Pacing is a nervous habit of mine. I shouldn't be so worried, I told myself. It was only Damon and worst think he'll say is no. God, now I sound like some silly teenage boy, eager to ask out a girl on a date for the first time. Finally, annoyed with myself for being such a chicken, I pulled out my cell phone. With shaky fingers, I dialed Damon's number and I didn't even hesitate on the call button. I held the phone up to my ears.
"Hello?" Damon said into the phone. His voice sounded slightly perky, maybe because it knew it was me calling. Or maybe he was just simply in a good mood. Whichever was true, it was good for me.
"Hey, Damon. I-It's me, Elena." I stumbled with my words. I silently cursed at myself for being so stupid.
"I know who it is." Damon said, as if it was obvious. "Is everything alright? You sound worried. If it's about the baby...I've been thinking..." His voice trailed off.
"You have?" I started to get calmer now. Calm enough for me to stop pacing around the room and sat down on the dark brown leather couch. "Please don't tell me you're backing out.." My voice sounded weak. The thought of not even having Damon with me is terrifying. Then I would truly be alone.
"Of course not, Elena. I would be backing out five years ago. But now..." He paused, creating a deadly silence. "Now, I'll be there to help you, okay? Whatever you need, you just tell me."
"I will." I nodded, even if he couldn't see me nod. "Actually, the reason I called wasn't because I wanted to see how you were doing with everything. Tomorrow, I, um, I have my first doctor's appointment. You'll get to see the baby, Damon." I cleared my throat. "That is, if you want to go."
Damon was silent for a while, but I knew that he didn't hang up because I could hear his steady breaths. Finally, he spoke, "I'll get to see my- our baby?" There was some sort of tingle in my chest when he said our.
"Yeah," I smiled a little. "You will. We won't be able to find out the sex, of course. Not for a few months. But, at least you'll get to see it and maybe seeing it will make you feel happier and get more excited about this baby and I-" I started rambling, but he cut me off.
"What time?" He asked.
"10 AM. Can you pick me up in the morning? I have to drop Sophia off at Stefan's by 8.." It was strange saying that I'll have to take Sophia to Stefan's new house. I miss our old family. But I always remind myself that I'm getting a new family, Sophia included.
"Of course. Goodbye, Elena." He paused. "I love you."
"I love you too," I whispered. Then we hung up.
The next morning, Sophia and I got up early. I got her dressed, she was eager to get to see Stefan. I felt guilty, I'm the reason why Stefan and I got a divorce, why he had to move out, why Sophia doesn't see her father as much as she used to. Everything is my fault.
An hour later, we were out the door. I drove to the address Stefan gave me. 34 East Montgomery Street. I pulled up to a small house, nothing spectacular. It had one floor, no more than two bedrooms. I felt another pang of guilt. If it wasn't for me, Stefan would still be living in my house. Which is a mansion compared to this. I got out of the car with Sophia and knocked on the door.
Stefan smiled as he opened the door. I faked a smile too, it's better for Sophia to think that everything is fine between us. "There's my princess!" He picked Sophia up, propping her on his hip.
"Daddy!" Sophia's smile was wide. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
Then Stefan's eyes darted to me and he nodded. "Elena," he said, monotone.
"Stefan," I said, using the same tone. Then I cleared my throat. "So, you'll, um, can you drop her off tomorrow morning?"
He nodded. "Sounds good."
Then I said goodbye to Sophia. Then her and Stefan went inside. Then I got in my car. And that was that.
Three words. That's all he said to me. He hates me. Then again, I hate myself too. I sighed as I started driving back to my house. What did I expect him to say? That he still loves and and to just forget eveything? No way in hell would he ever say that. Even if he did, I couldn't. I would be betraying Damon. And I'm done betraying Salvatores.
Two hours, the doorbell rang. Nervously, I put on my jacket and swung my black, leather bag around my shoulder and opened the door. Damon was standing there, looking casual, with black boots and a black leather jacket. I smiled softly at him. "Hey," I said.
"You ready?" He asked and I nodded, even though I wasn't ready. I don't think I'll ever be ready. I'm nervous enough seeing my child for the first time, let alone having Damon accompany me. We walked out to his car and he helped me in the passenger seat. Then he got in the passenger seat and started driving. "How's Sophia?" He asked. I wondered if he's just asking to make conversation or because he genuinely cares. I hope the second one.
"She's good. She was excited to see Stefan," Dammit. Should I even bring up Stefan? No, no I shouldn't. It's too awkward to talk about it. Then again, this whole situation is awkward. Damn Damon. Damn Damon for being the incredible, sweet, handsome human being that he is. Damn Damon for letting me talk myself into sleeping with him. But it was amazing. I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it.
"That's good." He says, not really having that much emotion to his voice. Oh, so he doesn't care. I frown slightly, fumbling with my fingers. Damon looks over at me. "You alright? You look nervous.."
I shake my head. "I'm fine." But he doesn't shrug it off like other guys would. Instead, he grabs my hand and holds it tightly. It's just a small gesture, but it's sweet. It reminds me that it's not the cocky, arrogant Damon we all know. It reminds me of the Damon that I could possibly be in love with. So I smile.
In just a few moments, we arrive at the doctor's office. Damon helps me out of the car and holds my hand the whole way across the parking lot. This is dangerous, though, and we both know it. I'm sure that most of the town knows that Stefan and I are divorced. Some are probably even mourning about it because Mystic Falls is home to some crazy people. But what's it going to look like when people see me, walking hand and hand with Damon, into a doctor's office specifically for pregnant women. They'll have to take a double take.
Damon signs me in at the front desk then we wait together in the waiting room. There are a few other women there, some with men and some without. Some look like they're about to pop any minute and some, like me, have a little bump to their stomach. Damon stands up and goes over to look at some pamphlets on the wall. I watch him. Then, he takes a few and stuffs them into his pocket. I'm about to open my mouth and ask why, but the door opens and a nurse pops her head out. "Elena Salvatore?" I stand up and Damon and I follow her back into a room.
We go into the room and the nurse does the normal, checks my blood pressure, ask questions, the same things like when I was pregnant with Sophia. Damon stood right next to him, carefully listening to everything the woman had to say. Finally, the women left and Damon and I were alone. I looked up at him and soon, his lips were crashing against mine. I kissed him back, enjoying the sweet taste of his lips. My eyes fluttered open after a few seconds and I pulled away, looking at him. "Thank you. For coming, I mean."
He shook his head. "Don't thank me. I wanted to be here. I'm just grateful that you asked me to come," He sat down on the chair next to me and reached for my hand. I clasped my fingers tightly around his.
Suddenly, we're interrupted by the doctor walking in. He just smiled at us and sat down on the other side of me, asking me the same questions the nurse asked me earlier. Then he pulled my shirt up over my stomach and began the ultrasound. Damon and I looked at the screen and, soon, came the fuzzy picture of our child. I looked over at Damon and a smile broke out instantly on his face. He squeezed onto my hand, supporting me.
The doctor printed out pictures of our baby. He gave each of us a copy. I stared at the picture. Even though I was pregnant before, it still puts me in awe. That's in my stomach right now. A baby is in my stomach right now. Our baby is in my stomach right now. That's a crazy thought. We thank the doctor then leave the office, once again walking hand in hand. I looked at Damon, I don't think you could get the happy expression off his face even if you slapped him. We got into his car and he started driving.
"That was amazing." He grinned, keeping his eyes on the road but still holding my hand. "I didn't think I would feel that...connected to it. But I was." He paused and we stayed silent for a while. Then he blurted out, "Are you hungry?"
I shook my head.
He frowned. "Elena, I'm no doctor or anything, but I'm pretty sure pregnant women have to eat. Come on, I'll take you anywhere you want to go. My treat." He looked at me, smiling. I couldn't help but laugh. What is wrong with him? He's so giddy, so happy.
"Alright, alright. Can we go to just that little diner on that outside of town? They have the best hoagies."
An hour later, Damon dropped me back off at my house. Well, he didn't really drop be off because he came inside with me. I took him upstairs and showed him the bedroom, that used to be Jeremy's room. "I was thinking this could be the nursery." I said, looking around. It would be perfect for this baby and Sophia, with a Jack and Jill styled bathroom in the middle. Just like it was for Jeremy and I.
"It looks perfect," Damon said, stepping closer to me. It struck me how natural he looked in this house. Like he belongs here. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer to him. I stare up at his icy blue eyes and felt my heart skip a beat. What was it about him what made me get so silly around him? What was it about him that made the butterflies dance in my stomach, my palms to sweat, my heart to beat so fast that I feel like it will burst out of my chest?
"Damon, I.." I start and then his lips were on mine. We stayed like that for a while, kissing each other. And it felt perfect. I think the baby could even feel my excitement because I could feel it moving around rapidly in my stomach. Even it's crazy for it's father. Finally, after what feels like hours but in reality was only minutes, I pull away and look at him. "Damon, I'm in love with you."
He stares at me, a smile slowly creeping on his face. "Elena, I'm in love with you, too." Then he kisses me again. But I feel a vibration in my pocket and pull out my cellphone, it's just Jeremy calling.
"Hello? Jer?" I said, holding the phone up to my ear. That's when he starts rambling on and on. He asked Anna to marry him, and she said yes. I couldn't help but laugh at my little brother's eagerness. I still wasn't fond of Anna, there's something fishy about her. But if Jeremy's happy, I'm happy. That's all that's matters.
Sunlight streams in through the windows in my bed. I smile a little and stretch, rubbing my eyes. Then I turn onto my other side and see Damon, his blue eyes wide open and staring back at me. I almost forgot that he spent the night here last night. We didn't do anything, not like that at least. We just lounged around, made dinner, watched a few old movies and called it a night. It reminded me of when it was just Stefan and I. When we were young and in love and before Sophia came along. "Morning." He said.
"Morning." I smile back and I'm about to say something else when the doorbell rings. I glance over at the time, 8 AM on the dot. Stefan was always on time for everything. And sometimes that was annoying, but other times it was a good thing. I get up quickly, I already miss Sophia like crazy. I don't understand how separated parents could be without their kids for two days or more.
I race down the stairs, leaving Damon in the dust. Then I froze when I got to the second to last step. Oh God. Damon's here. I didn't plan on introducing him to Sophia as my significant other for a while now. She still doesn't even know I'm pregnant. What's Stefan going to think when he sees Damon in his old house? I swallowed hard, no turning back now. So I open the door and Sophia smiles huge. "Mommy!" She runs into my arms.
"Hey there, pumpkin!" I hug her tightly. Stefan is standing there, awkwardly. Is he going to be like that every time?
"Who's that?" Sophia asks and I turn around, seeing Damon standing there. At least he had the decently to put a shirt on, since he slept in nothing but his boxers last night. I bit my lip nervously and push pieces of hair behind my hears. Stefan frowns.
"You remember Uncle Damon, don't you? He came to your party? Well, him and me are close...friends now." I said slowly. What else was I going to say? That he is the reason me and your Daddy divorced and is the father of your future sibling, maybe he'll even be your future step-father? I shake my head. Stefan glares at me and I sigh. "Soph, how about you and Damon go into the kitchen? I bet he'll make you some breakfast." Damon and Sophia nod and Sophia runs into the kitchen, Damon follows her closely. I look over at Stefan. "It's not what you think..." I start.
"Dammit, Elena. You're already sleeping with him?! I thought you would at least feel a little remorse for everything that happened, but I guess I was wrong." Stefan said, angrily.
"We didn't sleep together!" I raise my voice too. "He went with me to my doctor's appointment yesterday then we both came back here. He spent the night, but we didn't sleep together. I'm not that much of a slut."
Stefan scoffs.
"Just go, Stefan." I shake my head. "I'll drop her off tomorrow."
"Don't bring Damon," He grumbles then leaves. I'm glad he's gone.
Then I turn around and go into the kitchen, watching my boyfriend and my daughter interact at the kitchen table. I lean against the doorway, my arms crossed, watching them. Damon can't see me, he has his back turned to me. "Ice cream for breakfast?" He asks Sophia, who is giggling like crazy. "Are you sure your Mommy lets you have ice cream for breakfast? I don't think she would."
Sophia nods. "Yes, she does!"
I step more steps into the kitchen, laughing. "What's this I hear about ice cream for breakfast?"
Damon looks over at me. "Your little goober daughter thinks I should get her ice cream for breakfast." He smiles.
"Ice cream for breakfast?" I raise my eyebrows.
Sophia nods. "Please, Mommy?" She gives me the puppy dog look that she knows I can't resist. So I smile and nod.
"Fine, ice cream for breakfast. But this time only." I come over to Damon and he wraps his arm around my waist. I wonder if it's too soon to show PDA in front of Sophia. But she doesn't seem to suspect anything.
She cheers and Damon pulls away. He gets her her ice cream, even adding pink sprinkles. Then I watch them sit together as Sophia eats her ice cream. Both of them seem to really like each other, so that's a good thing. No, that's a great thing. One less thing for me to worry about.
Can you believe I finally posted this? This chapter is a bit longer than usual, my treat for not writing in such a while! Sorry about that! More drama on the way! Please keep reading and reviewing. You guys don't know how much it means to me when I see I have a new review. Thank you so, so, so much!