Caroline paced around the room in back and forth motions as she chewed on her bottom lip. She'd been waiting for hours – although she didn't have to, her nerves seemed to be getting the best of her in this situation.

"Okay Caroline," she said as she prepped herself by taking a deep breath, "you can do this."

Slowly she pushed open the door as she took one more deep breath before walking over to the counter top. She lowered hand as she grabbed a hold of an object and closed her eyes before opening them once again. She felt her jaw drop as her heart stopped beating for a second.

"Positive," she whispered to herself.

Xxx

"So," Elena smiled as she walked into the living room and took a seat next to her aunt. Damon was out hunting along with Jeremy and Anna, leaving Elena alone in the house besides her aunt.

"So," replied Jenna as she folded one of Jeremy's shirts.

"How's things going with Mr. Saltzman?" Elena asked as she watched her aunt's cheeks grow red.

"I could ask you the same thing about you and Damon," she laughed as she returned her attention back to the clean clothes.

"There's a difference though, Aunt Jenna," Elena started, "Damon and I are dating, while you and Mr. Saltzman are just really into each other. I'm a girl, I can spot these things from a mile away."

"Alaric is just a friend," Jenna replied with a small smile, although she knew Elena wouldn't let the subject drop.

"I said the same thing about Damon for months, and now look where we're at," Elena laughed as she remembered all the times she told Stefan and Bonnie that Damon was nothing more than a friend.

"I think you should invite him to dinner," Elena said slowly as a smile formed upon her face once again.

"Oh no, I know what you're doing. I don't think so," Jenna laughed as she grabbed the phone out of Elena's hands.

"I have a cell phone, Aunt Jenna," Elena teased as she waved her phone in front of Jenna's face, "it'll be fun. You've been working so hard with taking care of Damon, Jeremy, Anna, and I and then there's work, and Mr. Saltzman obviously makes you happy. Plus, we all enjoy his company. So invite him!"

"Okay," Jenna sighed as she realized she was defeated. Elena smiled as she threw her arms around her aunt. "One condition. You help me make dinner."

"Deal," Elena agreed, "I'll get Damon to help too."

"Oh great," Jenna said sarcastically before returning to her duties.

xXx

"You're what?" shouted Bonnie as she sat across from Caroline.

They were currently in Caroline's bathroom as Caroline sat on the bathroom floor with the pregnancy test in her hand. She was still in the same position she had been in ever since she found out the results. Bonnie sat across from her as she watched her closely.

"Pregnant," Caroline whispered as her voice cracked towards the end of the word. She still couldn't believe it.

"Isn't this what you wanted, though?" Bonnie asked as she reached out and took the test from Caroline's hands.

"It is," Caroline replied, "But Matt...he wanted to wait."

She was nervous – more nervous than she had ever been before in her life. Inside of her there was another human being growing. Someone she had created along with the help of her boyfriend Matt. Their child was inside of her, growing every second of the day. She instantly loved her baby, whether it be a boy or girl, she loved it nevertheless. However, she couldn't help but worry about what Matt's reaction would be – especially since he had been against the idea of having a baby.

"He loves you Caroline," Bonnie said as she took Caroline's hand into her own, "you two will be amazing parents."

"What if he leaves?" Caroline asked. She could feel the tears forming underneath her eyes.

Bonnie looked at her as she raised her eyebrows to Caroline's suggestion. "Do you really think Matt's that kind of guy?"

"No, but," Caroline started.

"Then stop worrying," Bonnie said as she smiled before placing her hand against Caroline's stomach, "he'll love his baby as much as he loves you."

xXx

"Something smells good," announced Damon as he advanced into the kitchen to find Elena standing at the stove while something cooked, "Can I have a taste?"

Moments later he was standing behind her with his arms wrapped around her waist while he buried his nose against her throat, allowing himself to catch a whiff of her sweet blood. He moaned as he pictured himself tasting her blood as it flowed down his throat.

"I can practically feel you drooling over the taste of my blood, Damon," Elena said with a sarcastic tone.

"That's not the only thing I'm drooling over," he replied with a wink before removing himself from Elena's body.

Elena rolled her eyes as she ignored his suggestive comments. "How was hunting?"

"Funny you should say that," he said as he made his way over to the counter and grabbed an apple, "it was wonderful. Found me a little puppy, just like Stefan likes them. Oh God who am I kidding? I compelled some pizza delivery guy into letting me have a drink."

"Damon," groaned Elena as she turned around to see him pouting.

"Elena," he pouted as he did that eye thing that drove her crazy. Within seconds she was laughing which caused him to smile.

"I was trying to be mad at you," Elena laughed as she pushed Damon aside before grabbing the milk from the refrigerator.

"What's in the pot?" he asked suddenly as he grabbed the spoon and brought it to his mouth for a taste, "Gumbo, delicious, almost like you. What's the special occasion? You and Jenna are finally joining the vampire league?"

"No," Elena said as she rolled her eyes, "Aunt Jenna's got a date with Alaric."

"Wait a minute, wait a minute," Damon said as he waved his finger through the air and turned on his heel to face Elena, "Alaric, also known as Ric, is coming here? Tonight?"

"That's the plan," Elena grinned as she chopped up an onion over the large pot.

"Elena, that's a bad plan. Alaric and I only get along when we're staking vampires," Damon said as he groaned to himself.

"Well, it's happening. Besides, it can't be any worse than what dinner with Meredith's parents will be," she sighed.

"Guess I better go put on my good tie, wouldn't want Ric thinking I'm some slob," Damon muttered as he headed up the stairs.

Xxx

"Where are you taking me?" giggled Anna as Jeremy directed her. His large hands were over her eyes, stopping her from seeing what was around them.

"Almost there, stop asking," laughed Jeremy as he steered Anna in the direction of a large Christmas tree.

"Hurry up," groaned Anna. The anxiety was killing her. Jeremy had been talking about this surprise for hours now, only causing her own curiosity to rise even more than it already was.

"Okay, now!" Jeremy called out as he dropped his hands from her eyes and allowed her to take in the view in front of them.

"Oh my God," Anna whispered as she felt her head turning in all directions. The view was amazing and beautiful. She had never seen anything like this before.

The first thing she noticed was the extremely large tree that was directly in front of the two. It was decorated professionally – every ounce of the tree was covered in decorations. The second thing she noticed was the bright lights that hung from the surrounding houses as inflatable Santas, reindeer, snowmen, and other Christmas related objects decorated the front lawns. She smiled as she watched a miniature elf pass her trail.

"Where are we?" she asked as her amusement shown through her appearance.

"Why, Winter Wonderland," Jeremy smirked as he grabbed Anna's hand and continued to walk deeper into the wonderland.

"It's so pretty," she whispered as she allowed her hand to linger over the custom made sleigh which was in the middle of the wonderland. It had been designed to read Merry Christmas Mystic Falls across it.

"I can't believe you've never seen any of this," Jeremy said. Although it was his second time visiting the wonderland, he was still amazed by all the hard work the employees put into decorating.

"Mother never celebrated Christmas," she said quietly, "It was a waste of time."

Jeremy remained quiet for a moment as he allowed Anna to let her moment of sorrow pass. Suddenly, an idea came to his head that'd make Anna smile the biggest smile she'd ever smiled before.

"Come on," he said as he grabbed her hand and ran towards something she was unable to see.

"Where are we going?" she laughed as she pushed her legs faster.

"Sleight ride," he smiled as her eyes grew wide in excitement.

Xxx

"How did this happen?" Matt said quietly as he looked down at the small white stick that was currently in his hands. He hadn't believed Caroline when she had called and informed him, but now that he had evidence there was no denying the truth.

"Well," Caroline said as she prepared her speech, "Two weeks ago-"

"No, not that. How did you wind up pregnant? We were safe, we were careful," he asked, still in disbelief.

"Obviously not careful enough," Caroline said as she walked closer to Matt and placed her arm around his waist, "I know you're not happy about it but Matt, feel my stomach. Imagine what it'll look like in seven months, and imagine how you'll feel when our baby comes into this world."

"Our baby," Matt said in a whisper. The words sounded so foreign to him even as it came out of his own mouth.

"It's our little Christmas miracle," she said with a large smile as she rubbed her stomach lightly.

"What are we going to do?" he asked suddenly as he watched Caroline rub her stomach.

"Keep it, of course!" she called out. She was a Forbes, and Forbes were raised to allows do the right and proper thing. There was no way she was going to give her baby way or have it murdered – in her eyes those were the most unacceptable things a woman could do.

"No, I know that. I mean with living conditions. You'll have to move in with me," Matt stated.

"I suppose I could ask my mom..." Caroline said as her mind drifted off into thoughts of Matt and her having their own family in their own home.

"No, you're eighteen. You have to move in with me, I want to be right on the side of you as our baby grows," Matt smiled finally.

At first Caroline had been worried that he wasn't too happy with the news, but after seeing his face and reactions, she knew he was ready for this baby as much as she was. She felt herself grin as a few tears of happiness escaped. After all those years of not caring about anyone but herself, she finally had an amazing boyfriend along with an amazing child on the way.

Xxx

"This is amazing, Jeremy," Anna smiled as she looked up at the snow covered trees that they passed under.

"I knew you'd like it," he smiled. Seeing Anna's happiness made him feel like he was on top of the world – a feeling he didn't want to go away.

"I think we should come here every year. The feeling this place gives me is like I feel when I find someone with the most perfect blood," Anna laughed as she allowed her hand to drift off the side of the sleigh.

"Only you would compare something so peaceful to something so...death filled," laughed Jeremy as he thought about his girlfriend's comparison.

Anna soon joined in on the laughing. "For a vampire, it's peaceful."

"Nothing is peaceful about a vampire Anna," laughed Jeremy as he stroked her hair gently.

"You're pretty peaceful for a vampire," smiled Anna as she looked up at her boyfriend.

"That's because I have you," he said with a small smile forming upon his own face.

Xxx

"So I'm not really sure about this whole Alaric thing," Damon said (A/N: my computer is driving my NUTS right now because my space bar keeps getting stuck for some reason) as he reappeared in the kitchen wearing a pair of black jeans, a white button down shirt, and his leather jacket.

"He's a nice guy," Elena said as she grabbed the plates out of the cabinet and placed them in Damon's hands, "And so are you, so help me out."

"You know," Damon said as he walked over to the table and started setting the table, "once you move in with me, we won't have to worry about this whole setting the table thing."

(A/N:I fixed the space bar! Yay!)

"And why's that?" Elena asked as she turned off the stove and allowed the gumbo to cool down for a second.

"Because," Damon said as if it wasn't a big deal, "I'll be able to use my super speed. Ric's here, by the way."

Moments later the front door bell rang throughout the entire house as Elena looked at Damon with a confused face. Damon simply smirked and shrugged his shoulders as he made his way into the living room.

"Gilbert residence," Damon smirked as he opened the door, revealing a shivering Alaric.

"Damon," Alaric nodded as he stepped into the house, "Where's Jenna?"

"Oh, who knows? Probably out nurturing some puppy that Stefan fed off..." Damon said as his voice grew quieter and quieter, "How's life without vampires Ric?"

"Don't let this go to your head, Salvatore," Alaric stated as he hung his coat on the nearby coat rack, "But I actually miss it. Anytime you have a vampire to slay, you know where to find me."

"Seems like someone enjoys my company, isn't that right Ric?" Damon smirked as he put emphasis on 'Ric'.

"And the cockiness begins," Alaric said as he rolled his eyes and walked into the kitchen to find Elena placing the pot of gumbo on the table.

"Hey Mr. Saltzman," she smiled, "Damon, where's Anna and Jeremy?"

"We're here," they both said suddenly as they fly through the back sliding door, startling Elena in the process.

"Now the only one that's missing is Aunt Jenna," Elena said quietly as they all looked around awkwardly.

"Well," Damon sighed, "This is awkward. Ric, imagine how this will be when Elena lives with me."

"Damon, knock it off," Elena said. She found herself rolling her eyes before walking away.

"Knock what off? Your-" Damon started but stopped suddenly as he heard footsteps slowly coming down the stairs.

"Hey everyone," Jenna smiled as she walked over to Alaric and hugged him tightly, "This smells delicious Elena."

"Thank you," Elena smiled before taking a seat at the table.

"You made all of this, Elena?" Alaric asked in astonishment.

"My mother – my mother who adopted me – used to always watch these cooking shows. So sometimes I'd watch them with her, and then she'd show me how to cook a meal after," explained Elena.

"I can't wait until you move in with me," Damon smirked, "Dinner like this every single day of my life."

"Don't get too hopeful. Anna and I have been living together for a while now and so far she's only made a homemade meal twice," teased Jeremy as Anna punched him playfully.

"Elena, I think we should really talk about this whole moving in together thing before you actually do it," Jenna said slowly.

"What's going to happen if you two break up?" Alaric asked suddenly.

"Thanks for the support Ri- Mr. Saltzman," Damon muttered, "Oh, Elena. By the way, Stefan called. Lunch with the devil's tomorrow."

"Wonderful," Elena groaned as Damon, Jeremy, and Anna laughed quietly, leaving Jenna and Alaric to be clueless.

Xxx

enjoy and review.