A\N Another chapter ;) By the way…Do you have any name suggestions other than Cheryl? Feel free to tell. Thanks everyone :D

It is important to read the extra long A/N below after the chapter. It is to help you and clear out some things. Those that know my style of writing know that I leave a lot of mysteries that leave readers wonder, "Did she think this through? It doesn't make sense!" or "What the hell?" But i always have an answer in the end. It's my style of writing...I like mystery and then slowly giving answers to confusing questions.

Jeremy was faced with a new problem. He knew that two months were not that much and if he didn't act on it now Damon was going to end up either staked or thrown in some kind of a cell and only God knows what would happen. He was also afraid that Elena would not cope on her own and it would make her Klaus's main target if Damon was not there for her.

He wanted to trust Bonnie or Alaric and tell them about the situation, but he was afraid that they would turn on him and on Elena and Damon too. After all, they were anti-vampire just like him. But his sister was in danger, and one vampire was not going to make much difference.

He knew that he had to warn her. It would've been suspicious if he disappeared for another two days, since it was an almost thirty four hour drive from Virginia to Arizona since he didn't even trust getting on a plane. On the other hand, he didn't want to throw a text message like that at her, and there was no way he'd make a phone call. He decided to let some time pass and he'd visit her again, after all Bonnie said that there was no way the device could be completed before two months.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Damon smiled at Elena who was still resting her head on his chest, nuzzling it.

"Good morning, Damon," Elena smiled back softly.

"You know what, I might have a plan for today," Damon said, looking down at her.

"Hmm, and what's that?"

"Dinner," He replied casually with a grin on his lips. Elena smiled at him, but then the smile quickly turned into a worried one. "Do you think it's appropriate, given the situation in certain places?"

"Arizona's not affected that much," Damon laid back on the bed, "People are not doing that bad here. I mean the last I came here were a couple of bars and restaurants, there are no vampires residing here as far as I know so people are still living kinda normal. Besides, it's not that far. And you know that I'll protect you from any fang." He chuckled at the last part.

She chuckled back softly. "Well, if you are sure, I'm not going to complain…" It had been a long while since she enjoyed herself. Since she had gone out of the house. Her last 'outing' was when Damon took her to see Duncan, which ended up tragically, and that was over six months before since she had spent six months in the Dark Dimension. She shivered at the thought, and Damon noticed.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Damon, I'm fine."

"No. I can tell when something is wrong with you, Elena. What is it? Is it the baby?"

"No, the baby's fine," She said with a shrug. "I've been kinda thinking how long it has been since I last gone out. Six months in the Dark Dimension and all."

"Oh," His face darkened, it still pained him everyday to think what she must've gone through during those months.

"You know what," Elena said startled, "I've never thought about it before, actually. We never figured out why they were making me think that I had been in the Dark Dimension for weeks instead of months."

"Probably to have fun messing with your mind," Damon shrugged. "There is no other explanation."

She sighed. "Most likely."

"Now, you're going to ruin the mood with all this Dark Dimension talk," He fake-pouted. "Come on. Let's pick some clothes for you, shall we?"

He didn't wait for an answer, though, because he scooped her up in his arms and took her to the lovely walk-in wardrobe. He set her on a chair.

"This is what you'll be wearing tonight," He pointed at a perfect red dress which was simply beautiful.

"Oh my God, Damon this is beautiful," Elena exclaimed in surprise, "Where did you get this? It wasn't here…"

"I have my ways," He smirked back. "And you, my lady, certainly need some new clothes."

Elena chuckled. "You're spoiling me now, Damon."

"You deserve to be spoiled, my princess," He tapped her lightly on the nose. "Now, how about I make you breakfast?"

"Can I trust your cooking today? Remember…you are cooking for two."

"Oh right, how could I forget," he teased, "And yes, you can."

She let him pick her up again slowly and then he placed her on the countertop while taking the ingredients out to make a healthy breakfast for Elena. He wanted to keep her nutrition up as much as possible.

She was eating her toast and hard boiled egg when they were interrupted once again with a knock on the door.

"I think it's Stephanie," Elena said, as she stopped eating. However Damon gestured for her to continue her meal and he moved to open the door himself. However he almost turned pale when he saw who the other person was.

"Damon."

It was no one other than Stefan.

"What are you doing here, brother?" Damon said, keeping himself cool. He didn't want to expose Elena.

"I came to help."

"I don't know what you are talking about, but you've done so much for me already," Damon said through clenched teeth. "Hurting my girlfriend was enough, thanks." He was going to shut the door when Stefan's hand shot out to keep it open.

"I know Elena is here, Damon," Stefan said, his voice clear. "I've known for a long time now. But I am here to help. If I'm against you, Elena would've been dead by now, given to Klaus."

"How do you know about him?" Damon asked indifferently. There was no way in hiding Elena now.

"Long story. Tell your girlfriend to invite me inside, and we can have a chat."

"Over my dead body," Damon groaned, "If I do, the next thing you'd do you come and hurt her the second I turn my back on her."

"I think that your girlfriend should be able to make her own decisions. Otherwise you're no better than me," Stefan smirked. "Wasn't that why she hated me? Because I was the one in control? How is this any different?"

Damon's face turned red with anger, but before he could say anything Elena was behind him.

"Who is it?"

"Elena, get back inside," Damon warned, but Elena had already seen the person in the doorstep.

"Hello, Elena," Stefan said quietly.

"Damon, what the hell is he doing here?"

"I'm here to help you, Elena. You're in danger. Your baby is."

With that they both paused.

"So it's true, then, you really are pregnant," Stefan confirmed. "I wasn't sure, but now I am."

"Just get it out and leave us alone, Stef," Damon replied annoyed.

"Look, I was working with Klaus," Stefan started. "I didn't plan on hurting you, Elena."

"Didn't plan to hurt me? Are you even listening to yourself right now?" Elena yelled, "Do you know how many nights I almost prayed that I'd die? Don't you remember how much I begged you to stop hurting me?"

"Elena-"

"Do you remember how you treated me at all?"

"Shut up and let me talk," Stefan growled, and before Damon could step in, he continued, "Klaus told me that he wanted the doppelganger. He never mentioned that he wanted you dead. The night Elijah told you Klaus's plan, I was confused myself."

"And let me guess, Klaus promised you something. What did Klaus promise to give you if you gave him Elena?"

"That's the thing, Damon," Stefan bit his lip. "He promised to give me Katherine back."

…

"Katherine's alive, Stefan! Katherine betrayed us, she wasn't in the tomb! You were there when we opened it!"

"It's true, she wasn't," Stefan said sadly, "Because she had been Klaus's hostage all these years. He tortures her, Damon. I hear her cries everyday, he even sent me videos of him doing it. I didn't want to hurt Elena, Damon. But I had to prove to him that I am tough and trustworthy. He blinded me."

"Yeah, and you ended up hurting an innocent girl! Hurting her," Damon snapped, instinctively pulling Elena towards him. "And you made her think that she had been there for weeks when you were keeping her there for months."

"That part is why I'm here," Stefan sighed. "During that time, Elena was being put to sleep. Klaus wanted to know if she really was the doppelganger and when he got his wish, he would come to check in on her. During that time, Klaus took a lot of blood from Elena to help create an army."

"An army of what?"

"Hybrids. The witches helped him trigger the curse without a moonstone or doppelganger, however he soon learnt that they didn't want to help him create an army, a race. He believes that the child you are carrying can kill him in the future. So, he is planning backup."

"How many hybrids are there right now?" Damon's head was about to explode now.

"Not much."

"And what got you to change your heart?" Damon spat again. "Why do you care?"

"Because I don't want this to happen. I don't want to hurt you anymore. Most of all, I don't want to hurt your baby. I can't be responsible for Klaus killing a small baby. Second, with Elena's blood involved, things are different. Klaus is stronger, and almost unstoppable. I'm not an idiot, Damon. I know that the second he gets sick of me he'll kill me and Katherine. Also, because I might find a way to get Katherine back anyway."

"How?"

"You don't have to worry about that, Damon," Stefan said, making it clear that he didn't want to talk about it. "Just worry about your family."

Stefan paused for a few moments, then continued, "If Klaus wants that baby dead, he'll make sure that it happens. Of course, he'll try to kill it before she is even born, since she's completely defenseless. This means that he'll kill you too, Elena. If he doesn't succeed, the girl and Klaus have to end this in the future. It'd be kill…or be killed. However, if the baby is born, Klaus cannot kill her until she is big enough to use the powers she inherited. Of course, Klaus will try to harm you now, to get rid of her now. The moment that girl comes into this world, she'll inherit your blood, your possessions, Elena. And the girl is sent by the witches to protect human kind. You and your baby, you are the saviors the witches sent. There are Aztecs about this."

"So he wants to kill me and my baby," Elena concluded, her hands tightening on Damon's.

"Yes. He does. He does not want any Petrova descendant running around. I know Klaus, trust me. That's why I can't even trust him with Katherine anymore, because he can be lying. He is just too blinded by this, Elena, because if you and your baby are dead he is the true definition of an immortal. Nothing can kill him."

There was an uncomfortable silence until Damon cleared his throat.

"Now, then, what do you suggest to do?"

"First of all, Elena," He turned to the brunette. "You must know your powers. You have power inside you. I saw what you did in the Dark Dimension, how you killed the vampire that was hurting that girl."

"Yeah, the question is how…"

"Rage, anxiety, courage," Stefan replied easily. "Your power is a type of power that is to be earned. Earned by various emotions. Practice."

He sighed. "This is our battle, however you are the one that we all depend on, Elena." With that, Stefan left without saying anything.

"Do you trust him?" Elena asked Damon later. Her head was spinning and Damon looked more confused now.

"I don't know," Damon sighed. "He did warn us about Klaus's plan on killing you-But we don't quite know his intentions. I know my brother, Elena-But this time I can't figure out what he's up to."

"You had told me once that your brother is on and off."

"Yeah. He can be nice and tamed for thirty years and a ripper for the next fifty. You can't figure him out unless you're me-And in this case, even I don't know."

"Well, in my case I'm never considering him nice," Elena said, shivering as the memories of what he had did to her in the Dark Dimension occurred to her.

"I know," Damon whispered, his voice soft as silk. "What he did was unforgiveable. Love blinded him, and he chose to hurt you to show how ruthless he is to earn Klaus's trust. That is why I can't trust him-Why go through all that work to show how ruthless you are and then you just turn on him? There is something deeper than this, I know it."

Elena chewed on her perfect bottom lip.

"He is right about one thing, though," Damon started again, eyeing the brunette and speaking slowly. "Your powers. If this child can kill Klaus by inheriting your powers, than they really are something special. You need to work on them."

"Damon, what if I don't have to work on them?" Elena asked like she had just remembered something important.

His brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"What if I can remove them?"

He was silent for a while. Sure, removing her powers would've been the best idea, because it would stop their daughter from her fate. But Damon knew that when Klaus learnt that his precious doppelganger and doppelganger's daughter were power-less, he would take revenge on them and killing them anyway.

He explained this to her and she nodded in agreement, because what he said could easily happen.

"So, I guess I just have to learn more about it," Elena said half-heartedly.

"Yes," Damon replied. "Stephanie will help you, I think. That witch seems to know a lot. I'm still not trusting anyone, though."

"I think we should call her."

A few minutes later, the sound of high heels echoed throughout the entire corridor of the house, and there was a light knock on the door.

"Hello Elena, Damon," Stephanie greeted as Damon invited her in. "I assume that you need my help?"

"Please, sit down," Elena gestured politely. "Yes, we do."

"Very well then," Stephanie said, sitting on the chair. "I have something to tell you, too. I've been doing a lot of research lately."

"What's going on?"

"I had a vision," Stephanie explained. "It was about Duncan. He was in the Dark Dimension, and he is still angry that you escaped from him, Elena. I believe that he wants you back, and he's planning on doing something about it."

"Oh my God," Elena cried out, "No…I can't let him find out about me…He will kill our girl, Damon…"

"You need to be prepared for everything, Elena," Stephanie said as a matter of factly. "You and your baby are the only two living beings that can kill Klaus. Many will come for you. The best thing you can do is to get to know your power."

Damon suddenly stopped frozen. "I think there's someone outside. I'll have to go check…" With that, he blurred outside.

When Stephanie and Elena were alone, Elena cleared her throat. "Stephanie, I was thinking about something, but I need your help."

"Tell me, Elena."

"I was wondering if there was any way that I can stop my child from getting my powers. Stephanie, if Klaus isn't going to kill my daughter when she's in me…He will still try to kill her when she's bigger and she has my powers. You said it yourself, she has a fifty fifty chance of survival."

"Elena, do you understand what you're saying?"

"Yes, Stephanie. I want this to be my fight. If it'll be my fight, I can die peacefully knowing that my daughter is okay. But if I lose my girl…I can't. Is there any way you can use to stop the power inside of me to channel to my baby?"

"I don't know," Stephanie said honestly. "I really don't. Elena, there were Aztecs about the child born from another supernatural being that can kill Klaus. It isn't something you can easily mess with. This is happening according to the Aztecs, and the prophecies. We can't mess with what has already been planned like that." She licked her dry lips nervously. "Why are you telling me this when Damon is not here?"

"Because I don't want Damon to know," Elena said simply. "If I can save my daughter from a future of running and fear, I will do it. But I can't tell him, Stephanie. Not right now."

"Elena, you should…"

"Please, Stephanie," Elena pleaded. "I can't. Not right now. Will you help me?"

She paused, then slowly nodded her head. "I'll do my best."

"There is something more you need to know, Elena."

"Yes?"

"The child is born to kill Klaus. So, when she is born, she can't be killed by Klaus. She can only be killed by Klaus when she has all the power needed but still loses the battle."

"It doesn't change my mind, Stephanie. I want to do it."

"It was just some road accident," Damon said when he returned. "They are fine. I really thought someone was out there."

"Oh, I see. I'm glad no one was hurt…"

"So, what do you suggest that Elena should do about her powers?"

"We can start practicing, right now," Stephanie said, rising from the chair. "We'll start from the basics. For instance, using the bracelet I gave you last time to channel me."

Elena rolled up her sleeve and connected the bracelet with Stephanie's like she instructed.

"Now, close your eyes," The other continued. "And tell me what you are seeing, feeling, smelling…Your senses, basically."

"I feel…scared," Elena said surprisingly. "And I can smell and see fog. What is this?"

"That is one of my worst memories," Stephanie explained. "Now, concentrate on me in the fog."

Elena did so, and in a second she stirred surprisingly. "Oh my God-I can see you in the vision. It's like I am living your memory."

"Yes, that is exactly what you are doing," Stephanie said, letting go of the bracelet and opening her eyes, and Elena did the same. "See? You are even stronger than I thought. You did everything on your own. Living a memory is a…skill that witches take years to fulfill."

"Now, let's work on your emotions," She continued. "It is a known fact that fear blocks out powers. Rage maximizes it, that is why you have to be careful. The best way to get what you want in a spell is by being determined. Since you are not a witch, you can't just chant in Latin like the rest of us do. It's what you think and want that matters."

The lesson took over two hours, but Elena was getting surprisingly good. According to Stephanie, she had to know her powers and herself, but she was doing great on her own. Damon stood there supporting her as much as possible, and when Elena concentrated and was determined, the paper she was meaning to rip got torn to shreds.

In the evening, he still didn't forget his promise to her.

"Do you still want to go to dinner?"

"Yes!"

"Your wish is my command," Damon bowed and in return Elena gave him a small curtsy.

"I'll go bathe and change," she smiled at him softly.

She let the warm water soothe her, and she noticed that her belly was already forming. She smiled at the thought of having a little female version of Damon-angelic blue eyes and beautiful face. Her smile quickly turned to sadness when she realized that she'd be lucky if she even got to hold her little girl, if Stephanie found a way like she had promised.

She was still in the shower when she felt Damon's presence behind her. He grabbed the shower and gently started working on her hair, before showering her small bump carefully with love.

"What are you thinking?"

"Nothing…"

"Come on, Elena, I can feel you thinking from here."

"No, really, I'm fine," Elena assured him. "I just want to go to dinner, that's all."

Damon didn't push her any longer, and as she changed into the lovely dress he picked out for her, he worked on his clothes. Elena applied some soft makeup and took Damon's hand.

"You look beautiful, Elena."

"You don't look too bad yourself," She teased.

Damon drove them to a very nice restaurant which was in a slightly abandoned area, but still was popular. When the server came to take their orders, Damon was immediately going to order two red wines-but he stopped himself quickly, earning a grin from Elena.

They sat patiently waiting for the chicken parmesan and Damon's steak.

"What were you talking about earlier with Stephanie?" Damon asked suddenly.

"Nothing. Just about powers and stuff…"

"Elena, I can tell when you're lying," Damon said firmly. "Tell me. What is going on?"

"Nothing, Damon, really," Elena sighed. "Look, I have to go to the bathroom. I'll be back."

She left the table walking to the bathroom to put some cold water on her face. She wasn't feeling good, and that didn't mean she was physically sick. She was feeling guilty because she didn't want to lie to Damon.

She was about to get out of the bathroom when a familiar man appeared in front of her.

Duncan.

Before she could run or scream, he had her mouth covered. She tried to bite his arm but failed greatly. He leaned in next to her ear, and he said cruelly, "If you scream, her in the purple dress will be the next one to die."

Elena looked in horror at who he was pointing, to see a little girl about four or five years. She immediately silenced.

"Much better," He smirked, grabbing her chin and forcing her to look at him. "Now, you are going to be a good girl and you're going to give me the phone you've been hiding throughout the conversation." He smirked widely.

"Please, don't…"

"Shh," he silenced her. "Remember, I am the one in control. I can have your boyfriend killed in a mere second, too."

Elena gave him her phone, having no other choice.

"Good girl."

"There is a door here that leads to outside," He continued sternly. "Keep walking straight. Make any move or funny business and I will kill them and you too. Got it?"

"Yes, yes, please don't hurt anyone…"

"Move."

They seemed to be walking for a few seconds and then he whispered to her ear, "Now, you're going to get in the car."

"Please…"

He pushed her in the middle seat, tying her hands with a thick rope and then she saw him taking a scarf out of a bag. Without warning, he shoved it into her mouth and tied it firmly around the back of her head. She tried to scream against the gag but he kept threatening, "If anyone hears anything, I will kill them."

Duncan turned to the driver. "Drive to the next motel you find."

Longest chapter I've ever written! About 4000 words! It was a great chapter to write!

Just thought to explain this again in case it isn't clear:

Elena thinks Klaus is either going to kill her baby while she is still unborn (therefore killing her, too) or he might kill her when the baby is grown up and ready to take him down. The child cannot be killed normally since the child is originally born to kill Klaus. So, once the child is born, she is IMMEDIATELY SIGNED IN for a harsh destiny in taking down Klaus, unless Elena channels all the power to herself and it'd be her fight. I've been thinking now lol, it's kinda like the story of Jesus haha. As you will later see, the powers (in fact I gave them no specific name, I will) are to be fulfilled all, and THEN she can fight with Klaus (:

Anyway please leave a review and tell me how I did ;)