One Sober Night 4

Chapter 4 - Confrontation

Stefan pushed open the door to the boarding house, Caroline's hand firmly encased in his, lending her the strength she would need to confront his brother. The first thing he saw was Damon, sitting in the chair in front of the fire, a bottle of bourbon in his hand, and his eyes locked on their joint hands. On instinct Stefan pulled Caroline closer to him, his need to protect her flaring within him.

Damon couldn't help but grit his teeth as his brother pulled HIS girlfriend against him, their locked hands fitting together so perfectly that it made his jaw tick. A hot shiver of jealousy rolled up his spine, his grasp on the bottle tightening, a need arising in him to throw it at the couple in front of him.

Stefan subtly placed his body in front of Caroline as he eyed Damon warily, "Brother."

Damon raised the bottle to his mouth and took a generous sip before narrowing his eyes in anger at Stefan, "Is there anything you want to share," he spat the word out, "brother?"

"Do you?" Stefan shot back, his posture stiff as he watched the anger swirl in Damon's blue eyes.

"Funny you should mention that." Damon sprawled out languidly on the chair in an appearance of false calmness, "I received an interesting text a few hours ago." He took his phone out of his pocket and read, "Damon, Caroline and Stefan had sex."

"Damon-"

Damon carried on, "But that's not the best part." He calmly placed his phone back in his pocket and repeated what he already had memorized, "They don't regret it." He stared at his brother and his girlfriend, his eyes bright with hurt and his veins burning with rage, "You don't regret fucking," he threw his bottle at them as he yelled, "MY GIRLFRIEND!"

Stefan immediately shielded Caroline, covering her body with his and tucking her against him as the bottle smashed into the wall beside them. He turned his head to glare at his brother, "What the fuck, Damon? You could have hurt her!"

The sight of Stefan's arms around Caroline, stroking her tenderly as she clung on to him, flipped a switch in Damon. He pushed off his chair and flew at them. He grabbed hold of Stefan's shirt and viciously yanked him away from Caroline, causing her to stumble and hit the wall.

Stefan growled, torn between checking on Caroline and taking out his anger on his brother. He looked over at her, his eyes full of concern, and just as he took a step toward her he felt the force of his brother's fist in his face.

"STEFAN!" Caroline screamed, concern and anger warring within her at what her boyfriend had done to her best friend.

Damon whipped his head to glare at Caroline, his finger pointed menacingly at her, "Don't you dare say his name in front of me."

Caroline's heartbeat raced as she felt fear in Damon's presence for the first time. Over the past year, when he was in one of his moods, he could be mean and scary, but she had never felt truly frightened before. Until now.

Noticing Caroline's fear filled Stefan with a protectiveness he had never felt before. He gritted his teeth and body checked his brother, sending them both tumbling to the ground. Half over Damon he growled, "Don't you dare speak to her like that."

Damon just reacted, almost without thought, and swung a fist at his brother. Then he gasped in pain as Stefan punched him in the side, his breath leaving his body as he felt winded.

"Stop it!" Caroline yelled helplessly, tears streaming down her face as the brothers came to blows in front of her. She didn't want either of them to hurt the other and regret their actions. She may hate Damon right now but she still cared about him.

They both ignored her.

Stefan straddled Damon and rained blows on his face, "You never even deserved her. She deserves to be given the world." He bent his head to glare at his brother and hissed, "Something you sure as hell can't give her."

"And you can?" Jealousy burned through Damon's gut, memories of their too close hugs, too bright smiles and lingering stares assaulted him. There had always been something more between them, something shimmering between their veil of friendship, something both he and Elena had noticed and had even commentated on.

Damon headbutted Stefan, then he pushed him backwards with force, sliding across the floor until his head bumped the table.

Stefan touched the back of his head with his fingers, feeling a wetness he looked at them and winced as he saw it was blood, "Dick move, brother."

Caroline skidded to her knees beside Stefan. She cradled his cheek with one hand while so gently touching the back of his head with her other. Her eyes bore into his, shining bright with concern, "Are you okay, Stefan?"

"I will be." Stefan smiled, his eyes equally as bright, as he gazed into hers. He raised his hand to cover hers and leant into her touch.

Damon growled, his eyes aflame with jealous anger as he watch them become engrossed in one another. He prepared to launch round two when Caroline suddenly appeared in front of his vision. All blonde hair, blue eyes, hellfire and avenging angel all wrapped up into one gorgeous package.

Caroline crossed her arms and glared at Damon, "You're a dick." She kicked his leg hard, "You slept with Elena the day before our anniversary." She sent him a watery smirk, "Happy anniversary, by the way." And then she stamped her foot on his chest, digging her heel in, "And then you have the audacity to act the victim when we come over to tell you." She bent over him, her curls tickling his face as she whispered devastatingly, "Where we you? It's almost evening, Damon." A tear slipped down her cheek, "You've had all day to tell me. But you didn't."

He had no answer because of course she was right. He could have easily have gone to her house as soon as he awoke but he didn't, and then he received Elena's text and his blood boiled with rage. The only thought in his mind was that Caroline was his, and he wouldn't allow his little brother to take her from him. In his jealousy it never occurred to him that he had slept with another woman no less than a day ago and he had no reason to be upset. He had cheated on her first. But, he could never even imagine that it would hurt quite this much, betrayed by two people close to him, his heart felt like it was quite literally splintering inside of his chest.

"I loved you, Damon..." Caroline sobbed, the tears slipping from her cheeks to land on Damon's face, "I really did."

Feeling the drops of her tears hit his own face Damon felt an awakening inside of him, his heart slowly opening after being closed off for so long. Her tears undid him as she baptised him with her pain. The prick of his tears stung his eyes.

"You've broken my heart." Caroline slammed her eyes closed as she tried in vein to hold back more tears, "If... If only you'd admitted what you'd done..."

"What?" Damon held his breath, his eyes searching her teary orbs, for what he wasn't sure but whatever it was he didn't find it in her gaze.

"Maybe..." Caroline swallowed, sorrow and pain threatening to drown her, "...We might have... gotten past this..." Her head turned to look at Stefan, their gaze locked as they communicated without words, "I just need time." Stefan smiled in understanding, and she swung her gaze back to Damon, "Away from you, from Elena, from us."

Damon clenched his jaw so tightly to prevent the words that wanted to escape from his mouth spill free; 'from Stefan?', he did not have the courage to ask as he already knew what the answer would be. She wouldn't leave Stefan and he wouldn't leave her.

Caroline stepped away from Damon, and turned to look at Stefan only to find him already beside her. Without conscious thought her hand raised to his face, his fingers trailing over the reddened skin of his cheek, her voice soft as she asked, "Does it hurt? I think it will leave a bruise."

Stefan replied, voice equally as soft, "You can just kiss it and make it better."

Caroline's eyes flew to his, her breath catching at the serious and yet teasing look in his eyes. What was happening between them? They were always playful with each other but now they were actually flirting. Chewing on her lip for a moment she came to a decision. Placing her hands on his shoulders she leant forward, ran her nose along his cheek before delicately brushing her lips across his cheek.

Stefan's eyes dilated at her close proximity, his pulse thrumming through him at the feel of her lips on him, and of her breath tickling against his skin. He placed his hand on her hip, wanting to pull her closer to him and tangle his fingers in her beautiful blonde hair. God... What was happening to him? To them? All he wanted to do was to take her back to bed and lose himself in her.

Caroline pulled back, just far enough to lock her eyes with his, and she smiled, "Better?"

"Perfect." Stefan sighed, his other hand coming to rest on her hip, his thumb brushing softly against her smooth skin. Those big and beautiful eyes locked on his making his breathing catch. Why did she have to be so damn beautiful? So happy, kind, and selfless. It is almost impossible to not fall for her, except if your name was Damon Salvatore, and Stefan was beginning to realize that he might have just fallen under her spell already.

Caroline dropped her eyes from his, their stare becoming too charged with tension for her. Then a thought occurred to her, "Are you staying here?" Her eyes swept to Damon, a silent communication of 'with him?'.

Stefan had a feeling if he stayed in the same house as his brother that they would surely end up fighting again. He took Caroline's hand in his, softly stroking his thumb across the back of her hand, "Can I...?"

Caroline smiled and nodded, "Of course."

Not wanting to leave her alone with his brother he tugged on her hand and led her to his room. As she sat on his bed he pulled out a suitcase and filled it with the essentials. A weeks worth of clothes and underwear, aftershave, razor, toothbrush, shampoo, shower gel, and most importantly his journal.

"You ready?" Caroline asked, she had watched him move about his room with ease as he grabbed all he needed. She wasn't sure whether it was a good idea to have him stay with her but she needed him, and she knew that he needed her, so she would be there for him in whatever capacity he wanted.

"I am." Stefan smiled at her, took her hand in his and held his suitcase with the other as they made there was down the stairs. He hesitated a moment at the door, debating whether he should say something to his brother, he decided to just go with, "Goodbye, Damon." And shut the door behind them.

Damon was back in his chair, his hands clenching the armrest as he went over everything that happened. Caroline and Stefan were obviously more than friends, whether they had sex or not, and what he had feared was about to come to pass. They would soon be together. His brother was already halfway in love with her, and she would not take much to fall for him, if she hadn't already. Living together would only speed up what had been on the cards since they had met.

And do you know what the kicker was? What truly made him want to kick his own ass? He had pushed her into his arms by sleeping with Elena, and being too much of a coward to just spill his guts to Caroline and take whatever punishment she would doll out. That would never happen now. And by the way he acted once he found out about them, he had figured out something that he had been denying for far too long.

He was in love with her.

But it was too late. He's lost her, and he had no one to blame but himself. He had her, for a whole year he had her beside him and he treated her horribly.

He loved her. But his fucking brother loved her even more.

Growling with rage, Damon upturned the table, threw whatever he could get his hands on and kicked the chairs, until the room was a complete and utter mess. A perfect representation of the chaos within him.

He sank to his knees, shards of glass cutting into his skin but he didn't feel it. He took deep shuddering breaths, trying and failing to keep his pain inside. He bowed his head, his shoulders shaking, sobs shuddering through him, tears rolling down his cheeks.

He'd lost them both.

Caroline led Stefan to the room across from hers. She flicked on the light and was relieved to see that the bed was made, "You can stay here for as long as you need, Stefan."

Stefan placed his suitcase by the bed, took off his jacket and placed it on the back of the chair by the desk. He turned to Caroline, she was leaning in the doorway watching him, and crossed the room to pull her into his arms. Feeling her shuddering breath he pulled her as close to him as she could go. One hand buried in her blonde hair, the other wrapped securely around her waist, his nose buried in her neck breathing her in, "Thank you, Caroline."

"For what?" Caroline asked, her arms wrapped around his waist, her mouth brushing against his throat.

"For being you." Stefan kissed her pulse point, "For giving me a place to stay."

"Then there is no need to thank me." Caroline sighed in contentment at having him so close, "I need you here with me."

Stefan smiled, "There's no place else I'd rather be." Then remembering that he was in yesterday's clothes he added, "Except maybe in the shower."

Caroline froze and gasped. Images coming to her mind; on her knees with her mouth around Stefan, his hands in her hair as she brought him pleasure. Then her against the wall, Stefan buried deep inside her as his mouth slanted over hers in an endless kiss. Moisture pooled in her core, the remembered touches making her hot.

Stefan's thoughts had led him in the same direction, the ghost of her wrapped around him and the lingering feel of her lips on his, had him straining against his pants. His breathing sped up as her scent began to overwhelm him.

Caroline pulled away from Stefan, her eyes dark with lust just as his was. She swallowed down the dryness of her throat and brushed his cheek with a kiss, "Enjoy your shower." Her eyes lingered on his for one electrically charged moment before walking out.

She couldn't know what those words did to him, the way his breath stopped and his skin heated, the way his whole body came alive just be being near her. Yep, Stefan Salvatore was most definitely falling down the rabbit hole with Caroline Forbes. And that thought didn't scare him at all.

Smiling, Stefan retrieved the things he needed from his suitcase and went in the bathroom to have a very cold shower.

"Hey." Caroline greeted Stefan as he came down the stairs. Her cheeks flushed as she took him in; he wore a pair of loose sleep pants, a grey vest that you could clearly make out his defined abs through, and his bare muscled arms were on display. He was hot.

"Hey." Stefan smiled at her, a smirk turning the corner of his mouth at her very obvious perusal of him. Not that her own attire didn't make his blood boil with need; a spaghetti strap top with the slogan 'Kiss Me' scrawled across her breasts and a pair of lips over her stomach, she wore three quarter lengths which ended at the knee and showed off her defined calf's and dainty ankles.

"Don't just stand there, silly." Caroline giggled, patting the space beside her on the couch, "Come here."

Stefan sat beside her, throwing his arm around her shoulders, and pulling her toward him for a quick kiss on the forehead. He surveyed the full table before them - snacks, soft drink and alcohol - he couldn't help but smile at how utterly prepared his girl always was, "What's with all this?"

"Heartbreak 101, Stefan." Caroline smiled, the sadness still lingering in her eyes despite the lightness of her tone, "Plenty of junk food. Alcohol. Ice cream; that's essential, and movies." She prodded her finger into his chest as she added, "I'm warning you right now that I am probably gonna cry."

"That's okay." Stefan smiled, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her cheeks, "I'll wipe your tears away."

Caroline pecked him on the mouth, her smile never leaving her lips, "Thank you, Stefan." She grabbed a bowl of popcorn, tucked herself into his side and pressed play on the remote.

Stefan raised his eyebrows at what Caroline had chosen, "Gladiator?"

Caroline raised her chin defiantly, "It's a beautiful story with a tragic ending. With only the slightest hint of romance." She turned her head to look at Stefan, a sad smile on her face, "I don't really want to watch a romantic movie at the moment, Stefan."

Stefan nuzzled his nose into her hair, "I understand. How about we get more comfortable?"

Caroline smiled and nodded. So grateful that Stefan understood her perfectly, and sometimes without saying a word, he knew instantly what she needed.

Stefan laid on his side on the couch, propping his head up on his hand. Caroline laid down in front of him, her back to his chest, his arm thrown over her side, his hand splayed against her stomach. He nuzzled her ear and whispered, "We can share the snacks like this."

Caroline turned her head, her nose bumping his and smiled, "Okay." Then she turned back to face the TV and snuggled against him.

As promised Stefan wiped away her tears.

Halfway through the second movie the fell asleep. Stefan's face buried in her neck, his fingers tangled with hers, their bodies fitting together perfectly. A happy and content smile curled both of their lips.

TBC

AN - Hope you all liked it. Thank you all for the reviews, follow and favourites, it means a lot that you are enjoying this.