We never realize the good things in life until death comes knocking on the door.
The muffled sirens were slowly fading away as they sped closer to the hospital. Just inside the automatic doors, passed the filled waiting room, beyond the nurses' quarters was an abandoned hall. The walls had fallen bricks, scattered across the floor. The clicks of boots were the only noises as Damon paced the hall, thinking every possible scenario for the next hour through.
It seemed as if he had once had everything in his grasp, and just like that, it was cruelly ripped away from him, leaving him a saddened man.
Meanwhile in the waiting area, the small group of Mystic Falls residents were seated in various spots around the room. Some were on the floor, foreheads touching their knees. Others were in the seats, rubbing their temples to stay awake. The far-off clock hanging on the wall ticked away.
Various nurses fluttered past, some even stepping into the room for the other guests that were waiting apprehensively for news on their loved ones. One nurse dared to step into the half-empty room, eyes glancing down to the clipboard in her hands.
She glanced up to the people and asked, "Gilbert?"
Within mere seconds, the entire room stood at attention, eyes pleading for any news, whether it be good or bad. The nurse's eyes widened before she said, "The head surgeon will be heading out to talk to you all when the surgery is finished." Everyone nodded sadly before taking a seat again.
Alaric lightly sighed before standing up, not being able to take the deadly silence. Clearing his throat, he asked, "Anyone want coffee?" He glanced around, but no one seemed to answer him. With a shrug of his shoulders, he headed off towards the hall where the coffee machine was located.
As he sauntered down the hall, he could see the coffee-break room. Glancing around for any nurses or doctors, he could only spot one figure far down an abandoned hall. Squinting his eyes, he could make out familiar traits of the person.
"Damon." He muttered to himself. Alaric glanced back to the room, yearning for a fresh cup of coffee. After sighing heavily, he marched towards the abandoned hall.
Her head pounded as she walked through the halls, frantically searching for any nurses with news on Jeremy. When she spotted a nurse, she would grip the corner of their scrubs and ask, "Do you have any news on Jeremy Gilbert?"
Each time she asked, the response would be a solid 'no'. Sighing, she walked down the hall again.
Please don't die, Jer.
She halted any further actions when she came upon a large, glass window. Out of innocent curiosity, she stepped towards the window, peering inside. The room was filled with bassinets, each filled with a newborn baby. As she gazed upon the small lives before her, the awe was evident in her eyes.
Looking down to her stomach, she whispered, "I can't wait to meet you."
Suddenly, her hand clapped across her mouth, the bile rising up. Elena frantically searched around for the nearest restroom, and when she located one, she rushed inside, emptying nearly all the substances in her stomach.
Arm draped across the toilet, she let the air conditioning above cool down her face. Sighing, she sarcastically mumbled, "I really can't wait to meet you now."
Caroline scooted closer to Tyler on the tiled floor. Her lips pursed when she saw his forehead pressed to his knees. With a deep inhale of breath, she brushed her finger across his arm, "Tyler?"
He grunted in response. Rolling her eyes, she continued, "What did Damon say about Elena?"
Tyler's head shifted so his eyes were locked with hers, "Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes, "Quit lying," She leaned in closer, "Tell me or you're not getting any for a solid month."
His eyes immediately grew wide before he brought his voice to a mere whisper, "He was arguing about how the kid isn't his," She balled her hands into fists, "And that…that," He paused, averting his gaze from hers.
She gripped his shoulder, "Tyler." It was laced in demand and he heard it.
Forcing his eyes shut, he whispered, "Jeremy punched him in the face because Damon called her a slut." Her eyes widened upon hearing the words. And, as luck would have it, in walked the mentioned raven-haired man.
"Any news on Jeremy?" Damon asked, receiving glares in response. Caroline powered to her feet, marching towards him. Alaric was standing behind him, eyes widening as he saw the look on Caroline's face.
Before he could stop anything, Caroline's hand collided with the side of his face, "You called the mother of your child a slut?"
Clearly angered with the situation, Damon stormed towards the waiting room on the opposite side of the hospital. His eyes grew dark and cold as he took a seat in the room.
Feeling slightly healthier, Elena stepped out of the restroom which was neighboring the waiting room. Strolling into the area, she glanced around to the angered faces, "What happened?"
Matt and Bonnie shot their heads up before saying in unison, "Nothing."
"Blunt force trauma to the head and right region of his brain." The doctor concludes as the nurses finish setting up the equipment that is needed.
The heartbeat monitor began to beat slower and slower.
The two lay entwined on Damon's bed talking about their future.
The prospect of children popping into Elena's head, "Do you ever want to have children?"
He stayed silent for a few moments, "You know vampires can't procreate."
She frowned before plastering a smile to her lips, "But you sure do love to try."
They were walking about downtown, heading into various stores. As they passed by a baby store, Elena stopped, peering inside, "I love children, don't you?" She wrapped her arm around his waist.
He pursed his lips, "Depends on whose kids they are."
She playfully poked him before continuing walking down the sidewalk.
"No! Stop it!" The water was squirted onto her face as she rushed across the lawn. Damon darted towards her, the hose in his hand spraying a stream of water onto her body.
The devious smile was playing on his lips, "Aw, but why? I'm having so much fun." He put his thumb halfway across the opening, making the stream come out with force.
She chuckled as the water hit her back, sending shivers up her spine, "No, it's not fun. Stop that, it's cold!" She jutted her bottom lip outward as she flipped her body away from him.
He chuckled before wrapping his arms around her, "It was your idea."
She leaned back onto his bare chest, "It was my idea to lie out in the sun, not get the hose out." She glanced up to him, suddenly seeing the devious glint in his eyes.
"True." He said before placing the hose into the skirt of her skirtini, resulting in her to squeal and run towards the house.
The doctor carefully began the surgery as he made several incisions. In the waiting room, several of his loved ones and friends could remember times when Jeremy would brighten up the occasion.
Jeremy went about his business, trying his best to ignore the smirking figure sitting on the wooden stool before him. Grabbing a bowl and his box of cereal, he sat on the stool opposite that of the figure. He gracefully poured the silky milk into the bowl, watching the white waterfall as it collided with the floor of the bowl. Then, he opened the box of cereal and kept pouring the cereal into the bowl until it was overflowing with the two ingredients. This was 'Jeremy's Cereal Routine.' Quite the opposite of what the norm is; cereal then milk. Honestly, he didn't give a damn.
Finally, he plucked his spoon from the counter and dug into the mountain of soggy cereal. Glancing up to the figure on the stool, he now acknowledged him, "Yo." It was the new vocabulary word he had acquired after meeting the new kid at school. And it made the figure chuckle.
"Jeremy." He greeted with a nod.
"Alright, when you think of Damon, which place do you see?" Alaric asked, placing his coffee mug on the table.
Caroline sighed, "Mystic Falls."
Bonnie chuckled nervously, "I don't like to think of Damon." She glanced over to Jeremy, who was shaking his head in amusement.
He looked up to Alaric, "I can see him with four girls at each side of him, walking into a casino." Bonnie's foot jutted forward to jab him in the shin, resulting in her receiving a solid glare, but couldn't help to smile.
Alaric's eyes narrowed as another driver cut in front of the car, "Let me rephrase that question. When you think of Damon, where in Las Vegas do you see him?"
Caroline's hand rose in the air as if she was in history class, "I think Jeremy was spot on. Two girls walking by his side out of a casino." Jeremy smiled deviously. For once, his thoughts were taken into consideration.
As if it were a sign from the Lord, the bright lights of Las Vegas came into view.
"It's worth a look into," Alaric began to drive forward towards the casinos.
Her eyes darted around the round table; Matt's eyes were locked to the bagels in the center of the table, Tyler was whispering words to Caroline, who in turn was giggling like a school girl. Meanwhile, Alaric was hiding his face, dozing off into a light sleep, the brunette seated next to him, Elena, was sleepily rubbing her temples, Jeremy watching her intently.
Bonnie smiled at the sincerity that Jeremy was showing towards his sister at such a time.
Each mind was in a different world, whether it was directed to food, love, sleeping, a rough life, or worry, they all knew the reason behind the gathering.
"Damon," Jeremy's eyes bore into his, "How… nice to see you again."
Damon's eyes narrowed, "You better tell me what is going on."
His left side of his hand wiped his forehead from the beads of sweat that were beginning to form, "What I know, you have to figure out." His lips pursed.
"You think he left Las Vegas?" Matt asked while rubbing his sore ankle.
Jeremy shook his head, "Not after finding out that he has a kid," He thought for a moment, "Oh, wait."
It was these memories that brought a twinge of both pain and happiness to the small waiting area. The clock on the wall continued to tick away.
But there was one memory that everyone was thinking about. And it was crushing each and every one of their hearts as they dawned light upon it.
The dinner table was buzzing with life at the Gilbert residence. Bonnie was chatting with both Elena and Caroline, Matt was trying to hang his spoon on his nose with Tyler carefully watching him, and Alaric was talking with Damon about the Originals. With a broad smile, Jeremy lifted his glass and clunked the fork against the rim, sending out a signal to everyone.
The room grew quiet as he began, "We've all been talking about the past," He glanced towards Damon, "and the present," He looked to Bonnie, "But I wish to talk about the future." Jeremy kept in his seat as he shifted slightly.
"I know that this isn't exactly the right time, but I want to get this off my chest."
Damon spoke out, "You're gay?" He flashed a playful, devious smile before Elena kicked him in the shin.
Jeremy only chuckled in response, "I have been taking these extra-curricular art classes after school, and the teacher has praised my work. She has informed me that sometime next year, I will be traveling to France to be Sir Benoît Lefevre's apprentice."
Everyone was quiet as they tried to soak up the information.
Elena jumped up, wrapping her arms around Jeremy, "I'm so proud of you."
The smile that was playing on his lips grew as he was embraced and congratulated.
Now, all those dreams were hanging dry in the air as they all waited for news. The tears were brimming their eyes as the remembered the night when Jeremy spoke of his future.
As their eyes were closing for a night of sleep several hours later, a doctor walked into the room.
"Gilbert?" He called out. Everyone stood at attention once more.
The grim frown plastered to his lips made Elena's heart nearly drop from her chest. Damon was beside the door, hidden from plain view.
The doctor cleared his throat before he said, "I'm so sorry…"
A/N: You're going to want to kill me next chapter for making you worry so much. *wink*
Next Chapter:
Someone has a life talk with Damon.
Elena visits the nursery once more where a nurse lets her hold one of the babies.
Caroline and Tyler start talking about their future.
Remember; your reviews are my inspiration to keep writing! I'm going to pull out the 'black mail' card again: 5 more reviews or no next chapter.