Remember Me

Chapter Nineteen

Remember Me- Chapter Nineteen

Elena

"I, Elena Gilbert. Take you, Stefan Salvatore to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." Smiling widely, I hold onto his hands tightly. My stomach has knots in it and my eyes are welling with tears. I didn't think that we'd ever get here. I didn't think that it was going to end like this either though. I had come back here for our son. Not to disturb or ruin Stefan's life, because it seemed picture perfect. Honestly, I just wanted to get to know Ben. I've gotten to know him fairly well over these last few months. The fact that he loves pancakes, he loves running around the house and hiding when he doesn't want to go to school. He loves feeding the ducks that are out in the pond in our backyard. Bedtime stories are a must and dinosaurs are his new favorite. He misses Duke too. God, how he misses that dog, it breaks my heart.

"Mommy..." He says in a soft voice, tugging lightly on my off white last-minute wedding dress. It's just a plain white dress that I found in my closet and that I threw on for today. Oddly enough, it's one of Stefan's favorite dresses on me.

Clearing his throat, the officiant looks down at Ben with a smile and then at me. "I'm sorry." I comment, a tad bit embarrassed that we haven't gotten through all of our vows yet. Stefan smiles at us as I bend down and place both of my hands on Ben's shoulders. "What's wrong, baby?" I ask him. He's smiling, wearing a little bow tie and a black and white suit, a white flower pinned to his left pocket. His suit matches Stefan's. In the moment with his beaming brown-green eyes, he looks up at me with a huge smile and I can see his father in him so much that my heart swells with joy.

"We're going to be okay, mommy." He says, wrapping his arms around me as I lean over and pull him towards me. I can feel his little arms tighten around my neck as he buries his face into my hair. "I don't want you to leave anywhere again, momma." He says, whispering softly into my ear as I stand up with Ben in my arms and tell the officiant to keep going. Smiling through my tears, I kiss my son's cheek and whisper back into his ear. "I know that I haven't been around. But, I promise you, Benjamin. I'm never going anywhere again. It's you and me, baby boy...Forever. Us, against the world."

Holding Ben with one arm, Stefan takes my free hand and wipes away his tears with his other hand as he says. "I, Stefan Salvatore. Take you, Elena Gilbert to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."

Stefan's hands are shaking as he takes my hand into his and slides a golden wedding on my finger while he recites out loudly. "I give you this ring, as a reminder that I will love, honor, and cherish you, In all times, In all places. And in all ways, forever." Through my own tears, I take his hand into mine and follow his actions.

"With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. Salvatore, you may now kiss your bride." He states. I feel Stefan's cool hand slip against my right cheek when he leans forward with Ben still in my arms and he kisses me gently, whispering in my ear ever so softly that, he's saving more of his kisses for me later.

"Congratulations!" Is shouted from the back as Stefan and I both turn around and hear a small crowd clapping, all four of them looking a little disappointed that they missed things. But, they're smiling as they come walking towards us. Ben wiggles out of my grasp and runs straight into her arms, shouting loudly. "Auntie Katherine!"

Katherine holds him tightly against her, kissing his cheeks and rubbing his back as I hear her tell him how handsome he looks in his matching suit. "Think we'd really miss this party?" Damon asks, pulling Stefan into a bear hug as winks over at me and tells his brother congratulations. "Hi, Mrs. Salvatore!" Katherine smiles, kissing my cheek as she whispers into my ear. "It's long overdue. But, you're finally a Salvatore."