Okay here is the third and final one for tonight. I'll work on a few more chapters tomorrow. Hope you guys like this chapter

Routinely

Since Jenna had passed Alaric had petitioned to become the legal guardian to the Gilbert siblings. Although Jenna hadn't specified the guardian in her will, which one of them would hold the position should the worst happen. Given that it had been just over 24 hours since she had found out about the existence of the supernatural she had only had a moment to scribble a clause that would allow the siblings to stay in Mystic Falls. They knew that Ric's petition would get thrown out but it would be enough to keep the pair in their parents' home until Elena turned 18. At which point she would be classed as the guardian of her brother and legal owner of her parents' home. Ric had argued, for appearance sake that he stay in the guest bedroom until Elena's senior year was over. Jenna's room had been left untouched and preserved whilst they all still grieved.

To help Jeremy and Elena retain a sense of routine they had kept to the tradition of having family night. Caroline would arrive with Bonnie each taking it in turn to clean up and prepare a meal although inevitably Caroline would be convinced that Bonnie hadn't yet reaching perfection and so would take everything over and do it her own way. Bonnie took her usual place sat beside Elena at the dining table and when Caroline wasn't looking leaned over to Elena to whisper,

'We're having red meat again this week!' Elena nodded in an exaggerated way as if they had just seen something completely outrageous that just had to be discussed in theatrical whispers.

'Please let it not be rare again' they both held their hands together in pray position and gazed adoringly at the ceiling.

'Oh you guys want it rare!' Caroline all smiles called over, 'Anything for you guys!'

A groan could be heard in the living room coming from the direction of the dining room. Luckily Ric popped his head round the door at this time,

'How about we head for the Grill instead? Save Caroline slaving away to feed the 5,000'. Instantly Bonnie and Elena jumped up from their seats and headed towards the front door grabbing their jackets on the way. They met Damon who was standing on the porch seemingly waiting for them.

'Thank you' they both mouthed as they walked passed him. He only smiled in his own way.

'I heard that!' Caroline called to them from the kitchen.

After an evening of dinner, banter and general laughs Damon volunteered to take Jeremy and Elena home as Ric had been called away. Elena had protested that she was more than able and willing to drive them both home. However Damon could see that she was exhausted.

As soon as they had closed the front door behind them Jeremy said good night and took the stairs two at a time to his room. Knowing what needed to be done to complete the evening Damon headed to the kitchen whilst Elena headed towards the tv. By the time she had chosen a movie with both action and some cheesy couple moments, Damon had come into the living room with a steaming bowl of butter popcorn and homemade lemonade. Taken back slightly to see the lemonade in Damon's hands Elena raised an eyebrow silently asking where the lemons had come from. Damon just shrugged and set everything down on the coffee table and went back to the kitchen to get the glass tumblers. By the time he came back Elena was sat on the sofa with her legs curled under her, flipping through the trailers at the beginning of the movie.

Sat next to each other they watched the movie in companiable silence each of them keeping to their side of the sofa whilst munching through the generous bowl of popcorn. They laughed at the poorly written puns, winced at some of the action sequences when a particularly jarring shot hit a nerve with them and clapped when the hero got the girl. In silence Damon kept an eye on Elena as she struggled to keep awake at the beginning of the second movie. Silently he held his breathe as Elena's head nodded close to his shoulder and finally touched down. Just like every other family night Damon carried Elena up to her room whilst she slept deeply. And just like every other morning after family night Elena would wake up not remembering coming to bed the night before and still fully clothed.