Over 1000! I am so excited! Thank you so much!

Sorry it's taken me a while to update, but I hope you like the chapter, anyway :)

Having stopped in town for dinner, it was well after dark by the time they pulled into the driveway.

Elena hated that morning was going to come so soon, bringing all of the adult requirements with it.

She'd rather just stay right here.

Unfortunately, Damon had turned off the car ignition and was now waking a drowsy Chris in the back seat.

"Huh?" Came his grumbled response.

"We're home," Damon told him, and a little more alertness spread across the boy's face.

"Oh."

He fumbled to undo his belt, and soon, they were all walking through the front door.

Elena stacked their leftovers, to take the kitchen, as Chris announced he was retiring for the night.

"It's barely nine," Elena stated, "And you still have to shower and get your stuff together for school."

"In the morning," he pleaded, "I really just want to crash."

Elena nodded, "Okay sweetie, I'll wake you up at six."

He gave her a tired smile, told them both goodnight and started toward his room.

A second later, his door shut.

Elena shook her head, before walking into the kitchen.

Damon followed her.

"Is there anything you need me to do?" He asked, as she opened the door to the fridge.

She gave him a small smile, "No, but thank you. And thanks for this afternoon."

As she finished, he walked over to her, his hands instinctively reaching for her own, "Did it help?"

She nodded slipping into his arms, "It did. I mean, obviously it's still going to take some time before this is all over, but the distraction was nice."

"Chris will get through this, Elena," he reminded her softly.

"I know," she insisted, "I just hate that he doesn't talk much about what he's thinking. I don't expect he's having an easy time with all of this, but he's kinda closed up."

Damon kissed her head, "Don't you worry about that. I have an idea."

She looked up at him, "Should I be afraid?"

He chuckled, "No. But you're right, Chris needs to deal with this in his own way, but a distraction might help take his mind off of it some."

"What kind of distraction?" she inquired.

He brushed a piece of her hair back, "I think I'm going to go talk to your father tomorrow...about the car. Chris will be thrilled, and the rebuild will give him something to stay occupied with."

"Do you really think Dad will sell it to you, though?" Elena asked doubtfully. Grayson had made his feelings quite clear, after all.

"Can't hurt to ask," Damon reasoned, "Besides, he might also be the one with the best chance of understanding how to talk to Chris about all this."

Her brow rose, "And why do you think that?"

Damon shrugged, "He can understand the pastor. Daughter as an only child, wanting to protect her at all cost, disliking the boyfriend, and so on...maybe he can explain it in a better way, a way that Chris would understand."

"Hmm," Elena considered, "I didn't think of that. But still, I find it hard to believe that my dad is just going to coach you, per request, on how to talk to Chris about the pastor's decisions."

"Like I said," Damon pointed, "Can't hurt to ask."

She sighed, laying her head on his chest, "When?"

He swayed with her, thinking, "Probably tomorrow. No use in putting it off."

She let out a "Hmph," but didn't comment.

Damon sighed, "Hey, if you think it's a bad idea, I can just-"

"No," she corrected, "I didn't mean that. Just be careful, please. My dad isn't the easiest person to get on with, especially when he's in his mood."

Damon smirked, "Elena, I managed to handle all of your moods before. Compared to that, your Dad should be a piece of cake."

"I was not that bad," she insisted.

He was grinning now, "Oh, I don't know, you were pretty bad...especially when you were pissed at me, usually for no reason."

Now she was smiling, "I don't remember it like that. There were usually some pretty solid reasons."

"Like what?" He teased, leaning close enough for her to smell the chocolate from their dessert on his breath.

She swallowed, "None come to mind at the moment."

His lips curved, "And why is that?"

As if he didn't know, the cocky bastard.

He was doing his damn sexy "eye thing" now, and she was having trouble answering.

"Because you're invading my personal space," she answered, trying to sound like she cared.

His brow lifted, "And this is a problem, is it?"

"Maybe," she retorted, and he smiled, leaning down to kiss her.

After a moment, he pulled away, "Is it, still?"

She gave him a thoughtful look, "I may need more convincing."

He chuckled, but kissed her again, this time, pulling her body flush against his own.

Her heart fluttered when she felt herself being lifted, and then she was sitting on the island counter, Damon moving in between her legs, their lips still attached.

He kissed her soundly for a moment, and she let her fingers trail down to the waistline of his pants.

She slipped her hands under his shirt, letting the soft, but noticeable, ridges of his muscles glide beneath her touch.

He didn't seem to have much of a problem with her exploration, as he let out a contented sigh, and moved his lips across her jaw.

Elena could feel him everywhere, and she loved it.

She pulled her hands back, and wrapped her arms around his neck, causing him to look up at her. She leaned back slightly, wanting to really look at him.

Damon was here, in her arms, in her kitchen.

Tall, beautiful, blue-eyed Damon.

And he was all hers.

With a smile, she reached up and took his face in her hands, running her thumbs along his cheekbone.

He held her gaze, those compelling eyes questioning.

She swallowed, "Thank you."

His brows pulled together, and his hands came up to grab her wrists, "For what?"

She smiled a little, "I was angry, when you first showed up. I didn't know what to think, or to expect. And I was scared. I know we've said our apologizes, but I never got to say thank you. You didn't have to stay, even after finding out about Chris, but you did...you were willing to make this work, even if that meant sacrificing, and I have to say thank you."

Damon's expression hadn't changed, but he brought their hands down, until they were finger-locked in her lap.

His stare was hard.

"Elena," he started, "If anyone should be showing gratitude, it's me. I wish I'd known about Chris, I really do, but I also know that it would have changed things. A music career would have just been another forgotten idea.

I would have given it up in a heartbeat, for you and our son, but you took on the entirety of the responsibility, so that I'd never have to make that choice. You gave me my dream, Elena. You raised our baby, alone, and made it possible for me to get my career.

So even though I hate that I wasn't able to be a part of Chris's life before, I owe it to both of you to do what I can, now."

She smiled, "Well I have a few ideas on how you can make it up to me."

Damon smirked, catching her teasing look, "And how's that?"

She laced her arms around his neck, "Let's go to bed and I'll show you."

Never one to argue with a pretty lady, Damon slipped a hand under her knees and pulled her up into his arms.

She laughed as he tried to kiss her, while walking to the room, bumping a few walls along the way.

She wasn't laughing, however, when he lowered her onto the bed, and leaned forward, hovering over her.

She slipped her hands through his hair, forcing his mouth to hers in a searing kiss.

Then he kissed her everywhere.

Her face, her neck, her shoulder...he dragged his lips across each part of her, removing her clothes as he went, until she was left in only her panties.

He allowed her enough room to remove his shirt, but was soon covering her body again.

She liked being able to feel each of his muscles pressed into every curve of her body.

But it still wasn't as close as she wanted him.

He kissed her hard as she slipped a hand between their bodies, fighting to undo the button on his pants.

He lifted slightly, his abs tightening, and she was finally able to get the button loose.

It only took him a second to kick the jeans off, and his underwear followed.

He relaxed back into her, and Elena could feel his hard length laying heavily on her abdomen.

"Damon," she whispered against his lips.

She knew he'd understand, without further prodding.

The kiss became more urgent, then he pulled away to slide her panties down her legs.

She loved Damon's face in this moment. With everything going on, it's one of the things that never changed.

His heated look as he observed her naked body beneath him.

It made her desperate for them to be connected.

She squeezed his arm, tugging slightly, to bring him back down to her.

He followed easily, aligning himself at her entrance, then thrusted forward.

She cried out as she stretched around him, and his hand flew up, covering her mouth.

She blushed red.

Chris was asleep, and needed to stay that way.

They had to be a little quieter this time.

Damon slowly peeled his hand away, and replaced it with his mouth.

She moaned into the kiss, as he began to move inside her.

It was a slow build, him kissing her in long drags, sliding in and out of her at a lazy pace.

She ran her hand through his hair and his eyes shone in the darkness.

Their gazes locked as they made love, and Elena hid her smile by dropping her head into the crook of his neck.

This was all she'd ever wanted for her life.

And she was happy.

Damon was the first to wake in the morning, as Elena's alarm began to blare.

He reached over, turning out off, before it could disturb her too much.

He yawned, then stretched, before settling back against her.

She was turned away from him, their bodies spooning during the night, and she was still deliciously naked.

He had to remind himself that she had work, and Chris had school, so he'd have to prioritize.

That didn't, however, stop him from placing a kiss on her bare shoulder.

Even though her eyes were closed, Elena's content sigh let him know she was indeed awake.

"Good morning," he stated, nuzzling against her neck.

"It's not morning," she answered in a stubborn tone.

He chuckled, "I'm afraid it is, baby."

Her eyes fluttered open, and looked over toward the window, as if needing confirmation.

Then she groaned, "Can't you just make it be dark for a little bit longer?"

"I wish I could," he promised, "But I can't. I can, however, go wake up Chris while you get dressed."

She nodded her agreement, and he smiled, kissing her head.

"I'll start breakfast, too."

An hour later, everyone was showered, dressed, and fed.

Tyler had just picked up Chris, who was, for once, excited about going to school, probably because he'd see April, and Elena was helping Damon carry the dishes to the sink.

"I need to get going," she sighed, moving over the last of the haul, "But thanks for the waffles."

She reached up, pulling him into a long, slow kiss, "I love you, Damon."

He smiled, brushing back a loose curl from her half pulled up, clipped hair, "I love you, too, Sweetheart."

She kissed him again, before turning toward the island to grab her purse.

"We're you still going to talk to my father, today?"

Damon nodded, "That's the plan."

"Alright, well, play nice, please," she insisted.

He smirked, "I'll try."

She shook her head, but checked her watch, "You do that. But I have to leave now, or I'm gonna be late."

She threw her purse onto her shoulder, looking around for anything she might have forgotten, "I hate to leave you with the mess, but-"

Damon took her face in his hands, "Go, Elena. I've got this."

She nodded, "Okay, okay. Just call me if you need anything."

He smirked, "Elena."

"I'm going!" She insisted, kissing him one last time before hurrying to her car.

Damon watched in amusement, until she pulled out of the drive.

An few hours passed, and Damon had parked his car in the Gilbert's drive.

Miranda Gilbert had just come hurrying out the door.

She saw his car and paused on the way to her own.

Knowing it was now or never, he took a breath and stepped out.

Elena's mother already had a smile in place.

"Damon, I'm surprised to see you here. Is everything alright."

He nodded, as she pulled him into a greeting hug.

"Yes ma'am, it is. I was just hoping to speak to your husband."

A look crossed her face, "What has that stubborn fool done now?"

Damon chuckled, "Nothing at all, Mrs. Gilbert. I just have to ask him a few things."

She gave him a nod, pulling out her keys, "Well then I'm glad I'm heading to town. Please try and make sure I have a house to come back to."

He smirked, "Don't worry. No fights or fires planned for today."

She smiled, "Okay then. Good luck anyway."

"Thanks," he grinned, and stood by until she pulled out.

Then he turned to the door.

Time to get this over with.

He knocked shortly.

It took only a few seconds for Grayson to appear at the door.

The surprise was clear on his face.

"Salvatore," he greeted, "What are you doing here?"

Damon stood straight, "I need to talk with you, Mr. Gilbert."

Grayson scoffed, "And what could you possibly have to say to me?"

Damon exhaled, "Look, I know you and I have our problems, but it's important. Please, Mr. Gilbert, I'm just asking for a little of your time. It's about Christian."

Grayson seemed to debate for a moment, before finally, the concern of his grandson won out, and he opened the door all the way.

"Come on inside, then."

I can't wait to see what you guys think about this chapter!

Please, please, review! :)