The Imaginary Friend

Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries or its characters. I only own my OCs and my plots.

Sorry in advance for any errors.

Rafael flipped over the uniquely twisted fence that kept the yard enclosed. As soon as he gracefully landed, Rafael started fixing his rumpled appearance. He was wearing tight, rainbow leather pants and a short-sleeved black top that clung to his muscular form like second skin. The summer scarf made of silk he wore around his neck was royal blue and extremely long. Rafael was already 6'2 and the black platform boots he wore made him even taller. The beauty shimmered under the layers of glitter that were on his lashes, eyelids, in his styled hair, and on his painted nails.

"You're looking extra fabulous this evening." I greeted with a warm smile when he strutted over to me.

Angelo's eyes were drawn to his lovers swaying hips despite himself. When he realized he was ogling the man he was frustrated with, he forced his gaze to the hedges circling the mansion. A smug look sparked in Rafael's dark chocolate eyes at Angelo's reaction to his presence. A smirk curled on his glistening ruby lips.

I watched their interaction in amusement.

"Th-hank you." He replied in his cute stuttering Italian accent. Once he reached me, he bumped his hip against Angelo without looking at him. He must have been using his supernatural strength, because the man stumbled back and his knees gave out. It sending him tumbling to the ground on his backside. Angelo glared up at his boyfriend with frustrated blue eyes. "I love that s-skirt. It looks b-beautiful on you, C-caroline."

His stutter wasn't as bad as the first time we met, but it was worse than the last time I saw him. Angelo cut in before I could say thank you. My confusion and curiosity must have shown on my face.

"Another thing he was being stubborn about." He scoffed, brushing himself off. I didn't realize I was so easy to read. "He insisted he could do it himself. When I told him he wasn't taking the right dosage, he sneered at me and wouldn't listen."

"O-one, I don't remember anyone as-sking you to s-speak." Rafael rested a hand on the hip he cocked to the right. "T-two, are you seriously comp-plaining about my stutter…"

The next part of what he said was in Italian. I was glad Henrik was here to translate.

"That's funny. I recall you begging for me to stutter just last night. In fact, you begged for it so loudly the rooms next to ours complained." My older brother grinned. I had to bite back laughter. Angelo's cheeks colored pink and when he sneered a reply back, Henrik was quick to translate it. "Do you really want to play that game with me? You do realize how many strange fetishes you have don't you? I'll be more than happy to share with the class."

"I don't h-have fetishes and they're not st-trange!" Rafael barked back in English, clearly offended. The last part of his retort amusingly contradicted the first. A pout pulled at his lips even though his eyebrows were still furrowed in a glare. Rafael annoyingly switched back to Italian and Henrik had to translate the words he spoke next.

I know I should try and stop their fight. It seemed private, and there were a lot of ears listening, but I was such a nosy person I couldn't help but continue watching. Rafael and Angelo seem to have a habit of getting lost in a world of their own and forgetting they weren't alone. The other day I thought they were going to have sex right in front of me, now it looks like a bomb going off wouldn't sway their attention away from their fight.

"You said you enjoyed them, that were hot." Henrik mimicked Rafael's whinny, self-conscious tone. However, he didn't imitate the slight stutter. Just as Angelo's gaze softened, Rafael was back to spitting at him in rage causing the look to vanish.

"You are s-such a liar! Why do you al-lways have to be such a l-liar?!" His words hopped back to English again, both hands were on his hips at this point. Although I knew it was a selfish thought, I really wished they'd stick to English and stop bouncing around. If Henrik wasn't here to translate what they were saying, half of their argument would be lost to me.

"Always?" Angelo shouted incredulously. "Like hell I always lie. Why do you always have to be so frustratingly full of shit?! What is WRONG with you? Would you just stop being ridiculous and tell me what your problem is?"

"Y-you! You're my p-problem!" Rafael yelled heatedly. Frustrated confusion was written on Angelo's face at the answer he received.

"Guys." I cut in even though I wanted to keep listening. They turned their gaze to me with glares on their faces. I half-expected them to keep arguing. "This seems kind of private, why don't you wait until you're alone to finish it?"

"Way to leave out important information, Elijah." I heard Rebekah say in annoyance from the parlor. It had been quiet in there until now. "Why didn't you bloody tell us they were lovers?! Didn't you think that was something we'd want to know?"

"Of course I did." Elijah replied simply.

Rafael turned and sent a suspicious look at the house. His boiling anger was momentarily put on the back burner. It was odd that he was going to snap at me, regardless of Rebekah's comment, but stopped at the sound of Elijah's voice. Even Angelo sent him a look wondering what caught his beau's attention.

"You're r-right." Rafael told me, dark chocolate eyes still locked on the house intently. "W-why don't we h-head on in?"

"That was rather strange. Don't you agree, Blossom?" Henrik asked interestedly, speaking my thoughts, before teleporting inside.

The tension was still overwhelming obvious between the couple as I led them up the porch. Once inside, we saw Kol sitting on the couch with his feet propped up on the table. Henrik sat in his brother's lap with his legs crisscrossed. Rebekah was in one of the plush chairs across from them. Elijah stood near them by the fireplace. While Finn was in a corner far away from all of his siblings. All four immediately looked at the doppelgängers when they entered. The three that haven't met them yet, gave the couple identical scrutinizing looks. Analyzing both of them from head to toe. Kol's look morphed into a mischievous one. I could tell there were a lot of comments he was holding back.

As for Rafael and Angelo, they paused and gave Elijah looks of astonishment.

"Alexander?" Angelo seemed to decided that wasn't right the instant it came out. He took another guess before he could stop himself. "Jackson?"

"Elijah has a doppelganger too?" Henrik asked warily and unsurprised. "I don't like this at all."

I didn't either, this whole situation was suspicious. If Kol, Nik, and Elijah had a doppelganger then where was Rebekah and Finn's? What was causing it? Did all the Mikaelson siblings have one, including Henrik, or was it just the Originals?

"N-not unless he was t-turned within the last couple of days. W-we just saw Gabriel last w-week." Rafael disagreed. The shock of Elijah being here made the snippiness toward his boyfriend disappear temporarily. "Actually, o-on second thought, this guy's very old. I can f-feel it. Wh-who the hell are y-you?"

The way they were talking about the man was weird. Angelo called Elijah two different names when he saw him, Alexander and Jackson. Were they twins or something? And why did Rafael refer to him as Gabriel? Maybe that was his last name.

"I am Elijah Mikaelson, pleasure to make your acquaintance." He replied, posture as straight and regal as always. Then he gestured to each sibling as he introduced them. "These are my siblings; Rebekah, Finn, and Kol. Niklaus was busy and not able to attend."

That was only half true. Nik was busy, but nobody has even told him about the doppelgangers existing. He wasn't given the option to come. I'm sure he will find out soon, surely somebody will tell him.

"Siblings?" Rafael and Angelo parroted with wide eyes.

"Disturbing turn of events isn't it?" Kol quipped with a smirk. Angelo eyed his lover's doppelganger openly in fascination. "I can honestly say the image of Nik and I shagging never entered my mind before today. Now that it has I'll be traumatized for the rest of eternity."

"Wait until you actually see them kissing." Henrik told his brother around a laugh while I zipped over to sit next to them on the couch.

I was taken off guard when Kol put a hand on my leg, right on the edge of my skirt. His long fingers caressed my inner thigh. His touch sent electric heat up my thigh. I tried pulling his hand off of me but it was impossible, Kol was too strong. He did slide his hand toward my knee, and away from my skirt, at my reaction though. I wish I could say that helped but his touch was still very distracting.

"This is getting ridiculous." Angelo commented, walking over to the couch. "Does everybody have a doppelganger? Next you'll tell me my mother and little sister have one too."

"You have a little sister?" I blurted, trying to focus on something other than Kol's touch.

"God-sister technically but yes. She is just as adorable as she is obnoxious." Angelo replied fondly.

"What's her name?"

"Willow, but she also goes by Willa."

"Doppelgangers are actually quite rare." Elijah answered, bring the conversation back to the point. Angelo was now sitting next to me. Instead of sitting on his lap, Kol's doppelganger daintily situated himself in a lightly colored plush chair beside Rebekah.

The blonde Original scoffed, "Well, they used to be. Now they apparently grow on trees."

"P-people have always mistaken Gabriel and m-me for brothers." Rafael mused, ignoring her words. Manicured nails fiddled with his long silk scarf. His eyes looked from Elijah to Kol. The light hitting him making the glitter in his lashes sparkle. "N-now I see why. W-we're the doppelgangers of a-actual brothers. How bazar."

"We need to find out why they are here." Finn cut in surprisingly. I honestly thought he was just going to stand in the corner and quietly observe. "They did not pop into existence for no reason."

_Flashback Third-Person P.O.V_

20 year old Gabriel Adamo knocked on his best friend's bedroom door, shoulders slightly slumped. The jeans he wore had large holes in the knees. He had a folded piece of paper in his left hand. Blue eyes glared at him when the door swung open. Angelo took one look at his bashful, submissive demeanor and the look melted into a beaming smile.

"Gabriel!" The 15 year old announced happily, hugging the older boy tightly. "Sei tornato! Adoro Jacky, in realtà lo faccio, ma ho davvero pensato che non avrebbe mai lasciare. Prima di lui era di nuovo Alexander. E 'stato un mese intero da quando eri te stesso." (You're back! I adore Jacky, really I do, but I thought he was never going to leave. Before him it was Alexander again. It's been a whole month since you were yourself.)

"Spero che non ti ha dato troppi problemi." (I hope they didn't give you too much trouble.) Gabriel replied guiltily as Angelo led him in the room and closed the door behind them.

"Ovviamente no." (Of course not) Angelo soothed, not wanting him to feel any worse than he already did. It was only partly a lie. Jackson wasn't too bad mostly, it was Alexander who was always a pain.

"Hai chiesto Rafael al ballo?" (Did you ask Rafael to the dance?) Gabriel asked half an hour later. The board game RisiKo was set up in-between them on the floor. Angelo jerked his head up in surprise and flushed a deep pink.

"Come facevi a sapere di quella stupida danza?" (How did you know about that stupid dance?) He spluttered in reply. "Non ho detto niente a nessuno su di esso." (I haven't said anything to anyone about it.)

"Hai dimenticato che faccio il bucato?" (Did you forget that I do your laundry?) Gabriel replied amusedly. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the folded paper he stuffed there. Well, when I'm in control of myself anyway, he added in his head. Gabriel highly doubted any of his alters did Angelo's laundry. "Ho trovato questo in tasca poco più di un mese fa. Non ho mai avuto la possibilità di parlare con te su di esso." (I found this in your pocket a little over a month ago. I never got a chance to talk to you about it.)

"Non c'è niente di cui parlare. Non lo sto chiedendo." (There's nothing to talk about. I'm not asking him.) Angelo replied, returning his attention to the game to make his move.

"Angelo." Gabriel said softly in disapproval. His little brother has always been so accepting and kind to him. He never made him feel lesser for his little problem. He never once acted like there was something wrong with him. Gabriel thought he was too much of a burden and didn't deserve Angelo. He wanted to do something to repay him and this was perfect. Nothing would make Angelo happier than getting the boy he has been smitten with for 2 years to finally be his. Gabriel would make that happen.

"No Gabriel. Non mi piace il modo in cui mi piace. Se ho chiesto a Rafael per la danza sarebbe solo rendere tutto imbarazzante. Preferirei lo hanno come solo il mio amico che non lo hanno affatto." (No Gabriel. He doesn't like me the way I like him. If I asked Rafael to the dance it would only make everything awkward. I'd rather have him as just my friend than not have him at all.) Angelo interrupted firmly.

It was so obvious that Rafael thinks Angelo hangs the moon. The flamboyant boy is many things, but subtle isn't one of them. Gabriel has no idea how Angelo doesn't see it. Rafael is so flirtatious a blind man could see he was into Angelo. He didn't know how he was going to do it, but Gabriel was determined to get Angelo to ask Rafael to the dance. He knew there was no way the boy would say no.

_Flashback Ended_