Chapter 22

Vampire Elena pales as she realizes the predicament in which she's found herself. Damon nor Stefan is in this memory, but the conversation is all about them. There's no way her younger doppelgänger won't pick up on the obvious. She'll realize that Stefan isn't the forever love she's expecting. In fact, he's a newly-wed at this point. Elena shuts her eyes and concentrates on changing the memory. It's her mind, she should be able to control what they see. That's how this whole vampire-mind-ability works. She focuses really hard on creating an image, memory, whatever, and it happens. Except this time, it doesn't. Nothing changes.

"Oh, no," she says. "I'm not in control."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I didn't summon this memory, and I can't change it or reroute us."

"Why would you want to? I can find out everything I need to stop Klaus, to protect Stefan and everyone else I…we…love," human Elena says. "I can keep them safe."

"Except I don't want you, or anyone, having free reign in my mind. How would you like it if all your secrets and private thoughts were lain bare for the world to see?"

"It's not the world. It's just me." Human Elena's eyes soften. "You know, a younger version of you."

The unsettling sensation of dripping oil pools in Elena's stomach. The idea of younger, more naïve version of herself learning about every mistake Elena's ever made in the last two hundred years is not appealing in the least. But there isn't anything she can do about it right now. When she finds a way out of this memory mess, she'll never let the human in her mind again.

"Bonnie, it's beautiful," memory Elena says as she follows one of her best friends into the nursery. She runs her hands over the white crib with a bright smile that almost conceals her envy. Bonnie grins at the forever-eighteen vampire and pretends not to notice the heartache Elena desperately tries to hide. When announcing her pregnancy to her two closest friends, Bonnie knew it would garner complicated responses from both the immortals.

As expected, Caroline was incensed about Bonnie's secret relationship with a particular blonde quarterback, but she forgave her best friend when she realized there would be a beautiful mocha-latte baby arriving in a few months. Caroline insisted on throwing a party to announce the big news to all of Mystic Falls. It quickly grew into one of the biggest parties of the decade. During which, Caroline somehow won a bet with Damon that earned her every asset he owned.

Elena responded to Bonnie's announcement with surprise and veiled jealously. Elena was happy for Bonnie and really wanted to be a good friend, but her pregnancy was a reminder that Elena would never experience motherhood. Rather than unloading her baggage onto Bonnie, Elena chose to channel her energy into being an awesome aunt.

Vampire's can't bare offspring, but they can dote on their loved ones' children, like Elena does with Ric's kids, Helen and Charlie. Bonnie appreciates Elena's efforts and has a plan to make sure she always feels connected to the Bennet child.

"Thanks. Matt was a big help assembling everything. But the nursery isn't the only reason I wanted you to come by," Bonnie says, placing a protective hand on her overly protruding baby bump.

"Is everything okay? Do you need another exam?" Elena asks.

"No, no I'm fine. I promise. I just wanted to ask you a favor."

"Oh, yeah, of course. Anything. You know that."

Bonnie smiles with excitement and love for one of her closest friends. She grabs Elena's hand and places it on her belly. Bonnie watches the vampire's concern disappear and a genuine smile grow big across her face as she listens to the strong heart beat of the unborn Bennett.

"Will you be my daughter's God Mother?"

Elena's eyes rock from Bonnie's stomach to her green gaze, and she gapes. Tears fill her brown eyes as she covers her face and laughs.

"Oh my God, yes!" Elena squeals from behind her hands, and Bonnie grabs her arms with her own brand of tearful laughter. Together they giggle and cry in joy at the wonderful future ahead of them. After a few moments and several hugs, Elena wipes away her tears enough to speak.

"Bonnie, I'm so honored that you'd ask me. Thank you."

"It was an easy decision. Matt and I both know you'll love her like your own and we want you to feel connected to our little family. But we need you to tell Damon that we've asked Tyler to be her God Father."

Elena scoffs. "I think he'll understand. Especially since he's the only one of us that knows her name."

"I didn't tell him. He guessed it, sort of. Actually it was his idea." She says and motions to the big pink letters nailed to the wall, VDB. " And when he saw the initials, he figured it out. He hasn't told anyone has he?"

"No." Elena throws her hands up. "Not even me. And I have tried to convince him to spill. I've done things, Bonnie. Things I'm not proud of."

"Oh, okay, no need to go any further," she says with a chuckle. She slips her hands back onto her belly and presses into one side with a grimace, and Elena frowns.

She pulls Bonnie out of the nursery into the master bedroom. "Come one, let me do another exam."

"What? No, I'm fine, really. Besides, there are no stirrups here."

"Not that kind of exam. Although, have I told you how much I appreciate the timing of your pregnancy? It was perfect for my GYN-ie rotation."

"Me, too. Do you know how much money you saved me? The price of sonograms today are outrageous."

"Sit," Elena says, pointing to the big bed in Bonnie's bedroom.

Bonnie had avoided moving into her Dad's room for years. But when it came time to build the nursery, she knew it was time. According to Damon, eight years was long enough. Time to rip the band-aid off.

Elena grabs her bag from the hallway and slings it onto the bed next to Bonnie, who eyes it strangely. "Do you just carry that every where now?"

"Whenever I'm visiting my pregnant friends, I do."

"How many pregnant friends do you have, Elena?" Bonnie asks with a teasing smile.

"You'd be surprised," she says. Bonnie frowns at her sour tone and places a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Elena…"

"No, Bonnie. I'm fine," she says, pulling away.

"But you're obviously not. We've spent the last six months avoiding the elephant in the room, but I think that was a mistake. We should talk about this."

"What? Oh, no." Elena's confused expression twists into mild horror. "It's not what you think."

"Really?" Bonnie stares at Elena with what Damon calls her 'judgy witch face,' and rubs her tummy unconsciously.

Elena chuckles at the odd sight of her best friend. Over the past few years, she's watched her friends and family grow up. Ric got married and has two kids with another on the way. Bonnie is having a baby. Jeremy is in a semi-stable relationship with one of Jo's cousins, which isn't as weird as it sounds. Even Caroline and Stefan have moved on with the biggest wedding Mystic Falls has ever seen.

"Have you heard from Caroline at all?" she asks Bonnie, who rolls her eyes. Elena smiles at the witch as she slips the blood pressure cuff on to her arm.

"Yeah," Bonnie says. "She called yesterday. Apparently, now they're in Australia, sleeping in something called a yurt. I think their moving on to Sydney soon."

"How is it that their two week honey moon is on it's third month?"

"Because Caroline gets what Caroline wants."

Both girls giggle as Elena pulls the pressure cuff off and tosses it aside.

"It amazes me how fast their relationship came together. It's like one day they were best friends and the next, they're vowing to love each other for eternity," Elena says in a gentle, whimsical tone as she presses a stethoscope to Bonnie's chest. The witch notices her odd expression and frowns.

"Is that what's bothering you? Are you jealous?"

Elena tugs the stethoscope from her ears and sighs. She sits next to Bonnie on the bed and stares at the floor. "I think, so."

"What?!" Bonnie jumps to her feet, nearly knocking Elena from the bed. "When did this happen? What does this mean? Have you told Stefan? Or Damon? Or Caroline? Oh,my God, you can't tell Caroline. She'll kill you."

"Bonnie, calm down. This isn't good for the baby."

"Good for the baby? This isn't good for anyone. Especially me."

"I think you misunder…You? What does this have to do with you?" Elena asks with her hands on her hips and mouth quirked into a smile.

"Who do you think Damon is going to come running to? Me. Every time you two have a fight…hell, every time he has a fight with anyone, he shows up on my doorstep with a bottle of bourbon and the urge to kill something. I'm practically his sponsor for homicide addiction."

"Well with Ric in Portland and Enzo's tendency to encourage his homicidal urges, you're the best person to keep him on track."

Bonnie rolls her eyes then glares as Elena, who shrugs.

"You're his best friend, Bonnie. Whether he admits it or not."

"I know. That's why you can't go stirring up long dead…"

"I'm not stirring up anything. I love my boyfriend and only him."

"You said you were jealous…"

"I'm jealous of the fact that my boyfriend is still only my boyfriend. An eternal boyfriend, yes. But still just a boyfriend."

"Oh." Bonnie sits back down. "You're jealous that Caroline got married before you, not of…Oh thank God."

Elena throws her hand up. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. It's just frustrating because everyone is moving forward except us. We've been together the longest of all our couple friends and family. Yet, we've been in the same place for six years. Since we moved in together, nothing has changed. And as much as I love Caroline, it feels like she's rubbing in her newlywed status a bit too much."

"You mean, how every time she calls, it's about how her and her new husband did this. And her husband did that, and her husband saved a puppy, or whatever."

"Yes! What is that about? It's like he no longer has a name. It's just 'husband.' And here I am with just a boyfriend. I mean, I've accept the fact that I'll never get to call him the father of my children, but I shouldn't have to give up husband too. Hell, I'd accept fiancée at this point."

Bonnie crosses her arms and frowns. "Have you spoke to him about this?"

"I've tried, Bonnie. He just keeps changing the subject and avoiding the conversation all together," Elena says as she sits next to her on the bed. She bites her trembling lips as tears well in her big, brown eyes. "I'm worried that he doesn't want me anymore."

"What?" Bonnie grabs her friend's hands in hers. "How can you think that?"

"He's been with dozens of women before me. What if he's bored and doesn't know how to tell me? What if he doesn't want forever anymore? Bonnie, what am I going to do? I can't imagine my life without him." Elena says through sobs as she cries into Bonnie's arms, which proves uncomfortable for the very pregnant witch.

"Elena, I need you to calm down and get off me."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Elena jumps up and wipes her face on her sleeves. Bonnie climbs to her feet and grabs a box of tissue from the nearby bathroom for her friend. While Elena attempts to damn the never ending stream of tears, Bonnie waddles over to her dresser and pulls out a small velvet box.

"Look, I'm breaking a promise here, so I need you stay calm," Bonnie says as she turns around to show Elena. The vampire pauses mid-sniffle when she spots the box.

"Oh my God, Bonnie. Did Matt finally pop the question?"

Bonnie scoffs. "No. Matt's asked me a dozen times to marry him. I'm the one that keeps saying no."

"What? Why?"

"If I get married, I want it to be real, not the product of an unplanned pregnancy. Don't get me wrong, I love Matt. I just need to be sure that he loves me and not the idea of the perfect family."

"Oh, that's beautiful." Elena smiles. "But I don't think he's delusional enough to think life with you would be normal. You're a witch, who's best friends are vampires. Beside, won't this little girl be a witch too?"

"We aren't here to talk about me and my problems, Elena. We're here to talk about yours," Bonnie says, jiggling the ring box in her hand.

"You mean…"

"Yeah." Bonnie flashes a teasing smile. "Your boyfriend gave me this. A year ago, in fact."

"A year ago? Why so long? And why did he give it you?"

"He didn't want to give you a regular wedding ring. He wanted something special. Something that would give you the normal life you've always wanted. At least, as normal as he could make it."

"What are you talking about?"

"He asked me to spell the rings. Kind of like how Emily made several devices for John Gilbert back in the day. That's why I've had them so long. I've been trying to figure out how to make the spell work. I mean, this isn't even the original set of rings he gave me. I've destroyed at least a half a dozen trying to figure this out. It wasn't until about two weeks ago that I did it. Oddly enough, I think the baby's power helped me. So now they work." Bonnie hands the box to Elena, who peeks inside.

"What do they do?"

Leave it to Damon to make something as simple as a proposal a complicated mess. As sweet as he is to try to make her happy with some grand gesture, Elena just wants him forever and a simple diamond ring would do the trick. But that's not what Elena finds in the box. Instead, there are two band rings with deep engravings of gibberish all around them. Pulling the smaller ring free, she notes that it has separate parts that spin around as though setting a timer.

"They're kind of like spinner rings," Bonnie says with a coy smile.

"Right." Elena and stares at Bonnie for more until the witch can't contain her excitement any longer and spills.

"They're glamour rings. The first of their kind."

"Congratulations, Bonnie. What's a glamour ring?"

"When you wear this ring, it will change how others see you depending on how you set it," Bonnie says.

"Set it? Like the timer, spinner, thing? So I can be blonde if I want?"

"Yes and no. You use the spinner to set your glamour age. If you set the spinner to thirty, then everyone that looks at you will see a thirty year old Elena. Better yet, if you activate the progression setting, it will continue aging you in real time."

"So I could potentially grow old?" Elena asks with a desperate hope that fills Bonnie's heart with joy.

"Yes, as far as outside world is concerned. You won't have to move every few years anymore. You can stay in Mystic Falls for as long as you like."

"Oh my God, Bonnie. Thank you." Elena pulls Bonnie into a bear hug.

"Thank your boyfriend," Bonnie says when they finally pull a part. "It was his idea. He loves you more than anything, Elena. Obviously he's an idiot and is taking this surprise proposal thing too far, but never doubt that he loves you. I honestly believe that eventually, he'll give you everything you've ever wanted in life."

"I can't believe I ever doubted him," Elena says, placing her ring back into the box next to the other. Tears well in her eyes again. The implication of having two rings in the box makes Elena's heart swell. Damon wants to grow old with her. They may never have children together, but because of these rings, they'll get to grow up with the rest of their weird family. In that moment, Elena couldn't imagine loving Damon more. But they still have an eternity together, and he keeps surprising her.

"That's so beautiful," human Elena says to her counterpart. "I can't believe Stefan thought of something like that."

Vampire Elena frowns and flashes a sideways glance at the young human. Did she really not pick up on the truth? Mentally running through the conversation again, Elena realizes that neither her nor Bonnie specifically mentioned Damon as her boyfriend and Stefan as Caroline's husband.

Well, that was lucky.

"What does Bonnie name her baby?" human Elena asks, watching Bonnie return to the bed so memory Elena can finish her physical exam.

"Victoria Donovan Bennett."

Vampire Elena steps closer to the rings now sitting open on Bonnie's dresser where memory Elena left them. At Bonnie's urging, Damon popped the question a week later, and they were married within the year. Caroline was the wedding planner, of course. Ric and his family flew in, so he could be a groomsman. Stefan was a wonderful best man, except that he let cursed champagne nearly destroy the wedding. Elena is only a little bitter about that fiasco, but remembering Damon with bleach blonde hair still puts a smile on her face. It's a shame that none of the wedding photos survived the fire. Another thing for Elena to regret.

"So Matt and Bonnie? I never saw that happening. I mean, he seems pretty into Caroline right now," human Elena says. She watches the adult version of Bonnie giggle at the touch of Elena's stethoscope on her belly.

"Matt broke up with her when he found out about the vampire thing. He eventually got over it, but she'd moved on with Tyler by then," vampire Elena says with a re-centering sigh. She's grateful for the questions. They distract her from dwelling on the mistakes of her past. It always frustrates Elena that she can't just remember the good times, she has to relive the bad too.

"Tyler? Really? How does he handle the whole…vampire thing?"

"Pretty good, considering he was a werewolf. Then Klaus' first hybrid. Then just a werewolf again."

"Okay, that's weird."

Vampire Elena chuckles. "Yeah, it's complicated."

"I'm glad that everyone seems to be happy in the future. Caroline is married, Bonnie's having a baby…Do they eventually get married?" Human Elena asks, turning away from the pregnant witch to ask the older vampire.

"Yeah, eventually. They have a couple more kids too. Boys named Rudy and Max. A few generations later and the Bennett coven is one the most powerful in the world."

"That's amazing."

"Oh, she's kicking," Bonnie says, pulling all three Elenas to her attention. She grabs her friend's hand to place against her belly. "Here, feel it."

Memory Elena grins at the sensation of the small child's foot against her hand. Damon's right, it looks like an alien trying to escape. Vampire Elena laughs out loud at the thought, and human Elena glances at her. She watches her older version delight in the memory of Bonnie's pregnancy, and as the memory fades around them, she can't help but wonder out loud.

"Do you regret it?"

"Regret what?"

"Not being a mom?"

The question is simple and innocent, and it destroys Elena. Suddenly, memories of the munchkins running through the house while playing Princess Ninjas flood Elena's mind. Damon and Stefan would play the evil Knight that must be defeated before the game could end with a happily ever after. But this game of memories seems to never end as other images flash across Elena's eyes. Images of bedtime stories, cuddle time, temper tantrums, cheerleading tryouts, date nights, and high school graduations stream through Elena like a string tugging at her heart. She tries to stop the overflow of emotion before it gets to the night that changed everything. The night that destroyed everything. The night the munchkins died.

"Stop," Elena cries, covering her face with her hands. She can feel human Elena run to her side in concern, but also her overbearing desire to see more of the future. Vampire Elena can't stop the flow of memories, but somehow she manages to redirect stream. She diverts the images away from the devastating memories of death and loss and concentrates on the early years with the munchkins. When they were young and innocent. When the future was still bright and optimistic.

Human Elena watches her vampire counterpart crumble to the ground under the weight of her struggle. She doesn't understand what's causing the older doppelgänger's distress, but Elena knows it isn't good. The fading memory around them shifts and reassembles, and a neatly arranged room forms around them while vampire Elena seems to calm and takes a deep breath.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Elena stands and brushes away the human's concern.

"What happened?"

"I'm having trouble with you here, in my mind. This was a bad idea, and I need you to leave."

"What do you mean, trouble?" Human Elena asks with a hint of suspicion.

"I mean I don't want you here, reliving memories I don't want to relive."

"I thought the future was bright and shiny and perfect. Why wouldn't you want to relive it?"

Vampire Elena sneers. "Nothing is perfect. Nothing will ever be perfect. At least, not for long. And you're stupid if you believe otherwise."

Seeing her counterpart bulk at her argument, vampire Elena adds. "Would you want to relive the night our parents died?"

Readying to argue against her vampire self, Elena stops mid-breath. The idea of reliving the death of her parents terrifies the human. Worse is the thought that something happens in the future that can compete with the loss of her parents. Elena can think of a number of people whose death would scar her irreparably, Jeremy, Bonnie, Jenna, Matt, Caroline, Stefan, even Damon. But she knows the vampires are alive two hundred years from now. She also knows Jeremy has a full life before dying of old age. Surely that kind of natural death is easier to accept than a sudden accident or murder. It sounds like Matt and Bonnie have a full life together too.

When considering Jenna, it occurs to Elena that neither her future self nor Caroline have mentioned Jenna in the future. Well, other than the fact that Ric doesn't marry Jenna, but a witch named Jo instead. Is that because Jenna and Ric break up or does something happen to Jenna?

"Aunt Ellie!"

"Wake up, Aunt Ellie."

Elena wakes to the giggles of two little girls climbing into her bed. She smiles sleepily against her pillow and snuggles deeper into the puffy blankets that cover her face. She tries not to make a sound as the girls climb on top of her.

"Come on, wake up, sleepy head," Jo says into the blankets, and Elena giggles. Lizzie squeals in delight when the vampire leaps forward and hugs the three-year old against her chest. Jo is quick to come to her sister's rescue and jumps on to Elena's back, resulting in a tumble forward and more giggles.

"What are you two doing in here?" Elena asks after several minutes of tickling and a small pillow fight.

"Breakfast! Mommy said it's done."

"Almost done." Jo says with a nod.

"Almost," Lizzie says.

"Oh, well I should get dressed then, huh?"

Elena climbs out from the twisted jungle of sheets and opens the suitcase at the foot of her bed. The immaculate bedroom is a testament to Caroline's ability to maintain a clean home with two three-year-olds running around, especially with Stefan's addiction to knickknacks. Looking around the white and grey room, Elena is surprise to find several of Stefan's trophies and keepsakes displayed proudly in a manner that adds to the decor rather than overwhelming or distracting from it.

"We met Mandy!"

"Yeah, she's with Uncle Damon," Lizzie says, and Elena stops riffling through her suitcase to smile at the girls.

"You did? What did you think of her?"

"She's pretty, like you," Jo says, pointing up at Elena.

"Awe, thank you."

"Uncle Damon really likes her," Lizzie whispers as though it were a big secret. "He made her pancakes."

"Really?" Elena asks with an over dramatic gasp. "Did he at least make you pancakes too?"

Both girls nod with big smiles then cover their mouths. Elena makes a show of narrowing her eyes at the raven haired witches.

"Does your mom know he made you pancakes this morning?"

The twins simultaneously shake their heads with big, blue eyes staring innocently up at the vampire.

"Don't worry, I won't tell." Elena swoops in with another tickle attack and the girls squeal.

Several minutes later, Elena is dressed and the girls are twirling around like ballerinas. She listens to them chatter and wonders if the rest of her life will be filled with the same laughter.

"So did you like Mandy?"

"She's quiet," Jo says as she continues to spin and bump into her sister.

"She's magic," Lizzie yells loud enough for the whole house to hear. Jo stops mid-twirl, stumbling from the after affects, but manages to scowl at the loud twin.

"No, she's not."

"Yeah, huh."

"Nah, ah."

"Yes, she is. I felt it!"

"Okay, okay," Elena says, pulling the two girls apart before the room catches on fire or something. You never know with witches. "Lizzie, why do you think Mandy has magic?"

"I told you, I felt it!"

"Yes, you did tell me that already, Honey. But when did you feel it?"

"When I hugged her," Lizzie says. "She felt like…"

"Like, what?" Jo crosses her arms over her chest and glares at Lizzie. Elena almost bursts into a fit of laughter at the very Caroline-like behavior.

"Like, a puppy."

"You mean she felt furry?" Elena offers, used to translating the feelings the little girls get from magical creatures. While vampires are the most common given their family structure, they've recently experienced other witches and the Original hybrid when Klaus popped by for an unexpected visit. Much to Caroline's annoyance, the girls fell in love with Klaus, describing the magical feel of him as a shaggy dog.

"Or do you mean like Uncle Klaus?"

"Yeah," Lizzie says. "Uh, almost."

Elena smiles at the little witch and nods. "You've never felt anyone like her before, have you?"

"No."

"Nope. Uncle Damon says she's special," Jo says in as serious a tone as a three-year-old can muster.

"Like us."

"Sort of," Elena says, crouching to the floor. Speaking to the girls on their level usually garners better results. "She's one of a kind. The last of her people, so we have to keep her safe. Do you think you can help us do that?"

"Yep."

"No problem."

"Thank you. I hope you know how much we all love you."

"Yeah, we know," Jo says and hugs Elena. The vampire squeezes the tiny girl before noticing that Lizzie didn't join in. It's rare to get a one-on-one hug with twins. One hug usually grows into a group hug. This time, Lizzie stands apart from Elena and Jo. She bites her lip and wrings her tiny shirt.

"What's wrong, Lizzie?"

"What if Uncle Damon likes her more than he likes us? More than he likes you?"

Elena frowns at the question. This was a new one for her. Someone should've realized the question would come up, or at least the feelings behind the question. Caroline and Stefan have done a great job creating a stable environment for the girls since their adoption. They made sure everyone understood the importance of consistency for children with their background of witchcraft and homicidal families. Mandy may not be a new sister for the girls, but she's certainly someone new to the family. It's a big change for everyone.

"Can I let you in on a little secret?" Elena says, and the girls brim with excitement as they nod. "When your Mommy and Daddy brought you two home, I was jealous. Your Uncle Damon was so excited to meet you guys, and he loved to babysit. I just knew he liked you guys more than he liked me, and you know what?"

"What?" Both girls ask.

"I was right. He did like you guys better," Elena says with a pout. Lizzie and Jo gasp and break into giggles as the vampire tickles them. Eventually, the twins wriggle free from Elena's grasp and run out the room while screaming like three-year-old girls. Elena chuckles as they dart down the hall past their father as he pretends to chase after them. When they reach the kitchen, Caroline admonishes her husband for riling them up before breakfast. A few moments later, Stefan reappears in the hall, and Elena waves him over.

"Good morning," he says. "I hope you caught up on some sleep."

"I did. Thank you for that, by the way." Elena leans against the doorway and glances at the toddler room across the hall.

"Hey, I'm pretty sure I owe you several more sleepy mornings," he says with a wink. And it's true. Damon and Elena had helped a lot with the early days of twin babies. She's lost count of how many times, she babysat just so Stefan and Caroline could catch up on sleep. Payback's a bitch.

Elena reaches out and pulls Stefan into a hug that catches him off guard. He smiles into her neck and rubs her back.

"Are you okay, Elena?"

"Yeah," she says between sobs. "I'm just so happy."

Stefan chuckles, and Elena smiles at the rumble in his chest. With his arms around her waist, she leans back to look him in the eye, ignoring the stream of tears falling down her cheeks.

"Before I forget, Damon needs to reassure the girls. Lizzie's afraid he loves Mandy more than them."

"Well, he does," Stefan says, but his soft tone doesn't stop Elena from sobbing harder.

"That's not the point." She groans and breaks away from Stefan. "Ugh, when is this going to end? I'm so tired of crying. I'm not even sad."

"This is normal, Elena. Your emotions are in overdrive because your hormones are reacting to the constant presence of children. Remember, Caroline was way worse than this."

Elena laughs at the memory of her sister-in-law bursting into joyful tears at the smallest provocation. Damon refused to be around her after she insisted on hugging him three times in one day. Speaking of which, where is her husband?

"Where's Damon and Mandy?"

Stefan rolls his eyes and shrugs. "He took her for a spin around town."

"He's an odd man."

"I know." He kisses Elena on the forehead. "Come on. Breakfast should be done by now. Although Damon was up early with the girls, so I suspect they've already eaten."

Elena says nothing as they steps into the hall and giggles echo from the kitchen. She silently wishes that her life would stay like this forever, and for a moment, she believes it might.

Human Elena watches Stefan and memory Elena disappear as the world around them fades away. She's glad to see Stefan in another memory, but like before, something is off about his behavior toward memory Elena. She can't quiet put her finger on it, but it's really starting to bug her. Elena turns to her vampire counterpart to find her slumped over again and grimacing in pain.

"Are you okay?"

"No, I need you out of my head. Now."

Then reality returns around them.

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