Damon stood behind Elena, shielding her from the December wind of Mystic Falls. The collar of his leather jacket protected his ears.

Her hair whipping around her face, Elena bent to place a bouquet of red roses on Katherine's grave. The wind caught her sigh as she straightened and leaned against him. His arms came around her.

"Gregor Bradley was released from the mental institution last week," she said. "He can finally leave the place."

"Social welfare is working on his case ensuring he has a decent place to stay. They will also provide food and medical care for him."

"That's good," she whispered. "I'm glad you took Richard Lockwood down."

"So am I," he said fiercely.

Even after all these weeks, he couldn't quite believe how easy it had been. Richard Lockwood was finally being sent to the prison in Richmond. Sage was also being charged for helping Richard in the fraud.

"I have heard Ansell is being charged for blackmailing Esther," she said. "We thought they had an affair but we were wrong."

Ansell had photos of Mikael and young girls in bed. It came out as a shock that Mikael Mikaelson had a penchant for having sex with young girls under sixteen. Esther was horrified if the photos got around and had been making blackmail payments to Ansell in the last fifteen years.

"Who would ever guess Mikael could be doing such things?" he said. "He will face justice. He deserves it."

"How's Klaus?"

"He will survive. He is a survivor."

And now, Damon had to know what Elena had planned for her future. He needed an answer. His hands gentle on her waist, he turned her in his arms.

"We need to talk, Elena."

"What?" she asked curiously.

"I know Wes called you yesterday. What are you going to do?" he asked. "When will you be going back to work?"

She dug her hands into her coat pockets and drew her shoulders up. "I'm not sure. In light of my injuries…"

He frowned. "I thought you said everything is getting better."

"Yes, everything is healing fine."

"No pain?"

"Not any longer. Basically, I'm as good as new, but Wes told me not to rush back to work. He knows the strain I have been under." She ploughed into the soft earth with the toe of her boot. "I'm not sure I want to go back at all." Sensing his start of surprise, she smiled up at him. "You will find this amusing, Sergeant. I might try something for a change."

"Like what? Find a new man?" Damon's words were teasing, but his eyes were serious.

"I went to see the doctor this morning. It took a while." Elena gnawed on her lip, not quite sure how to tell Damon what she needed to tell him.

"You okay?" The worry in his eyes increased. "I thought you said everything is healing fine."

"I'm fine." She put a palm to his cheek and smiled. "But I have something I need to talk to you about. Something important."

Damon took her hand from his cheek and kissed her palm. "Talk," he said gruffly, all of his attention on her. "Whatever it is, we will figure it out. Remember you are not alone. I will always be with you."

"I'm pregnant." Elena blurted the words out before she could think about it. They had been bottled up inside her all day, and she needed the support of the person who mattered the most to her in the world. Seeing the incredulous look on his face, she babbled on. "I went to see the doctor this morning and I mentioned a couple of symptoms. She made me take a test. Two tests. Both positive. She made a few calls and got me in to a friend of hers, an OB doctor. She did a bunch of tests. I'm pregnant."

He cocked his head and blinked at her. "I hope there is no problem with my hearing. I could have sworn you said you are pregnant."

"I did."

"You are pregnant."

"Yes."

"Oh my God!" Damon pulled her into his arms. "You are pregnant."

She laughed. "Yes, I'm pregnant."

"I'm going to be a father."

"Yes."

"Wait a minute. What about your job in Richmond?"

"I might consider being a full-time mum."

He lifted a hand to brush a straggle of hair from her cheek. "Are you serious? You want to quit your job?"

"I have never been so sure in my life," she answered. "Unless you don't want this baby?" There was a hint of hurt and confusion in her tone.

"I do want it. I want our child so much it hurts." Digging in his pocket, he pulled out a black velvet box. Nervously, he opened the lid. "I got this in Richmond."

The ring had a platinum band, an enormous diamond on top embedded into a heart crafted of the same precious metal and surrounded completely by more diamonds.

"Oh, Damon." Elena sounded breathless as she took the box, her hand trembling. "It's incredible. This must have cost you a fortune."

"Cost isn't exactly a problem," Damon reminded her with a small smile. "You are worth it." He pulled the ring from the box in her hand and slipped it over the ring finger of her hand. "Marry me," he demanded, not really wanting it to be a question. "Be my woman. Be my wife. Be the mother of my child."

"Yes." Her smile shook around the edges, but it came from her heart. "Yes, I will marry you, Damon Salvatore."

"I love you, Elena."

"I love you too."

"Do you like the ring?" he asked anxiously, not wanting to discuss the price or how he had gotten it so quickly.

Elena touched the ring reverently, her eyes shimmering. "There isn't a woman in the world who wouldn't. Thank you, Damon. I love it. I love you."

"Don't cry." He wiped the tears from her face gently. "It was supposed to make you smile."

"I am happy. It's just such an incredible piece of jewellery. You didn't need to do this."

"You have no idea how happy I'm now, darling. I was so afraid you would leave Mystic Falls. I plan to go after you if you decide to leave Mystic Falls. But now that I know you are having our child, I'm ecstatic. I know she will be as beautiful as her mother. I guess I'm a little in awe of the fact that we made a baby. Our baby."

Elena swiped at her tears. "How do you know it's a girl? Don't you want a boy?"

"I'm not choosy." He grinned at her, a smile that went all the way to his eyes, making them twinkle happily. "But I would take a boy if that's what you give me. I would be happy either way, sweetheart. He or she will be our child, and that's what will make the baby special, no matter what sex it turns out to be."

"A baby will change our life a lot," she warned him.

"Plans are made to be changed. I want to get married right away. I wanted it soon, anyway. This seems like a convincing reason to do it tomorrow." He grinned at her wickedly.

Elena smiled back at him. "But you owe me something, Mr Salvatore."

Damon raised a brow at her. "What?"

"A date. You owe me a date."

Damon's face lit with laughter.

"I owe you a date, huh?" he chuckled. "I promise I will make it up to you."

"I know you will," she murmured, brushing his cheeks with a fingertip. "Because you are keeping me."

"Yes. I'm definitely keeping you."

Bending down, he brushed her lips with his. Wintery warm and petal soft, they welcomed him in from the cold.

THE END