A/N Thank you all for reviewing!

"Ooh, I need your love, babe. Guess you know it's true. Hope you need my love, babe, just like I need you..."

The eldest Forbes sibling glided into the second-floor hallway of her home albeit anything but gracefully as she almost lost her footing when she slipped. She quickly collected herself, though, and sighed in relief when she saw that nobody had noticed before she carried on down the hallway.

Clumsy Cherie! She nodded in agreement with her thoughts, scoffing at herself. Yeah, now we know why I wasn't a cheerleader.

She quickly forgot about the embarrassing situation, however, and continued with her singing, deciding against the dancing part.

"Hold me, love me—clap clap!—hold me, love me..."Cherie sang along, pausing every few seconds to clap twice before she carried on."Ain't got nothing but love, babe, eight days a week."

Cherie clapped along, swaying her head from side to side, her long blonde locks swiping at the air around her.

She clicked her tongue, motioning an air guitar before she began singing again.

"Love you every day, girl, always on my-"

Cherie trailed off as she heard her stomach telling her she needed food. She huffed petulantly, regretting not taking her mother's offer of the pancakes that morning.

Cherie stood in the hallway, contemplating going to the Grill alone but then remembered the last time she did that. She had been stuck in an awkward conversation with Elena who'd had the audacity to steal her fries all the while telling her about her new relationship.

Cherie shook her head defiantly, already making her way to Caroline's bedroom.

"Not happening again."She muttered, still seething over her lost fries."Steal my fries? What kind of evil person does that?"

Without thinking or knocking, Cherie turned Caroline's bedroom door handle and entered.

"Care, i'm bored and hungry. Do you wanna-"

Cherie froze, suddenly forgetting how to talk as her eyes landed on two half-naked bodies that were pressed far too close together. It took her a moment to process and realise that it was her sister and Tyler. Her eyes widened, and she let out a series of curses and whimpers.

She felt sick as she heard a moan coming from her sister who was underneath the Lockwood male and Cherie suddenly remembered how to move.

She released a disgusted moan, catching their attention.

"CHER!"

Caroline gasped, shoving Tyler off of her so harshly that he tumbled off of the bed.

Cherie screwed her eyes shut, dry heaving."My eyes, my eyes!"

"Cher!"

"Ew!"Cherie made a gagging sound as she turned around, covering her eyes."Oh, my God! Get a room!"

"We have one! My room!"Caroline replied as she slipped on her shirt.

"Then get a lock!"

"I shouldn't have to!"Carline retorted as she smoothed down her hair.

"I never meant for the door; I meant for your chastity belt! You've apparently misplaced it."

Caroline rolled her eyes."Ever heard of knocking?"

Cherie scoffed as she heard the sound of Tyler securing his belt and a disgusted shiver ran through her body.

"Ever heard of dinner and a movie before you give him the..."She made gestures with her free hand, pointing at what she thought was Tyler but was actually the wall."pudding?"

Tyler chuckled, embarrassment gone."Yeah, well, she gave that up-OW!"

Cherie bit her lip to stop a giggle as she heard Tyler cough, groaning in pain and Cherie knew exactly what her sister had done.

"...not cool, Caroline!"

A thump was heard as Tyler hit the ground again and Caroline huffed in annoyance.

"He's my boyfriend, we've had dinner and a movie. What do you think we do?"

"Hold hands and skip through the forest! You're my sister, my little sister; I wanted to maintain the image of you being innocent."Cherie retorted quickly, rubbing her eyes as if that was going to rid her of the picture."Can I turn around now?"

She heard shuffling as Caroline made herself presentable, muttering to Tyler to put on his shirt.

"Yeah."

"Good."Cherie kept her hand over her eyes as she turned around."Good."

"You can take your hand away."

Cherie gave a nervous giggle, waving her free hand at them.

"Nah, I think i'll remain like this until the image burns from my memory."

"Cher!"

She sighed when she felt Caroline's glare before she finally let her hand drop. Cherie gave a lopsided grin as she looked down at the Lockwood male who was curled up into a ball on the ground.

"Tyler, I didn't recognise you with your clothes on."

Cherie smiled awkwardly as her sister glared at her, Tyler looking anywhere but her.

"Guess we can't joke about it, huh?"Cherie's smile faded, rocking on her heels as until she finally said."I'm, uh, i'm gonna leave."

Cherie turned around to do just that, but Caroline's voice stopped her.

"Cher?"

The older blonde spun around on her heels, arching an eyebrow."Yeah?"

Caroline turned to her, almost giggling as Cherie refused to meet her gaze."What was it you wanted?"

"I was gonna ask if you wanted to get something to eat but-"Cherie paused long enough to let her eyes flicker between her sister and her boyfriend."i've lost my appetite."

Caroline snorted in a very unladylike manner, clearly amused.

"You not hungry? You serious? You, like, invented the five-second rule when you drop your food."

Caroline smiled wide, crossing her arms over her chest."You fought the neighbour's dog when he took your sandwich."

"I was eight!"Cherie almost stomped her foot, tired of that argument before she gestured to the pair."And there are some things even grosser than dog spittle on your bread. Something like seeing your sister and her wolf boyfriend rolling around like the world was gonna end."

Cherie almost smiled as Caroline and Tyler both blushed sheepishly.

"When this door shuts, this stays here, all right? I never saw anything."

When they nodded in agreement, the elder Forbes sister gave them both a smile as she backed out of the room, door handle in hand.

"Now, if you don't mind, i'm gonna be anywhere but here."

The Grill

"It was scarring."

"Seeing Tyler on top of your sister? I bet."Matt placed down a Cola in front of Cherie before he returned to drying glasses."I bet it was like seeing a bitch in heat."

He snorted as he laughed, shoulders shaking and Cherie raised her eyebrows.

Matt didn't stop laughing even as he saw the blank look on Cherie's face.

"You get it? 'Cause he's a wolf?"Matt gave her a goofy smile, still amused before his eyes widened and he became worried." I-I'm not calling Caroline a bitch or-"

"Yeah, I get it."Cherie rolled her eyes, toying with her straw."Hilarious!"

Her eyes downcast as she continued to play with the straw, swirling it in her glass, watching with no interest as the Cola swirled also.

"Oh, come on. She's had boyfriends; you honestly didn't expect her to stay CareBear forever did you?"

Cherie just shrugged, and Matt smiled, nudging her."If it helps, she wears the pants in the relationship. Believe me, from picking the movie to y'know; Caroline is in charge."

Cherie's head snapped up so fast that her blonde locks swiped Matt's face. Her eyes widened as she stared at the bartender across from her, cocking her head.

"You got it on with my sister?"

Matt's own eyes widened, and he straightened."I-I-"

"Matt?"

The blonde sat up straight, narrowing her eyes somewhat dangerously."Well?"

Matt shifted uncomfortably underneath the heated stare Cherie had him under, and he clutched the towel tight in his hand, ready to use it if he started to sweat.

"Calm down, Matty! I know you and Tyler wouldn't hurt my sister."Cherie giggled, sitting back down, looking up at Matt, smile faltering a little."If you both did i'd have to cut off parts of you. Caroline is sunshine; I won't let that change."

Matt breathed out in relief, smile returning.

"Then what's the problem? Other than being scarred after walking in on your sister and her boyfriend?"

"The problem, Matt, is that I just...i just-"Cherie blinked, lower lip quivering as her eyes glassed over."I just don't want Caroline to be hurt by someone she loves again. Caroline loves heart and soul, even if it breaks her. She's been in love and been scorned. She loved our dad with everything she had, and he broke her heart. I just don't want her heart broken again."

Matt's smile fell, but he attempted to make her smile as he nudged her, sending her a disbelieving look.

"How will someone be able to hurt her again when big sis is back?"

Cherie scoffed, rolling her eyes at Matt, arching her eyebrow.

"Matt, I was able to kick the ass of the kid that pushed her when we were little, but i'm sure against the supernatural, I won't be able to do that."

Matt reached over and took her hand, looking saddened by her tears."You forget that Caroline is one badass woman. She's been knocked down a million times but she always gets back up, and she comes back stronger. That's the good that's come out of her being hurt."

The Forbes sister seemed to hear the sincerity in his tone, and she raised her head, meeting Matt's gaze.

"If someone hurts Caroline, Cher, she'll kick their ass and you? You'll be there with the ice cream and the shovel to eat and bury the pain away."

Cherie didn't hide a giggle that left her and she shook her head at him.

"The same will happen if the situation is reversed. That's what you do because you're family."Matt squeezed Cherie's hand, voice softening as he comforted her as best he could."That's the reason you both will be standing when things come at you. You have her back, and she has yours. If you have that, you or her being hurt won't matter because you'll have each other."

Matt offered her a napkin to wipe her tears, and she accepted, folding it.

"All good?"

Cherie nodded, dabbing at her cheeks, giving him a tight smile.

"All good."She repeated, sniffing before finally noticing the people waving to catch Matt's attention."You should go serve them before you get fired."

Matt looked reluctant."You-"

"Go, i'm fine. I'll just finish my drink and go home."Cherie cut in, making a shooing motion."Let's just hope I don't forget to knock again."

Matt chuckled but gave a nod, respecting her wishes. He gave her a goofy smile before he turned and went to serve those who were waiting for him.

Cherie looked back down at her drink, oddly still fascinated by the swirls the Cola made whenever she circled the straw. As she toyed with her drink, she felt stray locks of her hair tickling her cheek as the air around her changed.

"Why so glum, chum?"

Cherie didn't turn her head as the stool next her was pulled out."You didn't jump this time, sunshine, it's kinda taking the fun outta sneaking up on you."

"It's kinda creepy your idea of fun is sneaking up on me instead of just saying hello."Cherie replied in a deadpan manner, attention drifting from her drink to the man sitting next to her."It makes you sound like a stalker."

"I prefer the term devoted suitor; it has a nicer ring to it."

The man sitting next to her pursed his lips as he pondered before he added."More romantic and less...lurker—esque."

An inaudible laugh escaped her, but it was evident it had happened by the shake of her shoulders and how her lips arched upwards.

The baby blue orbs fixated on her seemed to turn even lighter, if that was possible, as Cherie's frown turned into a smile.

Damon seemed proud of himself as his eyes lowered to her curved up lips.

"Finally, a smile! I thought you were gonna turn into Stefan."Damon huffed, giving a dramatised eye roll, teeth scraping his bottom lip. There's already so much doom and gloom around this town; I don't need you to be sucked in."

Cherie scowled at Damon, momentarily distracted by the bottle of whiskey he placed down on the bar. She was sure that Matt hadn't served him since he sat down nor would give him a bottle.

Cherie shook her head to clear her mind, returning to scowling at the Salvatore.

"I'm not doom and gloom!"

Damon inched closer, giving her a complacent smirk."Then what's with the crying?"

Cherie shifted at the question but remained stoic.

"I wasn't crying."

"Really?"Damon raised an eyebrow, and when Cherie nodded defiantly, he rested on his arms, leaning closer."Then why are your eyes red? And why did I hear the sobbing when I was eavesdropping?"

Cherie narrowed her eyes at him."You were eavesdropping?"

"That doesn't matter."Damon quickly said, shifting the spotlight from him back onto the human."What matters is that you've stopped crying and being gloomy, which is thanks to yours truly, and now we're gonna have a drink."

Cherie shook her head, nodding to her Cola."I've got one."

"I meant a real drink."Damon shook his head at her, leaning over the bar and grabbing two glasses, placing them down in between them."We are going to drink away the mental images of walking in on our siblings with their lovers."

Cherie's eyes widened and moved closer.

"You've-"

"Stefan, while not as charming with women as I, has had his fair share of women. We're over a century and a half old, sunshine, we've entered without knocking before."

Damon winced as he poured their drinks, as if remembering something horrific."All that bumping and grinding, it kinda makes you sick, doesn't it?"

Ignoring him, Cherie shook her head, looking down at the whiskey with a curled up lip before catching Damon's look.

"I don't drink."

Damon gave an exaggerated gasp."Oh, pristine, are we?"

"I'm not pristine."Cherie glowered at him, watching as he poured her drink. I just promised mom that if me or Caroline were gonna drink, the other had to be there and be somewhat sober. Someone has to hold back Caroline's hair when she's-"

"I'm sure Tyler's been holding barbie's hair."Damon cut in as he picked up his glass, a teasing sparkle in his eyes."I'm sure dog boy's been yanking it and-hey!"

Damon hissed at the sharp kick to his shin, turning a little to evade another kick.

"Ouch. What was that for? And ouch again!"

"Speak that way about my sister or put more yucky images in my head again, you'll be wearing the drink. Okay?"

Damon just shrugged, handing Cherie her glass and watching as she eyed it.

"This is gonna be strong, is it?"Cherie looked at Damon who just gave her a lopsided grin.

She sighed, shrugging before raising the glass."Oh, well, here's to peer pressure!"

Damon gave a broad smile before he copied her."Here's to our second date."

Cherie frowned, confused as she stared at him.."We didn't have a first one."

"Of course we did. I don't bring breakfast to just anyone. We eat, and you slapped me. It's a date to me."

Damon cocked his head, waggling his eyebrows as Cherie just shook her head at him."Come on, sunshine, don't lie and tell me you haven't been wishing for this moment."

Cherie just rolled her eyes at him, clinking their glasses and giving him a small smirk.

"Sounds like you've been the one wishing for it, stalker."

Damon just shrugged, bringing the rim of the glass to his lips before he frowned."Hey! Not a stalker!"

Cherie just sent him a bright smile, swirling around the liquid in the glass.

"Want a genuine one?"

Cherie eyed the vampire as he let his eyes flicker over her face, searching for any wry humour. While his eyes showed something relating to interest, his smirk, however, remained frozen.

Damon gave a short laugh, lowering the glass from his face.

Then he nodded.

It was brief, almost non-existent but Cherie caught it.

"Actually ask me first, that goes a long way."Cherie offered him an almost warm smile, truly receptive to the idea."Then take me to the place you got that carrot cake and buy all of it. Then hold back my hair if i get sick. Of the cake, not alcohol. I love cake."

The Salvatore let a genuine smile come forward, and he laughed before chuckling.

"I'll keep that in mind, sunshine."

Damon then raised his glass again, nodding at her."Drink on it?"

"Here goes nothing."Cherie whispered before she took a sip of the unfamiliar drink and, as soon as she swallowed, the blonde let out a disgusted sound."Ugh!"

Cherie, as if burned, set down the glass and slid it away from her in horror. She shook her head, sticking out her tongue and let out a string of revulsed sounds.

"Ew, ew, ew!"Cherie hastily and desperately grabbed her own drink and gulped it down, still horrified."Yuck!"

Damon bit the inside of his cheek to hide the smile that threatened to show. He watched the blonde with what could only be described as warmth. His hand covered his mouth to help in his mission to hide the smile as he eyed Cherie while she tried to rid the taste.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Or anyone else who drinks that?"Cherie whispered to Damon, eyes wide, as if she had been struck."How can you drink that?"

Damon shrugged, clearly amused."I guess you just don't have the seemly tongue for it."

"I think there is something wrong with your tongue."

Damon, unable to help it, found himself laughing as Cherie scrunched up her face cutely at the bottle then at Damon.

Cherie straightened as Damon leant closer, almost going cross-eyed as he stopped just a few inches from her face.

"Sunshine, i've never gotten complaints about my tongue."

She paused for a moment, letting her eyes flicker over his face, a small smile appearing.

"Firstly, you're a cad, but i'm sure you've been told that before."Cherie's quirked and she playfully glared at him, shoving at his shoulder."And, secondly, there's a thing called personal space. Learn the definition and use it in your day to day life."

Damon huffed out a laugh, finding that he was never bored around the human, and he gave a nod before pulling back.

"As you wish, sunshine."

He picked up his half empty bottle, going to pour himself another drink but he paused, turning to the human."Where did you learn the word cad? That's not a word from your generation. Believe me, I know."

Cherie peered up at Damon, confused before shrugging casually."Must've picked it up somewhere."

Damon pursed his lips before he also shrugged, already forgetting about it. He then perked up, eyes lighting up like a child and he looked almost excited.

"Ever done a body shot?"

Before Cherie could answer, he sing songed."Would you like me to give you a demonstration? I'll play teacher, and you can be-"

He caught her hand before she could slap him and trapped her legs with his before she could kick him. Cherie raised her eyebrows, almost impressed by his knowing of what she was thinking before she could act as well as his speed.

She then looked to him, hiding the fact she had been impressed.

"You're a-"

"Cad?"He offered, leering at her with a smirk before he feigned being remorseful."I know. It keeps me up at night."

Cherie rolled her eyes again, biting on her lip to stop a smile before she attempted to yank her hand free from Damon's grasp. He only held on which made her sway as well as the stool which ultimately made her topple over. Cherie let out a gasp, trying to hold onto something but failed.

"Oh, no!"

She winced, ready to fall but an arm wrapped around her, holding her up straight. Cherie let out a relieved breath, happy that she hadn't both embarrassed herself or suffered a bruised side.

She was met with a smirking Damon as he straightened her.

"Oh, would you look at that? You're falling for me already."

Cherie attempted to glare at him but she failed.

A mesmerising smile broke out on her face and, unlike earlier, her laughter rang throughout the reverberated throughout the bar.

Damon watched Cherie, lingering for a moment, as if capturing the sight before he began to laugh along with her.

As Damon continued to chuckle, he failed to notice a pair of ocean blue eyes staring at him.

The eyes zeroed in on Damon before they angrily flashed amber, a snarl following as the figure backed away out of the Grill.

Enjoy that smile, mate, it'll be your last.

Thank you for reading!

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