There was no other way to say it: Elena Gilbert was finally ready. She completed her residency. She was comfortable in her career and her life. It was time to start thinking about her future and she couldn't wait for a man to save her. It was time she took matters into her own hands and get it done the only way she knew how.

She tapped her foot restlessly as her tests came back. The doctor came back to her ever so slowly.

"You're fertile Elena, you are completely ready for insemination."

Elena wouldn't ovulate for a few more weeks so she set the appointment for a month away, hoping that nothing would happen between now and then. She was excited. No, more than excited. She was going to become a mommy. Her friends and family were very accepting of the idea, they had just wanted her to be happy. While they wished she would do it the traditional way, they also understood why she wouldn't.

For the first time ever walking into her empty home, she felt hopeful, that maybe it wouldn't always be so empty.

Damon tapped his foot against the ground. His father passed due to complications during a heart bypass procedure. Before he passed, his father was none to pleased with Damon's habits so he doubted seriously that any inheritance money came his way. Not like it mattered, he still owned the most popular bar in town so he was well off. Stefan was next to him with his face in his hands anxiously waiting to see how this would turn out.

"Stefan, you received full inheritance with no conditions," the lawyer said.

"What do you mean no conditions?" Damon asked sharply.

"Well, sometimes when someone is leaving a will, such as this one, in order to receive the inheritance, certain requirements must be met. In this case Giuseppe made it to where you couldn't get your inheritance until you married and had a child. If such requirements aren't met within a three year time frame, it will default to be split between the rest of the recipients of his will."

"What," Damon said lowly, "I have to do what?"

Stefan couldn't help but smirk. He knew Damon would fail. Damon never loved anyone and there was no way he could just marry someone. He knew him all too well. Giuseppe really outdone him this time.

"Well, you have to marry and-"

"Save it. I heard you. Three years to marry someone and have a child? A living, breathing, screaming, crying baby? To receive inheritance? What is it?"

"Well, it's the Salvatore Estate and a quarter million."

"Quarter million? Well," he slapped Stefan's shoulder, "would you be my best man brother?"