Hello again, this is a much shorter chapter but I was really struggling with it. I hope you all still like it, I'm still working at trying to get back into the writing groove. It's taking longer than I thought, Ive done no writing at all in the past couple years. I hope you like it, and as always let me know what you think. Also if any of my HDYWI readers are still around and you have prompts I'm open to them. Id love to update that story but since my prompt book went missing sometime in the past couple years during one of my moves I'm not sure where to start. I'd like to know what you all want to see. Thank you for reading this and for still being here. Happy reading!

Elena

It was exhilarating finally standing up to Liam after so long. I had never stood up to him before, even back when we were doing whatever it was that we used to do. I couldn't call it dating because it didn't feel anything like what I was starting with Damon. My relationship with Damon was lightyears away from what I had with Liam. Liam was just my teenage rebellion and his need for sex.

"I'm so proud of you babe." He said to me and I smiled at the pet name. Liam had also called me babe, but it was only either right before we had sex or during sex. This was different on every level.

"It felt so good standing up to him. I'm just so thankful that your dad is going to help me." I said squeezing his hand.

"I truly don't think you need my father, though it'll definitely help. No judge would ever take a child away from the only parent they know. I don't care what anyone has to say, there are more people that can vouch for you being an amazing mom." He told me and I had no idea how I got so lucky. He was more than I deserve.

"Thank you, Damon. But I know what this is about for Liam. He doesn't want full custody any more than I want him to have it. He's just insulted that I didn't just give in to him that he's taking it out on me. If I would have given him visitation, none of this would be happening right now." I confessed. By now we were walking across the parking lot at school with Caroline beside us. We were holding hands and Caroline was texting her mystery boyfriend with a coy smile on her face, studiously ignoring us.

"You shouldn't have to give him anything. He made his choice and now he should have to live with it." Damon whispered adamantly as we walked past his usual table to the one that Caroline and I usually sat at. His friends watched him curiously as he walked past them yet again.

"I just can't believe my parents are actually going to do this to me. The fact that they're willing to testify against my ability to be a mother when they've never actually seen me as a mother is infuriating." I ranted. My parent's ultimate betrayal was more than I was expecting. I knew they didn't support my choice regarding Scarlett, but I never thought they would actually try to get her taken away from me.

"I'm sorry about this Elena. I can't believe anyone's parents would ever do this to their child." Damon said with a shake of his head. We were sitting side by side and he was holding my hand on the table between us. Caroline was still texting with a smile on her face. But now I could see she had a tinge of a blush too; it was obvious the texts were getting a little steamy. \

"Earth to Caroline…" I singsonged and she looked up.

"Is it time for class?" She asked looking around and seeing all the tables still full of students.

"No, but when do I get to meet mystery guy? Anyone who has got you smiling like this has got to be good and he totally has my vote." I asked her. Caroline was happier than I've ever seen her, and I wanted to meet the guy that has her smiling.

"Soon. Maybe this weekend the four of us can go out on a double date. He's been asking to meet you and Scarlett. He wants to know my family and you guys are my family." She said with a wide smile on her face. "I just hope Scarlett likes him."

"Scarlett likes about everyone she meets. I don't think you'll have a problem." I promised her.

At 9 I headed to my Shakespeare class and I noticed right away that it seemed different now. People were looking at me differently, now it wasn't in mild fascination or confusion, now it was rapt and interested. I know they were trying to figure out how to talk to me and I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I'd flown under the radar for so long that it was nerve wracking being someone that they noticed.

"Elena, right? Want to sit in the seat next to me today?" I girl in the back row asked me as I went to my seat at the front.

"No thank you, I'm good where I am." I answered politely. I wanted to go back to being unknown but now everyone knew my name. I knew exactly why too; I was dating one of the most popular guys in the whole school. Everyone knew Damon Salvatore, and now because I was with him everyone wanted to know me too.

"How did you get Damon Salvatore to look at you for more than a one-night stand? He seems into you; I don't get it." She asked but she sounded more intrigued than jealous.

"I have no idea. He just decided we were friends one day and then it became more. Believe me, I know I'm not his usual type." I admitted.

"You are a lucky girl, there are so many of us waiting in the wings for when he decides he's had enough." She told me and I frowned. I hoped that would never happen because introducing him to Scarlett was a big risk. She would be heartbroken if he ever decided we weren't enough anymore.

Shakespeare as always was a pain in the ass. I knew I would never understand what he was trying to say. I sighed and put away my books when class was dismissed.

"Do you want to eat lunch with us?" A different girl asked me.

"Sorry, I always eat lunch with Caroline." I told her as I walked out of the classroom. When I got out of the room Damon was waiting for me with a smile on his face.

"Hey." I greeted him, letting him give me a brief kiss on the lips making all the people who suddenly started noticing me sigh.

"Hey, figured since my class was fairly close, I would come pick you up and walk with you to lunch." He said lacing his fingers through mine.

"That's nice of you." I said with a smile. I suddenly didn't care about all the attention I was getting now. I wanted to keep feeling like this for as long as I could.

"How was Shakespeare?" He asked as we walked.

"That class is going to be the death of me. My gravestone will say "Here lies Elena Gilbert. Shakespeare destroyed her."" I told him and he laughed.

"You'll get it together, you always do." He promised. People greeted us as we walked through the school and Damon nodded at most of them.

"How are you so comfortable with so many people knowing you?" I asked him and he shrugged.

"I don't know I've always been a people person. It comes naturally to me." He said as we got to our table where Caroline was already sitting.

"Okay you guys, here's the plan." She started before taking a bite of her lunch. Damon and I sat there expectantly while she chewed her burger. "Tonight, we will leave Scarlett with Damon's parents if they're available. You said that they wanted her sometime. And then were going to go for supper with my boyfriend so we can all meet."

"Cool. My parents would love to watch Scarlett." Damon said.

"Do we get a say in this?" I asked Caroline with a smile.

"You're the one who wanted to meet him, this is your chance. He works quite a bit." Caroline shrugged and she knew she had me. I was dying to put a face and a name to mystery guy. Caroline hadn't given me anything about him. I knew nothing and it was weird, so I was excited about this.

The rest of the day went by slow. After classes Elena and Caroline drove Damon home then went to get Scarlett. Scarlett was extremely excited for her evening with Damon's parents and even more so about the fact that they were sleeping there that night. Caroline was bringing her boyfriend back here since his sister was at his house at the moment. When they were all ready to go, they got back in the car and drove Scarlett over to Damon's house so she could get settled.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore." She said when they opened the door. They both grinned at her and welcomed us into the house.

"Thank you so much for this. Scarlett is excited to spend the night here." I told them.

"Think nothing of it Elena. You are welcome here anytime you wish." Governor Salvatore told me squeezing my shoulders.

"I have dress up set up for you if you're interested Scarlett. Shall we let your mom and aunt get out of here?" Elizabeth asked and Scarlett lit up. She absolutely loved dress up and was now putty in Elizabeth's hand.

"I'll see you later baby" I told her giving her a hug and a kiss. Damon had left a little earlier saying that he had a couple things to do before dinner and that he'd meet us at the restaurant.

"Are you ready to meet my man?" Caroline asked me cheekily.

"Absolutely. "I confessed.

"Let's do some damage." She replied taking my hand and pulling me from the house.