England, March 1486, 3 Months Later
Elena walked into the stables and began to stroke the manes of a few horses.
"It's been awhile since I've seen you. I was beginning to think the only reason you ever came here was for Anne. That you didn't care about Lorraine, or me."
Elena's breath hitched when she heard his voice.
"It has been awhile." Elena said without turning around.
"What brings you back? Care for a ride?"
Elena shook her head. "I can't." She took a deep breath and turned to face him. She was only four months along but there was a slight difference. Damon's eyes grew slightly as her hand traveled to her stomach. "I'm having another baby."
"Well, I guess a congratulations are in order."
"Yes, I guess so." She took a deep breath. "Possibly for you as well."
"You mean...because we..."
"I don't know. Not for sure. We may never know for sure. I just know that when I'm with Niklaus, it doesn't feel right like it does now." Damon quickly leaned in and kissed Elena passionately. She kissed him back for a moment before pushing him away. "We can't, Damon. He'll kill me if he finds out. He nearly did it once already. If it weren't for Caroline, I'd be dead."
"Miss Elena." Elena jumped at the sound of Sir Stefan's voice.
"Sir Stefan!"
He looked back and forth between her and his brother. "You two should not be together. If the king finds out-"
"I know." Elena told him. " I just had to see him once more. To let him know."
"You should be going." He told her.
Elena nodded to him, then back to Damon, then left the stables.
Stefan turned to his brother. "You should stay away from her. I'd hate to see something happen to you because of her."
"But I've fallen in love with her!"
"Then, fall out of love, or Niklaus will hang you from the gallows."
Stefan marched off, and caught up with Elena. He grabbed her arm and spun her around.
"Ouch!"
"Stay away from my brother. I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but keep him out of it." He quickly left, not even giving Elena enough time to form a response.
England, June 1486, 3 Months Later
"The Queen is here." Sir Stefan told King Niklaus.
"Send her in."
Elena came in and dragged Caroline behind her. "Caroline has just been informed that she is having a baby. YOUR baby."
Anger rose up as he turned to Caroline. "I told you not to tell anyone."
"It wasn't hard to figure out!" Elena yelled back, sticking up for Caroline this time. "The way you look at her. The way you seek her out now all of a sudden after six years. You're in love with her!"
"You're in love with a stable boy!"
"What?"
"Don't act like you have no idea. I have eyes all over the grounds."
"I haven't seen him in months!"
"That's exactly my point. You used to go all of the time, then you stopped, shortly before you told me about your condition, then one last time shortly after. Now, three months later and you still haven't seen him. What else would be the reason except for that he was the one you had an affair with."
Elena didn't know what would be worse- confirming what he said, or denying it. So, instead, she folded her arms and glared.
"Also," Niklaus continued. "There was the kiss that you two shared the day you went back three months ago." Elena dropped her arms and softened the look on her face. If Niklaus knew of the kiss there was no point in fighting it. Niklaus looked back and forth between the two women in front of him. "Let's play a game of chance, shall we?" Niklaus said to Elena and Caroline. "Since you both disobeyed me and each did something that I informed you would be punished by death, but you are both carrying my children, should you bare me a son, I shall spare your lives. Should you bare me yet another daughter, you will be hung. I do hope, for both of your sakes, I have two sons by the end of this."
England, August 1486, 2 months later
"Caroline, do not stress yourself. I shall call in Rose or Bonnie to make the beds." Elena told her best friend.
"No, I am fine. If I can't do my job, I'll go mad."
Elena smiled and leaned back in her chair, resting her hand on her swelling stomach. "Alright then. If you insist."
"I do." Caroline said, then sighed and leaned onto the bed. "But maybe after a moment's rest."
Elena chuckled. "Have you felt your baby move yet?" She asked.
"Oh yes! Plenty of times. It's as if she never grows tired."
The color drained from Elena face. "She?"
"What?"
"You said 'She never grows tired'."
Caroline looked down. "I suppose I did. I'm most certain it's a girl. Call it mother's intuition."
"But, Caroline! Remember what Niklaus said? If you bare a girl, you shall be sentenced to death!"
"I know. Which means you'll have to promise to take care of her when I'm gone."
"No, Caroline! Stop saying such things! You'll have a boy. We will both have boys and they will be brothers together and-" Elena saw the somber look on Caroline's face. "Please, just don't give up just yet."
Caroline sighed. "If that's your wish. I live to serve my Queen."
Elena shook her head. "Why do you say such things? I'm your friend. After all we have been through together."
"Because it's who I am, Elena. I was taught to respect royalty, and I was not lucky enough to be chosen by the king."
"But you were. He just chose you second. I believe he loves you more than he could ever love me."
"If he loved me, he wouldn't kill me."
Elena shook her head. "He just loves himself above all else. He's even willing to raise a child that isn't even his to save his name."
"There's a chance it's his."
Elena shook her head. "Call it intuition." She repeated Caroline's words. "I am positive that this child has been fathered by Damon. I just wish that Niklaus had not chose me, and yet Damon and I could have met so I wouldn't have to hide my love for him."
A/N: I believe the next chapter will be the last, there may be an epilogue though, mainly because I've been struggling with how to end it.