Week 3 Day One
Caroline cleared the table she had spend the whole morning cleaning the house waiting for the Parkers to call and had sent Damon off to handle the farm work. It was already nearing three in the afternoon and still no call.
A sharp whistle caused Caroline to turn as she was scrubbing the table.
"Not in the mood Stef." She tells him moving to get the tablecloth and plate settings to place on top of the now clean table.
"You're still mad then?"
Caroline scoffs fixing the flowers in the white vase and placing it in the center of the kitchen table. She then took a step back to make sure everything was perfectly in place then turned to wipe the kitchen counters.
"He was out all night and he doesn't even try and apologize."
Stefan smirks, "I thought you didn't want to talk about it?"
"I'm not!" she yells putting more force in wiping the counter, 'what even is this' she thinks as she can't wipe off a particular spot.
"He was out last night too. I mean at least he came back before the moon decided to go down, but still."
Stefan gulped he knew exactly what his brother had been up to, but he wasn't sure how to go about telling Caroline, "Yeah Care umm… about Damon."
Caroline looks up and sees Stefan shifting, "What about him?"
Stefan glared at his brother as he watched from a distance. Any thoughts of this meeting being some sort of misunderstanding went away when a woman opened the door and Damon slipped into her chambers.
He can't actually tell Caroline. Can he? If anything, Damon should be the one to.
"How are you two?"
"Fine."
"Really? You can tell me?"
Caroline sighed making her way to the other side of the counter and sitting on one of the stools, "We're fine. I think I just freaked him out because of the whole wanting more kids thing. But it shouldn't even be that big a deal. We already have one child, is having more really so terrible. And we talked about it. We did, but it wasn't even much of a conversation. Just Damon telling me that it won't be happening."
"So, you think he's acting out because you want more babies?"
"What else could it be? Besides, I don't know what the big deal is. It's not like I'm demanding he gets me pregnant right now. Just down the line and I know there's a chance that I won't be able to, but shouldn't he want to try?"
"You should talk to him then."
"Why? He should be able to come up to me and tell me instead of avoiding me and getting drunk like a teenager. Seriously two I've lost track of how many times he's come home drunk. I should talk to Mason."
Stefan's eyes widened as he remembered his conversation with Lockwood. "No."
"Why not. I obviously can't talk to him, he won't listen. He just tells me what I want to hear. I'll go to Mason and tell him to stop selling to Damon."
"I don't think that would work. Besides its Damon, I'm sure he'll be able to find alcohol one way or another."
"Well, what do you suggest?"
Stefan sighed, knowing the problem flew past complicated once he realized Damon's problem had nothing to do with Caroline and more to do with that other woman. She looked familiar he was sure she was a tourist, but he didn't know her name.
"You should talk to him. Maybe just give him this one. Push the baby thing to the side and work on talking to one another."
Caroline scoffs what exactly was there to talk about if he wouldn't listen to a word she said. "How if he doesn't listen to me."
Stefan clenches his teeth, "Apologize to him and get him to see reason."
If anyone should apologize it was his brother, he'll make sure of it.
"If you think it'll help," Caroline mutters. Then smiles as she hears the phone ring. "It's probably Jo. Oh, I'm heading to the market in the morning maybe you can come with me?"
She tells him as she picks up the phone.
"Hello"
Stefan looks at her and mouths 'Damon' "Ask him to go with you."
Caroline rolls her eyes and nods, "Yes, I'm still here… Tomorrow? That soon… I'm guessing all the tests panned out. Uh-huh… That's great. Okay, well can you come maybe after lunch we should be free by then, but if you get here earlier Stefan should be here to take you. Okay. I'll see you both tomorrow… Bye Jo."
"Good news?"
"Yes," Caroline says smiling, "Jo is coming to look at the last five tomorrow she already went through the reports they are all perfect her and Luke can't wait to come over she says that Luke thinks we should be able to wrap up the deal by the end of the week if all goes well. The only thing we'll have to worry about is Kai, but I think I can handle him."
"That's fantastic, Care."
"I am glad you think so. I need you to stay here till we get back from the market."
"Whatever you need, I'm here."
Caroline smiles heading over to give him a hug, "Thanks." She whispers then heads back to start cleaning the grease stains on the stove.
Damon wipes his brow as he heads towards the house, he had just finished harvesting the majority of the crops that would be going to market tomorrow when he hears a noise coming from the barn.
"Boo!"
Damon jumps before pulling her to him and placing his hand over her mouth.
"What are you doing here Elena?" he whispers moving deeper into the barn.
"I came to see you."
Damon ran his hand up his face and through his hair, "I told you not to come here."
"No one saw me."
"That doesn't matter. Look I thought I made it clear last night that we should keep our distance."
Elena smirked leaning in to peck his lips, "You were serious?" She kisses him again happy when he leans into her when she pulls away.
"We can't."
"You didn't mind, last night, or the night before that." She wraps her arms around his neck and bites his lower lip causing him to moan.
"Elena."
"Shh." She mumbles as she moves to place open mouth kissed on his neck as her hands move under his shirt. "You know you want this as much as I do. Say it."
Damon groans as he feels her grind her center on his thigh. "We have to be quiet."
Elena nods pushing him down onto a patch of hay and climbing on top of him.
Elena smiles as she pulls her dress over her head. She turns looking at the wide smile copied on Damon's face along with his heavy breathing.
"You can't keep coming over without telling me."
"What do you suggest then? You told me not to call."
Damon nodded, an idea coming to mind, "What about if you come over you whistle."
"Whistle?"
"Yeah, not like how I did with Tyler. Softer like this." Damon puckers his lips and whistles softly its more air than sound, but she supposes that's the point.
"If anyone hears I can say it the wind or a latch squeaking or something. Try it."
Elena nods and copies his whistle. Hers is a bit sharper and louder, but he thinks that's good. "Perfect."
Caroline hums softly as she rocks the crib back and forth waiting for Bonnie to go to sleep.
"Rock a bye baby, in a treetop. When the wind blows the cradle will rock…"
Damon smiles as he looks at Caroline singing from the doorway.
"Hey." He whispers causing her to look up but continue singing. He walks over and smiles as he sees Bonnie barely able to keep her eyes closed.
Nearing the end of the song Bonnie had finally fallen asleep. Damon and Caroline both placed a kiss on her brow and moved away towards their bed.
"We're going to the market tomorrow." She tells him as she takes her hair band off and takes apart her braid.
"Okay."
"Jo is coming again tomorrow too so if we don't make it back in time Stefan will lead them to the field."
Damon shakes his head, "I can round up the cattle better than Stef. He can go with you to market."
Caroline sighed as she sat on her side of the bed and turned to face him. "I didn't ask Stefan, I asked you."
"Why does it matter who takes you to market. You can go by yourself."
"Seriously. Fine stay here, I'll go with Stef, at least he cares." She mumbled before laying down and turning away from him turning off the lamp on her bedside.
"Caroline?"
Caroline closes her eyes tightly refusing to look at him.
"Don't be like this."
Caroline scoffs, "Be like what, Damon. Sober."
"Don't bring that into this."
"Why not!" She whispers harshly giving in and turning to face him. "I get why you left. Okay, I'm sorry if the baby talk freaked you out, but you didn't have to go and get drunk! You missed the tour yesterday. Not to mention getting drunk is apparently your go to reaction to everything nowadays."
"What do you want from me? You want kids fine. We'll have more kids. Don't blame me when you can't get pregnant. Sorry for not wanting to watch you cry when you find out it's not possible."
Caroline let out a whimper and Damon's eyes widened as he realized what he just said, "I'm sorry. Caroline, I didn't mean it."
Damon sighed as he moved closer to pull Caroline to his chest. "I'm sorry. I'll go to the market with you."
Caroline nodded closing her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Blondie."
Week 3 Day Two
Damon nods to the man taking the money from him as he starts walking to the next stall over.
He looks over at Caroline and smiles as he watches her try and play peek a boo with Bonnie, but the babe would rather entertain herself by blowing raspberries in her mother's face.
Caroline chuckles as she pats the babe and fixes her salmon colored bonnet so her fair skin doesn't get burnt.
"You think she'll keep it on this time?" Caroline asks as she makes her way over to him.
Damon shakes his head motioning back towards the babe whose hands were tugging at the ribbon holding the bonnet up.
Caroline sighed, "She's going to get all red."
"You can give her a bath when we get home."
Caroline frowned but nodded as she looked at the cashbox. "Offer up the jars apple marmalade for four and the peach for six."
Damon nodded as he saw Lexi and Matt make their way over.
"Donovan!"
"Matty!"
"Umm, I'm here too," Lexi said.
"Hey Lexi, how are you?" Caroline asks a smile on her face at seeing the other blonde.
"Good, I bumped into Stef the other day and he said you might have pumpkin this time."
Caroline nodded picking a small one and showing it to the couple, "How about this one?"
"Do you have a bigger one?"
Caroline nods getting the biggest one they have and handing it to Damon. "How was the squash last time?"
"It was delicious we made a casserole. I'm thinking of making lasagna but instead of pasta I'll use squash."
"That sounds interesting and yummy let me know how it works out," Caroline tells the woman as Damon weighs the pumpkin.
"Ten," Damon tells Matt watching as Matt nods to Bonnie.
"Is she not helping out today?"
Damon walks over picking Bonnie up and out of her stroller. "Look who came to see you, baby girl."
"Ma-ti!"
Matt looks at her with a smile on his face, "Did she just say my name? Yes, you did. You are so smart, just like your mommy yes you are."
The women laughed and Damon rolled his eyes, "Just hand her the coin, Donovan."
Matt nodded pulling out a dime and handing it to the baby who grabbed it tightly and blew a raspberry.
"Hand it over Bonbon," Damon tells her showing her his hat for her to drop it in.
"Pfft!" Bonnie blows a raspberry in his face and goes to put the coin in her mouth.
"Don't you dare," Damon tells her stopping her hand and getting the coin out. "This." He says waving the coin out of the way of her grabby hands, "Is filthy. It is not food."
Bonnie glares at him and keeps reaching for the coin but Damon shakes his head and puts it in his pocket and bounces the girl in his lap.
Lexi turns to Caroline, "She's going to be feisty I can tell."
"Ugh don't jinx it. She isn't even two yet, but I feel like she's gonna get a jump start with the terrible two's."
Lexi laughs, "You never know she might just skip that phase altogether."
"I doubt it."
"Right well, if she ever gets too much and you guys want a day off, I'll be happy to babysit."
"Thanks, Lexi."
"Anytime. Now I think we should get going. I still have to pick up some spices from Tom."
Caroline nods hugging the couple and going back to her chair taking a seat.
Damon moves his seat closer to her and settles the baby in her lap.
"You should add whatever we don't sell to the stuff your taking tomorrow to the restaurant."
Damon nods, "I told them about the jams, so I'll take all the jars over along too."
"You should take the car too."
"Was planning on it. Stefan is also going to tag along, like a piece of gum on my shoe, to help out."
"Okay."
Damon nods clearing his throat, "I'm going to hit the john. I'll be right back." Damon said picking up a roll of toilet paper and heading towards the outhouse near the back of the square.
Stefan had just finished making the burger patty's and he was just about to dab the oil off the homemade fries he made when he heard a knock on the front door. He wipes his hands on a kitchen towel takes off his apron and makes his way to open the door. He sees the brunette and blonde and motions for them to enter.
"Come in. I just finished making lunch. Have you two eaten?"
Jo smiles and nods while liv shakes her head then at the look her sister gives her rolls her eyes, "We already ate thank you."
Stefan nods, "I'll just put them in their containers then and place them in the fridge. You can come with me to the kitchen."
The girls nod and follow, Liv's mouth watering at the smell of beef and fries.
"Would you like some water? We have lemonade too. Apple juice?"
"Water is fine." Jo answers for both her and Liv and takes a seat on the bar as she watches Stefan pack up the food and place it in the fridge. "Where's Caroline?"
"She went to the market with Damon they will meet up with us later. You two are a bit early I was going to take some lunch over to them."
Jo nodded, "You should take the food over we don't mind waiting. Right, Olivia."
"Yeah. We can wait here or maybe I could go with you. To help take all that food."
Stefan nodded, "Alright you both don't need to come. Feel free to get anything in the pantry. The living room is right through there if you two want to make yourselves comfortable."
"Thank you, Stefan."
Stefan smiles heading to the pantry to get a picnic basket to put the food, and condiments in so that Caroline could prepare the burgers at the square.
"I shouldn't take too long. If you two change your mind on the food just go on ahead. Jo, there's fresh salad in the fridge I made it a while ago for you."
Jo blushes and nods as Stefan grabs his hat and car keys and leaves.
Elena looks around the market picking a tomato from one of the stalls. She smells it, squeezes it softly then puts it back.
She walks and could just make out a familiar blonde in one of the stands near the end.
"Hey, Caroline!"
Elena watches as Caroline rises from her chair a wide smile on her face.
"Hey, Elena! You're still here?"
Elena nods, "Yeah. I decided to extend my stay."
"Well, that's great. I mean for the town tourism or whatever. I hope you're enjoying your stay though. Have you managed to figure out what you want to write about?" The blonde says enthusiastically.
"Oh, I am this place is far better than I expected. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to write about. I was thinking maybe a romance."
"Oh! I love romance."
"Yeah it's great isn't it?"
"Yeah. Oh, I never asked are you with anyone?"
"Sort of. It's a bit complicated but let's not talk about my love life. How's Bonnie?"
Caroline motioned for Elena to walk over around the table separating the pair and look at the stroller next to her chair. Where the baby was sucking on her pacifier.
"She's so beautiful."
"Thank you. Are you here for anything? I can tell you who has the best fruits and veggies. Mrs. Collins has the best blueberries and she sells them pretty cheap too."
"I'll keep that in mind. I was wondering if you hand any apples?"
"I do. Which would you like and how many?"
"I like the green ones and give me six. You know what they say 'An apple a day'"
Caroline laughs, "I talked to Mer, I don't think that's exactly true. Oh, Meredith is the town doctor."
"Right, so where's Mr. Salvatore?"
"Damon's around here somewhere," Caroline told her as she placed the apples in a paper bag. "That'll be 12cents."
Elena nods opening her clutch and taking out three coins and handing them over. She opened her mouth about to thank the blond when she spots a man with dark brown hair, a strong jawline, and beautiful green eyes sneak behind Caroline and cover her eyes.
"Boo."
Caroline laughs, "Stefan what are you doing here?" The blonde asks as he makes his way to the table and places a basket on top. "Elena this is Stefan Salvatore, my brother in law. Stefan this is Elena Gilbert."
Elena nods extending her arm to shake his hand. She remembers seeing him briefly a few nights ago when she snuck into the barn.
Stefan shook her hand quickly and turned to Caroline. He knew her. He recognized her from the B&B. "I brought lunch for you and Damon. There's also some apple juice there for Bonnie."
"Thanks."
"No problem." He tells her taking in the dark-haired woman.
"How long are you planning on staying, Ms. Gilbert."
"Elena, please and I'm not sure yet. This place is lovely I might just stay forever." She laughs and takes her bag. "Thank you, so much for the apples Caroline."
"No problem, Bye."
Stefan glares at the woman then turns to Caroline clearing his throat. "I should get going. I left Jo and Liv at the house."
Caroline nodded, "Alright. Thank you for the food."
"Anytime," Stefan tells her kissing her cheek then placing a peck on the top of Bonnie's head before leaving.
Damon was making his way back after finally relieving himself the queue had been rather long but considering how there was only one outhouse for both men and women (yeah it was disgusting but if you took a deep breath and held it, it helped immensely) it wasn't that surprising.
He's about to mumble an apology when he bumps into someone.
"Hello, Mr. Salvatore." He hears her voice and his breath hitches.
"Ms. Gilbert."
"I just bought some apples from Caroline. Can't wait to try one. Your brother stopped too they seemed… cozy he brought her lunch."
Damon's eyes narrowed, "Thanks for buying the apples from us Ms. Gilbert, I should be heading back." After looking around to make sure no one is looking he leans in, "Stay away from my wife."
"Oh, don't worry Damon. Dear old Caroline isn't that bright. Especially not enough to see what's right in front of her. I'll see you tonight." She tells him and leaves blowing a kiss in his direction.
Caroline and Damon had just finished putting everything away from their trip to the market and were about to head over to where Stefan and the Parkers were.
Caroline had gone upstairs to change Bonnie's diaper and Damon was waiting for them on the couch downstairs when he heard a whistle coming from outside Tyler to start barking. He quickly rose and made his way outside to see Elena trying to stop Tyler from barking again.
He whistled sharply and shooed the dog. "Caroline is inside."
"I know. Get her to leave I'll wait in the barn, so she doesn't see me."
"No. You are going home."
"Do you seriously want to go and watch some stupid cows then spend time with me?"
Damon sighed and nodded for her to go to the barn, knowing that Caroline and Bonnie would come out any second.
"Damon!"
The man let out a growl and made his way inside, "Hey blondie."
"Let's, go," Caroline says grabbing her diaper bag.
"Wait," Damon starts mind turning as his eyes narrow on his daughter. "We should stay. Bonnie and I, she's already a little red no need for her to go out there. Besides, you will get there faster if you take the horse."
Caroline looked at the baby. She placed the back of her hand on the baby's cheeks and forehead. "She is a bit warm. Okay, are you sure you want to stay with her?"
"Yes. You go on, I'm sure the Parkers are waiting for you."
Caroline nods handing him the baby and placing a kiss on her cheek. "Okay. I'll be back she was dozing off a bit on the way back so you might get her to take a nap. Oh, you should give her a bath to freshen her up."
"Alright, I got her don't worry. Now go on they're waiting."
Caroline nods and looks at him expectantly, when he doesn't move, to tell her goodbye she nods and walks out of the house.
Damon falls back on the couch with the baby in his arms and groans.
"Stop," Elena tells Bonnie who is splashing in the sink as Damon lathers shampoo into her locks.
"She likes playing, let her. Oh, and cover her eyes." Elena smiles and places her hand on the baby's forehead to stop the shampoo from falling into the baby's eyes.
Damon grabs a large cup and fills it with water and pours it down Bonnie's ebony locks.
"This isn't what I meant when I told you to get rid of Caroline."
"Yeah well, I had to think fast. Pick her up and I'll wrap her in the towel." Elena picks up the baby wincing as Bonnie starts to scream and squirm from the cold.
"Damon," Elena says wanting him to hurry up and sighs in relief when Damon takes back his child and dries her up in with a pink baby towel.
"Pa!"
"I got you, Bonbon. It's okay. I know it's cold."
"A-ua" Bonnie babbles pointing at the water.
"I already let you play in there besides the water is already cold."
Bonnie starts sniffing as Damon finishes drying her off and starts to change her. First by putting on her diaper then by putting her white sleeping gown on her with poufy sleeves and finally putting on her socks.
"Can you put her to sleep already?"
Damon turns and glares, "I can't just snap my fingers and she falls asleep. I told you I would see you tonight. You couldn't wait, so deal with it."
Elena frowns and crosses her arms over her chest. "Fine what now."
Damon ignored her as he picked up the baby and went towards the stairs to head towards his bedroom where Bonnie's crib was. They had three cribs one with Stefan at the guest house for whenever she was over at his place. One in her nursery room which they usually take out and place in the living or sitting room and the main one they have in his and Caroline's room.
Elena follows behind him and takes a seat on the edge of the bed. She watches as Damon gets a small brush from the dresser and starts brushing the baby's damp locks and dry them again with another towel.
Elena moaned as Damon pulled out of her placing a kiss on the swells of her breasts.
"That was definitely worth the wait."
Damon laughs and covers himself. He had finally managed to lull Bonnie to sleep and laid her down in the nursery room with the door open so he could hear her when she woke up or needed him.
Damon smiled rubbing his hands up and down her hips when he hears a sharp cry from outside. He groans and rises grabbing his underwear and putting it on. "You should get dressed. You know your way out."
"Are you coming over tonight?"
"No, I have to head out of town tomorrow morning with Stefan."
Elena nods reaching for her clothes to change under the sheets after she watches Damon's backside as he leaves.
Caroline sighs exhausted as makes her way up the stairs. She had been out all afternoon with the Parkers. She just had some leftover burgers from earlier and couldn't wait to take a nice bath and go to bed.
"Damon!"
"Shh!" Damon shushes her as he walks in with a sleeping baby in his arms. "You know I think she might be able to walk soon."
"Really?" Caroline says as she makes her way to her closet to take out her nightclothes. She moves to lay them on the bed when she takes in the unmade sheets.
Damon looks at where she's staring and feels as if a tractor decided to run over his legs. "We took a nap together earlier. I forgot to make the bed." Damon lied quickly placing the baby in her crib then heading over to rip the sheets of the bed.
"I'll wash them. It's been a while since we've washed them."
Caroline looks at him curiously breathing in… was that perfume? From the sheets, he just managed to ball up in his arms.
"What else did you two do all day?" Caroline asked curiously as she just decided to grab her undergarments and pile her clothes together and hanging them on the restroom's door.
"I gave her a bath, we uh took a nap, then we played with Mr. Bear and Bunny and Pony and all her other animals. I tried to get her to walk I think she managed two steps before losing her balance. Then we had a snack."
Caroline chuckles, "Seems like you two had a full day."
Damon rubs the back of his head, "Yes, we did."
Week 3 Day Three
Stefan walks into the kitchen at five the next morning watching as Damon is making pancakes. His eyes widen slightly already having connected Damon cooking with guilt over his affair.
"Where's Caroline?"
"She should be getting dressed. She didn't want to get out of bed after yesterday."
Stefan nods it had been a long day, but Caroline and the Parker sisters seemed to hit it off. At least she and Jo did. Stefan had a feeling that Liv had only come along because her older sister made her.
"Are those blueberry?" He asks pointing at the stack of pancakes on the counter.
"Uh-huh. I made some banana too for Bonnie later when she wakes up."
Stefan nods and looks at the pot by the stove that's simmering, "Are you making blueberry compote?"
"Yeah, I added some blackberries too. Once I get the berries out and add some more water and sugar. I'll stir it to make a syrup."
Stefan sat by the table not sure how to broach the subject, "You seem to be cooking a lot lately. Any particular reason?"
Damon raised an eyebrow at his brother's questioning tone, "Not really."
"Really? You never used to cook this much. Especially without being asked. It also not any of our birthdays or a holiday, so what's going on?"
"What I can't cook for my family?"
"Morning." Caroline greets as she steps into the kitchen with a pair of trousers and one of Damon's shirts. She's planning on planting some flowers in the area that Damon and Stefan cleared out. She already marked up the area and had bought rose bushes and Lily flowers to plant in memory of the late Mrs. Salvatore. She also wanted to fix the old bench. It was rusty so she wanted to scrub it and add a fresh coat of green paint.
"You look umm…" Stefan trails off a smirk on his face.
"Shut it, Stefan. While you two get all dressed up in your suits. I'll be fixing up the garden."
"Okay."
Caroline takes a seat reaching for the pitcher of water to fill her glass.
Stefan looked at Damon usually his brother would have greeted her with a kiss and a gooey declaration of love to piss him off, but instead, his attention was entirely on the blueberry syrup he was stirring.
"Oh Stef, I'm doing laundry today so if you have anything you want me to wash."
"Thank you. Umm, everything should be in the laundry basket in my place I'll drop it off before we leave."
Caroline nods.
"Why are you doing laundry?"
"I'm washing the sheets so might as well wash everything else too."
"Sheets?" Stefan questions eyes wide looking at the pair.
Damon cleared his throat, "Pancakes are done."
He picks up the platter and places it on the table giving two to Caroline and three to himself. 'Stefan could serve himself.' He thought as he went to empty the compote into the gravy boat and setting it on the table too.
"This looks amazing, Damon." Caroline praises as she cuts a piece with her fork and sticks it in her mouth. "It tastes even better."
Damon smiles and takes a bite ignoring the looks his brother keeps sending them.
Stefan waits in the car for Damon to finish talking to the owner of the restaurant. He had already decided that Caroline would not find out his brother was an unfaithful ass from him. No matter how much he wanted to tell her. First, he had to talk to Damon get him to admit to what he is doing.
He looks up as the passenger door slams close.
"Let's go," Damon tells him as he stuffs the envelope with money into the glove compartment and lowers the window so they could get some fresh air.
Stefan pulls the car onto the street driving slowly watching out for pedestrians who are always walking in the middle of the road. It's ridiculous.
"I met Elena yesterday."
Damon coughs violently as he turns to his brother. "What?"
"I met Elena yesterday. She stopped to buy some apples from Caroline."
"Yes. Ms. Gilbert, she bought apples. Caroline mentioned."
"What do you think of her?"
Damon's eyes narrowed, "What do you know?"
Stefan kept his eyes on the road as he slowed down and looked both ways before turning left to take the dirt road the long way back to the country.
"I know that you haven't bought a bottle or drank with Mason Lockwood in over a week."
"I have."
"I know that's a lie. Mason told me himself, but I expected it. Now how about we try for the truth." Stefan pulls off the road and puts the car in park. "Tell me about Elena, sorry, Ms. Gilbert."
Stefan looked at his brother noticing how his knuckles were clenched and were turning white. "There's nothing to tell," Damon said slowly and defensively.
"Right. Nothing, so you weren't sneaking into her room at the B&B three nights ago. You weren't talking to her on the phone. I heard a voice sounding surprisingly just like Elena Gilbert asking for you to go over and that Caroline didn't have to know."
Damon glared at his brother, "You didn't hear anything."
"Cut the crap, Damon."
"You can't tell her. You can't tell Caroline."
"I won't, but you will."
Damon sucked in a deep breath, "No. She will never find out."
"You have to tell her."
Damon shook his head, "No."
"Do you even love her?"
Damon's nostrils flared up as he pulled his arm back and punched his brother. "I love Caroline."
Stefan groaned and rubbed his jaw. "Then tell her the truth."
"I can't alright. She doesn't need to know."
Stefan opened the door and got out of the car. Once Damon was out, he talked his brother to the ground and punched him in the face. Damon flipped his brother over. "What the hell."
Stefan pushed Damon off him and got up wiping the dirt off his suit. "Make it up to her. If you love her tell her the truth and make it up to her. Stop the stupid affair."
"Stef, I can't tell her."
"She's friends with her. You should have seen how they were at the market. She's being played for a fool by your… your fucking mistress."
"Ste- "
"No. You will make it up to her. She chose you. I supported you two. I've watched you both go through everything together. And I will not let you throw away your happiness over this! I won't let you ruin her either."
"I'll make it up to her I swear. She doesn't have to know. Promise me, you won't tell her."
"Damon- "
"I swear Stefan. If she finds out, she'll leave me. She'll take Bonnie."
"You should have thought of that before you decided to cheat on your wife."
"I'll make it up to her."
"How? How will you make it up to her? It'll take more than making her fucking breakfast because you feel guilty. Yeah, I picked up on that."
"I will make it up to her. I swear she doesn't need to know."
Stefan rubbed his face he knew how hurt Caroline would be when she found out because she will find out, but… Damon was also his brother.
"I won't tell her."
"You won't make me tell her either?"
"No. But you will end whatever is happening with Elena and you will go home and tell Caroline you love her. You will make this up to her every day. I swear if I see her unhappy- "
"She won't be."
"Caroline has always been there for me. For us. If you hurt her, I choose her."
Damon looked at him, "Stef, you don't mean that."
"She's family."
"I'm your brother."
"Make her happy," Stefan said slowly as he walked back to the car and slammed the door.
Caroline had just pulled out her pot roast out of the oven. She had put it in at eight when Bonnie woke up and an hour after the boys left, it was now two. She reached for a carving knife and smiled when she cut through the meat like butter. She heard the motor of Stefan's car and moved to get the plates to set the table.
"Hey, you guys made it just in time. Although I expected you guys would be back a lot sooner. At least by noon, did something happen?" She asked as she saw the brother walk through the kitchen door.
Stefan smiled stiffly, "It smells amazing Caroline."
"Thank you."
Stefan turned to Damon and gave him a nudge. "I'm going to change and wash up at my place I'll come back in a few."
"Oh okay. We'll wait for you."
Stefan nods leaving.
"Did something happen between you two?"
Damon shook his head, "Nothing happened." Damon made his way towards her drawing her into his arms and placing a chaste kiss on her lips, "I love you."
Caroline looked up at him eyes wide not expecting that. But she soon smiled and grabbed his jaw kissing him back. "I love you. I'm sorry for getting mad at you. I know you were just trying to protect me." Caroline tells him missing the look of pain passing through his eyes.
"You don't need to apologize. It was my fault. I'm going to head upstairs and wash up."
Caroline smiled as she snuggled into Damon's arms, "I love you."
Damon smiles wrapping his arm around her about to tell her the same when they heard a phone ringing downstairs.
"Ugh… We should hook up one of the phones in the bedroom."
Damon laughs, "I'll get it."
Caroline groans wrapping her legs around his waist, "Don't go, if we ignore it, it'll stop."
Damon moaned as she moved on top of him and kissed him her hands on his chest.
The phone rang again, "Who is calling at ten in the evening?"
"I'll check. I won't take long I promise."
'I'll tell her it's over.' Damon thought as he paced outside Elena's door. He tried to tell her over the phone to stop calling and that they couldn't keep doing this, but Elena had refused and demanded he come to see her. He didn't trust her to stop calling or do something drastic like come over to his place.
He knocked harshly. 'You love Caroline,' he chanted in his head as he saw her open the door wrapped in a robe.
He swallowed as he took in her long legs. 'Think of Caroline. Caroline who you left at home sleeping after you made love to her. You are just here to end things and then go back to her.'
"Your brother knows, so what." She tells him as she closes the door and locking it behind her.
"Elena we- "
"- can't keep doing this." She finished for him rolling her eyes, "Yeah so you've said several times. But what makes this time any different."
"I love- "
"-Caroline." She finished again, "Yeah so you've said, but do you really? Would you be here if deep down you didn't want to be with me?" Elena tells him dropping her robe.
Damon took in her figure, 'Caroline. Think of Caroline.'
"I am not sleeping with you. Put your robe back on."
Elena raised an eyebrow impressed at his restraint but ignored him going to sit on her chair. She crossed her arms covering her breasts and placed her left leg over her right. "Fine no sex. Let's talk. You do know it's only a matter of time before your brother tells her. Let's face it I only saw them interacting for five minutes and even I can tell they're perfect."
Damon rolled his eyes at her blatant attempt to manipulate him. "It's over, Elena."
Elena laughed and reached for the bottle of whiskey on the coffee table. "Hmm… alright, you know I think I more in the mood for different company tonight. How about a girl's night? I know just the girl to call. She's perky and she would be very curious to know where her husband is?"
Damon gaped at her, "You're going to blackmail me."
Elena shrugged her shoulders, "I don't want to. I like Caroline. Sweet, Sweet, Caroline. I think we could be great friends; we obviously have similar tastes in a lot of things. Shoes, Accessories, hmm… what else it's on the tip of my tongue… At least it was last night."
"You bitch."
"What a dirty mouth, Mr. Salvatore," Elena smirks as she rises with her bottle of scotch and moves towards her alcohol cabinet making sure to grab a small vial of aphrodisiac, she picked up on her travels and slipped it into the scotch. She then placed the bottle on top of the cabinet and turned around to face him, "I'd love for you to use it on me. Let's have a drink first though, it'll help you relax."
Week 3 Day Four
Caroline kept her eyes closed as she felt the bed shift as Damon slipped back into bed. She had woken up earlier to Bonnie's cries and was surprised when Damon wasn't in bed. She thought perhaps he'd gotten up and went to help their baby fall back asleep, but when Bonnie kept crying. She woke up and saw that Damon was nowhere in the room. Or the house.
She stirred slightly pretending to wake up, "Damon?"
"Shh, I'm here just went to the bathroom."
She opened her eyes as she took in his appearance, he was just wearing his pajama pants which she saw on the floor by the foot of the bed when she was up earlier. He just lied to her.
She nodded and moved closer to him noticing how he flinched slightly to her touch. She ignored it and placed her head on his chest listening to his heart.
"I love you." She murmured smiling softly as she heard his heart speed up. She inhaled softly and her smile went away. It smelled like whiskey and the same flowery musky scent she caught yesterday when she was washing the sheets.
Caroline wakes up and heads downstairs as seeing as Damon was making breakfast again. 'When had Damon started making breakfast?' she thought as she notices he's making French toast today along with bacon and sunny side up eggs for her.
"That looks yummy." She tells him as she wraps her arms around his waist.
"The eggs are done, if you wait a bit I'll finish with the French toast."
Caroline nods placing her head on his shoulder waiting till he turned to kiss his lips.
She frowned when he pulled away mumbling something about toast and went to sit down.
'He started making breakfast when he missed our date… and Damon couldn't still be feeling guilty for that… Unless he was guilty of something else.'
"Damon? Where were you… last night?"
Damon places the last slice of French toast on the platter and pauses as he looks at her, "What do you mean?"
"I woke up last night and you weren't there."
"I was probably in the bathroom."
Caroline bit her lip. He just lied to her again. "Okay." She nods grabbing a piece of bacon and chewing it. She finished half and rose, "I should wake Bonnie. Oh, remember today I'm heading to the City to meet with Luke and Kai to finally close the deal."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"Not unless you want to."
"Do you want me to go with you?"
Caroline looks at him curiously about to answer when the door opens.
"Where's breakfast?" Stefan asked as he walked in and sat looking at the pile of bacon and French toast. "Nice!" He muttered grabbing some cinnamony goodness and biting into it. Then he looked at the couple, "Did I interrupt something?"
Caroline shook her head, "I'm going to get Bonnie."
Stefan watches as she leaves the room, "Did you tell her?"
"We agreed not to."
"Did you tell Elena?" Stefan amended.
Damon hesitated for a second looking over his shoulder at the entrance to make sure Caroline wasn't in hearing range, "Yes," he lied, "Can we not talk about her. I don't want Caroline to hear us by accident."
Stefan nods what Damon said made sense and while he was feeling guilty about lying to Caroline at least by omission he knew his brother would make it up to her.
"You're right. I'm sorry about yesterday. I knew you would do the right thing."
Damon nods reaching for the maple syrup and drenching his toast as he heard Caroline enter with a sleep Bonnie in her arms.
"Hey look who's here. It's Papa and Uncle Stef-y"
"Stefan." "Whatever Stef-y"
Bonnie babbled rubbing her eyes and waved slowly. "Awe sweetie, I'm sorry," Caroline tells Bonnie as she places her on her highchair cutting up pieces of French toast and placing them in front of her so she could eat.
"I was thinking we should all go to The City. Take the morning off and that way both of you will be there to discuss a reasonable price against Kai."
Damon nods moving to kiss her in front of Stefan to dissuade any doubts his brother may have.
Caroline smiled kissing him back moaning as he bit her lower lip.
"Ahem. There is a child present do you really want to traumatize her this young."
Caroline pulled back blushing slightly as Damon turned to Bonnie who seemed to be struggling to keep her head up. "Yeah, she's going to need a therapist to deal with all the traumatic stress."
Caroline chuckles as she watches the brothers start to argue. 'Her and Damon were fine.'
Week 3 Day Five
Stefan smiles as he shakes Luke's hand. They had just loaded all ten cattle into a large trailer that would take them to the Parker's Breeding Ranch. The deal ended up quite well they managed to settle on $18.50 per cow for a respectable total of $185 and a promise for future business along with a bond of friendship between the Salvatore's and the Parker's. They would all be meeting later tonight at "The City to celebrate.
"Drive safe, we'll see all of you tonight."
Luke tips his hat to the Salvatore's and gets into his truck watching as his sisters are waving enthusiastically to Caroline and his brother is sitting stiffly in the driver's seat waiting for him to hurry up.
"I'll go drop the money off at the bank," Damon says as he moves to get on his horse. He would take the car, but he would take less time cutting through the lake then going around. He would take his horse to the docks he had faith that the horse would make his way back home after besides he was branded with the Salvatore crest so it wasn't like it would get lost.
"Be careful."
"I'll be fine," Damon tells her clicking his tongue and pressing his heels softly to the horse.
Caroline looks at him for a while longer then turns to Stefan who is behind Bonnie's stroller ready to take the babe back inside.
"How are you two?" Stefan asks as Caroline opens the door for him to pass through with the stroller.
"What do you mean?" Caroline asks picking Bonnie from her stroller and placing her on the carpet of the sitting room to crawl around on while they sat on the couch.
"Are you two happy?"
"Of course, we're happy. Why wouldn't we?"
"No reason."
Caroline nods biting her lip which Stefan noticed. "What?"
She shook her head. She couldn't tell Stefan that she thought Damon might be cheating on her. One they were brothers and two she didn't want to admit it yet. Damon had been missing last night as well and when she was sorting his clothes in the laundry basket, she kept smelling perfume. The oddest thing was that she was sure she smelt it before. She knew it wasn't hers though and that was suspicious enough.
"Caroline?" Stefan calls once he sees she has gotten lost in thought. He also notices the way her brow is wrinkled in thought. "What is it?"
Caroline shakes her head with a faux smile on her face, "Nothing, everything is great Stefan. We just closed a major deal and with the deal, we already have with the restaurant, and the butcher's, plus everything we're making at the market we should be making more than half by January. We might even be able to pay back the loan sooner than we thought. Not to mention by the way things are going if we manage to pick up another restaurant or two, we might not need a follow-up loan."
"And that's great on the work front, but what about the personal front?"
"We're fine Stef. We are Damon and Caroline Salvatore. we are perfect."
"So, no problems?"
"Nope."
"Nothing about babies? Or his… drinking?"
Caroline sighed, "The babies are no longer an issue. If it happens again great, if not then we can look at other options but considering how young Bonnie is I think we're fine. Also, we might be fine money wise but not that fine… Unless of course, we have a son or two we can put them to work too. But anyways I can always be an aunt once you finally decide to settle down."
"O-kay. And the drinking?"
"No change there, but it's okay. He isn't Giuseppe, he won't hurt me. He won't."
Stefan nods hugging her. She sighs happily, "What's this for?"
"I can't hug my favorite sister," Stefan says pulling away.
"I love you, Stef." She says smiling.
"I love you too, Care. Now enough mushiness. Bonnie can you say 'Stef-n'." Stefan tells her as he moves from the couch to the floor where Bonnie is crawling and moves her to a standing position holding her arms to help her balance.
"You know we bumped into April the other day at the market and she was bragging about how her son 'Adrian' started walking at 14 months. Ugh, I hate her."
Stefan laughs, "Weren't you friends with her back at school."
"What does that have to do with anything. I was best friends with Hayley Marshall when I was five too doesn't mean I don't think she's a total tramp."
Stefan laughs, "Alright. I'm going to take her for a small lap around the room." Stefan says rising and helping Bonnie walk from one wall to another.
Caroline smiles watching bonnie babble to Stefan as she takes a step forward then pauses and takes another and so forth. She was beautiful and Damon loved her. Damon wouldn't hurt Bonnie or her. He wouldn't. He loved them.
Caroline groaned as she heard the phone. "You go get it." When she didn't hear Damon, she opened her eyes and saw he wasn't in bed. She slowly moved out of bed and moved to the door pausing when she heard someone answer the phone. She walked slowly down the stairs stopping a few steps up as she sees Damon whispering into the phone.
'Who could he be talking to at 11:42 at night?' she moves down the last few steps.
"Damon?"
Damon pauses what he was saying and turns to Caroline he mutters a goodbye and hangs up. "Hey. I'm about to head back up."
"Who was that?"
"Oh nobody."
Caroline bit the inside of her cheek, she gave a small smile, "Okay."
Elena smirks as she hangs up the phone. She managed to get a new package with more aphrodisiacs that would make Damon susceptible to her suggestions. She also managed to call an old friend, who she would swear was a witch, named Lucy who said that she should mix it into her lipstick so that with each kiss Damon would fall under her spell. She would also be able to suggest to Damon that he didn't love his wife as much as he did her. Caroline's hold on Damon was strong, but she already broke it without a spell this would just tie up loose ends.
Week 3 Day Six
Caroline wakes up and reaches over not surprised when her hand grabs air. It was the middle of the night and Damon was missing again. He had lied to her all day, too. It was just small things, but she caught them and when she tried to kiss him, he had run away from her way saying he had work.
His eyes had been cold too. She never told him any of her suspicions or any of her doubts, but ever since she found out he was lying to her for so long and disappearing in the middle of the night, taking phone calls after dark. She knew what was happening. She was a Sheriff's daughter she spent enough time at the station to realize the signs of a cheating spouse. But she refused to confront him. She was scared of pushing him away. She was afraid of what it meant to have him sleeping with another woman. She felt a tear fall down her cheeks and wiped it away. 'Damon loves me.' She lies to herself as more tears fall down her face.
"He loves me."
Week 3 Day Seven
Caroline frowns when she wakes up and Damon is still not home. She had waited up for him as she had previous nights. She would wait for him to arrive and feign being asleep to avoid any confrontation.
She moves to look into Bonnie's crib and presses a kiss to her forehead, she had to make things work with Damon. She had to bring him back to her. They were a family and Damon not leaving her had to mean something. It had to. Whatever Damon wanted her to do she'd do it for him.
She changes her clothes putting on one of her work dresses and heads downstairs to start breakfast. She grabs some bread a pan and some butter toasting the bread in the pan and places it on the table. She gets the jar of left-over blueberry compote Damon made the other day and places it on the table as she goes to the pantry to grab some eggs, peppers, and mushrooms to make omelets. She grabs some bacon and cheese to add to them as well and gets to work.
She has just finished making three veggie, cheese, and bacon omelets for her and the Salvatore brothers and one cheese omelet and a small strip of bacon on the side for Bonnie when Stefan entered.
"That smells amazing, Care!"
Caroline nods as she makes her coffee adding some milk and two spoons of sugar and placing it on the table. She then hands Stefan his coffee with milk. And pours warm milk with honey into a sippy cup for Bonnie.
"Thanks, I'm gonna grab Bonnie." Stefan rises grabbing her arm.
"It's alright, I'll get her." He tells her going upstairs. When he didn't spot his brother his brooding look fell on his face as he picked up Bonnie who was already awake when he got to her.
"Where's Damon?"
"Uh out," Caroline mutters playing with her eggs. Her mind going through different scenarios where Damon could be. She eats a quarter of her eggs even though she's lost her appetite knowing Stefan would wonder what was wrong. She also managed one whole slice of toast with blueberry compote and drank all her coffee.
All the while Stefan kept looking at her noticing how she was wearing makeup. He also could spot her faux smile and the tension on her shoulders.
"Where's Damon off to?"
Caroline moved out of her seat wiping Bonnie's face and gathering all the plates and cups from the table and moving them to the sink to wash.
Stefan raised an eyebrow. While Stefan knew his brother cooked when he was guilty, he knew that Caroline cleaned when she was upset.
"He uh went to Mason's. I think." Caroline sniffed but hoped the running water covered it up.
Stefan's blood ran cold, "Mason's?"
"I don't know…"
"Caroline? You can trust me. What's wrong?"
And like that the dam broke. Stefan moved behind her closing the tap and pulling her to him.
"What's wrong?" He repeated thumb reaching out to wipe her tears.
"He didn't come home last night. He sneaks off and comes back late. He smells like whiskey he is…"
"He's what Care?"
"He's lying to me."
Stefan gulps harshly he knew she would figure it out, but he didn't know what to tell her.
"I love him, Stefan."
"I know. Do you want me to talk to him?"
"No! He's already sneaking around drinking after we tried talking to him."
"Care we can't just let him continue doing… this." He wouldn't say the word unless she did, but he had an idea that she already connected the dots even if she refused to say anything.
"I don't know what to do." She cries holding onto him tighter, "I love him."
Stefan felt his heart clench he never wanted Caroline to be hurt like this.
"I'll talk to him."
"Please don't."
"I have to."
"Please." She begged tears falling harder as her breathing sped up. "You ca- can't"
Stefan nodded, he was still going to talk to his brother again, but he would do it tomorrow today he was going to be there for his friend.
Damon sighed contently as Elena played with his hair then moved to sit in the chair next to him reaching for a green apple and taking a bite.
"You should take me out to our spot by the water tomorrow."
"Our spot?"
"You know where we had our first kiss. Don't you think?"
Damon looked unsure his eye looking at the sunlight coming in from outside. He had missed breakfast with Caroline. 'Caroline.' He closed her eyes and could picture her blonde hair, her blue eyes, her smile. "I should go home."
Elena sighed reaching over and kissing him, "We should go to our spot by the water." He mumbles causing her to smirk.
"I'll meet you there." She presses her lips again to his making sure to draw it out. "Go home, I'll see you tonight."
Elena takes another bite of her apple as he leaves. He saw the hesitation in his eyes again. She had to get rid of Caroline soon and she knew how. It would even make a great story worth writing. The poor blonde drowning no longer being able to get in the way of her and Damon's love.
A/N and that's it! the whole three weeks of Delena till the day before chapter one. I can't believe it!
I was going to attach the last part of the present but decided to stretch this story a bit more. Especially since I decided I liked keeping the past and present separate.
Sooo with that let me say hi. Hey guys lol I really hope you guys like this chapter. I know I said it was supposed to be the final chapter, but then the whole glitch thing started pissing me off and i procrastinated a bit so the last part isn't finished. I will finish it soon and publish it in a few days so just keep an eye out. I'm thinking of posting Sunday or Monday.
Anyways what did you guys think. I know some days were way longer than others but I just wanted to focus on the important bits. Also what did you guys think of the plot twist with Elena and Lucy? I know it's a bit of a stretch but I seriously have no idea how Elena could have managed it other wise especially if I want to redeem Damon and focus on his love for Care.
One more thing I want to welcome and thank Arrow fan for following and favoriting this story. Whether you were keeping up with the story or just found it I'm glad you liked it enough to follow and fave. I also want to thank Daroline again for reviewing.
Thanks to everyone else for reading. Please let me know what you think.
Till next time! (For the final chapter!)
~Agent C.