AN: I made a few changes, mostly grammatical, to previous chapters. I'm half way through the next chapter, so you should see it by end-of-day tomorrow. If not, feel free to harass me. According to my outline, we've got another 22-25 chapters to go, so hold onto your butts.

Chapter 31

A cold emptiness shrouds Stefan, and with the weight of the world lifted from him, he stands straighter than before. He smirks at Caroline's horrified expression and glances at the twin witches.

"Jo used a spell that Vivi Bennet created back in the day. She twisted it to fit our needs and added something extra," Lizzie says.

"You stole his humanity?" Caroline says. "That spell was only meant to return a vampire's humanity. How could you do that to him?"

Jo smiles, baring her teeth. "Oh, I did much more than that."

Stefan ignores the chatter around him as he pokes at the magic nestled in his mind. It surrounds his humanity switch with an impenetrable shield. He reaches for the familiar tendril that allows him to touch his emotions, but he finds it severed and lying limp against the barrier.

"I can't turn it back on," Stefan says. Caroline's eyes widen, and the twins flash identical smiles of satisfaction.

"Returning his humanity isn't going to be easy, Mother. I bet it'll keep you and Elena busy for a while and out of our hair while we do what we came to do," Jo says.

"We might surprise you. This won't be the first time that I've helped Stefan through this. I won't let you reek havoc over this town."

Lizzie narrows her eyes at her mother. "You don't have a choice. You can't control us anymore."

"No, you've given that control to Klaus."

"As much fun as this mother-daughter cat fight is, I'm not interested in playing Klaus' game," Stefan says, and Jo laughs.

"You don't have a choice. You're stuck with him until the job is done."

"And you're stuck with us for the rest of eternity. We're one big happy family, Father."

Stefan blinks then glances between Jo and Lizzie. When his forest green eyes dart to Caroline, she grimaces under the weight of her guilt.

"I was going to tell you."

Lizzie sneers. "She lied to you, Dad, just like she lied to us for so many years."

"That's not true. I've never lied to any of you. I never kept things from the girls, and I only allowed you to think that you had a future with Elena because I didn't want to hurt you."

He shakes his head and raises a dismissive hand. "I don't care."

"Stefan, you have to care. We're your family. I've been your wife for 200 years, and Jo and Lizzie are our daughters. That has to make you feel something."

"I don't feel anything, Caroline. I don't care about you or the future we might have together."

He turns to leave, but she follows him. "Stefan, wait. We have to get your humanity back."

"No, I don't want it." He shakes his head as he stomps through the trees with Caroline on his heels.

"Then what are you planning to do?"

"Right now, I'm going find someone to eat. You're welcome to join me as long as you stay out of my way."

Caroline glances back to find the twins gone, and she growls. She can't believe the mess they've caused. How is she supposed to reign in Stefan when he has no desire to return his humanity? She can't have him massacring innocent people throughout town. She needs to jump start his humanity. She's surprised that the announcement of their little family didn't do it, but maybe he needs a visual of his future.

Caroline vamp speeds at Stefan and pins him against a tree. She shoves her arm into his neck as he lashes out at her grip. She shushes him and closes her eyes to concentrate.

The ground slips out from under Stefan, and he falls through the sky until he lands on the green grass outside the boarding house. He stumbles to his hands and knees, and Caroline steps up from behind to offer him her hand.

"Sorry, that was a little rougher than I intended. I don't do this often."

He swats her away and climbs to his feet. "Why are we in your head, Caroline?"

"Because I need you to see what your future looks like. Just because you're not with Elena, doesn't mean it's not a future worth fighting for. This is one of my favorite memories. Everyone was happy, and the kids were still young and innocent."

"You mean, they hadn't turned into homicidal freaks yet?"

She shoots him a glare that could burn a hole through him, but he smirks. She points toward memory Caroline and Elena walking out the backdoor with several five-year-olds on their heels. "Just shut up and watch."

Memory Caroline smiles at her girls as they rush past her and into the backyard flower garden. They oh and awe at the pretty colors then show their friends. So far, the slumber party had gone well. No one had gotten hurt, and they'd only had to suffer through a handful of temper tantrums. Caroline is just about ready to declare her first kid's party a success.

"I'm glad that Max let us host the part here," Elena says.

Caroline nods. "Yeah, it helps that our kids are friends."

She glances at the boarding house and presses her lips into a thin line. The Salvatore family and the Bennet coven have grown apart over the last few decades. When Bonnie and then Vivi led the coven, the Salvatores were considered close allies if not extended family, but since Vivi's passing, Max Bennet took control of the coven. Caroline knows that he's a good man and wants what's best for his family, but sometimes she wants to punch him in his big, fat nose.

When the Salvatores returned to Mystic Falls, Max tried to run the vampires out, especially when Kai chased the last Gemini witch and her baby twins to their doorstep. After dealing with Kai and losing the twin's biological mother in the process, Caroline had planned to leave the babies with the Bennet coven. But upon holding them, Max declared that they would grow to be siphons and not welcome among the witches. Caroline and Stefan had to bribe the coven with the Gemini crystal that the twin's mother used to escape Kai. It was the only way they'd let the Salvatores stay in Mystic Falls without a fight, and they promised not to harm the kids. Caroline supposes it was fate that led the Gemini crystal back to Mystic Falls, since it's fueled by the no-magic barrier spell. Bonnie had partnered with the Gemini coven 125 years ago to tear down the barrier that swallowed the entire town and store it within the crystal. She'd given it to the Gemini coven as payment for their help, but who knew that a century later it would ensure their future for another generation. Caroline might not have planned a life like this with Stefan, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

Elena points at the bounce house at the back of the yard and encourages the kids to move along. Caroline is glad that Stefan was able to track it down. It's archaic by today's standard, but she just doesn't trust the new-age anti-gravity platforms. Besides, what's more fun to a group of five to seven-year-olds than a bounce house? As they step closer to the giant balloon, Caroline hears Stefan and Damon wrestling inside.

"Say 'uncle'," Damon says, then groans when Stefan nails him in the kidney. He has his big brother in a headlock when the ladies peer inside the bounce house.

"No, you say it," Stefan says.

"How about you both pretend to be grown-ups and set an example for the kids?" Elena says.

Caroline scowls at them. "No violence in front of the girls, remember?"

"Sorry, Care," Stefan says before Damon punches him in the groin and slips out of his hold.

"Yeah, sorry, Care-Bear."

Caroline narrows her eyes at her brother-in-law's sarcastic tone, but then smiles when he claims king of the mountain.

"I rule this house with an iron fist, which of you munchkins dares to challenge my power?"

The kids squeal and laugh as they all climb in after Damon. One red-headed, wild child leaps ahead of the rest and tackles him. "Oof."

Elena watches the wrestling match and cheers for her champion in between fits of laughter. Stefan stays clear of the stampede as he escapes from the savage pack of children to join his wife on the grass. He slips his arms around Caroline and presses his lips against hers for a kiss that sends her heart aflutter. Even after a hundred years, this man still lights her fire.

"Thank you," she whispers, and he lifts his brow.

"For what?"

"For the bounce house." Caroline twists her mouth into a grimace. "And for keeping me calm over the past couple of weeks. I don't know if you noticed, but I might have spun out a bit over this party."

"Oh, I've noticed. The gift bag glitter bombs that exploded in the kitchen last week were a dead give away. The good news is that I know exactly how you're going to make it up to me." Stefan leans in close and nestles his face into her neck. His hot breath against her skin sends a flush throughout her body, and she gasps when his tongue grazes her ear.

Caroline slips her eyes closed. "Hmm, that sounds wonderful."

"When can you pencil me into your busy party schedule?"

"Max is setting up tents and sleeping bags for..." Caroline opens her eyes to glance around for young ears, then spells the offending word, "N-A-P time."

"Tents?" Stefan smiles. "This sounds like an awesome party. Our kids are lucky to have you."

Caroline slumps and her lips pucker into a pout. "We ran out of silly string and had two meltdowns. I just didn't think they'd burn through it so fast."

"Oh no, I take it all back. This party is a disaster."

"Don't say that. I think I can save it with extra tiara's and light sabers."

"Thank goodness."

Caroline laughs at her husband and swats him on the shoulder. "Stop it. Behave, or I won't let you play with my lightsaber."

"What does that even mean?" Stefan says with a chuckle.

"I don't know. I haven't slept in three days. My brain is fried, and I've forgotten how to talk sexy." She shoves her face into her hands, but Stefan is quick to tug her chin free. He kisses her lips then her cheek and finally her temple.

"Everything you say is sexy."

Caroline melts against him and slips her arms around his neck. "Best husband ever."

The happy couple jumps when Matt Bennet screams from inside the balloon and runs crying toward the house while cradling his scratched arm. Elena intercepts the seven-year-old, pulling a sucker from her pocket like any good pediatrician, and examines his injury. Damon shuffles free of the bounce house with the red-headed, wild child thrown over his shoulder.

"Someone needs a nap," he says over the seven-year-old's protests.

"He hit me first. He deserved it. Put me down. This isn't fair. Mommy, help me."

Caroline covers her smile at the miserable face Damon flashes them as he stalks back toward the house. Stefan shuffles the rest of the kids along after them, and Jo reaches up for him to carry her. When he complies, Lizzie pouts and cries for attention too. Caroline complies and holds the five-year-old on left hip while holding Stefan's hand with her right. Watching Elena take the wild child from Damon and kiss him with a loving smile, Caroline experiences a wave of gratitude to whatever universal power made their little family possible.

Caroline glances away from her memory version to the Stefan she'd dragged into her mind. "Do you see how happy you can be if you want it? You just have to let yourself feel it."

Stefan had watched the memory play out with a detached disinterest. This wasn't the Caroline he knew, and he'd never treat her in this manner. He didn't know these kids, nor did he care to learn their names. The twins grew into annoying brats, so why would he care to see them as noisy children? But Elena and Damon caught his attention. Stefan looks past memory Caroline and her husband to Damon's arm around Elena.

His brother leans in to whisper something into Elena's ear, and she throws her head back and laughs. She shakes her head at him, and he nods his with a grin as though teasing her. The wild child pushes in between them, snatching a hand from each, and dangles in the air. The couple swings the girl between them, and Elena watches Damon out of the corner of her eye like he's the only man in the world.

But he isn't. Stefan once held her attention like that, but now she doesn't even notice him walking behind her with another woman. How could she betray him this way? How could she chose Damon over him? Stefan is the good brother. He's the one that's protected her from Damon. Now she loves Damon? How's that possible? What kind of person falls in love with a monster like him?

Something inside Stefan's brain snaps, and he growls. Caroline watches him glare at Elena and Damon as they disappear into the house.

"Stefan, how are you feeling? You're looking a little instense."

"I'm angry, Caroline."

"Okay, that's not what I was hoping for, but I can work with angry. Now just let the other feelings in too. Love, fear, guilt, joy, just let it all in."

Stefan narrows his eyes at her and bares his teeth. She doesn't understand. His anger might have burst the barrier around his humanity, but a second one took its place and prevented any other emotions from escaping. All he knows and feels is rage from Elena and Damon's deep betrayal.

"There is nothing else." He slams his forearm against Caroline, flipping her onto her back, and she drops her hold on his mind. As reality slams back into her, she stumbles back from him, tripping on a fallen log. Stefan sneers at her.

"You mean nothing to me, Caroline. I don't care about any future with you because I know you'd only be a second-place trophy. A knock-off of the real thing."

"Stefan, stop," she says. From the ground, she holds up her arm as though guarding from his hateful words. He crouches next to the fallen log and smirks at her.

"No, I won't stop until Damon and Elena experience this same betrayal. I'm going to hurt them worse than they hurt me. You should stay out of my way."

Stefan vamp speeds away, leaving Caroline alone and confused.

Satisfied that vampire Elena wasn't going to do anything more self-destructive than normal, Damon lets her head back to the boarding house for much-needed rest. Given that he hadn't been to bed in over 36 hours, he wants to follow her home but, he returns to the Gilbert house instead. When he arrives, Damon shuffles past two police cars parked in the driveway and steps through the open front door. He spots Ric speaking with Liz at the end of the hallway, and the taller man lifts his chin.

"Hey, did find your borther?"

"Nope. Caroline's tracking him down."

"Oh, yeah? Which one?" Ric asks accusingly, and Damon flashes him a crooked smile.

"Don't get mad at me because you're out of the loop."

"I filled him in on everything I know about our time traveles," Liz says.

"Yeah, it would've been nice to know that was a thing."

Damon lifts his hands. "You and me both, brother. This town keeps getting weirder and weirder. Where's Elena?"

"She's packing a bag. Jenna and Jeremy too. Sheriff Forbes has been kind enough to let them stay at her house until we can get this place cleaned up."

"Since Caroline's the only vampire invited inside, I thought my house would be a good place to rest."

"That's a good call." Damon decides not to mention his invitation when he was boinking Caroline. "That should keep Stefan and Klaus out of the picture, and I assume the invite rule applies to your murderous grandchildren too."

"Let's hope," Liz says with a tight-lipped smile.

Jeremy and Jenna descend the staircase with their bags, and the teenager sneers at Damon. "What are you doing here? Haven't you and your brother done enough damage tonight?"

"Jeremy, let's not pick a fight with the 150-year-old vampire," Jenna says while tugging on his arm. She watches Damon with wide eyes, and he grins.

"Listen to your auntie, Baby Gilbert. She's the smart one in the family." He shoves past the them on the staircase and heads toward Elena's room.

Jenna scowls. "Aren't you a little too old to be interested in a seventeen-year-old?"

"Aren't you a little too human to use that tone with a vampire? I thought you didn't want to pick a fight?"

"Careful." Ric steps in behind Jenna to glare at Damon.

"I guess, it doesn't hurt to have the resident vampire hunter backing you up." Damon winks and disappears into the bedroom at the top of the stairs. He suppresses a chuckle when he hears Jeremy's voice on the other side of the door.

"Man, what a dick."

Damon's amusement dissipates when his eyes find Elena's hunched form leaning against the bathroom. Her quiet sobs squeeze at his heart, and he rushes to her side.

"Elena, what's wrong?"

She motions to her bed with blood-covered hands. "I tried to fix it, but it's everywhere."

Damon frowns at the sheets crumpled in a ball on the ground. They are stained red with blood, which soaked into nearby fabrics.

"I have to replace the mattress and the carpet," she says. "And the living room, oh God. I don't know where to start. Maybe I should just burn it all down."

"Well, that's one way to get the blood stains out. I prefer peroxide, and maybe some OxiClean for those tougher stains."

"It's not funny, Damon. My life is falling apart around me, and I can't stop it."

"I know." He slips a hand over hers. "Tell me what you need, Elena? I'll do whatever you need me to do."

Sniffing, she stares into his piercing blue eyes, and a calm settles over her. When her gaze falls to his lips, she inhales his familiar scent of leather and bourbon, then she looks away. Wiping away her tears, Elena voices the fear that triggered her breakdown.

"Did Stefan flip his switch?"

"I doubt it. Saint Stefan wouldn't give it up without a fight. He's probably hold up somewhere trying to figure out how to make it up to you."

"What if you're wrong?" Elena's eyes widen and her breath quickens. "What he comes back and he's...he's...he chewed her head off, Damon."

"Hey, hey," he slips his hands around her face, forcing her to look at him. His thumb caresses her cheek, and her big, doe eyes stare into his soul. "No one's going to hurt you ever again. Especially, not my brother."

Elena closes her eyes and sighs. "Thank you."

Check out my short story blog at kellyanixDOTcom or my new Fantasy Adventure novel series at kellyanixDOTcom/kajiwarriors.