CLARA

"What? But… but you said my due date was in three weeks!" Panic seized me. I hadn't mentally prepared for the babies today.

"They're more eager than I anticipated. We need immediate surgery!" The doctor announced. I shook my head, a scream escaping as pain lanced through my stomach.

"Ahhh!" I cried. I barely heard Damon's mother's distressed cries as she tried to comfort me.

"The witches are on their way; hold on until then, Clara," Luca said, taking my hand.

"I can't do this without Damon! He has to be here!"

"Calm down, Clara. It'll be okay. We're here to help," Luca soothed, but I only wanted Damon. He was my anchor.

"We need to transfer her immediately!" the doctor exclaimed, his voice laced with panic. Another scream tore from me. I was lifted onto a stretcher.

"Damon!" I yelled as they wheeled me away. Please, Goddess, I needed him. I couldn't do this without him.

"She's bleeding!" I heard Delilah faintly shout, followed by Luca's curse.

"Prepare for surgery!" The doctor yelled as they pushed me into a room and onto the bed.

"Get me Damon! I need Damon!" I cried, thrashing.

"Stay still, madam," the doctor said, but the pain intensified.

"Anesthesia?" Luca asked.

"I'm afraid she might not wake up. This will be painful, Mrs. Donovan, but you must bear it for your children," the doctor said, restraining me to the bed.

"I'll call the witches again," Luca said before rushing out.

"Ahhh!" The pain surged, a searing knife through my stomach. I needed Damon. I couldn't do this alone.

"Damon!"

DAMON

Something was wrong with Clara. I sensed it, trapped in this suffocating darkness. Was I dead? In hell?

"Damon!" My heart leaped. I heard Clara's voice, but saw nothing. Where was she? Why did she sound so pained?

Was Sebastian hurting her? I thought I'd killed him.

"Let me out!" I screamed, plunging deeper into the darkness. I needed to reach Clara.

"Let me out! I need my wife!" Only the echo answered.

"Damon!" A groan escaped me. I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. I had to get to her.

"You need to wake up!" A voice—unfamiliar—pierced the darkness.

"Open your eyes, Damon!" The voice urged. "Your wife needs you!"

I gasped, jolting awake. The insistent beeping of a machine was the first sound, followed by Clara's clearer cry. "Clara," I murmured, trying to move. Stitches covered my body.

I tore off the bandages on my hand and leg, ignoring the pain. My body ached; I felt like dying, but Clara needed me.

I tried to stand, but my leg gave way. I fell with a groan. I couldn't walk!

"Damon, please!" Clara screamed again, her voice filled with agony.

I crawled towards her voice, my breath ragged. Dizziness threatened, but I pressed on.

"Mr. Donovan! You shouldn't be out of your room!" Someone yelled, trying to pull me back, but I shoved them away.

"I need my wife! If you stop me, I'll kill you!" I screamed, crawling faster, nurses trailing behind.

"Damon? You…" Luca stared, shocked.

"Get me to Clara!" I ordered. He helped me to my feet and towards Clara's room.

He briefed me on the situation. I cursed the moon goddess for this. It was bullshit!

"Clara!" Her cries ceased as she saw me. "Damon!" Ignoring my pain, I stumbled to her, collapsing into her arms.

"It'll be okay; I'm here," I whispered, as she sobbed.

"I'm in so much pain," she murmured.

"You're strong, as are our children. You can do this," I said, kissing her.

"C-section. She can't deliver naturally; too much bleeding," the doctor announced. I nodded, my eyes on Clara.

"Look at me," I said, caressing her cheek. My mother gave me a towel to wipe her sweat.

"I've numbed her belly, but she may still feel pain," the doctor said, beginning the incision.

"Ahhh!" Clara screamed. I held her tight, letting her dig her nails into my skin.

"The numbing cream isn't working!" I yelled.

"It's not the cream; the babies are moving too much. We need to get them out," the doctor explained. I cursed inwardly.

"She's losing too much blood!" a nurse yelled. My grip on Clara tightened.

"I can't do it. I failed them," Clara whispered, tears streaming.

"You can do it, baby! Don't give up!" I said, grasping her face.

"I can barely keep my eyes open," she murmured.

"Listen to my voice, Clara. Fight for our children, for me. I can't live without you," I pleaded, tears falling. The room spun, my head throbbed, but Clara was all that mattered.

"I'm sorry, Damon," she choked out. My heart felt like it was shattering.

"Clara!…"

"The witches are here!" Luca announced, bursting in with the chanting witches, one circling with candles.

"Ahhh!" Clara thrusted upwards; I held her down, glaring at the witches.

"What are you…"

"They're helping her. The bleeding has stopped!" the doctor exclaimed.

"Deliver the babies!" a witch yelled—the one who'd helped defeat Sebastian.

"Are you okay, Clara?" She groaned. "Yes, the pain's less," she managed. Relief washed over me.

"One baby out!" Joy erupted at our baby's cry. Clara smiled. I kissed away her tears.

"The second one's out! Congratulations, a girl and a boy!" I embraced Clara, both of us weeping.

"Oh, Goddess, you did it, Clara!" I whispered, then Clara went limp in my arms, lifeless.

"Clara! Clara!!" I screamed, but Luca pulled me away as doctors rushed to her side.

"Clara!" My eyes rolled back. Everything went black.

~NOTE~ THIS IS NOT THE END!