A/N: I wanted to say a quick thank you to a few people. Lately I've been getting rather down. Writing this was the highlight of my day and I loved seeing you guys enjoying my work. It's a great feeling. However, when I keep getting reviews and messages saying it's too dark or that I need professional help, I get angry. And then I get sad (the reason yesterday was delayed). So I want to say a quick thank you to a few reviewers who keep me going (side note, I think all my readers are great people but I can't list you all individually).

JMHUW, LovelyDeadlyLie, Delenaaaa, Elena Mikaelson and Rose123579. You guys rock.

I spent the night wracked by cravings. It was impossible to sleep when every time I closed my eyes, I saw blood, blood everywhere, running down the walls and seeping in under the bedroom door. In the end, I decided to distract myself by reading some of the papers I'd found.

I emptied the bag onto my bed and sifted through them, searching for anything that caught my eye. They were mainly letters written in the same neat handwriting although there were a few that were in a more feminine style. They were dated between 1817 and 1820 and large portions of them were written in French. I frowned and switched to the journals instead.

August, 1359,

I have noticed a difference in my siblings. Our bond strains beneath the pressure of our life as vampires. Each day removes them further from the humanity we once possessed. My sweet sister Rebekah has grown quite indifferent to brutality.

I frowned and stared at the book. This belonged to one of the Mikaelsons? I looked at the journal and fully registered the curly M on the front cover. That explained the handwriting I supposed…

However, the true problem remains my brother Niklaus; he continues to hide his loneliness with cruelty. Still, I cling to the hope that I, as their eldest brother, can lead them down the correct path, a path charged with the power of a family united. For if I fail, our family's legacy will end in darkness.

Elijah. The way he wrote made it clear. I sighed softly. Even back then they'd been struggling. I put the journal down. I would have been lying if I said I didn't miss them. Elijah, Rebekah, Finn, even Kol. And maybe Klaus.

There are moments when I doubt that my family is capable of redemption, yet each time that I am tempted to surrender, I see it - - the glimmer of goodness that allows me to believe.

Elijah never gave up on anyone. He always believed in the innate goodness of everyone. I felt bad for what I'd said to Rebekah and Kol. I still felt like I needed to be away from them all to try and protect myself and my child but… I'd been mean. I was hurt and I knew that I'd acted cruelly.

I should make amends….

I wasn't sure if I should keep reading. I'd had my doubts before but now that I knew it was Elijah's it felt worse somehow. I'd assumed they were the journals of someone long dead but now I felt like I was invading the privacy of a trusted friend.

Then again, this baby was a Mikaelson. I needed to learn all that I could about their family. I put the journal down and searched through for the oldest one I could find. It was slow work, the journals were a mixture of strange symbols at first that I couldn't decipher. Gradually, as I flicked through the pages, Elijah began to write in English and I found myself getting absorbed in his history.

I kept reading until the sun rose. I was grateful that the night was over. I was supposed to meet Sophie in Witches Alley and I decided to head there early so as to prevent having an escort foisted on me.

There were only a few people on the streets, hosing down the pavement. All traces of the storm the day before were gone and the air was warm. I went to the Witches Alley and found myself a seat on a bench. There were a few people around and some stopped to stare. I huffed and looked down at my feet, making a point to ignore them.

After a few minutes however it got too much. I decided to go into one of the shops where I was less likely to be stared at.

I went to the only one that was open, which was the store I'd seen Thierry in during my last visit. I idly browsed the shelves, wondering if I could find something to handle either my weird stomach twinges or my cravings for blood. Unlikely but you never knew.

"Hi, can I help you?" I looked over and saw a teenage girl. I was mildly relieved it wasn't Thierry's girlfriend, just in case she put everything together.

"I was wondering if you had anything that might help with cravings?"

"What kind?"

"Pregnancy cravings. Strong ones."

"Umm, there's some herbal teas over there that are meant to help." She pointed. "Sorry I can't be more helpful. The other clerk, Katie, knows more than me, I'm only part time."

"It's alright, thank you." I headed over to where she'd gestured and browsed the shelves, examining some of the packets of herbs. The bell over the door rang as someone else came in. I glanced over, registered another teenage girl, and returned to my search. Their voices drifted over to me.

"Hey Monique,"

"Hey Davina. What time do you finish today?"

"Midday. Although Katie lets me go earlier sometimes when it's really dead and so far I've only had the one customer."

"That girl?" There was a pause and when they next spoke, their voices were hushed. "Oh my god, do you know who that is?"

"No, should I?"

"Yeah, that's the pregnant one!"

"I know she's pregnant… she's looking for herbs to stop cravings. Why does that matter?"

"No I mean she's the one who got knocked up by the vampire."

"Really? That's her?"

"Yeah. My aunt told me about her. I was expecting someone…"

"What?"

"Nothing. I wonder it's like," she giggled. "To sleep with one."

"Eww, Monique."

"Oh come on. It's got to be… different. Although I can't imagine there's much sleeping involved."

"Monique, they're dead. It's gross."

"Don't be such a prude… Do you think she's got any powers? Like vampire ones?"

"She's only a human."

"Yeah but she has vampire blood in her."

"What so she can turn into a bat?"

"No! But I mean… maybe. And maybe she drinks blood. You said she was after stuff for cravings right? Maybe she wants to drink you blood Davina." I glanced over and saw the girl, Monique, miming biting the girl behind the register, accompanied by exaggerated slurping noises. I clenched my fists, the bag of herbs crumpling under my grip.

"Monique! Stop! I feel kind of sorry for her. Everyone's treating her like a freak."

"She is a freak. Like you said, they're dead. It's just wrong."

I felt something snap inside of me. I picked up one of the herb bags and marched over to the counter.

"I'll take this," I said. The girl behind the register nodded and began to ring up my purchase. I could feel Monique staring at me. I kept my eyes fixed on my purchase. "For the record, I don't have vampire powers. You're just super loud and annoying." My voice stayed steady and calm. I took the bag Davina offered me and turned to face her friend. "However, you are right. I am fighting a very strong craving right now, to tear your head off and open up your veins with my teeth. So maybe you should consider that before you starting talking shit about people you don't know. Particularly one who's extremely hormonal."

I turned and swept out of the store.

I kept to myself for the next few hours, hidden away in a coffee shop that fortunately didn't seem to have witches on staff. When Sophie eventually arrived, I was incredibly relieved.

"Sorry I'm late. I got held up. Weird phone call from my sister about some crazy lady threatening to tear her daughter's head off. Sound familiar?" I sipped my drink.

"Depends. Is your niece a little brat?"

"Hey!"

"Sorry but I object to being called a freak. I might have crossed a line but I'm not going to apologize for it."

"She called you a freak? Okay, she didn't mention that bit. And I did think it was a bit weird that you'd yell at her without provocation." She sighed. "How are you feeling?"

"Terrible. Pregnancy sucks."

"Just wait, you're only half way through right?"

"About that, yeah."

"Well, I've been doing some research, asking a few friends and I might be able to help. The Mikaelsons were witches right? Before they were vampires?"

"I think so."

"Their mother, Esther, is legendary around here. Which is probably why Agnes has given me full permission to help you out. And why no one has tried to kill you yet."

"Hmm. That fills me with confidence."

"Come on, I've got a few tricks I can do to try and get a better idea of what you're dealing with. But, not here." She gestured for me to follow. I got up and trailed after her.

"Is this place far?"

"No, just a little walk. But it's private, which is what we need." We trudged along. "Have there been any side effects?"

"Well, I had a vision of the past where I wasn't in my own body. And I think my past self did magic. And I keep craving blood. And I have these weird stomach twinges. They really hurt."

"Okay… that's a lot. Stomach twinges, you might want to see an actual doctor about. I'm just here for the magical stuff."

"I appreciate it."

We walked out of the quarter and came to a walled cemetery. I paused and gave Sophie a 'you cannot be serious' look. She shrugged and opened the gate.

"Why are we in a cemetery?"

"The witches of this city practice a specific brand of magic, it's called Ancestral Magic. To do it we need access to the remains of ancestors."

"That's great but none of my ancestors are out here. And I highly doubt any of the Mikaelsons' are either."

"I know. But before Marcel banned all our magic use, my sister and I did a spell on it that prevents vampires from entering. Ergo, it is the safest place for you to be when we're doing this kind of stuff. Now, please come in." I reluctantly followed her inside the cemetery and to a large tomb. She went inside it and I could hear her moving things around. I peaked in.

"Is this legal?"

"It's fine. Now, lie down." I didn't move. I had too many bad experiences with witches. Putting myself in a position of vulnerability seemed very stupid. "Elena, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to try and find out what's going on in there. We might even be able to work out who's child it is."

I considered and reluctantly lay down. Sophie was sorting through a small box of stuff and I saw the handle of a knife. I immediately reared up.

"You have serious trust issues… Look, I will give you the knife if it makes you feel safer. Or would you rather open my veins with your teeth?" I scowled and lay back down. Sophie mixed some strange herbs in a bowl until they formed a paste, carefully pulled up my top to expose my stomach and rubbed it onto my skin. I wrinkled my nose. It smelt bad and my skin tingled as it came into contact. "I don't suppose you have anything belonging to the possible fathers?"

"I've got Kol's daylight ring but that's it."

"Where'd you get that?"

"I stole it off him when he wouldn't stop stalking me."

"Ah, that explains why he's not been coming into the bar until after sundown. Thanks."

"Anytime."

"Well, I can't do what I was going to do. However I can do a spell of revelations to try and divine some information about the child." She retrieved a scrap of paper from the box and scribbled on it. I caught a glimpse and saw the strange symbols from Elijah's journal. She lay it in front of her and fetched a candle from the box, lit it and knelt beside me, holding the candle over my belly. She closed her eyes, set the candle down in front of her and her mouth moved as she murmured under her breath. I lay still, uncertain of what exactly she was doing. She opened her eyes. They were completely white and unfocused. "I sense great power. Ancient blood."

I managed not to say something sarcastic about how obvious that statement was, fearing that it would disrupt whatever she was doing and I'd get no answers at all.

"Dark hair, dark eyes… a dark soul…"

I whimpered. Was my child going to be evil? She reached out and took my hand. The knife was suddenly in her other hand and I made to move but found that I couldn't. She pricked my finger and let the drops fall onto the paper in front of her. She released me, blind eyes turning down to examine her handiwork.

"Multiple souls are entwined, blood mixed with blood. Their spirits hold you Elena, they work through you to seek out what they want and what they need. Do not fight them, they will show you the way."

"They…?"

She blinked. The candle went out and her eyes returned to normal.

"What did I say?"

"You said… they…"

"Oh." She looked down at the blood on the paper. I sat up awkwardly, trying to see. There was a stick figure drawn at the top with a word written in symbols beneath. Most of my blood had gathered around that image. "Okay, so that's you." The blood had run down the page and diverted into two paths. The first path ended in a simple dot of blood while the other had formed a strange symbol, a three pointed shape of overlapping lines encased in a circle.

"What does that mean?"

"Well I'm not entirely sure about the triquetra… that's normally used in linking spells. But the two branches would indicate that you're having twins."

"Twins?"

"Congrats?"

A/N: I missed sarcastic Elena. Time for her to remerge I believe. Also, taking suggestions for baby names.