CAROLINE'S POV:

It had been a week-and-a-half since I'd told Mom I was pregnant and since I'd last heard from her. Sighing heavily as I flicked through the channels, Stefan walked into the room, took the remote from me and switched the TV off…

"Hey!" I proclaimed

"You've done enough moping," he informed me "we need to do something and get out of this house."

"Like what?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow at him

"What do you want to do?" he asked

"Nothing," I replied "stay here and wait for Mom to call."

"Like you've been doing for the past week?" he inquired "Caroline, she'll call when she's ready. You can't force her. So come on, let's do something…"

"Can we go to the beach?" I asked

He nodded his head and smiled at me warmly. Holding his hand out to me, he helped me to my feet, my bump having grown bigger by the day. Placing my hand on my bump, wincing as the baby kicked, I looked at Stefan, a look of concern on his face…

"Are you okay?" he questioned

I nodded my head… "Baby's letting me know they're awake."

He smiled at me sympathetically and placed his hand on my bump… "Now listen to me, okay? I'm your Daddy. Stop hurting your Mummy, she doesn't deserve it. We love you."

Pressing my lips against his as he lifted his head, he pulled away and smiled at me warmly… "What was that for?"

"I fall in love with you even more when you talk to this one." I informed him

STEFAN'S POV:

Caroline and I arrived at the beach forty minutes later. Switching off the engine, I turned to Caroline and saw her staring out of the windscreen at the view. Entwining her hand in mine, she turned her head to me…

"Do you think Mom's called?" she asked

"We'll find out when we go home." I informed her "But for now, let's just go for a walk and enjoy the peace and quiet."

"Okay." she replied, smiling at me warmly

CAROLINE'S POV:

"Anything?" Stefan asked as I checked the answering machine as we walked back into the house

I shook my head… "What if something's happened to her?"

"Like?" he questioned

"I don't know; anything," I replied "I'm worried about her, Stefan."

"Hey," he proclaimed, moving over to me and pulling me into him "you need to stay calm, okay? How about I go see if I can track her down at her hotel?"

"Would you?" I inquired

He nodded his head… "Sit down, put your feet up and get some food and drink in you, and I'll call you when I track her down."

"Thank you." I replied, smiling at him warmly

STEFAN'S POV:

"Yes, Sir, how can I help?" a receptionist asked as I made my way across to the reception desk of the Hilton hotel

I swallowed a lump in my throat… "I need you to tell me what floor and room number Liz Forbes is staying on please."

"The third floor, room 30." she informed me

"Thank you." I replied as I turned and made my way to the elevator

Reaching the third floor, I walked out of the elevator and down the corridor to Liz's room. Stopping outside her door, I knocked and waited for a reply, hearing her move to the door, pulling it open a minute or two later…

"You're the last person I want to see right now…" she admitted

"I know." I replied "But I need to talk to you."

"Is Caroline okay?" she questioned

"Oh, so you do care?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her

"Of course I care," she replied "look, come in, I don't wanna be having this discussion in public."

Stepping into the room, I shut the door behind me… "Caroline's fine, physically, but she's worried and upset about you. You need to contact her, Liz."

"I don't need to do anything." she informed me

"I know you don't like what's happening, but it is whether you like it or not." I replied

"Stefan, the risks…" she sighed

"I know. Don't you think I'm terrified myself?" I questioned "I'm scared witless, Liz. What makes you think I'd be okay with losing Caroline?"

"I know you wouldn't be okay…" she admitted

"This isn't what I wanted to happen. I hoped and prayed that if we made a baby this way, that it'd be a happy and healthy human baby, but that's not the case," I informed her "and you know how stubborn Caroline is once she has her mind set on something, and her mind is set on carrying this baby as long as her body will let her, and there's nothing I can do to stop it."

CAROLINE'S POV:

I'd just finished watching the end of a film and had finished my food. Switching the TV off, I moved from the sofa, yelling out in pain, dropping my plate in the process as a pain shot through my stomach. Clutching onto my stomach, I made my way into the kitchen and took a blood bag full of Stefan's blood from the fridge, hoping that it'd help…

STEFAN'S POV:

"Caroline, hey," I greeted her as I answered her call "what? Okay, I'm on my way."

"What's wrong?" Liz asked worriedly

"Caroline's body has stopped responding to my blood." I informed her as I hurried from the room

CLIFFHANGER ALERT – will Stefan get to Caroline in time? And if so, are she and the baby going to be okay?