Hello there!

If you are reading this well thank you very much!

Like I mentioned before I had a new project stuck in my head and my muse wouldn't let me in peace so I decided to give it a shot and write all down, so here it is. I will really apreaciate if you could leave me a review to know if you're actually liking this and if you will give it a chance.

Huge thanks to Lorena for being my beta for this story as well

Oh and yes, I stole Klaus quote for the summary but I just couldn't help myself, it was such an amazing scene!

Anyway, enough of me

Here we go.

Lying there on the midnight sand
He said he'd give her the sky if she held his hand
She counted every star in the sky and said
I don't want that I want you instead

You make me feel real
You make me feel real

The Make

.

Elena Gilbert stared at the celling and thought about all of the things that needed to be fixed in her life right now. Her apartment was one of them, her job…there was also the money issue and the fact that she had been lying to her mom for the past year. She groaned when she imagined how that conversation was going to go down, at least she could say her love life was out of trouble, after the fiasco with that douchebag Liam Elena vowed to stay single until she could find someone with whom she could truly fall in love with. That was seven months ago but she wasn't really thinking about it, her head was full with a million other things.

The phone rang and she rolled on her side on her small bed, her apartment was the tiniest thing you could find in New York, with barely enough space for her personal belongings, but it kept her warm at nights and now she was about to lose that too. "Wallowing in self-pity?" The voice of her best friend was what she heard when she pressed the phone into her ear

"It's nice to hear from you too, Caroline" Elena mumbled as she sat and pressed her back against the headboard "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Caroline Forbes had been Elena's best friend since they were old enough to play with barbies, Caroline came from a wealthy family but never in her life had made Elena feel less than her. They moved together to New York and were roommates until Caroline moved in with her boyfriend, Tyler, who Elena hated with a passion.

"You know why I am calling my sweet, Elena," Her friend said in an overly sweet voice "It's time for you to get your head out of your ass and confirm your interview with Mr. Salvatore"

"Caroline, I don't see how that's gonna help me with my life right now" Elena said in an annoyed tone and dragged her legs until they pressed against her chest

"Really? Because all I see is a place to live, a big fat check and the fact that you won't have to go home and tell your mom that you've been surviving on soup for the last week" Caroline told her and Elena hated every single word she said, because it was pretty much the truth "The job is good Elena"

"It's good for you maybe, but I've never worked with children in my entire life" Caroline was an elementary school teacher and the most prepared woman for the job, Elena knew she would be an amazing mom someday. She had called her earlier that week telling her that she had a job for her, babysitting a single father's little girls, apparently he was a super rich Italian business man with a very hectic life and needed someone to take care of his daughters. Elena wasn't sure she was the right girl for the job but Caroline was sure she could do it.

"Elena, you took care of Jeremy and Margaret all of the time, I think that counts" Her best friend said in an annoyed tone "And I already spoke well of you…and he's desperate to find someone"

"And what about my job with Alexandra at the gallery?"

"Elena!" Caroline shrieked into the phone "What Alexandra pays you is barely enough to buy something to eat, and she keeps you working like a mad woman"

"But I have to keep that job if I want to be someone in the art world"

"No you don't Lena, look you're amazingly talented and don't need a vampire like her to be great, you honestly think you'll reach what you want being there?" Elena groaned mentally, truth was she had been in that job for the last two years and she was already stuck, Alexandra would never help her succeed.

"You're about to be kicked out of your apartment, you have no savings, you won't accept money from me. Please, just go to the interview and if you don't like it don't take the job. But just think that…this might be the job that changes your life"

Elena felt a lump growing in her throat when she imagined her future; she would probably return to Virginia to give everyone the satisfaction to see she was after all a failure. "Fine"

"What?"

"Fine, I'll go to the stupid interview. Can you text me the number again?"

"Yeah of course, I promise you Lena, you won't regret this. The money is sooo good! And I'll be more than happy to see you leaving that dump soon"

"Hey!"

"We both know your apartment is shit darling" Elena rolled her eyes and said her goodbyes at her friend who was on the way out to date night with Tyler. After hanging up she layed down on the bed once again while she waited for Caroline's text.

Maybe her friend was right and this job was a good thing, Caroline told her she would get the weekends free so she might get some time to keep working on her paintings, it wasn't ideal but it was better than the alternative. Elena couldn't stand the idea of going back home as a failure.

When Elena's mother, Isobel, was a teenager she was Mystic Fall's princess, her parents were wealthy, she was smart and beautiful and had a whole life ahead of her; that was of course until she met John Gilbert. He was always a lousy kid but Isobel fell madly in love with him and left everything behind to be with him, the town condemned that relationship since the beginning and in the end everything they talked about was right, Isobel got pregnant in her freshman year at college and had to drop out, they married and had a terrible relationship, John used to spend all of their money in gambles and alcohol, abused her and finally left her when Elena was three.

Elena grew up under the eyes of the town's people, always wondering which will be the step that would take her to be like her father. With Jeremy and Margaret it was different, their father was good man, a successful history teacher that arrived when they needed him the most and who always felt like a father to her. But with her they only saw the bad aspect, none of them praised Isobel for raising a child alone, for being the best mom she could be, for working inhumane hours to keep food on the table, to build a small business of her own and put the pieces of her life back together.

That's why she couldn't go back…she couldn't give them the satisfaction and couldn't bare the look in her mother's eyes when she realized the entire last year was a lie. That she didn't have a great job and a fancy apartment…that her life was crumbling down around her.

With shaky hands she took the phone and pressed call on the contact Caroline sent her. It was now or never, this could be the best thing that happened to her or the biggest mistake in her life.

In life there is always that one moment that changes you, defines you and transforms everything around you. Something was telling Elena this was going to be that moment.

Elena tapped her foot nervously against the marble floor and looked around, the house, no, the mansion, was beautiful. She felt like she was in some kind of castle, secluded from the outside world, the ground was so extensive that not even the sound of cars reached her ears, it was like being in some other part of the world, she didn't know that was possible in a place like New York.

She touched the crown braid she styled her hair in and made sure everything was still in place, she felt so out of her league in this place "Mr. Salvatore is ready Miss Gilbert" An elderly man with kind warm eyes, whose name was Edward appeared in front of her and gave her a reassuring smile. She smiled back but didn't feel reassured at all, she was so nervous that she even skipped breakfast in the morning in the fear of being sick and ruining the interview.

She walked through a huge hallway and then marched down some stairs and entered an enormous office with wooden furniture and beige walls, in front of her was a big window overlooking the enormous yard and a mahogany desk with a man sitting on it, she couldn't see his face since he was reading some papers scattered on his desk but something about his presence unnerved her, it made her even more nervous than what she already was.

"Good morning, Miss Gilbert" His voice was so thick and rich with a velvety quality in it; it went straight to her core and she felt a gasp wanting to come out of her mouth. He still wasn't looking at her but that voice had been enough to make her tingle all over. "Please sit down" He gestured towards the chair in front of his desk and finally lifted his head and looked at her.

Honestly, Elena didn't know how she found the strength to move her legs and walk towards the chair, the moment his eyes found hers the air was sucked out of her lungs and every nerve in her body came alive, there was something in his eyes, something that called to her. She had never looked at a pair of eyes like those before, they were so blue and deep that she was afraid she might lost herself in them.

"Good morning, Mr. Salvatore" Her voice came out as a whisper and she cursed herself mentally, she needed to appear confident, the life of his daughters were going to be in her hands after all, he needed to see she was capable for the job.

"Miss Forbes spoke very high of you Miss Gilbert" He looked at her with a raised eye brow and the hint of a smile

"Uhmm Caroline- I mean Miss Forbes and I have been friends since we were little. We know each other pretty well" Elena said while fidgeting with the edges of her top. She was wearing a long sleeved white top and a pair of dark jeans, matched with the pair of red Louboutin's Caroline gave her for Christmas, she always felt confident in that outfit and that was the prime reason why she decided to wear it today.

"I'm glad to hear that, Miss Forbes has been amazing with my daughter and I know she wouldn't recommend you if she thought you wouldn't be right for the job" He told her and Elena could do nothing more than nod, because she honestly wasn't that sure about herself.

"It says here that you have an art major and were working in gallery since you finished college, why the career switch Miss Gilbert?" He looked at her with true interest and she felt her mouth going dry. How was she supposed to focus on the interview when he was so damn distracting?

"Honestly?" She said "I really need the money" She had an entire speech about how she thought kids were the future of the world and wanted to help create better people and all that jazz but something in his expression told her he would appreciate her honesty more "I know that's probably not what you want to hear but I'm broke, and my old job…I wasn't really going anywhere there, and I like kids a lot, I always took care of my younger siblings so I know what it's like to take care of a child…and I just really felt like I needed a change"

"Did you know that I just interviewed a woman with a degree in infant psychology? ... and postgrad studies in education?" He asked with a raised eyebrow and Elena wanted to die right there. She had blown this whole thing, she should have gone with the whole kids are the future speech.

"I see…" She lowered her lashes and took a deep breath "But I bet she isn't as good a storyteller as me" She wanted to smack herself once the words left her mouth but when she saw the smile on his lips decided against it. That smile was the most beautiful thing in the whole world.

"I wouldn't doubt your gifts as a storyteller Miss" He said amused "You should know that there have only been three long term nannies over the last few years…but none of them truly understood what my girls really needed…and they all had studies in infant conduct and all that crap" Elena's eyebrows shot up as he placed his elbows on the desk and leaned into her "I need for you to understand Miss Gilbert how important it is for me the wellbeing of my girls, the youngest one is almost four and my eldest is seven"

"I see"

"Violet, my younger daughter has no memories of her mother, since she died when she was still a baby and Briar…let's just say they both lack motherly influence. Therefore, it is very important for me that they both have a female figure they can look up to" The seriousness in his tone was evident and it almost made Elena smile to see how interested he was in the wellbeing of his children.

"I understand, Mr. Salvatore. If you hire me I would do my best to assure that" She fidgeted with the edge of her top again, he was making her so nervous and honestly, he scared her a little. She had never met a man so imposing, with such a presence.

"I expect excellent behavior from you whenever you're around my girls and when you're not as well." Elena could do nothing more than nod under the scrutiny of his gaze "If I decide to hire you, you will make them your priority, I don't expect you to give up your social life for us… but you'll be living here fully, even though you'll have the weekends off. And on weekdays you belong to me" His eyes turned a deep shade of blue and Elena felt her body trembling at the sound of his words "When you're here, your sole purpose is to be with them, be what they need. I need you to care for them as if they were your own. Can you do that, Miss Gilbert?"

"Of course, Mr. Salvatore. If you hire me that wouldn't be an issue"

"Do you have a boyfriend, Miss Gilbert?" Damon asked casually as he leaned back on his chair and folded his arms in front of him

"Sorry?" Elena asked, feeling a bit confused

"A boyfriend? The job I'm offering you is quite demanding, we will occupy most of your time. Our last nanny abandoned us because she was getting married. Is there someone out there who might get mad because of it? Will you be able to devote yourself completely to this job? To us?" Elena knew he wasn't asking this because of personal reasons but the way he was looking at her…for a moment she thought that there was something else behind his words than the desire to take care of his daughter's care.

"No, Mr. Salvatore. I'm completely free. I will make this job my priority"

"I'm glad to hear that" He answered as he gave her a reassuring smile "You'll hear from us at the end of the day, Miss. Gilbert" He stood up and walked her towards the door, his hand was placed at her lower back and the contact was warming her body all over. "Have a good day, Miss"

"You too, Mr. Salvatore" She answered without looking back at him, the last thing she wanted was to turn into a mess right there. The man was having such a strong effect on her body and her mind as well.

She walked back the length of the hallway with a heavy heart and praying to God that Mr. Salvatore considered giving the job to her, she didn't want to accept it yesterday but it was finally downing on her that without this job she would truly have to go back home.

The elder man from earlier was taking her to the door when a little voice coming from the stairs stopped her "Are you our new nanny?" Elena turned around and saw the most beautiful little girls in the entire world, they were as pretty as her little sister had been. The girl who spoke had long wavy black hair and beautiful amber colored eyes with a golden hue that made them sparkle and was staring at her with uncertainty.

"Well I don't know yet" Elena answered and walked closer to them

"You are very pretty" The smaller one said. She had long light brown hair and the bluest eyes, almost as blue as her father's.

"Thank you" Elena smiled warmly at her "You two are very pretty as well"

"Do you like barbies?" The dark haired one asked

"I do, I love them. My best friend Caroline and I used to play with them all the time"

"My teacher's name is Caroline!" The girl with darker hair said

"I know, she is my best friend" Elena smiled at the little girl "You must be Briar then" The kid smiled while looking at Elena

"Briar Rose" The girl said with the biggest of smiles

"Like sleeping beauty?" Elena asked with fake surprise, like she used to talk to Margaret all the time.

"Yes" The girl grinned excitedly "Daddy said my name was a princess name"

"And your daddy was right, and what a pretty name it is" Elena said while leaning down and taking a wave of her hair between her fingers while smiling at her.

"I'm Violet!" The little one announced, wanting back Elena's attention. "Do you like singing songs?"

"Well I am not a very good singer but I used to sing to my little brother and sister all the time" Elena told them "And I love telling stories"

"We love stories!" Both girls yelled in unison

"Daddy always read us one at night" Violet said and Elena almost melted at the image of Mr. Salvatore reading to his little girls

"If you stay… will you braid my hair as pretty as yours?" Briar said while pointing to the bride styling Elena's hair

"Of course, I'll braid your hair everyday"

"I like you" Violet said

"I like you too" Elena winked and then out of the corner of her eye she saw Edward and remembered she was supposed to be on the way out "Well it's time for me to go girls" Violet pouted and Elena couldn't help but smile again "I hope to see you soon" She waved to them goodbye and then followed Edward out of the door.

The minute the door closed the figure that had been lurking in the shadow of the hallway stepped forward "So, what do you think?" Damon asked the little girls sitting on the stairs

"Can she stay? Please daddy, can she stay? "Briar pleaded with her father and he couldn't help but smile at her

"So, do you like her?" Damon asked them

"YES!" Violet yelled in excitement "She's very pretty, and she likes to tell stories, daddy!"

"So I've heard" He said with a half-smile playing on his lips, remembering the young woman's words in his office earlier.

"Please let her stay!" Violet ran down the stairs and threw herself into her father's waiting arms

"If that's what you want?" He looked between his two daughters who nodded enthusiastically "Then I guess Ms. Gilbert will be living here from now on"

He kissed the top of his youngest daughter's hair and wondered if it was indeed a good idea to have such a beautiful young woman living with them, there was something in her, a fire that called to him and he worried what might happen if he let himself be dragged into it.

So? What do you think?