He stared at her in shock for a moment, and then sat heavily on the bed.

"What's the matter?" She asked. "Are you okay? Does that mean the answer's no?"

He sighed. "Of course it doesn't mean the answer's no. I just wasn't expecting it so quickly."

Selina grinned and put a hand on his shoulder. "What quickly? We've been married four years already. I'd say it's just the right time."

Elijah turned to her, running his fingers through her hair. "Well, I'm happy and of course the answer is yes, but tell me one thing first: you didn't just come up with this because of the problems with Sam, did you? I mean, it has to be hard to have a child reject you like that. But having another child won't fill the void. Making things up with Sam is the best thing to do."

"It's not because of Sam," Selina said. "I wasn't even thinking that way."

"Not even just a little?" Elijah asked.

Selina shook her head. "Not even just a little. I'm gonna go back tomorrow and try again with him. Try to explain myself. And if that doesn't work, I'll just have to keep trying, won't I?"

His fingers trailed out of her hair as she put her arms around him and he leaned forward to kiss her. Their lips met and she moaned as he kissed down her neck and lowered her onto the bed, pulling off her pajama top. He kissed her stomach and she squeaked as his tongue swirled around her belly button. Her whole body ached suddenly and she let out her breath. "Keep going," she whispered. "Keep going." He eased off her pajama bottoms, his fingers playing lightly over the skin just below her naval and moving downward. She moaned again. She reached down and wiggled out of her panties and then she was lying naked in front of him. He moved his hand and just knelt beside her on the bed, smirking, drinking in every inch of her. Normally, it would make her angry, but now, it just made her want him more.

"Well, what are you waiting for!" She barked. "I'm not just gonna lie here all day!" She managed to sit up and just because she felt like it, she made to slap him, but he grabbed her wrist before her hand could make contact with his face.

"I don't think so," he said. He removed his shirt and pulled her to him so that her arms were around his neck. Then he unzipped his pants, pushed her back on the bed and pushed into her again and again and again.

After awhile, Selina took a deep breath. "Wow, you sure know how to help a woman work off four cartons of ice cream, don't you?"

He grinned and ran his hand over her stomach. "I do what I can. Were you serious about the two of us having a child? Are you sure you're ready?"

"Well, yeah," Selina said in surprise. "But if you aren't, I'd be willing to wait."

He shook his head. "That's sweet, but not necessary. After all, I've had years and years of practice with Lucy and the others, haven't I? I don't see how I could be more ready if I tried."

Selina hugged him. "Thanks for being so good about this," she said. "I know I kind of sprung it on you and..."

Elijah put a finger over her lips. "Don't say another word about it," he said. "You're talking like our having a child is some chore that I'm only grudgingly accepting, but it's not true. I really do want to have a child. I'm ready. I've waited long enough."

"All right," Selina said. She looked around the room. "So do you want to take a break for now or keep going?"

"I suppose we could take a break," she said. "Maybe get some sleep. It's two a.m., you know, and my day to take Lucy and Sam to school."

She lay down to face him. "I'm not looking forward to the car ride tomorrow. Not that I fear awkward silence because once you get Lucy talking, it's hard to get her to stop. The hard thing will be not pushing Sam. Because you're right when you say that I just need to give it time, you know. But the problem is, I'm not a patient person. I like instant gratification."

Elijah grinned. "Yes, you certainly do."


The next day, the car ride to school was as difficult as Selina had predicted. Sam wouldn't say a word, so she engaged Lucy in conversation instead. Her daughter was not only very loquacious, but also liked to use big words, so that Selina couldn't even follow her half the time. She finally just stopped trying to respond and let Lucy talk, the little girl's words drifting over her. When they reached the school, she let Lucy and Sam out of the car, and Lucy scampered away, but before Sam could leave, she held her arms out. "I know you're mad at me," she said. "You don't have to talk to me before you're ready, but can I at least have a hug?"

Sam looked at her for a moment, then hesitantly put his arms around her. The hug lasted longer than Selina expected it to, and when he'd had enough, Sam gave her a curt nod and went into the building. Selina looked after him for a moment, then shook her head, got in her car, and drove home.

When she got back, she found a note from Elijah on the door, saying he'd gone out. She wondered where. Probably the same place he usually went when he disappeared during the day. She wondered what he did there. Someone had to know. Maybe Alistair. He and Elijah talked sometimes.

She picked up the phone and called.


"So you and Selina are seriously considering having a child?" Alistair asked Elijah. "Who's idea was this?"

"It was hers," Elijah said. "But I'm looking forward to it."

"Have you told anyone else yet?" Alistair asked.

Elijah shook his head. "No, you're the first one. I figured that would be a good idea considering how you reacted when you first found out we were together."

"Well can you blame me?" Alistair asked. "I'm used to seeing Selina with Klaus, I go away for awhile, I come back, and there you and she are. It completely floored me." He paused. "But it shouldn't have, now that I think about it. I remember the look on your face the night you came and told me that you'd sent her away from Paris. That was a hard decision for you, wasn't it?"

Elijah nodded. "Especially since I had no idea what I was sending her back to. But I figured that whatever it was was better than her spending the rest of her life on the run from my father."

"Are you going to tell him?" Alistair asked. "I mean, will he be able to handle the fact that a woman who he's been trying unsuccessfully to kill for years is going to be the mother of his grandchild?"

"I'll tell him I suppose," Elijah said. "I've been telling him how good she is ever since he got it into his head to start chasing after her again."

"Again?" Alistair asked. "What did she do now?"

Elijah sighed. "Several years ago, she killed a couple on a cruise ship in a way that was very similar to how she used to kill people when she was Lonely Heart. It wasn't exactly the same of course, but close enough to get Father's attention and he just can't let it go even though she hasn't done anything else."

"You know about he being Lonely Heart?" Alistair asked, looking surprised. "And you're okay with that?"

Elijah nodded. "She's told me how much she regrets what she did, and who among us hasn't done something they regret at one time or another?"

"I certainly have," Alistair said. Just then, the phone rang and Alistair went to answer it. "Selina? Yes, he's here. Would you like to talk to him?"

"No," Selina said. "I just need to ask you a question. Has he ever told you where he goes during the day? He leaves in the morning, is gone for hours, and then when he comes back, he doesn't say a word about his day."

"Just a minute," Alistair said. He put the phone down. "We could be in trouble," Alistair said. "Selina wants to know about your meetings with your father. Are you going to tell her?"

Elijah sighed. "I suppose I might as well." He took the phone and said, "So Alistair tells me you're interested in knowing where I go during the day."

"Yeah," Selina nodded. "Just a little."

Elijah sighed. "Well, normally I wouldn't tell you because I believe I should be allowed to have some secrets of my own, but I suppose since it involves you, you should know. Remember why we left our other house and moved into the one we live in now?"

"Well, yeah," Selina said. "Moving was my idea. Or I agreed to it after Nicky suggested it, anyway. Because we were in danger from your father. Or I was."

"Exactly," Elijah said.

"And what does this have to do with where you go during the day?" Selina asked.

"Well, remember how I had no idea that you were Lonely Heart until Olivia blurted it out?" Elijah said.

"Yeah," Selina nodded. "You always assumed I was a follower of hers and I thought the truth would upset you so I let you think what you wanted."

"And while I was thinking what I wanted, I was also working with my father to track you down so he could end your life. That's where I've been going all this time," Elijah said. "And back in the twenties too." He waited for her to say something, but she said nothing. He heard a click. She'd hung up.

"What did she say?" Alistair asked.

Elijah shrugged. "She hung up on me."

Alistair winced. "Maybe you should go home and talk to her. That might be best."

Elijah nodded and got up to go just as the back door of Alistair's house opened and Klaus strode in.

"What's with the sour faces?" He asked. "Did someone die?"

Elijah sighed. "I just told Selina that I helped Father go after fugitive vampires way back when and that she was my last target before I realized how stupid what Father did was and quit. And that he's having me start up again ever since Selina killed that couple on the cruise ship."

"Wait," Klaus said. "You were helping Mikael kill rogue vampires? You looked me in the eye in '29 and said you'd take care of her. I left her alone with you! So what happened? Did she get lucky and escape?"

"No," Elijah said. "I never meant to hand her over. All I did was put her on a boat and send her back to America. You know all this. I told you before. At the same time I told you I was in love with her then too."

"See, you kind of lost me after you said that." Klaus said. "That's what you should have ended with."

"And while I'm confessing things to you, Selina and I have decided to have a child," Elijah said. "I just thought you should know."

Klaus' eyes widened. "What? So she's pregnant right now?"

Elijah shook his head. "No, but she will be eventually. I just wanted to prepare you now."

Klaus smirked. "Good luck getting her near you after what you told her. She won't give you the time of day except to yell at you."

"Well at least I was honest," Elijah said. "I knew I was going to have to tell her eventually. And now I have and the chips can fall where they may."

"Good luck," Alistair called after him.


Elijah stood outside the front door and heard an enormous racket coming from inside. She was angry all right, even though she had no reason to be. He shouldn't have been surprised, though. She always overreacted to bad news. He opened the door and ducked just in time to dodge a frying pan that flew right at his head.

"Now, just a minute!" He said. "That was uncalled for!"

"Excuse me?" Selina said. "You tell me that you spent years plotting my death and now I'm supposed to be nice to you? Have you lost your mind?"

"I was just trying to be honest with you," he said. "I don't want us to have a relationship where we keep secrets from each other, especially if we're thinking about having a child soon."

"Oh, I think I was out of my head when I suggested that," Selina said. "I recant it. Who knows? Some day that kid would get a chocolate stain or something on your precious leather sofa and and who knows what you'd do? You'd probably kill them! So I think we'll just leave that alone for now."

Elijah froze. Then strode toward her, pushing her against the wall. "I would never," he breathed. "And if you so much as say something like that again, even in jest..." He shook her.

"Get your hands off me," Selina said. "You're as bad as the rest of the lying, cheating scum I've known over the years. I thought you were different!" She pushed him off her and strode out of the kitchen, grabbing her keys and heading for Anna and Stefan's.


"What do you mean you're leaving?" Selina said. "You can't just leave!"

"I think we can," Stefan said as he and Anna threw bags into the backseat and trunk of his car. "We decided, and Anna's daggering only enforced this, that we're no longer just going to be at your beck and call every time you need us. We're entitled to have our own lives."

"Well, can't you wait to have your own lives after you've helped me with my problem?" Selina asked.

Anna shook her head. "No. You're a resourceful person and I'm sure you can figure out an answer for whatever the problem is. We have to go now or we'll be late meeting Olivia and Roxie in Vegas. We can have lots of fun there. Big transient population, you know. Nobody knows they're there, so no one knows they're missing!"

"Well, fine," Selina said. "You don't worry about me. I have other friends."

Anna nodded. "Good. I'll send you a post card. I promise not to forget." She got in the car and then she and Stefan drove off, leaving Selina standing alone in their driveway. She looked out at the road for a moment, then sighed and got in her car to head to Mystic Falls. She would have to rely on other friends now.

"Selina!" Caroline said in surprise. "What brings you here?"

Selina sighed. "I need some advice and I think you're the best person to give it to me, if you will."

"Sure," Caroline said and sat down on the front steps of Amelia and Matthew's house. "What do you want from me?"

"I just found out something today," Selina said. "Something bad. That someone I love betrayed me a long time ago and I want to forgive him, but I don't know if I can make myself do it."

"Well what did he do to you?" Caroline asked. "Is it Klaus?"

Selina shook her head. "No, his brother. The one I just married. We're talking about having kids!"

"Is that good or bad?" Caroline asked. "Sounds like it's bad."

Selina looked at her. "Well, I know you and Nicky have better things to do than constantly talk about me so he probably hasn't told you this, but years and years ago, after one too many failed relationships, I decided I'd had enough and I began...killing people. Men especially, ones who cheated on me with other women and later just men who cheated in general. I killed the women too. That's how I spent practically all of the twenties. Two kills in '29 finally caught the attention of a vigilante vampire hunter named Mikael, who just happens to be my father-in-law now. Mikael took a special interest in me and was going to kill me in Paris, but Elijah got me out of town and on a boat back to America before Mikael could get at me, but what he didn't tell me was that he had been working with Mikael to locate me all along. He gained my trust and then was just gonna throw me to the fishes. And he's doing it now too!" She paused. "What?"

"I'm trying to figure out what the problem is here," Caroline said. "A man who loves you saves your life against the wishes of his father who wants you dead and you're mad at him?"

"He lied to me, Caroline!" Selina said. "Don't tell me I don't have the right to be upset with him, because I do!"

"Well, fine! Be upset," Caroline said. "But you're only gonna make yourself miserable. He never lied to you. Yes, he witheld information, but what did that hurt, really? Did him not telling you that he was in league with his father affect you in a negative way? Or did it get you on a boat and out of Paris before his father had a chance to murder you?"

Selina tried to think of a good answer to that, but she couldn't.

"I would go home and tell him you're sorry if I were you," Caroline said. "I don't see the point in letting this go on any longer."

Selina stood up. "Well, I guess that's your opinion," she said. "I think I'll be going now." She walked a few steps toward her car and then turned. "By the way," she said, "The last man I victimized was your Aunt Louisa's son Alfred. He's a vampire now and if you want to meet him, he's got a house not far from Nicky's."

"Where are you going now?" Caroline asked.

"I don't know," Selina said. "But not home, that's for sure. Not yet."


"Are you doing all right?" Damon asked Selina several hours later as they walked around the backyard at his house. "I know Sam's still not talking to you. But it'll get better, I promise."

Selina looked up at him and sighed. "I wish we could be sure of that," she said. "But it's not possible. The only way he'd forgive me is if you and I were together and I was here all the time, and we know that can't happen."

"Why not?" Damon asked. "Well, I know why not, but why couldn't you even think about giving it a chance?"

Selina shut her eyes. "Damon, don't do this, please."

"Don't do what?" Damon asked. "I'm not doing anything."

She nodded. "Yes, you are! You're trying to make me feel guilty and I hate it, so stop!"

"Fine," Damon said. "So you can honestly look me in the eyes and tell me you don't want to be with me?"

Selina felt a tear go down her cheek. She wiped it away. "I can't," she shook her head. "I can't and that's why it sucks! You and me, we had our chance and for whatever reason, it didn't work out. You're upset about it, and I'm upset about it too, but we have to move on! For god's sake, Elijah and I are going to have a kid soon! I mean, I'm not pregnant yet, but eventually I will be."

Damon looked at her for a moment, then pulled her to him, kissing her long and hard. Selina stood still and didn't respond. A second later, she heard a voice.

"Excuse me." They pulled apart quickly and turned around to see a perturbed Lucy, who had her arms crossed and was tapping her foot.

"What?" Selina said. "I'm sorry."

"I have to tell Damon about the thing that happened at school today," Lucy said.

Selina wiped her mouth. "Oh, yes. You really should tell him that! You do it and I'll go into the house." She ran away, leaving Damon and Lucy alone.

"So what happened?" He asked her.

"They had me talk to a man and he made me take a test and then some people came and they said I was too smart for kindergarten so they're moving me up two classes! Isn't that great?" Lucy's eyes were shining and a grin took up her whole face.

"Of course, Cookie Monster," Damon said. "That's great!"

"Are you okay?" She asked. "Why were you kissing Mommy?"

As he looked at Lucy's face, a strange sensation overcame Damon. He felt remorse. He felt as if somehow, he'd let Lucy down. "I don't know why I kissed your mommy," he said. "But I shouldn't do it again, should I?"

She shook her head and kissed his cheek. "No, you shouldn't!"

"What are you so happy about?" Joshua asked Sam when he returned to his room. Sam looked up at him and grinned. "Mommy and Daddy were kissing!"

"Were they?" Joshua asked. "I wonder why they were doing that."

"Because they love each other," Sam said. He left his room and went to a room down the hall. "I'm gonna play Mommy her song."

"Well, that's good," Joshua said. "But I don't think they were kissing because they love each other. I think it was a mistake."

Sam shook his head. "No, it's not a mistake! Mommy's gonna move back here because she loves me best!"

Joshua put a hand on Sam's shoulder. He looked sorrowfully at his younger brother, who wanted their mother's love so badly, but would most likely never get what he wanted, at least not the way he wanted it.

"I hope Mother enjoys the nice song you wrote," he said and then disappeared. Sam left the room and went to meet Selina, who was just coming down the hallway. He threw his arms around her and nearly pushed her over.

"Hi," she said. "What's up?"

"I love you!" He said.

She grinned and ran her fingers through his hair. "I love you too, Sammy. You know that, don't you?"

He nodded. "I do now!" He took her hand. "Come here!"

"What is it?" She asked. He led her into the music room and motioned to a chair. "Sit, please," he said.

She sat and then he sat down at the piano. "I made you a song."

"You made me a song?" Selina asked. "How sweet!"

Sam cleared his throat and began playing. It was mostly a bunch of random notes, but Selina thought it was beautiful. When he was done, Selina applauded and Sam got off the stool and bowed.

"That was beautiful, Sammy. Thank you," Selina said.

"You're welcome," he said.

"So how do you like kindergarten?" Selina asked.

"I like it a lot," Sam said. "My teacher says I'm a good reader!"

"Will you show me?" Selina asked. "Why don't you go get a book and read it to me?"

Sam ran out of the music room and returned a few minutes later clutching a small book with a smiling dinosaur on the cover. He sat on Selina's lap and opened it.

"This is Danny the Dinosaur," he read. "He likes bikes. He goes to school and sings a song about water..."

They were halfway through the third Danny the Dinosaur book when they heard a knock on the door and Lucy entered the library. "I need to go to the store and get new stuff for school," she said. "Can we do that?"

"In a minute, Lucy," Selina said. "Your brother and I are busy. After we finish this book, we can go."

"Why can't we go now?" Lucy whined.

"Because I promised your brother I'd read with him," Selina said. "Go in the living room please, Lucy."

Sam stuck his tongue out at Lucy when Selina wasn't looking and Lucy stomped off, shutting the library door. After they finished the book, Selina said, "Well, I have to go now, but I'll be back soon, I promise."

"All right," Sam said. "I can't wait!" She gave him one last hug and a kiss, then said goodbye to Damon and she and Lucy picked up Lucy's school supplies and headed home.


"You seem cheerful," Elijah said when he saw Selina again. "Did you and Sam make up?"

"Yep," she nodded. "He's talking to me now."

Elijah put his arms around her and grinned. "Wonderful! How did that happen?"

Selina sighed. "Well, he saw Damon and me kissing in the backyard, so he thinks we're back together." She shut her eyes, waiting for the blow as he froze, let go of her, and slowly backed away. She couldn't look into his eyes.

"You're showing your angry face, aren't you?" Selina said.

"Well, why don't you look up and see?" Elijah told her. But she didn't have to. His voice was tight, controlled but just barely. His fists were balled up at his sides, but twitched as if he wanted to hit something.

"No thanks," she said. "I think I'll just go put myself in time out." She looked up at him now. "But before I go, I'd just like to apologize for blowing up at you earlier. I didn't handle it well and I'm sorry."

"Well, you should be!" Elijah said. "Do you know what my father would have done to me if he'd found out my role in getting you out of Paris? He wouldn't have hesitated to hurt me. That was a big risk I took for you, so I think that deserves a little consideration! And while we're talking about people keeping secrets from other people, were you ever going to tell me the truth about Lonely Heart? Or were you hoping that someone like Olivia would eventually come along, open their mouth and blurt it out for you?"

"I would have told you sooner if you hadn't been so worried about me when you thought I was Lonely Heart's tool!" Selina said. "You wouldn't have taken it well if I would have told you I was Lonely Heart. Admit it! You'd have yelled and screamed and maybe thrown me out of your house. In case you haven't noticed, you're the first decent guy I've ever been with in my life, the first one who's really made me feel loved and not abandoned me afterward. I know it's silly and I know it's selfish, but I didn't tell you the truth about my past because I didn't want to risk losing you. Can you understand that?"

Elijah nodded. "I understand. There are things I haven't told you because I'm afraid of how you'll react to them. And I'll tell you sometime, but I can't now."

"Is it what Anna was talking about when we went to dinner with her and Stefan?" Selina asked.

He nodded. "Yes it is."

"Well if you promise to tell me when you're ready, I won't push you," Selina said. "I'll wait for you to tell me on your own time."

He reached out and took her hand, kissing it. "Thank you," he said.

"What do you say we start over again?" Selina asked. "We've put each other through enough crap today. I don't have enough energy in me to fight anymore. What do you say I make dinner, you get some wine and we just sit and talk. How about that?"

He nodded. "I'd enjoy that."

An hour or so later, they were standing near at a table set for two. Selina had made chicken and changed into a new dress, which Elijah looked at appreciatively, asking her to spin around a few times. "You look good in blue," he said, then pulled out her chair. "Why thank you," she said, sitting down and putting her napkin in her lap.

"This chicken looks wonderful," Elijah said.

"I tried something a little different with it," she said. "A French receipe. I hope you like it."

"Wine?" He asked her. "I assure you that my intentions are honorable."

Selina grinned and ran her foot up his leg. "Well, that's a shame," she said.

He grinned. "Well, I suppose that could change any minute. Does that bother you?"

She shook her head. "No. It sounds dangerous. I like dangerous men." She leaned across the table and kissed him, then swore. "Oh, damn! I got sauce all over my scarf! I know that's not a major tragedy, but it goes really well with this outfit!"

Elijah got up, came around behind her chair and slowly removed her scarf, kissing her neck. "Surely this won't be the only thing I take off of you tonight," he whispered agaisnt her ear, sending shivers through her body.

"No," she said. "It won't be."

Elijah went back to his chair and grinned at her. "Good." They tried to eat their dinner, but ended up putting most of it in the refrigerator along with the nearly empty bottle of wine.

"What about dessert?" Selina asked.

He shook his head. "I don't see why you need to go to the trouble of making something," he said. He grabbed chocolate syrup out of the refrigerator and they went up to their room. When they got inside the door, he began kissing her neck and slowly undressing her, and she did the same with him. By the time they reached the bed, they were both naked. He threw the covers aside, picked her up and put her on the mattress, climbing on after her. Then he pulled out the syrup bottle, drizzling it all over her body and then licking it off her before entering her, She giggled and clutched him tight. Eventually, she snuck under the covers gave him his turn. She wouldn't let him have all the fun. When they were all tired out, they fell asleep.

A few weeks later, Elijah woke up at two a.m. to the sound of Selina throwing up for the third time in a row. "That's it," he said, grinning. "You're seeing a doctor today."

She grinned. "I already saw my doctor," she said. "And she says I'm pregnant."