The overwhelming tide of emotions was almost too much to handle. His emotions were already sensitized from being a vampire, everything at risk to jump to the extreme at a moments notice. And then you throw the impossible on his plate, something he never saw in their future, never even dared to dream for. Because reproduction didn't happen for vampires. Scientifically speaking, they were living but still very much dead, their wombs dried and brittle and not at all up to creating and harboring a living child. Sure, magic happened every day. New powers developed and anything was possible. But how to process this new possibility?

As a human, he was never the nurturing type. Too selfish and self absorbed, per his father's opinion. He looked to his own old man as a monster who beat his children and wife and enjoyed it so a role model was never in the cards for him. It was only once he got past his always hungry stage of being undead that he was able to actually think on his human life and what he had lost by dying. Maybe some day he would have liked to be a father, settle down with a beautiful girl and raise a family, actually make his own family proud for once. But that wasn't in the cards for him anymore. He had long ago grieved his losses and moved on but Isolt was a breath of fresh air. She would have made a wonderful mother. His only hope in the very back of his mind, once he opened himself up to the possibility of being able to share her with someone else, was that they could adopt some day. But to father a child? It couldn't be true. It wasn't feasible. Neither of them had the proper makeup for reproduction. Neither one of them drew breath.

And yet he didn't doubt Isolt. The tender way in which she held his hand to her stomach couldn't be a lie, for it would be far too cruel a blow for someone so pure. And he hadn't forgotten that she had confessed to being in medical school before her unfortunate death. She knew the signs and he was sure she'd probably found all the proof she would need for surely she didn't believe it at first, either. There was just still so much to take in. And so much had happened recently to put the doubt in his mind. He didn't want to fight this new lightness in his chest as his hands roamed over her flesh but in the back of his mind, the doubts flourished. She had been kidnapped by a coven and tortured for weeks. There was talk of rituals and bringing a pure soul into this world, a pure soul birthed by a red haired vampire. Everyone had called it crazy for many reasons, the main one being that vampires couldn't create life. They only destroyed it. Who knows what kind of New Eden had access to. Who knows what kind of rituals they were able to complete before her rescue? He automatically hated himself even as the simper fell from his lips, replaced by a heartbreaking scowl. He exhaled heavily and he reluctantly let his hands fall from her stomach even as he took a small step back.

She had already given him confirmation. He could see such joy in her eyes and he hated himself already for tampering with it in any way. And yet he was always more a realist than a dreamer. Every syllable that fell from her mouth only tore another piece from his heart, knowing he had to do it. He had to say it. He searched her expression, wondering if she already knew where this was going. Surely she couldn't brush away the possibility. She was too intelligent not to. He ran a hand through his hair, not wanting her to see the way it was shaking. His hands never shook and yet he was so caught up in his emotions. Joy, shock, pain, anger. All of it whirlpooled inside him and curses shook him to the inner most core of his being. He only stared at her for a moment as the silence settled around them, even as everything went into a tailspin inside him. Damn that coven to the deepest, darkest pits of hell for stealing this moment from him. But what to do about it? Could something else be inside her, disguising itself as a pregnancy? If by some miracle, it was a child, he knew he couldn't hurt it, no matter its origins. Not that Isolt would ever allow such a thing. But no matter what others might think of Damon, he wasn't the type of monster that could hurt an innocent child, especially not if one iona of that child belonged to Isolt.

It was easy to see whatever it was, it wasn't hurting Isolt, at least not yet. Could he bide his time and be happy in this moment? Would he be too caught up in waiting for the other shoe to drop? Would he ever get to fully enjoy the miracle or would the twisted possibilities get the best of him? And if by come miracle, the New Eden was able to create a life inside his fiancé, he knew that they would come after it. They would want to raise and corrupt it. They would kill Isolt after it was born cause her use would be over. They would hunt them down and he couldn't allow that danger to befall her, not again. He would protect her and the child with every fiber in his being. A fierce passion erupted in his eyes as he glanced out over the beautiful city before them. Nowhere would ever truly be safe, but they would rue the day they crossed him. To them, he would be the worst kind of monster. Finally his gaze swept back to Isolt, the anger seeping from his pores as he took in her pure joy in this moment. Maybe he wouldn't have to ruin it. There was nothing they could do about it right now so why not just live in the moment? A smile slowly tugged at his lips as he reached out for her hand, letting his finger caress her knuckles absently before he brought her hand up to kiss it.

He turned her hand over, brushing his lips across her palm as he stared into her gaze. "You have no idea how precious you are to me. I will protect this miracle with my life. It is ours and ours alone. I love you, Isolt. All of me for all of you, always."