TW/ Mentions of past abuse, miscarriages and infertility.

Roses_of_Magic prompted: " so we've seen little Stefan is obviously okay with this, how about when he becomes big again? Is he gonna be embarrassed?

Or: can I request some bonding time with Stefan& Enzo?"

Stefan makes a face as he scrubs at the stains in Crow's cage. He looks over at the bird perched on the stone wall nearby.

"This is your mess," he grumbles.

His emotional support animal merely caws. Stefan rolls his eyes, setting the sponge down. He adjusts his ring out of habit. It's a beautiful day. Perfect for doing chores outside. On a normal day, Stefan would sulk and whine when his phone buzzed reminding him it's that time of the week.

Then, he saw the other item on the calendar he shares with Damon: Enzo's coming over.

Stefan's narrowly avoided his father's new boyfriend since their first meeting. Some Littles can't remember anything from their space. He's the lucky one who can recall every last second. Including him rambling to Enzo about princesses as he curled up on his daddy's lap, wearing Captain America PJs. His cheeks burn at the mere thought.

It's not Damon's fault that he was exposed, just a series of unfortunate events. Stefan would give anything to be able to control this side of himself again. He perfected it over the years. And then his dad had to come and ruin it all. Most days, it's easier. Until stuff like this happens.

He hears the two laughing and enjoying a couple of beers inside. Stefan was invited to join (with apple juice, of course). The younger vampire mumbled an excuse about having to clean Crow's cage and disappeared outside.

Crow watches him intently, not moving his head once. "I'm fine," Stefan tells him. The bird doesn't move. "You're a real pain in the ass, ya know?" He receives an irritated caw in response. "Back atchya."

A deep, British accent comes from the sliding glass door. "Fighting with a bird?'

Stefan stiffens, refusing to look up. He takes great care in cleaning off the last speck of poop. There's nothing left to shine, so he just rubs his sponge against the rails of the cage.

"He's a beauty," Enzo continues, his footsteps coming closer on the stone deck. "I'm sorry, is it a boy?"

Stefan nods. "Dad didn't know for a while," he mumbles. This goes against everything he's been taught about speaking with elders. Hunched down, refusing to make eye contact and mumbling. Guiseppe would've whipped him for this. At least all he gets from Damon is a stern glance. "Finally did a DNA test."

"Ah." Enzo walks down, sitting beside on the step besides Stefan. "And his name is just Crow?"

Stefan rips up some new newspaper, sprinkling it a long the bottom. He can't make out his dad's scent. Enzo's out here alone.

Why?

"Yeah, Dad didn't ever name him. I came up with it when I was…" Stefan trails off, the last bits of paper falling through his fingertips.

"Small?" Enzo offers.

Stefan finally looks up. Enzo's dark eyes are kind, filled with curiosity. A genuine smile pokes up on his lips. He's dressed similarly to Damon: a gray v-neck, skinny jeans and a leather jacket. Stefan wonders if they share clothes. It's a thought he quickly shakes out of his head. Some things are better left unsaid.

"I guess," Stefan mutters.

"Damon says he helps you a great deal." Stefan shrugs. "I've read up on service animals for Littles. Seen many pups or kitties. Can't say I've ever heard of a bird."

"Well, I'm weird."

Enzo chuckles, shaking his head. "I don't think you're weird, Stefan."

Stefan wiggles. Crow flutters closer, not sitting quite on his shoulder but still hovering nearby. Stefan leans over, running his fingers over the talons. The pain in his stomach subsides just a bit.

"I'm sorry you had to see me like that," Stefan says, raising his voice to a normal volume for the first time. Enzo tilts his head. "I don't…I don't normally force other people around it."

Enzo's face scrunches up. "You didn't force it on me, Bambino."

Bambino.

The nickname brings him back to that night. Enzo didn't hold him, but kept an arm around his torso as they all cuddled up to watch the movie. He'd tickle Stefan and gently tease him, using the Italian term of endearment.

Crow flaps his wings, a reminder that he's still there. Stefan moves to gently pet the top of his head.

"I'm a Caretaker," Enzo continues. "I've never had a Little of my own, but I've been around plenty of them."

"Like your boyfriends' kids?"

The words have a bit more bite than Stefan intended and he instantly flinches afterwards. Enzo smirks.

"No, believe it or not, none of my past partners have had kids, of any kind."

"So, why my dad then?"

Enzo's lips drop back into a genuine smile. "I'm assuming he told you how we met. Way back when."

Stefan squirms. "Yeah. I…I'm sorry."

The smile disappears. "Sorry?"

"I was…I was in a really bad way at the time," he explains. "I was a…I guess, I technically still am, a ripper. I can't have human blood or I'll go back to that place." He swallows as he continues to rub the top of Crow's head.

"Damon mentioned something about that."

"If I hadn't been off slaughtering everyone, I would've noticed that Dad was in trouble." Stefan blinks to keep the tears at bay. Enzo's face falls. "I could've saved you too."

"Hey, hey, no," Enzo's voice grows soft.

The older vampire places a hand on his arm. Stefan stiffens at first, but with Crow right there, he regulates his breathing.

"That wasn't your responsibility, Stefan. You were just a kid." Enzo shakes his head. "You are just a kid."

Stefan picks at a loose thread on his jeans, pouting a little. "'m not a baby."

Enzo's smile returns, just a little. "Sure." He rubs the teen's forearm. "My point is, there is nothing you could've done. Had you shown up that night, they would've hurt you too. That's the last thing your daddy and I would've wanted."

Stefan sniffles. There's nothing either his father or Enzo can tell him. He'll spend the rest of his life racked with guilt. Then again, he knows Damon blames himself for the reason he reverted to his ripper state.

"Anyway," Enzo continues. "Your dad and I became quite close while we were there. I had feelings for him back then, but it wasn't exactly possible. Then, he managed to leave and I couldn't. I spent a very long time trying to find him, but I also wasn't in the best way. Being trapped there…it does something to a person."

Stefan nods. His dad never talks about his time there. Still, he sees the haunted look in his eyes from time to time. "I get that."

"I never stopped caring about him, though," Enzo's smile widens, "And when we reconnected a couple of months ago, I was so happy to get this chance with him. When he told me about you, I didn't have to think twice about it."

"That was before you knew about my classification."

"To be fair, I never asked Damon. Because it didn't matter." Enzo resumes rubbing his arm. It takes everything Stefan has to keep his guard up and not lean into him like he does when his dad does this. "I knew it was a possibility and I'm more than okay with it."

"Because Dad wouldn't date you otherwise?"

Enzo shakes his head. "No." Stefan frowns. "I mean, it's true, he wouldn't, but that's not why."

Much to Stefan's surprise, Crow flies back a little. Enzo scoots closer.

"You're fine, just as you are," he says. "You don't have to be anything else. I want to get to know you, both sides of you."

"Really?" Stefan whispers.

"Really." Enzo smiles. "You mean a lot to your father, which means you mean a lot to me. This isn't some passing fling, Stef. I truly care about the both of you."

Stefan blinks. "Oh."

"Oh?"

The younger vampire adjusts himself so he's sitting up taller. He still feels like a little kid sitting next to Enzo. Somehow, he's even shorter than him.

"Dad doesn't date a lot," Stefan's voice is still soft. "I mean, he's had…partners, I guess." He makes a face, not wanting to think about what his father would get up to when he was out of the house. "But only like one other girlfriend. He wouldn't let me meet her."

Enzo nods. "He told me about her. It wasn't serious enough."

"But you two are. And I'm okay with that, I really am. I want Dad to be happy. I just don't want either of us to get hurt."

"I would never intentionally hurt your daddy," Enzo promises. "Or you."

Stefan feels the tears threatening to fall. "You won't try to take him from me?"

Enzo lets out a soft aw. He wraps an arm around the teen and pulls him closer. Stefan surprises himself by laying his head on his shoulder. He hasn't been this open with someone outside his dad or Lexi.

"I would never try to take your daddy away from you," Enzo says. "Nor would I want to. I'd like to have both of you in my life, if you're okay with that."

Stefan looks up into his sincere eyes. A large part of him has never wanted to share his daddy, not even when they were young. Damon would have girlfriends and Stefan did everything he could to keep them apart. It got him thrown over his birth father's knee more than once. Stefan doesn't do well with sharing.

He doesn't feel that possessiveness in this moment. Of course, his dad will still be his. But maybe…maybe sharing won't be so bad.

"I'm okay with it," he says with a small smile.

Enzo matches it. "I'm glad."

He releases him and turns around, grabbing a brown paper bag that Stefan didn't notice earlier. Enzo places it on his lap. Stefan peeks inside and his smile widens.

"I hope they're the right ones," Enzo says as the teen pulls out the Spiderman comics. "Damon told me you liked the one with webs."

Stefan chuckles. "Yeah, he's not much of a superhero person. These are so cool." He looks up at him, clutching the comics to his chest. "Thank you."

Enzo ruffles the teen's dark blonde waves. "You're welcome, Bambino."

Stefan fixes his hair, pulling a face. "Why do you call me that?"

"You speak Italian, yes?"

He nods. "Yeah, it means 'baby'."

"It's just a term of endearment that slipped out when I met you." Enzo shrugs. "I couldn't help it. I'll stop if you wish."

Stefan shakes his head. "It's not so bad. I mean, Dad already has about 50 million nicknames for me. What's one more?"

Enzo laughs. "Yeah, why are you 'Bunny Boy'?"

Stefan settles the comics back in the bag and sets it down. He leans back on his palms.

"My mama had a real hard time having another baby after Damon." It's rare Stefan refers to his dad by his name anymore, but this time it's for simplicity's sake. "She lost a lot of babies before me. When I was born, Damon was playing with our nanny in the yard. They came across bunnies. The nanny told him that they symbolize luck, fertility. It felt like a sign."

Enzo smiles. "Thus, Bunny Boy."

Stefan nods. "Doesn't help it's my favorite type of blood either," he points out. "But anyway, the nanny helped Damon make my bunny. I've had it ever since." His lips poke up in a small smile.

"Well, I think that is a very sweet story."

"It's kept me safe more than once," Stefan muses. "And it's brought me back to my dad."

Enzo rubs his back. "That's what matters the most."

Stefan nods. He pushes himself to his feet, grabbing the bag.

"I'm sure Dad is listening to this entire thing from behind a wall," Stefan says, raising his voice a few octaves.

Enzo smirks. "That's a give-in. What do we say we go inside?" He picks up the cage. "Where does this go?"

"My room. I um, I could show it to you…if you want."

"I'd love that."

Stefan lowers his voice, even though he knows his father can still hear him. "It's a little messy. Don't tell my dad. He's asked me to clean it like 5 times this weekend."

Enzo chuckles. "It's a deal."

Stefan smiles when Enzo places a hand on his back as the two head into the house. Crow flies in behind them. Conveniently, Damon pops out from around the wall. His arms are folded over his chest, a smile on his face.

"How are we doing?"

"Just fine," Enzo says. "Stefan was going to show me his room."

"Good luck seeing anything in that pig pen," Damon only half-teases, giving his little boy a pointed look. "That needs to be cleaned up by tomorrow, young man."

Stefan rolls his eyes. Enzo gently nudges him. "Mind your daddy," he says, his voice light yet firm.

Stefan resists another. Great. His dad has backup now.

Next time, we'll get a peek of these three once they're settled into their dynamic. There will be a few flashback chapters to show not only the Denzo/Stefan relationship building but also how Defan redefined their relationship and how that all changed back then. For now, the next chapter will have some Baby!Stefan being all adorable as he tries to act tough and protect his daddies.

As always, I appreciate any feedback and prompts!