Cursed Blessings

Chapter 7

"I just can't believe this is happening," Elena spoke out as she stood near the hearth staring down into the blazing fire. Both Bonnie and Caroline sat on the nearby sofa, while Damon, Stefan, and Alaric had retreated to the kitchen to give the ladies some alone time.

"I'm sorry Elena," Bonnie spoke out and Caroline quickly interjected with a frown marring her face.

"You don't have to apologize, Bonnie, this is not your fault. This is all Kai's doing, 'all' of it, so you don't have anything to feel sorry about. I'm sure Elena sees that too, right Elena?" Caroline coaxed and both she and Bonnie sat silently awaiting a reply. After a moment Elena shook her head as if to clear it, wiped away tears that had been falling from her eyes, and then turned to her friends with the bravest smile she could muster on her face.

"Yes, of course." She finally said as she hugged herself and nodded her head. "It's just a lot to take in."

"Yeah, I've only had a couple of weeks to get used to it myself." Bonnie stated and upon seeing the confused look on Elena's face she began to explain in detail about what Kai had done.

In the kitchen

"How are you holding up?" Stefan asked as he moved just beside his older brother and placed a comforting hand onto Damon's shoulder.

"Yeah, you've just become a father...congratulations by the way. She is really beautiful," Alaric said as he raised the glass of juice he held in his hand in a toast. Damon briefly threw back a proud smile and then fixed his eyes back to the island top, where he was seated. "And you've gotten Elena back. That must be a lot to process."

"Yeah, and, I don't know, I was kind of expecting you to be way more happier than you are about getting Elena back," Stefan added.

"Oh, I am happy little brother, more than you will ever know," Damon responded solemnly as he took a sip of the whiskey he was holding.

"But...it's not 'just' about Elena anymore, right?" Stefan asked and in reply Damon briefly arched his right brow, and then tossed back the rest of his drink.

In the Livingroom

"God, you must have been so scared," Elena said softly, her genuine concern written all over her face and in her voice.

"Yeah," Bonnie agreed as she nodded and sniffed back tears. "But I wasn't alone," She then reached over and grasped Caroline's hand, who in turn gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"She truly is beautiful Bon. And she does have...Damon's eyes," Elena faltered a bit with the words but quickly covered with a faux smile. "But everything else is all you," She complemented.

"Thank God for that," Caroline exclaimed and earned a smile and slight eye roll from both of her friends.

"What's her name?" Elena inquired curiously as she stared intensely at the mass of dark curls just peeking out from the sling that held the baby nestled to Bonnie's bosom.

"Isabella Noel Bennett-Salvatore," Bonnie replied as she pulled the covering down a bit and gazed lovingly at her sleeping daughter, not noticing the hurt that Elena's eyes held at hearing Damon's surname attached. "We just call her Bella."

"Which is a perfect name because she is so very beautiful," Caroline cooed as she brushed a thumb across Bella's cheek, which the baby didn't seem to care for as she quickly opened her vibrant blue eyes and began to wail. "Aww, baby, don't cry," Caroline tried to soothe as Bonnie stood and pulled the sling off to fully access her baby and to comfort her.

"What's wrong?" Damon's voice interrupted the moment as he flashed into the room with a scowl on his face. He moved to where Bonnie stood in the middle of the room lovingly rocking Bella. He then shot a quick glance from his daughter, to Elena, and then back to his daughter. His behavior holding suspiciousness that Elena took note of.

"I think your daughter's hungry," Bonnie answered. "All she's done since being born is sleep."

"Well, during all the shopping sprees you two had you did get formula, right? I'll go make her a bottle, just tell me where everything is," Damon offered as he reached down and stroked his daughter's thick curls, his words took both Elena and Caroline by surprise. As for Bonnie she had discovered way back when they were both stuck in Kai's prison that Damon Salvatore could be quite considerate when he wanted.

"Yes, we've got plenty of formula," Bonnie replied as she nestled their child in one arm and used her free hand to push down the loose flowing peasant blouse she wore and freed her breast. Something very primal and sensual stirred in Damon as he watched her unable to look away. If Bonnie noticed Damon's hungry eyes or felt uncomfortable under his gaze she never let on. Her full focus seemed to be on Bella. However, from where she stood, Elena could see how Damon stared and she was very familiar with what she saw having been on the receiving end of those heated looks. "Caroline has kind of talked me into trying to breastfeed her first," Bonnie said as she and Damon both looked on in amazement at how quickly Bella latched on and began suckling. "Well, that was easier than I thought it was going to be," A proud smile spread across both Bonnie and Damon's face.

"I told you it would be," Caroline spoke out from her spot on the sofa. "Women are built for breastfeeding and I read somewhere that babies are born instinctively knowing how to do it, so there's really not much to it."

"Wow, she's hungry," Damon stated as he smirked down at Bella's frantic suckling.

"She's not the only one," Bonnie replied around a heavy sigh causing Damon to turn his now concerned eyes onto her. "But I can't decide what I want more food or sleep."

"Sleep, c'mon I'm putting you two to bed," Damon commanded as he protectively wrapped his arm around Bonnie's waist, knowing that she would need his full support trekking up the staircase.

"My God," Caroline said as she hoped up and moved to the exit heading for the kitchen. "You did just give birth you must be exhausted. I'll go and fix you something light, like some soup, Ok?"

"Thanks Care," Bonnie called out as Damon led her from the room, leaving one lonely soul behind to watch them while feeling devastated. Elena didn't have long to waddle in her loneliness because Alaric soon entered the room and walked over to her.

"Hey," He spoke softly to her. "How are you feeling?" She allowed the tears that she had been pushing back to finally be free.

"I am so lost right now. It feels like I've been sleeping for centuries and now I've awoken into a world I don't recognize," Elena confessed and Alaric pulled her into his welcoming embrace, and held her as she silently cried.