I looked at my bump in the mirror I was starting to stretch my pants out in unsavory ways. I was confused the way my stomach was growing was weird. I shouldn't be this big so fast, I mean granted it's been a couple months but still. I rubbed my stomach and smiled "Regardless of how big I am you're still mommy's baby" I whispered to myself "I happen to like the weight gain I think it's cute" I smiled wider turning to my mate "Of course you're going to say that that's you're job to lie and tell me I'm not fat and that I look perfect" he chuckled wrapping his arms around me "Truthfully love I don't have to do anything but I'd be lying if I said seeing my mate and my growing child was anything less than satisfactory" he kissed me and I pulled him closer, in that moment I couldn't have been happier.

But as always my happiness ended abruptly. A pain shot through me making me yell out and grab at my back. It was like someone was pulling apart all the bones in my spine. Klaus carried most of my weight panicking "What's wrong Elena? Talk to me. What's happening" I couldn't muster many other words besides "It hurts. Klaus make it stop it hurts" he pulled me in his arms and rushed me downstairs where Esther and Kol were talking "Mother what's happening to her" Esther wasted no time putting her hands on my head and stomach.

"The baby is causing too much strain on her body. She's only human this ba... wait there's more... there's not... only one. There's two. The fact that these children are supernatural probably means they're taking more from her than usual in order to grow but that means poor Elena is getting nothing for herself..." Klaus cut her off tired of the run around he hated seeing me in pain.

"What are you saying!?" Kol stepped in front of his brother knowing how unpredictable he gets.

"The babies... they're killing her Nik" his eyes flashed amber and he looked torn.

"How do we save them" Esther looked down at me and sighed.

"I'm not sure we can Niklaus. We'd have to find a way to make Elena stronger and I have no ideas that wouldn't harm her children" Kol ran a hand through his hair.

"You could change her" I sat up as best I could as an argument struck out.

Esther against Klaus and Kol over killing me "No" I said hoarsely. .

"Elena..." I put my hand up stopping Klaus from speaking.

"Listen to me. I have never ever wanted to be vampire and I will not kill my babies. How long will my body last?" I asked a still in shock Esther.

"The children will take most of your strength but keep you alive until time to give birth. Should you choose to keep them the process will be excruciating making this short episode seem like a walk in the park in comparison and the birth will be worse. I have seen this before in women back in my day that bore witches of great power" my eyes flickered to Klaus every now and then watching his reaction.

He looked like someone had torn out his heart. He looked at war with himself, like there was something he wanted to say but whatever it was he'd dare not say it. Kol was grasping his arm now keeping him steady in case he lost his head. My focus went back to Esther sighing my mind made up and my decision final "My answer still stands I'm not killing myself or my babies" I said pulling myself up all the energy I could muster and walking slowly out of the room. I hadn't seen much of Klaus after seeing Esther, Elijah tells me he's gone off on a small bender raiding a small bar. As usual he left no one to tell the tale and is still on the loose. It broke me a little to hear that he chose to deal with it this way. I wanted him here, to wrap his arms around and tell me he'd find a way to save us all. He'd make it his mission to make sure no one died. But I guess to him I might as well already be dead. Esther all but signed my death warrant in his eyes.

"My brother has pretty corrupted ways of grieving" I laughed dryly as Rebekah sat next to me.

"I'm not dead yet. I won't let him change me and I can't kill my children so what does he want from me!" she growled lowly.

"He wants you to live Elena. I understand wanting to save your children but why can't you save yourself? I have become quite close to you in a way I hardly thought possible... I'm not exactly a people person. You should get to live Elena even if as an immortal. What you're doing right now isn't heroic it's tragic" she said leaving me alone. Rebekah's words making me remember when Stefan said something similar when I was intent on letting Klaus sacrifice me. But very much so like then it was less about me and more about my family. My children had become my everything in such a short time and I wasn't going to allow them to take them from me.

My thoughts scattered as the door opened and Freya came in. She closed the door and locked it before sitting down next to me "I heard" I nodded rubbing my stomach absentmindedly "I can save them and you" I paused hearing the words I'd been hoping for "It's a slim chance but it's all I've got" I nodded not caring how big the chance was. If it was possible that's all that mattered "When you give birth your body will be weaker than its ever been and your life will be hanging by a thread. I will then perform a spell that will heal as you push your children out. It's risky if I move too fast I could kill your children but if I move too slow you could die. However if I am successful you will survive and your children will have made it into the world which I am sure I can do. Problem is you have to make it to the birth the rate of deterioration your body is going at I am uncertain you will make it" I listened to her my heart breaking slightly it's not exactly what I was hoping for but a chance is all I need.

"Do you think you could find a way to insure my body would last on its own until then" she thought about it and sighed "I could try making magic infused drinks made to increase your dropping nutrition levels" I nodded.

"I don't know how much of a difference it will make but I'm willing to try. If we can all make it out of this alive that's all I need" she nodded and smiled.

"You mean a lot to Klaus and he's my brother so that means you mean a lot to me I will do everything in my power to help my family. I'm gonna go start the preparations for your drinks and I will start on a spell to save your life. We're going to fix this Elena you and me" I smiled at her as she left my spirits lifted and holding on desperately to my only hope.

"Elena" I turned my heart jumping out of my chest "Marcel" I whispered clutching my chest "I heard about the incident are you ok" I shook my head running into his arms and crying it out on his shoulders. He did what he's done since I met him listened and tried not to judge me as I spoke. I could see his doubt shining in his eyes.

"You don't think it will work" he shook his head.

"I know a lot of witches and life can only be extended but so far. If you take longer than she expects her magic will run out on you. Healing magic is strong it will take all of her energy and unless she is unnaturally strong then... I don't know Elena" I looked down another tear falling down my face.

"I know what the odds are but I don't see any other way right now. Klaus wants to change me but I don't want to be a vampire" I said the thought terrifying me, I've seen what vampirism has done to good people making them monsters.

I've seen that struggle with the blood lust and I don't want that. I don't want to live like that "Why not" I heard in the doorway, Klaus was back and as expected not happy to see Marcel. After we got back together Marcel gave us our space because we both knew it was only me that stood between him and Klaus fighting to his death. I stood giving Marcel a look that said we'd talk later "Would an eternity with me be so bad" he said his hurt and vulnerability gleaming in his voice.

"It's not about that. About you. It's about me and what I want for once, I don't want to struggle with the choice to kill or not" he rolled his eyes "Oh come on Elena I could teach you not to kill. Feeding doesn't have to be the burden Stefan makes it seem" I scoffed shaking my head at him in disbelief.

"Oh right because you're the spokesperson for self control. You destroyed a bar full of people because you got upsetting news and I didn't give you the answer you wanted when you wanted to change me" he growled.

"You're choosing to die!!" he yelled.

"Then let me do it!! If that is how my life ends then so be it. It might not even happen that way Freya may have found a way to save me" he quieted "She's going to try and keep me alive long enough for my system to start working again on its own after I push out the babies" he scoffed and started to laugh as I spoke.

"Do you hear yourself? That is impossible! The very act of healing a wound already made is taxing on a powerful witch healing a wound as it's made is even more so. Freya is a great witch but she CANNOT perform miracles. You don't need to have it that way, if you would allow me to feed you my blood before you give birth it should fix everything" I shook my head irritated hearing someone shoot down my only hope again.

"I will not give up one of the only thing that matters to me. One of the things that makes me so proud is that I can say I faced so much and still come out human. My humanity is who I am killing someone or having to constantly fight killing people goes against everything. All of that. What was the point in fighting so hard to save my humanity just to kill it" he roared.

"What was the point in loving you if you were just going to leave me" his eyes glowed bright gold and he stood inches in front of me. He closed his eyes and placed his hands on my stomach "You are lucky that I do not try to change you now. I love you Elena you are the very reason I breathe if you die I die remember" I did remember, my life is not the only one at stake but I could save him from that.

But he has to let me go. To let me do this "I know you love me but if you love me as much as I know you do you will let me do this. I won't go through with it, you can't force me to want to be immortal. Klaus we promised to stand by each other in this journey this is part of that. I've made my choice and now it's time for you to stand by it and me" I said grabbing his hands, he breathed a shaky breath throwing my hands off him "You've made your choice so now I'll make mine. If you're going to ride this out to your death you can do so alone. I won't stand by and watch you kill yourself. I've survived much but you cannot ask me to survive that" he spoke his words carrying a harsh finality as he slammed my door.

The room was as empty as the silence was crushing. It hurt to know I'd be in this alone, I knew Klaus and I knew once he made up his mind even if he knows he's made the wrong choice he won't change his mind. Despite our promise to each other I would in this alone after all. And I don't care how many people show to see them come into the world I wouldn't allow anyone to take my chance to save my kids from me. I knew I had Freya and with her help I would make this work. I'd prove them wrong, I had to believe that all the other outcomes were too bleak. It couldn't be like that, I won't allow it to be.