The last chapter was such a blast to write. Man.

Thanks for all the love and patience. Love you guys.

Chapter 7: Call on Me

Jail smelled like ass. Plain and simple.

When you think about it, it makes sense, too. You know, with everyone being everyone's bitch and whatnot.

The whole layout of the place was creepy as hell. First you open these double doors to get inside, and there's this tiny 4x4 room that you pass through that's decorated all pretty and happy-like. Then there's this long ass hallway. Metal on the walls, metal beneath your feet. I'd be lying to say this wasn't my first time walking down this hallway.

Finally, you reach a receptionist desk at which point a lady usually comes out and asks you all sorts of questions, but the bottom line is that she wants to know if you've brought drugs, explosives, or both. Then you sit in the chairs-feel free to skip that step-and then after waiting seemingly for days, the lady will help you.

In my case, this was much harder.

"Damon Salvatore...I'm his brother?" I flinch at her gaze but try to hold my own.

"Stefan Salvatore?"

"Yes."

"Only his lawyer is allowed in the cell."

I sigh. "Fucking great," she gives me a pointed glance, "Can't you hook us up to those telephone things?"

"I need to see your license."

I mutter some expletives under my mouth and pull my wallet out. Bright blue eyes meet mine as I open it, and I stroke my pinky over the wrinkled picture of my daughter.

Fuck, I missed her.

I pull my license out and hand it to the lady. She inspects it quickly, but her eyes wander openly to the picture of my Mini.

"Is that your daughter? She looks just like you. So adorable."

I smile proudly and nod, inching the photo even closer for her to look. "That she is."

She types some bullshit into the computer and hands me a green pass along with my license. "It's booth 69."

I try not to laugh and she scowls at me.

When I see Damon, I laugh even harder. His jet black hair had become overgrown and he was sporting some serious stubble, which I know he wasn't a fan of. As if he could read my thoughts, his hand grazes over his jaw and he juts it out in a defiant pout. He glares at me as I doubled over, but I could see the hint of a smile forming.

I pull out the chair and slouch down in it, only reaching my lazy right arm out to grab the phone. A burly guard in the corner watches me carefully, so I try to look as innocent as possible. He eyes me for a moment, and then returns his attention to the door.

"Hey."

"Bonnie told you I was here," he states. He runs a hand through his hair, and a jolt of familiarity runs through me.

I shrug and he continues to watch me curiously. "You actually came? I'm surprised."

"I can leave," I say with a smirk.

His blue eyes widen in alarm. "Stefan, don't."

"Then quit fucking with me." He gives me a nod and I resume. "Why the hell are you in jail?"

"Why the hell do you have a baby?" He retorts.

I freeze, my insides shrivelling up. "Bonnie."

He smiles crookedly,"What can I say? My girl has a big mouth."

I squint my eyes and lean back in my chair, pressing my lips into a tight line. He mimics my motions. "What?"

"Don't call her that when you don't mean it."

He rubs at his eyebrows in fatigue, another action that brings me back to our blue childhood room, fighting over the bunk beds. "Are we still here?"

I roll my eyes at his question. "We never fucking left 'here', Damon. Andie pulls some shit and now you want to hop into bed with Bon? You're such a shit head."

"I've always loved Bonnie," he says all nonchalantly. God he pissed me off sometimes. I lean back and my head begins to nod on it's own accord, sarcastically.

"That was never enough though, was it?"

He regards me for a moment, silent. Good. The bastard just did shit to get his way all of the time like playing Bonnie like a fiddle. Though I was never a saint, I was always clear about my intentions with women. I never led them on.

Damon leans forward and squints his eyes at me, tilting his head to one side.

"Since you seem to love pointing out my mistakes, let's talk about yours."

"My daughter isn't a fucking mistake, Damon." My anger rises.

He chuckles and leans back, folding his arms across his chest. We stand in an impasse until I break. Because let's be honest, I'm tired as hell, and I miss my daughter and my little psycho. The last place that I wanted to be was here, but I care about my best friend enough to man up and be here for this assfuck. I was trying to be a good guy.

"You know what? When Bonnie called me last night, I thought that maybe this experience changed you. I thought maybe you learned something. But you're still the same self centered prick you were growing up."

"And you're still insecure and bitter," he says sardonically. "I guess people don't change."

"Call me when you actually want my help."

I fucking hate jails.


I flick a piece of popcorn at Nellie and she squeals happily.

She's such a freak.

"Oooh, naaaaah!"

I shake my head at her as she begins to slightly bounce in her seat. "Someone's in a good mood today, huh?"

She mashes her lips together and slobbers all over her shirt. How the hell do babies have that much spit?

They're just so...inhuman.

They shit more than any human being is capable of, they cry all night and half the day but still manage to make little noises and piss you off, and in Mini's case, she was so damn little. Seriously.

I knew she was going to be a shortie when she got older because Lexi was, and, according to her pediatrician, Mini was going to experience the same fate. Hopefully boys of her generation won't want a short, tiny, girl.

Fuck. Boys.

I can imagine it now. My Mini getting on the back of some tatted up punk's Harley. I growl.

"You're not dating until you're thirty," I tell her with a scowl. Mini turns her face up to me and frowns.

"I know it seems rash," I rub her little arm,"but I know what boys think about. It's icky."

She thinks about it for a second and then puffs her cheeks out. "Iffffy..."

"You can try and say 'icky', but not 'daddy'?"

She giggles at my expression and puts one of her hands in the air that I immediately grab with my own. "Iffffffffy..."

"Icky. Say 'Daddy is icky'."

She giggles louder. "Iffffy iffy ifffff!"

"You're useless!" I lean in and blow a raspberry on her cheek and she leans in to me, smiling and laughing.

Elena told me to savor moments like this when she was young because time would move so fast. I'm almost certain she'd gotten the line from a movie, but I accepted and appreciated it all the same.

All this thinking of Mini growing older was making my chest and head hurt. I wonder how much she'd miss out on with no mother figure. I wonder if she'd someday accept the woman in my life as her mother. I wonder if she'd remember her real one. I wonder if she'd even fucking want to.

Making decisions like this was probably the hardest part of parenting.

And you'll get there when you get there.

I subconsciously run a hand through my fading pink hair. The more I washed, the more it came out. I'm resorting to hats until the hue is gone, however. A big part of me liked it though. Not because of the color, but because every time I saw it, I was brought back to my couch with Elena on my lap.

Good fucking times.

Mini coos and my mind drifts back to her.

I promised myself that if I were to have a kid, I would give them the world. They deserved to have a family of people who loved them, and I knew having just me wasn't enough for my baby. She would eventually crave a mother.

"Did you buy that banana food on sale at the store?"

No. "Yes."

"Where is it?" Elena asks, pulling Mini into her arms.

At the store. "I don't know. I swear I put it in the cabinet."

I yank a can of pop off the counter and chug, watching her ass as she walked. If I had any way with words, I could adequately name it. However, being as inept as I am, I couldn't find a word to give the glorious ass justice. Instead, I paid my respect by keeping a watchful eye and trying to stroke it.

"Stefan if you don't go and get the baby food from the store, I will kick your ass," she says with a snarl. My balls cower.

I pull myself from the couch and walk to her in the kitchen. "What's the big deal? Why don't you just use the mashed peaches?"

"She doesn't like those," she utters. She pushes her hip to the side with a firm hand gripping it.

I turn my head indignantly, "She likes them when I give them to her."

"Shut up. Hey, what were you doing today that you couldn't go to work?"

I debate whether or not I should tell her before deciding that if she was going to get involved in my shit, she better get all of it. Go big or go home.

"My brother Damon. He's in jail."

Her eyes widen. "What for?"

I bite my lip and shake my head. "Rape."

Her eyebrows shoot up and I immediately grab her arm. "No, he didn't do it. Damon's an asshole, but he isn't a fucking rapist."

She glances at me before turning her gaze to Nellie. When she looks at me again, her eyes are softened and the bitingly sarcastic girl disappears for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Stefan," she says earnestly.

"Me too, and I'd rather you be sorry for dying my hair pink, not for being wary of my brother." She giggles and I have to grab my crotch to make sure my balls are still there, because every time she laughs, I lose it.

"I think your hair looks fine," she teases, pointing at the pale pink strands in question.

"You would." I lean closer to her, desperately wanting to feel her lips against mine again. Since we kissed two nights ago, all I could think about was getting another taste of her. And maybe my first fistful of her luscious ass.

Dear God.

"Iffffyyy..." My baby girl croons from Elena's arms. I chuckle and give her my index finger to suck on.

"You're right darling, your daddy is icky," Elena laughs. I glare at her.

"Don't encourage her."

Mini giggles around my finger and I pull it away before she tries to swallow me whole.

Elena tucks her away in her seat, laying a kiss on her head. It's so weird how she is with her. With me, she's always so hostile and cold. But with Nellie, she literally melts. She holds her like she's the most precious thing in the world. She's so...motherly.

Drop that fucking thought, Stefan Salvatore.

Think about important things. Like how you're going to convince this woman to do two things she'd probably knife you for even suggesting.

I clear my throat and bite my lower lip. "Hey, Elena?"

"What do you want?" I cringe at her tone and wring my left hand.

"What exactly is your work schedule like?"

She looks at me curiously before flicking a piece of hair behind her ear. "The system is really cool, actually. It's entirely dependent upon how many clients I'm working with. Lately, my hours have been low because most of my clients are in medical care for the week. Even then, I like to work with them nights. Good thing I'm on salary."

I let out a forced laugh and she side eyes me for a few beats.

"Stefan, what do you want?"

I ignore her. "Did you always want to help addicts?"

She shrugs and sits down at the table beside Nellie and I, scooping some mashed potatoes on my plate. "No."

Well then.

"So what did you want to be?"

She lets out an exasperated sigh. "A teacher. Then I realized that I hate having to explain myself more than once," she says pointedly.

I cringe and start to push my food around on my plate.

"If you have something to say, say it," I hear the smile in her voice which loosens me up a bit.

"I don't know why I'm nervous about this. I really shouldn't be nervous about it, because I know you'll be fine with it." I fidget with my hands and adjust the napkin beside me. It gives me something to do.

"You're fine with anything. I mean, you cook, you clean up after Nellie and, admittedly, me. You're like this fucking angel sent from God to make sure I don't ruin Nellie's life and I never really said thank you for it so thank you. And these are the best fucking mashed potatoes ever."

I clear my throat and fidget even more. "I think that's why I am afraid to ask for things from you. You do so much already. I don't want to make it seem like I'm using you or some shit, you know? Because if my Mini never existed I'd still think you'd have a fantastic ass and...I don't know. We're best friends."

She scoffs. "You are not my best friend."

I furrow my eyebrows at her, finally meeting her gaze. "Then who is?"

"Caroline Forbes."

"Bullshit."

"She is! Just like Nik is yours."

"I'm not claiming that fucker. I'd much rather claim you, but I won't delve any deeper into that. Or you, for that matter." She scowls at me and I grin. "Seriously, we spend every waking moment together."

"You can't convince me that we're best friends," she shoves a forkful of meat in her mouth.

"Who else knows that you sleep with your socks on? Or that you pour your milk first, then your cereal? Which is the weirdest fucking thing ever. Or, how about how when you read, how you always make facial expressions to match the mood. Or that when you watch those commercials about the stray puppies, you cry."

She slams her fist down on the table and glares at me. "I was not crying. There was something in my eye. By the way, that is not friendship, that is stalking."

I frown.

"So what do you want to ask me?"

I swallow my forkful of mashed potatoes and sigh. "Okay, so you know, I always wanted to open a bar. But, due to obvious reasons, I couldn't exactly ask for a loan from the bank to buy a place. And now Nik told me that we can, and I hate asking you this, but I don't know how hectic this will be opening it up. If I open one up. Do you think I should open one up?"

She blinks at me and then nods. "If that's what you want to do, Stefan. You know that Nellie isnt a problem. I love hanging out with her."

"I know, but like I said, you don't have to." I swallow again and wring my hands. "Like if you ever want to go out with your boyfriend sometime, feel free to tell me to fuck off."

She doesn't answer, and I don't bother to look at her expression. I bite into the amazing chicken she whipped up spur of the moment and chew thoughtfully, only glancing up to get napkins. We sit like this for a good ten minutes before she speaks.

"My boyfriend?"

Talk about a delayed response.

"You know...the Dark Haired Douche," I joke carefully, feeling for her reaction. To my surprise, she laughs and shakes her head.

"Who are you talking about?"

I put my fork down and lick my lips, "I saw you with him awhile ago and he was walking you out of the building. Kind of around the time we first met. Does he treat you right?"

Her eyes light with realization and then she nods. "Yeah, he does."

"That's all that matters."

"Stefan?"

"Hmm?"

"He isn't my boyfriend."

"Oh."

I look up at her the same time she looks at me and we both smile. My God she's so gorgeous and perfect and I have the strongest urge to lean across the table and kiss the shit out of her.

Suddenly, her eyes furrow and she glares at me. "You think I would kiss you if I had a boyfriend?"

I shrug, which apparently puts me in a deeper hole than I am already. She crosses her legs, her gaze unwavering. "I didn't know if maybe...I don't know."

"I don't cheat, Stefan. I'm not a whore."

"The fuck? I didn't say that," I say. I grab my dishes and hers, walking toward the sink. I really didn't want to fight with her. In fact, due to the fact that she was single, there were a shitload of things I'd rather be doing.

"Well you implied it, and that's shitty."

"You know I don't think of you like that. You're the most respectable chick that I know," I plead, dropping the plates in the sink.

"Treat me like it then." She reaches forward to grab my arm and twirls me around so I meet her chocolate brown eyes. "I don't know what you think of me, but know we wouldn't have kissed if I were seeing somebody else."

I rest my forehead against hers and push my nose to hers, which makes her giggle softly. "I think you're amazing. And I'm an asshole, so if you want to continue this, you should get used to the shit that comes out of my mouth sometimes."

She hums and pulls away. "And what is this?"

"Whatever you want it to be." I rub up and down her arm and she leans into me. My hands circle around to her back and I trail them down to her waist, hovering over the Holy Grail.

This is fucking it, guys.

I'm about to touch the ass of all asses.

The ass of my dreams every single night since the moment I met this woman.

It is about to go down.

I nearly whimper when she pulls away, my hands not even grazing their destination. Fuck my life.

"I'm surprised I haven't received your retaliation from me getting your hair."

I smirk to myself but outwardly shrug. "Hasn't crossed my mind."

She eyes me cautiously and releases me. "I should get going. I have to meet my best friend at her house tonight."

"You're staying over tonight? That's great. I'd love to have you in my bed, Gilbert."

She ignores me, "I'll see Nellie and you tomorrow. Pick up the damn food, Stefan."

I kiss her cheek and nod. "Scouts honor."

She playfully wipes the cheek and I bare my teeth at her. "Cut that out."

She leans down and gives Mini a big kiss and I'm instantly jealous. I think my daughter knows it because she starts giggling like crazy at me. I glare at her in return.

I follow Elena out to the front door and lean against it carefully. "Do I get a goodnight kiss?"

"Nope."

I nod. "Fair enough. I'll see you, and your ass, later."

"Good deal."

As soon as the door shuts, I open it a good ten seconds later.

I trail down the hallway, following Elena's footsteps verbatim. I swear she sees me, but if she does, she doesn't do or say anything. Instead, she walks mindlessly to her room. When she's inside, I stand by the side of her door, waiting.

I almost think that my plan didn't work until I hear her familiar scream.

"My...are you FUCKING KIDDING ME? Are those frogs?"

I start shaking with suppressed laughter until the door swings open.

"You!" She growls out at me, shaking in anger.

I laugh harder, lifting my finger to silence her for a moment.

When I get myself together, I lean forward and place a gentle but purposeful kiss on her lips.

"See you tomorrow, Elena."