Sigh. This is it. This is the end. I think I've delayed in posting this because I don't want it to be over. I cannot say thank you enough for embracing me and this story. I have adored every single one of your reviews and I am so proud of this story, from start to finish. Thank you so much.

I hope you like the end.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Vampire Diaries.

The large house was quiet as he made his way down the stairs carefully, a small bundle of pink cradled protectively in his arms. It was this moment, his first chance to have a few minutes entirely alone with his newborn daughter, that he hadn't known he was waiting for until now.

The last three days were a blur of fear, happiness, nerves, and overwhelming gratitude. He had been at the mill when Elena called to tell him she was in labor, as calm as though she were simply calling to remind him to pick up the dry cleaning or ask him to pick up milk on his way home. He, however, had been anything but calm, leaving the mill in a blur of forgotten wallets and shouts that Elena was in labor. He had broken a number of traffic laws, the least of which was the speed limit, before skidding to a stop at their front door.

Inside, Elena was sitting on the couch, her feet propped up on the coffee table, rubbing her very pregnant belly as she absentmindedly watched a daytime talk show. She was freshly showered, her hair and makeup done, and wearing yoga pants and one of his t-shirts which was stretched tight over her stomach. She had laughed at how anxious he was, told him they had plenty of time before their baby made its arrival. He had just started to calm down when a contraction hit.

For the next fourteen hours, he had been on edge, a bundle of nerves as the fact that he was going to be a father started to become a reality. He had spent months preparing, reading books and going to parenting classes with Elena. He painted the nursery and spent a very long night damning the Pottery Barn gods to hell for making baby cribs so complicated. Putting the car seat in their newly purchased, child-friendly SUV had been an ordeal in and of itself and the day his accountant bought up things like paying for college and starting trust funds gave him a headache unmatched by any hangover he had ever had. But despite everything he had done since Elena had told him she was pregnant, he had felt utterly unprepared as the minutes counted down to meeting his firstborn.

He was terrified by the whole process of labor. His heart rate skyrocketed every time another contraction came. He couldn't take Elena being in pain and as she screamed out and squeezed his hand viciously while he muttered useless things about how great she was doing and reminding her to breathe, he knew childbirth was, in fact, excruciating. He worried and fretted over how long it was taking, kept asking doctors and nurses if everything was okay, checking and double checking that both Elena and the baby were being monitored. Women gave birth every day. He had the niece and nephew to prove it. But his mother, the only other woman he had loved besides Elena, had died giving birth and he knew he wouldn't survive losing Elena – or their baby.

Elena had proved she was stronger than he could ever dream of being, however. Despite his pleas and the kind suggestions from several nurses, Elena had refused drugs, and fourteen hours later, Charlotte Miranda Salvatore made her grand entrance, weighing in a seven pounds on the nose, measuring 21 inches long. Damon had stopped breathing until her cries filled the room, and then she was in Elena's arms and he had wrapped both of them in his, both he and Elena crying happy tears of their own as Charlie, as they had quickly started to call her, started to calm against her mother's chest.

They didn't know the baby's gender until she arrived. They had agreed to wait until birth to find out, although they had both nearly caved more than once. The instant he learned he had a daughter, his protectiveness had gone into overdrive and his heart had turned to mush. And now, after two days of hospitals and a flurry of visitors, he finally had his daughter – his wife, and his house – to himself. It had taken banning visitors – namely Caroline – for the next 24 hours, but things were finally quiet. The three had enjoyed a midday nap before Charlie woke up, demanding a meal and a fresh diaper. Elena had woke up to feed her. He took care of the diaper, then encouraged Elena to go back to sleep. He knew she was exhausted after a rough first night at home and thought she deserved a few minutes of shut eye where she could get it.

And in turn, he got a few minutes to bond with his daughter.

"So," he said, carefully settling onto the comfortable couch he and Elena had picked out together a couple years ago, "how was your first night at home?" Charlie merely blinked, her eyes focused on Damon. He chuckled. "Not much of a talker yet, huh?"

Her eyes were a dark blue for now, but he was sure they would turn chocolate brown, just like her mother's. She already reminded him of Elena, although her little tuft of hair was as dark as his. Elena said she hoped Charlie's eyes stayed blue like her daddy's, but he was holding out for brown, also sure he would ultimately be right.

"You know, I'm pretty happy you're here," he continued. He shifted Charlie so she was nestled in the crook of his arm. He reached out and straightened the headband Elena had slipped on her after she ate. "I was pretty scared there for a while, waiting for you to get here. But now, you're here and you're perfect and your mom and I couldn't love you more. Except, tomorrow, we will love you more. And the day after that, we will love you even more than we will tomorrow."

Charlie yawned, making him chuckle again.

"I'm that boring, huh?" he asked. He knew newborns slept a lot, but for the moment, Charlie's eyes were open. He decided to take advantage of the situation. "You haven't had a proper tour of your home, have you?" he asked. "Let's show you where you're going to grow up."

He stood carefully, still getting used to the feeling of a baby in his arms, and started towards the kitchen. The Boarding House had changed dramatically over the three years he and Elena had lived in it together. They had remodeled, room by room, brightening the place with a soft color palette of blues, grays, and whites and trading the dark, mostly leather, furniture that had been in the home since Damon and Stefan were kids in favor of comfortable, welcoming pieces. Damon had declared more than once that Elena kept Pottery Barn in business completely on her own. It felt like a home now, lived in and full of love. He was already looking forward to the holidays in a few months, hosting Thanksgiving and sharing Charlie's first Christmas with Elena.

"Okay," he said to Charlie. "This is the kitchen. We spend a lot of time here. I do most of the cooking. Your mom has a lot of talents, but cooking is not one of them. Although, she has gotten better. Marginally." Charlie continued to look at him, blinking occasionally. He smiled out of sheer happiness. "Your mom made a rule that we have dinner together every night as a family, just like she did growing up, so you are expected to be at the dinner table every evening, no excuses. We have breakfast together most mornings, too. That's one of my favorite parts of the day. And now, you will be there too."

He wandered over to the French doors that led out to the patio.

"See our backyard?" he asked. "You've got a lot of space to run and play. We'll put a swing set out there when you're older, and a playhouse. I want you to have a trampoline, but your mom already said no to that one. Seems she thinks you might break your neck, or something. We'll work on her though, wear her down. If you want a trampoline, of course." He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Charlie's forehead. "I want you to have everything you could ever want."

He turned and walked out of the kitchen, making his way through the house, pointing out rooms and telling her little anecdotes. When he reached the library, he held his breath as he held Charlie in one arm and used the other to open the door. He relaxed again when both arms were around Charlie, wondering briefly if and when he would be one of those parents who could hold a kid in one arm and slay dragons with the other. He entered the room which, aside from a new rug and arm chairs, had remained largely unchanged. There was also a new set of shelves which Damon wandered towards.

"This is the library," he said. "See this shelf here? I added it a few weeks ago. It's full of kids' books for you. You have a bunch of books in your room, but I wanted you to have a place here, too. I hope you love books as much as your mom and I do." He walked to another nearby shelf. "See these?" he asked, pointing a finger towards a series of books, all while keeping two hands on Charlie. "Those are your mom's books. All bestsellers. She's a pretty great writer. She keeps a journal, writes in it every day. I've never read it – it's hers – but I think you and I are probably two of her favorite topics to write about."

He turned and left the library, pausing in the hallway to rotate Charlie from one arm to the other. Once she was settled and he was sure he was supporting her head the way the nurses had showed him time and time again, he continued their tour to his study. Again, he held his breath as he cradled Charlie in one arm to open the sturdy oak door.

Other than a new desk chair and the photos that lined his desk and the mantle of the fireplace, the study was largely unchanged. It was understood that it was his place, his sanctuary within the house where he went to get work done or to cool off after a bad day. It was also his father's and stood as a sort of legacy to the man he largely missed the chance to know. Damon didn't doubt that Elena had left the library alone as well as a tribute to his mother. It made her love her all the more.

"This is Daddy's study," he told Charlie. "You can come in here whenever you want, okay? I used to come in here and play with my trucks or read a book while my dad worked when I was really small." He ran a gentle finger along Charlie's cheek. She was so tiny, so helpless. He couldn't help but puff out his chest a bit in pride. He made his way over to the mantle, so absorbed Charlie and their tour that he didn't hear Elena's footsteps approaching. She intended to join him in the study, but stopped in the doorway to watch, to listen, her breath taken away by the sweet scene before her.

"See all these photos?" he asked. "These people are your family. We have a bit of an unconventional family, but they are family all the same." He started with the photo on the far end.

"This guy? This is Uncle Harper. He's a football player, full of himself. He's one of Daddy's clients, but he's also a good friend to me and your mom. He likes to tease me and hit on your mom, so don't pay any attention to what he says. He isn't married yet, but he'll settle down one of these days. It happens to the best of us." He grinned. "Trust me, I know." Elena bit her lip to keep from giggling.

"Right here, next to him, is Aunt Caroline and Uncle Tyler. Caroline has been your mom's best friend practically since birth. She's hyper, always buzzing about with first one thing and the next. She plans all the town events, even though she and Uncle Tyler live about 45 minutes away and they are always over the top. She usually ropes your mom in to help her, which means I get roped in because I have an inability to tell your mother no. Something tells me you're going to have the same sort of advantage over me." Elena smiled. There was no "going to" about it. Charlie already had Damon wrapped around her very tiny pinkie. "She planned a huge baby shower for your mom, and she's already talking about your first birthday party. She might bankrupt me, if we don't rein her in.

"Uncle Tyler is a lawyer," he continued. "He's a partner now. He's actually my lawyer. Chester retired – I think I may have had something to do with that, something about being difficult – but Tyler is pretty good at what he does. So, if you ever get in trouble, which you better not, but I fully expect you will because word on the street is that you get paid back for your actions through your kids and, well, I was a hell raiser, we know a good lawyer. Here's to hoping your mother's good genes cancel out some of mine."

This time, Elena bit the inside of her cheek to stop her chuckle.

"Over here is your Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Bonnie. Uncle Jeremy is your mom's brother and Aunt Bonnie is her other best friend. They moved to Baltimore about a year ago so Jeremy could take a coaching job at a small college up there. Bonnie has her own art studio. She actually painted one of the pieces in your nursery. Uncle Jer gave you a miniature football. I'm not really sure what you're supposed to do with that. I've only known you for a couple of days, but you don't look like much of a quarterback from where I'm standing."

He looked down at Charlie. She was still awake, but her eyes were starting to get heavy. "Your mom misses them more than she lets on. They are just a few hours' drive away, but I know she would like them to be closer, especially if they ever get around to having kids."

Elena rolled her eyes. Ever since he learned he was going to be a father, Damon had decided everyone needed to have children and had been dropping not so subtle hints that Bonnie and Jeremy and Caroline and Tyler needed to get started popping out kids so his would have someone to play with.

"And this is Aunt Jenna and Uncle Ric and their kids, Ella and Ethan. They just found out they are going to have another one which means Jenna and Elena might actually start calling Ethan by his name instead of 'the baby' now that there is going to be another baby." Again, Elena rolled her eyes. They did tend to refer to Ethan as the baby, but only when Damon was around because they knew it annoyed him.

"Uncle Ric was the closest thing I had to a friend when I was growing up. He's a good buddy now. He's always good for drinking a glass of bourbon. Although, things have changed. We used to talk about cars and girls. Now, I ask him for parenting tips." He shook his head in disbelief at how different his life was these days. "Ella is thrilled that you're here. She's been wanting a girl to play with. Ethan doesn't quite get it, but he's barely two, so we'll let him slide.

"Aunt Jenna and your mom are really close. Aunt Jenna stepped up in a big way, taking care of your mom and Uncle Jeremy. She was the one your mom went to every time she had a question about pregnancy. She was with us during most of your mom's labor, but we kicked her out just before you were actually born. We wanted that moment to be between the two of us, and you. I expect she'll be around a lot in the next few weeks, helping out, giving pointers."

Elena smiled sadly. She loved Jenna, but she wished it were her own mother who was there, helping her figure out how to be a mom.

"And this really ugly guy standing next to this pretty blonde – even though I prefer brunettes? This is your Uncle Stefan and Aunt Rebekah. They got married before your mom and I, but I beat him in the having kids department, so ultimately, I win."

Elena's hand flew to her mouth to cover up the scoff that came out.

"I like to give Uncle Stefan a hard time, but you know what? He's my best friend." Elena felt her heart constrict. "We weren't always close, because your daddy has a hard head, but now, other than your mom, and now, you, he's the one person I couldn't live without." Tears burned at Elena's eyes, even as she smiled.

"That's one of my biggest wishes for you," he continued to Charlie. "For you to have siblings that can be both your worst enemy and your best friend. Bonus points for having Uncle Stefan as your uncle? He's a doctor. A real, bonafide doctor. He just took an attending position at the hospital. Things were up in the air there for a few weeks, while he finished his fellowship and job searched. He gets to stay put though, which means he's going to be around for a long time to come.

"It also means Aunt Rebekah won't have to give up her house. She loves that place, decorating it and re-decorating it. I think she has baby fever now that she's met you. I could see it in her eyes when she took you into her arms. I can't blame her though. You're pretty damn cute." Damon made a face. "Guess I'm going to have to start watching my language, huh?" Elena bit her lip yet again to keep from laughing.

"See these people? This is your Grandma and Grandpa Gilbert. They are your mom's parents. They died in an accident when your mom was only 16 years old." Elena chewed on her lip, a wave of sadness washing over her. Her parents had been gone for a long time, but, with the arrival of Charlie, she missed them more than ever. "They would have loved to meet you. They would have loved you and spoiled you. I'm not sure what Papa Grayson would have thought about his daughter marrying me, but I like to think I would have won him over eventually, just by loving your mom."

Elena smiled despite the tears that had welled up once more. Her parents would have loved Damon. Maybe not right away, but he tended to grow on people. He had certainly grown on her.

"And right here? Next to your Grandparents Gilbert? That's my mom and dad, your Grandpa and Grandma Salvatore. I like to think they would want to be called Papa and Gigi, but I have no idea. They would have loved you too, so much. My mom was a good mom. She died when I was really little, but she loved me so much that I still remember. I'm going to love you just as much, more, even." Elena wiped a tear out of her eye and silently cursed her out of whack hormones.

"You were named after her, you know. Her name was Maria Charlotte Paxton Salvatore. Your name is Charlotte Miranda. You get Grandma Salvatore's middle name as your first name and Grandma Gilbert's first name as your middle name. That's a pretty special name. Your mom came up with it and when I heard it, I knew it was perfect.

"Grandpa Salvatore? He was a great man, Charlie. I was pig headed and awful and didn't realize it until it was too late. He taught me a lot though, especially about what it means to be a good father. I hope I can be half as good of a father to you as he was to me. And I hope even more that you don't push me away, not like I did with him."

Elena wiped at another stray tear.

"It breaks my heart for you that you won't have grandparents," he continued. "You deserve grandparents. But, at least we know you've got two incredible sets of guardian angels to watch over you.

"I promise you, you will never know what it's like not to be loved and cherished. Our family is unconventional, but that's what we are – a family. We love each other and we support each other. We fight sometimes, but we always figure it out. You were born into a pretty good family, if I do say so myself, kiddo."

Elena smiled, her hand over her chest. She couldn't have married a better man.

"And this picture? This one right here in the middle? That's my favorite one," Damon told Charlie. He looked down at the infant in his arms. Her eyes were very heavy now, but she was still awake, still watching him as he talked to her.

"This, Miss Charlie, is your mother and I on our wedding day, just over a year ago." Elena beamed. Their wedding photos were framed all over the house, but the one Damon had chosen to frame for his office was one of her favorites. It was a candid shot, the pair of them laughing during Stefan's best man speech. Their eyes were bright and dancing, Damon's arm around her as she leaned into him. They were blissfully happy and while not every day was perfect, most of their days ended in laughter.

"I still can't believe she said yes to me," he told Charlie. "I didn't plan some big romantic proposal. I had my mother's engagement ring cleaned and sized for your mom a few weeks before I proposed. I knew I was going to ask her to marry me, but I hadn't really planned on the when part. But one evening, I came home from work, and your mom was in the kitchen. She was wearing my t-shirt, didn't have on a stitch of makeup, and her hair was piled up on top of her head. She was attempting to cook, and dancing around to some pop song. And I just knew. I knew I had to marry her. I had to come home to scenes like that every day for the rest of my life. So, I asked her, right there in the kitchen. And she said yes."

Elena smiled brightly, remembering how she had turned around to find Damon behind her, a nervous look in his eyes, the most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen in his hand. He made a speech and got down on one knee. She took just enough time to mutter the word 'yes' before launching herself at him, the ring forgotten until several minutes later when he remembered to slip it onto her finger.

"You have the best mom," he continued. "She is the best woman, Charlie. Our wedding day was the second best day of my life. The day you were born is the best day of both of our lives. Your mom is going to love you and teach you so much. She's also going to be the disciplinarian. She's good at telling people what to do, trust me." Elena rolled her eyes. "She's also pretty good at eavesdropping. She's been standing in the doorway of this study, listening in our conversation for the last ten minutes." Elena gaped.

"I thought…" Damon turned to her, smirking.

"You thought I had no idea you were there," he said. "You should know by now that I have Elena radar."

"Elena radar?" Elena asked, walking into the room.

"My heart is always with you," Damon answered smoothly. Elena beamed at him. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his check before turning her attention to Charlie whose eyes had fluttered shut. She looked completely content in her father's arms, almost as content as he looked holding her. The role of father suited him extremely well.

"How's our girl?" she asked, reaching out to adjust the blanket Charlie was wrapped in.

"Perfect," Damon answered. "She is completely perfect."

"Sounds like the two of you were having a good talk."

"I was showing her around the place," Damon said. "We only covered the downstairs. I figure I'll hold out on showing her the upstairs until I'm pacing the floors with her in the wee hours of the morning."

"You gave her a family history lesson."

"I did," Damon confirmed. "She needed to know about us."

"You left out the part where her father is an incredible man," Elena told him. "The best man, as far as both me and Charlie are concerned." Damon smiled at her.

"I'm the man I am only because you love me," he said. He leaned down and kissed her softly, Charlie nestled between them. "And on another note, how do you feel about guns?" Elena frowned.

"Guns?" she asked. "Where in the world did guns come from?"

"I have a daughter," Damon stated. "A beautiful, perfect daughter. And some day, when she's forty, guys are going to want to date her. And I know guys, Elena. I am a guy. You remember how I was when you met me. I don't want guys getting anywhere near my daughter. So, if I have to buy a gun and sit on my front porch, I will." Elena tried not to laugh, but couldn't stop herself.

"Forty, Damon? Really?"

"I think that's fair," he reasoned. "Like I said, I know guys. They aren't touching my daughter." Elena shook her head in amusement.

"I think sixteen is a much more reasonable age for us to consider letting her date," she said. Damon scoffed.

"Sixteen," he mumbled. "You act like I'll have let her leave this house by then." Elena just shook her head again. She reached for Charlie.

"Give me my baby," she told him. "It's my turn." Damon relinquished the baby once he was sure she was secure in Elena's arms.

"I'm going to go heat up something for dinner," he said. "Got a preference as to which freezer meal or casserole I pull out of the fridge?" Between Caroline, Rebekah, Jenna, Bonnie, and most of the women in Mystic Falls, they had enough food to last them a while without having to cook. Benefits of being new parents.

"You choose," Elena told him. "I'm going to use your absence to tell Charlie how sorry I am that of all the men in the world I could have fallen in love with, I had to choose the most overprotective one of all to be her father."

"You think I'm joking about that forty years old thing."

"I don't think you're joking," Elena said with a shake of her head. "I think you've lost your mind." She looked down at Charlie in her arms. "Daddy has lost his mind," she told the infant. "But, mommy is pretty good at getting him to change it."

"That she is," Damon agreed. He put an arm around Elena and pulled her to him, Charlie snuggled between them. "She got me to straighten up and fly right."

"You made those decisions all on your own," Elena said, smiling up at him. "And I love you."

"I love you, too," he said. "So much." He looked down at the baby cradled between them. "I love you too, little one." He leaned down and placed the softest of kisses on Charlie's forehead. "You two girls get comfortable in the media room. Dinner will be served on our finest plastic in a half hour."

"Yes, sir," Elena said. "I'd salute, but – baby in the arms."

"Precious cargo," Damon confirmed. Together, they left the study, Elena turning towards the media room with Charlie in her arms. Damon headed towards the kitchen and glanced over his shoulder.

He had thought his life was complete. And then he met Elena. He lost her. Then he got her back. And life was complete. Except it hadn't been, not until she married him.

But now, they had Charlie.

And life was complete.

And this story is complete.

One more time, thank you.

And if you want to read more from me, check out my new story, Restrictor Plate!