Finally reached the end of this story! It was so much fun to write and I hope this lives up to all of yall's expectations! Thank you guys for sticking with it! Check out the prequel, When Life Got Crazy!

About two years later...

It was Christmas Eve in Chicago. The air was harsh and cold, but from inside the giant house it seemed like a winter wonderland.

Elena closed the curtain, turning to look back at the scene before her.

They were fewer this year. Elijah and Kol had moved out. Rebeka was with them this year, and Tyler, who had found a girlfriend, Haley, was spending the holiday with her family.

However, they still had a good sized group to celebrate with.

Caroline was sitting in Klaus's lap. The two had been even more cuddly since announcing their engagement.

Jenna and Kat were placing the last of the ordaments on the tree, as Stefan handed them over, one at a time. Ric and Mason were making more spiked eggnog in the kitchen, letting Jeremy help, but her main centered view was on the couch, past the tree.

Damon had been sitting their for the last half hour, holding their sleeping daughter in his arms. Elizabeth Caroline Salvatore, Elizabeth after his mother, and Caroline, the godmother, of course.

Elizabeth, or Lizzie as Damon had dubbed her, had enjoyed all of the festivities, taking in as much as her two year old mind would let her, until finally falling asleep while waiting on Santa.

Her brown hair reached the middle of her back now, but she was still so tiny, especially curled into her fathers arms.

Elena noticed Damon smiling back at her, and she made her way across the room.

"Should we take her to bed?" She asked, and he nodded.

"I'll carry her, just make sure the blankets are pulled back."

Elena followed him up the stairs, telling the others they'd be back soon.

Lizzie's room was right across from theirs, her crib having graduated up to a bed with railing. Damon carefully placed her inside it, before covering her up and kissing her forehead. The baby didn't stir, so she must have been tired.

He turned to his wife then.

"You okay?" He asked, noticing a tear in her eye.

She nodded at him, "Of course. It's just a little overwhelming at times like this."

He smiled at her, "I know what you mean."

His arms wrapped around her and they both watched their daughter sleep.

"I wish she could stay just like that," Elena sighed, and Damon chuckled.

"You and me both, Honey."

Elena smiled, "These years are flying by."

He nodded, "But they've been good."

She turned in his arms, "Better than good."

He kissed her lightly, "Your right, they've been perfect. The best of my life."

She stroked his cheek, "Mine too."

His gaze held hers, and she saw the seriousness in his eyes, "What would I do without you?"

He murmmered this, as if almost to himself.

She leaned in and kissed his neck before settling her head against his shoulder.

"You wouldn't know what to do. Because I wouldn't know what to do without you," she answered.

He chuckled, "You're probably right. But I don't plan on ever having to find out."

She held him tighter, "Of course not."

They lingered moments longer, before Damon tugged her away from their daughter's slumbering body.

She checked that the monitor was on, then followed him out into the hall.

Before she could walk toward the stairs though, her husband grabbed her, pushing her against the wall.

She barely had time to respond before his mouth fell on hers, heatedly.

She returned the kiss, letting her hands wrap around his neck, her fingers diving into his dark locks, holding him impossibly closer.

After a moment, he pulled away, leaving them both breathing hard.

Elena took a breath to calm herself, "Everyone's waiting for us downstairs."

A mischevious look that she knew all too well shone through Damon's smirk, "Which means that we are all alone up here."

She smiled at him, pulling him back to her, and he practically dragged her into their bedroom, the door closing behind them.

They couldn't lock it anymore though, just in case Lizzie woke up in the middle of the night and needed them.

However, at the moment, they didn't really care that anyone could barge in. Elena removed Damon's shirt, as he kissed down her neck.

After Lizzie was born, all the anger and hurt that Damon had held up for years just seemed to vaporize. Each day he'd seemed more and more...free. And while this was a good thing, it had changed their love making.

He nolonger needed her body as a release to his rage. Instead, it was sheer passionate desperation that drove them.

Damon still had problems accepting that he could be this happy, and he'd cling to her for hours, assuring that she wouldn't disappear. And she'd spend all night convicing him of how amazing he was.

Tonight, though, wasn't about that. Tonight was just them being together, being happy.

Her dress was in a heap on the floor now and Damon was lifting her, taking her to the bed.

He layed her down, settling between her legs, still in his jeans.

She rubbed against him and he chuckled, "Anxious?"

Hitting his arm she smiled, "Don't be an ass, just fuck me."

He grinned, pulling his body teasingly from hers, "And you yell at me for cussing."

She sighed, "No, just in front of Lizzie. Now stop stalling, I want you inside me."

Damon rasied an eyebrow, "I don't know, Mrs. Salvatore, have you been a good girl this year?"

She rolled her eyes, "Damon, whatever kinky game of Santa and Elf you have planned can wait until next year, I want you...Now."

"Patience, baby."

"Our daughter has hit well into the terrible two's. I understand patience and I have used most of mine up, so please, just..."

She rolled her hips, searching for any kind of friction.

Finally, Damon stopped teasing her, and brought his mouth back down, "As you wish."

She let her hands fly to his pants, hurriedly stripping them from him, as he unsnapped the clasp on her bra.

"You're so fucking gorgeous," he praised, kissing down her neck. She melted into him, her lips on any part of his skin they could reach.

"I love you," she told him, and he growled his approval against her lips, once moving to claim them.

Once he casted aside her underwear, she pulled his hand down, letting him feel how wet she was for him.

He groaned, taking himself in his hand, and running his head along her center.

Her eyes closed as she arched into him, begging for him to enter her.

He held back though.

"Daaaamon," she complained, lifting her hips.

"I'm just thinking," he told her, and her eyes opened.

"Thinking? Right now?"

He nodded, and she groaned, "What could possibly be on you mind right now?"

He smiled, "This."

And then he was inside her.

She moaned as he finally began to move, feeling herself strech around him.

They didn't get enough alone time these days.

His thrust were sending her over the edge, and from the look on his face, he wouldn't hold on much longer either.

So she slipped her hand between them, rubbing herself, bringing her to an immediate brink.

"Fuck," she hissed as Damon increased his speed, sending her over into pleasure.

Her walls tightening had Damon's orgasm following hers.

He let his head fall to her shoulder as he rode it out in a few last powerful surges.

She laid there under his now limp body, content. Her hands stroked his hair, as she kissed the side of his head.

"I love you, Elena," he whispered.

She smiled, "Love you too."

"Then don't be pissed," he cautioned, and her eyes narrowed as he rolled over, positioning himself on his side, facing her.

"Why would I be pissed?"

He smiled sheepishly, "Um...about that thought I had..."

She raised an eyebrow, "Yeah?"

He sighed, "Lizzie changed my life, Elena, just like you did. The two of you mean more to me than anything, and I'm happy. I'm happy with you, and our daughter...but there's something that would make me even happier..."

Elena didn't follow, "Okay, I don't think I'd be mad if it made you happy."

He shrugged, "Maybe..."

"So, what is it that you want?" she urged.

He smiled, "A son."

Elena blinked for a moment, then smiled, "You want another baby?"

He nodded, "I love our family, and I can't imagine it not getting bigger."

She leaned forward kissing him, "I can't either...are you sure you don't want to wait, though?"

Damon shook his head, "I don't want to wait. I want another baby with you. I want to see you all big and round, knowing that my child is inside of you. I want Lizzie to get to have a little brother or sister. Hell, a couple of them if I have a say in it."

Elena giggled, "We have all the time in the world to build our family."

He smiled, "Yeah, I just thought we'd start early."

She considered this, "I think we could manage that."

He smirked, "Well that's definately a good thing, especially now."

She looked at him questioningly.

He motioned between them, "You're not on birth control and I didn't wear a condom."

Elena hit his arm, "You finished in me?"

Then she laughed, "You ass!"

He smiled, pulling her tight against him, "Well, it was just a shot, and I was afraid you wouldn't agree if I asked."

She rolled her eyes, "Well, I would have."

He kissed her head, "Good, because I plan on having you pregnant by Valentine's Day."

She sighed, "So soon, huh?"

His grin said enough, "Hell yeah."

She chuckled again, pulling him into her arms, "I can't wait to have more of your babies."

He smiled kissing her, "You mean that?"

She held his gaze, "Oh course. You made having Elizabeth easy. And she's perfect, just like any other baby of ours will be. And you're an amazing father."

He smiled, almost shyly, "I'm trying."

Elena sighed, taking his face in her hands, making him look at her, "You are, Damon. The best."

He seemed a little nervous, "I want to be. Hell, our children deserve the best. But I still have a feeling that something I do is going to mess it all up."

She brought his hand to her mouth, placing kisses on his knuckles, "You've been great with Lizzie. You'll be great with any child we have. But nobody is a perfect parent. We are going to make mistakes, but that's okay...that's how we learn. What's important is that you love our daughter, and that you'll love any of our children, no matter what. That's what makes you such a wonderful person. That you'll do anything for the ones you love."

He seemed to calm down as her words washed over him.

Finally he spoke, "You make me that person, Elena. And you are wrong on one thing."

She raised a brow and he smiled, "I'm pretty sure that you are a perfect parent."

She felt her eyes roll, but her face lit up, "I'm just like you, baby. Doing what I can and hoping to get it right."

"You just seem so good at it, so natural," he insisted.

She laughed, "And you don't? God, it was like you were born to be a father."

His gaze dropped, but she squeezed him, "I mean it, Damon. You are beyond wonderful. You are everything I could have hoped you'd be. You love Lizzie so much, and you give all of yourself to her, every day."

He smiled a little, "She deserves more."

Elena nodded, "She deserves the world. But I think every parent wants that for their child."

Damon nodded, "You know what amazes me?"

She blinked at him, letting him finish.

"I loved Lizzie from the minute I saw her in your stomach on that screen. I knew then that I'd do whatever it took to be good and do right by her, and by you. But I never imagined that I'd fall even more in love with you too."

Elena smiled, but didn't interupt.

"I guess I knew that our love would grow over time, but seeing you with our daughter...I can't describe the feeling. I love that you love her so much. That you would care for our baby, and do anything to make sure she's alright."

Elena nodded, "That's how I feel too, babe. Everytime I see you with Lizzie, my heart grows for both of you. It makes me happy."

He kissed her head, "So you're okay with having more kids?"

She smiled, snuggling into his embrace even tighter, "As many as you want."

She could feel his smile, "Good."

His tone was happy and she giggled, "Who would have thought that the badass Damon Salvatore would be such a family man."

She said this jokingly, but noticed that he tensed.

"Damon?"

He sighed, "I never would have believed it either."

She swallowed, "I didn't mean it in a-"

"I know," he assured her, "I'm just saying. I never really thought of myself as the family type before. But you and Lizzie changed my mind."

She raised an eyebrow, "Yeah?"

He nodded, "Yeah. You know that there were times growing up that I would pray for God to just let my father kill me. I hated everything, and I really just wanted to die. I didn't feel like I had much reason to live. I would believe my father's words. That I was worthless, and a failure. That I wouldn't ever accomplish anything, or matter."

"Damon..." Elena's voice was sympathetic.

He gave her a small smile, "No, it's okay. You see, that's my point. Thanks to you, I have a purpose now. You and Lizzie. Both of you are the reason I was meant to live. To get through all that shit. Maybe God really was looking out for me, I don't know. But my family is the reason I live now, you are the reason I'm living. And nothing is going to stop me from loving you, or being with you, or building a future with you and our children, because you are my life, Elena."

He brushed a tear from her eye, "And I love you."

She closed her eyes, "I love you too, baby."

His lips were against hers softly.

"And I want more of this feeling. A bigger family. And it will be perfect."

She smiled at him.

"It will be," glancing over, she checked the time, "But unless you want the daughter we already have to wake up before Santa Klaus comes in the morning, I suggest we get comfortable," Elena noted, and Damon sighed.

"Yeah, your right," he reached over then, setting the alarm clock.

Elena situated the blankets as he did so, then straightened the pillows. She didn't worry about their strewn clothes.

Once Damon settled back down, she fell into his arms.

"Merry Christmas, baby," he murmmered against her hair.

She smiled, "Merry Christmas, Damon. And I'm glad your happy now."

His arms tightened around her, "It's all because of you, Elena...my whole life means something now, because of you."

She kissed his chest, "I love you."

She felt his fingers in her hair, "And I love you. So much."

No more words were needed. Elena smiled into the night at how perfect her life had become. Somehow she'd gotten everything she'd ever wanted.

And come present time tomorrow morning, Damon would have everything he wanted.

She felt his breathing mellow out beside her, as her hand snuck up to her stomach.

Damon would get his wish.

She'd actually been nervous at telling him, not sure how he would feel about having another baby so soon after Lizzie, but now, she knew she was going to give him the perfect gift.

She'd gone to the doctor, just last week, to confirm her suspicions. And she was indeed pregnant.

A picture of her sonogram was in the envelope with Damon's name on it, nestled in the tree.

She couldn't wait to see his face that next morning, and she found herself thinking a few years into the future.

Lizzie, a little older, playing with a younger boy who had a head full of raven locks, as she cooked dinner, Damon holding a baby behind her.

Yeah, she could definately do the family life.

And as long as Damon was by her side, it would be absolutely perfect.