Sorry guys, I'm moving so I've been busy with packing and stuff, so I haven't had a huge amount of time to write. There's probably going to be less than ten chapters left in this story. I can't say I'm super sad this is going to end, but I'm not super happy either. I'm kind of in between. I'm thinking of doing a sequel, but I haven't decided yet and if I do it'll be quite a while from now. Thanks for the alerts and reviews!
"Come on, Damon," Alaric said, disapproval clear in his voice. "Do you honestly think this is going to work?"
"Well, since the Martin witches have been less than helpful," Damon said, "This is the only plan B I can think of."
"But this is dumb," Alaric said, vainly trying to get through that rock hard head of his.
"Calm down, Ric," Damon said, rolling his eyes at his friend's pessimistic attitude. "What's the worst that can happen?"
Alaric scoffed. "Um lets see," he said, incredulously. "One, it could not work. Two, it could not work and I actually stake you. Three, it does work and I get my head ripped off because Elijah thinks I'm actually trying to kill you."
Again, Damon rolled his eyes. "One, you aren't actually going to stake me. Two, Elijah isn't going to kill you because you're on Elena's list and three, stop being such a pessimist."
"I'm not being a 'pessimist.' I'm being a 'realist,'" Alaric argued, though he knew he had already lost this battle. Damon would do what he wanted to do and it was better for Alaric to be here and make sure he didn't actually get himself killed.
"Same thing," Damon said. "Now, come on. Let's get this show on the road. I don't have all day."
"Yeah, you do actually," Alaric reminded him. "No guys allowed at the baby shower remember?"
Damon frowned, remembering how a week ago Elena had informed him that he would not be allowed in the house from twelve to six because Jenna was throwing her a baby shower. When Damon had not so subtly reminded her that it was his house and he didn't see why he had to be kicked out, she reminded him that technically, it was her house now. About a week after her graduation, Damon had his lawyers bring over the deed to his house and had Elena sign it. This way, the only vampires that could get in were the ones she wanted in. Oh, how she had played that one up. She wouldn't invite Damon in for almost thirty minutes until he agreed to be her slave. He refused because she was talking about an actual slave, slave, not a sex slave. If it had been the latter, he would have agreed immediately. Finally, after a few threats of no sex until after the baby was born, he agreed. So for the last two months, he has been at her beckon call. It didn't really bother him, but the moment the requests started getting really ridiculously, he was backing out. She couldn't uninvited him. So far, the worst thing he had to do was agree to let his house become a baby haven. When he left this morning, the house was decorated in pink baby things. Rattles, bottles, diapers, toys… you name it, it was there.
He shook his head, sighing. "Don't remind me," he said.
Alaric rolled his eyes and laughed. "Come on, daddy, you know you love it."
Damon scowled, his lips pressing down into a hard, flat line. It was answer enough and Alaric started laughing again. "You don't have to hide it," Alaric said, smiling widely. "You love it."
"I do not love being kicked out of my own house so four women can gossip and discuss our sex life," Damon said, his scowl deepening. He'd never been to a baby shower before, but he did watch movies. He knew how these things worked. Sure, there would probably be presents and games and all that crap he'd overheard Elena talking to Jenna about, but he knew they'd also be analyzing his every move, good bad or otherwise. It made him feel weird and awkward.
"Whatever you say," Alaric said, raising his hands.
"Now lets please go this already," Damon said, impatiently.
"Elena is going to kill us if she finds out," Alaric warned.
Damon narrowed his eyes and gave him a pointed look. "Elena isn't going to find out because we aren't going to tell her."
"I know!"
"And you aren't going to tell Jenna either," Damon said, his eyes narrowing even more.
The saying "If looks could kill" ran through Alaric's head. "I'm not going to tell Jenna or Elena," Alaric said. "I promise."
Damon nodded. "Good, lets get this show on the road."
Alaric sighed, still not happy about this. But instead of continuing to argue, he raised the pointed stake and with as much force as he could brought it down, angled at the exact spot Damon's heart was. Before it was halfway down, the stake was out of his hand and flying across the woods, past the trees.
"What are you doing?" Elijah's level, Aristocrat voice asked, clearly annoyed. He was standing beside them, a disapproving look on his usually blank face.
Damon smiled a victory smile and said, "I thought that might get your attention."
"I'm assuming you want something?" Elijah asked, looking between Alaric and Damon. His disapproving stare rested on Alaric. "Or do you attempt to stake your friend for entertainment purposes?"
Alaric kept quiet, deciding to let Damon handle this one, since it was his idea.
"You aren't an easy man to find," Damon explained. "I had to get your attention somehow."
"Well, you've got it," Elijah said. "Now, what do you want?"
"I'm sure your witches have told you about the latest developments?" Damon asked, raising an eyebrow.
Elijah nodded. "I have been informed."
"Then you should know I can't let you take her," Damon said, the warning clear in his voice.
A look of puzzlement shone on Elijah's face. "She must have informed you of the plan then," Elijah said, sounding slightly surprised. "She told me she didn't plan on telling you, or anyone for that matter."
"Well, things have changed since then," Damon said. "She has a child to worry about now."
"The child will be safe," Elijah said, his cool monotone not comforting Damon in the least.
"But if you do this sacrifice, she'll be without a mother!" Damon exclaimed.
"Damon, it was Elena's choice to keep you in the dark about this," Elijah said. "It was also her choice to tell you, so her child will have a parent to be taken of by. I can not help that. I have been lenient. I could have taken her away from you all and you would have never seem her again. I've given her choices, many more than Klaus would have given her. This was the deal. I can not change that."
"There's got to be something you can do," Damon argued, his jaw and hands clenching.
Elijah shook his head. "There is nothing I can do," he said and began to walk away
"Then I'll turn her," Damon threatened. Alaric's mouth dropped open and Elijah froze mid step. And then he was in front of Damon, an inch away from his face. A threatening, cold stare was on Elijah's face.
"The baby is going to be born in another month anyways," Damon continued. "That's not too early of a delivery. I know a doctor that will deliver that baby tonight and the moment she's out, I'll turn Elena. A vampire doppelganger won't work, will it?"
"Do that," Elijah deadpanned, "And I will rip your spine out through your mouth."
"Then I suggest you find some way to call off the sacrifice or keep her alive," Damon said, his voice equally as cold as Elijah's.
"I don't take kindly to being threatened Mr. Salvatore," Elijah said.
"Neither do I," Damon said. "Nor do I like being told my girlfriend is going to be killed, leaving her child without a mother."
"You seem to forget how generous I have been," Elijah said. "Like I said before I could have taken her way from you, but I didn't. I allowed her to continue to live her life."
"Then find a way to keep allowing her to live her life," Damon said. "Find a way to keep her alive."
"You're either very stupid, or very brave to threaten an Original."
Damon shrugged, smirking. "I've been called both."
"Perhaps I'll look for a way to keep her alive," Elijah said. "Even after the sacrifice, but I promise you this: when I come for her, if she is anything less than human, I will kill you, her and anyone you have ever cared about."
Damon nodded once. "Then we have a deal."
"Have you thought of any names yet?" Jenna asked. She, Elena, Caroline and Bonnie were all sitting on the couch, surrounded by baby presents that Elena had just unwrapped.
"Kind of," Elena said, remembering how she and Damon had stayed up almost all night going through baby name books. He had complained nonstop about it but she could tell by the smile on his face he enjoyed it. "We like Anneliese for a middle name but haven't decided on a first name yet."
"That's pretty!" Caroline exclaimed and Bonnie and Jenna nodded in agreement.
"So how are you and Damon these days?" Jenna asked, curiously.
"Great," Elena said, smiling. It was true too. Almost too great. She knew Damon was still upset with her for keeping the exact details of the sacrifice from him, even if he wouldn't admit it. They hadn't talked about it much in the last two months and that worried Elena. He had said that he would fight what was suppose to happen, but as far as she knew, he hadn't done anything. She was terrified of what he was going to do, but she had no idea how to stop it.
"So he's liking the idea of becoming a daddy?" Caroline asked.
Elena nodded. "He won't admit it, but he's excited. He never thought he could have a family and now he does."
Bonnie laughed, shaking her head. "Damon Salvatore, a daddy. I never thought I'd see that one coming."
"Well, I think its sweet," Caroline said, smiling happily. "Now we all know he isn't the ass he so desperately wants everyone to think he is."
"I resent that!" a familiar voice called out, just before Damon and Alaric appeared in the doorway of the parlor.
"Hey, you aren't suppose to be here!" Caroline exclaimed, her eyes narrowing at them.
"But its six," Damon said, innocently, waving his cell phone in the air.
"Is it really that late?" Elena asked as Damon sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"Yep," he said, popping the "p." He looked around at all the baby toys and clothes. "How many people were invited to this thing again?"
Elena laughed. "Just these three."
"We've been talking about our baby showers since we were little kids," Caroline defended. "We've had years to plan and make this perfect."
"Alright, Blondie," Damon said, using his old nickname for her, though there was no sarcasm in his voice. "Whatever you say."
"I should probably get going," Bonnie said, sighing and standing up. "I have a date at eight."
"We should probably get going too," Jenna said, motioning to her and Alaric.
"And I guess that's my cue to go then too," Caroline said, standing up.
They all gave a Elena a hug and made their way to the door, saying they would talk to them later. Finally, Elena and Damon were alone.
"So what did you do today?" she asked curiously .
"Nothing very exciting," Damon said, shrugging. "Went to the Grill with Ric."
"Is that it?" she asked, getting a feeling Damon did more than he let on.
He nodded and smiled down at her. "That's it," he said. He stood up suddenly, an excited smile on his face. "I have a surprise for you. A gift."
Elena raised an eyebrow. "Does it have anything to do with the room you haven't let me in in the last month?"
"The very one," he said. He reached out a hand to her, pulling her up. He stood behind her, covering her eyes. "Alright, start walking."
"I'm going to kill myself," she said, giggling.
"I would never let that happen," Damon disagreed. He gave her a small push. "I'll lead you, don't worry."
"Alight, just tell me where to go."
He lead her down the hallway to the stairs, up them, and finally down a long hallway.
"Alright, stop," he said as they approached the door. He dropped his hands. "Don't peak."
"Okay," she said.
He opened the door and said, "Take two steps forward. Good, now open your eyes."
She opened her eyes and gasped as she looked at the room before her. It was the nursery. The walls were a light, light pink with crown molding trimming it, the floors were a dark wood, the décor theme was white and pink. A chandelier hung from the ceiling.
"You did this?" she asked, in disbelief.
He nodded. "I did."
"Its beautiful," she said, stepping in. She went to the crib and touched the soft material and then to the curtains. She turned to him, a brilliant smile on her face. "I love it."
"I'm glad," he said, smiling widely.
"What about Ivaney?" she asked, suddenly. "As a first name?"
"Ivaney Anneliese Salvatore," he said, slowly. "I like it."
She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. "Me too."
Here's a link to what I imagined the nursery to look like:
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