hello again! I thought that with the ending of this chapter I should say my thank yous first. So...thank you: dawn9800, iheartStewart20, Aomera, Clarelouise, NF and Sydney. I hope you continue to enjoy!

I know this is much shorter than normal but I wanted it to end where it did. I know you're probably gonna hate me but a bit of suspense never killed anybody!

I'm glad everyone approves of Matt and Ava. Heh. They are so not subtle.

-Auraya x

Chapter XIII

It was raining again, covering the horizon in a gauzy silver mist stretching from tree to tree. Somehow she had made it through the summer and was now entering her eighth month of pregnancy. October had settled in and in five weeks she would be a mother. Finally she would get to hold her strongest link with Stefan; the child of their combined blood. The child was a little ray of starlight in her otherwise starless life.

Matthew had assured her that the baby was strong and healthy. What he hadn’t told her was his fears for her safety. The child had steadily been sucking away what little nourishment Bianca would force herself to eat, leaving the mother seriously underweight and physically weakened. Would she have the strength for a prolonged labour? He didn’t know.

Bianca had taken to sitting on the cushioned window seat in the blue library before the rest of the chateau had even wakened, using it as a time to arrange her thoughts.

In truth she was afraid; afraid for herself, afraid for Freddy, afraid for her baby. Who was she to bring up two children by herself? What did she know about being a mother? She was only seventeen. She hadn’t voiced these fears to anyone, not even Matthew who she had come to rely on so much over the last few months. Ever since she collapsed he was constantly there for her. He had even gone so far as to move rooms so he would be close at hand if anything happened during the night.

She pulled the blanket tighter around herself, tucking her feet securely underneath it. Leaning her forehead against the window she watched as her breath misted the glass over and them melt away as though it had never been. She blew on it again and drew with careful precision an S and a B intertwined around each other. She sniffed and told herself that it was because she had a cold and not because she was crying.

Scrubbing her hand across her eyes, she scolded herself. What hope did she have of being a good mother when she couldn’t even care for herself? Taking a deep breath she leant her head against the wall and closed her eyes. The idea of being a mother terrified her as much as she craved it. Having something so precious relying entirely upon her, whose behaviour and beliefs would be shaped by her, made her feel very alone and very young. She rested her hands on her stomach, feeling the baby’s faint fluttering inside her. She had learned the dangers of loving so hard at her own cost but she knew she loved this child far beyond the point of danger.

There came the soft sound of the door being opened. Expecting it to be Matt she didn’t bother to turn around, hoping that he’d leave her to her thoughts a little longer. When she didn’t hear the door being closed again or the sound of approaching footsteps she twisted her head around to face the intruder.

Her heart stopped. She closed her eyes but when she opened them he was still there, half enshrouded in shadows, his white hair glinting even in the dim light. Her hand flew up to her throat, gripping her wedding ring hanging on the chain around her neck. “Stefan?” she whispered. She pushed the blanket off and shakily stood up, her other hand supporting her against the wall. She gave a strangled cry and stepped forwards, stretching out her hands to him. He’s alive! He’s alive! He’s alive! Her heart sang, longing to touch him, to hold him, to bury her head against his shoulder and cry a river of tears of pure joy.

“Bianca Krauff?” he asked, stepping forwards out of the shadows, head tilted slightly to one side, clasping a package wrapped in brown paper in both hands.

She faltered, her face crumpling in confusion. Why was he addressing her in that manner and what had happened to the burn covering the right side of his face? She suddenly felt light-headed and she swayed on the spot. The man darted forwards, dropping the package to take her hands in his own but she hardly noticed.

What was going on? Why was there a man who looked just like Stefan before he’d been hurt? Was it Stefan? She shook her head to dispel her thoughts and looked up at the concerned eyes of the man supporting her. Cornflower blue not sapphire. “You’re not Stefan, are you?” she heard herself say in a faint voice before she gasped as a crippling pain clenched inside her, making her hunch over in agony.

“Frauline? Frauline what’s the matter?” The man’s hands tightened on hers. “Are you-” He stopped short as he caught sight of the blood flooding from her, staining her white dress and running down her pale legs. “MATT!” he screamed, grabbing Bianca’s shoulders. “MATT!”