The three girls, the twins and Bonnie, are in the kitchen preparing dinner, half of which Alexis cooked with Bonnie's help and the other half to go food from some take out place Elena ordered. Bonnie huffs at the girl as she speaks up."You explain it. Last night, I'm watching Nine-o, a commercial breaks come on and I'm like, I bet it's that phone commercial. And sure enough, it's that guy and the girl with the bench, he flies to Paris and he flies back. They take a picture." Bonnie speaks matter of factly and Elena groans because Bonnie is really drilling this into the ground while Alexis just laughs at it.
"Oh, come on. That commercial's on a constant loop." The older twin dismisses Bonnie's thoughts but Alexis does find it pretty interesting so she isn't as quick to dismiss and lets herself entertain the thought.
"Fine. Well, how about this? Today I'm obsessed with numbers. 3 numbers. I keep seeing 8, 14, and 22. How weird is that?"
"Maybe they mean something." Alexis suggests, tilting her head, with a shrug.
"Like?" Bonnie asks having no idea what they could mean but do think that they mean something, they have to.
"Maybe we should play the lottery. Have you talked to your Grams?" Elena inquires and Bonnie slumps slightly with a sigh.
"She's just gonna say it's because I'm a witch. I don't want to be a witch. Do you want to be a witch?" Bonnie asks both the twins reluctantly.
"I don't want to be a witch." Elena rejects the idea being content human as Elena picks up at to go food container, pouring it into a bowl while Alexis prepares the food she cooked.
"And putting it in a nice bowl isn't fooling anybody." Alexis laughs softly, probably teasing her nervous sister because she is also a little nervous. Elena rolls her eyes at her younger twin.
"Okay, serving spoons. Where are the serving spoons?" Elena asks, mostly to herself as she stands, looking around the kitchen and Bonnie closes her eyes a moment before responding.
"Middle drawer on your left." Bonnie predicts and Elena, humoring her best friend, opens the middle draw on her left. Alexis watches her sister with curious eyes that turn to amused bemused when Elena sees the serving spoons in the draw. Elena quickly shakes her head, already in denial as she grabs them and turns back to the other girls.
"Okay, so you've been in this kitchen like a thousand times." She deadpans, dubious look on her face.
"Yeah, that's it." Bonnie breathes out, not really thinking that but maybe needing to. Alexis just shakes her head and she's about to make a comment but she's cut off when the doorbell rings. She looks over to the direction of the noise suddenly feeling her heart speed up which is strange because this is meant to be a friend thing with her babies father right?
"Okay, he's here-" Elena tells Bonnie before her eyes briefly flick to her twin. "-or he is here, maybe both are here, okay? Don't be nervous. Just be your normal loving self." Alexis and Bonnie aren't sure if she's telling them or herself but they can't question it before Elena is grabbing Alexis's hand and dragging her to the door to greet them.
Before everyone sits down and she saw Matt at the door she could feel her self blushing slightly, her heart beating quickly but she manages to calm down quickly as she starts talking with everyone.
A while later she's sitting next to Matt at dinner and there wasn't a noticeable lull in the conversation with everyone as it all just came so naturally. The night is turning out to be a really good one but out of everyone it's only Bonnie that doesn't seem like she's having fun at all, like she'd rather be anywhere but here as everyone else is talking, joking and laughing. Alexis is laughing at some story that Matt just told about something ridiculous that happened when they were all kids. She looks to her and her laughter dies off slowly caught by him as she realizes that this dinner means so much more than she thought or maybe she did know how much it really does mean. He catches her staring and smiles back in a bemusing way, bringing her back to reality as she had been caught up in her own thoughts for a while. "You okay?" He asks, soft look on his face but his eyes hold mostly fondness and a little bit of concern.
She doesn't really have to think about her response, it just falls from her lips. "Perfect." She assures him, and it's true because at the moment she feels pretty good about everything. She turns back to the conversation after a brief moment. Eventually the topic starts to shift and Elena looks over to Stefan, curiously.
"Did Tanner give you a hard time today? " Elena asks and Stefan gives a thoughtful look with a slight shrug because it honestly wasn't too bad to what he's endured in the past but he can't say he likes the man.
"Well, he let me on the team, so I must have done something right." He smiles and Matt huffs at that, knowing that's the easiest Tanner will go on him ever.
"Don't get used to it, Tanner is tough coach." Matt warns him, but is only slightly joking as he says it.
"Noted." Stefan says, tilting his head slightly and Elena frowns thinking Bonnie and Stefan haven't been talking enough. She leans forward looking between her best friend and Stefan.
"Bonnie, you should have seen Stefan today. Tyler threw a ball right at him, and-." Elena starts, and Alexis watches as Bonnie shuts down that attempt quickly.
"Yeah, I heard." Bonnie deadpans, seeming very not interested making Alexis frown slightly because she's already pretty good friends with Stefan and she doesn't understand why Bonnie won't see what other do. Alexis pauses because maybe Bonnie does, that's why she's so adverse to Stefan.
"Why don't you tell Stefan about your family?" Elena suggests, wanting the two to get to know each other.
"Um, divorced. No mom. Live with my dad." Bonnie doesn't even look up, speaking so awkwardly and Elena isn't having it.
"No, about the witches. Bonnie's family has a lineage of witches. It's really cool." The older twin insists.
"Cool isn't the word I'd use." She huffs out and Matt tilts his head,
"Witches? God Bonnie's grandma always used to babel about that stuff." Matt laughs with no heat behind it just fondness at the memories of being with Bonnie and the other girls growing up. The crazy stories Bonnie's grandmother would tell always amused them, no matter the time of day.
"They are pretty cool." Alexis agrees with a soft chuckle.
"Not really." Bonnie huffs, rolling her eyes, really souring the mood and it's Stefan who speaks up this time.
"Well, it's certainly interesting. I'm not too versed, but I do know that there's a history of Celtic druids that migrated here in the 1800's." Stefan informs her, looking quite interested that Bonnie
"My family came by way of Salem." Bonnie admits, looking up to him.
"Really? Salem witches?" He asks, eyes wider looking even more interested than he did a moment before.
"Yeah." She confirms
"I would say that's pretty cool." Stefan tells her truthfully and Bonnie tilts her head, furrowing her brow.
"Really? Why?" She questions, furrowing her brow slightly.
"Salem witches are heroic examples of individualism and nonconformity." Stefan explains.
"Yeah, they are." She speaks softly, small and proud smile on her lips as she starts to think Stefan isn't really that bad. Suddenly the door bell rings again causing the twins to both look confused.
"I wonder who that could be." Elena comments as she moves to get up but Alexis beats her to it.
"I'll get it." Alexis tells her sister, pushing herself up when Elena had moved to get up. She heads over to the front door and answers it. The pregnant girl pulls the door open and before her Caroline has a bright smile on her lips.
"Surprise!" Caroline cheers as she darts forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Alexis in a quick embrace. The brunette looks a little taken back as to why she's here and how out of character it is for her not to text first before showing up. "Bonnie said you were doing dinner, so we brought dessert."
"Oh, Okay. That's fine." Alexis tells her only just hearing that Caroline used the word 'we' causing her to furrow her brow and look only then notices Caroline hasn't come alone as her eyes stop on the rather attractive man beside Caroline. It's the guy from earlier today, Damon, Stefan's brother and Alexis doesn't really know how to react.
"Damon? Right?" She asks him as Caroline slips into the house. Damon smiles at her, seeming amused by something and has the look that he know something she doesn't in his eyes.
"Hope you don't mind, Alex." He tells her amusement in his tone, seeming pretty cool but he shortens her name and that sits wrong with her straight away. Only Jeremy and uncle John has really has ever called her 'Alex' and rarely any one else is usually family or close enough she considers them that. She shift her weight from one foot the the other.
"It's Alexis." She corrects him, finding it strange he even guessed right which twin she was when she's never meet him before.
"Alexis, Sorry." Damon breaths out, locking eyes with her and it sends an uneasy shiver up her spine. She's about to say something but suddenly Stefan is by her side looking at his older brother.
"What are you doing here?" The younger Salvatore demands of his older brother who doesn't even bother looking at him, keeping his eyes on Alexis.
"Waiting for Alexis to invite me in." Damon doesn't even look at his brother as he speaks. There's bad blood, she can tell and it's so obvious. She can feel the tension between them and it makes her feel out of place right now. She looks to Stefan, not having seen him like this but Damon speaks up, drawing her eyes back to him.
She's a welcoming girl, she's feeling a little over protective at the moment but she knows she's safe. Stefan's here and Matt's here, nothing bad will happened so she'll let him in, he won't be staying long anyway. He looks smug, daring but she feels easier as his face softens suddenly. His eyes flick down so quickly she hardly notices it. That soft, caught look is gone after a brief moment.
"Yes, you can..." She starts but Stefan cuts her off, having the overwhelming urge to protect not just Elena in the other room but feeling more of an urge to protect Alexis, Pregnant Alexis, who is someone he's already easily considering a best friend.
"No, no, no. He can't, uh...he can't stay. Can you, Damon?" Stefan excuses his brothers and Damon looks to him, about to snip back when another voice speaks up.
"Get in here." Caroline calls from inside the house.
"We're just...finishing up." Stefan insists, trying not to have Alexis invite him in. Alexis looks to him in question and Stefan gives her a warning look, telling her to trust him. She does, she trusts Stefan's judgement. She turns back to look at Damon, apologetic look on her face.
"I'm sorry, we are really just fin-" She starts and Stefan visibly relaxes while Damon looks put out but it doesn't last long as Elena comes over to the door.
"What's taking so long?" Elena asks as she comes to stand between Stefan and Alexis. Damon is quick to jump at the chance of getting invited in.
"Your sister was about to invite me in." Damon lies and Alexis suddenly feels really off about him
"Well come in, Caroline's waiting." Elena tells him, gently pushing her sister arm so she'll step back while stepping back herself so he can walk in. Damon steps over the threshold into the house as Stefan and Alexis share a look.
"You have a beautiful home, Elena...Alexis."
"Thank you." Elena tells him as she and Damon head over to the others. Alexis looks to Stefan, wondering what's going on.
"You and you brother..?" She starts and Stefan lets out a sigh, shaking his head.
"There was a reason I didn't tell you about him." He admits, not caring if Damon is listening to them as he look to Alexis. "It's complicated and he isn't a good person." He confesses and she pales slightly, looking over to Damon who's wrapping an arm around Caroline and looking over to her. Alexis frowns softly at him.
Matt can tell something's uneasy with Alexis when they all settle in the living room. She's sitting back in the chair in the lounge while Matt sits on the arm of it as he wouldn't let her, wanting her to be comfortable while the others sit on the couch and other arm chair.
"I cannot believe that Mr. Tanner let you on the team." The blonde cheerleader admits as she leans forward to look at Stefan.
"He was hoping you'd just strike out and look like an idiot after you made him look like one." Matt speaks up, humor in his voice causing the others who were in the class chuckle at the memory of Stefan making Tanner look like a fool. Although a little uneasy at Damon's presences Alexis finds herself laughing softly, leaning against Matt.
"Tyler must be seething. But good for you. Go for it." Caroline encourages him.
"That's what I always tell him. You have to engage. You can't just sit there and wait for life to come to you. You have to go get it." Damon adds, agreeing with the blonde as he looks to his brother while something glints in his eyes that Alexis doesn't trust. Caroline nods looking at him.
"Yeah, Elena and Alexis wasn't so lucky today." Caroline admits, turning her eyes to look between the twins with a sad look on her face. "It's only because they missed summer camp. God, I don't know how they're ever going to learn the routines."
"I literally created the routine last year." Alexis tells her friend sharply, slightly defensive because yes she doesn't know any of the other routines but she made this one and Caroline's just sweeping it under the rug. Bonnie, sensing tensions are rising and knowing how Alexis and Caroline can get when they fight, speaks up.
"I'll work with them. They'll get it." Bonnie assures her in a clipped tone but Caroline really just ignores Bonnie.
"I guess we can put them in the back." Caroline's sighs with a slight shrug and now she's really getting on Alexis nerves, which is strange because Alexis usually is so good at handling the blonde.
"Oh my god." Alexis breaths out, hand coming up to run through her hair, it's obvious she's getting really annoyed and she feels Matt's hand settle between her shoulder, silently trying to make sure she's okay.
"You know, you two don't seem like the cheerleader type, Elena, Alexis." Damon says thoughtfully, trying to also quite Caroline and before either of the twins can speak up, once again, Caroline speaks up.
"Oh, it's just 'cause their parents died and now Alexis is also knocked up by Matt here, which she isn't even dating, who is Elena's ex boyfriend. But yeah, I mean, they're just totally going through a blah phase. They used to be way more fun." She's says it so coldly and dismissively. Alexis abruptly pushes herself up, to stand, causing everyone to look at her as she look to Caroline.
"Okay, I've had enough, Caroline."
"And I say that with complete sensitivity." She tries to back peddle, looking down and apologetic but Alexis is having it.
"Get out." She's had enough and the room goes still and no one knows if they heard here right because this is so unlike Alexis.
"What?" Caroline asks softly, taken back.
"I want you and your new guy to get out, you're not welcome here." The thing she's a sweetheart but she's also a cheerleader, she knows how to be mean and this is really nothing. She's annoyed with how Caroline is acting and how Damon is even here. Alexis pauses for moment, mock thoughtfully. "Oh and I say that with complete sensitivity."
"Alexis!" Elena colds her younger twin softly and Alexis whips to look at her, seeing the hurt Caroline inflicted in her eyes.
"Seriously, Elena?!" Alexis asks her sister in disbelief and Elena doesn't say anything for a moment. "Fine, I'll just go... clean up then, because I'm not staying here with them." Alexis huff out shaking her head before heading off to the kitchen without even bothering to look back.
"Alexis, wai-" Caroline stands up to go after her but Matt stops her as he gets up, shooting a look at the cheerleader.
"Haven't you done enough, Caroline?" Matt scolds her, looking at the girl like she had to off just bumped her head.
She's in the kitchen, turning on the hot water for the dishes and getting the dish washing soap. "About what Caroline said..." He starts, walking over to her and she look over her shoulder at him, looking put out.
"It's true but the way she just...threw it at us." She trails off in a sigh, shaking her head, and looking down. Alexis knows Caroline is still just reeling from Stefan choosing Elena over her but this felt like it was more than just that.
"Look I know this isn't ideal, far from it and there are somethings we can't change.." She turns off the tap turning to face him, leaning back against the counter and looking up at him.
"We can handle it, handle this. Together." She tells him firmly, she's nervous but her nerves about Matt not being there or something like that are completely gone.
"But we can change some things if we'd want..and I do." He tells her and that catches her off guard.
"What do you mean?" She furrows her brow and she doesn't understand what he's saying completely. She's frowning slightly, looking confused but he thinks she looks kind of adorable.
"I.." He starts but he pauses working up his courage. "I like you, Alexis." He tells her, meeting her eyes and it's like she has forgotten how to breathe, her heart beating like a drum in her chest.
"I'd hope so..." She tells him, breathlessly as her lips quirk into a smile and her cheeks flame red. The look on his face has her continuing quickly. "And I like you too, Matt..I-" She confesses so softly but she's cut off all to soon when a ringing sound cracks through the air. He groans as he realizes it's his phone and she sighs, her eyes falling shut at the moment being gone.
He answers the phone, throwing Alexis an apologetic look as he does so, she gives him a tight lipped smile. She slumps a little as he talks on the phone, feeling as if she just fell back to the ground. After a moment when Matt hangs up his phone he turns back to her with another apologetic look and she knows he has to leave.
"One of Vicki's friends...she needs my help, I have to go pick her up." He tells her carefully, looking disappointed and regretful.
"Go, We'll talk another time." She tells him and Matt gives her a questioning look.
"Are you sure?" He asks and she nods slowly.
"Yeah, I hope everything is okay." She assures him and he steps forward, nodding before wrapping his arms around her in an embrace.
"Thanks." He thanks her softly, holding her close and she finds herself relaxes in his grip so easily as he kisses the top of her head, on purpose this time. She likes hugging Matt, he has a way of making her feel safe and at home whenever they hug, she likes that.
When Matt leaves she stays in the kitchen alone, doing the dishes, but she doesn't stay alone for long as Damon wonders into the kitchen only moments later and asks if she needs help. She just lets out a sigh, not wanting to get into another altercation and throws a small towel at him, putting him on drying duty even though she doesn't really what him there. After a moment of silence as they get to cleaning up Damon speaks up. "Sorry about earlier...Caroline was.." He apologizing without really apologizing for his part.
"Don't put this all on Caroline, you tricked my sister into inviting you in our house." She remarks, accusation in her quite tone as she passes him another dish for him to dry and he lets out a loud exhale.
"You weren't going to invite me in just because of my brother?" He questions, voice flat.
"Not just because of that but I trust your brother's judgement." She tells him firmly, giving him a brief look before turning back to the task of cleaning the dishes at hand. "I have enough family drama and I don't yours as well."
"Understandable." Damon comments, with a tilt of his head and hitch of his brows. She doesn't reply to that and after while, they get through more of the dishes and he speaks up again. "So what Caroline said...You're going to be a mother?" He asks her that even though he knows it's true. She's pregnant, maybe that's why Stefan's clinging to her as well, because having a child is one of the most human and alive things a person can do and Stefan likes being around what makes him feel human. Alexis pauses for a brief moment before nodding slowly.
"I am." She confirms, continuing cleaning. He smiles a little, arching an eyebrow.
"That must be exciting... and hard."
"It is." It's getting clearer she doesn't really want to talk to him as Stefan's earlier words about his brother playing like a martyr in her head. He can see her unease toward him clearly, he just is trying to think of a way to win her over even just slightly while having fun.
"You know what it is, any names yet?"
"No, we have to wait until next ultrasound to find out and no names yet." She huffs out lightly, not heat behind it at all. He stops and looks at her.
"I like you. You know how to laugh. "
"I do?" She laughs, arching a brow at him and wondering why on earth he likes her.
"See right there and earlier tonight." He tells her and she laughs softly at his game finding this innocent enough. "And you and your sister make Stefan smile, which is something I haven't seen in a very long time."
"I'm not Stefan's girlfriend." She tells him because they way he said it was as if his brother was dating both of them Damon just looks at her with an intrigued look as he shakes his head.
"Exactly, you're his friend. Stefan doesn't have many friends which is something that makes you so much more interesting." Damon tells her, looking at her just a little too long and like she's a mystery which is strange as she's an open book. She pauses, contemplating his words.
"You know, Stefan and I know what it's like to lose people to, we've watched almost every we've ever cared about, even her, die.
"I'm sorry...her?" She asks, voice suddenly so much more softer and honest.
"Katherine." He sees the question look on her face. "Hasn't Stefan told you about her?" He asks, with a surprised facade.
"I think my sister mentioned she was Stefan's ex...She died?" She asks carefully, concern for Stefan because so much death..she can understand why he says he's a loner now and what drove him to be so.
"Mhmm, tragic, in a fire." His voice is so distant as he speaks, she can tell he carries allot of pain over her death.
"Recent?" She asks but she's quick to stop herself. "Sorry I shouldn't be prying. If Stefan wants me to know about Katherine, he'll tell me." She says it with such conviction Damon almost feels sorry for her.
"You have so much misplaced faith in my brother..."
"I'm sorry about Katherine though." She tells him honestly.
"Thank you." With that the tension starts to settle but there's still plenty there.
After everyone leaves Elena's in bed before her and Alexis finds herself looking around the room, thinking, although she loves sharing a room with her sister, it's going to be time soon that she has her own room, lucky they have one of the twins old room spare that is now currently the guest room. She was going to move fully into the room a few months ago but her parents died and she couldn't bare being alone. She's actually not sure whose room this was or whose the guest room was but it is right next to Elena's and growing up when they were given their own room they always ended up sleeping in each others room so one day they just both decided to stay in this one.
She nods her head looking around before moving and crawling to her bed. As she falls asleep she doesn't notices there's a crow on her window still.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you thought because I felt (because i want a max of only to chaps per day) this felt a little rough or not as good..idk sorry i missed any mistakes. Any suggestions on baby names welcome as that topic will be brought up very soon!
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