Helloooo!

Well guys the end is finally here, I want to thank everyone who's been with me through this journey, reading your reviews and seeing that your add the story to your favorites and put it on your alerts is definitely one of the best things about doing this, you guys have no idea how much it means to me to know you're liking my story. And this one in particular is very special to me because it called me in a moment where I had given up completely to fanfiction and has helped me go through the heartbreaking separation of Delena (I know It's only a fictional couple but it feels too damn personal to me) So thank you so much for sticking with me. And I also want to thank Lorena for being the best beta ever! And always being there for me when I need her help.

So, here it is. I really hope you enjoy it!

Oh…and btw I'm working on a new project, apparently my muse wasn't going to leave me alone, I hope you can see it In here in a few days, stay tuned and please give it a shot.

Now

THE END

HUNGER

One look and I can't catch my breath
Two souls into one flesh
When you're not next to me
I'm incomplete

These flames tonight
Look into my eyes and say you want me, too
Like I want you

-Ross Copperman-

.

Elena scrunched her eyes up as a ray of sunshine light hit her face. She moaned and buried her head on the soft cream pillows and stretched her arm to pat the place next to her. The other side of the bed was already cold but the smell of the person who had laid there still lingered; she smiled as she buried her nose deeper and inhaled the scent.

She heard noises coming from outside the window and forced herself to open her eyes and look into the small vintage clock resting on the night stand. It marked 11:55 AM, which meant she overslept and everyone should be downstairs already.

With a resigned sigh she stretched her arms above her head and willed herself to leave the comfort the bed was providing her. Then she proceeded to the bathroom where she took a fast shower and dressed up into a navy blue summer dress.

As she went down the stairs she started to hear all of the chaos around her and a smile appeared on her face, they were the craziest people she had ever met but she wouldn't change her family for anything in the world. "The celebration is being held at your house…yet you're the last one to wake up?" Her blonde friend teased once Elena reached the bottom of the stairs

"Perks of being the wife of the man of the house" Tyler said while he and Matt moved a white large table towards the backyard "He didn't want to wake her up"

"Oh how sweet," Meredith rolled her eyes while carrying a bowl to the kitchen.

Elena stuck her tongue out to the brunette girl and then turned to Caroline "Where's my husband?" Caroline moved her head, signaling to the back door with a smile and then followed Meredith into the kitchen.

Elena walked towards the big white French doors leading into the backyard and stepped into the hot summer morning, she saw the tables lined up and Jeremy and Anna placing the chairs while Alaric and Kol were trying to turn on the grill. Stefan was under an apple tree playing with his five year old boy and his two year old daughter. It was a heart melting sight.

She started moving towards the barn on the far end of the property where she was sure her husband was. After so many years she still knew Damon like the back of her hand. It was amazing to think of the long road they had traveled until this moment. Since that morning where they kissed in the airport everything went up for them. At the end, Elena couldn't bear the thought of Damon leaving his life in Mystic Falls and convinced him to stay instead of going to San Francisco, truth be told, the town was home for her too and she wanted to start building her family there. She got the ownership of her grandparent's house after a long legal battle with her parents where she learned that in her will her grandparents had left the house to her and she never knew it. And they settled in, in the quiet town that saw their love grow.

"You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so... get on your way!" Damon read in a gravelly voice as the little girl in his arms laughed out loud.

Elena stood with her hip pressed onto the door of the barn and watched them with amazement. It never ceased to surprise her how much she adored to see Damon with their daughter, the man was born to be someone's father and she couldn't help but to love him more everyday when she realized how much he loved their daughter.

"Mommy's here" The little girl squealed and squirmed to get out of her father's arms "Mommy" She ran to Elena as fast as her little legs carried her, her hazelnut curls blowing in the wind as she rushed to the waiting arms of her mother

"Good morning my sunshine" Elena cooed as she raised her into her arms and kissed her head. She giggled and wrapped her arms around Elena's neck while looking at her with a twinkle in her blue eyes.

"Daddy twas tellin story" She said as she looked back at her father and gave him the biggest of smiles.

"So I heard, and what a good story teller he is" Elena said as Damon approached them and kissed his wife's cheek.

"Good morning, beautiful" He whispered into her ear

"Thanks for letting me sleep in" She told him

"You needed it" Damon answered, arching an eyebrow suggestively and her cheeks flushed when she remembered what had kept her up so late last night.

She shook her head and turned her attention back to their three year old daughter "You wanna help your auntie Caroline with the cake, Sky?" Elena asked and smiled when the girl nodded enthusiastically "Then let's go, apparently we are the only ones who aren't helping" She told her husband, who only threw his head back and laughed. He moved towards her and placed his arm around her waist as the three of them walked back towards the gathering.

They had developed a tradition over the last few years. No matter what they were doing or in what part of the world they were, all of them always reunited for one week in the summer, they had barbecues, camp nights, brunches and days filled with laughter and love.

It was easier for the ones who remained close like Alaric and Meredith, who abandoned her position at the San Francisco orchestra and decided to teach music in the University Alaric worked. Or Caroline and Stefan and Matt and Rebekah who still and will forever live in Mystic Falls.

And even the ones who were away like Kol, who now lived in New York and had started to see a new girl recently, or Bonnie who still lived in San Francisco and got married last year to a wonderful man, and Jeremy and Anna who lived in Seattle, and Tyler who was currently travelling around the world; they always managed to get together for at least one week every year.

Damon went to the grill to help Kol and Stefan cook the meat and Elena went to the kitchen where Caroline and Meredith were and placed Sky on a stool, where Caroline gave her some cake batter so she could mix.

"I can't wait for this one to come out" Meredith said while looking at Sky and patting her six month pregnant belly

"Trust me, when you're in the operating room you're going to think differently" Caroline said with a shake of her head while she frosted a couple of cupcakes she made especially for the kids.

"But in the end it's so worth it" Elena answered while kissing the soft hair of her daughter.

She still remembered it as if it was yesterday. The day Skylar was born, the look in Damon's eyes when he saw her and the way he leaned down and thanked her for giving him the best gift in the world. It was something she would never forget. It still seemed unbelievable to her sometimes, to think of how far they've come after everything they went through.

"What is worth it?" Bonnie asked as she showed up in the kitchen with a couple of bags of chips "You wouldn't believe how hard it was for us to find these damn chips, it's like suddenly everyone decided to go and shop for it" She said while placing the things on the counter and kissing Sky on the cheek, the girl only smiled and showed her what she was mixing in the bowl.

"SKYLAAAAAAAR!" A child's voice echoed in the room and they all turned around to watch the five year old little boy entering the kitchen "Look what daddy and I found" The little girl abandoned the bowl and extended her arms to Bonnie so she could help her lower herself from the stool. "And there's a bunch more" The little boy said while showing her a couple of ladybugs who were walking on his tiny hand.

"I want one" Skylar shrieked

"Come, my daddy will give us more" He offered while clutching his cousin's hand and heading towards the door.

"No running, Jason!" Caroline yelled at her older child but she doubted he had heard her. That boy had so much of her personality, sometimes she lamented that he wasn't more like Stefan, hopefully Nora would be less like her and more like her father.

Elena watched through the window with amusement at the children trying to find more ladybugs in the grass with Stefan who always turned into a big kid when he was around the children, when she saw scenes like this she realized how right it had been to stay here, this was the place where they belonged.

"I swear they're going to give me a heart attack one of these days" Caroline said while shaking her head and continuing with her task

"Relax, they're kids, it's what they do" Bonnie stated with a chuckle

"I hope mine is a lot calmer" Meredith commented

"Yeah, good look with that" Caroline and Elena both said at the same time and then looked at each other and laughed. Elena was so glad that she was able to mend things with Caroline, her life wouldn't be the same without the blonde girl and it made her so happy that their children were so close in age because that meant they would grow up together just like she and Caroline did.

Damon walked into the kitchen and approached his wife "Babe, April just called, she says she will be here at seven pm"

"Yay!" Caroline and Elena both exclaimed "This means dancing night" The blonde girl said while Damon chuckled.

"Gee, you guys sound so eager to get rid of your children" Bonnie joked

"Oh that's not true, but when you have children, Bonnie Bennet, you will understand how important it is to have just one night to yourself" Caroline explained while licking batter out of a spoon.

"You evil moms" Damon joked while wrapping his arms around his wife and placing a kiss below her ear "But I agree with Caroline" He whispered into her ear and Elena giggled

"Oh come on, we're all still here" Meredith whined while looking at Damon and Elena

"Oh, like you never saw a couple giving love to each other" Damon told her with glee in his expression "Do I have to remind you that Alaric and you are like cats in the heat when you're together" Meredith blushed and everyone laughed while Damon buried his face into his wife's neck.

"I think the children talk got you in the mood, Damon" Caroline joked before cracking up with Bonnie.

"Well I know for a fact that Sky wants a little brother" Damon said while kissing Elena's hair and she couldn't help but laugh "Oh and Nora and Jason too, they were this close…" Damon continued while showing Caroline his index and thumb together "… of convincing Stefan. I think he might be on their side now"

"Yeah right, no way, I got my hands full with these two" Caroline said while shaking her head but a small smile was tugging at her lips. "Now do something helpful and take the dip and the chips to the table" Caroline handed Damon a tray.

"Yes, mam" He saluted her like a soldier before picking up the tray and doing as she said while she rolled her eyes at her brother in law

"And then come back for the cupcakes" She yelled while he walked through the door and heard him laughing under his breath.

They all had an amazing time together; sitting around the large table in Damon and Elena's backyard was like time never passed at all. They laughed and reminisced and watched the children play with nostalgia in their eyes, thinking of a time when they were the ones running around apple trees.

Tyler told them stories about his recent trip to Thailand; Matt and Rebekah announced they were having a baby; Kol showed them a picture of his new girlfriend and told them he thought this was finally the one. Alaric confessed to them that he was scared as hell of being a father. And they all shared little pieces of their lives. How much they had changed over the years and yet somehow when they all got together they were still the same.

Elena rested her head on her husband's shoulder and looked at the faces of the people around her. People often say that you can't have it all, the dream job, the good friends, good family and the perfect husband… and in a way they're right. But sometimes what you think is important actually isn't and what you think will make you happy actually doesn't. Because even though she had to give up a lot of things in her life to reach this moment she wouldn't want it any other way, because here in this place with the people she loved the most in the world next to her she truly had it all.

After leaving the children with April, the nanny, they all headed towards the Salvatore Bar, which was now managed by Elena. Stefan had decided to sell his part of the place to Damon and when he decided to open a third auto repair shop Elena was left with the complete ownership and management of the bar, something that she loved to do and hoped she could be as good as Damon's mom had been. She also helped Tyler's mom with town events every time she could.

They all spent hours laughing and dancing to the beat of the songs coming out of the speakers and they even did a few rounds of Karaoke, where Matt proclaimed himself champion. Meredith and Ric were the first in leaving since Meredith was heavily pregnant and already feeling tired. After them Jeremy and Anna took off, but not before promising to meet with Damon and Elena the next morning for breakfast, a plan which everyone else quickly invited themselves to.

After a few more minutes Damon watched how Elena was getting tipsier with each passing minute so he decided to call it a night, he knew how much she hated her hangover mornings these days, especially when their bundle of energy did her best to wake them up every morning at eight o'clock sharp. They said their goodbyes with promises of a substantial breakfast next morning and headed home.

On the way home Damon couldn't help but laugh at all the non-senses Elena was saying, she was indeed the most adorable drunk he had ever seen. It made him remember that night five years ago when he drove her back to her hotel, how much he had wanted to kiss her in that moment and how many nights afterwards she was finally his to kiss and to cherish for the rest of their lives. He never stopped being grateful for the second chance life gave them, there was a dark period in his life where he actually thought he could never reach happiness and now with her sitting next to him he was the happiest man on the face of the earth.

Damon carried Elena all the way to their bedroom and placed her on their bed before he entered their bathroom to change; he discarded himself of his shirt and was almost finishing brushing his teeth when he heard the low hum of a song.

He was working through college
On my grandpa's farm

"Elena?" He rinsed his mouth and exited the bathroom to find her swaying to the sound of the music. She probably was more drunk than he initially thought and he couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips while looking at her, dancing alone with her white dress and the only light being the moon illuminating the room through the window.

On the banks of the river on a well-beaten path
It's funny how those memories they last

He walked towards her and took her in his arms, she threw her head back and rested it against his shoulder as they both swayed to the music now. He dropped his head and breathed in her scent, her strawberry shampoo and sweet perfume mixed with the faint smell of sweat and alcohol, he never felt more intoxicated in his life. Sometimes he couldn't believe how much he loved this woman and how crazy she made him.

Elena hummed as they continued moving to the music, his arm was around her waist and she held him to her tightly, looking down briefly and smiling at the words that were tattooed on his forearm, 'Because you're mine I walk the line', the same ones tattooed around her ankle.

My first taste of love, oh bittersweet
The green on the vine
Like strawberry wine

Damon placed a soft kiss under her ear before spinning her around so he could now stare into her eyes, Elena smiled at him before placing a soft kiss onto his second tattoo, their daughter's handprint on his chest, right where his heart was beating "Beautiful" She murmured against his skin while he closed his eyes at the feeling of her lips on him.

But year after year I come back to this place
Just to remember the taste

He lifted her face from his chest with a finger and smiled wickedly at her before dipping her, Elena let out a laugh of pure delight and held onto him tightly once he pulled her up "We'll never stop dancing right?"

"Never, it's what we do. Remember?" He said with a smile and touched his nose with hers quickly.

"I love you" She said before snuggling into his chest

"I love you too, you have my heart Lainey, it will always be yours" His words were charged with emotion and Elena felt a surge of love so strong that she couldn't help but lift her head and stare into his beautiful blue eyes.

"And I will always be yours" She whispered to him before kissing him softly. His arms tightening around her small frame as the music faded away.

They continued embracing each other for a long time, their silhouettes visible through the blinds while outside the starry summer night passed and the apple trees surrounding the house rustled in the wind, like they did so many nights before and many nights afterwards.

Strawberry wine and seventeen
The hot July moon saw everything

THE END