Chapter 28: Epilogue

It's coming to an end :(

It feel just like yesterday I started to write this baby of mine, time goes too fast.

My AN will be much longer than usual, so forgive me.

Anyway, this one id not from Elena's POV. This is different, you can guess later and tell me ;)

Here we go, the epilogue of When I Look At You.

The colors of the rainbow,
So pretty in the sky.
Are also on the faces,
Of people going by,
I see friends shaking hands.
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying,
"I love you".

I hear babies cry,
I watch them grow,
They'll learn much more,
Than I'll ever know.
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.

What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

I was finally getting married.

And not just getting married to a man, I was getting married to Troy Cosgrove. My very own blue-eyed knight in a shining armor.

I was twenty one and freshly graduated from Columbia. To say my dad was dissapointed because I'm getting married so young was an understatement in the century.

But I had my beliefs, I had faith that even though Troy and I were young we can get through our lives together as one.

When my dad...

Oh wait, I haven't introduce you to my family. How rude of me.

Well, my dad, Damon Salvatore, was in his late forties. He had bright blue eyes just like mine and dark hair. I always thought my dad was once a bad guy, but turned good because of my mom's big love for him. At least that was they told me before they tuck me in to sleep when I was a child. And even though he was old, my friends from college used to be starstruck when they see him. Of course that made me want to puke, he was old for God sake.

He was my best friend, my hero, and my safety net. It might be cliché to say, but my dad was the best man in the whole world. I just wish that someday I would end up with a man like him. He was super protective of me and my brother, of course, but that was what dad does, right? I remembered the first time I introduced Troy to him, he took Troy to sit in our living room and spent almost two hours questioning him. I loved him to the moon and back but sometimes he embarrassed me.

My dad owned three cafés now, one in Mystic Falls and two in Georgia. The cafés were a big success, and you could tell that my dad was definitely a busy man managing his three little babies. But as always, he always shared a moment with his family, no matter five or ten minutes, to asked me about my day.

And my mom, Elena Salvatore neé Gilbert was a bright, beautiful and very nice woman. No wonder she got my dad wrapped around her fingers when they were younger. My mom was in her mid forties now, she had white hair here and there but that didn't mean she less beautiful. From the pictures I saw through the years, my parents were good looking in their young days.

Just like my dad, my mom was pretty protective of me and my brother. But she still gave us some space, unlike my dad. She was the one who kept him on his place and when my dad was a little pissed because, well, you know how menace teenagers could be, of me or my brother, she put her hand on his shoulder, smiled softly at him and kissed his cheek. That worked of course, dad was calmer after that, but he still had me grounded.

My mom inherited the patisserie from my grandparents and had to gave up her own dream, but she never did once tell me that she regretted it. She loved her job now. Between managing the patisserie with her best friend Bonnie and my uncle, Jeremy GIlbert, who was now her husband, she always had time for family.

Every night before I went to sleep, my mom told me a story of how she and dad met. How she was always bump into him, or how my dad just had to looked her in the eyes and he understood what's in her mind.

Until now, until right this second, I still could see the love shone from their eyes for each other.

Since then, I promised myself I would find a love for me that just exactly like the love they have had for years. Mom said, their love wasn't perfect, wasn't simple, but she didn't mind. She said, she wouldn't have it any other way.

As for my brother, Kian Salvatore, with his blue eyes just like mine and brown hair just like mom's, he was a God sent. He was my everything. We had our fights now and then but it was always ended up in a teary make-up, at least for me. Like one time, when I felt homesick because I was in New York for my freshman year in college, Kian was the one who called me every night until I told him that I'm doing fine again. Kian and my dad would always be my very good best friend. and my mom would always be my woman sidekick.

And me, I'm Vanessa Salvatore, 5'5 tall girl, and has a nickname 'Chatterbox', was the Salvatore that would getting married in a church with the love of her life tomorrow.

When my dad found out that Troy proposed he looked like someone had crushed his dreams. My mom did everything she could to cheer him up. I was a little pissed because I want him to be happy for me, but then my mom told me that he was dissapointed in himself that he couldn't keep her little princess forever. And that, made me love my family even more.

Now, I stood in front of my tall window, facing my backyard, thinking that maybe my desicion to marry in such young age was a mistake.

I didn't have cold feet, no of course not, but I'm still anxious for tomorrow. Not because I'm scared, but because I'm afraid that I would never be a good wife for him.

"Nessa?"

I looked up to find my mom stood leaning against the door frame, "I thought you're already asleep, tomorrow is your big day, sweetie"

She smiled softly and entered my room to sit beside me.

Just like an open book, she could read me clearly, "You don't have to be afraid"

"What if I'm not good enough?" I whispered sadly and my mom wrapped her arms around me, caressing my arms was the best way to soothing me and she knew it.

"If you aren't he wouldn't proposed" she said.

"But what if he have second thoughts?"

"There is so much what if's going around in your head, isn't there?" she chuckled softly, "You do know I felt the way you feel now when I noticed tomorrow is my wedding day"

"Really? How come you never tell me?" I looked up to meet her brown calming eyes. I was pretty sure that my mom's doe eyes was one of many things that make my dad fell in love with her.

"Let me tell you this..."

"I can't – I can't do... Oh my gosh, I can't breathe! Mom!" Elena paced around her hotel room just a little after midnight, after they came home from the dinner rehearsal.

"What's wrong, Elena?" Miranda came rushing in to her daughter's room to find Hypervilenting Elena walked back and forth.

"I'm – what if... he... cancel... the wedding?" she asked more to herself than to her mother breathelessly between words.

Miranda took Elena to sit down on the edge of her bed, almost forcefully then guided her to breathe more slowly, "That's good, keep doing it, baby"

After a while, after she felt a little calm, she broke down in tears. She sobbed and somehow got her face in her mom's chest.

"Shh... what's wrong, honey?"

"Mom... what if – what if Damon thinks I'm not good enough for him?" she sobbed.

"Why would you think that? He loves you, you know that" she soothed her panic daughter.

"I know, I know. But what if he realized that I'm not good enough as a wife? What if I'm a bad wife, mom?" she sobbed against her mother's chest uncontrollably.

Miranda gave her some times to recollect herself and started caressing her long brown hair, because she knew it would soothe her.

"Elena, sweetie, I told you that it wasn't going to be easy, right? Life isn't easy, sweetheart. Life is full of surprises, but in every surprises there are always be something to hold onto. I believe you love Damon," Elena nodded her head shakily, "Then the love you guys have is something you need to hold onto. Just remember that you want to be with him, he chose you, Elena. He chose you to be his wife. So what if you're not a perfect wife? Who cares? Because you know that nobody's perfect" Miranda told her softly as Elena listened to her mother carefully.

Elena gulped thickly, "You think I would be enough for him?"

"He wouldn't proposed if you're not the 'it' girl for him"

"You thought he was going to cancel the wedding?" my eyes widened, I'd never thought my mom would ever doubt his love for her.

"Yes, because I was insecure just like you now," she said, "So, right now I'm going to tell you what my mom told me the day before my wedding day, the love that you guys have is something to hold onto. He'd chose you to be his wife, Nessa, he wants to spend the rest of his life with you. That means that he has no doubt that you'd be perfect for him. I'm sure you guys would have fights now and then but just remember that the things you guys would have together, a house, children, a dog, a cat, or maybe even both"

Then suddenly it hit me, my mom was right. We would be perfect for each other, if we weren't, we wouldn't be here just a day away from our wedding day, right?

"Mom, you always know what to say," I smiled happily, "I love you, Mom"

"And I love you, sweetie" she kissed the top of my head.

Suddenly the door was open and revealed my dad standing next to Kian with a grin on his face.

"Some little girl time before the big day?" Kian teased as he walked cross the room then lay on his back in my bed.

My da walked in and my mom stood up to wrapped her hand around his waist and he did the same to her shoulder. Aww, even though they were old, they still the cutest couple in the whole world.

"Having cold feet? You can always move back in here and leave that guy for good" my dad said casually.

My mom nudged her, hard, "Damon" she warned and he glared at him. I just loved their playful banters.

I laughed, followed by Kian agreement that I ignored, "No, dad. Actually I'm sure one hundred percent now that this time tomorrow I would be Mrs. Cosgrove "

"I'm still much prefer Vanessa Salvatore," Kian shrugged, "You know Ethan still has a crush on you. At least, I know the guy inside and out and I'm sure he wouldn't hurt you"

"Kian, we've talked about this, "I whined as I crushed my bed next to my brother.

Ethan was my Aunt Caroline and Uncle Tyler's son. He had the same age as me, blonde hair and warm brown eyes. I loved him just like I loved my little brother. I knew it for a long time that Ethan had a thing for me, but I considered him family, and just that.

"I know, I know" he mumbled.

"You know, maybe you guys can spend your last day as a single woman, well not that single, before tomorrow" my mom suggested.

"Are you sure they'll be okay and not end up killing each other?" my dad teased her with his trademark smirk.

"They're human, not monster" she rolled her eyes. my dad chuckled silently and kissed her forehead lovingly.

Sometimes I thought that they were still in their honeymoon phase.

"Good idea, mom. I could fill her head all night to convinced her to call off the wedding" Kian grinned, and as usual, my dad agree with him.

"Oh, please, you like Troy. You guys spend a whole day in the gym then hit the arcade just like two little lost boys yesterday" I mocked. He threw my pillow at my which he'd missed. He just couldn't hit me with pillows anymore.

"I resent that. I only said yes to gym and arcade because he bought me lunch" he defended himself.

"You are so easy" I shook my head then laugh lightly.

"I'll leave you alone, then. Good night, guys" my mom took my dad's hand in hers as they went to the door.

"Mom, wait!"

My mom turned her head, "Yes?"

"Tell us your story. About your wedding day, once again. Please, mom. You're welcome to listen too, dad" I begged.

They looked at each other with the 'telephaty' look as I called it then they both smirked. They were so looked alike that it hurts.

They went to sit on the edge of my bed as I nudged Kian to move and made space for them.

"Baby, why don't you go first?" my mom asked.

My dad gave her his smile, that he rarely showed to anyone but family, then nodded.

"You're ready?" Stefan asked his brother as Damon looked at his reflection in the mirror.

"I'm ready as I'll ever be" he whispered.

Today was the big day, not for the Salvatore clan only, for also for the Gilbert.

The house that Damon bought finished a week ago, they already put the furniture when Damon took Elena for the second time. It was beautiful, more perfect than she'd imagined.

The living room was big with fireplace, two loveseats and one arm chair and a coffee table was placed in the middle of it. The family room, as Elena called, which painted canary yellow was her favorite room. It had big fluffy sofa, coffee table, big book case that could hold more than a hundred books, and a tall window facing the backyard with colorful flowers. But she said, it wasn't the best part of the family room. The best part was, the family room would be the room filled with love, life, and laughter.

The bathrooms was awesome and minimalist. Damon put twins mirror in their room's bathroom and two sinks. In the other bathroom they kept a vanilla air freshener so Damon could always smell Elena in there.

Their room, as Elena request, was painted white with most of black and white furnitures. Black mahogany four poster bed, long white curtains, two black nightstands, and four walls that full of their photos together that they adored so much.

Elena was getting ready in their room along with her mother, Caroline, Bonnie and her Aunt Jenna. While Damon, helped by Stefan, Jeremy, Alaric, and a little bit of hands from Grayson, in the guest room.

Today was the day he finally united with his soulmate as one.

And nothing could make him happier.

"Then let's go" Stefan tugged his brother hand and led him outside the room.

They went to their big backyard, adorned by white curtains hanging from tree to tree which he pretty sure decorated by the one and only, Caroline Lockwood. The guests seats one by one full of guests that most came from Mystic Falls and New York.

He saw Katherine with tall, big guy talking and laughing with Tyler. She looked so happy than he'd ever seen. And he was happy for her too.

Alaric and Meredith were busy trying to stop April from crying, and the other twin, Finn, was laughing hard beside his parents.

Bonnie was busy with the caterings, and Caroline, as busy as ever even with her small baby bump, commanding some of the caterers around.

Yep, Caroline was pregnant with Ethan. A week before Caroline and Tyler's wedding, they announced it happily. So, Damon and Elena had to wait at least two weeks because Caroline forced them to stay longer in New York.

"Miranda told me Elena's almost ready" Stefan informed him.

As for Stefan, he brought Jessica as his date. They made a pretty cute couple. But not as cute and sexy as Elena and Damon, of course.

The guests started to seated and he went to his position with Stefan as best man behind him along with Alaric and Tyler.

He took a deep breath and the wedding march played on the background.

There was Elena. Walking casually yet a bit shakily with her arm link to his father, looking like a Goddess. He was left yet again speechless by her.

She mouthed 'I love you' made Damon want to kiss her senseless, ignoring the world. He mouthed back softly.

When she was finally standing in front of him, Grayson kissed her cheek and went back to sit beside Miranda. Damon could see happiness in Elena's face, and excitement and joy. Her face literally lit up with pleasure.

He couldn't hear about what the preacher said, and he was sure she didn't either. He just wanted the ceremony be over so he could have his wife all to himself.

When it was time to say 'I do', he had a smile on his face and proudly and loudly said, "I do"

A single tear rolled down Elena's face and he thought he hadn't seen anything beautiful beside her before.

"Elena, do you take Damon Franco Salvatore as your lawfully husband?"

Elena looked up at him, eyes teary, and passionately said, "I do"

Damon waited for ten sseconds before he took Elena in his strong arms and kissed her passionately. He ignored all the guests 'aww' and just focused on the girl in his arms.

"I love you, 'Lena" he confessed breathlessly.

"I love you more" she said happily.

"Oh and remember after the ceremony, you won't let Stefan danced with me" my mom laughed loudly made me and Kian followed too.

"What can I say, I am protective of what's mine" my dad smirked.

My mom smiled, just like everytime my dad said anything about his 'mine' she knew he referred to herself and both of his children.

"But I was still a good boy and let him had a single dance with you"

"And in the middle of the song you pulled him off me" she rolled her big doe eyes.

"He had you too long in his arms" my dad slightly pout. Once, I feel disgusted by their romance, but now I think nothing better than see my parents obviously still adored and loved each other so much.

"You won't let me danced with Katherine either" he retorted my mom who glared at him. I was so going to miss a moment like this. Just four of us, having fun banter.

By the way, Katherine was my mom's best friend. The day I turned sixteen, I wanted her to tell me every single detail she had left in her and dad's love story because I was too young, and I found out the truth that Aunt Kat was dad's girlfriend and mom's first love was Uncle Stef which is so gross that now Uncle Stef lived with his wife, Jessica, and my fifteen year old cousin, Josephine, while Aunt Kat just got married for the second time to a football player and were waiting for their first born.

"Because I wanted you all to myself, newly weds and whatnot" she defended herself.

"And you wouldn't let me dance with Elisa" he teased.

"Elisa's not a family" my mom said deadpanned.

"Oh come on, you still upset because she told Caroline first that she was moving to US?" my dad nudged her.

"Yes, I do actually. She promised if she does something big she would tell me first" my mom stuck her tongue out, and I laughed loudly.

"Shh... I think we have a sleeping beauty in here" my dad whispered referring to Kian, who curled up sleeping beside me. Sometimes I think he was more like ten years old than eighteen. But either way, I loved him too much.

"Let your brother sleep here tonight. I think he still needs his big sister" my mom whispered, clasping her hand with dad's and went to the door, "Good night"

I whispered back a good night and they closed the door.

I sighed softly, turned to face my brother and closed my eyes trying to let the dream land claimed me.

"Are they gone?" Kian whispered.

I opened my eyes slowly and shrugged, "They thought you were asleep"

"Finally," he let out a heavy sigh, "I thought they would never stop talking about their wedding and banter like that"

"Hey, it was cute to see them like that, you know" I chastised.

"Whatever, they're too sappy" he moved closer to me.

"Don't let dad heard you say that. He isn't like it when someone called him sappy"

Then we were meeting with silence, before he spoke, "They're right, you know"

"About what?" I yawned.

"I'll be needing you always" he whispered.

My eyes gotten hot because of the tears, it's not everyday my little brother say those things to me.

"And I will always need you too, lil bro"

I scooted closer and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder as I put my head on his shoulder, "Just tell me if he tries to hurt you"

"He would never hurt me" I said.

"That's what I'm afraid of, I've no reason to hate him. He's perfect for you" he said honestly.

I giggled softly, "I know, right?"

Then there was a moment of silence again.

"Just don't tell anyone I've ever said I'll always need you or I'll snap your neck when you asleep" he threatened playfully.

I laughed, and he shushed me as I said, "Deal"

This was home, this was my home with my mom, my dad and my little brother in it.

And tomorrow I would be living in my other home in Troy's arms, and finally got to live one of my dreams.

I write a 'checklist' mentally as I said inside, get the love like my mom and dad's had, check.

The End

Aaaaaand... that's it! The last chapter of When I Look At You!

I can't thank you enough for your support, your reviews, and your time spent to read this. I love you guys!

Oh, and I'll be starting my new fiction, I don;t know when though, but soon. It'll be based on one of Indonesia's Best Seller books, the book is sooo good and it's a good thing I turned it into my fiction so you can read it, right? Although some things I have to change to match with the story line.

As always, I ended up very bad in grammar and typo, so I'm sorry.

For the last time, I really hope you can drop your review, I'll be waiting for that, and it'll be appreciated so much.

Anyway, I finally got in to the college! Yay! It's out of my home town, I don't know if I can live without my mom and my dad but life must go on and I have something to hold onto which is my dream. and apparently I hold onto my habit which is blabbering, sorry guys.

By the way, the idea for this came in last minute so again, I'm sorry of it's not perfect.

See you later! I'll be missing all of you :)

P.S: Season 5 started shooting! We'll get Nian reunion and of course, our favorite couple, Delena. I am so excited! Well, I'll levae you to it then, this is one hell of a AN! See you soon!