"You know what's crazy?" Elena said to Stefan when they were in bed the night before her college graduation.
"What?"
"By the time I am an actual, independent doctor, Lily will be 13."
"That is a little crazy."
"Can you image what she's going to be like as a teenager?"
"I don't want to." He chuckled.
"Mommy?" Lily walked through the door.
"What are you doing out of bed?" Stefan asked as he helped her up.
"I had a bad dream." She climbed over him and to her mother.
She nestled her body into her mother's side and pulled her tank top down.
Elena watched as she latched on and suckled. She pulled her head back and touched the tip of her nipple with her index finger before trying to suckle again.
"Mommy." She looked up at Elena as she laid her head on her breast. "Where is the milk?"
"I don't think there is any milk left." Elena kissed her head and closed her eyes to breath in the clean sent of her baby shampoo.
"That makes me sad." Lily played with the circle charm on her necklace, the one Stefan had given her when they were just teenagers.
"It makes me sad too." She wrapped her arms around her daughter and held her tightly. "But we can still cuddle."
"Today is your graduation!" Lily shrieked as she jumped on her parent's bed. "You get to wear the special hat!"
"I get to wear my special hat!" Elena opened her arms to embrace her. "Are you going to help Daddy cheer extra loud for me?" She hugged her to her chest.
"Yes." She whispered as she wove her little fingers through her mother's hair. "I will be the loudest."
"Okay. Good."
"I love you, Mommy." She cuddled into her chest.
"I love you, Lily."