(Chapter nine)
Dinner had really hit the spot for both Damon and Stefan. They had eaten what Alex made for them to make her happy but the blood was what really satisfied them. Once dinner was finished and all the dishes were clean, everyone headed upstairs for bed.
"I'm so tired and my feet are killing me." whined Elena.
Damon could tell that she was trying to persuade him into giving her a foot rub so he grabbed her feet and started massaging them. Elena had her head on her pillow and she was glancing up at the ceiling.
"You know Damon, we can get someone to come and put the crib together if you want." she said.
"No Elena. I've got it under control. Okay?" he said.
"Fine.." she mumbled. She knew there was no way in hell that Damon would give up. She laid there for awhile, letting Damon rub her sore feet until she felt her eyelids get heavy and before she knew it, she was sound asleep. Damon leaned up to her, kissed her forehead, and then took off down the hall.
That stupid crib was haunting him. All its parts were laying there, teasing him but he wasn't going to give up. He was Damon Salvatore...he was fearless. He grabbed his screw driver and went to work. He followed all of the instructions and stayed up all night in an attempt to get the crib put together.
….
Elena was once again the first to wake up the next morning. She could never get very comfortable at night so she found herself not being able to sleep very much. Elena rolled over to look at Damon but she found he wasn't there. She sat up quickly and scanned the room but nothing. She started to panic a little as she went down the hall to check for him. As she walked past the baby's room she saw Damon, sitting in the white rocking chair they had bought, sound asleep and next to him stood the chestnut crib. Elena was always so emotional and she couldn't help it when she felt the tears rising in her eyes. She walked over to the crib, running her slender fingers along it, admiring all the work that Damon had done.
"Do you like it?" he said as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her rather large waist. She was now six months pregnant.
"Like it? I love it Damon!" she said as she rested her head back on Damon's shoulder. "You stayed up all night just to do this to surprise me?"
"Yeah, I know how important all this is to you." he said. "Damn it Elena, you bring out the soft side of me...which I hate by the way!"
"Well I like it. I always knew it was somewhere in there." she smiled. "Well come on, I'm hungry."
Damon couldn't help but smile as Elena took off towards the stairs. He loved this girl and he loved there child. This was their new beginning, life was about to change as they knew it and Damon couldn't be happier until he saw his world crumble right before his eyes...Damon watched in horror as Elena started to fall forward towards the stairs but he caught her just in time before she went tumbling down them. He stared into her face and saw that her eyes had rolled back into her head, her body was limp against his.
"Elena?" he screamed as he shook her lightly, afraid that he may make things worse if he shook her too hard. "Elena, please...wake up! STEFAN!"
Stefan's door ripped open as he saw Elena's limp body in Damon's arms.
"Oh my God Damon, what happened?" he yelled as he knelt down by Damon. "Alex, call 911. NOW!"
"Stefan is everything-" but Alex cut her words short as she let out a fearful gasp and took of running to the phone.
"911, what's your emergency?" said the voice on the other end.
"Yes, um, there's a pregnant woman and she just collapsed! She needs help, please hurry!" cried Alex.
"Ma'am, I'm going to need you to calm down. What is the address so we can send an emergency paramedic team over? Do you know how far along the woman is?" said the voice
"I don't know the address but it's the big Salvatore boardinghouse, right off town. And she's six months pregnant. Just please hurry, please!" said Alex as tears rolled down her face.
"Lucky for you, we know where the Salvatore place is, someone is on the way right now."
"Thank you!" said Alex as she hung up the phone and ran to Elena's side.
"Elena baby, please...wake up." said Damon as he rocked her and pulled her in close. He couldn't lose her...
Stefan jumped when he heard the sound of the front door being pounded on. He ran to open it as he saw three paramedics come in with a stretcher for Elena.
"Where's the girl?" asked the tall muscular one who was obviously in charge.
"Follow me." said Stefan as he led them all to the top of the stairs. They all watched as the paramedics started examining Elena.
"You say she's six months?" asked one of them.
"Yes," said Damon. "Please, is she going to be okay? Can you help her?"
"We're going to do our best. First, we need to get her to the hospital right away and I'm going to need someone to call her obstetrician." said one of them as they all lifted Elena onto the stretcher carefully. "Are you the husband?" he said to Damon.
"Yes." he replied.
"Well come on, you can ride with her in the back of the ambulance. And please, call her doctor right away." he said.
Damon nodded and pulled out his cell phone searching for Dr. Kings number. He was now sitting in the back of the ambulance, one hand holding Elena's, and the other holding the phone.
"Dr. King, how can I help you?" said Dr. Kings cheerful voice.
"Dr. King, this is Damon Salvatore, Elena's husband. We need you to meet us at the hospital right away. Elena collapsed and passed out. I'm with her in the back of the ambulance but please, you have to hurry!" cried Damon.
"Okay Damon, I just need you to remain calm. I'm leaving right now for the hospital. I'll see you once you get there. I promise, we'll make this better." said Dr. King as Damon hung up the phone. He wasn't in the mood for words of encouragement from someone who had yet to see Elena's condition. He was too focused on Elena's unmoving body in front of him. Hope was running through his veins as he heard the faint sound of her heartbeat. They could save her and the baby, they had to!
He kept his eyes locked on Elena as silent cries left his body. He could feel his cheeks wet with tears. He couldn't lose her and he didn't want to lose the baby. Someone had to help them before it was too late..
