Chapter Four.
Can nobody hear me?
I got a lot that's on my mind
I cannot breathe
Can you hear it, too?- Imagine Dragons
All eyes fixed on the stomach, with ripped white (more like grey and red stained) gloved hands covering it protectively.
Elena's desperate eyes flickered to Damon.
"Damon?" She gasped out like she was about to cry.
"It's true" he said, he put his hand on Carina's shoulder, she turned her head slightly towards him, her shaky hand gripped the one on his shoulder.
"No- No this can't- I mean- This can't be happening" Elena said running her hands through her hair, everyone looked at her shocked and confused.
"Elena calm down" Caroline said frowning at her.
"Just when everything was so perfect- you!" she cried at Carina, Carina moved forward instinctively then hissed at her, fangs bared, veins appeared and eyes bright citrus yellow.
"Take one step near to me and my child and I will bite you" Carina warned deadly, Stefan grabbed Elena's wrist and she looked at him hoping he would be on her side, but he shook his head at her telling her to back off.
"This is ridiculous! You all are on her side now? Just because she is pregnant? You are my friends!" Elena cried outraged.
"Elena don't do this" Damon said pulling Carina back behind him.
"Everything was so perfect! You have ruined everything!" Elena yelled to Carina who narrowed her eyes at Elena.
"Great first impression" Carina snarled bitterly.
"Ladies please!" Damon yelled, Carina scoffed angrily yes, good protection of our child she thought angrily and glared at the back of his head.
"My gosh Elena, stop! What is wrong with you?" Bonnie asked shocked.
"Sweet little Lena finally cracked?" Katherine asked scooping ice cream into her mouth and re-appearing.
"Katherine not good timing" Stefan warned moving towards her but keeping close to Elena, Carina was dangerous, a hybrid and has over 1 century and a half to add to it, she is the second most powerful hybrid in the world.
"You shut up! Just all shut up! You have ruined my life" She said pointing to Carina who stepped forward dangerously, Damon went to grab her but she snatched her wrist away faster.
"Don't you think that maybe you have ruined my life? What about my child? Maybe you have ruined his or her's life also? Did you ever think about that? Elena? Did you ever think about anyone but yourself?!" Carina yelled, Elena hissed at her, fangs and veins extending.
"I wouldn't do that, I have just woken up from being tortured for years on end, pregnant and found out the father of the baby has this self-centred courtship with you! All my family is dead, the only people I know is Stefan Damon and Katherine and I am all alone and pregnant in a time I don't even know! So you can excuse me if YOUR LIFE IS RUINED!" Carina roared in her face.
"Carina Carina!" Damon snapped pulling her back.
"No don't touch me" she said tears filling her eyes… it felt good to let that out…
But the pain and loneliness was closing in, swallowing her whole, she felt like she couldn't breathe.
"Elena, outside" Damon snapped and she whooshed out, he rolled his eyes.
"Carina, Carina I will be right back" he said and put both hands on her shoulders, she felt all their eyes on her and she shrugged him off as she struggled to get her breath in, Damon frowned.
"You promised me that once" she gasped out and staggered back.
"What's happening? Carina?" Damon asked following her.
"She is having a panic attack" Stefan said rushing forward in saviour doctor Stefan mode, and grabbing her hand, he sat her on the bed.
"Right, Carina. Look at me, Carina!" Stefan said and lifted her chin up she had her eyes screwed shut.
"I-can't-breathe-Stefan" she said.
"I will go sort Elena out" Bonnie said running down stairs.
"No-No… Damon-go" Carina said, Damon looked confused and hurt a little, she looked at him.
"Go" she growled, he blinked slowly, the way he looked so hurt made it worse for her, she had to look away.
"Look in my eyes Carina, come on" Stefan said taking her hand, she looked in his eyes.
"Stefan, take care of her okay? I will be back I promise this time" he said to Carina, she closed her eyes and shook her head.
"Damon go, it's okay" Caroline said rushing in with a paper bag. "Elena needs you"
"Carina needs me" he said
"Damon! Just go!" Caroline yelled annoyed and pushed him out of the room.
"I'm alone Stefan, all alone" Carina gasped out.
"No you are not! You have me, always Carina, you have Damon too, please just calm down, your baby needs you" he said, she squeezed her eyes shut and some tears fell out.
"Breathe into this" Caroline said rubbing her arm, she handed her the paper bag, Carina breathed into it.
"Breathe, in. out" Stefan said, Caroline began mimicking the breathing pattern Stefan was making for Carina.
"In. Out. Come on you can do this" Stefan said, she began to follow his breathing pattern.
"There" Stefan said and her head collapsed on his shoulder.
"Thank you, both of you! Thank you ever so much" Carina breathed out.
"It's okay, you are under a lot of stress, My name is Caroline. You can come to me if you need any help" Caroline said and rubbed her shoulder.
"Thank you, Caroline, I appreciate it" she whispered.
"Would you like a shower? You are covered in blood and dust and dirt" she said and Carina frowned
"Shower?" she asked
"Uh, Caroline, she doesn't know what a shower is" Stefan said.
"Oh shoot! Yeah! I am sorry" Caroline said and blushed "A shower is like bathing, but the water is coming from above you and is rushing down on you, it is great, it is quick and warm and you can wash your hair, ooh I have the best shower gel! I carry it around with me, you never know when you might just bump into danger" she said rambling, Carina looked at her with her mouth open slightly.
"Caroline" Stefan said laughing slightly.
"Riiight, sorry! I will go switch on the shower and grab some things; I will go get you some clothes… I will get you a lot actually, sorry I am just going to go…" Caroline said and flashed out.
Carina smiled
"I like her" she said amused, Stefan nodded and chuckled.
"She is a fun character" he said, Carina laid back against the pillows.
"Stefan?" she whispered, he laid back next to her, he grabbed her hand.
"It's all going to be okay Carina" he promised
"But what about the child? My child will be born out of wedlock" she said panicked.
"Carina it is okay, loads of women have children out of wedlock, lots also have children alone and are called 'Single Parents' it is all okay now, it is not frowned upon, you will like this age, I know it" Stefan said
"But… I will be alone?" she asked
"No… You have me, Damon… and Caroline likes you, she will help you, you and her will be great friends, I think you may even have Katherine" he said and her lip curled.
"She isn't after Damon anymore, don't worry" Stefan said
"I hate her" she snapped and he rolled his eyes.
"Carina, Katherine is… she is vulnerable at the moment, human, she is aging rapidly and doesn't have much time left. She is dying" Stefan said
"And you care, you love her?" Carina asked and he sighed.
"She betrayed me, but… I guess I will always care for her" Stefan said
"I cannot deny the love between you two, but I hated how she played the two of you against each other" she said and he smiled.
"I know" he said, she sighed.
"So passionate" she said and he chuckled.
"So, how far along are you?" he asked, she touched her stomach.
"About 4 months if you add it up" she said and his hand reached out hesitantly, she smiled and grabbed his hand and pressed it to her stomach, his hand was warm, she smiled wider.
"Does the baby move?" Stefan asked, his doctor side coming out
"yeah, little flutters and kicks, I think if you speak a lot the baby reacts, but you have to be calm, I used to sing to my bump… when they left me alone to heal before making me go back" she said and Stefan rubbed her stomach affectionately.
"You are so strong Carina" he said and she nodded.
"I had to be, this little one's safety was more important than mine, I had to keep myself calm no matter how much they tormented me, and my baby is also hybrid so heals" she said smiling proudly.
"If I knew-" Stefan said but she hushed him.
"You knew not, never blame yourself, 'ifs' are dangerous, I am here and I am safe and so is my child, so I am forever grateful" she said.
Just then she felt the baby move and flutter inside of her, by Stefan's astonished face he did too.
"Wow" he breathed shocked.
"Meet your uncle" Carina whispered to her stomach, more fluttering became evident now, Stefan looked hesitant and she laughed "My baby may be a hybrid, but it can't bite you, go on, talk" she said amused, he leant forward towards her stomach.
"Hello baby, I am Stefan, your uncle" he said and the baby moved around more now.
"It likes the warmth" she said smiling, he just stared at it in shock.
"Another Salvatore" he whispered.
"Bird also!" she said smirking and he laughed.
"Bird too" he said smiling, she looked at him and he looked a little freaked.
"What's wrong? It will all be okay, you will be a perfect uncle" she said and he sighed.
"I know, it's just… never mind" he said
"You started now you shall finish" she said
"I am worried about Damon, he really loves Elena, and I am worried she will want him to have nothing to do with the baby" Stefan said
"Forget her, she has had her warning, this is Damon's decision…. As much as it hurts that I come second once again…. If he loves her then… then I cannot stand in the way, but this child is his" she said and she sat up slightly.
"Elena stop crying!" Damon snapped
"How can I? She has ruined everything! You won't want me anymore, this changes everything!" she yelled
"No it doesn't! I love YOU Elena! You!" he yelled grabbing her shoulders.
"But you have a baby on the way! You won't care about me anymore" she said
"Don't be so stupid! Why are you reacting so badly! It's not like I slept with her yesterday! I slept with her over a century and a half ago!" he yelled angry.
"I can't! I can't do this! I- I have to go" she said and flashed out.
"Elena" he yelled, he then ran his hands through his hair.
"That wasn't cute" Katherine said, Damon grabbed her by the throat in seconds, she dropped the ice cream.
"Oh get over it Damon! Sweet little Lena cracks? Just because your old gal has a bun in the oven? I hate to break it to you but when that baby is born, nothing means more to you than the baby" Katherine said strained.
"I love Elena, I couldn't love anyone or anything more than her" he growled.
"We will just have to see about that" she rasped and just when the black spots grew he released her and she gasped.
"I'm bacckkk!" Caroline sang, holding bags of clothes and things.
"Caroline what are you doing here?" Damon asked annoyed, she raised her eyebrows.
"I am here for Carina, clothes, shower gel, I even brought her some pregnancy books!" she said excitedly
"Here goes the perky blonde turning her into a dolly with a baby in her belly" Katherine said and Caroline narrowed her eyes at her.
"I am just excited that's all, I love children" Caroline hissed and then began to go up the stairs.
"Blondie?" Damon asked, Caroline looked over her shoulder in annoyance.
"What?" she snapped
"Is she okay?" he asked
"Carina? I don't know why don't you see for yourself?" Caroline asked, he sighed and began walking up the stairs after her.
They opened his door and Caroline stopped him and looked at what she was staring at with a soft smile.
He felt jealousy and anger bubble up.
On his bed was Carina sleeping with her head on Stefan's shoulder and his hand over her stomach where his baby was.
"Oh it's so cute" Caroline whispered with her hands clasped together.
"Yeah yeah show's over" Damon snapped walking in, Stefan stirred and opened his eyes, he sat up immediately which caused Carina to open her eyes abruptly.
"Damon, Care" Stefan said, Carina blinked and sighed looking around a little; she looked at Damon but refused to meet his eyes.
"I got the stuff! Oh and some books, oh clothes, here in bags, and oh shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. Here! You will look great! I guessed your size would be similar to mine" she said gushing slightly.
"Oh, oh why thank you Caroline for your efforts" Carina said rubbing her tired eyes.
"Oh this is so exiting! A baby? Can you belie-" Carina didn't mean to be rude to Caroline, but she zoned out.
She had a lot on her mind right now.
Oh! Wonderful reviews! Let the battle commence! Baby boy or girl?! And I think Enzo will come into the next chapter! I love Enzo, and it will be fun to write him into the story, also giving him a big part in it, a potential love interest for Carina perhaps? hm... there will be some chemistry but this is a Damon/OC fic as promised and I personally do ship Carina with a lot of people *ahem* Klaus too *cough* but I am a faithful Klaroline shipper and ship them till death! but again, there would be some chemistry.
And how do you feel about Katherine and Caroline having a potential friendship with Carina?
Thank you for your amazing reviews and suggestions! I have taken them all on board, I am planning the Carina and Klaus meeting! But I need to know… BABY BOY OR GIRL?! Most votes win, I mean I have read all reasons and both appeal to me! ugh! Help!
Until next time!