Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Vampire Diaries. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and L.J. Smith. I do own the original characters made up for this storyline. Thank you.

Writer's Notes: Thank you Siobhan Whitlock, armywife1979, and pozemon for your reviews! I want to apologize for taking longer than normal, my husband and I tested positive for covid, and we've been pretty wiped out. Two out of three of our kids are also showing symptoms, so it's been really rough this week. I managed to get some time to finish this up to get it online. There are four chapters left and an epilogue for this fanfiction. I hope you all enjoy! As always, thank you everyone for the amazing support and follow, favorite, and leave reviews!

[April 1st: Mystic Falls General]

Bella finally woke up, in the hospital bed. She looked around, seeing Mary, Klaus, and Jasper. "Hmm. What happened?"

Klaus let out a shaky breath. "Um. Appendicitis. It ruptured and they had to rush you back for surgery. It was a little touch and go, but you're finally awake, so that's good."

Mary smiled, and reached over and brushed hair back from her face.

"Okay. Why do you look so strange?" Bella asked, looking at Klaus' worried face.

Klaus looked over at Jasper, who gave him a small nod. He sat down on the edge of the bed and took her hands in his, his thumb rubbing over the back of her hand. "Love, you were six weeks pregnant."

Bella felt her heart stop, and she was stunned. "Whhat?" She blinked a few times. "Was?"

"The surgery. It just wasn't good for it. Uh…" Klaus looked down.

"The baby didn't survive sweetie." Mary said softly.

"Oh." Bella said it in a small voice. "Oh." She looked at her Klaus' hands entwined with hers now. "I'm sorry."

Klaus shook his head. "Why are you sorry love?"

Bella wasn't sure why she was sorry. "I…I was sick, I had pain all morning, but I ignored it. If I hadn't. Maybe the baby would have made it."

"Oh baby," Klaus said softly. He reached out, touching her face. "You don't have to be sorry. We didn't know anything…it's my fault if anything."

She shook her head. "No. It's not," she sighed, and then looked around the room again. Her eyes landed on Jasper. "I'm sorry Jazz."

Jasper shook his head and smiled. "No problem darling, just worried about ya is all."

Bella smiled back and then looked at Mary. "Oh Mary, I'm sorry, you have to get back to the kids."

Mary shook her head. "No. Jeremy is picking up the girls from ballet, and Elena is going to watch them until we get home. Damon went to pick up Matthew from Sharon for me, so Sharon can get to work."

Bella nodded. "Okay. I didn't want to be a burden."

When they got Bella home, it was midnight, and Mary went straight home to be with the kids. Jasper retired to the bedroom with Rebekah.

Bella was ordered to stay in bed and had to stay in bed for 2-4 weeks until she healed.

[April 17th: Swan Residence]

Bella was moving around better. Her incision where they took out her appendix was healing good, but the doctor didn't want her lifting anything and she wasn't allowed to drive just yet. She decided to go into her studio and work on a painting after completing schoolwork that Jasper would pick up later and bring to school later for her teachers. They were close to graduation, and Bella could hardly wait to be done with school.

Mary let herself in, like she had done with the key that Bella gave her. She found Bella in the studio painting. She smiled. "Bella, guess what!"

Bella turned and looked at Mary, smiling. "What?"

"Damon asked me to dinner."

"It's about damn time," Bella said, grinning, putting her paint brush down. "Where is he taking you to?"

"He didn't say. He said to dress nice. But how nice is too nice?" Mary was so excited, and Bella could tell.

Bella thought about it. "Come on." She said and brought Mary upstairs to her room. Bella was moving slower than normal, but Mary kept pace with her. "I have a few dresses that will work. How about the kids?"

"Oh, I was going to ask if you and Klaus would watch Matthew?"

"What about the girls?"

"Annabeth is spending the night with a friend tomorrow, and Lola is going with Sharon to do their weekly date nights." She explained.

Bella nodded. "Sure, we'd love to watch Matthew. Spoil him rotten," she grinned.

"It's not going to be too much. With your recovery?"

Bella waved a hand, "I'm fine," she said and pulled a navy dress out of her closet and held it up to Mary. It was loose fitting. "Try it on."

Mary took the dress and disappeared into the bathroom and tried it on and then walked out. "It's a bit tight across the front."

"But you look hot." Bella pointed out.

"I do," Mary smiled. "I'm not used to form fitting things. I've had three kids."

"But you don't look like you have. You're tiny like me." Bella said with a smile.

Mary nodded. "My mom always bounced back after having kids." She was truly excited to go out with Damon. She felt somewhat guilty about it. Her husband was an amazing man. He was a hero and died a hero. He gave her three beautiful children. He never got to meet his son, which is why she named her son after his father.

"Mary?" Bella asked softly.

Mary was tearing up; she hadn't realized it. "Oh, sorry."

"Are you okay?"

"It's silly."

"Nothing is every silly. You can tell me." Bella assured.

Mary hesitated. "It's just. Rodger…he was a great husband, father, man, all of it. I did love him, and he has been gone over a year now. I'm finally feeling happy again, and I just have this slight guilt and- "

Bella shook her head. "That's normal. Mary, no one expects you to stop loving your husband because he's gone. He will always be apart of you. That's okay. Moving on, and being happy is not wrong, and I know that Rodger would want you to be happy, and to move on, and not dwell on the past. It's okay to live."

Mary nodded, smiling, wiping tears away from her eyes. "Thank you, Bella." She said and turned and hugged Bella gently.

[April 18th: Mikaelson Manor]

Damon and Mary arrived at the manor around five pm. Bella answered the door, to Damon holding Matthew. She stepped to the side to let Damon and Mary inside.

"So, you two have tons of fun." Bella said, and reached for Matthew, but Klaus intercepted.

"I'll take him," Klaus said, and took Matthew from Damon. Damon handed over the diaper bag of Matthew's things to Klaus.

Damon smiled at Matthew, who smiled back at him. "Thank you for watching Matthew for Mary."

Bella waved a hand. "Of course. He's my godson, I shall watch him whenever you need me to. He's staying overnight right?"

Mary looked at Damon, and then Damon nodded. "Yes. If that's okay?"

Mary smiled and nodded. "Thank you Bella, Klaus."

"You two have fun!" Klaus called as he walked, carrying Matthew, towards the front room, where he had bought some baby things for Matthew's age, to play with during his stay.

Damon smiled and then leaned in and kissed Bella's cheek. "Thanks again Bells. Don't strain yourself, and no lifting." He warned, and then he left with Mary.

Bella walked into the front room and found Klaus laying in the floor, Matthew was crawling all over him, giggling. She raised a brow. "You never lay on the floor."

"Well, Matthew just wanted to play."

"He's fourteen months old."

"And?" He said with a wide grin.

Bella shook her head, and crossed over to a chair and sat down, and watched Klaus play with Matthew expertly. It made her heart flutter to watch how amazing he was with Matthew. It made her realize that she did want children, and Klaus was the perfect man for that.

[Mckinney, Virginia: Blue Moon Restaurant]

Damon had made reservations earlier in the week for him and Mary. He was excited and nervous about taking her out tonight. He was sure she would say no, but Bella had insisted that he just give it a shot. So, he did. Mary was incredible in his eyes. She was beautiful, her golden hair was to her shoulders, and her sparkling green eyes just seemed to capture his soul. Her children were some of the most well-behaved children he had ever met, and he had to admit that they stole his heart too. Especially Annabeth.

"This is really nice." Mary commented. She looked around at the beautiful ornate walls, a water fountain in the lobby. It was a French place that Damon really did like. He had hoped that Mary would too.

Damon smiled. "Well, it's one of my favorite places to come to." He commented and then the host took them to their table. It located in a private corner, where it was quieter, more intimate.

Mary looked at the menu, which was all in French. She smiled at Damon. "I'm going to have to trust you to order for me. I don't read French."

Damon motioned for the waiter. The waiter was right over. "Excusez-moi, pouvons-nous avoir un menu anglais s'il vous plaît."

The waiter nodded and disappeared and brought a menu to Mary that was in English so she could understand it.

Mary blushed. "Thank you, you didn't have to do that."

"It's no problem. I forget sometimes. I come here with other colleagues before, and most of us speak French." He explained.

"It makes me want to learn French," she said with a laugh. "I can't speak a second language, let alone four."

Damon shrugged. "I grew up learning different languages. My family comes from Italy, and so growing up, we spoke Italian and English in the house. I went to boarding school from a young age. I started learning French while I was in fifth grade, and Latin in eighth. Stefan didn't go to boarding school. Our parents died when I was fourteen, and Stefan was only seven at the time. Uncle Zach didn't believe in boarding schools and gave Stefan the option to stay in public school. Stefan's best friend, Matt, went to public school, so he opted to stay. I stayed where I was because I was on track to graduate at fifteen and start my college life by sixteen."

"Wow, you're just incredible. Are you and Stefan really close?"

Damon nodded. "We are. I missed him while I was away. I studied at Princeton, so I was away from Mystic Falls for some time. I finished law school at 22, achieving my JD portion of my degree in 2 years instead of 3. I started off in prosecution. I worked for the state in New York. I was on the prosecuting team that saw large cases. I did that for a year before I came back home to Mystic Falls, I just didn't feel like I belonged. I missed Stefan, I had visited him on holidays and such, but I really just wanted more with my life. I opened up my own firm in Mystic Falls, and the rest is history." He said with his dazzling smile.

"So much accomplished and so young…" Mary murmured.

The waiter came to the table. "What can I get for you two to drink?" The waiter's accent was heavily French, and he spoke English out of courtesy for Mary.

Mary smiled. "Water for me please."

"Apportez-moi une bouteille de chardonnay, s'il vous plait." Damon said and the waiter nodded and was off.

"I heard Chardonnay. So, wine. Is bouteille…. bottle?"

Damon smiled and nodded. "That's right. S'il vous plait means please."

Mary nodded, smiling. "S'il vous plait." She tried the words out on her tongue. It wasn't so hard to say, and it surprised her.

"Very good." Damon said with a grin.

Damon ended up ordering a ratatouille, and Mary followed suit, because Damon insisted that it was good, and he was right to her surprise, she enjoyed it. They laughed and talked about random things. From Damon, falling off a horse at age ten and breaking his arm, to Mary's own adventure with breaking her leg while climbing up the side of a small cliff to jump into the river with the other's.

He got her back to his car, and she was still smiling, and laughing from their dinner. "That was really great. Thank you," she said, once they were seated in the car.

"I would like for you to pick the next place." Damon said. "Assuming there's a second date." He grinned.

"Of course." Mary said smiling. She leaned in, her green eyes holding his crystal blue ones, his face dipped to hers, and then their lips connected. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt warm all over, like the world shattered around her, and it took her breath away. It made her gasp against his mouth, and his hand wound in her hair as he drew her closer, his tongue melting against hers. She moaned against his lips as a fire sparked between her legs, and she realized it had been almost two years since she had been intimate with someone.

Damon pulled away, bringing the kiss to a close, by kissing her softly against her lips, and then her cheek. He smiled at her, his hand dropping to her cheek from her hair, and he brushed his thumb over her. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were magical. He wanted nothing more than to be with her right now. But he was patient, he would wait.

"Take me home…" she said, her eyes seductive, her voice matching.

"Mary…"

"I…" her eyes glanced away, and she blushed more. "I really…want to be with you Damon. This feels right." She said, and then Damon nodded, driving away from the restaurant and heading back to the Salvatore house.

[Salvatore House]

Damon and Mary got inside, heading upstairs, pulling at each other's clothes. Mary was eager, her hands a little nervous, but his hands weren't. He pulled her to the bed, laying her on her back, and then unhooking her bra in the front. Her breast fell free, and his hands moved over them, getting a small moan from her. She arched up as he slid her bra away completely, his bare chest connecting with hers, and he shifted, pulling at her panties, that matched her bra, a delicate ice blue. She was beautiful.

"You are gorgeous." He murmured to her. Sure, she had some imperfections, from her time bearing children, but to Damon, that made her more beautiful. Mary blushed, her heart fluttering at his words. She had been self-conscious about her body, and what Damon would think, but it made her feel better to hear his words.

"Merci," She said with a smile, using the French word for thank you that he taught her.

He grinned and then leaned down after taking his own pants and boxers off. His mouth captured hers in a deep, passionate kiss before he left her mouth for her throat. He sucked their lightly, his hands running over her body, sending small thrills through her. His mouth moved to her shoulder, to her chest, to her breast, sucking her nipple into his mouth gently, and teasing it with his tongue. She sucked in a breath as the sensation flew through her body. His hands moved to the inside of her thigh, and then over her clit, drawing gentle circles. She moaned, arching against him again. She wanted him then and now, the way he was teasing her was building so much so quick. Her hands gripped the sheets, and her mind melted as she got lost in the whirlwind that was Damon Salvatore. Then he was back at her mouth, kissing her as he slid into her. He was large, and she was tight, and he moved slowly at first, giving her time, and then they were moving together in a fury, their hips colliding repeatedly. Her orgasm shook her, and she cried out his name, clinging to him, as her body shuddered. Her hands raked down his back, her nails biting his skin, but he didn't seem to mind as he thrust forward. His own moan filled her ear, and that sent shivers through her. He was tight inside her, ready to bust. Then he was groaning as he thrust forward, cumming hard, and the thin rubber condom he donned before entering her, collected his seed. He thrust a few more times, emptying himself completely before collapsing with her to the bed. They were both panting hard, his heart beating in his chest erratically.

He rolled to his side and then summoned the energy to get up. He took the condom off as Mary watched.

"I didn't see you put it on." She was still dazed.

"I slipped it on while you were caught up in the passion." He said with a smile but frowned as he looked at the condom. It was torn a little. "But."

"But?"
Damon inspected it some more. "It broke."

Mary shook her head. "I have an IUD, I got one after Matthew was born. And I'm clean."

Damon nodded, throwing the condom in the trash. "I'm clean as well, I was worried about you mostly."

Mary smiled. "Thank you," she said and then Damon got into bed and pulled her against him, her head resting on his chest. She was content, and happy, and elated, and so many other things right now. She was so happy that Bella came into her life when she did.

[Mikaelson Manor: The Next morning]

Matthew had slept good without his mom there. Bella was surprised and he even woke up in a good mood. Of course, Klaus was up before she was, and was already making him breakfast. She smiled at him as he sat in the highchair. "You're such a happy kid." Bella said, and booped him on his nose and that made him laugh.

Damon and Mary were there already that morning to pick up Matthew. They walked into the kitchen to Klaus cooking and Bella playing with Matthew in the highchair.

"How was he?" Mary asked, smiling.

"Perfect," Klaus called over his shoulder. "Do you guys want breakfast?"

Damon shook his head. "No, we ate already this morning." He said as he sat down at the bar, with Mary right beside him.

Bella smiled over at the two. "So, you two have a good night out?"

Mary and Damon looked at each other and smiled. Mary's blush was enough to tell Bella that there would be details later. "We did," Damon was the one to answer, reaching his hand over and taking Mary's hand in his, lacing their fingers together.

"That's wonderful. Well, for now on, pick a night, and leave Matthew with us, and we'll keep him while you two enjoy yourselves." Bella said, and then took the food from Klaus that he had prepared for Matthew. Bella sat it down on the highchair, and Matthew went straight to feeding himself. He already had some teeth and was really good at feeding himself without too much mess.

Mary smiled, watching her son eat his breakfast. The warmth of Damon's hand on hers was comforting and she was happy right now, content with life.

Damon and Mary left after breakfast, taking Matthew with them. Klaus and Bella were alone now.

"I want one." Bella said suddenly.

"Want what love?"

"I want a baby."

Klaus dropped his phone out of his hand. He had just picked it up off the counter after cleaning up in the kitchen. "What?"

Bella looked back at him. "You don't?" She frowned.

"Yes, I do. I just didn't think that you…"

Bella nodded. "I do. I really do. I want to have children with you, grow old with you, the whole thing. Is that crazy?"

Klaus moved to her then, putting his arms around here, and pulling her to him gently. "That's not crazy at all love. It sounds like a perfect plan. First you graduate next month." He kissed her on the lips. "Then college." He kissed her again. "Then- "

"Marry me," Bella murmured.

Klaus froze.

"Marry me," she said it again.

"You're asking me to marry you? Aren't I supposed to be the one asking?"

Bella smiled. "That's old school ways. I'm asking you to marry me NiKlaus Joseph Mikaelson."

Klaus smiled. "Hmm. Well," he kissed her softly. "I will marry you Isabella Marie Swan."

Bella grinned and then slipped her hand in her back pocket and pulled out a special ring.

"Do you always carry a ring around with you?"

"I actually do. It was my dad's. It's the family sigil." She pointed out. "All the men in the family have one. Jeremy's was made special, as was my dad's. I know that it seems a little clique, or whatever, but I want you to have it. The ring means a lot to me, and you mean a lot to me." She murmured.

Klaus looked at her, amazed at everything that she was. He took her hand in his and then she took the ring and slid it onto his finger. "Hmm. It fits perfect love. Thank you. I will always try and honor your father. He was a great man." He leaned in and kissed her. "So, you're my fiancé now?"

Bella grinned, resting her head against his. "Yes. That's exactly what it means."