Chapter 21

Elena couldn't believe what Bonnie was saying, "Heretics… An entire coven… Two vampires turning them. Why? That doesn't make sense." Bonnie is still in the vision, "The succu monsters are there… I can see them in the background watching. They aren't doing anything but watching." Bonnie's vision started to blur and fade, she worked at concentrating even harder until there was nothing, the vision had ended. She looked up at Elena, "A coven of heretics. There is nothing about that, that can be good. We need to call Enzo and Stefan." Elena nodded in agreement as Bonnie reached for her phone.

As Bonnie talked to Enzo, who had his phone on speaker so that the entire car could listen in. Elena started looking at the map again, Valerie came to mind, "Bonnie, did you notice what everyone was wearing? What time period was the coven turned? Was it modern-day or earlier?" Bonnie stopped, "Elena just asked me about when the vision was dated." She relayed the question to the other side of the phone conversation before she answered Elena's question, "Peasant dresses and bonnets, it had to be after the 17th century." Elena had a thought, "If we found out when the coven was turned that would be a starting point. How old are the heretics we are dealing with? That is going to be an important question."

Everyone realized that they had more questions than they had answers and it was time for the conversation to come to an end. Each one had their assignments and knew what needed to get done. It was a natural moment to say goodbye and head off in different directions.

On a quiet interstate, Enzo hung up the phone after reminding Bonnie to take care of herself and Sheila, he looked back at Stefan, "This Aradia Coven is getting more and more interesting by the moment." Stefan answers, "Heretic Witches also means they were siphon witches, to begin with. An entire coven of siphoners. That can't be an accident, those vampires had to have triggered that coven, and for a specific reason." Jeremy who is driving, "Let's get Ric and Damon this information. I understand why a heretic is important and powerful. Even as a heretic, they aren't a more powerful vampire or a more powerful witch. The powers are combined in parts, the witch part still has to siphon. The siphon has the convenience of bringing the magical battery with them as in the vampire. Right?" Stefan nods, "Yes, that is how it worked for Valerie. She used her vampire side to fuel any of her witch powers. There were times when she would get nose bleeds from cloaking spells she would cast on both of us for long periods. This would happen especially if she wouldn't feed every few hours. She had limits. Keeping her vampire self strong and healthy was very important as a source to siphon from." Enzo added, "Bonnie should hear this too."

Stefan got Ric on one phone and Enzo rings Bonnie back, as the conversation reviews what had just been talked about, Jeremy's mind wanders to conversations that he had with Anna about old vampire families, "Ric check any records about vampire families or villages, some type of collective that acted like a coven, yet didn't call itself a coven. Think about it, they aren't a coven of witches anymore, they don't know how to be anything else. They would have set up the same info structure as a coven, but somewhere else." Damon could be heard from the Armory, "Give Little Gilbert the Boy Scout Badge for the best research matrix. The Armory is Out, we have our homework assignments. Watch your backs, if we are talking about a coven of heretics. No one goes anywhere without a witch with them. Stef, you better call Blondie, she and the Sheriff need to lay low until Bonnie can catch up with them." Stefan answers back, "I'll give them the new information." Everyone hears the click of Damon hanging up his line. Elena suggests, "Since I've got witchy powers at the moment. We can split up, and Bonnie and Care can cover part of Mystic Falls. Matt and I can take the other side." Bonnie looks at her with a questionable look, as they hear Jeremy on the phone, "Sis, not sure that is the best plan. Peanut isn't a full-grown witch. What if you need to access a full-blown power bank? And spells, defensive or offensive? You don't know many. I'm just saying, maybe the 4 of you should stay together." Bonnie smiles, "Jeremy makes a point. I think I have a solution that will still cover Mystic Falls. Lena, you and Care go together. Caroline's abilities will give you the edge you need with the protection spells you know and the bonus of her being a vampire. Matt and I will team up, he has all the toys and is still the best shot in the state." That doesn't stop Jeremy from grumbling on the other side of the phone.

Enzo looks back at Stefan, both men know two things; First, they are two hundred miles away from being able to do anything to stop Bonnie or Elena. And the second, even if they were standing next to either of the two ladies, they couldn't stop them. Enzo takes an unnecessary breath, "Bonnie, I'm saying the words because if I don't… Let's just say, I can't! And leave it at that. Don't do anything that puts your life in danger, it's not just your life anymore, it's Sheila's too." Stefan understood what he was thinking, all the times that Bonnie did what in her mind was the only option, only to end up on the other side, dead. Then Stefan laughed with a huff, they always found a way to bring her back to them, somehow living without Bonnie Bennett wasn't part of their destiny. Stefan put his hand on Enzo's shoulder, "Don't worry, Elena is more of a martyr than Bonnie is. Both of them don't want to deal with having to listen to Damon if even a scratch is on either of them." Both Jeremy and Enzo chuckled at that thought.

On the other side of the phone, Elena and Bonnie both have crooked smiles on their faces, not knowing whether Stefan was joking or telling the truth. Either way, they wouldn't take the chance. Bonnie nodded to Elena, who raised an eyebrow in agreement, NO, martyring for either of them. Elena spoke up, "Love the confidence everyone has in our abilities to stay alive. Well, Bonnie, we will just have to prove to our doubting loved ones, how misplaced their doubts are. Does anyone care to put a wager on scratches, bruises, or blood loss?"

After the laughter dies down from all the speakerphones, the conversation turns back to the topic at hand before everyone hangs up knowing their specific assigned task.

At the Armory, Ric throws his jacket on the chair closest to the two large metal and wood entrance doors, "Home sweet magical home." The girls go running past him heading straight for the second to work on the laughter knowing it was his office, "Lizzie, Josie NO candy. Not until we get some work done." Ric yells hoping the twins heard him before they reached the lollipop jar on his desk. Ric shakes his head looking at Damon, "Just wait, you will be right here before you know it." Damon knew he was right, Damon wasn't sure whether he couldn't wait or he was dreading it, "Never thought this would be a topic of one of our conversations." Ric grunted, "Can't say that thought ever crossed my mind, Buddy. I am so glad that it is." Damon was never one for Ric's sappy mood changes, "Ok, Daddo, where are these talismans that the girls and I need to get vibes off of?"

Ric got the message loud and clear, Damon was still Damon in so many ways, human or vampire. Ric knew when Damon was ready to talk about being a father, there would be a half-empty bottle of bourbon in his hand to start the conversation. Ric gave a smile, knowing that day wasn't very far away, "Doran has been cataloging in the back lab. We have turned a few of the holding cells into cleanroom labs which have a few boxes in there and then two tunnel chambers." Damon smirks, "Nice to know things are so organized." Ric sneers at him, "Get the girls and head to the lab through those doors." Ric points to a stainless steel swinging door in the back corner.

As Damon walks through the main exhibit hall, his body feels tingly everywhere. His skin feels flush, there is an increase in his circulation, and he feels the magic that surrounds him. He stops when he's in the middle of the room, looks up, and turns his body around a complete 360. For the first time, he is surrounded by magic, all the different types of magic, magic from different covens, different variations of elements' magic, magic that came from spells, ritual magic, and dark magic. At that moment, he also understood how they all belonged with him, they were part of him in a way. Demetrius' words came to mind, "you and Stefan will reunite the world's coven, the world's magic into one magical coven for good." The way he felt at this moment, that task didn't seem so impossible.

The sounds of two little ladies broke his thoughts, and he called out to them, "Girls, Dad is waiting for us in the lab. Let's get to work." Not more than 5 seconds later the thumping of four little feet came running toward him. Forcing the silver door open as the girls ran through, Damon used his arm to stop it midway from catching him in the face on its return swing. Damon hadn't been back to the Armory since his first moment with Sybil. There was no denying things had changed, Ric and Stefan had physically changed the walls and the building in many ways. The cold dark aura that even as a vampire he felt was gone, the space was weightless, maybe even neutral if that could be a word to describe somewhere that held so much evil at one time. Damon followed the sounds until he found Ric and the girls, "There you guys are, I thought maybe a monster got you." Lizzie laughed, "Uncle D, you are so silly. You forgot already. Daddy told us you killed all the monsters that lived here. You made it safe for all of us. Don't you remember?" Damon raised an eyebrow when he looked at Ric as her father answered, "That is right pumpkin, Uncle D killed all the monsters. Sometimes he forgets when he was a vampire, good thing you remember for him." Damon shook his head, of course, the girls had memories of him as a vampire they were old enough and he did use them to get into the Armory. Damon squatted down so he was eye-level with the girls, "I remember everything about all the monsters that lived here. Not one of them will ever come back to hurt any one of the people that I love. That I can promise." I touched both of the tips of their noses before he stood up. Damon looked at Ric, "Now let's take a look at some of your little trinkets." Ric started opening up thin doors full of neatly tagged and labeled items. Each tag had a numeric code and name on it, most of the names, Damon couldn't spell let alone read.

Ric asked, "So how do you do this?" Damon shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, I've never done this before." Josie laughed, "Daddy, you are silly. Mommy says we can only touch the things that aren't hot when we put our hands over them." Josie is by the table with uncataloged items, she hovers her hand over various items. She stops over a bronze mask in the shape of a ram's head with a forked tongue and ruby gem eyes, "This one is a bad one, it is hot. See Uncle D." Damon walks over and hovers his hand, he feels the harsh aura and his skin crawls, this mask has been cursed. Damon takes Josie's hand and looks down at her, "Your Mom taught you the right way. This mask has bad magic on it. We have to be careful with it. We will let Dad and Dorian take care of it. Let's find some stuff that has good magic on it. Tell me what does good magic feel like to you?" Lizzie wants some attention, she jumps onto Damon's back, completely surprising him, "It tickles the end of your nose and makes your tummy warm. Like when Mommy or Daddy gives you a big hug." Josie adds, "And Auntie E, you too Uncle D, Zio too... They have good hugs too." Lizzie looks over Damon's shoulder after he repositions her, "I know that Jos. It was my story. You got to tell the story about the bad ones." Damon knew he had to intervene or world war 3 was going to begin, "Ok…Ok… I get the point, bad things are hot, good things make you feel good and happy on the inside." Both the girls bounce their heads up and down." Damon looks at Ric, "We need sticky notes." Ric nods and leaves. Damon takes Lizzie off his back and puts her next to Josie, "Ok girls, here is how we are going to work together. You two are going to do the drawers on the bottom because you are short in the britches, and I am going to do the drawers on the top. When we find something that is good we are going to put a sticky on it. Then Dad is going to write a note on the sticky. Ok?"

Almost 2 hours had gone by and Ric couldn't believe that the girls were still engaged, they were going one by one, drawer by drawer checking each artifact he had collected exactly like Damon had instructed. He was beaming with fatherly pride. Just as he was going to suggest a break, Lizzie stopped, she stood straight up and looked right at the drawer Damon had just opened, "Uncle D closed it, close it fast. That is a bad drawer, it has bad stuff in it. I know it, it feels like the icky stuff that was inside me before I was like Zio." Damon closed the drawer and rushed to her side, he held her tight and covered her with his brother's bond magic. Damon wasn't sure if it would work the same as it did with Stefan, but he had to try since Lizzie's elements were the same as Stefan's. He was so concerned he barely felt the little hand gently being placed on his face. His attention focused on the other hand of Josie's being laid on Lizzie's cheek, "Shh, Izzie, it's ok. It's dead, the Icky Monster is all gone. The one in the drawer is dead. They can't hurt us anymore. Our magic protects us, feel it." Lizzie puts her hand over Josie's and nods her little head, her face still shows how scared she is. Josie doesn't move her eyes, "Izzie take Uncle D's 'nergies' you know he makes us strong. Take it from me, it will taste better." Damon felt his current being pulled through Josie's hand, and he knew that the twins were using the sister's bond magic, his shoulders relaxed in relief.

Ric had no idea what was happening in front of his eyes, his daughters, his best friend, when Damon's stance relaxed, he knew the crisis had passed. Long had passed the days when Ric had to question whether or not any of Damon's actions would put his daughters in any danger. Yet, his father's instinct was still ready to move in at the first sign of discomfort even when magic was involved. Ric never missed being a vampire, with so many supernatural abilities in the house, for the first time, the thought entered his mind, that maybe having a power or two wouldn't be so bad.

Ric's chuckle got Damon's attention, "Everything ok?" Ric grinned, "I should be asking you that question." Damon raised his eyebrows, "Team Salvatore has it all covered, right girls?" Bobbing heads with bouncing curls were going all over the place with enthusiasm as an answer to their Dad's questions. Ric couldn't help but smile, "Is it time for a break? Mommy packed a working girls' lunch for her working girls. She included a special snack pack with chocolate puddings, she knew you two were going to be working extra hard and would need some extra energy." Two pairs of big bright eyes open up, looking back and forth from their father to their uncle. Damon laughs, "Well, child labor was completely different when it applied to me. My mommy never packed me chocolate pudding snack packs. You better go get your lunch before I do." And off the twins run to Ric's office.

Damon stood up and opened the draw that had Lizzie frightened, his magical alarms weren't screaming as hers did. Ric joined him, as they both peered into the wide, flattened drawer, Ric reached for the contents list, "This was all cataloged by the Armory, we got it from a pre-existing vault. Vault #258 in the east tunnel after Bonnie lifted the force field. She cleared them of any curses and dark magic. We identified most of them from the Archaic period, Greece, 500 BCE. Possible Gaianists, worship-related." Damon looked over to Ric and shook his head, "Not for worship. I don't know what these were for, but I can tell you one thing, they were not used to worship Gaia." Damon didn't know why but he knew deep in his bones these objects were for evil purposes, something very instinctual was keeping him from touching them. Damon told Ric, "There is an urgency inside of me telling me to not touch to shut this draw. I think I understand what Lizzie was feeling." Ric starts reading off the list, "Item 1: Charcoal crusted linked chain 14 centimeters in length, items 2-27: Ruby beads, total count 26, item 27: ceremonial kylix (unknown material source) chalice inscription, undetermined origin, item 28: Brass key - ruby etched with mythological goddess Gaia." Damon hovers his hand over the key, "This is interesting, I'm getting some really strong auras from this guy." He goes over to the workbench and picks up some long forceps. Using them to pick up the key, then taking the key over to the microscope, Damon takes a look at the carved image on the embedded stone, "Hey, Indiana, how do you put this up on your big screen?" Ric laughs, "Mr. Low Tech, let me help you." Ric goes to the computer and after a few keystrokes, the images appear on the large overhead screen. Damon looks up at the screen getting Ric attention, "There, see that. It isn't devotion that is being pictured, it is torture. Those are flames underneath her. She is being set on fire. As a Goddess of earth, she had power over rock and stone, fire could not kill her. This was torture." Ric questioned, "This key plays into it how? Was it a way of keeping her locked up or was it a way of setting her free?" Damon wasn't sure, "That is a good question. The way that both Lizzie and I are repelled away from it. It could go either way. The bad guys could have cursed it, so that true descendants of Gaia aren't able to use it to free her. Or the opposite, it is a key to the weapon that kills the bad guys. It isn't like we have been down that road before." Ric goes back to the drawer, "How about the rest of this stuff? Are you getting any other auras off of the rest of this stuff?" Damon joined him, he hovered his hands over the entire drawer, "I don't think these are beads. I'm guessing they are eyeballs from those sucku'asses that went after the girls. I am getting the same chill factor off of these." Ric contemplated, "That means humans have seen these creatures before, fought them. There has to be a record of it somewhere." Damon adds, "In my experience, humans tend to keep one or two of the facts the same when it comes to something they can't explain. Look for monsters or creatures with red beady eyes."

The drive was long by the time Stefan and Enzo walked into the Boarding House three days later. They brought a prize with them.

Bonnie was the first one to run down the stairs, it was 3 am when she sat straight up in bed. Her witch tingle had awakened her from a deep sleep. Bonnie knew Enzo was close, how close she wasn't sure, close enough that she jumped out of bed, put her robe and slippers on, then headed downstairs to the front door.

Caroline wasn't sure what she heard first, the wheels in the driveway or Bonnie's bedroom door opening. She sat up and whispered, "Stefan". Her vamp speed came in handy as she went downstairs to meet Bonnie at the front door.

Enzo didn't wait to whisk her into his arms, feeling her warmth that he had been missing for the past 3 days was unbelievable. Bonnie didn't care that she was dizzy and she might throw up if Enzo ever put her down, her lips met his with a force greater than her latest spell. Enzo moaned, "Hmmm, feels like you missed me a bit." Talking with his lips never leaving hers. She laughs while still attached, "Maybe." Opening to deepen the kiss effectively stopped all thoughts of any more talking for the next few minutes.

Caroline noticed there was another person who was walking behind Stefan, "We have a guest. Hello, I'm Caroline Forbes-Salvatore." She extends her hand. The woman touches Caroline's hand and then removes it like she had touched fire. The woman stares at Stefan with a look of confusion, "She is a creature of the night." Caroline laughs, "Oh god no, I need at least 8 hours of daylight or my roots would be dull." Caroline goes over to Stefan and plants a passionate kiss on his mouth, "I'm afraid I didn't get our guest's name?" Stefan smiles, "Hello wife, I missed you too. Caroline, meet Hannah Sullivan, she is the high priestess of the Aradia Coven." Caroline's face went white.

Bonnie stopped kissing Enzo, "Excuse me." Enzo smiles, "Witch, we were in the middle of something." Bonnie smacks Enzo's chest, "Why didn't you tell me you found an Aradia witch, let alone the high priestess?" Enzo lifted his eyebrow, "Surprise!" Stefan laughs, "We found a few clues that led us to a few other clues. And we found Hannah."

Hannah was intimidated by all the goings-on, Stefan took pity, "Hannah this is Enzo's mate Bonnie, she is the high priestess of her coven, The Bennett Coven. Her magic is based on blood magic." Hannah's eyebrows frown together, "She is a witch and Enzo is a creature of the night. You are a witch and your mate is also a vampire. Is this the way of it now? Must witches and vampires mate?" Caroline walks over to her and takes her hand, "Only the very special ones are fortunate enough to get the very best ones." Hannah looks at Enzo, "You do not mind that she is bearing another's offspring?" Enzo puts his hand on Bonnie's baby bump as he answers, "Any child of this woman would be an honor to love." His voice was filled with such confidence and sincerity, that it confused Hannah even more as Enzo continued to speak, "If we had a normal vampire-human situation, the answer no it would not bother me in the least. I would love all of Bonnie's children as my own. I will love her until the last breath she takes. However, this is not a normal vampire-human or even a witch-vampire relationship, the baby Bonnie is carrying is our child." Hannah is surprised, "How is this possible?" Stefan answers, "There are many things possible when Gaian magic is awakened. For now, let's just say, good magic is a powerful friend to those who earn it." Hannah shakes her head in agreement, "Yes, my friend, worshippers of the Goddess are granted miracles for deeds of love bless it be onto the poor and repressed."

The noise finally filtered its way into Damon's room, the evidence was Damon stumping down the stairs shirtless, cotton black pajama pants and bare feet, "Damn it, I just got Elena to sleep, so help me if you wake her up, I will seriously figure out a way of turning back into a vampire and suck each and every one of you dry." Bonnie and Caroline understood what had Damon on such an edge. Enzo and Stefan were confused and didn't understand that Peanut was causing Elena a great deal of discomfort, not just physically, but also magically. Damon was doing everything both physically and magically he could to keep Peanut occupied to give Elena the ability to get some relief and rest, this meant he wasn't getting any. Damon's eyes finally settled on Stefan, "Hello Brother." His stride didn't stop until his arms were firmly around Stefan's body, "Where the hell have you been, 3 days? We have been waiting 3 god damn days for you guys! Did you forget it is 2019 and not 1890 when the cellphone didn't exist?" Damon pulled back to look Stefan over. He knew Stef was fine, that is what he had been telling Caroline. He assured her that his brother's bond would be sending off warning signals if Stefan was in any sort of distress. Stefan slapped Damon's shoulders, "I brought a new friend, Damon meet Hannah Sullivan." Damon was so focused on Stefan, that he didn't notice a stranger in the house. He immediately turned to face Hannah, his brows came together, "Brother, why do we have a new friend? Do we think it is a good idea to bring 'NEW FRIENDS' into the house after the last time friends came in?" Enzo lets out a hearty laugh, "I told you." Both Stefan and Hannah turn his way then back to Damon, as Stefan adds, "Yea, Yea, Yea, we already know Damon is overprotective. That is why I didn't take the bet." Stefan directs his comments to his brother next, "Hannah is from the Aradia Coven. We have quite the adventure to talk about in the morning. For tonight, we all need some rest. Hannah, let me show you to a guest room. Care, would you mind getting a few bags of blood for her?" Damon's voice was a little aggressive, "Stefan explain NOW!" Stefan didn't have a chance, instead, Hannah stepped forward extending her hands in an offering for Damon to take them, "Mr. Salvatore, if you would be so kind. I believe I can give you all the answers you require in just a few moments." Damon looked at Stefan, who nodded with agreement, he took Hannah's hands in a light grasp and watched her close her eyes as she took a deep breath. Hannah instructed him, "I just need you to breathe normally and relax."

Dozens of images flooded Damon's mind, slowly they began to knit themselves together into a story that gave him the answers he needed. Damon's shoulders slumped, "Another heretic. We just can't get rid of them." He said with a bit of sarcasm in his voice, "I just have one question for tonight, are you going to kill any of us while we sleep?" Hannah wasn't sure if he was serious so she looked at Enzo, who nodded, "He is serious, he needs an answer." Hannah then took offense, "Of course not, I would NEVER. Lord help your soul for suggesting such a ridiculous and barbaric event. A high priestess committing such a vile act as a guest, in the Coven home of the high priests. You, Mr. Salvatore, have insulted me and my coven." Damon rolled his eyes, "Sister Your Highness, relax, just checking to make sure everyone is on the same page. Stef, I'm done, Elena is getting chilled, if she wakes up, I may have to kill you. This is your drama." With the end of that statement, Damon turned and did exactly as he said he would.

Stefan smiled, "And that is the High Priest of Elements Earth and Wind. Please excuse my brother, he isn't quite himself, his transition from a vampire to a witch is still… raw. His existence as a vampire was very different, he is adjusting to being a husband, witch, human, and soon-to-be father all at one time. Let's just say patience isn't one of his virtues." Damon stops at the stairs, turns, and interrupts, "My patience is just fine until my son isn't letting my pregnant wife sleep. Then my brother makes enough noise to wake the dead. That my dear brother is when my patience is at risk."

Stefan brought his brows together, "Elena isn't sleeping? Is the baby ok?" All of a sudden Stefan's attitude changed from ribbing his brother to genuine concern for his sister-in-law. Damon sighed deeply, "They are both fine, Meredith gave her a check-up. They are both fine. Bonnie is giving her herbal teas that aren't working. Regardless of what I say. They seem to think basic magic potions are going to make some sort of difference. Peanut is growing stronger and Elena's exhausted because of it. His magic is overwhelming her human body. She can't sleep because of it, she is basically on a magical high all the time. You know OUR Elena, she is ever the martyr. She won't let me flood Peanut with magic to put him to sleep. She thinks it is like drinking booze or something equally as ridiculous. Bonnie told her that it will not harm the baby." Stefan immediately thought, "Her dopple blood, Peanut is using her dopple blood, he has figured out how to feed off it." Damon agreed, "Yep" emphasizing the 'p' "I can't get her to let me do anything about it. You know Elena, anything that is unknown, is bad for the baby. So she will suffer. I have to get back up there. Peanut is running out of juice. Good night all." Damon finishes his climb up the stairs and disappears down the hallway.

Stefan looks at Caroline, "How long has this been going on?" Caroline walks to him and wraps her arms around him before answering, "Too long, it started the night you left. In the middle of the night, Elena woke up freezing, like an ice cube cold. Damon took her into the hospital, Meredith used warmed IV saline to help, it did for a while. That is when we found out her blood was being drained by magic, by Peanut. Damon has been feeding Peanut ever since, day and night." Enzo focuses on Bonnie, "Nothing else has helped?" Bonnie shakes her head, "We have tried so many potions and spells. I've tried force fields and blocks, she's his mother, and he gets all of his life-sustaining needs from her. Damon's magic is the same as his son's, it has been the only solution that gives any relief to Elena's body. That isn't a solution, yes, Elena is a doppleganger, her human body can handle her specific type of magical current. The question is how much longer can her human body handle being flooded with high-powered magic from a high priest." Enzo could feel the worry fill the air in the room, "I need to get you to bed. We need to worry about you and Sheila too. Elena is not going to be happy with you if Sheila feels any of this stress." Bonnie protectively covers her baby bump with a hand, "Ok, I'm exhausted. I haven't slept well for a few days. The bed is too big without you." Enzo wrapped his arm around Bonnie's shoulders, turning them towards the stairs, "Stefan, everything good?" Stefan nodded, "Good night you two… three, I mean. Sleep well."

Enzo pulled Bonnie a bit tighter into his body, feeling her warmth always eased any of his vampire instincts. Being away from her for the past 3 days had increased his craving for blood and violence. He and Stefan had talked about it on the drive, they hypothesized that her blood could be acting as a magical sire as much as any vampire who had been turned. Enzo didn't mind at all being sired to the love of his existence. The romantic in him thought of it as being quite poetic. He would wait to tell Bonnie, he knew she wouldn't take it the same way, she would view it as a magical problem that she created, something in the spell she did wrong. He would wait until Sheila was born, that would give him time to figure out a way to convince her that he didn't want to live his life any other way.

His thoughts had distracted him as they climbed the stairs to their room as Bonnie opened the door, he was jarred from them, "Home sweet home." Bonnie twisted and her baby bump got in the way of her goal, "I'm not as graceful as I wanted." Enzo lifted her bridal style, "You couldn't be any more perfect in my eyes." He knew what she wanted, he gently lowered her onto the bed and kissed her lips with all the love and missing he had inside him. His hand gently caressed Sheila at the same time, it had become his habit when he and Bonnie were laying in bed. He balanced his weight on his side, "I smell and feel like the road trip. I need a shower. I promise to reward your patience thoroughly." He wiggled his eyebrows with sexy intent. Bonnie smiled, "You have awakened your daughter. If you make your shower, a warm bath, you can put her back to sleep. Then Mommy and Daddy can have some alone time." Bonnie pulled him back down taking possession of his mouth, exploring every part of his with her tongue, finally dueling his with equal passion. After a few moments of open-mouthed passionate, heated lip-locking Enzo pulled away just a bit, "Love, I better go get the bathwater started. You are too perfect for me to keep doing this." He thrust his hips towards her. Bonnie felt his rock-hard erection. She reached down sliding her flat palm over his jean, up and down, "I'm not sorry, I have this effect on you." Enzo let out the hardiest of laughs, "Neither am I." He rolled off the bed and headed for the bathroom. Bonnie heard his laughter the entire way.


The water felt so soothing, just warm enough to be relaxing, yet safe enough for Sheila. Enzo soaped a washcloth, then gently caressed Bonnie's neck with it. Bonnie rested her neck on her shoulder, "Babe, it's been a while since you've sipped. I know we did the blood bags, but just a sip would feel so good right now." The whites of Enzo's eyes reddened and the darkened veins appeared around his eyes immediately at her suggestion. Enzo was completely against drinking her blood while she was so heavily pregnant with Sheila. Even though Bonnie was determined to put his concerns to rest by having an open discussion with Meredith. Even after Meredith assures him that a 'sip' of up to a pint wouldn't hurt Sheila or Bonnie every week. Enzo is still resistant, even if it means his life. Enzo rubs his fingers along her vein, "God, I love you and our child. I don't know if you understand how much it means to me your willingness in offering me your blood. It is such a sacred offering to me. I don't resist it lightly, I know you know this. Everything you have done to deter my anxiety over concerns of harming you or Sheila. We figured out the hard way that we don't want to survive without each other. That I very literally require you for my very survival. I will always need your blood, just a few drops each day, I will need your life force to enter me to survive. Some may find that odd, I find it poetic. It took 80 years of daily hell, torture, and despair to finally find the love of my life and now I can never leave her. There is something very romantic about finding heaven in one person, in their body, in their mind, and their blood." Bonnie smiles as she pulls his head down to her neck, "Damon is right, you are such a sap. He also says you're whipped, so drink. Because I told you so. Not to mention it will make me so happy." She takes his other hand and puts it down into the junction of her legs.

Enzo doesn't need to be told what she wants him to do as his fingers start to brush the soft curls gently pulling the hair bringing the sensitive skin of her labia folds with them. He slides his thumb to her clit with just the right amount of pressure. He holds it there, while Bonnie arches her back just a fraction and lets out a deep breath, "Fuck you, vampire. Do it. Just do it NOW." His entire hand gets to work, his thumb circles her clit, and his three fingers dive into her heated cavern scissoring back and forth pressing every sensitive wall she has.

Meanwhile, Enzo is fighting everything he has not to sink his fangs into her neck. The entire conversation Stefan had about being sired to Bonnie is replaying in his mind. The last thing he wants to do is drink from her, from Sheila. He is doing everything he can, he is fighting with every ounce of willpower he has and he is losing. All he keeps hearing is "It will make me so happy…So Drink… Because I told you so… It will make me so happy." Enzo shuts his eyes and gently punctures her shoulder, he had enough control to pick one of the smallest veins. Bonnie immediately moans and her pussy clamps around his fingers she cums hard spasms each time he draws blood into his mouth. True euphoria for both of them.

After a dozen small draws, Enzo gently withdraws his fangs from Bonnie. Her body shutters one last time. He cuts his tongue on a fang and glides the blood over the fang marks to seal and heal them. Bonnie is absolutely purring, he couldn't be more content and uncomfortable. His erection has been lying underneath Bonnie's sweet soft ass feeling every single movement she made during orgasm'fest. He wouldn't change anything, he did need to get his love out of this bath so he could take care of himself. Enzo cups both of Bonnie's breasts being careful not to touch her nipples knowing that it would hurt her. Bonnie's breasts have caused her much pain and discomfort this late in her pregnancy. They found that he can touch the entire breast after she has orgasmed without pain, however, the nipples are too sensitive. As he enjoys the feeling of her enlarged mounds in his hands, "Mmm, I like this very much. Your breasts have gotten heavier. Sheila is going to be one healthy little witch." Bonnie smacked his leg, "Be nice, I'm too relaxed right now."

Enzo changes positions just a bit, he shifts his arms to the sides of the tub, so that his fingers can draw little circles on her shoulders and collarbone. Bonnie looks up, "That was fast." Her hand came out of the water to grasp his face, "Hey, Mr. Faraway, where did you go?" Enzo finally realized that he had got lost in his thoughts of the last 3 days, "Sorry, Love, my thoughts got a hold of me." Bonnie grins, "That much was already clear, what were you thinking about?" Enzo answered in an emotionless tone, "Hannah's coven, or more specifically its demise." HE paused for a moment before continuing his thoughts, "There is something familiar about the story. I just can't seem to put my finger on the memory." Bonnie sat up and turned to face him as much as possible, "You are having memory issues?" Enzo pulled her back into his body, "It wasn't something that was big deal. I have gaps from my torture years that I can't access. It isn't like I want to relive them." Bonnie concerned, "We need to figure out what went wrong with the spell." Enzo kissed the top of her head, "Shh, Damon and I have already looked into it. Nothing went wrong. Call it cosmic karma, I got a few credits of pain wiped off my sheet. I'm ok with it." He started to draw circles on her skin again, "Love, it isn't about remembering the pain and torture that I lived through. I think there is something during those memories that I should be remembering that can help us now. Maggie would read to me after procedures, anything, everything. I don't know why she did. She was going to school at Whitmore, she would read her homework, the newspaper, and sometimes from an encyclopedia."

Bonnie thought about it for a moment, "You think she read you something about the Aradia Coven?" Enzo answered, "That is where it gets dull. Aradia was almost familiar when we were searching for you and Damon. But the demise of a coven of heretics, now that is striking a familiar chord, but completely different way, an older way."

Bonnie's hands were dipping in and out of the water, allowing the drips to cascade off her fingertips, "So you think that Maggie read you a story about the Aradia Coven without knowing it was the Aradia Coven." Enzo was mesmerized by Bonnie's movements. Trying to focus on the conversation, he answered, "I don't know. But, I'd like to find out." Bonnie got very quiet, he knew she was thinking up ways to help him, help him remember, or even relive what he thinks he is forgetting. He touches her nose, "Stop… Stop it right now… Damon and I have this under control. Your job is to grow little Sheila and her magic. Not use your magic to figure out what crazy secrets could be hiding in stories that may or may not have been read to me in some of my darkest hours."

He brought his hands back into the water that had started to lose some of its steaming heat. He didn't want to think about thoughts that weren't there or covens that weren't his. He glided his hands down his high priestess and smirked as she took a deep breath in. He could feel the temperature of her skin elevate with just his touch, that was such a turn-on to him, not that he needed any help when he was near her. Bonnie Bennett was simply his everything, he wasn't sure if that was supposed to bother him, but in his mind and soul, it brought him strength and comfort at the same time. He didn't understand how that was even possible, especially as a vampire.

Her body started to shiver, not from the cooling water, his hands were touching her in all the ways he knew she would respond. Bonnie's legs opened wider, more from instinct than effort, her back arched onto his chest, her head leaned to the side fully exposing her glorious neck and thumping carotid to him. He leaned down and sucked the artery through her skin, bringing life to the surface, feeling the tingling of the flowing blood on the thin membrane of his lips. He pushed his rock-hard cock into the top of her buttocks, forcing his fingers deeper into her, triggering a deep moan from Bonnie as her hips gently thrust and move over his cock. Enzo whispers into her ear, "Love, you're killing me from every angle, I want to take you every way I can." Those words were too much for her, Enzo felt her clamp down on him, he used his vampire strength and speed to increase her orgasm, "Come, Love, Come to me, harder, I want to feel the bruising heal." She grabbed his arms and dug her nails into him, drawing blood, "Yes, Fucking YES… GOD… YES…HARDER…YES." Bonnie's orgasm lasted for long moments of bliss, soon her spine settled back onto his chest as her breath started to slow.

Bonnie looked up at him through passion-glazed eyes, "I know I needed that. I can feel that you need some too, babe." Enzo puts his finger on her lips, "Shhh, don't worry about me. You are the one that is growing our child. And keeping me alive. I think worrying about my sex drive does not need to go on your radar for the moment." Bonnie sits up, twisting just a bit to get a better look at him, "I like worrying about your sex drive." Enzo leans in and kisses her nose, "Witch, you better watch it. I can have you out of this tub and on the bed in less than 3 seconds." Bonnie winks, "Add a towel and make it 30. You have yourself a deal."

Enzo leaned up and stood up behind Bonnie, his erect cock was bouncing at her eye level as he walked to get the towels. When he got to the tub she couldn't help it, her mouth and his cock were directly in front of each other. As he unfolded one of the towels, she leaned in and took his cock into her mouth, surprising him in the most wonderful way. His hand with the towel in it dropped to the side, and his other hand went to the top of her head, "Oh, baby, just like that… Fuck, Bonnie slow down, I'm too close. I'm going to cum in your mouth. I don't want to. Oh, love… Shit, Bonnie…" Enzo backs away from her mouth and leans on the sink countertop with his eyes crossed breathing fast and deeply, "Bonnie Bennett, you can not get any better at this. I don't stand a chance as it is." Bonnie smiled like a cat that caught the mouse, "I'm not sorry. You were standing in front of my face, and it was too good to pass up." Enzo shook his head, picked up a towel, and wrapped it around his waist, covering his weeping cock almost painfully. Then he pointed at Bonnie shaking his finger. Enzo grabbed the other towel, wrapping her in it. He picked Bonnie up carefully bridal style and carried her to their bed.

Once on the bed, Enzo removed his towel and tossed it across the room, "Now it's my turn, my witch." His eyebrow lifted as he let the veins under his eyes appear, letting Bonnie know he is going to play. Bonnie opened her towel and invited him to take what he wanted.

The sight was more than Enzo was prepared for at that moment. Sheila had grown in the 3 days he had been gone, she had grown a lot. He knows his vampire sight is more sensitive than a human's but even a human could see how much bigger her baby bump was. His entire face changed, he no longer had any aggression it was all love, yes he still wanted Bonnie's body, his sexual desire was peaking even more so, now it was motivated by love, not lust. He walked back to the bathroom and returned with a bottle of body oil. Bonnie was a little confused, "Enzo is everything ok?" Enzo smiles, "Nothing could be better. I want to kiss and touch every inch of your body. Is that ok with you?" Bonnie arched her eyebrow, "I'm a pregnant woman who can't touch most parts of her body. Babe, this was supposed to be about you. I do recall that I've been taken care of very well, just a few minutes ago." Enzo shook his head, "Well this is for me as much as it is for you. I promise I will get more out of this than you will. I promise." Bonnie looked at him with a bit of disbelief, "Who am I to disagree."

Enzo took a large amount of oil into the palm of his hand, got onto the bed, and started with Bonnie's shoulders. He caressed her gently, erotically down her arms, the sides of her waists, pausing to reload the oil when needed. When he got to her legs, he spent extra time on her feet and calves adding extra pressure on the muscles for more of a medicinal effect than sexual. With all the moans coming from her, Enzo wasn't sure she was getting anything but an erotic benefit from everything he was doing, he didn't mind at all. He used both hands, one on each leg, together they traveled up the inside of her thighs. Oiled and warmed, as his fingers reached the top junction, he slipped both his thumbs into her, using the rest of this hand and fingers to open her lips wide. Next came his breath, he blew his heated breath on all her exposed sensitive skin. Bonnie cried, "Enzo, please... Baby please." Enzo denied her, "Not yet… Just a little bit longer… I promise I'm almost done." He ran his tongue from the bottom of her slit to the top of the clit in one slow long swipe while his arms held her legs down. His thumbs continued to do amazing things yet not enough to send her over the edge, his tongue was slow and unyielding on her clit, but wouldn't give her the release she was longing for.

Bonnie tried to see what he was doing, Sheila was in the way. She could barely see a bit of his dark brown hair moving. She dropped her head back on the pillow, she could hardly catch her breath. She had decided the man was trying to kill her when she felt the chill from the emptiness of his body moving. He was repositioning himself behind her, "Bon, I need you, please?" That is what she heard from his lips that were on her neck, kissing her shoulders, while wrapping his arms around her middle pulling her closer to his body. Bonnie's only answer was "Please!" He placed her leg over his own, his cock was harder than it had been in recent memory. He places his hard cock between her legs gliding it back and forth to gather some of her moisture, her heat almost does him in. With a tilt of his hips, his cock slides into her hot wanting canal. Bonnie's hips lean back into his with each thrust. It doesn't take long before they find a rhythm that has each of them panting. Enzo has his hands on Sheila, holding her firming, protecting her from any justling or anything, his mind is briefly on his duties as a father. Bonnie takes those hands from her baby bump and puts them on her breasts, "Squeeze them, please." Enzo gently cups her breasts and brings them together, He loves the weight, the feel, he wiggles his fingers around the mounds never letting them go, hoping this is what Bonnie needs. Bonnie pants, "Harder… My nipples…Please." Enzo understands now, that the rhythm is amazing and building, Bonnie needs something to get her to peak, "Here love…I'll take you there. Now, cum for me… Hard, love, take me hard, love. Let me feel you tighten around me, squeeze me, love me, only me. Take me, Bonnie Bennett… Take all of me." He took her nipples gently between two fingers, knowing it will cause pain, then lets his fangs fall and digs them into her shoulder, pulling at her blood gently, never slowing his thrusts into her.

Bonnie came apart, her muscles clamped down on his cock triggering his release with each thrust, milking him, surging vs spasms for what seemed like hours between them. Enzo was the first to recover, "Momma, that was incredible. Please tell me we are going to do that again soon." Bonnie yawns, "Your wish is my command. For now, I'm so sleepy. Can we negotiate in the morning?" Enzo slowly slips out of her, "Yes, love." He grabs one of the towels to clean them, then slides her leg off of his. Before covering them, his life, he kisses Sheila, through the baby bump and then Bonnie's lips, "Good night my ladies." He gathers them one more time in his arms and closes his eyes. Tonight, he knows the monster's instincts will not plague him.


The next morning...

Lizzie runs straight into his arms, "Uncle D, did you see it... Did you see it?" Damon still had his coffee cup in his hand, thankfully it was half full and lukewarm, so Lizzie had no danger of getting burnt with hot liquid. He would have a talk with her about being aware of her surrounding, at some point. Damon smiled, "I saw a spider in my shower this morning." Lizzie frowned, "No, not a spider. My tiezman. I made my tiezman." Damon laughed, "Tailsman. And yes, I saw it. You did an excellent job." Lizzie asks, "Is Auntie E ok today? Can you come out and play today?" Damon looked at Elena as a tear ran down her cheek. Damon answered his niece, "Did you know that is why you and Josie are here? We are going to see if Josie can play with Auntie E and Peanut. If they can play together, then you, Zio, and I can make all the Tailsman we need." Ric and Josie came through the front door, "Lizzie, you didn't get your backpack. I know you're excited, if you don't listen you will get a timeout. You need to wait for Josie." Lizzie jumps out of Damon's arms, "Sorry, Daddy." Ric chastizes, "I'm not the one who is carrying your backpack." Lizzie goes to her sister, "Thanks Joz, I'm sorry I didn't wait for you." She hugs Josie and takes her backpack, "Do you want me to take your backpack and put it away? I can help you because you helped me."

Josie eagerly hands her sister the backpack, she then surveys the room and notices the new face in her family's home. Josie walks behind her father's legs, hiding while staring at the lady sitting on the chair at the far end of the Great Hall. Ric is busy greeting everyone when he feels the tug on his pant leg. He looks down at the mirror image of his dead wife's eyes looking back at him, "Josie, are you ok?" He squats down at eye level with his daughter waiting for her to explain the worry that is written across her face. Josie settles in between his hoving knees, "Daddy, that lady doesn't have a color. Is she a good person or a bad person?" Ric picks up Josie before he stands and turns to figure out who she is talking about, as he does Hannah rises.

Hannah walks slowly to the middle of the room, she has a big bright smile on her face, her enhanced hearing allowed every word the child said to warm her heart. It had been centuries since she had heard the innocent mumblings of a child witch just learning their powers. She stood still to allow the child time to get a full sense of her, she knew the vampire part of her would confuse the child's abilities. Hannah smiled, "I once could siphon from water and make flowers bloom in seconds. I bet you can do something like that, young witch." Josie nodded her head before looking at her Dad. Ric put his hand out, "Ric, and you are?" Hannah wasn't used to such an informal introduction, she turned to Stefan in confusion. Stefan stepped in, "Mr. Alaric Salzman may I introduce High Priestess Hannah Sullivan of the Aradia Coven? Hannah, this is Ric's daughter Josie…" Stefan points over to Lizzie coming back from the study, "and that gorgeous blonde is her twin sister Elizabeth, she prefers to be called Lizzie." Lizzie brights her face with a smile, "Yes, I'm Lizzie. Zio." Stefan put his arms out and Lizzie immediately went to him. Hannah watched as the scene changed in front of her quickly. Caroline came down the stairs and both girls jumped out of the men's arms, simultaneously yelling, "Mommy" and running to her, meeting her halfway on the staircase.

Caroline takes one girl in each arm, lifting them without effort, "Good morning, my girls. Did you sleep well last night?" Josie was the first to start talking, "Yes, we got to camp out at the Armory." Lizzie finished, "We found so many Tailsman" She looked at Damon, who nodded that she got the word right. Caroline kissed both of them on their cheeks, "Did you have your breakfast?" Both girls frowned, Lizzie spoke up, "Daddy tried to tell us those dirt-tasting bars are food again." Josie follows up, "Mommy, they are yucky, very yucky. I don't think they are food." Caroline looks at Ric, "Protein bars again." Ric shrugs his shoulders and Damon laughs. Ric defends himself, "It was the only thing I had at the office. The refrigerator hasn't been delivered yet." Damon shakes his head, "Dude, the mother of your children can compel…Seriously, that is the best you can come up with… Lost in delivery. Rookie move… Rookie move." Damon moves over to Caroline, "Ok my little witches, how does chocolate pancakes sound?" Lizzie yells, "Yummy!" Josie asks, "Can we put sprinkles in them too?" Damon takes both of them into his arms from Caroline, "Geez, give them an inch and takes a mile, demanding little munchkins. I'm going to sell you to the first evil hybrid that comes knocking at the door." Both Lizzie and Josie laugh.

Caroline walks to Stefan, kissing him on the lips, "Good morning" She goes to Ric, and kisses him on the cheek, "Good morning, the girls were good for you?" Ric nodded, his eyes went to Hannah, "Your guest?"

Hannah was still trying to figure out the twin's parentage. She was lost in her thoughts when Ric's comment got her attention, "Mr. Salzman, I assure you. I'm here as a guest of the high priest, I respect all of this coven's traditions, rules, and rituals. There are no concerns regarding discord. Above all, your young witches will never be put in harm's way, they will be protected above all. It is a magical prime directive that young magic is protected above all, even my own life." Stefan hadn't heard those words before, "Hannah, what do you mean magical prime directive?" Hannah's face had shock written all over it, after all, Stefan was a high priest, of course, he should know what magical rules are for all covens beyond their individual coven's traditions. Hannah was now curious, "Stefan, who ordain you and your brother as High Priest of your coven?" Stefan thought about how to answer that question, the answer wasn't going to be easy. After a few moments, he started with as much of the truth as possible, "Damon wasn't ordained at all, he became a witch after I gave him a cure for vampirism that had passed through the blood of two doppelgangers, Elena and myself. We, Elena and myself, just happened to be the 'right' ones to purify the cure. Damon and I come from a dormant magical bloodline, he was the first to awaken. At the moment of his awakening, he used magic to save my life. That is how everything started. A few days later, he ordained me." Hannah paced back and forth for a moment, "Has no one taught you the boundaries of prime magical proprieties?" Stefan shook his head, "We are good men, we use common sense, as vampires we did everything wrong imaginable BUT…" Stefan emphasized the 'but', "we fought our internal demons, we fought evil, we even fought hell itself. We willingly gave up our lives to save humans, this town, and the people we love. Ultimately, we earned our way to the right side of deserving love." He wrapped his arms around Caroline, "Real love, not the crap that Damon and I had the first time we were human. The magic part didn't come with a complete instruction manual. We had an ancestor that came to us through psychic visions for a few months. He gave us the basics and the history of Gaia. The rest we are figuring out on our own, Team Salvatore is very resourceful. I wouldn't bet against us." Hannah noticed the room had filled during his story, Bonnie and Enzo had joined. Hannah was intrigued when Stefan finished his sentence, she watched as each person in the room make a gesture in agreement with his final statement, Bonnie and Enzo nodding to each other, Ric folding his arms across his chest, moving his legs in a guarded stance, Caroline's shoulders straightening instead of leaning on her husband. Hannah realized that Team Salvatore wasn't just a reference name for a militia unit, they were more than soldiers, they were family, and their devotion to each other was strong, as strong as the link of a coven, maybe stronger.

Hannah made her mind up, she had no one, her coven was gone, she knew it. She could feel as the links broke, as her brothers and sisters were killed, the final death. She knew why she was spared. Now that she had escaped they would find her soon, she had no choice. To save her coven's gift, she would have to give over her coven. She would have to discuss it with the brothers soon.

Ric spoke to Hannah, "You are thinking very loudly, Ms. Hannah." Hannah bowed her head, "Mr. Salzman." Ric interrupted, "Ric, please… Just call me, Ric." Hannah nodded, "Ric, Thank you. This time period is much more informal than I am familiar with. Stefan says I will… get the hang of it." She looks at Stefan who gives her a thumbs up. She returns to her conversation with Ric, "I wish for you to address me as Hannah if it would be proper." Ric smiles, "And that is how you get the hang of it, Hannah." Hannah smiles, if she weren't a heretic she knows she would be blushing. Ric asks again, "Did I catch you thinking of a concern or a happy thought?" Hannah looked into his blue eyes, there was a sincerity in him, also something dark. She couldn't find the aura that she was looking for, something familiar was coming from him, she could pinpoint it, she smelled human, but there was more to him, "Your daughters are beautiful. Was Caroline a witch before she turned?" Ric smiled as he shook his head, "No, Care turned when she was 17. The twins were the last of the Gemini Coven before Damon and Stefan brought them into their coven. Care and I couldn't be happier, we had been dreading their 22nd birthday. That isn't true, we were dreading when the time came that we had to tell them about the merge." Caroline was at his side, laying her head on his shoulder, "And now that time will never come. So we don't even have to think about it again. Our girls are Gaian Princesses forever… And boy, do they love it." She let go of Ric, "I'm going to see if Damon needs any help with breakfast." Hannah looks at Stefan, "Your coven merged with Gemini." Stefan answers, "Yes and No, Ric's blood was used because of the twin's age. Because there weren't any elders to connect to the ancestors, the covens didn't merge ancestry. We absorbed the girls' powers and cut them off from the Gemini magic then replaced the connection with elemental magic."

Hannah stared toward the fireplace for a moment thinking that all the centuries of Gemini magic were in limbo. She now had another piece of an unknown puzzle to add to her conversation with the brothers. She walked to Stefan then stopped in front of him, bowing, then kneeling on one knee, "Your Eminence, I would like to make a formal request to both of your Eminences for a private audience at a time that is most convenient to the Coven rituals." Stefan puts his hand on her shoulder, "Hannah, stop… look up…" He waits as she looks up. "Informal… Hey Stefan, I'd like to talk to you and Damon when you have a moment." She smiles. Stefan adds, "Oh yeah, and we don't bow or kneel. That is just weird. Especially around Damon, he might like it." Ric started laughing out loud.

Damon entered the room with a tray full of food, "What might I like?" Stefan answers, "Bourbon-soaked breadsticks… Is that for Elena? Do you want me to help with anything?" Damon smirks, "Nice try you weren't talking bread… Yes, I got a tingle she is waking up… and give me 20, then head up, bring Josie with you." Stefan nodded. As Damon was heading up the stairs, "Human breakfast is on the table... Vampire breakfast is in the black kettle on the stove."

Hannah turns to Enzo, who answers her confused look, "Welcome to Team Salvatore where being a vampire is not a bad thing. We are treated like everyone else. Damon makes the best breakfast blood, he will not share the recipe. I know it has clove in it. One of these days, I will figure out the rest of the ingredients." Enzo gets up and extends his hand to Bonnie, "Come on, Momma, let's get you and Sheila some breakfast." Ric bends his elbow towards Hannah, "Ms. Hannah, may I escort you to breakfast?" Hannah curtsy and takes his arm, "Yes, Mr. Ric. I would be extremely happy to agree." She lowers her eyes and says, "Thank you, Ric"

Damon puts the tray on the nightstand. He walks over and opens the drapes, the morning sunlight makes the shine in Elena's hair sparkle. Damon wonders if he will ever get used to seeing her in his bed and if that feeling that stirs deep inside him will ever go away. He watches as she stretches her arms over her head with a loud yawn, then her eyes flutter open. He goes to her, "Good morning sunshine." She extends her hand and he grabs it, intertwining their fingers, he pulls the back of her hand to his lips, "Ready for breakfast." Elena sits up, "You should be sleeping right next to me. You got less sleep than I did." Damon smiled, "Shhh. I got plenty of sleep. Peanut and I played for a bit then we both fell asleep. Now, you need to eat, because the twins are here. And I want to try a little experiment with Josie and Peanut." Elena tilted her head, "You want to see if Josie can play with Peanut?" Damon smirked, "She has my elements, just like Peanut." Elena concerned, "Damon, she is a siphon." Damon smiles, "Yes, love, she is, she is also an Elements witch. She can make flowers bloom and control the direction of the air current. That, my dear, means she can push magic too. My guess is she can do anything to play with her cousin." He puts the tray on Elena's lap. He lays down next to her with his head by her knees, he reaches under the tray and touches the bottom of her baby bump, "Good morning Peanut." Elena yelps, "Ouch" after feeling Peanut kick. Damon rubs the area where his son kicked, "Sorry, I promise when he comes out I will make him apologize for every kick." Damon starts sending his magical current to his son, keeping him occupied while Elena eats. Elena moans, "Mmmm, these are so good. I almost don't mind that your son is playing hockey in my abdomen." Damon slides his hand down under the covers, knowing she isn't wearing anything other than a long nightshirt. Elena stops chewing, "Damon… You said that Josie is coming up here soon." Damon feels the springy hairs covering the sweetest place in his world, "Elena, how am I supposed to be this close to promise land without just dipping in for a second? Just a finger, maybe two." Elena closes her legs tight, "Here's the deal. Do your experiment, then I don't want fingers…" She put the tray on the nightstand, "I want everything… and I want it …dirty." She pulls the neckline of her shirt down and takes her fingers wetting them in her mouth, then using them to circle and squeeze her nipple into a hard peak. Her eyes close as her head drops back into the pillow. Damon goes directly to her mouth and possesses it with his. After a long hot moment, he pulls back, "God, I love you. You consume me, do you realize that? Completely consume me." Elena slid her hand from his neck to his cock, "Welcome to my world." She gave him another squeeze before letting him go. His breath was ragged, his cock was hard, and Elena was getting out of bed. This was not going in the right direction, and he laughed as he heard the knock on the door.

Elena opened the door to Josie and Stefan, "Good morning, Princess" she said to Josie as she leans down for a hug and kissed her on the forehead. Stefan responded, "Are we too early? Did you finish eating?" Elena nodded, "Just finished. I'm going to put some clothes on. I will be two minutes, don't go anywhere." Damon stayed right where he was as the blood flooded out of one place and into the rest of his body. He was thankful his brother was no longer a vampire, at least he couldn't smell the arousal that lingered in the room. Josie jumped up on the bed, "Uncle D, Zio said that I get to play with my cousin in Auntie's belly." Damon watched as she jumped up and down on the bed, "Yes, we are going to see if you can feel Peanut's magic first. It might be hard for you to find it. You can only play with him if you can give him magic, not take his. He is too small to siphon from, he has to siphon from you. Do you understand?" Josie flops down right next to him, "Siphon from me, can Peanut do that? Nobody ever takes my magic, not even Lizzie." Damon softens his face and voice, "Really, it's fun. Why don't I try? That way you can know what it feels like?" Josie bounces her head with wiggling pigtails. Damon smiles at her enthusiasm, "All you have to do is put your hand on my tummy and push your magic into my skin. I will do the rest." Josie was confused, "Where do I get my magic from?" Damon blew on her cheek, "What are your elements?" Josie answered, "Air and dirt." Damon nodded, "Earth and Wind, yes… Feel the air that surrounds you, that touches your skin, your face, your hair, every part of your body, that's where your magic comes from." Damon blew on her cheek again, and that is when he felt her magic. Her little hands came alive, they warmed, and he could see the goosebumps rise all over the skin on her arms. Her hands had the slightest vibration in the fingertips, he could feel her magical current flowing through them.

Damon sat back rather smugly if he had to admit it. He didn't need to encourage Josie to be a conduit of magic, he could feel the raw energy coming straight from the earth directly through her and into him. She was channeling her elements, pure and unfiltered. The pride was beaming all over him as he watched Josie keep her current flowing steady all on her own. It was time to change up the game, Damon was never one to just let things be peaceful for moments that were too long. He had his gloat time now. He had to make sure that Josie could 'play' with Peanut and not hurt Elena. He started pulling on Josie's current, he mimicked Peanut's pull, using the same strength, the same rhythm. Her body moved and her hands twitched on this abdomen, it was a slight flutter, but he felt it. She didn't remove her hands. She squished her nose and started to giggle. Then without moving her hands, Josie leaned down and rubbed her nose on his chest in an itching motion. Her reaction was charming, "Uncle D, that tickles. You're making my nose tickle. How are you doing that?" Damon touched her nose, "It's an Uncle's trick. You have to be an Uncle to know how." Josie looked at him weirdly, "I'm a girl, I can't be an Uncle, I'm going to be an Auntie." Stefan laughed, "She's got you there, Damon." Damon looked at his brother, "It will be my secret forever." He smiled with a sinister grin. Josie got distracted for a moment, Damon felt her current slow, he watched the look on her face get serious, she was thinking. It was a moment later that her face changed again, it brightened like a light bulb had gone on. Josie smiled at him with an almost perfect Damon Salvatore smirk, "That's ok, I will teach Lizzie how to give Zio her magic. Then Zio will tell Lizzie how he tickles her nose. Then she will tell me the Uncle's secret. Cause Zio is an Uncle too." Both Damon and Stefan laugh out loud, Stefan talks between snorts, "The evil conniving Damon Salvatore has lost his edge when a 4-year-old outthinks his diabolical plan." Stefan grabs his belly and laughs, slapping his leg, as Elena comes out of the walk-in closet dressed, "What did I miss?" Damon answers, "Apparently, I've lost my evil edge to a 4-year-old." Josie smirks, "That's me, Auntie E. I'm the 4-year-old, and I'm edgy." Damon and Stefan start laughing again. Elena walks over to Josie and kisses her forehead, "Yes, you are sweetie, we are going to have to buy you a leather jacket because you are so edgy."

Damon gets off the bed, "Come here you rebel." Grabbing Josie and throwing her up in the air and catching her. He settles her on his hip, "Ready to see if you can find Peanut's magic?" She nods her head, "Yep, I gonna find it and give him my magic." Damon agrees, "That's right Princess." Elena asks, "Damon, can we do this outside, it is such a beautiful morning. Maybe on a blanket in the yard. I would love the sunshine." Damon knew Elena was taking extra care of Josie making she could access her elements. Damon looked at Stefan who nodded as well, "I'll go get everything set up outside. You can take care of getting the girls out there." Damon grinned, "Thanks Stef. Ok, Ladies. What else do we need for our experiment?" Elena was the first to suggest, "Sugar Cookies and Chocolate Milk." Josie took a deep breath in with excitement, "That's a good idea." Damon rolled his eyes at Elena, "Cookies and Milk, Seriously." Elena shrugged her shoulders, "What can I say, your son wants it. If you have a problem with it, please talk with him." Damon gently slides Josie down, "Off to the kitchen in search of Sugar Cookies and Chocolate Milk." Josie takes off with a "Yippee" in her wake. Damon takes Elena by the arm, "Which one told you?" Elena giggled, "Bonnie… she saw you unpack them." Damon shakes his head, "They were a surprise for bathtime." Elena leans in, "You will just have to figure out a different type of surprise." That rocked him straight to his groin, "Woman, I warned you." Elena answered in a very husky voice, "I've never listened to the warnings about you." Damon was speechless, he had no comeback. He looked at the smug grin on her face, wondering if there was ever a time when he truly intimidated her, even when she was a young 17-year-old and he was a murderous vampire he didn't. Elena always knew him, she never did shy away from his dark side, she went in headfirst and dragged him out. One more glance at his life as they walked down the stairs, he looked at Elena heavy with their son, he would never fully understand what he did to deserve her stubborn loyalty, but he would be forever thankful.