Hello, my lovely readers. This is Stefan's chapter. I hope that you enjoy it. On with the show…

Chapter 3: What Women Want

Staring off into space while shoving his feet further into the sand surrounding his chair, Stefan Salvatore began to brood. This vacation simply was not what he had been expecting. It was bad enough that his sisters and older brother had been arguing practically non-stop since the trip had started but now he had to sit and think about where his ex-girlfriend, Elena, was and who she was with.

Stefan and Elena had met during freshman orientation at Mystic Falls High. She had been outgoing and friendly. He had been somewhat shy when he met her. He knew that he liked her and that she seemed to like him but there were a lot of factors. Like his sister's opinion. "Stefan," Caroline had told him. "She's cute. She likes you. What's to think about? Go get her."

Therefore Stefan had followed Caroline's advice. The problem was that Elena already had a boyfriend, Matt Donovan. Matt was a huge problem in Stefan's getting together with Elena because he liked Matt. Everyone liked Matt. And when Stefan joined the football team to follow in Damon's footsteps it made it even harder because now he was not just Matt's friend but he was also his teammate.

Elena joined the cheerleading squad with her sister, Katherine, who started dating Damon during that first year. It didn't matter that Damon was a junior; what mattered was that what Katherine Gilbert wanted Katherine Gilbert got. So, when Miranda and Grayson Gilbert died in a car crash leaving behind their three children, Elena, Katherine and Jeremy, the children changed. Elena became quiet and distant. Katherine, on the other hand, began to act out. And Jeremy was a whole different story Whereas Elena broke up with Matt because "she was not the same person," Katherine stayed with Damon but started to involve herself with other guys.

One year later Elena and Stefan had begun to date and Damon caught Katherine in bed with Tyler Lockwood's uncle. Suffice it to say Damon was devastated. He had thought that Katherine was "the one."

This was the beginning of a new era. Damon stopped believing in love and began to sleep with any girl he could get ahold of. He started with girls from outside of Mystic Falls but then began to go after girls that were closer to home to prove to Katherine he could care less about what she thought. He slept with Elena's friend, Bonnie, and all of the cheerleading squad, except for Caroline and Elena, of course. Then he slept with Stefan's best friend, Lexi. That was when Stefan lost his temper and it ended with both of them being suspended from school and being taken to the hospital.

When college started Damon tried to convince Stefan that he needed to move on and see other girls. However, Stefan did not want to. He had purchased an engagement ring for Elena and planned to propose on the night of their graduation ceremony. Damon had scoffed and left when Stefan showed him the ring. "Whatever, little brother," Damon had said as he walked out the door.

The next day Stefan had gone to Elena's house and knocked on the door. Her aunt Jenna answered and told him that Elena had gone on a trip with a friend to Georgia. Stefan had thought that was weird because she hadn't said anything about any trip to Georgia. Pulling out his phone, he had called and listened to the ringing in his ear when a familiar voice echoed in his ear. "Elena's phone," Damon called.

Stefan stopped breathing when he heard Elena laughing in the background and screaming that Damon had to do another shot. Hanging up the phone, Stefan had sat down on the Gilberts' porch swing, staring into space.

"Stefan," Damon called, waving a hand in front of his brother's face. "Earth to Saint Stefy, come in, Stefan."

Stefan blinked, staring up at Damon, trying to ignore the sting of the memories as he held up his hand in front of his eyes to block the glare of the sun. "There are a group of girls down on the other side of the beach who want to know if you and I would like to join them in a game of volleyball." Damon wriggled his eyebrows and Stefan shook his head. "Come on, man, you can't just sit here all day. You'll fry or something."

"I've got a very good book to keep me company," Stefan said drily, holding up a copy of Shakespeare's sonnets.

"Suit yourself," Damon told him. "I guess they'll just have to deal with 'lil ole me by myself." Stefan watched Damon walk away from him with a roll of his eyes.

"I thought he'd never leave," a voice from behind Stefan said and Stefan jumped at the sound. Turning around, he found Katherine smirking down at him. "Hi there, Stefan, care to help me with my sunblock?"

Stefan had no clue what to say as Katherine laid down a blanket and then sat down. Not waiting for a response from Stefan, Katherine undid the strings to her bikini top before laying down on her stomach. Holding up a tube of sunscreen, she waited as Stefan sat frozen. He was about to take it when someone else took the bottle. "Thank you, Stefan," Katherine purred when the person began to shake the bottle and then sprayed the liquid on Katherine's back in globs.

"You're welcome, Kat," Hayley said with a smirk and a wink for her brother.

Caroline came to stand beside Hayley. "Hey, Katherine. I didn't have the chance to tell you how much I really missed you last time we saw each other," Caroline said, taking the bottle from Hayley, she began to spray Katherine down with the sunscreen until she had a thick layer coating her legs, back, arms and hair. "Oops, I think I missed a spot!" Caroline declared as Katherine closed her eyes and pressed her lips together while Caroline sprayed the remaining lotion into the other girl's face. "All better."

Katherine got up, muttering curses as she gathered her blanket and walked away. "What is wrong with her?" Caroline asked as she stood with her hands on her hips.

"No idea, love," Klaus said as he came to stand beside her.

"Dear God. You again," Caroline moaned.

"Yes, me, again. Why am I getting the distinct impression that you are not happy to see me so soon?" Klaus inquired as the man who had come with him began to chuckle.

"What's so funny, Marcel?" Klaus snapped, glowering at the man he had said was his friend the day before.

"Nothing," Marcel said, staring at the lapping waves with a wide grin.

Klaus scoffed. "You think that this is funny, do you?"

"Why would you get that impression, Klaus? I think that you're paranoid," Marcel retorted with a grin.

"Take that back to you little psych student girlfriend," Klaus snapped bitterly.

"I would, but we're no longer going out," Marcel replied, his grin slipping.

"Oh, what a pity," Klaus said but Stefan knew from having to deal with Damon for years that Klaus was lying.

"I'm Caroline," Caroline informed Marcel, holding out her hand, causing Klaus to bristle. "And this is my sister, Hayley," she said, looking at Hayley who nodded at Marcel.

"Whoa, two stunning young ladies in the family. Those must be some really good genes that your family had to work with," Marcel replied.

"Hayley's adopted," Caroline blurted and Hayley rolled her eyes toward Stefan who gave her an apologetic look. They knew that Caroline was not known for her ability to be subtle.

"Sorry," Caroline said and Hayley smirked at her.

"Uh, huh," Hayley replied.

"I'm adopted, too," Marcel said.

Klaus coughed loudly. "Well, now that all the formalities are out of the way would you two like to join us for lunch?" Looking down at Stefan, Klaus added. "And you're welcome to join us… I'm sorry. I never caught your name."

"Stefan," Stefan told him, holding out his hand and shaking Klaus'.

"And are you Hayley's boyfriend?" Klaus inquired.

"No, he's mine," Caroline joked but when Klaus' expression darkened, she began to squirm. "I'm kidding. He's my stepbrother. Full name Stefan Salvatore. To make a long story short: Stefan and Damon's dad married my mom, then they adopted Hayley."

"So, who's the oldest?" Marcel asked.

"Damon," the three Salvatores answered.

"But he acts like the youngest," Hayley said with a laugh. "I'm the second oldest by two years. And Stefan and Caroline are the same age and are the youngest."

"Which makes you how old?" Klaus inquired, looking at Caroline.

"Eighteen," Caroline told him.

"Barely legal," Marcel coughed behind his cupped fist.

"Thank you for that my friend," Klaus snapped with a tight smile. "Now, what was your answer about lunch?"

"We can't. We have plans with friends," Caroline said quickly.

"We do?" Hayley's eyebrows shot up and she looked like Damon for a moment.

Caroline nodded fervently. "Yes, we do. I caught up with Bonnie, Lexi and 'Lena and made plans for lunch so that we could catch up. You know that we don't have any of the same classes together this semester."

Hayley frowned. "They're not my friends, Care. Have a nice time." She turned and walked away.

"Is she always like that?" Marcel asked.

"Like what?" Caroline asked, pretending as if she didn't notice the way that Hayley had flushed red and her body had stiffened when Caroline mentioned her group of friends.

"Nothing," Marcel replied. "Have fun with your party. I'm going to go find Bekah."

"Yes, do that and make sure that she is not with that chap from last night. You know the one I mentioned, with the big mouth," Klaus ordered Marcel who nodded.

"You mean my brother," Caroline inquired while shooting darts at Klaus with her eyes.

"No, I think there was another one. His name was Tyler something," Klaus said thoughtfully.

"Tyler? Tyler Lockwood?" Caroline's jaw dropped.

Stefan groaned inwardly. Apparently there would be no peace during this vacation. "Do you know him?"

"Yes, he's my ex-boyfriend," Caroline said, slapping a hand to her forehead.

"Oh," Klaus did not look happy about that news. "He was with another man and a woman."

"Matt and Vikki?" Stefan inquired.

"Not a clue, mate," Klaus replied.

"Oh, God," Caroline said, looking like she was going to be sick. "I need to go inside. I think I'm going to vomit."

"Do you need assistance?" Klaus asked Caroline who looked like she was about to throw up on his shoes.

"No," Caroline cried before running away from them.

Klaus looked confused. "Is it something I said?" he asked, watching Caroline tear off across the beach.

"No, it's just she and Tyler were really happy together and then one day they just weren't. It's like one of those break ups where it's not really anybody's fault but it still hurts when you see them kind of thing. Also it wasn't even a year ago so it's still kind of fresh for Care," Stefan explained.

"Oh," Klaus seemed to be at a loss for words. "You like Shakespeare?"

"Yeah, and you?" Stefan sat up straighter. Maybe he could make a friend while he was here.

"Yes, but I'm more of an artist than a reader myself. I become lost in my works," Klaus said, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his loose pants.

"I envy people who can paint. I'm not terrible at drawing, but I'm not great at it either. I'm more of a writer," Stefan said with a chuckle.

"And what do you write about?" Klaus asked.

"My life and the world around me," Stefan replied.

"Well, then. Perhaps you would like to join me for lunch and keep me from feeling the doldrums of being surrounded by my older brother, Finn, and his fiancée. Sage is rather fun once you get to know her, but Finn finds having a sense of humor a challenge." Klaus looked hopeful as Stefan thought about it.

"Sure, I don't really have anything to do right now," Stefan said, getting up, he folded his chair and then grabbed his book.

"Thanks, Stefan, you're doing me a large favor. Remind me sometime and I shall repay you in kind. I'm not quite sure how it is that the rest of the family found a way out of this but they managed nevertheless," Klaus was saying as they walked back into the inn.

"Where are we going?" Stefan asked as they made their way back to Stefan's room he was sharing with Damon. Pulling out his key, Stefan unlocked the door and then wished he hadn't. "Oh," Stefan said as he noticed that Damon had returned, and he was not alone. Closing the door quickly, Stefan looked at Klaus. "Do you have anywhere that I could store this?" He gestured to the beach chair.

"Sure, you can leave it in my room with my brother, Kol," Klaus replied. They walked down the hallway and Klaus unlocked the door to find a young man standing in front of a mirror and fixing his hair.

"Nik, where is that vixen that you've been telling me about? And you said she has a sister, yes? I refuse to leave this place without getting laid this year," the young man said and Klaus looked at Stefan apologetically.

"Kol, this is Stefan. Stefan, Kol," Klaus introduced as the young man looked away from the mirror, smirked at Stefan and then went back to his grooming.

"Hello, I would say it was nice to meet you, but I was expecting some young strumpets, not a lad," Kol said.

"Those strumpets are my sisters," Stefan said causing Kol to stop playing with his hair and turn to stare at him.

Coming over to Stefan, Kol placed both his hands on Stefan's shoulders. "I share my deepest regrets with you, young Stefan. You see, I, too, know the horrors of having a strumpet for a sister. But, alas, my misery is of the single type, not a double torture on the soul."

"Kol wants to be an actor," Klaus told Stefan who nodded.

"Or a director. I have no idea which will get me more ladies. Whichever it is where I shall light," Kol said with a happy grin.

"Ass," a female voice called from the doorway.

"Strumpet! Did you hear your name being called from afar and decide to attend to us, the men folk of your family?" Kol asked Bekah with a large grin.

"Look, you little troll," Bekah snarled as Marcel wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up so that she would not come flying across the room and attack her brother. "I shall have your eyes on top of my dresser in a case to show others what happens to those who annoy me," Bekah threatened.

Kol began to laugh. "I thought your usual form of punishment was to date a man," he said and then grinned mischievously. "Thank the good heavens that I am out of that running, unlike some people." He gave Marcel a knowing look before going back to playing with his hair.

Stefan set his chair down in a corner and quietly walked backward and out of the door. "So, that's your family?" He asked Klaus while they walked away.

"Yes, that would be a crazier version. When you meet Finn and Elijah, you'll know what I mean," Klaus replied.

"When will I meet Elijah?" Stefan asked.

"No idea. But he's around here somewhere. Probably trying to find a quiet corner to work on his PhD reading list," Klaus said. Stefan would have asked what Elijah was majoring in but then he heard a scream from down the hall that sounded like Kol in pain and then a triumphant yell from Bekah. Somehow it reminded him of his own family and made him feel better. Maybe they weren't so odd after all.

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Thank you for reading, faving, following and for reviewing.

If the guest who asked me if Caroline, Damon, Stefan and Hayley are "actual siblings, half-siblings or something else?" is still curious: Damon and Stefan are blood related. Caroline is their step-sister because Liz married Giuseppe and Hayley was adopted. I think I was looking at a review from a different story when I answered yours last time. Sorry for the confusion.

Guest: Thank you. I wish other people thought the same.

Peace,

Jessica