Third Wheel.

Author's Notes.

The characters do not belong to me only plot is mine.

Thank you, to Scarlett 2112, Tandy Jean, holysalvatores, Damonfangirl, Tia Salvatore, Riley 38, Daddysadist and my guest reviewers. Thank you for your reviews and I know you are frustrated with both characters but this need to happen for me to show transition that led them to May's version of their story. So please be patient and enjoy today's chapter.

Stefan's P.O.V

Stefan was busy with the patient when his phone ring again but he let it go on voicemail.

"It seems you are healing just fine, I will send your reports to my senior doctor and hopefully we will hear good news soon."

He tapped his arms before walking outside.

Once he was alone he took his cell phone out and saw countless voicemails from his mom. Feeling worried the press to hear the first voicemail. "Stefan please go and check out your brother because something is definitely wrong with him." He clicks another message. " I've asked him already a hundred times but he keeps assuring me that he is fine but he is not." He then heard another message. " I am your mother and I can feel instantly if one of my boys is in pain."

Stefan heard all her messages and in each one of them she kept insisting that he visit his brother soon.

Finally he called his brother and his call went straight to voicemail. "Damon pick up! Or at least call mom!"

For rest of the day, he carries on with his duties but kept checking his phone and unfortunately, his brother didn't reply once, his mother, on the other hand, send more messages inquiring any update about Damon.

Once his shift ended he decide to visit his brother. First, he went at his place but he didn't find him there and by the look of the mess his brother is certainly not doing well because if he knew anyone keeping his place spotless clean is his brother.

He search around for some clues in hope to find about his brother's whereabouts and finally he noticed empty Bourbon bottles which makes him figure out where he can find him.

Leaving his place he made his way towards Bree bar Damon's regular hang out place. As soon he entered he saw his brother slumped on bar stool his glass almost empty while his head resting near his glass. Reaching near him he took in his wretched state and then saw Bree approaching.

Bree is his brother long time best friend and when her eyes fell on him she shakes her head. "Your brother switch places with you? She asked while handing him beer. "Because I thought there is only one miserable brood in Salvatore family because right now that guy will give you run for your money in brooding department."

He was shocked learning his brother state and then he asked. "For how long he had been like this?" Bree look back at Damon as she replied. "Today makes it twelve night since he first appeared looking lost and dejected."

She left and Stefan walked towards his brother and gently shake him. "Damon? Damon?"

Damon lifts his head out of his arms and gave Stefan the saddest smile he have ever seen in his life. "Hey, Steff." He slurred while moving to face him. "Come here to say I told you so?"

He stayed in his seat and before he can fall Stefan quickly grab his brother who keeps mumbling thing in his ear. "You were right, I never stood any chance with her, she and I belong from a different world."

He watched his brother who is slumped on his shoulder and it wasn't that hard to guess the reason behind his state.

It took some effort but somehow Stefan managed to bring Damon in his home, he laid him down on guest bedroom and went to grab glass of water and aspirin and put it on his bedside table.

Next morning he woke up early and found his brother still passed out but somehow he managed to get rid of his clothes. He quickly spread blanket on his brother's naked form while shuddering at this whole situation.

Leaving note he finally left for his shift. For the rest of the day, he tried to put his brother out of his mind but during lunch hour he decided it is finally time to make those calls.

First, he called his mother who picked it immediately. "Stefan, how are you? Have you heard from your brother?" He felt upset hearing so much stress in her voice. "Mom, please, calm down first..." He quickly realized it was the wrong thing to say because next, he heard shrilling sound of his mother through the speaker. " Listen to me, Stefano Alessandro Salvatore! Never tell me to calm down when I am worried about my son for days! Now tell me about your brother!?"

He cringe hearing his mother tone but realized how worried she must have been because out of her two sons Damon is only one who constantly check on their mom so naturally she is worried out of her mind when that son didn't sound so well for days.

He knows he has to comfort his mom soon before she arrive here herself. "Mom, Damon is fine or as fine he can be but trust me mom your son is doing okay."

He waited as the silence stretched, she must be processing his words. "Okay Stefan I am trusting you but please make sure he is really okay and make him call me as soon you can."

Stefan assured her again and again and then she finally hangs up. After that, he rubbed his forehead and make his second call. It took a whole minute when finally he heard a voice. "Stefan?" and hearing his name being used so tentatively confirm his suspicion. "Hello Elena, can we talk?"

############

He was waiting in Cafe when he saw Elena approaching him and by the looks of it, she is not doing so well either. Her hair was in a messy ponytail and there were dark circles underneath her eyes, even her face lost its usual shine and he couldn't help but wonder if the reason behind her state is similar to his brother.

"Hey, Stefan." She sat down in front of him while giving him a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Did something happened between you and my brother? He cut to the chase and by the looks of shock on Elena's face, he knows something definitely happened between them.

"Elena my brother is not doing well and by the look of it so do you, so please tell me if something happened between two of you?"

Elena bit her lip in silence and he can see the distress on her face as she began. "I went out with Da..." She closes her eyes for a few seconds. "Your brother and..." She told me everything about their date and then how it ends up with my brother spilling the truth about his profession and how she reacted in return.

After she was done telling him everything her distress only increases. "I now wish that I told you about our date before it happened in first place or for you to inform me what kind of work he does for living when we first met..."

At this Stefan lift his palm up cutting her off as he gave her a stern look. "First of all I did warn you, in fact, I did warn him to not pursue you and yet you both went out without informing me." He leans closer to see in her eyes. "So it meant you both wanted each other so much that deep down knowing I wouldn't approve of this affair you both still went out and deliberately kept me out of the loop so I won't burst your bubble."

He felt remorse in his friend's eyes and knew that every word he just said was the complete truth. "The reason I was so against you and my brother is because I knew with your upbringing, you won't be able to handle his life choices."

He watched both acceptance and denial on her face as she search for right words. "You think I didn't know that? I knew your brother is different from other guys and complete opposite of me, he is reckless and trouble maker and everything that I never thought will be a trait for my ideal guy!"

Stefan waited as she tried to compose her feelings that were going way out of her control. "Then I saw his vulnerable, deeper side when he came to apologize, he didn't follow society rules, he has no tact, he didn't even know how to behave but he won't hide his feelings, he is most honest and upfront kind of guy and this trait are hard to find these days."

She then looked down and said. "If only he didn't do what he does for living..." She flinched but couldn't finish her words .

Stefan remain quite as he observed how distraught she look and apparently her logical mind is clashing with her loving heart.

Taking deep breath he covers her hand with his which makes her look at him. " You know Damon didn't told us about where he is getting so much money from, probably afraid of our reaction and we thought he took some kind of loan and doing well in Will's Garage. It was two years later after everything was settled down and only months away from my high school graduation when one day one of my teammates recognized him when he dropped me off for practice."

Stefan flexes his hands in anger while remembering that painful memory. " As you can assume that guy didn't wait to inform me, his exact words were how lucky I am because my brother can easily arrange quick fuck for me."

Elena flinched and he apologized for crude words as he carried on with his story. "I punched that guy and we got in to bloody fight until coach and our other teammates tear us apart. They called our parents and then when Principal asked us reason he told him I couldn't handle truth that my brother was porn star."

She gasped and covered her mouth in shock. " My mom didn't believe one word just like me but then to our horror he had CD on him which he showed to our Principal. You can't even guess how my mother felt when she saw her Elder son on computer screen alongside with principal and my classmate's parents even it was for few seconds to confirm these allegations."

Elena was so speechless that she couldn't find it in herself to form words.

"Well they demanded my suspension but Principal Fell was a decent guy and said that it was not my fault what my brother choose to do. In the end, we both were given detention but by that time damage was done and my image was ruined, its miracle I graduated from that place without losing my sanity but one thing was clear that I won't be getting in touch with any of my classmates ever again." He scoffed while thinking about how his classmates treated him afterwards.

Elena fidgeting little as she asked. " So what happened next?" He knew what she really wants to know is how they confronted Damon but somehow she didn't ask it like that.

"It was nightmare, my mother cried and cried while I screamed and insult my brother in every horrible way possible and you know my brother let me insult him and then..." he felt ashamed as he admitted. "My mom went into shock to say anything so I asked him to leave and cut him off from our lives."

And for first time in his life he saw anger in her eyes as she slapped her hand on table. "How could you! He is your brother and you kicked him out without giving him any chance to explain himself!"

At her outburst he raised his eyes at her. "Just like you gave him chance so he can explain himself?"

Elena didn't like this reminder but it was truth nevertheless and was about to apologize but Stefan didn't wait for her apology and carry on. "Well, for the next two weeks Damon was out of our lives and my mom was sick with worry, it was April first I think when Damon's friend Will came in for a visit."

(Flashback.

Stefan just arrived from another terrible day from school with bruised lip and super pissed at his brother who ruined his life.

He threw his bag at the table and went towards the living room only to get pissed even more when he saw his mother crying on the couch while his brother's friend William sat on the opposite chair.

"What are you doing here?" Both him and my mom looked startled at my outburst. 'If Damon has send you to convince mom then you can tell him we don't want to see his disgusting face ever again!"

His mother burst into more tears while shaking her head. "Please Stefan, do not talk about your brother like that."

He felt outrage and betrayed as he stepped closer. "How can you still defend him after what he did!"

It was then William stood up and pocked his chest in anger as he shouted. "Because if Damon didn't take that step then your mother would have died and you probably end up in the foster home you ungrateful brat, Did you ever realize where he get so much money for your mom operation?! How he managed to send you in that science camp?! How he is supporting this family ever since!" He spits last words making Stefan step back in shock.

End of Flashback)

"William explain to us everything my brother did for us and then mom told me he is staying with William all this time. We went over to meet him and after a lot of teary apologise my mom asked him to quit his profession which he refused."

(Flashback.

"Mom I can't, I don't know if you realize that but at that time without money, I never felt so helpless in my life." My brother who always stayed so cool and calm looked so broken as he explains his reason. " I remember working over time to take care of your medical expenses, our bills and they need more money for your big operation and people around me keep telling me that if something happens to you then there is huge chance they took Stefan away..."

He completely broke down into tears as I watched feeling more ashamed on myself while my mother hugged him in comfort as Damon cried in her arms. " I don't want to ever feel that way again. I promise you guys the day I felt secure enough that I have achieved everything for you guys will be day I leave this life. Until then please don't ask me to quit. "

End of flashback)

" And even though we didn't like it one bit we agreed to let him be. After that I studied hard and Mom took job but Damon still insist to support us, he stayed away from my life in case someone recognizes him but slowly over the years he completely cut off from everyone that was not part of his inner circle and in doing so he just become Damon the porn star and not regular guy that can find his place in this society."

He looked up and saw fresh tears in Elena's eyes. " I feel so horrible Stefan, I can't believe he went through so much and I literally puked in front of him when he was being honest with me."

He wipes her tears away and lifts her chin so she can see him. " Elena you feeling this remorse proves me how much you care for my brother and I think you are someone who can change his life for better if you decide to give him a chance."

Elena seems lost in deep thought and then look of determination came on her face. "Where I can find your brother?"

In answer, he smirks triumphantly just like his brother.

############

We arrived in the late evening and Stefan prayed his brother was awake and sober enough when he opened his door.

Stepping inside he was hit with the wonderful aroma of pasta which brings a huge smile on his face. " It seems like my brother is cooking his famous thank your pasta." He told Elena and led her towards the kitchen and to his surprise, he saw his mom cutting vegetables while his brother standing behind stove making his famous sauce. " Add more salt, Caro." At which he saw Damon shaking his head. "Stefan will have my head if he taste anymore salt and beside adding more salt is harmful to your health mom!"

His mom huffed in annoyance and then her eyes fell on them. "Stefan, oh he brings his lovely friend too."

Damon's eyes snapped towards them and he saw so many emotions passed on his brother's face.

Elena looked nervous but she managed to smile. "Hello, Auntie."

Oblivious to this tense situation my mom hugged Elena and happily led her inside as she introduced her to Damon. "This is my Elder son Damon and Damon this sweet girl is Stefan's friend Elena."

Damon gave small smile to mom while Elena looked little flustered. " We already met Auntie, hello Damon."

As my brother nod in acknowledgement mom looked at me questioningly with her eyes.

"Mom how about you and I set table? Elena here can assist him."

To his amusement both his brother and friend gave him panicked look but he decided its time to remove himself as third wheel and give them some alone time to figure things out between them.

His mom still looked little confused as she grabbed plates and walked outside. Once she left he held Elena from shoulder and give her shove towards Damon as he stared at his brother. "So I will keep mom busy while you both talked things out and Damon please hear her out what she had to say and Elena you listen to what he has to say and if you both need me I am in next room."

With that, he wished them luck and grabbed glasses from the cupboard.

As soon he reached where is a mom was setting the table, she looked up and start asking him questions.

" Relax mom and keep your fingers cross." He assured her as they both stared at the kitchen. "Hopefully today will be the start of the lovely journey for both of them."

He saw understanding and hope in his mother's eyes as she smiles in excitement and crossed her fingers in hope.

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Author's Notes.

Hope you enjoy today chapter. Please send me your reviews and keep me motivated to write more and more.