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Over the next three weeks they watched as Rebekah grew larger and more beautiful in her pregnancy with each passing day. They smiled as they often took turns feeling the baby kick. She and Stefan were so excited it was hard not to be jealous.
Rebekah bolted upright in the middle of the night her breath coming in shallow pants. Stefan was awake almost immediately.
"Rebekah what is it?" he worried.
"There's a pain. I can't catch my breath," Rebekah worried. Stefan reached out and felt her baby bump surprised when there was almost no movement. They had grown used to the baby being very active at night.
"Elena, Bonnie, Caroline," Stefan called and within minutes everyone had appeared in the bedroom in their pajamas. Rebekah was crying both with fear and pain.
"I want Elijah, Stefan," Rebekah pleaded. Stefan hesitated one moment and then looked to Elena.
"Go," he said thankful that for once Elena was home.
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"Elijah!"
The panic in Elena's voice had Elijah bolting upright in his bed. He threw on a pair of pants and was still buttoning his shirt as he raced into the courtyard. Kol was already there standing before Elena shirtless and in a pair of jeans.
"It's Bekah," Elena looked at Elijah, "something's wrong and she's asking for you."
"The baby?" Elijah worried. Elena shook her head that she wasn't sure and the three vampires sped to Rebekah's in the dead of night. Bonnie was waiting in the courtyard.
"Elijah come in," she said and just like that the barrier dropped for him and Elijah passed through. He hurried upstairs with Rebekah while Bonnie stayed at the threshold with Kol.
"Go please," Kol begged, "if there's anything you can do to help her I want you to be there." Bonnie reached out and squeezed his hand a moment.
"Don't go"
"I'm not going anywhere," Kol vowed. By the time Bonnie got upstairs Elena and Caroline were standing at the doorway while Stefan was sitting next to Rebekah and Elijah seemed to be examining her.
"What would he know about pregnancy and babies?" Caroline worried. She still thought a hospital was the best course of action.
"I delivered Rebekah and Kol," Elijah replied surprising Elena, Bonnie and Caroline, "and I fully intend to deliver this one when it's time. Right now I really need to see in there. Bonnie I think you could help me out with that." Elijah grabbed pen and paper and scribbled down a spell – even in this crisis he wasn't going to expose that he had a little magic of his own.
Bonnie placed her hands on Rebekah's baby bump and began to speak the spell. Elijah entered her mind. He was drifting deeper and deeper – following the magic through her hands. He couldn't get the images to become clear. Reaching out to grasp her arm Bonnie suddenly felt her power boosted. Elijah was adding his magic. Bonnie could tell that he was strong but it still wasn't enough and she felt the backlash as the spell failed.
"I need Kol," Bonnie looked to Stefan. Stefan looked to Elijah just a moment and then nodded to Bonnie. She ran to the balcony.
"Kol come in I need you!" she called. Kol flashed to Bonnie's side and she took his hand to lead him to Rebekah and Stefan's room where everyone was in their pajamas and looking worried.
"Bekah what's wrong?" Kol worried taking in his sister's pained expression.
"We don't know," Bonnie answered, "Elijah knows a spell that will enable him to see inside but I didn't have enough power. I think if I draw on my feelings for you it should be enough." Kol nodded instantly understanding what she meant.
Bonnie placed her hands on Rebekah again and began to chant. When he was sure that she was stable he placed his hands atop hers on Rebekah. Kol's eyes opened again as she began to draw on his magic. It had been so long since anyone had done so.
She schooled her features not to show the sudden jolt she felt as his magic became hers. He was not as strong as her but he was much stronger than many she had encountered. She pushed all her thoughts and feelings on the subject aside and focused on the task at hand.
Elijah slipped into Bonnie's mind not at all surprised to find Kol there. He was standing his ground defiantly but Elijah advanced on him and gave him a firm brotherly hug.
"Guarding her gate?"
"I will protect her always," Kol said. Elijah smiled.
"You love her. I am happy for you Kol. Bonnie is a wonderful person – smart, selfless and independent. I'd be happy to talk more about this but not right now."
"Fix this Elijah," Kol said sincerely and Elijah nodded before his image faded. This time Elijah's vision passed beyond Bonnie's hands and into Rebekah.
The others in the room watched silently the expressions on Elijah's face as he worked. Kol was practically wrapped around Bonnie where they were providing a conduit for Elijah.
"Elijah will figure out what the problem is," Elena tried to reassure the expectant parents. Bonnie jerked and Kol wrapped around her tighter. Caroline looked like she was ready to intervene but Elena was calmly confident in Elijah's abilities.
"Ok!" Rebekah gasped and Stefan held her to offer his comfort. Finally Bonnie and Rebekah relaxed. Elijah opened his eyes and a smile came to his eyes as he looked to Rebekah and Stefan.
"The baby's going to be fine," he said with obvious relief.
"The…do you want to know the gender?" Elijah asked. Elena had settled beside him on the bed her head leaned against his shoulder and her hand on Rebekah's abdomen. It jolted him when he saw that look in her eyes. It was a look his sister had borne for almost a thousand years.
"Yes," Rebekah and Stefan decided.
"It's a girl," Elijah announced proudly, "a very strong, very healthy baby girl who incidentally broke your rib. It wasn't positioned right and it healed piercing your lung. Thanks to Bonnie and my brother here I was able to set it properly. You should be just fine."
"It's a girl!" each of the girls announced and Elijah realized all of them had baby longing.
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