of us. But if you're not in love with him, you owe it to him to tell him how you feel."

Nodding soundlessly, Elena returns to the bedside and squeezes Miranda's palm.

"And if you and Damon are meant to be, it'll all work out the way it's supposed to."

The corners of Elena's mouth raise. "You're quoting Dad now?"

Miranda laughs. "You need to sort your stuff out and the first thing I want you to do is go home and get some rest. You look exhausted. I'll see you tomorrow."

Dismissed, Elena lightly kisses her forehead, picks up her bag, and leaves the room.

Damon enters the courtroom Monday morning with Ric. He has a headache after drinking himself into a stupor over the weekend.

Judge Pierce enters the room while Ric's looking at some papers. Damon gives him an elbow.

"Good morning, your Honor," Ric greets her as Damon stands silently at his side.

"You're missing someone. Where is Miss Gilbert? I specifically asked that both of your clients be here this morning."

"Well, your honor, it's complicated." Ric starts but is interrupted by Damon.

"Your Honor, Miss Gilbert had to go back to Montana. Her mother had an accident and is hospitalized. If I could just plead our case. I'm not planning on getting married anytime soon, but I'm begging the court to expedite the divorce so Elena can move ahead with her own wedding plans. She deserves to be happy."

Judge Pierce stares at Damon for a moment. "Regardless of your heartfelt plea on her behalf, Mr. Salvatore, I will not grant a divorce without hearing from the other party."

She bangs her gavel. "Next case."

"Your honor..." Ric blurts out.

"I've already ruled, Mr. Saltzman. We're done."

Ric gathers the papers, stuffs them in his briefcase, and follows Damon out of the courtroom. "It was a nice speech. I almost believed it," he comments to his friend.

"I want Elena to be happy, Ric."

"I believe that part. Just not about her marrying this Matt character."

"You believe what you want," Damon states defeatedly and walks out of the building.

Elena is standing on the porch, leaning against one of the pillows as her eyes drift to the sky above. Its inky black expanse is without end. Stars light the darkness like snowflakes.

A light breeze blows through her hair. She turns and looks over her shoulder when she hears the door open.

"Hey," Matt comes to stand next to her.

"The stars are so bright tonight," Elena's eyes remain focused on the twinkling black void above her.

"Elena, I got something I'd like to say."

"Okay," she shares a glance with him.

"You could have told me you and Damon were married all those years ago."

Elena expels a heavy breath. "I'm sorry. I just didn't know how and I thought our marriage ended long ago."

"I want you to know I don't mind waiting for the divorce to come through. I'm just glad you're home."

Elena smiles tightly.

"You and I, we're like a precision machine...We dig, we excavate, we get the job done."

Elena drops her chin to her chest for a moment. "Matt," she blurts out, painfully aware of how defeated her voice sounds. She takes a step away and shakes her head.

"Look Matt...I don't want to be part of a precision machine."

"It's just a turn-of-phrase, Elena."

Her arms fall bonelessly to her side as she searches for the right words.

"I really appreciate everything you've done for me over the years, but, that's gratitude. That's the kind of love you have toward a friend, not the kind of love you build a marriage on."

"Like you and Damon...I can't compete with a ghost, Elena."

"It's not about me and Damon. This is about us, it has nothing to do with him," Elena contends as she stares at him through glistening eyes.

"You sure about that?" Matt counters.

"It doesn't matter, he's with Rebekah now. Matt... this, this is about you and me..." Elena slides off her engagement ring and hands it to him.

Matt sighs as he takes it and walks down the steps. "Well, I guess a two-year engagement should have given me a clue."

"Where are you going?" Elena follows him to his car.

"I have no idea."

"I love you, Matt. You're my best friend but I'm just not in love with you. I hate myself for hurting you but I owed it to you, and to myself to be honest. And you know in your heart that you'd eventually regret it, too. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life. I don't want us to end up resenting each other."

"I know, Elena," he brushes a kiss on her forehead and gets into his truck.

"Don't you dare go out of my life, Matt? I need you," She tells him as he rolls down the window and starts the engine.

"I can't. There's too much work to do..." He gives her a sad smile and drives away.

Elena drops her head shamefully. Sighing, she watches his tail lights disappear before heading inside.

Thank you all so much.

TQR will return next week.

If any of you are reading CosmicAdventurer, she has been updating her stories on Archive Of Our Own rather than here.

Hope you all have an amazing weekend.