Breaking the Boundaries Chapter 14
Stretching languidly back into reality, I could not contain the smile within. Ric's hand slowly palming over my belly filled me with a joy and pride I could never before have imagined. God, I could stay like this forever, face buried in my pillow, the man I loved at my back.
"I still can't believe this," he whispered. "I'm not the guy that gets a happy ending."
I smiled. "Well, this time you are." While twisting up to capture his mouth in a soft kiss, Ric rolled me underneath him easily. He braced himself over me, encased within his arms, before finishing what I had started.
I groaned as the kiss broke, knowing that today would be a long day. Wishing for endless hours to discuss our future while simultaneously trying to put that conversation off as long as possible was no easy feat.
Midway into chopping the ingredients for the famous Gilbert chili, Damon appeared at the front door. Letting himself in unannounced in his usual presumptuous way, he was rewarded with an audible sigh as he entered the kitchen.
"Damon," I warned.
Elena," he parroted. "Are you seriously making chili? For the Lockwood party?" God, he was infuriating. Even when he was pissed at me.
"What does it look like?" I snapped. Honestly, after yesterday I had no idea how I was supposed to act around him.
"I just don't know why you want to bring chili to a potluck. Everybody brings chili."
Ric's entrance could not have been more perfectly timed. I shot him a welcoming smile before glaring at Damon again.
"Hey, Ric," Damon said cheerily.
"What's up?" Ric replied.
Before Damon could start any conversations I was trying to avoid, I quickly started with something safe. "What time do you want to go to the Lockwood party?" How was a girl supposed to act while hiding a secret like this?
Ric looked at me sharply and then away, failing miserably at looking nonchalant. "Elena, you know those founders parties aren't really my thing."
"Ric, we are one of the founding families. As a member of our family it's now totally your thing," I teased.
He looked back at me with feigned exasperation. "Woman, you're going to kill me." His half smile gave away his true sentiments.
"You have no idea," Damon muttered darkly.
"Why are you here, exactly?" asked Ric, rather rudely. Despite being Damon's best friend, he certainly didn't hold back.
"She knows," Damon replied, looking at me intently. The scowl crossing his face was a stark reminder of his exact feelings.
"Damon," I warned. The growl in my voice was obvious and Ric stepped up to my side immediately. He was going to have to stop getting so defensive if we were going to keep any of this even remotely secret.
"Damon, I think it's time for you to leave." His chest broadened as he attempted to usher Damon towards the door. I could not see this ending well.
Damon refused to budge unfortunately, standing strong against Ric's efforts.
"Elena," he started lowly, "Have you told him yet?" Uh oh, Ric and I hadn't yet gone into the specifics of how I knew I was pregnant. For the first time I realised I'd been planning a new life and living in my happy little Ric protected bubble without as much as taking a pregnancy test!
Alaric turned to stare at me, eyes hard with hurt. "You told him?!"
Two pairs of eyes were now staring at me in disbelief. I had no idea how to navigate this sticky situation without hurting either man or giving anything away. My internal struggle and sudden panic about needing to be sure were not helping me keep my cool. I guessed the secrets were all going to come to light sooner or later, but I was most definitely planning on the latter.
Deciding on damage control, I started with the most pressing concern. "Ric, I didn't tell him. I promise. He was there when Stefan told me."
"Stefan told you?!" he spluttered. Ric's face showed a myriad of emotions, rage and betrayal, hurt and finally a look of dawning understanding. I sure knew how to put my foot in it. Rushing to reassure him, I forgot that Damon was in the room with us as I wrapped my arms around him in comfort.
Damon was staring at Ric as though he had never seen him before.
"I'm guessing Stefan is the one who figured it out? Him being all supped up on blood at the moment?" Ric hedged.
Damon's voice was ice cold with fury and sorrow as the inevitable conclusion dawned on him. "I can't believe I call you my best friend! You know how I feel about her, you know how much it is killing me to respect her relationship with Stefan, yet this whole time you have been fucking your student! She looked at you as a father! You know what, Ric? I may be the bad guy. But at least I am fucking honest about it! You move from her mother to her aunt to Elena? What. The. Fuck."
Damon was furious, and I was seriously worried about his control right now. I saw a red creep of shame settle over Alaric and I couldn't help but leap to his defence. After all, it wasn't like he had done this on purpose.
"Oh, get over yourself, Damon, it's not like you've never slept with Isobel. In fact, during your self-righteousness speech, you completely forgot to mention that she was married to Ric at the time!" I purposely didn't address the father concern. Honestly, I wasn't really sure what to think about that yet.
This conversation was headed nowhere fast, with us all angry and shouting at each other. I should have known better than to bring up that little piece of history. No wonder Alaric was less than secure in this relationship. How could I have accidentally rubbed his face in that? I was only trying to defend him, but I knew I'd crossed a line again.
"Okay, okay," I breathed out, my hands stretching between both their chests to maintain a safe and calm distance and backtracking as fast as I could. "Seeing as all the cards are now on the table, can we please sit down and talk about this like adults?"
It took a little while to get them both settled into the lounge, staring daggers from opposite couches. Deciding to make my intentions clear from the start, I sat next to Ric and rested my hand on his knee.
Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out but air after looking at Damon. I'd seen this look in his eyes before, that dangerous glint in the blue depths. The pain was etched into the lines of his forehead. He appeared to be totally defeated, but I saw a ghost of a smile cross the corner of his mouth before he shut down again and settled into a stony silence.
"Damon," I started, "I appreciate the support you offered me yesterday. I acknowledge that I may have hurt your feelings with this relationship, but I want you to remember that Ric is your best friend and he is having a baby. After everything this family has been through, can you please be a little bit happy for us?"
I didn't think I was asking for too much, I had seen that smile, after all. I knew that his offer of help yesterday had been genuine. The sudden thought of Damon holding a baby crossed my mind. I started to laugh and then coughed awkwardly at the vision.
He sighed audibly. "Elena, you know I can and will do anything for you and this baby. You have my support, because I for one don't break promises. I will do everything in my power to protect you both, just like I always have. But don't expect me to be happy for you just yet. Ric, I think you owe me a drink."
Letting out the breath he was holding, Ric left to presumably amass supplies of the alcoholic persuasion, with a slight nod towards Damon.
Leaning in out of earshot, Damon continued, "I'm going to be okay with this, Elena. You know that all I want is for you to be truly happy." He cradled my face in both hands, tucking my hair behind my ears. "You know that I can't ever give you children."
His voice broke, and I swore his eyes were damp as he whispered, "I will love you for the rest of your life, the rest of your children's lives. And I will be a part of this family for at least that long." He leant in even further and pressed his lips to mine softly. As I felt the wetness of his face touch mine, I discovered he wasn't the only one with tears in his eyes.
So much for being adults.
AN: Thank you for everyone who has come back to this story after sooo long! A huge special thanks to my beta Someryn who is still supporting me after all these years! x