Chapter nineteen.
Caroline's POV.
"Humm.." I murmur when I feel Nik kissing my neck and I wake up slowly.
"Wake up, love." he says and kisses my lips.
"No, not now." I mumble and try to turn around but with my belly it's complicated.
"Your daughter is up and wants to know if she can have her present now or if she has to wait until her birthday cake ?" he nips my neck and his hands move down my body.
"She can't open her gifts before everyone arrives. And.. oh yes Nik.." I say and get lost in the sensation of his fingers in me.
"You are always ready for me, I like that." he says and kisses me hard, without putting his weight on my belly.
I kiss him back and groan in disapproval but suddenly he feels me and we groan in unison.
"We need to be quick, love." I say and within minutes we found our release together.
"Good morning, baby girl." I say when I walk in the kitchen and see Ella eating Nik's special pancakes. "Happy birthday !" I say and kiss her on the cheek.
"Can I open my presents ?" she asks me even if her father told her no, she tries with me.
"I think daddy, told you no and it's no young lady." I try to hide my smile when she pouts. "Where is Ella ?"
"Still sleeping but I want to wake her up, can I ?" Ella is here because Elena had complication yesterday night and had contractions.
"No, baby not now. She is tired, finish your breakfast and maybe you can go with Daddy to buy candy, what do you think ?"
"Yes ! Can I have everything I want ?" she asks and eats her breakfast as quickly as possible.
"Of course, it's your birthday. Slow down, he'll wait for you." I smile and eat one pancake with whipped cream.
"Okay, Mommy." she says and washes her hands after her breakfast and kisses me and her brother.
She runs to her room to quietly change her pajamas. I hear the car start and they leave me. I take my phone and call Stefan.
"How is she ?" I ask when he picks up his phone.
"Good, she is sleeping now." he whispers and I hear his tears.
"And the babies ?" I ask worried and rub my belly.
"Fine, too. The contractions have stopped and they are still being monitoring. I was so scared when she cried and I couldn't do anything to help her."
"She is fine, now. What did the doctors say?" I ask
"She has to be bedridden, and she hates it but it's for her health and for our children."
"When we can leave, we will come celebrate Em's birthday with you guys. How is my baby girl ?"
"Take your time Stefan, she needs rest. She is still sleeping don't worry, she doesn't understand what happened to her mother."
"Thank you again for everything, Care. I have to go, Elena is waking up. Kiss our daughter for us." he says and hangs up before I can say anything else.
"Auntie Care !" Ella says and I turn around to wrap my arms around her.
"Hi sweetie, did you sleep well ?" I ask and I serve her pancakes.
"Yes, where is Em ?" she asks with her big green eyes.
"With her Dad." I smile and kiss her forehead.
"Where is Mommy and Daddy ? When they will come to pick me up ?" she asks with her mouth full of pancake.
"She will come soon and it's Em's birthday today." I say trying to change the subject of Elena towards something more fun.
"Can I have presents too ?" she asks.
"I don't know maybe mommy and daddy will bring you something." I say because I know that Elena must feel guilty for leaving her like this and see her daughter scared.
"I hope it's a little cat because my friend Lisa has a cat and he is so sweet and he even sleeps with her in her bedroom. Plus, I told dad that I want the same but he told me that we have to take him at society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. You know why ?"
"Of course, because they save this animals from abandonment and they are treated and vaccinated. They will be happy to see a little girl take a cat to bring him love." I say and wash her face after she's finished eating her breakfast.
"Uncle Nik !" Ella runs towards Nik and he takes her in his arms kissing her hair.
"Hi, baby girl ! How are you ?" he asks and he reaches out to me to give me Em's candies.
"Good, did you see my mom and dad ?" she asks smiling and Emily runs in my arms showing me her new goldfish.
"Nik !" I exclaim, he bought her a goldfish, I'm sure that she begged him for that and of course he bought it for her.
"It's her birthday present from me." he says and winks at me, knowing that it's not true.
"Mommy can I put him in a glass ?" I smile and shake my head.
"No you can't, he will not have enough space to swim. You have to put him in a small aquarium I'm sure dad bought it with your fish, didnt you Nik ?"
"Of course, love. I will go find it in the car you come with me Ella ?" he asks and she nods.
Elena's POV.
"Stefan !" I say when I feel contractions and it's not normal. I'm just 32 weeks, I can not give birth now, it's too soon. They are become increasingly more frequent and I begin to worry. I shake him to wake him up and he stirs.
"Baby, what happened ?" he says with sleep in his voice. He lights his bedside lamp and he's awake immediately.
"I.. I am having contractions and it's not normal.." I say and cry silently.
"Get dressed and we'll go to the hospital." I nod and walk to my closet, I put on jogging pants and a shirt.
"We can't take Ella, please call Nik. He needs to come and get her, she will be afraid to see me like this." I say through my tears and shut my eyes tightly when I feel another one stronger.
He nods and I hear him talking to Nik which he responds after three attempts. I go in Ella's room, and she is fast asleep in her pink pajamas with her hair in mess. I feel another one and bite my bottom lips hard to keep from crying and waking her up.
I jump when I feel Stefan's hand on my shoulder. "He is coming right now, don't worry she will be fine." he whispers in my ear and kisses my hair.
I nod and he rubs my back trying to calm me down from the pain but it increases. I quickly leave Ella's room and walk to the bathroom and throw up.
"Nik is here baby. I will take Ella and put her in his car and we will leave after that." I nod and he leaves me alone and I throw up again.
"Miss Gilbert ?" an intern ask me and Stefan and I know that he is pissed even if we only waited for a few minutes in the delivery room.
"Yes, it's her." he says coldly and my breath catches when another one comes again. "She is in pain, what can you do to help her ?"
"I will examine her and call her gynaecologist after." I know that he has to examine me and Stefan is not going to like it when he will touch me.
"What are you doing ?" he asks angrily when he sees that he has his hands below the sheet and near my private parts.
"I have to examine her, Sir." he says calmly and continues but Stefan grabs his hand roughly.
"Stefan, stop I know that you are jealous but he is a doctor and trying to do his job. So, let him do it please." I say squeezing his other hand and lock my eyes with him.
"Okay." he says and steps back from him. I shut my eyes tightly when he touches me there. I'm hypersensitive and clap Stefan's hand hard.
"You are dilated at two." he says and palpates my belly. "It's good they didn't change their place. For them, you don't have contractions and it's pretty good."
"It's good ?" Stefan asks worriedly.
"Yes, I will call Dr. Mileiko, now." he says and leave us.
"You were acting like a caveman." I say smiling despite the pain.
"I don't like when another man touches you or even looks at you. You are mine and only mine." he kisses my knuckles softly and winks at me.
"I already know that, Stefan. I choose you and only you to this day and I'm pregnant with your children, you don't have to worry babe." I reply and bring his hand to my lips.
"I know and I don't why I react," he says and puts his hands on my belly feeling the kicks of our children.
"They are fine. Happily they don't feel the contractions as it's them to come."
"Yeah. You're right, baby." he says and Ashley enters the room.
"What's going on, sweetie ?" she asks and examines me.
"She has contractions and they are closer." Stefan responds and rubs his fingertips over my palm, calming me down.
"It happens sometimes. I will inject you with something to stop the contractions and also something to develop their lungs because you could give birth sooner rather than later but you have to wait two weeks until you are at thirty five weeks and even better if you wait one month." she says.
"Yes, I want them inside me for as long as possible." I murmur. "The first product will burn you a little and the second you'll normally feel anything." she says and injects them in my catheter.
"Baby, don't cry." Stefan says and wipes my tears away with his thumbs.
"I'm okay, don't worry." I whisper trying to swallow but my mouth is dried.
"I will leave you both. Elena, you stay here until tomorrow morning at least." she says and kisses Elena's forehand.
Stefan's POV.
I watch Elena sleeping peacefully with her left hand on her belly protectively over our children and her right hand is on mine.
I run my hand through my hair and put Elena's hand on her belly too. Just last week, I was thinking about how I should ask her to marry me. I know that when she will be better, I will ask her. I want to have one night for us, just us together alone. I have a boat which is in LA, now.
I already asked grandma Liz to watch Ella for the night because Care will soon giving birth to Ted and I don't want to bother them with Ella.
"No, no please you can't. Don't hurt her, please." she mumbles and moves abruptly. She has a nightmare again about what happened with Katherine. I hope that when the trial passes, she will be better because they will be in jail.
I sit next to her on the bed and take her in my arms, calming her down when I pull her against my chest slowly. I put my hand over hers and I intertwine my fingers with hers. She mumbles something incoherently and sighs in relief.
I fall asleep against her, listening of our children heartbeats and wake up when I hear my phone ringing. I feel her stir against me but I get out of bed without waking her up. I talked with Care for a few minutes and hear Elena's breathing change "Hey, baby." I say at her ear and kiss Elena's lips softly. "How are you ?" I ask and watch her carefully.
"Fine just tired but the contractions have stop." she says but I know that she is far away for fine, she has dark circles under her eyes and she has fear in her eyes.
"They are fine, baby. You can hear their heartbeats, Ashley says that they are good, she will come this morning to see you." I try to comfort her because I can't let her see that I'm freaking out too.
"Okay." she says and two nurses come in her room for her breakfast but I already have Taylor on it. I know that she hates hospital food so I told him to bring her some croissants and muesli with orange juice. She lost weight although she has to gain it, I will have a few words with Ashley when she comes, it's not normal.
"She will have nothing, I took care of it." I say and she looks at me in disbelief.
"Taylor is bringing you something, I know you hate hospital food, baby." I say and kiss her forehead.
"Miss. Gilbert how are you ?" Taylor asks her when he enters the room and the nurses leave us.
"Fine, thank you Taylor. How is my daughter ?" she asks and begins to eat her muesli.
"Ryan is with her and she is with Miss Mikaelson, Miss." he responds and nods at me.
"I'll go talk to Taylor outside while you eat your breakfast, okay baby ?" she nods and I kiss her forehead.
"Sir, Miss Pierce wants to talk to you. The trial is in five weeks, Elijah called me yesterday, he will come soon to organize his defence with you." he says hesitantly.
"Why does she want to talk to me ?!" I ask angrily and run my hand through my hair.
"She didn't tell me but she said that it's urgent, but if you want I can call her for you." he proposes sincerely.
"No, Taylor thank you. I don't know what I want to do about that. I will wait until the trial I think because I don't want Elena stressed for Christmas which is in two weeks. I wanted to spend Christmas in NY but I don't want her to move because of the twins it's too dangerous. Do you have everything arranged for Sunday night ?"
"I understand, Sir. Of course, Christian talked to Mrs. Forbes and she is happy to watch Ella for one night." he smiles, I know that he loves my daughter like she was his and I trust him completely with her.
"Thank you, Taylor. You can take the day off and I have a surprise for you. Look behind you." I smile and see Taylor taking Anna in his arms and kiss her. They are together for four years now and I know that Taylor will ask her to marry him soon.
"Hi, Anna." I say and kiss her cheek. They become like a second family when Elena left and we are more closer than ever before.
"Stefan, thank you for the jet. I missed you both." she says and squeezes my hand. "Thank you, boss." Taylor says and pats my shoulder. I know that he missed his girl so I brought her to him.
"You can take the rest of the day off, Taylor. I booked you a room for the two you, alone, so you can enjoy your time together." I say and Anna has tears in her eyes.
"Thank you, Stefan. Can I see Elena before we leave ?"
"Of course, she will be happy to see you." I say and open the door. "Baby, someone is here to see you." I say and look over my shoulder.
"Anna !" she says with a shaking voice. "Hey, sweetie." Anna says and takes Elena in her arms.
"What are you doing here ?" Elena asks through her tears. "Your man sent his jet for me so I can join mine here." she responds smiling and wipes Elena's eyes with her thumbs. They became close when Elena moved in with me, Anna and her talked for hours when I was late at work.
I shrug my shoulder when Elena looks at me with adoration. "Thank you." she mouths at me. I nod and sit next to her, listening to her conversation with Anna and Taylor.
"I will see you next week, Elena and don't move too much you must be in bed as much as possible." Ashley says and nods at me letting me know, it's okay for her that Elena and I are leaving just for one night away from LA just the two of us.
"Thank you again Ashley, for everything." Elena gets up and I wrap my arms around her waist.
"Your welcome sweetie, take care of yourself and kiss your princess for me." I nod and she shakes our hands.
"You okay ?" I ask when I drive towards Caroline's house.
"Yes, I just want to go home and sleep in your arms." she says and I put my hand on her thigh.
"We will but it's Em's birthday and I'm sure she wants to see you, baby. But if you're too tired we pick up Ella and go home, it's up to you." I propose but I know that we will stay because she doesn't want to miss Emily's birthday.
"No, we wait until the cake and we go home after. I don't want to miss her four birthday, I was always there to help her." she says and closes her eyes.
"Whatever you want." I say and fix the road.
"Mommy ! Daddy !" Ella runs in my arms and I take her when we arrive at Caroline's .
"Hey, baby girl. You okay ?" I ask and she ignores me trying to get in Elena's arms but she has not enough strength.
"No, Ella you can't be in Mommy's arms she is tired, you can kiss her."
"Why Mommy is sick ?" she asks worried and touches Elena's hair. "I'm here, Ella." Elena says and kisses her cheeks.
"Give her to me, Stefan." she says and I stare at her.
"Elena." I warn her, she can't be serious. She throws a glance at me and I give Ella to her.
"Emily's cake was good ?" she asks and enters in the patio.
"So good, Mommy. I want one with chocolate too." she says happily and Caroline approaches us.
"How are you, sweetie ?" she asks and hugs her.
"I'm okay but tired, and my back hurts but they are fine so it's all good." she says and Ella runs towards Emily.
"Do you want a piece of cake ?" she asks and Elena shakes her head. "I want one, please but I will do it." I say. "Sit, baby." I whisper in her ear and walk in the kitchen.
"It's good to see you, Liz." I say when I see her in the kitchen.
"Stefan, how is Elena ?" she asks worried and I tell her what happened. "Poor sweetheart, I hope she will be better for next Sunday." she winks at me.
"I hope so too. I arrange everything and thank you for watching Ella for us." I smile.
"You need one night for you and I'm happy to help you with Ella, she is my granddaughter even if she is not but I was here for her and Elena when she was away from you."
"And I thank you for that, Liz. I'm happy that Elena find a second family here with you. We love you." I add and leave the kitchen with her.
"Nik ! Nik !" I hear Caroline scream and see everyone around her. "I... I just broke my water." she exclaims and Nik kisses her passionately.
"We are having a baby !" he says and he looks at her with so much love.
A/N : Thank you so much for reading and thank you for all the reviews.
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Until next time !
A.