So this chapter got a little long and a little strange, I hope it's not too much. I've been trying to figure a way to put all this together, and it's a little difficult. I hope to update again sooner, sorry for the wait. Let me know what you think if you could. Your comments have been amazing! I know there's a lot going on, and it will all be clear soon enough, but I hope you like what's going to happen.

I don't own TVD.

Chapter 7

Caroline and Stefan lay cuddled in bed that night, after everyone seemed to have gone to sleep. For the most part she could hear everyone in the house most all the time. Stefan was better at hearing than her, but she was growing stronger with his help. When she was comfortable that everyone was asleep she looked at him to make sure it was safe. He nodded his head slightly and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"There's something going on with Elena, are we not going to talk about it?" Caroline asked in a whisper, just to make sure the conversation was only theirs.

"I'm pretty sure everyone has noticed. What are we supposed to do though? Elena has never really listened to anybody, and she's got something on her mind." Stefan replied quietly as well, pulling Caroline even closer to him.

"She's so different now. What happened to her? I only see a shell of my best friend when I look at her now. Is it wrong that sometimes I just want to hit her?" She asked, looking away in shame.

Stefan lifter her head to look at him again, she had nothing to be ashamed of.

"I don't think you are the only one to be honest. She's obviously dealing with something, we just need to get her to let it slip is all."

"She said before that she was ok with everything. Do you think it's about Damon and Bonnie? Or the baby? What if she does something Stefan? Do you think she could really be that selfish?" She asked with tears caught in her lashes.

Caroline couldn't believe that her best friend Elena would be capable of something like that, but things were different now. Elena had been needy and selfish ever since Damon had let her go, and before if she's honest. She blamed everyone else for her circumstances, and never accused herself. Bonnie died to save her and her brother, twice actually. Caroline never wanted to choose sides, but it looked like that's where this was heading.

"I don't think Elena would do that to her friends, but something is definitely off about her. She has always been a little selfish." Stefan responded with a brush of her hair.

"I won't let her ruin this for Bonnie; Or for Damon for that matter. He and I are actually finally maybe starting to become friends. He's different now isn't he?" She continued, shifting the subject a little bit.

"He is. This is more the Damon I wanted to be like when we were kids. I need to remember to thank Bonnie for bringing him back, all of him back." Stefan answered flatly, his head obviously remembering something from before.

She had always wondered what Stefan and Damon were like as humans, but she never really had the heart to ask. She was seeing a different side of Stefan's brother lately, and she found herself enjoying her time around him. She'd never considered they could be friends after everything he'd done, but he made up for it over and over again, at great cost to himself even.

"I actually kind of like the new Damon. He puts Bonnie first no matter what, even when nobody else did. I just didn't know he could be selfless. I feel like I let her down so many times, putting Elena first without a second thought. How can I make up for it now?" Caroline asked, wondering how she even still deserved to be Bonnie's friend.

"He's not really new Damon, he's the real Damon. I think we are all trying to make up for it now. I hope Elena can do the same." Stefan answered hopefully; he always did see the bright side of things, even when she couldn't.

"You're a good man Stefan Salvatore. How did I get so lucky?" Caroline paused for a moment as she put her hand on his chest. "You don't ever wish I was Elena?" She asked sadly, but holding her eyes on his.

"Not ever." He answered quickly. "What we have is so much deeper, a connection I never knew could exist. I'm not sure I'd ever be happy without you now." He finished honestly, with a look of certainty.

They both knew it was the truth, but the girl in her had to ask. She couldn't see a future without Stefan anymore, and that warmed her heart, and scared her a little too.

"Well then I guess I can't ever leave." She added and moved to give him a kiss.

…

A son born out of true fate, the product of perfect mates, destined to change the world, he shall be the prince who rights the line.

When the dawn came that day something was different. It was like everything around him opened up. Before, it was just darkness and the sounds of everything. Not all of it made sense, but now he could hear and feel everything. He could sense who the people around him were, and not just how they looked, but everything about them. He could see their memories, their thoughts, their secrets, as if they were his own. He recognized them immediately for who they were because he had been hearing their voices for weeks now. There had always been four of them he could sense no matter where they were. The strongest presence was of course the one that carries him, but the others held him closely in their hearts as well.

His father, Damon, was a lonesome vampire traveler, literally drinking himself through the decades. Discarded and abandoned by the loves he thought were real, only to realize they were false. He waited nearly a century and a half in darkness for his home, hiding whom he really is, to protect who he had been before. He found his light in his true other, found himself again after that too, and swore to be better, so he was. He is his real self now more than ever, accepting the good and the bad he had done. He'd protect the ones he loves no matter what; their happiness is his true goal. Inside he is dark and complicated, his nature is his heart, but something else is special too, something unlike all the rest.

He understood who Damon had been, human and vampire too. He even knew the reasons why. He was somewhat glad for the darkness in his father, it allowed him to embrace the light so much more. If he could have chosen his dad, he would choose him every time. Nobody would ever rival his love or loyalty when he gave it, he would never leave or let go, ever.

His mother Bonnie is a ferocious tiger, the last true Bennet witch that will ever be. Most powerful there ever was or will ever come, but more compassionate that any. A fierce protector of her loved ones, and the list is long it seems, sacrificial to a fault maybe, but there are much worse things one could be. She sees the good in everybody, no matter what they had ever done. Not ever seeing that she's the best of them, though she'd never admit it to anyone.

His father sees it all now. How perfect she is, how much her love is a gift, how rare she is on this world. She'd given her life for her best friend twice, seemed to accept that as her role, the shield and the weapon. Just to find out how little it mattered, except by the man who she had hated once upon a time. Turns out they had their reasons, for all their bickering and fighting. There is a fine line between love and hate; she'd just started a little bit on the low side. Now she lives on the high side, in something powerful and real, she's giving birth to a miracle. Well, that's what she believes, he can truly see.

Fate may have had a hand in his parents, but it would have been wrong if he belonged to anyone else. He could already sense how close they would be, his parents two people that give everything when necessary, he'd be loved more than anyone. He knew he truly was a special child, if not simply for the family he was born into.

His uncle Stefan is the brooding saint; always he holds the inner darkness at bay. The ripper just keeps itching; this man is the epitome of strength. He used to have such a hard time holding on, but he doesn't anymore. It's because of the rock he lays beside each night; her golden locks of hair are his stone, his home. Damon is his brother, though they haven't always been close, they'd fought through centuries over some selfish wretch, but in the end the spell had broke. The most loving brother he might not always have been, neither could say they were, but things are different now, how they were meant to be before.

His aunt Caroline belongs with uncle Stefan, best friends who work as mates. The most functional couple ever they may be, but the truth in their love is special. She is a magnificent blonde huntress, dark and ferocious when she needs to be. When its over she's the bright light in the room that everyone can't help but see. She's cheerful and sunny and loving, a perfect example of self-control. When she speaks everybody listens, she's the glue if truth be told.

Marriage or blood will forever bind these four to him as true family most generally is known, but there's something deeper between them all, and only he knows. It's why he can see their memories he thinks, and feel them inside as well, because the others who stand nearby are shadow like everyone else.

He has another aunt by name only, Elena, a beautiful doppelganger, with a life filled with loss. She lost a part of herself somewhere they seem to think; maybe it's a death she hasn't forgot. He wishes her to find it for his family's sake; they all care about her a lot.

He has a much older unconventional uncle as well, Alaric, the only human really around, but he's in it till the end and that's what really counts. He has other family it seems as well, spread a little further out, he only knows who they are from memories, but they seem like decent folk some of the time.

…

That day they woke up peacefully, not knowing it was a day of change. Damon had woken a while before, but he still lay there staring at the sleeping face of his little witch. She looked so peaceful and beautiful when she slept, and especially now with her little rounding belly.

"You're staring." Bonnie said in a groggy voice.

"It's not like I can help it beautiful." He responded with a cheeky grin. "We need to meet everyone for breakfast, so you should get up and get ready."

Bonnie groaned in response and he laughed fondly at her. He got up and got dressed and went to do his morning things. When he was back fifteen minutes later, she was finishing putting on her shirt.

"You could leave it off." Damon suggested, and a corresponding grin appeared.

"Very funny." She answered in a snarky tone. "Let's go."

He followed her out the room and they made their way downstairs to the dining room. When they arrived he was glad to have been last, because he didn't like to wait much himself. He saw all of his friends sitting around the table, and he was genuinely happy to see them.

…

Damon noticed right away that Elena seemed really on edge. She had been very strange lately and nobody could figure out why. He figured she still had feelings for him and she wasn't very pleased with his relationship with Bonnie. When he saw her looking intently at Stefan, he knew that something was about to get complicated. Bonnie gave his hand a slight squeeze because she had obviously noticed it too.

"Stefan can I talk to you?" Elena asked quietly from where she stood at the end of the table, Stefan still seated in the chair. "Alone."

Damon could tell that his brother had no intentions of letting this conversation happen alone. Elena needed to come out with it all, to everyone.

"Here is fine Elena, there's no secrets between us." Stefan answered in a curious tone, waving in the direction of their friends. "It's not like they wouldn't be able to hear us anyways."

Elena grunted in frustration, but gathered herself to speak anyways. Damon, Bonnie, Caroline and Ric all found themselves standing close together against the wall, a short distance away. They all knew this conversation would be important, and nobody was going anywhere.

"I've been thinking about everything and I think the whole sire bond incident really messed with my mind, and our timeline. It was always supposed to be you Stefan. I chose you, and then I turned into a vampire and everything went sideways. I've always wanted you Stefan, and the cosmos seem to agree with us being together." Elena spoke after a few moments of silence. She began hesitantly, but in the end she was calm and collected.

She would glance over at Damon every once in a while, and his disgust was definitely apparent for her to see. He wasn't disgusted that she was trying to get Stefan back, in this ridiculous way, he was disgusted with the fact that she would even consider asking at all. Caroline was fuming next to him and he reached over and gave her a small squeeze on the arm, supporting her in what way he could.

"You want to choose me again now Elena?" Stefan responded in amazement.

"Stefan you know we belong together. Come back to me." Elena said in her sexy voice.

In that same instant she finished speaking, Damon heard a snarl from his left and saw Caroline flash at Elena and slam her up against the wall on the other side of the room. He couldn't help the sheer pride he felt in that moment for Caroline, before he was once again faced with the disappointment he had in Elena.

"Are you fucking kidding me Elena?" Caroline screamed.

"Caroline! You're hurting me." Elena complained.

"That's all you have to say? Did you just think I would be ok with this?" Caroline shouted, disgusted with her so-called friend.

"I'm not trying to hurt you Caroline, but me and Stefan are destined to be. We all know it. The doppelgangers always find each other. We just need to stop fighting it so things can go back to normal." Elena said calmly, like it was the pure truth and Caroline just needed to accept it.

"Who the hell are you? You would seriously just take him from me without a second thought to my feelings?" Caroline hissed. The blonde had always been ferocious when she needed to be and this was no different.

"He's always going to be in love with me Caroline." Elena answered in the same calm manner.

In another flash Damon watched Elena sail across the room and her stomach was impaled on the metal hanger on the edge of the fireplace, leaving her suspended in air. She cried in pain as blood seeped out of her stomach, but nobody moved to help her. Caroline had thrown her like she was a doll; with perfect accuracy one might think.

"Bitch you aren't getting anyone." Caroline spat as she walked over to Elena slowly.

…

Stefan seemed to be still getting over the shock of what was enfolding in front of him, but even considering it all, he couldn't believe so many things. For one even when Elena was in pain impaled near the fireplace, she wouldn't stop looking at Damon, she had been staring him down the whole time. This wasn't even about Stefan at all.

Could this all really be a ploy? Would she really use Stefan, destroy her relationship with Caroline, in order to try and make Damon jealous and go after her? Had she really deluded herself to believe that not only that it would work, but that everything would be ok afterwards? Was she so cold-hearted that she could betray all her friends, just to get Damon back?

"You were really willing to do this to me? To Caroline? To all of us?" Stefan asked in utter shock at Elena. "You'd be willing to destroy my relationship with Caroline, to use me in order to possibly make my brother pick up the chase for you again? You think after all this that would work? You would really do that to me? Who are you?" He finished with pain and disappointment in his tone.

Everyone was disappointed in her; the pure selfishness disgusted them all after everything they had been through; for her.

"Stefan it's not like that." Elena defended pleading with her eyes through the pain in her stomach.

"Isn't it Elena? It's written all over your face. Tell me that wasn't your plan. Tell the truth, because I swear another lie out of your mouth and I'm going to help Caroline tear you apart."

"You wouldn't hurt me Stefan. You would never hurt me." She answered in a voice he wasn't sure she even believed. Here she hung on a metal bar next to the fireplace, bleeding all over the floor, and he had no interest in helping her.

"I would never hurt Elena Gilbert. You are not Elena Gilbert." Stefan responded with pure anger.

…

As soon as the argument began he felt all the emotions that filled the room. Anger, disappointment, and betrayal just to name a few. He felt it from each of his special persons, just like they were his own. It's weird the connection they share, he knows, but he'd never willingly let it go. He wants to show them all the truth of things, maybe make the shadowed one see. The doppelganger is even darker tonight, and her selfishness seems to have reached a peak. She doesn't have claim to either of the men she needs, but she can't seem to see it for herself, she's blinded by her greed.

He's thought of something to do, but isn't even sure how or why. It's something he just felt inside, that he thinks maybe he could try. He wants to mark his family to show them truth, show them where they'll always belong. He also wants this temptress gone, no matter how much they loved her once. So he thinks about what he wants really hard, willing it into being. He's not even sure if he can do these things, but he puts all he has into it to see it done.

…

When Bonnie is about to step in and try and salvage a little peace, she feels something stirring in the room. Nobody else seems to notice right away, but she's certain there's something else in the room with them. Not a second later she feels a sting, right in the middle of her chest. She's not the only one to feel this apparently, because Caroline, Stefan, and Damon all reached up to the same spot on their bodies at the same time Bonnie did. They each gave a responding groan or shriek when they each moved their left hand to their chest. Just then it happened once again, this time on the hand they placed on their chest. Their right hands clasped over top of their left, and each sat there with both hands over their chest for a few moments.

Elena just hung there in shock, wondering what was going on. She wasn't the only one either. When Bonnie uncovered her hands and her chest she noticed two things, marks that weren't there before. On her left ring finger there's a silver marking of a ring, tattooed on her or something it seems, going all around her finger. On her chest there's a similar marking as well, four small links of a chain looped together in a sort of diamond, with a blue ring in the space within it and lines that connected each of the links together in the background. Two of the links on the chain are silver, and the other two are gold and both markings seemed to glow with a subtle white light. Bonnie couldn't help but wonder where they came from and what they meant.

"What is this?" Caroline asked, with Stefan and Damon following her thought.

"I have no clue, but I sensed something right before it happened. It appears I've been branded with a silver ring and something looking like a pendant for a necklace, but they seem to flow with light beneath." Bonnie answered calmly; she was just as confused as they were.

"My ring is gold." Stefan said confused.

"Mine is gold too." Caroline commented in shocked response.

"I've got a silver ring like my girl. What does all of this mean?" Damon added.

"Well I guess there's two gold rings and two silver ones, and that seems to be the colors of the links of chain on our chests. They obviously signify something, but I'm not sure how they got there." Bonnie replied, going through the thoughts in her mind as she spoke. Things were a little clearer now; she saw the pairs that had been made with the rings and their correspondence to pendant. They obviously signified the two pairs. Bonnie and Damon, Caroline and Stefan. She was a little confused at why it was only the four of them though.

"What if it is some sort of curse or something?" Caroline asked nervously.

"If that was the case, I imagine it would have been something a little darker than pairs of rings and pendants." Damon suggested sarcastically.

"Caroline and I have matching rings, so do Damon and Bonnie. It must be something to do with our relationships." Stefan added, confirming what they already know. "But where did they come from is the important thing."

"Maybe someone is mocking you for your life choices." Elena suggested in a disgusted voice, still hanging from the bar by the fireplace. She wasn't in any danger of dying, so nobody was concerned about her at the moment.

"Maybe someone has decided to show you the truth of things." Caroline shot back.

"I think Caroline may have a point. Rings are a sign of love and faithfulness, and a necklace is the sign of a bond. Something or someone believes the four of us are bound together.' Damon commented.

Bonnie couldn't help but smile, because she is sure she figured part of it out, and also partly because Damon just supported Caroline again.

"I know this may sound strange, but I think we have a son." Bonnie said sounding a little excited but very hesitant.

"A son?" Damon responded quickly with a smile spread across his face.

"The blue ring in the pendant. I think our son may have done this." Bonnie replied honestly, understanding the strangeness of it all. How could her son be responsible for this, they don't even know if it's a boy. He will be a witch she supposed, but he is obviously going to be more as well.

"So your son magically gave us matching rings and a pendant tattooed on our skin? How is that possible? Why? It doesn't seem like it's going away." Caroline asked in a slightly panicked tone.

"I think it's there to stay. He must see something that we can't. Maybe it's a sign of what's to be." Stefan suggested.

"Marriage?" She asked him in a curious tone.

"That seems like one logical conclusion, yes." Bonnie responded as she stared over at Damon as he made his way towards her. When he got up to her his hand went quickly to her stomach as it had been doing a lot lately.

Damon gasped. "I can feel him Bonnie." He said with a surprised grin. "In my head I think. I can feel him."

"So can I." Stefan added completely confused.

"Me too." Said Caroline with a gasp and a smile.

Bonnie just smiled with a small nod in return. She could feel her son's presence for the first time in her mind, but she feels him differently than anyone before, like he's in her heart as well. She feels his love for them all, and senses the ties that bind them all together. He seems to know there's something deeper between them all, and he imprinted on them to show them how.

…

So I know the narrating of the son is not exactly easy to read. It will get easier when he has a name and a body I would expect, but he is different and he needs to be a part in the story. I hope you don't hate it! There's a chapter full of originals to come, it's similar in a way, but this one needed to happen first.