Note from Maggie: Thanks for waiting... Hope you like this chapter... Finally worked through getting them passed the combining the covens. Now on to the good parts.


Chapter 20 – The Morning After

Bonnie sipping on herbal tea, "Do you think it's that simple?" Damon smirks, "Bon, nothing supernatural is ever simple. We have to assume our kids' magic is neutral, it is unclaimed. They are too young to understand good, bad, or evil. When the twins siphoned the Amory they didn't do it because it was the right thing to do, they did it because Mommy and Daddy asked them to do it. Their magic can be used for either side, it all depends on who has the little ones' trust. As the only Gemini left they were completely vulnerable." The topic of magical ethics has long been the favorite part of their many drunken late-night debates, now that Bonnie was pregnant, they had found themselves meeting early in the morning before the household woke up on the back porch. Bonnie countered, "I didn't say they weren't vulnerable. I just asked if removing the Gemini ancestry is going to take the target off the twin's back? As members of the Gemini coven, they could have channeled from all their ancestors since the beginning of their coven. It was part of their DNA, it wasn't something that they had to learn, it would just be there when they needed it. Even as siphons, the spirits of their ancestors would have guided them." Damon smiled, this conversation was going in the direction of one of the good old fashion supernatural debates they would have, usually after he got Bonnie buzzed. In the heated debates, the topic of human versus vampire rights would reign supreme. Damon would rally for vampires, of course. As a human, Damon would never admit that he missed getting drunk with her, for a few reasons, first, his alcohol tolerance was almost an embarrassment these days, Bonnie had been training with vampires since she was a teenager. Damon would never admit that she could drink him under the table in under an hour. The second reason, he was actively campaigning for the role of Sheila's Godfather. Damon took another swig from his alcohol-less mug of coffee as he carefully worded his rebuttal, "By making the girls part of our coven, we essentially made their magic mature and gave it hero's hair. Their magic is now part of Ancient Nature's magic, much older than Gemini magic. When the girls siphon from their elements, they are bringing millennium-old magic into their bodies. That should erase or lessen the target."

Bonnie doesn't know if she agrees, she wants to believe Damon's plan will work. For now, the girls are safe. She takes a deep breath and decides to change the topic. She tilts her head up at the sun, "This feels so good. What a beautiful morning. This is nice, we haven't done this in what seems forever, just you and me and morning coffee… God, I wish this was coffee!" As she looks into her mug, pulling the string of the herbal tea bag, she takes it out of the mug and drops it on the side of the table. Damon smiles and looks into his mug, "Herbal is good for my goddaughter, so drink up." He smirks at her as she turns her head in response to the blatant hint. His smirk turns into a smile as his next thought is said out loud, "Speaking of last time we had morning coffee together. It has been a while, the last time was maybe Germany… These… (holding up his mug) These if memory serves me right had a lot less coffee and a lot more of... Well… Other stuff… Both of us had more bourbon and/or blood than coffee in them."

Bonnie laughed, "True last time we both had sat together in the morning sun with just plain coffee was good ole 1994." Damon reminisces, "Ah yes, the good ole Gemini Prison world. Can't say I miss much of that world. Definitely, didn't miss coming back to the 'I don't remember loving Damon' Elena. Can you believe she was dating that douche, Liam? Seriously, what kind of name is Liam? Hello may I have a stick up my…"

Damon immediately ends the topic not wanting his wife to catch him harboring jealousy over past events as Elena walks through the back door, "Good morning, what am I missing out here?" Bonnie laughs so much that tea spits out her mouth, "Your husband was just telling me about some of his fondest memories." Elena sits on Damon's lap, "Which ones? I'd love to hear." Damon gives Bonnie the "if I were a vampire, I'd bite you look', "I think my time is better spent getting you lovely incubators breakfast." Elena smacks his chest as he gently holds her as he stands up and settles her on his chair. Damon turns to head into the cottage, "Breakfast will be ready in 30, ladies."

Elena raises an eyebrow, "Ok what is going on?" Bonnie grins, "Just Damon being Damon, you caught him reminiscing. He doesn't like getting caught, especially when he is the vulnerable one." Elena nodded her head in agreement, "No, he doesn't. At least we are going to get an amazing breakfast out of it." The two ladies have a good chuckle. The two friends continued talking on topics that made Damon smile as he prepared the morning meal for his family, hearing the laughter of the 2 most important women in his life always quieted any demons that may have plagued his thoughts.

His thoughts were soon interrupted by the thumping of tiny feet coming down the stairs. He smiles knowing soon there would be two more sets of feet added to those once his son and Bonnie's daughter made their appearance. Never in his wild vampire dreams would he have thought his future would include a house full of kids. Another grin crossed his face as the two little bouncy girls came behind him.

He twirled quickly, "Boo" bending down and lifting them both in his arms at the same time, "Gotcha" as he smiles and leans in to give each a morning kiss on their cheeks.

Lizzie is the first to recover, "Uncle D, you're not supposed to scare us in the morning." He tilts his head in a questionable expression, "Really, so when am I allowed to scare you?" Josie answers, only the response is to Lizzie, "Izzie, you not suppose to give him ideas. Uncle D is not supposed to scare any of the times." Damon couldn't help it, a full laugh escaped his lips. He kiss both of them again, since they were just too precious not to, "Ok, you too witches, time to get ready for breakfast. You can help me set the table." He added with a slightly louder tone, "Breakfast should be ready in 30 minutes. If you girls help me get the table set, the food will be nice and hot for everyone to EAT together."

Earlier when Damon was coming down to the kitchen, he had heard Caroline's loud 'Yes, baby, Yes', it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what his brother and wife were doing. Damon would keep the twin occupied downstairs, while their parents were 'unavailable' upstairs. He was counting on Care being able to hear his last comment. He was hoping by keeping the twins occupied they wouldn't go looking for their mother. Damon was counting on the return of that exact favor someday.


Upstairs, Caroline is lying spread eagle with her arm on Stefan's chest and her leg on his leg, she giggles, "Damon just let us know we have a 30-minute reprieve. He has the girls." Stefan turns on his side leaning his head on his palm that is topping the bent arm, glances over her naked body that is glowing from the rays of sunlight peeking in threw the window, "30 minutes, I can do quite a bit in 30 minutes." His eyebrow goes up as her face turns towards him. In that second, his cock stirs and the blood fills it, making him hard. He knows if he were still a vampire he would be able to smell her arousal just at his words, the look in her eyes is telling him, no challenging him 'go for it', Caroline doesn't move. He moves his hand to her core, which he knows contains the remnants from their last love-making session just moments ago. He slides 3 fingers in swiftly without hesitation, filling her at once. Caroline moans and arches her back, "Ahh, baby, yes, please" are the only words that she has. He doesn't stop, she is so dilated, she's so dilated he slides in his pinky and makes it four fingers. He scissors them, slowly, gently rotating into his wrist. Caroline can't stand it, "Oh my god, baby, Oh my god, what are you doing?" Stefan smiles, "Does it feel good?" She doesn't have words, she just nods her head. He has a slightly devilish grin as he starts to thrust his fingers into her further. He never stops moving his fingers. he finds that special squishy spot that tries to wild, he makes sure to glide a knuckle over it with every thrust. Caroline is in the bridge position before she knows it. Her pelvis is inches above the mattress. He is driving her wild, she is on the edge moaning so stimulated and can't get over the edge. "Stop, Stop, Stefan stop!" Caroline cried, "I can't get over, please. It's too much. Please." Stefan stopped moving his hand, he gently pulled out as she lowed her body back to the bed. Within a moment of him leaving her with his fingers, he demanded, "Turnover, Baby. I know what we need." She understood and didn't resist the suggestion at all. With vamp speed, she was over and on her hands & knees before his eyes could adjust. No waiting, no easing in, he thrust into her with all of his human strength. Then he entered her, it felt like heaven. His weeping cock was surrounded by her heat, it was unbearable to hold on, he was going to explode that moment. He could feel her insides grasp him with every thrust, "Come with me, Baby. I'm so there, come with me, Care." He said with an urgency in his voice. She pushes back into him as her body spasms around his cock inside her, "YES, YES, YES" As her head crashes into the bed, he feels her tighten around him squeezing as he lets all the built-up energy release into her. Thrusting as each pulse of his orgasm is milked from him by her in a perfect rhythm.

Stefan lies flat on top of Caroline's back, covering her entire body with his. He is barely catching his breath as she reaches for his fingers and intertwines them with hers. He smiles with the knowledge of how comfortable both of them are at this moment, the next thought that comes to mind widens his grin 'this is one of the many advantages of having a vampire wife, knowing your weight is not causing her any discomfort or harm'. He is fully embedded in her still heated and pulsing core with his chin tucked comfortably along her shoulder blade. His thoughts got the best of him as he smiled, "Oops, I guess we didn't need a full 30 minutes." Caroline giggled sending a vibration throughout her body that was felt by Stefan's still sensitive member. He responded by thrusting forward, "Don't start something that WILL take longer than 30 minutes, Mrs. Salvatore. We have daughters downstairs." His wife giggled again before turning over, rolling him off her as she rose, "I'm heading for the shower. 10 minutes left, I can do some pretty good stuff in the shower in 10 minutes, care to join me and find out?" Stefan jumped up and followed her.


As the household settles into the kitchen for breakfast, Sheriff Matt Donovan arrives at the cottage with Jeremy, "Good morning all, room for 2 more?" Stefan turns to the cabinet for more plates and Elena starts to get up as Jeremy reaches her, "Don't get up, Sis. You stay put. How's my nephew doing this morning?" Jeremy kisses the top of her head. Elena smiles and looks up at her brother, "He is doing very well, practicing his jump shot. You better start practicing, he is going to come out with a game, you better be ready." As she rubs the side of her baby bump, Jeremy crouches down to his sister's side, faces the same spot as her hand is rubbing, "Hey buddy, give Mom a break, wait just a little longer and I'll show you some Gilbert moves with a little side of the supernatural hunter in the mix." Damon chimes in, "Excuse me, little Gilbert, you are talking to the Salvatore heir. He will learn Salvatore moves, with a whole lotta Damon Sr on the side." Everyone at the table made noise in objection to that statement, the idea of having another Damon Salvatore on the loose was a little too much to think of this early in the morning. Elena took charge of the conversation, staring directly at Damon, "One Damon Salvatore is enough for this family. My son is one part Gilbert and one part Salvatore, I will remind you!" Her voice had quite the matter-of-fact quality in it, Damon's body couldn't help reacting when Elena's fiery spirit came out. She continued, "My son will be amazing in his way – As a GILBERT – Salvatore Heir… Dad... not just a Salvatore... Remember that 2 of Founding families with supernatural legacies." Damon smirked as his wife and mother of his son stared him down. Damon leaned over, kissed her on the mouth, hard, and demanding, full of passion, leaving her breathless, "Yes, wife, you have put me in my place. Our son is blessed with two strong family lines."

Jeremy laughs, "This is my favorite part. Got to love watching Damon Salvatore eat crow." Damon throws his napkin at his brother-in-law, with a smirk on his face, "Shut it, little Gilbert." Jeremy catches the napkin and puts it on his lap, not giving it back, to his brother-in-law, "Matt, Anything happening at the Station house?"

Matt swallows his bite of food, "That is one of the reasons why I picked up Jer, on the way out here. We should expect trouble. The Fanged kind of trouble, reports came through last night, there have been several murders and attempted murders, in a path from city to city that could be leading directly to Mystic Falls. Matt pulls out a map with dots and lines on it and lays it on the top of the table. Damon is the first to lean over it. Matt continues, "All the victims have neck wounds and are drained of most or all their blood. Here's the part that makes it bounce off our radar, all the victims have the blood type AB negative." He looks directly at Caroline. Caroline's worried voice, "Our AB villains are coming back. We never did figure out who or what exactly was going on. I followed the scent as far as I could. They fed at the hospital and then walked around Town Square. The scent was the strongest in front of the Police Station." Matt coughed on his bite of food, remembering when Caroline stuffed him in the body bag to remove him from the station for his protection. His male pride was hurt more than anything, he could admit that to himself now. He couldn't deny Caroline would do anything to protect him, she was his family.

Matthew Donovan took a moment to look at the people at this table, as much as he hated vampires, ex-vampires, the reality was, these people, they were his family, all of them, including Damon and Stefan Salvatore, Matt took a deep loud breath – how the hell did that happen? Vicki was dead, he had mourned her passing for so long. Finding out about his mother's passing at Stefan & Caroline's wedding/the Battle over Hell was too much to process in one day, having his Dad decide that Mystic Falls was just too much and leaving. Matt understood that living with the knowledge that the supernatural exists is one thing, living with the knowledge that you are on the brink of battle with evil supernatural beings at any moment is quite another. This was his family, his sisters, Caroline, Elena, Bonnie, and his brothers Jeremy, Ric, Stefan, and … Damon… geezz... Damon. Enzo and twins filled out the rest of this crazy group of supers and he was the token human that for some reason each of these supernaturals had kept alive or was it the other way around, did he keep the human. He had to admit, he was part of this crazy dysfunctional army, he wasn't going anywhere. They were his family, each, and every one of them. He would protect them, he would fight side by side with each of them, and he would die for them. But damn it, if Caroline put him in a body bag again, he might stake her. He chuckled out loud at that thought. He looked up and the table was looking at him.

Damon asked, "Matt wanna share the joke?" Matt did laugh harder, "I was just thinking about staking Caroline." Caroline exasperatedly, "What! Why on earth would you be laughing at the idea of staking me?" Matt still has a wide grin on his face, "I was just thinking about what would happen if I found myself in a body bag again." Caroline's eyes went down to her plate, she started eating in silence. Ric, Damon, and Stefan started laughing with Matt, knowing if vampires could blush, Caroline would be red as a tomato. Elena, Jeremy, and Enzo looked back and forth between the silent Caroline and the laughing men with the most confused glares. Elena finally breaks the mood, "OK what exactly we are supposed to be laughing or not laughing at? Exactly what does staking Caroline have to do with Matt being in a body bag have to do with each other?" Matt started the story, by the end, Enzo was laughing so hard that he had to stand up from the table. Elena tried hard to take her friend's side, knowing that she would do anything for the protection of her loved ones. In the end, she joined in after Damon's detailed explanation of Matt in handcuffs trying to arrest Caroline as she was walking out of the room, and Matt defended the action by saying it was in his authority as the town's sheriff, after all, she had kidnapped him. In the end, even Caroline realized that it was a good story, and when their families were older, the generations to come, this was a story that would live on, she got out of her seat, walked over to Matt, kissed his forehead, "I go on the record, if you get male stubborn again, and will not listen to me about you being in danger again. I reserve the right to protect your sorry stubborn ass by any means. However, I will be more mindful, and NOT use a body bag." Matt watches her as she takes her seat again, a smirk rises on his face. Sheriff Matt Donovan knows his lifelong friend Caroline Elizabeth Forbes Salvatore has told the complete truth.

Ric notices the twins have finished their breakfast, "What's the plan for today? Are we staying at the cottage or moving back to the Mansion? Especially now that we know that fanged visitors are heading our way." Stefan was studying the Sheriff's map, "Enzo, look at the lines on this, do you recognize these pathways at all? When you were searching for witches when Damon and Bonnie were in the Gemini Prison world, did you ever find informa..." Enzo interrupts, "Wiccan covens that weren't exactly keen on helping anyone that wasn't playing on the dark side. These routes cross covens that weren't exactly friendly." Enzo points to a dot on the map in Kansas, already knowing exactly what Stefan was hinting at, "Outside here, is the Aradia coven. Aradia is an old coven that stems from old Italy, originally, they were known for justice and protecting the young. Their history was older than the Mikaelson family history. Legend says that an evil spirit possessed the high priest of the coven. Wanting all the coven's power for himself, he used the coven's joint powers to summon a hell demon from the depths of the earth's core. This high priest somehow absorbed the demon's powers or spirit, the legend is vague, the next part becomes a bit more interesting, decades later the entire coven is known for sucking magic from child witches."

Everyone looks at Enzo. Bonnie asks, "How did you hear about this legend? I mean where did you hear?" Enzo answers, "Back when Stefan and I had a slight difference of opinion on how to research your whereabouts when the other side came down. I was doing it my way." Caroline let out an unladylike snort, Enzo smiled and continued, "And Stefan conducted an investigation his way. Caroline, that was a long time ago, before I knew that Bonnie Bennett was the love of my life. If you remember, I did find out about the Gemini coven from that coat closet event." Bonnie looks at Caroline who was grinning and then Enzo who was about to kiss her just as she dodges her head, "Sounds like a fun story to hear over a Bourbon once Sheila is born," they stare at each other, Bonnie lifts an eyebrow with a sultry glimmer that was aimed directly into his eyes and felt in his cock. Enzo leaned in, "Be nice my witch."

Stefan decides to save Enzo, "Back to the Aradia coven, guys. Do we know anything about them currently? Or for that matter any of these covens? It can't be a coincidence that a group of vampires is heading to Mystic Falls coming from covens that are known to practice dark magic." Ric stands up and rubs his head, "Sounds like we are going to need some talismans and something to counter dark objects if I remember my magical history correctly." Caroline interrupts, "I should start making the rounds with Matt. I can see supernaturals from a mile away. It is the best way to keep townies safe." As much as Stefan and Damon did not like Caroline in the thick of things, she was right, having a vampire protecting the town's sheriff wasn't a bad idea either. The brothers gave each other the knowing look, Damon answered, "Ok, that's not a half-bad plan. Care and the Sheriff will keep an eye on the town. We know there are 'beings' keeping an eye on us. Caroline has the ability to see them even if they are in stealth mode." Damon walks over to his sister-in-law and nudges her shoulder to shoulder, "You've always been our secret weapon… From Originals to whatever the hell this is." Caroline nudges back, "Secret weapon and now with superpowers." Damon turns to look directly into her eyes, "Ok Wonder Blondie, that doesn't mean you do anything without backup. Sheriff, you have permission to vervain her ass if she gets out of line."

Caroline looks over at Stefan for some support, instead of seeing him outraged, she sees him nodding in support of Damon's ridiculous command. Caroline speaks up, "Matthew Giles Donovan you will do no such thing. I will never talk to you again if you so much as point a vervain dart at me." Caroline crosses her arms almost in the most royal pout. Matt stares at Caroline with a face of complete exacerbation, "Is that all the assignments for me and my partner?" Elena and Bonnie are working so hard at holding back their laughter, they watch the faces of everyone as it slowly starts to sink in. Ric was the first one to speak, "Giles, as in Buffy the Movie, Giles? Please tell me that it is a family name and not a vampire movie reference." That is when Elena lost it, "Vicki and my mom watched that movie all the time when we were kids. I think that Matt and I can lip-sync every line of the movie." Damon leaned over to Matt putting his arm around him, "So you are a closeted vampire-lover! I always suspected Donovan." Matt elbowed him with a force that sent Damon off-balance, "Remember, I have a gun and you are not bullet-proof anymore, ex-vampire." As the laughter in the room continued, Stefan decided that was enough teasing for now, "Damon I'm sure we have better things to figure out. Who's next on the assignment list?"

Damon took the cue, "Ok... Ok… Protection should be next on the list. As a precaution, we need talismans. Ric, the Armory has a crapload of objects that have mystical protections already attached to them. The girls and I can help you find and juice them for our purposes. We can make talismans for everyone. Not to mention it is a good time to teach them how to use their elements to make counter curse protection spells on objects." Both Ric and Caroline agreed that the twins needed to learn protection magic, what they disagreed on was learning offensive spells. Both brothers knew that it would take care of itself as they grew up. For now, Damon enjoyed watching Caroline and Ric finally disagree as co-parents on an issue.


Now that the warriors had split up, team Damon including Ric and the twins went to the Armory in search of talismans and anything they could find on the Aradia Covens. Team Sheriff left after Caroline kissed her husband goodbye. Stefan could read his wife's mind, she wasn't about to leave Matt's side as long as there was a possibility that his AB was in danger. He smiled when the mission assignments were being defined because he knew she wasn't going to argue with Damon for once about him 'being high and mighty' taking charge.

Team Stefan was the last to leave. Jeremy refused to leave without having a fully loaded weapons duffle. Enzo and Stefan didn't argue with a vampire hunter, especially since they were going to the last know vampire murder scene. The road trip would take them by the last known site of the Aradia Coven, they were going to investigate the site for any signs of succubus activity. While at the Coven site, Stefan was going to look for any leftover magic markers, and see if any leads as to where the Ardians went.

Soon the Boarding house was quiet, Bonnie and Elena sat at the kitchen table studying the map. Bonnie stared down and started rubbing her temples. Elena watched her friend with concern, "Bon, we will figure this out. Everyone is on this, we will have more information soon. You have to relax, stress isn't good for Sheila." Bonnie looks up, "I know. It's just, that I feel like there is a picture or vision just sitting there waiting to come. It feels like I want to sneeze but it just sits at the end of your nose." Elena concerned, "That is a good description. Is that a good thing or we should be worried about you thing?" Bonnie smiles, "I've never had this. My visions come when I touch someone or something. This one is trying to get out. Like I haven't touched the right person or object." Elena squints her eyes for a moment, "I have an idea. I will be right back" Elena heads out the kitchen swing door. Within minutes she is back with an amber-colored glass bottle, "This is the oil that Damon used during the ritual on us. It was a magical focusing or targeting agent. Why can't we use it to help you clear a path to make it easier for you to access your visions?" Elena paused as she put the bottle on the table, "Bon, you are physic, it's in your DNA. If your fingers can trigger a vision, your brain should be able to trigger one. You just have to find the right pathway to open up." Bonnie chuckled, "Lena, not sure it works that way. I do like the way you think. Let's try it. Regardless, Damon's oils are great for the skin."

Elena poured the oil into her hand, she immediately could feel Damon's power filtering into her pores. She smiled, "Peanut, this is for Auntie B, we need to help her today. Daddy will be back in a little bit to play." She was hoping her little pep talk would keep her son from pulling any of Damon's power from the energy-charged oil. She rubbed the oil between her palms and watched it start to effervesce. She moved to apply the warmed oil to Bonnie's forehead and temples, "Ok Bon, just relax and let's see what happens. I am going to let the dopple energy into this too." Elena closes her eyes and concentrates on her dopple blood, finding Bonnie's supernatural energy current isn't as easy as finding Peanuts. Bonnie's is different it is harsh and bitter when she realizes where it is. For the first time, Elena is having a hard time attaching to a magical current, Bonnie is fighting hers, and it is resisting. Elena doesn't understand, every time she has felt Damon and Stefan when they have juiced Peanut is smooth and welcoming. Elena can't understand why Bonnie is fighting her 'juicing' right now.

All of a sudden she feels Peanut flipping and turning inside of her. That's when she realizes the two different magics are working against one another. Peanut or Damon's magic which is the element's magic and Bonnie's blood magic. The two magics weren't meant to work inside of one another, they were designed to work alongside each other as partners having each other's backs, side by side. That's when the idea came to Elena, she changes tactics, she stops trying to connect with Bonnie's current, and she simply floods Bonnie with magical energy. Soldiers who fight side by side in battles take what they need from their partners, if the power was there, Bonnie would take it when she needed it.

Bonnie opened her eyes and saw Elena clearly, "Wow, that is a rush." Elena nods her head, "Do you still feel like the vision is trying to surface? Did it go away?" Bonnie closes her eyes again, she puts her hands together in a steeple pose laying her forehead on top of her fingertips, resting her chin on her pressed-together thumbs. She takes a few deep cleansing breathes and tilts her head up, laying her hands on the table, "I think it is working, I see a group of people. I can't tell if they are vampires, witches, or humans… They are witches... Elena, I think I'm seeing the Aradia Coven. It's awful, they were massacred by two vampires… No, wait… They are turning them. Oh God, they turned the entire coven, they are all heretics. Each one of them became a heretic witch… How can this be? What am I seeing?"