Wandering Hearts (Under Editing)

The Funeral of Damon Salvatore *Edited*

I pull the black dress onto my body, my muscles in agony from so many night terrors. I step into a pair of flats when Caroline comes in, a gentle smile on her face.

"You should wear a cardigan. It's a little cold." I nod, looking at my reflection. She comes behind me and puts a necklace on around my neck. "He wanted me to tell you that this was his mother's and that he was saving it for your one year but... He wants you to have it now. He loves you so much." I wrap my arms around her tightly, sobbing quietly. She links her hand in mine and we head downstairs to her car. We drive to the cemetery, where I can see my friends and family gathered around the Salvatore crypt, a horde of black figures standing with umbrellas shielding them from the rain. A sad irony that the day I say goodbye to the father of my baby and my fiance it rains.

We approach the people crowded around the coffin. They step aside for me and I look down at him. He seems as if he could be sleeping, although the gray in his skin doesn't allow him the god-like glow he always has, awake or asleep. It's hard to pretend that he's only a nudge away when he's so far gone, and his lips don't curl, his chest doesn't rise and fall, the gentle snore that always fills the room silenced by the cold hand of Klaus. I take a deep breath before turning to face a devastated crowd of my friends and family. They all stare at me, a mix of sympathy and sorrow, and I clear my throat.

"Thank you all for coming." I take a deep breath. "I would have given anything not to be standing here. I would shout on the rooftops that I'm a vampire in a town of werewolves not to be standing here. Damon Salvatore was something else. He was a mix of cocky and self-loathing, kind and evil, passionate and emotionless. He is the definition of a contradiction, that I know. But maybe that's why I love him. Damon was, in every way, perfect. He never saw it, but I stared at it every day of my life with
him.
"I remember we first met before my parents died. He and I clicked, immediately. The chemistry was undeniable. And it was then that I realized that I wanted to take chances. My parents died and of course ruined that, but then meeting him for the second time... God, I knew I was screwed. He terrified me in a way I never wanted to be terrified again. He made me question my morality, my humanity, my philosophy on life itself. He changed me in so many good ways. He loved me when I didn't even love myself. How I'm keeping myself composed right now is... Incredible, but... Somehow I still feel him. He's still here, I think." Jeremy confirms this by double tapping his heart - a sign Damon and I made up years ago and never told anyone. One that we made up in Georgia and have used ever since. I smile, resting my hand on my stomach and taking a deep breath. I tap my heart twice, one tear spilling onto my cheek.

We place him in the Salvatore tomb, Caroline and Bonnie supporting me as we walk.

"Elena, I think I've found something." Bonnie tells me.

Care and I sit down on the couch as Bonnie places a grimoire down in front of me.

"It's called the resurrection sacrifice. It says here that not only the death of humans can bring back loved ones, but also times of great stress or pain. In one instance a mother begged me to bring back her husband, because she was having a baby, and using her pain I channeled her labor pain into the spell. She didn't feel a thing and her husband appeared right before us, confused but unharmed. They were joyously reunited with no after affects as there are when sacrificing a human being."

"Wait, so when I go into labor-"

"I can channel the stress and trauma of the event to bring Damon back from the dead."

"Oh my god, Bonnie!" I hug her and she hugs me back tightly. I smile, because this is no longer a day of sorrow, but of great joy. Damon will come back to me, thanks to the beautiful baby growing inside of me.

We sit around the table, everyone else drinking wine as I drink cider. We eat the wonderful meal prepared shockingly by the likes of Alaric, a smoked salmon cooked in white whine.

"Alaric, this is delicious. The baby is actually kicking because of it." He laughs.

"Can I feel?" I nod and wave him over. I guide his hand then I take a bite of the salmon, smiling at it's taste again. He laughs as the baby kicks, smiling at me. "So cute. I'm glad you like it, kid." He sits back down, kissing Meredith on the cheek softly. I smile at them, taking another bite then helping myself to another piece. Being a vampire is awesome, I eat as much as I please and never gain a pound. How wonderful.

We serve Meredith's famous chocolate cake, and it lives up to the reputation. It's covered in chocolate chips and is moist - her ingredient, she says, is adding chocolate sauce. After dessert we talk for a couple more hours before everyone goes home. I head upstairs, going into our room and taking a shower. I dry off then I put my robe on, walking out into the bedroom and looking at the calendar. I put an X over the day, taking a deep breath. I flip to my due date, September 16th, and I circle it.

Three more months.

I change into my pajamas and I climb into the bed, turning out the light as I lay down. The beautiful baby girl I carry is my savior, my everything. She kicks twice and I smile, running a hand over my baby bump. She kicks once more then I roll over, yawning and falling into a peaceful sleep.