Dear Diary

Damon and I have been dating for two months now. It's been really great. The day he opened up to me about his father made us so much closer. I was so happy that he trusted me with something so intensely personal and I know how difficult that was for him. I spent a lot of time with him while I recovered from my injuries. We watched a lot of movies and stayed inside mostly. Damon and I didn't really get much deeper since that day. I think we both wanted to slow down a bit and get to know each other more without the trauma in the middle. I know building a relationship off of trauma isn't healthy but we just felt so connected so quickly. Things at home have been decent compared to normally. I even have spent more time with Bonnie and Aunt Jenna. John was away for the past 3 weeks to attend his father's funeral in London and help out his family. Jeremy and I didn't go because we never met our grandfather. There was a falling out between him and our father. He didn't even come to his own son's funeral but I'll never know why.

I put my diary away as I heard someone knocking at the door. "Elena?" Jeremy said before walking into my room.

I looked at his eyes, he looked sober. "Yeah?" I asked him.

He smiled holding something behind his back. "Happy Birthday!" He shouted and revealed a strawberry frosted cupcake with a candle in it.

I smiled in surprise that he even remembered. "Thank you Jere." It was sweet of him.

He pulled out a lighter from his pocket and lit the candle. "Make a wish Elena!"

I thought about wishing for life to stay like this for a little longer. Jeremy was sober, I wasn't terrified of wondering when I was going to get that call about him. John was gone and no one could hurt me. My body was healed. My relationship with Damon was going great. It felt like a dream to be happy but I was and I wished it would stay like this. I blew out the candle and Jeremy smiled. It was so nice seeing him smile.

I took a bite of the cupcake. "This is great."

"I'm sorry it's not more." Jeremy said with guilt. I knew he wanted to be that brother that I could be proud of.

"It just means the world that you're trying." I reassured him.

He nodded. "So any plans for today? I know you've been hanging out with Bonnie a lot."

"No actually. I didn't tell anyone it was my birthday."

'What? Why?"

"I don't know I've never really had friends to celebrate with, it was only you and me growing up." I sighed thinking about the bad birthdays of the past.

"John is still away so maybe you can invite Bonnie over and do something fun?" Jeremy offered.

"I haven't really been hanging out with Bonnie." I confessed, Jeremy looked confused. "I mean I have a few times but I haven't been spending all my time with her." I paused. "I'm seeing someone."

"You have a boyfriend?" He was surprised.

"Yeah." I smiled softly thinking about Damon. "You remember a few months ago we had dinner at Aunt Jenna's?

"Kinda."

"Alaric invited that student over. Well his name is Damon we've been dating since around then."

"Damon Salvatore?" Jeremy's eyes widened. "Elena, haven't you heard the stories about him and his brother?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah and I think using someone's family trauma as town gossip is pretty twisted."

"His father is a murder and I've heard some fucked up stories about the way those brothers use to be in school."

"I'm not having this fight." I became irritated.

"Elena, I'm looking out for you." He said with concern.

"Damon is a great guy and I'm seeing him. You'll have to put up with it." I folded my arms.

"Fine. Invite him over then I'll play nice." Jeremy agreed to let it go.

I was kinda excited thinking about having Damon over here. The only time he ever came inside was a very dark day where he found me at my worst but he was there for me. I wanted to share more with him again and having John away and now Jeremy knowing about us. It felt possible to have him in my world.

A few minutes after Jeremy left there was another knock at my door. "Knock knock." I shot up and opened my door seeing my Aunt Jenna standing there with a bag.

"Jenna?" I smiled, confusedly.

"Happy Birthday beautiful!" She kissed my cheek and handed me the bag she was holding.

"You didn't have to get me anything."

"Yes I did. It's your birthday silly and I love you." She was excited.

I opened the bag and pulled out a beautiful dark purple dress. "Wow this is stunning." I smiled wide. "Thank you so much."

She handed me a note. "Here there's also this."

I opened it up. "Elena, will you be my maid of honor." I was beaming. "Really? Me?"

"Of course." She hugged me.

"I would love to." I felt so special she wanted me there next to her on her wedding day.

"I miss your mom. I know she would have wanted this." Jenna said with a smile.

"I know." I smiled, holding back tears.

Jenna and I shook off the sadness. "So today's a big day. I thought we'd celebrate with dinner? You, Jeremy and Rick and me?" She suggested.

"Yeah that'd be great." I said feeling a little disappointed I couldn't bring Damon but I didn't want to ask for too much after she asked me to be her maid of honor.

Jenna told me to be ready by 7 and she left. I got ready for dinner. I think we were going to the restaurant in town where I had my first date with Damon.

I walked into the restaurant with Jenna and Jeremy and was surprised to see Damon standing with Alaric and Bonnie but it felt so right.

"Happy Birthday!" I heard excitedly from everyone.

My eyes went right to Damon and my face lit up. I couldn't believe this was for me.

"Come sit!" Jenna exclaimed and pulled my arm over to her. She sat me down between her and Damon.

"Surprised?" Damon whispered with a smirk.

I blushed. "Extremely." I looked around seeing these people that cared about me. It was nice.

"Elena, did you have any idea?" Bonnie asked, sitting across from me.

I shook my head. "Not even a little but I'm so glad you guys are here too." I smiled, I couldn't stop smiling.

"You look really beautiful with that smile." Damon softly took my hand.

I was beaming with happiness. It was a first for me. I've only felt this way when I'm with Damon but now I was feeling it around other people. I never wanted it to end. The dinner was perfect. Jeremy was cracking jokes, Bonnie was enjoying herself and Alaric seemed to approve of Damon and I dating. I wondered how Damon told him and what Jenna thought. The rest of the time Jenna told everyone stories of me as a child. I barely recognize myself in any of them. It was like a distant blur but it was good to hear her talk about it. Before we left to have cake at my house Alaric and Jenna handed me a couple of cards. One from both of them and two from my maternal grandparents. I thanked them both. The cards were nice but this night was the best gift I could've asked for.

Damon's POV

After we sang happy birthday to Elena I cut up the cake and passed it out to everyone. It was much nicer in Elena's house than it was the last time I was here. Jenna and Alaric took their cake into the living room. They were talking to Jeremy about his grades which I knew made Elena happy to see. Bonnie ate her piece fast and said bye to Elena as her ride showed up early. I took the opportunity to get some alone time with my girlfriend on the porch. We sat on the porch swing and she leaned her head on my shoulder. It was the best thing seeing her face light up when she saw us surprising her at dinner. It made me feel full.

"Can I ask you something? I wondered, as I stroked her hair.

"Anything."

"Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?"

"I don't really know. It's not really a big deal in my life." She paused. "This is kinda the first for me since my parents were here."

I felt really bad for her. She never talked about what happened with her parents. I never wanted to push her but I know she was hurting. I didn't have a big happy family or a good childhood but she did until she lost her parents. I never knew anything else but chaos so I really can't feel the weight of missing out on it.

I kissed her forehead. "I'm so sorry I wish I could erase that pain for you." My heart ached for her.

She squeezed my hand. "How'd you even know it was my birthday?"

"The monthly school email list." I chuckled.

"We have a school email list?" She sat up looking at me, raising her eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes and laughed. "Okay judgy. I check to make sure Stefan did get himself in trouble again."

She giggled, wrapping her arms around my neck. "Whatever you say." She placed a kiss on my lips.

Jenna and Alaric walked out mid makeout. Elena and I parted quickly. "Sorry to interrupt but we are heading out." Jenna said.

Elena stood up embarrassed. "Thank you so much for everything." She hugged her aunt.

Jenna and Alaric left.

Elena looked over at me. "So they know about us." She said nervously, wondering how that happened.

"Yeah I told Alaric. I know I should've run it by you but I wanted to surprise you."

"It's okay." She smiled. "I'm glad they know.