The Grill buzzed with its usual energy—locals laughing over beers, the faint hum of the jukebox, and plates clattering in the kitchen. But in the far corner, where the group sat huddled around two tables pushed together, the atmosphere couldn’t have been more different.

Elena sat between Damon and Bonnie, her hands clasped tightly on the table. She hadn’t said much since waking up. Too much had happened too quickly—being pulled from the sleeping curse, learning she was pregnant with twins, and the heavy silence that had fallen over her friends since. She could feel their concern, the unspoken worry that lingered like a storm cloud no one wanted to address.

Stefan leaned forward, breaking the silence. “We need answers. The longer we wait, the worse this is going to get.”

“Elena’s awake,” Caroline said softly, her voice wavering with hope. “That’s something. It’s a miracle in itself.”

“Yeah,” Damon muttered bitterly. “And apparently, miracles come with a two-for-one special.”

Elena shot him a look. “Damon.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Sorry. Just trying to keep it light.”

Bonnie, seated across from Elena, leaned forward. “I’ve been trying to figure out how this happened. The magic—Kai’s sleeping curse—was unnatural. It’s like there was some kind of… aftershock.” She glanced at Elena carefully. “Whatever Kai did, it didn’t just trap you. It changed you.”

Elena swallowed, her voice quiet. “Changed me how?”

“We don’t know yet,” Bonnie admitted.

Alaric, seated beside Jeremy and Caroline, crossed his arms. “And until we do, we need to be ready. Twins or not, we have no idea what kind of magic is at play here.”

Matt nodded. “I don’t like this. It feels like we’re sitting ducks waiting for something to happen.”

Elena glanced around the table, her unease growing. “We don’t even know if this is a bad thing. Maybe it’s just a pregnancy—”

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The words barely left her lips when the front door chimed.

The entire group looked up, instincts flaring. A familiar figure stepped through the door, his footsteps light, casual, and completely unwelcome.

Kai Parker.

“Hey, everyone!” Kai’s voice rang out cheerfully as he strolled toward the table, hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. “Wow, look at this. The gang’s all here. It’s like one big, dysfunctional family reunion. I’m touched.”

“Are you kidding me?” Damon growled, standing up instantly and blocking Kai’s path. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Kai raised his hands in mock surrender, his smirk firmly in place. “Whoa, easy there, Papa Bear. I’m just here to chat. I heard the most interesting news, and I thought to myself, ‘Gosh, Kai, you really need to check in on your favorite people.’”

Damon’s jaw clenched, but it was Elena who spoke up, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. “What do you want, Kai?”

Kai’s eyes lit up as they landed on her. “Elena! Awake and looking radiant as ever. I have to say, deathly slumber suits you. And you brought friends. How sweet.”

Bonnie glared at him, the flicker of magic sparking in her eyes. “Cut the act, Kai. Why are you here?”

Kai tilted his head, feigning surprise. “Well, Bonnie, since you asked… I came to congratulate you.”

The table fell silent.

“Congratulate?” Stefan echoed warily.

Kai grinned wide, his gaze bouncing between Elena and Damon. “Oh, come on. You can’t tell me you haven’t told them yet. You’re having twins! Surprise!”

Elena froze, her heart skipping a beat. The blood drained from her face as the group shifted uncomfortably. Damon stepped forward, seething. “How do you know about that?”

“Let’s just say I have a sixth sense for magical chaos,” Kai replied, his voice annoyingly casual. “And let’s be honest, I’m the reason you’re pregnant, Elena. Well, indirectly. You can thank the sleeping spell for that.”

“What are you talking about?” Bonnie snapped, her fists tightening.

Kai’s smile darkened. “See, when I cast that little sleeping beauty curse, it wasn’t just any spell—it was mine. Pure, siphoner-made magic. But here’s the fun part: magic always comes with consequences. Turns out, keeping Elena in stasis for so long gave her body a nice, cozy reset. It made room for something new.” He paused, looking directly at Elena. “You conceived the moment the spell shattered. You’re welcome.”

Elena’s breath caught in her throat. “You’re lying.”

Kai shrugged. “Am I? Face it, Elena. You’re the miracle case of the century. A vampire pregnant with twins? You’re defying every rule of nature and magic.” He smiled as if genuinely impressed. “But, oof, that’s a lot of pressure, isn’t it? Because everyone is going to want those babies. And not for baby showers, either.”

Damon moved so fast it was almost a blur, grabbing Kai by the collar and shoving him against the wall. “You listen to me, you psychotic freak—stay away from her.”

Kai didn’t flinch. If anything, he looked amused. “I’d be careful with those threats, Damon. You’ve got bigger problems to worry about.” He glanced at Elena, his tone dropping into something colder. “Tick-tock. The supernatural world won’t stay quiet for long.”

Damon shoved him harder before letting go. Kai straightened his jacket with a grin, turning to walk away. He paused near the door, looking back at them one last time. “Oh, and Elena? I hope you’re ready. Being a mom’s tough. Especially when the universe wants your kids dead.”

The door swung shut behind him, leaving a suffocating silence in his wake.

Elena sank back into her chair, the weight of Kai’s words pressing down on her like a stone.

“What… what does this mean?” she whispered.

Stefan looked grim. “It means Kai’s right about one thing. If he knows about the twins, others will, too.”

Damon’s voice was low and dangerous as he leaned close to Elena, his hand brushing hers for reassurance. “It means we protect you and those kids, no matter what.”

Elena swallowed hard, her free hand resting instinctively on her stomach. Twins. The thought was overwhelming, but one thing was certain—she wasn’t going to let anyone take them from her.

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