CHAPTER 6

For the next hour Damon sat beside Stefan holding his hand and pondering over what Bonnie had told me on the phone. Was she telling the truth? Damon knew that he indeed of selfish. He had always done what he wanted to do irrespective of whether it was right or wrong. He was selfish and he openly admitted it. He was selfish enough to even snatch his brother's girl. But was he so selfish that in he was turning a blind eye to his little brother's pain just because he need his baby beother?Was he selfish that he was letting his brother suffer like this? Was he selfish in holding on to his little brother? Was he selfish that he just needed his little brother, he always has'.

He must have told Stefan a number of times that he will be the one to kill him and no one else but he never meant it. Those were just meaningless words blurted out in anger. Does he even have that much of courage to take away his little brother's life? All these thoughts were disturbing him.

Bonnie's words were echoing in his mind. He was selfish for letting his brother suffer... Then I would have freed him from all his sufferings. Instead of letting him suffer and die a painful death I would have killed him with my own hands... you should do the same Damon..

His chain of thoughts was broken by his brother's scream. Stefan was conscious and was screaming in agony. Damon jumped from the chair and rushed immediately to Stefan's side.

'Damon...aaahhhhh, Stefan screamed clutching his stomach. Dmaon quickly removed the blanked and saw that Stefan's shirt was again stained with blood. He pulled up Stefan's shirt to find a deep wound as if someone had stabbed him in the stomach. After patching up Stefan's wound Damon sat on the bed and took Stefan's in his arms, he placed Stefan's head on his lap.

Stefan continued saying, 'Please brother I can't take it any longer, it hurts...I..I...Damon interrupted him and said in a hushed, soothing tone,'Shh,shhh Stef it's okay. Just close your eyes.

Damon had decided that for once he will put someone before him, his baby brother. He will no longer let him suffer. Damon Salvatore will be selfless for his brother. He will free Stefan from this suffering. He will no longer be selfish even if it means that he will lose his little brother forever.

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Damon tried to soothe Stefan by stroking his forehead tenderly,'Shh just close your eyes Stef and I promise the pain will be gone.

Stefan was in a semi conscious state but he was conscious enough to understand what Damon was telling him to do. Any which ways he was so weak and exhausted that closing his eyes seemed like the best idea in the world. He slowly closed his eyes.

When sun opened his eyes he was surprised to see what he was looking at. He was pleasantly surprised. He was no longer lying on his bed rather he was standing in front of his old house. The place where he and Damon grew up, the place where they had spent their childhood together. So many memories were attached to this place both happy and sad but precious nonetheless. It was exactly how he remembered it, nothing had changed. Then he suddenly noticed something else, he was wearing the same white shirt with suspenders which he used to wear when he was a human before he turned. Everything was beautiful. The house, the lush green grass and the warm sunlight falling on his face, 'Wait' Stefan thought 'This is not real, I must be dreaming.' Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to find Damon standing in front of him who was also wearing similar outfit as him.

'Hey brother, what you are thinking is correct, it's a dream.' You were so weak, exhausted and in so much pain that I felt this was the best way to ease your pain. So, here we are brother.' Damon walked few steps forward and picked up the football which was lying in the centre of the garden. Damon turned around and threw the ball in Stefan's direction which Stefan caught swiftly. Stefan threw the ball back to Damon and they continued playing like this for a while and then both lied down on the grass next to one another just like the old times. Sunlight was hitting on Stefan's smiling face perfectly and his eyes were beautifully green. A wave of relief and happiness rushed over Damon when he noticed the smile on Stefan's face. He was glad to see his brother was smiling and his eyes looked lively again. 'You should accept the fact that I am a better player than you', Stefan said with a smile on his face. Damon grinned and said, 'Of course brother but never forget who taught you this game in the first place,' Damon said with a chuckle. Damon ruffled Stefan's hair and then he got up and started running towards the house, 'Stef don't you want to come in?' Damon signalled Stefan to come with him.

'Hey! Wait for me', Stefan followed his big brother inside the house.

Once they reached inside the house. Damon was the first to speak, 'Come on brother! Few more surprised are there for you.'

'Surprises! What surprises?' Stefan enquired.

'My little brother it wouldn't be a surprise if I tell you' Damon quipped and added 'follow me upstairs to your room and you will know.' Damon raced up the stairs followed by Stefan close behind.

Damon opened Stefan's room and signalled Stefan to come inside. Stefan entered the room and what he saw filled his heart with emotions. He couldn't express what he was feeling at the moment. He saw that his mother was sitting on the bed and an 8 year old Damon was sitting beside her. In her mother's lap was a few months old baby. This baby was none other than Stefan himself. She was rocking him gently and singing him a lullaby. He remembered this was the same lullaby she used to sing him every night till he was 5 years old. He remembered his mother's warm, touch and her melodious voice. He missed her mother so much. All he ever wanted was to be able to see his mother again and hear her sing the same lullaby to him one last time and this is exactly what was happening. His mother was right in front of eyes singing the same lullaby.

Sleep my child and peace attend thee,
All through the night.
Guardian angels God will send thee,
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping,
I my loved ones' watch am keeping,
All through the night.

Angels watching, e'er around thee,
All through the night.
Midnight slumber close surround thee,
All through the night.
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping,
I my loved ones' watch am keeping,
All through the night.

After putting him to sleep his mother spoke to Damon,'Damon my son I want you to make a promise. I want you to always protect your little brother because I will not be here to protect him always. I want you to take care of him and try to fulfil all his wishes. Will you do this my darling?'

Damon replied, 'Yes mother, I promise. I will fulfil all his wishes and never let anything happen to him.'

And then this visual faded away.

A tear fell from Stefan's eye; 'I can't thank you enough brother for this memory, I don't know what to say.'

Damon kept his hand on Stefan's shoulder, 'Stefan this is only the beginning of your surprise. This is my turn to fulfil the promise I made to mother. One of your wishes has come true now it's time to fulfil the rest. Yes you heard me right Stef, it's time to fulfil your bucket list dear brother.

Close your eyes again brother.

This time when Stefan opened his eyes he was no longer in his old house but it was a completely different place. This was like heaven. He was standing near a beautiful lake. It had crystal clear blue water which was gleaming in the light of the sun. In front of him were the lush green grass and a small white picket fenced house. Stefan couldn't believe what he was seeing and experiencing at the moment.

Damon once again appeared from behind and wrapped his arm around Stefan's shoulder. 'Wouldn't you want to go inside brother,' he said in a hushed tone with a genuine small on his face.

Stefan was so overwhelmed that he couldn't say anything, he simply nodded.

'Then what are waiting for brother, go inside and experience the life you always wanted to have. This is your second surprise brother, another wish fulfilled.' Damon said with a smile.

Stefan walked towards the house. He always dreamt of living in a white picket fenced home with the love of his life, two kids and a dog. This was his idea of a perfect, happy life. This was his vision of a happily ever after which he could never experience and lying on his death bed his heart had broken thinking that he would never be able to have this wish ever come true. Even if it meant only for some time but all thanks to his brother he could at least experience the life he would never have.

As soon as he opened the door he was greeted by an adorable golden retriever who was goofily playing around in the small but very cosy and comfortable living area. He proceeded ahead to the direction from where some noises were coming. He reached the dining area where two kinds were playing happily with their toys. One was a 7 year old boy who looked exactly like him with beautiful green eyes and other was a little girl not more than 4 years old with brown hair tied in a pony with a pink ribbon. He took few steps towards them but suddenly stopped when he saw his own version approach the kids. As soon as the kids saw him a wide smile spread on their beautiful faces. They were so happy and excited to see him. 'Daddy, you are home!' said the little girl raising her arms in air indicating Stefan to lift her up. Stefan happily lifted the little angel in her arms and kissed her on the cheek, the little kissed Stefan's cheek in return and said ,'I love you daddy!' to which Stefan replied 'Daddy loved you too princess.' And then spoke to the little boy,' Hey buddy! How was school?' The little boy replied with a grin, 'Awesome dad! I got A+ in the science.' That's amazing champ, give me a high five.' Stefan said and then the father-son duo high fived. He and kids continued talking and goofing around playfully.

Stefan was watching all of this from only a few feet afar. He was watching himself and his kids together. This is was the future he always desired. One hand he desperately wished that this illusion, this dream could somehow come true but on the other hand he was well aware of the fact that he was on his death bed, lying there in pain in his brother's laps taking his last breaths. He was glad that at least he could experience what his desired life would have been like.

His thoughts were interrupted by a female voice which was coming from the kitchen, 'Hey baby you home? Would you mind coming in the kitchen and taste the cake which I have baked.'

The other Stefan said, 'Yes honey coming in a minute.' And then he quipped in a hushed tone to the kids, 'Let's see what disaster your mommy has cooked up this time.' The kids laughed adorably covering their mouths so that their mom does not hear them laughing.

Then the other Stefan left the kids who resumed their play and went straight into the kitchen.

Stefan followed him as well. In the kitchen he saw a girl who was standing with her back to him and he saw himself standing next to that girl. Stefan gently removed the strands of hair from her neck and placed a soft kiss on her neck and said,'I love you'. The girl giggled and replied,' I love you too Stefan.' She turned and wrapped her arms around Stefan's neck and both of them kissed.

Stefan was taken aback when he saw the girl's face. She was once his epic love, she was the girl he truly fell in love with, and she was his soul mate 'ELENA'.

His version spoke to Elena, 'This is all I ever wanted you know. I just wish we had an eternity to live so that could love you forever.' To this Elena replied,' you know Stefan I will always love and this right here is our little infinity!'

The two of them again indulged in a romantic, passionate kiss and this was Stefan and Elena's happily ever after.

The vision once again faded into white light. Stefan was once again standing in the middle of the green lush grass near the shore of the lake.

'So, how was it? Your idea of a happily ever after.' Damon said and then added with a smile,' so, my dear you can put a check mark on one more wish from your bucket list which is now complete. I must say it was not that long. 'Damon chuckled in order to lighten the atmosphere a bit.

Stefan finally spoke, 'Damon, Brother I-I'. Stefan couldn't frame the right words to tell Damon what he was feeling at the moment.

Damon interrupted him and said, 'I know Stefan, for you it will always be Elena and for her it will always be you. Both of us didn't tell you this before as we were waiting for the right time but the truth is Elena and I broke up a few months ago. You had switched off your humanity and then you turned into a human and then all of this happened, so much was going on with you that we couldn't find the right time to inform you. Elena realised that no matter how much she loved me, but she never unfell for you little brother. When she saw you fell off the wagon she realised she needed your presence in her life. You are her constant brother. I taught her to embrace the darkness but you, you taught her to embrace the good within her. You are the link to her humanity. She is still in love with you Stefan. It took me a while to realise but I have come to terms with the fact that you two are meant to be.

Stefan took a while to comprehend what he just heard, 'He never fell out of love with Elena. He knew that he would take her back in a heartbeat if she ever found her way back to him. Stefan was elated to hear those words, 'ELENA NEVER UNFELL FOR HIM, SHE WAS STILL IN LOVE WITH HIM.' He wished he could see and touch Elena and take her in his embrace at this very moment but then the reality struck him and it struck him hard. He cannot have any future with Elena because there was no future because he was DYING. He composed himself and took a deep breath and finally spoke, 'WERE meant to be Damon, were meant to be', Stefan emphasised on the word 'were' and then continued 'I can't thank you enough for these visions brother. But I want you to accept the fact that I am leaving, I am leaving everyone behind brother including Elena. Yes, I could never truly fall in love with any other girl. Elena was my true love. But now I want you to take care of her and love her forever. I want you to promise me that you will not turn off your humanity, you will always be happy and you will not shed a single tear for me once I am gone. A smile should come on your face instead of a tear when you remember the moments we spent together brother. A tear fell from Stefan's eyes but he continued, I don't have the chance of a happily ever after brother, not anymore but you do and I want you to promise me that you will take that chance. I want you and her to be happy always. This brother is my last dying wish and I want you to promise me that you will fulfil it. Wouldn't you fulfil your dying little brother's last wish?' Stefan said with a faint smile and a tear in his eye...

To be continued...

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