Chapter 21

Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries. I'm just borrowing.

Note: Previously, in "Insanity in Love," Elena has surgery to remove the bullet and Damon spikes a fever.

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Cook County Hospital – Next Day...

Elena groaned as she woke up the next morning. She was hoping that she would wake up in her own bed. However, as she looked around, she saw that she was still in the hospital, which bummed her out a little. She didn't have to be bummed out for long, of course, because she heard a soft groan next to her. Turning over, she saw Damon sleeping next to her, his arms wrapped possessively around her and his head resting comfortably on her chest. He looked so peaceful in that state, almost like a child. Elena smiled and gently kissed his forehead, which felt cool against her lips. This was a good sign, which meant that the fever he had yesterday had finally broken.

No sooner did she kiss his forehead than Damon groaned again and opened his eyes, smiling at her. "Morning."

"Hi," she replied. "Your forehead is cool, which means you don't have a fever anymore."

Damon nodded. "Thank God. Being sick sucks."

"I know, it's not fun," said Elena. "Of course, getting shot is no picnic either." She sighed. "The good thing is that your father is no longer a threat." Curiously, she added, "The thing I don't get is why Klaus wasn't there. I thought they were working together."

"I don't get it either," said Damon. "I kept expecting Klaus to show up as we were chasing my father in the cemetery, but he didn't. Maybe something happened that caused them to stop being allies."

Elena nodded and was about to reply when she heard the door to their room opening and saw Elisabetta and Alaric walking in. She scowled curiously at them, wondering if they had heard their conversation. Elisabetta smiled at them and placed her hand on Damon's forehead, nodding when she felt how cool it was.

"No more fever, that's good," she said. "That ice bath did the trick." She looked at Elena. "I'm also grateful that you're all right, Elena. Damon wouldn't have handled it very well if you died and would probably have been taken to the psych ward."

"Thanks, Mom," said Damon. "I really didn't need to hear that right now."

Before Elisabetta could say another word, Elena said, "Elisabetta, what happened to Klaus? I thought that he and your husband were both after us? Last night, Damon and I only faced Guiseppe and not Klaus. We were hoping to face both of them."

"I think I can answer that," said Alaric. "When Klaus saw Guiseppe shoot Stefan, he decided to quit. I don't remember exactly what was said, but he did mention that his wife and son needed him more than Guiseppe did and walked out."

"He does understand what love is."

Damon's words made Elena look at him. "Who does?"

"Klaus," he replied. "After he put me in Isolation after I came back from seeing you, I wondered if he understood what love was, especially since he was married and, at the time, was going to be a father. So, his decision to quit after he saw Dad shoot Stefan is proof that although he was an asshole to me, he understands what love is."

"I knew that when Caroline called him when I was in his office," said Elena. "I saw him sweat as she told him that she had gone into labor while shopping that his sister had to take her to the hospital." She sighed. "I just...didn't expect him to have a change of heart like that. Maybe he pictured Caroline and their son in Stefan's place."

"Whatever caused it, I'm glad that we don't have to worry about him coming after us now that his ex-partner is dead."

Mikaelson Mansion – That Same Moment...

Caroline smiled at Liam as she picked him up out of his crib, kissing his forehead and then went over to the rocking chair, sitting down and positioning him for his morning feeding. She was becoming adjusted to motherhood and she loved her baby, even though he did wake up at random hours of the night and cry for either her or Klaus. She also loved the fact that she had her devoted and loving husband here with her.

Speaking of her husband, she turned around and saw him standing in the doorway of the nursery, a sexy smirk on his face. Honestly, could he get any more gorgeous than right now? Or could it be the fact that he just got a kick out of watching her nurse?

"Yes, my love?"

"Nothing," he replied. "Can't I look at you?"

"Yes, you can," said Caroline. "I like it when you look at me. But, when you watch me nurse our son, I feel...like I'm exposed."

"Well, you do give him your breast to suck, so there's bound to be some exposure."

Caroline rolled her eyes and then slid one of the straps of her nightie down so that she could give Liam her right breast. "I do it to bond with him. And don't think I don't know that you're secretly jealous of him because he gets to touch my breast, because I do. Yes, he gets to touch it, but it's not in the way you're thinking. He's a baby, and babies need milk, so I chose to breast feed him."

"Jealous? Of my son?" said Klaus. "Oh, Caroline, you wound me. I would never be jealous of my own son. For your information, I watch you nurse because I think it's the most beautiful thing in the world." He carefully approached her and kissed her. "I love you, you know that?"

Caroline returned his kiss, but before she could say anything, Klaus heard his cell phone going off. Damn it, who the hell could this be? Excusing himself from his wife, he went to their bedroom and answered it.

"If this a crank call, you'll be seeing the inside of a cop car."

"Is that any way to speak to your sister?"

Klaus cleared his throat, realizing who this was. It was his adopted sister, Katherine. "Katerina. To what do I owe the honor of this call?"

"Well, I called to tell you that I'm being transferred to Mystic Falls," she replied. "Seems that I need to see a specialist and the hospital here in Chicago has recommended a Dr. Fell, who does the kind of surgery I need to fix my face. I tell you, sometimes, I think everyone in the medical profession is full of shit."

Klaus nodded. Right around the same time the crisis surrounding Damon Salvatore's escape occurred, Katherine had gotten into an accident when some asshole rammed into her car. The other driver died, but she came away from it with a broken arm, several fractured ribs, and shards of glass on her face, landing her in ICU, even though her case wasn't that severe.

"I wouldn't be too hard on the doctors, little sister," said Klaus. "They're just doing their job. If this Dr. Fell is as good as they claim he is..."

"She, Nik," said Katherine. "Dr. Fell is a woman."

"Okay, my mistake," said Klaus. "If this Dr. Fell is as good as they claim she is, you'll be back to your old self again." Though, I'm not sure if I can handle that, he added in his mind. I had to put up with her since my parents adopted me when she was three years old. If she's like this now, I'd hate to see her after she has the surgery.

"I hope so," said Katherine. "I want to be able to see my nephew."

"You will, Katerina, you have my word," said Klaus. "Now, you focus on getting better and I'll see you soon."

Note: Here we go, a new update. I may do another chapter or two before I end, mostly because I want to have a Delena wedding in here. I also might do a sequel, which has yet to be titled. Until then, stay tuned.

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