1926

"I think you caught one, dad," Damon says, pointing to the tugging that he sees on his dad's fishing line.

"I think so too. Maybe we'll have some trout for supper," Mitch grins, standing up to reel it in. With the wind blowing, there are whitecaps on the lake today but not enough to keep the fish from biting. The temperature is around eighty degrees plus there's not a cloud in the sky. Since Elena, Caroline and Liz went into town to get some flower and sugar and other necessities, Mitch and Damon decided to try their luck at fishing this afternoon.

While Mitch works to land the trout, Damon stands up to cast out his own line before sitting back down on the rocks. He loves spending time with his father. The two of them have always been close but even more so after Damon's mom died. Honestly, Damon doesn't know if he'd even be alive had he not had his father to lean on after the war. Although Damon has never told his dad, more than once his melancholy and despondency was so intense, that he actually considered ending his life. Someone must've been looking out for him because he could follow through with his plans. And thank God because if he had let the despair win the war then there would be no Elena and no happily ever after with her.

"Got the net, Damon?" Mitch asks as he starts to lift the fish out of the water. Setting his rod down, Damon grabs the fishnet and snares the fish, pulling it out of the water. Mitch threads a stringer past the gills and then puts it back in the water till they're ready to leave for home. "Is something on your mind, son?"

"Yeah... Elena wants to have a baby. It's not like we haven't been trying I guess you'd say but she's worried that she hasn't gotten pregnant yet."

"Damon, you've only been married a couple of years. It's not like you don't have time yet."

"I know that, dad, but I'm a little worried myself. Not so much about whether or not I can father a child but how will I ever live up to the example you set? I couldn't have asked for a better father than you."

"Sometimes stress can upset balance of things. And maybe if you two stop worrying about it and learn to relax, it'll happen.

"I hope you're right. She wants to be a mother more than anything."

"It'll happen Damon and if it doesn't, there are always kids who need homes."

"You're right, thanks for listening and for always giving me good advice. I know I have been a burr under your saddle more often than not but since you're getting married next weekend, I just wanted to say thank you for always being there for me especially when...," Damon utters, his voice trailing when he remembers his darkest days.

"Damon, you went through a lot between nearly dying in the war, meeting and losing Elena, losing your mother. And even though I think your depression was worse than maybe some people go through, you were just a kid yet, son. Give yourself a break okay?"

Nodding, Damon happens to glance at his pole just in time to save it from being pulled in the water by a fish on his own line. Laughing, he grabs it and starts to reel in the fish but it somehow frees itself, swimming off before Damon can capture it with the net. Much to Damon's dismay, Mitch breaks out in raucous laughter, so much so that Damon can't help but laugh along with him. Shaking his head, Damon puts some fresh bait on the hook and then casts the line then sits back down to enjoy the rest of the afternoon with his dad.

For whatever reason, maybe work or family matters, John never looked into having Elena become an American citizen. Mitch and Liz as well as Damon and Caroline are in the Judge's chambers. When he enters, the lot of them stands up as decorum dictates as well as respect for the office. After telling Elena to come forward, the man instructs the rest of the group to sit down.

"Mrs. Salvatore, how are you today?"

"I'm fine sir, thank you for asking," Elena tells him. Although she's been in America since she was sixteen years old, Elena still has a bit of a German accent.

"Why are you here today?"

"I'm here to become an American citizen."

"Okay, Mrs. Salvatore. Can you recite the oath?" the Judge asks. Although his voice is surly sounding, the man has a smile on his face which seems to put Elena a little more at ease. Or at least that's what Damon concludes by the look on his wife's face. Elena turns around to look at her husband. When Damon gives her a nod, Elena smiles and then turns back to the Judge.

"I, Elena Salvatore shall declare, on oath that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty and, particularly, by name, to the prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of which I was before a citizen or subject which proceedings shall be recorded by the clerk of the court."

"Congratulations, Mrs. Salvatore, you are now and American citizen." Smiling the Judge stands up to shake Elena's hand. Giddy with happiness, Elena feels tears beginning to form in her eyes. In the next moment, Damon pulls her into his arms, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart."

"Congratulations, Elena," Caroline, Mitch and Liz squeal, each taking their turn in giving her hugs. Damon shakes the Judge's hand vigorously as does Mitch. Once the celebratory atmosphere dies down a little, the Judge tells them that he has more business in his courtroom so they need to vacate it. After thanking the man again, the group leaves the courthouse to go celebrate Elena and her very big day.

"Grab me that would you?" Damon asks Brady, pointing to the hammer laying on the sawhorse beside him.

"Here you go buddy." Brady hands it to him then walks over to where Enzo and Mitch and several of the men who are helping to build Damon and Elena a home. With Damon's shoulder as bad as it is, he can't participate in the labor as much as he'd like to. But he can pound nails and help to carry some of the smaller boards. The women are getting food ready for the guys. Walking outside, Elena walks over to Damon to hand him a drink of water.

"Thanks, sweet heart," Damon adds, drinking it down in one gulp. After pressing a kiss to her cheek, Damon rejoins the men, picking up a bunch of nails, pounding in one at a time. As the day wears on, the outline of the house begins to take shape. It's going to be three bedrooms with an upstairs. The house isn't that far away from Mitch's really, just a couple of miles. Maybe it seems kind of childish to some people but Damon likes the idea of being close to his dad and Liz and Caroline. Even though Elena's uncle has suggested that they move to Denver, Damon can't do it. Not just that he prefers the simple country life to the hustle and bustle of the city, it's that the proximity not only to his dad but also to Caroline and Liz. Brady and Julie have come to visit a couple of times already. Damon and Elena took the train to Denver last summer to spend a couple of weeks with her family. They're all doing well. John Jr. is old enough to work in the store so he has Elena's old job.

"Here you go, dad," Elena mentions, handing Mitch a sandwich. After Mitch gives Liz a kiss on the cheek, Elena smiles because she's seen how happy her father in law and Liz are together. Caroline is thrilled that the two of them are engaged too. Mostly because she gets to help her mother go dress shopping. Damon and Caroline are still thick as thieves. Not jealous in the least, Elena is included in almost all of their plans but occasionally Elena lets the two best friends have some private time together. Often Elena is the beneficiary of it though because Damon needs help planning something for her.

With his attention elsewhere, Damon doesn't even hear Brutus till he leaps, knocking him to the ground. Although Damon groans cause it hurts to land in a heap, he can't help but laugh when Brutus starts to lick him fiercely, drenching his face with salvia. Everyone is laughing at him by the time Damon finally gets to his feet. Damon finds some water to wash his face before picking the hammer up again to get back to working on the house.

Several hours later, the house is standing. Of course there's much work to be done yet but at least the frame is erect. Elena wants a stone fireplace like her parents had back in Germany. Wanting to make this house a home for Elena, Damon knows that they'll have to go to one of the rivers nearby to see if they can get a bunch of big rocks to build it. By nightfall, their friends are telling them goodnight. Julie, Brady and little Joshua are staying with Liz and Caroline down the road because she has more room. With the wedding next weekend, they're staying in town till then so Brady is going to help Damon and Mitch collect some rocks. Having built a fire, Damon pulls Elena onto his lap. Clasping her hands on his cheeks, Elena pulls his lips to hers. When she lets go, she lays her head on his shoulders and closes her eyes, sleeping claiming her almost immediately. Smiling, Damon drops a kiss to her hair and gives her body a gentle squeeze. Staring into the orange flames, Damon realizes that right here in this moment with his wife, he has everything that he could possibly want.

"Are you ready, dad?" Damon asks, adjusting his tie. Today Mitch and Liz are tying the knot. Even though Damon thought he could deal with his dad remarrying, he still found himself uneasy about it all. When Mitch took him aside and told Damon that he was going to ask Liz, Damon pretended to be excited. But since Damon has never been able to hide anything from his dad, Mitch knew right away that Damon was having some second thoughts. Afterwards Damon had a long talk with Elena. She really helped put it in perspective for Damon. Knowing that his beloved mother would want his dad to be happy, Damon gave Mitch his blessing. Thankfully, his doubts didn't cause a rift between father and son. Despite Damon's initial reticence, Mitch knew that Damon would make the right choice eventually. Fortunately it didn't take Damon long to have a change of heart.

Turning to face his father, Damon helps him to tie his tie. With the tie perfect, Mitch stares at Damon for a moment before uttering, "Let's do this." Nodding, Damon smiles and then the two of them walk out of the grooms room, through the vestibule and finally taking their places at the altar. As soon as the two men appear, the music starts to play. Looking up, Damon looks at the guest, winking at his wife when he sees her sitting in the front pew. Because the wedding is so small, only Caroline and Damon are standing up for their parents. As if in a world where only he and Elena exist, Damon finds himself unable to take his eyes off of her. It's only when Meredith Fell starts to play the bridal march on the organ that Damon turns his attention to Caroline followed shortly thereafter by Liz as they make their way up the aisle. As soon as the music stops, the priest begins the wedding ceremony. Although Damon is trying to pay attention, his mind keeps drifting back to his and Elena's wedding. Before he knows it, Mitch is putting the gold band on Liz's finger followed by the pronunciation that Liz and his dad are now husband and wife. When the music starts to play, Mitch extends his elbow for his bride to latch onto. Damon does the same so Caroline can thread her arm though his.

With the wedding ceremony over, the small crowd and group converges on the church hall where a meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes and corn is waiting for the guests. Damon gives Caroline a kiss on the cheek and then goes in search of his wife, finding her engaged in conversation with Brady and Julie. They drove here from Denver last week to be able to help with the house construction and to attend the wedding.

"Hey," Damon says, greeting Brady with a vigorous handshake and a kiss to Julie's cheek. When Damon feels a tug on his pants, he looks down, laughing when he sees his little Godson, Joshua. "Up, uncle Damon," the little boy squeaks. Even though Damon still has chronic pain in his shoulder, he lifts the little boy into his arms nonetheless.

"How are you today, Joshua?"

"I good. I gonna be a big brother," Josh reveals, surprising both Damon and Elena.

"I know. Your mommy and daddy told us. Are you excited?"

"Ah ha," he squeals, bobbing his head up and down vigorously. "Will you show me the baby horsies again?"

"Absolutely, Josh," Elena says, extending her arms to take Joshua.

"What do you say?" Julie asks, looking at her son.

"Please," the little boy says, burying his face in Elena's shoulder. Just as Damon is about to say something, Mitch's voice interrupts, telling everyone to take a get in line to fill a plate. After Brady takes Joshua, Damon and Elena take their turn, scooping helpings of the food on their plates. Once they take their seats, the two of them visit with the guests during the meal. Aunt Beth, Mitch's sister demands a dance. By the time to plates are cleaned up and the food put away, the dance starts. Mitch and Liz share the first dance and then Damon extends his arm to Caroline to dance with her.

"You look beautiful if it wasn't obvious, Caroline."

"You look pretty handsome yourself," she mentions, her voice trailing.

"Hey, is there something on your mind, Care? You know that you can talk to me about anything, right?"

"Of course, Damon. Um what do you think of Tyler?"

"I don't know him very well but he seems nice. Are you interested in him?"

"Yeah, I like him a lot but I want your blessing. You and Elena are truly part of my family now and so he needs to fit in if that makes any sense."

"Of course it does. Do you want me to talk to him, get to know him better? I will. You know I'd do anything for you."

"I know that. Elena looks gorgeous tonight too. I only hope that if things get that far with Tyler that we'll have the kind of relationship that you and Elena have. You barely knew each other when you asked her to marry you but it's worked out for you. I want that too."

"You will, Caroline, you will," Damon adds, giving her a hug, separating from her when he feels a tap on his shoulder. "Speaking of the devil," Damon teases, releasing Caroline so Tyler can take her into his arms. When Damon turns around to walk back to Elena, she's standing right in front of him. Taking her in his arms, he leads around the dance floor. Damon feels ten feet high when his wife is in his embrace. They dance cheek to cheek until the music stops. Damon takes his wife's hand and leads her back to one of the tables. Damon pulls the chair out for her before stepping away to get each of them a glass of punch. When he gets back to the table, Caroline, Tyler, Brady and Julie and little Joshua are all sitting at their table.

"I guess I should have brought more punch," Damon laughs, handing Elena a glass before sitting down to join the group. The friends visit and enjoy each others company for the rest of the evening. So engaged with the group, Damon doesn't even realize how late it is till Mitch comes to look for him to say goodbye. He and Liz are going to go back to the ranch and then leave to go on a short honeymoon tomorrow. Damon has never been so happy that he and Elena are on the cusp of having their own home now. Even though it will be some time before they can move in, it's still a good feeling to know that they'll have their own place. Not longer after Mitch and Liz say goodnight, Damon and wait till the rest of the crowd disappear before going home themselves. Too tired to do anything other than sleep, the two of them crawl into bed, falling asleep moments later.

"I'm going to go outside to check on the horses and feed the cattle. Do you want to come with me?" Damon asks, walking into the kitchen.

"What time is it?" Elena asks, pausing her dishwashing to turn around and look at him.

"It's only about three or so but it looks like it's going to storm. I'd rather not have to go outside during a cloud burst."

"Let me finish these and then I'll go with you. I'll get done faster if you wipe the dishes," Elena mentions, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Okay, okay," Damon laughs, picking up the dishtowel. With Damon drying them, the two finish in no time. As soon as Damon hangs up the towel and Elena wipes off the table, the two of them go outside. Hand in hand they walk to the pasture to check on the livestock, Brutus trotting alongside. When the dog sees a bunny scampering in the tall grass, he takes off like rocket, chasing it around. Elena breaks out in uproarious laughter. Hardly able to contain her contagious laugh, Damon laughs right along with her. They check on the cattle and then they walk down to where their house is beginning to take shape.

Suddenly the wind starts to whip around the trees and blow up a cloud of dust. Taking Elena's hand, they run, just reaching the barn when the rain starts to pour from the sky in sheets. Since they'd both be soaking wet if they were to make a run for the house, Damon and Elena decide to stay in the barn till the storm passes or at least isn't dropping from the sky in buckets. While Elena stands by the door to watch the storm, Damon feeds the horses. While Damon is busy nuzzling one of the horses, Brutus runs into the garage, soaking wet. And as always, he shakes his coat out all over Damon.

"Brutus!? What am I going to do with you?" Damon asks. Shaking his head, he takes off his shirt, hanging it on a nail to dry a bit. With Damon busy rough housing with Brutus, Elena licks her lips when she looks at her husband's perfectly sculpted chest. Quietly, she buttons her blouse before lowering her skirt to her feet.

"Damon..."

"Yeah?" Damon asks, the words stopping in his throat when he sees his beautiful wife standing only in her undergarments. Elena watches as his eyes darken with desire. Feeling her lady parts moisten just from looking at the lascivious look on Damon's face, Elena uses her index finger to summon him in the come hither motion. It doesn't take Damon but two seconds to be standing right in front of her. Surprising her, Damon throws her over his shoulder with his good arm and runs over to the ladder leading to the hayloft. Giggling, Elena climbs up, Damon immediately launches at her as soon as they're both safely in the loft.

"I seem to remember that you promised me a 'someday' in this loft. I figure it's about time that you kept it," Elena reminds him, her own voice husky with desire. Even though she knows she's blushing profusely, Elena enjoys that she and Damon can be so open with each other during their intimate times. Damon has always encouraged her to take what she wants from him and participate fully in their love making. In all honesty, Elena loves the power that it gives her and how cherished Damon can make her feel sometimes. Damon himself loves it when his wife takes the initiative in their sex life. Never did Damon imagine that a relationship between himself and Elena could be so open and completely consuming.

Closing the distance between them, Damon cups her face with his hands, joining their lips in a blistering kiss. Pulling back, Elena licks her own lips when her eyes glance down to the obvious bulge in his jeans. With a waggle of her brows, she undoes the snap and starts to pull them down his legs. Damon raises his hips to help her in her quest. Not one to be deterred, Damon shimmies out of his underwear then pounces on Elena, practically ripping her delicates off of her lush, svelte body. Before Damon can do anything, Elena pushes him onto his back, straddles his waist and starts to press kisses to his eyes, his nose, his lips and his scarred shoulder before working her way down his own perfectly sculpted body. Damon watches with awe when Elena takes him into her mouth, curling her tongue and running it along the slit to collect the moisture that is already forming.

"Um," Elena mumbles, taking as much of him into the hot cavern of her mouth as she can. Because her mouth is full of him, Elena surprises him when she uses her hands to tease his manhood. When she strokes that spot in the perineum, Damon's hips buck up and a needy groan escapes from his lips. Savoring the taste that is uniquely Damon, Elena continues to bob her head along the length of his cock. Smiling against his flesh when she feels one of his hands twist in her hair, Elena works that much harder to push him over the edge.

"God, Elena, that feels incredible," Damon groans, throwing his head back. Within seconds, Damon lifts it again, his eyes focusing on the way his length disappears into her mouth. Unable to hold back even a second longer, Damon explodes, releasing a steady stream down her throat. Holding on for dear life, he doesn't loosen his hold on her hair till his length softens and slips from her mouth.

"That has to be bad for the heart," he says, dropping his head back onto the hay. "As soon as I can feel my body, I intend to ravage you, Mrs. Salvatore," Damon warns, his chest still heaving with aftershocks.

Proud of herself, Elena waggles her brows teasingly and then crawls up and lays down beside him. Damon is unable to take his eyes from a beautifully naked Elena, her naked breasts tantalizing so much so that in moments, he feels his dick begin to stir again. When Damon notices her goosebumps, he eyes her all the more ardently. Rather than be embarrassed by the desire in her husband's eyes, Elena feels sexy and empowered. Rolling onto his side, Damon engages her lips in a smoldering kiss while using his hand to tease first one nipple and then the next till they're erect and wanting. Feeling impatient and needing her own release, Elena pulls him on top of her, spreading her legs to ease his quest. The friction caused by her nipples rubbing against the smooth hardness of his chest feels so good that Elena can already feel how wet and ready she is to receive him. The tingling feeling is already burning deep inside of her.

Gasping when Damon finally enters her with his fingers, Elena's hip buck wildly nearly sending her flying off the hay-covered loft floor.

"You are so wet already, baby," Damon groans, working her into a frenzied pitch, his palm rubbing her clit while his fingers work sweet magic with her insides. Reaching down, Elena takes him in her hand, stroking till he's hard and erect and ready. His fingers slide in and out with ease as Damon plays her body like a maestro dancing along the keys of his Steinway piano. Elena can feel her heart pounding so hard against her ribcage that it makes her breaths come in gasps and spurts. Damon continues to work magic with his hands, using the pad of his thumb to increase the pressure on her clit. Barely clinging to the ledge, Elena topples right over when he presses a little harder and crashes his lips to hers.

"Damon," Elena screams, her body stiffening and her toes curling as Elena erupts spectacularly, her orgasm washing over her like waves lapping against the seashore. Damon lowers his mouth, kissing his way back up her gorgeous body paying special attention to the valley between her breasts and the curve of her neck and finally that spot behind her ear that causes chill bumps to erupt en masse. Although her eyes are blurry from the sheer magnitude of her release, Elena unconsciously licks her lips again when she sees Damon take himself in hand. Damon sucks his lower lip into his mouth when he runs the head along her drenched lady parts, coating himself in her juices. Wanting him inside of her, Elena spreads her legs wider, inviting him in.

Elena's hips are already writhing while she waits for him to finally enter her. When Elena finally feels the tip near her entrance, she bucks up her hips, pulling him in at the same time that Damon pushes up, sinking inside of her.

"Dear God," Elena gasps, feeling the delicious stretch as each inch of his silky girth pushes inside of her. Elena's body grips onto Damon's length like a tight leather glove. The feeling of having Damon inside of her is so deliciously good that both Damon and Elena want to stay connected like this forever.

"So damn good," Damon grunts, thrusting faster and harder and deeper than she can ever remember. Reaching up, Elena run her hands along the sinuous muscles of his arms. They're strong and bulky and masculine and Elena loves being embraced in them. Grunting, Damon starts to push even harder. Elena pistons her hips to each one of Damon's powerful thrusts. Cupping her ass, Damon uses it for leverage to pull her flush against him, allowing him to hit that sweet spot with each stroke of his enormous cock. Without warning, Damon flips them. Anchoring her palms against his chest, Elena doesn't miss a beat, raising and lowering her body in sync with his upward jabs. Sensing that Elena is tiring, Damon holds on tight while positioning them upright. Taking her weighty breasts in his hands, Damon tweaks her nipples. Letting go of one, Damon snatches it with his mouth, suckling and biting. When Elena throws her head back, her breast goes deeper into his mouth, the feeling of his lips suckling feels so damn sweet.

Elena knows that she's close to the edge again when the coil in her belly begins to burn and tighten. Damon lets go of her nipple with a plop and then he starts pushing up and into her hard and fast so precise. Seconds later her body shudders and seizes, her second release crashing over her like a tsunami. Unable to move anymore, Damon pulls out and lays her down gently on the bed of hay. Getting behind her, Damon pulls her right leg over his hip then plows back in, pushing even deeper inside with each thrust. Moments later, Damon yells her name aloud. A shuddering breath escapes Elena's mouth when she feels him release inside of her. Elena holds on tight while Damon's body is seizing and jerking from the intense aftershocks. Once he can move, Damon rolls off of her and onto his back.

"Good Lord, Elena," Damon breathes, his voice raspy. Rolling over to face him, Elena lifts his arm around her so she can snuggle against his chest. Moments later, Elena feels him shift to face her. Smiling, Damon uses his fingers to pull some hay sprigs out of her hair. After brushing a strand behind her ear, Damon drops a kiss to the tip of her nose.

"Damon," Elena says softly, her blue eyes staring into his brown eyes.

"What is it?"

Leaning up on her elbow, Elena drops a kiss to his lips. Barely able to control herself, she squeals aloud, "we're finally going to have a baby."

"Are you sure?" Damon gushes, his eyes wide and full of mirth.

"Ah ha," Elena squeals, bobbing her head up and down animatedly. Smiling widely, Damon rolls her over to take his place between her legs once more. Dropping another kiss to the tip of her nose and an ardent one to her lips, Damon wiggles his hips, the tip teasing her entrance. With a waggle of his brows, Damon drops his mouth to her ear whispering, "Are you ready for round two?"

The End.

Huge thanks to Eva for helping me with all of my stories. I love you. You listen and cheer me up on my melancholy days and make me smile on my good days. And you're my biggest source of support when I need to talk. Thank you, Eva.

Massive thanks to all of you as well. Thank you so much for supporting this and all of my stories. I can't tell you how much it means to me.

Chapter title: 'Never Gonna Give You Up' by Rick Astley

I updated 'Turn the Page' twice in the last few days. I really hope you'll stick with me in that story. There's so much to come. 'Nothing Left to Fear' is nearing the end. I will update 'The Game of Life' soon.

Please remember to click that review button.

Bless the people of Turkey. Again, it's why I always tell you to be safe. Aside from acts of terror, freak accidents claim those we love too, including my own mother. Bye now and thank you again for going on this journey back in time with DE and me.