Derek rushed to the hospital where Nicole was after dropping Kathleen home and was told that Nicole had already put to bed, he was shown the room where she was, Nicole smiled on seeing him, "you're here, I thought you wouldn't come"
Derek made no reply, his eyes simply scanned the room and located the tiny being in the cradle, "it's a he, a baby boy" Nicole said softly from behind him and Derek stared at his child not knowing exactly how to react, "can I hold him?" He choked out, his voice clogged with emotions,
"Sure you can, he's your son"
Derek lifted the baby softly and cradled him in his arms, his eyes misted as he stared at the wonder in his arms, "my son, my beautiful son" he whispered. Suddenly a thought dropped in his mind, he remembered Kathleen's words that he wasn't the father of Nicole's child and his heart twisted, no! Kathleen must be mistaken, he searched the baby's face for any of his features but the child was too young to see any, no matter how he tried to keep her voice out from his head and enjoy his time with his baby, he couldn't, her words pierced through his thoughts like needles, Nicole couldn't be that cruel could she? And for what benefit? But someone who can poison another just to get her out of the way to have him could do anything, he would have to carry out the DNA test on the child, why would Kathleen insist that the child wasn't his? To clear their doubt, carrying out DNA secretly on this child is the best.
Nicole watched Derek's face, she noticed how he gazed at his son, no, Stefan's son, she corrected herself inwardly as she observed how his face softened as he gazed at her baby with such tenderness and love, perhaps he had completely bought the whole story and believed the child was really his, she felt so much glee in her heart, although, Marcella had told her about his plans to have a DNA testing done and she was watchful, that was why she noticed the change in his expression and a little stiffening of his body, perhaps, that bitch of a wife's words had finally hit home, he was suspecting the child might not be his, she yawned, feigning sleep as her eyes drooped close.
Derek watched as Nicole yawned and her eyes drooped close, the perfect time to get the sample for the DNA testing, his mind hammered in two directions, on one hand, he had to get it done as it is the only way to prove that the child is his and on the other hand, he wished not to go through it because it would hurt if the results showed negative but what needs to be done has to be done. He gently placed the baby in his cradle as he gazed around for what to use to take a sample, thankfully, he saw a cotton bud on one of Nicole's things and he used it to take saliva from the child, he placed it in a small glass as he quietly walked out of the room.
Nicole opened her eyes as soon as Derek walked out so he wanted to carry out the DNA testing right? Her face set, she would beat him to his game. She carried her phone lying beside her and dialed a number.
"Hello, he's on the move, you know what to do" she hung up, just as the door opened and Stefan walked in.
Nicole's eyes widened and she glanced around as if to be sure no one saw him enter, "why are you here" she asked in an agitated whisper and he grimaced at her tone, "to see my child of cause"
"Shhhhh, someone could hear you" Nicole's expression was frantic but Stefan paid no yield to her as his eyes located his prize in the cradle and walked to him.
"Derek just left here, you took a huge risk" she hissed at him.
Stefan only glanced at her before responding, "I was careful"
Nicole rolled her eyes," he planned on carrying out a DNA test, he can go ahead, I'm a step ahead of him"
Stefan snickered, " he feels he's so smart" he cooed with his baby before gently keeping him in his cradle.
They heard a bit of scuffle outside and the door suddenly opened as Derek walked in, " what the hell are you doing here?" he yelled
Nicole fidgeted, damn, she cursed in her heart, damn Stefan, "Derek, I thought you've gone home"
"Yeah, but I forgot my wallet" he pointed towards the table and for the first time, Nicole noticed the black wallet lying on the table very close to the table, "but what is he doing here, do both of you know each other?"
Nicole shook her head vehemently and Stefan opened his mouth to reply, " Marcella sent him" Nicole quickly answered ahead of Stefan and Derek frowned and glared at Stefan, "so, you're still working with Marcella, what game are you up to this time?"
"No game, she just sent me to bring Nicole and her grandson home successfully"
"And why will she send you to get them?"
Stefan shrugged at his question, "perhaps, she needed someone she trusted to be around her grandchild"
Derek scoffed at his use of the phrase, "trusted". "I won't have you anywhere close to my child and they're not going anywhere with you"
"But your mom...." Stefan began for effect but Derek cut him off, "I don't care, you're not going anywhere with them"
Stefan gritted at his tone but without another word, he walked of out the room.