Disclaimer: I own nothing

AN: The last chapter came out just how I wanted it. I was seriously happy with it. Thank you all so much for the reviews. They made me update faster. XD

So take the photographs and still frames in your mind.

Hang it on a shelf. In good health and good time.

Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial.

For what it's worth, it was worth all the while.

It's something unpredictable

but in the end is right.

I hope you have the time of your life.

EPOV.

I was sitting in front of Stefan's grave, playing with the rose I brought him, content with the silence.

"Your son said his first word yesterday." I say with a smile.

"I bet you can't guess what it was."

"I'll give you a hint. It's the opposite of mommy." I say smirking.

I decided to leave out exactly who he called daddy. Stefan wouldn't want to hear that, and I wanted today to be happy.

"We're all having dinner at the Saltzman's tonight. Jenna wanted us to celebrate. She's six months pregnant today and she hasn't seen Alex in a month. I can't wait to meet my niece. They're going to name her Miranda, after my step-mom/aunt." I say smiling, remembering when Jenna and Alaric made the announcement.

"Damon loves Alex so much. He treats him like he's his son."

"Would you hate me if I loved him, Stefan?" I whisper.

I wait for a response I know will never come. A voice I once took for-granted, and one I'll never hear again. I smell the rose one last time and place it on the grass. Walking back to my car.

When we get to the Saltzman's it's already 4pm. Damon carries a giggling Alex on one arm and the Steaks for dinner on the other. I stand at the car and watch them walk to the front door. Damon turns around and catches me staring. Him and Alex wave at me and smile.

How did I get so lucky? I walk up to them and take the steaks from Damon so we each have a free hand. While he's looking at Alex I slip my hand in his. My heart stops, waiting for his reaction, but then Jenna comes and answers the door with a smile.

"You guys really didn't have to knock." She says rolling her eyes.

Damon pulls his hand out of mine and puts it in his pocket. My eyes sting instantly.

"Oh my god, look how big you've gotten" She says taking Alex from Damon.

He starts crying right away and reaches his arms towards Damon.

"Daddy" He says trying to get out of Jenna's grasp and back into Damon's arms. Damon takes him back and Jenna stares open-mouthed.

"I'm gonna go give the steaks to Ric and help him with the grill." Damon says, walking inside with Alex.

I turn my back to Jenna, feeling a tear slip down my cheek. She walks over and hugs me.

"What's wrong sweetie?" She asks, wiping away another tear. We sit down on the porch. I decide to tell her the truth.

"I don't know what to do Jenna" I sob.

"About what, Elena? Is everything ok with Alex?"

"Yes Alex is great. It's just Damon."

"Oh" She says simply.

"I...I love him. But I think he...he thinks that I see him as a replacement for Stefan." I stutter, tears falling uncontrollably now.

"Your 19, Elena. You've dealt with so much already, this should be nothing in comparison. Just talk to him. Tell him you don't see him as Stefan but as Damon. He loves you Elena. Its obvious." She says smiling.

I nod and stand up, trying to pull myself together before heading inside with Jenna.

DPOV.

What the hell was she thinking? Does she see me as Stefan now? Is this her way of coping with his death? Replace him with me? Does she expect me to raise Alex like Stefan would? Does everyone see me as his replacement now? She held my hand. Well she wanted to. Ugh why didn't I let her? I'm so stupid. Now she's going to be mad at me. Damn it.

"Damon? Damon. Earth to Damon." Ric snaps me out of my thoughts. I turn to see him staring at me with a amused look.

"Shut up Ric." I mumble.

"Whats up with you today, man? Having Issues?" He asks, sarcastically.

"This from the guy who thought he was Van Helsing."

"Ouch, I guess I deserved that one." He says, turning his attention back to the grill. I look over and see Jeremy playing with Alex in the grass while Caroline and Bonnie chat. I can fix this.

Later that night, Alex is asleep in his crib. I head downstairs and find Elena with her eyes closed, swaying side to side with the radio on. Superman, by Five For Fighting, playing quietly. I walk over and grab her hand, intertwining our fingers. Her eyes stay closed but a smile forms on her lips. I place my free hand on her back, pulling her close. She sighs and we start to dance.

It's effortless, dancing with her. She lets me lead but makes it clear when she wants me to do something differently. She's so beautiful. We dance for what feels like hours but is really only minutes.

When the ending piano verse fades, I lean down and press our foreheads together. We both sigh in contentment. Our lips, inches apart, sharing each others air. I open my eyes and find her's staring back at me. She leans forward, hesitant at first, but when she see's I have no intentions to move, she presses her lips to mine.

I feel my non-beating heart swell to three times its usual size. I'm worse than the Grinch. Well at least I'm not green hairy. I move my lips with her's and feel her arms go around my neck. I trace her lips with my tongue and feel her moan. I pull back and put my lips to her ear.

"Wanna know a secret?" I whisper. She nods and kisses my neck.

"I love you, Elena." I whisper in her ear. She pulls her head back to look me in the eyes.

"I love you too, Damon."

And with that I pull her lips back to mine with a fierce determination. She's finally mine, and I plan to make the most of tonight.

EPOV

I wake up feeling refreshed. I roll over onto Damon's chest and sigh. This feels so right. He loves me. I look up to see him staring at me with a smile. He leans down to kiss me. Right when our lips touch I hear a baby's cry.

"Alex" We both say simultaneously.

I climb out of bed and Damon whistles. I look down to see I'm still without clothes. I blush, walking over to grab some underwear and one of Damon's t-shirts from the dresser.

"I liked the other outfit better" Damon says, pouting. I roll my eyes and head towards the door.

"Get dressed sleepy head." I yell back at him. I walk into Alex's room and find him standing up, holding onto the crib bars.

"Damon, come here, hurry." I yell. He appears beside me with a smile on his face.

"Well would you look at that. Little man isn't so little anymore." He says, walking over and picking up Alex. Damon leans down to kiss me as he walks by and then heads downstairs to make breakfast.