A/N; happy new year! this is a little something I started two months ago and finished today, so please enjoy. this is a rough 6 month time jump.

Chapter 15: The Start-Up

An extra ass birthday party is what Elena needed for her 25th. She chose to have a theme of Barbie and versions of the doll were options to try. Planning a party that had this type of theme required a hefty penny but everyone knows happy wife, happy life means having a limitless credit card. It was honestly a fun excuse for the girls to dress up.

On the flip-side, it was refreshing to dress up and just forget the woes of their lives for a few hours while indulging on free food and booze. Well, maybe not that much booze because of the kids, always keep an eye for the kids.

Speaking of, Katherine was nursing a beautiful newborn and planned to dress her accordingly. She was nearly two months and cute as a and Elijah couldn't be happier and more healed though the lack of sleep they were receiving was one of disadvantages of having their precious Nadia.

Even nights that the baby did sleep, she had intense insomnia that made stay awake in worry for her daughter despite the baby monitor. It was Elijah who convinced her that she could commit to being a mom before and during her pregnancy and of course he did it after. He also noticed her sleepless nights watching over Nadia and had to urge her to come to bed. There was talks of a nanny but there would have to be extensive probing for the right one as Katherine trusted absolutely nobody.

As for Caroline and Klaus, they were doing relatively well before he found his wife's diet pills. She naturally lied about them and a fight resulted since he flushed them down the toilet to prove that they were indeed hers. After a few days of not talking and tense air, she admitted to him that she had a problem with her body image as of recent and vowed to never touch the pills again, and she hasn't since February. Klaus can get rid of the pills but she was still watching her weight closely.

At least her business was flourishing and she was set to open a store more closer to home.

Everyone thought Elena would eventually breakdown considering her now extended family life but remarkably she didn't. Even her secret small fires had lowered in the new year. She had enrolled in online classes at The University of Phoenix and was planning to receive her associate's degree in writing. Her best friend had been her Macbook and the other was coffee.

The young woman had learned to love the little girl that seemingly came out of nowhere. Sienna was a bright-haired girl with freckles across her face and was as quiet and reserved when she was first introduced to their family. Now, in the nicest way, couldn't stop talking and sharing her ideas since she was more comfortable in their well she defined 'super big' house. She had started calling Stefan 'dad' and his heart swelled every-time she said it. Sienna was his first girl and he'd give up the world for her, but it was also a bittersweet feeling because Valerie was being selfish and kept her very existence hidden until she needed something.

The former assistant had run through all her payoff money and with her recently deceases mother and being unemployed she had to take necessary measures. She had a condo in Downtown LA courtesy of the Salvatore family and lived rent-free as long as Sienna lived with her. It was their little backend deal to knockoff the back child support pay. She'd even got a weekly stipend to keep her distance from their home. A driver came to drop and pick Sienna up at Stefan and Elena's house.

They couldn't have people talking, no. It was an arrangement that she agreed to since the commute to Malibu would be annoying. Plus, Valerie was a canon-ball, they couldn't control what she did when she drove to their little bubble of Suburbia. As far as the neighborhood knew, the lovechild appeared out of nowhere.

Bonnie and Damon were regularly attending therapy, still. It wasn't like the man wanted to go, no he still despised the sessions but learned to tolerate the time they spent there. He looked at it as a task, like paying bills and rent or maintaining the house. Sometimes they went for joint massages afterwards. She knew how hard it was for him to open up and came up with little rewards after attending.

She finally got her in-home office so she can practice law again. It was refreshing and she kept pushing it back because of all the drama and bullshit last year. Now she was focused and doing the the thing she loved the most—winning. Three cases in a row to be exact ever since she came back on the scene. Though she might have ran into something that could threaten the rebirth of her career.

Bonnie rubbed the sides of her head as she was getting her feet rubbed. There was a gnawing question in the back of her head despite the pleasure she felt from her husband's hands. She closed her eyes.

"You're rubbing my feet like the rent is due, you must want something," The lawyer predicted, keeping her eyes closed.

"Who, me?" Damon asked foolishly. "I just wanted to help you celebrate your win," He pointed to the Dom Perignon that was half way gone. "It's your third by the way, you're totally killing shit."

"Why thank you, kiss-ass," She joked, leaning her head back when he chuckled again.

"Okay, wiggle them." He let go of her black-painted toes and she did as told, failing to hold back her laughter. She really didn't see the point of his test but found enjoyment in it. "How do they feel?"

"Loose, but good." He came up to give her a peck on the lips. Still she felt as thought she wasn't showing enough gratitude for his attentive hands and grabbed the collar of his shirt. They were in a very combative kiss as he towered on top of her and her leg grazed his waist in a way to make him lose all cautiousness. He made his way to her neck and collarbone.

"I wanna get you pregnant," Damon whispered every word between every smooch.

Stop. Bonnie did a full stop of writhing and moaning underneath him and truth to be told she may have been performing, so to speak.. He was definitely asking for too much. She buttoned up her shirt that somehow got undone during their fooling around on the couch.

"This is an ambush."

He raised an eyebrow. "Starting a family is an ambush?"

"Yes, especially since that is last thing I want right now." She watched the disappointment flare up in his eyes. "Not now, Damon."

The now fed-up man stood up. "When the hell is it going to be a right time? People who aren't together have kids like that," He snapped his fingers.

"I just started my firm and work from home already, a child would just add on to that stress," She mentioned.

"And? You know you don't have to actually work, none of these bitches around here work and you'd actually have a valid excuse."

Bonnie rolled her eyes at him thinking money was the issue at hand. "I still would need something to stimulate my mind in the meantime until the baby comes."

Damon had a sudden epiphany. "You just agreed to have my child." He picked his wife of 5'1 and swirled her petite body around in their living room. After her squealing and begging him to stop spinning them, he finally stopped.

"Okay," Bonnie wrapped her hands around his neck. "Maybe I did."

At the moment, it was what he wanted to hear.

Elena was in the mirror re-applying her pink lipgloss in her bedroom. Her makeup was professionally done and her brown hair was styled in a low ponytail. She had on gold hoops, with a gold necklace around her neck, so she could resemble the Original Barbie. The brunette had just slipped into a vintage strapless black dress that hugged her curves and had a wavy finish on the floor where it pooled.

This was just her opening look. She had three or four more since walking around in a black gown in the start of summer wasn't healthy.

She heard excited knocks on the door, knowing from the chatter it was her two little ones.

"Yes, Jackson and Sienna, you can come in."

"Mom! Everyone downstairs is waiting for you," Jackson pouted in his blue suit, looking like baby version of Ken at prom.

"But you look very pretty," Sienna added, sparkling in her blue dress.

"So do you, sweetheart," The woman complimented back.

Elena made a grand entrance into general population which was an influx of people dressed as various versions of Barbie and Ken. Katherine took a bubblegum pop approach and dressed in all pink jumpsuit and her baby matched with her. Nadia was waddling around in her carseat before Katherine removed her from it. She was so lost in her child's hazel eyes that she didn't even notice the rest of her friend patiently waiting to greet her.

"Oh," The new mother put a strand of hair behind her ear. She took a look at Bonnie's silver-sequined body suit that hugged her small curvy. "You're quite shiny."

"You are glowing, Kat," Bonnie complimented.

"If it wasn't for my concealer I'd be looking mummified," Katherine groaned, handing her what she wanted all along, the baby. Bonnie made all sorts of silly faces to the infant to entertain her. Katherine folded her arms impatiently. "Don't take too long with her, she gets mom-gry."

"Mom-gry?"

"Hungry for her mama's affection, yes." Bonnie raised a brow and laughed loudly. "I'm still working on the name."

"They call that being spoiled in my family," She showed Nadia's content face. "But she seems to like me." The ex-model still wasn't convinced. Bonnie sighed; "If you want me to be her godmother, you have to let me spend time with her."

"I do-"

"Hello, it's godmother number two," Caroline approached them wearing a hot pink latex dress and heels. Her hair, or wig more accurately put, was styled in bangs. The blonde was right over Bonnie's shoulder reaching for the baby and successfully getting the infant in her arms.

The two had been having a friendly competition since Katherine couldn't choose between the two to be Nadia'a godmother. Elena came over to them in a new outfit choice—a white blouse and red mini skirt adjoined with some gold hoops. The person on her side was none other than their new neighbor, Krystal Parker. She and her husband, Luke, moved in at the beginning of March. Katherine could feel her molars grinding in irritation. Let's just say the two women did not get off on the right foot.

"I said, Hi Katherine," Krystal waved in front of her. Her outfit that consisted of red, white and blue was a busty patriotic statement. Since Sybil's departing on a strange December night, there had been no new contenders for Katherine. Ever since Krystal showed up on the spot dangling friendship in front of other 3 dear friends, she knew eliminating her, would be her second priority after her child.

"Oh, hi, Krystal," The ex-model greeted after daydreaming about the woman's demise. "You look very...political."

"And your outfit is cute too, the pink is too safe for my liking but still cute," The Parker wife semi-complimented back and the two were currently in a death stare.

"Well! Krystal and I are going to take more pictures," Elena announced to put a stop to their staring. The two women walked away and Katherine straightened up, silently chanting to herself.

"I hate her. I hate her. I hate her. I hate her!"

Bonnie and Caroline gave her a pitiful look. "We know," they both said in unison.

...

Stefan joyfully approached Elena as she talked with her friends. He put his hand on her waist as he politely excused them from the party population altogether by heading inside their house through the patio. He closed the blinds and turned to face her again and she played with his tie.

You got me all alone because...?" She asked with a dash of flirtation in her voice.

"Well," Stefan dragged out his words to stall his true intentions with her. "I wanted to ask you personally if you liked your party?"

"It's perfect, thank you. 'Liked'? There are still people out there that we have to entertain," Elena lamely said.

"They can entertain themselves," He leaned in her ear and continued naughtily, "But you and I can start our own."

"I-Is that right?" The ravenous man before her nodded and kissed her languidly. It was a rash idea to separate her from the party for some risky quickie, so this had to be a precise approach. Still, the kiss wasn't enough to cure his appetite. His lips dipped into her neck next.

"This cannot last long, people are going to—mmm, catch on—mmm." He backed her along the kitchen counter and lifted her on it for better access. They kept kissing despite the change in position. Clearly, they would be starting and finishing whatever they were going to do on that counter top.

There were certain details that she knew drove him wild like her manicured nails raking the blunt hairs on the nape of his neck and the way her leg pulled them closer, but more so how her thin heel grazed the calf of his leg. When her eyes weren't cast down on Stefan who was adorning her cleavage, she looked at the patio door and could hear faint chatter and the stereo from outside.

Elena thanked God, no her man for closing the blinds as this was not a sacred sight.

She reached for his belt buckle and began to unhook it before he intercepted her. In response, she let out a disappointed whimper and moved her hips against his in frustration. The painful swell in his pants made it damn near impossible to resist his reserved invite to be inside of her.

"Baby, not now," Stefan placated, smoothing out her hair and she stopped. He walked his hand up her thigh then under her skirt to touch her throbbing, just recently waxed pussy that he concluded she got at the day spa with the girls she vaguely told him that she went the other day.

"You're so fucking hot and so fucking wet, I wanna taste you. Aprimi per me. Please."

Elena blushed at the vulgar way he was praising her. She wasn't opposed to talking dirty but wasn't a fan of mouthy sex. He dropped to his knees, kissing at her feet and eventually her legs, her thighs and then eventually where she craved him the most.

"Il tuo piacere è miniere."

Right as things were heating up, there was some knocking on the front door. It was quite loud enough for them hear considering the distance from the kitchen and the living room.

"You know you have to answer that, right?" Elena cocked a brow.

"And that can wait until this is over."

"Stefan."

"Fine, fine, I'm up." He was dusting off his knees and the brunette laughed at the sight before her with her legs closed. His hair was ruffled too along with his now wrinkled and unbuttoned dress shirt that was missing the jacket and tie.

So much for a presentable Hollywood Ken.

He assumed Elena was making herself decent in the kitchen while he went to see who their guest was. The person was already on his bad side with their shit timing. On the other-side of the door was his biggest mistake.

"Valerie?" The man asked with a squinted expression and looked outside see if she had drove here herself. The lady brushed right past him.

"You look overdressed for a birthday 'dinner'," She commented.

His mind was still jumbled from earlier. "What? Oh—oh we cancelled it, I thought I told you. Why are you here and more importantly how did you get here?"

Valerie smiled. "Let's just say I have my ways. Where's Sienna? She told me that she's having a great time at the birthday party which is kind of ironic because I thought that the four of you were going out for dinner."

"Why does it matter?" Stefan stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"It matters because you kept it from me, you can't just make parental decisions without me!"

"You're acting like we fled the country with her, it's a backyard party for God's sake."

"Yeah, with all your friends, who are common, nosy suburban people, they'll corner my child and get the information they desperately want," Valerie countered. "You know what, she would be safer in a different country where they don't know who your family is and won't care to pry."

Stefan let out a dry laugh. "You just said so much bullshit that I don't even know where to start. Like that last sentence? Just make that make sense for me, please."

Elena had entered the living room now to see them arguing. She had her heels off and carried them with her only to set them down on an end table. "What's going on?" The doe-eyed woman held Stefan's hand, sensing his angry disposition.

"Oh, here comes the Misses herself," Valerie scoffed. "Acting like you haven't been listening in on our conversation so you can come in at the perfect time to play Stepford wife #10."

"Valerie, my house is 4,600 square feet so when you walk in you don't see the kitchen, I know it takes some time getting used to that since you're used to the latter."

"Ooh, numbers!" She exclaimed in faux-excitement and faced Stefan. "I am so glad that you decided to take the time to give her a crash course in numbers in the thousands, really I am." The 30-something year old waved in Elena's direction, who was frowning. She was starting to shrink in her presence but covered it in hostility. "Look how eager she is to spread the knowledge."

Stefan's eyes were glaring right at his ex and she was glaring right back at him. The interaction between her and Elena couldn't go any more left and there was no amount of apologies to make it right. Not that Valerie would give the young mother any sincere sorry. Her fuse was already short from arguing with her child's father.

"Can you please get Sienna and help her pack her bags, please," He told Elena. She nodded and obliged by making herself scarce.

Once he and Valerie were alone, he placed his hand on his face in frustration. Mainly because he was interrupted for something so asinine.

"It's her birthday," Stefan said aloud, tired almost.

"Look, I didn't come here to make that comment towards her. I'm sure she's a smart girl, she really has the looks to match," Valerie responded without much conviction. The insult was just for fun but in hindsight, it was bitchy and maybe even hurtful to Elena.

"Right, disrespect, invalidate, belittle are the correct words for it. What you did and what you're doing is unnecessary and spiteful and it won't go unchecked anymore," Stefan informed.

"What do you mean-"

"Mom, you're here," Sienna greeted, bringing life and positivity to the room. "Hey! You're not dressed up," She realized as she looked at her mother's casual attire.

"I'm sorry sweetie, but we're leaving," She told her, through gritted teeth. The couple across from clearly planned for her to break the news to the young girl that she had to leave their house. They did it without saying a word to each other about it and now she was starting to look like the bad guy.

"Ugh, why? We haven't even cut the cake yet," Sienna pointed out.

"After I help you get your bag, we can cut you the biggest slice of the cake," Elena comprised.

"I'll start doing that now," Stefan told her, walking towards the kitchen.

"And when you get home we order pizza and watch as many Barbie movies as you want, baby," Valerie added.

The little girl was giddy for both options but deep down, Valerie knew nothing could be be the official thing dressing and pretending to be a Barbie doll.

It's a regular day again and Bonnie decided to take her afternoon lap around the block. Running made her heartbeat quicker and gave her a boost to finish the rest of her day. Keeping her mind busy and off the baby nonsense seemed to be increasingly difficult.

Damon's name pops on her phone screen as she slows down her route. Choosing to answer it is an entire hesitation within itself.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Just calling to check up on you," Damon said happily. "How are you doing?"

"I'm—"

"Are you outside?"

"Yeah, I'm running right now." An exaggerated sigh escaped her lips to prove she was. "Could you call me later?" She was the one who hung up first and sighed as she trudged back home to run around some more. Someone who did notice the woman's circling was Krystal Parker who was watering her front lawn in glasses to block the bright sun.

"Bonnie hey!" She removed her sunglasses to wave at her. "It's 87 degrees out here."

"Oh wow, I guess time does fly when you're trying to avoid your husband," Bonnie spoke freely. "I'm sorry, your marriage is fairly new, I wouldn't wish that on you."

"No, that's fine, there are days where I'm not the happiest to see Luke's face." They both laughed. "You should come in for a drink, it's really hot out here."

"I mean why not?" The enemy of her friend could also be her friend too. It's not like Katherine could stop her from having friends. All she had to do leave her name out of her friendly conversations with Krystal.

Something was gnawing at the back of Caroline's mind, so much so that she acted on it. During her lunch break, she called Elena. There was no one in her office in the back so the only sound she heard was the ringing that seemed like it went on forever. She really needed to say how she truly felt about the party.

"Caroline, hi," Elena greeted. "What's up?"

"Hi, to you too, and nothing I was just calling you during my break because I realized something."

"And what was that?"

"When I was saying random party ideas, you kind of took the Barbie one and claimed it to be your own," The blonde reminded her. "It was kind of going to be one of my themes for my 25th."

"Caroline, the party is kind of over, and I didn't know you owned Pinterest, considering that's where I got the idea. My party is before yours and I'm sure you can find a new theme."

Pinterest? Whoever was the Salvatore fooling was not Caroline. This was just straight up stealing, atleast credit should be given. She never received any gratitude for any of her contributions. All she got was a careless half-ass answer from her supposed best friend.

"And you know what, this conversation is so kind of over!

...

Elena's eyebrows scrunched up into confusion after her abrupt phonecall with Caroline. It was a Tuesday afternoon and she was complaining about a party that ended on Saturday. Sure, she'd been inspired by her idea, but it didn't warrant that tone over the phone.

The brunette was scared to answer the phone because she didn't want to be interrogated on why she never returned to her party. She never called to check in with everyone and they didn't call to check on her. After Sunday, she called her mother and told her everything and it made her feel better, but her mood was still very desolate.

Of course, Caroline would call her about on some superficial shit and not the important shit.

She heard her doorbell ring and groaned before pulling her phone out to check her security camera. The woman did not want to open any doors for unidentified guests. "Mom?" She asked in horror, unaware that her mother could hear her.

"Yes, it's your mom, now open the door, these bags are heavy, sweetheart," Isobel responded.

After unpacking her mother's belongings in a far off guest room, it was almost five. Isobel sat on her bed cross legged, reading some books in her glasses. Elena stood in the corner, straight as a statue.

"Is there anything else you want me to get you mom?"

The older woman pondered on it, taking a dramatic pause from her book. "Hmm, maybe some water, room temperature please and preferably Fiji."

"I'll go see what I have in the pantry," Elena said through annoyed, gritted teeth.

When the brunette left her pantry with the water, she came out facing Stefan who had retrieved an apple from the refrigerator. Elena nearly jumped at his presence, her mother and him did not need to see eachother unprepared.

"Oh, Stefan, what are you doing here?"

"I think I live here," He replied sarcastically.

Elena chuckled nervously. "I mean what are you doing home so early, like honestly, this is unexpected."

It's around the same time I always come home to you," Stefan shrugged, taking a bite from his apple. "Why do you have room temperature water, you hate room temperature water."

"Well, it's-"

"Elena, I'm getting really thirsty, what are you even doing down there? Lord, please tell me you haven't attempted to start a meal," Isobel said from the top of the stairs.

"Oh, hell no," Stefan cursed. "Why is she here—you know what? I don't care, she has to go."

They engage in whisper argument about her mom's fate. "I can't just kick her out, her commute here is 3 hours."

"We despise each other, why does she even want to be around me? This is Malibu, get a beach house through Airbnb and drive out to visit at reasonable and scheduled time."

Elena pointed at herself and then at him as she whisper spoke. "I'm her only daughter, we're family, insinuating that she stay alone is very insensitive."

"Okay, well I'm going to take my insensitivity to the basement until you convince her to go home," Stefan said in conclusion.

The brunette rolled her eyes at his 'it's either her or me' statement and thinking hiding in the basement would make her decision easy. She couldn't tell him the real reason why Isobel had come to visit. Her moment of weakness, no sadness resulted in her calling her mother and venting about her marriage. Now Isobel felt like she was 'needed' in their household.

"I really don't want come down there because I'm still exhausted from my trip, so could you please bring me the damn water, Elena."

Quite an interesting week awaited them.