He tried his best to enjoy the event and ignore this new character who was Mason Lockwood, although he certainly wasn't the type of guy he could ignore the way he was already making advances towards Elena. How could she be so naïve and not understand his true intentions? She was so busy in a conversation with him but thank god Rachel had her most attention. Damon knew one thing about Elena, she would pick her children over anything. So he had that card but then again he felt guilty for being so unnecessarily protective of her. Rachel had come back after her performance and was asking over and over about how she did. "You looked so good, baby," Damon said picking her up and sitting her on his lap, "And you did wonderfully. Now can daddy have a kiss?" he asked holding her close to himself. She nodded enthusiastically, Damon kissed her cheek and then tickled her sides pretending to bite her, "Aghh the monster's got you!" He knew this act entertained her, Elena laughed as Rachel giggled trying to fight him off, "Please! Nooo, Mommy! My face."

"Oh come here," Elena took her from him and wiped her face, looking in her bag for powder as Rachel complained she wanted to look good when she was called again on stage. Elena was a bit worried about how badly Rachel wanted the trophy. Damon rolled his eyes muttering, "Told you about keeping her away from Caroline."

Elena sighed, "Damon please, I am worried as it is." She said adjusting Rachel's hair. She just wanted Rachel to be happy today. Holding her, she then cupped her face making Rachel look at her, "Rach, you are the prettiest girl for Mommy."

"And Daddy," Damon added. Elena nodded.

"And you gave such a good performance. All these other girls are your friends and they are also very pretty. Just know the trophy doesn't mean anything." Elena tried to sound convincing. "If you get it, it's just a memory and if you don't, you're still the most beautiful girl ever, and Daddy and I love you so much." She concluded and kissed her forehead. Rachel looked at her for a while but then gave a small smile, "Okay Mommy." As If she understood everything. Elena let out a breath and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, "You want Mommy to put powder on your face?" She touched the spot she had kissed and Rachel shook her head jumping to hug her, "No- It's okay, I love your kisses."

Damon feigned being hurt, "Rachie- so you're on Elena's team now?"

Elena who was hugging Rachel close to her and gave him a playful grin, "She's her Mommy's daughter."

"I love daddy too." Rachel squealed playing with Elena's hair. "Sure you love Daddy now, wait till you don't get ice cream." Damon said in a threat, Rachel pouted to which he sighed, "Fine, but no sprinkles."

"Daddy." Her eyes almost sparkled and he felt like she was such a huge blackmailer like her mother with those glass wide eyes, " Okay sprinkles, but you'll be in trouble... someday."

Mason chuckled at their exchange, "Rachel sure knows how to use her baby face."

"Oh, you have seen nothing..." Elena began talking to him again, even some stories that he hadn't heard from her and Mason was listening to it, mesmerized by Elena and the halo surrounding her. Damon was trying to ignore their 'clicking' friendship. Thank God Bianca's performance ended and she came back taking her Dad's attention. When the results were being announced Damon and Elena both looked at Rachel with concern. They didn't know what was going to happen. If Rachel didn't win, would she cry? Would she be okay? He gulped when they announced the third runner up and it wasn't Rachel. He could feel some sweat on his forehead. Damn it, he didn't care about this stupid thing but Rachel seemed completely obsessed and he didn't want to see his daughter upset. In his opinion, his daughter had been the most confident, the most adorable little doll on that stage. He loved the way she put her heart into her performance. He was a bit surprised when he felt Elena's hand squeezing his. When he turned to see her she was also looking at the stage worried, their fingers laced together as they announced the second runner up and it wasn't Rachel. She quickly held Rachel closer with her free arm, "Baby I promise you were the cutest sweetest little girl..."

Rachel interrupted, "I know Mommy. Daddy said I danced the best. It was fun. I don't want the shiny girl." She was referring to the trophy. Elena couldn't believe this was Rachel talking. She didn't expect so much patience from her. Damon leaned closer and kissed the top of Rachel's head, then moving to say something in Elena's ear, he whispered, "She was so good. She does look the most beautiful here. I can't believe they didn't choose her! wasn't she the best?"

Elena nodded with a disappointed face, still stroking Rachel's hair.

"We are very pleased to announce our winner from the Junior Glitz- little Miss Rachel Celine Gilbert Salvatore...boy that's a huge name for little 3 ft Rachel."

Then there was clapping, there were some laughs on the name joke. Elena was so shocked she blinked when she saw Rachel jumping down her lap holding her hand, "Mommy that's my name!"

"Oh yes." She jumped. Damon had already pulled the camera out, "I knew it."

"Come on Mommy, I have to change into my bride costume." She hurriedly took Elena backstage looking for her last puffy dress, Rachel had requested to be a mini bride and Elena had made her a knee-length mini-bride dress which she looked so adorable in, especially when she had her small veil on her head. Tears welled up in her eyes looking her daughter like that. Damon was right, she was definitely the most beautiful girl Elena had ever seen. When she ran to the stage to get her sash, prize and trophy, Damon stood up from the crowd taking a video of her. Oh God, his little baby girl was looking like an adorable mini Barbie. He could see Elena waving at him from the side of the stage as if telling him to zoom on her. He mouthed, "Got it." He also got a bit of Elena in the video. She looked so cute cheering for Rachel as they put the sash on her. Rachel quickly grabbed the blonde woman's hand, the one who had announced her name. "Excuse me, Miss, I am 3ft 5 inches." A lot of people laughed at her adorable antics as she did a little dance holding her heavy 'shiny girl' trophy. Elena quickly came on stage and picked her up, thanking the judges and stepped down, "Daddy!" she waved the trophy at him and he too was very happy taking her from Elena and raising her above his head. "Yay, my little princess." Elena handed him the prize envelope and they sat back down till the show was over. Elena thanked God this was checked off because she was very nervous and unsure about pageants.

When they were driving back to Tyler's place to pick Alex up, Rachel had fallen asleep in the back while both of them were so quiet. Elena was still a bit sensitive after last night, not wanting to cross her boundaries. "Elena." Damon broke the silence and she was brought out of her thoughts, she looked sideways at him, "Hmmm?"

"I think I'll never be able to give Rachel away. She's so precious to me." He confessed. Elena found it so weird that he suddenly brought that up, "What do you mean?"

He shook his head, "This dress." He referred to the white dress she was wearing, sleeping in the back, still holding her trophy close to herself. "That's it, she's never getting married."

"What?" Elena chuckled, she never thought in a million years that she'd hear that from him, "You'll be so much fun when she starts dating," She muttered, but she instantly regretted because she felt like she triggered him. He hissed, "Dating? No, no there would be no dating, not until I am alive."

"Damon..."

"There will be no arguments there. She will never date ever because you and I both know no one is good enough for her." He said looking off the road to Rachel in the back for a second, "And if someday she wants to get married, the guy is going to move in with us. Our baby is going nowhere. And we'll give him about 15 years before giving an approval." He said as if he had thought it out. Elena broke into a laugh and sat back in her seat, "Oh Damon, never did I think we'd have this conversation ever. Do you even hear yourself? Remember how you used to hate my Dad for being a quote-unquote 'obstacle' in our relationship?"

He narrowed his eyes."I said that once when he was being way too unreasonable. You know damn well I respected him and I understood his possessiveness. It sucked that he didn't trust me with you but I understood where it was coming from," He justified himself. Elena had to agree. She really annoyed her father at times but Damon always behaved In front of her father. He even talked sense into her when she would try to be extra rebellious. This one time when they came back from a birthday vacation first time as a couple, Elena got a very toxic case of food poisoning. She was admitted to the hospital and couldn't even breathe without throwing up. Damon had been with her the first night, but when he went home for a change of clothes on Elena's insistence and Grayson arrived at the hospital, he forbid him to see his daughter and told the hospital staff that Damon wasn't family so he wasn't allowed to interfere in the case. It was a good two days before she called his house crying and asking why he was not coming to see her and calling her. He told her he tried but Grayson had probably blocked him from Elena's phone and told the staff to not let him see her. That was the one time Damon was mad at her dad.

Reminded of the time, she sighed and touched his hand on the gear, "So you don't hate my dad."

He shook his head, "No, he's a part of my childhood. Sure he didn't like me but still-"

That meant so much to her because her dad didn't have a good reputation in town when it came to attitude. Everyone seemed bothered when he was brought up in a conversation and Elena used to feel so uncomfortable. She missed her parents everyday and she wanted people to remember them in a good way. She smiled squeezing his hand, "I miss him sometimes." Damon sighed, now she didn't know if she could believe that or not, but it still was so reassuring. A lone tear escaped her eye and she quickly wiped it away. After her dad had found out about her pregnancy, he used to trash talk Damon all the time, calling him names and words. At one point she knew he hated Damon. it always made her upset because that meant he hated her happiness because Damon was her happiness. "I just have one condition for Rachel and it's that she finds someone as amazing as her Dad."

He didn't know where that came from but he smiled, "She's like five, why are we talking about this."

"I know right." Elena agreed and decided to leave the topic. It was going to make her think as well. She didn't want the kids to grow up this soon and leave her. What was even her life without her kids? And that's when it hit her...wait, her life was all about her kids. Panic started to crawl up her body and her hand resting on his squeezed almost painfully. He looked at her after the contact. He knew Elena had gone to a whole separate world by the look in her eyes. When they stopped at Tyler's she was still frowning, maybe thinking about what he had said last night? He got out of the car and walked across to get the door for her, "Oh." She noticed once he opened the door and got out with a sheepish expression, getting the back door and picking up a sleeping Rachel. "Hey, I'll drop you home." He offered but she shook her head, "Tyler said he would, besides it's like four blocks from here, you have a good night." She tapped his arm in a playful way. He forced a smile and huffed, "Well I'd go and say goodbye to Alex."

She murmured a 'sure' but he had already jogged his way up to Tyler's house and rung the bell. Elena carried Rachel down the same path and waited for the door to open. When it did, they both were a bit taken aback, "Mason." Elena said with a surprise.

"Hey, I was just visiting Ty...come in." He stepped out of the way and this time Damon let out a scoff at seeing him interact with Elena as he went inside. Oh yes, Elena had mentioned earlier that Alex was at Tyler's place. That must be the reason Mason was here, he knew Elena was going to be here. He couldn't believe this man. Alex was sitting on the floor with Bianca while she was showing him something on her iPad. Probably by her narration, a video of the pageant. His son was acting way too interested. Damon figured his son was already showing his 'Casanova' colours and quite frankly Damon didn't like where this was heading. He wanted the kids to be more into 'kid' stuff.

"Alexander Joseph," he said in a calm but firm voice, the boy looked up from the screen and jumped to his feet, "Daddy!" he exclaimed and ran towards him with enthusiasm over the polished porcelain white tiles towards him. He picked him up and swung him around the way Alex liked. "And what exactly are you up to right now."

"Umm, I just made a friend." He gestured towards Bianca who was sitting with her bunched up Cinderella dress, her blonde hair looked like a mess now. "Oh yes, she's friends with your sister. By the way, Rachie won a shiny lady today."

"Did she?" He was surprised and Damon nodded, "Daddy won't be able to see you till tomorrow night so I came here to meet you."

"But why?" Suddenly his face tensed up. Damon should have seen this coming. The children had stayed continuously for over two weeks and they must have thought this was a permanent arrangement. "Because Daddy has some work."

"But, but..." Alex's voice stuttered listening to Damon say that and he cupped his father's face, "About our Xbox time."

"We'll do that tomorrow." He promised, looking a bit defeated himself. He loved spending time playing games with the kids, especially Alex. Rachel was more into outdoor activities than computer games. "I promise I won't shout or make noise." Alex tried to convince him which broke his heart. The other day Damon had given him a time out for thirty minutes for making noise around the house now he even felt worse than before. He just kissed the top of Alex's head and both his cheeks, "I am not mad at you, Daddy can never be. I love you so much my little cookie." He said sitting the boy down on the floor and getting on knees to face him, "But I have to get some things done besides you're coming back tomorrow okay?"

"But..." his face started to go red and Damon knew what was coming. Oh no, he could not see any of his kids cry. Because that was going to destroy him. Just when it was about to start Elena walked in accompanied by Mason and Rachel was not in her arms anymore, Damon figured she put her on a bed or something, "Hey Lexlex" Elena said as she sped in her high heels to where they were, "Oh hi Bianca, how's your hair-" she was interrupted by Alex's loud cry, "Daddy's going!" He cried diverting Elena's attention to him as he clutched at Damon's wrist for dear life. Elena gasped seeing Alex and then Damon's troubled expression. "Alex, Daddy will come back tomorrow."

"No, I want Daddy! I want to be in Daddy's house." He yelled and hugged Damon to prevent him from getting up. Damon was stroking his hair and kissing the top of his head, "Lex, look at me. Stop crying. Daddy's right here." he cooed and cupped his small face. Wiping away tears from the most innocent pair of sparkling blues, "Mommy said she wanted to spend time with Alex and Rachel, daddy-less time."

Elena gasped at the accusation. "No! I don't want Mommy I want Daddy. I don't like her!" he was bawling like an infant. Elena seemed a bit hurt by Alex's words because her kids never ever said that- but Damon gestured her to calm down, taking Alex in his arms, "Alex, Don't be mean. You're coming back tomorrow. Don't forget Mommy is Daddy's best friend and I don't like it when someone is mean to her. Would you like if Mommy goes away and becomes someone else's Mommy?"

"No." He choked out the words with a pout and turned to Elena, "I am sorry." He looked too precious and Elena had instantly forgiven him for the slight hurt he had caused. Still, he was clutching to Damon, who gestured her to get Alex. Elena nodded and got ahead taking Alex from him who made sounds of protest against her, "No! I wanna go with Daddy." He kicked his feet and Elena held him as he cried and Damon was too conflicted as he pressed a kiss to a crying Alex and walked out. What in the actual fuck was he doing? He didn't wanna leave his crying baby like that, but Rachel and Alex had to get used to this right? Because he was not only a dad but also in a relationship with a person who was already starting to show that she needed her time with him.

After he had left, Elena and Mason had tried everything in the world to calm Alex down. He was crying as if someone had taken his favourite toy from him. Even Rachel's 'shiny lady' couldn't keep him occupied for long, he was back to wanting to see his father. Elena didn't know what the big deal was. He was fine all day but just the last few weeks both the kids had been very attached to their father. Rachel was trying to convince Alex again and again that their Dad would be there at night because he tells them stories every day. That calmed him down a bit because one thing Alex knew was his father never missed telling them a story at night. Even Mason and Bianca stayed long to cheer up the boy and when Tyler came home he also tried to entertain the young boy. But he just needed one person and that was his father.

(--tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd--)

Today wasn't so bad after all. He made up for a lot, he took Rose to lunch, took her shopping, they went for a long drive and now they were back home up in their room after dinner. He was doing all his fiancé duties well. One more thing checked off his list- fiancé duty. He fell back to the bed tired and closed his eyes thinking about today, his beautiful daughter dancing so adorably on the stage, Elena on the other side of the stage recording her and cheering for her looking so endearing. He could look at her perfect being for hours and never look away or get tired, she glowed like a goddess and that was a reason everyone wanted to be around her. His thoughts shifted to Mason and his intentions for a moment before he redirected them to Elena and his kids, this was his bubble and people like Mason could never break it. No matter how much they tried. He felt the bed shift a bit and then someone running their hands up and down his chest, placing small kisses against his neck, he chuckled "Umm Le-" The mental image popped because that was impossible, 'Lena' wasn't here. He coughed slightly, "Lights, get the lights." He murmured changing the topic so quickly. Thankfully Rose hadn't noticed but not like she wouldn't notice ever, because he had noticed ever since Rose came back after the 'break-up' he couldn't exactly 'perform' and that was the biggest slap to his total pride. If he was good at anything it was sex. It wasn't even the performance, lately he just even couldn't get 'it' up. Was it because he was working tirelessly with the kids and his work? It had to be. When she came back she straddled him and held the collar of his shirt pressing a bruising kiss to his mouth and started grinding her hips against his. Okay, now he was under pressure. He had to do it and get his soldier ready because this would be a nightmare otherwise, Rose talked a lot and in the future, he didn't want to go to her office to be laughed at by her girlfriends for this. He held her arms and pulled her apart from himself, "Rose, I have to use the bathroom."

"What for?" She raised a brow. He sighed and sat up, she too rolled off, "Brushing my teeth before bed." He said in a breath and got out of bed without hearing her response as he rushed to the bathroom and shut the door after him, unbuckling his belt and zipping down his jeans he looked at his member with anger almost, "Get up already!" he yelled in a whisper, then doing what he saw an addict do in a documentary, "You do not control me, Mister! I control you! I am the reason you weren't a virgin until your twenties!! I even let go of your little slip up six years ago. Did I bring that up to you, you ungrateful son of a bitch?!" He spat in disgust. Nothing was working. How was this happening to him? "Come on don't embarrass me!" he almost begged. Apparently his fiancé duty for the day was not over. He couldn't believe he was stuck with this while Elena would be over there probably sleeping peacefully, wait...Elena. He swallowed thickly as he thought about yesterday when she was on his lap and he could see the swells of her perky and firm breasts pushed together in the most gravity-defying way. Instantly his mind was clouded with a false fantasy of her reaching for his hand and placing it under her sweetheart top on her heaving breasts while her mouth placed kisses against his neck. Instantly he could feel the impact on himself. His hand was reaching down to work on his fantasy when he realised what he was doing. His jaw fell open at the realization and he felt enveloped in disgust. Quickly zipping himself up, he looked in the mirror, "No, you piece of shit! I do not have to imagine Elena like a fucking loser in order to do Rose! I am not an 'imaginary' cheater! Eww, disgusting! I am so disappointed in you. This woman outside is amazing and she deserves the best, not this." He gave himself a pep talk, taking a deep breath he unlocked the door. Rose was sitting on the foot of the bed, "That was a long time."

He didn't answer as she got up and walked to him and he playfully pinned her against the wardrobe wall crashing his lips against her almost too forcefully, she closed her eyes circling her arms around his neck and pushing herself against him in inviting ways. One of her hand moved down between their bodies to grip him but...he felt nothing, he was turned off in the worst way, he didn't know what was going to save this night. He thanked God when his phone started ringing. Not like he showed it but he took a breath of relief stepping away from her. She pouted as he headed to get the phone. "It's Elena," He huffed. Rose rolled her eyes, which Damon found surprising because Rose had never been the petty possessive kind.

"Now?" she looked over to the clock and it was twelve in the night. Damon picked up muttering, "What if something is wrong?"

"Hello?" he answered, but on the other line he could hear both his kids crying out loud and Elena was trying to speak over their voices, "Stop, stop I called him." She tried to convince them. "Damon are you there?" she didn't wait for an answer, "I've been trying to get them both to bed for three hours now they haven't stopped crying."

"They?" he remembered Alex crying but Rachel? She answered quickly, "Rachel thought you'd be back for her story time at night."

"Oh" was the only thing he said, when he looked around he could see Rose sighing and mouthing, 'just hang up.' He shrugged turning away to talk, "Are they really this upset?"

"Yes, I've never seen them this upset. They are just not listening, they keep saying that you aren't coming back." Elena said in a defeated tone, "What? Put me on the speaker." He said and waited till she did now he could hear their cries even more clearly and it broke his heart. "Hello, Rachel? Alex?" Their cries stopped midway and the next second they were asking him questions and requesting him to 'come out of hiding.'

" Please Daddy, please! I'll never be bad I promise." Alex begged him and he could almost see the tears in his eyes. With little hiccups between her cries Rachel also joined, "Yes Daddy, Alex promised! I promise I'll give you my shiny lady if you come back, I'll never ask for ice cream." Damon let out a sigh, this was heavy on his heart. His little babies missed him and he hadn't been away for more than half a day. He bit his lip thinking of how to get out of this situation. In all honesty, he wanted to be with the kids right now. He just missed them so much and he wanted to hug them both and kiss their little faces. He wanted to tell them he would never ever abandon them in a million years. "Okay stop. Stop crying both of you. I am going to show up only if the both of you stop crying right now."

Rose looked up at him surprised by his sudden 'promise'. He wasn't actually going to go was he? They both agreed and he told them to wait twenty minutes. He hung up and then sighed, getting up from the bed. "I have to go see them."

"Of course you do." Her snarky comment made his blood boil. Why was everything testing him today? He was trying to make everyone happy, especially her. He made his kids cry so she wouldn't feel forgotten but nothing was appreciated of course. " Yes, I do! Can't you hear them crying over the fucking phone?" he yelled a little louder than intended she didn't back down as she got up and spat, "They have to live this way! You can't listen to them every day, because they'd either cry for her or you and the last time I remember she isn't going to live here and you aren't going to live there. They will have to get used to it!"

His mouth parted and he looked at her, hurt. "Are you listening to yourself? They are kids, Rose! They can't get used to this. I can't explain to them how my relationship with their mother is but you, I can't believe you need to be told about this."

"So how long? Till they grow up? You know what just go! She raised them for years and now suddenly she wants you to be there!" she said bitterly and sat on the bed getting under the covers. He shook his head at her, disappointed by her behaviour as he got up and walked out of there.

(--tvd-tvd-tvd--tvd-tvd-tvd--)

Elena was watching them from the door frame as both of the kids were resting their heads on each of his arms and their bodies pressed into his side. Rachel was snoring as she slept and Alex's eyes still looked swollen as he was trying to blink the best he could after the story Damon told ended. It was clear he was sleepy but was very firm on staying up. His voice was whispery from crying so much. "It's okay Lex, close your eyes now," Damon said hardly above a whisper. He shook his head and tightened his hold on Damon, "No you'll be gone if I do." He said sniffling and his still wet lashes batted, "No I'll be right here with my little cookie and my small princess." He said and kissed Alex's forehead two to three times. Alex exhaled with relief and moved closer until he was pressed against Damon's side. Damon kissed the top of his head again, whispering, "I love you, my little angel." His son didn't reply as he was deep in sleep now. Damon too despite the uncomfortable position tried to close his eyes but he could feel a pair of eyes still on him, he sighed, "Its almost one, go to bed Elena." She but her lip hearing him sound so stressed, she nodded and turned around to leave the room. But she wasn't able to close her eyes all night, she kept thinking of how she was going to convince the kids of the arrangement, had it even been wise to involve Damon with the kids' lives because it was taking such a toll on him. Her kids wanted to see him all the time.

She kept moving in her bed sleeplessly till she could see the sunlight peeking in through the window of her room and she sighed sitting up and running a hand through her hair. Slowly she began to clean the house in order to engage herself and occupy her mind so eventually, she would get tired and nap but was it even possible? She was cleaning the kitchen counters, still in her PJs, and an unbelievably tight and high ponytail when she saw Rachel walking out of the room, still not fully awake but seeing her, she ran towards her and wrapped her arms around Elena's legs. "Mommy!"

"Oh so now you like your Mommy." Elena said faking anger and then picked her up so she could look at her face, "Is Damon up?"

She shook her head, "Nope Lexer and him are napping. Can I get a popsicle?"

"Umm no. I made your grandma's omelette." Rachel loved the omelette Damon's Mom had made her one day and Elena had to sell her soul to get the recipe. Rachel jumped in her arms, "Grandma's?"

"Ahuh."

She clapped enthusiastically and Elena put her on the counter to get her breakfast.

(--tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd--)

When Damon woke up he realised he had been hugging his son close to himself. Last night had been so heavy on him. He felt like he made his kids cry and the sight had been painful. He felt guilty for making them live this way. They just wanted to be with their father at the end of the day and they were kids, he couldn't make them understand what his situation was with Rose and Elena.

He looked down at his peacefully sleeping boy and his heart swelled seeing how Alex was clinging to him like he was afraid Damon was going to disappear. Running a hand over the front of his hair and sweeping it to the side, Damon pressed a kiss to Alex's forehead and looked at the clock. It was eleven. Oh God, he was late ...for a lot of stuff. He thought as he started to move away from Alex but suddenly he realised something. Alex's skin seemed a little too warm to be normal, the air conditioning in the room was on and he shouldn't have been this warm, as if he was radiating heat. He frowned leaning down to kiss his forehead again. Yes, definitely warm. He checked his hands and his feet. God, Alex was running a high fever- was he even asleep. His stomach twisted at the thought and he carefully shook him, "Alex!" he repeated his name and Alex coughed a few times after some while opening his eyes and Damon felt relief, "Are you okay, cookie?"

He looked up at his father confused, throughout the night, his head had been hurting way too much and his body ached but what if he told his father about being sick and his father got mad at him and left him? "No." He said in a groggy voice and Damon frowned because he sounded like he had a sore throat too. Damon got out of bed and made Alex sit up, "Does your throat hurt?"

He shook his head and Damon sighed, "Alex stop lying to me."

"A bit." His voice still groggy and Damon cupped his face feeling so upset that his little boy was sick and in pain. "Okay just go back to bed, Daddy's gonna run and get you some medicine okay?" Alex tensed up seeing Damon go and held his arms starting to burst into tears and cries, "No, Daddy! No!" Damon pursed his lips and Alex clung to his torso crying like last night with loud screams and he had to think back to when had he ever seen his son being so difficult, probably never. Was this a children thing? "Okay Alex calm down-" Elena ran into the room holding a wooden spatula in her hand, "What's wrong?"

Damon was holding Alex in his arms and trying to calm him down, "I don't know, he's running a fever so I thought I'd get some medicines but he isn't letting me go."

Elena huffed walking up to him, "They both had been like that when I first started going to work." She said and took Alex from him and his cries got impossibly loud. Elena squeezed her eyes shut as if irritated at her son's protest and Damon had to take Alex back from her, "Stop crying, Lex." He said a bit louder than intended, "I am not going okay, not going- God, this is going to be so difficult if you do this all the time." Damon said cupping the side of his face, "What is wrong with you? Aren't you a good boy? Do good kids cry all the time? I don't think so right?"

Alex shuddered, trying to silence his sobs and choked back on his tears not wanting to upset his father now. He shook his head at Damon's question and then just leaned down resting his head on Damon's shoulder, his little arms tightly wrapped around his father's neck as he was muffling his cries. Elena shared a look of concern with Damon, "I am so sorry, I don't know why he is behaving this way. They just have adjustment issues right now."

"You don't have to be sorry. I'll figure something out. He's running a very high temperature. I think I should just take him to the doctor Instead of getting a counter medicine."

Elena let out a breath and ran her hand through Alex's hair, "My poor baby. Maybe that's why he's so irritated."

"Maybe."

(--tvd-tvd-tvd—tvd-tvd-tvd--)

Surprisingly, Alex had been quiet throughout the way to the doctor and even at the office. He was just clinging to Damon but other than that he was so quiet Damon thought he was asleep for a moment or two. Doctor Meredith gave him a full check-up and all the while he wouldn't let Damon go, silently protesting to be in his father's arms. Damon flashed Meredith an embarrassed smile and she just chuckled, "Oh I meet a million kids like him every day." She was super friendly with Alex, trying to get him to open his mouth by bribing him with a lollypop later, "Trust me he's the best little boy regularly." Damon said patting the back of Alex's chocolate brown hair. Alex just rested his head against Damon's chest and let out a quiet sigh. Meredith as promised later have him a lollipop which he wasn't too enthusiastic about and They were back in the car. His fever was still peaking and Damon was getting worried, but Meredith said that it was just a throat infection and after two or three days he would be completely okay, "So when you get better, Rachel, you and I will go to that park- When Stef and I were your age our parents took us like every four months -it must be so much better now, the rides were amazing back then too." He was talking to Alex but the boy was hardly saying anything back, "What about Mommy?" he said almost above a whisper but he heard it. "Mommy won't go. She'll probably hang out with Aunt Care that day, so you can go on all the rides you want." He winked at his son but to his surprise that didn't cheer him up, he just snuggled further into Damon's shirt.

(--tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd--)

In a few days, the arrangement was getting a bit more manageable. Four days at his place and three days at hers. But on the days the kids would be at his place, they would complain about their mom not being there and when they would be at her place Damon would have to drive down and tell them a bedtime story and stay there till they went to bed. One of the nights he was driving down there and as usual Rose was on the phone with him, "Don't you think this is a little extreme?"

"Rose come on- how many times do we have to go over this?" he said taking a turn, "Till you start being rational. I mean how long do you plan to baby them?"

"I get it, love. I promise I won't be long, I'll be back in like half an hour." He said in a soft tone, he heard a loud huff, "You know the only thing I care about is you, you are the one running around and being crazy busy."

"I know, I know- if that motherfucker Stefan gets back any day now, you know how good he is with the kids right?" he tried to convince her.

When he got there he got out of the car, it was about eight-thirty and he had to get back in his car by nine, but it looked like there was a party going on in there with all the noise when he knocked at the door. Elena opened the door out of breath like she had been running around, "Oh hey come on in, we are playing charades."

He frowned looking at the child-like grin on Elena's face as he entered, he walked in through the corridor to the open living room and saw guests, Tyler, Caroline, Mason and his daughter Bianca. Lately, Mason had been bumping into them a lot but now he had been visiting too. A bit too much for Damon's liking. "Oh, the whole gang is here," Damon said sarcastically, he didn't miss how his kids were so hyped up to meet Mason all the time, Mason knew how to get along with them. Elena ran past him back to couch sitting next to Caroline, "Did you guys figure it out?" she asked excitedly, They were all looking at Mason as he made some gestures while Tyler was grinning as he sat on the other couch. Seemingly he had given the name, "sleepy?" Elena tried to pinpoint it, "Umm what is it?"

"Sleepless in Seattle." Damon answered and they all looked at him even the kids, "Right." Mason chuckled. Tyler let out a "Dang it. He wasn't even playing."

Both his kids excitedly ran towards him, knowing it was time for a bedtime story, "B! Come on, our daddy tells the best stories." The blonde jumped down the couch on her feet and shook her head, "Nah uh my Daddy tells the best stories."

"What?" Rachel seemed offended and turned around to face Bianca, talking in a very squeaky tone, "That is impossible, my Daddy tells the best stories than all the Daddies in the world!" she was ready for a fight but Damon knew for a fact that Bianca was also good in that department. He could see both of them growing up as best friends as Elena and Caroline had. The scenario seemed identical and Elena could never win an argument with Caroline. The girl was just too girlishly stubborn.

"No way, your Daddy can never be better than my Daddy, my Daddy even has bigger arms than your Daddy." She pushed out her tongue getting a rise out of Rachel, "Ha Aha!" Rachel made a sound like a squeaky growl, infuriated at Bianca, "My Daddy is so much prettier than your Daddy, your Daddy doesn't even have eyelashes." She said adding a bit edge to her squeaky voice and put her hands on her hips like Elena would do when she was lecturing someone. Bianca almost roared and attacked Rachel, pulling at her hair, "Shut up!" Rachel too held her hands up and tried to scratch Bianca's face

Elena gasped getting Rachel away from Bianca as Mason too pulled Bianca back, "Oh my God Bia, where are your manners. Is this what I taught you?"

Rachel was kicking her feet in Elena's arms, "I am gonna show her!"

"Rachel Celine Gilbert!" Elena pulled her away from the girl and Damon was looking at them surprised as Elena lightly slapped Rachel's behind, "Stop acting like a brat. Bianca is your friend."

"No, she's not." Rachel shouted and Elena handed her to Damon, then rushing to Bianca, "Is she okay?" she asked Mason but then Bianca's little face. There was a small mark which made her look back at a whiny Rachel angrily and then she asked Mason to follow her to the kitchen, Caroline got up and huffed, "Wow Rachie, we should really cut your nails."

Damon looked at his firecracker of a daughter and pulled both of his kids to the bedroom, "Now Rachie that was very disappointing and I know for a fact your Mommy is mad. You embarrassed her in front of her friend."

"Yes because my Daddy is the best Daddy! And her stupid dumb Daddy can never be my Daddy." She said with a scrunched up nose, considering they were already in their PJs he just put them both in bed and pulled the blanket over them, getting in between and pulling Alex to his other side so he was in the middle. "Well of course he is not your daddy."

"Promise that? I don't want Mommy's friend to be our new daddy. I like you." Alex too shared his fears, he narrowed his eyes, what was this about? Why were his kids so scared of Mason? "And why would he be anyway?" he asked letting his arms around both his kids pulling them close till their heads rested against his shoulders. Alex murmured, "You were Mommy's friend and then you became a daddy and now he is Mommy's friend."

"No, no cookie it doesn't work like that." Damon chuckled at his logic, "You see I am your Dad. I am always going to be your dad. Mason is Bianca's Dad."

"And is Mommy also Bianca's Mommy?" Rachel asked suddenly, looking up at him scared that she had to share her mother, Damon shook his head, "No, Mommy is only your and Alex's Mommy." He kissed her cheek.

(--tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd--)

Then another Sunday, this time Rose tagged along too. He was surprised, to say the least, that she suggested they spend the day at Elena's place with the kids. He agreed happily and showered before they both arrived. Elena had cooked them breakfast. Rose and Damon watched a movie with the kids while Elena was cleaning the garage because she said something about it being a 'declutter Sunday'. Soon Damon could hear laughter from the back of the house and he arched up a brow. Bianca ran in through the back door and now Damon knew Mason was visiting again. God could this guy not stay home for once? He kept looking over to the back door trying to catch a glimpse when Rose shook his shoulder, "What's up?"

"I am gonna go say hi to Mason." He murmured and got up giving Bianca a pat on her head and heading outside, Rose sighed as she sat back and watched the movie, picking up Rachel and setting her down on her lap. Damon heard her say something like, "You are the girl who can't sleep at night without hearing a story right?" Her voice playful and Damon was relieved Rose had let go of her attitude around the kids, the last thing he needed was his kids not getting along with Rose.

When we walked out, he almost felt like he was interrupting a moment, Elena and Mason were close, way too close. His hand was on her cheek and she was looking at him oh so lovingly as he leaned in lower to her...Damon coughed and he swore to God he saw Mason hiss. "Morning." He said as he walked over to stand by Elena's side as if asking Mason to back off which he did. Sliding his hand down her soft cheek that Damon yearned to touch but he told himself he was being over-protective over his 'best friend'. He had always been like that even before dating Elena. He used to scan check all the guys that showed interest in her. Damon arched a brow looking at her and then over to him, "We are getting really comfortable here aren't we?" he asked getting them the exact opposite of comfortable. "Damon, umm Mason asked to help me clean up over the phone last night." Oh, they were talking over the phone at night? He took in a breath and gritted his teeth at the thought, "Well I think I am very good at cleaning myself."

"I am sure Elena would tell you if we need your help," Mason said in a tone that told him to take a hint.

Elena looked over at him and he noticed how she was biting her lower lip as if she was embarrassed. That had always been a habit of hers, one that he found strangely arousing. "Can I talk to you for a sec." He asked Elena and didn't wait for her answer holding her wrist and pulling her inside to the other end so Rose wouldn't see them. He made her stand in front of him, "So what is going on between the two of you."

Her lips parted and she gasped just pulling her hair away from her face and tucking it behind her ear. Another habit which was just 'Elena' more than anything, "What do you mean?"

"Elena, Mason is practically living here. Don't think I don't see the way he looks at you." He finally voiced his frustrations. She frowned, "Damon, I am not going to explain myself to you." She said a bit offended. He looked taken aback. Elena rarely stood up against him like that, "Of course you aren't but what about the kids? Don't you think your little fling is going to screw with their heads? They are starting to think Mason is going to be their 'new' daddy." He said the words as if they were an insult, she pursed her lips and shook her head, "Mason isn't a fling, he understands me and he is a very decent guy. I don't think he screwed with their heads as much as your continuous fight with Rose did." She accused. He scoffed, "This is different, Rose isn't Mason and you know it."

"This is just hypocrisy, Damon." She said trying to walk away but he held her arm, holding her there, "I am not done yet."

"So what do you want? I am not going to ask Mason to go away." She said glaring at him. He had seen this fire in her eyes after so long. She was usually so calm and gentle now, not the stubborn, feisty girl she used to be. "You know what I mean, you need to be careful. This Mason guy, you sure he's just not preying on your vulnerability? He keeps telling you what you want to hear."

"Damon, I am not a kid." She said holding up her hand, "Besides- Mason asked me out." She looked away saying that. His face turned red with anger but she missed it, "Oh so this is what's been going on. Okay, so what did you say?"

"I haven't said anything yet." She shrugged, "And by the way, it's none of your business."

"Right." He said a bit hurt in his eyes as he walked out leaving Elena annoyed, she stayed there for a while rethinking her conversation with him and thinking about where she made a mistake. When she was walking back to the garage, she saw Rose and him sitting on the couch, her head resting against his chest and his arm was around her. Elena pressed her lips together walking out if there and grabbing her phone. Mason waved at her as she headed the other way calling, "I'll be back in five minutes." She said heading over to the street for a small walk, she dialled Caroline's number and waited till she picked up, "Care, it's happening again."

"What is?" she asked sounding like she just woke up. "I told you a few days ago. Damon and Rose are over at our place and just- I've been hanging out with Mason but I feel so terrible. I am a terrible friend, I am doing it again."

"Elena remember when you said you like Mason?" Caroline said in a lecture like voice, Elena huffed, "Yes I do, I do like Mason...a lot but he can never be-"

"Stop it, Elena! Don't say that! You have to shake yourself out of this. You never give anyone a genuine chance. I get Damon is special for you or whatever but he is not the one. Okay? Do you get that? You need to shut Damon out and give Mason a real chance. You found an excuse for Kai and found an excuse for any guy that could have been the one."

"Fine- okay so I am not allowed to bail yet." She asked exhausted. Caroline squealed, "Of course not! Give it a few more weeks, you said you've felt a spark with Mason."

"Its a very tiny spark." She said honestly. "For now that works. Soon it would be whole full-blown fireworks. Just give it a chance."

She thought about it, Caroline was right she needed to give Mason a chance, she was just searching for excuses to get rid of guys and that was for what? Damon wasn't coming back to her. Even if he was, how was that going to happen? Was there even anything between them anymore?

"Mason." She said as she walked back to the garage, where he was piling some empty boxes from when they had moved back in, she touched his shoulder and he turned to her, "Hey, listen."

"Yeah?" He said holding both her arms and circling them around his neck with a playful grin, "What?"

"You asked me out on a date right, I was thinking we could do that, I can call Caroline and Ty and they could watch Bianca and the kids. We can have dinner tonight." She said putting on her best smile. He looked up as If thinking, "I was thinking more of a movie date."

"Why don't you want to talk to me?" she said with narrowed eyes, he chuckled, "Dinner date it is." He said and crashed his lips against her, they moved right with hers not perfectly not like her lips had moved with Damon a few months ago and how his tongue had moved right with hers. She pulled back from the image and looked at Mason, "I'll go get a few bags for all this trash."

"Sure." He grinned and pecked her once more letting her go and she walked away trying to get rid of the images in her head.

(--tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd-tvd--)

"He won't leave me alone." Caroline complained as she paced around the room while Elena was sitting on the couch listening to her chopping vegetables for her dinner, "But now I feel bad." She said and rushed to Elena, "Stefan doesn't understand that I am with Tyler right now and he's been calling me every day. We were back to being friends and now he just put me in that position again, that me or him position." She gritted her teeth, "You said I should never excuse cheating and he did cheat on me."

"That is absolutely right, Care. You shouldn't, you deserve so much better." Elena said with all honesty and Damon also showed up from the kids' bedroom with his arms across his chest. "Cheating tsk tsk tsk." He said eyeing Caroline.

"Fine, okay I kissed him." Caroline threw her hands up in the air and then threw a TV remote at Damon but he caught it."You said you wouldn't say anything."

"What's going on?" Elena looked in between them worried. Damon snickered, like snickered in an evil manner and ran up to them as if wanting to give Elena the gossip, "So the day before Stefan left, I was out in the woods. I wanted to play catch with Alex but he threw the ball somewhere at the back so I had to go in the woods and guess what I see?"

Elena gasped looking at a blushing Caroline, as Damon said in a sing-song voice, "Caroline and Stefan up against a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G." Caroline growled and went into to choke him as he was laughing at her embarrassed face and Elena was now trying to get Caroline off him, "Oh my God Care, you cheated on Tyler?"

"We didn't hook up or anything, it just happened. I didn't want it to happen!" she defended herself. Damon was on the floor from the impact still looking up at both of them mischievously, "Oh yes my brother must have thrown himself against that thing, Blondie if I hadn't heard the disgusting sloppy noises I would have thought a vampire was attacking him or something."

Elena's face scrunched up, "Oh God. So does Tyler know?"

"No. I made a mistake and it's all because of your cute little kids who make Stefan look good. Otherwise, he's still a jerk." She spat, Damon gasped and sat up ready to defend his brother. "Well excuse me, you are no party to be around either, the only guy who can bear you is my brother, haven't you seen how Tyler always wants to get away from you? He would rather clean up Alex's puke than take you shopping." Elena had to agree, Tyler had shown less interest in Caroline these past few days. Damon rambled on, "The only thing making him stay is the sex you give him for four minutes per week."

"Asshole." Caroline said kicking him at his side, "Well even if I break up with Ty, which is not going to happen there is no way I am going back to Stefan. He cheated on me remember?"

"Come on Care that's a bit extreme." Damon shrugged, Elena sat up now to take Caroline's side, "Umm what? So cheating isn't a big deal?"

"She hasn't told you the whole story has she?" Damon too got up and leaned against the desk eyeing Caroline. "Whatever cheating has no excuse." Elena spat. "Of course it is my love. But she broke up with Stefan before that." Elena blushed at the new nickname but didn't comment on it as she turned to look at Caroline, "I didn't break up with him. We were on a break. He would get jealous all the time when I would spend time with Tyler or any other guys, like he was being so creepily possessive." She squealed, "And then I really missed him but he wasn't even calling me so I thought-" she trailed off.

Damon continued, "She showed up at the grill with Tyler because she knew Stefan would be there brooding in all his glory and she would make him jealous."

"But it backfired because he just took off." Caroline huffed , "And then I saw him making out with that girl and the party and broke up with him."

"Wow," Elena commented surprised thinking of all the stories Caroline have told her over the years. Were they all from her perspective? Only half the truth?

"Well Care you were on a date with Ty, so he wasn't technically cheating. Given you both already broke up."

Caroline sighed, "Oh so what was all that 'I'll always wait for you' shit about then?"

"No one means that," Damon rolled his eyes and stood straight, "I am going to head home. I've done my work of passing the information." He said and picked up his keys from the table, Elena suddenly felt uneasy seeing him leave. Having him around kept her so giddy and relaxed at the same time. Seeing him leave always set a bit of sadness in her. She would never voice these emotions she was feeling, it was way too complicated and she had to move on.

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A/N: Thank you for your patience with the story I hope you enjoy. Also shout out to heyitskarma for editing the chapter for me and I wanted to give you all some suggestions, I've recently read Scarlett 2112 s Home sweet home, it's a very cute story. Other than that I've been obsessed with foreverfirstloves stories especially her new story " All the Vices" have me on the edge of my seat. I really really love these authors and their works so if you miraculously read my stories and don't know about them check them out.

ALSO PLEASE REVIEW , This took a lot of time to write and I have already written the next chapter which would be intensely funny with more Delena and even a new character intro *winky face*