How can one say "you all are amazing and incredible and thank you and I love you all so much" yet again without sounding like a broken record? I don't think you can, so - all of those things. For all of you. Thank you, SO MUCH. So very much. I was blown away by the reaction to my first story, Settle Down. The reaction to this story absolutely overwhelms me. I really didn't expect it. Thank you, so so much.

Know how we have seen some overprotective Elena throughout the story, when it comes to Molly? Well, get ready for some more of that... (Remember how Molly is allergic to tree nuts?)

THANK YOU again!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries.

"I'm not going home," Ric announced, dropping his phone to the table. "Jo is pissed about garlic. She sent me to the store last night to get ingredients for some recipes she wants to make for dinner tonight. She wrote garlic on the list, I got garlic. But, apparently, I got the wrong type of garlic."

"There is more than one kind of garlic?" Damon asked, dipping his spoon into his frozen yogurt. He glanced across the room to ensure that Molly was still occupied with coloring her placemat at a kids' table. He spied her at the toppings bar. "Molly, come away from there," he ordered. "You already have your ice cream." Molly gave him a look, but didn't protest.

"Apparently," Ric said, answering Damon's question. "I bought a jar of minced garlic. According to Jo, I was supposed to get fresh garlic."

"Did she write fresh garlic?" Enzo wanted to know.

"How are you eating that?" Ric countered, making a face at the mountain of frozen yogurt flavors and toppings Enzo had piled into his bowl.

"It is a different adventure with every bite," Enzo quipped.

"Disgusting," Damon muttered. He caught Molly once more headed towards the toppings bar. "Molly! No." She gave him another dirty look before turning on her heel and stomping back to her art project.

"You know, if you were a girl, that's what your temper tantrums would look like," Ric reasoned, jerking his thumb in Molly's direction.

"That attitude is all Elena," Damon said.

"I want to know about this garlic," Enzo said, bringing them back on topic. "Did Jo write fresh garlic on this shopping list of hers?"

"No," Ric stated. "She just wrote 'garlic.' I still had the list. I double-checked. Apparently, fresh garlic was implied. How in the hell was I supposed to know that? I have never bought fresh garlic in my life. I don't even know where you find it in the store."

"It's in the produce section," Damon supplied. Enzo and Ric both looked at him. He shrugged. "My dad is Italian. Mom sent me and Stefan on a lot of grocery errands growing up."

"You know, you know a little about whole lot," Enzo commented. "Where the garlic is, what kind of intake works best in a given car, the happy hour specials at any given race track…" He glanced at Molly. "Pediatrician recommendations… Baby doll preferences…"

"So what," Damon interrupted, shooting Enzo a look even as he addressed Ric, "do you go back to the store and buy fresh garlic?" Ric shook his head.

"Oh no. She's going to 'have to make do,' as she put it this morning."

"You two are excellent examples of what not to do in relationships," Enzo said, looking between Damon and Ric. "I learn more from watching the two of you try to navigate ex-girlfriends and new wives that just moved in from Alabama than I do by dating."

"That's because you don't date," Damon said with a scoff. "Women won't go out with you."

"I do so…"

"Molly!" Damon interrupted. With a frustrated huff, he stood and crossed the frozen yogurt parlor. Molly tried to dodge him, but he caught her by the hand. "Have a seat," he said, depositing her in her chair at the kids' table. "This is your last chance. Sit here, finish your ice cream, and work on your picture. If I have to ask you to stay away from that topping bar one more time, you are going to bed early tonight, without time to watch television."

"I just want some more candy in my ice cream," Molly informed him. "Can I have some more? Please, Daddy?" She battered her eyelashes at him.

"Nice try," Damon said with a shake of his head. "Your mom is already going to not like that I took you to get ice cream before dinner. You certainly aren't getting even more. Besides, there are nuts and candy with nuts. You can't have just anything up there." Molly rolled her eyes dramatically. "Molly," Damon warned. Molly blew out a dramatic breath that reminded him of Elena.

"Fine," she mumbled, picking up a crayon. Damon gave her a squeeze on her shoulder.

"There's my good girl," he said before re-joining Ric and Enzo. They had finished up at the shop early as the coming week was a bye week, and so, the three of them had used Molly as an excuse to go get ice cream.

"I am never going to get used to you being a father," Ric said. "You just, like, disciplined a kid. That blows my mind."

"Yeah, we are more used to you hitting on women and drinking too much," Enzo added.

"Sorry, gentleman," Damon said, leaning back in his chair. "I'm a family man now." Enzo and Ric both burst out laughing.

Noting that her father wasn't looking in her direction, Molly darted out of her seat and ran for the topping bar. She glanced around and saw that no one, not even the two teenage girls behind the counter, were paying attention to her. Standing on her tiptoes, she reached for the bin of candy closest to her, retrieved a handful, and shoved it in her mouth. She spun, intending to run back to her chair before her daddy caught her. She wasn't fast enough.

"Molly Virginia!" he reprimanded, standing quickly. "What do you think you are doing?" Molly's eyes got big.

"Daddy…" She felt funny. Damon frowned.

"What did you eat?" he demanded, a note of panic in his voice as he took in the chocolate smeared on her mouth. She didn't answer. Damon glanced at the toppings bar and in that moment, he knew. She ate peanut butter cups.

It was as though someone else took control of his brain, telling him what to do. He scooped Molly into his arms and sprinted out to his SUV, faster than he had ever ran in his life, yelling for someone to call an ambulance as he went. He fumbled with his keys for only a moment before he had Molly sitting in his passenger seat. He reached through to the backseat and grabbed her bag. He ripped it open, breaking the zipper in the process, and found her EpiPen. He uncapped it and in one quick move, pushed her dress out of way and injected the pen into her upper thigh.

"How are you doing, baby girl?" he asked, running a hand over Molly's hair.

"Daddy…" Molly choked, her breath short, eyes rolling. "Can't… Breathe…"

"EMS is on the way," Ric called out, still on the phone with 911. "Should be here in two minutes." Damon fumbled through her bag, looking for an antihistamine he knew was supposed to be there, because Elena planned for everything. He found some liquid Benadryl and, hands trembling, quickly read the dosage recommendation.

"Come on, Molly," he said, holding a dropper of pink liquid to her lips. "I need you to swallow this." She was swelling, hives breaking out across her tiny body. Her lips were welded shut. "Molly, please," Damon begged. "Come on, baby girl. Open your mouth for me." With effort, Molly pried her lips apart. "Swallow," Damon directed. "You can do it. Swallow the medicine for me." Molly gulped. It took everything she had in her. He heard the sound of an ambulance in the distance. Knowing he had done everything he could, he scooped Molly into his arms and sat down on the sidewalk.

"She's going to be okay," he heard Enzo saying.

"Help is on the way," Ric echoed.

"Stay with me, Molly," he muttered, his heart racing in fear as he held her close to his chest. "Please, please, please stay with me. I can't lose you. Your mom can't lose you. Please. Stay with me."

When EMS arrived moments later, they had to pry a lifeless Molly from his arms.

Elena had no idea how she arrived at the hospital, just that she was there.

"Where is she?" she yelled to no one in particular as she entered the emergency room in a blind panic. "My daughter! Where is she?" Tears were flowing. She made no move to wipe them away.

"Ma'am, how can I help you?" a nurse asked.

"My daughter," Elena said again, desperate. "She was brought in by an ambulance. She was having an allergic reaction to nuts. Her dad called me… Where is she? How is she?"

"Elena!" Elena spun at the sound of Damon's voice. She vaguely noted Ric and Enzo there as well.

"Where is she?" Elena asked. "Where is my child?"

"The doctors have her," Damon answered, reaching for her. His heart was still in his throat. He had already thrown up on the side of the road in route to the hospital. "I don't know anything else. I have been asking, but no one knows anything yet."

"What happened?" Elena demanded. "How did she get nuts in the first place?"

"We were at the frozen yogurt place…"

"You took her for frozen yogurt?" Elena interrupted. "Damon! She hasn't had dinner!" She was irrational, blinded by fear for her daughter.

"We finished at the shop early," Damon said. "It was something fun to do. She wanted to color at the kids' table, but she kept sneaking over to the toppings because she wanted candy. I kept correcting her, but she kept doing it. She snuck past me and I caught her, but she had already shoved a handful of peanut butter cups into her mouth."

"You weren't watching her!" Elena accused.

"I was!" Damon argued. "She was never out of my sight!"

"You just said she snuck past you!"

"I caught her!"

"No you didn't!" Elena fumed. "She still ate the peanut butter cups! God, Damon! How could you be so irresponsible? I trusted you! I trusted you with my daughter!"

"She's my daughter too!" Damon said, growing angry. "I was watching her, Elena! But, she's a kid. She gets into things…"

"Don't you dare blame her!" Elena said, her voice rising, not caring that they were in a hospital waiting room. "She is only three! You have to watch her, every single second!"

"I was!" Damon shot back. "She didn't listen to me!"

"Damon, Elena," Giuseppe tried, stepping in. Both of them glanced at him, not sure where he came from, too wrapped up in Molly and themselves to notice anyone around them. "Let's take a breath and calm down…"

"I'm not calming down!" Elena half shouted. She turned to Damon, tears pouring. "I knew trusting you was a bad idea. I knew it! The second I let my guard down, the second I let you start getting close, you go and do something like this!"

"Like what?" Damon asked. "I didn't do anything…"

"You showed just how irresponsible you are!" Elena informed him. "I was a fool to think you have changed! You can't even take my child to get ice cream without nearly killing her!" Fresh tears filled Elena's eyes. Damon's own eyes were burning as he tried to understand Elena's anger and accusations.

"Elena, I would never… You know how much I love that little girl! I would do anything… I gave her the EpiPen and Benadryl…"

"You wouldn't have had to if you would have been responsible enough to watch her!" Elena said hotly. "You will never take her anywhere alone again!" Damon opened his mouth to reply, but Elena beat him to it. "If she dies Damon, it's on you!"

Damon felt like someone sucker punched him in the gut.

"Elena…" He was lost for words.

"Molly Gilbert?"

Everyone in the waiting room turned to find a nurse, eyeing the group. "She's my daughter," Elena said, stepping forward. "Where is she? Can I see her?" The nurse gave her a friendly smile and nodded.

"You sure can," she said. "Follow me." Damon made to follow. Elena whirled around.

"No," she told him, holding her hand up to stop him. "Don't you dare. My daughter is in here because of you. Leave. You are done here." With that, she turned to follow nurse.

Damon felt the room spin. A hand reached out to steady him.

"She's upset," Stefan said. He and Caroline had arrived in time to hear the end of Elena's vicious words. "Give her a few minutes to calm down." Damon shook his head.

"I didn't… I wouldn't… I was watching Molly…"

"I know you were," Stefan agreed, his hand still on Damon. He could see his brother faltering and was afraid to let him go. "I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt that little girl."

"It was an accident," Ric supplied. "Molly is a kid. She wanted some candy."

"Yeah, we were there," Enzo said, trying to console Damon. "You told her time and time again to sit down…" Damon shook his head again.

"She can't die," he said to no one in particular. "She can't."

"She won't," Ginny said, stepping forward. "Stefan, take your brother to the cafeteria and get him some tea or something to help settle him down. I will find out how Molly is, and come get you." Damon shook his head.

"I don't want any tea," he said. He shook of Stefan's comforting hand. "Just – leave me alone." He started walking, no direction in mind.

"Damon!"

He ignored the calls of his family and kept walking.

Elena's heart was pounding as a nurse pulled aside a curtain and allowed her to enter Molly's room in the ER, telling her the doctor would be with her shortly. Groggy, but alert, Molly lay in a too big bed, IVs pumping into her, monitors attached, her facial features still puffy, her little body still covered in a faint rash. She was still wearing the pink dress and bow Elena had dressed her in that morning.

"Molly!"

"Hi, Mama," Molly said softly.

"Oh, baby girl," Elena sighed with relief. She leaned over Molly, checking her over for herself. "How are you feeling?"

"Sleepy," Molly answered groggily. Elena smiled through her tears.

"I bet you are," she said trying to keep her voice light for Molly's sake, even though her heart was still pounding. "Can you breathe okay? Does your skin itch?"

"Yes," Molly answered, her eyes blinking.

"Yes, you can breathe okay?" Elena prompted. Molly nodded. "And yes, you are itchy?" Molly shook her head.

"No itches," she said. Elena nodded.

"Good," she said with a smile. "That's really good."

"Where's… Daddy…?" Molly asked, her speech slow as she blinked her eyes heavily. Elena felt a pang at the mention of Damon. She was already starting to regret what she said to him.

"Daddy is talking to Gigi and Nono," she told Molly, hoping that Damon was at least still at the hospital. "He will be here soon." The curtain parted again and a doctor entered.

"Hello again, Good Golly Miss Molly," he greeted. "Is this your mom?"

"I am," Elena confirmed, standing from where she had perched on Molly's bed. "Elena Gilbert."

"Ms. Gilbert, I'm Dr. Ramirez," he said, introducing himself. "I'm Miss Molly's attending physician."

"How is she?" Elena asked. "She said she can breath okay. She's still puffy, but her hives look faint…" Dr. Ramirez smiled at Elena, recognizing her as the concerned mother she was.

"She's doing well," he replied. "We are going to keep her overnight since there can be a secondary reaction later on, but she is a very lucky little girl. Her father's quick reaction with the EpiPen and Benadryl likely saved her life."

Elena felt the air leave her chest. She registered Damon saying something about EpiPen and Benadryl, even vaguely remembered responding to his comment, but she was only just realizing what he had done. She felt even worse about the things she said to him. She put a hand on Molly's bed railing to stead herself and tried to focus on the doctor in front of her.

"Will we be able to take her home tomorrow?" she asked.

"As long as she doesn't have a second reaction," the doctor confirmed. "We are giving her fluids as well as another round of antihistamines. We are also monitoring her breathing and heart rate, just to be on the safe side. Her room on the pediatric floor should be ready soon."

"Thank you," Elena said softly. "Thank you so much." Dr. Ramirez nodded.

"Her father is the one you should be thanking," he said. "He dosed her within moments of her ingesting the peanut butter cups. The EpiPen did its job and she came to in route to the hospital. We merely had to stabilize her and monitor her by the time she arrived here."

"Thank you," Elena said again. The doctor excused himself and Elena returned to Molly's bedside. She reached out and smoothed down Molly's hair. She unclipped the bow, trying to make Molly more comfortable. The curtain opened again and Molly perked up.

"Gigi!" she said. Ginny smiled at Molly.

"How is my girl?" she asked.

"Sleepy," Molly answered again. "Is Daddy wif you?" She looked past Ginny as though she expected to see Damon there.

"No, sweetheart, Daddy isn't with me," she said. She glanced at Elena. "Daddy is – outside." Elena knew from the tone in Ginny's voice that no one knew where Damon was. She felt her stomach turn over. "How is she doing?" Ginny asked Elena.

"They are going to keep her overnight," Elena answered. "Just in case there is a secondary reaction." She swallowed hard, tears returning to her eyes. "Damon gave her the EpiPen and Benadryl almost as soon as she ate the peanut butter cups." She wiped at her tears, trying to keep Molly from seeing her cry. It was no use, however. "He saved her." Ginny gave her a long, hard look.

"That doesn't sound like something someone irresponsible would do," she said pointedly. Elena felt something inside her break. She couldn't stop the sob from erupting from her.

"I was so afraid," she choked out.

"Mama?" Molly asked. "Mama, why you cry?" Molly's own voice quivered. Already overwhelmed by everything that had happened, she didn't like seeing her mother crying. It scared her, made her nervous.

"It's okay, sweetheart," Elena choked out. "Everything is okay. Mama is just – glad you're okay. You scared us today." Mindful of Molly's IVs and monitors, Elena pulled her into her arms and held her close. She closed her eyes and breathed in her daughter. She sent up a prayer of thanks that her daughter was still with them.

"He loves that little girl," Ginny said quietly to Elena. "He has made a lot of mistakes, but he loves Molly. You don't get to doubt that about him."

"I know," Elena said, opening her eyes and giving Ginny a pleading look, asking her for both forgiveness and understanding. "I know. Where…?" she trailed off, knowing Ginny understood what she was asking. Ginny sighed.

"We don't know," she admitted. "Stefan and Giuseppe are looking for him." Elena's stomach turned over once more. She had to find Damon, but she didn't want to leave Molly either. She was saved from having to make a choice by the arrival of a couple of nurses who would transport Molly to her room for the night.

"Ginny, will you stay with her?" Elena asked as the nurses prepped Molly to be moved. "I need to find Damon."

"Of course," Ginny confirmed. She reached out and squeezed Elena's hand. "And yes, you most certainly do."

She found him in the hospital's small courtyard, perched atop a picnic table. She could tell by the slump of his shoulders that he was devastated. She walked softly and slowly toward him, worried about what she would find. She stopped in front of him, arms crossed over her chest. He finally looked up and met her eyes. She could see how broken he was in just a glance.

"Damon."

"Caroline." He blew out a breath and ran a hand over his face. "How is Molly? Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Caroline confirmed. "They are going to keep her overnight, but as long as she doesn't have any further symptoms or reactions, she can go home tomorrow." Damon blew out another long sigh, this one full of relief.

"Thank God."

"How are you?" Caroline countered. "Your dad and Stefan are looking for you. Or, at least, they were. I texted them that I found you." The words 'I'm fine' were on the top of Damon's tongue, but he stopped himself. He wasn't fine. Not at all.

"Caroline, I would never, ever, do anything that might put Molly in danger," he said, feeling a desperation to tell someone that he would never put his daughter at risk. "I was watching her. I told her to stay away from the toppings. I acted as quickly as I possibly could."

"I know," Caroline said soothingly. Carefully, she navigated the picnic bench so she could join Damon on the tabletop, a task made a bit more difficult by her growing belly. He instinctively took hold of her arm to steady her until she was seated. "Elena was afraid," she said. "She said a lot of things she didn't mean."

"I was afraid, too," Damon admitted. "I feel guilty enough about what happened without Elena blaming me."

"You saved Molly's life," Caroline told him. "If you hadn't given her that EpiPen and Benadryl so quickly, who knows what would have happened."

"I did what I had to do," Damon said with a shake of his head.

"Elena is extremely overprotective of Molly," Caroline said. "Remember how she acted over a scraped knee the other day? It was like the kid had lost a limb. Molly bumped her head when she was learning to walk and Elena called me in hysterics while she was rushing her to the ER where she proceeded to demand a CT scan, even after the doctor told her that save for a goose egg, Molly was just fine.

"I know Elena was wrong in how she handled things," she continued. "But, she was afraid. When Molly was in the NICU, there were a few times, especially at first, that things didn't look good for Molly. That in itself made her overprotective. She lost her brother days before Molly turned a year old and she just lost her parents a couple of months ago. I'm not saying the way Elena reacted was okay, but I'm trying to help you understand." Damon sighed.

"I know she has suffered through a lot," he said. "But, she managed to hit on every fear I have when it comes to her and Molly – that I'm not good enough or responsible enough to be a part of their lives."

"She didn't mean that," Caroline tried.

"I think she did," Damon said. "Right now, in this moment, I feel like nothing I do is good enough." Neither of them heard the soft sliding of the electric doors, nor did they hear Elena enter the courtyard. She stopped, buying herself some time to figure out what to say to Damon as she listened in.

"What do you mean?" Caroline asked. Damon sighed and shook his head.

"Doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does. Tell me." Damon pursed his lips. He found he wanted to talk. It surprised him that it was Caroline sitting beside him, given that she was still a bit short with him most of the time, but he needed to get some things off his chest to keep himself from going off the rails again. Caroline was there, offering to listen.

"I screwed up," he started. "Screwed up isn't even the word for what I did. I ruined my entire life. I destroyed the people I love. I know that. I know that better than absolutely anyone else. It is a burden that I have to bear and sometimes, even now, that burden is so heavy it feels like it might consume me. Maybe it makes me selfish, but sometimes I wish, just for a moment, someone would realize that I'm hurting, too.

"It's not easy, reckoning with the things I have done. I lay awake at night and think back over the terrible things I have said and done, and it kills me. No one knows the guilt and shame I carry around. I spend so much time, apologizing to everyone and trying my hardest to make things right. I second guess myself all the time, wondering if I'm doing something right, something wrong, whatever. Just once, I wish someone would acknowledge that I have to deal with everything I have done. You look in the mirror and you see this happy, glowing, woman expecting her first child. I look in a mirror and see a guy who has done nothing but screw up and hurt everyone he loves. I have a whole lot of hate inside of me for that guy."

Caroline was quiet for several moments. Elena stood with her arms wrapped around her, considering everything Damon had said. He was right. She hadn't considered how hard things may have been for him, so focused on first his relationship with Molly and then their relationship, along with his career. She had been selfish and while she needed to be on one hand, they had also reached a place where she needed to consider Damon's feelings. While he was on good terms with her and his family, it was himself he really needed to forgive.

"I think we have all been a little selfish," Caroline finally said, almost as though she were reading Elena's thoughts. "That's human nature – to focus on ourselves and damn the people who hurt us. But, you chipped away at us, little by little, until we forgave you. I also think you are right in saying none of us have really thought about how hard this must be for you. I mean, I know how guilty I feel when I buy another pair of shoes or another bag and try to sneak it past Stefan. I can't imagine what you must feel." Damon snorted.

"Only you would compare my guilt over how I hurt my family to buying a new purse." Caroline smiled.

"It's what I do," she said, lightening the mood. She reached out and squeezed Damon's shoulder. "You saved your little girl's life today, Damon. I know Elena said some hurtful things, but if the two of you can make it past everything else that has happened, I think you can figure this out, too."

"I hope so," Damon muttered. Elena felt a chill run through her. There was something in Damon's tone that told her it wasn't going to be as easy as apologizing to him. For the second time in hours, she found herself fearful, this time for her relationship.

"You can," she said. "You made it through abandoning her and her keeping Molly from you. This is just a speed bump." Damon shook his head, but didn't say anything further on the topic.

"You know, I have never actually apologized to you for hurting you," he said instead. "I mean, you and Stefan weren't together when I took off, but you were Elena's friend and you have had to put up with the consequences of me not being around since joining this family. I'm sorry, Caroline. I really, really am."

"You gave me a box of European chocolate for Mother's Day," Caroline countered with a wave of her hand. "I'm six months pregnant. You are forgiven."

"If only everyone else was as easy as a box of chocolate," Damon commented. He had a feeling Caroline was merely letting him off the hook. Tonight, he would take it.

"Well, it helped that you have worked things out with my husband," she told him, drawing a short chuckle out of Damon. "I'm going to go find Stefan and see if we can bring Molly anything. You should go see your little girl."

"I'm going to take a few more minutes," he said. Caroline nodded and reached for a hug.

"Everything is going to be fine," she told him as they released one another. "Promise."

"Always the optimist," Damon said. He held her arm as she stepped off the tabletop. "Thanks, Caroline." She winked at him.

"Thank you," she said. "For saving my niece, but also for giving my husband his best friend back." Damon gave her the slightest of grins.

"I think you are his best friend," he said. Caroline shook her head.

"He likes me and all, but he can't talk about engines and braking systems with me." She spied Elena then, although Damon was still not aware of her presence. She reached out and gave his arm a squeeze before starting towards the door. She could feel the guilt rolling off of Elena as she approached her.

"Is Molly okay?" she asked quietly. Elena nodded.

"They moved her to the pediatric floor," she replied softly. "She's asking for Damon." Caroline glanced over her shoulder at where Damon was still perched on the picnic table. She turned back to Elena.

"You owe him an apology," she said sternly. Elena nodded, tears once again stinging her eyes.

"I know," she admitted. Caroline gave her a quick hug before disappearing inside. Elena took a deep breath and approached Damon. She stopped a few feet in front of him, her arms wrapped protectively around her. Damon glanced at her before looking back into the distance. He waited, determined she would be the first one to speak.

"Molly is asking for you," she said after a few moments. If she had to wait to talk to Damon in the name of getting him to Molly, she would.

"Did you tell her her father is too irresponsible and won't be able to see her?" he asked. Elena took the blow without much reaction. She deserved it.

"Damon, I was scared," she started quietly. "I didn't mean anything I said. I didn't even realize what you were telling me about the EpiPen and the Benadryl until the doctor told me you giving it to Molly so quickly saved her life. All I knew was that you called me and said Molly had eaten nuts and was having a reaction. All I could think of was my baby and whether she was okay."

"I was scared too," Damon countered with an edge in his voice. "When the EMTs showed up, they had to pry my little girl out of my arms. She was unconscious and I wasn't even sure if she was breathing. I didn't know if she would still be alive when we got to the hospital. You aren't the only one who gets to be scared here, Elena." Elena's eyes watered with tears. "I had the added bonus of having at least some idea as to what Molly was experiencing," he continued. "I knew how scared she must have been. I have had a few trips to the hospital for anaphylactic shock over the years too, you know."

"I'm sorry," Elena said softly. "I'm so sorry, Damon. I know you love Molly. I know you would never do anything to hurt her. She is a curious three year old. She is also stubborn and determined. I know you were watching her. I know if I were with her, it probably still would have happened. I'm so sorry, Damon. I didn't mean anything I said."

In that moment, Damon decided he didn't have it in him right then to have this discussion with Elena. He blew out a breath and stood up.

"I'm going to go see Molly," he said. "Before you change your mind again about whether or not I'm responsible enough to be her father." With that, he strode back inside, leaving Elena alone in the courtyard.

Damon wasted no time in making his way to Molly's room, stopping only long enough to ask at the reception desk where it was. He entered to find Molly being entertained by his parents. She was wearing a hospital gown now, her hair messy without its bow. Still a bit swollen, she perked up when she saw him.

"Daddy!" He couldn't help but smile, even as happy tears filled his eyes. Just a couple of hours ago, he was fearful he would never hear his little girl's voice again.

"Hi, Princess," he greeted, trying to keep his tone light. He went to her and, mindful of her IV lines, pulled her into his arms. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Molly answered. "No more nuts. Ever. Dats what Dr. Rammers said."

"Dr. Rammers?" Damon asked, looking at his parents.

"Dr. Ramirez," Ginny supplied. "He's Molly's doctor."

"He just gave Molly a firm talking to about eating things without permission," Giuseppe said. "She's not going to do that again, right Principessa?"

"Right, Nono," Molly agreed, snuggling up to Damon. He kissed the top of her head and held her still closer.

"Don't you ever scare Daddy like that again," he said softly. "I love you too much."

"I love you too, Daddy," Molly replied. Damon couldn't stop the couple of tears that fell, even as he wiped at them quickly. He looked at his parents, realizing he now had a very real idea as to how they had felt after his accident. His mother seemed to understand.

"She's okay," Ginny said, putting a comforting hand on Damon. "And so are you."

"Stefan and Caroline have gone to Elena's to get Molly's doll and some pajamas," Giuseppe added. "Now that you are here, your mother and I are going to go pick up some dinner for everyone. Something better than what you would get at the cafeteria."

"Thank you," Damon said, understanding they were also giving him some time with Molly. They said their goodbyes and left, promising to be back soon.

"Daddy?" Molly asked.

"What do you need?" he asked, smoothing her hair back. He wouldn't be leaving her side anytime soon, unless she asked him to go get her something. Right now, in this moment, he would even go buy her the pony she so desperately wanted.

"Where's Mama?" Damon felt a bit of a tug at his heart as he thought about Elena standing alone in the courtyard.

"She's outside, getting some fresh air," he told Molly. "She will be back soon." He knew Elena wouldn't leave Molly's side for long. Deep down, he knew it was a big deal that she left Molly's side to find him at all. He just wasn't ready to accept it, still too wounded by what she had said.

"Mama was sad," Molly continued. "She was cryin' when she leave me wif Gigi."

"Mama was just scared," Damon said gently. "You really scared us, baby girl. We were afraid something really bad would happen to you. We love you too much for that."

"I not eat peanut butter cups ever again," Molly promised. Damon had to smile.

"It's hard sometimes, isn't it? Not being able to eat all the things that other people can eat because they have nuts in them?" Molly nodded. "Remember, Daddy can't eat nuts, either. So, you and I, we just have to be a little bit different than our friends and be a little more careful about what we eat."

"Dr. Rammers say its da No Nut Club," Molly said. Damon smiled.

"Yeah," he agreed, "you and I are members of the No Nut Club. That just makes it that much cooler." He kissed the top of her head. "You want to watch some TV?" Molly nodded. Damon turned on the TV and found some cartoons for her. They watched a full half hour show before Molly turned to him, sleepy from her medicine.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, Princess?"

"Will you snuggle me?" Damon smiled, remember what Elena had told him about how she loved the moments when Molly would ask to snuggle. He understood what she meant in that moment.

"Of course," he said. Carefully, he climbed into the hospital bed with Molly and pulled her into his arms. She settled on his chest and returned her attention to the cartoon.

"Where's Mama?" she asked again after another fifteen minutes. Damon heard the note of panic in Molly's voice. She wanted both of her parents, especially in a strange place like the hospital. He himself was growing concerned about how long Elena had been gone.

"She should be back soon," he said, hoping he was right. "If she isn't back in a little while, I will go get her when either Gigi and Nonno or Aunt Care and Uncle Stef get back, okay?"

"Okay," Molly agreed. She snuggled closer and was asleep shortly after. Another several minutes passed. The credits rolled on the cartoon Molly was watching. More than an hour had gone by since he left Elena in the courtyard. He was starting to will his parents or Caroline and Stefan to appear so he could go find her when the door opened. A few moments later, Elena appeared.

Her eyes were red and swollen. She had been crying hard and, from the looks of it, for a long time. Damon understood why she had taken so long. She didn't want Molly to see her so upset. She stopped a few feet from the foot of the bed, her arms wrapped around her, something she always did when she was upset or nervous. Taking in Molly curled up against Damon, sound asleep, his arm wrapped protectively around her, she felt an overwhelming flood of emotions. The day had drained her. She started to tear up again, surprised she had any tears left to cry.

Damon felt himself soften at the sight of her. Without saying a word, he opened his free arm to her. He saw both the relief and the break of the dam holding back her emotions as they hit her at the same time. She all but lunged for him, as though she were afraid he would change his mind if she didn't act quickly. She climbed into bed and tucked herself in opposite of Molly. She buried her face in his t-shirt and began to cry again, silently. He didn't say anything, but he rubbed her back soothingly as her tears fell.

In that moment, laying in the middle of a hospital bed, Molly in one arm, Elena in the other, he was the anchor holding the three of them together.

So, that was scary. I did a lot of research on nut reactions and anaphylactic shock. I also have a friend who is allergic and carries both an EpiPen and Benedryl at all times who let me pick their brain a bit. I have come to the conclusion that anaphylactic shock is frightening. More to come on how Damon and Elena deal with this.

Also, I hear you about wanting more "family" time and some Damon/Elena love scenes. Hang in there. We're going places. Literally. We just need to get through this "speed bump" first because Damon is still pretty upset with Elena and Elena is still pretty shaken up. Meanwhile, Molly should really hit them up for that pony right about now.

Please let me know what you thought!