The next morning, Stefan wakes up early as usual. He hears the sound of two heartbeats and is confused before he remembers that a little girl sleeps downstairs, he climbs out of bed and makes his way out of his bedroom. As he is coming down the stairs, he peeks into the room where Sharlette and Olivia slept last night. Peeking his hand in through the door, Olivia is asleep on her side snuggling a pink stuffed elephant. Her curls hanging loosely over her face, Stefan can hear her breathing as she releases a cute snore. He lets a small smile come to his face, hearing glasses clinking in the sink he makes his way downstairs into the kitchen.
Sharlette is standing in his kitchen wearing a black tank top with sweatpants. Her hair pinned in a messy bun, he acknowledges the big breakfast sitting on the table.
"You didn't have to cook you know" Stefan says.
Sharlette yelps placing her hand on her chest as she turns around wagging the spatula at him.
"Tom please don't scare me like that" she says breathing hard.
"Um..sorry" he says walking around the counter.
"Well I made your favorite cinnamon, French toast topped with powdered sugar and a side of scrambled eggs with slight cheese and orange juice no pulp" she says.
Stefan looks shocked as he just stares at the food, he walks over to a plate he assumes is his and inhales the smell before looking up at her with an astonished emotion.
"Is there something wrong Tom" she asks him stopping her glass of juice that she is raising to her lips.
"No. It's just my mom used to make this for Damon and I" he says in a low whisper.
"Who is Damon" she asks?
"He's my brother" Stefan says.
"You don't have any siblings Tom" Sharlette asks confused.
"I mean...we don't have that much of a relationship it's pretty much love and hate and sometimes disappointments" Stefan states.
"Oh well. Liv should be up by now" Sharlette says.
"I'll go get her" Stefan volunteers before she can object and makes his way upstairs.
Stefan took the steps two at a time, he approaches the bedroom and pushes the door open slightly enough. As he goes to walk in, he sees Liv sitting up in bed monk style and her pink elephant twirling in circles and doing flips in the air above her. He is amazed when he sees her little index finger is pointing at it, he has seen Bonnie and other witches do magic but looking at this little six year old girl it's stirs his heart in a different way. She must have sensed him because she turns her head and looks at him, the elephant stays floating though as her green eyes beam with happiness.
"Morning daddy" she says and jumps out of the bed and runs towards him into his legs.
Stefan smiles and picks her up in his arms, her elephant drops on the bed and she smiles at him.
"Does mommy know you use your magic like that" Stefan asks as he makes his way out of the room.
"Yeah but she doesn't like it. She says my magic is a precious gift and I am a special witch" Liv says.
"Oh really why are you special" Stefan asks?
"I don't know daddy" she beams as they make their way down the stairs.
When they reach the kitchen, Stefan sets her down and he is shocked to see Bonnie and Caroline enjoying breakfast. Well Bonnie is while Caroline is just looking uncomfortable, Bonnie turns her head once she hears them and looks at them. Her eyes drop to this little girl and is amazed by how beautiful she is, her eyes identical to Stefan's. They are kind, caring yet a little devious and alluring.
"Hey Tom, honey your friends are very nice. Liv come on let's eat and then we have to go to the elementary school and enroll you" Sharlette says as Liv goes to climb on a stool.
Stefan seeing her struggle, he lifts her up and places her on the stool and slides her smaller plate and cup of orange juice in front of her.
"Thanks daddy" she says pecking his cheek.
Caroline eyes widen as she hears Liv call Stefan that while Bonnie nearly chokes on her tea.
"Daddy" Bonnie asks?
"Can you guys give us a minute and I'll meet you in the foyer" Stefan asks?
"Yeah let's go Bonnie" Caroline say dragging Bonnie away.
Stefan turns to Sharlette as Liv eats, he doesn't want Liv out of his sight until he knows that their problem is gone and it is safe for her.
"Hey Sharlette why don't we wait until next year for her to enroll in a public school and we home school her" Stefan suggests.
"Why would we do that? You always stressed the importance of education to her" Sharlette asks?
"I know but this town is different. Please just trust me" Stefan asks?
"Alright Tom" she states and he nods before walking out of the kitchen, Sharlette looks at his retreating backside with a confused expression. Tom has been acting very suspicious lately, it's almost like he is a completely different person and why did his friends call him Stefan and not Tom?
-X-
"Caroline please don't say anything" Stefan says once he joins them.
"Stefan you can't just let them think that you are her fiancé or her father. That is wrong" Bonnie says.
"So what am I supposed to tell them the truth about vampires, travelers, hybrids and that Enzo killed the love of her life and her father. I'm not breaking that little girl's heart" Stefan says.
"Listen we may have found a lead on how to defeat the Siren. Ric found an ancient item and thinks we stab her with it" Caroline says.
"Alright so now we just have to find Damon or her since he is the one who is playing the puppet" Bonnie says.
Stefan phone rings and he pulls it out to see it's Damon.
"Damon" Stefan says.
"You remember on how you are hell bent on saving me, well I need kind of need that right now" Damon says.
"Well I will have to find you first" Stefan says.
"You don't have to search far. I'm at the school" Damon says and hangs up the phone.
"What did Damon want" Bonnie asks?
"My help to save him" Stefan says.
"I'm coming with you" Caroline suggests.
"No you're not. I need you two to stay here and protect Sharlette and Liv. Also Bonnie you need to stay far away as possible" Stefan says before grabbing Caroline's face and pressing a brief kiss to her lips before grabbing his car keys and rushing out of the house.
Bonnie turns to Caroline and rocks on the back of her heels, she scrunches her face up before clearing her throat.
"So girlfriend lets go play house with the fiancée and daughter" Bonnie says.
Caroline turns and glares at her before stomping off into the direction of the kitchen.
-X-
Later that night, after capturing the Siren. Stefan has brought Caroline into an old, broken down room that hasn't been used in centuries. There are long, pieces of broken wood leaning against walls and drywall everywhere.
"I was thinking of blowing this wall out and installing an entertainment center. Then I was going to paint it pink and white and then place a nice little bed right there" Stefan says.
"Wow you have gone all out for Lizzie and Josie" Caroline says looking around smiling.
"Lizzie and Josie? Caroline I'm sorry if I delivered the message wrong but this room is for Olivia" Stefan says.
"I don't understand. Why would she be getting her own room" Caroline asks?
"Well she and Sharlette share a bed and room and I know that she is probably used to her own room. I want them to live with my full time" Stefan says.
"Wait. Hold on a second? Stefan you want to invite strangers to move into your home that only you, Damon and Elena ever lived in" Caroline asks feeling hurt that he hasn't even asked her?
"They're not strangers. Liv is my daughter" Stefan says.
"No Stefan! She is Tom's daughter and you aren't Tom" Caroline exclaims and turns her back to Stefan, she exhales and turns back around to see his arms are crossed and he is looking at her.
"Caroline I have the second chance in life to be a father, biologically Liv is mine or the locator spell wouldn't have worked. Why are you trying to take that away from me, you have two daughters. Am I just supposed to not have a child because she isn't technically mine. Have you ever thought about the reason I want her is because she is the last Salvatore other than Damon and I. That maybe if I lose Damon, I would be alright because I would still have her" he asks her beyond irritated?
"You're right. I'm sorry. I never thought about what you were going through. I never thought about it like that. I just don't want what we have to get tarnished because of what Tom and her had" Caroline says wrapping her arms around his neck.
"It won't. Just give me more time to tell them" Stefan asks wrapping his arms around her back.
"Alright Stefan" she says nodding before pressing her lips against his before leaning her head against his. She slowly untangles herself from him before squeezing his hand and they make their way downstairs, once Caroline leaves Stefan stands outside of Sharlette's room to hear her reading to Liv.
"You are the most precious jewel in this world. I promise to make sure you are safe and loved" Sharlette whispers lovingly.
Stefan feels his heart swell with pride and love as his ears pick up on the labored breathing of Liv and he knows she is asleep, he leans against the wall by the door and rests his head back against the hard surface. He didn't hear the bedroom door close as Sharlette steps out in front of him, she closes her wool jacket tighter around herself as she looks up at him.
"Are you alright Tom" she asks?
"No. Nothing about any of this is alright" he says lifting his head and looking at her.
"Maybe I can make you some warm tea" Sharlette suggests.
Stefan can't help it, it just been building up and building. All the self-blame, guilt, denial and lost hope he has been holding in for months just comes out in anger and she is the closest to him so it's aimed at her.
"Damn it, Sharlette! You can't fix this! You can't just waltz into my life and think everything is going to be fine or that you can make all of my problems disappear" Stefan yells at her.
Sharlette is strong and can hide her emotions very well, but she flinched a little at Stefan's tone. He has never spoken to her like that, even when they got in a argument he never yelled at her.
"I don't know what your problem is Thomas Dean Avery, but I will not tolerate you raising your voice at me. Not after I sacrificed my health and life to give birth to your child" she snarls at him and Stefan eyes furrow in confusion.
"What do you mean your life" Stefan asks?
"Nothing" Sharlette says and goes to walk down the stairs, Stefan grabs her upper arm to stop her and is frozen in place as memories that aren't his flash through his mind.
He is looking through a glass window in the ER at a hospital, he sees Sharlette lying on the exam table with blood covering her clothes and body. There are doctors and nurses running, he then looks up as he hears the heart monitor and sees Sharlette flat lining. Raising his palm to the window he smacks on repeatedly trying to get attention, screams silent against the noise of the surgery. Her stomach round and protruding very high, a nurse then closes the blinds in front of him as he screams.
Stefan gasps and removes his hand from around her, his forest green eyes staring into her dark chocolate ones.
"You flatlined" he whispers.
"I don't know what you are talking about" she says and continues to make her way downstairs.
Stefan is left puzzled as to how he entered her mind without trying to, it wasn't like normal tactile telepathy. It was like he was reliving the memory within her, he can feel his heart stopping right along with her. But it doesn't make sense, the way she spoke was almost like Tom wasn't there for the delivery. Who the hell was Tom Avery?