Title: Almost

Summary: Elena and Damon have been friends with benefits on and off for several years. What happens when one of them wants more and it's too late?

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made from this work.

A/N: Wow. I can't believe we're here… The final update for Almost. This started out as a way for me to work through some things that I had been through in high school and molded and changed into the story it is now. And I hope you all love how I've left these two…

Before I let you get to it… I want to thank Morgan (morvamp) because without her helping me out with this one I'm not sure it would be the story it is. I struggled with a lot of the questionable storylines and stressed about how they would be received and she talked me through it and help me work it in a way that kept it likeable. She didn't have to help me but because she awesome and amazing like that she offered her talent to help me and I owe her so much for that. Love you, peaches! And if you haven't already check out all her stories. They're amazing. I promise.

As for you readers… This chapter wouldn't exist without you. It was your comments and reviews and pleads about a certain life event that gave inspiration to this chapter. Because of that I got to hold off my goodbye for just one more chapter. So thank you for reading, reviewing, loving this story as much as I do.

Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

As for future stories… I do have another story in the works. We'll just have to see if it gets posted. But hopefully I'll see you soon…

Now without further ado… I give you the final update of Almost…


"You ready?"

Damon looked down into his daughters wide blue eyes as they flicked off the door and met his. Caroline had dressed her in a white dress, her long, thick hair flowing down her back. Through the curtain of her hair he noticed she clutched the small bandaged up monkey that had once been her grandmothers in her hands and gave a small nervous nod. It was obvious she was anxious to see what lay beyond that door. The sight of it was something that still made Damon's face break out into a grand wide smile and had his heart galloping out of his chest. It was his own excitement that had him pushing open the door and ushering Sophie forward, wanting to see this moment as soon as he could.

Still, he had to remind himself, Sophie was nervous. She had never been to a hospital.

Quickly looking to the bed, he gave a proud smile before leaning down to Sophie. "Go ahead, Sophie."

Sophie stepped forward, holding Zippy the Monkey close. As she approached the hospital bed, Damon followed behind her. His daughters head lifted up, seeing Elena with hair wrapped in a bun and looking beautiful, and quietly asked, "Mommy, are you okay?"

Elena smiled down at her daughter, replying, "Yes, Sophie. This is a good visit. Why don't you let Daddy bring you up here with me?"

"I wont hurt you? Aunt Caroline said that I have to be careful."

His wife shook her head. "You won't hurt me, baby."

Sophie nodded. Damon reached down and lifted her on to the bed, making sure not to jostle the wires or bed too much. Elena had been through a lot in the past twelve hours. Sophie sat crossed legged down beside Elena, tucking her hair behind her ears and nervously staring at the bundle in her mother's arms. With a beaming smile, Elena placed a free hand on Sophie's shoulder and rubbed soothing circles into her skin.

"Sophie, meet your baby brother," Elena said. "Rafe."

Their daughter leaned forward and stared at the little boy in Elena's arms. He was all pink flesh and squished skin, but he was beautiful. Rafe had a full head of Damon's raven black hair and a button nose that mimicked Elena's. The sight of his family had Damon bringing out his cell phone and snapping photos of his children meeting.

Children.

He was now the father of two.

Who could've imagined that biology notes and a party would have brought him right here to this moment? All the missed opportunities and unsaid confessions, all the hurt and pain and time apart, brought him exactly to this moment the very second he chose to chase it. With a wife and children and being the happiest he had ever been; it was almost all worth it. The sight of his six year old daughter staring down at his newborn son in the arms of his beautiful wife had his heart feeling fuller than he ever could've imagined. He was a lucky fucking man.

"Hi, Rafe," Sophie said with a slight lisp, holding out her hand against her baby brother's. Rafe stared up into his big sisters eyes and Sophie smiled as his tiny fist curled around her fingers. Her head snapped up to Elena's with wide eyes and a huge smile. "Did you see that?"

Elena nodded, eyes shiny with tears. "I did. He knows who you are."

"He does?" Sophie looked back down at Rafe, whose eyes were still intent on her face.

"Of course," Damon chimed in.

Sophie brought her face closer. "He knows I'm his big sister?"

"Yup."

Tilting her head and studying him, Sophie asked, "Does this mean I have to share my toys?"

Elena and Damon both let out a little laugh. It was Elena who answered, running a finger through her daughter's hair. "He's much too small to play with your toys right now. But someday you'll have to share. Is that okay?"

Sophie seemed to think about it for a few moments before finally shrugging and saying, "Yeah. I'll share with him."

"That's kind of you." Damon smiled, coming over to the bed and sitting on the edge beside his daughter. He pressed his lips into her hair, causing her to giggle. The sight of it had Elena smiling along with them.

It was amazing to see her so happy after seeing her in such pain all day. She had an easy pregnancy, but the labor had been grueling and long. Add in her own fears over something bad happening and it had been a rough day. After what Elena had gone through with Sophie all alone in South Dakota, Damon tried his hardest to be the support she needed, despite having his own fears and anxiety. He didn't know how he had survived the past nine months, let alone today.

Rafe hadn't exactly been planned, but they weren't exactly preventing his arrival either. It was the reason why when Sophie had come running into his arms after a long day at the studio wearing a shirt that read Best Big Sister that his knees had nearly buckled. He'd gathered Sophie up in his arms, questioning her about her new shirt and looked at Elena with questions in his eyes and a heart full of hope.

Elena had nodded, biting her lip to fight back a smile.

With Sophie still in his arms, Damon had covered the distance between himself and his beautiful, pregnant wife in three long strides and enveloped her in his arms. Elena had tears flowing down her cheeks and Sophie couldn't be more confused over what had her parents so overwhelmed. What followed was a long discussion with Sophie about the new addition to their family.

Most of which Elena handled because Damon was still flying high on the news.

He didn't want to think of this baby, this pregnancy as a make-up for all the moments he had missed with Sophie, but it was a hard feeling and thought to fight. He had only experienced Elena's pregnancy through photos and videos, but the actual thought of seeing her stomach swell with their child, of being there for her through every craving and ache, every foot and back massage and pregnancy book, picking out names and decorating the nursery and experiencing it together, had him feeling like it was his first child, which in the sense of experience it was.

By the time he had entered Sophie's life, the pregnancy was done, the birth and scare were through, and Elena had figured her way through eight months of experiences. Sophie was already on a schedule and practically perfect by the time the responsibility fell on to him. This time around, he would be figuring it out for himself. With Elena.

And, boy, was he thankful for Elena.

She helped him through everything and shared stories of when Sophie had been the one growing inside of her. It had him feeling like he was getting the chance to experience them both, all at once. And even though he fawned over her and hovered like a worried expecting parent, Elena was a calm within his storm.

It wasn't until today, when the cramps of labor kicked in, that the role of reassuring calm fell on his nervous shoulders. It seemed like forever until the contractions were five-minutes apart and the doctor finally let them come in, and then ages until she was ready to push. Even still, little Rafe didn't seem ready to come out.

Then, all of a sudden, he was and Damon became a father once again.

Now, he had his little family and he couldn't be happier. His mind wandered back, wanting to thank fate, destiny, the universe, even coincidence; whatever force was responsible for bringing them together. And when he looked up into Elena's eyes, he knew she was thinking the same thing.


"Slow down, Sophie," Elena giggled as her daughter practically sprinted towards the door.

Her little hands reached for the knob, twisting it and opening the door and ignoring Elena's plea to race into Caroline and Stefan's arms. Elena could only shake her head as Caroline nearly lost her footing and fell back if it hadn't been for Stefan's arm to steady her. Thankfully, her best friend loved Sophie so much that she only laughed at her impatience.

"Hi there, Soph!"

"Hi, Auntie Caroline! Hi, Uncle Stefan!"

Elena ushered them all inside to where Damon was sitting on the couch holding their baby boy. Caroline instantly fawned all over him, demanding to hold him. Damon passed Rafe off with a shake of his head and kissed his sister in law on the cheek. After embracing his brother, he took a seat on the arm of the chair where Elena had situated herself. Stefan sat beside his wife with Sophie on his lap and everyone's eyes seemed to be glued on Rafe.

He was a few months old now and Caroline and Stefan had been away on a little vacation for the past two weeks, unable to see those small changes. Naturally, Elena and Damon had been updating them both with photos and videos to keep them up to date. The way they both stared at her son and played with her daughter caused a lump to form in her throat.

They deserved to be parents.

But despite their best efforts and the efforts of doctors, they just hadn't been lucky enough. Even the most perfect of couples, it seemed, had their own hardships and obstacles to deal with. And they dealt with it as best they could. With Caroline's eternal optimism and Stefan's continued research. It was part of the reason why they cherished her children and treated them as if they were their own.

"So, how was the trip?" Damon asked, placing an arm around Elena.

Caroline beamed up at Stefan. "Well…"

Elena's eyes bugged out of her head. Could it be….

"There was a reason for our trip," Stefan stated. "It was like a second honeymoon for us."

"Some might call it a babymoon…"

"You're not…?" Elena questioned, fighting to not leap from her seat.

Caroline gave a sad shake of her head. "No, it seems I wasn't meant to carry my own children. But I," and she gave a look to Stefan adding, "we were meant to have children."

"I don't understand," Damon said.

"We've decided to adopt," Stefan stated proudly, touching Caroline's arm. "The paperwork is all filed. She'll be ours in two days."

"A girl?" Elena asked, choking back a sob.

Caroline nodded, fighting back tears of her own. "A little girl. Her name is Camille. She's six."

"Like me?" Sophie piped up from Stefan's lap.

Stefan nodded. "Just like you."

"You mean I'll have someone to play with?" She hugged Stefan with such gusto that he had to grab hold of her so she didn't fall off his lap.

Elena stood up and knelt before her best friend, thinking of all they had been through since high school. All the moments they shared and all the ways they had grown. How in one night they had both found their futures. And while both those relationships had gone down different paths they both reached a place where they were completely content and blissfully happy.

"You are going to be an amazing mom," Elena said, reaching up touch her best friends cheek. "I see the way you are with Sophie and now Rafe. Camille is going to be surrounded with such love and spoiled beyond belief."

Through tears and a smile, Caroline said, "Thank you, 'Lena."

Elena looked over to see Damon embracing his brother with Sophie being sandwiched in between. The happiness radiating in the room had her heart bursting. After her and Damon switched spots and hugged the soon-to-be parents, Damon broke out the wine to celebrate, and over dinner, Caroline and Stefan filled them in on the story of how Camille had come into their lives.

Eventually it became late and Stefan and Caroline had to leave. With hugs and tears, they said goodbye and the rest of the night was spent answering Sophie's questions about Camille until she fell asleep. Together Damon and Elena tucked her into bed and then checked on Rafe, who was thankfully sound asleep in his bassinette beside their bed.

As they crawled into bed, they curled into each other's arms. Elena couldn't help the smile that remained on her face. Her children were healthy and happy and asleep in their beds, her best friend and brother in law were about to become parents, her parents and in-laws were healthy and happy, Jenna and Ric were traveling the world, and Matt and Bonnie were engaged and planning on moving closer. Not to mention the man beside her was currently kissing his way up her neck.

"I'm so happy," Elena sighed.

Damon pressed a kiss to her mouth, which deepened for a moment before he pulled back and whispered, "Me too."

"Do you ever think about how we might not have ended up together?" she wondered out loud.

He paused, easing back and meeting her eyes. "It's not exactly something I like to think about."

"Me either," she agreed. "It's just crazy how you think about all the times we got in our own way, or the universe did."

Damon kissed her forehead, nose, and lips. "I like to look at it as all that did was make me appreciate you more. If I hadn't known what life without you was like I wouldn't feel the way I do actually being with you."

Her hand danced along his chest as she looked up into his eyes. "So the obstacles just made you love me more?"

"It made it more real."

Having no words, she brought her lips to his and melted against him. She felt everything he did. The reason she had never been able to stay away from Damon was because he was the most real thing she had ever felt. He moaned against her mouth and she opened up to him, deepening the kiss. Her body craved him after not having him since before Rafe was born.

"Do you think we can?" she whispered, eyes shifting towards her son's sleeping form.

Damon's eyes went wide, eager, hungry. "Not in this room. The shower?"

Elena nodded and let him ease her quietly off the bed. They kissed their way to the shower, shedding clothes as they walked. Damon got the shower going and a mist of steam filled the room, covering both their bodies with a glistening sweat. She pleaded with him to be careful as they stepped underneath the cascading water because of what her body had been through; the birth and tearing, and he responded with gentle kisses down to her breasts and abdomen, with kisses like promises to take it slow and be soft with her.

She relaxed against the tile as he worshipped her with his mouth, easing her body wider with his tongue and then his fingers. When the familiar sensation began to seize her body, shooting out to her arms and legs, he supported her with his body and let her ride it out. Then he placed a gentle kiss against her and kissed his way up before landing back on her lips.

"You tell me if it hurts," he said quietly. "We'll stop."

Her answer was to reach down and run her hand along his length with slow ministration before guiding him towards her body. Damon lifted her up and slowly eased himself inside. She whimpered a bit at first and then her body seemed to relax, letting go of the fear of pain. It didn't hurt as bad as she was expecting, and once the pain subsided they were both able to let go.

They kept it slow, relearning each other, their fingers and mouths traveling down familiar paths of skin. It was instinct at this point, being with him. She knew his body, knew every scar and birthmark and freckle. Still, she never wanted to stop exploring him and thinking of him as a part of her own soul. Because the love that she felt for him intertwined their spirits.

"Promise me this is forever," she breathed as she felt her body reaching that sweet release once again. They had exchanged vows and tied their lives together with children, but for some reason in this moment she needed to hear him promise it to her again.

Damon stared into her eyes as she spiraled down it, falling down with her and clutching against her, trying to mold their bodies as one. And when they came out of the haze, she found that his eyes had never left hers, and after a searing kiss he pulled back and said, "I promise."

And they were forever. There wasn't a doubt in her mind about it.

They were in the happily ever after of their story, the riding off into the sunset. It hadn't been the fairytale story she had dreamed about as a little girl watching Disney movies, but it was real and it was theirs and that made it so much more.

And to think they almost didn't happen. Almost.