Elena went to ask Ezra, if he knew what was going on. To her surprise even Ezra seemed dismayed, and when he answered her that he " had no clue what the Master did on his outings, nor did he feel it was any of his business," Elena believed him. There was something in his eyes that spoke honesty.
There was also something else. Ezra seemed almost petulant, and anxious about something. This was completely out of character for Ezra. Elena had thought she had formed a type of friendship with him over the past few months. She knew something was wrong. His behavior and demeanor seemed out of sorts. She felt like she was back to square one with him.
In hopes of changing the mood, and chasing away his chilly side, Elena grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly, in the spot the baby had been rolling. She must have caught him off guard, as he looked completely stunned, and like a fish out of water.
It hadn't occurred to Elena that Ezra had more than likely never felt a baby move before. For a quick second if she hadn't known better she would of sworn she had scared him. He had flinched and immediately tried to draw his hand back, but Elena had a good grip on it. It felt like things were happening in slow motion, although she was sure just a few seconds had gone by. Suddenly her little Trooper let out a kick, and it must of been the straw that broke the camels back, because at that very second Ezra got a grin from ear to ear, that Elena had not even been sure he had been capable of.
She lightened her grip, now only softly holding his hand in place. Ezra seemed mesmerized, no longer trying to pull away, but instead a willing participant.
As the movement slowed down, and Ezra's hand dropped away, he said "wow. Is it always like that?"
Elena couldn't help but laugh at him. " Well no, not always, but now as it gets closer to the time, it is several times a day."
Ezra immediately went and poured her some black rose wine, and pulled out a chair motioning for her to sit.
"You'd better sit down, before it decides to fall out. Does it hurt much?' He asked while pouring the wine.
Elena started laughing uncontrollably, until she was sure she would pee herself if she continued any longer. Besides she couldn't breath. Ezra appeared to turn red."I.." he stammered. " I don't know much about such matters."
Elena stopped laughing, remembering what her Mom use to tell her, about laughing with someone, not at them. She had definitely been laughing at him. Now she kind of felt bad. Sorry for him in a way.
She realized in his line of work, it was only natural he would know little on the subject. He would never get to experience a family. What a shame, she thought, sure he'd make a great dad.
Now as she reached for the goblet of wine, tears started spilling down her face.
Ezra felt foolish. Of course this brave girl was in pain with something like that kicking her all the time.
He should not of asked such a insensitive questions, he told himself.
Ezra seemed to be tripping over himself, trying to figure out what to do or say next to calm her.
He had no idea, Elena cried for him.
She tried to wipe away her tears with the back of her hand, so he would feel better. This was obviously going to be a hormonal day.
"Ezra I'm fine. The baby is not going to fall out. Don't worry, it's natural for them to move around like that. Other than some back pain, and feeling like a cow, I'm fine." Both of them trying desperately to put the other at ease.
"It's just that..( another round of tears broke loose) I'm scared. Who is going to deliver my baby?
Will he be safe here? Will markus sell him off? I can't stay here, Ezra. This is not my home, nor my baby's home. These are not our people. He needs to grow up with the sun, not demons walking around. He needs to learn to ride a bike, and play baseball, or whatever. WE DON'T BELONG HERE!"
Now she had done it. She had gotten herself all worked up, and got up to go to her room where she could lie on the bed, and cry into her pillow. But as she started to mount the stairs, a different pain came. A much much stronger one, that made her scream.
Ezra, unsure what to do swooped her up in his arms, and started running out the door.
"Ezra, what are you doing? Where are you taking me?" Elena wailed, partly from pain, and partly out of fear that she just might be going into labor.
" To the witch, he said panting, because he had broke into a sprint. "She'll know what to do!"
Fifteen minutes later Ezra burst through Tamanthia's door, clutching Elena tightly.
Tamanthia didn't bat an eye, as if she had been expecting them." Lay her down on the sofa." she said with a rather matter of factor type of tone.
She instructed Ezra to get her a cool rag, "for the girls forehead". He did so without question.
Once it was placed on Elena's forehead she sat down on the edge of the sofa, and picked up Elena's hand.
"Won't be long now." she said with a smile. Elena cried completely distraught. "What's the matter child,
Don't you want to be a mother?. You have that fine vampire and all. Why are you so upset"?
Elena just about choked on her own saliva, thinking the witch meant Ezra. " He's not my man!
He works for my abductor. If you were a powerful witch I would think you'd already know that. He's not even a vampire!"
Tamanthia smiled, ignoring Elena's rude statement, simply for the fact she knew Elena was scared.
" I know that, silly girl" Tamanthia replied with a smirk. Realization hit Elena then, that clearly the witch was speaking of Stefan.
"Can you help me..please I have to get home. I have you get back into my own realm. Can you help me get out of the Dark Dimension?"
Tamanthia stopped smiling. " Why in the kingdoms would you want to do a thing like that"? She said somewhat puzzled.
"I can't have my baby here. It's not safe. I don't belong here. We don't belong here. I'm to be married.
I need to get home where I can be a mother and keep my child safe. Please, please...I need to go where we will be happy, and have a chance at a normal life. It's not safe here."
Tamantia seemed to be considering this. " What makes you think you would be happier there?" she asked her. Elena looked at her like she had lost her mind, but tried to contain herself, as this woman may be her only chance out.
"It's what would be best for my family. It's where my family can be together. It's where I had always planned to get married and raise a family" Elena was now choosing her words carefully.
" Family is where the heart is, it's not a place, it's who you share it with. I don't see why you think you'd be happier there." Tamanthia answered her curtly. " Human's... never happy with what they have, always thinking happiness is elsewhere. You look but do not see. You have love."
"You are wrong, I do see, that is why I have to go. It's the only way for my family to be safe. We cannot be safe there." Elena begged.
Tamanthia was quiet again, as if looking for the answers, to come to her. 'I see,... there is some truth in what you say, but your time is very near. I can give you something to help slow it, but I make no promises. Tamanthia said with a long away look in her eyes. Suddenly she turned her attention towards Ezra, while still speaking to Elena, and said " and he?"
Ezra hesitated for only a brief second, and answered, " I will help her,I will not stand In her way."
In that moment Elena wanted to throw her arms around Ezra, and thank him,and would of if another pain would not of racked through her. But their eyes locked, and said what they both already knew.
Elena promised herself then and there, he'd be Uncle Ezra, and could live with her and Stefan, so she could make up to him the grate sacrifice he was giving for her. She would make sure he too had a happy life, as one of the family.
Tamanthia, went and started mixing some herbs and Lord only knows what else, but she did so with haste, and told Elena to drink it all, to try to prolong the labor as long as possible.
She turned and handed Ezra an amulet that had been around her neck, and told him to "follow the back river. When you see the old man with the lantern in the boat, give him this and tell him I gave it to you. Say nothing else, or it will be the last thing you'll ever say!"
When Elena had drank all of the nasty white paste, that had kept hitting her gag reflex, Tamanthia made a mark on Elena's belly and forehead. " It a blessing to keep you all safe. Now my dear make haste!" Elena wanted to hug her she was so happy, but for some reason felt she shouldn't.
As Elena went to reach for the door handle, she turned to say thank you one more time, but Tamanthia spoke first." Go now, and remember what I said. Say nothing else to the old man, and open your eyes that you might see."
With that she turned to leave the room, and Elena caught a glimpse of red under that back of her dress. Tamantia looked over her shoulder and grinned, before she disappeared. Elena half leaned on Ezra for support, for although the cramps had lessened, they had not completely stopped.