Katherine couldn't believe this was happening...this was her second chance. She'd been forced to give up one child before, and here she was centuries later with that same bubbly excitement that came with finding out your expecting...and this time things could be different. She placed a trembling hand on her abdomen and watched as Stefan finally sat up, his arm having just healed.
"Uh...Katherine, lets just go to bed and we'll terminate the problem tomorrow, alright?" She shot a hurt look at Stefan.
"W-What? Stefan...what do you mean, terminate the problem?" He snorted.
"Listen Kit-Kat, lets not pretend that your a doting mother okay? You already have up one kid, and lets face it, neither of us are shaping up to be role model of the year...the kids better off." Katherine's eyes stung with tears and she slapped Stefan hard across the face.
"HOW DARE YOU! Giving up my daughter was not my choice! You know that!" She cried angrily. Stefan put his hands up in defense.
"Whatever, babe. But we aren't keeping that thing, we have enough problems. End of discussion." Katherine shook her head and backed up to the door.
"That's where you're wrong Stefan. I'm having this baby whether you're willing to be in its life or not." Stefan sped to her side instantly and broke the leg off the closest chair.
"Oh really? Well how about I just take care of it myself?" He threatened, raising the broken chair leg to her mid-section. She grabbed his hands in an attempt at pushing the stake away.
"Stefan stop it!" Hearing the confrontation downstairs, Elena rushed to Katherine's rescue. She didn't like her, but she wasn't about to let Stefan hurt an innocent child. She punched him in the face and kicked him back over to the couch. This time he stalked towards Elena.
"Don't think for one moment that I won't take care of my brothers little abomination as well." Damon flew down the stairs and attacked Stefan from behind, sticking his hand through his back and wrapping his fingers around his heart.
"You're really pushing your luck with me, Brother. I don't want to kill you, but I will always put her life before yours." Damon squeezed hard, causing Stefan to scream in agony. Damon snarled, taking his hand out and slamming Stefan's head into the wall. Stefan fell to the floor and Damon brushed Elena's hair from her eyes, his face filled with concern.
"You alright,Princess?" Elena nodded.
"Is he..." Damon shook his head.
"Nah...he'll wake up in a few." He said with a shrug. Katherine looked over sheepishly at the two of them.
"Thanks..." She said it mostly to Elena, grateful that they shared the same intense maternal instinct. Elena just nodded and hid behind Damon as Stefan began to stir. Katherine followed suit, and Damon didn't object, taking a protective stance in front of both women. Stefan stood slowly and rubbed the side of his head. It wasn't until Damon's intense voice interrupted his thoughts that he turned to face them.
"This is the last time I'm going to prove to you that I'm the alpha male. Get out, Stefan. Threatening the love of my life twice in one day is bad enough, but threatening my child crosses the line. Get. Out." He hissed. Stefan glared at Damon and then the two terrified Doppelgängers behind him.
"Fine. Perhaps Klaus will be interested to know that Elena isn't dead." He spat, slamming the door as he exited the house.
"Vampire Slut can have the spare bedroom, I'm sure you don't wanna sleep in Stef's." Damon thought he was being nice, but Elena glared at him. Damon just shrugged and tugged on her hand, indicating he wanted to go back to their room. She gave Katherine a small smile and mumbled a goodnight. Katherine actually gave Elena a genuine smile back and instead of taking Damon up on his offer, she went up to Stefan's room. She picked up one of his shirts and cuddled with it, lying down on his bed. She might have been mad at him, but he was her soulmate and she believed he'd come back.
Back in Damon and Elena's room the mood was lighter. Damon was running gentle circles on Elena's tummy and they were throwing names out at each other.
"How about this," Damon sighed happily after a while of arguing.
"If it's a boy we name him Sebastian because after going through ten whole baby name books it's the only one I like, and if it's a girl we can name her Miranda after your mother." She pouted and curled into his chest.
"But Ian is so much cuter than Sebastian!" He sighed.
"Eh, Ian is okay...how about we name him Sebastian Ian, and you can call him Ian on occasion?" She caved under one look from his gorgeous blue eyes.
"Okay, that's good with me." He kissed her forehead.
"Thank you!"
"I wonder if we're having a Sebastian or a Miranda..." Damon shrugged.
"I'm just glad we made a decision!" He chuckled, snuggling up with her. She chortled and grinned up at Damon.
"I love you." He just smirked and rested his chin on top of her head.
"I love you too. I'm sorry, by the way. Stefan's being a major d-bag." Elena sighed.
"That isn't your fault. Besides, I'm sure it hurts you more than it does me."
"I don't get hurt, Elena." He stated flatly. She gave an exasperated sigh.
"No, you don't admit that you get hurt. You get angry, cover it up, and then do something stupid." He raised an eyebrow at her.
"You're scared...you think he's going to send me off the deep end? Elena, if I'm going to be a good father to this baby that means I have to protect it at all costs. If one of those costs is breaking my fragile bond with my brother then so be it. Maybe I need to be pushed off the deep end." He said thoughtfully. She turned to look at him and took his face in her hands.
"Just remember that whatever happens, it's just the two of us, Damon. You're mine. I'm yours. We've loved each other since the beginning of time. Nothing and nobody can ever change that." Damon didn't respond, he didn't have to. His emotions were written all over his face. He pulled her into a rough kiss, rolling her on top of him and tangling his fingers into her long brown hair. She let out a hungry growl and her eyes blackened as he depended the kiss. He ran his tongue across her fangs, pricking his tongue on the point of one and eliciting a moan from both of them at the taste. He pulled back and laughed, leaning down to gently kiss her stomach.
"I'm guessing from the looks of things that my baby is hungry...you should be a good mommy and feed it." He said with a grin, dangling his wrist in her face. She knew he was right, even though she could also tell that he mainly was just itching to blood share. She didn't need to be told twice, biting ravenously at his wrist in a way that turned Damon on. Damon's fangs grazed Elena's neck, just barely penetrating the skin before the phone rang. Damon cursed under his breath and Elena whimpered in protest as she had to unlatch from his wrist. The caller ID read Alaric's number.
"This better be good, Ric, I am so busy right now." He said the last part with a seductive wink towards Elena that made her giggle.
"What are you doing that's so important?"
"Pleasing my woman, making sure our unborn child stays fed...you know, the usual." He said with a sarcastic laugh. He could practically see Alaric's eyes rolling through the phone.
"There's someone I'd like you to meet, Damon. She could be very helpful to you and Elena...she's a doctor. And she kind of knows...everything." Damon's eyes became filled with curiosity, but his forehead creased with worry. The less that knew their secret the better.
"I'll be there in five."