So, I'm back. First I want to say I'm sorry for the delay I just had so much to do these past couple of weeks that I really didn't have time for this, anyway, this is it. I thought about splitting the chapter in two and adding an additional scene, but I think I'm going to keep it for my next project (whenever I come round to actually write it). Thank you all for sticking with me during this little journey, I want to say that I loved and appreciated all the feedback, you're all amazing, thank you!

5 years later

„Mommy!" A child's voice echoed through the room, a voice filled with laughter and happiness, a voice which Elena could recognize even if two hundred other voices were screaming along with it. „Mommy, look what I draw!"

„What, cupcake?" Elena's mild voice filled the room, as she approached her daughter. She looked at the beautiful creature before her. She had her chocolate hair, although it was wavy, but she had gotten her father's eyes. A complete replica, and every time she looked at her daughter it was like she was seeing Damon through her, the ocean blue eyes were just as intense and beautiful as the man she got them from. She took the little girl into her arms and wrapped her arms protectively around her, while she sat comfortably in her mother's lap.

Before her daughter was born Elena didn't know what it was to want to protect someone with your life, well, she did, but this was different. It was like she was ready to scratch the eyesn out of whoever tried to hurt her, she would die a thousand times before she let anything happens to her. She knew that she had always wanted to be a mother, but what she didn't know was that she was actually good at it, it was coming natural to her.

The girl with the chocolate hair and the bright blue eyes shoved a painting in Elena's face, which just made Elena laugh.

„How many times do I have to tell you not to do this, cupcake?" She continued to giggle as she managed to focus her eyes on the paining. Well, he daughter was no Picasso, this was for sure, Elena thought to herself, but then again, neither she nor Damon were good at painting, so she had nowhere to get it from. „Is this me?" Elena pointed to a sketchy figure, drawn with just a couple of lines, the thing that made her think it was her, was her long hair, colored in brown.

„Yes." The little girl said with a smile on her face, and continued to point to the other figures and to explain. „And this is daddy " She pointed to the other figure, and this time what showed Elena who it actually was were the eyes, which her daughter had thoughtfully colored blue. "And this is me." She finally pointed to the small figure in the middle, which was holding the other two figures by the arm. "Do you like it, mommy?" The little voice was filled with hope and she looked at her mom in anticipation.

"I love it, sweetheart, it's perfect." She said and kissed her daughter's forehead with all the love she was capable of. "What's this?" She pointed to something drawn near Damon's waist.

"That's daddy's gun." The girl said proudly.

"How do you even know where he keeps his gun?" Elena gaped in a mix between surprise and amusement.

"He showed me." The little girl said devilishly and her tone and her smirk at that time reminded her of Damon so much that she couldn't help but chuckle. At times it was like she was looking at a mini female Damon.

"Do you know what's going to happen when mommy sees daddy again?" Elena said through her chuckle. "Mommy's going to punish daddy for showing you dangerous weapons." Elena purred, imagining all the possible scenarios, and a little smirk appeared on her face.

"No, mommy, I made him show me. It's not daddy's fault." The little girl continued to defend her father, she had such a determined look on her face, like she would do anything not to get him into trouble.

"And you can be very persuasive, can't you?" Elena smiled and started tickling the blue-eyed girl, who began to laugh hysterically and jumped up and down in her mother's arms.

At this moment the door opened and closed again with a loud thud, as a man entered the house. Elena's eyes locked with his bright blue ones, and she felt the overwhelming joy she would always feel when she saw him, even after all this time, every time he walked back into the house it was like a big burden was getting off of her chest. She had realized it was his job that was bugging her so much, she never knew if he could make it home alive, every time there was an accident on TV and her phone rang she jumped hysterically ready for the worst. They had talked about it, but she knew that she can't make him stop doing the thing he loved, she knew he would do it, he would quit… for her, but he would be miserable, and she couldn't stand watching him like that. So she had gotten used to feeling this big weight falling onto her chest every time he walked out of the house, not knowing if he would be home in one piece.

"Daddy!" The little girl screams filled the house as she ran in the direction of her father. He reacted quickly and caught her in the air, spinning her around, as the girl's laughter echoed in the house.

"Hey, pumpkin." It was amazing to Elena how Damon's whole facade changed when he was around his daughter, his features softened, and his voice could become from harsh to mild in a number of seconds. All he needed to light up his mood was to see the beautiful girl in his arms, both of his beautiful girls. Elena knew he was a little unsure in the beginning. There were moments while she was pregnant, when she could see the insecurity creeping up on him now and then, eating him up from the inside out. It were these moments when Elena would go to him, cup his face in her arms and would continuously tell him it would all be all right, and that he would be a great father. She didn't mind doing that, because in the end she turned out to be right. The moment he held his daughter, their daughter, in his arms for the first time, she could see it all fading away from his eyes – the insecurity, the fear – it all just disappeared. "How's my little Lucy doing today?"

They had decided to name her after Damon's mother, Elena could see how much he wanted this and she liked the name, and she liked Lucy even more. She had gotten to know her and realized she was one amazing woman – strong, fearless and wise – everything she had hoped her daughter to be one day.

"I learnt how to do this." Lucy replied devilishly and started jumping in the air, obviously wanting to show a complex move. She was very close to succeeding, she pushed her small leg up in the air, as if she was kicking someone, but then she lost her balance and fell heavily on the ground, making both Damon and Elena laugh a little.

"Are you okay, pumpkin?" Damon asked, still laughing. They were aiming to teach their daughter to be a strong person, which involved not being too spoiled. If she needed help, she had to ask for it, there was no shame in that, but if she could do it on her own, well, they stayed out of the way.

"Yes." Lucy responded and got up quickly, the big smile reappearing on her face.

Elena got up and went to her man, they never actually got married, since she kind of agreed with Damon's statement that the little piece of paper wouldn't change anything, she wrapped her hands around his waist and kissed him, first softly then a little deeper. It was amazing to her that how after all those years he still managed to set her whole body on fire with a single touch, how their lips matched together as if they were made for each other, how their souls fitted perfectly, and a feeling of being complete was washing over both of them when they were together. It was like, when she wasn't with Damon a part of her was missing, her other half was missing and she knew he felt the same.

„What are you doing still up, by the way?" Damon said, and looked at his watch, which was showing the time to be 12:15 am.

„She waited for you, she just wouldn't fall asleep." Elena responded and looked lovingly at Damon, just in time to see a little smirk appearing on his face.

„Stubborn one, huh?"

„I wonder where she got that from." Elena chuckled.

„It certainly wasn't from me." Damon looked at her with the most innocent look he could and this made Elena laugh even more.

„Yeah, sure."

Damon left his gun in the safe next to the door and closed the door, moving towards his daughter and picking her up after that.

„We're going to have the talk about guns and daughters very soon." Elena said devilishly, looking at Damon.

„Come on, I just showed it to her."

„Yes, daddy just showed it to me, because I said please."

„And she looked at me with that look and... you're one little devil, aren't you?" Damon turned to his daughter and started tickling her slightly making her giggle in his arms.

„Daddy is going to have to get punished." Elena's eyes gleamed in Damon's direction to make sure he got the right idea of what she was saying.

„Is he now?"

„Ooooh, yes." She said, as he smiled in her direction. They usually fought a lot, because both of them were very stubborn and usually no one wanted to compromise, but they have had one or two serious fights. Which, in Elena's opinion, was good. They really had a good life together, and she was enjoying every minute of it. After all marriage didn't seem to work out for her, but this – it was enough for both of them, they were happy. „Now." She turned to her daughter. „You go and wash up and we're going to come and tuck you in."

„But, mommy." She turned to her mother with a pleading look, but Elena was putting her best effort to stay serious, considering she was laughing on the inside, seeing the look on Lucy's face. „Daddy?"

„Uh-uh, you heard what mommy said pumpkin, I'm with her on this one, so go." He put her gently on the floor and knowing she had no other options she just headed to the stairs, a little disappointed.

„How comes that she always listens to you the most?" Elena rose her voice a little, turning to Damon.

„'Cause I'm that good." He said and moved closer to Elena wrapping his hands around her, his lips seeking hers. He pushed her on the couch, positioning himself on top of her, and started kissing every piece of skin he could get to. He showered her neck with kisses, earning himself a little moan from her.

„I thought I was supposed to be punishing you." Elena murmured, between the kisses, as Damon slid his hand under her blouse, cupping her breasts.

„Believe me, I feel punished enough." He purred and she felt the bulge in his pants pressing to her core. He started undoing his zipper, as Elena gasped.

„Damon, what about Lucy? She's still not sleeping, we're going to..."

„How much do you want to bet that she has fallen asleep by now? The girl looked exhausted." He said while throwing his pants aside and starting with Elena's.

„We could use the bed, you know?"

„Beds are boring." He whispered in her ear with a tone that sent shivers through Elena's whole body. With one powerful thrust he entered her, earning a big moan from her. He didn't waste any time and started moving in and out of her in a quick speed. She showered his whole chest with kisses biting his nipples playfully. Damon was keeping his restless pace on and after awhile, Elena felt how she was getting closer and closer to her release. She dug her nails into Damon's back whispering his name frantically again and again as he drove her to the edge. The waves of pleasure were crashing into her body and she felt so overwhelmed that she couldn't help and screamed. Damon put his hand over her mouth as his own release came and he collapsed on top of her, whispering in her ear gently.

„As much as I love that sound, you're going to wake up our daughter."

They both just lay there for awhile like that – he was on top of her, their legs and arms entangled, him still inside of her.

„I love you." Elena whispered, as her pulse finally got back to normal.

„I know." Damon said, with a smirk.

Elena smacked him playfully on the arm. „You ruined the moment, that's not what you're supposed to say!"

„I know." He said again, enjoying how he was able to tease her so easily.

As she lifted her hand to smack him lightly again, he said through laughter.

„Okay, okay, enough with the physical violence. You know that I love you too." He said and kissed her passionately.

„I do, but I just love hearing it." She murmured in pleasure.

They lay there like that for awhile more, until Elena pushed him off of her and got up, putting on just her panties.

„I'm going to check on Lucy, are you coming?" She asked.

„Yeah." He said, and following Elena's lead, he put on his boxers and went after her.

Just as Damon had predicted the little girl had barely made it to the bed. She was laying in the one corner of the bed, her legs and arms stretch out like a bird. They both laughed at the sight, as Elena pulled the sheet from under her daughter's little body and tuck her in, moving her in the middle of the bed, putting her head on the pillow. She leaned down and kissed her forehead, looking at the perfection she and Damon had created. Sometimes she wondered how is this girl even real, how could two people create something so amazing?

While Damon was looking at his sleeping daughter and his beautiful woman, all he could think about was that these were the two most beautiful creatures he had ever seen. He wasn't feeling the need to sleep with other women anymore, it was so strange for him in the beginning, how only one woman was able to give him everything he was looking for. He hadn't been exactly a good person, so sometimes he found himself wondering how he had deserved all that happiness. He got closer and put a light kiss on his daughter's forehead and after that he kissed Elena gently, murmuring into her lips.

„We're pretty lucky, aren't we?"

„Yes, we are." Elena answered, wrapping his hands around Damon's waist and resting her head peacefully on his chest.