Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN: Chapter 8! Thanks again for all the reviews, alerts, and favorites guys. XD

DPOV. September 1st 2016.

It may sound absurd...but don't be naïve

Even heroes have the right to bleed

I may be disturbed...but won't you concede

Even heroes have the right to dream

And it's not easy, being me

I open his door to find him sprawled out on the bed, blanket on the floor and Elena's old teddy bear in his arms. His dark hair covering his eyes. I smile. He looks so much like Stefan did at that age. I walk over and sit on his bed, shaking him.

"Alex" I whisper. "It's time to wake up little man. First day of school today, remember?"

His eyes open and he sits up with his hair pointing in every direction.

"Daddy?" He asks, reaching for me. I sit him on my lap and give him a few minutes to fully wake up.

"Will there be lots of kids there?" He asks, playing with the ring on my finger, the one I never took off.

"Yea but don't worry, I'm sure they'll all love you." I tell him, pushing his hair out of his eyes.

"Is mommy awake?"

"Yea, she's down stairs making breakfast." I tell him with a smirk. He makes a face of disgust and groans. "Don't worry, we'll get breakfast on the way to school." I say, putting a smile on his face.

He climbs off my lap and walks over to his closet, looking around curiously.

"Want my help?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "I can do it all by myself." He says pulling random items of clothing off the hangers. He walks out with dark jeans, a gray t-shirt, and his black dress shoes.

"You are definitely my son." I tell him. He smiles and after he's dressed heads towards the bathroom. He grabs his hairbrush first, spending five minutes getting his hair the way he wants.

"Anytime now, Alex" I sigh. He looks at me with a smirk. Ten minutes later and he emerges from the bathroom.

"I have taught you well" I tell him, giving him a thumbs up. "But I think its time for a haircut or we might have to start calling you Alexandria.

"I like it this way" He says, giving me a disapproving look. I put up my hands in mock surrender.

When we get downstairs, Alex pretends to love breakfast, hugs Elena goodbye, and then we're out the door. On the way to school he's silent in the backseat. After we pick up breakfast a nervous expression appears on his face. When we get there I carry him to his classroom door. I try to put him down but he latches his arms around my neck.

"Alex you'll be fine, I promise. There's nothing to be afraid of." I tell him.

He shakes his head. "I don't want to go. I don't know anybody. Can I just go to the meeting with you? Please daddy?" He asks, giving me his puppy dog face.

I sigh. Maybe I taught him a little too well.

"How about this. If you go in there and listen to your teacher, then after school we'll pick up mommy and go get ice cream. Ok?"

He nods and I put him down. He pulls on my hand until I get down on one knee.

"I guess I try this school thing out." He sighs. I smile and nod.

"I love you daddy." He says, putting his arms around my neck and squeezing.

"I love you too, little man. Have a good day."

He turns around and walks into his classroom. Putting on a brave face. I feel my eyes stinging and turn to walk back to the car.

When did you become so mushy, Salvatore? Easy. When I became a dad.

I get to the council meeting five minutes late. Liz does not look happy.

"Sorry I'm late Liz. Today was Alex's first day of school and he was a little nervous."

"No problem. Just call ahead if your going to be late next time. We thought something might have gotten you." She says.

"Nah, I can take those vampires down it's just the five year old I have trouble with." I say.

"Never thought I'd see the day when Damon Salvatore became a family man." She says, shaking her head.

"Me either." I tell her. She laughs and sits down as we start the meeting.

After hours of discussing topics that had nothing to do with the supernatural, helping Carol move furniture, and a trip to the grocery store, I'm on my way to the cemetery. I walk to my brothers grave and stand there, staring down at it.

"I'm not really good at this sort of thing." I mumble.

"Alex had his first day of school today. You should've been here to see it. He was nervous at first but he's a brave kid. He's a lot like you in some ways."

All of a sudden something comes over me, an unbearable feeling in the pit of my stomach. I fall to my knees in the grass, tears stinging my eyes.

"Why the hell did you do this Stefan? Why did you have to go get yourself killed?"

"How could you do this to Elena and Alex?"

"To me" I whisper, looking at the ground. I sit there for a long time, playing with the grass and thinking in silence. After what feels like forever I stand up and brush myself off.

"Goodbye brother."

I walk back to my car and step on the gas, promising myself to never come here again.

Time to go pick Alex up from school anyway. Why did I even go there? Was it supposed to bring me peace? Put my thoughts to rest? He's gone. Talking to a stone with his name on it helps no one. It won't bring him back and it sure as hell won't make me stop missing him. God, I miss the time when I hated his guts. It was so much easier than loving him.