Chapter 3 – O Brother, Where Art Thou?

There was something troubling Lea, of that Stefan was sure.

He couldn't place his finger on it – but something disturbed her after he left her bedroom. She rested against a wall hidden from most of the graduates filling Caroline's house. Her eyes focused in on the drink she'd been nursing and she was practically a statue – she hadn't moved from her spot for the past thirty minutes.

"Hey there, wallflower."

Elena Gilbert stepped into Stefan's view. She gave a warmhearted smile before pushing a curly lock of hair from her face. "Why the long face?"

Oh, it was nothing – he was just the slave of a psychopathic hybrid and his not-so girlfriend was keeping something secret from him.

"Nothing," he said, giving his own fake smile. "Just a little caught up in the moment."

Elena's face softened. She placed a hand on her heart and she sighed pleasantly. "You're just as sad to graduate as the rest of us are, aren't you?"

Not really. He'd graduated a plethora of times, he kind of knew the drill.

"What can I say?" Wagging his finger at her, Stefan curtly nodded. "Guilty as charged."

"Aww." She hugged him. "I'm going to miss this too. In a few months we're all going to be in college – I don't know, it's a weird feeling. I'm a vampire, I'm going to live forever, but I'm still growing up."

"Don't worry, just make sure Caroline doesn't go too overboard decorating the dorm and everything will be fine. You have friends to see you through."

"Like you."

A pregnant pause swept away their conversation. Stefan tried to speak, but was at a loss for words. He couldn't think of a way to erase the awkwardness between them, but silence was even worse. "Elena-"

"Listen, Stefan-"

"Look-"

"I'm-"

"You cheated on me with my brother." The words had flew from his lips before he had a moment to get ahold of himself. Five months had passed and admitting it didn't become any easier. "And you lied to me about it."

"I know." Nodding, Elena casted her shameful gaze anywhere but him. At least she felt badly. "I fucked up. Big time. But please, I want us to go back to the way we used to be. We don't even talk anymore. You don't miss me? Not even a little?"

Of course he missed her. For two years Stefan foolishly tricked himself into believing that Elena was 'The One'. That she was the silver lining in his miserable life. But their so-called storybook love ended once she spread her legs to Damon. Hell, he couldn't blame it solely on her – even beore then Stefan had a blooming fondness of Elena's former bestie.

Shit. Stefan had almost forgotten about Lea.

He could've punched a hole into the wall once seeing that Lea wasn't where he last saw her. Wiping his hands over his face to shield the world from seeing his frustrations, Stefan swore to himself. How could he have been so careless?

"I'll be right back."

He frantically scavenged all over Caroline's house, searching for any sign of the woman. He would've followed her sugar-and-spice smell had she not done a spell that eliminated all traces of her scent. There wasn't a green haired woman amongst the crowd and Stefan couldn't help but grow fearful of what may have happened to her. He was becoming more and more certain that Klaus had something to do with this.

But as he barged into Caroline's bedroom unannounced, Stefan rolled his eyes at the disgusting sight that'd burned into his retinas.

For once, this didn't have anything to do with Klaus. This was a completely different brand of evil.

Damon Salvatore.

"Caroline should really nix the stuffed animals," Damon said. He'd made himself at home in the room. His body stretched across the length of Caroline's bed as if he were no stranger to the mattress. Resting against his stomach, clutched between his fingers, was a pink penguin. "They're a mood killer. At least for me they are. Who knows what that fleabag Tyler is into."

Stefan was the reasonable one, but snapping his brother's neck was as tempting as that apple was for Eve. The rage that'd sweltered inside of him was put on hold. "Where the fuck is Lea?"

"Stefan! The language!" Damon chided, covering the Penguin's ears with his hands. "You need a bar of soap."

The wood of the threshold was beginning to splinter from how ruthless Stefan's grip had become. He'd had no patience as of lately. "Damon-"

"Relax, brother, you look like shit. All that worrying isn't good for you." Damon grinned a pleased, crooked smile. "Lea's safe and sound following the crow I sent to bother her."

This explained her sketchy mood. She'd fallen prey to Damon's ridiculous crow trick and wanted answers.

Stefan's shoulders grew a little heavy and fell into a slight slouch at the realization that Lea had kept something from him. He understood why she didn't say anything, but dammit, they'd survived Klaus for five months, she could've told him about Damon possibly being back.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

Damon shrugged his shoulders and tossed the stuffed animal aside. "History shows you all can't go a full month without trouble rapping at your chamber door. I've been gone for nearly half a year, I know someone needs my help."

"Since when were you the helping type?" Stefan half-laughed. "Sarcasm and stealing your brother's girlfriend don't necessarily count."

"Bitter are we? You're with Lea now, why are we harping on old news?"

"That was a terrible way of asking if she's my girlfriend."

He didn't even know.

"I don't give a damn what your relationship status is with that slut. I'm here to save your life."

"Why do you give a damn?"

"Because I'm your brother!" Damon appeared before Stefan, rage and passion dancing in his eyes. Stefan stared slack-jawed and let him continue. "Because I'm your brother and while I've vowed to make your life a living hell, that doesn't mean I'm just ready to see you die yet. If you want to start a war with Klaus, his brothers, his hybrids, the fucking world, I'm gonna be by your side to see you through. Got it?"

Stefan was taken aback by his brother's revelation. He'd heard many heart-filled speeches from Damon but this seemed his most sincere. He may have been a dick, hell, he'd always been one, but those five months really had seemed to change him for the better.

This was all Stefan wanted – to actually feel like Damon was his brother rather than his enemy.

But the warm feeling didn't last. It never did.

Stefan didn't even get a chance to say a word before Damon's true self had returned with a vengeance.

He broke into a full fit of laughter. Doubling over, tears brimming his eyes, Damon gripped Stefan's shoulder for support. He choked on his own chuckles and even standing seemed impossible.

"Really, you fell for that? Brother, you still haven't realized I hate you?" Damon snorted. "Come on, buy me a drink. Give me a good welcome back party."

Humiliation and hate eating away at Saint Stefan, he finally gave way to his urges and did what he wanted to do since seeing that smug face of his brother's.

He'd snapped Damon's neck plenty, and each time he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. It was better than any stress reliever.

As his brother's body collapsed to the ground, Stefan sighed. If you squinted, you may have been able to detect a hint of a smile.

"Welcome back."

A . L . S . N

Starting to figure out how this story is gonna be. Oh Yeah.

Question: What are your thoughts on Silas, Qetsiyah, and Amara.

Chilllllllld, I loved all three of them characters. Really dug me some Silas. Could write a fanfiction on him if I wanted. Or y'all could recommend me a good Silas/OC story!

Next Chapter: Lemon! For those who don't know that's Lea and Damon.