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by Lauren_1306

by Lauren_1306

"Ladies and gentlemen." Liz started. "We are here today to witness and celebrate the union of our two very close friends, Elena Gilbert and Damon Salvatore. If there are any objections to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace." Of course, there was absolute silence. Damon smiled at me, and my lips curved up into a tiny smile in response. "Damon Salvatore, do you take this woman as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, through sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do." Damon said, squeezing my hand.

"Elena Gilbert, do you take this man as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, through sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do." I said through a throat thick with tears.

Liz nodded to Damon, who took a shaky breath. We had chosen to write our own vows, and I had read mine to myself so many times that I could do it easily by heart. Damon looked into my eyes and smiled.

"When I first met you, I knew immediately that you were the woman I wanted to spend forever with." Damon said, running his thumb over my hand as he spoke. "I never would have guessed that in only a few short years, I would get to call you my wife. You are my best friend, and I promise to love you for every second for the rest of my life. Until I take my last breath on this earth, I will make you as happy as I possibly can." He raised our entwined hands to his lips and gently kissed the back of my hand. "I love you, Elena Gilbert."

A tear slid down his cheek, and it was all I could do not to start crying as well. I just managed to keep the tears down, for now. Liz looked at me, and I took a quick deep breath before I spoke.

"You were the mystery guy." I said. "Dark and handsome, and I felt something that night when I met you on the side of the road. Little did I know how much I would grow to love you so quickly." I paused to quickly blink away the tears that pooled in my eyes. "Sure, we had some rough times, but what's happiness without a bit of sadness? And I know that through absolutely anything that could possibly happen to us, I will stand by you for every second of it. I promise you my heart, as your wife, from this day until the day I die. Forever."

That was it for me. I started crying, a few tears slowly trickling down my cheeks. Liz held out her hand for Lizzie and Josie to come forward, and the jumped up to give us the rings. Lizzie held out a tiny pink cushion to Damon, who took the ring off it and then reached for my left hand, slipping the band of diamonds next to the ring he proposed to me with. Lifting my hand, he gently kissed the rings that would stay there for eternity.

Smiling, I turned to Lizzie. She held up the cushion she was holding, and I gave me a smile as I took the ring. It was a thick silver band, with a strip of lighter silver all around it in the middle. Reaching for Damon's left hand, I slipped the band onto his finger and then lifted his hand to press my lips to his skin.

"By the power vested in me, I am happy to pronounce you husband and wife." Liz said, smiling so wide as a tear slid down her cheek. She looked at Damon. "You may kiss your bride."

Damon lifted both hands and cradled my face, gently stroking my cheek with his thumb. Another tear slid down my cheek as we both leaned forward and met in the middle, and we kissed for the first time as husband and wife. I lifted an arm and rested it around his neck, my other hand pressing against his neck, my thumb touching his jaw. He kissed me sweetly, softly, and when we eventually pulled away, he pulled me close and hugged me.

"I love you." Damon whispered in my ear.

"I love you." I said.

The crowd erupted into applause, getting to their feet. Damon and I broke apart, smiling widely. He took one of my hands and slipped his fingers through mine. I clutched his hand tightly, never ever wanting to let go.