As the day went on Stefan sat with Elena and the baby a while longer until the nurse came in to take him back upstairs. Elena was a little sad but she knew he needed rest, Stefan continued to sit in the room with her and he decided to talk to her about the baby being released.
Stefan: (sitting in the chair) So I talked to the doctor about Zach and he says he's ready to be released.
Elena: oh no not yet! Who's gonna take care of him.
Stefan: (moved to the bed and picked up her hand) I was thinking that maybe I would take him home to your house and Jeremy's there so he could help me take care of him.
Elena: (looks a little sad) Are you sure you can do that Stefan? taking care of a baby is a lot of work! And how are you dealing with feeding.
Stefan: I know it is but you cared for our baby for months by yourself while he grew inside you and this is for only a little while until you come home and with Jeremy's help it should be okay. And I've been easing back into animal blood.
Elena: I believe in you Stefan... I know you love him as much as I do. I think it would be best if you took him home. but i worry for you two.
Stefan hugged Elena strong and replied "you won't be disappointed, we'll visit every day to see you."
As time went on, Elena got stronger and Stefan settled into being a dad. After the first week which was extremely difficult he calmed down and got the hang of it. He began to notice his sons different cry and it felt as if he and Zach were connected and when he learned to listen to his son he understood better what his son wanted. Damon even began to come around a bit to witness the mess but to his surprise Stefan was doing an amazing job.
Stefan had just got back from the hospital fromvisitng Elena and Jeremy had agreed to stay with her so Stefan could take Zach home and put him to bed before he came back to sit with Elena. He walked in carrying the carrier with Zach in it and placed it down on the coffee table. Taking off his jacket he looked down to see his son glaring up at him with his beautiful green eyes.
Stefan: Home sweet home huh! I know you miss your mommy already but guess what so do I. (He started to unbuckle him and pick him up when his hand began to shake. He stopped for a moment and breathed). Well the doctors say mommy is getting stronger and we'll be home soon.
He carried him over to the downstairs changing table and placed him down and started to change his diaper. When he got another shake, these were his hunger for human blood twitches. Finishing up he took him in th kitchen and began preparing a bottle. Stefan holding his son began to feel a craving, which was something he had been struggling with the last few days. He was unable to get out and hunt like he really needed to so he was bit off but kept trying to push through for his son's sake. As he warmed the bottle he cradled Zach and carried him back into the living room. entering the living room he was shocked to see Damon sitting on the couch reading the parenting book Stefan had sitting out.
Stefan: Damon!
Damon: What no hugs! Oh you got your hands full with the little...
Stefan: Baby! (putting the bottle to his son's mouth)
Damon: So DAD! Is this everything you ever wished for...
Stefan: (looking down at his son sucking the bottle) and more.
Damon: yeah right! (throwing the magazine on the couch getting up) sooo.. whens Elena being sprung from the joint.
Stefan: Not sure yet the doctors say she is stronger ( Sits on th couch)
Damon: Well since your all daddy now and there's no way around this I guess I might as well give it a try! (hands out) give it to me.
Stefan: what?
Damon: gimme the baby. I gotta try to get along with the little diaper drag.
Stefan: Damon, you don't have to besides. Why the sudden change?
Damon: I don't wanna be known as the mean uncle. I wanna be the fun one. The one who takes for ice cream, and cake. Let's him stay up late or have shots with me and take to see hookers.
Stefan: Excuse me! There will be no drinking or hookers. I think the ice cream and cake are nice and staying up late sounds fun but may be a little much but definitely none of the other stuff.
Damon: Suit yourself! Sorry kid I tried only boobs you'll be seeing is your mommy but no worries she's got some pretty nice ones.
Stefan: Damon, you can't say things like that. Not about his mom. (holding the baby up to ve burped)
Damon: Okay, Okay! (with his hands out) gimme the kid.
Stefan: (bringing him back down from his shoulder cleaning the excess vomit) I don't know (begins to pass the baby to Damon.)
Damon: (cradles the babies in arms) there we go. See I can do this.
Stefan: Make sure you hold his head.
Damon: I got it. (sitting in the arm-chair)
Stefan: be careful your heart might show.
Damon: (sits back and put his feet up) Well its better to be on his side than be against him. Now that we're acquainted here how about you let your so called dad get something to eat, and I'm taking the kind you sink your teeth into and drink.
Stefan: I'm fine. I'm not leaving. I can't.
Damon: how many days has it been (looking down into his nephews eyes) by the shaking in your hand and your pale complexion it looks like maybe almost two weeks... Look brother your gonna go on bender if you don't feed soon. I already don't agree with the Stefan animal diet but when your here with this baby I know all you can think of is human blood.
Stefan: I can't think about that now. I'm more concerned about making sure he is okay and healthy.
Damon: Stefan gooo! because I made a promise that no harm will come him and if you don't go, then harm will come to him because you could possibly feed on him.
Stefan: (getting up and taking the baby from him) Damon I would never feed on my son.
Damon: (hopping out of the arm-chair) No your right do-gooder, animal eating, dad Stefan would not. But ripper Stefan would.
Stefan looked down at his sleeping son and thought about how hard it was to control himself when he turned into that person. Placing his sleeping son in the downstairs pack n play. He turned to Damon.
Stefan: 1 hour. I will be gone a total of one hour. He sleeps for an hour when he hasn't been changed after his feeding. He shouldn't wake up but by chance he does call me immediately and there are bottles in the fridge put it in the microwave for 30 seconds, shake it up and feed him. (He leaned over the pack n play and gave Zach a kiss on the forehead whispering) hey buddy I gotta go do that thing I promise I will be right back. Your uncle Damon is gonna watch you for a bit. Don't give him any hell okay. Love you!
Damon: (grabbing Stefan by the arm) okay enough mushy! we'll be fine. (closing the door behind him)
Damon: (walked over to the pack n play and looked down at his nephew) huh! you are pretty cute. You look like my brother (seeing the half-smile Zach gives in his sleep) there it is, that your mom right there wait! that better not be gas because I don't do diapers. (looks at the baby's hands) you know you have your moms hands (looks down at his feet and lifts up the blanket) and her toes. Thats one good attribute to have because your dad has some ugly ones. (stroking his cheek) I didn't like you! (the baby frowned a bit in his sleep) Wait there's good reason. You see I thought you were gonna hurt your mommy so I had my reason because I was protecting her but now I'm gonna protect you because you're pretty important to us all and between me and you I kinda like you better than your dad. (the baby made another smile and so did Damon) Vampire has baby with doppleganger what will happen next.
After an hour Stefan returned to see Damon sitting int he arm-chair reading the parenting book. The moment Stefan walked in he jumped out of the chair.
Damon: Finally your back, baby boogers is all yours. gotta go. (before he leaves he walks over to the pack n play and runs his hand over Zach's cheek) catch later kid (he whispers)
Just as Damon exited the door Zach seemed to wake up and was a bit cranky Stefan picked him up and looked to the door and said "I think you might have won over your uncle." Stefan began to prepare Zach for bed. He gave him a bath, put hin in his night clothing and fed him all before Jeremy got home. The moment Jeremy walked in Stefan was in the middle of putting him down for sleep. He heard him come to the room door and Stefan looked to the door and saw him standing there, he slowly pulled the blanket up and slowly walked out the room turning out the light and turning on the baby monitor and closing the door. In the hall Stefan turned to Jeremy and handed him the baby monitor.
Stefan: Well he's out for now at least. I made bottles for the night because I was hoping to stay with Elena all night
Jeremy: (taking the monitor) Yea, sure! I think she really wants that. Besides me and the lil dude will be fine! He's my late night movie partner.
Stefan: okay well if you need anything or anything happens call my cell and I will see you in the morning. (Stefan left the house on his way to the hospital).