Dear Diary,

Things around the house have been pretty quiet and even more tense as the days go by. My grandparents are staying at the Mystic Bed and Breakfast and I haven't seen them really. Damon introduced Jenna to Elijah and for the last few days we have been discussing our defense.

Today we go to court and I am as nervous as hell. We are prepared on our end but who knows what my grandparents are planning. I can tell how stressed Damon is over these last few days he has been spending as much time with Claire as he can since he as no idea how much time he has with her. As I watch them together I always get tears in my eyes because he is so good with her and now it's going to be even harder for us to figure out how to handle raising her is we are in two different states.

Elena

Elena found it very nerve wracking sitting up on the stand while all eyes were on her. Judge Fell, a very plump man was next to her staring at her like everyone else in the courtroom was. Elijah was walking around in front of her all dressed up in a very expensive suite getting ready to take her statement. Behind him was Jenna who was fidgeting in her seat and pulling at her at navy suite jacket sleeve.

On the far side Elena's grandparents were sitting with their lawyer Samantha Gibbons with perfectly perm hair. While Jenna looked nervous as hell on one side her grandparents and Gibbons looked very relaxed as if they already knew how this hearing was going to go. Elena bit her lip as she looked out at everyone staring at her and her heart was pounding. One wrong word or statement and she could be on the next flight to Florida.

Sitting in the gallery were a number of people all anxious to see how this would turn out. Behind Jenna was Damon who was looking just as nervous as he waited to see how things would go. Beside him was Alaric who came to support Jenna knowing how hard these last few days have been for her. Next to him slouched on the bench was Jeremy who didn't seem pleased at all that he was here.

Ever since Jenna picked Jeremy up at the police station he was avoiding everyone. He was so angry that he had to spend the night in jail so he was taking it out on everyone. While Jenna was having no choice but to ground him and keep him in the house she also had to deal with Eliza watching her very closely and planning to use everything she did against her in court.

As Elijah stepped up to the stand where Elena was sitting he fixed his tie before beginning. "Elena, I would first like to say how sorry I am for your loss, I'm sure it hasn't been an easy couple of years for you" Elijah said as he came to stand adjacent to where Elena was sitting.

"Thank you, and I'm doing the best I can" Elena told him.

"Six months after your parents died, you and your brother moved here to Mystic Falls correct?"

"Yes"

"Did you want to move?" Elijah asked her.

Elena fidgeted in her seat a bit before looking back up at Elijah, "At first not really, New York was my home but whether I like it or not things were different" Elena told him. "People treated me different and when I was in our old house I was contently watching for my parents to suddenly walk through the door."

"Did you want to move to Mystic Falls?"

"It was a fresh start," Elena told him.

"Not long after you moved here you went to a summer camp."

"Yes"

"What happened at summer camp?"

Elena felt her heart pounding as she bit her bottom lip, "I got pregnant."

Elijah nodded his head as he stepped back and looked into the gallery, "And who is the father."

"Damon Salvatore" Elena said.

"Damon Salvatore, high school quarterback and known as the towns bad boy. Was it a way to punish Jenna for making you move?"

"No, I mean I guess it was my way to take control of my life since everything else was changing" Elena told him.

"So now you are raising an eleven month old daughter Claire" Elijah said as he stepped back up to Elena.

"Yes with Damon and Jenna is a big help as well," Elena told him. She looked over at Judge Fall who was just sitting there watching her with little facial expression. Turning back to Elijah she smiled. "Moving to Florida would make things a lot harder for me. Damon has been staying home with Claire so that I can go to school," Elena told him.

"And what would happen if you had to move to Florida?" Elijah asked.

"Well without having Damon to share the responsibility of raising our daughter I would have to drop out of school, I'd have to get a job and have to pay for child care. I'd also have to fly back here to Mystic Falls so that Damon could see Claire."

"Having to drop out of school," Elijah repeated as if to point out how much this move would end up making things much harder for Elena to graduate high school. "Has school always been important to you?" Elijah asked.

"Yes, my parents taught my brother and I from an young age that school is very important. I'd like to go to college at some point," Elena told him.

"That would be quiet difficult for you to do if you are in Florida and would have to drop out of high school" Elijah pointed out.

"Yes it would be" Elena confirmed.

"Thank you Miss. Gilbert" Elijah said as he turned around and walked over to his seat.

"You may step down now," Judge Fell told her.

Nodding her head Elena brushed her hair behind her ear and got to her feet. As she walked past Jenna and Elijah she sat in the gallery beside Damon. As she sat down Damon held out his hand for her and held it tightly as they waited for this long day to come to the end.

"Next to the stand we'll call Jeremy Gilbert."

Slowly and with a groan Jeremy got up and sauntered over to the stand and took his seat. Unlike everyone else who dressed up for court Jeremy refused to where anything but a hoodie and pair of baggy jeans. Slouching in the chair he stuffed his hands in his sweatshirt pouch. He made it no secret that he didn't want to be here.

Elijah leaned over to whisper in Jenna's ear before he got up from the table and made his way towards Jeremy on the stand. Elijah had a smirk on his face as he approached the grumpy looking teenager. "So Jeremy, you have had quite the week huh?"

Jeremy didn't even acknowledge that Elijah hadn't spoken to him and just continued to stare down at his lap ignoring everyone and everything. Letting out a sigh Elijah decided just to move on and hope that Jeremy would soon start to co-operate like he had agreed.

"The loss of your parents hasn't been easy for you has it?" Elijah asked and still he got nothing from the kid. "Then you moved here to Mystic Falls with your aunt, how has that been?"

"I hate it here!" Jeremy snapped at him as he spoke for the first time to the courtroom.

"How so? Because she has rules she expects you to follow?" Elijah asked wanting Jeremy to give more detail.

"Rules? Jenna is a little pre-occupied with her boyfriend to care about what I do!" Jeremy spat out. His statement made Jenna's jaw drop in shock about how Jeremy was describing her taking care of him. Turning her head she looked over at Eliza and her lawyer who seem to be enjoying Jeremy outing Jenna as a bad guardian. Turning her head a little more she looked over her shoulder at a very nervous Elena and Damon who were both not at all pleased by Jeremy's accusations.

"You hate it here?" Elijah asked, as he too looked very unhappy at how Jeremy was changing his story while on the stand. For the last week Jeremy had been giving Elijah a different version as they prepared for today and now all of a sudden he has done a 180.

"I want to get out of this stupid town!" Jeremy yelled out to the courtroom.

Clenching his jaw Elijah tapped his fingers on the oak wood stand and then started to pace back to the table where a very worried and shocked Jenna was sitting wondering what Jeremy was doing. "Your honor I would like to request a recess to talk to my client and witnesses" Elijah said as he gave a quick glare in Jeremy's direction.

"Alright we will recess for lunch" Judge Fell announced and then got up from his seat and headed to his chambers.

"What are you gonna do?" Jenna asked as she started to tear up a bit.

While Elijah, Alaric and Elena were busy trying to ensure Jenna that it wasn't over yet Jeremy decided to sneak out of the courtroom. With his hands stuffed in his pocket and his hoodie up he left the room but not without Damon catching him and deciding to follow him.

"We'll get to the bottom of this" Elijah stated as he placed a hand on Jenna's shoulder. "Now where is Jeremy?" Elijah asked as he looked around the courtroom that pretty much everyone else had exited.

"He must of left," Elena stated looking very unhappy with how her brother was acting like he was the only one who mattered.

"HEY!" Damon yelled as he stepped out of the courthouse and followed Jeremy across the freshly cut green grass. He looked anything but please as he came storming up behind Jeremy looking like he was ready to kick some ass.

"I'm having a smoke break," Jeremy said acting as if nothing was wrong while he lit up a cigarette.

Clenching his jaw and grunting Damon reached for Jeremy's cigarette and then tossed it to the ground to get the idiot kid's attention.

"HEY!" Jeremy protested.

"What the hell are you playing at?" Damon demanded in anger.

"Screw you dick!" Jeremy snapped back at him as he turned to walk away from Damon but instead was suddenly grabbed by the arm and pulled back and spun around so that he was facing a very pissed off Damon.

"What the hell is your problem?" Damon growled at him as he held a very firm grip on Jeremy's sweater. His teeth clamped together he looked into Jeremy's eyes who seemed shocked by the sudden force Damon was using.

"Let go of me!" Jeremy growled in Damon's face.

"Why are you doing this to Jenna? To your own sister?" Damon asked him still not understanding what Jeremy was up to. In the courtroom Jeremy seemed to be determined to try and hurt his aunt and saying she could care less about him and what he did. "Why?"

"You left me in jail!" Jeremy screamed, "You all did!"

"You would still be there if I didn't pay your bail!"

"You're a bastard Damon, I hate you! I hate everyone in this damn town!" Jeremy screamed. "I lost my parents and everyone seems to act like it never happened or that I'm suppose to move on."

"Nobody is acting like it never happened, Jeremy" Damon told him as he released his hold on Jeremy.

"She made me leave our home! She made me come to a town that has only made things worse!" Jeremy yelled at him as tears started to fill his eyes.

"So this is how you are going to get back at her? Jenna has done everything she possibly could to help you and your sister and you do realize that if Jenna loses custody your not going back to New York" Damon pointed out. "All your doing is hurting the people who care about you even more."

"Well then maybe they will stop acting like everything is fine," Jeremy told him as his arms were waving up in the air.

"They weren't responsible for the car crash"

"I know that!" Jeremy snapped.

"Then why are you blaming them like they caused it?"

"I'm not just blaming them! My parents shouldn't have been in the car in the first place, they shouldn't have died!"

"Jeremy who are you blaming?"

"EVERYONE!" Jeremy yelled.

"Are you kidding me?" Damon scoffed as he stepped closer to Jeremy.

"Your parents died in a car crash! A car crash! They didn't leave you on propose and you need to stopped acting like they did! Jeremy you still have people fighting for you and care about you. Unlike your parents, mine chose to give up on Stefan and I. Our own mother bailed on us when we were young and our father was always too drunk to even make sure Stefan and I had something to eat!" Damon yelled as the pain of his childhood came crashing back. "Your parents never wanted to leave you, and I know life may really suck sometimes but pushing everyone away isn't going to help. Like it or not you will never be alone Jeremy you will always have people fighting for you," Damon told him as watched as Jeremy suddenly collapsed in his arms as he just broke down.

"I miss them so much" Jeremy cried.

"I know, I know" Damon told him as he held and broken Jeremy.

With high pitch squeals and giggles Claire made her way across the living room carpet on all fours as Bonnie and Caroline pretended to chase her. Ever since she had learned to crawl she liked to be chased around the couch.

"I'm gonna get you!" Caroline said with a smile as she followed behind Claire.

As Claire moved as fast as she could she made her way around the couch and then squealed when she saw Bonnie hiding behind the couch. She had a big smile on her face as she came face to Claire. With a giggle Bonnie reached out to pick up Claire before she could scurry away. "Oh I've got you cutie!" Bonnie said with a smile as she sat back on her heels and brought Claire closer she could press a kiss on her cheek.

Caroline giggled as she came over to sit next to Bonnie as she too leaned forward to give Claire a kiss on the other cheek. "Elena say's that she might be saying her first word soon" Caroline told Bonnie.

"She already does talk, she says mama, dada" Bonnie told her as she sat Claire on her lap and handed her the stuff ladybug.

"Those aren't really words" Caroline stated, "But I've get to spend the whole afternoon with her she maybe I can get her first word to be Auntie Caroline" she teased as she tickled Claire's tummy. "Can you say, Auntie Caroline?"

"Hey, hey if anything is going to be her first word it's going to be Auntie Bonnie" Bonnie laughed as she stood Claire up on her lap and stared into her big blue eyes.

Caroline couldn't help but smile as she thought about how much Claire had grown over the last eleven months. It amazed her how quickly time flies and how it seemed like just yesterday she was cradling the tiny newborn in her arms at the hospital. "She's gotten so big" Caroline stated as she held out her finger so Claire her grasp hold of it.

As they both sat in silence their smiles started to fade as they remembered what Elena was doing at that very moment. While they were here babysitting and gushing about how cute Claire was, Elena was in court fighting with her grandparents about having to move to Florida. As they looked at Claire they realized that there was a good chance that they would have to someday soon say goodbye to not only Claire but also their best friend.

"Do you realize that by the end of the day we may have to prepare to say goodbye to Elena?" Bonnie said as she sadly hugged Claire while the little girl babbled away to herself repeating mama and dada.

"I know it totally sucks!" Caroline said as she sat with her back resting against the back of the couch. "She's been through so much and now she may have to start all over."

"That is unless Jenna can get custody or Damon refuses to give up custody rights for Elena to leave the state with Claire" Bonnie stated. "So this could get a lot uglier if Elena's grandparents get custody," Bonnie added as she leant down to kiss Claire on the top of her head. "Hopefully your mommy, daddy and aunt Jenna win."

As the court resumed Jenna was call to the stand. Taking a deep breath she ran her fingers down her navy blue skirt to get rid of the wrinkles as she slowly and nervously made her way to the stand. All eyes were on her and Elena started to tense up as she watched her aunt prepare to fight her case. Beside her Damon was sitting very still as if he were holding his breath for what Jenna was going to say.

Once Jenna was seated Elijah got to his feet and approached the stand. He gave her a comforting smile hoping to help calm her nerves. "Miss Sommers following the death of your sister and brother in-law what happened?"

Biting her bottom lip Jenna took a deep breath and then began, "I took a leave of absence at school to be in New York with my niece and nephew."

"For how long?"

"Six months, I wanted them to be able to finish up their school year. They were dealing with enough already without having to get up and move across the country."

"Were you surprised that your sister and brother in-law left you custody?" Elijah asked her.

"Yes and no, the topic had come up briefly once but it wasn't something we talked about" Jenna explained as she chipped at her recently polished dark purple nail polish.

"What was the reaction from Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert?" Elijah asked as he motioned to Elena's grandparents sitting on the other side of the room watching her with firm poker stares.

"They were not impressed, they thought I was too young," Jenna said as she stared right back at them and refusing to back down.

"So what happened?"

"There was a few heated family discussions and in the end they left town when they didn't get their way" Jenna said.

"OBJECTION!" Eliza's lawyer yelled.

"My Client is stating a fact! One month following the death of Grayson and Miranda Gilbert, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert retuned to their home in Spring Hill Florida."

"Precede" the judge ordered.

"Things have been difficult you haven't they?"

"It's not something that I was totally prepared for but parenting isn't has easy memorizing a book."

"Six months following the deaths you moved here to Mystic Falls correct?"

"Yes"

"And Elena getting pregnant wasn't planned but how are you dealing with that?"

"In all honesty, it's exhausting, it's exhausting for all of us but we are making it work. The goal was always to make sure Elena finished high school and maybe even go to college, we had a set back with the baby but were are dealing with it. Elena is still getting straight A's and keeping up with all of her responsibilities."

Elena smiled at her aunt who seemed to be relaxing a bit as she talked about Claire and how she was being well looked after and that Damon is a big part of the reason Elena is still being able to finish high school.

"Jeremy has been struggling" Elijah said as he watched the worrisome grow on Jenna's face. He could tell just by looking at her that Jeremy's last words had really gotten to her.

Jenna let out a shaky breath, as she knew things with Jeremy were not going well. "Losing his parents had been hard on us all and I think especially hard on Jeremy."

"He's had some trouble with the law, correct?"

"Yes, I've had to pick him up at the station a few times."

"Any progress in getting him on the right track?"

"We are working at it, there are times where he seems to be figuring it all out and is helpful around the house, even helping with his niece and other times it feels like we take two steps back."

"He's been arrested twice in two weeks now" Elijah stated.

"Yes," Jenna responded as she bowed her head in shame as if she failed.

"Would you say trouble increased since his grandparents came to town?"

"OBJECTION!" Eliza's lawyer yelled.

"Sustain" judge Fell agreed.

Nodding his head Elijah reworded his question for Jenna, "Recently things have gotten worse, why?"

"Jeremy's has what feels like three guardians in his life right now and we can never agree. I know Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert are here to help but my battles with Jeremy were just as stressful as my battles with them. In the beginning I screwed up, I let Jeremy's grandparents intimidate me and I believe Jeremy could sense that. It was my error to let them undermined me and my ability to take care of Elena and Jeremy. Not anymore! Until other wise I am Jeremy and Elena's guardian and only my way will be how it goes!" she answered and for voice got a lot firmer and stronger throughout her speech.

Elijah glanced over at the grandparents for a moment and then turned back to smile at Jenna. He was glad that she was finally able to let them see she was in charge. "No further questions" he replied and then stepped back to take his seat.

Clearing her throat, Eliza's attorney stood and made her way over to the stand. "Miss. Sommers is it true that you have been attending school full-time and working part-time?"

"Yes" Jenna answered knowing exactly where this was going.

"So that's like eight to ten hours a day your not home"

"Not everyday" Jenna clarified.

"But most days" she said with a smile.

"Three out of five weekdays, yes" she answered.

"You are also in a relationship with one of their teachers, Mr. Saltzman"

"Yes but I don't see what that has to do with anything" Jenna said as she narrowed her eyes at the lawyer.

"Well with work, school and a boyfriend, Elena and Jeremy are left on their own a lot."

"No they are in school from 8am – 2pm"

"But after that,"

"They're not children they can take care of themselves for a couple hours" Jenna replied.

"Oh of course they can, what kind of trouble could they possibly get into?" she said with a smirk. "By leaving them on their own you now have a teenage mother and a drug addict."

"OBJECTION!" Elijah yelled as he got to his feet.

"Overruled, but lets keep it clean" the judge warned Samantha.

"Do you believe your schedule had lead to the situation these children are in?"

"Elena was at a summer camp when she got pregnant and at no time have they been left alone for more them a few hours much like anyone teenager" Jenna replied.

"So because Elena was at summer camp it isn't your fault?"

"I never said that…"

"Never in the years had Miranda and Grayson Gilbert sent their daughter to a summer camp, why did you?" Samantha asked.

"Elena would be starting school in a new town I thought it would be a great way to meet some kids."

"And in the end she met our Damon Salvatore, known for getting into trouble and flirting wit young girls."

"It was a co-ed sport summer camp, boys are there every year" Jenna answered.

"Yet the first year you send Elena she gets pregnant," Samantha said with a grin.

"OBJECTION! Your honour!"

"Overruled"

"Yes, she got pregnant" Jenna said sadly as this didn't' seem to be going well are all and Samantha Gibbons just seemed to be warming up.

It was the longest five minutes of her life as Samantha pretty much ripped Jenna apart on the stand. Bringing up her lack of experience, Jeremy not listening to her authority, her relationship with their history teacher while Jeremy is struggling. It was a brutal five minutes that had Jenna speechless for a good part of it. She brought up the arrangement with Elena staying at Damon's house on weekends, Jeremy's drug use problem and continuing trouble with the law.

Elena, Damon and Alaric sat there helpless as Jenna started stammering on the stand and losing what little confidence she did have with every word Samantha threw at her. "This is not good" Elena said in distraught as she griped Damon's hand beside her.

Samantha even went as far as to bring up Jenna's partying past and even showing the court room pictures of an intoxicated Jenna at a collage party. Throughout questioning Elijah would pop out of his seat calling out "Objection, Objection!" to the judge and more times then not got the judge to order Samantha to back off on her attacks on Jenna. By the end of Samantha's questioning, she had poor Jenna in tears as she came out looking like a horrible guardian to the kids.

"We love our granddaughter and grandson so much and it breaks our heart to see them struggling and what have happened to them since the loss of their parents" Eliza said as she wiped at tear form her eye.

"Seeing them struggle must me so hard" Samantha said as she showed sympathy in her eyes for the old woman.

"They were well behaved and responsible children who had discipline and I do not believe they are getting that from Jenna. This is not the life my son wanted for his children."

"Raising children is nothing new to you huh" Samantha asked.

"We raise two very well respected boys" Eliza replied.

"Grayson was a doctor and your other some is a Engineer."

"Yes he is" Eliza said with a smile.

"So placing these children in your care would benefit them"

"Yes."

"Now there is the situation involving little baby Claire"

"There are many well respected daycares to send her to, Elena would still be able to finish school as planned. School is important and I would want to make sure she finishes.

"No further questions" Samantha said with a smile as she turned on her heals and went to sit down.

Out of the corner of his eye, Elijah watched as Samantha took her seat while plastering a cocky smile on her face. She turned glanced at Elijah with a smirk as if he had no hope in winning.

"This isn't going well at all" Jenna said in defeat as she lowered her head onto the table.

"It's not over yet" Elijah assured her with a gentle touch on her shoulder as he got up and approached Eliza on the stand. Pulling at the end of his sleeves on his suit he walked closer and then leaned an arm against the edge of the stand. "Mrs. Gilbert how long have you been in Mystic Falls?"

"I lived in Mystic Falls for years" Eliza told him with a smile.

"I mean recently, how long have you been in town?" Elijah corrected.

"Just over a month" Eliza stated.

"And when was the last time you visited Mystic Falls?"

"It's been years," Eliza told him.

Elijah nodded his head as he took a step back and then stepped forward again. "So you didn't even come into town when Elena gave birth almost eleven months ago?" he asked her and then looked over at Elena sitting in the courtroom.

"No we couldn't make it out" Eliza told him as she refused to look at Elena.

"Really?" Elijah asked with a smirk, "Too busy to come see your granddaughter and great-granddaughter?"

"Objection what is the relevance of this?" Samantha yelled out.

"The relevance is that if Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert couldn't even find the time to come visit their grandchildren who had lost their parents after they moved to Mystic Falls and also couldn't make it to in to welcome their beautiful little great granddaughter then how can we be so sure that they will be able to be there day in and day out to help care for Elena, Jeremy and little eleven month old Claire? Jeremy is dealing with school and drug problems do you really think you will be able to give him the help he needs when you up root him once again and take away his stability?"

"I would do anything for my family!" Eliza spat at him.

"Including breaking up a young family?" Elijah asked her. "Whether you like it or not Elena is part of a new family with Claire and Damon."

"That boy is not part of our family!" Eliza yelled.

"He may not be part of your family but unlike you Damon Salvatore has been in his little girls life since day one. Elena and Damon have been raising her together and if you break them up you will not only be taking Damon's daughter away from him but you will also be making Elena's life a lot harder."

"That boy will never stick around and when he does leave Elena will need us," Eliza yelled. "Damon is a Salvatore and unlike you Mr. Mikaelson I know what his family is like."

"You mean the dead beat mother who hasn't been in the picture since he was a kid or his father that drank himself to death?" Elijah asked and everyone in the crowd including Damon wondered why Elijah had just described a very ugly picture of what the Salvatore's before him were like. "You seem to be very focused on that part of the Salvatore history, yes the Salvatore have been a troubling group for the town but everyone keeps forgetting a very important storyline," Elijah said as he stepped closer to Elisa and smiled. "While their mother ran off, and Giuseppe Salvatore was a drunk, Damon Salvatore was the one who took care of his little two year old brother. Why is it that no one seems to remember that part of the story?"

Eliza said nothing instead she just averted her eyes from Elijah while he continued. "Damon Salvatore has made it very clear that if Eliza is granted custody of Elena and Jeremy then he will file for custody of eleven month old Claire Salvatore. Mrs. Gilbert you claim Damon is irresponsible and will leave Elena and Claire once he gets bored correct?"

"He's a eighteen year old boy, commitment isn't something he could promise" Eliza told him as she looked into the courtroom to glare at Damon who gave her a similar hatred glare back.

"Damon has threatened to fight his custody rights because you, YOU are deciding that he wouldn't be committed to being there for Elena and Claire. For someone who feels so strongly about Elena's life being ruined because she will have to raise a baby as a teenager, you actions show that by trying to cut Damon out Elena will be forced to raise Claire on her own. Is that the life you want for your granddaughter and great-granddaughter?"

"I want to protect her!" Eliza yelled.

"From something that could happen? That's like not lighting a candle in a house because the house may catch fire," Elijah told her.

"That is not the same thing!" Eliza snapped.

"You want to move Elena to Florida and if you do, like it or not Damon will still share custody because he isn't in anyway a danger to Claire so for at least twice a month she will have to spend hours on a plane coming back to Mystic Falls so Damon could spend time with Claire. In between that Elena will have to work to support her and Claire and in order to do that Claire will have to be in daycare and that can cost about $600 a month or more. Now you say school is important but given what Elena will have to do when do you suggest she goes to school?"

"We will be there to help her!" Eliza yelled.

"Like you were there when she gave birth huh?" Elijah said and then took a step back. "No further questions" Elijah added and then walked back to take his seat.

Next up was Jeremy and after his last outburst on the stand Jenna and everyone was even more nervous what Jeremy would say. Just by looking at the expression on his face they knew he was still angry and who know what he would say.

As Jeremy sat there he had his head down and his hands stuffed in his pockets; he didn't looked up as Samantha got up to begin questioning the fifteen year old. She slapped a smile on her face as she walked over to stand beside the trouble teenager. "Things haven't been go the best haven't they?" she asked him as she tilted her head and gave him a pouted lip.

Jeremy said nothing but did make quick eye contact with her before averting his eyes again to his lap. Samantha watched him for a moment and when she wasn't getting an answer from him she went on. "Earlier you said that you hated it here and that Jenna is more interested in her boyfriend to care about what you do" Samantha repeated his earlier words. Jeremy just shrugged his shoulders and he then heard a sigh from the audience and looked up to see Jenna ready to burst into tears. Elena seemed to be trying to hold it together but out of all of them Damon was the only one staring at him without blinking waiting to see what he would say.

"Can I say something?" Jeremy asked as he looked at the judge.

"Do you feel safe here? Do you get the attention you need here or do you believe if you moved to Florida you would have a better chance at getting back on track" Samantha asked him.

"I was angry earlier when I said what I did"

"Please answer the question," Samantha said in a firm voice.

Her tone shocked Jeremy and got his attention as he saw that she was waiting for him to throw Jenna under the bus and say he wanted to move to Florida. Clenching his jaw Jeremy glared at the lawyer with a cold stare and then let out a deep breath as he sat forward and placed his arms up on the stand ledge. "Yes, I feel safe here with Aunt Jenna" Jeremy told her and his words got everyone's attention. Jenna even thought maybe she had heard him wrong.

Biting his bottom lip and bowing his head before looking back up at Jenna sitting on in front of him with her eyes now glued on him he gave her an apologizing look. "Jenna isn't the problem, she has done everything she can for me but I'm making things difficult. It felt like everyone moved on after my parents died and I felt like they were forgetting them." Jeremy told the courtroom.

"But Jeremy you said-"

"I was trying to punish aunt Jenna because she moved had me mover away from my home like that part of my life was over. I realize now that in an effort to punish my family I am punish myself" Jeremy said full of apology in his voice. "Jenna I am so sorry for what I have put you through you are an amazing guardian and even with everything I have put you through you are here today fighting to keep me here. Thank you" he told her as tears fell from his eyes. Across the room Jenna too was in tears as her hand came up to cover her mouth to try and stop herself from losing it completely.

Samantha stared at Jeremy speechless at his words, she had been prepared for Jeremy to want to bad mouth Jenna and take is grandparent's side in this custody battle. As her eyes shifted back and forth trying to think of what she could say to save her case.

"Mrs. Gibbons do you have any other questions?" Judge Fell asked Samantha as she continued to stand there with a dear and a headlights look on her face. "MRS. GIBBONS!" he repeated loudly and breaking her from her trance.

"Jeremy you have been arrested three times and picked up by the cops more then that. How many times were you arrested in New York?"

"That was diff-"

"HOW MANY TIMES?" Samantha asked cutting him off.

"None" Jeremy said as he looked down at his lap.

"Did you drink and smoke in New York?"

"No" Jeremy said again sadly.

"What about selling pot?"

"I don't sell pot!" Jeremy told her loudly.

"So how many times did you walk around with a bag of marijuana in your pocket?" Samantha asked him and watched as Jeremy sadly shut his eyes.

"Never" he told her and the courtroom.

"Never; so all your troubles started when you were in the Miss Sommers care" Samantha pointed out again with a smile on her face while Jeremy looked down ashamed. "No further questions" Samantha announced and head back to take her seat.

As they waited for the judge to make a decision everyone was waiting outside all nervous and all anxious to learn what Judge Fell would decide. Sitting on a brick garden bed under a tree Jenna nervously bit her nails; Alaric had his arm wrapped around her for support.

Jeremy was pacing in front of them not sure if his speech would have any effect on the judge's decision. Scratching his head as he paced he let out a deep breath, "How long do these things take?"

"Who know, he might not even make a decision today?" Damon said as he sat next to Jenna and Alaric. He leaned forward and with his elbows resting on his thighs he rested his chin on his closed fist. Turning his head he looked at Elena a few feet away as she had her cell pressed against her ear. "Lets just hope it's taking long in our favor" he added.

After ending her call Elena walked over to join the others and stuffed her phone into her pocket. "Well Caroline and Bonnie were able to get Claire down for her nap but she didn't eat much for lunch" she informed Damon as she sat next to him.

"She ate a lot this morning at breakfast" Damon said as he rubbed his eyes. He was exhausted and while taking care of an eleven month old was tiring, having to deal with the idea of her being ripped away from him was defiantly keeping him up at night.

"Everything will be fine" Elena said trying to assure the others; "it has to be" she added and now was trying to convince herself as well. As the family waited with thoughts of the possible outcomes running through their minds Elijah came walking over in a quickly pace.

"Judge Fell has made his decision," he told them and they had hoped he knew if it was good or bad news but his face expression gave nothing away. Taking Damon's hand Elena and the other made their way back into the court room where a big life decision was about to be made that would affect all of them.

"ALL RISE FOR JUDGE FELL!"

Holding their breath everyone stood up, Jenna was standing beside Elijah with her eyes glued on the judge. Behind her Alaric place a firm hand on Jeremy's shoulder and Elena and Damon held hands tightly both knowing that their little family's future was in the hands of this one judge.

As Fell entered the courtroom he had everyone take their seat except Jenna, Elijah and on the other side of the room Eliza, Mr. Gilbert and Samantha. Taking his seat, Judge Fell looked at the family at war in front of him and let out a sigh. "It is no doubt that this family has issues, a teen mother, a fifteen year old with a drug and alcohol problem and a women who is still new and in some cases naive to taking care of kids. Jenna the way I see it you don't have control over these kids and that has lead to many of these problems. Elena is a teen mother and will have a hard and troubling life a head of her and the chances that she will even finish high school is low " he told them and Elena looked down in fear of how this was going to go. "Jeremy's situation with three arrests is not something I want to be forgotten. These are serious charges and if something isn't done then he could find himself in even worse situations. There is a lot that needs to be taken into consideration and that also includes the custody with Claire Salvatore. From what I've read and heard, Damon you are very much involved in taking care of Claire and see no reason why you shouldn't be. You have all have a tough two years, and Jenna I know you are doing the best that you can and after listening to both Elena and Jeremy I know that they know things have got to change. Moving you to Florida I believe will… not solve any of the present issues."

Hearing that had the courtroom buzzing and then judge used his mallet to get everyone's attentions, as he wasn't finished just yet. "I am still very concerned about Jeremy's situation and to show that you are committed to changing, Jeremy I want you to enter rehab for 30 days and also be part of our scared straight program where you will meet with a mentor in prison to see just where all that anger you have will have you end up. Understand?"

Quickly Jeremy nodded his head and although terrified knew that he didn't want things to get any worse then they already were for him.

"We are going to try this trial for six months and then I want to see everyone back here. At that time I will assess progress and make a final decision whether Jenna will remain with sole custody. That is all" Judge Fell declared and then got up and left the court room while everyone on Jenna's side of the court room hugged each other in relief.

Elena wrapped her arms around Damon in a tight hug as tears of joy streamed down her face. Damon's arms were around her tightly and his fingers brushed through her hair. After a moment of just holding each other Damon pulled back and then as he cupped Elena's face he wiped the tears away with his thumbs. Elena looked at him and smiled knowing that they wouldn't be separated. With a deep sigh Elena fell back into Damon's arms

Following the court hearing Elena and Damon made their way back to Elena's to see Claire after her afternoon with Bonnie and Caroline. Both Caroline and Bonnie were completely thrilled with the outcome of the court hearing and happy that Elena wouldn't be packing up and leaving them.

As Elena went to say goodbye and thank Bonnie and Caroline for babysitting, Damon took his ladybug up to Elena's room and was lying on Elena's bed with her. While Damon lay on his stomach he reached out to tickle Claire's little tummy as he got a little giggle out of her.

It was a sound Damon had really grown to love as he looked up at her bright blue eyes. He couldn't believe how big she was getting and how much of her own unique personality was starting to show in everything she did.

"Dada!" she chirped as she wrapped her tiny fist around Damon's index finger.

"Hello ladybug" he said to her in a sweet voice.

As Damon talked quietly to his little ladybug Elena slowly came to stand in the door way and watch the priceless interaction between father and daughter. It was a sight he would never get tired of seeing and was so grateful that theses moment wouldn't be taken away. With a smile on her face Elena made her way over to the bed just as Claire spotted her she started calling out "Mama, mama"

"Hey baby girl," Elena said as she took a seat on the bed and sat Claire on her lap. With her arms around her little girl Elena kissed her soft dark hair and smiled over at Damon. "So Caroline and Bonnie have been trying really hard to get Claire to say her first word.

"No luck on it being Caroline or Bonnie I take it?" Damon asked with a laugh.

"Nope she just smiles at them," Elena told him. "Bonnie is convince you are trying to stop her form saying aunt Bonnie" Elena teased.

"So far it's working," Damon teased back. "Huh bug? You gonna say your first word?" Damon asked her as he caressed her cheeks and stared up at her face that was the spitting image of her mother but with is piecing blues.

"BUG!" Claire squealed with a laugh.

Suddenly both Damon and Elena froze in shock and both looked at each other to see if the other had heard the same thing. "Did she just-"

"OH MY GOSH!" Elena squealed happily, "Can you say bug? Say Bug" Elena asked as she turned Claire around on her lap she that they were now face to face. "Aunt Jenna, Jeremy comes quick!"

As Claire smiled up at her mom they could all hear the sounds of footsteps coming up the stairs. "What? What is it?" Jenna asked as she entered Elena's room a little worried.

Damon quickly sat up on his knees and looked up at Jenna and Jeremy with a hug smile on his face. "She said her first word!" he told them proudly.

"OH MY GOSH!" Jenna squealed as she moved closer and took a seat on the bed.

"What'd she say?" Jeremy asked as he too came over to watch his little niece.

"She said BUG!" Elena cried happily.

"Ladybug" Damon called to her and Claire immediately turned her head to look at her daddy with a huge smile on her face.

"BUG!" she repeated and Jenna squealed in delight. "Oh my gosh that is the sweetest sound I have ever heard!" Jenna said as she leaned over to kiss Claire on the cheek.

"BUG, BUG, BUG!" Claire continued to say, as the four adults in the room were all excited when she said it. Jenna found herself being brought to tears as she realized just how close she was to losing her family but as they all sat on the bed interacting with Claire, Jenna new that from this moment on nobody was going to come between her and her family.