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Chapter 76 – Strike 2

There is always a calm before the storm, they say. It had to be clear to Salvatore-Winchester-Family that something will happen soon. But the two weeks since the baby shower were clam and no troubles ahead, besides the point that Izzy feels on the verge of blowing up. Apparently, that is part of being pregnant.

That is why the siblings decided to go out for a drink and do something together. Even with them living together, it doesn't happen often that they have time for each other as siblings. Damon and Stefan would drink something while Izzy would play a round of pool with them. She is looking forward to it, especially with her brothers don't believing that she can take them out. But she learned husteling from Dean and he is a champ.

Their destination was the Grill. On the way there they the three walked side by side on as they cross with two women. Both bump into Izzy and Stefan. Of course, they apologize for it. But that wasn't enough for Damon as he said in an angered tone. "Can't you watch were you are going? Didn't you see that she is pregnant?"

He was in the face of one of the women, as he said that. But before she can say anything to it Izzy steps in and says to her big brother in a calming tone. "It is okay, Damon. Nothing happened!" she gestures at her bump as she adds. "See everything is alright. Not even labor started." The last part was a little disappointed, because going into labor would mean that she finally would be done with her pregnancy.

Just like always Damon's anger is forgotten as his little sister calms him. He doesn't know why; she has the effect on him. But he guesses he always wanted her to be proud of him, that is why he would always listen to her. So, he nods and without another glance at the women they walk to the Grill.

The Grill frequently is visited by the people from out of town, as it was this day. The first thing they did was find a pool table and only one was unused. So, they made their way there as fast as it was humanly possible, we don't want to inform the city council about the supernatural beings in the city after all. At the table Damon prepared for their first game while Stefan went to the bar for drinks.

Two whiskey for him and Damon and a smoothie for Izzy. Those were new on the menu, like everywhere else. The Grill jumped on the hype of smoothies. Of course, he also ordered some finger food for his pregnant sister, who eats now at any time of the day. He also wants that his little nephew steadily grows and becomes bigger in the process. Bobby is fully developed now and only needs the size. Stefan as well as the rest of the house can't wait to meet him.

But for now, they have time with their siblings. Something they all like, even during Damon's and Stefan's fighting phases they always made time to meet each other. So, they started to play, drank and in Izzy's case ate something. Time flew by, because they had fun.

It was a school night and that is why only after two hours the restaurant was almost empty besides Matt behind the bar and the Salvatore siblings. Of course, that should have given them a warning. At times when the Grill is empty the bad guys often think they can make a move.

Which they did now, interesting was that it happened in the moment Damon was alone, because Izzy went to the toilet, again, her eleventh time if Damon counted correctly, and Stefan was outside talking to Caroline, after she called him. Damon delightful sips on his drink as shit hit the fan. Not that he registered it in the first moment.

Who would, if they two people you expect to take their seat again, take place beside you? As they set down Damon's senses are telling him that something is amiss, but he ignores it. What should be the problem, they are after all only his siblings. He turns to his brother and asks with a teasing smile. "And how is the Misses? When does she wants you home?"

A smile starts on his brother face, but it was one that creeped him out. Never before has he seen his brother look at him in that way. But what shocked him more is, what his brother said next. "Yes, she hopes that I ditch you soon. She doesn't want that I hang out with you and your bad influence." That doesn't sound like Stefan at all.

Before Damon can answer, Izzy adds something. and Damon hopes that she takes his side. But the hope is misplaced, as she declares. "Thank God, we can drop the act. I don't want to be here any longer with him." she emphasizes the word and points at Damon at the same time as she gets up.

Now Damon was at his wits end, he doesn't know what is going on. Both don't sound like his siblings and they would never say such things to him or? He questions himself and without his insecurities he would have said no, but he wasn't so sure now. He tried not to show it on the outside as he nonchalantly picks up his glass, takes a sip and says. "If I am such a burden to you, then go." Subconsciously he hopes that his siblings would choose him.

But instead Stefan gets up as well, steps to his sister and says. "You see it finally or?" In Damon's face stood the question 'What' written all over. "That we don't need you, but most of all …"

"Don't want you." Izzy finishes the sentence for Stefan and man does it hurt. If breaking a heart could be heard, it would sound like a glass that shattered in 1000 pieces.

Damon was at a loss of words. What is happening? This can't be real. The last months with his siblings, with his family, was the best he ever had in his long live, because they were there, and they didn't fight with each other. Simply they were a family. He even liked the hunters, ok, more than like, they become like brothers to him as well. So, to say what is happening here bewilders and hurts him would be an understatement.

But before he can question it, he hears a loud "What the hell?" from the other side of the bar in Stefan's voice. Damon looks in the direction and sees a second Stefan standing there. He seconded the statement as another Izzy steps out of the toilets.

"Shit." was her reaction, because she knew without a doubt that this were shapeshifters and it was the second trail for the guardians of Bobby. She sees not only the bewilderment, but the crestfallen face of her oldest brother and knows that what is happening to him isn't good. "Damon whatever they said isn't true. They are shifters, who wear our faces." she declares and points at herself and her twin beside her. Inconspicuous she reaches for the silver knife she carries with her all the time.

The other Izzy laughs and says. "No, they are the imposters." and points at the other twins at the entrance of the restaurant.

Damon's bewilderment increases as he looks from one pair of twins to the next. He doesn't know what is happening and who the real ones are. But his mind is working on a solution and presents him with one only a moment later as he is reminded of the trails for Bobby's guardians. In his he must have trust in his family. He is sure that this is happening here, but he doesn't know how he will pass the test. That is why he follows his gut, leans back, takes another sip and says in his matter of fact tone. "By all means prove it."

The pair in front of him was shocked, because they didn't think he would say that. They lost their momentum with it, because the real Izzy needed that moment and throw her knife at them. At the same time, she says. "When this knife hits we will see, who is lying, because shifters hate silver." It was only a tiny second that the shifters looked at Damon, before they realized their mistake it was too late as the knife hit the double Izzy spot on in the heart. "Have fun." Izzy's says with a triumph smile as her target dissolves under loud screams of pain.

Just like Izzy said it would, the shifter goes down. That is all Damon needs to know, that the throwing Izzy is his sister and with his vampire abilities he is at the side of the other shifter at the same time as his brother. With one glance at each other they silently communicate that this was Damon's kill and Stefan would only assist, which he gladly did. With lightning-speed Damon attacks and rips the heart of the creature out. As a little extra punishment for their doings he crushed the heart in front of the creatures dying eyes into tiny pieces. In this moment just like with Bonnie Damon passed his test and receives the mark as a guardian on his body. Something they only find out after all of them finished their trials, now the marks are simply invisible.

As soon as both creatures are dead and only their remains behind Izzy is on her way to her oldest brother. She isn't that fast anymore, but it doesn't stop her to run to his side. She needs to reassure her brother of her, and her twins love for him. But Damon waits patiently for her and as soon as she is near, he opens his arms to welcome both his siblings. She happy steps into his embrace and brings Stefan with her. Both of Damon's younger siblings digs their heads in his shoulder.

"Whatever they said it isn't true. We love you! No matter what." Izzy says.

"Yes, you can't get rid of us, we are family and we would never leave you behind." Stefan's adds.

And even with Damon's sorrowful experience he smiles, because this feels right. This are his true siblings and he believes them, that they love him as much as he does them. Never again will he ignore his senses, that is the main awareness he takes away from today. They never stirred him wrong before, that is why he says to them. "As if I would let you go without a fight." It was Damon's way of saying that he loves them too and lifting tension at the same time. It brought him laughs from his siblings and that was all he wanted to achieve.

This was trial two, still one to go. But like Bonnie Damon could prove to the powers that be that he was worthy of his task. Can Sam follow his mates and be successful as well?

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Edited 09/01/2019