It's taken me forever and a day to update and I'm soo sorry for that. I blame it on the excessive amount of college work I have ;)
Mmk, so if there are any confusion, Elena and Stefan did break up but it was mutual and we won't have to worry about a pissed off Elena lurking around the corner with a stake in her hand ready to plunge. I'm kind of writing on the spot for this one, hope it works out. !

Chapter 8

The Martyr

Damon's p.o.v

And to think - right now I could be back inside nuzzling against Caroline waiting for her to wake up. Instead I'm standing on her porch with my brother being choked by his right hand and its long surprisingly strong fingers. This is not the way I predicted this evening going. However, this is intriguing. I knew little bro had the hots for blondie but I never thought it'd prompt him to be this abrasive.

Hmm, maybe this could turn into something very interesting.

I've let him have his fun for far too long, no one holds a grip on Damon Salvatore for that long and not get a little payback. So did I feel bad when I snaked his hand away from my neck and slung him off this porch and to the ground? Nope. It did however backfire because he didn't stay down longer than 1.5 seconds.

"Put your fangs away, brother."

Those were the only words I could say before I started to laugh at his temper that was over the top; even for me to tolerate.

"Tell me why you're here. Does she even know, or are you stalking her now?" Stefan stopped trying to rip my head off and now was standing in front of the steps looking at me with his look that quite recently seemed to be reserved just for me. The I'm going to rip you apart limb to limb look. I had to admit, Stefan was beginning to master that glare.

"Of course she does. We were watching a movie earlier and we just," I paused in the middle of my sentence to crack my neck and stretch out my muscles. Hey, if Stefan jumps to conclusions... then that's just icing on the cake.

"Fell asleep on the couch. Innocent." I said shrugging my shoulders and grinning widely.

Stefan didn't say anything in response. So I filled in the lull saying,

"Exactly, why are you so mad Stefan? What would it matter if we had done something again? You have no reason to care, right?" I'm Damon Salvatore and I'm the "villain", what can I say?

"You especially weren't interested in the first time she and I... had a whirl at it. Why now?" I smiled after I asked my last question. A part of me just couldn't help it. Stefan was a riot when ever he got so pissed.

p.o.v over

Stefan growled lowly to himself as he remained the scowl he was giving to his brother.

All of these were really good questions but none of Damon's damn business. Stefan wasn't stupid and he knew Damon wasn't either. His older brother was screwing with him and he didn't like it at all. Stefan could smell Caroline from in the house and if it weren't for his damn brother he'd be in there right now telling her everything he wanted to earlier; plus some.

After a few more moments Stefan let out a huff of air before asking,

"A movie? Why the hell are you watching a movie with Caroline? She hates you enough she'd stake you if she could. Probably has been plotting a way to spike you with vervain so she can kill you. And now you guys are kickin' it watchin' a flick? I don't believe that." The younger Salvatore crossed his arms.

This was another thing that Damon Salvatore would never admit to but - he wondered if his little brother was right. Sure, Caroline asked him to go inside but he knew it was only because she was lonely and her first choice let her down. "Second choice" had never sat well with Damon.

His eyes had lost the harshness to them when Stefan started making sense. Then, however, Damon remembered Caroline's laugh and the way she felt against him causing his eyes to slide close for a second and his jaw to tighten.

Stefan caught on to the change in Damon's demeanor making him furrow his brows. If he hadn't known better, Stefan had seen this look before.

"Damon-, ...do you, - do you love...", Stefan had said the whole sentence slowly by he hesitated before saying her name completely. "Caroline?"

Like an instant reaction, Damon's eyes flew open.

But not to his brother's question. He could hear Caroline shuffling about in her house and could tell she was awake listening to them. It was obvious that Stefan couldn't tell because his stance was still tense and determined. So that was when he gave his brother a chance.

"Do you?" Damon asked simply.

It took Stefan a total of 5 seconds before answering.

"Of course I love her. You know that. That's why you've been messing with me this whole time about it. You probably even know that Elena and I broke up. I just couldn't handle it anymore. I care about Caroline too much to be with anyone else and then...", Stefan breathes out heavily, "and then I come here and find you with her. Really, Damon? And don't even pretend to be surprised by me acting the way I did. Could you blame me?"

In all honesty, Stefan was as surprised in himself as Damon was.

The whole moment, however, was interrupted as soon as the front door was slammed open and blond little vampire came rushing out and leaping into Stefan's arms.

"Did you mean that?" She asked gleefully.

Stefan was taken aback and didn't even realize Caroline was up. He was glad though because more than likely if he tried saying it again, it'd just come out in stutters and pauses. Not at all like he'd want to.

Caroline stood straight and looked into Stefan's eyes searching for any doubt he might have had.

"Yeah, Caroline. I did. I-, I love you." He breathed out lightly and with only a tad bit of worry. He's been nervous thinking about how it was going to go with Caroline that her listening to him just spurring out words was not how he intended it to all play out. But judging from Caroline's reactions, it was just right.

She didn't say anything before grabbing Stefan closer and kissing his lips with her own. Caroline repeated the act 3 or 4 times before kissing his cheek and jaw line excitedly as she felt Stefan embrace her in a bear-hug.

Unfortunately, Damon was left on the sidelines just to watch the nauseating love birds make out in the middle of Caroline's lawn. Before the two broke apart, Damon left.

A part of him had wished he answered Stefan's question while he knew Caroline was there listening. He would've answered it truthfully and the answer would've been yes. But at the same time he knew that Stefan would be far better for Caroline than he ever would be. Damon knew that he couldn't be selfish with her and even though he had the feeling Stefan knew the answer, he could trust that no one else would.

Damon could still hear Caroline giggling and kissing Stefan. The two of them were exchanging I love yous until finally they both went inside.

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As you guys have probably noticed... Damon was all up and through this chapter. Well that's kind of cause I decided to write a Damon fic & thought it'd be perfect to continue his little adventure from Forbidden Fruit to his own story. Right now there's no plot but I'll think of somethin'. Any preferences?
Meanwhile, what'd ya think of The Martyr.
There will be more Steroline to come, I promise! Suggestions? :)