Chapter 11

Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries. I'm just borrowing.

Note: Previously, in "Freedom isn't Free," the Salvatore brothers defeat their enemies and save Caroline.

Thank you for the reviews so far! You guys are amazing!

Later on...

Elena could feel her heart sink as she walked into the hospital. She had gotten a call from Caroline saying that Damon was in the hospital, which made her worried beyond belief. Upon arriving at the reception desk, she asked for the room that her husband was in and when she received the information, Elena went down the hall to Room 109, where she saw Damon sitting on a bed, his wrists bandaged. When he saw her, he smiled in her direction.

"Hey, gorgeous."

Elena returned his smile. "Hey. I got a call from Caroline a little while ago and she told me everything that went on."

Damon nodded. I'll say this for Caroline, she doesn't waste a second. "Yeah, about that. I wanted to be the one to call you, but she insisted on it." He sighed, seeing the worried look on her face, his smile fading. "I'm so sorry, angel. You must've thought the worst when you heard her voice on the other end instead of mine."

Elena nodded as well. "I was a bit worried, yes. But, I'm glad you're safe." She approached the bed and hugged him. "Is it really over, Damon? Or can I expect another face from your past popping out from out of nowhere?"

"No, it's over," said Damon. "I ended that nightmare once and for all."

"That's good to know," said Elena. "I don't want our son growing up in a world where he'll run into people like Klaus, Rebekah, Kol, and Mikael." She felt the baby kick her. "And I think he agrees with me."

Damon placed his hand on her belly. "If there's any justice in this world, he'll be safe."

Elena smiled again, but her smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. "I just can't believe Tyler was working for the bad guys the whole time. I honestly thought he was my friend."

"He fooled everyone, Elena, not just you," said Damon. "But, he won't get away with it. The police are looking for him as we speak."

"Not to change the subject, but how's Stefan? Caroline said he was shot during the fight with Mikael and Kol."

"He's in surgery. They took him up to the OR just before you got here," said Damon. "We won't know anything for a while yet. But, if I know my brother, he'll be fine. It'll take more than a bullet to stop a Salvatore, I'll tell you that."

Elena was about to answer him when Elisabetta walked in, carrying a mug with "GET WELL SOON" printed on it and containing a small bouquet of flowers. Damon looked at his wife and then at his mother, not really expecting to see her.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" she replied. "Damon, that's a silly question to be asking your mother. But, if you must know, I followed Elena here from Atlanta to make sure that she was okay. When she got that phone call from her friend saying that you were in the hospital, I was worried about her, so when she left, I got into my car and followed her."

Damon sighed. He couldn't blame Elisabetta for being concerned, since it was in her nature. "As unexpected as this is, Mom, I'm glad you're here. The doctor said I'm going to be fine. I just had to get stitches for the rope burns on my wrists. Fifteen on each wrist. He even gave me some pain medication for when the anesthesia wore off."

Elisabetta nodded and said, "Where's your brother?"

"Having surgery to remove a bullet from his shoulder," said Damon. "He was taken to the OR just before you guys arrived. The doctor said we'll know in a few hours, but as I told Elena, Stefan is going to make it out of this okay. We Salvatores are strong, and it'll take more than a bullet to slow us down."

Elena smiled and before she could speak, she felt the baby kick her again. "Damn, this little one is really kicking me hard. I know he was worried about Damon, but I didn't think he was that worried."

"Maybe we can get a doctor to see what's going on," said Elisabetta. "It could be nothing, but it couldn't hurt to check." She saw that her daughter-in-law was about to protest and added, "No, Elena, don't argue with me. I know what I'm doing. You stay here, I'll be right back."

With that, she then placed the mug on the table next to the bed and went to find the doctor. When she was gone, Damon lifted Elena's hand and kissed it. "She means well, amore mia. As long as we're here, it couldn't hurt to see why the kicks are this intense." He looked at her. "How long have they been occurring?"

"Every hour or so, I think," said Elena. "Why?"

Damon went to answer her, but never got to, because Elisabetta returned a few minutes later, followed by an ultrasound technician, who wheeled in an ultrasound machine. Elena blinked when she saw it, not expecting this at all.

"Elisabetta, I thought you were going to find a doctor?"

"That was my original plan, but I found this young lady and told her about your situation," she replied. "We'll be able to find out the reason the baby's kicking is so intense."

Elena decided not to argue and found a bed that was vacant next to Damon's and carefully climbed up, pulling up her shirt. The technician then brought the machine over and applied the solution to Elena's belly, using the wand soon after. Elena looked at the screen as the technician went about her task, not seeing Damon coming over and taking her hand, Elisabetta following him.

"What's going on in there?" said Damon. "What do you see?"

The technician smiled at him. "Well, it seems that there's more than one baby in your wife's belly."

"More than one?" said Damon. "What does that mean?"

"You're having twins."

Elena blinked again. Twins? That was why the kicks were intense? "But, my doctor told me I was having one baby. How could there be twins in there?"

"It might be because the second baby wasn't noticeable when you had the sonogram," said the technician. "These things happen all the time. In either case, there are two babies in there. Did you want to know the sex of the second baby?"

Elena looked at Damon and Elisabetta and then back at the technician. "Yes."

"It's a girl."

Damon smiled and kissed his wife's cheek. "Elena, sweetheart, that's wonderful news. We're having a son and a daughter. You have no idea just how happy I am right now."

Elena tried to hold back her tears at that, but couldn't, just let them fall down her cheeks. Not only was her Damon alive and well, but she also found out that she was carrying not one, but two babies, which made this moment even happier.

Note: Yeah, I know ending Chapter 11 on a cliffhanger is evil of me and you're thinking, "What about Caroline and Stefan?" Don't worry, guys, I'll cover all that next chapter. Stay tuned!

ENJOY THE UPDATE AND REMEMBER TO REVIEW!