Six weeks.
Christmas had passed and so had the New Year, which officially marked the end of the Winter season.
It also marked the six-week mark since everyone Buffy cared about had discovered the truth about her pregnancy.
Now almost six months pregnant, Buffy's baby bump had almost doubled in size making it impossible to hide any longer. The entire town now knew that the town troublemaker was expecting, meaning that the whispers had started.
It was part of the reason Buffy hadn't left the mansion in weeks.
The last time she had gone out, everyone had stared at her, and sure enough, her stomach had literally become public real estate.
When one of the members of the Founding Families had straight up touched her stomach without so much as a hello, Elena and Bonnie had to keep her from straight up ripping the woman's head off.
Yet, today she hadn't been granted a choice.
Her godmother now knew she was pregnant and it was safe to say Liz had gone into overprotective mode.
Hence, why she was unwillingly propped up in a hospital bed, waiting for Meredith to come and perform an ultrasound.
Just being in the hospital had Buffy ready to jump out of her own skin.
She hated hospitals!
Liz sighed as she spotted Buffy eyeing the door, ready to bolt at any second "Buffy, just breathe sweetie."
Buffy couldn't do that.
She never felt able to breathe in hospitals, memories of all of the horrors she had witnessed consuming her every thought. Grandpa Seth dying, and Cousin Celia being murdered by a demon right in front of her. Loved one after loved one, drying, hurt, and injured.
NOPE!
She had to get out here!
Before Buffy could vanish, Caroline quickly grabbed Buffy's shoulders "Hey, it's just a quick ultrasound. We will leave the second it's done."
"But I have the magic check-in with Bonnie on Monday!" Buffy moaned as Caroline pushed her back down on the bed.
Liz sighed as she watched the fear in Buffy's eyes. Given she had been the one to find Buffy right after Celia had died, she knew just how traumatized Buffy actually was when it came to hospitals.
Celia had died in Mystic Falls General, she had literally been the only member of Hank's family that Buffy had known, and Buffy at 7 years old had watched her brutally die.
It had tainted the idea of hospitals for her forever.
Liz could still remember the way Buffy had sobbed on her for an hour before screaming every time she went near a hospital for a check-up following that traumatizing event.
"Hey..." She whispered soothingly as she cupped Buffy's face in her hands "Nothing is going to happen while I am here. I have you. Just take my hand."
Buffy blinked through watery eyes at the familiar phrasing.
'Auntie Liz...C--Celia she--she's cold. Why is she cold?'
'It's okay sweetie, I have you. Just take my hand.'
Without hesitation, Buffy grabbed Liz's hand, quickly entangling their fingers together.
Liz smiled supportively as she pushed the hair out of Buffy's face before kissing the top of her head softly "Think about it, you will have a photo of your baby girl today."
That certainly helped quell her fear a little.
With Buffy's heart no longer pounded like a terrified mouse being chased by a cat, Caroline took her seat beside her and grinned playfully "I still think Caroline is a fabulous name."
Liz rolled her eyes "Caroline stop trying to get her to name her daughter Caroline the second."
"What?" Caroline cried innocently "It's an amazing name."
Buffy couldn't help but sigh in relief as Meredith finally walked into the room, officially saving her from the argument about why she wasn't naming her child Caroline.
"You have amazing timing cuz."
Meredith laughed as she started setting up the equipment or the ultrasound "Thanks. Speaking of timing, with you almost at the six-month mark, we need to start talking about the birth."
The mention of actually giving birth, caused Buffy to groan, promptly dropping her head back onto the bed "I have to have a natural birth. Including, the whole no hospital help. We are talking middle ages style."
All three women froze, staring at Buffy with a mixture of shock, horror, and sympathy.
A natural birth?
Was Buffy insane?!
Meredith sputtered "Wait what? You want to do a home birth?"
Want was not a factor in the birth plan for this kid. If Buffy had any options, she would be knocked out on the strongest meds until the baby was out of her.
"A world of no! I wanted all the drugs, but Bonnie said no."
When Bonnie had shown her and Klaus the birth plan she and Willow had put together, Buffy had straight up screamed in horror and launched Klaus out of a window screaming at him and the universe for at least an hour.
Liz winced at the prospect of a home birth, there was a reason she had only had one kid "Wouldn't recommend it. I took everything they offered and then some. Still wasn't enough."
Bringing Caroline into this world had taken 82 hours and she had still yet to forgive her daughter for it completely.
Buffy just groaned as she stared up at the ceiling, dread pooling in her gut. With every day she got closer to actually giving birth, the more terrified she was given the risks.
"Bon and Willow agree it's too dangerous. I literally will have to give birth on sacred ground, near nature, and drink a potion that will momentarily bind the baby's magic. I then have to literally give birth in a binding circle to keep all magic out from trying to interfere. AKA: the witches who are likely gonna want me dead. Elijah believes his mother is on The Other Side calling for my death again."
Caroline clenched her jaw tightly at that, her hand tightening around Buffy protectively.
Like hell was she going to let that woman anywhere near her future niece!
"Esther is one determined psycho."
Buffy laughed through her terror "No argument here. But basically, medicine won't work on me, I burn it off too quickly and I can't have any pain-soothing potions. Baby girl gets magical, mommy goes demonic catatonic and starts to weaken."
It was terrifying enough that her powers had already started to falter. By nine months her powers could be practically non-existent, all of her demonic energy focused on not letting the baby's magic kill her from the inside out.
"Vulnerable bla-bla. Mommy gets attacked by magic, her demon side starts trying to take over to fight against it, it's a whole thing. Basically, magic around birth is way bad."
Given just how horrifying the prospect of this birth was, and just how likely Buffy was to die if not everything went according to plan, it was safe to say Meredith was stunned by Buffy's humor "And you're not terrified?"
Buffy was fucking petrified!
But if she admitted it out loud, she knew she wouldn't be able to function or think clearly until she finally had this baby.
Humor was a defense mechanism.
The only thing currently keeping her from completely falling apart.
The idea that she might die, and never get to know her daughter made her way to break into violent sobs, but if she started crying now...she would never stop.
"I am more terrified by the fact that Elijah and Klaus are going to be there acting as guard dogs from any witches from New Orleans, possibly Rebekah too if Klaus ever lets her out of the box and I won't get any drugs! Bonnie can't give me any magical helpers in case it messes with the magic in my body."
Her body was already going to be going crazy with the mix of magic in her system, they couldn't take any risks, which meant Buffy was in for a hellish experience giving birth.
Caroline forced the fearful tears threatening to break free away. As terrified as she was, she had to remember that while Buffy seemed calm, she was probably more terrified than any of them.
"I still think we should be there."
Buffy smiled sadly as she watched her Godsister "Yep, nope. Four people watching me go through an agonizing natural birth while being prepared for a whole coven of witches to appear is enough. I don't even want to be there for it!"
Plus, she didn't want to risk Caroline getting hurt.
Elijah and Klaus were immortal, the witches couldn't kill them, but all it took was one stake and Caroline would be dead.
Before Caroline could try and argue that someone needed to be there acting as a doula for the birth while everyone was fighting off witches, Meredith gestured for Buffy to lift her shirt.
Begrudgingly, Buffy did as requested only to jump slightly as Meredith started pouring the cold gel on her stomach.
The second Buffy jumped, all of the glass jars on the shelves started to melt.
Meredith's eyes widened in horror "Oh my god."
Feeling a sharp pain vibrate through her body, Buffy hissed, automatically clutching her stomach causing Caroline and Liz to quickly re-focus back on her, ready to defend her from a threat only for the pair of them to freeze as they spotted it.
Caroline could do nothing but sputter in utter terror "Buffy...your hands."
Desiccation was spreading around Buffy's fingertips, black demonic veins trying to force it away.
Buffy inhaled sharply through her pain "I'm okay, her magic."
"B, just how dangerous is this pregnancy?"
"Dangerous to the amount of 10. On a scale of five." Spotting the fear in Caroline's eyes, Buffy forced herself to smile reassuringly "It's okay, Bonnie and Shane are making a potion that will get her to stop practicing at any sign of danger."
After the Hybrid attack, the baby's magic kicked into full force.
Literally not an hour after Stefan and Damon had shown up at the mansion, one of Klaus's hybrids had shown up and the entire house had started shaking.
Buffy's arms had started desiccating at a rapid pace causing Klaus to panic and call not just Bonnie, but also Mary demanding to know what was happening.
The house had only stopped shaking when the hybrid had left.
Liz sputtered "Your baby is practicing magic from your womb?"
Buffy sighed as the glass jars finally stopped melting "It's not her fault, Bonnie said that my demonic blood is heightening her, basically overpowering her."
Buffy herself had gotten stronger after the ritual that melded her original and demon side, but this baby already had the demon blood and magic forged together in her veins.
"If I was just a regular Slayer and not a blend of two waring types of magic she would be a regular overpowered baby."
Liz was still skeptical, her eyes glued to Buffy's now-healing hands.
The desiccation finally vanished and the demonic veins quickly disappeared from sight.
"But your hands."
"My body is resistant to magic. It's going into panic mode because it can't fight off what is literally being grown inside of me."
Despite both Liz and Caroline wanting to start asking a billion different questions, the heartbeat filling the room put all questions on pause.
Slowly they all turned to monitor where they could now see the baby.
It was the baby's heartbeat filling the room.
Instantly, Caroline clutched onto Buffy's hand as the heartbeat filled the room.
"That's insane, you have a little person inside you." She whispered through her tears as she stared at the image of her future niece "She is so cute!"
Given that the ultrasound only gave them an outline of the baby, Buffy couldnt help but laugh "Caroline we can't see her!"
"This is my future niece of course she is going to be cute!"
Liz blinked through tears as she stared at the image of her sort of grandkid moving around on the computer "You thought about a name yet?"
Buffy sighed at that.
While she and Klaus had agreed on a middle name, the topic of the first name had yet to be selected. She had even given him a list of options two weeks ago and he had just smirked saying he had something better.
Yet, he had not told her what this better choice was!
It was starting to drive Buffy insane.
"I still have time."
"Buffy, you are five and a half months pregnant." Liz reminded her "You're in your second trimester. She is coming sooner rather than later. You need a name."
"Did The Great Evil have a suggestion?" Caroline mocked, a hint of distaste in her voice.
Given everything, Buffy just snorted "Not yet. Willow suggested Luci."
"Like Lucifer? No. This is the start of the next generation of Summers. You are literally the first one of us to have a kid, plus, you are going to be the first Slayer to give birth and hello! The baby is the first of her kind. Her name needs to be epic."
Buffy smiled at the passionate response before glancing back at the image of her daughter on the screen "Elijah wants to call her Hope."
Liz snorted "A little on the nose."
Given that had been her exact argument against the name, Buffy laughed and leaned her head against her godmother's shoulder "Well, given he has declared that my baby is the ultimate key to saving Klaus's soul, yeah."
Caroline promptly shook her head at the thought of the name "Hope Summers. Cute but not perfect. Now Caroline Summers The Second? That is a name."
Instantly, Buffy leaned closer to Liz "Aunt Liz she is doing it again!"
"My vote is Summer!" A familiar voice yelled through the door "There is no way Klaus is going to be okay with this kid not having his last name. Summer Mikaelson works!"
Buffy rolled her eyes as she glared at the door "Jeremy, you don't have to stand outside on guard!"
He had literally shown up and planted himself on a chair in front of her closed hospital room door.
"That kid in your stomach is the most wanted person on the planet!" Jeremy argued through the wall between them "If any witches, demons, or vampires pissed off at Klaus show up, Caroline speeds you to safety, Liz hits the fire alarm causing a distraction and I set off a bomb. The type depends on the enemy."
Instantly, Buffy groaned "Tell me you did not bring a bomb into a hospital."
His silence cued Meredith to stand up straight, her eyes widening in panic "Jeremy!"
"That is my niece, can't take any chances."
"What is it with you people blowing up the hospital?!"
As Meredith fell into panic mode, Buffy groaned as she continued to stare at the door "Are you seriously going to stay out there the whole time? Don't you want to see her?"
"I will see her when she is born, and clean!"
"Dude!"
"I am not coming in there man, I don't want to be scarred for life."
Buffy rolled her eyes "I am not flaying my legs around in here Jer!"
"Not taking any chances."
"Ugh, you're such a baby!"
"At least I know how a condom works!"
"I know how they work!"
"Yet, you're knocked up and are now tied to Klaus for eternity, and given how co-dependent his family is, they are going to be around you constantly. I bet Elijah ends up delivering the kid!"
WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA
It was safe to say, Sandra was thrilled.
When the four girls arrived at the diner, Sandra almost fainted when Buffy handed over the sonogram from her appointment. The second Buffy had confirmed it was a girl, Sandra had literally started screaming and chanting in Mandarin, thank the gods for finally giving her a granddaughter.
As she started to dig into her Dim Sum, Buffy flinched as Sandra's voice echoed from the kitchen.
"Is she always so..."
"Intense?" Caroline, Buffy, and Bonnie finished Elena's question before nodding "This is normal."
It was kind of sad that this was the first time Elena had actually met Sandra in person. Even Jeremy and Klaus had met her!
The only constant person in Buffy's life who had never been allowed to meet Sandra now was Damon.
Buffy grumbled as a gleeful Sandra skipped out of the kitchen, finally hanging up the phone. The second the fact that she was having a girl had been announced, Sandra declared she had to call every single member of her family. Including the members still in Hong Kong!
Buffy had a strong feeling her daughter was going to end up fluent in Mandarin by the time she was old enough to form her own thoughts.
"San-"
Sandra didn't let Buffy get a word in as she quickly moved to sit beside Buffy, her hands moving to the ever-growing baby bump "Finally, you my dear girls are my yángguāng."
The familiar phrase caused happy tears to fill Buffy's eyes.
It was the first thing Sandra had said to her when she had found her at the bus station all those years ago.
Without hesitation, Buffy pulled Sandra into a tight hug, tears rushing down her cheeks.
It was safe to say, Buffy had cried more in the past five months than she had in the past five years.
Given how emotional Buffy had gotten over the phrase, Caroline couldn't help but frown as she watched the two women clutch onto each other "Huh? MARK?!"
Mark groaned and turned away from the customers he was dealing with to face the trio of confused girls who were now watching his mother and Buffy in complete confusion "Yángguāng, means sunshine in Mandarin."
Sandra had seen Buffy as a ray of sunshine since the day they met, it was why their entire family had ended up seeing Buffy as their own.
Despite her name and her race, she was their family.
She was their sister, she had been since the second she arrived in Williamsburg.
"Jiějiě!"
The Mandarin word for sister.
Buffy's attention shot back to him "Jiějiě, Thank you."
Knowing he was thanking her for finally giving Sandra a girl, Buffy just grinned as she quickly moved over to Mark, hugging him tightly.
Despite the fact he rarely expressed any emotion outside of anger or stoic seriousness, Buffy blinked back tears.
Mark calling her his sister in his mother tongue just proved how much he cared for her. And thanks to many dictionaries and dreams containing the memories of previous Slayers, Buffy was able to return the gesture.
"You don't need to thank me...Xiōngdì."
The Mandarin word for brother.
Mark's eyes widened "You-"
"I figured I should learn. I still suck." Her pronunciation sucked, she knew that "But you guys took me in. It felt right."
For the first time in her years of knowing him, Mark actually let a tear fall and Buffy couldn't hold back a small sob as she clutched onto him.
It was nice to be the little sister for once.
Being the big sister was exhausting.
As she watched the pair, Sandra let out a shaky breath before forcing herself to focus on the sonogram so she didn't start sobbing "Finally a little girl, have you and Mr. Devil in Disguise decided on a name yet?"
That was one way to suck up the positive mood in the room.
Letting Mark go so he could back to work, Buffy slowly moved back to the booth "Um...not yet."
Spotting the tense looks on Elena, Caroline, and Bonnie's faces Sandra whisled as she clicked why everything had suddenly gotten so awkward.
"Ahh, you three are not fans of the father."
"Nope." Elena declared strongly.
"He sucks." Bonnie added.
"He's the literal worst." Caroline finished.
Sandra sighed before quickly wrapping an arm around Buffy pulling her into a side hug.
Given how far along Buffy was, negative comments about the person she was about to build a family with could not be good for her mental state.
"Well, he is handsome. Annie, any chance he has a brother? One that is currently unattached?"
Bonnie chuckled as she glanced up from her lunch "He has two, one really likes suits. Then you could annoy Klaus all you want and threaten him."
Sure enough, Sandra was right in front of Bonnie in less than a second, her dark eyes dancing with intrigue "Dear child, tell me about this brother."
Buffy groaned as she moved to sit down beside Caroline who was purposely hiding her face behind the milkshake to keep from laughing.
The second Bonnie even uttered the word Elijah though, Mark dropped the plates in his hands, his eyes filled with panic as he focused on Bonnie "NO! Bonnie, stop talking!"
A table clothe was quickly launched at Mark's face, courtesy of Sandra.
"Annie, one is enough." Sandra commented as she continued to glare at her eldest son "You give them siblings they just have backup to ruin your golden years!"
Inhaling lightly, Sandra forced herself to focus back on her first granddaughter "Now, after so many grandsons we are having a baby shower." Spotting the hesitation on Buffy's face Sandra just narrowed her gaze "Annie, this is my first little girl. You are giving me a baby shower."
Ever the party planner, Caroline's eyes lit up in excitement at the prospect of planning a baby shower "We can throw you two!"
Buffy groaned "Caroline-"
"No, no! Look one here for the Lin-Mays and one in Mystic Falls with everyone else. AKA: More presents."
**
MYSTIC FALLS, VIRGINIA
Stood in the basement of the Mikaelson mansion, Buffy could do nothing but focus on the punching bag in front of her.
With her powers being so unstable at the moment, she couldn't go to a demon bar, hence why she had resorted to the bag.
She was so wound up, which was expected given that she had her check-up with Bonnie to see just how much damage the baby was currently causing. While it was still kind of upsetting to think about the current state of some of her relationships, she had prepared herself mentally to lose people when she decided to keep this baby.
Her focus couldn't be her fractured friendships.
It had to be her kid and the way her body literally started shutting down at the slightest sign of magic.
The fear in Caroline's eyes at the realization of just how dangerous this pregnancy was had Buffy punching the bag with more force.
The bag snapped off the hook and went flying across the room.
Buffy flinched.
That was the third bag she had destroyed this week.
Sighing she ran a hand through her hair, before beginning to unwrap her hands as she started heading back upstairs.
Walking into the living room where Klaus was painting away, Buffy walked up to him, examining the painting closely "I need another training bag."
Klaus sighed, momentarily glancing up from his painting to face her "You shouldn't be doing that in your condition." He purposely pointed his brush at her ever-growing stomach.
Buffy slapped the brush away "Would you rather me hit actually vampires?" She countered before rubbing her stomach. With every day that passed, she got bigger and more uncomfortable. She literally couldn't sleep on her back or on her stomach anymore with how hyperactive this baby was at night. Sleep was not a big factor in her life lately.
She felt like an exhuasted hippo!
"Projecting much?"
Klaus sputtered slightly before shifting his gaze back to his painting which she was examing closer "How did you come to that deduction love?"
"Each snowflake is unique. You have painted a single one all by their lonesome surrounded by darkness. AKA: It's a self-portrait."
Not willing to admit the deeper meaning, Klaus just rolled his eyes and focused back on his painting "You are just jealous of my flawless technique."
"Are you using oil?" She questioned as she scrunched up her nose in distaste "If this is for the festival it won't be dry in time. Oh, by the way, Sandra wants to screw Elijah. Can I set them up?"
The paintbrush snapped in half as Klaus started coughing violently in shock.
Buffy grinned at the reaction.
Totally worth it!
"Nice to know Sandra scares every man in my life who meets her." Klaus rolled his eyes purposely flicking paint at her spraying her purple vest in the back paint, not that Buffy cared. This was her workout outfit which had been stretched out beyond repair thanks to her stomach "You're a baby. Speaking of..."
Grabbing her bag off the floor from where she had dumped it last night, Buffy nervously grabbed the photos from her doctor's appointment had handed one to Klaus.
Honestly, she had no idea if he would even want it.
Klaus didn't exactly scream the kind to hold onto a sonogram.
The second she handed him the photo, Klaus's entire body tensed up as he stared down at it "What is this?"
"Our daughter..." Buffy breathed as she shifted nervously on her feet before glancing up at him. Yet, his eyes were glued to the sonogram, staring at it so intently Buffy was almost positive he had been turned into stone "If you don't want it..."
"No-I-um-"
The fact that Klaus was stuttering nervously, and had still not glanced up from the photo had Buffy smiling softly.
"Makes it feel very real? Trust me seeing her on a computer, moving around, and about to start kicking was insane. She does punch now though. Hits like me. Very proud."
That comment finally cued Klaus to glance back over at her, a bright smile on his lips as he focused on Buffy "I'm sure she does."
For a moment, Buffy and Klaus just stared at each other, their smiles not once faltering only for the sound of the front door opening to break the peaceful moment.
Assuming it was one of the Hybrids, Buffy groaned "I'm gonna go change."
With that, Buffy left the room while Klaus shifted his attention back to the sonogram in his hands.
It was a strange feeling, to actually see an image of his daughter.
All thoughts of his future attempt at fatherhood were brought to a halt as a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
Instantly, Klaus groaned, after six weeks of peace, once again the Salvatores were intent on appearing where they were not wanted.
"Forcefield down." Stefan chimed as he leaned against the doorway only to tense up as he caught a glimpse of the photo in Klaus's hand. A sonogram. Just the brief sign of it caused his throat to constrict painfully.
Klaus rolled his eyes as he quickly tucked the photo into his pocket before moving back over to his unfinished canvas "For the moment."
The protection charms were typically activated when he knew Buffy would not be leaving the house for the day to ensure no unwanted visitors could stroll in and take her if he was not there. Given that she had been in and out all day and his hybrids were coming and going, he couldn't have them constantly slamming into the field.
"Looks like a giant snowflake."
Klaus rolled his eyes at the simplified observation, clearly, Stefan was not a lover of art "I prefer to think of it as an expression of post-modernism. It's my donation to the winter wonderland charity event."
Before Stefan could get another word in, a face he hadn't seen in six weeks walked into the room in a brown turtle neck dress. For a moment, Stefan could do nothing but stare at Buffy, specifically her baby bump.
Having yet to notice his presence, Buffy grabbed her long ankle-length leather jacket off the couch and slowly pulled it on "I hate that event. The food sucks." Feeling eyes on her, Buffy gulped as she finally spotted the familiar face.
Stefan was here.
Why was Stefan here?
As Stefan continued to stare at her stomach like a bomb about to explode, Buffy shifted as her hand moved to her stomach almost protectively.
Klaus clenched his jaw at the way Stefan was staring at Buffy. He didn't like it, it made him want to rip Stefan's head from his shoulders. Without hesitation, he moved over to Buffy, purposely blocking her from Stefan's eyeline.
Buffy rolled her eyes at the deliberate move.
"I have to go see Bonnie."
Rubbing a hand along his jaw, Klaus clicked his jaw his entire body tensing at the reminder of just why she was having to go see the Bennett witch and her associate "Did she find a solution?"
Despite the fact she could feel Stefan still staring at them, Buffy focused on the urgent problem at hand "Yes."
"Buffy, your powers..."
Buffy groaned as she grabbed her bag off the couch and moved to leave only for Klaus to catch her wrist "Yeah I know! My powers are all over the place hence."
"You started desiccating last night and all of the flowers in the house started bleeding." He deadpanned "If your witch cannot cut it-"
"Don't even finish that sentence. Bonnie is the bomb!"
Stefan froze from the doorway.
He could do nothing but listen and the mention of Buffy actually desiccating had him utterly terrified. While he knew this pregnancy was dangerous due to what Elijah had told them in New Orleans, actually hearing that Buffy's powers weren't working properly and she had literally started desiccating had his heart hammering painfully against his chest.
The fact that he hadn't actually been included in this just made the hurt all the more intense.
"Wait, you're desiccating?"
Given that this was the first time they had actually spoken in six weeks, Buffy froze at the sound of his voice before letting out a shaky breath "Just a little. It's no biggy." She fibbed before focusing back on Klaus "Willow, Bonnie, and your sister all agreed on this potion. I get the first dose today."
Klaus clicked his jaw unhappily, but alas they didn't have many options right now "Fine, but you return home once it is done."
The emphasis on the word home was deliberate, Buffy knew it.
He was rubbing the fact she was living with him and carrying his child in Stefan's face.
Klaus was such an ass!
Sure enough, his words had the desired effect and Stefan looked ready to lose it. His fists were clenched tightly at his sides and his eyes were quickly filling with a murderous rage.
Buffy rolled her eyes, she knew exactly what Klaus was doing and she was so not amused "Get the smug look off your face." She warned before heading out.
And then there were two.
**
With Jeremy now officially at The Lake House to focus on his training, The Gilbert House was empty.
While Elena had moved back in, she was in classes all morning so Buffy, Bonnie, and Shane had set up shop there.
The idea of doing this at the mansion around the hybrids just made Buffy sick to her stomach.
Plus, at least this way, she could have the morning with no constant eyes watching or looming over her once Bonnie and Shane left to meet Jeremy. Buffy couldn't even remember the last time she had just been able to just watch trashy TV by herself.
"Everything baby front seems all good." Bonnie announced with a grin as she walked over to where Buffy was laid out on her old bed "Your powers though-"
Buffy groaned as she continued to balance her plate of grapes on her stomach, happily snacking away.
She loved that her belly was big enough to work as a tray!
"Yeah, my superspeed vanished a few weeks ago. It is back to normal old-fashioned levels."
Her strength was unpredictable at the moment and her superspeed was non-existent.
Bonnie sighed in concern before squeezing Buffy's hand tightly "You will be fine. We were prepared for this." She pointed to the flowers that were starting to bloom around Buffy.
"Your baby is a very powerful witch." Shane piped up as he continued to gather the ingredients they would need for this magic-blocking potion "She is using magic in the womb without meaning to. It's the demonic side of her from your blood that is making her power a little unstable. We prepped a potion that will keep the baby's magic under control. A way to keep her powers from well-"
"Killing me? I know."
"If we follow the birth plan and make sure you take this potion regularly, it will be fine." Bonnie assured her as she entangled her fingers with Buffys, trying to hide her own fear about this whole situation.
Just the mention of the birth plan had Buffy shivering.
She hated the birth plan!
"Still no drugs?"
Bonnie laughed "Nope, it will be fine."
"Are you the one with a wine jug coming out of your hoohaa?"
Shane stifled a laugh as he continued to mix the potion together, Buffy Summers definitely had a way with words.
"So have you spoken to them yet?" Bonnie asked curiously as she focused on Buffy. Now that Stefan had shown up at the mansion, it was becoming crystal clear that the Salvatores were still around after six weeks of radio silence.
Well technically, Stefan had been ultra-focused on The Cure and Damon had been drunk at The Grill.
Buffy was just the only person who hadn't seen or spoken to them.
"Other than running into Stefan at Klaus's this morning. Nope." It had been beyond awkward and honestly, Buffy didn't want to be thinking about Stefan or Damon right now. She had too much going on and she was already beyond stressed. If she focused on how she felt about the fracture in her relationships with them it would get her to crack.
She and Stefan had already been at their breaking point.
This pregnancy had just been the final nail in the coffin.
"I am having a kid with Klaus, safe to say my time with Stefan and Damon is over."
Bonnie sighed sadly, while she knew Buffy had prepared to lose friends when the truth came out, she also knew that Buffy was trying to appear unaffected.
As much as she knew Buffy hated it and would deny it most of the time, she did care about both brothers. No matter how much she was trying to convince herself that she wasn't, this had to hurt.
Not wanting to think about Stefan or Damon any longer, Buffy placed her plate down on the bed before sitting up, though it was a slight struggle. She didn't even want to imagine just how much more difficult things were going to get once she was at her biggest.
"But baby female Lucifer is good?" She asked, swiftly changing the subject.
Stefan and Damon had made their choice, she didn't have time to be upset, she had to worry about this damn baby and getting ready...to be a mom.
"She's not Lucifer." Shane chuckled in amusement as he handed Buffy the potion "Over-powered yes...but not Lucifer."
Buffy instantly groaned as the smell hit her full force. Not only was the potion green and chunky but it smelt like fish!
They couldn't be serious!
"Nope." She gagged quickly trying to push it away but Bonnie narrowed her eyes sharply.
"Yes." Bonnie snapped strongly "I am not losing you or my god-daughter. So you will drink this once a day until you give birth."
Given Bonnie was using her serious, Don't mess with me voice, Buffy begrudgingly brought the potion to her lips chugging it as quickly as possible before grabbing the water and using it as a chaser.
To put it simply, the potion was nasty.
UGH!
"This baby so owes me." Buffy grumbled in distaste before smiling weakly "Will is still determined that I call her Luci, and the witches are convinced that my baby is the second coming of the devil."
Instantly, Buffy paled, panic flooding through her veins "What if she has horns?"
"Then we will get lots of hats." Bonnie soothed making Buffy laugh softly in amusement before shifting her focus back to Shane "So how is de-huntering my baby brother going?"
The question cued Shane to pull up a seat, planting himself down right in front of Buffy's old vanity "Well, I think that we are finally ready for a test drive. So your sister will be joining us today."
Buffy clenched her jaw at that.
What if Jeremy snapped and tried to kill Elena again?
Before Buffy could start panicking and demanding to come with them to play Slayer-Bodyguard, Shane offered her a reassuring smile "We will help Jeremy. I promise. You just focus on keeping that baby safe and healthy."
**
For the first time since he found out Buffy was pregnant, Stefan was alone with Klaus.
The man who had taken everything from him, and was now literally living his dream.
It was safe to say, Stefan was close to combusting, his body vibrating in rage the longer he stood in the room. A room that now had touches of Buffy everywhere. Her hunting gear was in the corner, her sketchbook was resting on the coffee table and he could spot her favorite pair of slippers under the couch.
Buffy was living with Klaus, preparing to have a child with him and it made Stefan want to scream and burn everything to the ground.
As Stefan continued to silently seethe, Klaus rolled his eyes as he moved back over to his painting. The past six weeks without any intervention from Damon and Stefan had been marvelous and he was in no mood for them to show up and ruin the routine he and Buffy had fallen into it.
"What are you doing here?" He gritted out through his teeth.
The second Klaus's voice washed over him, Stefan finally snapped.
In less than a second, Stefan sped over and punched him in the face.
Laughing as he stumbled a few steps, Klaus rubbed his jaw before raising a taunting brow at the fuming younger vampire "Jealousy is an un-attractive look on you ripper."
Stefan clenched his jaw "You got my ex-girlfriend pregnant, didn't think to bring that up when we were looking for the sword?" When Klaus just grinned smugly, he couldn't help but scoff "Or was it just so you could push us further apart."
"Well, she didn't end up in my bed because you two were close."
Stefan rushed at him again, but this time Klaus moved out of the way with ease.
He had let Stefan have one hit, but that was all he was getting.
"Don't push me, Stefan. The only reason I haven't removed your head is because the mother of my child wouldn't exactly be pleased."
It was safe to say, if looked could kill, Klaus would be screwed.
Truthfully, Klaus found Stefan's rage incredibly amusing, and what made it funnier was knowing that Buffy had bluntly told Stefan that if he became a threat to their child, she wouldn't stop him from killing the Salvatores.
A part of him actually wished they would go through with some fool's errand so he could ensure that whatever remaining feelings Buffy had for Stefan were removed permanently.
However, plotting the removal of Stefan Salvatore from Buffy's life would have to wait for the time being.
He needed to focus back on the whole reason he and Stefan had been working together in the first place.
The Cure.
"Now put your jealousy aside, I retrieved the Hunter's sword from Italy, which we'll use to decipher the map hidden in the hunter's mark. You're the one who's supposed to deliver the hunter and his mark." Klaus said simply as he walked back over to his canvas, quickly grabbing a clothe and wiping the paint from his fingers.
Stefan took a shaky breath.
It was taking everything in him right now not to attack Klaus again but he needed to focus on this cure "Well, Jeremy is the hunter, and he has to keep killing vampires to complete his mark, but we can't quite figure out how to keep him from killing us. Or from Buffy killing me if I go near Jeremy."
Klaus's eyes darkened slightly at Stefan dropping Buffy's name and in less than a second he was right in front of his old friend, his eyes glowing gold "Let me make something very clear Stefan. You have one use to me. Fulfill it and stay away from what is mine."
That word had Stefan grinding his teeth together.
He hated Klaus thinking he had some kind of control over Buffy just because she was pregnant with his kid. He did not own her! Just the idea of Klaus thinking of Buffy as his property had his gears grinding.
God, he wanted to punch Klaus again.
"She is not yours."
Klaus just chuckled softly before turning away from the vampire and placing his paints away "The child she carries is mine. I will always be a part of her life. Remember that and give up on something you lost a long time ago. Handle the hunter, Buffy wants The Cure for her friend's mother I'm sure she'll be willing to budge."
"Then you don't know Buffy." Stefan hissed.
Just because Klaus understood certain aspects of Buffy better, when it came to family and siblings, they had drastically different thoughts. Klaus daggered his siblings and ripped their happiness away at a drop of a hat, while Buffy sacrificed her own happiness to ensure Jeremy and Elena were happy.
She had been doing it for years.
"How do I even know you have the sword?" Stefan challenged.
"Why would I lie to you, Stefan?" Klaus asked before walking past the youngest Salvatore and into the living room "We're in this together."
Begrudgingly following him, Stefan's eyes widened as he spotted Klaus walk over to a safe and begin entering in a combination.
As Klaus yanked open the safe he pulled out the sword and placed it on the table for Stefan to see "The hilt acts as a cipher which we'll use to decode the marks on Jeremy's tattoo when he's killed enough vampires to complete it."
With that out of the way, Klaus moved to take a seat at the table.
While Stefan continued to examine the sword, eyeing the symbols closely, Klaus pulled out the sonogram from his pocket purposely placing it directly in Stefan's line of vision.
As expected, Stefan froze.
His full attention was now on the image of Buffy and Klaus's child, the sword momentarily forgotten.
Buffy's child.
"Move on old friend." Klaus said suddenly as he tapped the photo "I know you still love Buffy, it's all over your face. I have no doubt you would love her child. But that child? This child is mine. So ask yourself this, do you really want to watch her raise my child? Wouldn't that be too hard for you?"
**
Buffy's baby shower.
Or at least her Mystic Falls group-centered one was today, and Caroline was determined for it to go off without a hitch.
Glancing into her backseat, Caroline eyed the contents closely, making sure that she had gotten everything from her list.
It was say to say, she had gone a little overboard on the decorations.
Her entire car was filled to the brim with pink balloons, baby toys, stuffed animals, clothes as well as loads of games, and some brand new maternity clothes for the now very clearly showing Buffy.
Yes, this party was going to be completely over the top but Buffy was the first member of their group to have a baby. This was a momentous occasion, plus...she needed to remind Buffy that there were reasons to stay in Mystic Falls.
AKA: The people.
Ever since Buffy's tearful admission that she wanted to leave after graduation and never come back, Caroline was determined to offer Buffy reasons to stay.
If Buffy left right now with Klaus, they would lose her over time. Klaus was intent on showing Buffy the world and Mystic Falls would cease to exist. While she knew she likely couldn't convince Buffy to stay just so that she could be around as her niece grew, Caroline was still determined to ensure that Buffy at least visited.
Because at this rate, she doubted Buffy planned to.
While she would stay in contact, it didn't change the fear Caroline had, that once Buffy left they would all start to grow apart.
How was this little girl going to have a stunning room designed by her Aunt Caroline if they all drifted apart?!
Plus, the sad truth was, only a handful of them were immortal. In a few decades, most of their friends would be gone and Caroline and Buffy would be the only members of the terrible foresome standing.
Caroline Forbes was a woman on a mission.
Climbing out of her car, she strutted right toward the Salvatore Boarding House. The only way this shower would be beyond perfect is if she could get Damon and Stefan to grow up and show up to this party. They needed to remember that Buffy was single when Klaus and her slept together and well...there was going to be a baby in their lives soon.
So if they wanted to be around they needed to get over themselves.
If they cared about Buffy as much as they claimed they did, they needed to stop focusing on the Klaus of it all.
Plus, if they wanted Buffy not to leave and never come back, they needed to give her reasons to come home.
Storming into the parlor room she immediately spotted Damon at the bar and smirked before grabbing his arm and dragging her to her car.
"What the hell blondie!" Damon exclaimed drunkenly in annoyance as he tripped over his own feet, barely able to stand up straight.
Caroline just huffed as she continued pushing his drunken ass toward her car "I'm throwing Buffy a baby shower at The Grill today."
Damon scoffed and rolled his eyes.
No way in hell he was going to celebrate Klaus tricking Buffy and lumping her with his demon spawn.
The second Damon tried to leave, Caroline blocked his path "She's your best friend dummy. Well, actually your only friend. She will never admit it but you not talking to her hurts her. So get in the car...you're part of the decorating committee."
**
Elena huffed as she walked into the Gilbert house, immediately letting her bags clatter to the ground.
While it felt good to be home, not being able to take advantage of Buffy's super strength majorly sucked.
Turning she moved into the living room only to smile as spotted her sister doing yoga with one of those massive plastic inflatable balls while binge-watching some Desperate Housewives.
"Having fun there?"
Buffy whose butt was in the air as she lay on the ball laughed "I feel like a jellyfish." She giggled before forcing herself up letting Elena see her belly.
Elena froze, it had gotten bigger again.
"Wow."
"Yep." Buffy huffed as she rubbed her stomach only for her center of gravity to slip sending her crashing down onto the ground.
As Buffy landed on her ass, the yoga ball sliding across the floor, Elena instantly panicked and rushed over.
"I'm fine." Buffy mumbled as she waved Elena's concern off before allowing her sister to help her back up.
"How is mini Supergirl doing?" Elena asked as she helped get Buffy over to the couch.
Once she was settled on the couch, in at least some form of a comfortable position, Buffy placed a pillow behind her back before wrapping a soft blanket around her shoulders "Driving her mommy crazy." She moaned "Seriously, if she's not cute I'm gonna have to swap her out."
Focusing back on the TV, Buffy quickly reached for her bowl of popcorn "I am intent on enjoying my few hours of trashy TV before Klaus shows up. Did you hand in my assignments?"
"Yeah." Elena mumbled as she dropped down onto the couch beside her sister and handed over her marked papers.
Honestly, she was so proud of Buffy for still pushing to finish college, apparently having this kid was helping her want to improve. However, what Elena didn't like was all of the junk food Buffy was surrounded by. Clearly, granted that Buffy rarely got time alone anymore now that she was pregnant, she was determined to have a self-indulgent afternoon.
"Did you order take-out?"
Buffy groaned at the judgy tone in Elena's voice "Seriously?!" She huffed "Are you all watching me through cameras? Klaus won't let me order take out, now you too!"
Elena snorted slightly "I will keep my mouth shut, just eat one piece of fruit today."
As she handed Buffy an apple, the blonde begrudgingly took it and bit into it.
A sudden sharp shooting pain vibrating from her stomach caused Buffy to cry out.
What the hell?!
"What is it?" Elena asked in a panic her body tensing up as her eyes quickly started scanning Buffy for any signs of desiccation.
There was none.
Buffy gulped nervously before stroking her stomach in confusion "Yeah, just upset stomach." She whispered though she could stop her hands from shaking. If her body wasn't desiccating it had to mean this was just some normal run-of-the-mill pregnancy thing.
Right?
Given she was supposed to start heading to The Lake House to see Jeremy, Elena shifted uneasily as she watched Buffy take in slow deep breaths.
Even though she was still coming back tonight for the baby shower she didn't want to leave Buffy alone if something was wrong.
Spotting the hesitation, Buffy just sighed and practically started shoving Elena toward the door "Go to the Lake House. I'm fine."
**
Her boyfriend was an idiot!
That was the first thought that entered Caroline's mind as Tyler finished explaining the plan he and the hybrids had spent the past six weeks developing.
It was the stupidest thing she had ever heard.
"You're going to do what!" She exclaimed in disbelief as she handed Tyler another pink streamer.
As it was the Winter Wonderland fair as well tonight, Caroline had planned to entwine the two events together. The theme for the shower was literally Winter Princess.
There was fake snow on all the windows with crystallized colored pink streamers and pink muff-colored holders on all the smoothies.
But despite her success, Caroline couldn't even enjoy how amazing this event was going to be. Tyler had just ruined it by telling her his insane plan to get rid of Klaus.
Tyler sighed as he hung up the last of the Baby Girl Summers banner before climbing down the ladder and facing his girlfriend "Haley found a witch powerful enough to do: The body-jump-spell. You know, the Klaus specialty."
Inhaling tightly, Caroline shook her head in disbelief before lowering the cupcakes which were a part of another one of her brilliant ideas. Given she knew Buffy had yet to land on a name for the baby, each cupcake had a baby name on it.
They were going to play a little mix-and-match game.
Honestly, Caroline had found her calling as a party planner.
"So you're going to put him in someone else's body and then what?" She whispered as she spotted April walking by helping move the massive baby ice sculpture.
Okay, maybe she had gone more overboard than she originally thought.
"We'll encase the body in concrete, then bury it." Tyler argued as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Why not just desiccate him like Bonnie did?"
"Because to do that spell, you have to stop a human heart. I was a little short of volunteers."
"Well, who was dumb enough to volunteer their body to be Klaus's sublet?" As Tyler goes quiet, Caroline's eyes widened in horror as she clicked just who this body would be.
No.
He couldn't be serious!
There was no way in hell she was going to let this happen.
"Ok..." Tyler panicked as he spotted the wide-eyed expression on her face "Don't freak out."
"Freak out!?" Caroline screamed, freaking out completely "I'm about to hemorrhage. You volunteered?"
"It's not forever, just long enough for the hybrids to be able to completely disappear...and..."
Caroline frowned as he trailed off, what was he leaving out? There was obviously more to this plan and his reasons behind being so okay with putting his entire life on hold.
"And what?"
"For Buffy to take the baby and run."
The reminder of the baby, quickly caused Caroline to freeze as she clicked that Klaus wasn't just the big bad Hybrid. He was the father of Buffy's baby, and Tyler's entire plan meant Buffy was going to be raising this baby on her own.
They would be stopping a father from ever knowing his daughter.
But, it was Klaus!
This whole thing was so conflicting!
"The baby and Buffy will be better off without Klaus you know that! With Elena's blood useless, he could use Buffy's kid to sire a new army of hybrids."
While Caroline knew Buffy had no intention of taking this child away from Klaus...the fact was she kind of agreed with Tyler here.
Groaning in frustration, she glared at her boyfriend, she wanted to claw at her hair but she had spent hours getting it this perfect. Huffing she shook her head, yes, she understood his point but there was no way she was letting him go through with this.
"No. We will find a way that doesn't mean us spending possibly 18 years buried in concrete, Tyler."
Tyler took a deep breath before placing his hands on his girlfriend's shoulders, softly forcing her to look him in the eye "This started with me. This has to end with me. I need your support."
**
No one was here.
The Shower was only a few hours away and no one was answering their phones.
It was safe to say, given what she had just learned her boyfriend was planning to do tonight, Caroline was already stressed out beyond belief.
"Bonnie, Elena you both better be back in time for this shower!" She hissed as she left another message on The Lake House voicemail before tossing her phone down onto the bar.
Instantly though, she groaned in annoyance as she spotted the raven-haired Salvatore passed out surrounded by at least five bottles of bourbon.
Damon was such a pain in the ass!
Thankfully, the arrival of the Salvatore she actually liked drew her attention away from the mess.
Stefan let out a stunned breath as he collided with at least 15 balloons "What the hell?"
"You're late." Caroline glared as she grabbed his hand and dragged him over to where his brother was nearly dead to the world "Wake up!" She screamed slapping Damon with a newspaper around the back of the head.
Damon grumbled in annoyance only to groan as he glanced around the room "Who died and sent me to pink hell."
The Grill was officially ruined for him now.
"It's Buffy's baby shower you idiot. Which you were supposed to help decorate not drink everything."
Damon merely shrugged as he reached for another drink "She can't drink and it's an open bar I'm getting rid of temptation."
Given everything else she had going on, Caroline finally lost her cool.
In less than a second she shoved Stefan into the seat beside his brother before pointing her finger at them both seriously.
She was done being nice.
"You both love her! So what that Klaus is the father?"
As Stefan tensed up, Damon just sputtered as he stared at Caroline like she had just lost her mind.
How was she so okay with this?
"It's Klaus."
"Yes, and he sucks! But newsflash, he wants Buffy to move to New Orleans once the baby is born and she graduates college."
Instantly, the air was knocked right out of Stefan's chest as he processed Caroline's words.
Buffy was leaving?
Since when was she planning on leaving for good?
While he had known she had been dying to escape this town, leaving with Klaus to raise a family with him in New Orleans where she would be surrounded by nothing but Mikaelsons was a massive difference from just leaving town.
"What?"
Choosing to focus on Stefan, Caroline exhaled deeply before offering him a weak smile "They are not together. It was angry hate-filled sex fuelled by her rage at you! Her own self-hate over Warren and confusion that Klaus was the only guy in her life not judging her! While you guys were arguing he was becoming her confidant! But, Buffy does not love him."
Given that Stefan was trying to process the fact that Buffy and Klaus weren't actually together, just planning on raising a kid together and probably co-parenting, Damon sobered up at the mention of Buffy actually moving out of town.
If Buffy left town with Klaus, there was no way she would ever be coming back.
And given he was banned from New Orleans, he might never see her again.
"Wait, back up New Orleans? With the whole Mikaelson brood?"
As both brothers finally started to click just how much everything was about to change, especially if the hybrids plan planned failed, Caroline continued with her rant.
She might be taking out her personal frustrations on them right now. Trying to handle her own conflicting thoughts about what her boyfriend planned to do to the father of her godsister's baby.
Their lives were so messed up!
"Klaus has been by her side through this pregnancy!" That was the reality of the situation "He wants them to raise the baby somewhere else! What do you think is going to happen in a couple of years if Buffy is raising this baby with Klaus? A baby brings people together! She could end up falling in love with him!"
Damon scoffed "Buffy would never."
"She will be away from all of us, with no one but him and his family helping her. She will never let those of us that helped kill Finn near New Orleans given that she is also trying to protect us!" Caroline argued pointedly causing both brothers to gulp nervously.
As terrifying as it was to imagine, everything Caroline was saying was layered with facts.
"If we push her away, she will leave to protect her baby, who is now her number one priority! She will be alone with no one but Klaus who plays Mr.Supportive for her. Over time, raising a baby together, living together, and thinking of his family as her own will change her. Newsflash, the three of us are going to live forever if The Cure doesn't become a factor. We are the ones who are going to be in her life for eternity. You two let your jealousy power you...last year, it was you two and Elena that drove her right toward Klaus!"
Caroline focused on Stefan, who probably had the biggest mission out of all of them given the current state of his relationship with Buffy.
"You were her friend first Stefan, you broke her heart and broke her trust, of course, she went to the one person who understood her. Do you want her in your life? Or do you want to go right back to where you were before you met her?"
He had felt dead before he met Buffy, but from the moment he saw her in that diner it was like his entire universe re-focused, greyscale flooding with color and light breaking through the darkness.
With both brothers speechless, Caroline let out a deep breath as the weight that had been on her chest finally lifted.
She had to admit, she felt a little better now.
"Okay, lecture done." She announced before focusing on her friend "Now...you. If I'm going to be your friend in time of need you need to work on your punctuality. I'm in a crisis."
The sudden shift shook Stefan away from his own thoughts.
Caroline's lecture plus the question from Klaus had left his mind a little twisted about how he was supposed to feel right now.
Thankfully, he very much needed a distraction right now until he could get his thoughts together and decide how to move forward.
"What's wrong?"
"My boyfriend is a dumb-ass martyr. Wait, where have you been?"
"With Klaus." Stefan admitted making Damon sit up and glare over his brother, if he hadn't hit Klaus, he was going to kill him.
"Did you hit him?"
"Yes." Stefan said with a roll of his eyes before looking in between his friend and his drunk brother "Look, Klaus told me more about the sword. It decodes Jeremy's tattoo. It's literally the key to finding the cure."
Caroline's eyes widened in panic, this wasn't good "Klaus told you this?"
Her sudden panicked expression caused Stefan to sit up straight.
Something was wrong.
Caroline cursed under her breath, why was today becoming a massive pain in her ass?
Was nothing ever going to go right?!
"You may need to go get the sword...like today...Tyler and his hybrids are taking out Klaus tonight."
Damon sputtered at the reveal "Wait, if you knew this why were we getting lectured about Buffy and Klaus falling in love once the hybrid bun in her oven pops out!?"
"I only found out today." Caroline snapped, her eyes flashing dangerously "Plus, I have been writing that lecture all week! I couldn't let it go to waste." She declared before sighing "Buffy doesn't know. She already let the hybrids live for Tyler we can't put her in the middle right now. So one of you has to watch her."
Instantly, Stefan and Damon froze before having a silent argument.
"Nope." Damon stated immediately as he spotted the look on Stefan's face.
NO!
He was not babysitting a pregnant hormonal Buffy that he hadn't spoken to in six weeks and who couldn't even get drunk!
How the hell was he supposed to talk to her if she was sober?
The second he moved to bolt, Caroline blocked his path, her eyes narrowing "Elena told me something's wrong. She had a stabbing pain this morning. And a bit of a temperature. One of you needs to keep an eye on her and get her here for the party, while I try and get my boyfriend to think. We need to keep her distracted from everything. One of you needs to go play supernanny."