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Starcrossed Lovers

Chapter 34

Elena POV

The blissful weekend with Damon and Lewis had exceeded Elena's wildest expectations. It was beyond wonderful. Elena couldn't remember a time she'd laughed so much. Damon was so good with Lewis, better than she could have anticipated. She'd expected him to get annoyed when Lewis turned the house upside down or when he spit his food out for the umpteenth time. Damon's didn't so much as raise an eyebrow. Where Lewis was concerned, he had the patience of a saint.

"I'm going to miss him," Elena sighed as she held Lewis close to her chest, softly rocking him in her arms.

Damon smiled sadly and nodded. "Me too. It's really nice having him here. It's been a long time since I felt so carefree and happy. I didn't know having him around would have such an effect on me," he admitted, pressing his chest against Elena's back, his hands on her hips and his chin resting on top of her shoulder as he watched Lewis.

"That's what children do. Their innocence lights up the world and they turn adults into mush," Elena smiled as she watched Lewis fall asleep. Feeling beyond content, she pressed her backside snuggly against Damon. She felt utterly relaxed, holding on to both boys. For a brief moment, she imagined this was her perfect life, her nirvana.

A knock on the front door interrupted Elena's state of tranquility. Damon's hold on her hips loosened before releasing her to go answer the door. "I'll be right back," he promised.

Elena gazed at Lewis while she waited for Damon to return. "There's my baby," Lexi cooed as she stepped into the living room, her eyes focused solely on her son. Damon and Stefan walked into the room behind her, both grinning as they watched Lexi take Lewis from Elena's arms.

"Oh sweetheart, I'm so glad you're okay," Lexi sighed in relief as she cuddled him to her chest. Waking up, Lewis cried aloud before seeming to realize he was in his mother's arms, then calmed immediately.

"I told you he would be okay, Ms. Overanxious," Damon commented as he wrapped his arm around Elena's middle and pulled her to his side.

"Damon, you have to understand, I was worried. This was the first time I've ever been away from him for more than a few hours," Lexi replied softly, sounding slightly guilty.

"Of course I know that, sis, I was just teasing," Damon grinned, shaking his head.

Lexi released a relieved breath, nodded and walked over to Stefan. "We had a great time, just the two of us," she smiled, winking at Stefan. He smiled back at his wife, a knowing glint in his eyes.

"No details, please. I don't want to know if maybe I'm going to be an uncle again," Damon quickly interjected, looking horrified.

"Don't you worry Damon, you will be an uncle again, just not anytime soon. Stefan and I are planning to wait till Lewis starts school," Lexi grinned, resting her head against Stefan's shoulder while she held Lewis close to her chest.

"I don't want to hear this," Damon said, holding up his hands. Elena grinned as he headed to the kitchen and opened the fridge, undoubtedly grabbing a beer. Smiling Stefan followed his brother, leaving the women and Lewis on their own.

"So tell me, how did it go?" Lexi asked curiously as she sat down on the couch, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"It went great. Lewis is a real sweetheart. We didn't have much trouble taking care of him," Elena replied with a smile, watching as Lewis fell asleep again in his mother's arms. She was going to miss the little guy.

"I know he's an extremely easy child, hopefully I'll be just as lucky with a second one, but that's not what I was asking. How did it go with the two of you to take care of a child? I assume this felt like a test of your relationship," Lexi guessed.

Elena nodded, understanding dawning on her. "It went much better than I expected and I did have high expectations. Damon was wonderful, patient and loving with Lewis. He will make an amazing dad one day. I don't know why he can't see himself a father. He's convinced himself that he isn't family material," Elena uttered, frowning.

"I don't know, Elena. All I know is that he's afraid he'll disappoint you and any child of his. His biggest fear is turning into his father. He struggles with that all the time. Rationally, he knows he's nothing like Giuseppe, but self doubt still haunts him. Give it time. I'm sure he'll change his mind soon," Lexi advised.

"I truly hope so. The more time I spend with Lewis, the more I'm convinced I want a family of my own. I even feel a bit envious when I see pregnant women, wishing it was me. I really want to be a mother someday," Elena sighed, closing her eyes.

"I would never give you false hope, Elena, but I think Damon will surprise you. Before long he'll be ready himself. I never thought I'd say this, but he's changed so much these past few months. I've seen him grow week after week. The fact that he moved in to your apartment instead of running for the hills says everything. The 'old' Damon would've moved into a hotel until he found a new place to live," Lexi explained.

"That's what gives me hope too, I've seen the positive strides he's made. At first, I never thought he'd want to be in a monogamous relationship, but we've come this far. If he changed his opinion about relationships, why couldn't he change his opinion about having children?"

"Exactly," Lexi grinned, patting Elena on the knee. "Stay positive, honey, and your dreams will come true one day," the blonde advised. Elena nodded, believing that Lexi might be right.

Damon POV

After the wonderful weekend with Elena and Lewis, Damon was in a great mood when he went back to work the following Monday. Life was good. Being with Elena made the whole shitload of problems he had to deal with easier to bear. No matter what obstacles might be thrown in their path, Damon was certain they'd overcome them together.

His good mood changed quickly when he stepped into his office only to find Mason Lockwood occupying his desk, smirking wickedly. This could only mean trouble. Mason would never willingly set foot into Damon's office if there wasn't something for him to gloat about. The guy's head was so far up his ass!

"Mason," Damon greeted, his voice deadly calm. "What can I do for you?" he asked, suspiciously. Honestly, he didn't even want to know what the bastard wanted. Mason was bad news, wreaking havoc wherever he went.

Mason's grin grew wider, "I brought you something," the guy said, sounding beyond pleased. Damon had a bad feeling, something was up. Mason was acting far too smug.

"Which is?" Damon questioned, showing his annoyance by sighing deeply. The guy was seriously testing Damon's patience. He had work to do. He needed to be in court this afternoon and wanted to look over the case once more before leaving the office.

"Your termination papers," Mason smirked, an evil glint in his eyes as he dropped the papers in Damon's lap. "You have exactly one hour to vacate the premises before I have security escort you out of the building. Empty your drawers and make sure you leave nothing behind."

Damon stared at Mason dumbfounded. He didn't understand what the hell was happening. Termination? "I'm fired?" he mumbled, the words sounding foreign on his tongue. "I'm fired?" he repeated, this time louder.

Mason chuckled, a humorless laugh leaving his lips. "Call Richard if you want, 59 minutes," he grinned, pointing at his watch before walking out the door, leaving Damon dumbfounded.

Still not believing this was real, Damon took his phone out of his pocket and dialed Richard's number. "Richard? What the hell is going on?" he bellowed the moment Tyler's father picked up.

"Damon," Richard stated, his tone calm and collected. "I'm afraid there's nothing I can do, son."

"On what grounds are you firing me? I've done nothing that would warrant me getting fired," Damon grunted, fury taking control of his body. He was done being professional and patient. He wanted to know why the fuck they thought they could fire him.

"Someone filed a sexual harassment report against you. Even if it turns out to be bogus, we both know I don't want people who are less than stellar working for me. Your reputation will take a hit. I can't have that kind of media attention on the firm. You know I think you're a great lawyer, but I'm afraid we no longer have a spot for you at our firm," Richard explained calmly.

"That's ridiculous, Richard, and we both know it. I've done nothing wrong," Damon retorted, his voice laced with venom.

"I believe you, but there's still nothing I can do. Mason and I discussed this issue and both decided it was best if we let you go. We'll miss you at the company, but it's better this way," the man replied.

"Can you at least tell me who filed the report?" Damon asked, already knowing the answer. He wanted confirmation.

"I'm afraid that would violate our privacy policy. Good luck in the future. I sincerely hope the report disappears before your career goes down the drain," Richard said, before ending the call. Damon was left utterly speechless when the call disconnected. They fired him. They fucking fired him.

"What? How's that possible? Can they legally do this?" Elena asked furiously, having just found out about Damon's firing.

"It doesn't matter, Elena. Mason wanted me out. They would've found some way to do that no matter how ludicrous the charges are. Besides, I don't want to work for people that would fire me so carelessly. It's obvious they had no appreciation for all hours and hard work I put into my job. I thought Richard respected me, obviously I was wrong," Damon grunted, disappointment lacing his tone.

He still couldn't believe Richard hadn't fought harder for him. Damon didn't expect much from him but he did think Richard would've fought a little harder to keep Damon at Lockwood Law. Clearly he'd been wrong, the Lockwood's only care about themselves.

"It's just so unfair. Everyone knows you'd never do such thing," Elena retorted, her eyes filled with sadness.

"I know, honey, but there's nothing we can do. I'll just have to look for another job." That and he would've to figure out how to defend himself against the fraudulent sexual harassment suit. He suspected whoever falsely accused him would rescind the report once they realized he'd indeed been fired.

Feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket, Damon took it out to look at his text messages. 'Justice has been served' was texted numerous times. An angry growl came from deep within his chest. No way. No way in hell. Were they ever going to leave him alone? Setting his apartment on fire hadn't been damaging enough?

"Damon? What's wrong?" Elena asked worriedly. Not able to speak, Damon tossed her the phone. A lump formed in his throat. He lost his home and now his job. Who hated him enough to take almost everything that mattered away from him?

"You should take this to the police. They should be able to trace this number and find out who's harassing you. We can't let this go any farther. You've lost both your apartment and your job. What's going to be next?" Elena uttered, her hands trembling as she put the phone on the coffee table and took a deep breath.

"I can't lose you, Damon," she whimpered, sounding vulnerable. Damon sighed, hating feeling so helpless, and pulled Elena into his arms. He wished he could tell her it was going to be okay, but it would be a lie and they both knew it.

"You won't," Damon replied, not if he could help it.

Not surprisingly, a few days later someone at Lockwood Law called, informing him the sexual harassment charges had been withdrawn. They wouldn't identify who the person was who filed it in the first place. The police had also been unsuccessful in their efforts to trace the texts. A disposable cell had been used to send them. There was nothing they could do. Damon shook his head in utter disbelief. This person was succeeding in destroying everything Damon held dear.

Damon didn't even have the energy left to be angry about it. Confused and emotionally drained, he couldn't fathom any explanation as to why someone would do this to him. Danger was lurking and he had no idea when it'd strike.

"Damon?" Elena asked softly, her voice filled with worry. He'd been pulling away from her for days. He knew he should embrace her love and keep her close, but he felt so despondent. The threats gnawed at his conscious. What if someone tried to hurt Elena to get to him? It would break him. He'd never be able to live with the guilt.

"We need to get away from this toxic city for a few days. I know how overwhelmed you feel and we could both use a break," Elena stated fiercely, cupping his chin and forcing him to look her in the eye. "I love you, honey, and it crushes my heart to see you this way. I know you're hurting. You have to talk to me."

"I just don't understand why someone would do this," Damon mumbled, sighing deeply as he rested his head against Elena's.

"I don't know either, sweetheart. It stupefies me," she replied softly, gently stroking his cheek as Damon closed his eyes.

"I want to keep you safe, Lena, but I don't know how. I feel so powerless. I'm used to being in control. Someone is deliberately trying to ruin my life and I have no clue how to stop them," Damon said, his inner demons showing.

"Maybe the note meant they're done. Maybe they think you got your just desserts and they'll leave you alone now," Elena retorted. Damon had to admit he also pondered that possibility. Still, he wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully in his bed as long as he knew the perpetrator was still on the loose.

"I hope so, but we can't be sure," Damon muttered before placing a soft peck to Elena's temple. "You want to leave the city?" he asked, remembering her earlier statement.

Taken aback for a moment, Elena replied, "I do. I've been wanting to go home to see my mom for a few weeks already. I think it would be a good idea for us to leave New York for a few days, plus I really want you to meet my mom."

Damon nodded. "It's not a bad idea. Since I'm now unemployed, nothing is keeping me here." He didn't have to prove himself to anyone anymore. Maybe a few days away would help clear his mind. It might also give him a needed boost of confidence to start the job hunt.

"Are you sure? I don't want to pressure you. I mean…you'd finally be meeting my mom. That's a huge step in our relationship," Elena mumbled, looking unsure.

"That's not a huge step, Lena. If she lived closer we'd probably see her all the time. The huge step was our decision to commit to each other. Telling you I love you and taking you to meet my mom were gigantic steps for me," Damon retorted.

Elena nodded and smiled. Damon didn't understand how she could still be so insecure after everything that happened between the two of them. He knew she had a troubled past with men but felt she should be past those nagging insecurities by now.

"You're right. I was just…being me, I guess. I have complete faith in you and our relationship. Sometimes my fears just resurface out of nowhere," Elena admitted, looking sheepish.

"I know, don't worry about it," Damon assured before pressing a wispy kiss on her lips. "Should we call your mom?"

"Nah, let's surprise her," Elena grinned, looking excited. Damon smiled at her giddiness. He should've realized she missed her mom. With everything that was going on, he'd completely forgotten about Elena's family. He couldn't imagine being away from his family for any length of time.

"You should've told me you wanted to visit your mom," Damon said softly as he pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I didn't want to bother you. You just lost your apartment. I didn't think you were up for a vacation," Elena confessed.

"As much as I love that you were trying to protect me, tell me next time. If I don't feel up to a trip at that time, I'll let you know. Right now, I have to agree with you, it's the perfect time to get out of Dodge."

Elena smiled softly before wrapping her arms around his middle and resting her head against his shoulder. "Glad to have you back, honey," she whispered softly. Damon smiled, understanding what she meant. He'd finally pulled his head out of his ass and told her how he felt instead of pushing her away.

"Me too, Lena, me too," he whispered back as he wrapped his arms tightly around her frame.

"She's going to be ecstatic when she sees us," Elena grinned as the cab pulled into her mother's driveway. After their talk, Damon immediately booked the first flight to Mystic Falls. Seeing Elena's bright smile was worth the effort it took to get them on that flight. Damon didn't think he'd ever seen her more enthusiastic. Clearly, she missed her mother more than she let on.

"I'm sure she will be," Damon agreed, helping Elena out of the cab when it stopped moving. Much to his surprise, he wasn't worried in the least about meeting Elena's mother. His intentions were honest. Any mother would warm up to a guy when she realized he meant well with her daughter.

"I'm curious to see if her boyfriend moved in. Last time I was here, they seemed pretty solid, but were still taking it slow," Elena mumbled as she fastened her coat.

"I think your mom will be a lot more careful after what happened with your dad. Hopefully she'll give the guy an honest chance," Damon said, the irony of the situation dawning on him. If Elena resembled her mother even a tiny bit, he already felt a kinship with the man trying to win a place in Miranda's heart.

"Mom is being cautious, but I think Frank has already won her over. Last time I visited, my mom seemed so deliriously happy," Elena explained. Damon grinned. A deliriously happy woman meant only one thing, she was getting laid and enjoying every moment of it. Maybe Miranda was a little more easy going than her daughter.

Before Damon could say anything, the door burst open and a middle aged woman stepped outside. "Elena?" the woman stated in disbelief, her eyes wide as saucers.

"Hi, mom," Elena smiled. The woman gasped loudly before running to her daughter and pulling her into a tight hug.

"Oh honey, I'm so happy to see you," Miranda uttered, tears filling her eyes as she held on to Elena for dear life.

When they finally let go of each other, Elena glanced sideways to Damon. "Uh, mom," she started, sounding a tad nervous. "This is Damon, my boyfriend."

Damon noticed the woman take a deep breath before turning her head to look at him. She seemed just as nervous as her daughter. Damon suddenly realized he was probably the first guy Elena brought home after the Matt fiasco. Miranda was probably a little worried about Elena's choice in men.

"Hello Ms. Gilbert," he smiled politely, holding out his hand. Miranda smiled and tentatively shook his hand, her grip feather light.

"Damon," the woman nodded, still looking unsure. Well, this was awkward, Damon thought. Maybe they should've let her know they were coming so she could have prepared herself a bit.

"We wanted to surprise you," Elena interrupted, ending the awkward silence.

"Well, you certainly did, sweetheart. When Frank told me a cab pulled up, I thought he was joking," Miranda said, shaking her head.

Elena smiled. "Frank?" she repeated.

Miranda's eyes widened. "Uh, yes, honey. Frank, he…uh…we."

"Mom, it's okay. Honestly, I was hoping you would ask him to move in," Elena interrupted before her mother made a fool of herself. "Don't worry. I told you I was okay with you having a boyfriend."

"I just didn't know how to tell you, sweetheart. It all happened so quickly. One moment I was so angry at your father, and the next I have this incredibly thoughtful man in my life. I never expected to find someone else. I'd accepted the fact that I'd be alone for the rest of my days," Miranda explained, sighing deeply.

"I'm thrilled for you, mom. You deserve to be happy," Elena smiled as she pulled her mother into another hug.

"Come, let's get you both inside," Miranda replied, changing topics. Damon grinned. Like mother like daughter. He could already see the resemblance. Neither one of them could accept a compliment.

While Elena was busy visiting with Frank in the kitchen, Damon approached her mother. He'd been trying get her alone for a few moments all day. After their awkward introduction, Damon quickly won Miranda over. She'd been stupefied that Elena arrived unannounced and with a man no less. Apparently, Frank and she had been planning to come to New York to visit Elena, but she hadn't yet summoned the courage since she was afraid of flying.

"Miranda? Can I talk to you for a moment?" Damon asked, "Privately," he added as her eyes wandered to Elena.

"Of course," the woman replied with a nod, walking out the backdoor. When they stepped outside, a cold gust of wind embraced them. It had been a sunny day, but the temperatures dropped with the sunset.

"I've been wanting to ask you something," Damon started, looking for the right words to pose his question.

"Fire away," Miranda smiled. She had the same smile as Elena, sweet and kind. It made some of Damon's worries disappear.

"Since Elena doesn't have contact with her father, I decided you were the right person to ask. After the tumultuous year we've endured, I've decided to ask Elena to marry me. I want her with me always and forever. Before I propose, I wanted your approval. I want to marry your daughter, Miranda, more than anything. She's my reason to breathe. I can't imagine ever spending another day without her," Damon stated, a weight falling from his shoulders.

Tears welled in Miranda's eyes as she watched Damon in wonder before a smile spread from ear to ear. "Are you going to take good care of my girl?" she asked.

"I will love her till the day I die. I'll do my absolute best to make her the happiest woman on the face of the earth," Damon promised.

"That's all a mother could ask for," Miranda smiled. "Get that engagement ring on her finger and give me some grandchildren, Damon," she added with a grin.

Damon smiled broadly and nodded. The engagement ring would be no problem. The grandchildren, maybe in a few years. He hadn't told Elena yet, but he'd been thinking more and more about having children. Ever since Lewis spent that weekend with them, Damon had many daydreams imagining Elena heavy with his child.

"We should go back inside before Elena gets suspicious," Miranda pointed out.

Damon followed her into the house, only one thought in mind, where on earth would he find the perfect engagement ring?

Thanks for reading. What did you think of the chapter? Mason finally got what he wanted, Damon's gone from the firm. Also, he's going to propose! Told you the end was nearing ;)

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