Hi Everyone, it's been A WHILE. I hadn't had any real passion for writing and since TVD ended, I haven't had any inspiration for the show. Well, I started writing again- without the feeling like I needed to be in the TVD bubble. I'm not sure if you guys still read this, but I've had the itch to write again- and better because the stuff I was writing was in my late teens and EARLY 20's and super cringe-y now that I look back at it.

But here I am now with a fresh new look and hopefully a story that garners your attention in a positive way! Just to caution you, there's going to be a lot of significant changes from the TVD world, and it will focus primarily on the relationship between Bonnie and Damon.

Now without further ado... Welcome to You Are My Salvation!

TW: Child loss- not permanent!

PROLOGUE

The steep descent into hell is always paved with good intentions

THIS IS A STORY ABOUT DEATH.

And death isn't a topic that typically gives people a feeling of happiness and joy. It's portrayed as a cold, dark, empty feeling that consumes until there is nothing left. Death signifies the end; life coming full circle, only this time, instead of starting life anew like a newborn baby like the tales of reincarnation describe, there is no starting over. Just that bright light that people talk about seeing before they go.

Some fear it, because they fear the unknown, or have lived a life of unspeakable evils and fear to meet their eternity that damnation comes with the consequences of what may follow. Then there are those who others welcome its cold embrace. People fear the personification of Death as though it comes in the form of the skeletal being with a robe and scythe, but their fear is simply misplaced. Death isn't a figure, it is an essence. Death isn't an act, it's an aftermath. Dying isn't scary, it's what comes afterwards, which is the hard part.

PAIN.

That was the only feeling that resonated through the body of the young, brown skinned, curly haired woman who was writhing in pain as her feet shook in the stirrups. Cries echoed through the hospital, reverberating off of the walls shaking them with the sheer volume of her screams. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead, causing her hair to stick to her neck as her OB/GYN urged her to push. Her insides felt as though they were going to split in two as the white hot pain filled every vein within her body. How could women do this? She thought, while she felt as though she were dying.

Her legs felt as though she had run five miles nonstop– and she wasn't a runner by any stretch of the imagination. She was exhausted, and she still had to push this child out of her nether regions. Pain ripped through her as another contraction seized her body.

She could literally feel the anxiety rolling off of her little sister, Calliope as she held her hand. The feeling of her hand being crushed, reflected on her face. Though she loved her sister, she did not love the pain that was being inflicted upon her. After the delivery of this child, she may have to see a doctor for herself in order to get her hand bandaged up.

"One more push, Iris. You can do it!" The OB/GYN encouraged her. Oh God, the bitch was lying! That's what she said the last time. Tears blurred her vision, and her head became light and with the remainder of the strength left Iris gave one more push… and out came a slimy creature.

"You did it Rissy!" Iris heard her sister cheer, and abruptly went quiet.

She had done it, she pushed out her daughter! She had done it! Tears of joy flowed from her eyes. She was a badass. A whole fucking warrior!

But something was wrong, she didn't hear a cry. Where was the cry? In all of the movies and TV shows she watched,they always spanked the baby on their butt and there was a cry.

Where was her baby's cry?

"Where's my baby?" Iris cried frantically. Her head shook rapidly from side to side, trying to catch a glimpse of her daughter. The heart monitor was going crazy in the background as her panic increased.

"Ris–" Callie started.

"Iris, we're going to need you to calm down. We have your baby, but she isn't breathing."

"Not breathing? What—?"

"We will do everything that we can to make sure your daughter is safe and in your arms."

She was sorry. God, she was so sorry. At first she wasn't sure that she wanted to be a mother. She was young and scared, but she wanted to become the best version of herself. Her daughter's conception wasn't…traditional. And now her child was struggling to fight for her life.

It felt like hours had passed, when in reality it was minutes. Here she was, practically laying naked and exposed as she watched her doctors work on her non-crying child. Her heart was breaking as the minute hand kept passing by. Dr. Crane turned around with a solemn expression on her face.

"Ms. Bennett… I'm sorry, but we did everything we could…" The rest of her words drowned out. She had seen this on television before. "We did everything we could," is what doctors say after they did everything they could but stop Death in its tracks. They did everything they could… but it wasn't resonating with her what those words meant. She needed to see her baby for herself. Iris could barely feel the warmth of her baby sister's hug around her as she processed the news.

"I'm so sor–" Callie began.

"-I want to see my daughter." After a brief moment of hesitation, Dr. Crane went to the incubator where Iris's unnamed daughter was lying, still, almost like a baby doll. Dr. Crane gently picked up the still child, and placed her in the arms of her grieving mother.

Iris took one look at her child. She had a full head of curly hair and a button nose with pinkish skin that was graying as time ticked away. She was motionless and her body heat was fading. This was her child. Her dead child. And the dam broke. Her baby was dead… and it was all her fault.

Anguished cries emitted from the mother of the deceased baby girl. Slowly, the medical staff filtered out in order to let the mother grieve in peace. How could this have happened? If she hadn't been with… him, this wouldn't have happened. Now her child was dead.

"Please, please, please… you did this to me! Fix it!" Iris cried as she pressed her forehead against her daughter's as she wept.

XXX

So how was the prologue?