A/N: First off I have to thank all of you for your kind reviews. It makes me so happy to know that you are reading even if you haven't been reviewing. I did receive a PM, that suggested I did this to get reviews. And I totally get where they are coming from, because I'm sure it comes across like that. I knew I was going to take a break (hence why I posted last time on a Wednesday), but I felt like I owed it to you to let you know what was going on. In no way was I trying to make you guys review. Many of you have said you appreciate that I post consistently, and I just wanted to explain why I went on a little hiatus.

It was much needed break and I feel refreshed. I definitely put too much pressure on myself to make everyone happy. And I know that I dictate the interest in my story based off reviews. I need to let that go. So from here on out I promise I will never post something like that again, because I don't want people thinking its for any other reason than just being honest. I apologize if any one else viewed it that way.

I hope you enjoy this update, I made it a little longer ;)

A couple more months and I was feeling busier than ever. I missed photography. When I got to travel for one weekend a month, I was excited to go. I missed my creative outlet. It was the one thing I felt I was meant to do. I was good at it, and I enjoyed it.

When it was time to go home, I was also anxious. Being away from the woman that was carrying my child made me feel uneasy and helpless. I kept my phone glued to my side while I was gone, in case she needed to reach me. I would drop everything and fly home if she needed me. Even if I was in the middle of a shoot.

I was busy putting together a room for my daughter. Elena and I hadn't discussed any more on what the custody terms would be. I was hopeful she'd let me have her half the time, but I understood that the beginning might be different. Elena wanted to breast feed and I knew that was important to get that down.

I had bought a crib, changing table, and dresser. I even copied one of the show rooms to make the room look like a home. I slowly stocked up on diapers, wipes, socks, and even some clothes. I was feeling more physically prepared for her than I did before. Now I had to focus on being mentally and emotionally ready.

I had done a lot of reading on pregnancy and delivery. I wanted to be informed and prepared as much as I could be. I was also reading some parenting books since I really had no idea what I was doing. I didn't have much memory of my mom, and my dad was good, but I wanted to be better. Especially considering I was having a girl, I needed to do some research.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead as I finished assembling all the furniture in the baby room. A sense of pride washed over me, as I stepped back to admire my work. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I dug it out of my back pocket. I was surprised when I saw Ric's name flash across the screen.

"Hello," I answered expecting it to be a butt dial.

"Hey man," I heard Ric's voice. "What's going on?"

"Are you drunk?" I scrunched my eyebrows together.

"No," he chuckled. "What? I can't call a friend?"

"We aren't those kinds of friends," I joked. "Were drinking buddies."

"Let's get a drink," he suggested.

"I'm not in LA right now," I walked downstairs to grab myself a glass of water. I needed to rehydrate after sweating my ass off, putting together three large pieces of furniture.

"I know," he cleared his throat. "Have you ever heard of Mystic Falls?"

Ok now I was confused. "That's a creepy town a few miles East of where I live."

"Guess who is the new High School history teacher at Mystic Falls High?"

"You followed me?" I chuckled. "You creep."

"I applied as I joke," He explained. "And then when I actually got an offer, I thought it couldn't be worse than LA."

"True," I smirked. "Are you there right now?"

"Yeah, I just got an apartment."

"Awesome," I set my glass down and checked the clock. "Well, I have to get ready for work. I'm a bartender at a club if you want to swing by tonight, I'm sure I can sneak you a free drink or two."

"Send me the address."

"Will do," I said before hanging up.

"I have to say," Ric set down his beer. "This is already so much better than LA. The people are so… normal."

I chuckled as I made a margarita for a girl that had ten layers of make up on. "Wait until you experience the people of Mystic Falls. Rumor has it, there are witches and warlocks and what not," I teased.

"Still more normal than LA," he concluded.

I handed the girl her margarita, and out of the corner of my eye I saw the door fly open to the club and Elena was moving full speed towards me. She looked terribly upset. "Uh oh," I said under my breath to Ric. "Warning… Mama is pissed."

Ric turned slightly as Elena approached the bar. She was wearing a bright coral sundress, and her hair was up in a pony tail, her skin glowing under the lights of the club. "Did you get your mail today?" Her eyes were wide, and her voice was low and angry sounding.

"Yes," I answered in an unsure tone. I had no idea what she was referring to. There was nothing in my mailbox that indicated why I had a pissed off baby mama.

"Did you get the save the date to your cousin Clare's wedding?" Her eyes grew wider like I should know why she was upset.

"Yes," I answered in the same oblivious tone. I still had no clue what had her panties in such a twist.

"It's three months after the baby is due," she threw her hands in the air like that was the worst news ever.

"And?" I prompted her.

"And!" She raised her voice. "What are we going to do? The wedding is four hours away!"

I shrugged, "skip it."

"I can't skip it!" She gave me dagger eyes. "She literally helped me so much with my wedding, I can't just skip her wedding!"

"Then I'll skip it," I shrugged, whipping down the sticky counter. "You can go enjoy yourself, and I'll stay home with the baby."

"You are not skipping your cousins wedding," she crossed her arms at me.

"I don't really care about missing a boring wedding," I snorted.

"Oh, right I forgot," Her voice got venomous. "You barely showed up to your own brother's wedding."

"Ok cool your jets, sassy pants," I rolled my eyes at her. I could feel the sting in my chest as she brought up the fact that I was an awful brother. I couldn't hold it against her, her hormones were out of control lately. She could go from angry to sad to super happy in the matter of thirty seconds. "I'm trying to help you solve this travesty," I mocked her dramatic behavior. "No need to be nasty."

I watched as her posture changed to regret and sorrow. She swallowed as her eyes cast down, and I knew she was going to feel bad for what she said.

"How about we ask your mom or someone to watch her over night?" I suggested.

Her voice was calmer, "I can't leave her for a whole night. Not when we'll be four hours away and she'll only be three months old."

"Let's bring her with," I suggested.

"I am not bringing her to a wedding where there are hundreds of people and hundreds of germs," she said with a little attitude.

"Well, we are running out of options here," I pointed out.

"I know," her eyes welled up with tears. I had a hard time keeping up the pendulum swing of her emotions. I watched as she seemed frustrated with her own emotions. She brought her hand up to aggressively wipe the tears spilling down her cheeks. "I'm so sick of crying."

I walked around the bar. I needed to comfort her, and I couldn't do that when there was a bar between us.

"Hey," I stoked her arm, as I leaned against a bar stool. "We will figure it out. It's still six months away."

"I'm sorry," she apologized looking down at the floor. "I don't know why I freaked out."

I smirked, "It's the hormones babe."

She blew out a breath as her puffy eyes filled with more tears, "I'm sick of feeling crazy."

I cupped her face as my thumbs brushed the tears off her cheeks, "Twelve more weeks," I reminded her. "You're getting closer."

Her eyes finally contacted mine, and I could see the exhaustion in them.

"How about you go home and take a nap. I will swing by after work and bring you some of that cookie dough ice cream you've been obsessed with lately and in the meantime, I will come up with a suitable plan for the wedding," I gave her a reassuring smile. "That's six months away."

She shoved my chest lightly for making fun of her for being overdramatic. "I'm sorry," she apologized again. "I don't know why I bothered you at work?"

"It's slow," I shrugged. It was then that I realized my friend Ric was sitting nearby and he probably listened to every word. I looked over at Ric, who was sipping on his beer, but I'm sure he was trying his hardest to pretend he was in his own world. "Ric," I got his attention, as I stood off the barstool, and stood behind Elena. I grabbed her hips and pushed her forward a couple feet, as I stayed close behind her. "Ric," I gestured to Elena, "baby mama. Baby mama," I gestured back to Ric, "Ric."

Elena elbowed me in stomach, as she gave me a quick glare. She reached out her hand, "Elena," she corrected me.

"It's nice to meet you," Ric smiled as he shook her hand.

"Ric is a buddy of mine from LA," I explained. "I convinced him to move here."

"Hmm," She gave me a sassy look, as she turned slightly, my hands still resting on her hips. "You guys must be serious," her tone teasing but sassy. "Asking him to move here for you."

I loved her quick wit. Especially when it was a dig towards me. Her fiery personality was my favorite thing about her. "Elena is my ex that I happened to knock up, before running away like an idiot," I explained to Ric. Even though I'm sure he put the puzzle pieces together just fine, I liked to remind Elena that I would forever regret my decision.

Elena turned back to Ric, as she pushed my hands off her body. "I swear I'm not usually this crazy," she explained to Ric. "Pregnancy hormones," she blushed embarrassed for her outbursts.

"I believe you," Ric assured her. "Besides if Damon is the father of your child, I don't blame you. I'd lose my mind dealing with his dumbass all the time."

Elena giggled, and I'm sure he saw the same thing I did. Her smile alone was enough to make a grown man turn into a puddle. She was charming and sweet. Not to mention, even at 28 weeks pregnant she was drop dead gorgeous. My desire to bury myself inside her hadn't changed one bit. If anything, it was stronger.

"Well, I hope you get the chance to meet me, when I'm normal," she nodded towards Ric in a farewell. She turned to me, "I'll be waiting for my ice cream tonight." Her face was that of a spoiled brat and it made me smile.

I reached out to cradle her cheek. If she was going to let me touch her, I was going to take advantage. She had been so distant lately and every once in a while, she'd let her walls come down just a little. I missed touching her. It didn't have to be sexual or even that intimate. But just to touch her arm or her cheek was enough for me. "I'll be there," I promised her.

She turned sharply for the door; her head held high like she still had pride. But I knew her better than that. She was probably going to cry and fret over this little public encounter all night.

I walked back around the bar and sighed as I counted down the minutes until my shift was over. I hated when the club was slow, the day seemed to drag on and on.

"I thought you said she wasn't crazy," Ric smiled as he brought his beer bottle to his lips.

"She's not," I thought about that for a second. "Normally."

He chuckled, "She seems nice," he changed his tune. "And seeing her in person, I have no idea how you got her. She is way out of your league. Like way way way…" he gestured far in the distance. "You'll have to teach me your ways."

I looked at him with a scowl, "You are not getting in her pants."

"Not her," he looked at me with disgust. "I'm talking about women on her level."

"It's the confidence," I told him. "Girls love a man that is confident in himself. Even if on the inside I have no idea what I'm doing or saying."

"That's it?" He snorted.

I shrugged, "works for me. You should try it." I made sure to look at him with a warning. "Not on Elena. She's mine."

Ric gave me a questioning look.

"Was mine," I corrected sadly.

"I'm not really into partner swaps," Ric promised me. "But just a little advice. She's got a few more months and then she is fair game. Not for me, but for every other guy that is just waiting to sweep her off her feet."

"Don't remind me," I grimaced.

"I wouldn't worry too much," Ric sighed. "You guys have so much sexual tension, it's just a matter of time before it snaps."

"I think that's just one sided," I said as I reorganized the liquor bottles below. "She usually coils away from me like a timid puppy."

"I don't know about that," Ric said doubtfully. "She seemed to lean into all your touching."

"She also goes from pissed to crying at the drop of a hat," I snorted. "She's not exactly herself right now."

"Either way," he shrugged. "She's either slipping away from you or she's thinking about coming back. If I were you, I'd make a move quick, before it's too late."

We were getting down to the wire now. Elena was only four weeks away from her due date, which meant it could happen at any day now. With this being her first pregnancy, it was more likely to be closer to her due date, or even passed it, but I was on high alert every day.

I walked into Elena's house without knocking. She didn't appreciate when I did this, but she was getting used to it. If she really hated it, she should lock her door. "Lena!" I called out.

I walked into the living room and found Elena sitting on the couch, her legs crisscrossed underneath her. She was dressed in leisure clothing, and she didn't have make up or her hair done. "What?" She seemed annoyed with my presence.

I walked over to the coffee table grabbing the TV remote and switching off the TV. "Go get ready," I ordered her. "We are taking maternity pictures today."

Her eyebrows crinkled in confusion, "What? Why?"

"Because I'm a photographer and it would be a shame if we didn't document this moment," I stood at the edge of the couch in front of her, reaching my hands forward to help her up.

"Damon," she complained. "I look like a whale, why would I want to remember that?"

She grabbed my hands hesitantly as I lifted her with ease. "You look beautiful," I told her. And that was the truth. She was one of the most breathtaking pregnant women I had ever seen. Sure, she had an exceptionally large belly now, but she looked adorable. She had a major waddle now, but other than that she was still Elena. The woman who took my breath away the first time I ever saw her.

"You're just saying that," she accused.

"You have a seriously warped view of yourself," I shook my head. "Come on let's go," I clapped my hands. "It's a gorgeous day out. Get ready fast."

Elena had taken her sweet time getting herself ready as I watched too much TV waiting while she tried on about seventy-five different outfits, finally settling on one.

Once she decided she was satisfied, I drove us out to a field I had done some pictures in before. It had tall grass and gorgeous wildflowers. It was open, so the sun shined brightly on the gorgeous field.

"I feel stupid," Elena grumbled in between pictures.

"Why?" I snorted. She looked amazing. I don't know why she doubted herself so much.

She shrugged and I noticed a slight frown in the corners of her lips. "What single person takes maternity pictures alone?" Her voice was quiet and full of insecurity.

"First off," I lowered my camera. "It's not like you have to post these on Facebook or Instagram. This is for you, and our daughter. Who cares what everyone else thinks?"

She took a deep breath as she seemed to take in my words. After she took a minute, I lifted my camera back up and she went back to being my perfect little muse. There was a slight breeze that created the perfect day for pictures. It blew her hair just enough to create movement without it looking like she went through a wind tunnel. And it made her dress hug her adorable belly perfectly.

"I can take some with you," I said after a few minutes of silence.

She shook her head, "What's the point?"

"For our daughter," I lowered my camera again. "We may not be together anymore, but I want her to know that despite everything she will always have the two of us. I want her to see that I still have a lot of love for her mom."

Elena's eyes flickered away from mine, pretending to look out to the field. But she was doing that thing where anytime I got close to her physically or emotionally, she pushed me away. She wanted to pretend like we never existed. Like we didn't have a past.

"Elena," I said quietly, after giving her a minute.

The sun was hitting that golden hour and it was gorgeous. We were wasting precious picture time by talking.

"Don't," she shook her head. "Just take the pictures, ok?"

I snapped a picture of her looking out over her left shoulder. She heard the camera click, and she snapped her head to me. "I wasn't ready," she glared at me.

I couldn't help but smile and take another picture. "I'm just getting you in your element."

"My element?"

"Yeah," I continued clicking. "Pouty."

"I am not!" She practically stomped her foot like a child.

I couldn't help but roar in laughter. She had no idea how cute it was when she was mad at me. It was an innocent kind of anger, almost childlike. She wasn't threatening in the slightest, but she thought she was.

She turned away from me with a huff so I couldn't snap anymore pictures of her. I could tell she had her arms crossed, and I could only imagine how her face looked.

After I calmed down and quit hysterically laughing, she asked, "Are you done?"

"Are you?" I couldn't help the snicker that escaped my lips.

She didn't answer, which meant she was not done. So, I decided to dig out my tripod and get it set up. She may not want pictures of us together, but I did. I wanted our daughter to look at these one day and be glad that her parents tried their hardest to make this situation the best for her. And maybe… there was a part of me that hoped we'd get back together. And I didn't want to regret not capturing this moment.

I was foolish for thinking I could ever have a second shot with Elena. It was a miracle I got to be with her once in the first place. She was an amazing person. She had so much compassion and love to give, and I just went into self-destruction mode and destroyed it all.

After I got it, all set up, I set my camera on a timer, and slowly walked over to Elena who was still facing away from me. "Hey," I gently glided my hands up her arms, to rest on her shoulders. "I'm sorry."

She didn't respond at first, but after a few seconds, her arms uncrossed, and relaxed down by her sides. I grabbed both her hands in mine and pulled her against my chest. I turned us so we were facing towards the camera just a few degrees to the right. I took both our hands and placed them on her protruding stomach. "What are you doing?" She twisted, so she could look at me.

"I'm taking pictures with you," I looked down at her.

The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, her mood changing to that of a happier one. She turned her head, so she was looking down at our hands resting on her belly.

"She's kicking," I chuckled as I felt that familiar thump against my left palm.

"Always," she chuckled.

Elena had let me touch her before whenever the baby was moving. At first it had been awkward for her to tell me, because I knew she didn't like the closeness. But after a while it was something, we could share and be excited about together. I never got tired of feeling it.

I lightly tickled Elena's sides, and she crunched into me breaking out into a fit of laughter. I figured I'd have to do something like this to get a real smile out of Elena. "Damon!" She squealed.

I took her right hand and twirled her out and away from me and gently tugged her back into, so we were face to face. I looped her hands around my neck, and I settled mine on her hips. "Why are we dancing?" She smiled up at me.

I shrugged, "I figured we could practice for my cousins wedding."

"You think I'm going to dance with you?" She rolled her eyes playfully.

"Who else are you going to dance with? My dad?" I snorted.

"Maybe prince charming will be there," she suggested with a smile.

If that wasn't a stab to the gut, I don't know what was. Ric was right. She was slipping away from me, and I couldn't watch it happen. Images of our daughter with Elena and a stepdad making happy memories flooded my brain and it hurt. The phrase a punch to the gut, was true. It was crazy how emotional pain could be felt physically.

She must have noticed my face, "I'm kidding. Nobody is going to want me with all my baggage."

"Our daughter isn't baggage," I said a little too aggressively.

"That's not what I meant," she seemed hurt. "I just…" she swallowed. "Have a child with my ex who happens to be my dead husbands' brother." She sighed as she continued to sway absentmindedly in my arms. "I don't look at our daughter as baggage. I'm just a mess. That's all."

"Elena," I moved my hands up to her face. "You're not a mess."

"I am," she nodded.

"You're a successful writer, and a great teacher," I reminded her. "You are going to be a great mother. You already are."

I kissed her forehead, taking my time to appreciate the feel of her. "You just got unlucky. It's not your fault Stefan died, and it's not your fault you fell for his dumbass brother," I smirked. "No matter how devilishly handsome he may be, he was an idiot for leaving."

When I looked down at her, I expected to see her smiling. But she wasn't. She was doing that thing where she was distancing herself from me. Her arms were trapped between our chests, and I felt her push at me, to put space between us. "You can't say stuff like that," she mumbled.

"Like what?" I wasn't sure what I said that made her upset.

She turned away from me. "Saying you were an idiot for leaving. Like…" she took a deep breath. "Like making it seem like you wished you would've stayed."

"Because I do," I made sure my voice was loud enough for her to hear me clearly. "I shouldn't have left."

"Don't," she said a little louder, but she still sounded weak.

"God Elena," I could hear the emotion in my voice. "I wish every day that I could take it back. I wish that things were different. If I hadn't left, we could be together"-

"But you did!" She interrupted me, turning to face me. She had tears in her eyes.

"I know," my voice got quiet. "Elena"-

She wiped the tears from under her eyes. "Just take me home."

"Shouldn't we talk about this," I suggested.

She shook her head, "no. It's not going to change anything, so please let's just go."

And there it was. Ric was right. She was slipping away, and there wasn't anything I could say or do to change that. And the realization of that was even more pain than I could handle. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. I felt like I could crumble to the ground right now and turn to ash.

I watched as she walked to the car, leaving me to deal with consequences of my decision. And I couldn't blame her. I fucked this up.

A/N: I hope you have great week, and I WILL see you next week :)