Apartment B-4

One Year Later

ELENA'S POINT OF VIEW

To wake up next to Dean is a feeling only one word can describe. Safe. That's how I felt. Dean made me feel safe. He protected me from even myself. To be with Dean is a feeling no words can describe. He's beautiful. He's sweet. He's mine. Even after a year, I find myself confused at why he was with me. Why did he choose me over all of the girls in the world? Whenever I looked in a mirror, I hated every part of me. I wished my nose had a different shape. I wished my teeth were a millimeter smaller. I wished I was smaller. Now, I look back at all of my insecurities. To think that I let these things control my life like they did. The things I didn't do because I was self-conscious. I was an idiot. Those who didn't appreciate my size, and those who made fun of me were never worthy of my time. Time... So much time I wasted on caring what everyone thought of me. Dean... He never cared what I looked like. He appreciates everything about me, and that's what true love is about.

I stared at Dean as he slept, or at least I thought he was sleeping. So peaceful... So beautiful.

DEAN'S POINT OF VIEW

Elena... The love of my life. I felt her staring at me. I smiled on the inside. Such beauty and radiance she had. I wish she knew how beautiful she was. To think that she chose me over any man in the world. She changed me. She made me become a man I never thought I'd be. I'm broken. That's what I am, and she completes me. She picked me up when I was broken and put me back together.

"Dean." I heard her whisper.

I opened my eyes and smirked at her.

"Good morning," I said. "You look so beautiful."

"You always say that," she said smiling.

"I always mean it," I replied.

We gazed into each other's eyes. It was sweet.

"Elena, will you go on a date with me?" I asked.

"I'd love to," she replied.

"Good." I turned around and smiled. What she didn't know is that I had something bigger... Much bigger planned.

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ELENA'S POINT OF VIEW

At about six, I was ready for our date. I wore a beautiful black dress with a black trench coat over it to keep me warm. I curled my hair and waited for Dean. He was acting strange today. He was making private phone calls and acting secretive.

"Lena?" I heard Dean yell.

I stepped out and saw Dean eye me down. He was wearing a tuxedo. He looked so handsome.

"You never cease to amaze me," he told me. He handed me a beautiful bouquet of red roses.

"As well as you. Look at these. They're beautiful!" I said eyeing the flowers.

"You're beautiful. My girlfriend is gorgeous," he said.

"You're not so bad yourself," I winked.

"Come on, let's go," he said grabbing my hand.

He took me to this beautiful spot. It was on the beach. There were lights strung everywhere, and there was a band playing in the background.

"Dean, this is beautiful! You didn't have to do this!" I told him in awe.

"Yes I did. You deserve the best," he said.

I kissed him.

"I love you so much."

He kissed me back.

"Not as much as I love you."

We walked to the table set out for the two of us. The band started to play old classic rock songs. They were beautiful. It was just like the band at the masquerade party.

"Yes," Dean said.

"What?" I asked confused.

"This is the same band," he smiled at me. This was a different kind of smile though.

"How'd you manage to find them? Why did you? This must be a fortune Dean!" I said.

"I know a guy. And Lena stop worrying. It's not about the money. It's about you. Tonight is about you." He grabbed my hand and kissed me across the table.

"You're amazing Dean. I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend," I said.

He smiled to himself.

The night continued beautifully. Dean was the perfect gentleman, but that was nothing new. He'd always been the perfect gentleman. That was one of the reasons I fell in love with him.

"Lena follow me," Dean said grabbing my hand.

He led me to a spot on the beach. The lights made his face appear mesmerizing. I looked up to the sky and saw fireworks start to go off.

"Dean," I said.

"Keep watching," he replied.

As I was watching the fireworks, I heard the band start to play a song. It was "Carry On My Wayward Son."

I smiled at the song. I went to look up at Dean, but he was already looking at me.

"Do you remember?" I asked.

"I'd never forget," he responded.

I continued to stare at the fireworks. They were so beautiful. That was when I heard my name.

"Elena."

I looked over and saw Dean on one knee. I gasped.

"Oh my. Dean," I said.

"Elena Gilbert, through thick and thin we have found ourselves back together. I have seen you near death and as alive as ever. You're mine Elena. I've wanted you for so long, and now I have you. I want to keep it that way. I want to wake up next to you every morning. I want to watch that stupid notebook movie with you. I want to hold you in my arms as we watch Gossip Girl together. I want you to be the person my family calls when they can't stand to speak to me. Elena, I want you to be mine forever. You've made me into a person I never thought I'd be. That being said... Elena Gilbert will you marry me?" Dean said smiling.

I felt the tears coming from my eyes.

"Yes Dean! Yes I'll marry you!" I replied.

He put a beautiful ring on my finger and picked me up, spinning me in circles. He grabbed my face and kissed me like no other.

"We're getting married," I said smiling and crying at the same time.

He wiped my tears with his thumb.

"We're getting married," he replied.