3 months later…

"Grace, Daddy Said no" Stefan warned as Grace teetered on her feet towards the cake that was on the kitchen worktop.

"Peas…" she pouted, her puppy dog eyes staring right back at him.

Stefan walked over to her picking her up into his arms "You look just like your mother when you do that" He kissed her cheek and swiped his finger across the side of the cake so it collected a little frosting. He held towards Grace who had quickly put in her mouth. "Do not tell Mama" He said "Or Daddy will be told off…"

"Too late, Mama saw" Caroline appeared beside them, tickling Grace as she tried to hide in Stefan's arms. "She has you wrapped around her little finger, Stefan Salvatore."

"Yeah, she's not the only one" He smiled kissing Caroline's cheek. He placed Grace back on the floor, straightening her littler dress out as he did so "Go play baby girl…" Grace gave him one of her biggest smiles and toddled off (a little wobbly) towards her toys in the corner. "Did you get everything you needed?"

Caroline nodded "Yes and some things we probably didn't need either. Was Grace ok?"

"She was as good as ever. Oh and she's learnt a new word" Stefan confessed, he took the shopping back from Caroline and the two of them began to unpack.

"She did? Did you teach her or was it Damon, because if it's anything like the last few words he taught her I don't want to know." She shook her head remembering how wonderful Uncle Damon had tried, and half succeeded to teach Grace to say "Baby Vamp" which hadn't particularly gone down well with Caroline.

"Actually this was all me, it's nothing bad I promise. Grace can now say 'no way' and she uses it in the right context too."

"How? What on earth were you talking about and with who?" Caroline laughed slightly.

"I was talking with Damon on the phone, he was trying to organise a little trip and the destination was not somewhere I would like to go so my words were 'no way'. But it looks as if little ears were listening and I heard a little echo of no way from our little baby."

Caroline pouted just as Grace had do earlier "She's growing up too fast…can you believe she's one tomorrow? One Stefan!"

"I know. Time seems to have flown by since I got you back in my life." He said, his arms looping round her waist and pulling her flush against him. He kissed her softly and then again, the kiss heating when they heard a crash from the other room followed by and 'oh oh'. Caroline groaned, her head falling back.

"I cannot wait for Wednesday night, when we get this place to ourselves and Grace gets some well-deserved time with her Aunt Bonnie." Caroline said walking off into the lounge to see Grace sat on her bottom surrounded by a pile of books.

"Mama! Oh oh" Grace proclaimed as Caroline approached her and lifted her from the floor.

"You little trouble maker" Caroline said, tickling Graces sides "Did you make all this mess?" she shook her head "No, Did daddy do it?"

"Dadda?" her eyes suddenly perked up having heard her Daddies name, she was all about Stefan at the moment, although she did still have a soft spot for her Mama too.

Stefan appeared a few seconds later, having packed the shopping away, "Grace Salvatore, have you been causing a riot?" he took her from Caroline and Sat on the floor with her, trying to show her some of the little animals in the toy box, but Grace had other ideas. With a little wobble she wonder back into the kitchen, standing up and holding onto the chair leg for support.

"What's she doing?" Caroline frowned, moving from tidying the books into the kitchen. She couldn't help but laugh as she saw Grace pointing at the cakes on the counter.

"Mama, pease…" Graces little face and pout completely melted Caroline's heart.

"I'm sorry baby girl but it's nearly time for your lunch." She moved and lifted Grace again, removing her from the kitchen as she started to cry. "You can have all the cake you like tomorrow at your party baby girl" she kissed her forehead and sat on the sofa trying to calm her down.

"Oh dear…" Stefan had obviously heard his daughters pleas for more cake and definitely didn't envy Caroline for having to say no. Neither of them were particularly strict with grace but out of the two of them, Stefan gave in more easily. "she I get her lunch ready?"

"Yeah, there's some pasta in the fridge" Graces cries turned to a sniffle and she looked at Caroline "Is Pasta your favourite Gracie?" grace made a 'mmm' sound and began to giggle. "You're getting so big baby girl, you'll be all grown up soon and going off to school. Making friends and begging your daddy not to torture anyone who upsets you"

"I wouldn't go that far Caroline..." Stefan said taking Grace from her and placing her in the high chair. He put the past on the tray, smiling as Grace dove right in and began to squish the past into her mouth.

The two stood watching their daughter smiles on their faces "We did good didn't we ?" Caroline asked, leaning her head on Stefan's shoulder "Stefan?"

"yeah?"

"Can we put the fire on?" she asked and Stefan smiled, a fire always made her feel at home, made her feel grounded.

"Of course we can...i'll set it to the third bar right?"

She nodded smiling, she was home, she was happy and they had a life time of love ahead of them.

So sorry it took so long for this to be posted, and i'm sorry it's so crappy but I really struggled to finish this off :( anyway I hope you liked it and I have a new story in the process and two new one shots posted :) check them out :) xxx