Hope you guys enjoy this. As always thanks for the response to this story. i'm happy you're all still with me. As always let me know what you think.

Elena

I fell asleep with Damon's words ringing in my ears. I absolutely loved hearing those words falling from his lips after we made love, but I worried that he said them in the throes of passion rather than him actually feeling them. I didn't doubt him per se, but I worried that he didn't know what he was getting into with me. I came with a lot of baggage, not that Scarlett is baggage. But normally when you start a relationship with someone there isn't a custody hearing and a child involved. Damon has taken everything in stride, and I have no doubt that my relationship with Damon could go the distance. I love him and Scarlett loves him, that's all that matters. Wait, did I just say that I love him? I lay beside Damon with my eyes wide open as I came to the conclusion that I wasn't just falling in love with him, I have already fallen. I was officially madly in love with Damon Salvatore. With a smile I rolled over and slid closer to him. His arm around my shoulders pulled me against him as I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up to voices outside the bedroom door, "why don't you come downstairs with me, Scarlett? Let's let your mom and Damon sleep in."

"Okay, thank you Elizabeth. Can we make breakfast for my mommy and Damon?" She asked and I heard Elizabeth answer with a cheerful "Of course" before their voices disappeared down the hall. I smiled and snuggled in closer to Damon and his arm tightened around my waist. I gently placed my arm across him, but it was lower than I thought it would be and I felt him semi-hard. I had heard that sometimes men woke up partially hard, but I'd never felt it in person. I wondered what he was dreaming about to have him reacting like this. I hoped it was me. I kissed his chest and watched him sleep. Creepy or not he looked so unburdened in his sleep. I could watch hi sleep forever.

"I can feel you staring." He mumbled sleepily.

"I'm not staring." I laughed.

"What would you call it?" He asked with a laugh.

"Staring sounds creepy, what I'm doing is romantic. You're so cute when you're asleep." I told him and he took me by surprise and rolled me, so he was on top of me.

"I am not cute. Cute is an insult, if you ever want me to do naughty things to you again you will not refer to me as cute." He warned me, punctuating the statement with a roll of his hips. I could feel that he was hardening through his loose sleep pants and I wanted nothing more than to make love with him again.

"I would love to do this with you again right here, right now but Scarlett is up. She's downstairs with your mom." I told him and he kissed me.

"If she's with my mom she'll be kept busy for long enough for me to rock your world." He insisted.

"Yeah, they're making breakfast. Perhaps I could be convinced." I said tapping my finger to my chin. Instead of saying anything he kissed me long and deep, his tongue pushing against my lips. I immediately let him in, and our tongues tangled together. His hands crept up the shirt I was wearing.

"I love it when you wear my shirts." He said kissing down my neck while he dragged the hem of the shirt up my body.

"Fine you can rock my world." I sighed as he pushed his rapidly hardening cock into my center.

"I knew I could convince you." He said as he hooked his thumbs in my panties and pulled them down my legs. He quickly rid himself of his pants and was sliding into me moments later. I sighed and wrapped my legs around his waist. He quickly rolled us so I was on top of him with a smirk on his face. "I did all the work last night." I steadied myself and started raising myself off of him. His hands found my hips and aided my movements. It was so much more intense this way, it felt like he was going so much deeper. I braced my hands on his chest and bent forward to kiss him. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me down, so my chest was against his. My movements were shallower, but I felt so connected to him. We kissed until my orgasm hit me, he continued to kiss me all the way through it so I couldn't scream in pleasure. He followed behind me almost immediately.

"So, about what I said last night." He said after a few moments, his hand was tracing up and down my spine.

"I'm not letting you take it back. Unless you didn't mean it." I told him, suddenly afraid.

"I'm not taking it back. I'm telling you that I meant it and I'm not taking it back. But that being said I know that it's a big step and I don't need you to say it back right now. But in a pathetic sort of way I do want to know where you stand with me." He said softly.

"I can't imagine there ever being anyone else who could make me feel like you do. It's not just passion or attraction, its safety. You make me feel safe, you make me feel like my daughter is safe and that is the most important thing in the world to me. But just so you know I feel the passion and attraction too." I told him and he smiled.

"That is more than enough for me." He said before kissing me.

"As much as I want to continue this again, we really should get downstairs." I whispered as I rolled off of him.

"I'm going to take a quick shower, want to join me? I'll behave. At least we won't smell like sex around my parents." He suggested and I nodded.

After our shower which to his credit he did behave. He helped me wash my back and he washed my hair for me. His hands are amazing and felt wonderful in my hair.

"Good morning mommy." Scarlett called when we walked into the kitchen a little while later.

"Good morning baby." I said kissing her cheek. She rushed over to Damon and gave him a hug too. "Were making breakfast."

"Ohh what are you making?" Damon asked.

"Pancakes. I love pancakes, they're my favourite." Scarlett informed him.

"Thank you for letting us sleep in." I said to Elizabeth.

"Oh, it's my pleasure. She's a wonderful little girl." Elizabeth enthused as she flipped some pancakes. Damon and I went to sit down after Scarlett pushed us out of the kitchen.

"You guys got kicked out too?" Giuseppe asked as we sat down with him and Stefan.

"Scarlett is very pushy." I said with a shake of my head. I had no idea where she got that from.

"It's good to see you Elena." Stefan said with a smile.

"You too." I replied as Damon took my hand and laced our fingers together. Scarlett and Elizabeth came in carrying pancakes.

"Breakfast is served." Scarlett said as Elizabeth put the plate on the table. We all grabbed a few pancakes and started eating. I finished my pancakes and pushed my plate back. "Mom you have to eat more." Scarlett said firmly and I shook my head.

"I can't baby, I'm full." I answered before she turned her gaze on Damon.

"Dad, you have to eat more for mommy." She said without thinking. Everyone stopped eating and stared at her. It was unprecedented to us what she just said. She had never had a dad before and for her to say that to Damon it was shocking.

"Did I make a mistake?" She asked worried. I looked at Damon and he looked completely shocked.

"Do you want me to be your dad?" He asked.

"You're the only boy who has ever helped my mommy take care of me. I think that means that you're my dad." She stated matter of fact. Damon looked at me like he needed help. I loved the idea that she wanted him to be her dad. I smiled at him hoping that it conveyed to him that I was good with whatever he chose.

"Scarlett, I would love to be your dad." He said and her resulting smile brought tears to my eyes. Scarlett finally had the thing she'd been asking for her entire life.