A/N Again I admit this Chapter not Beta'd nobody wants to soooo you will have to put up with crappy grammatical errors sorry lovelies. Thanks for the wonderful reviews this is Stefan's Chapter enjoy :)

Stefan stared his brother down it had been 2 years since he last saw him, not much had changed at first glance really he might look a little paler and his once beautiful cheekbones were now etched into his face giving him a more sunken in appearance than chiseled but really nothing, there was no sign on his face of his struggle or pain. Yet there was a tangible emptiness to him, a hole it was the eyes his vibrant eyes that often reminded Stefan of chips of ice, the inheritance of his dearly departed mothers they were void. Windows to the soul with no soul in them shuttered and dark, empty, Elena Gilbert had swept from this world and had taken a piece of his brother with her.

"what do you mean you refuse to come back to my home?" Caroline demanded. They had arrived at the airport only 20 minutes ago when Damon had informed them that he would not be "caught dead in Spain" Damon Salvatore was still as difficult and snarky as ever, some things never changed no matter how different he was

"what do you mean you aren't going?" Stefan asked already exasperated with him

"you heard me I think Spain is a bad idea I have a better plan" Damon shrugged

"but you said you would" Caroline beat him to it her fists clenched by her side looking for all the world like she wanted to hit him, if it came down to it his money was on the spunky lady vamp Damon was tough that was for sure but she had a lot of rage and a good enough history with his eldest brother to take it out on him.

"I changed my mind" he shrugged Stefan caught Caroline's arm as she went to lunge for him Damon smirked and winked at her, the leather jacket hung off him a little more than usual his duffle bag slung over one shoulder he seemed perfectly normal even baiting Caroline it was all normal but Stefan knew he knew inside and out that he wasn't

"This cant be happening" Caroline grumbled and shook off Stefan's touch he noticed she was taking deep breaths to calm herself and probably counting in her head which caused him to smile despite himself Caroline was Caroline and that was refreshing to say the least. Her hair was the only thing he hadn't quite been prepared for, she had always been pretty of course so bright and inviting there was a reason she had caught the eye of the oldest and therefore most discerning vampire they had ever met but for Stefan he had always seen her through an Elena shaped tunnel nobody could quite compare to the beautiful Petrova doppleganger for him. The deep red was nice it really brought out her eyes, that dark blue abyss of swirling emotions, there was almost something captivating about them now, with the tunnel removed.

"It's a good plan" Damon's voice broke him from his reverie and he shook off whatever hold those eyes had on him. His brother and Caroline were toe to toe glaring at each other two seconds away from coming to blows

"o.k. Enlighten us with your plan" she snarked

"California"

"California" Stefan frowned not quite expecting that

"Yeah California Red Riding hood, I have a little place out of the way we can hide Stefan" he looked around and she rolled her eyes

"please if he were around we'd all be dead by now...and don't call me that" she growled not loving the nickname

"when wolves stop chasing you to grandmas house I will" he replied Stefan sighed why didn't he just go out into the mountains by himself and heard goats or something, anything would be more productive than this and Silas would never see it coming.

"My place is secure Damon you really dont need to be worried"

"If Stefan could find you so can Silas guess that dye didn't get down to your roots." As far as insults went it was pretty weak but he supposed Damon was just warming up and there was nobody better his brother seemed to like practicing on than his best friend, Stefan sighed

"Care he has a point" loath as he was to admit it Stefan hadn't had to go to too much trouble to find her. His P.I. Had informed him that the locals had seen the "alta mujer americana hermosa" beautiful tall american woman that lived in Frigiliana on the top of the hill and he was right. Girls like Caroline stuck out in foreign places. Even without the blonde she was to home grown, corn fed American to be mistaken for anything else. Huffing she looked at him her stubborn side that could rival Damon's or even he would admit his own was a force to be reckoned with "I did find you easily you...we" he admended "might fit in a little better somewhere closer to home"

"Yeah cause we wont stick out against fantastic tans and million dollar smiles" she sneered obviously still put off by the idea

"It's beach front" Damon offered

"What poor sap you compel that out of" she rolled her eyes

"Actually I bought it" Damon admitted but offered nothing else

"And you call me shallow" there was a beat and Stefan frowned Damon never missed a beat.

"It was supposed to be a wedding gift...for Elena" he admitted Caroline's eyes locked with his she was always so expressive and he could tell she felt like a heel . Stefan did what he did best when it came to his best friend and brother, difuse

"Caroline just doesn't like the idea of picking up her life and leaving Damon cut her some slack o.k."

"It's not forever and it's really remote" Damon answered his tone warming. Remote Stefan sighed and romantic he would bet, the betrayal of Damon and Elena had lost it's sharp sting over the years but he still had moments where it would come roaring back and dig it's claws in to shred some more skin and dignity from him. Then there were the darker thoughts when his concious would whisper that he dodged a bullet, that Damon's pain was fresh and raw and it served him right for going after relentlessly what had rightfully been Stefans. That he had deserved to finally get the girl only to lose her, but Stefan did not want to think that way he had been happy for them in the end, for you could not steal someone who did not want to be stolen

"the deed is under a different name that has no connection to the family...I wanted it to be a safe haven"

"Ugh fine" throwing her hands in the air Caroline relented "but you owe me for the ticket exchange" Stefan saw her shoot him a weird look she always did know when he would space out and now was not the time

"I owe you?" Damon exclaimed sounding outraged Stefan sighed here we go "you broke down my door!"

"You didn't tell me that" Stefan stated trying to keep a stern it's tuesday face on and not snicker like he really wanted to

"Must have slipped my mind" she shrugged looking adorably sheepish or sheepishly adorable in her blue dress and perfect curls the whole package could just sell innocence, whatever the combination Stefan had to blink a few times for it to lose it's effect Damon however just snorted "what I thought you were in danger there was no time to knock"

"Probably should have answered the phone brother" he scowled at him and Stefan held up his hands in surrender

"Of course you would take her side you are screwing her." A record scratched with the silence

"what" Stefan sputtered

"what is wrong with you? You think Stefan and I are...what is WRONG with you?" Caroline howled in protest it was a little off putting her vehement distaste for the idea but he didn't know why, he wasn't chopped liver after all still she was allowed her pride. Damon smirked getting the rise he desired but it died quickly on his lips "Gross not a chance neither of you are fit for any woman you have way to much baggage"

"Like your such a prize yourself...Klaus get tired of you then?" Damon sneered Stefan could tell this would get personal fast if it didn't already

"Could you both give it a rest for 2 seconds we really have bigger problems here" they turned to look at him then looked back at each other and nodded

"O.k. Fine sorry Stefan I'm on edge and you know how I get neurotic bitchy and those are the good traits, you're both perfect specimens of male vampire virility and any girl would be lucky to have you" as far as compliments go it was a perfect win if she hadn't remarked on it like she would the weather

"I really diddn't mean" Stefan started to protest needing his ego stroked but Damon cut him off

"Yeah while this is awkward as fuck we have planes to catch I need to get my vampire male virility" he shot Caroline a look and wiggled his brows, if he didn't know better he would say he was flirting " to California try to restrain yourself Caroline while were there." He turned his back and Caroline stuck her finger down her throat to make gagging noises "Common Red keep up tickets wont change themelves" he threw over his shoulder. Caroline threw him a desperate look

"at least he isn't moping around the boarding house anymore in his own filth" he pointed out

"Is it really such an improvement?" Stefan smiled at her scrunched up nose and earnest expression knowing she was truly glad that Damon was showing signs of life. Throwing an arm around her shoulders he led her to follow his brother

"Perfect male specimen huh?" he couldn't help himself

"Oh bite me."

A/N Well drop me some feed back! Thanks!

"