A/N: thank you for the reviews/ alerts :)
Damon held Elena close to his chest, soothing her.
"i miss them so much, but I know I can't see them, especially with Alexander, they won't understand." Elena sobbed, tugging at his shirt, getting frustrated. Damon sighed.
"Alaric and Jeremy would understand, so will Bonnie and Caroline." Damon tried to make Elena feel better, he didn't like her hurting, and he wanted her to be happy. Elena shook her head, they wouldn't understand, she only left a few days ago, and she has a son, they wouldn't understand. Damon just held her, knowing that she wasn't going to see sense. After ten minutes of holding her close to his chest, he let her go, kissing her forehead, before kissing her mouth, softly, lovingly, she sighed calmly and rose to her feet.
"We have things to do." She whispered, throwing some clothes for her and Damon into a holdall, before putting the essentials she needed to care for her son on top of everything else. Damon watched her carefully; he could see she was hurting; that she had slowly began to crash. He just followed her around the house as she collected some belongings to take with them to California, and returned to get their son. He was still fast asleep when Elena carried him to the car. Damon just didn't know what to say to her, to make her feel better, he'd taken her away from her family and friends, he'd done that, no-one else, he, single handed, had taken her away from that atmosphere she loved so much. Guilt was eating him from the inside out, he was going to end up snapping, he'd never felt guilt this intense before. She didn't say anything to him when they drove to the office where she had to sign for the house, so that Stefan, or any other vampire, beside Damon couldn't come in, without her permission, she didn't say anything while she signed the papers, she didn't say anything as they left, or when Alexander screamed to be fed. She was silent, so silent it scared Damon.
"I'm so sorry," He apologized, as they headed towards California. Elena looked at Damon; still no words came out of her mouth. Damon tightened his grip on the steering wheel until his knuckles were white, and he was straining to stop himself from breaking the steering wheel.
"I took you away from everyone who you love, who you care about, you're isolated with me, and I know you don't want that." He said, looking straight, not really wanting to see Elena's facial expression, he chewed on his lip, trying not to cry, he loved her so much, he loved her enough to let her go.
"Damon…" she whispered, looking down at THEIR son, their beautiful baby boy, she placed her hand on his arm, and he sighed, and pulled up, knowing this couldn't wait. He turned to face her, and he couldn't help the tears that flowed down his cheeks.
"I want to be here with you, I love you, I mean it Damon, I love you more than anything, I miss my family, because they are family, I'm not isolated, I know you'd let me go if that's what I really honestly wanted, but I want to be here with you, I wouldn't take our son away from you. Damon, stop beating yourself up, you took me away to protect me, I appreciate it. I love you, and I'm staying here, with you!" Elena wiped the tears away, and ran her fingers through his hair. That was all he needed to hear, he leant over and kissed her, and then kissed their son on his forehead.
"I love you too." He whispered, caressing her face.
Elena smiled at Damon, and he smiled back.
The 15 hour drive to San Francisco, California was long, and draining, and went they reached the small apartment block that Damon had told Stefan to meet him; Elena was dozing off, with Alexander in her arms. Damon skilfully carried Elena, with Alexander still in her arms, up to the apartment. Laying them both on the bed, he took Alex' from Elena, and placed him in the travel cot that Elena had insisted on bringing. Elena slept for hours, and Damon just sat and watched her sleeping. The California sun crept through the curtains, and illuminated Elena's body, waking her.
"I'm hungry…" She groaned, half asleep. Damon was quick on his feet, and made her breakfast, and made sure she had a cup of coffee to accompany it. She dragged herself into the kitchen area, and wrapped her arms around Damon's waist, hiding her face in his back.
"Morning," He said, turning around. She looked up at him; her eyes were half open, making Damon laugh at her. He made sure she ate what he had prepared, and she seemed a lot more alive after she'd drunk her coffee.
"Is he still sleeping?" her attention turned to their son. Damon nodded, as he peered into the cot, his little heart was beating softly, his fingers twitching as he dreamt. Damon knew they didn't have long before Stefan arrived, he could smell him.
"Get comfortable," Damon whispered, before kissing her on the cheek. Damon times it just right, as he moved away from Elena, there was a knock on the door. Elena went tense, she wasn't expecting him so soon….