Elena had a hard time figuring out why she was so tired, but since she had heard new mothers usually were, she chalked it up to that, finally forcing herself to get up and go down stairs.
As she descended the staircase un-noticed, she was a bit taken back at the sight of Stefan on the sofa, holding her Angel, with Bonnie practically draped over the back of the sofa, hovering Stefan. She almost looked as if her chin was on Stefan's shoulder. They were cooing at Dalena. It was the strangest feeling for Elena, as if intruding on a family moment. She shook it off, as being silly.
Elena cleared her throat to make her presence known. Stefan immediately got up and started walking towards her. If she didn't know better, she would say Bonnie looked a bit put out, or disturbed.
"Ah Love, you should of called for me, instead of walking down the stairs alone. You could of tripped or fallen in your weakened condition." Stefan said to her, and escorted her to the very spot where Bonnie had just been hovering.
Bonnie picked up Dalena, and headed for the kitchen, saying over her shoulder " it's time for her to eat, I'll warm her bottle."
"Wait, shouldn't I be breast feeding her? Bring her here." Elena felt a little bad, realizing she sounded snappy.
Bonnie seemed flustered, and brought Dalena back and handed her to her mother.
Elena was new to all this but figured it was a natural thing so probably didn't need instructions. She quickly pulled her angel to her bosom to feed, however Dalena started crying. The more Elena tried, the more frustrated Dalena seemed to get.
Dejectedly Elena handed Dalena back to Bonnie. Bonnie smiled at her and told her " not to worry, it was just that Dalena had already been being bottle fed." Elena though Bonnie sounded like she was placating her. Elena immediately became depressed. Her angel had no idea who she even was.
Trying to shake off the overwhelming sadness she felt, she changed the subject. "So where has she been sleeping, does she have a crib yet?" she asked.
"Oh, she has been sleeping in bed with Bonnie. Bonnie has been a real life saver, she's a natural. I don't know what I would of done without her. I made Bonnie a bedroom on the third floor." I've been meaning to go up to the attic and bring down my old bassinet. Then she can sleep beside you. I'm sure Bonnie could use some catching up on missed sleep."
My father, carved the bassinet himself. Actually it was him and Damon, but being that Damon was only 7 at the time, I'm guessing he was not that big of a help. It was one of my father's hobbies. Remember there were no TV's back then." He said with a chuckle.
"Damon helped make it"? The idea of Dalena sleeping in a bassinet that her father helped make cheered her right up.
"Well, yeah but like I said he didn't know much back then about whittling, or furniture making. Later he got much better. I think he was trying to win our Dad's approval, but you already know how that story went. Dad seemed to think Damon was trying to compete with him, and found things wrong no matter how good of a job Damon did. He was a bit of a perfectionist. I think Damon eventually gave up."
"Can I go to the attic with you?" Elena asked. "No, I don't think you are up to climbing those steep stairs, and it's all dusty up there anyway," Stefan replied. I'll go up right after Bonnie and I get back from the store.", he told her.
"Why is Bonnie going to the store with you? She asked.
"Well she knows which formula and diapers to get." he answered.
"I'm pretty sure I could figure that out too" she said.
It was then that Bonnie spoke up. " Well Dalena gets colic if she doesn't get the right brand, and she has to have the hypoallergenic diapers. Besides, I could use a few personal items , and thought you would want to be here with the baby, while she was down for her nap." It was more a statement than a question.
Elena let it go figuring that yes indeed, she would rather be with her angel.
As soon as they left Elena checked on her sleeping bundle, and once satisfied that she was fine, headed straight for the kitchen draw, to get a flashlight. She was going to check out that attic with, or without Stefan's permission.
She felt like a cat burglar sneaking around where she shouldn't be, and reminded herself what happens to curious cats, yada, yada, yada. Still, she couldn't resist the idea of finding old treasures from Damon's past.