Chapter Text
“Bonnie I don’t think this is a good idea…” Stefan mumbled as he laid on Elena’s bed with his head leaning against a kneeling Bonnie’s knees.
Bonnie was knelt where his head was and Elena was at his side giggling to herself in a way that was just pure cuteness. Bonnie’s grimoire laid open on Stefan’s chest do that Bonnie could see it better. On the page was a spell in an ancient language that Bonnie nor Stefan could understand, so obviously everyone had wanted to try it. However, the one flaw was that they had to do it on Stefan because one, he was immortal and if something went wrong he would have a better chance at survival, and two, the only work that even Elena could understand was “vampire”.
Stefan has offered to kidnap Damon and they could do it to him but Bonnie said, “what’s the worst it could do?”
Stefan was regretting everything as Elena turned off the lights, drawn the blinds and lite the candles so it was eerie. Stefan could feel his heart beating loudly against his chest in nervousness. He knew better than to try new spells on himself but he couldn’t resist Elena’s manipulative doe eyes - it was almost as strong as compulsion.
“Awh stef, should I hold your hand?” Elena asked in a sing-song way, as she fiddled with the vervain filled locket that Stefan gave her.
“I’m good ‘Lena.” Stefan said as Bonnie placed a hand on Stefan’s bare chest, right above his heart.
“Ok let’s just be quiet during this, we don’t know what this will do.” Bonnie said and the two agreed with nods, “Ok…” she said taking a deep breath.
Bonnie started the spell; the foreign language slipped fluently off her tongue, almost as if she had spoken it before despite never having seen it previously. Stefan felt his chest tighten but he didn’t say anything as the spell carried on. At one point, Stefan closed his hand as he felt his whole body going through an unnerving sensation, it felt as though someone was squashing him in a vice.
Elena must have seen his discomfort and simply slipped her hand into his and gave Bonnie a look. However Bonnie didn’t look; her eyes were squeezed shut, a simple line of blood dripped from her left nostril.
Then suddenly the discomfort turned into pain, no pure agony. The whole of Stefan’s insides were burning, he could feel his healing blood bubbling. Stefan couldn’t hold it anymore as he let out a cry of pain.
Elena immediately shot up, terrified, she tried shaking Bonnie’s shoulder but there was no response. It was as if Bonnie wasn’t in control anymore. Instead she tried to pry Bonnie’s hand from Stefan’s chest. Elena knew that the spell was hurting Stefan and she needed to break it. Bonnie’s grip was crushing, her nails dug into Stefan’s chest causing it to become bloodied.
Stefan screamed louder; it felt like his entire body was being crushed in a tightening vice, bones grinding, muscles spasming, every nerve lit up like wildfire. His blood boiled - literally, violently - as if it were bubbling beneath his skin, scalding him from the inside out.
“It’s ok baby, it fine I’m going to help you.” Elena said running her hand over Stefan’s cheek trying to provide him a bit of comfort but nothing was working, “Bonnie! Please snap out of it, you’re hurting him Bonnie!” Elena cried as she tried to get her best friend off her boyfriend.
She knew Bonnie wasn’t herself, she was possessed by something much powerful. An evil spirit? Vampire hunter? Vengeful witch? But this was Emily’s spell book, she used to help Katherine.
As Stefan’s screams got louder the candle lights cut out. Everything went pitch black, like all the light in the world had been snatched. Elena ran to the light switch and desperate tried to turn it on but it was useless, it didn’t work. Bonnie kept on chanting, despite the loss of the spell book as the room was in darkness. Stefan kept on screaming as if all the life was being sucked out of him. Until it all went silent.
Not the comfortable silence, no.
The deathly type, the one that clawed at your senses as you know something is wrong.
The lights came on, not just the candle but the bedroom ones as well and Elena got the worst shock of her entire life.
In the centre of the bed was a tiny, little baby, or more specifically, a tiny, little Stefan.
Elena let out a scream of horror. Stefan’s eyes were tightly shut, his long lashes resting on his skin. There was the most horrifying mark on Stefan’s chest from where Bonnie’s hand had been, it was red raw and bleeding badly, dripping onto the sheets beneath him. And the worst part… Elena couldn’t tell if he was breathing.
Elena rushed over and picked up the unconscious baby that was once her boyfriend. She gently put a finger under his nose and thankfully there was a soft, cool breath. He was breathing, thank god. She sat down on the edge of her bed and wrapped Stefan in one of her blankets. The blood on his chest stained instantly. Elena brushed her finger over it and Stefan let out a whimper even in the deepest state of unconsciousness.
“Shhh sweetheart, it’s alright. I’m here, you’re ok.” Elena said gently as she pressed the baby against her chest.
Groaning came from her side as Bonnie stirred from the trance she was in. It took her a few seconds to register the sight in front of her but her eyes bulged in both fear and pure terror as she realised, “oh my god!”
“Bonnie what do we do?” Elena exclaimed.
“Oh my god!” Bonnie repeated, her voice breaking as tears formed in her eyes, “oh my god, Elena he’s bleeding!” She cried as she pointed to Stefan.
“I know Bonnie, I know.” Elena cried as well as she realised the severity of the situation, they had an unconscious, bleeding, once a vampire - maybe still is one - baby.
“What do we do?” Bonnie asked still completely horrified by what she had done.
“I don’t know Bonnie, he’s unconscious and he whimpered when I brushed over it.” Elena said referring to the mark on Stefan’s chest.
“I-I did that?” Bonnie whispered in horror.
“That doesn’t matter right now Bonnie, should we take him to a hospital?” Elena asked.
Bonnie nodded but the hesitated, “do we know if he’s still a vampire?” She whispered.
Elena looked her dead in the eyes and said, “Bonnie he’s not healing…”
They both knew what that meant, despite Stefan having such a weak healing system because of his animal blood diet, he could still heal from something like that within seconds.
“How do we explain it to a hospital?” Bonnie whispered.
Elena hesitated before saying, “let’s say it’s Damon’s son who got left on the boarding house doorstep. Damon wasn’t home but we were going to see Stefan, only to find out he left, and then saw the baby.”
“Stefan has to leave?” Bonnie mumbled processing the words, “right yeah, yeah. We can do this!” She said trying give them some encouragement.
“Let’s get him changed first. Some of Jeremy’s old stuff is upstairs so it should fit him. Can you hold him? I’ll be a few seconds.” Elena said holding Stefan out to Bonnie.
Bonnie took Stefan in the gentlest way ever, as if he was a feather. She cuddled him straight into her chest like a teddy bear. Elena softly smiled the best she could given the circumstances before going into the attic. She didn’t look for specific things instead she just got out the four boxes of baby stuff. She is planning on putting them straight into the trunk to take straight to the Salvatore boarding house because she knew for a fact that Damon would not have any of these items and he probably wouldn’t even know what they are or where to buy them from.
Speaking of Damon, they should really call him… later, maybe never!
Elena shut the attic and quickly opened one of the boxes which had the stuff she needed: a onesie, nappy, hand and foot mittens. She opened a few more of the boxes and pulled out a bag and packed it with a spare onesie, nappies, binky, teddy bear and a bottle but there was no formula. Also while she was up there she found a car seat and a stroller which she brought down as well. Elena brought all the things into the room and dumped them on the bed.
“Bonnie can you it these in the trunk while I get Stefan dressed? I know how to do the car seat if you can’t do it.” Elena says as she takes Stefan back.
“Yeah of course.” Bonnie said before grabbing one of the boxes and rushing out the room.
“Cmon sweetheart, let’s get you dressed.” Elena whispered to Stefan as she laid him gently on the bed. As she peeled back the blanket it stuck to Stefan’s skin because of the dried blood and this is when Stefan gained consciousness. Elena didn’t know if it was just because that’s when he decides to wake up or if it was from the pain, but Stefan started screaming.
“Shhhh, you’re ok Stefan. I’m here, I’m so sorry sweetie. I just have to get you dressed, ok?” Elena asked Stefan as if he had a choice. Stefan kept on sobbing and Elena couldn’t stand it anymore, she scrapped the changing idea and pressed Stefan to her chest.
Baby Stefan’s cries were high-pitched and heartbreaking, his tiny fists balled up, face blotchy and red as he wailed against her shoulder.
“Shhh, it’s okay,” she whispered, bouncing gently, her palm moving in slow circles over his back. “Stefan, I know. I know it hurts. I’ve got you.”
But he didn’t stop. His sobs came in hiccuping waves, like his little lungs couldn’t keep up with the grief trapped in his tiny body. It wasn’t just discomfort — it was anguish, panic, loss. Elena could feel it and it was shattering her.
Elena’s throat tightened. “You’re safe, sweetheart. I just need to get you all warm and cozy and then we’ll take you somewhere safe to make you feel all better.” Elena whispered, she knew that Stefan wouldn’t understand what that meant. She didn’t know Stefan’s exact age but he was young, probably between 1 or 2 - maybe even younger?
He let out a shuddering wail that made her flinch. She sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, rocking him with more purpose now, heart aching as she brushed a damp curl off his forehead.
“I know you don’t understand me right now, but you’re not alone, sweetie. Not now, not ever. And I’ll make sure you’re all better soon, no more pain.” Elena promised and she knew damn well she wasn’t going to break it.
His cries softened to snuffles, then to shaky little hiccups. His head dropped against her collarbone, exhausted and overwhelmed, and Elena closed her eyes, holding him a little tighter.
“Ok sweetie, I’m gonna keep on getting you changed. It’ll be quick I promise.” And Elena was true to her word, she got Stefan changed in record time, yes he cried for a bit but not nearly as much as he did to begin with but those sad, puppy like sobs babies let out when they were still broken but too exhausted and drained to wail. Bonnie had been up and down frequently loading the car. She can up to collect the last item, the car seat, as Elena was packing the bag with one arm and Stefan in the other, with his face against her chest.
“You’re so good with him.” Bonnie breathed out as she watched Elena put the bag over her shoulder.
“I’m not, trust me. He cried so much, it was horrible.” Elena’s voice broke, it was hard seeing her boyfriend in such a state.
“But ‘Lena, you got him to stop crying. He’s not crying because he’s sad, well he might be, but he was crying from the pain and you helped him enough for him to calm down.” Bonnie said as they started walking to the car.
“It still doesn’t feel enough Bon, we basically forced him into the spell and now…” Elena sighed, she couldn’t finish the sentence without crying. It was their fault, it how both Elena and Bonnie saw it and when Damon comes to find out, he will agree and probably kill them with his bare hands.
Elena handed Stefan over to Bonnie as she installed the car seat, she could still remember how to do it with Jeremy despite it being so many years ago - it was like the memory was still etched in her brain.
“So what are we going to do about Damon? We need to call him.” Bonnie said suddenly, as if she had only just come to realise about Damon.
“I don’t know Bon, maybe now?” Elena said.
“I volunteer you, he likes you better.” Bonnie said instantly holding Stefan tighter, “plus I’m holding the baby.”
Elena sighed but smirked as she pulled out her phone. Damon’s contact was in her recents, she hesitated but called him. It rang once. Then twice. Then Damon’s insufferable voice came on the other end.
“Hello Elena.” Damon’s smugness practically radiated through the phone, thinking that he was getting one over on his brother as Elena was calling him.
“Damon… somethings happened.” Elena whispered.
Damon didn’t seem to notice Elena’s tone of voice and instead just said, “is there a big bad vampire in town again? Can Stefan not do the job properly?”
“No Damon… somethings happened to Stefan.” Elena said louder this time but still so soft it could almost be missed.
They could hear Damon stop breathing over the phone, the last time Stefan was hurt he was tortured badly by the tomb vampires and it nearly broke him. It was the first time Elena had ever seen Damon actually care about his brother.
“What do you mean Elena? Is he ok?” Damon asked hesitantly.
“No Damon, he’s not. You can have to come to the hospital now.” Elena said, she couldn’t handle this conversation anymore. Tears were spilling down her face as she heard the break and anxiousness in Damian voice. It made her think of Jeremy and if she was in Damon’s shoes.
“Hospital? Elena he’s a vampire he doesn’t… Elena can you just explain? What do you mean he’s hurt? Vampires don’t get hurt, it’s impossible!” Damon rattled off, Elena could tell he was in denial and in all fairness she didn’t blame Damon, he deserved the truth.
“Me and Bonnie forced him into a spell-“ Elena started but was cut off.
“You what!” Damon exclaimed, “what the fuck did you and witch do to him?”
Elena paused for a second, trying to find the right words, “Damon… Stefan’s a baby, like full on baby, and he’s hurt and bleeding and crying. He’s only just settled down now. He’s not healing so we’re going to the hospital.” Her voice broke as she added, “Damon I’m so sorry.”
Damon was silent for a long time filled with agony and confusion, as if he couldn’t process the words that were fired at him, as if they were in some foreign language.
“I’ll meet you in the hospital car park.” He whispered before ending the call.