Chapter 37

Bonnie and Elena stayed with Caroline until exhaustion took them. Then Elijah and Kol carried them to their rooms.

"It looks like we're going to be painting the rooms tomorrow while the girls are with Lilly." Kol said once Bonnie was sleeping. "They could spend the day with Caroline who will be on bed rest."

The next day the girls played with Lilly in the downstairs sitting room; Caroline was confined to the couch while the men painted the nurseries.

"We love you!" Bonnie shouted up from the courtyard which was as far as they were allowed to go.

Kol had a silly grin on his face while Elijah smiled widely and Klaus snickered.

"We love you more!" Kol shouted back. Turning his attention back to the paint swatches, he couldn't decide which three blues would be suitable to use.

"Should Henrik's room be a forest green with a white trim or this 'energy green' color with a white trim?" Elijah asked as he looked at each one, trying to decide which one looked better.

Elijah was in Henrik's nursery and began painting the walls the forest green color with Jeremy's help.

"So when are you and my sister going to get married?" Jeremy asked and Elijah laughed.

"She wants everyone to be there but she's unsure about inviting Damon for Stefan's benefit."

"Maybe you could double with Kol and Bonnie. Strength in numbers," Jeremy said. "I think you should get married before the baby is born though."

"That's what I'm thinking but I don't think anyone here wants Damon here." Elijah warned him. "If he finds out about what's going on here, it'll be chaotic and I want them to have a great pregnancy and birth. No stress on anyone."

"Has anyone asked Stefan?" Jeremy shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't even want him here. If that's the case one candid conversation will fix everything."

"Good idea-you ask him." Elijah said as he was painting the wall where the door is. "I'm not going to ask and Elena isn't sure of that relationship anymore so you do it."

"Fine," Jeremy said with a groan. "Where can I find him?" He asked.

"I'd imagine his suite. I think he was working on Lilly's room. He hasn't gotten a chance before now and she needed a nursery too," Elijah said. Jeremy made his way down there and found Stefan painting the nursery pink. The accents were turquoise, chartreuse, purple and a little red.

"Wow, she's going to love this place," Jeremy grinned as he took it in.

"Thanks, I certainly hope so. I just want her to be a happy healthy little girl," Stefan said. "You look like a man on a mission. What's on your mind Jeremy?"

"I asked Elijah when the big day was," he started. "But he and Elena are trying to sort out the invite list and...well, I'm unsure if you want Damon there."

"I'm not going to deny that I love my brother," Stefan said. "He's one of the only ones left."

"Do you want him here? Even if it's not for the wedding?" Jeremy asked.

Their conversation was interrupted by a familiar voice in the courtyard.

"Elena, Bonnie, Caroline...wow, look at you two," Damon Salvatore addressed Elena and Bonnie.

"Please tell me there's a Mikaelson responsible for this and I can find at least one of them here," he said a moment later.

"You've got to be kidding me," Jeremy groaned. Soon all the rest of them were out on the second floor balcony. Damon wasn't alone however, he had Katherine cradled in his arms completely unconscious and very pregnant.

"Holy shit!" The girls shouted while Kol and Klaus laughed while Elijah jumped down and stood protectively in front of Elena. He didn't speak as he wasn't in a good mood at the moment-seeing Damon and Katerina, he wanted to kill them.

Davina was behind them and was about to give Damon a migraine when Stefan appeared and punched him in the nose.

"Nice to see you too brother." Damon got out.

"What happened?" Elena asked from behind Elijah.

"Seriously long story largely the work of pissing off a Bennett witch apparently. Look I will answer any questions you want to ask, do almost anything you ask if one of you will help her, " Damon pleaded.

"She needs pure blood," Bonnie explained, "any vampire pregnancy has to involve Mikaelson blood if it's to come full term. Obviously that limits any potential imbalance. Are you liking having the loving Katherine back? I told you when you came in that shop and asked for a better life that you might not understand what you had wished for."

"That was you?" Damon gasped.

"Little witch what did you do?" Kol looked at his fiancée.

"I paid back some Bennett debts. First to Damon for his selfless protection of the Bennett line on more than one occasion I gave him what he always wanted most, Katherine. I decided not to stop there though. I purged Katherine of all the fear and cynicism that had made her so miserable and evil. You'll find her quite different if she wakes. Then I gave them a miracle. I thought perhaps someone special to occupy their lives might bring us all some peace. Lastly I had Kol heal Stefan. Stefan you no longer lose control on blood. The Ripper is gone."

Elena stared at Bonnie before nodding in agreement with her. This would be good for the two of them.

She and Caroline tried stifling their yawns but they escaped and Elijah took Elena back into their room for her to sleep.

"Do the birds have their treats?" She yawned out.

"They do my beautiful Elena." Kissing her, he smiled. "Go to sleep. I'll be back here soon."

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