Author's note: I uploaded two chapters today. If you haven't read chapter three, do that before you move on to this chapter.
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"Ugh." Elena leaned over the sink and ran water into her cupped hands. She rinsed her mouth before spitting into the sink. Kneeling down, she pulled a washrag from the counter under the sink and ran it under the stream of cold water. As another wave of nausea hit, she crouched in front of the toilet and retched. She made a vow to herself never to attend another birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese as long as she lived - no matter how much Jackson begged.
"Are you okay in there?" Stefan tapped on the closed door.
"Do I sound okay?" Her voice was sharper than she intended, but did he really have to ask? This was all she needed. First, she'd been hit by a mind-numbing bout of writer's block. Then, a two-week book tour commenced. Granted, the tour was likely what pulled her out of unusual funk…meeting fans face to face always helped her get back in her groove. Now, just when she got back in the rhythm, this hit.
She didn't have time for a stomach bug.
The doorknob rattled. Stefan. This was not how she wanted him to see her. "Go away."
"You've been in there an hour."
"I don't care." She took a breath as her stomach churned. "Just let me die in peace."
The door to the bathroom opened, but Elena didn't look up from where she leaned against the wall next to the toilet. "A little melodramatic?"
"That's what you get for marrying a writer."
"Come here." He scooped her up and carried her into the living room. "You'll feel better if you get out of the bathroom."
"That's not a good idea." She tried to fight him, but she just didn't have the energy.
"Trust me. There's nothing left in your stomach." He gently laid her down on the couch and adjusted the throw pillow under her head. "There you go." He pulled her favorite blanket over her.
"What time is it?" The last time she'd looked at the clock was when she was putting the pizza dip into the oven to get ready for the party at Jenna's. That was before her stomach decided to launch World War III.
"Almost four." Stefan glanced at the clock for an instant before turning his worry-filled eyes back on her.
But there wasn't just worry in his furrowed-brow. Something she couldn't exactly put her finger on –before she could give it much thought, she was fighting the churning of her stomach…again.
Stefan dropped to his knees and wiped her forehead. "You're going to be okay." He spoke with more confidence than she felt.
"Ugh." Elena waited for the latest round of nausea to pass before attempting the rest of her sentence. "You need to call Jenna. I'm not going to make it to the Super Bowl party." She closed her eyes and took a breath. "You can still go if you want."
His brow knit in concern. "I wouldn't go without you." He brushed her damp hair out of her face. "I'll call Jenna." He studied her pale skin. "Then, I'll run to the store and get something for your stomach. Think you'll be alright?"
Elena nodded as her eyes closed completely. He walked into the kitchen to make the call to Jenna, and when he came back into the living room he was greeted by the rhythmic breathing of Elena as she slept. If she was sleeping, she had to be feeling somewhat better. He tucked the blanket up under her chin before leaving for the grocery store.
Stefan's cart was almost full. Crackers. Ginger ale. Chicken soup. He'd almost reached the check out as he hesitated and looked down the aisle he'd been avoiding since reaching the store. The aisle he most needed to visit…the one he really didn't dare to hope they actually needed. He glanced around him - no one he knew. The store was mostly full of men buying the last of the cartons of beer before hurrying to their respective football parties. No one was in this section.
Later tonight, this section would be filled with people searching for antacid or pain-killer or something to fight off an impending hangover. Now, Stefan found himself alone with a variety of boxes he didn't totally understand.
He studied the cartons. Why hadn't he paid more attention when these commercials came on the television? Was one better than the others? Finally, he reached out and chose one with the label "can be used at any time of day."
"And what are you doing here?"
Stefan didn't need to turn around. "Elena's not feeling well."
"I figured that out for myself." Damon came to stand at his brother's side. "Ric called me to ask if I'd pick up the supplies you wouldn't be bringing." He looked into Stefan's shopping cart. "I was wondering what you were doing here." He motioned to the assortment of family planning supplies arrayed around them. "We need to talk." He nodded in the direction of the check-out stands. "Are you finished?"
Stefan nodded and followed his brother to the self-check-out area. After they'd both finished, the pair walked into the parking lot.
"What aren't you telling me?" Damon narrowed his eyes at his brother.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Stefan, don't play dumb with me." He looked at his brother - a worried expression on his face. Elena hadn't been herself lately, but he never dreamed she'd go there. "I know you and Elena have been having some...issues."
Stefan fought for control as he struggled with the implications of Damon's words. He wasn't sure if he should laugh or throttle his brother. Laughter won out. "Elena's not sleeping with anyone." His lips turned up in a grin. "At least no one she's not supposed to be."
Damon peeked into the brown shopping bag. "Then why this?" He tapped the pink and white box. "Stefan, have you forgotten one small detail of who we are?"
"No."
"Then?"
"Listen, Damon, it is a very long story. The short version is that Bonnie may have given us a little help." Damon couldn't hide the surprise on his face. Stefan continued. "I promise you that I'll explain, but I really need to get home to Elena."
Damon nodded. His brother had turned to the witches for help. Assured that his brother's relationship with Elena was alright, his concern turned to why Stefan had the other supplies in his bag. "Is Elena okay?"
Stefan frowned as he glanced at his watch. He'd been gone much longer than he'd intended. "She spent the last hour minutes in the bathroom." He didn't need to elaborate. "But, she was asleep on the couch when I left."
Damon studied his brother's face, trying to decide how to bring up the subject. "Stefan," he whispered, "you're a vampire. Don't tell me you need that to answer your question." Damon was staring pointedly into the shopping bag again. He cocked his head and raised one eyebrow.
Stefan hesitated. He leaned against his car as his thoughts came together. Until this afternoon, he hadn't allowed himself to dwell on the subject. But the changes in Elena the past few weeks couldn't be overlooked; and last week, the one time he'd allowed himself to take any of her blood since their weekend in Atlanta, he definitely sensed a change.
"Well?"
His face broke into a broad grin, "Yeah, she is."
Stefan placed his bag on the kitchen counter. Talking with Damon was one thing. How did he convince Elena to use the test?
"Does the store have anything left?" Elena walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter.
"It was busy." Stefan thought it was best to leave out his conversation with Damon right now. He unloaded the bottles of ginger ale and poured Elena a glass. Her coloring still hadn't returned to normal. "Here."
"Why ginger ale?"
"My mother used to make ginger tea when Damon and I didn't feel well. I thought this was a good substitute." Stefan turned away and unloaded the box of crackers. He didn't often speak about his mother with Elena, and he didn't want to dwell on the past - not tonight. "Are you feeling any better?"
"A little." Elena sipped at her glass. "What else did you buy?" She looked at the variety of bottles and cans Stefan pulled from the bag. She looked confused as he pulled out the small final box. "Stefan?"
He placed it on the counter between them before taking her hands in his. "Elena, do this for me."
"What are you trying to say?" Her cheeks flushed in anger. "Do you think I would..."
"No, no, no!" He interrupted. "I did something." He slid the box in her direction. "Elena, please."
"It isn't possible." Elena shook her head as she picked up the carton. She'd given up any thoughts about having a child of her own when she chose to be with Stefan.
"Do this, for me, then I'll explain." His green eyes pleaded with her.
She'd never been able to resist when Stefan looked at her like that. Reluctantly, she took the box and went into the bathroom.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Stefan felt as if time deliberately slowed down. After what seemed to be an eternity, the doorknob twisted and Elena came out - her face tilted down to the floor. His hopes crashed around him. He shouldn't have allowed himself to even think about the possibility.
She looked up at him - tears rimming her eyes. "How?" She held out the white stick, and he was thrilled he'd chosen the "easy to read" version.
Positive.
The English language didn't have a more beautiful word.
"How?" Tears streamed freely down Elena's cheeks as she repeated her question.
"Bonnie helped. I asked her to find out if there was anything she could do to help us. And she gave me something to take. For a few hours, I was a little less dead than normal. I would have told you, but I wasn't sure if it would work. She didn't know, but she said it had been done before." He looked back at the test and then into Elena's eyes.
"This means..." Elena's words caught in her throat.
Stefan ran his hand over her smooth stomach. "We're going to have a baby."