I had this chapter done weeks ago but wanted to find the time to give you the full ending before I posted it. Finally had time to write this weekend and I am happy to say this story, very much over due is now complete! I am eager to get back to my unfinished ones now too after this so watch for updates!

I hope you like the ending and how I wrapped it all up.

6 Months Later

Elena's POV

The phone rang in her pocket as Elena brushed the powdered sugar off her hands onto her dark jean skirt that fell mid thigh. Her vibrant red top had a soft white camisole under neath, its few buttons undone highlighting her curves, but hiding them now behind the colorful apron. Her dark brown boots hugged her calves, the thick heels making her legs look longer, leaner.

She had worn this just for him...and could not wait to see him.

Focusing quickly on finishing the order for the last customer, Elena packed all the donuts in the box and realized the lineup was finally at the end. It had been busy all afternoon and she had no time for a break.

After the lady holding her toddler son's hand and cradling a little infant in a baby wrap on her chest paid for their treats Elena pulled the gloves off and reached for her phone.

"Hell-o," she said happily and reveled in the smooth, sexy male voice that replied.

"Mmm, miss you Elena. Hello to you too. How's my favorite baker today?"

Damon

Elena could easily imagine how he looked moaning her name. She could practically see the smirk as he spoke, his voice giving her shivers at the deepness of his tone.

That man, her man...could make anything sound sexy.

He had been calling or texting her a couple times today, making her more and more eager for their date that night. She could not wait to see him!

She wiped a stray strand of hair back from her face as she held the phone tighter to her ear, wanting in any way to be closer to him. "Honey," she mock scolded him, knowing he loved any pet names she called him. "You don't have to pretend with me...I know Liz will always be your favorite baker," Elena replied in a knowing tone. "But I am getting the hang of this and Care even gave me the lunch shift all by myself to see how I would do."

She heard him chuckle softly and again could so clearly see the expressions that he must be making. She ached to be with him. Her shift could not be over soon enough.

"And I'm sure you rocked it Elena. You are a natural and Liz has been raving at how impressed she has been and how quickly you picked up everything that she and Caroline have taught you."

Elena was beaming at his praise, watching as the bell rang and the door opened. Another family came in, the little kids running ahead of their dad and pressing their little fingers to the glass cases of all the delicious sweets to choose from.

Watching to see if her newest customer needed help yet she saw the man smile at her, mouthing that they would be a minute. The two little girls were talking non stop and having trouble deciding on what they wanted as their dad bent down to their level and listened more closely.

It took a moment for Elena to realize that she had not replied to his last comment. "Damon, Liz is right there... isn't she? How would she feel about you telling me I was your favorite? And yes I did rock it this whole afternoon. Many very happy customers!"

Liz was laughing in the background of the call as Damon sounded like he was shushing her. "Oh sweetie, she knows I am allowed to be biast when it comes to you. No harm, no foul."

Watching the clock she knew Caroline should be along any minute and it was so close to closing time she could taste her freedom. She told him she would be right back and helped the little family get coffee, donuts and two glasses of milk before scooping her phone back up.

Elena was grinning, even though he could not see her before flicking on the video chat. This day was taking too long already and she had not seen him since he left in the morning.

"I can't wait for tonight Damon...it feels like forever since you kissed me last," Elena cooed, her lips curled up in a warm smile. She felt goosebumps race across her skin at his low moan of agreement to her statement.

The ding of the him accepting the video chat was loud and in seconds she was gazing on his handsome face. He took her breath away every damn time she looked at him. His features were smoldering with raw hunger...for her.

Elena loved how easy going their banter was, or how much they could drive each other wild with desire as they often called each other at work...just because. They never needed a reason to check in and Elena loved hearing from him and bugging him at work too.

The other girl working her shift had only started there last week. She was just finishing cleaning the bathrooms and had began mopping the floor as Elena smiled at her and nodded that she was doing great. Elena herself had been working at the bakery for almost 4 months now and was loving every minute of it.

She turned her head back down to her phone and leaned on the counter, still keeping an eye on anyone that needed help. Damon offered her a crooked and oh so sexy smile.

"Mmm, baby you look incredible. Flour on your face and your eyes are sparkling Elena. You look so happy." Damon's voice was like a ribbon of silky melted chocolate and she felt literally dizzy at the intensity in his crystal blue gaze at her.

"I am happy Damon. I have never been this happy. I love you so much." Now it was Elena's turn to almost moan at his words. She did love him, so so much and could not imagine her life, her girls lives without him in it.

Damon smiled, such a wide, broad, gorgeous smile back at her. "Mmm, I love you too Lena...and I can't wait to show you how much..."

Elena could feel the heat in his tone. She was about to reply when the door to the bakery opened again and Caroline came in pushing the stroller as Gracie came running up to her mom. Elena bent down, behind the counter and scooped up her daughter.

"Mommy! Mommy. I missed you! Auntie Care took us to the park and pushed me on the swing and we went down the slide and..." Gracie continued telling her mom everything about their outing in great detail.

Elena saw Damon beaming and listening just as closely as the little girl talked a mile a minute. When she took a breath finally she looked down to the phone, her arms tight around her moms neck.

"Hi Damon...I missed you too! Did you hear? Auntie Care took us to the park..." And she proceeded to tell him everything all over again. Elena could not help but smile even more and nearly laughed at Damon's expressions to her daughter as she told him all her adventures at the park.

Caroline was just getting Belle out of the stroller, the little girl yawning and stretching her small arms above her head. She was dressed in a bright ruffly striped short sleeved top with adorable overall shorts and the cutest little green sandals on her little toes.

Gracie was wearing a light yellow dress with pastel, multicolored, striped shorts underneath. She was kicking her sparkly pink sandals in the air as her mom held her in her arms, her soft pink headband keeping her long brunette curls back from her face. She still after all these months clutched her teddy bear tight and took him wherever she went.

It was the beginning of summer, the weather beautiful for an afternoon at the park. Elena had made plans for her and Damon to take the girls to the zoo the following afternoon. But tonight was all for him. It was the first day of July tomorrow and they were planning to celebrate Christmas then too, the next morning more than 6 months later. Christmas in July was the plan this year after everything that happened.

Damon called out to her as Caroline was cradling Belle and walking toward them. "I see you have your hands full Elena so how about I just meet you there as soon as you guys close. Liz and I are already done here and heading out the door."

Elena nodded, already missing him, knowing he needed to hang up to drive. Gracie jumped down from her arms as Caroline asked her to pick out a donut to have and poured her some milk. Her best friend handed Elena her baby and Belle giggled and cooed and was smiled up at her mommy, giving her a big sloppy wet kiss on the cheek.

"Okay Damon, that sounds good. I can't wait to see you...Drive safe." He nodded back at her. First making a few faces at Belle and the little girl laughed and reached for him through the phone. Elena loved watching him with her girls. Damon then gave her his best love look, doing his sexy eye thing before hanging up.

Elena sighed knowing they were closed in less than a half hour and tucked her phone in her pocket. Caroline was already sitting with Gracie at the nearest table and the last few family's said their goodbyes with promises to come back again soon and left.

Caroline said she would handle any more customers and the closing routine and Elena could relax. The young mom smiled, tucking Belle in a highchair and buckling her up before passing the baby a donut hole and her sippy cup.

Elena stood up and caught her friend in a hug. "Thank you Care, for everything really. I am so glad to have you in our lives. The girls love you and I had missed you a lot."

Caroline squeezed Elena tight, closing her eyes. "I am so glad too El. I missed you too and love being your girls auntie!"

Elena pulled back and saw sadness on her friends face. "Still too soon to tell? No news yet?"

Elena and her had talked a lot since that night. They had been in the same hospital room for a few days to make sure they were okay. Caroline had told her more about losing the baby and how after what happened with Stefan she had no idea how to trust another guy. He had seemed so perfect and wanted a family and treated her so well. But the horror of that night at the cabin had stayed with her.

However she still wanted a baby really badly, but wanted no part in having a man in her life right now. So she had looked into sperm donation and had been to the clinic twice in the last 6 months to see if it would work.

Caroline shook her head. "No, I just took a test this morning...nothing yet."

Elena squeezed her friends shoulder. "It'll happen Care. I know it will. You will be carrying a baby before your know it! And then I will get to be the cool Auntie."

Caroline smiled and sniffled back tears. They hugged once more before her best friend went back behind the counter to finish closing.

Elena sat down and listened more to Gracie telling her all about her afternoon, meeting some new friends, chasing a squirrel that ran up a tree, climbing the rock wall to get to the slide all by herself.

The doorbell jingled, barely a few minutes later. Elena had stood up, looking for the diaper bag and scooped it up from the floor by the highchair. She was finishing up wiping all the sugary sweetness from little Belle's fingers and mouth when she felt hands, warm hands encircle her waist, pulling her in against him.

Elena dropped the cloth on the table, spun in his arms, grabbing at the back of his neck and pulled his lips to hers hungrily, moaning his name into his mouth.

Damon tasted like absolute heaven.

His arms wrapped her tight in his embrace, his lips were so soft and so pliant, like he just molded his mouth to hers effortlessly. Her fingers sunk into his silky raven locks, holding his head tight to hers. She disappeared into the aching need she had to feel him, to hold him close, to show him how madly in love with him she was.

After a few more open mouthed hungry, kisses she pulled back to look at him. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt, folded up till just below his elbows, making his tanned skin look even more delicious. His dark washed jeans pulled in all the right places, his signature black boots completing the sexy look.

He slipped his dark sunglasses he had been holding on his head, tucking them between his slightly longer dark hair as his baby blue eyes sparked in the sunlight.

It was quiet, the room empty except for Elena's two girls watching them. Belle was sucking hard on her soother, while Gracie when Elena looked next, was beaming at them and stood up in the seat to be picked up.

Damon moved them around more, Elena still holding onto him, her arms wrapped around his waist, her head on his chest as he jumped Gracie up in his arms. She curled her smaller arms around both of their necks, pulling them closer and Elena and Damon both kissed her on the cheeks as all three of them were smiling so wide.

"Mmmm, my favorite girls in the whole world," Damon said, leaning forward nuzzling Elena's head and turning to kiss Gracie on the cheek again.

Liz came out from the back with Caroline as she wiped the counter one last time and moved to the door to flip the closed sign.

Elena leaned into his one arm, still around her as Damon held Gracie up on his hip. He bent to press a kiss to his loves head before looked back in her eyes. "Are you guys ready to go?" he whispered, his lips a breath away from her.

She nodded slowly. Yes she knew with him by her side she could do anything. This was going to be hard but it was time and they needed to go together for the girls more than for her. Damon was there for her and he promised he would be, for anything she needed, ever.

"Yeah, I'm ready...You are here Damon. That is all I need to get through this." Elena replied and leaned in as he bent to capture her lips once more.

She pulled back after a few more hungry kisses, seeing his eyes so blue, like the sky on a bright summer day. He was her rock right now and had been, so much these last few months. Elena turned to Gracie, who was content to be nuzzling in at his neck as he held her.

"You ready to go see your father, sweet girl?" Elena asked her and Gracie nodded slowly. She knew her daughter must be nervous. She had been at the funeral but they had a closed casket from how he had been shot as well as from the fire at the cabin. So nothing really made sense to the little girl.

Gracie had barely known him when he was alive but he had still been her father. Not her daddy, like Damon had been the whole time he had known them. But she would not be here if it wasn't for Elena's relationship with Mason.

Elena reluctantly stepped away from the warmth of Damon's body to help tuck Belle in her car seat, pulling her sun hat on and tucking the blanket in around her.

Caroline said she and her mom would meet them there. Nodding to her Elena saw Damon bend to put Gracie down and pick up the car seat with the giggly happy almost 8 month old baby in it. Gracie passed Belle a stuffed toy that had a jingly sound inside and her little sister gripped it tight, shaking it and smiling.

Elena grabbed the bag, swung it over her shoulder and took the hand of the little 3 year old. Damon looked back at her and reached out his other hand and she laced their fingers together as they made their way out of the store and into the bright sunshine outside.

Damon's car was parked just up the street and in no time the girls were buckled safely into their seats. Gracie was looking at her favorite princess 'look and find' book Damon kept in his car, as Belle's eyelids were slipping closed. Care said she had not slept at all at the park so she would be tired and Elena hoped she would sleep on the way there, before needing her next bottle.

He slipped his sunglasses down over his eyes, catching her staring at him and shot her a sexy smile. She really could not wait for tonight. They made a quick stop at the flower shop before driving slowly through rush hour traffic to the other side of the city.

Elena leaned over onto his shoulder, still keeping her seat belt on, her hand again laced with his as they drove. She snuggled in at his side and he turned to kiss her hair or smile down at her whenever he could. No words were spoken as they drove, the silence peaceful and soothing.

She closed her eyes, after seeing Gracie too had fallen asleep, the book sliding from hands to her lap. It felt like things had been this calm and peaceful forever already. The horrors of the past had faded, the fear of being in any danger lessened with each day that went by.

Elena remembered the long ride to the hospital. She had been so scared for Gracie when she had heard her calling out from the bottom of the stairs. Her head had been pounding and she could feel the stickiness of blood at her skull. She had not even had to tell Damon to save her from Stefan. He had looked so torn leaving her as he raced after her little girl and she had been terrified for both of them.

But Caroline had woken up and wrapped them both in more blankets and pulled her out of there down the stairs and out the door before the fire consumed the cabin. She had heard his frantic, panic filled voice scream her name as the roof collapsed.

He was alive! She screamed back instantly, needing him. Her whole being was longing for him and her little girl. Somehow she just knew Gracie was okay before she even saw him carrying her daughter to lay her in her arms. A peace was around her in that moment and she had known that Damon saved her. There was no other scenario that she could imagine surviving. He had lost his friend's precious baby girl too, so Elena had trusted that there was no way that could happen to him again.

They lay together, him knelt by her stretcher as she cradled Gracie shivering in her arms. The paramedics piled more blankets on them too, giving Damon another one and she finally felt them both stop shaking laying beside her. The ambulance sped off, sirens blaring to the hospital as Elena closed her eyes, feeling finally safe, warm and so so grateful they all made it out of there alive.

Damon had come to her bedside in the hospital with the news that after the trial for Wes Maxfield, he was done on the force. He wanted nothing more to do with anything dangerous. He had knelt at her side, nuzzling her head with his and whispered that he had too much to live for to put his life on the line and worry any of his girls. She had been overjoyed at his news and could not believe the relief she felt at not having nights of worrying about if he was coming back to her.

Life was too short he said and she very much agreed. That same sentiment was echoed by her sister after everything that happened.

Damon had been fast asleep in the chair in her room after he and Gracie had been checked over. The little girl was curled up in his arms, her head nuzzled up against his chest. Elena had thought she had never been more grateful for anyone in her life. He had saved Gracie from drowning in the freezing cold water and the experience looked like it had bonded them together even more.

Closing her eyes seeing Damon and Gracie safe, Elena let herself relax while eagerly waiting for Jenna to bring Belle to her. Her sister slipped in the door a short while later, holding the car seat carrying a very sleepy little baby. Jenna said the bottle had worked and Belle had eaten and napped in a quiet room at the police station as they both were closely watched by officers Ric trusted.

Jenna had sunk down on the bed, hugging her sister and was nearly crying in relief that they were all okay. Ric came in after her, his arms around her when she stood back up and passed Belle to Elena, careful not to wake the two precious people asleep on the chair.

Jenna had waited till Ric was back out of the room to check on Enzo's status before telling Elena that she had done it. She had grabbed him and kissed him just like she said. Ric had been her rock as they drove away to rush Enzo to the hospital. He had driven her and Belle to the station as quickly as he could and she had collapsed into a chair in the waiting area as Ric called for men to watch over her and the baby.

Within minutes after he rushed around making sure she was well protected he had said he needed to get back, to help Damon, Elena and Gracie, knowing they were all still in danger from Stefan. Jenna had nodded and said he needed to go. But before he did, she grabbed him fast and crushed his lips to hers. He had been totally taken aback but returned the kiss with just as much emotion before breaking away and racing off down the hallway.

They had stayed off the radar in a safe house Damon had cleared for the next few months, closely watched and well protected. None of the accused had even made bail and were held in custody for the duration of the trial. But Damon was not taking any chances with his girls or anyone else involved.

Elena and Caroline had police protection outside the bakery any time they were there. Elena said she needed to do something or she would go nuts and Damon had suggested she try to see if working at the bakery would help. Liz had loved the idea and eagerly helped Elena learn everything there was to know. Caroline was amazing and they had grown closer, laughed, bonded and became best friends again.

The trial was short, with overwhelming evidence and multiple testimonies on a long list of felonies. Maxfield had accepted a plea bargain of 25 years to take the death penalty off the table. Rose testified and Elena too as well as many officers from the department. Wes Maxfield and his associates were going away for a very long time.

The verdict came down only days ago and they found all involved guilty and going to prison. Slater had walked, taken the immunity deal and Damon had said he had men watching him to make sure he stayed far away. He was not allowed back in The States at all and would face all the same charges if he dared break his contract.

They had all been there in the courtroom that day. Jenna and Ric watching the girls as Liz and Caroline sat next to Damon and her. She had held his hand, twining their fingers together as the juror read the verdict. There was a breathless sigh heard from various areas of the room as Elena had just dropped her head to his shoulder in relief.

Damon had his arm around her and ran his fingers through her hair as she leaned on him, her breath coming out in shallow pants.

It was over. They were finally safe. He pulled her into his arms to the comfort of his embrace as Elena peeked past his shoulder to see Wes glaring at them as he was led away. The cuffs clinked as he walked, escorted by two other officers. He was cursing and yelling out at all of them sitting there before he was forced out the door.

Elena blocked out the cursing words that seemed to echo in the air at them as the leader of the drug cartel had disappeared behind the door. She could still hear him yelling as his voice faded more and more.

It really was over and they were safe finally. Elena felt this huge weight lifted off her in that moment as Damon cradled her close. He was whispering that she was okay, that they were safe and he would never let anyone hurt her again.

She had turned to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and buried her head against his throat. She felt his strong arms tight around her as she lay against him. It felt like she could finally breath again. She could raise her babies without living in fear everyday of someone coming after them.

He was never getting out of there. All the defendants had multiple counts of murder on them and they were in prison for life without the possibility of parole. The evidence that Stefan and Slater had handed over was all the proof needed to secure that ruling.

"Elena, we are almost there. You might want to wake up." Damon was gently squeezing her hand still tight in his as he drove into the cemetery. Elena blinked at the bright sunlight. She must have fallen asleep deep in thought about everything that had happened. They were here and it was time to let go of this part of their lives forever.

Damon's POV

Damon turned back to her, sliding his glasses back up on his head as he pulled the car in under a nearby tree at the end of the parking lot. She looked back at him before taking a deep breath. He cupped her cheek, gazing deep in her brown eyes.

"Hey, you okay? You don't have to come with me for my part in this Elena. We can leave too if you are not ready." Damon suggested.

She was already shaking her head, before leaning it in against his palm and shutting her eyes again. "No, I want to. I want to be there for you too Damon."

He nodded smiling softly at her. "Okay, then whenever you are ready." He looked up to see more cars pull up behind his before he turned back to her. She unbuckled her seat belt and moved closer, her head leaned against his as he watched her take more deep breaths. He stroked his fingers through her hair and ran his thumb over her cheek.

Damon stayed beside her, letting her take all the time she needed before she nodded and moved to get out of the car. She gently unbuckled Gracie while he got Belle's seat out and walked around the car toward her. Elena picked up the sleepy 3 year old, her head laying on her moms shoulder, her arms loosely around her neck. He watched her pick up the paper packaged flowers and they walked out down the hillside.

Caroline and Liz met them in front of the headstone and they all looked down. Ric and Jenna were there too waiting quietly, their heads down as well. Jenna moved in to give her sister a big hug and the two of them smiled and nodded to each other, Elena leaning her head to her big sisters.

Damon was happy to see Elena had her sister here for her and smiled, hugging her too before moving to clap Ric on the back, glad to see him.

Elena put down her daughter, Gracie yawning but now awake and holding her moms hand. Elena unwrapped the bouquet of white roses. She passed one to her daughter, passing the rest of the roses to Caroline to hold.

Damon had been busy getting Belle out of her seat as she started squirming and crying. He lifted her up in his arms, seeing Elena look back at them and he waved Belle's little hand at her mom, watching her smile back at them. He bent back down and scooped up the warm and ready bottle for the little girl and she reached her hands up for it, instantly pulling it to her mouth. Damon was fine holding her so Elena could focus on Gracie right now. However she did motion him closer so he stepped forward till he was right behind them.

"I know you didn't know your daddy much Gracie girl but he isn't alive anymore and we wanted to give you a chance to say goodbye."

Gracie looked back up at her mom after laying her rose down and saying a quick goodbye. Damon saw Mason's picture in a frame leaning against the stone. Elena had told him it might help Gracie understand it better then.

Brunette curls spun as the little girl turned to Elena, her dark eyes so wide. "But mommy...aren't daddies supposed to play with their kids, read them stories, watch cartoons, build snowmen and go skating with them" She yawned again, her head on her moms shoulder. "They bake cookies, tuck them in at night and keep them safe from monsters? Isn't that a daddy?"

Damon felt his breath catch in his throat at the little girls words. She sounded so grown up and he knew he had done every one of those things with her since he knew her. He knew Elena wanted to do this so her girls knew that their father was gone and they could come here if they ever wanted to. But his own heart clenched at how much he wanted Gracie to call him daddy.

He saw the little girl pull her mom closer and whisper something in her ear. Elena whispered something back too that he could not make out. Maybe he wasn't meant to. Gracie held her mom tight and Damon saw her find his eyes. The precious little girl looked up at him, smiling and he could not help wondering if she felt the same way and wanted to call him daddy.

Damon smiled down at the baby in his arms too, holding tight to her bottle, wondering if she too would call him daddy someday. He wanted to be everything he could to help them both grow up knowing how incredible and strong their mom is and also how loved and precious they were too. It would be such an honor to be able to help Elena raise them and be everything that Gracie had said a daddy was to her, for the rest of her life.

Elena stood back up, taking a flower from Caroline and laid it down on the grass below the headstone. Caroline did the same and placed another white rose beside hers and Gracie's. Taking one more from the bunch Elena bent to lay it down beside the others.

Damon knew it for Belle to symbolize her saying goodbye too, even when she was far too young and had no idea how she had been conceived. Someday that little girl might ask her mom about her father and he had no idea how Elena would ever be able to tell her. Belle would have to know she was so so loved no matter how she came into the world. She was just as full of brightness and talent and love to give and have a family of her own someday.

Squinting off into the distance Damon saw his sister and her husband were waiting patiently on the grassy hillside on the other side of the cemetery. He looked back at Elena and she nodded to him. Jenna caught his eye and winked at him before they moved away back to head to the cars. He winked back and smiled, so happy for their help in his special night. Caroline and Liz followed behind them as they made their way over.

Katherine was the first to hug him, her arms tight around his neck but careful to not be too close to the baby. She smiled down at Belle and made faces at her, playing peek a boo and making Belle giggle. Katherine told him he looked incredible with a baby in his arms. She was eager to find out more about his plans with Elena and he just shushed her before Elena came too close. He had plans...but not for anyone else to know just yet.

He changed the subject and palmed her necklace, cradling it in his hand. He had given back to her and was happy to see it around her neck again. It had been her symbol of pushing through the pain and rising above, just as she had meant it for Rose. Matt was standing beside them and offered Damon his hand. He took it, smiling warmly at the his brother in law.

He watched Elena and Kat hug too, Matt also offering her his hand. They had met the first time before the funeral months ago. Katherine had immediately welcomed Elena and her girls with open arms. They were not family yet but he sure felt like they were.

They had invited Damon, Elena and her girls over the day the trial closed the case and they were finally safe. They had hosted a big backyard BBQ and fire, inviting anyone special to either of them and they had loved visiting with all the people that cared so much about them. Ric and Jenna came, Enzo and Bonnie, Caroline and Liz even Elijah and Hayley.

Elijah...Damon looked around again, still not seeing him. He was still coming right? He had said he would be there.

Caroline passed them all more white roses and Elena took Belle from his arms for him to walk arm in arm with his sister to Stefan's headstone. They had found his body the next day he was told and at the viewing at the church he looked almost like himself. He was reminded of the boy he grew up with. Not the man that could have killed him and the woman he loved.

Damon knelt down and laid the rose in the grass, whispering his own goodbye as Katherine did the same. She put her head on his shoulder, as they both just sat there silently. He was gone but Damon knew his brother had not been his brother for years, maybe decades before that. Maybe he never really knew him. He wished somehow it had been different. That they could have gotten him help before it was too late.

Glancing back at Liz she smiled at him encouragingly. He had told her how he wished he could have done better, seen the signs of danger before it was too late for his brother. Liz had said after what Caroline and they had been through too she wanted to go back to counseling, helping people before things got so desperate, so dangerous for themselves or others. She wanted to repair damaged families and bring people back together.

He had loved the idea and was now working in an apprentice type role for her while going back to school to get his degree in social work. His favorite baker had a degree already and yet had left it to open the bakery to be a part of the family business while Caroline was still young.

So that was the plan, the future for him and leaving the force. And he did not regret it for a minute.

Elena and Caroline had big plans of their own and were now co owners of the bakery. She had been able to keep her house and sold it to Ric and Jenna, using some of it as collateral for the loan for her half of the bakery. Business had never been better and Damon was so happy Elena loved her job so much.

Ric and Jenna were married in a small ceremony only a few months after that night. He was amazing to her and they had shared with them that after their first date they were already talking future plans and kids. They were both not getting any younger and Jenna was so so ready to be a mom, being the older sister and already having so much experience with Elena's precious kids.

Ric had been shy getting to know her not sure if she felt the same but that kiss where Jenna made the first move had been all he needed to confirm that he was in love with her too. Elena told him that she had never seen her sister so happy. They got pregnant literally on their honeymoon and were a few months along already. Jenna still helped Elena take care of the kids while working from home like she had been before, doing bookkeeping till her maternity leave.

Damon put his arm around his sister and she rested in his embrace. It had been one of the hardest things he ever did, telling Katherine about Stefan...everything about Stefan. Their brother was a monster, so dark and too far gone for anyone to help. She had been so glad Damon was okay and held him as close as she was doing now when she had rushed to the hospital that night.

They stood back up, Elena passing them more roses and walked a few steps over to kneel down again. This time they were at their parents graves and laid the roses gently on the grass under the joint headstone. They wanted Stefan to be buried beside their mom and dad. He was still family no matter how far from that they fallen from that in the end.

Damon lifted his head and turned, squinting in the sunlight. He hugged Katherine once more as Matt started to move forward and took his place, kneeling beside her. He saw him still in the distance and his beam on his face was a mile wide.

Turning back to Elena she smiled and nodded he go ahead. Gracie opened her arms asking to be picked up and Damon scooped her up and raced across the cemetery. He stopped short putting the little girl down and she ran ahead yelling for her little friend and ran to give him a big hug.

Damon stood in front of him and was grinning, opening his arms. "Enzo, thank you so much for coming. I told you you didn't have to." Damon felt tears in his eyes as he was able to hug his best friend.

That night in the hospital with Elena, Caroline and the girls felt like it went on forever. Enzo was in surgery when he woke up after sleeping with Gracie all curled up on his lap for a few hours. He had tried to hard to stay awake after he was examined, but the multiple punches and knocks to his head had made him so exhausted.

Elena had again been his hero, checking on him multiple times through the night to make sure he was okay. Each time the nurses came in to check on the girls he was given another neuro check to make sure his concussion had not gotten worse.

Damon had stumbled weakly into his best friends room in the middle of the night when Elena and her daughters were fast asleep. Bonnie had been by his side since he was brought in and had went looking for him to tell him Enzo was out of surgery. Damon had been so relieved, thanking her over and over as she led him to Enzo's room.

He had hated leaving him when they were at the cabin. He never left a man down and they had always had each others back since the academy. But there had been no choice then. Elena and Gracie had still been trapped in the cabin and he had to trust Ric to get him to the hospital before it was too late.

Damon wrapped his arms around his closest friend, holding him tight. He had been so scared he wouldn't have made it. Enzo had saved his life more times than he could count and even saved Elena's when she had almost gotten a needle of heroin in the parking garage.

He lifted his head, careful to not jar Enzo's neck any. It was healing nicely, the physical therapy had helped so much. He had been so lucky he said. If he had not been able to stop the bleeding already back at the cabin, the doctors said he might not have survived.

"How are you buddy?" Damon asked him, smiled stiffly wishing it could have been him to have taken that bullet. Enzo protecting Damon's girls could have left Bonnie and little Nate without him to grow up with. The two men talked a few minutes, smiling and nodding and Damon was just happy to see he was doing so well.

Bonnie was standing there a few feet back where Gracie was running circles around Nate, who was almost a whole year younger. She was playing tag with him smiling up at Damon and Nate's parents.

Damon saw Rose heading up the hill pushing the stroller and he moved for a moment to give her a hug too. She had been his next stop that night and knelt by her bed as she weakly opened her eyes. He knew she had not tried to kill herself again. It was all Stefan...and here she was, still supporting him as he said goodbye to him.

Rose smiled and hugged him close. She had told him over and over in the last few months that she was okay and things were getting better. She was getting out and not hiding in her dark apartment with the memories of her baby girl to torment her.

Damon had been so excited to hear that with Enzo' s recovery and Bonnie wanting to be a hospital more, taking him to his appointments that they had needed someone to look after Nate while she was away. He had suggested Rose to Enzo one time and Bonnie and her had hit it off right away. So Rose became their nanny of sorts, living with them and looking after their little boy as Bonnie went back to work part time, while still taking care of her husband as much as she could.

Enzo and Ric had also left the force and started their own private investigating company together. They even invited Damon along on a stakeout here or there to hang out and laugh and enjoy each others company.

Damon caught sight of Elena heading up the hill toward them, with Belle in her arms. She hugged Bonnie too and Rose and the three woman laughed, smiled and talked while watching the kids play.

A car pulled up and Damon's head shot up again. They were here! They had come to say goodbye. Damon broke into a run, his boots heavy on the grass, his shirt billowing in the wind. He raced up the hill and skidded to a stop in front of Elijah as he had just closed his door, sliding his sunglasses on and started off toward everyone.

Damon stood still in front of his mentor, his father figure and Elijah smiled and opened his arms to him.

He was so worried that he would not come. Elijah had barely said two words at the funeral and had stumbled back in the hallway when Damon told him about what Stefan had all done.

Damon had been coming back from Rose's room late that night and the hallways were almost empty. The lights were dim, everyone was asleep aside from a few nurses and staff. He had been so drained from everything and was ready to collapse in Elena's bed and hold her the rest of the night. He needed her strength, her arms around him after seeing Enzo barely awake after surgery, and Rose too hardly awake and so weak still.

His mentor was standing outside Elena's room, his suit rumbled, his tie loose and his head down before he heard Damon's footsteps and looked up. Damon cringed seeing the big bandage on his head. He would not have been surprised if he needed stitches from what he put him through.

Blue eyes narrowed, the lines on his face creased in worry, fear even. Damon had been dreading this confrontation since the moment he slammed the trunk closed.

Elijah had his legs crossed at the ankles and stood up straight, pushing himself off the wall. "Damon..." he said quietly.

Damon felt his breath heaving, as he was trying to think of what to say, what could he say after what he did. "Elijah...I..." he mumbled, his head dropping to stare at his shoes. He could not even look him in the eyes.

He forced his head back up as Elijah took another step forward. There was long pause, total silence before he heard Elijah draw in a deep breath. "You did what you had to do Damon..." He spoke calmly, his voice soothing and Damon felt his chin start to quiver.

Elijah opened his arms to him and Damon took one more step, almost falling into his firm hug. The older man clamped his hand around the back of his adopted son's neck and held him tight. "You saved so many people...I don't blame you for the impossible choices you had to make."

Damon pulled back from his mentors hug and listened to Elijah explain what he was busy with after he had been found in the trunk. Damon had been so grateful that everyone involved in his rush to save Elena and her girls were so understanding.

Elijah said he had talked to the man who's phone he stole at gunpoint, the guards at the station and told him he even made a trip out to the jewelry store before coming to the hospital and explained the dire circumstances that led up to his robbery. No one pressed charges, even the two employees at the jewelry store and Damon could not have been more grateful and in awe of their kindness.

He was prepared to serve any kind of punishment and was already happy Elijah pulled him off any kind of active duty indefinitely. He was happy to be suspended and away from any kind of police work. He wanted to stay and protect his girls and was so grateful to have nothing to do with the drug cartels arrests and subsequent investigation.

Elijah looked choked up too as they hugged again in that dark hallway. "I love you...like a son Damon. I'm so so sorry about Stefan. About everything."

Damon felt his guardian, the man he looked up to so much sob against his neck. They stood there in the in the dimly lit hallway as they both uttered more I'm sorry's and cried for the brokenness of their family.

Elijah had taken it so hard, learning everything that Stefan had done. He blamed himself fully as the man in the younger Salvatore's life that he should have known more. He should have seen the signs.

Damon had reassured him over and over that it had not been just Elijah that Stefan had hidden who he was from. He had become a master at deception and until Damon had found Rose nearly dead in her hospital room and heard his brother's voice on the tape with his own ears, he would not have believed it either.

Their hug was just a powerful as that night in the hospital. Damon knew how much pain Elijah had been in and time was not seeming to heal it. This get together Damon arranged for Elena and her girls and his family felt like the right way to say goodbye.

The headstones had just been finished and placed and Damon had not even been to the cemetery at all since the funerals. He could not bring himself to face such finality. But when Elena confessed she was feeling the same way about taking her girls to Mason's grave he decided they had to face this together.

Together they were stronger. He loved that no matter what, she could lift him up from even the saddest or darkest of moods and he could do the same for her.

He pulled back from Elijah's embrace and gripped his one shoulder tight. "Thank you, really for everything." Damon nodded at him and Elijah nodded back, both of them knowing without words how much they were hurting and in shock at everything that had happened.

Hayley stood back from the men until now and moved to hug Damon too. The three of them headed out across the grass toward Stefan's grave. Damon saw Elena head their way and passed the older man a white rose. Hayley took one too and was at his side as he bent to lay it in front of the stone marker, before dropping hers beside her husband's.

Damon turned his head to the side, seeing Elena move to stand beside them. He lifted his arm and pulled her in against him and she sighed deeply, her arms around his waist. Caroline was holding Belle now and Gracie was still playing tag with Enzo's little boy. He rested his head to hers, her body curling even closer to him, giving her all the strength he had to give.

"You ready Elena?" he asked after a couple minutes of silence, bending his head to find her eyes.

She nodded, a smile breaking out across her face. She licked her lips at him, her eyes shining in the sunlight.

Damon felt his heart speed up in anticipation of finally stealing her away from anyone else. This night was about them finally and he was more than ready for some alone time with her...

Please take a minute to review. I would love to know what you thought of all that had happened in the 6 months for everyone since that night.

The last part of the epilogue will be posted right away. Very much rated M...