Five years later

Elena's POV

I was hurrying up and down the kitchen, preparing two different meals and trying to make little Grayson eat his dinner, but he was stubbornly opposing me. James and Alex were playing in the backyard, on the same porch Stefan fixed all those years ago. It was still the only thing in the house I was sure would never break. Honestly, I was having a hard time keeping up with three children, but Bonnie and Damon asked me to take care of the kids today since they had a doctor's appointment.

I prayed for Stefan to get home soon. He always managed to calm down the boys who were unstoppable once they came to our house, because they knew that aunt Elena and uncle Stefan allowed them everything unlike their strict mother.

"Momma?" our one-year old son turned towards me only to grant me with his sad look with which he wanted to say that he wants to get out of his chair and run after the boys outside.

He was usually so calm and silent, it reminded me of Stefan very much. When I found out I was pregnant it came as a surprise to us. I was supposed to start an internship, but I decided that I will postpone it so now I was working at the hospital as a nurse with the hope to get to achieve my initial dream later on. Stefan was over the moon when he found out that we were going to have a child. He has just proposed to me after four very hard for both of us years, in which he kept having good and bad moments every once in a while. We have accepted that it was inevitable, but every time he got bad I was there for him and he sure as hell never give up on getting better. He insisted on working as well, even though I fight like hell with him about it. I used to be so mad when it came to that and I stopped talking to him for a certain period. I could see how hard it was for him, but he was just so stubborn that he kept on going to the factory, even though I disagreed with him about it. Damon came by one evening and he talked with me about it, only to make me realize that he just doesn't feel good when he's not doing something, when there isn't anything he can do to be helpful, especially now with a baby on the way.

So it took me some time, because I sure as hell was stubborn like him, but then I agreed. He worried me a lot, but I agreed, because I knew this made him feel more alive. He was just this type of person who needs to be able to provide for his family, moreover he felt good when he did so, no matter how much of his strength that took away. I started understanding him to some extend-if I was in his shoes, I wouldn't be able to just sit home on the couch and watch TV all day. God, I almost got insane after Grayson was born and I couldn't go out so much.

But every time he left the house my heart just clenched and I prayed that he comes back safe. It was as if I was sending him to war every single day and when there were moments he got late, I went insane and called him at least a dozen times, only to find out that they needed to stay out late in order to finish something.

He knew I was having a hard time so he was trying to make it up to me with whatever he could. He tried to be as romantic as he was before and sometimes we left Grayson at Bonnie' s and took me out for dinner. Other times he watched the kid while I took double shifts at the hospital so I can make a good impression and seem more responsible since I was often late because we had so many things to do in the morning. But with every passing day my love grew stronger. We were still so in love as before and we were happy. At last.

I used to be so afraid over the years that something might go wrong that I didn't let myself feel good no matter what. After I've found him almost half-dead that summer after my first year of college, we spent the summer together and made the decision to move to New York in the fall. He slowly started getting better and by September, before we were to leave, he was back on his feet, walking freely on his own, without the need of mine or his brother's support. He found himself a job and we moved into our own place so we wouldn't be apart. We had many rough moments over the years, times when we both felt desperate, times in which we did nothing but fight over such stupid things, times when I felt hopeless, times when he was sick. But no matter what we couldn't stay away from each other. He was as desperate to have me by his side as I was. When we fought and I went to Caroline's place he couldn't even steal an hour of sleep and the same counted for me. It was like someone took a piece of me away, like I wasn't whole.

And then when we would both finally would swallow our prides, I would just run in his arms and he would say my name and that was enough. It meant everything-it meant I'm sorry and it meant I love you. It meant I'm was stupid, forgive me and it also meant-I can never stop thinking about you.

We were so destructive for ourselves and everyone around us when we weren't together that it was kind of scary.

"James, come inside with your brother" I yelled from the open window and they both ran back inside with their dirty hands and bruised knees. James was seven now and he looked so much like Damon that it hurt. His dark hair and big blue eyes scanned the kitchen for something to eat-he was hungry. Little Alex with his brown eyes and small posture followed him inside only to give me a patient and kind smile-he was the complete opposite of James, always so silent and even a little lonesome. When Grayson saw them he gave them a big smile and yelled something in his baby language which was obviously a sign for them to pay him attention. James passed by my son and ruffled his hair-he got along with everyone, even with Alex, though they sometimes fought a lot and it was hard for me to keep them away, but as soon as Stefan arrived James was willing to do absolutely everything. He adored his uncle and so he believed he should never let him down.

They sat on the table and I gave them some cereal. James started eagerly eating while Alex barely touched his bowl.

"Aunt Elena" he asked silently as if he was afraid to speak the words out loud "How do you know when you are in love?"

I tried to prevent myself from chuckling because I knew he would hate me if I laughed at him. He was simply so adorable.

"You are in kindergarten, Alex. You can't be in love" James pointed out seriously, trying to sound like a grown up. He rolled his eyes, with the intention to show how annoyed he was with his naïve brother.

"But there is this girl, aunt Elena and she is just so sweet." he continued explaining to me while also ignoring his brother's comment "She drew with me today."

"Oh yeah?" I asked eagerly "Well why don't you draw her a picture and give it to her tomorrow? Let me tell you a secret, Alex-girls like attention."

"Did uncle Stefan gave you presents when you fell in love?" he asked again, clearly still confused by my answer.

"Oh yeah" I smiled and tried to make Grayson eat another bite "And he took me out a lot as well."

"Oh.." he said now sadly "But I can't take her out."

"Girls are awful, Alex. How could you want to be out with one? Moreover-alone?" James still couldn't understand his brother's logic and let a grunt out.

"But mum wants the baby in her tummy to be a girl this time." Alex told his brother, clearly frustrated with him "I heard them talk the other night. What will you do if it's a girl?" I smiled widely. Bonnie really wanted it to be a girl this time.

"That's different. She'll be my sister" James said knowingly. He was pretty smart for his age. "And we'll have to protect her from the other boys, both you and me."

"So we won't let her go out with them then?" Alex asked but his brother's mouth was full so he just shook his head.

"When will uncle Stefan get home?" James was getting impatient again "I want to show him my new move." James was in junior basketball league and Stefan hasn't missed even one of his games. Over the years he has bought James so many jerseys of famous basketball players that the kid refused to be wearing anything else by now. He also had a whole collection of caps which was carefully well-arranged on a shelf above his bed and everyone who dared touch it was going to get the biggest fight in his life given by a seven year old tough boy.

"He'll be here any minute" I looked up at the clock hanging above the door post. "Come on, Grayson, one more" I said still trying to make him eat some. He was always overexcited when the boys were here and I couldn't make him do anything.

"Here aunt Elena, lemme help you" James hoped up and came closer to my son "Grayson, look up" he pointed his finger to the ceiling and that gave me the opportunity to shove the spoon back in Grayson's mouth. He started chewing eagerly though he still hasn't got what was going on.

"Thanks, James." I smiled and ruffled his hair.

Stefan's POV

I entered the house after a long and very tiring day at the factory and tried to close the door as silently as I could so the kids wouldn't hear me and be surprised when I show up in the kitchen but that turned out to be an impossible task since obviously James ran towards me the minute I have taken my shoes off.

"Uncle Steeeefan!" he yelled and jumped high so I could catch him.

"Hey there buddy." he jumped down and started explaining eagerly to me how I should come to the backyard so I could see how he was playing and I said we're going in a minute. He was impatient though and started tugging me towards the kitchen. I was very dirty, tired and sweaty, but beyond all I was hungry. I wasn't going to disappoint the kid though. As soon as we entered the kitchen his little brother Alex jumped from his chair as well while almost spilling the bowl in front of him and hugged me as well.

"Will you read to me later uncle Stefan?" he asked silently, pleading me with his big brown eyes, the same as Bonnie' s. He wasn't expecting me to really pay him attention, but he was hoping. And so I smiled and assured him that I'll read him to him later, he nodded patiently and sat back to the table in order to finish eating. He was a pretty calm kid. Just like my son whom I gave a kiss on the forehead before approaching my girl.

"How's my beautiful wife doing today?" I asked and embraced Elena's small body from behind while she was too busy cooking something. She turned around and gave me a long kiss.

"She's very glad you are finally home." she turned around and buried her hands in my hair but then pulled them back down surprisingly.

"What?" I asked annoyed that she has stopped. I've been craving for her all day long.

"You are dirty!" she playfully hit me with her fists on the chest.

"Oh well I thought that was sexy?"

"It's not" she shook her head still sounding like a little kid "Go wash!"

"Later." I said. "James is waiting for me outside. I'll go play with him and Alex for a while and you should take a nap cause you look extremely tired."

"What about Grayson?" she nodded towards the small chair where our boy sat and watched Alex with curiosity while my brother's son was drawing a picture. I came by and took him in my hands, I could feel him getting stronger with every passing day. I couldn't believe that he was growing up so fast. I tackled him and hugged him and played with him and Alex for some time while Elena went upstairs after I've finally won the battle and assured her that we'll be fine.

My brother came by a few hours later to take them. Him and Bonnie were very happy that there was going to be another member of their family. I was happy as well, even though I could see how tired my brother looked from work and how much he was ruining himself by taking extra shifts so he could support his family.

James stomped a few times on our back porch before finally agreeing to get in the car. He always tried to make his father leave him here and Damon often did, it was just that it couldn't happen every time and he had to learn this. The good thing was that they were sleepy and as soon as my brother put them in the car they fought between each other a little and then their eyes started closing.

Me and my brother talked a little before they took off. He was always too worried about me, just like Elena, but I was smart enough to be able to change the subject and let his mind off the heavy thoughts.

After I send them away I got back in the house, took a quick shower after I managed to put my son to bed and went to see if Elena has woken up already. As I entered the bedroom I noticed that she has cuddled up in the light blanket as if she was cold and I slowly came beside her and embraced her small body so she could feel warm, but I was careful not to wake her up.

I watched her sleep and I thought about all the years that has passed since I first saw her. I smiled to myself while realizing how lucky I am. I've had the greatest girl in the world, she was the mother of my beautiful son. She was smart and she was forgiving even though I've put her through hell with everything that has happened in my life. I had such a hard time in that summer after she got home from her first year of college and if she hadn't been there for me I'm not sure I would've really recovered. She was so persistent, so pushing-she didn't leave me alone until I agreed to every treatment and I loved her for that, cause I'm not sure I would be standing here right now if she hasn't been fighting so much for me. Honestly, a little before she has come back I was at a point in my life when I honestly wanted it all to just be over. I couldn't watch my brother feeling helpless every single day. I couldn't keep feeling all weak and tired and unable to make a few steps to our own kitchen. There were so many nights I got myself in the wheelchair and went slowly and silently outside in our backyard, watching the stars and thinking about how nothing in this world would change if I just die. Just like nothing changed when Anna or Peter died. The world was too busy to notice that they have just left me and it kept going on while I remained still and broken. The world doesn't change with one's death-the closest people around that person-they are getting broken and shattered, they are falling apart. I was so helpless back then-I couldn't be the man I wanted to be, I couldn't do anything actually, I wasn't about to leave a mark in the world and the only person that I actually loved was too far away and maybe has even moved on. And so I said to myself that my death won't mean a thing and maybe is just better to get over with this now, instead of living through years of pure agony.

But then she came back. And everything started having a meaning again, absolutely everything. Now the pain was worth it, I was able to withstand it, the nights full of nightmares were easier to live through when she was right beside me with a tired face and big circles under her eyes. And God, how bad I felt for making her stay next to such a broken person and when I told her my thoughts, one night while I was actually able to think clearly she gave me a big speech about how I was the one who brought her back to life and now it was her turn to do the same and help me get better. I tried to argue with her many times on this issue, but she always cut me off and told me to stop making her so angry all the time. I couldn't deny her. I simply loved her too much.

And so those years passed and we had both bad and good moments, we had rough times and wonderful times. We tried living to the fullest, enjoying everything around us, but we weren't in any rush. I knew she was afraid that sometimes things about my future were uncertain but I told her that living in a rush is no way of living at all and she agreed. We were just too scared to let ourselves feel happy, because all the times we were until now, something has gone wrong. We both struggled with that until we finally let it all be-there was no point in being scared or not appreciating the most important stuff you go through.

When she got pregnant I couldn't have been more happy. I knew she had some other plans and that she wanted to begin an internship and actually become a real doctor and I felt bad when she couldn't achieve those dreams. I felt guilty. She assured me that she really wanted to start a family-she didn't want to wait anymore. We were happy, in love and I have just proposed to her-things were finally the way they should've been.

After she gave birth to Grayson she had some hard time recovering. They kept her in the hospital more than necessary and I was actually so scared that something might happen to her. I didn't leave her side, not once, because I was so terrified to let her go. The nurses often found us asleep together and they really scolded me because they said she needs to rest but Elena always opposed them saying that me being next to her was the most effective medicine. She was very week after I finally took her home and she lied down most of the time. I was so afraid for her and I prayed to God that she starts getting better, because I couldn't lose her under no circumstances.

And she did got better a few months after that. I couldn't be more relieved. I made sure to tell her how much I love her and our boy every single day. I wasn't up to sparing any of those words to both of them.

I felt her moving in my hands and she turned towards me still pretty sleepy.

"Stefan…what are you doing? What's the time?"

"It's after ten. Damon took the kids and I put Grayson to sleep."

"What?" she suddenly opened her eyes wide "I slept that much?"

"I told you that you're tired!" I kissed her on the forehead "You needed rest."

"I should go check up on Grayson."

"Ugh-ugh" I pulled her back down to and her head lied on my chest "He's fine. Let the boy sleep. I need you."

"Are you fine?" she suddenly got worried again and looked up.

"I'm fine." I assured her with a big smile while moving away a strand of hair behind her ear. "You have to stop worrying so much."

"I'm not worrying." she lied "I'm just making sure that everything's fine."

"You don't have to be so afraid all the time, Elena. You're healthy, I am too. We're raising a beautiful boy in your parent's big house. I'm working, even though you hate that" I touched her nose gently "And you're working, even though it's not your dream job yet. Things will be fine."

"I know." she leaned on to kiss me. "You still going to the graveyard tomorrow?"

"Yes. I'll pass by before work." It was Peter's birthday and I haven't really been there in a month or so. It was hard for me to even see his name on the gravestone. It just hurt too much. I kept imagining that the boy with the messed up hair and broken smile is somewhere next to me when in reality he wasn't.

"Don't lose yourself too much" she warned. She knew I often lost track of time when I was there and it worried her.

"I won't, I promise." I answered and we heard Grayson's cry from the other room. I rushed to stand up but she was faster than me and took my hand.

"I'll go take a look at him" she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. I tried to protest but she just gave me a facial expression with which she meant I shouldn't oppose her, not now when we were both so tired and so I lied back down.

After twenty minutes or so have passed I could still hear my son's voice in the other room so I called Elena to come bring him back here and she slowly approached our bedroom with a very energetic Grayson in her hands. He wasn't sleepy at all anymore and he was going to torture us for at least an hour so she lied down next to me and put him between us. He crawled up and down the bed, then he got on my back and caused us all to laugh out loud until he eventually got tired and cuddled up in his mother's embrace. I hugged them both and kissed gave her a light kiss so I wouldn't wake him up.

"I love you."

"I love you too" she whispered half-asleep.

I closed my eyes as well, while thinking how I have never felt happier in my entire life.

Damon's POV

I was waiting for my brother outside the Joseph Evan's factory, thinking about the first time I had to do this so many years ago. It seems like nothing has changed and yet I had a family with two kids and he was living with his own wife and kid-it seems like a fairy tale, honestly. If someone has told me that our lives would be like that, I wouldn't have believed them.

Beyond all I was happy, even though we all had our rough times. I was glad that I was working and that I had such a wonderful family. I was glad that he and Elena decided to come back to Mystic Falls after she graduated. I'm glad they took the step to marry and have a child. All this time after the accident and Anna's death I was afraid he'll lose himself to the point where he wouldn't be able to love anyone anymore, but I was wrong-he fell in love. I was happy that I was able to fulfill my mother's desire for us both to have normal lives-it was her only wish. He wasn't always healthy and me and Elena-we often worried, but for now at least things seemed good.

Bonnie and me-we sometimes had a hard time raising two kids, even though we both worked. It was hard for us to provide everything so even now Stefan was helping me from time to time despite my disagreement on the matter. He usually gave money to Bonnie and made her promise she won't tell, but I always figured it out. No matter what I tried to do-he was just like this, he was selfless, he wanted to help me and try to make it up to me for all the times I took care of him even though there was no need for him to do that-he was my brother. I will always take care of him even in times when he's making me beyond angry.

I saw him coming out of the factory and looking around for the familiar face of his wife. He didn't knew I was going to meet him and he gave me a surprised expression once he finally noticed me. He limped slowly to my truck, I could see that it was still hard for him to move sometimes and there was no surgery that could fix that.

"Brother? What are you doing here?" he asked confused but smiling. That same childish smile he granted me when I secretly gave him chocolate before dinner when we were kids.

"I'm taking you home. Elena came by to babysit the kids and when Bonnie came back she insisted on you coming over for dinner."

"Oh yeah? Cool" he removed his dirty cap. It was the one of the Atlanta Hawks which was so shabby and old that Elena always scolded him for wearing it and wanted to throw away. I knew it was a gift from Peter Fell though. That was the real reason why he was holding on it so eagerly. "Can I smoke before we get there?" he gave me his begging face.

"In the car. We're late already" I said sternly "Elena will start scolding if she finds out, you know that right?"

"That's why it's called a secret, brother." he winked and I punched him playfully on the shoulder.

"I'm glad you're here, Stefan." I said after a while. I had a hard time expressing my feelings and letting the words out, but I wanted him to know.

"I'm glad as well." he answered and continued smiling all the way home.

The kids ran towards us as soon as we jumped off the truck.