She rolled restlessly, just trying to prolong those last few moments of sleep. The ones when your dreams seem so vivid, and you aren't ready to end them just yet, still waiting to see what will happen next. Try as she might with the birds chirping outside, she just couldn't hang on anymore. She opened her eyes, wondering if she was late for school.

It took her a moment for her mind to adjust when she saw she was in the boarding house. That coupled with Stefan walking in carrying a tray of food, and that smile, as he said "good afternoon, my Lovely-Love, I thought you just might sleep through the day again."

Made it all come suddenly crashing in. "My God Stefan it's you, I'm home, I'm really home...wait, the baby, wheres my baby, Oh my God, please tell my he's okay..he's here right, I've got to see him now!

Stefan had no time to answer any of the questions, as she bolted out of bed. He barely managed to catch her elbow, and even that wouldn't of been possible without his vampire speed.

"Hey there... Slow down a minute, and catch your breath, you are weak and need to gather your strength, before seeing her."

"Her?" Elena said. Blinking stunned for just a second. She had been so sure it had been a boy. It took her just a heartbeat to wrap her brain around Girl..."Girl" she repeated in her head, as long as she's healthy that's all that matters. "Is she okay, is there something wrong?"

" No, no silly she is fine, and between Bonnie and Ms Flowers, I think she is already the most spoiled baby there ever was" Stefan said with a chuckle.

"Oh thank God!" Elena said as she flung herself into Stefan's arms grateful for that safe feeling again.

Anticipating her next question, Stefan beat her to the punch-line. "You've been a sleep for three days,

you poor thing. I can't begin to imagine what you've been through, you were obviously exhausted, and lost so much blood during childbirth, that if not for the help of the Kitsune, I don't know if you would of survived the journey back."

Elena's reeling mind came to a screeching halt, as she tried to fit the pieces together of the traumatic birth and what she could remember of it.

" Markus?" I mean you know, that guy I was with? Elena asked, trying to not sound overly anxious.

"Is he..what happened to him?"

"Oh you mean that devil tyrant that had been about to run off with the baby and leave you for dead'?

Elena quickly tried to shift through her memories, hadn't Markus delivered her child and saved her?

Surely she would of died, if not from the childbirth, than from those things that were attacking them. With that she thought of Ezra. Tears sprung to her eyes.

Stefan mistook her reaction, as trauma from that horrible beast she had been with. There was no telling what he had done to her, and he didn't want to push the subject.

"Shhh, there now my love you are safe , we are all safe, that's all that matters."

Elena knew he was misinterpreting her tears, but figured it was for the best, as he would probably never understand, and she wasn't really sure she wanted to explain ALL that had happened.

Her mind sidestepping what she was not ready to face yet, turned once again to her...daughter.

"I want to see her Stefan, please...now!".

Stefan was all to familiar with that look and tone, and knew she meant business. "Okay,

But do me a favor and stay in bed for at least a little longer, and I'll bring her up."

True to his word, he returned just a few minutes latter, cradling a bundle wrapped in pink with white lace, and handed it to Elena.

Elena's heart felt like it had stopped beating as she pushed the lace away to catch her first glimpse.

Then she saw her, Elena had always imagined a boy who would look just like his daddy, instead before her, she held this perfect baby girl that looked like him, only her eyes were sparkling ice blue.

Elena couldn't help but coo in glee, she was the spitting image of what she imagined Snow White must of looked like as a baby. She took her breath away. Her skin was so light it looked like porcelain,a little perfect fine China doll, only this one was starring straight back at her, and clutching her finger.

" Hello, Dalena Faith Salvatore."

"Dalena?" Stefan asked. Elena answered " It means; Angel from Heaven, and it's Irish. I had plenty of time to read while I was gone." Elena told herself it wasn't an actually lie, it was just a half truth. The true meaning of the name is " The challenger's descendant; Angel from heaven.

Quickly she went on, "she's an angel carried in faith, and.. I thought you wouldn't mind the Salvatore, since we are to be married, unless of course you have changed your mind?" Inwardly she was wondering what he really thought about the proof, she held in her arms that she had slept with Damon. It wasn't as if they had, had time to discuss this now evident fact. She hoped by saying the last name was because they were to be married, would stay that conversation for another time.

It worked like a charm.

Immediately Stefan's chest seemed to swell up, as he put his arms around them both, and answered, " I could never change my mind about you, now there is just more two love."

She felt a twinge of pain just a tab bit in her heart for the lie she told, but told herself it was to spare his feelings. After all he was so good to her, and always seemed to say the perfect thing.

She swaddled her perfect child in her arms and inwardly said a thank you to Damon, for this gift he had given her, the part of him that remained now her's forever. Her proof that at least for one night he had been her's, and her's alone.

Just then Bonnie came to the doorway. "I hate to break up this reunion, but I haven't gotten a chance to give my best friend a hug yet. I was so worried about you!"

"It's true, I never would of found you with out her help, and support. She was with me every step of the way, and it gave me the strength I needed when I thought all hope was lost". Acknowledged Stefan.

Bonnie basked in his praise, while trying to act demure.

" It was nothing really, I'm sure you would of done the same for me. Now tell me that isn't the prettiest baby there ever was, with that she hugged Elena and managed to take Dalena out of Elena's arms at the same time. Heading toward the door, while saying over her shoulder, "eat up, you need to gather your strength up for the baby. I'll take care of her for now."

Elena ate the soup that was on the tray, and in truth she did still feel a bit weak and tired. She decided to take a nap, as they had said, so she would be in tip-top shape for her angel.

Her dreams seemed Turbulent. Filled with fog so thick she couldn't see through it, to find her way out. Then she heard his voice.

" Why Elena, why did you leave me, why couldn't you of loved me like I loved you, why...why?"

She would of known that voice anywhere. "Damon..DAMON, I'm here, I didn't leave you, I'm here. Where are you?"

"Why Elena, why did you go?" he kept going on, as if he couldn't hear her reply. "My baby, you took my baby", why couldn't you of chosen me?" Damon's wail was full of anguish, and it was ripping Elena's heart out.

"Damon, I didn't leave you, you left me. I did , I do" she corrected "Love you. We have the most amazing baby girl, where are you?" She called out to the fog.

" Elena, Elena" the voice continued. She ran in the direction it sounded like it was coming from, only to find it coming from a different direction. I'm here, where are you?"

" I'm right here sweetheart" Stefan said, instantly waking her to her dismay.

Her cheeks were wet with tears, as he gathered her in his arms. "I'm right here, you are safe now."

Elena didn't know what to say as she cried on his shoulder. How could she possibly tell him it was his brother she cried for?

"I can't imagine what you've been through, hopefully that demon is dead. I only wish I could watch him suffer for what he put you through. I would of jumped into the water after he fell in, if you hadn't of been in urgent need of medical attention. You and the baby were all that mattered at that moment."

This snapped Elena out of it, as she asked "You mean Markus, did you kill Markus?'

"Well there were two of them, I don't know to whom you refer, but I can tell you that one was dead beside you, and one was hovering over you when I shot him in the back of the head, and kicked him off of you. The demon or whatever he was ( I never got a look at his face) fell into the water. I seriously doubt he could of survived. I just wish I could of prolonged his death, and made him really pay."

Markus...a demon? Elena felt confusion and pain. Had Stefan killed Markus? Elena said a silent prayer for Markus hoping that was not the case. This surprised her, that she would pray for him, and how much the thought of him dead or mortally injured bothered her. So much so, that it was painful for her to think about. Why would she feel bad for Markus, she wondered?

It was then that Elena realized she had developed feelings for her captor, he had captured more than just her body, he had made his way into her heart. Elena was so confused. Stefan, Damon, Markus,

Could a woman love three men? What did this say about her?

Deep down inside Elena wished there was a way she could get a hold of Markus, or check up on him and make sure he was okay. The thought of him laying somewhere in that tunnel alone and dying was really more than she could bare right now.