Part 3

"Love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm, but willing to draw blood in its defense"

~ Mark Overby ~

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Previously

"you use him as a replacement when Stefan's not around but you never thought that vampires can procreate.. Frankly, I'm surprised, too but it happened and you had no idea about that, had you.. C'mon, Elena, look at yourself, we all know that bringing Stefan back won't be that easy, sometimes we need to sacrifice to get something that we desire... "

"Damon is a mistake, Elena, and so is she.."

"I love you, daddy.." he smile silently, letting tears fall down and happiness possessed his heart, at least someone still loved him anyway.

"I love you too, princess.." you have no idea how much you meant to me, he added silently.

Damon entered the house silently, didn't want to wake people up as the time showed 11.50 p.m. They must have fallen asleep by now, he thought.

Surely, he would confront about his wife's chit chat with Lexi but now he just needed a good sleep which was not possible.

Jeremy had decided to stay 'till Damon was back, he didn't mind at all to spend time with his nephew since his sister had left for Italy with her husband 3 years ago. Besides, Nasya was a cute kid, she was a mixture of Damon and Elena but mostly from Damon as she had this huge self-confident and headstrong just like Elena but she was lovable, everyone would love her since they first lay an eye on her.

Damon, himself, never thought that he could have a child, from his own flesh and blood. After spending hundred years of draining, killing, and making misery in people's life, he still felt that he didn't deserve this life but things changed. Something had absolutely changed him and it was love, this love for this human girl was more than enough to make him a better man each day.

"Daddy...?" he stopped his track when he heard his girl calling out for him.

A dark curly-haired girl approached him. She was holding her bottle with her right hand while the other was dragging a pink Minny Mouse blanket, her favorite cartoon all the time.

Actually, he just wanted go straight to the bed, it'd been a rough night and he wanted to think about nothing since he was extremely exhausted physically and mentally but since he saw his little angel, they were all disappear and replaced by warm love that he missed.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" Soon he grabbed his daughter and took her in his arms.

He didn't even say a thing, he simply just smelled her and trying to focus to hold the tears that threat to fall.

Nasya was simply do the same, she hugged her father tightly like she never met him before.

"Daddy?" her voice was a strength for him even she was just a little girl.

He needed a moment to control himself and soon as he was good, his eyes searched for hers.

"Princess..?"

"Are you okay, daddy?"

"Yes, I'm great... Now, I told you to sleep, didn't I?"

"I can't sleep, I wait you... and you here now, can I sleep with you tonight?"

Damon answered her request by carrying her with him. Tonight he wanted to be with someone who can make him feel something...something pure and innocence..the love from his little angel and he'd deal with Elena later.

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Nasya was drinking from the bottle when Damon settled her down on his king-size bed. She didn't show any sign that she would fall asleep in any minute, instead she set the bottle down and jumped on the bed.

"C'mon Nasya, it's late, you should sleep.." Damon told her patiently.

"No, daddy, I don't want to sleep, I not sleepy.." she said as she kept jumping.

Well, this kid was a lot of work, he told himself.

"You're not sleepy?" she only nodded to answer he father.

"Okay then, I will make you sleep" he said as he tackled his daughter.

She was laughing and her laugh become wild when he started tickle her.

"Waaa, daddy! No, stop! Arrgggggh, daddy! Hahhaha..." she didn't give up, trying to grab his hands and hold them but that was no use.

"Still don't wanna sleep? Are you giving up now?"

Nasya kept struggling beneath his father before she gave her father the ultimate weapon. She silently bit his arm.

Damon stopped when he felt a sting in his arm and realized what she was doing.

"Aww! You, miss Nasya Eleonora Salvatore, you play cheat.." he masked himself a sly face and embraced her in his arms.

Nasya had finally stopped struggling and let her father hug her. She let herself to feel the love from his father.

"Daddy, will you tell me a story?"

"Okay, but give me some love first.."

The 'some love' that Damon talked about was the thing that he had taught to his daughter. She will give her dad a kiss on his eyes, nose, cheek and lips at the end as a sign of her love and that was Nasya did to her father.

She put her hands on his jaw to hold her father and kissed his eyelids first and she ended it on his lips.

He put a pillow and leaned on it while Nasya was leaning on his chest, ready to listen the story.

"There was once and incredibly rich, beautiful, and wise Princess. Tired of false suitors who were only interested in her money, she announced that she would only marry whoever managed to present her with the most valuable, tender, and sincere gift of all..."

It was so strange that this girl who laid on his chest could bring peacefulness and warmed his heart in a second. Frankly, he couldn't stop thinking about Elena and there was this hole in his heart but deep down he knew he could never stop loving his wife who had given him a daughter.

Apparently he lost in his world for a moment when Nasya tilted to his side. Her big blue eyes met his and his heart once again melt.

"Daddy, why you stop? I love listen your voice.."

"I'm sorry darling.. ...during the following months she set about changing the kingdom, and devoted her life, her wisdom, and her riches to separating what is truly valuable from what is unimportant..."

Damon continued the story until the end and he looked down to check on Nasya who was now sleeping peacefully. Her tiny hand clutched his black shirt like she was afraid to let him go and she buried her face in his side.

Words can't describe how grateful he was to have Nasya and he named her Nasya which mean miracle because she was his miracle.

He slowly removed her fingers and pulled the covers up to her chin to keep her warm. Once again he only stared at his miracle and prayed if there was a god up there to keep her safe whether he was at her side or not.

"Sweet dream, my miracle..." he kissed the top of her head and there was a tiny smile appeared in her face that made him love her more.

Elena

"What I have now is real. I can't and I won't walk away from my family now.."

"Listen to me.. you are so young, you should enjoy your life, go to college, explore the world, or whatever you wanna do.." Lexi took her hand and continued. "Damon is a mistake, Elena, and so is she.." she didn't have to say her name to know who she refer to. "..but I can help you change it, you can fix this.."

How could she say that my daughter was a mistake? I couldn't take this anymore, it wasn't fair for Damon and our daughter.

"That's enough, Lexi! I don't want to hear you talk about Damon like he's nothing! You have no idea what we've been through after Stefan's decided to leave me, so let's just stick to our deal and I won't repeat this! I just need to see him one last time and give him his necklace, now, can you help me to lead me to him or not?"

Lexi pulled back and I knew that she knew his location. Maybe this was my selfish reason to meet Stefan but this was important. I know that I let go of him since before he had asked me to but I still have his necklace and I hated it because it reminded me of him when I wanted to move on with my life.

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He was pouring himself a glass of bourbon when he heard a foot step coming closer.

"How was your reunion with your friends?" he asked casually without turning around to see her.

Elena felt a bit uneasy when she entered the house and it was proven when Damon greeted her.

"I, uh, I thought you were sleeping, well, it was fun.." she was controlling her breath, afraid if he find the truth.

Her shoes were still hanging in her hands as she intended to go straight to bed and talk about her meeting the next day but Damon had another plan.

"Really..?" he walked closer to Elena and noticed something on her. "Well, I wish I could join you.." he put her hair behind her ear when he realized her heart beat faster.

The next thing she knew, Elena was in his embrace. Surely, he had missed her a lot but she didn't return the gesture. She only stood there like a wood doll.

"You seem different, 'Lena, is something wrong?"

She pulled herself from him. "No, everything is fine.." a smile plastered in her face but Damon knew her type of smiles and this one that she gave to him was a smile that you give to calm someone even when everything around won't be okay and you keep a fake smile.

"I'm just so tired, Damon, I guess I just need some sleep.."

She looked at him and there was pain in those blue eyes.

Did he know? she thought.

He usually gave her a kiss before she head to bed and he would do exactly the same thing to her but Elena took a step back to avoid him. She headed to the bed and she can't stand to watch him in pain but she promised she'd tell him if the time was right.

"Do you still love him?" she stopped her track and her grip on the banister was tightened.

Elena turned around, she knew who he was talking about.

"Damon, we've talked about this years ago and you know my answer"

"Do I, Elena? well, it was years ago, is the answer still the same?"

He just needed one truth and he was ready for whatever the answer that would come from her lips. However they both didn't intend to break up, they were forcefully separated by Klaus and Damon knew that.

"Do you still love him, Elena?" he asked calmly, way calmly than before that made her shiver.

It took almost a minute for Elena to answer him.

"No, I don't"

There was only silence and they were staring at each other. She once again realized that she'd hurt him, it wasn't the first time she hurt him but this, it was probably the meanest thing she'd ever done to him.

"I trust you" he simply kissed her forehead before walked away.

Elena

"I trust you"

That's it? He trusted me? He only kissed me on the forehead tenderly? He should have confronted me, instead he still trust me after what I've done to him. God, what kind of wife I am! Why did I feel so guilty?

because you did hurt him, Elena!

"What do you want me to say, Damon?"

Something was wrong and I needed to fix it up.

He turned around to approach me.

I can feel his hands on my face and forced me to look at him. Our forehead leaned on each other.

"I just want you to know that I love you, Elena, never forget that"

I can see the pain in those beautiful eyes but something had definitely changed. He looked so down...so...defeated just like the last time when we didn't find Katherine in the tomb but this was worse than that.

Did he really know? wait, I saw his car at The Grill, was it him?

God, what if it was him? Then he must have heard our conversation. Suddenly I just remembered all of it.

"or you use him as a replacement when Stefan's not around"

"Damon is a mistake, Elena"

"Because you're not giving up, deep down you're still waiting for him to come back, you always will, 'cause you're meant to be together"

He realized that he'd always be a second choice if it comes to Stefan, that was why he looked so defeated.

No, I loved him, I loved Damon Salvatore. He deserved to know the truth.

I was numb, unable to say any words or even call for him when he was about to go. My heart ached and I can feel what he felt.

I forced to move my legs and ran toward him. My arms circled around his stomach and I leaned myself on his back, trying to hold the tears.

I hugged him tightly, I can't let go of him. He was always the one who never give up on me even if I hurt him tons of times and this time was my turn to be there for him.

"Damon, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry" I broke down and let my tears escaped freely.

He remained silent but I can feel he put his hands on mine. I can feel a drop of water in my hands, then I realized it was his tears.

I did hurt him, deeply, cruelly, and he still can say that he loved me. I didn't deserve his love.

Unable to see him like this, I decided to tell everything.

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"Hello ladies.."

"Stefan?" both Lexi and I were shocked when he suddenly showed up at The Grill.

"The one and only.. What? you look just like you've seen a ghost" Stefan said casually. "I've heard that you've been looking for me, 'Lena, so, do you miss me?"

Lexi didn't seem so surprised to see him like this, maybe because she'd seen the worst part of him.

"Stefan, I thought you always follow your master, Klaus.. Where is he btw?" Lexi tried to break the tension.

"Nah, I'm not with him anymore, guess what.. He freed me, I'm free now" he took a sip of a bourbon.

"Hey, we can celebrate it right here, right now, I'll but you a drink.."

Elena can't understand how could he do this to her. Klaus had freed him but the Stefan she used to know was still not in there.

"Oh, Stefan, that's very kind of you but I need more than that"

The next thing that I knew was Stefan gasped in pain when Lexi stabbed him with a wooden stake without attract any attention.

"Ugh, Lexi!" he growled in pain. "What do you want?"

"Simple, Stefan, I want you bring your humanity back and stop playing cocky!"

"Well, guess what.. I decided to turn it off, it only makes us weak and I don't do weak"

Lexi twitched the stake and it only hurt him more.

"You promise me you will turn it on and I will not rip your heart out, what about that, huh?"

Stefan looked at her as if begged her to free him but she can't do that.

"Fine"

"Fine what, Stefan?"

"I'll turn it on!" and Lexi pulled the stake out.

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"Why are you still looking for me, Elena, after what I've done to you..." he asked seriously, there was no joke this time.

"I'm not, I'm happy with my life now but I don't want to see you as a monster, Stefan, you know you're just pretending to be the one but deep down, you still have your humanity. Use it, feel something, I know you can be the Stefan I knew before.."

He looked down, felt ashamed as this human girl had succeeded to bring his humanity before.

"You still believe it?" he asked her without cockiness this time.

"I know you're a good man, Stefan, that's what I believe"

Stefan gave her a genuine smile. The Stefan she knew had slowly come back.

"So, you and my brother, huh.."

"Yeah, Damon and I love each other. It's just...even if you would have come back, I would still love him, Stefan, I'm sorry. It just took me a while to realize it.."

"No, you don't have to be sorry, Elena... I know that my brother has feelings for you since he first saw you and I was just...so afraid if our history repeat itself. I can't lose someone I love for the second time, so I intend to keep you for myself. I was selfish, I didn't care if it hurt my brother but this time he didn't fight me... and I realized something has changed. His humanity, you brought back his humanity, Elena, you brought my brother back...and I thank you for that"

She can't believe that Stefan was intend to keep her for himself, it was selfish and she knew that but it was all over.

"You're welcome.."

"Oh, Stefan, it's your necklace" she gave him a vervain necklace that he had given her before. "I can't keep it, it's yours"

Stefan took it from her hand and he held it for a moment. His past with Elena was already over. He had to move on and so had she.

"Well then, I guess this is goodbye.."

"I guess it is, but you can always visit us, to see your niece"

"Sure, I'll stop when I'm ready"

"Okay"

"Tell my brother I say hi, kay.."

"He also misses you, Stefan"

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"So, you're really over with my dear brother?"

Elena curled up to Damon on the couch. His arms pulling her closer to his body.

"I was over with him since I realized that I love you, Damon, you're the one that I want" her eyes told him the truth and he believed it.

She was drown in those ocean eyes and no one pulled her back. She loved it there, being so close to her husband and she didn't regret her choice.

She moved on his lap and touched his haw.

"It will always be you, Damon, never forget that"

He answered her by pulled her closer and his lips met hers. It wasn't just a kiss, she could feel her body tensed and she craved him more. Her hand reached for his hair and Damon explored her feature. He kissed every part of her body, from those doe brown eyes, her rose cheek, her lips, down to her collarbone. She also pulled him even closer, pressed her body to his and gave him signal to take her. Her moan made him want her badly and now she was laying on a couch where Damon had pinned her.

Their eyes met again and all she can see was love, the love from the man who was always be there all the time. In a second he attacked her with the kiss when someone came down.

"Wow, oh god, get a room!" Jeremy caught them and he covered his eyes.

"Jeremy!" Elena was surprised to find her brother.

"No, Jeremy, you go to your room I gave to you" and Damon told him cockily.

They both laughed and intend to continue what they did before.

I hope you guys enjoyed it!

I did it! I finally finish the last part and I can finish this because of your supports, reviews, etc!

A/N : Please, please, please tell me what do you think of this story 'cause it means the world to me and I'd like to thank you, my lovely readers, who spend some time to read my story and reviewed it or mark this story as a story alert, favorite story, etc :) I'd like to write more but first I'll see your respond, I need to know whether you guys like it or not, so do me favor and feel free to share your thought, what kind of Damon the daddy story you'd like to read.. and I'm sorry if you find any grammatical error because I'm still learning English and sometimes it's so hard (and it kills me) to find the exact word to express it, so thank you for reading this story, I really appreciate it! :)