Well, here's the next chapter. I think that we have put Elena through enough torture. And everyone's so worried about little Jeffrey. And Bonnie does need to learn to hunt. But, I can't hold back the bad stuff for too much longer!

Disclaimer: Characters, places, and the like from the Vampire Diaries are the property of LJ Smith. I'm just borrowing them to create this tale. All other characters that have no ties to any other fics belong to me!

Chapter Twelve

Damon, Stefan, and Shawn all began acting tense after Bonnie's recovery. Although the two young mothers were new vampires, they too could feel the evil hanging in the air. The vampires began going out in groups of three to hunt, protecting the children and Elena at the same time.

"I can't wait until the baby's born! I feel like I'm as big as a whale!" Elena whined; her attempt to get everyone's minds on something other than the danger.

Bonnie grinned as Damon planted a seductive kiss her neck. "Elena, you are nowhere near the size of the smallest of whales. Just be grateful that you will be cuddling your little boy by tomorrow night."

~Love my mommy!~ Jeffrey squealed happily.

That made them all chuckle, but the underlying tension still remained. The family had gone through enough with coming so close to losing Bonnie and Stephanie days before this, but to add on the sense of impending danger – all of them dreaded what the next moment would offer, much less the next dawn.

After another hour, Stefan convinced his beloved wife to retire for the evening – that way she would have the strength her body would soon be demanding of her.

Without a word other than grinning goodnights, Damon took his wife and youngest child to their room for the remainder of the night. And soon only Sabrina was left by the hearth in the living room.

"Jeffrey, I wish that you were here my love. Our family needs as much power as we can give them for the darkness ahead, and I don't know if I will have enough to give them on my own."

The old woman got up and stood next to the window for a short time before going to her bed. It almost felt good to say the words aloud. She felt some of the tension released on the waves of air.

*****

In the shadows a soft chuckle rippled in the wind. "Sabrina, how long it has been since you called out for help? Oh, the Power that will be here soon enough. Just you wait and see."

In moments a black hawk fluttered into the winds and left the cabin.

*****

Early the next morning everyone heard Elena's pain-filled groan. Obviously a certain little boy was in a rush to be birthed. After two hours of gasping and screaming on Elena's part, a small shrill voice ripped into the darkness for the first time ever. It was tiny Jeremy Damon Salvatore making his way into the world. Thankfully his birth had none of the complications that his cousin's had.

Both couples had a beautiful child they cooed and cuddled, and this odd family had two new members.

*****

"Have your fun now murderers."

Anastasia giggled at her sister's side. "We'll make them pay soon, won't we sissy?"

"Yes. But, first for what we want. We have to get a hold of that little witch!"

A growl came at them from behind. "Just leave that to me."

So, who is our growler? And why do they want Bonnie so bad? I'll get to all of that soon enough!

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And so it begins! LOL!