A/N: Finally the end. I'm sad to see this one end. This was my first all human story and it was challenging and rewarding to write. I cannot thank you all enough for your favorites and kind reviews. There were times I had serious doubts about this story and your support kept me going. Huge THANK and *HUGS* all around!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries stories or characters.

Happy reading!

Epilogue

5 years later

Elena pulled nervously on her gown, fidgeting with the material that swirled around her legs. She tried to banish images of tripping and embarrassing herself on one of the biggest days of her life. Instead she focused on the friends and family that had gathered to help celebrate such a monumental moment.

To calm her nerves further she focused on Damon. Her rock. Her hero. Her salvation. She focused on the life they built combing through her memories that they had created together and with the twins. Memories of first steps and first birthdays. Memories of stolen kiss and vacations. Memories of playdates and romantic dates.

Their life was by no means perfect, but beautiful nonetheless. They had their share of fights. With both of their stubborn natures there was no way to avoid conflict between them. Along with the fights came a love and passion Elena only thought existed in cheesy romance novels. Damon pushed her to be a better parent, a stronger woman, and to fight for her dreams.

It was become of Damon she was standing in that very spot, realizing a dream she never knew she harbored until he forced her to dig deep to figure out her own path in life. He challenged her to reclaim the life she sacrificed so Jeremy could fulfill his dreams. She felt now she was a role model for the two most mischievous beautiful children that ever existed. Not that she was biased, Elena chuckled to herself.

Along with helping her pursue her dreams Damon also helped chase away the nightmares of their past. Katherine left scars, both physical and mental. Elena had to mourn the trauma to her body and soul, the trauma perpetrated on the twins and mourn the loss of a sister. Months of nightmares had her awakening soaked in sweat and shaking uncontrollably. He just held her, his arms the buoy that prevented her from drowning in the ocean of fear into which Katherine had set her adrift. Elena only hoped she was able to adequately reciprocate the sense of comfort. She knew he had his own nightmares despite his best efforts to hide them. Elena knew he was forever scarred by the events caused by Katherine. Every time people told anecdotes of their children's birth, a haunted expression came over his face as the memories threatened to consume him. Elena still couldn't fathom what Damon must have experienced having to watch their children suffer when they were first born, not knowing if they would live or die. By the time she had woken from her coma, the most dangerous period had passed and the twins just needed the benefits of the hospital to help them grow stronger. All these years later and Damon had yet to fully disclose everything. His desire to protect her never wavering. When she had recovered, she had learned enough from the NICU nurses to know that there times when he visited the babies, especially Grayson, that it could have been for the last time.

Elena was brought back to reality by the announcers voice. "Elena Salvatore, Bachelor of Arts."

Elena adjusted her graduation gown one last time and strode across the stage to accept her diploma from Columbia. Thinking her chance at college had passed her by, she couldn't believe she was about to finally have a degree in hand. After Elena had recovered and the twins were released from the hospital, Elijah had reached out again about a proposed book deal. Elijah's offer was contingent on taking her book and expanding it to a trilogy. He wanted to play up the love triangle between the heroine and the vampire brothers. His hope was to gather fans by toying with their emotions manipulating the audience to choose sides about which brother the heroine would chose. All her work would need to be redone taking the story in directions Elena never intended it to go. Despite it being a lucrative deal, Elena turned it down deciding she needed to maintain creative control and she didn't see that happening with Mikaelson Publishing.

During the negotiations, Elena thought a lot about her what she wanted her future to look like. In contemplating the future, her mind often strayed to the past so her parents came to mind frequently. They had been so supportive of her writing and encouraged her to find her own writing voice. They encouraged her to be true to the stories she wanted to tell. After volunteering in New York before she became pregnant, she realized there were many kids who didn't receive the type of love and support she was blessed to receive. Katherine was another example of what could become of people that grew up without the proper guidance and encouragement.

Five years later, after lots of lost sleep, numerous papers, she had a degree in hand prepared to teach writing to at risk children. Writing was her passion and would forever be a part of her life and teaching allowed to even more fully engross herself in it. Self publishing would allow her write when she wanted about what she wanted. While, imparting her passion of writing in others gave her a sense of purpose and joy. She also felt her parents would be proud that she could be a positive influence in someone's life.

After her parents death, Elena ran from life, from happiness hoping to punish herself for what happened to her parents. Meeting Damon opened her eyes to the fact that she had not been living but merely existing. That type of life not only hurt herself, but hurt friends and family that just wanted the best for her. It also was a betrayal to her parents, both adoptive and biological that sacrificed so much for her, their only wish being for her to be happy. For them and for herself she chose to live life to its fullest with her wonderful husband that she married barefoot on a beach surrounded by those they loved and their two beautiful children.

Damon felt love and pride as he watched Elena walk across the stage to accept her diploma. He felt honored to be a part of her life, to be a part of what puts a smile on her face every day. Looking down the line of chairs at everyone gathered, he realized he was blessed with love and friendship and a family. For so long he felt like no one saw him, the real him. That he wasn't worthy to be loved beyond his money and notoriety. Now he had a wife, two beautiful children and people that would give their lives for Elena, Isla and Grayson. He couldn't ask for anything more.

The twins jumped up at the sound of their mother's name, cheering and clapping. He looked at them lovingly, appreciating every minute he was able to spend with them. Especially since there were a few occasions when he thought he would not get the chance to see them grow up. He's never really talked about the near miss they had with the twins to Elena. This was done partially to protect Elena, but also because he just couldn't say the words out loud. He couldn't say how he had to face death head-on feeling useless and helpless willing that they all had the strength to survive. He even swore Stefan and Alaric to secrecy since they were there for most of it as well. The universe smiled down on them as the twins seemed to have no long term effects from their premature birth. They had been small for their age, but seemed to have finally caught up with their peers. His beautiful Isla, with her black hair and blue eyes, she was the female version of himself. Her personality on the other hand, stubborn, big-hearted, was directly from her mother. Grayson, brown hair, olive skin, everyone commented on how much he resembles his beautiful mother. Grayson was the bigger troublemaker of the two. Impulsive, mischievous, and a fierce defender of his sister. That was his boy through and through.

Life wasn't perfect. He wished he could say his relationship with his father was what he dreamed of as a child, but that would be a lie. He at least spoke to his father civilly now and he saw him a few times a year when he came to visit the twins. Giuseppe still tried to convince him that a life in the law was what was best. Which meant Damon could only tolerate his father in limited doses. Giuseppe's lectures about his future grew more intense after Damon and Stefan sat him down to break the news that Stefan was going to medical school not law school. Damon wouldn't let Stefan give up on something he had wanted since he was a child. The incident with Katherine taught them all the fragility of life and to not waste a second of it. Stefan even posed to Caroline once everyone was safe and happily home from the hospital. They were now expecting baby number two next month. The one positive step forward in making reparations for the past, was Giuseppe returning Damon's trust fund which Damon immediately invested in the twins name to ensure they were financially secure enough to always be able to pursue their own dreams.

While Elena had been pursuing her degree, Damon had not been idle. He and the brokerage firm parted ways coming to a mutual decision that the way of life he once hid behind was no longer a viable lifestyle. Elena went to class and studied and Damon basically became a stay at home dad. Years of working eighty plus hours a week as a successful broker had allowed him to stash away more money than they could spend in a lifetime so there was no need to work.

In between doctor appointments and play dates, Damon had been re-exploring his love of photography. The twins and Elena were his most frequent subjects, but he also took full advantage of their life in New York as inspiration for more artistic pieces. He was by no means a famous photographer, but he had been able to show his work at a few galleries over the years. The life he thought he could never have, the life Katherine stole from him was returned by Elena. She accepted him. Accepted his impulsiveness. Accepted his ability to throw out a sarcastic remark at inappropriate times. Accepted his deflections and his need to protect her, even from herself. She accepted and loved him warts and all.

As the ceremony ended, Elena maneuvered through the crowd to reach them. Squeals of joy and hugs of congratulations had Elena passing from person to person. With Isla already in his arms he approached Elena as she scooped up Grayson.

Damon pulled Elena into a hug. "Congratulations my sexy little co-ed" Damon whispered in her ear so the kids couldn't hear then gave her a soft kiss.

"Yuck, they're kissing again" Grayson whined as Isla giggled.

Damon rolled his eyes as they set the kids down. They ran to jump on their uncles using them as their own person jungle gym.

"Party time?" Alaric asked as rubbed the back of their new infant son that he had strapped to his chest in the baby carrier while Miranda held Jenna's hand.

"Is that code for, can I go get drunk with Damon? You are not leaving me to take of two kids on my own and be hung over for the drive to Virginia tomorrow." Jenna gave him a mock glare. Alaric was a wonderful Dad, but he and Damon still tried to rekindle their team badass moments from time to time.

Damon wrapped an arm around Elena as they followed the group outside to their cars. "I know it's your celebration and all, but how long we do have to entertain them before we can kick them out? I need some sexy time with my wife before being stuck in a car with two rambunctious kids for who knows how many hours."

There were all packing up and heading to Mystic Falls the next day. This one tradition the Salvatore brothers were trying to keep, spending part of their time in the home of their father. Stefan even planned to move there when he completed his residency. Usually they flew, but they decided to make this trip an adventure and drive from New York to Virginia.

"You forget, Jenna is hosting." Elena nipped at his ear.

"Evil woman." Damon kissed her temple.

Damon tucked Grayson into bed and quietly exited the room meeting Elena in the hall after she had done the same with Isla. The celebration for Elena included cake so both kids had been hopped up on sugar and the two had finally crashed.

"Miracles" she said quietly after peeking in on Grayson and shutting his door. She stood in the hall a sad smile on her face. He knew that look. He wore it himself often enough. Major events made her think of the past, all they had lost, all of their close calls. Despite her protests to the contrary, he would always carry guilt in his heart for bringing Katherine into their lives.

Elena looked up at him, brown eyes meeting blue and a sad smile came across her face. "I don't regret any of it."

"That's not what I was thinking" Damon tried to protest, but he knew it was no use. She knew him to well. She had gotten good over the years of catching him in his shame spirals before he buried himself too deep.

"It all happened for a reason Damon. I can't even hate Katherine anymore. If not for her we wouldn't have the miracles sleeping soundly right now. I only regret we gave her as much power as we did allowing her to control us. But us living our lives, loving each other, we've proven we are stronger than any thought we were." Elena reached up and gently cupped his face.

"You've gotten wise in your old age Mrs. Salvatore." Damon quipped.

"No. Just gained perspective. Now, I think someone promised their wife some sexy." Damon a lascivious glint in Elena.

"God, I love you." Damon picked Elena up bridal style and headed for the master bedroom.

Damon knew the events of their past would forever echo through their lives, but he and Elena had evolved so that their painful past no longer dictated their today's and tomorrow's. It was a part of them but did not rule them. They ran from the love of each other, knowing it would be an all consuming love and fearful it leave them even more of a shell than before they met. When they stopped and allowed the flames of their love to engulf them, they found it did consume them. The surprise was they rose from the flames, much like the phoenix, better and stronger for loving each other. Life ebbs and flows between joy and sorrow. Together they could pull each moment of happiness from the peaks of their lives and lean on each during the valleys. Friendship, family and love, the foundations of a life, a life they were living on their own terms.

A/N: The end. I am sucker for a happy ending so that was what I had to give them. I am currently in the middle of working on my first original story (user name is wolverine99 on Wattpad). Once that is done I will turn back to do another Delena story.

Follow me on twitter ( wolverine_999) for updates on my writing.

Thank you again for all of your support!