Chapter seventeen.
Stefan's POV.
I watch my daughter smiling and playing with her friends, she is happy and it's all that matter. I feel Elena falling asleep against me. I try not to move so she can rest but she stirs and get up. I hear Elena saying my name with fear in her voice and run to her.
I wrap my arms around her and gasp when I see the woman in front of us. But before I can speak, I feel Elena goes limp in my arms. "Elena !" I scream and take her in my arms before I lay her on the couch.
"Doctor please." I yell and Ashley arrive with her doctor's bag.
"What happened ?" she asks and begins to check her vitals.
"It's because of her." I say without looking at Lily Salvatore, my mother. "Nik, get her out of there !"
"Mommy ! Mommy !" I hear Ella screaming and I catch her before she arrives near Elena.
"She will be okay, baby girl. She is asleep." I say and give her at Liz.
"Grandma Liz." she says and hides her head in the crook of her neck.
"She will be okay, she is a strong woman." Liz says and takes her outside.
"Elena do you here me ?" Ashley asks her and she begins to open her eyes slowly.
"Stefan.." she whispers and I sit next to her taking her hand. "I'm here, baby."
"How is she Dr. ?" I ask and rub my fingers on her palm.
"Fine, it's just the stress from seeing your mother. She will just need to take her vitamins and magnesium." she says and puts her hand on my shoulder after pulling a blanket over her.
"Thank you, Ashley." I say and observe Elena.
After Elena falling asleep, I return in the ground and see my daughter playing with Emily.
"Nik where is my mother ?" I ask him when I sit on the patio.
"I think she is outside waiting for you." he says and pats my shoulder.
"I will go but before my big bro wants to talk to me." I say and walk away turning towards where Damon and Bonnie are, talking with Ashley and her husband.
He excuses himself and kisses Bonnie on her forehead before coming to me. "How is Elena and the babies ?"
"She is fine, sleeping. Ashley says that they are fine. I trust her, she is specializes in twin pregnancy and I know that she helps Elena giving birth to Ella." I say and run my hands through my hair. "I was so scared when she faints in my arms."
"She is a strong woman, Stefan. I'm sure, she will wake up soon and Ashley told me that she didn't work because she had cramps or something."
"Yes. Mother is outside waiting for me to talk to her, bro." I say.
"You want to talk to her ?" he asks and pats my shoulder.
"Yes..No I don't know. I hate her for never taking our side against him but she helps me to start my company and in the same time, always giving him what he wants. He beats me and she never tried to help me, you know."
"I know I tried to help you but she never wanted me to help you and when I was older enough I've been at school away even if I didn't want to leave you alone with him and mom. He payed for it and I was forced to go, I failed you, little bro and I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry, Damon. You helped me when I went out of college and never asking question. You also helped me to start my company and I will always be here for you. Can you come with me ?" I ask even if I know that I have to do this alone.
"No, you have to do this alone but I will be behind the door if you need my help." he says and hugs me which it's rare for us.
"I will go, can you keep on eye on Elena, please ?"
"Of course, Stef." he says and I'm going out. I kiss Elena's forehead by passing in the living room.
"What do you want Mother ?" I ask her angrily because she did this to her.
"I just wanted to talk to you, since you avoid my call, my text and even your brother doesn't want to talk to me."
"And you did not think it was because we did not want to talk to you !" I snap and her smiles fade right away.
"I'm your mother and you can't talk to me like that, Stefan." she snaps back at me but I don't care, it's because of her that Elena had a faintness and she did nothing to stop him.
"Of course, I can. She is pregnant and you always hate her because I will always choose her over you, Mother. She is my life and our children are too but you can't except me to welcome you with open arms when I said to you that I wanted to marry Elena and you reacted like an overprotective mother for her son while you never protected me against my father.
"He always beat us for nothing and you did nothing to defend me and Damon. I hated you for that and in the same time I loved you because you are my mother. You can't show up like that, at our house because you want to talk to me and I know that it's bullshit ! You just wanted to see if it was true that she is pregnant again. But, you can read tabloids and see photos of Elena anywhere with her pregnant belly. I don't want you near her or my family. Taylor please escort her and-"
I feel her before I see her and she wraps her arm around my waist. I kiss her temple and she talks. "What are you doing here, Lily ? The last time you talked to me, you said that you will never, ever see me again and here you are today in front of me, upsetting Stefan and say that you are his mother. But a real mother would have been happy for them to have find someone who love them as much as you pretend doing, Lily."
"You let her talking to me like that, Stefan ?!" she says angrily and glances at Elena with a murderous look crossing her arms over her chest.
"She is right, Mother. I love you but she will be wife soon and I can't wait to call her my wife. She is caring our children, she takes care for Ella during three years because of my ex-psycho girlfriend and deep down I think you knew what Katherine did to Elena-"
"How can you think that I knew something about her ?" she says looking at Elena, scornfully.
I feel Elena's hands loosing her grip around my waist and I know that she wants to leave me here but I pull her closer to me. She looks up and smile shyly at me.
"Mother, I think you should leave now. You are done with us except if you excuse yourself at Elena another time because it's our daughter birthday today." I say and begin walking away from her.
"Can .. can I see her, please ?" she asks and I turn around facing my mother close to tears. I look at Elena and she nods because deep down she knows that I love her and I want to have her in our children life as well as our.
"Of course Lily but after you leave because I don't want to explain to my daughter why she doesn't know her grandmother before today when it has to be a good day for her." Elena says and opens the door.
"Mommy ! Mommy !" Ella runs when she sees us walking in the garden.
"Baby girl !" Elena says and takes her in her arms even if I know that she hurts her back doing this but she needs to reassure her.
"You okay ?" Ella asks and observes her face.
"Yes, I'm good. I was just tired a while ago." Elena says and kisses her cheek softly. "Babies ?" Ella asks worried and get out of Elena's arms to touch her belly.
"They are fine. You feel it, baby girl ?" she asks and I know that one of the baby kicks near her hand. She nods happily and she notices my mom.
"Who is she ?" she murmurs in Elena's eyes, thinking that nobody hear us.
Elena looks at me and I nod. "She is your grandma."
"But mommy I have already one grandma and it's grandma Liz." she pouts and frowns.
"Hi sweetie." my mom says and she crouched down at its height.
"Hello Mrs." Ella says shyly and shakes her hand.
"Why I have another grandma ?" she asks after having hidden behind Elena. "Because I'm your daddy's mother."
She nods and leaves running towards her friends in the bouncy castle. "Mother." Damon says and kisses her cheek.
"Mrs. Salvatore." Bonnie says with Damon's hand in hers.
"Damon, it's been a long time." she smiles at him and her smile fade when she sees Bonnie's hand wrapping around Damon's.
"You remember my fiancée, mom." he says and kisses Bon's temple softly.
"Of course, pleasure to see you again." she really tries not to show her disgust by them together. But I don't buy it and do the one thing, I could regret one day but she needs to leave now.
Elena had to feel me tensing because she wraps her arms around my waist. "I think it's time for you to leave, Lily. You have done enough damage today by showing you here.
Elena's POV.
I know, I have to do something to clear the tension between us. "Lily, please. you'll not continue to embarrass Bonnie and me like that. Now, leave."
"It's the last time you talk to me like that young lady. You know nothing about what happened between my sons and their father." she snaps at me and I have to take deep breath before responding to her.
"I know a lot of thing about what happened to him and I don't understand why you never protect Stefan and Damon against him. But it's not the place to talk about that, I ask you again to leave now or Taylor will escort you outside of our home." I say angrily.
"This conversation is not over. But you choose your side Stefan and I respect that. Good bye."
"I'm sorry baby, I shouldn't have talk to her like that." I excuse myself even if I'm not sorry saying that but I don't want him to be angry at me.
"Don't say that you are sorry, it's me which bring us my family and specially my mom and father. Don't worry, baby." he says and kisses my forehead.
"Okay." I murmur and he kisses me on my lips softly. "I think it's time for you to rest a little bit."
"I just want you to hold me in lounge chair, watching our daughter playing with her friends." I say and we make our way in the patio.
When I sit between Stefan's legs, I think of what he says to his mother. I will be his wife soon ? What does that mean soon ? Soon kind of tomorrow or kind of next month ? I shake my head and listen to his voice and the conversation between him and Nik about football. Care is sitting next to me with Emily sleeping on her belly, she is so cute and I wink at Caroline.
"You okay Lena ?" she asks concern.
"Yes, a little bit shaking but it's okay. She left and it's all that matters, now." I respond and caress Em's forehead.
"We are good with our stepmothers, I think. Mine is as crazy as yours." she laughs and I laugh with her.
"You're right !" I reply smiling at her.
Damon and Bonnie come sitting and drinking with us as well as Liv and Marc. Caroline and Nik went home an hour after everyone else. Ella is asleep on the carpet after playing with all her new toys. Luckily, she already had her bath with a lot of bubbles. We change in something more comfortable after shower individually even if I wanted shower with Stefan. Damon and Bonnie sleep in the guest room and went to the restaurant tonight.
Stefan's POV.
Elena and I enjoyed a light salad for diner with Ella eating also a salad and we cuddle on the couch watching a TV show. "Do you want some tea, baby ?" I whisper in her ear.
"Humm, no I want to stay here with you and our daughter." she mumbles and puts her head against my chest.
"Okay, maybe we can go in our room. You must be exhausted after this day, baby." I say and rub her belly and feel a light kick.
She nods but doesn't move her head from my chest. I smile and kiss her temple softly. She begins to fall asleep, I feel it in her body pressing to me. I hear her sigh with relief and now she is asleep. I move a little so I don't disturb her and get out of the couch. I take Ella in my arms and places her head on my shoulder.
I put her in her bed and go back the blanket over her shoulder. I kiss her forehead softly and I light up a night light. I go downstairs and find Elena in the same position when I left. I caress her cheek softly and she stirs. She opens her eyes and smiles when she sees me.
"I carry you or you want to walk ?" I ask and she sits up. She doesn't answer but get up and climbs stairs. I switch off lights and follow her.
"You want some help with your clothes ?" I ask seductively and nip her neck to her shoulder when I see her in the bathroom. She sighs and closes her eyes. "No, thank you, babe." she says and recompose herself before putting on one of my shirt. It's so sexy on her and it's goes down her belly. I smile proudly watching her belly because it's something we created together, with our passion, our love.
"Stop staring and meet me in the bed." she teases and I climb in bed.
"Are you tired ?" I ask in her ear and nip her lobe between my teeth. She shake her head and I roll over her being careful not to put all my weight on her belly.
"I can make love to you then ?" I ask smiling and taking her nipple in my hands. She moans and nods at me. I chuckle and kiss her lips passionately.
I push Elena against me when her breath return to normal after several orgasm. "Thank you, baby." I say and kiss her neck. I see another kidney but I don't tell her because she will be pissed.
"I love you." she says kissing my chest before she gets up to go to the bathroom. "Stefan !" I hear Elena's voice falling with fear in it. I jump out of bed and see her on the floor with a little bit of blood.
"Baby, what going on ?" I ask worried and get her up.
"It's nothing, just spotting a little." she says and I know that she tries to convince herself that it's nothing but lose blood can be serious when it's happens during pregnancy.
"It's not nothing for fuck sakes you are bleeding, we need to go to hospital, now. I will wake Damon, so he can watch Ella." he says and pull on briefs pants and a t-shirt.
"No, no it's nothing. It's happens after having sex, I swear." she says and come to me.
"I will call Ashley, now then." I say because I see in her eyes that she doesn't want me to bothering him and Bonnie. I run my hands through my hair and dilate her number. She answers at the third ring. "Hello ?" she says sleepy. I look at the alarm clock, shit it's three in the morning.
"Sorry to wake you Ashley, it's Stefan."
"What's going on ?" she asks professionally totally awake.
We had sex and she is spotting. It can't be normal, right ?" I ask worried.
"Don't worry. It can be normal but she has to rest a lot because of the cramps last month and I will see you both tomorrow afternoon at three if you want ?"
"Yes, thank you it will be great. Sorry for bothering you." I say and Elena sit next to me of the bed with her head on my shoulder.
"It's normal, don't worry. Good night, Stefan." she says and hangs up. I put the phone in the nightstand and wrap my arms around her waist. "Since when do you have cramps ?" I ask angrily and try to calm down. Count to ten and take deep breath.
"When you left for Taiwan." she murmurs "Why you didn't tell me ?!"
"Because I knew that you would come back to me without second thought." she says and rubs her nose against my neck.
"Of course, Elena ! You are carrying our children ! Our children ! You can't do this on your own and you know that I'm worried sick about you and Ella all the damn time when I'm not with both of you." I explains and tightly my embrace around her body.
"I knew and I didn't want you to leave Taiwan or Paris for me." Is she crazy ? She doesn't want to see that I think of her all the time.
"But you are my priority number one ! Dammit ! You are the only person that matter in this world and our children as well. You can't keep away something like that from me ever again. When Ashley told me that, I think that my world cracked around me. Why Lucas didn't call me about what happened anyway ?"
"I'm sorry. I will never do that again, I swear. He didn't call you because I had begging him not to. After that, he was with me all the time even in my office in case something happens. Don't fire him, please he only do what I told him please, please."
"I will have a word with him tomorrow." I say even if I know that it's impossible to say to Elena.
She pulls away from me and looks at me in the eyes. I know what she thinks because she didn't talk to about that yet. I told my mother that she will be my wife soon. It's true, I was in Paris for business but also to find her engagement ring at Cartier to Place Vendôme.
"Do you really want me to... to become your wife ?" she hesitates and hides in the crook of my neck.
"Of course, baby. You are the love of my life why I do not want ?" I know that she thinks of Katherine. "Don't think about her, she was nothing for me."
Elena's POV.
I know deep down that I don't have to think of her when we talk about wedding but he was going to marry her before we see each other in this library. But my thought are with Stefan and Katherine together in their bed and making love. I run towards the bathroom throwing up my diner in the toilets.
"Baby, you okay ?" Stefan asks behind me, rubbing my back gently.
I nod, wipe my mouth and brush my teeth. I see Stefan looking at me with worried eyes.
"I'm fine." I say and turn around. I'm far away from fine but I hate when he looks at me like that, helpless because he can't control my emotions and it's worrying him.
"You are lying." he says smiling and takes one step closer to me. I can't move, it feel like I'm stuck here looking at me. He is beautiful with a tight t-shirt which show his abs. He walks towards me and says "Your brow is frowning when you're lying and it's soft to kiss." he kisses it and rubs my belly feeling the kicks of our children.
"I'm not lying." I pout and he chuckles. "Yes, you are. Do you want to know why I wanted to marry her ?"
Do I want to know ? No, I don't because I don't want to know about their happy life together and of course, I fuck this up. I am not sorry because I loved Stefan during this period when we were apart.
"Yes." I murmur and prepare myself to listen to my worst nightmare.
A/N : Sorry for any mistakes, they are all mines.
So what do you think ?
What do you want for the marriage proposal ? And about their first time ? Something romantic on a boat, tell me what you want.
Please leave any suggestions or critiques.
Until next time !
Angélique.