Warnings: Slash, Nonrelated & Incest, Language

Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me.

Part Four

Turning away, I trudge home; this time neither Stefan nor Damon follows me and for that I'm grateful as I don't have the strength to fight them anymore. Seeing and touching them again…it just brought back a lot of memories and reminded me of how much I love them.

I never stopped.

Despite everything, I can't be with two liars.

Arriving home, I fish out my keys and unlock the front door. Elena and Tyler leap off the couch and rush towards me; at the sight of my drenched appearance, however, Elena's relieved expression morphs into one of shock and concern as she hurries to my side and fusses over how I can get sick. Not really wanting to talk to her, I shrug her off and ignore the hurt that flares in her eyes. In a silent gesture of understanding, Tyler holds open the bathroom door. I nod my thanks before disappearing inside and shutting the door behind me.

As quick as possible, I peel off my soaked clothes and toss them in the hamper, shivering and hissing at the cold, tile surface on my bare feet. After switching on the showerhead and waiting a few minutes for the hot water, I step inside and groan at the warm spray surrounding my body. For several minutes I stand there and let the heat chase away the lingering chill on my skin before grabbing the shampoo.

Sometime later, I shut off the shower and grab a towel; although somewhat rejuvenated, the violent stab of betrayal at Elena's actions along with seeing Stefan and Damon again has yet to wear off. How could any of them do this to me? Right when I manage to rebuild my life too.

Tying my towel around my waist, I shuffle over to the mirror and wipe my hand across the misted glass. A pair of hollow and staring eyes reflects back at me. Clumps of hair lie plastered to my forehead and curl at the base of my neck as stray drops of water trickle down my heat-flushed skin. Shaking my head, I reach for my comb and deodorant. Once finished, I open the door and pad down the hallway towards my room, billows of steam spilling out of the bathroom. Thankful that Elena hasn't tried to confront me again, I push open my door and slip inside.

Damon and Stefan are waiting.

At the sight of Damon lounging against my bookshelf with his arms crossed while Stefan sits on my bed, his head bowed and his posture slouched, I stumble backwards and grip the doorframe to steady myself.

"What the hell are you two still doing here?" Sudden fury overrides my surprise. Haven't they done enough to me?

"Jeremy." Stefan rises and takes a cautious step towards me; his expression falls when I shy away; what does he expect though? For me to welcome him back with open arms? "We need to talk."

"There's nothing to say, Stefan," I say as I skirt around him, careful to avoid any connect whatsoever. "I'm done with all the lies."

With my attention focused on Stefan, unfortunately I miss Damon's quick movements until his fingers close around my arm, gentle but firm. "We've never lied to you, Jeremy.

"Jeremy, please." While his brother holds me captive, Stefan takes his chance and moves even closer. "Let us explain."

I tug on my arm and wince when Damon's grip tightens. "Are you gonna let me go?"

"You know the answer to that."

Left with no choice, I find myself dragged over to my bed and sandwiched between them. My stomach twists and my discomfort grows as they crowd closer, their bodies pressed against mine and I'm only wearing a towel that doesn't hide much.

"We never intended to ignore, Jere," Stefan says. "Two weeks before you…left…" his voice cracks and he clears his throat, "you were in your room a lot and never wanted to hang out whenever Damon and I asked so we thought you wanted and needed some time alone. We never dreamed you would believe we didn't want or love you anymore."

I frown, not remembering any of that. So this entire…misunderstanding is my fault? No, that can't be right. There has to be more to the story. "But my birthday—"

"It was supposed to be a surprise," Damon says, "if it weren't for that damned realtor…we just had to get stuck with a novice and then our flight was delayed…you were gone before we could explain." Noticing my confusion, Damon reaches into his back pocket, retrieves a small box, and hands it to me. "Open it."

Gingerly I rip off the wrapping paper, lift the lid, and stare at a golden key surrounded by white and silver tissues. I glance up, an eyebrow arched.

"I don't understand why you got me a key—"

"A key to our own place, Jeremy…right here," Stefan says and touches the side of my face. Too shunned to pull away, I stare at him. Is he serious? They bought us a house right here in Walnut Creek? "Damon found an amazing bartending job here and I got accepted into the business school at Cal State East Bay Hayward. We were gonna ask you to move down with us as we all know what long distance relationships can do to couples; we weren't gonna put you through that."

Swallowing hard, I break away from them, standing and stumbling over to my window. My eyes squeezed shut, I rest my forehead against the rain splattered glass, puffs of my breath frosting the pane and then vanishing. How could I've been so stupid? After convincing myself they didn't love me anymore, now I learn they just wanted to surprise me and I, being a pmsing bitch, assumed the worst and ran. I'm nothing more than a selfish bastard.

I never let them explain.

"H-how can you still want to be with me?" After everything I did I wouldn't blame them for dumping me.

"Of course we want you." Damon strides over to me, cups my chin, and tilts it up until I'm facing him. "What do we have to do to prove that to you? What do we need to do to prove we're both hopelessly, madly, and deeply in love with you?"

I blink at him several times but I can't form a response. They're willing to do whatever it takes to win me back? I shake my head, still unable to grasp that concept. Why would they want a whining and selfish brat? With how I've been acting I should be begging them to take me back, not the other way around.

"Jeremy, talk to us. Don't shut us out."

I bite my lip. "So I'm not just a novelty to you?"

Stefan exchange glances with Damon before his gaze locks with mine. "What are you talking about, Jeremy?"

"When I said I ran away because I thought you didn't love me anymore that was only part of the truth. I thought it was because I turned eighteen."

"What does that mean?"

Pain flickers through Damon's eyes. "Legal." Confused, Stefan faces and stares at his older brother while my gaze drops to the ground. "You thought we only wanted you because you were underage and then once you turned eighteen we were just gonna what? Throw you away?" Bitterness drips from his voice.

"Please tell me you didn't actually think that, Jeremy," Stefan says as he spins towards me. My eyes remain on the floor, my throat tight. At my slight nod, he shakes his head. "Oh, Jeremy." He drops onto the cushioned window seat, gathers me in his arms, and lifts me onto his lap. Stiffening but not resisting him, I lay my head on his shoulder and close my eyes as tears, which I've denied for a while, leak out and seep through his shirt. Damon shuffles closer, straddling Stefan's thighs and leaning against my back while his arms wrap around my waist and his fingers caress my stomach.

"How can you even want me after all the shit I've forced you through?" I ask my voice muffled against Stefan's neck.

Their arms tighten. "That's what love does, baby; it forgives and doesn't remember your mistakes." Stefan kisses my neck. "We want you because we love you."

Another tear spills over and slides down my cheek. As Stefan brushes it away, I lean into his caress and a content feeling washes over me. "I don't deserve you, either of you."

"The heart wants who the heart wants," says Damon, "and our hearts chose yours, Jeremy; we're yours for better or for worse. What will it take to prove that to you?"

I consider that for a moment. "I just want you, both of you, with me always."

"Then that's what you'll get."

I close my eyes and surrender to their comfort and forgiveness. "That's all I want too."

A series of soft knocks shatters the silence. "Come in."

The door cracks open and Elena pokes her head through, her expression hesitant. "Everything okay?"

I nod and untangle myself from Stefan and Damon's arms, scrambling to my feet as she starts to close my door. "Elena, wait." She pauses. I stop about a foot from her, suddenly at a loss of what to say to my friend. "Look, I…I'm…" Why is this so hard? "I'm sorry," I say, my voice coming out hoarse and raspy. "What I said to you before…you didn't deserve that. You were just being my friend and—"

She reenters the room and covers my mouth with her hand. "I get it. I don't blame you. I shouldn't have gone behind your back like that but I couldn't stand seeing you three in pain. When Tyler called, I saw my chance and took it."

"I am still a little pissed at what you did, Elena but I…I see now why you did it. You and Tyler are two of my best friends and I treated you like shit."

"Hate to break it to you, Jere," Tyler says his tone light with laughter as he pushes open the door and walks inside, "but you've been treating everyone like shit lately."

I grin. "True." I hold my arms open. "Forgive me?" Elena tackles me in a hug. I wince, but as she starts to loosen her grip, I tighten mine. "Don't. I've actually missed your bone crushing hugs." She giggles and holds me for a few more seconds before releasing me and Tyler wraps his arms around my neck. "Thank you, both of you."

Tyler smiles as the hug ends. "Elena explained everything to me and we both just want you, Damon, and Stefan to be happy."

Two arms curl around my waist and I glance up to see Stefan smiling at me. I tilt my face up and kiss his cheek. "I am."

"So are we." Damon steps forward and takes my other hand. "Now that we've got you back, we're never letting you go."

I snuggle closer. "I love you…both of you."

Tangling his hand in my hair, Stefan draws my head back and crashes his lips against mine. I close my eyes and grip his shirt, small whimpers slipping out of my throat. Although Elena and Tyler are still present, it's been too long since I felt his mouth working against mine; let them stare or they can leave. Either way doesn't matter to me. When Stefan pulls back, I can barely catch my breath before Damon seizes my shirt, yanks me over to him. Overbalanced, I tumble forward into Damon's waiting arms as he smashes our mouths together, dominating me and rubbing his body against mine. I whimper and clutch his shoulders, groaning when we separate. Breathing hard, he rests his forehead against mine while Stefan moves to stand behind me as his arms once again wrap around my waist.

"We love you too, baby boy."

Author's Note: Hey everyone! I am so sorry that I haven't followed the schedule I set up for myself this past week. Unfortunately, I needed to take care of some last minute weeding, which took me longer than expected and left me zapped of all energy. I also had some trouble with this chapter but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and hopefully it makes up for my lack of updates. I'm gonna go work on the next chapter of Closet Skeletons and try to post that tonight too before spending tomorrow working on the next chapter of Open Your Heart to Us, another story that isn't cooperating. Anyways, please leave me a review and lemme know what you guys thought.

Again, I'm so, so, so sorry for the delay!