STEFAN'S POV:
I stopped outside of Caroline's hospital room and leant my head against the wall, running my hands over my face as I did so…
"Hey, what's the matter?" Elena asked, placing her hand on my shoulder
"Is Caroline gonna be okay?" I questioned
"She's gonna be fine," she informed me "as long as she keeps drinking the blood…"
"I can't imagine how hard it must be for her," I admitted "having to drink my blood."
"It's a sacrifice she's willing to make to keep your child alive, Stefan," she replied "and I know how much she loves you, so I doubt it's a hard thing for her to do at all."
"You think?" I inquired
She nodded her head… "What's on your mind? Talk to me…"
"Damon suggested something," I informed her "something that'll stop all this."
"What's that then?" she questioned
"That Caroline turns." I replied "And possibly before she gives birth too…"
"But that'd mean…" she began "No, you're not considering it, are you?"
"Maybe," I admitted "I hate seeing her in this much pain. I just want it to stop!"
"If you suggest turning her now, she'll never forgive you." she informed me "You and I both know that."
"But what if I lose her?" I asked
"Jo and I are going to do everything we can to ensure that doesn't happen," she assured me "you have our word on that."
"What was it like for you when you turned?" I questioned
"You know what it was like, Stefan," she replied "it happened to you too…"
"I'm going to suggest it to Caroline." I informed her "And I'd like you to be there when I do."
"Are you sure?" she inquired
I nodded my head… "Going through all of this, makes me realise what a mess I'd be if I lost her."
CAROLINE'S POV:
"Hey," I greeted Stefan as he walked into my hospital room as I sat up in bed "I didn't think you were coming back…"
"I got caught up with Damon." he informed me "And he suggested something…"
"What?" I questioned
I watched Stefan as he glanced at Elena who'd also walked into the room and turned back to me, entwining his hand with mine…
"Stefan, what is it?" I asked
"He suggested you turn." he admitted "And maybe before you give birth too…"
"But wouldn't that mean?" I questioned "It'd mean me losing our child. No!"
"Caroline, please," he begged "you're not thinking straight…"
"I'm not thinking straight?" I inquired "Neither are you! You know how much I want this baby, and you're suggesting I turn and kill our child in the process. It's not gonna happen…"
"Calm down, please," he replied "the stress isn't good for you or the baby…"
"Stefan was just suggesting it to happen now, Caroline, so that if you were to fall pregnant again, your body would be stronger to carry the baby." Elena informed me "He doesn't want to lose you, and you need to remember that that's a possibility."
"Don't you think I know that?" I questioned "It's the only thing I've thought about since I fell pregnant, but now I am, I don't want to lose it…"
"Even if it means me losing you in the process?" Stefan asked
"It's a risk I'm willing to take…" I admitted
"Okay," he replied "I get that, I do. But if you do survive, there's something I want to happen…"
"What?" I inquired
"I want you to turn," he informed me "going through this, realising that I could lose you, terrifies me. So when this baby comes, I want you to turn so we can be together as a family, properly, forever."
"Okay." I replied
"You're not even going to think about it?" Elena asked
"What is there to think about?" I questioned "I love Stefan and I want to be with him, and I want to be with our child too. There's no question."
"But…" she began
"But what, Elena?" I asked
"Have you thought about the consequences?" she questioned
"What consequences?" I inquired
"The pain you're going to go through," she replied "trying to control your urge to not rip someone's head off every hour of every day. It's hard, Caroline, really hard…"
"It'll be worth it." I informed her
"You're sure it's what you want?" she asked
I nodded my head, Stefan's hand entwining with mine… "More than anything."
"Okay." she replied, smiling at me weakly "Then we'll do everything we can to get you through delivery and recovery when the time comes."
Will Caroline make it through delivery and recovery once the time comes to give birth, or will Stefan become a single Dad? Who knows?!
