Baby 2 has been born! Now trouble is coming for the family and the Earth!
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 or shows belong to me!
Chapter Nineteen
Bonnie again healed quickly, and wore the same tight outfits that had gotten her with child only a couple of weeks before. Damon saw that his wife was much the little human he had first been enwrapped by, but now so much more a woman. The rest of the family, when they heard Bonnie giggling with joy out of their sights, knew that the pair made each other better than they had been alone.
Stefan had been able to 'convince' (now that he had literally been given the go ahead to feed what he needed from humans, he was stronger) Aunt Judith to let Margaret go with him on an extended vacation in Europe. Both Margaret and Elena were excited about it – time together after so long apart. Margaret loved most of all that she would also have time with her baby nephew.
While the group was gone their allies went through the town and fixed the damage the girls and Katherine had caused. Soon the people of Fell's Church were conditioned to believe that Katherine had been a sick woman hunting down Stefan for years. When he fell in love with Elena, Katherine tried to turn the town against him while kidnapping Elena.
The town was told that Elena had hurt her head as she escaped her confinement and had been suffering with amnesia until she first spotted Stefan and Margaret two towns away. Baby Jeffrey was explained as created on their honeymoon. Elena would later explain how she was afraid of not being allowed to wed her love, so they eloped. She hadn't come back dreading what would happen.
Matt's car going off of the bridge was attributed to a drugged up Tyler Smallwood, who had been found beaten to death not far from the old cemetery, leaning against the grave with the ball on top of it (of course the vampires had moved him there a few hours before).
So now Stefan and Elena could come and go about the town she grew up in without any problems.
Given that everyone was together, Matt and Lydia got married. Matt winked at his new bride as he mentioned, "someone in this group has to invite everyone to the wedding after all." Damon and Bonnie suffered through a church marriage ceremony an hour later, with everyone being invited – the pair hated the idea of Matt ever one upping them. Ten minutes after that, Stefan and Elena followed suit.
As the group was standing outside the church, they all looked expectantly at the only other young couple – Meredith and Alaric. Meredith somehow knew what all of her friends were thinking. "What is it 'Our Group All Gets Hitched Day' or something?"
Damon and Stefan rapidly wrote in four planners before each handing their wife one. Bonnie and Elena both grinned as Meredith rolled her eyes and groaned. Bonnie wore a look that put Damon's teasers all to shame – and that was a scary sight, even for Damon! "According to my calendar it is. How about yours Elena?"
"Mine too. Stefan?"
"That is what I have written down. How about you big brother?"
"You watched me write it down, little brother. Of course that is what mine says. Care to see for yourself Meredith?" Damon flashed one of his own taunters, but it didn't stand a chance next to Bonnie's.
Meredith looked and gave a dirty look at them all. "Funny how it is obvious that the men wrote down all four entries!"
Before anyone could say a word, Alaric spoke up. "Honey, you know that you will feel left out if we don't. Besides, I'd like to marry you all over again, and again, and again …"
Her glare stopped his repeat. "Fine! But we had better get back in the church before the minister puts his wedding things away."
The group was shocked when they walked in to find the minister standing there expectantly. Bonnie giggled as Damon asked, "expecting us reverend?"
"Yes, now whose turn is it?"
The group all broke down into tears of laughter – except a blushing Meredith and Alaric.
Just as everyone was settled into their places, Nana and Papa Salvatore walked in. The elder Jeffrey shot them all a look that was obviously handed own to Damon. "Mind if we sit through at least one?"
"Actually Papa, you're supposed to be standing there and Nana is supposed to be beside me." Meredith answered, pointing out the place for the best man and matron of honor.
After those vows were over and the kiss was catcalled by the family, the couple sat down and they all looked expectantly at the heads of their family. Sabrina looked at them with suspicion.
"And exactly what are all of you waiting on?"
Damon looked at his nails as he spoke. "Well, there is only one couple left in the family not hitched today."
"And seeing as they are already at the alter." Bonnie chuckled.
"Just humor everyone, please? They won't stop until you do, Nana." Meredith sighed.
As requested, the elderly couple too was re-wed. The group cheered and catcalled as their elders kissed.
Knowing that the danger had passed for the time being, the group all partied into the early morning. They all wanted to enjoy the good times before all heck broke loose again.
Alaric and Meredith announced that they were moving once again, this time to Minnesota.
The still single Carolyn too was moving … to New York City. She had become a fantasy writer. She had even gotten their story published!
As she had agreed with her husband, Bonnie and her small family left for Italy. Damon wanted his children to know life in Florence – more specifically the home that he and his brother had grown up in.
A few days after Keith's birth, everyone broke apart until the next holiday.
****
When Keith and Stephanie were a year old, the family all gathered at the boardinghouse that Nana and Papa Salvatore still ran in Fell's Church, Virginia for Thanksgiving.
Damon saw that his wife enjoyed gazing out the window of their car, seeing the fall colors. Bonnie never said it, but she did miss the area – if not the town in itself.
Damon enjoyed the look of his wife in her new outfit. Tight black jeans, a dark emerald green sweater, the black leather jacket she got that first birthday from him, and black leather boots. There was also the look of joy on her face that made her shimmer with a beauty he never knew was in her. How that beautiful witch still could surprise that old vampire.
In the back seat of the car sat all three of their children. Right behind Damon was Shawn, who had remained living with his beloved parents and siblings. It was nice to have a family again, and he was highly protective of his younger siblings.
Beside him was little Stephanie. She had dosed off only half way through the car ride from the airport, but was now deeply asleep.
By the window was little Keith. He was wide-awake and taking in the scenery, just like his mother.
Damon took stock of all he had now. Yes, he drastically changed since nearly losing his brother to Klaus that night, but he wasn't sorry for it. He had a family he was very proud of.
But, none of them knew that their peace was going to be short lived.
As they pulled up, the door burst open and everyone ran out yelling. "Why didn't you call? Do you know how worried we've been? Do you have any idea what is going on?"
"One person at a time!" Damon shouted over everyone, especially pissed at how the group's yelling had woke his daughter and upset both his youngest children.
Elena took a breath and started. "Do you guy have any idea what has been going on in the last hour?"
"No, we turned off the music once we saw that Stephanie was asleep. Why are all of you so upset?" Bonnie snapped as she took Stephanie from Shawn's arms.
"Remember King Alfor's prediction about Keith? Peace has ended and we are at interstellar war." Stefan reported grimly.
That stopped the smaller family cold. Keith remembered the nice man who saved his life before he had been born, and his promise. "I'm going to meet her soon, aren't I mommy?"
"I doubt that it will be all that soon, Keith. But, the events that will bring the two of you together have begun." Bonnie sighed; her nerves were tingling with dread.
"And we can't get a hold of Caroline! She was at the airport waiting for her plane when the first attacks hit all satellites at once, and we lost contact with her. The second attacks hit all of the remaining communication centers. The third have the military all over the world scrambling. Washington D.C., Tokyo, Moscow, Rome, Dublin, London, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, all of the capital cities of each country were hit by the fourth wave! Then the attacks spread to all major cities – including New York!" Lydia cried.
Stefan took hold of his brother's shoulders. "When you said all of you had a lay over in Rome and London, we couldn't be sure if all of you were in either city when the attacks hit. That was why we were agitated."
"Come here now, child." Sabrina said with a dead calm. She grabbed Damon the moment he was in her reach and held him tight. "Scaring your old Nana like that. I swear if I weren't immortal you would have sent me to my grave!"
Damon put on one of his old smirks, though everyone could see it was only for show. "Nana, you wouldn't let them put you in the ground until I showed up just so you could tear into me. I expect an old friend will be coming by very soon."
"Is this soon enough, Major Salvatore?" Came from a gruff voice behind them all.
"You're looking better than I expected, Graham. Obviously this isn't a social call, seeing as the planet's at war and you just used my last military rank." Damon glowered as he relaxed against his black Jaguar.
Graham nodded solemnly. "A new ally has driven off the enemy for the time being. I'm supposed to go meet with their leaders in an hour. As most of the military and leaders have been killed or captured, ALL military personal are being recalled to active duty – even those who, shall we say, are long retired."
"No deal, Graham. I have been, as you so sweetly put it, retired for over eighty years! Right now my only concern is what you see around me!" Damon said with finality in his voice.
Graham seemed to be ready to argue. "And what happens when the enemy comes back, because they will! This Doom fleet didn't kill everyone. Most have been captured. My early reports tell me that they will be used as slaves! Remember Sheik Karim and his little girl?"
"NEVER BRING THAT UP AGAIN!" Damon growled.
"I know that is still a touchy area, but that will be nothing compared to what this King will do! There's a chance that your friend is still alive and captured."
Damon huffed at it. Then looked over at the elderly man. "How are you going to prove my clearance?"
"With all of the destruction, I'm sure we can use that as an excuse for the majority of your records. All you need is my say."
"Since when lieutenant Graham? If I remember correctly, I out rank you by four." Damon chuckled as his smirk became real.
Graham shook his head as he too chuckled. "Yes, but some of us did not retire. It's General Graham now, Major. Seems that I'm four above you."
"For now at least." Damon spat teasingly.
Keith looked over at his mother with eyes full of wonder. ~Is daddy gonna fight mommy?~
~Yes, little one. Daddy is going back to being a soldier.~ Bonnie groaned, "Damon, remember our little boy is at that baby see daddy baby will do stage."
"Bonnie, you know that this is his destiny. He has his own Queen to go find yet." Damon whispered.
Bonnie looked at her son who was in his big brother's arms. "I just hoped to have a few years with him before all of this started."
"Hey … you'll still have all three of us for a while yet, mom." Shawn responded.
Bonnie sighed. "But, now we are in war. Who knows how much time we'll end up spend fighting for our lives."
How is this? I think there are going to either be one or two more chapters in this section. Don't know for sure yet, but I will tell you when the rest of this will be found under Voltron.