AN: Sorry the update took so long. Between work and getting ready for Christmas I haven't had much time to type. Hopefully I get time to finish typing the story this weekend.

A lot of fluffy Elejah coming up in the next chapter.


"She's awake." Caroline called down the hall when she saw Elena returning from the nurse's station. She could make out the figure of her mother following closely behind.

Elena began to run when she heard Caroline's voice. She burst into the room to wrap her arms tightly around her sister. "Katherine! You're awake. How do you feel?" Elena could just make out Caroline motioning the guys from the room. Katherine remained silent. "Kat?"

"Ow," Katherine moaned. She raised the arm that was free of wires to hug Elena.

"Sorry," Elena leaned back but remained seated on the side of the bed. She swiped at her cheeks to remove the relieved tears from her face.

"S'okay," Katherine blinked against the harsh hospital light to focus on her sister. "I should be the one apologizing." She choked back a sob and rasped, "I'm so sorry 'Lena- "

"Don't," Elena grasped Katherine's good hand. "Don't you dare apologize. I forgave you a long time ago."

"You forgive me?" Katherine whispered. "How could you possibly have forgiven me?"

"You are my sister," Elena explained what was the most obvious thing in the world was. "I can't stay mad at you," she gently kissed Katherine's cheek, "Besides it's not like I was in love with the guy."

"You forgive me?" Katherine repeated.

"Yes."

"I'm sorry to interrupt girls," Sheriff Forbes knocked. She stepped inside the room and approached the bed. "Katherine I need to ask you a few questions if you're feeling up for it."

"Sure Sheriff," Katherine attempted to sit up but got caught in the fetal monitor. Elena reached out to help her now very tense sister. Katherine stared at the monitor before whispering to Elena. "Is the baby alright?" She sighed in relief when Elena nodded.

"Katherine," the Sheriff took out a small notepad. "Who did this to you?"

Katherine didn't answer right away. Elena waited with bated breath. Elena stuck her hands in her pockets where she was met with a crumpled paper. I deserve everything… Damon says you never will. The words in the note ran across her mind; she echoed Katherine's whispered response.

"Damon Salvatore."

Unbidden an image of Caroline swam before her mind's eye: 15 and covered in bruises. The very recent memory of Katherine lying prostrate in her hospital bed followed it. She felt a white hot rage fill her body from the tips of her toes to the ends of her hair.

"Damon Salvatore." Sheriff Forbes nodded once before leaving the room to radio the station. She returned a few moments later to take Katherine's full statement.


December 4

6 weeks later

Elena watched as Katherine examined herself in the full length mirror. She had turned to her side so that she could eye the growing bulge on her abdomen. Katherine rested the palms of her hands against her belly. Her cast had been removed the day before, and the prenatal exam was today.

"Everything's going to be fine," Elena declared. She stepped forward to place a hand on her sister's belly. "Your baby is going to be perfectly healthy; and you'll find out if it's a boy or a girl." Her eyes twinkled as she glanced down to stare at the bump. "We can finally stop referring to the baby as 'it'."

"Yeah," Katherine took a seat on the edge of the bed in her childhood room. She had moved back in with Elena after being discharged from the hospital.

"What's wrong Kat?" Elena knelt to down to place her hands on Katherine's knees. "And don't say nothing because something is clearly bothering you."

"I jus- " Katherine rubbed her growing belly. "I've barely left the house since I was discharged. What if he shows up today? What if he tries something?" She bit her lip and peeked up. "They let him out on bail 'Lena."

Elena came up to sit on the bed. She wrapped an arm around her sister's shoulders and attempted to calm her. "There is always someone with you when you leave this house. He is not getting anywhere near you. And to prove it I'm going with you today."

"Don't you have a date tonight?" Katherine shook her head quickly. "I won't have you canceling on Elijah again."

"I won't," Elena swore. She even went so far as to cross her heart. "The appointment is at 4:00 and Elijah is picking me up at 7:00. There's lots of time," Elena pulled Katherine towards the door. "Besides I wanna know if I'm gonna be an aunt or an uncle."

"You know that's not how this works, right?" Katherine laughed and followed Elena out.