Blue_bridgerton275 prompted "i would love to see a chapter where Enzo takes care of baby!Stefan alone while Damon is away, making it a situation with a clingy and fuzzy little missing his dad?"
This takes place shortly after Enzo moved in, before he married Damon. He's not quite "papa" yet.
Translations:
"Testardo": "Stubborn"
"Dito in culo": Pain in my ass
Damon's hands run under the warm water as he scrubs the sponge against a particularly aggressive spot. Out of the corner of his eye, he spots someone lurking in the doorway.
"Why don't you take a picture?" Damon quips, finally getting the food off. "It'd last longer."
Enzo's deep, accented voice takes over the kitchen. "Capturing a mental image, darling. Those jeans really work wonders for you."
"They better. Sure cost enough."
His boyfriend chuckles, walking into the room. Damon glances up, his lips curling into a smirk. Enzo's white t-shirt is tucked into his own pair of tight jeans. His hair spiked up, a beer in hand. Damon turns off the tap and grabs a dishtowel.
"Did you come all the way in here just to watch me wash dishes?"
"I got a bit bored. You make the boy go to bed so early."
"You have not dealt with Cranky Stefan," Damon says, waving his hand for emphasis. "He is not fun, at all."
"Oh, so much like his daddy when he doesn't get his way?" Enzo asks, cocking a brow.
Damon rolls his eyes. "Worse." He picks up a plate and begins drying it. "I promise, you can play with him in the morning."
The smile on Enzo's face sends warmth to Damon's heart. He was already committed to the eternal bachelor phase before he found out the truth about Stefan's classification. The news only further cemented that. He was fine with hookups while Stefan was at school or hanging out with friends. Damon told himself he didn't need more than that. When Enzo came around, he swore he'd only let it continue if Stefan liked him. Knowing his son, he knew there was a good chance it wouldn't go well…
But it did. They hit it off right away. It didn't take long before Stefan was truly comfortable dropping around Enzo. When Damon brought up the subject of moving in together, the little one was all for it. It's only been a week since Enzo unpacked, but so far, so good.
"I'm about done," Damon says. "Then I'll join you in that beer."
"Allow me to grab you one." Enzo crosses over to the fridge. He pauses, his hand hovering over the handle. "Who's Christian?"
Damon glances over his shoulder, noticing the invitation posted with a large circular magnet. "Oh, that's an old buddy of mine. His birthday's next weekend. Turning 30 for the 200th time." He twirls his finger in the air with a slight eye roll.
"Are you going?"
Damon shakes his head. "Nah. I can't. It's an all-weekend thing in Vegas." He shrugs. "I only put it up there so I remember to send a gift."
Enzo grabs another bottle and walks over just as Damon puts the last of the dishes on the drying rack. "You could go, if you wanted."
"Uh, no, I can't." Damon accepts the beer and cracks it open. "As I said, Vegas. Not exactly "Stefan friendly". Even if he doesn't drop, it's going to be a lot of alcohol and partying."
"So, you can still go."
Damon snorts. "I won't leave Stefan alone for 5 minutes if I have to run to the store. Safe to say, I'm not leaving him alone a whole weekend."
Enzo's voice remains nonchalant. "He wouldn't be alone. I'm here."
Damon's mouth drops for a moment but he quickly recovers, shaking his head.
"Babe, you're sweet, but, no."
Enzo draws his brows together. "Why?"
"I couldn't ask you to do that."
"Why not?" Enzo frowns off Damon's shrug. "Do you not think I'd tend to him?"
"What? Enzo, no." Damon sighs. "I know you'd take amazing care of Stefan. You clearly care a great deal about him. I trust you."
The briefest of smiles creep on Enzo's lips. "Then why not?"
"I just…don't do that," Damon says, the words feeling weird on his tongue. "Ever since this arrangement began, I knew those days are over. Stefan needs me."
"You've left him with sitters before."
"For a few hours. Never overnight. What if he dropped?"
"I've been around him enough to know what to do."
"Yes, the technical stuff, but there's so much more than that." Damon takes a drag of his beer. "What if he wants me and I'm across the country, partying? No, no. I won't do that to him."
"I think it may be good for him," Enzo gently argues. "You two spend so much time together, Damon. It's sweet, but you deserve a break."
Damon's muscles tighten up a bit. "I don't need a break." Enzo opens his mouth to speak, but he barrels on. "No, I'm fine. Taking care of Stef, that's my job. He's not some burden."
"I never said he was, amore ," Enzo's voice remains soft. "And I know you don't look at him that way." Damon shakes his head. "I'm only saying that you do so much for him. Yes, that's what a good dad does, but even the best parents take time for themselves."
He bites his lip. "We have moments like this. Heck, I'll leave him with Klaus and Caroline so we can have a date night…"
"This isn't about me."
Enzo gently pries the beer from his boyfriend and places it on the counter. Damon's lips fall into a small pout. Enzo shakes his head, continuing.
"We spend plenty of time together, just us. I can also just as easily take a few days to myself. Why is it any different here?"
"I know you care about Stefan, but he's not your responsibility. He's my son."
"A son who deserves a well-rested father.
"A 230th birthday party in Vegas isn't exactly going to leave me rested," Damon bites back.
Enzo pinches the bridge of his nose, muttering some irritated Italian curses under his breath. " Testardo , you know exactly what I mean."
"I do, dito in culo ," Damon runs his fingers through his hair. "The point is, I promised I'd never leave Stefan like that again. We spent so much time apart. He needs to know I'm always going to be there."
Enzo sighs. "One weekend isn't going to take away from that, amore . Bambino is more than aware of how much you love him."
"I've abandoned him in the past."
"This isn't abandonment, this is a parent taking a break." Enzo steps forward and puts his hands on his shoulders. Anxiety bubbles in the pit of Damon's stomach. "There's nothing wrong with that."
"And what if it's me who isn't sure I could go that long without him?"
Enzo softly smiles, tilting his head. Damon sighs as he pulls away.
"I know Stefan would ultimately be okay with me leaving. Even if he was upset, he'd get over it. I don't know if I could be without him for 3 days."
"You've been together every day since this arrangement started, correct?"
Damon nods. "Lexi wanted to take him on vacation and I ended up going because I couldn't bear to be that far from him." Enzo fiddles with his bracelet. Damon bites his lip. "I sound crazy."
"You sound like a dad with separation anxiety. It's understandable given what you two have been through. But this isn't the healthiest."
"I can't turn it off."
Enzo is quiet for a moment. When he speaks again, his words are slow, careful.
"How about just 2 days? Not even 2 full days," Enzo cuts Damon off before he can argue. "You fly out for the main event, sleep off the hangover and come home the following afternoon."
Damon tilts his head. That doesn't sound so bad… "What if something happens?"
"It won't, but you can fly right back."
"I don't know how much fun I'll be."
"You can at least try."
Damon sighs yet again. He scratches the back of his neck. Truth is, it would be nice to see his friends. He doesn't have many good influences since he turned over a new leaf. The ones he'd want to be around cut him off. Then there are the ones he needs to avoid to stay on the right pack. Christian and their small group is about it for him. Vegas is always a good time…
"You'll call me? Three times a day?"
"Twice," Enzo bargains. "And I'll send pictures."
"Are you absolutely sure you want to babysit? Stefan can be a lot."
"I've seen it all before. Besides, there are going to be times I'll be alone with him. Might as well have him adjust to me as a caretaker."
Damon inhales through his nose, then exhales. "I'll talk to Stef about it," he concedes. "If he's okay with it…I'll go."
Enzo grins, pulling him close. "That's a boy." He pecks his lips. Damon draws him back in for a longer kiss. Enzo purrs. "Well, I know I'll miss that."
"It's just one night," Damon mutters. "Don't be a baby."
Enzo smirks, smacking his behind. Damon lifts him up, tossing him over his shoulder. Enzo yells, pounding his back.
"Damon! Put me down!"
"If I'm going to be gone 2 days, we have a lot to make up for."
Damon does his best to keep it behind his zipper as they head up the stairs, Enzo smacking his ass along the way.
Stefan always knows when Damon has some big news to share. His dad can fool the world, but he knows him well enough to read his face and pick up the subtle changes in tone. Damon always spoils him, but bribes are his biggest tell.
Which is why when his dad takes him to the comic book store and tells him he can pick up 10 issues, Stefan knows something's up. He opts not to question him until they're walking around the park after. The non-refundable comics are tucked in a brown paper bag in the car.
"You gonna tell me what's up?"
Damon tilts his head, his blue eyes giving him away. "What do you mean?"
"You let me get 10 comic books. Plus, you extended my curfew last night. You're trying to butter me up to something."
Damon scoffs, shaking his head. "Most kids would love being spoiled and getting extra privileges."
"I'm not knocking it," Stefan quickly corrects. "I just know you. What's going on, Dad?"
Damon kicks up some leaves. "You know my friend Christian?"
"You have friends?" His father gives him a look and he snorts. "Just kidding. Yeah, I vaguely remember meeting him once."
"His birthday is coming up and he wants to party it up in Vegas. He invited me. I'd be gone for 2 days, more like 1 ½."
Stefan raises a brow. "Oh."
"Oh?"
"Well, I never thought you'd actually want to do that. I mean, you still follow me when I walk to school." Damon opens his mouth to refute, but Stefan rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "I know, Dad. There's no sense in lying."
Damon draws a deep breath. "I know I'm a little protective…"
"A little?"
"Watch it." Damon rubs his son's arm. "It's only because of all we've been through, Bunny Boy. I don't want to leave you again."
"I know," Stefan bites his lip. "I'm not sure how I feel about you going."
Damon stands up straighter. "Then I won't go."
Stefan sighs, rubbing his temples. He knows, realistically, he can go to Damon for anything. Sometimes, like right now, his dad makes it harder.
"I didn't say that, Dad," Stefan tries to hold back a whine. "I think you should. You deserve to have fun and not worry about me."
Damon frowns, crouching down to his level, touching his chin. Stefan does his best not to lean into him. He knows his dad will forever look at him like a 5 year old. Even before the truth was revealed, Stefan always fell into the role of "baby brother". It's even worse now that Damon knows the truth and adopted him. Stefan doesn't feel the need to hide it anymore.
"I'm always going to worry about you, Bunny Boy," Damon says, his voice soft. "That's what dads do."
"Still. We should be able to be apart for one night. I can be myself."
"Oh, no, that's not happening," his dad corrects. "Enzo is watching you."
Stefan dramatically sighs, though deep down he's happy. Enzo is fun. "Fine."
"You know you can text me whenever you want. Or FaceTime. I'll call to check on you."
"You need to have fun, too," Stefan points out.
Damon fusses with his hair. "I will, I will. Or I'll try anyway." He sighs. "I wish I could bring you."
"Ah, yes, hold me on your hip while you chug shots and curse." Stefan rolls his eyes, earning him a soft swat to his bottom. "That's very practical."
"Don't get smart with me," Damon wags his finger, a smirk on his face. "I could give Enzo a list of not very fun rules."
"Your rules already aren't fun."
It's Damon's turn to roll his eyes. "Yes, I'm the very mean daddy who cares about your health and safety."
Stefan pokes out his tongue, before the anxiety hits his stomach. "You…you'll come back, right?"
Damon frowns, pulling Stefan into his arms for a big hug. The little one clings to his dad's shirt.
"I'll always come back," Damon coos. "I could never leave my baby boy for very long."
Stefan rests his chin on his shoulder. "Promise?"
"Promise." Damon pulls back a little and kisses his nose. "What would I do without my little boy?"
"Go on more trips. Have fun with Enzo," Stefan mumbles.
"Nuh uh," Damon tickles his side, causing a brief giggle. "I'm always coming home to you, Bunny."
"Good," Stefan mutters, laying his head on his shoulder.
"You want Dada to carry you back to the car?"
Stefan nods. At one point, he hated being babied in public. Now, he realizes it's normal. Stefan won't be the only one carried through the park.
Damon hoists him onto his hip and rises to his feet. Stefan wraps his arms around his neck and returns his head to his daddy's shoulder. Damon rubs his back as he walks back to the car.
"Will you be my good boy for Enzo?"
Stefan nods. "Best behavior."
"That's what I like to hear."
"Can I stay up late?"
"Ha, no." Damon opens the door to the backseat and settles Stefan into the seat.
The younger vampire pouts. "Why can't I sit up front?"
"It's safer back here." Damon clicks the seatbelt into place.
Stefan pokes out his tongue. Maybe a couple of days away from his dad won't be so bad.
Next time, Damon will head off on his trip. Enzo gets to handle Stefan in both states. Just how will it go?
Let me know what you think and feel free to leave prompts?