Invisible String | TVD x WIZARDING WORLD

THE 18th OF DECEMBER

It was a little after eight in the morning when Caroline Forbes burst through the Salvatore Boarding House doors, her arms loaded with balloons, streamers, and a loud, celebratory voice that echoed through the entire house:
"HAPPY DIANA DAY!"
Sheriff Forbes, following closely behind with a tray of cupcakes, just shook her head in fond exasperation and added,
"Make way, people! The real Queen of Mystic Falls is about to celebrate her very first birthday!"
The sound of Caroline's enthusiastic singing — an off-key but utterly heartfelt version of "Happy Birthday" — had barely finished bouncing off the walls when Diana herself toddled into the room.
She was barefoot, wearing her tiny green pajamas, her dark curls mussed adorably from sleep. The moment she saw Caroline with her shiny balloons and heard the song meant just for her, her whole face lit up like Christmas.
She squealed in delight, clapping her little hands, and immediately launched into a "dance" — a series of bouncy, chaotic hops that made her look like an overexcited baby kangaroo.
"Dance, dance, dance!" Caroline encouraged, twirling dramatically. Diana twirled right after her — or tried to, falling onto her diapered butt and laughing so hard her cheeks went red.
Liz Forbes, watching the entire spectacle from the couch, laughed until she had tears in her eyes.
"I swear, she's got your energy, Caroline."
"Of course she does," Caroline said proudly, scooping Diana into a spin. "This one's already got good taste."
Breakfast came next — green pancakes, of course, because Diana had a serious obsession with the color green. Caroline had spent days perfecting the recipe, and it paid off when Diana, perched on the high chair Damon had custom-carved with her name, shoved a whole green pancake into her mouth with both hands.
Sheriff Forbes snapped a few pictures, laughing at the sticky, happy mess.

After breakfast, Damon and Stefan had to step out — vampire business never really took a holiday, not even for Diana Day.
Damon leaned down before leaving, kissing the top of Diana's head and saying,
"Stay outta trouble, Princess. And don't let Care turn you into a complete Swiftie before I get back."
Caroline shot him a glare.
"Too late, Salvatore!"
Once the brothers were gone, the rest of the morning turned into a full-on Taylor Swift concert. Caroline queued up all the best, most danceable songs, and she and Diana spent hours twirling, bouncing, and shrieking with laughter. "Shake It Off" became Diana's absolute favorite — she tried to sing along, but it mostly sounded like excited baby gibberish.
Liz sat on the armchair, hand over her heart, just soaking in the pure, radiant joy spilling across the room.
"She's magic," Liz said softly.
Caroline only beamed, scooping Diana up again.
"I know," she said, kissing the girl's soft cheek. "She's absolute magic."

Evening came.
By the time Damon and Stefan returned, the house had been completely transformed. Balloons floated along the ceiling. Fairy lights twinkled across every available surface. A huge banner strung across the dining room read:
"Happy 1st Birthday, Diana Isobel Salvatore!"
Everyone was there — Elena, Bonnie, Jeremy, Matt, Tyler, Alaric. Even Ric, who had insisted he wasn't going to cry, was already suspiciously misty-eyed just seeing Diana toddling toward them in her tiny birthday dress: a soft green tulle number that made her look like a fairy princess.
When it came time for cake, Damon placed Diana in her high chair, grinning as the gang sang "Happy Birthday" at the top of their lungs, wildly out of tune.
A special smash cake — bright green, because of course — was placed in front of her.
Diana looked at it.
Then at Damon.
Then back at the cake.
And with the most adorable little war-cry, she smashed her whole face into the center of it.
The room exploded into laughter.
Even Stefan — who had been so tense, still adjusting to the weight of his humanity coming back — cracked a real, genuine laugh.
Covered in frosting and giggles, Diana grabbed two fistfuls of cake, shoved some into her mouth, and then, cheeks bulging like a chipmunk, she turned toward the crowd, sticky hands reaching out.
She made the tiniest little noise:
"Dada!"
Damon's heart practically cracked wide open.
Everyone awed in unison.
Without hesitation, Damon stepped forward, taking a messy glob of cake right to his shirt just to pick her up and swing her into his arms.
"Yeah, yeah," he laughed, kissing her frosting-covered cheek. "I'm here, Birthday Girl."
Diana babbled again, looking around — scanning the crowd — and her bright eyes locked on Caroline.
She grinned wide, cake smeared everywhere, and yelled,
"Care!"
Caroline gasped, hand to her chest, visibly getting teary.
"You heard that, right? She said Care!" she cried.
Damon smirked at her, bouncing Diana lightly.
"Congratulations, Forbes. You're officially her second-favorite person."
Caroline wiped her eyes, laughing through it.
"I'll take it."
They spent the rest of the night just... being.
Playing silly games. Dancing again. Watching Diana toddle from one person to the next, showering her with love and attention. Taking way too many photos. Sharing memories they hadn't even realized they were making.
                                                                                         ~~~~~

The house was finally quiet.
The balloons swayed gently in the late-night air, the fairy lights dimmed to a soft golden glow. The guests had all gone home, the leftovers packed away, the wrapping paper abandoned in little colorful mountains around the living room.
And in the middle of it all, Damon sat in the oversized armchair by the fireplace, cradling Diana against his chest.
She was half-asleep already, her tiny hands clutching the fabric of his shirt, the faintest trace of green frosting still in her hair.
Damon rocked her gently, back and forth, back and forth, staring down at the little miracle he'd somehow been lucky enough to find at his door two years ago.
"You know, kid," he murmured, voice low and hoarse from too much laughing and maybe, just maybe, too much feeling, "I spent a lot of time thinking I didn't deserve anything good. Not after everything I've done. Not after who I am."
He brushed a stray curl off her forehead, his thumb lingering on the soft skin there.
"But you...you proved me wrong."
Diana let out a tiny sigh in her sleep, snuggling closer.
"You made me something better," he whispered. "You made me someone who gets to have this. To have you."
The words stuck in his throat for a second — thick, too big for his chest.
"You're my light, Diana. My little girl. My second chance at everything I thought I lost."
He leaned down and pressed the gentlest kiss to her forehead, breathing her in — that perfect, baby-sweet smell of frosting, laundry soap, and sunshine.
"And I promise you," he whispered into her soft hair, "I'm gonna spend the rest of my life making sure you never forget how much you're loved. How much you mean to me. How you saved me."
The clock chimed softly in the background — midnight.
A new day.
A new year for her.
Carefully, Damon stood and carried Diana upstairs, his arms wrapped protectively around her. He tucked her into her tiny bed — her favorite green blanket already waiting — and stayed there for a long moment, just watching her breathe, peaceful and perfect.
He brushed her hair back one more time, straightened the stuffed animal tucked under her arm — a slightly battered bear named "Mr. Vamp," because of course Caroline would name it that — and whispered one last thing before turning off the light:
"Happy birthday, Diana. You're my forever."