Loved the reviews! Thank you guys so much! I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Take me home where we met so many years before
Damon quietly opened the door to his home. He knew it had to be close to three a.m., and Elena was probably sleeping. He'd been on a business trip the past week, and had taken the first flight out in a hurry to be home, now he was considering if staying one more night, and coming in the next morning would have been the better option. However, when he finally felt his way to the bedroom, his doubts washed away. Elena, now his wife of four years, must have forgotten to turn off the lamp, as it's light was casting over her sleeping form. She looked so peaceful, he decided against waking her. Instead, after sitting down his suitcase and laptop case, he tiptoed over to the dresser, pulled out a pair of night pants, stripped his suit, and pulled them on. He'd worry about a shower tomorrow. Right now the his bed was calling him.
As he settled, Elena stirred a little, her arm reaching down to cradle her swollen belly. Damon smiled, reaching over to turn off the lamp, then placed his own hand on her stomach. At six months pregnant, Elena was already complaining she couldn't see her feet, but he knew how happy she was. She'd gotten pregnant before, some two years back, but unfortunately they'd lost the baby in the first trimester. He had worried that the loss would destroy his wife. She had barely eaten or slept for days after that, but above all, was scared to death of getting pregnant again. It had been months before she'd let him touch her. But time heals, and eventually she'd opened up to him and cried herself out, allowing herself to begin healing. This pregnancy wasn't planned, and she had worried a lot, but the baby she now carried grew stronger and healthier each day, and somehow Damon knew they'd be okay.
They'd found out a few months back that the baby was going to be a boy, and Damon could barely contain himself. He'd shown the sonogram to all of their family, friends, and coworkers. Elena was just glad the baby had survived long enough to tell the gender.
Damon felt his son kick against Elena's stomach and smiled when she groaned. He knew she had a hard time sleeping when the baby was active, which he seemed to be more and more lately. The doctor had assured them that it was a good thing, meaning the baby was strong and alert, so Elena had accepted the late night boxing ring with good graces.
The baby kicked again and Elena's eyes opened. She jumped when Damon moved his hand from her.
"Sorry, sweetheart," he said quietly.
"Damon?" She asked, her voice thick, "When did you get in?"
"Just now," He answered as she moved into his arms.
"Mmmmmh," She sighed, obviously more comfortable, "So how was the trip?"
He chuckled a little, "We can talk about it in the morning if you'd rather, I didn't mean to wake you up."
He felt her shrug, "I would have woken up soon anyway with this guy," she muttered, rubbing her stomach again, "And I've missed you, so I don't mind if you don't."
Damon kissed her forehead. "I've missed you too, baby girl. And the trip was fine. Got the contractor to sign the papers we needed, and we begin that project in a few weeks."
"Your dad a part of this one?" She asked curiously.
Damon had gotten the job after college, with his father's company. Fortunately he wasn't up the the executive level, so they weren't having to move everywhere like his father had. They'd actually gotten lucky, finding a cute house, in Mystic Falls, just minutes from their old houses. This allowed Damon to feel less guilty leaving for trips, knowing Elena had family close if something were to happen.
"Nah, he's letting me run this one, he's still on the Hanson's."
"Well I'm happy for you," She yawned.
"So how was your week?" He asked, running his hand up and down her back.
"It was good," she smiled, "Though Caroline apparently thinks I should start my maternity leave soon."
He gave a small laugh at that one. Their child's godmother was almost as protective as he was when it came to Elena and the baby. And as Elena helped her run the new clothing boutique she'd opened in town, Caroline would know.
"Are you getting too tired," he asked, making sure the blond was just being dramatic and that Elena really didn't need to go to bed rest yet.
"No, I'm fine. Honest. I'm more tired by the end of the day lately, but I like being up there. Even if Care's put me on paperwork duty lately. I've tried to tell her I could manage, but she still seems to think I need rest."
Damon considered this, "Remind me to thank her."
He could almost hear Elena's eyes roll, but she let it go.
"Anyway, I worked up at the store, did a little shopping, my pants are getting small, again! And visited the family."
He smiled, "You're still beautiful."
She kissed his chest, where she was resting her head. "That's why I love you," she sighed.
"Aw, I thought it was for my dashing good looks and irresistible charm."
She giggled, "You would think that."
He pulled her closer, yawning. "Yeah, I know. Well, I'm getting tired, babe, it was a long few days."
She nodded, "Okay, he should settle down now that you're here."
Damon kissed her lightly, "You know, we should start thinking of a name soon."
"I know, but it can wait until tomorrow."
He had to agree with that as another yawn overtook him. So he pulled his wife close and was just glad to be home with his family.
We'll rock our babies on that very front porch
The sun was high, but the slight breeze kept it from being overbearing. On his way to grab a beer from the ice chest, Damon noticed it was a little cool for June, but he wasn't complaining.
"Hey Salvatore, bring me some more sauce!" He heard Ric yell and shook his head. Elena had decided to invite everyone over for a barbecue and Ric had volunteered to cook, arguing that he was less likely to burn the brisket. Damon loved the guy, but sometimes he just wanted to turn into a three year old and stick his tongue out at him.
He grabbed the BQ sauce, tossing it at Ric, then saw his own three year old running toward him.
"Daddy!" Aaron yelled as Damon scooped him up, "I help?"
He was pointing at Ric and the extra hot coals on the grill. "Eh, not right now, buddy. Why don't you go play with Sarah?" He asked, motioning to Stefan's daughter, who was almost the same age as the boy.
"No." Aaron groaned. "I help."
Damon sighed, the kid was just as stubborn as his mother sometimes, though Elena swore it came from him.
"Okay, why don't you come help me?" he offered.
"Do what?" Aaron asked.
"Well, we have to take out the trash later, after everyone throws their plates away, and I need someone big and strong to help."
As if proving himself, Aaron flexed his muscles, showing them to Damon.
"Whoa! Look at those muscles, okay, kid, you're hired!"
Aaron smiled proudly. Damon moved him to where he was sitting on his shoulders, holding his hands so he wouldn't fall, and walked over to the porch where everyone who wasn't cooking or over in the pool was sitting.
"Damon, be careful," his mother warned when Aaron's head almost grazed the ledge of the roof that covered the porch.
"I got him," he insisted, taking his son from his shoulders.
"Come here, kiddo," John called and Aaron ran over to his grandpa.
"Hey babe," Damon walked over to Elena, kissing the top of her head.
"Hey, you guys get everything?"
"Seems so," he said, taking a seat next to her.
He looked over to Isobel who was holding eight month old Madison.
"Can I see Baby Girl?" he asked, holding out his hands.
Isobel immediately gave her up.
"She just had a bottle, so unless you want to be wearing milk, don't get her too excited," Elena warned.
"Good to know," Damon smiled at his daughter, "Hey sweetie, you having fun."
As expected, she just gurgled, but he loved the sound anyway.
Unlike Aaron, who was a spitting image of himself, Madison favored Elena in looks, from her soft brown curls, to the chocolate doe eyes, and he could spend all day just staring at his children.
He kissed his baby's head and turned her so she was sitting in his lap, his stomach and chest supporting her. She seemed to be entertained with all the noise around her, and alternated between looking around and pulling at his wedding ring.
"She should be going down for a nap soon," Elena said, "And after this is over, it probably wont hurt for Aaron to have one too."
Damon nodded, but muttered a "Good luck with that," as John walked over with his son.
"Well if you think nap time is bad, wait till you get to all the other fun stuff," Giuseppe laughed.
"Like what?" Elena asked.
"Oh, how about when he decides he doesn't want to wear certain shoes, or eat good food, or go to school in the mornings," Mary smiled, raising her eye accusingly at Damon.
"Or when Maddie wants to date the boy next door," John pointed out, "And she sneaks out with him, spends all her time with him, and one morning you mysteriously find him on your front porch.
Damon laughed at the memory while Elena blushed.
"Well, when she reaches that age, John, you'll be the first one I call." Damon promised.
After all this time,
"Daddy," A voice carried through the darkness.
Damon stirred at the sound.
"Daddy." The voice said louder. Damon pulled himself from sleep, and opened his eyes.
"What is it?" He asked groggily.
"I had a bad dream."
He made out the shape of four year old Madison standing next to the bed, holding her little purple teddy bear, her chocolate eyes boring into him.
He smiled, "It's okay baby, you want to sleep with me and mommy?"
She nodded, reaching up to him. He pulled her into his arms and placed her at his side, between himself and Elena.
The movement caused Elena to awake. "Everything okay?"
"Bad dream," he explained.
"I sorry, mommy." Maddie whispered, seeing that she had woken her mother up.
"Oh, it's okay. Are you feeling better?"
Madison nodded, snuggling to Elena, whose arms automatically went around her daughter.
"That's good," she murmured.
Damon reached his arm across the two of them, and Miranda fell asleep quickly, feeling as safe as could be between her two parents.
Unfortunately their moment of peace was shattered.
"Mom, Dad!" Aaron, now seven, burst into their room.
Madison jumped, and a look of regret passed on Aaron's face before he continued, "Are you awake?"
Elena sighed loudly, "We are now."
"What's the matter?" Damon asked, sitting up.
"It's snowing!" Aaron's smile showed his excitement.
"It's the middle of night, babe, what are you doing up?" Elena asked.
"I heard Maddie get up, and my window curtain was cracked, and the street light was coming in, so I went to close it, and there's snow outside!"
Madison was fully awake now, "Can we go see it?" She looked beggingly at her father.
Damon sighed, turning to Elena, "It's up to you, babe."
She groaned, "I'm going to regret this in the morning."
She sat up, then, pulling the covers back, and both kids rushed to hug her.
"Okay, you two go get dressed, very warmly, and we wont stay out too long." Elena told them. But they were to excited.
"Aaron, help Maddie with her coat!" Elena called as they ran from the room.
She shook her head, standing, and a moment later, Damon was behind her, pulling her back into his arms. "I can take them out, if you want to sleep, I know you're tired."
She gave him a small smile, "No, it's fine. This is the first year it's snowed that Maddie will actually get to enjoy it. We wont be long."
He nodded, letting her lose so she could get her clothes. He pulled on something thicker as well, the walked over to the closet, grabbing their coats.
"All done!" Aaron called proudly, leading Madison back into their room. Elena pulled on her own jacket, then gave them a once over.
"Sweetie, you're shoes," Elena smiled, picking Maddie up and sitting her on the bed to tie the pink boots she was wearing.
Finally, they were all ready. Damon scooped Maddie up from the bed and walked through the house, to the front door. "Ready?" he asked, and the kids nodded vigorously.
He opened the door, and allowed Aaron to walk outside, Elena following him.
"Watch the stairs," she cautioned.
"It's so pretty, Daddy." Maddie sighed, holding up her hand to catch a falling flake once Damon walked them off the porch.
"It is pretty, huh?"
He sat her down and she immediately started jumping around. Aaron was rolling around, throwing balls of it into the air, and Damon caught the smile on Elena's face at the sight of it.
He walked the few short steps to her, placing an arm around her waist. She instantly snuggled into his warmth.
"I love you," he told her, resting his head on hers as they watched the children throw the shiny crystals at each other.
"I love you too, Damon."
And in this moment, he honestly didn't think his life could get any better.
You and I
I am trying to expand the story farther than I originally intended, but I still think it will wrap up soon. Someone suggested making it longer by adding another song, making it kind of a double song fic? Any Ideas on what song I could use to make this longer, and a good story? Open to opinions :)