And... Here it is. The last chapter. I'm - sad. I have so loved writing this story and sharing it with you. I believe you, as an author, know when its time to wrap it up, and I believe we are there. Thank you, so very much, for reading along, for all of your notes and reviews and encouragement. I appreciate it all, so very much.

There is still an epilogue to go though - we're not totally done!

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Diaries.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Mama!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Daddy!"

Elena stirred from a deep sleep, Damon's arms around her as he slept soundly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Mama!" Elena gasped as she realized the noise that woke her was the sound of Molly calling for them, beating on their bedroom door and trying to turn the doorknob. "Daddy!" Hearing the growing panic in her little girl's voice, Elena rolled out of Damon's arms.

"What…?" Damon mumbled, woken by her sudden movements. He spied her pulling his t-shirt over her head. "What's going on?" he asked, his brain still hazy with sleep.

"Mama! Mama! Let me in!" Molly wailed in the hallway, still pounding on the door. "Daddy!"

"Put some clothes on!" Elena ordered. "Hurry! She's scared!"

"Daddy! Mama!"

"Mama's coming!" Elena called as she rushed for her door. She looked over at her shoulder at Damon who was still moving slow. "Damon! Clothes!" He groaned in response.

"Hold on, Molly!" he called.

"Mama!" Elena watched Damon pull on his gym shorts. As soon as they were over his hips, she unlocked the door and swung it open. Molly was standing on the hallway in her nightgown, on the verge of tears. "Mama, I not get in!" Molly told her.

"I know, I'm sorry," Elena said. "Mama and Daddy were sleeping and we didn't hear you. Come here." Elena pulled Molly into her arms and hugged her. "Everything okay?"

"I has to go potty," Molly said, bouncing up and down. "Now I has to go real bad!"

"Okay, come on," Elena said, steering Molly out of the doorway. Molly was fully potty trained, but was still working on going to the restroom by herself, especially when she wasn't in her own home. "Let's go." Elena spared Damon a soft smile before she disappeared down the hall with Molly.

Damon blew out a breath and flopped back on the bed. He loved that little girl, but he had really been hoping for a repeat performance with her mother before they shifted into parent mode for the day. He adjusted himself in his shorts as he listened to the sound of the toilet flush and the sink turn on. A few moments later, two sets of footsteps, one small and rushed, made their way back up the hall. Damon sat up, anticipating Molly's usually exuberant arrival.

"Daddy!" Molly cried when she appeared in the doorway. She ran to the bed and before she could climb on, Damon had grabbed her and tossed her gently into the middle of the sheets. She shrieked with laughter. "You gots me!" It had become their game, Molly trying to dive into bed, Damon thwarting her attempts by scooping her up and giving her a raspberry on her belly or tossing her into the center of the bed. He let her win sometimes, just to keep it interesting to her.

"I got you," he agreed, tickling her. She shrieked with laughter. Elena smiled happily as she approached them. The two people in her bed were the most important people in the entire world to her. Hearing them laughing together warmed her heart in a way she couldn't put into words. After last night, she couldn't help but think of what it would sound like in a few years, with another little voice or two joining in.

"Molly would like to go to the beach and play miniature golf today," Elena told Damon as she joined them on the bed. "I told her we would have to talk to Daddy and see what he wants to do today."

"Please, can we go to da beach an' golf, Daddy?" Molly asked, turning her big blue eyes on him. "Please?" She fluttered her eyelashes for good measure. Damon looked at Elena.

"She's good," he told her. Elena smiled back at him. "She gets that batting of the eyelashes thing from you." Elena shrugged.

"Maybe her daddy happens to be a pushover when it comes to his girls," she countered.

"That could be it," Damon agreed. He winked at her, noting the faint blush that crept up her cheeks.

"Can we, Daddy?" Molly asked, moving so she was in Damon's line of sight.

"Well," Damon drawled, leaning against the headboard, "as it turns out, the only thing I want to do today is hang out with my girls. So, if my girls want to go to the beach and play miniature golf, that's what we will do." Molly cheered.

"I gots to go get 'Manfa!" she said. She scurried off the bed and ran for the door. Elena tucked herself into Damon's side as they listened to Molly's footsteps running down the hall to her bedroom.

"Good morning," she said, tilting her head so she could look at him. She was grateful to find there wasn't any awkwardness between them after the night before. It was as easy and comfortable between them as it had ever been.

"Good morning," Damon replied. He leaned in and kissed her soundly. "Mmm," he groaned as the separated, knowing Molly would return at any moment. "It's torture, knowing you aren't wearing any panties under my t-shirt, and that there is nothing I can do about it." Elena laughed.

"There's something for you to think about all day," she teased.

"Trust me, I will," Damon promised. He kissed her again, then studied her, looking for any sign that she regretted the night before. "You okay?" he asked, sweeping his thumb over her cheek. Elena smiled at him.

"I'm okay," she promised. Her smile turned into a smirk. "I'm a little sore, but in the best possible way."

"Lucky for you, I know a guy that can treat that," he replied.

"Oh, yeah?" Elena asked, moving in for another kiss.

"Oh, yeah," Damon retorted. Their lips had barely met when Molly returned.

"I's ready to go!" she declared. She tossed her baby doll into bed and climbed on after it.

"Not so fast," Elena said as Molly settled herself on top of Damon and Elena's tangled legs, facing them and looking expectant. "Everyone needs to eat breakfast and get ready for the day. And, we should pack a picnic lunch to take to the beach."

"I not need breakfast," Molly declared. "I's ready to go!"

"You can't wear your nightgown to the beach," Damon told her. He looped an arm around Elena.

"I guess not," Molly agreed. She tapped her wrist where a watch would be. "Let's get dis show on da road." Elena burst out laughing while Damon's jaw dropped a bit. In the height of his frustration with the two of them on their road trip to South Carolina, he had made the exact same gesture while trying to get them in the car after a stop for lunch.

"We will get this show on the road once we have had some breakfast," Damon informed Molly. "What do you want? You pick." Molly pursed her lips as she thought about it. Her eyes lit up.

"Cookies!" she declared. Damon shook his head.

"Try again." Molly huffed and resumed her pursed look.

"Cake!" she announced. Damon shook his head again.

"Once more. Something breakfast-y this time, please." Molly dramatically rolled her eyes. Elena chuckled softly beside him, trying to cover it up so Molly wouldn't get the idea that rolling her eyes was acceptable behavior. Damon squeezed Elena in return.

"Um… Muffins?" Molly asked.

"Muffins," Damon repeated. "Muffins, we can do." He looked at Elena. "Of course, we have no muffins." He was about to propose that Molly think up yet another breakfast idea when Elena spoke up.

"That coffee shop a couple of miles down the road has muffins," she said. "Why don't I go pick us up some? I'll be back in, say, 20 minutes, tops."

"You are going to have to put some pants on for that," Damon said seriously. Elena glared at him, making him laugh. "I can go," he offered. Elena shook her head.

"You help Molly get lunch together," she said, moving to get out of bed. "What kind of muffins do we want?" She found a pair of shorts and pulled them on, still sans panties. Damon had to bite his lip to stop from groaning.

"Chocolate chip!" Molly stated.

"Blueberry," Damon added.

"And I want banana nut," she said. She tied Damon's shirt in a knot at her waist so it wasn't engulfing her frame. "I will be back in a few minutes." She grabbed her purse and Damon's car keys and left the room. Damon and Molly looked at one another.

"Do we make lunch or do we watch cartoons?" he asked Molly.

"Cartoons," Molly replied, as though she were saying "duh." She thought better of it, however. "But… Mama say to make lunch…" She looked at her dad. "Maybe we should make lunch."

"How about we watch cartoons and I handle your mama when she gets back?" he proposed. Molly shrugged.

"Okay," she agreed. She jumped off the bed and landed clumsily, stumbling a few feet before she righted herself.

"Careful!" Damon chided as he threw the blankets off him and got out of bed.

"Get my doll!" Molly called, already running for the leaving room. Damon sighed as he pulled a t-shirt over his head. He was at the mercy of his girls. He grabbed the doll and followed Molly towards the living room.

Thirty minutes went by with no sign of Elena. Growing concerned, Damon sent her a text, asking if she was okay. Another fifteen minutes went by with no reply. Molly asked where her mother was, to which Damon replied the bakery was just taking a long time. A few more minutes passed. He made an excuse to leave the room and called Elena. It went straight to voicemail. He was on the verge of taking Molly and finding a way to the bakery when he heard his SUV pull into the drive. He was out the door before Elena was out of the car.

"What took so long?" he asked as the door opened. "I was getting worried." Elena's feet hit the ground, bag of muffins in hand. Damon noticed her tearstained face almost right away. "Elena! What's wrong?" She looked at him, her bottom lip starting to tremble.

"Damon… I'm so sorry…" He frowned.

"For what?" he asked.

"I didn't see it," she blubbered. "I mean, I should have seen it. It was right there and the damn backup camera was even chirping at me, but Caroline called asking questions about pregnancy and I was distracted and oh my God, Damon, I am so sorry. I will pay to have it fixed. I should have been paying attention…"

"Elena," Damon interrupted, "what are you talking about?" He had a suspicion he would find the answer if he took a closer look at his SUV. Elena bit her lip once more.

"I backed into a pole leaving the bakery," she confessed. "I am so so sorry Damon!" He sighed.

"Let's have a look," he said, reaching out and taking her hand. He led her to the back of the SUV, expecting to see major damage to his backend. Instead, there was merely a dent in the bumper. "That's it?" he asked, looking at Elena.

"What do you mean, 'that's it?'" she asked. "There is practically a valley in your bumper!" Damon had to work to keep from laughing.

"Elena, this is nothing," he said. "I don't think it will even meet the deductible on my insurance. I will get the body guys at the shop to pull it out and touch up the paint." He tested the back hatch to make sure it still opened without incident. It did. "See?" he asked as he closed it. "Just a dent."

"I will pay to fix it," Elena said again. "I am so so sorry, Damon. I wasn't paying attention and I should have been. What if it was a person? Or another vehicle? Or, what if Molly was with me?" Damon was still amused by her overblown reaction.

"None of those things happened," he told her. "There is just a little dent in my bumper, nothing more. The body guys at the shop will make it as good as new within an hour."

"I'm sorry," Elena said again. Damon smiled and pulled her to him.

"It's okay, Elena," he told her. "Really. It's fine. You are okay, and that's all that matters. It's just a car, and cars can be fixed." He smirked. "Take it from the guy who has crashed more than his fair share of them."

"Not funny," Elena muttered into his chest. He chuckled.

"It's a little funny," he replied. Elena just shook her head. He tightened his arms around her. "Let's go inside, eat those muffins, and get that kid out of the house. I want her to be good and worn out when bedtime rolls around." He squeezed Elena. "Her mama owes me some alone time after denting my bumper." Elena smacked his chest.

"Of course you want sex in exchange for me backing into a pole." She was smiling though, letting him know she was teasing.

"A pole for a pole," he told her, making her laugh. He chuckled too and released her, only to take her hand as they headed for the house. "Besides, we are pretty damn good at this whole sex thing."

"Well, I am," Elena said. "You on the other hand…"

"Oh no you don't," Damon growled. He whirled Elena around and backed her against the front door. "Need I remind you of the sounds were making last night when I was between your legs?" Elena smirked.

"As a matter of fact, I think you do…" Damon planted a searing kiss on her lips. She pulled him closer, still holding the muffins in one hand.

"Daddy! Where you go? Where Mama?" They pulled apart reluctantly at the sound of Molly calling from inside the house.

"Your mission for the day?" Elena asked. "Tire that kid out. Now that I have had you again, I don't know that I can get enough." Damon smirked.

"Mission accepted."

"No, Molly, don't put more chocolate chips in the batter," Elena directed.

"But, Daddy likes chocolate!"

"You like chocolate," Elena responded. "If we put too many chocolate chips, it will ruin the pancakes."

"No such thing as too many chocolate chips," Molly informed her mother. Elena just shook her head and moved the chocolate chips out of Molly's reach. She spied Damon, standing in the doorframe of the kitchen, grinning as he watched them cook breakfast. Her eyes widened and she motioned for Damon to stay put and be quiet.

"Molly, can you stir that batter for me?" she asked, moving to place a bowl of batter in front of Molly. "Use the whisk. I need to make sure Daddy is still asleep. Don't touch the stove though, okay?"

"Okay," Molly agreed. Elena hurried towards Damon. She grabbed his hand and pulled him down the hallway.

"As much as I like starting my mornings with a quickie, I don't know that it is such a great idea to leave a three year old in the kitchen with a hot stove."

"She wants to make you breakfast in bed," Elena said in a hushed voice. "Because that's what you two did for me on Mother's Day." It hit Damon then that it was Father's Day. He shifted uncomfortably, suddenly irrationally nervous. He had never celebrated Father's Day as a father, didn't know what to expect. He wasn't sure he was comfortable with all the attention, not when he had only been a father for a few months, mostly because of his prior life choices.

"I forgot about this whole Father's Day thing," he admitted. "I mean, I left a couple of things with Mom to give to Dad and Stefan, but I forgot about the whole being a father on Father's Day part."

"It comes with the whole being a father deal," Elena said. "Just – humor Molly, okay? She wants to bring you breakfast in bed. Which means I should probably get back in the kitchen before she tries to make breakfast all by herself."

"Okay," Damon agreed. "I will pretend to be asleep." Elena quickly kissed his cheek.

"Thank you," she said. "See you in a few minutes." She hurried back to the kitchen while Damon returned to their bedroom, tripping over one of Molly's water toys as he went. They only had two more days before they returned to Mystic Falls and he wanted to make the best of it, spend as much time as he could with Elena and Molly. He returned to the bedroom and got back in bed, waiting for Molly and Elena. Ten minutes later, he heard them coming down the hall.

"Shh!" Molly was saying. "Daddy is sleepin' and we not wanna wake him!" Damon chuckled.

"But, we're taking him breakfast in bed," Elena replied. "He has to wake up to eat it."

"Mama, we has to wake Daddy up first, like we did for you," Molly explained, sounding like an adult explaining something to a small child. "Den he can has his breakfast." Damon listened as Elena agreed. He closed his eyes, figuring he may as well take this pretending to be asleep thing as far as he could. He listened as the door crept open.

"Go on," he heard Elena whisper.

"Daddy!" Molly shrieked. She ran across the room and catapulted into the bed. "Daddy!" she exclaimed as she jumped on the bed. "Wake up! We has breakfast!" Damon made a show of fake stretching and yawning.

"What did you say?" he asked. Molly fell to her knees at his side, beaming.

"We has breakfast!" she said. "Happy Father's Day, Daddy!" Damon smiled at her as he sat up, turning the words over in his head.

"Thank you, baby girl," he said, pulling her into a hug. He looked over her head at Elena who gave him a smile and a wink. "You said you have breakfast?"

"Breakfast an' presents!" Molly declared. Damon raised an eyebrow.

"Presents?" Molly nodded seriously.

"But, you has to eat you breakfast, first."

"We let Mama open her presents on Mother's Day before she ate breakfast," Damon reminded Molly.

"Yeah, but Mama is ladies first," Molly said. Damon decided it was too early to follow Molly's rationale.

"Okay," he agreed. "Let's have breakfast first." They both turned to Elena expectantly. She stepped forward with a tray laden with all three of their breakfasts. "What do we have?"

"Chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, and coffee – orange juice for Molly," Elena answered. She passed the tray to Damon, then went around the other side of the bed to climb in next to him, Molly in between them.

"I like chocolate chip pancakes," he said to Molly.

"Mama made dem," Molly spoke up. "So, dey not as good as yours."

"Hey!" Elena exclaimed while Damon chuckled. "Those pancakes taste just fine."

"But Daddy's taste better," Molly said seriously. "He has a secret ingred-ent." Elena looked at Damon.

"I'm sure he does," she said flatly. She knew his pancakes came out of the same box as hers. Damon just winked at her and passed her a plate. They ate together, both of them moving to help Molly as needed. They made small talk, Molly saying again that her mother's pancakes, while good, still didn't measure up to Daddy's. When the plates were empty, Elena took a deep breath, now the nervous one. "What do you think, Molly? Time to give Daddy his presents?"

"Yes!" Molly agreed excitedly. Damon grabbed her remaining orange juice just in time to keep it from spilling. Elena climbed out of bed and went to the closet. She returned a few moments later with a small stack of presents for Damon. He raised an eyebrow, wondering why she had clearly gone overboard.

"Molly, why don't you give Daddy the ones you made, first?" she asked. Molly grabbed for a brightly wrapped package. "Here, Daddy! I made dese!"

"Let's see what we have here," Damon said, unwrapping the package. He opened the box. Inside was a collection of art projects, including a plaster handprint, a photo of Molly in a Molly-decorated paper frame, and a drawing, that Molly had made at school. He felt himself getting teary-eyed, taking in the first gifts his daughter had made for him. He knew he would have them for the rest of his life. "Molly, I love these," he said genuinely. "Thank you, Princess." He pulled her into his arms to hug her tight. Tears prickled at Elena's eyes as she watched the scene. It was everything she wanted.

"There is more where that came from," she said. Damon looked at her, then counted four presents in her lap.

"It looks like you went a little overboard," he said in a light, but pointed tone. Elena shook head.

"Molly has been around for four Father's Days," she told him. "We are playing catch up." Damon felt a pang as he realized Elena was trying to make up for lost time, just as he had done for her.

"Elena…," he started. She shook her head.

"Let us do this," she said gently. He nodded and she handed him the first present. She traded a knowing look with Molly who giggled and bounced a bit, excited by what was about to happen.

"Oh, wow," Damon breathed as he removed the paper and took in the framed poster. It was the blue prints of Talladega. "This is beautiful, Elena." The blueprints were detailed, right down to the stands. He understood the meaning behind it, as well. On one hand, his life had nearly ended at Talladega. On the other, it had started anew, bringing him back to his family and ultimately, back to Elena and Molly.

"I'm glad you like it," she said with a soft smile. She grew more nervous as she passed him the second package.

"Dat goes wif da next present," Molly informed him.

"Well then, let's see what it is," Damon replied, tearing the paper off. Again, he gasped. It was a photo printed on canvas of him, Elena, and Molly at Talladega a few weeks earlier, moments before he got into his car. His arms were around them, their heads bowed together as Elena had whispered last minute words of encouragement and he had told them both he loved them. It was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. He felt himself choking up. "Elena… Molly…"

"Dat's our family!" Molly said happily, unaware of how the photo was affecting Damon. "You, and Mama, and Molly!"

"That's right," Elena agreed, reaching out to tuck Molly's hair behind her ear. She looked at Damon. "That's our family, Mama, Daddy, and Molly." He smiled.

"Our family," he repeated in rough, emotional voice. He placed the canvas aside and reached for both of them, not caring about the other two presents. They returned his hug. Elena was content to remain in his arms, but Molly was impatient.

"Daddy, you gots two more presents!" she said. "And dey da best ones!" She was on her knees again, bouncing excitedly. Elena felt a bit giddy herself, even if she was more nervous than ever. She passed Damon a third, smaller package.

"Like Molly said, this one goes with the canvas." Damon was curious as he unwrapped the package. He opened the lid and found a key. A key he thought he recognized. He looked at Elena for an explanation. Elena pulled Molly into her lap and they both turned their eyes on Damon.

"We want you to move in with us," Elena told him with confidence. "We want you there every morning. We want you to be with us at every bedtime." She stopped and grinned. "And I really want you to cut the grass so I don't have to do it anymore." Damon chuckled despite his surprise.

"You want me to move in with you two?" he repeated, disbelieving.

"You can live wif us, Daddy!" Molly said happily. "Mama say you can even sleep in her bed! You not have to sleep on da couch no more!" Elena and Damon laughed.

"Move in with us, Damon," Elena said again, growing serious once more. "We want you to be there with us. All the time."

"Are you sure?" Damon asked. He was too surprised to believe what he was hearing.

"I'm sure," Elena confirmed. "Molly is definitely sure. We can talk about it more, but Molly and I have talked about it. This is what we both want – you to live with us. We hate sending you home every evening. We hate waking up without you. And, this mama really hates cutting the grass." Damon smirked.

"You just want me there to cut the grass," he teased.

"Among other things," Elena replied with a wink. Damon chuckled again, then nodded.

"Okay," he agreed, still surprised. "I will move in with the two of you. Happily." Elena lunged at him and kissed him, squishing Molly between them. He kissed her back, then kissed a giggling Molly on the top of the head. "I will even cut the grass. Gives me an excuse to buy a big lawnmower. That pansy push mower you have now is an embarrassment to yard tools everywhere." Elena pretended to scoff, even as she passed him his final gift.

"Last one," she said. Her stomach flipped in nerves. "I hope you like it."

"Wait!" Molly exclaimed. Her parents looked at her. "Daddy, da picture," she pointed to the canvas, "is to go over da fireplace. Dats why it goes with da key." Damon understood. Elena had a collection of canvases of photos of Molly over the living room fireplace, the center one being a big photo of her and Molly at the beach in California. The canvas they gave Damon was the same size, meant to replace the one of just her and Molly as a representative of the family who lived in the home.

"That's right," Elena agreed. "The canvas is the first photo of our family that we will hang on the walls." Damon pulled them both to him in response.

"I love both of you, so much," he said.

"We love you, too," Elena promised.

"Open you present!" Molly exclaimed. "It da very best one!" She passed Damon the final present. This one was thin and a bit flimsy. Damon unwrapped it curiously, sure there was nothing they could give him better than the chance to live with them, full-time. The torn away paper revealed a manila folder. He opened it curiously. He had to read the papers it held twice to know that there was, in fact, something better they could give him.

"Elena… I don't… I… Really…?" He couldn't find the words.

"I's gonna be Molly Salvatore!" Molly declared proudly. "Just like my Daddy!" Damon barely heard her. His eyes were on Elena, waiting for her confirmation, confirmation he needed. With a smile and happy, watering eyes, she nodded.

"I have been thinking about it," she told Damon. "I have talked to Molly about it, a few times now. She understands that her last name is changing and that she is going to have your name. She is excited about it. All you have to do is sign those papers where they are highlighted and not only will she be Molly Virginia Salvatore, she will also legally be your daughter."

Damon was overwhelmed. Aside from Molly referring to him as "Daddy," that was the thing he wanted most – for Molly to have his last name and be legally his. He knew in a lot of ways that it was just a piece of paper. She was his, biologically, right down to the color of her eyes and the way she smirked when she was up to something. But, legally, he wasn't her father and he wanted that piece of paper. He wanted his name on her birth certificate and for Molly to have his last name.

"You okay?" Elena asked softly after Damon had been quiet for several long moments. He nodded slowly.

"I'm good," he said, wiping at his eyes. "I'm so good. I'm just – overwhelmed." Elena took his hand.

"You are her daddy," she told him firmly. "Now, in every single way." Damon just nodded. Molly had been quiet the whole time, observing her parents, trying to understand their soft smiles and teary eyes.

"Daddy?" she asked. Damon turned to her.

"Yeah, Princess?"

"Are you happy I gonna be Molly Salvatore?" she asked. Damon broke into a big smile.

"I'm so happy," he told her. He pulled her into his lap and hugged her. "I'm so happy I don't know how to say how happy I am." It was the best way he knew to explain to Molly that he was speechless.

"But, you got tears in you eyes," she pointed out. "So do Mama."

"Sometimes, people cry when they are happy," Elena explained. "Mama and Daddy are both really happy right now." Molly considered.

"I's really happy right now and I's not crying." Damon and Elena both chuckled.

"Molly, are you sure you want my last name?" Damon asked. "It's a big thing, to go from being Molly Gilbert to being Molly Salvatore." Molly nodded.

"I wanna be Molly Salvatore," she said. "Know why?" Damon raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"'Cause I love you, Daddy." Fresh tears threatened Elena's eyes and she could see the same happening for Damon.

"I love you," he told Molly, hugging her to him. "I love you so very much." Elena let them have their moment. She slipped off the bed and crossed the room to her purse, aware of Damon's watchful eye. She returned to them and passed Damon an ink pen as she climbed into bed.

"For when you want to make it official," she told him. Damon's smile was so big it hurt his cheeks.

"You're sure?" he asked Elena. Elena nodded, not a doubt in her mind.

"I am so sure," she promised him. He nodded once.

"Just where it's highlighted?" he asked.

"Just where it's highlighted," she confirmed. "I will take them to the courthouse to be filed when we're back in Mystic Falls." Damon smiled at her once more time before he opened the folder again and started reading over the papers. They were pretty standard from what he could tell, and he trusted Elena. He initialed as needed and on the last page, signed his name with a flourish. He looked at Molly.

"Little lady, you are, officially, Molly Virginia Salvatore."

"Yay!" Molly cheered. Damon looped an arm around Elena who was happy to tuck into his side. He rested his forehead against her temple.

"Thank you, so much," he said. "You have no idea what this means to me." Elena turned her head so she could look at him.

"You are her daddy," she said again. "You deserve for her to have your last name." Damon kissed her cheek.

"Just so you know, Molly isn't the only Gilbert I plan to turn into a Salvatore." Elena beamed at him.

"One day," she promised. She had a feeling that it would be sooner rather than later.

"Mama?" Molly asked.

"Yep?"

"Can we go to da beach? 'Dis is borin' now."

Elena and Damon laughed. With a private smile and a promising wink at Damon, Elena slipped off the bed and picked up Molly.

"You up for the beach today, Daddy?" she asked. Damon smiled and nodded.

"Go ahead and get ready for the day," he said. "I want to call Dad and Stefan, tell them Happy Father's Day." Elena nodded and with Molly in her arms, left the room.

Damon picked up his phone, but he didn't dial right away. He closed his eyes instead and took a deep breath.

"Thank you," he whispered, to whoever was listening in the skies above him. "Thank you."

With a deep breath, he opened his eyes and called his father.

"Dad?" he said when Giuseppe answered. "Happy Father's Day."

Sigh. It's basically over. Just an epilogue to go. I'm going to miss this little family!

Please let me know what you thought!