A/N: Oh God, I was so nervous about last chapter that I didn't check my email for days. But when I finally did, I was overwhelmed by all the support you guys had given me. I'm glad you like it. Thank you so much (I say thank you a lot don't I? haha)

So here's another chapter, it's sort of a filler chapter, but important for progress. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters used in this story.

Chapter 9

Elena examined her new room in Damon's apartment. It was a comfortable size, not too big or small, much larger than her old room at least. Damon had obviously prepared for her arrival judging by the well made bed, freshly mopped floors and pastel colored curtains. There was an antique vanity table by the corner where some lotions were lined up. A matching antique dresser was backed up against the wall on the other side of the room.

Elena wouldn't be surprised if Damon filled it with clothes too. This was the most stunningly decorated bedroom Elena had ever seen. She walked towards the bed where a Persian rug covered the middle of the room and drew her eyes to the softness of the mattress.

She could barely contain herself and without second guessing, threw herself onto the bed and sank into it. It was a habit really, especially when checking into hotel rooms. She had a philosophy that all newly made up, incredibly soft beds are just meant to be pounced on.

She was still giggling and testing the bed when Damon walked in,

"What do you think? Not disappointing I hope…" Elena straightened up and slid herself off the bed, trying to act as adult as possible although her excitement was still obvious,

"It's really nice Damon. You shouldn't have gone through so much trouble…" Damon just smiled and carried the rest of her luggage into the room.

Once Elena settled in, their lives fell into a calm normality state. Adam's sleeping problems subsided and became a happier child. He was constantly showered with love and attention. Elena's love for Adam grew when they spent every waking moment with each other. Soon enough, Elena found herself building her future plans around Adam.

Damon proved to be a good roommate. He helped with the chores and spends his free time with Adam. It took a while to get use to it but Elena appreciate it when Damon would call to inform if he would be coming back late. He was committed and dependable, everything Elena had hoped for in a…partner? Their weekly routines were carefully coordinated and things ran smoothly. They were a team and Adam was the goal.

Fast forward a month later, Damon sat on the couch facing the view out his high rise apartment one night. The view was magnificent, a big factor as to why he had chosen this apartment in the first place. The interior was masculine with dark neutral color palette. The white walls were a great contrast to the dark wood borders wrapping it and to the dark wooden floor. A bar stood strategically near the living room where he used to entertain his 'guests'. It was designed to impress and seduce women, the real purpose behind every bachelor pad.

It was less appealing though as a suitable place for a small boy. Proven by a corner of his apartment where the wall was no longer white, instead it was covered with hand drawings in crayon. It was Adam's personal touch of art to his apartment. He still hadn't child proof his apartment completely, Damon realized looking at many other hazardous sections in his apartment.

His train of thoughts stopped when Elena came out of Adam's room and gently closed the door behind her.

"He isn't coughing as badly anymore" she announced, dumping herself on the couch next to him like a heavy sack of potatoes.

They were both exhausted by the day's event. Elena had never been more scared than she was today. Damon had said Adam's asthma attacks will come as often as once a month but she could not stand the thought of being worried out of her mind once every month. As if reading her mind, Damon handed her a bottle of beer to ease her nerves,

"He'll be fine…we just have to make sure he takes his medicine and everything will be okay" Damon tried comforting her. She turned her head lazily to face him; feeling more tired by the minute.

"I don't know how you do this. I have never been so frightened in my entire life!" raising and dropping her hands on her lap for emphasis.

"I know…" Damon raised his eye brow mockingly, remembering how panicked Elena was earlier today.

In her panicked state, she left the house in her pajamas. The nurse at the hospital's reception was verbally abused when she delayed Elena's request to see a doctor. With her crazy bed hair, Elena spoke frantically with the pediatrician.

At that same time, the doctor wondered if Elena was the one that needed treatment or if he should just shove her towards the psychiatric ward. All awhile Damon just stood behind her, either amused or mortified by her actions.

"It's not funny. The doctor said that if we didn't take him to the hospital on time, he could have suffocated…your son could have died" she stressed on the 'your' part and punched Damon on the shoulder.

"Good thing I drive a very fast sport car…" Damon continued, ignoring Elena's obvious annoyance as she rolled her eyes. This banter between them was very familiar; the type of banter a married couple would share. She heard and witnessed it many times before to know for sure.

At that realization, Elena took a long swig of the beer in her hand, avoiding any further thoughts. Her efforts were useless as Damon brought up the topic, "You're a great mother Elena, thank you".

Damon was truly grateful, he never wanted to admit it before but now he was ready to come into terms that raising Adam alone was next to impossible. He felt relieved that he had someone he could count on, someone who cared about Adam as deeply as he did, someone who would share the highs and lows of the journey with him.

Elena had proved more than once how hopelessly in love she was with Adam by her undivided attention, loving words and gentle touches. Damon continued staring at her in silent admiration, sitting low on the couch finding himself slightly jealous of Adam.

Not a day had pass without him thinking of Elena, and all her splendors. She would leave her scent everywhere, taunting him sleepless. It was worst knowing that she was just across the hall, so near yet so far out of his reach. Fate had cruelly decided that he bumped into her one morning with only a towel wrapped around her dangerously curvaceous body, heading out of the shower. They both froze in their movement for a good minute or two.

Damon did not trust himself to move but instead fixed his gaze on the swelling of her breast just beneath a damn piece of towel. She nervously smiled and made her way to her bedroom. He couldn't get a single thing done that day at work!

He wondered what he had done to deserve such torment because wanting her so badly had actually caused him pain.

He let his thoughts ran away with him, not realizing he was staring at her the whole time. When he snapped out of it, he jerked his gaze away,

"We should ah…we should go to bed"

Elena raised an eyebrow but he quickly corrected himself "I mean, separately…as in you in your bed and me in my bed….that's what I meant…"He explained, feeling pretty goofy right about then.

"Okay, goodnight…"Elena said before he went to his bedroom and banged his head against the wall.

'Very smooth Salvatore…'he cursed himself, making it obvious that his skills with women are way out of practice.

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