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Breaking the Boundaries Chapter 13

Pregnant.

Damon and I sat in stony silence for the most of the trip home.

What would Ric have to say? Did he even want kids? Would he lose his job for this? How would we support ourselves? Would he even talk to me after I took off for Chicago with Damon, after not talking to him the whole night? The thoughts just kept whirling around and around in my head.

Damon didn't look as though he was doing any better. His knuckles were white with the grip he had on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched as he stared resolutely straight ahead. He was going to break the steering wheel if he wasn't careful.

His voice weaved through the silence, interrupting my thoughts.

"I should have known. There has been something going on with your heartbeat for months. I just thought it was the stress of Stefan leaving and all. Who would have known that little Elena would have gone and found herself a jock?" He was taunting me, trying to get information without actually asking, and I for once was not going to give in to him. I had bigger fish to fry.

I knew Damon was pissed, and Stefan was too. But I didn't know how I should feel about it. A baby. What was I going to do with a baby? I wasn't exactly maternal. Or maybe I was. I'd never had anything to do with babies. I wondered what Ric was like with kids. He must like them to a certain point, becoming a teacher and everything.

I heard Damon's voice float through my thoughts. "You're going to be the one to tell Ric - I'm not gonna be the bearer of that bad news." I panicked. What! He knew that it was Ric's?

Damon continued, "Elena, how could you do this to him? He already feels as though he's failed his family enough, and now you go and get pregnant in his care." Relief flooded me. He didn't know anything. He just thought of Ric as a father figure for me.

Damon sounded disappointed but resigned, and his voice softened when he next spoke. He took his eyes off the road and held my chin in his hand, forcing me to look him in the eye. "Elena, as hard as it is going to be for you at your age, I really am happy for you. Dating vampires doesn't exactly lend itself to procreation as part of the happily ever after. If you need help with anything, especially if your baby daddy doesn't man up, I am here for you. I love you, Elena, baby or not."

Tears welled up in my eyes at this unconditional love. I didn't deserve it from Damon. I sniffed, "Thank you," and sent him a watery half smile.

I turned forward again to face the road with new confidence. I had two things going for me now: Damon's support and the new power of a mother's love. I could face anything for my baby.

My self-assurance wavered slightly when we pulled up at my house to meet Ric glowering at the both of us. "Where exactly have you two been?" he barked at Damon, but looking at me.

"Oh, don't get your knickers in a knot, Ric," Damon said nonchalantly. "We went to see Stefan."

This did absolutely nothing to defuse the situation. Ric's face went even darker as he considered all of his options. He obviously settled on yelling.

"YOU DID WHAT? How could you put her in danger like that and not tell me, Damon? I trusted you." Anger was rolling off him in waves, thankfully aimed at Damon, for now anyway.

"You did exactly the same thing only yesterday, if I recall correctly, and you're not a vampire and you can't protect her as well as I can."

Uh oh, this was not going well. I could sense a pissing match brewing and wanted to end it before it began. I put my hand on Damon's chest and pushed him towards the door. "Damon," I said through clenched teeth, "I think that it's time for you to go. I need to talk to Ric and I need for you to not be here when I do."

He relaxed almost instantaneously and sent me a look that was laced with pity. "Fine." The door slammed behind him, leaving the house deadly silent.

I tried to avoid Ric's gaze, but I couldn't help it. I looked up at him in fear and sadness, unsure what he would do next and what he would say when I gave him my news.

I was startled out of my thoughts when his arms came around me to embrace me tightly. "I'm sorry," he mumbled into my hair, "I was jealous last night and then this morning you just left and I was so worried..."

"Hey," I soothed, stroking the area of his back I could reach from this position. "It's okay, I'm fine. Actually, I have some news for you," I continued with some trepidation.

He looked at me pointedly.

"It's kind of 'sit down with a stiff drink' kind of news, not 'standing in the hallway' kind of news," I said.

As we moved towards the lounge, I saw worry lines inch across his face, showing his true age for the first time since I had met him. He made to speak, but I held up a hand to shush him. "Please, Ric, just let me get this out." He nodded.

"I'm pregnant," I mumbled - just like that. It was definitely not how I had meant to say it.

He was in shock. "Pregnant," he repeated in a monotone voice. I couldn't look at him. I knew he wouldn't take this well.

But I couldn't avoid him forever. I glanced across at him through my lashes.

He was smiling! He started to laugh! He launched himself at me and swept me up in the tightest hug I had ever received from him. He could barely contain his excitement.

A smile crept across my face at his boyish exuberance. I didn't think he was upset with me.

"Oh, Elena." He kissed me and put me down on his lap. "I don't think I've ever gotten better news. I was expecting the worst. I thought you were leaving me for Stefan."

"Silly," I replied. "I already told you I wouldn't do that."

We still had a million and one things to talk about but we both went to bed happy that night.

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