Ok Guys! I'm back. I'm so sorry I haven't updated in what feels like forever but life has been throwing some hard balls. We just got temporary custody of my sister's kids, all under the age of 6. It's been exhausting. But I do have good news. I already have chapter 4 written and I'm currently working on chapter 5. Expect them soon!

Disclaimer: I don't own this! Except for the kids. All rights go to L.J. Smith, Julie Plec, and Kevin Williamson.

Chapter 3: Safe and Sound

4 months later- Friday, June 14, 2013
4months + 3 weeks pregnant, 39 ½ inches

"Stefan, where's the Dr. Pepper?" Elena called out into the large house. She was four months pregnant and had the weirdest cravings. First it was pickle, then it was root beer, now its barbeque sandwiched and Dr. Pepper. The kid couldn't make it' mind up. One week Elena loved something the next it was making her sick.

"I don't know, I just bought a case four days ago," Stefan said coming into the kitchen.

"Well now there's none," Elena said slamming the fridge door. "Come on, we're going to be the appointment. Just remind me to pick up another case on our way back." She turned and headed straight for the door. Before Elena could make it out the door a shadowy figure stepped into her path with an even shadier smirk.

"Damon, it's nice to see you. It's been what, six months?" Elena said to her cocky-brother-in law.

"No, try four and I see a lot has changed," Damon said eyeing Elena's growing bump. "I see someone's been naughty."

"I don't have time for this, I have to go. We'll explain later. Stefan come on."

"Yeah, here I come. Oh hey Damon, long time no see," Stefan said walking into the foyer.

"Do you want to explain how she's pregnant?" Damon said yanking his thumb in Elena's direction.

"Can't right now, gotta go," Stefan ushered Elena out and into the car.

"You know he'll never believe us, right?" Stefan questioned.

"I know, but I love a challenge," Elena said kissing Stefan on the cheek.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They made it to the doctor's office with seconds to spare. Elena checked herself in and waited a few minutes before a nurse called them back.

"Dr. Forbes will be with you momentarily," the nurse said before exiting.

"Are you nervous?" Stefan asked.

"Yeah a little, I just want to know that it's healthy and safe," Elena answered. She looked around the room and saw it looked bland. It had tan walls with only a few pictures of flowers here and there and a pink vase of flowers. "Being here makes it real, I guess it is. Are you nervous?"

"To be honest, I'm terrified. It does make it real, being here, but also surreal that it's happening," Stefan said leaning his head down a little. He only looks up when he hears Elena start to chuckle. "What's funny?"

"Nothing, it's just, I think all dads think that, whether they're human or not. It's just instinct." Elena leaned over and gave Stefan a deep kiss. It was Stefan to break it.

"I love you, you know that. And I will protect you and this child."

"I love you too and I believe you. Nothing can hurt us now."

Stefan laughed the leaned over and gave Elena another deep kiss. It was soon interrupted by Dr. Forbes's entrance.

"Now you two, that's how you ended up here," Dr. Forbes announced. "How are you today Elena?"

"I'm fine, pregnant, but fine," Elena smiled.

"That's good to hear, no cramps or spotting or anything?"

"None that I'm aware of."

"Good, well I'm going to hook you up to the heart monitor so we can hear that pretty little baby, then we'll take a sonogram."

Once Elena was hooked up, Dr. Forbes left to go get some paper work. Elena and Stefan were left to listen to their child's hear. It sounded off, but it could have been the fact that the child was half vampire. Elena didn't think too much about it.

Dr. Forbes came back in after about five minutes and read the sheet that has printed off.

"Hmm…" Dr. Forbes muttered.

"That better be a good 'Hmm…' Dr. Forbes," Stefan joked.

"Depending on how you look at it, it's very good. I just need the sonogram to be sure." Dr. Forbes left and then came back with heavy machinery. She squirted the cool gel on Elena's stomach and then started to move the remote around. Elena could see two globs, but thought it was part of the baby.

"Just what I thought," Dr. Forbes said. "How far along are you?"

"Four months and a few weeks, why?" Elena questioned a little worried.

"Well it looks as if you and Stefan got a two-for-one deal. Sometimes the monitor doesn't pick it up, but it looks as if you are carrying twins Elena," She paused and turned to look at them, "Congratulations you two."

Elena just stared at Dr. Forbes for a second.

"You're saying that there are two instead of one?" Stefan asked not believing it.

"That's typically what twins mean Mr. Salvatore," Dr. Forbes said look at him questionably. She looked

over to see Elena just staring at the monitor. "Elena, are you okay?"

Elena was quiet. What could she say? Here she thought she couldn't have kids and now she's blessed with two. This can't be real, she thought. No, I'm going to wake up soon and I'll still be talking to Bonnie. But I don't want to, let me sleep. I don't want this dream to end, it's too good.

Soon she came back to reality and felt Stefan squeezing her hand. She heard Dr. Forbes talking to her, how many times has she asked that question? She couldn't tell.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just shocked," she said finding her voice.

"Good, everything looks fine here, I'll just clean you up and you're free to go," Dr. Forbes said cleaning the gel off her stomach.

Elena and Stefan were sitting in the car after the appointment, just staring out the windows.

We're going to have a baby. No, not baby, babies, plural. Whoa, their heads were spinning. It was insane. Now they have to convince Damon about this. On top of all of this, they forgot the Dr. Pepper.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Friday August 31st 2013 – 6 months 2 ½ weeks: 45"
10:43 am

"What about Ava Marie and Abigail Rose?" Elena called to Stefan from her place on the bed. She'd been put on bed-rest at six months and was restless. Now was the time to talk names.

"I don't like Ava and how do we know they're not both boys?" Stefan answered coming to sit next to her

"I'm not saying we don't, I just want to be prepared."

"Well we could…"

"No I want it to be a surprise, just like everything else."

"Okay, I have to respect that," Stefan leaned over and gave Elena a quick kiss on the cheek. "You'd better get ready. Caroline and Bonnie should be here soon."

God love them. They'd planed this big extravagant baby shower at the Grille, but when Elena had gone on bed-rest they had to switch gears. She has to admire Caroline's awesome party planning and Bonnie's determinism. Where would she be without them?

"Do I have to go? I like it here, just us four," she said dropping the book on her lap and wrapping her arms around Stefan.

"I do too, but you promised them."

"Ugh, I only like one of the promises I've made."

"And what's that?"

"The promise to love you with all of my heart." With that Elena leaned over for a deep kiss. Stefan wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Soon, though, he felt a little nudge from her midsection. Elena pulled back.

"Did you feel that?" Elena questioned. She took his hands and placed them on her stomach. "It felt like crickets running across there!"

"Wow!" Stefan smiled and lowered his head. "Hi little one, it's daddy. I love you two. Please be nice to your mother." Elena had to laugh at that comment. The kicking continues for a little while.

"Aw, sorry to interrupt this family moment, but Witchy and Barbie are annoying me," Damon said from the doorway. "It's all baby this and baby that and 'Get your feet off the table, Damon', very annoying."

"Tell them I'll be down in a minute," Elena said getting up and head towards the bathroom.

"Can you play nice for at least 10 minutes?" Stefan questioned his brother, pushing past him to go downstairs.

"Nice? Why that's my middle name," Damon smirked and followed Stefan out of the room

Twenty minutes, later Elena waddled downstairs to see all of her friends and family there. Bonnie, Caroline, Jeremy, Matt, Damon, Rose, the whole gang. Whoa Elena had to give it to Bonnie and Caroline. They could really throw a party. They should start a business, Elena thought.

"There they are," she heard Caroline squeal. Soon Caroline was crushing her in a big hug.

"Ok Care, oxygen's good too," Elena choked out.

"Oh, sorry," Caroline said sheepishly. She then bent down to talk to the stomach. "Hi there, it's your Aunty Caroline. Just remember, no matter what anybody says, I'm going to be your favorite," Caroline cooed, it also earned a few laughs.

"Don't hog her Caroline," bonnie chirped from the couch.

"Hi everyone," Elena said walking, really waddling, over to sit next to Bonnie. "Jeremy, Matt, how did these two convince you to come?" Elena asked

"For me it was either come or be bitched out for a month for watching football instead of coming here," Matt said grinning.

"Watch your mouth!" Caroline shrieked putting her hands on either side of Elena's stomach.

"Oops," Matt said not totally sincere.

"Well for me, Bonnie was very convincing," Jeremy said

"Well I'm glad you both came," Elena said ending that part of the conversation. "Where are Stefan and Damon?"

Just then Jenna came through the door with a car seat and a two year old. She, like Caroline opted to adopt. Alaric came in behind with a large stack of presents.

"Hey, sorry we're late, you'll soon understand," Jenna said winking at Elena.

"No, I'm glad you made it. I would give you a hug but it'd take me about ten minutes to stand up."

"Okay good, since most of us are here we can open presents," Caroline said. You could tell she had the most energy.

"Wait what about Stefan and Damon?" Elena asked.

"Oh, right, Alaric will you go tell them to come downstairs," Caroline said winking. Elena just looked at her questioningly but let it go. It would be impossible to get her to spill. About a minute later Damon strutted in followed by Stefan. Stefan came and sat down next to Elena while Damon took a stand next to the liquor cabinet.

"Okay presents!" Caroline shrieked. Elena just rolled her eyes and let her friend hand her gifts.

After about fifty pacifiers, sixty burp rags, twenty blankets, and hundreds of onseies (she lost count after the third "favorite aunt" one) Stefan announced that he had a surprise. He asked that everyone fallow him upstairs. Elena was a little confused but she went along with it. They walked down the hall to the second to last bedroom and came to a stop. Stefan slowly opened the door to the new room. Elena slowly walked in and was flabbergasted.

"Oh my goodness," Elena gasped.

It was a nursery. A beautiful white and green nursery filled with all the furniture and toy they would need, times two. There were two beautiful cherry-wood cribs, and basinets with white eyelet skirt and canopy. It was so pretty.

"Wait it get better," Caroline and Bonnie said in sync. With that the group turned and went back downstairs. When they got there, Elena saw that Matt, Jeremy and Alaric had brought in swings and play pens. This was wonderful.

"How did you manage to do this?" Elena said to really everyone.

"You know all those shopping excursion? They were really a distraction to get you out of the house so they could finish the nursery," Caroline said.

"It was a good thing we planned this early," Bonnie spoke. "We weren't expecting you to go on bed-rest."

"This is all amazing." Elena felt herself crying, damn hormones. They always misinterpreted her emotions. This time they were happy tears. Tears of excitement and joy. This can't be real, this is just a dream.

"Elena what's wrong?" Stefan said putting his arms around her.

"Nothing, that's just it nothing's wrong. There are no crazy ex-girlfriends, or vengeful vampires or even vampires hunting us. Since Tyler moved there've been no werewolves. Everything's perfect," Elena sobbed a little more in Stefan's chest then pushed back to face her friends. "Thank you guys so much, this means the world to me." Elena pulled everyone in for a group hug, kinda hard to do with an expanding belly.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Thursday November 14 2013– 8 months 2 weeks: 61"
10:09 pm

"Are you nervous?"

"Yeah, but I'm also excited."

"Two week, only two weeks then we can meet them."

"Yeah, are you scared?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I have you," Stefan breathed. "And I know that since we've been through so much, I know we can handle this"

Elena rolled over to face Stefan.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For everything, for protecting me, for marrying me for starting a family with me…for loving me. I love you Stefan."

"I wouldn't have done it with anyone else. You are everything to me, I love you Elena Salvatore."

"Mmmm…hearing that never gets old," Elena sighed.

Stefan wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. Elena knew in that moment that she and her twins were protected, they were safe and sound.

Friday November 15 2013– 8 months 2 weeks 1 day: 61"
1:30 pm

Elena was sitting on the couch when it happened. It's been happening all morning. A small cramp here a small cramp there but she just figured it was something she ate. But now as she sat down it got a slight bit worse. Elena thought maybe a nap would help.

5:30 pm

"Ow!" Elena shrieked. The pain had only increased since earlier.

Oh no, Elena thought. No, no, no, two more weeks, not for another two more weeks. Stefan wasn't even here. He and Damon had left early this morning. She was at home by herself having contractions.

"Ahh!" Elena tried to walk up the stairs to at least get her shoes. "Oh this is not going to work," Elena said to herself.

Just then she heard somebody enter the front door.

"Hello, 'Lena, are you home?

Oh my God, Lexi! Thank God she got in town today!

"Yeah Lexi, upstairs."

There was a whoosh and Lexi was at the door.

"Oh my, Elena are you okay?"

"No actually I need you to take me to the hospital."

"Oh my God are you…?"

"Yes and Stefan and Damon are gone. My contractions are about twenty minutes apart but we really need to go." Elena doubled over and cried in pain.

"Okay, okay we're going," Lexi said helping Elena downstairs and out the door

10:01 pm

"OH MY GOD!" Elena screamed. The pain was unbearable and between the five hours they'd been here she only dilated three centimeters. Not enough to get an epidural. They did give her a little pain meds, though, they were barely helping.

"Okay Elena we called Damon and they should be here in a little while," Caroline said walking into the room. Elena had Lexi call everyone when they left, Stefan being at the top of the list.

"Why did they have to leave, they should have stayed home, especially this close to the due date," Elena just leaned back and tried to take deep breaths.

"Elena it's going to be okay," Caroline said very encouragingly, coming over to sit next to her.

"Really you should have let Bonnie do that spell on you, and then you'd see how it feels," Elena snapped. Caroline just slowly moved away from the very hormonal pregnant lady.

"I'm just gonna go check on the boys." With that she flew out the door to the waiting room.

"Oh God, she thinks I hate her," Elena said with tears starting to form.

"No she's just a little scared," Bonnie said to reassure her.

"Yeah I mean we all kind of are," Lexi piped up.

"I know I just wish Stefan was here."

"Trust me we all do," Bonnie said.

Saturday November 16 2013
1:30 am

"Elena?"

Elena was groggy. After seeing how much pain she was in, one of the nurses had given her something to help her sleep. Now she was being woke up by an unseen voice. Unseen but familiar.

Elena turned her head and all but jumped from the bed when she saw who it was.

"Stefan! Thank goodness you're here."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"What took you so long?"

"Well Damon and I were all the way in Knoxville, Tennessee when we got the call. We drove as fast as we could. Traffic's horrible in Tennessee. That made Elena laugh.

"I'm glad you're here. I love you Stefan."

"And I love you Elena."

3:30 am

Whatever spell Stefan holds seemed to work. Not two hours had passed before Miranda Bonnie Salvatore and Gabrielle Alexia Salvatore greeted the world with their wails. Now after everyone had left, the family of four lay in the room enjoying the peace and quiet.

"We did it," Stefan smiled at Elena. "Well you did mostly."

"The battle's only half over though," Elena said leaning over and resting her head on Stefan's shoulder. They sat that way for a while, each holding a baby, Miranda with Elena and Gabrielle with Stefan. It was perfectly quiet. Nothing was out to get then and they were safe.

Two Days later: Monday November 18 2013

"So I was thinking…" Elena said coming down the stairs.

"Oh no should I be worried?" Stefan mocked.

"No, you should be terrified, always," Elena smirked. She walked around to sit down on the couch next to Stefan, setting the baby monitor on the table in the process. She gently leaned over and rested her head against his chest.

"Since we name the girls after our moms, Bonnie and Lexi, I think we should make Caroline and Jenna the godmothers."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah I think it would be good to honor them in a somewhat same fashion. I think it'd be great."

"Of course you would, you came up with it."

"Yep, so do you agree?"

"I agree."

Just then the baby monitor went crazy. It sounded like Gabrielle. Elena sighed and got up to check on her baby. Oh man, another eighteen years of this, she thought to herself. Deep down, she wouldn't have it any other way.

END FLASHBACK

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come moring light
You and I'll be safe and sound

Ok guys tell me what you think. Sorry for the slow updates. My life just turned upside down. School is hell and on top of that we just got temporary custody of my three nieces and a nephew. All under the age of six by the way. Anyway, as we speak I am writing chapter four. I'm going to try and have it up in a few hours. Please read and review.