and it will bring you happiness

jess- I am sorry that you didn't like my conclusion for the story. And no, actually, I didn't change my mind at the last minute. What happened was after writing the second chapter, I lost my inspiration for what I was working with and I decided to go another way. This is the way that I went. This is my first time writing suspense and I see that I succeeded and making everyone go crazy with wondering what happened to Stefan. It was only three chapters and even my own twisted mind couldn't handle it for so long. I do know exactly what you were hoping for but not all stories have a happy ending. I mean, jeez, look at the Season 7 finale of Supernatural! (Sorry) I do intend on writing my original idea for this story but that won't be up for a while. I am concentrating on my other stories now, including my Supernatural/Hunger Games crossover to which I do need to finish. :P And yes, I do love Steroline very much along with Bamon. I also ship Elejah too but Steroline is my OTP.

victoria- thank you! I am very pleased with my outcome and also your reaction. That's great that you think that I kept it suspenseful enough to keep you enthralled. I do appreciate those kind words of yours and I do hope that you like this epilogue. I do have to say though to you and to jess too that I did promise brotherly moments and I did give them to you. I just didn't say how I was going to bring them in.

ALostHeart- Thank you! You are so sweet! By the way, are you a fan of the Hunger Games and Supernatural?

DvR- Oh, thanks! Yeah, I know I am a dirty stinker. I created this story in my head due to the fact that on the show, we never see Damon really trying to help Stefan. In the beginning, yes. Season 1 had lots of brotherly moments but after that, it just seemed to be all about Elena, nobody really gave a damn about how Stefan was doing and how he was dealing. I just like to think that if it came down to a situation like this, either a stake or a bullet; Damon would protect his little brother. It just seems to me that it's always Stefan that's doing the protecting.

a/n: Please listen to the song "Happiness" by Grant Lee Buffalo.

"Stefan? Stefan, honey, wake up."

Her hands were so gentle on his forehead and cheek, carefully rousing him from his slumber. His eyelids started to flutter and he found himself rejoining the living.

"Hey..." he whispered, loving the fact that he woke up to her face every single morning. "Are you okay?"

Caroline nodded. "Of course I am okay," she smiled. "But it's time." Her hand shifted down to rest on her swollen belly. "It's time for us to be parents."

Within the hour, Stefan was holding a tiny baby girl in his arms. He slowly moved around the hospital room, looking out at the gently falling rain. It was a breathtaking sight.

"What do you think?"

Caroline's quiet voice startled him and he turned, still holding their daughter close to his chest. A smile crossed his face and he lowered himself down onto the side of the bed.

"I think it's perfect. Everything is perfect," he whispered.

"Good," Caroline beamed at him, her arms circled around their four year old son who was still conked out. Despite it being one of the most important nights of his life, Damon Alexander Salvatore was still unconscious; having hardly woken up even after his godmother Lexi went to fetch him.

Stefan chuckled quietly, glancing back down at the baby cuddled in his arms. He could see that she was starting to rouse from sleep and her tiny eyes opened.

"Hello there," he murmured quietly. "Hello."

"Stefan, I have to say, I am not really sure about the name," Caroline murmured.

"I know. Amanda just doesn't really fit," he answered.

"I've got it!" Caroline's voice made both father and daughter startled slightly. Baby Girl Salvatore shot her mother a dirty look before settling back down in Daddy's arms. "Damon, can you wake up? Sweetie?"

The raven haired child pressed his fists into his eyes before sitting up with his mother's help.

"What's going on?" he whispered. "Mommy, I'm tired."

"You remind me so much of your uncle," Caroline chuckled quietly. "You shouldn't be sleeping through this."

"Caroline, it is four o'clock in the morning," Stefan tried to defend their toddler but his wife was persistent.

"Damon, how would you like to name your baby sister?"

"Your big brother named you, did you know that?"

Stefan glanced up at his mother. "Really?"

Antonia gave a small nod. "Yeah, he did." She took a deep breath. "He had just had his fourth birthday when you came along and he was a little jealous. He always liked being the only child and when he found out you were coming to our family, he had quite a few little hissy fits."

"Damon? A hissy fit? No!" Stefan widened his eyes dramatically and Antonia chuckled.

"Very funny, young man," she laughed.

Stefan smiled. "Damon named me? He honestly picked the name Stefan?"

"You are named after St. Stephan. Your father taught him about all of that stuff from the moment he could speak. When you were born and the first moment you were placed in his arms, he looked down at you and said 'Stef-an'."

"Wow…" Stefan sighed, leaning back on the couch. His green eyes were alight with a little bit more understanding and Antonia was pleased. She brought a hand back and gently brushed it through his unruly locks.

"Treasure your brother. Because he loves you so much," Antonia murmured.

Stefan took another deep breath before brushing a hand over his eyes. "Thanks, Mom."

Antonia shook her head. "No problem," she whispered.

Stefan got to his feet and placed a quick kiss on his mother's raven hair. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Course."

Damon was just getting out of his car when Stefan exited the house, an evident search for him.

"Hey, little bro. How's Mom—oof!"

Damon was nearly knocked backwards by the hard hug that his brother quickly gave him. He stood stock still for a moment before he slowly began to return the hug.

"What's going on, little brother?" he asked quietly.

Stefan shook his head and then released him from the death grip. "Nothing, brother. Absolutely nothing."

And with that, the younger Salvatore pulled away and slipped away, not saying another word and leaving behind a very confused Damon.

"Really?" asked the four year old, suddenly very awake and very alert.

Caroline chuckled and ran a hand through his raven locks. "Yes."

"Anything at all?"

"Hmm-hmm," whispered Stefan. "Anything at all, except 'poop-face'."

"Daddy! I would never do that!" protested Damon. He then focused his dark green eyes on his tiny sister. He gently touched the top of her head, running his tiny fingers over her sunny blond curls. And then he spoke, surprising both of his parents into silence.

"Emma."

"Emma?" Caroline repeated.

"What's wrong with 'Emma'?" asked Damon, looking confused and a little hurt.

"Sweetie, nothing is wrong with 'Emma'!" Caroline planted a gentle kiss to his dark hair. "I love it. Stefan? Are you okay?"

Stefan had suddenly frozen, his face contorted into an expression that Caroline couldn't quite read. He quickly snapped himself out of it, taking Caroline's hand in his and pressing his lips to her knuckles. He smiled warmly at Damon and let out a small sigh, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"Emma…It's perfect."

Damon beamed. "Thanks, Daddy."

Stefan tried to swallow the tears that were rapidly forming but he couldn't. It was almost too much for him to handle, that one little name that his toddler had come up with. Almost too much.

"It's a girl, Lexi."

The blonde beamed and quickly wrapped her arms around him. "You're a daddy," she choked out, her own tears starting to rapidly form. "You're a daddy."

"Her name is Emma Alexandra," he whispered. "Of course, you'll be her godmother?"

Lexi sighed happily. "Do you even have to ask, cupcake?"

Stefan gave her a weak smile before his eyes traced the scars on her forehead. Even after all this time, they were still there. He thanked God every day that she was still in his life. That some force had sent her back because she had been gone for a short period of time. But she was here. She was here with all of them.

Ten years ago today, all of their lives had been changed forever.

It had taken quite a bit of time, but Stefan Salvatore knew now what he hadn't known before. He knew that life was now worth living, especially with these amazing blessings that he had been given. Life was worth living.

"You're an uncle again, Damon," Stefan found himself whispering into the chilly night air.

Again? I swear, you and Caroline are like rabbits.

Very funny, smartass.

I hope she looks like Caroline. If she looks like you-

Oh, shut up.

Just kidding, little brother.

I miss you.

You better.

Well, I do.

Dude, I'm right there. I'm always right there with you and with Blondie and Scary and those adorable little kids. You are so dense that you seem to forget that.

Damon!

Right, right, sorry. But it's the truth. Even though you can't see me, I'm right next to you. I'm always there.

Stefan took a deep breath and then released it.

"I love you, Damon."

Love you too. Now get back with your family and stop talking to a ghost.

Cracking a small smile, Stefan rose to his feet. He glanced back out into the darkness and felt something break free from him. Something that he had held onto for years and now…

Now it was done.

A soft wind picked up, engulfing the younger Salvatore in such a warmth that it spread all the way down to his toes. And then he smiled.

Happy birthday, Damon.

"I'm still trying to figure out if being your brother is a curse or a blessing."

"Hardy-har, smartass."

"Nah, I'm just kidding, bro."

Damon smirked and then looped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him close to his side. "Doesn't matter, Stefan."

"And why do you say that?"

"Because we'll always be brothers and I'll always be there to protect you."

fin

There it is. I hope you liked it. Still a little too sad for me but hey, I wrote it! Thank you so much for all the views and the wonderful reviews. You guys have no idea how much this means to me.

For anyone who is a Hunger Games fan, I am currently in the works of developing a story about the Hunger Games but its Vampire Diaries style. But don't worry, it's not going to be about this idiotic triangle, it's actually going to feature Caroline as Katniss and Damon as Peeta. Hope you like!