Chapter 5 - You and Me

Chapter name inspired from the song by 'Lifehouse'

First the name for Stefan's new girlfriend was gonna be Leanne but I used the name Torrey instead since Paul Wesley is going out with Torrey DeVitto (Nanny Carrie!)

Thanks for all the song suggestions, listened to them all and they were all beautiful. 'All I need' by Within Temptation will be included since the flashback will be the Miss Mystic Falls Dance.

The wedding song is 'Only Hope' by Switchfoot because I've chosen the Viennese Waltz as their first dance, it's such a beautiful dance and this song goes with it

I'll be putting the lyrics on the story, but as Damon's thoughts, It won't be chunks of lyrics mainly because when there's a bunch of lyrics I usually skip it :/ but if you haven't heard it, it's a nice song and was in one of my favourite films, 'A Walk to Remember'

There'll still be bit of the 'My Name' lyrics thrown about here and there, if you don't remember, that was my inspiration to start this fic.

The best man is none other than John Gilbert, you know how close Damon and ol' Johnny are...just kidding, John's dead and gone! Read and find out who it is! :D

It's very cheesy/fluffy I warn you, but hey, you need a break from all the angst and drama.

I hope you like it

Damon

After some time walking around the church grounds, Elena and I made our way to the large marquee, draped in silk silver and midnight blue with hints of gold breaking through, mirroring the colours of lapis lazuli.

I looked to Elena, her mouth agape in awe; I had planned almost everything, a surprise, only the best. I was glad she was pleased. She deserved everything and nothing less. All that I have was now hers, completely and utterly under her possession.

'...you're my everything and all that I possess
cos you deserve to be offered nothing less...'

After greeting all the guests, paying special attention to all our loved ones, we took our seats. "Milady," I said naturally, as being the charming gentleman I am I pulled out her chair.

"Why thank you, kind sir, how can I ever repay you." Elena smiled back.

I grinned, winking at her.

Elena giggled back.

One look, four words: Wedding night. All night.

The food was served, the tempting smells wafting through the room with the help of the afternoon breeze. All the vampires in the room naturally had their meat served rare.

After lunch, Alaric stood from his seat; he looked around the room at all the guests before he drew everyone's attention. It was time for the best man's speech.

"Well what can I say about the lovely couple. Well, When I first met Damon, I literally wanted to kill him," *cue laughter* "He was an arrogant, egotistical alcoholic man, but Elena's changed him. Now he's an arrogant, egotistical, alcoholic man... in love." *cue laughter*

I never realised Alaric could be this funny, two jokes already, I think he missed his calling as a comedian.

"But, in all seriousness, I'm glad you've found Elena, someone who takes all you with all your flaws and sees the good in you, even when others only saw the worst. And Elena, you're like a daughter to me, so it goes without saying, Damon if you hurt her I will hunt you down."

"Been there done that," I muttered under my breath, the day Alaric had stupidly confronted me after the auction fresh in my memory. That was fun, killing Alaric; though I was glad he didn't die in the end. Who else would I drink with until the early morn?

"I hope you have many happy years to come and I wish you all the best. So, raise your glasses to Damon and Elena, the happy couple, finally together."

After a cheer and applause, I noticed Stefan stand up, the room went quite yet again.

"Damon, I just want to say, for years I've hated you with a passion. I've got to thank Elena for bringing us together again, it took some time but I've finally got my big brother back, and I know I don't say it often but you're my best friend, I know that makes me sound very, very sad right now, but it's true. So thank you Elena for showing me that family is something you can't turn your back on, and for bringing out the side of my brother I thought I would never see again. I am eternally grateful. Welcome to the family, Elena." Stefan smiled as he raised his glass. "Cheers."

"Little brother, I never knew you cared." I said, knowing Stefan could hear over the applause.

"I never stopped, big brother."

"You've had a nice way of showing it."

Stefan laughed, and so did I.

The past was in the past and I couldn't wait for the future.

"Cake!" A voice suddenly shouted, I realised it was Caroline. She had gotten chubby over the years, well it may have been because she was six months pregnant. Yep, Matt and Caroline were expecting, a boy if I heard correctly, Bonnie and Tyler were to be Godparents. Caroline had said she wanted Elena, but seeing as the godfather would be me she instantly shied away from that idea.

After the cake and a bit of mingling the sun had set. The fairy lights were hanging from above like a starlit night, outside looking the same, it was a perfect night.

I stood from my seat and outstretched my hand, "May I have this dance?"

Elena looked up to me with those perfect brown eyes of hers, filled with love, adoration and happiness, the same being reflected from my own. I wasn't afraid of who could see my happiness anymore, I wanted them to. They had all said I was incapable of love; a cold-hearted, calculating monster I recall them calling me, but Elena had seen through it, she brought me back and she was mine and she wasn't leaving anytime soon.

I remembered when Elena had told me she had ended it with Stefan shortly after her turning. He couldn't handle Elena as a vampire, especially when he found out she wanted to adopt my 'snatch, feed, erase' motto, animal blood tasted like, in the words of Elena herself, 'ass'.

At first I couldn't believe it; one part of me was telling me to grab her with both arms and show her what she had been missing; but the other half, the self preserving side, the one afraid to get hurt, was telling me she would be running back to Stefan, that she would use and abuse me; make me open up my feelings for her to take in and spit right out. But she didn't. She had been determined to prove that I wasn't just a rebound, and I finally took the leap of faith, jumping head first into the unknown with Elena by my side.

Best decision of my life.

...

Elena smiled and instantly placed her hand in mine, never taking her eyes of me as she lifted herself from her seat and made our way to the dance floor.

"Now, Mr and Mrs Salvatore's first dance as man and wife," announced the wedding singer.

After a brief applause and squeal of delight, the room went quiet. The lights dimmed down, the small tea lights glowing romantically in the room. The place was full of electricity, the soft murmurs slowly faded and I looked into Elena eyes.

I brought Elena closer to me, only slightly, as I waited for the music to begin. 'Only Hope' by Switchfoot. It had taken us quite a while to choose a song, too many being able to describe our relationship.

The music began and the soft violin melody filled the room as I twirled Elena elegantly. She now stood in front of me as I placed my hand on her lower back. Her frame was perfect as she looked up to me, her eyebrow raised for the tiniest of seconds, almost as if saying 'impressed?'

I was.

Elena

I had always loved the Viennese waltz. Through all my time of watching 'Dancing with the Stars', I had imagined how it felt to be led around the room as if hovering from the ground, and now my wish was granted and I was about to dance it in front of all these people with the man I loved, my husband. A dream come true.

I knew if my heart could beat it would be running at a mile a minute, I could imagine Damon's knowing smirk as he heard the thuds of my tell-tale heart, but not now. There was only silence as I held my breath, waiting for Damon to take me in his arms.

Damon

I led Elena across the room, using the music as my guide, spinning around the room as I led Elena effortlessly, second nature.

We never took our eyes off each other as we danced across the floor, the whispers of how perfect we looked together ringing in the air until all that was left was the music and Elena, in my arms, just like that day of the Miss Mystic Falls Pageant, though this time I could kiss her right now and no one would gasp in horror or scream Stefan's name. She was mine, and I was hers.

The pageant

As I watched Elena slowly descend the stairs, in her silk midnight blue gown I couldn't believe my eyes, she was the epitome of perfection. I watched with a heavy heart as her steps faltered, her heart stuttering painfully as she noticed the very noticeable absence of her beloved.

My eyebrows furrowed as I felt the pain she was feeling as if it were my own, I couldn't leave her like that, I had to intervene. I had to be there for her like she was there for me on countless of times, even when I hadn't voiced my hurt, she was always there in my times of need.

'...you know I'm there for you like you've been there for me...'

I remembered as I pushed past the crowd, never taking my eyes of Elena as she planted a fake smile and continued to descend the stairs, the tears brimming in her eyes ready to release. I increased my steps, not caring if anyone could see my inhuman speed, there was only one thing in my mind and that was making Elena's night perfect.

I heard the sigh of relief as she resumed her descent, blinking back the tears. She wouldn't need them anymore. A small smile crossed her lips, barely long enough for me to see. But I saw it. She took my hand and I led her out.

That dance changed my life, from believing my infatuation was unrequited to realising that they was truly something there gave me hope. I remembered thinking, wishing for her to not close of her emotions off to me, she had opened the door now, and I didn't want it to close.

All I wanted was for someone to love me, it seemed impossible, like wishing for rain as I stand in a desert, but now I was holding Elena, closer than most and I realised, she was my heaven, and it didn't seem so far away anymore. With her I had hope.

As I stood in front of her I recalled all my knowledge of the dance, a dance I was never able to fulfil back in 1864. My brother escorted Katherine, leaving me to watch in agony, feeling worthless and used as she danced in the arms of another man.

But now my agony had faded away, when I held her in this embrace. Here and now, this time around, it was my go. I tried keeping my face unreadable, tried to keep my happiness subdued, knowing it wouldn't last long. But I couldn't help the small smile gracing my lips as our hands barely touched, the feeling of an unknown force trying to bring our hands closer, a whisper away from our hands intertwining together, the urge growing stronger as the music carried on.

'The intimacy of the near touch'

The intimacy we shared with every sideways glance, every time we touched I felt the static, every slap, every near kiss, every embrace it was filled with love, even if she didn't know it at the time it was pouring out in this one dance. Through that intense gaze, the lock of eyes we were communicating our untold love. I could see the understanding in Elena's eyes, the glimmer of wonder as she saw a side to me I had never once shown, not even to Katherine all those years ago.

The dance was intense. I could feel Elena's heart beating hard in her chest. I wanted to believe that this is for real, desperately clinging on to a small fraction of hope, but I knew deep down it couldn't be, just the wishful thinking of a man with a broken heart. My jaw tightened as I remembered telling myself she was just worried about Stefan, worried he had given in to his blood-lust, nothing to do with me. As always.

But as soon as our bodies met in that sweet embrace and we were in hold I could feel all memory of her boyfriend wash away from her eyes, replaced by only me and the music. In this sweet embrace here we were, the lady and the vamp.

The music ended and we broke apart, It took us a moment to come back down from wherever we had went, I looked into Elena's eyes and saw the glimmer of love slowly being repressed back to like. Back to friends.

Who knew when the next time I would have her in my arms again, but at least I had the memory of those three minutes of pure magic, I kept telling myself that that would be enough, but I knew I was kidding myself. I wanted more.

It pained me, it really did. I took that step back knowing there was no turning back. I was in love with her.

...

Elena

As I danced with Damon I couldn't help but think to the first time I had danced with him. The day of the Miss Mystic Falls dance, the day everything changed. The day my eyes finally opened.

He looked at me with such care, and I knew then and there, there was nothing Damon wouldn't do for me, as I thought back I realised, he was always the one I needed, the one I called for.

I remembered in the practice dance, the intimacy of the near touch seemed like nonsense to me. Why have a near touch when you can just plain touch. Those word played over in my head as I finally understood; all this time I had him close yet so far. And now, with our hands hovering against each other, I felt it. The connection. Not once had I felt that with Stefan, and though I felt guilty in thinking it, it was true.

But I was not Katherine. I would never do that. No matter how much I wanted to I couldn't. It was just a dance, Damon was playing along for the sake of the pageant, and it wasn't real. It couldn't be.

I realised my heart was aching at these thoughts, my gaze growing more intense as I looked him in the eye, trying to deduce what exactly it was he was thinking at that very moment. Were my eyes deceiving me, was it love I was seeing back, and was it love being echoed back through my eyes.

It was. But I would tell myself it wasn't. For now.

Damon

Wedding dance

The tempo increased and the spins grew faster, I held Elena securely leading the way as we elegantly trailed across the dance floor, our footwork perfect and in sync with the song as we flowed, almost skipping effortlessly with each rise and fall.

"Remember our first dance?" I asked Elena.

"Of course. You couldn't take your eyes off me."

"Could you blame me?" I whispered back, slowing down and changing direction with the music as the turns decreased.

"I did look pretty hot that day, right?" Elena laughed as she leaned down and rested her head on my chest as we slowed down and simply swayed with the song.

"I wouldn't use the word hot."

"What would you use then?" Elena asked, looking up at me.

"Beautiful. Stunning. Gorgeous. I could go on..."

Elena laughed. "You weren't so bad looking yourself if I can recall."

"I'm just glad I got to save my damsel in distress."

"Hmmm," Elena purred back, as we swayed to the music. "The perfect moment," I heard Elena sigh.

...

Feeling overly romantic, I unexpectedly lifted Elena off her feet, cradling her in my arms as I spun on the dance floor, humming along to the song (yes, I said it -Damon Salvatore humming!)

Elena closed her eyes, her head back as she squealed in delight, burrowing into me and muttering those three words I never tired to hear.

"I love you." She whispered.

"Love you too."

"Forever?" she asked.

"And Ever." I replied softly.

The audience broke out in applause and we came to a stop, my lips still firmly locked with Elena's, no breathing necessary. Slowly and reluctantly, I lowered Elena back on her feet, still glued to me as she wrapped her arms around me tight and kissed me harder. I swept her off her feet, Elena now inches off the floor as I held her.

"Oh, Mr Salvatore," Elena exclaimed happily.

I heard the wolf whistles and grinned as we kissed yet again, increasing the intensity. Elena held onto my arms as her tongue brushed against mine, a soft moan left my lips and I knew we had to break apart.

"Have you been practicing?" I said breathlessly.

Elena kissed me back in response, showing me just how much she had learnt.

"I had a great teacher," she smiled seductively.

I'm not a very wedding-y type of person (I just go for the food!) so sorry if the sequence isn't right or anything.

Next chapter is the party, they'll talk to people and you'll find out their stories, and Elena will finally reveal how Damon proposed.

I don't know whether I should bump this fic up to an M rating, wanna keep it kid friendly, though if you're after smut check out "Birthday53X" or "Under the Cover of Darkness".

At first Stefan was going to be best man, but then I thought it might be awkward, even though they're not together. Plus I love Alaric and Damon together (no, not in a slashy way!)

If you feel I haven't answered any questions let me know and I'll include it in, I wanna try and tie it up with how season 1 ended.

Review and I'll include you as a wedding guest, who knows maybe you'll get a dance with Damon! :D