For Ronnie_R, who wanted to see why Stefan has to sit in a car seat.
This takes place pre-Enzo.
The rain pours heavily onto the windshield as Damon drives down the road. He's never been more grateful for vampire vision. This all came out of nowhere. One minute, they were leaving the playgroup with just a few clouds. The next, it's like God has decided it's time for another flood.
He glances at Stefan in the driver's seat, obviously restless. His son squirms, kicking his legs and tapping his fingers on the window. Damon made the judgment call to let them stay later than normal at the playgroup. Stefan was having so much fun. It had been awhile since Elena dropped and he missed playing with her. Damon didn't want to stop the fun. Now he realizes, he should've.
Damon rounds the corner, driving past the empty park. Stefan stills for a moment, grinning from ear to ear.
"I wanna play."
"Buddy, it's pouring," Damon says, keeping his eyes on the road.
"We can jump in the puddles!"
"It's not that kind of rain. Plus, you don't have your boots or your coat."
Stefan pouts, throwing himself back against the seat. Damon sighs. He should've known better. Stefan is a creature of habit. He needs the same routine. Even on vacation, he has to be back at the hotel or B&B in time for bed.
The little one whines, "But I wanna play now!"
"I know you do. It's disappointing we can't. Maybe after your nap if it's better out, we can jump in some puddles."
That's not enough to pacify Stefan. "No! Now!"
Damon sighs. "Stefan, the answer is "no". You don't have to like it, but you aren't going to yell at me."
"I hate you! You're the worst daddy ever!"
2 years ago, those words would've cut Damon like a knife. Now, he knows better than to give into the tantrum.
"That's fine. I'm the meanest daddy alive. It's my job to keep you safe. Now, you can pout and whine, but you won't yell at me."
He feels Stefan's glare. Damon ignores him. They're 5 minutes away from home. He'll put Stefan in some comfy clothes, give him a bottle and tuck him into bed. Damon could use a break himself.
There's quiet, luring Damon into a false sense of security. He continues to focus on the road. Damon hears a click but first assumes it's Stefan rummaging through the backpack for his bunny. There's another subtle click. Then…whooshing sounds, with rain falling into the car.
Damon pulls his eyes away just in time to catch Stefan tumbling out of the car. He slams on the breaks, narrowly missing a tree.
Damon vamps out. Stefan lay on the side of the road, clutching his elbow. Damon races through the rain as his heart beats heavily in his chest. He swoops down and sweeps his baby into his arms. Damon can feel the broken bone healing beneath the skin. Stefan shakes. Large, fat, tears fall down the boy's face. And yet, panic, anger and fear mix within Damon.
"Stefan Antonio Salvatore!" Damon screams, loud enough to be heard over the pouring rain. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
Stefan's eyes are wide as he clutches his still healing arm. "I…I…I wanted to play in the park!"
Damon's nostrils flare at the innocent and childlike, yet idiotic response. He flips Stefan over, ignoring the rain and people passing by, popping his bottom 5 times. Stefan whines, wiggling. Damon continues. He can't force himself to stop until his hand begins to hurt.
Without another word, Damon places Stefan into the backseat. His son is whimpering, rubbing his now healed arm. Damon ignores him, securing the seatbelt into place.
"Daddy…" Stefan whispers.
Damon can't respond. He doesn't trust himself with what he'd say if he did. Damon gets up front and turns on the child lock. Getting back on the road, he finds himself shaking. Visions of the worst dance before his eyes. Him hitting the tree and potentially getting hurt. Or if he had hit someone while swerving.
Stefan getting hit by a car.
The wind has picked up considerably. A stray branch could've pierced him in the chest, killing him instantly.
Damon has to stop himself from crying. He steels over as he finishes the drive. Stefan is silent, shivering and sniffling.
Eventually, they pull into the garage. Damon silently gathers his baby boy from the back and clings tightly to him as they head inside. He blasts the heat before going upstairs. Stefan remains quiet, sucking his thumb. The drenched clothes that stick to their skin drip onto the hardwood floor.
Damon makes a quick stop in Stefan's room to grab a pair of fleece footie pajamas with a reindeer hood. They're from the Christmas before and while it's nowhere near the holidays, they're the warmest he has.
He changes Stefan first, taking note of his still slightly pink bottom. Stefan is compliant, not moving a muscle and accepts losing his hand momentarily as he's dressed. Damon towel dries his curls before dressing himself in warm flannel pajamas.
Damon pulls back the covers and lays Stefan in bed. He tucks Bunny under his arms. Stefan sniffles, sucking hard on his thumb. Damon presses a kiss to his forehead, rubbing his arm.
"You need to sleep."
Stefan nods, shutting his eyes. It doesn't take long for him to drift off. Damon climbs on the other side and strokes his brother's hair as he grabs his laptop. He pulls up the website of the best, most expensive online store for Littles. Damon scrolls past the designer clothes and diaper bags, going right to the furniture section.
There's a car seat with a 5 point harness that will support Stefan's height and weight. The description boasts that no matter the space, a Little will never be able to get themselves out of hit. Damon purchases it within seconds, making sure to pay the premium for next day shipping.
Damon remains by Stefan's side until he awakes a few hours later. His son looks up at him, thumb still in mouth. Stefan's eyes are still drowsy but give off signs that he's still in a younger space. Damon's heart is no longer pounding and his anger has subsided, though disappointment and worry have taken over.
"Feeling better?"
Stefan nods. "I'm sorry, Daddy," he mumbles behind his thumb.
Damon inhales for a few moments, only exhaling when he trusts his words will be fair. "Stefan, what you did today goes beyond unsafe."
Stefan drops his thumb. "Wanted to go to the park."
"Yes, you told me. It was also pouring rain. Do we go to the park in the rain?" Stefan shakes his head. "Are you supposed to listen to me?" A nod. "No, use your words."
"Yes, Daddy. I'm supposed to listen and be good."
"What part of jumping out of the car seemed like a good descision?"
Stefan bites his lip. His cheeks flush and he looks down. Damon tips his chin up.
"Look me in the eye when we speak," he reminds him.
"I…I don't know," Stefan says.
"You don't know?" Damon repeats.
"I wanted to go really bad! I knew you said no. But…but…I still wanted to do it."
"Stefan, do you realize what could've happened to you?" The little one shrugs. "I could've crashed the car and hurt someone because I had to stop so fast. But that's nothing compared to what could happen to you." He draws a deep breath. "You could've gotten very hurt. Or worse, I could've lost you! You are my entire world, Stefan. My beautiful baby boy. I cannot lose you. I need you to stay safe."
Stefan's lips tremble. "I'm a vampire. I heal quickly."
"What if you hadn't? Or what if something impaled you?"
Tears fall down Stefan's face. Damon has to hold his own back.
"I am your dad. I know what's best. I would never knowingly put you in danger. So, when I say no, it's no. You will not open car doors or take off your seatbelt."
Stefan nods. "I…I won't, Daddy. I'll be good. P…please don't send me away. I won't be a bad boy ever again!"
Damon sighs, moving closer and pulling Stefan onto his lap. He caresses his hair.
"I will never, ever send you away. You're not a bad boy. You just made very dangerous and bad choices today. I still love you, so much. That's why I'm so upset, Bunny Boy."
Stefan nods, clinging to his shirt. "I'm sorry."
"I know you are. But remember how we talked about trust? How important it is that I can trust you?"
"I have to be honest," Stefan whispers. "No lying to Daddy."
"Yes. But that goes beyond lies. You have to prove to me that you can handle the privileges I give you. I agreed that you didn't have to have any baby furniture and that you could sit in the car in a regular seat."
Stefan plays with Bunny's ear.
"As of right now, that trust is lost. I have ordered a car seat." Stefan's eyes widen. "It'll be here tomorrow. You will sit in it every time we're driving. As of right now, it's for when you're big and little. We'll see if I trust you again when you're big. But for now, this is the way it is."
"I don't want a baby seat," Stefsn whines.
"And I don't want to lose my son," Damon says, his voice firm. "You need to show me you can make good choices and earn the privilege of doing big boy things. Until then, it's my job to help you stay safe."
Stefan slips his thumb back in his mouth. Damon slowly rocks him. He's not ready to let him go and probably won't be for a very long time.
I haven't written seriously pissed Damon in a bit. He is fun to write in small doses. Just because while he's strict, he tends to baby Stefan quite a bit. There are times he just can't.
Next time we're back in the present and things will be a little fluffier with Denzo trying to help their stubborn boy drop.
As always, let me know what you think and feel free to leave prompts.
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