With the recent news that Legacies was canceled, it means the official end of The Vampire Diaries universe. Even years after the original show ended, its fandom is divided by the age-old question: Team Stefan or Team Damon? While some will say the former, it appears the vast majority of fans have declared Delena as the superior ship, and it's not hard to see why.
From Damon's attractive villain status to Elena's slow-burning feelings for him, the two had fans hooked on their sizzling romance from the very first season. Although Delena had many complications, they beat out all odds by the series finale, and fans still commemorate their pairing with memes to this day.
Priorities
Once Damon and Elena finally got together in Season 4, there was no going back for either of them. While this was great for Delena fans and the two's romantic ventures, other characters at times had to pay the consequences.
The best example of this is in Season 5 when Stefan spends agonizing time locked in a safe, while Delena make the most of their time together before Elena leaves for college. This meme shared by @mysticfalls.covington captures that all-consuming part of their love perfectly (while also sprinkling in some Steroline).
The Sire Bond
Although Delena is shown to share an organic romantic connection in the first two seasons, much of their relationship's development is negated by the fact that Elena gets sired to Damon.
The sire bond became a huge plot point for Season 4, being used to repeatedly justify Elena's switch from Stefan to Damon. Although the sire bond may have had some impact, Elena eventually confirms that she started falling for Damon long before she turned, much to the relief of Delena shippers like @_d_e_l_e_n_a_.
Wrong, Yet So Right
While there are many ways Damon changed from Season 1 to the last episode, his actions in the first season are outright villainous. At first, Damon's flirting with Elena seems to be just an extension of that wickedness.
However, it soon becomes evident that Elena means more to Damon than just another pawn to use against his brother. While Stelena was the first ship fans were rooting for, viewers like Redditor niklausclaus eventually found themselves rooting for the charming older brother as well.
Sharing Is Caring, Brother
Damon and Stefan take sibling rivalry to a whole new level in The Vampire Diaries, and the two are shown to have a very complicated and tumultuous relationship throughout the series.
But one thing they do always seem to agree on is Stefan's great choice of partners. Whether it be Katherine or Elena, Damon finds himself somehow also drawn to his brother's girlfriends and vying for their love. This is accurately depicted in the hilarious meme shared by @tvd_4lif.
It's [NOT] Always Going to Be Stefan
Elena found herself inexplicably drawn to Stefan's brother right from the first season. While she put up a valiant effort, eventually she found herself succumbing and falling for Damon Salvatore.
Despite having feelings for him, Elena repressed their connection for a very long time. She insisted time and again that Stefan was the Salvatore brother for her, even blatantly telling this to Damon. Of course, viewers like Redditor prya15 know exactly how that turned out.
Together Even When They're Not
It's hard to pinpoint the exact, official start of Delena. While the pairing has a plethora of romantic moments that showcase their blossoming love, their actual story is much more complicated - which is a part of what makes them one of the best star-crossed couples in teen dramas.
However, season 3 undoubtedly serves as the origins of their committed, out-in-the-open love arc. Even without any concrete labels, the two embodied what it meant to be in love and courted, as shown in this adorable meme shared by @delena.tweets.
She Can Change Him
It's undeniable that Damon has committed some pretty heinous acts throughout the series, especially in the first few seasons when he was still being developed as a villain.
Yet his acts seem to be easily forgiven, largely due to the fact that he's meant to be the attractive, tortured character worthy of redemption. However, Elena's justification of his crimes renders her a bit of a love-consumed hypocrite, as pointed out in this scene shared by Reddit user serenavega.
Meeting Him First
The season 3 finale showed a conflicted Elena finally deciding to stick with Stefan over Damon, in yet another one of the many times Delena nearly got together but didn't. Letting him down easily, she tells Damon that perhaps things could have been different if she met Damon first.
Of course, viewers of the series will know that she did in fact meet him first, as revealed later on. With this piece of information, this scene shared by @delenaxme becomes all the more important, proving that Damon can in fact be selfless when it comes to Elena.
That Slow Burn
What made Delena - and many other The Vampire Diaries' main relationships - work was their ongoing tension and will-they-won't-they chemistry. They really embodied the slow-burn trope, making fans root harder for them.
Damon knew from early on that Elena was the one for him, but Elena continued to have her reservations. Still, Damon waited and remained committed to her and their relationship, proving Delena to be worth the wait - as encapsulated in this post by @_d_e_l_e_n_a_.
I Can't Be Selfish With You
One of Damon's defining traits was his willingness to change, to be better, solely for Elena. Although he had a very tormented and dark past, he constantly tried to make himself worthy of her.
Which is why this post shared by @annavdits.old sums up their relationship perfectly. Despite his bad choices and tendencies to put his own needs first, Damon emphasizes that he can never be selfish with Elena. Eventually, his selflessness and patience pay off, with Delena finally uniting and appeasing fans everywhere.