AN: Here's chapter 5. A sweet short chapter that introduces the rest of the children and a little drama naturally. Chapter 6 should be up in a few days. It's pretty much done just have a few things to add in. Love that this story is getting more attention. More followers and even a few favorites. Keep up with the reviews, love you guys!
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Enjoy! – LS
Chapter 5 – The Moms Are Gone
The next evening Elena, Caroline and Bonnie were loading their bags into Damon's SUV as it had more space than Elena's car for their luggage.
"Ok, I think that's everything." Caroline spoke as she moved her sunglasses to the top of her head.
"You know you're only going to be gone for the weekend, right Caroline? That's two days and two nights?" Damon said from where he stood on the sidelines with his fellow members of the husband's club. Caroline as always had several bags compared to Elena and Bonnie's one or two bags.
"Presents, Uncle Damon." Little Jasmine said as she skipped up to her favorite uncle, her straight brown hair in pigtail braids. Jasmine was the youngest child of Stefan and Caroline at the age of seven and was in the second grade, she was of Latina decent with golden sunk kissed skin and wide, brown, doe eyes. "Mommy promised us each a present."
"If you all promise to behave in return." Stefan continued as he lifted his daughter into his arms.
"And we will." came the voice of Stefan and Caroline's oldest, Darren at the age of 15. He was of average height and weight, with pale skin, his face covered in its recent acne breakout. He had blue eyes and black shaggy hair.
"Oh my baby. I'm going to miss you so much." Caroline said as she hugged Darren to her against his will.
"Mom." He whined. He was at the age where hugging your mom was uncool.
"You'll see them all in two days, Care." Elena said from where she stood by the SUV.
"Go on you guys, get out of here. We got this!" Sara shouted from where she, Nick, and Callie, the second oldest child of Stefan and Caroline at the age of 14 stood on the front porch.
"And with that we take our leave!" Bonnie said as she hugged Jeremy and then her two children, Joseph and Emily. Joey was 12 and in the seventh grade and Emily was in the 5th grade at the age of 9.
"Bye mom." Emily said as Bonnie got into the car, her long black hair in a single braid.
"Try to have some fun, Baby." Damon said as he held Elena to him while Sara and Nick made their way over. The slam of the screen door signaling the appearance of Alex to say his goodbyes.
"Oh I'm sure we will. Try not to kill Alex." Elena giggled.
"No promises." Damon smirked with a roll of his eyes.
"Everything will be fine Mom." Nick said as he gave his mother a hug.
"Like I said we got this." Sara said with a very Damon like smirk as she hugged her mother next.
"I know you do, Baby. Have fun at the party. I can't wait to hear all about it and if your dad tries to give you a hard time you let me know." Elena said as she hugged Sara.
"I said she could go." Damon huffed causing Sara to giggle.
"Will do." She responded as Elena moved to hugged Alex.
"Try to have fun and behave, please honey? Don't give your father and your brother and sister a hard time. And help out with the younger kids." Elena said as she hugged Alex, who somehow still reeked of pot. Unsure if he'd gotten a new supply, Elena chalked it up to the jacket he was wearing knowing it hadn't been washed in weeks. His entire room had practically absorbed the smoke from the pot and it reeked still.
"Whatever." Was Alex's reply but he hugged his mother all the same.
During the time it took Elena and Bonnie to say good bye to their husbands and children, Caroline was still hugging and kissing her own. Working her way down from Darren to Jasmine, ending finally with a hug and kiss to Stefan. When the kiss lasted longer than it should, Elena honked the horn.
"Alright already." Caroline huffed, giving Stefan one last kiss before jumping in the back of the SUV.
"Behave, all of you!" all three women said from the car as Elena drove away.
"Bye!" everyone shouted as they waved goodbye.
"And….they're gone!" Jeremy shouted when the SUV was out of sighed. "Everyone to the pool!" he laughed before running into the house. The younger kids laughed and ran after their uncle so they could all change into their swim suites.
"Sara, will you help me?" Jasmine asked as she looked up to her older cousin.
"Sure I will." Sara smiled as she held out her hand and together the oldest and youngest of the Salvatore girls walked into the house.
Once everyone was in their suits all the kids were in the pool along with Jeremy who seemed to act like the biggest kid of them all. Damon and Stefan were working on grilling burgers and hot dogs for dinner with Chief going back and forth between begging for meat and playing by the pool with the kids splashing water at him to catch in his mouth.
"So Rick's coming over to the house tomorrow afternoon?" Damon asked as he flipped a few burgers.
Stefan nodded as he took a drink from his beer. "Yup. Told him how the girls were leaving for the weekend during lunch. Said he could come see them off tonight, but he wanted to get his grading for the weekend done that way he wouldn't have to worry about it come Sunday with whatever impending hangover he plans to have." Stefan smirked.
"Well we all know how Rick likes his scotch." Damon commented.
"Yeah, so you're really letting Sara go to this party?"
"I have been given no choice. Elena threatened no sex if I tried to spy on her or stop her from going in any way. Stef, sex is the only thing keeping me from killing Alex."
"Really, and the unconditional love for one's child has nothing to do with it?"
"Is that what this feeling is?" Damon asked with an eye roll before sighing. "I just wish that boy would get his act together. Elena actually thought of giving someone else the story to cover because of what happened yesterday at school. Thank you for that by the way."
"No problem, Brother. Just be glad Fields is new and has yet to learn that in a town controlled by vampires that one should be on vervain."
"You mean he's not? Dude really is a prick, isn't he? Wait, you mean if you hadn't compelled him, Alex was getting suspended after all?" Damon asked.
Stefan nodded. "He was."
Damon sighed. "You know, eventually we can't keep getting him out of trouble. Maybe that's what we're doing wrong. While we punish him, he never really gets in major trouble and has to take responsibility for his actions. He's been in detention, obviously that kid is going to be grounded for life, but there has been no change. I almost think things are getting worse."
"Well, no one said that parenting was easy. Despite those parenting books, there really are no instructions for raising kids." Stefan advised.
"You and Caroline are doing pretty great with your seven." Damon pointed out.
"Yeah well the majority of them haven't hit their teen years and Callie and Darren look up to Nick and Sara, but hey it's still early. You've got the oldest kids, the rest of us just learn from yours and Elena's experiences and mistakes."
"Your welcome." Damon said with another eye roll.
"Besides, I can't wait to see how Jeremy and Bonnie handle Joey's teen years." Stefan said as he located his nephew in the pool. Joey had been playing pass with one of the balls with Darren, Nick and Ben, Darren's 10 year old little brother. Darren had thrown the ball towards Joey and it had accidently splashed Emily in the face. Darren shouted his apology and encouraged her to throw it back to him. She smiled and went to grab the ball, but Joey snatched it from her saying the game was for boys only. Jeremy quickly diffused the situation and made Joey sit out on the edge of the pool for a few minutes till he had to apologize to his sister.
"Nope. Not looking forward to those years." Damon nodded in agreement.
It had gotten late and the younger kids were running around the back yard with glow sticks in their hands, on their wrists, around their necks or heads while the older ones sat around the fire roasting marshmallows for s'mores. While they were having the time of their lives the three fathers knew they were just buying time till the younger kids had to go to bed and a few fits would be had.
"Why did we think letting all three women go on this trip was going to be good thing?" Jeremy asked from where he, Stefan and Damon stood not far from the fire, watching over their brood. They were also making sure not of the kids ran near the in ground pool that was only a few feet away.
"I do believe the phrase 'Happy Wife, Happy Life' does come to mind there, Jer." Damon said as he took a sip from his glass of bourbon.
"Not to mention we weren't given much of a choice." Stefan voiced.
"Point made." Jeremy sighed as all three dads took a sip from their drinks. Just then one of Stefan's children came up to them.
"Dad, we're out of graham crackers." Said Billy with a sticky marshmallow and chocolate grin, he was 8 years old and was Ricky's twin brother. Both boys had tan skin, sandy hair, and bright blue eyes. While Billy had been making s'mores with Sara and the others, Ricky was running amuck with other cousins.
"It's about time to stop making s'mores and get ready for bed, Buddy." Stefan said as he checked his watch. It was already 9:30pm and well past Jasmine and the twin's bedtime.
"Aw man." Billy whined but turned around and ran back to the fire.
"Bout time we rangle up the kids for beddie-by time?" Damon asked as he downed the remains of his glass.
"Yeah this is gonna be fun." Stefan said sarcastically.
"Hey no problem, Brother." Damon said as he clapped him on the shoulder.
"Damon, you've been out of the child care under 10 game for a while..." Stefan stared before Damon sped away and towards the fire. In seconds he was back beside Stefan and Jeremy.
"Got it covered." Damon said. Just then a whistle was heard.
"Let's go, everyone inside!" Sara called by the fire. "Time to get washed up and get ready for bed." A round of groans was heard and a few started to protest. "Ah uh uh, any whining and no movie camp out in the living room." Sara warned and quickly everyone ran towards the house.
Damon gave Stefan a look. "Secret weapon right there." He said with a smirk.
"I don't know how she does it, but do you have to let her go to the party tomorrow night?" Jeremy whined much the kids.
"Unfortunately, I do Jer. I've been given no choice in the matter, plus she deserves to have some fun."
"Yeah I think we can handle our own kids for a night, plus we still got Nick and even Alex is helpful when it comes to his cousins." Stefan said as he looked to his two oldest nephews who were taking care of putting out the fire.
"Not to mention Rick is gonna be with us tomorrow night and the kids love Rick." Damon said as the three dads made their way towards the kitchen back door.
"True, it's just Sara has a way with kids. They just do whatever she tells them too."
"Yeah I know. I'm her father. She has that effect on everyone. That girl has had me wrapped around her finger since the day Alex introduced Elena and I to her that day back when they were in kindergarten." Damon said.
"And who would've thought it would eventually lead to you guys adopting her." Jeremy said.
"Yeah really, but one of the best things we've ever done was get her away from that bitch and her string of bastard boyfriends." Damon growled.
"Yeah, but it took her jumping off a bridge for that to happen." Jeremy pointed out.
"For anyone to find out you mean. Sara was a scared, damaged little girl who hadn't known any sort of kindness in her life and didn't know what else was out there before she started school. Despite how she was treated at home if someone treated her with kindness she responded with kindness. There was no reason for anyone to suspect that anything was wrong in that house till it was out in the open." Stefan said as they started to clean up the kitchen.
"I guess you have a point..."
"Change the topic of conversation." Damon demanded, interrupting Jeremy.
"Please do." Sara said from were she stood by the entrance to the kitchen. Chief let out a loud snort beside her.
"Sara..." Jeremy started.
"The kids are all dressed in their pjs and waiting for their dads in the living room to come say goodnight so we can start the movie." Sara said with a pointed look to her uncles.
"Right. Thanks for handling in the kids, Sara." Stefan said.
"No problem, I guess it's just the effect I have on children." She said sarcastically but forced a smile all the same.
"Time to go." Jeremy said as he and Stefan all but ran from the kitchen to give kisses and hugs to their children.
"How did you...?"
"You guys were outside and the windows are open and your not as quiet as you three think you are. I'm just in the other room. You may have hightened hearing, but also some pretty big mouths." Sara snapped.
"Watch your tone young lady." Damon scolded with a hard gaze.
"Uh oh, is Miss. Perfect getting in trouble?" Alex laughed as he and Nick came inside. Damon turned his gaze to his sons before he looked back at Sara and could see the hurt in her eyes.
"I am not damaged!" She snapped before turning on her heel and running for the stairs.
"Huh?" Alex said confused.
"Who the fuck said Sara was damaged?" Nick demanded, going into protective big brother mode.
"Stefan!" Damon shouted.
"What?" Stefan asked as he ran into the the kitchen.
"You?" The boys said as they pointed at their uncle. Nick had always been the protective older brother when needed and despite his behavior as of late, Alex was not going to let anyone get away with hurting his sister when it came to her past. It was still a sensitive subject even after all these years. It was a big no no subject in their house.
"What'd I do?" Stefan asked. He'd been too busy having his ears chewed off by his children to have heard the conversation going on in the kitchen.
"You owe my daughter, your sweet, amazing niece who just made your children's bedtime easy on you, an apology. Now." Damon said through gritted teeth as he gave his brother a look that could kill.
"Ok. What did I do?" Stefan asked still confused.
"You said Sara was damaged! That's what you did." Alex shouted.
"She heard you." Nick said as he glared at his uncle.
"Heard what?" Jeremy asked as he came into the kitchen. "The kids are all set. They're just waiting on Sara."
"Boys." Damon said.
"Looks like we've got kid duty, little brother." Nick said as he dragged Alex out of the kitchen. Both boys still giving Stefan the stink eye.
"What's with them?" Jeremy asked.
"Sara over heard us talking. Heard me say she was a damaged little girl and..."
"Say the words damaged and Sara again and I swear I'm going to hurt you." Damon threatened.
"How is it she hears everything? She knows everything." Jeremy said. "I mean I get Chief is her spy and they have their own little language and everything, but how did she...?"
"Either way she did hear and she's hurt." Damon snapped. They never should've started talking about Sara's dark days and because of their big mouths his little girl was hurt. Elena was going to kill him when she found out. And speaking of which, Elena's ring tone began to play on Damon's phone. He quickly fished it out of his back pocket. "Hey Baby, how's Richmond?" Elena's response made him hold the phone away from his ear.
Stefan's phone also started to ring and when he pulled it from his pocket Caroline's face flashed on the screen. He pressed the green accept button and flinched.
In their hotel in Richmond, the girls sat out on the balcony of their suite. They had just come back from a late dinner and decided to enjoy a few bottles of wine outside since it was such a nice evening. No husbands, no kids, just some much needed girl time.
"That was such a lovely dinner." Caroline said as she poured everyone a glass of wine.
"Yes, but I'm finding this wine much better." Bonnie said as she took a sip. "Unlike you two, I don't have a heightened alcohol tolerance. Momma gotta know when to stop to take care of her kids."
"Ah, two kids. Those were the days." Elena laughed.
"Says the mother of three. Try seven then come talk to me." Caroline scoffed. Soon there was laughter filling the hotel room.
"I wonder how the guys are fairing with the kids?" Elena thought out loud.
"I'm sure the kids are running amuck and Sara's handling it while the guys talk about God knows what and drink." Caroline said as she sipped her wine. "You know they're probably scheming on how to get Sara to not go to that party tomorrow tonight." She laughed
"Oh no they're not. I threatened Damon with no sex if she didn't go." Elena snorted.
"No offense Elena, but I think Damon would risk it to not see Sara go to that party." Bonnie said.
"She is his little girl." Caroline confirmed. "I don't know how Stefan's going to be once Callie starts dating and going to parties."
"I love how strong of a relationship those two have, but I just fear were sheltering her. She'll always be his little princess, but she's got to be able to spread her wings. She's gonna be going of to college soon."
"Did she decide on Whitmore or was she considering somewhere else." Caroline asked.
"Whitmore. She wants to live on campus, but doesn't want to be too far away from home. Nick hasn't decided between Whitmore and Virginia State in Petersburg. Damon and I think he's gonna choose Whitmore in ." Elena told them.
"Well good for them. Can you believe your going to be the mother of two kids in college?" Caroline giggled.
"I'm very proud of my babies. And Caroline, you have seven kids to put through college and your oldest is going to be 16 soon." Elena smirked. As Bonnie reached for the wine bottle Caroline snatched it and took a drink straight from the bottle.
Just as Bonnie was going to say something Elena's phone beeped signalling she's recieved a text message.
"Which child is complaining about what?" Bonnie asked as Elena picked up her phone.
"It's Nick." Elena said as she opened the message. A scowl formed on her lips.
"What did Alex do now?" Caroline asked.
Elena shook her head. "Not Alex, your husband. Apparently Stefan called Sara damaged." She said, her voice was hard.
"What?!" Caroline and Bonnie shouted.
"That doesn't sound like Stefan." Bonnie said. "Maybe they heard wrong."
"I don't know, but I'm sure as fuck going to find out." Elena snapped as she dialed Damon's number. When he answered she flipped out. "Why the fuck would Stefan say that Sara is damaged?!" Elena shouted as Caroline located her phone and called Stefan. Elena could hear Stefan's set tone for Care playing in the background. When he answered Caroline started yelling as well.
"Why in gods name Stefan would you say that Sara is damaged?! She's the most amazing niece and cousin to our children that we could ask for!" She shouted before she spared a glance at Bonnie. "No offense to Emily, Bon."
Bonnie shook her head. "None taken Care. We all love Sara."
Damon, Stefan and Jeremy still stood in the kitchen while the kids were occupied with a movie.
"Does Bonnie plan on calling me or am I safe?" Jeremy whispered, wondering if he too would face the wrath of his wife.
"Go watch the kids." Damon hissed before Elena started questioning him again. "Baby we were just talking about how Sara has a way with kids and people in general which lead to how Alex introduced us to her when they were in kindergarten. Well that opened the old can of worms of how we found out what happened to her and then yeah, Stefan used the word damaged to describe our little girl." Damon informed his wife, glaring at his brother by the end of it.
"I'm sorry, that's not how I meant it. She's a great kid, but you got to admit your had your issues with her when she first came to live with you." Stefan stated.
In the hotel room all three women could hear what he had said as Caroline had her phone on speaker.
"Stefan I love you, but shut the fuck up! I do not want our children traumatized over how they watched their uncle murdered their father!" Caroline hissed into her phone. The look on Elena's face could kill as well. "Why the hell would you say that? Sara is anything but damaged! Like you said she's a great kid! Now go fucking apologize before I give Damon permission to break your neck!" Caroline snapped before she hung up her phone. She was fuming and downed what was left of their current bottle of wine.
Stefan threw his hands up in the air before he left the kitchen and made his way towards the stairs. He could feel not only Damon's eyes burning holes into the back of his head, but Nick and Alex's as well. He'd never thought of Sara as damaged, she's an incredibly strong and independent young lady even after what those people had put her through. She was his niece, family. He hadn't meant anything by the comment. Stefan soon found himself knocking on Sara's bedroom door. The door opened to reveal a tear stained face Sara and knowing how much she hatted to cry, Stefan really felt like an ass now.
"What?" Sara asked in a defensive tone. Stefan could hear Chief giving a warning growl on the the other side of the door.
"Sara I'm really sorry. I never meant to imply that you were damaged. Honey, your anything but." Stefan said, trying to sooth her.
"No, you just meant that I was the scared, weak and abused little girl back then and that you don't understand how I can do what I do now. Did you ever stop to think that maybe I'm the way I am or have a way with kids that I do because I don't take shit from anyone and they know it. I'm the cool older cousin that they can have fun with, but won't take crap from them and they know it. I'm not a push over and your right, I'm anything but damaged. I never was." Sara dove right on on and didn't hold back.
"No you weren't. You were and are a very strong person and I for one would never let anyone harm you in anyway. And I'm sorry if I hurt you..."
"If?" Sara said with a raised eyebrow
"Did. Did hurt you. That was not what I meant. I'm sorry."
"Apology accepted." Sara said as she hugged him. She knew he didn't see her like that. They were talking about times they didn't talk about infront of her and she had over heard them. "How bad did Auntie Care and my mom yell at you?" She asked.
"You ratted me out?"
"No, Nick did. He texted me saying he told mom who probably told Auntie Care. That bad huh?"
"She was about to let your dad break my neck."
"Ouch. Well I wouldn't have let him do that."
"Really?"
"Of course not. The kids could have walked in and see it. I'd make sure he'd taken you upstairs or into the basement first." Sara smirked.
"That's my girl." Damon said as he joined the two of them in the hall. "You okay, Princess?" He asked.
"Yeah I'm okay daddy. Thanks, but you can't kill him ...this time." Sara said as she leaned against Damon who wrapped his arm around her.
"As long as your okay, baby girl that's all that matters." Damon said as he planted a kiss to the top of her head.
"Alright, well why don't we go finish watching the movie with the younger kids?" Stefan suggested.
"Sure. Cmon chief." Sara said with a shrug as she and Chief walked down the hall. As soon as he was sure she was out of hearing range Damon turned to Stefan.
"You ever make her cry again, Stefan I swear..."
"Damon, I will willing come to you and say rip my heart out if I do. The last thing I meant was for Sara to get hurt over it. I didn't mean anything by it." Stefan said before they made their way down stairs.
The kids were still up watching the second half of Finding Dory, an old favorite of Nick, Sara and Alex's. When the movie was over everyone but Darren, Callie, Nick, Alex and Sara were asleep either on the floor or on one of the couches. Nick, Alex and Sara went up to their rooms for the night and Darren and Callie went to the set of rooms they had claimed as theirs when ever they slept over. Jeremy checked on his two before retired to what was his and Bonnie's room and Stefan checked on his four children that were asleep in the living room before going up to his old bedroom that was now his and Caroline's reserved room. Damon went around making sure the house was properly locked and made sure the boys had put the fire out correctly before going up to his and Elena's room for the night. He sent Elena a good night text and got a few hours of sleep before he would have to get up and start breakfast for the 14 other people in his house. He didn't get much sleep because all he could think about was how Sara going to a party in less than 20 hours and he really didn't want her to go.
AN: Hope you guys enjoyed chapter 5. In honor of the new trailer release and with only a few weeks away till the theater premiere, I made the movie Finding Dory. Super excited for this movie. I will be in theaters to see it with all the original Finding Nemo kids who saw that in theaters back in 2003. Been waiting 13 years for this movie. :)
