Chapter 17

Elena sat by Stefan's bed side, wondering what might have been Damon's reason for trying to kill Stefan. When she heard a faint groan. She turned grabbed Stefan's hand and kissed his head.

"Elena?" his voice was all groggy and then his hand went to his abdomen, "what happened?"

"Never do that to me again, you passed out and you weren't coming around no matter how hard they tried. You were weak Stefan, very weak. You said you didn't want blood, that you were worried you would go back to how you were, and Meredith tried to stick by that but she just couldn't." Stefan turned his head to look at Elena who's make up was running down her cheeks and was all smudged. "You said you wanted to be treated like a human, so she tried to keep your promise but Stefan you were so weak and I didn't want you to die, and I didn't want Archer to grow up without a dad." At the mention of Archer his head snapped up and his face turned to worry, "its ok Bonnie and Jeremy are looking after him." He rested his head back on the pillow. "Meredith pulled the steak out of you and then tried to sow you back up but she couldn't. She fed you blood Stefan, she had to and she says she is really sorry but she had no other option."

"It's ok Elena, I'll be careful, I'll go back on the bunny diet as soon as I get out." He laughed at bit but then stopped as it was hurting. Elena started to cry, and grabbed a tissue from behind her, "hey, shhh, what wrong? I'm fine, we are all fine." She looked at him, all hooked up to machines and wires coming out of him. "Come here." He moved over on the bed to give her a bit of room. She shook her head and held up her hand as if to say, no thank you. "I'm sure come here." He held up the covers and she crawled in next to him and snuggled up to him.

"I was just so scared, and I kept thinking and I was just worried. I know you would be ok because you are a vampire and all but you never know. You passed out and you have never done that before. Ever Stefan in the whole time I have known you, you have never passed out." He kissed her head and then pulled her closer.

"Look, I'm here and so is Archer are little family is ok. You don't need to cry I will be fine, I will go back to feeding on animals as soon as I can so I don't put you or Archer in danger. I love you Elena and I will never leave you."

Elena eventually stopped crying and then the door opened, and Jeremy came in. he exhaled deeply as if he had been holding his breath for the whole time.

"Oh, Stefan, you had all of us really worried, Elena hasn't left the hospital for 3 days." He walked over to the end of the bed and tapped Stefan's feet.

"I was down for 3 days? You didn't tell me that." He looked at Elena who head had shrunk into her shoulders.

"I didn't want you to worry, and I did leave. I went to see Archer." Stefan smiled as if Elena has said the funniest thing ever.

"Jer, Elena said you had been taking care of him. Can I see him?" Jer gave Elena a look and she nodded only slightly but Stefan could feel her head move against his cheat.

"Sure Stefan, he's outside with bonnie, Grayson and Miranda, I'll go and get him. I'm happy you are doing better." He left the room and Stefan sat upright in the bed and so did Elena, he make up was still all smudged and she was crying a little bit, barely noticeable though.

"Elena stop crying, I feel fine. Good actually maybe I did need a bit of blood to get me back to myself. I am fine and all I want to do is have my family in the same room." He left down to her height and kissed her, and she kissed him back.

"Look little man, your mummy and your daddy and kissing each other." The sound of Jeremy made the two of them look up, and Stefan smiled as Jeremy placed him in his arms.

"Hey little man, you missed me? I am ok, and I will be coming home shortly." Stefan bent down and kissed Archer and then kissed Elena, "has he been home yet?" Stefan was looking at both Jeremy and Elena what he asked the question. He had made it very clear to Elena that Stefan wanted to be the first one to put him in his cot and the first one to show him his room.

"No he hasn't. You said you wanted to be the first one to show him his room, so I talked to Meredith and she got him a place in the nursery so bonnie and Jeremy have been with him all the time and I went to check on him now and then." Stefan was staring down at Archer and wiggling his feet and hands, and he thought how lucky he was to have a perfect family.

"Stefan Salvatore, I am your new doctor, I have just arrived here so I have to ask you a few questions." The new doctor looked up from Stefan's Chart, it didn't say much apart from abdomen surgery. "You can call me, Dr Harris." Jeremy had left and taken the twins with him, they had spent some time with Stefan. Grayson kept jumping up and down and Miranda fell asleep next to him wrapped in Stefan's arm. Elena had now moved to the chair in the corner and was feeding Archer when the doctor came in, she had stopped and then given Archer to Stefan and then headed into the bathroom and hadn't come out since.

"So, first question. What is your Occupation?" the doctor looked at Stefan Bluntly, he was rocking Archer side to side. He didn't like this new doctor, he was too formal unlike all the other doctors at the hospital.

"I am the head of Trauma Surgery at Mystic Falls general. Dr Stefan Salvatore, I am part of a major of a rumor round her I am surprised you haven't heard of me yet." Elena came out of the bathroom and sat in the chair and looked at Stefan and gave him a questioning look.

"Ok, well I will look out for you. Second Question, I need to get the names of any family or relatives of any age." He gave a nod towards Archer.

"Ok…I haven't heard that one before, this is my wife Elena Salvatore," he gestured to Elena who was sitting quietly in the corner, "and this is my Son, Archer Salvatore." He looked back to the doctor who made some quick notes. Elena noticed that he hadn't said Damon, and they she remembered who did this to him

"Dr Salvatore, your wife is very pretty and your son is truly adorable. From the looks of your chart you should be able to go home tomorrow." He gave Stefan a quick nod and just left, without a word. Elena went over and sat next to Stefan on the bed.

"You ok? You seem quiet." He narrowed his eyebrows and then noticed a black box in her hand. She nodded and smiled.

"Happy Birthday." She opened the box to reveal a watch, a very nice watch, a Rolex. She took archer and placed him in his little carry cot. She lent in and kissed him with every ounce of passion in her body. "I have one more thing," she went over to her bag and pulled out some clothes, "I thought you would like to wear your own clothes and not a hospital gown." She went over to him and kissed him one last time and handed him the pile, "go and get changed. Gloria is coming to look after Archer." She had a mischievous look on her face, but he did as he was told and got changed. Elena went over to archer while Stefan was getting changed, "it's your daddy's birthday, and I am going to take him out of this room" she leant down and kissed him, she placed his little hat on his head and looked at him. "And tomorrow you get to see your room, I'm sorry you have spent so long in a hospital, but you get to come home tomorrow. And your daddy is going to show you your room, and he has wanted to ever since he finished it with Uncle Jeremy."

Stefan came over to Elena and wrapped his arms round her waist, "you are such a good mum." He rested his head on her shoulder and kissed her neck. She turned round and looked at him, she had chosen black skinny jeans and a grey top, along with a black jacket.

"You look sexy" she kissed him and put her hand under his top. "How did I get so lucky with you?"

"I don't know, but I love you." Stefan kissed her and Gloria walked in.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt, you said 8, so here I am." She looked Stefan and Elena,

"Stefan you look good, for a man who got stabbed." She went over and looked at Archer, "and you have a really cute son." Stefan went over and sat on the bed to pull his shoes on,

"We will only be a few hours Gloria, thank you so much for looking after him." Elena pated Gloria on the back, and then got some stuff out of her bag. "Spare nappies are in that bag, along with his stuffed toys, he likes the little wolf." That made Stefan laugh, he found it odd how his son like wolves but half of him was genetically there to hate them. "There is some milk in the bag and some changes of clothes as well." She went over and kissed Archer "bye bye, mummy and daddy will be back soon." Stefan got up and lifted Elena up off the floor and flung her over his shoulder. "Thank you Gloria for taking care of him!" Stefan walked out the door with Elena over his shoulder,

"So where are we going?" he asked her while placing her down.

"Darn it, I liked the view of your bum from there. And we are going to the cafeteria." Stefan laughed and grabbed Elena's hand and started to walk towards the cafeteria.