Chapter 9: Dual Properties

A/N: Back to back party-esque chapters are a pain in the ass to write, so enjoy.

Katherine Mikaelson found out she was pregnant at approximately 10: 15 pm. Her simple fainting had been because of her lack of eating throughout the day. Since she was a former model, they assumed she had an eating disorder. So, after forcing her to eat hospital food and a brochure for healthy diets, the professionals decided to run a pregnancy test. When the couple got the news, only one party seemed content. Katherine had a total look of uncertainty and insisted that the test was wrong and that the doctor's degree was faulty.

A baby wouldn't help any of her problems, in fact, it would worsen them. Then, she snapped and they threatened to admit her. It took her husband, Elijah, to talk calmly and convince them that she needed time to adjust to the news. Now it was early dawn and she lied in bed with her hand resting on her flat stomach. A million things ran through her head but financial stability wasn't one of them, the baby would bed fed with a platinum spoon if it was up to her. Were Elijah and I even intimate 10 weeks ago? she pondered, rubbing her flat belly.

Taking her out of her thoughts her husband walked in with a bagel and orange juice, "You need to have some breakfast," He handed her a blueberry packet for her bagel and said as she stared at her orange blankly, "Coffee dehydrates you, my dear and you need all your vitamins."

She set it down on the table, "I'm not really hungry, did you put my prenatal stuff in my bag?"

Elijah nodded, and rubbed his eyes, he was tired from staying up and half-sleeping in a very stiff chair. he sat on the side of her bed and held her cheek and asked, "How are you feeling?"

Like shit, I don't want to be a mom.

"Better. Did you tell the girls what's been going on with me?"

He scratched his head, "I told Bonnie and she said she'd be here at 9 today."

She smiled and kissed his cheek, "Thank you, you're the best."

Bonnie stepped in the room with flowers and dark chocolates. She smiled when she saw Katherine applying concealer. The woman made beauty her top priority. Now that last night happened the two women had more to bond over. The absence of her husband was eating her up inside along with the Marcel drama, but the lawyer still stood strong.

"Bonnie, I'm so glad you could make it. Elijah's getting a change of clothes for me when I get out at 10 today," She informed while Bonnie set the chocolate and flowers on the table next to her earlier food.

"I would have brought wine if you weren't, well you know," Bonnie chuckled, "So, I take it I'm your backup since the little meltdown Care had yesterday?"

"No, um Elijah picked you to come to see me. I guess he didn't feel like texting all three of you."

"Oh, well you're glowing, I know you're seething right now but you'll grow into your pregnancy just watch."

Katherine smiled genuinely, "Thank you. I know previous teen mom Elena would have given me away cornier speech."

"Hey," Bonnie pointed out, "She could teach you a few things, believe it or not."

"Well, if you wouldn't mind, I was wondering if you could take me to church."

Bonnie was taken aback, her friend and church did not align at all,

"Um, yeah service starts at 11, so we would have to get going if we want to get there timely," Bonnie explained.

"I wanted to go because the last time I was pregnant, I didn't keep it. The guy I was messing around with was a complete loser and my doctor said I had options," She fiddled her thumbs and sat up straight, "But this time around, I have something more stable to offer this child and I'm not afraid anymore.'

Bonnie's heart melted for the woman and pulled her into a tight hug.

"There's nothing wrong what you did in the past. You didn't have to tell me that, that took guts, Kat."

"You're the only other person I told," Katherine revealed, with tears falling down her eyes, hugging her only visitor even tighter.

..

It was five minutes before service and Katherine clung onto to Bonnie more than a young child being reunited with their mother. Bonnie wore a plaid dress with black heels and Katherine wore a black dress with a white belt along with red Louboutins. her hair was thrown together in some bun and her steps were small. The woman hadn't attended church in over 15 years, so she had a little guilt.

"You can take the sunglasses off now Katherine," Bonnie said, lowly passing and saying hi to some of the church congregation. Since Katherine was 'new', they did stare at her. Also, she was the only one there lighter than a sandpaper bag. Needless to say, she stuck out like a sore thumb.

"I can't do that," she sharply turned to her friend and yelled, "Bonnie, I look like a sinner!"

The lawyer shook her head and led them to a seat in the back since Katherine. They stood and sang (awkwardly for Kat) and clapped when the preacher said something powerful or moving. One speech about marriage and values brought Katherine to tears, her glasses hid her watery eyes but she kept rubbing her cheeks. Bonnie grazed her shoulder and asked, "You doing okay?"

Katherine sniffled, "I'm just fine."

They all were seated and the deacon asked for offerings. it was always near the end of church when they got people to empty their pockets. The church was in great condition but they would do this sob story on how they needed money to pay the bills. Once Bonnie got old enough to understand their trickery, she wanted to stop going. But her grandmother instilled the church life in her so she couldn't give it up completely. her eyes warped when she saw a '15' followed by three more zeros.

"You sure you wanna give that much out?"

"Bonnie, these people helped me and besides the pastor's suit is so 2014 Armani, he can buy this year's version."

"Kat-"

"Zip it, the check's already there."

Bonnie just remained in her seat, shaking her head as she fanned herself.

...

"So, he just up and left? No explanation whatsoever, wow," Katherine commented

Bonnie bit into her turkey sandwich and shrugged, "I don't even care, he's never going to grow up. When he does come back, I have something for his ass."

"Right," Katherine sipped her vanilla latte and continued, "I just recently found out you're an insane ass woman for internalizing your husband having a baby on you."

"I've had my cry and denial of Damon's betrayal and I had to get over that phase quickly. So, pretending was my goto but you know what? Getting even was the best part," Bonnie said casually.

"I don't blame you, marcel's hot. Plus, you two were supposed to be like, high school sweethearts."

"You hate the term 'high school sweethearts."

"True," Katherine changed the subject, "One of us needs to throw a party to totally upstages Sybil's this Friday."

"Hmm," Bonnie plotted, "It should be Elena, she's the one at the bottom of Sybil's hit list."

"So is Caroline."

"Yeah, but Elena's lower."

"No, she's the one who caught that whore trying to seduce your husband. Blondie's lower," Katherine argued.

Bonnie sighed and bit into her sandwich, she didn't want to hook Caroline into a petty plan to destroy Sybil.

"Look, we're adultering, or were- whatever. Point is, she wants nothing to do with us. It has to be Elena, okay?" Katherine just puckered her lips and sat in silence. The two didn't want to come to a bitter conclusion - they lost a friend.

Katherine made herself comfortable in Elena's living room while she sketched out various costumes. She wanted complete control of what everyone wore because actual physical labor wasn't what the pretty face wanted to partake in. Somehow, they got Elena top host the party, under the conditions of it being family friendly. Bonnie went to the stores to buy candy and various items that would structure the party, it kept her busy enough to ignore the emptiness in her home.

As she drew mindlessly, Stefan walked downstairs with an eyebrow. He slept in so hard that he missed the storm that is Katherine Mikaelson in his home. She looked up to see him in his sweats, barefooted and comfortable. Glancing up once she said, "I totally forgot you lived here, again that is."

"And hello to you, too, Katherine."

He shrugged and walked straightly to the kitchen.

"Oh, goodie," she beamed. "Can you make me an omelet, hold the peppers please, the doctor says spice isn't recommended for the baby."

His hand that was previously reaching for the gallon of milk stopped. "Pregnant, as in you have a bun in the oven?"

Katherine theatrically rubbed her stomach and smiled, "Five weeks. Now get to making my omelet and be a good future uncle."

Stefan began doing as told by reaching for the eggs and vegetables. Since the stove was electric, it wouldn't take long to make said omelet. Katherine's entitlement was astonishing. His spatula was pressed on the egg firmly before he flipped it over. He brought it over to the mad woman in his house. "How's this," he asked with a smile.

"Perfect, oh my God," she uttered looking at the golden brown hue. "Elena can't boil water to save her own life so I've been hungry all this morning."

Stefan put the egg on a plate along with a fork and knife, he was surprised to see Katherine ignore the utensils altogether and just bite in.

"Hmm," she said, "This might be the only downside of her throwing you to the side."

The front door opened with Elena trampling in with multiple bags. She huffed and puffed but somehow trudged in the dining area with them. She looked around to see her surroundings - Katherine eating an omelet like a caveman and her husband drinking from the milk carton.

"Really?" she asked in disgust, pushing past him with groceries in her hand.

"There was hardly an ounce of milk in here before I got it, " He stated, throwing the empty jug away. He eyed all the food she brought in. "What's this for?"

"Oh, you didn't tell him," Katherine piped up, earning a glare from her cousin.

Elena picked up various groceries to place in her freezer. "I'm having a Halloween party. Totally family-friendly and we just want to divert the neighborhood's attention from Sybil's shenanigans."

"So, you're using our house to do this?"

"No, I'm using the house you're kindly giving me when our divorce is finalized to scheme against a home wrecking-"

"Slut," Katherine finished for her, to which Elena responded with a smile.

Caroline had distanced herself from her friends and it was starting to eat at her. She missed them dearly but their values went starkly against her own. Looking back she did reflect on her being so judgemental. Simply, the blonde couldn't help it, she could never cheat or betray her husband like that, no matter what. Their vows were sacred and if she wanted to break them, she'd file for divorce and carry on with her life from there.

Katherine, Elena, and Bonnie wanted their cake and to also feast on it as well.

Her home life was going just fine. Klaus cut his hours at her request but that just meant there was a quiet resentment whenever she left for work. Her store, she loved it. Maybe the woman loved it too much because she had been staying extra hours there. Whe[n she came home at night, her daughter had been sleeping due to Klaus's amazing lullaby techniques. A year ago, she was the one who tried her best to get Henrietta to fall asleep and now Klaus did it with ease.

She'd worked with Enzo and she couldn't lie - she enjoyed it very much. He always was the one to deal with difficult customers when she didn't have the heart to. Later on, he wouldn't talk to her, he'd listen and offer good advice. Not the kind that would work in his favor but for her family, even if it killed the player. The blonde and he were gorging on candy and guffawing while talking about Halloween experiences as kids.

"Oh, my God, my mother was livid when she saw all the candy in my bra, and yes I was in the third grade wearing bras before you raise an eyebrow."

He smiled and handed her another Snicker, "I was just trying to make sure you weren't 17 and trying to mooch on sweet treats as I did with my younger brothers."

The timer beeped, which meant the cookies were done. He and Caroline had a wordless battle of who would take them out, the blonde won. She placed on her orange seasonal mitts and soon emerged with pumpkin cookies. Enzo reached for one but she tapped his hand.

"They're hot and I kinda need a manager who has all working limbs, y' know,"

They laughed and she found her seat across from him once again. There weren't many workers on the line since it was a holiday. Caroline liked the vastness of the store and she liked that Enzo was the only other person there with her. Occasionally a customer would come in but it would be speedy and the two could converse freely.

Caroline's heart and face warmed up when she saw a picture text of her daughter dressed up as Belle. She faced the phone towards Enzo.

"She's so cute," he complimented, "Your genes are truly overbearing, Miss Caroline."

She blushed, "Thank you," she ran her hands down her apron, "Her and Klaus are going to Elena's supposed family-oriented Halloween party."

"Ah, you don't wanna go, so you've subjected yourself to a torturous evening with me," He put his hand over his chest, "I'm hurt."

"Oh, please you're a big boy, you'll be fine," Caroline crossed her eyes, "Besides, I'm sure you'd rather be surrounded by half-nude women in bunny costumes at your glorious bachelor pad not too far from here."

"Hey, while that image sounds wonderful, I actually enjoy your company."

Caroline just shook her head unconvinced but when she saw him stand up she froze.

"And I think you enjoy mines just as much, you're just scared to admit it," Enzo whispered in her ear before walking off. The short hairs on her neck straightened up and she shivered.

Sybil stood in her window her scarlet eyes glowing in pure envy. Everyone had been trickling into Elena's party and not her own. She didn't even know the woman was the party thrower type at all. Unfortunately, she had no ammo for Elena at the moment even if she desperately needed it. She grabbed one of her caterers and demanded another drink. She was dressed as Maleficent, so she wore an embroidered black and purple cloak with curved horns sticking out. She didn't care what people had to say about her because she always served a good fashion.

Her husband, Cade, came to her side with a drink to offer her. The man's costume resembled Lucifer's. He noticed her eyes were glued to the house of their neighbor's and he whisked her away from it. They walked around their vacant home, mainly to settle her nerves. Cade was all for her helping her take down her enemies but he could do without all the womanly outbursts. Truthfully, the man was a con artist back in Europe and was on the run - sort of. He and Sybil fleeted before he could be charged. Oh, how she loved the thrill of dating a criminal. She aided and abetted him and now he wanted to return the favor by rupturing Suburbia.

"You're tense darling, I take it that this isn't going the way you wanted it to," He inquired, rubbing her shoulders.

"They one-upped me, I thought I had these bitches!" She turned around, halting her husband's semi-massage. "I just found out about Elena's party today and I have nothing- Wait, I do have something on her,"Once more she turned to face her husband, "Ivy."

"Right, the woman you hired to seduce her husband while they were going through a separation. How's that going?"

Sybil rolled her eyes, "I'm not paying her, I protected her grandmother from ICE. I want my money back, that plan failed miserably. He moved back in, so he clearly wants that old thing back."

"He might be with her, don't regret your money yet."

The darkly dressed woman had to do a double take.

"What?"

"Well, I saw Stefan head out an hour ago when I peeped out the window," Cade informed coolly.

"I'll be damned," she said, smirking.

"Also, Katherine is pregnant, I think that's a big attraction that is making our neighbors gravitate over there."

Sybil wrapped her arms around his neck, poking his nose. "My devilish husband, why must you be two steps ahead of me?"

"They say your life partner's vendettas become yours, do they not?"

Katherine, Bonnie, and Elena stood by the fruit punch bowl. They say a woman's place is in the kitchen so they made good on that saying. Bonnie was dressed as wonder woman, so she had long black hair running down her back. along with custom golden boots. The crown was sewn on her head so that it wouldn't fall off. Sometimes, she felt like a superhero with her selfless tendencies and her fierce loyalty to her friends and family. Katherine's analysis had been spot on.

Elena was Dorthy from Wizard of Oz, she didn't want to at first but Katherine convinced her. The total doe-eyed lost girl trope fit Elena precisely. However, the movie version of the getup showed a modest length blue and white dress with short heel shoes with white ankle socks. Katherine's version had more flair and sex appeal to it; the dress stopped right at the girl's thighs and her shoes were actual red 6-inch heels. Her makeup was nicely applied and her pigtails sat on her shoulders. She earned stares from the other mothers, though.

"See, my visions came to life and the day is saved," Katherine said, feeling triumphant as she eyed the two's outfits.

"If I bend over once they can see my panties, so that's something," Elena commented brightly.

"We scored most of the neighbors but I need something a little stronger than sugar and red dye," Bonnie said, grabbing a portable bottle of liquor and dumping it into her cup.

"Bonnie!" Elena yelled.

"At least she can drink and so can you, so stop whining," Katherine said. "My prenatals are the only boost I get now."

Bonnie just smiled at her friend's humor and rubbed her back momentarily. "You'll be fine,"

she promised.

"Oh!" Elena exclaimed. "Liam's going to be here any minute now, how do I look?" She did a little spin for her girls.

"Um, you sure that's a good idea?"

The woman of the house pulled out her cosmetic mirror and began reapplying her lipstick. It was cherry red and complimented the rest of her face well. She smacked her lips and loudly closed the mirror. Then she responded, "It's a bad idea, of course, but since Stefan is out doing God knows what I can do I want. I'm doing me." Bonnie shook her head and drank some of her personalized drink.

"So, are you doing you or is he?" Katherine asked suggestively, walking near Elena and whisking her off to the living room couch.

Bonnie looked at her phone and saw that she had a few texts from Marcel. Since last week, she'd been dodging his calls and having his voicemails play while she was in the shower. Her favorite voice memo from him was that Rebekah had been squirming to see if the two had dated. Something about being naked and wet learning that your boyfriend's fiance had it out for you gave the lawyer a kick. She never replied to any of his attempts of communication though,

She's sleep, I wanna see you. I heard the bastard walked out on you. Just let me comfort you, please.

She pretended to type something in agreement so that the chat bubble could pop up.

A pitiful man condemning my very pathetic husband's departure, how ironic.

Bonnie smirked a few minutes later when she got no instant reply. Love these days just wasn't in her favor. Putting her phone back into her pocket, she walked around the spacious living room where people started to clear out. it was nearing 8:30, so the late night text from Marcel made clear sense. These were their peak hours when their partners were out or knocked out sleep. He wasn't the only man she was avoiding, there was Damon too. With Marcel, she just swiped left, disposing of his cell number as if it were trash. With her husband, she let it ring until it came to its inevitable end. She wanted to keep him in insufferable agony. His wife, how could he ever leave her without any explanation?

Near the living, room side was Elena with Liam and Katherine with Elijah. The married couple was dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Clause. Elijah in a white beard took major convincing but he finally agreed on the festive costume. Katherine's getup wasn't exactly the classic deep crimson dress. Hers was more of a cloak and underneath it was a sparkly red corset, the white fur snaked around her body tightly veiling her surprise for her husband. He leaned over to whisper in her ear, the pregnant female hoped it was something dirty.

"I can't condone this - Liam. He's in another man's home, pursuing his wife. Stefan is my friend and I cannot betray him like that."

Katherine whined, "if you say so." Elijah kissed her forehead to steady her nerves.

"You can feel free to join me just tell everyone you had a good time, I'll be waiting for you," Elijah promised with a smile.

Katherine crossed her fingers as he walked away. Then she turned towards her friend. "I am totally getting laid tonight, so I have to go," she overshared, receiving stares from other people in the living room. Elena laughed and hugged her tightly, they wished each other goodnight. The woman ran like Hell to follow her husband but once she saw the unfortunate sight of Mason and his friends, she'd wish she had stayed at Elena's.

"Katherine, baby!"

She rolled her eyes and continued to walk straight to catch up with Elijah. The female could ignore Mason's entire presence if she pretended not to hear him. Her husband wasn't convinced though so he stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face the rambunctious group. The only person he questioned was the ringleader.

"Do we have a problem?"

"Yeah," Mason stepped up, "I do. With Katherine actually, today's the day she decides to be a wife."

"Mason don't-" The vixen started with poison dripping from her voice.

"Oh, babe I already started," He eyed her stomach, "You tried to keep my baby from me, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"it is not your baby, now leave and take your rat pack crew with you," She spoke defiantly even with the high palpitations rising in her chest. The woman was in very grave danger at the moment. Elijah looked between his wife and Mason, their heated glares. Mason smirked devilishly in-between his frown though, he got Katherine and good. Her relationship was ruined and crumbling right before eyes.

"You expect me to believe that you're fucking this geezer?" His posse laughed while behind him like hyenas.

Deciding to ignore his crude comment Elijah said in low, but firm words. "Name your price to leave me and my wife alone so that we can raise our child peacefully." He always carried a checkbook no matter the occasion.

Mason scoffed as Elijah pulled out his checkbook. "That's the problem with you rich people, you just pay all your worries away. You don't the first thing about her and what she likes in the sa-"

"Boy, I said name your price, enough with your irrelevant speech because you're still going to take the money."

Mason looked at his boys for confirmation and walked towards Elijah, saying his value. The husband quickly wrote out a number with zeros to follow behind them. He never wanted to see those people again. Mason wanted to keep integrity but he wanted a place of his own much more, rooming with his cousin was getting old. Maybe years down the line when he was more stable he could make a return.

Since this was the last time he'd be seeing the beautiful ex-model, he went up to her and kissed her cheek. She wanted to fight him, yell at him, scratch his eyes out and mess up her manicure but she just breathed in and out. Elijah left to probably go pack his things, the nobleman would never kick her out and especially with her carrying his supposed child.

"You're unforgettable, KP," that name sent chills down her spine and his hand grazed her stomach. "I'll come back a better man for both of you. Goodbye."

The wind blew softly against her hair and she held her now cold cheek. KP was her original initials and she hadn't been called that in woman looked across the street to see her villainous neighbor in her huge window with a glass of red wine in her hand. She drank it, smiling and then waved at Katherine who just had a blank look on her face. Sybil promised she'd strike for her marriage next, so she had no reason to get angry or sad. The confidence and vitality were vanishing from Katherine Mikaelson and it was official the night of Halloween.

Ivy spent her holiday with someone's husband. She knew it was wrong and battled with herself mentally before hopping into his expensive luxury car. They went to the bar downtown and prematurely celebrated his birthday. Oddly enough he did not drink one drop of alcohol. When she asked him about it, he truthfully told her about alcohol abuse.

"Every party, since I was 15 or 16 I think." Stefan said, looking at his sparkling water, "I just drunk, I thought it was fun because I was partying. It was just apart of being in a social circle - along with smoking. But after a while, it became deadly, so I stopped. Then when I got hired for my first full-time job, I got back into the habit of doing it again. A beer or five after work, no big deal, right? Then it became falling asleep on couches and not being able to function the next day because of my killer hangovers."

Ivy smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder. "But you're getting better. Your resilience tonight was amazing."

Now they were approaching her home preparing to end the night. Selfishly, she didn't want it to end. He pulled up in front of her blue, tiny house, the porch light was still on from when he first picked her up. Ivy asked with a smile, "Walk me to the door?" She knew it was pushing 12 just like she intended it to. It'd be his birthday officially and she would be stealing him for the moment. Like a gentleman, Stefan did what she requested happily strolling to her door.

They both stood facing each other, hands by their sides. Stefan kissed her forehead. "Thanks for coming out with me, today." When he turned to depart, she called out his name.

"I know you're going home but I was wondering if you'd...stay," She laughed, throwing her black locks behind her hair, "It's silly to forget I even asked."

"Hey," He stroked her face, making her face him, she looked solemn. "It's not silly, okay? You've made this night bearable for me, of course, I'll stay."

Bonnie's night ended with her walking home barefooted and exhausted. This was their second battle with Sybil and she had just moved back last week. Being on constant alert was draining all of them. Times like these, they needed Caroline's relentless optimism. She undressed and lazily threw her costume pieces on the floor. She even discarded her raven colored wig, it was bulky and itched like hell. The woman needed a hot, long shower or a bath.

When she stepped out, steam escaped her bathroom. Her soap smelled like roses and chocolate; it was reminiscent of a textbook definition of Valentine's present. Her phone was on her bed ringing, it was her husband. After dozens of missed calls, she answered this one.

"Boo!" He exclaimed to lighten the mood.

"What do you want, Damon?" Her tone was short.

"I'm on my way to come home. I did a little soul searching while I was alone and I just...miss you, okay?"

"Funny for you to assume I haven't had our locks changed yet."

"You wouldn't dare lock me out of the house."

"I don't want you here, so why wouldn't I? Instead of talking to me, you run. You're a coward, Damon."

"Please calm down."

She scoffed, "Suddenly my voice is ten times louder to you now that I'm telling the truth. "

"We will talk when I get home, just relax." Bonnie was getting livid now.

"You bastard! I don't want to talk to you, nothing you tell me isn't anything I don't know already. You had a chance to come clean and you blew it," She exclaimed, giving away her true knowledge. The blue-eyed imbecile provoked those types of emotions in her at times. The other line was silent - he had no comeback. Bonnie breathed in and out at her confession, her husband must be having a meltdown at the moment. However, after a while longer, the line was way too long. Then she heard ambulances wailing and what to seemed to be paramedics.

"M'aam, I'm afraid to tell you that your husband was in a very bad accident, we'll be transferring him to Westlake where he will be brought to the ICU."

"Oh, my God, where are you?"

"We're on Sunset and Villa. Listen, if you can come please come, he needs the support."

That was about 12 minutes away from their house, she sulked when the phone hung up. Bonnie bit her lip and found some comfortable clothes to put on. By the time she'd even get the Westlake, she wouldn't even look emotional or anything. She wanted to be the rock and hide what she was feeling because truthfully, Bonnie couldn't afford to fall apart right now.

Liam broke up with Elena last night on the porch. She cried like a baby in her room, it was weak of her but she had an emotional tie to him. She told him about her husband moving back in and he didn't take it well. He left her with a forehead kiss and she was lonely again. When she woke up to go shower, she wasn't expecting to see her son up so early. "Hi," she uttered out, sniffling.

"Mommy, you seem sad."

"I'm not sad-I just miss my friend."

"I have to say goodbye to all my friends at school when the weekend comes. Eventually, I see them again on Monday." Elena smiled at his words.

"Well, my friend isn't coming back to see me anymore and that's okay. I can always meet new friends and so can you and you will."

He raised an eyebrow and said sitting down on the couch, "I don't know mom, you still seem sad. I think daddy can cheer you up."

"Yeah," She said, crossing her arms, "Except I have no idea where he is and we can't talk without us fighting."

"Oh,"

Elena walked around her living room couch and sat next to her son and cradled his face.

"How about this? We'll take your father out for breakfast this morning? It's his birthday, after all."

Jackson nodded energetically and raced upstairs to go get dressed. She smiled as he took off and like clockwork, her husband walked in. He was still in his attire from last night, which was a jacket and dark washed jeans. He already looked guilty enough but he couldn't take her disappointed eyes on him.

"I wasn't expecting your 'out' wouldn't be over until the next morning."

"I lost track of time."

"No, you let sunlight beat you home," she stepped near him and sniffed him, scanning for any alcohol. She found something as equally bad - perfume.

"You're such a fucking liar!" Elena cursed loudly.

Stefan ran his fingers through his hair, it was too early for this.

"Could you just lower your voice, our son is sleeping."

"He's awake so I can yell as much as I want to! You could at least show me some respect as your wife, the mother of your child to not spend the night somewhere else."

"You're the one that said if I didn't want to be here I could leave!"

"Yeah, but I wasn't serious, that's just us bickering, it's what we do. We never mean it. But you obviously took it to heart and had a good old time, so I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"I didn't sleep with her," He said.

"Okay, so you two spent the night cuddling? How cute!"

Stefan put his hands in his pockets and looked down.

"There was an attempt if I'm being honest," he looked up to gauge Elena's placement, she looked uneasy. "During, I stopped kissing her and told her I had to go and that being there was a mistake. She wasn't the woman I wanted to spend my birthday with, it was you-it is you. It's always been you."

Elena was speechless.

"I caught a flat and hand to push my car all the way up to Autozone, that was awful and I have a migraine bigger than the size of Florida and-"

Stopping his talking completely, she acted on her impulses and kissed him with much fervor. Each argument and all the distance between had led up to this happening. And yes, the build-up had been frustrating but worth it. She wasn't fuming with anger anymore, she was now just light. There were butterflies in her stomach and she felt 17 again. Stefan's hands were resting on her waist.

"Can we do that again?" He asked, licking his lips.

"Sure, once you shower first," Elena teased, contradicting herself by unhinging her jaw so he could kiss her again, deeply.

His phone rang in his pocket, ringing at the wrong place.

Elena closed her eyes. "Please don't answer it."

He looked at the caller ID and answered anyway. "Hey Bonnie," he greeted, "What's up?"

Elena stared at him watching his face drain of color. He hung up the phone quickly.

"Damon got into an accident and lost a shit ton of blood. Bonnie isn't his blood type so I need to go-"

"I'm here, okay? Go get cleaned up, we'll get through this."

The brunette grabbed his face, rubbing her thumb across his cheek. They just stayed like that for a moment, just savoring each other. She caught a glimpse of what he was feeling by just studying his face. He was afraid of losing his brother, no matter how much they went tit-for-tat with one another. Whatever squabble they had going on was now over as it were now life and death. And just as the couple was about to reestablish what their relationship was, tragedy struck.