kimkey prompted: "If it's not too much, could we see how the rest of the week went?"

"Wakey, wakey, Pumpkin."

Stefan rolls over in Damon's bed, collapsing against his big brother's chest. Lexi towers above both, a smile on her face. Stefan whines and drops his bunny, clinging to Damon's shirt.

"It's too early, Lex," he mumbles.

"It's 8:30. You are not going to sleep the day away."

Damon runs his fingers through Stefan's hair. "She's right. You've slept for the past 12 hours. Time to get up."

Stefan groans, reluctantly pulling away from Damon. He tries to sit up but Lexi gently pushes him back against the pillows. Stefan pouts up at her, confused.

"I thought you wanted me to get up."

"I do, but we need to get you ready first."

Lexi reaches onto the bed and holds up a pair of black jeans and a matching shirt with a red heart on it that reads Sweet Child Of Mine. Stefan smiles a little. He goes to grab the shirt, only to have Damon swat his hands away. Lexi settles the clothes down and reaches over to pull off Stefan's sweatpants. The teenager wiggles.

"I can dress myself!"

"I'm sure you can, big boy. It's just easier for me to do it."

"But you're gonna see me naked."

Lexi laughs. "Nothing I haven't seen before. We've always undressed in front of each other."

Stefan's cheeks turn bright red as she pulls off his briefs. Damon presses a kiss to his head and keeps a hand on his back so he can't go anywhere. Lexi tosses the older brother a can of deodorant to put on the little one. Stefan feels like a little baby as he applies it and she pulls on his underwear. Lexi straightens them up his bottom and then pinches his right cheek. Stefan jumps. Lexi smiles.

"Such a cute little bum. So much baby fat."

Stefan's face grows warmer. "Lexi," he whines.

"Oh, relax, Sunshine. We're almost done."

Lexi pulls up the pants and instructs him to hold up his arm for the shirt. Next go the socks. She effortlessly picks him up into her arms. He easily has a couple of inches on her, but given her age and human blood diet, she can take him in an instant. Lexi brings him into Damon's bedroom and locates his toothbrush. She sets him on the counter.

"Say ah."

Stefan rolls his eyes. "Lexi, this is ridiculous. I'm not even in my space. I can dress myself and brush my own teeth."

Lexi sighs. "I know you can, but there lies the problem."

"What? That I'm big? That's going to happen. No one is little 24/7."

"No, they're not, but they also let themselves give in faster than you do. There's still a part of your brain that's telling you to fight it. Until Damon and I can see that you are going to naturally give in when the space comes, this is how things are going to be."

Stefan's eyes widen. "But that's not fair! I'm 17 years old!"

"You are, but you're also a little boy. The sooner you show us that you won't fight us on these things, the sooner we won't have to do this. Now, open your mouth and let me brush your teeth."

Stefan glares at her but reluctantly opens his mouth. Lexi takes great care in getting each tooth, brushing to the back of his tongue as well. After commanding him to spit and rinse, Lexi does his hair. Stefan has to admit this part isn't so bad. She knows exactly what products he likes and which way to style it. Damon tries but it normally ends up looking like the older brother's.

"Alright," Lexi pats his back. "You can walk down or either Damon or I will carry you."

"I can walk."

Stefan jumps down and heads out of the master suite. Damon is gone but smells from downstairs indicate why. Lexi follows him into the kitchen where sure enough, Damon is making pancakes. Stefan settles into his usual seat. Lexi grabs a sippy cup from the fridge and passes it to him. This part, Stefan is used to. For months, he's not been allowed to drink from an actual cup at home. Even if he takes off the top, it's either this or a bottle. Under Lexi's watchful eye, he knows better than to take off the top.

"I just had blood last night," he says. "I don't think I need it now."

Lexi frowns. "How much blood do you normally have?"

Damon answers before he can. "I give him two cups or bottles minimum a day, though I tell him he may need more to keep his strength up."

Stefan grumbles. "It's just annoying. I never drank this much before."

"That's exactly why your body is still so weak. Human blood lasts a vampire much longer, but animal blood isn't as strong," Damon waves his spatula around. "You need at least twice as much as Lexi and I do."

Lexi nods. "It'll also keep you from sleeping 12 hours every night."

Stefan mumbles around the top. "It's not always 12 hours."

"Either way. We're getting you on a normal schedule."

Stefan's finished his blood by the time Damon walks over with the plate. He's made smiley faced pancakes, using blueberries for the eyes and bacon to make up the mouth. Stefan can't help but match it. Damon doesn't walk away, instead he cuts into the first one and holds up a bite. Stefan tries to grab the fork but Damon is quick.

"Do you want me to do the airplane trick?" Damon asks. "Your little side loves that."

Stefan rolls his eyes, which earns him a pop to the leg. "Hey!"

"Do not be rude," his brother chastises. "You need to eat and DayDay is going to feed you."

A small aww comes from the corner of the kitchen. "You still call him DayDay?"

Stefan opens his mouth to tell her to shut up, but Damon quickly shoves some pancakes in there. He sits there feeling small as he's fed the plate. Staring at his brother's face, he can't help but smile as they get halfway through. Damon starts doing the airplane and Stefan giggles, kicking his legs.

Stop, you're proving their point!

"Here we go," Damon coos. "One last bite. I'm going to land it in Bunny Boy's mouth!"

Stefan holds his mouth wide open and Damon slips in the final piece. The little one claps his hands. Lexi walks over holding a rag and begins wiping at his face. Stefan wiggles against it.

She's treating you like a baby.

He manages to push her hand away. "Lex, stop, I'm fine."

"You are now."

Stefan pushes himself up and grabs his plate, walking it to the sink. He checks the clock on the stove. Only 9:15. All of his friends are at school. He starts looking around the kitchen and finds his phone by the microwave. Stefan sends a quick text to Elena who gets back to him within a minute.

Elena: Where are you?

Stefan: Remember how I told you about Lexi? She's here. Damon snitched.

Elena: Sucks to be you.

He rolls his eyes.

Stefan: You're a great friend.

Elena: Sorry, just nice when it's not me not getting in trouble lol. So, you're not coming to school?

Stefan: Not until Monday.

Elena: Sucks. Can you still come to the movies on Friday night?

Stefan; I don't know. Things are weird here right now.

Elena: We'll talk later. About to head into Tanner's class.

Stefan: Correct him on something for me.

Elena: Of course ;)

Stefan's grinning as he puts the phone into his pocket. He turns around to find Lexi staring at him. Damon is eating his own pancakes and looking between the two, amused.

"Who were you just talking to?" Lexi asks.

Stefan shrugs. "Just Elena."

"Elena. You mean Katherine's doppelgänger?"

"Well, uh, yeah."

Lexi walks over. "And you two are…"

"We're just friends, Lex. I told you that on the phone."

"Forgive me for worrying about you going after the girl that looks just like your first love."

Stefan holds back an eye roll. "Elena and I aren't anything more than good friends, okay? Even if we wanted more, Damon doesn't let me date."

Lexi turns to Damon, who nods, his mouthful. He quickly swallows.

"If he's this heroic with himself, I can't imagine the shit he'd do to impress a girl."

Lexi beams. "Knew you were good for something."

Stefan scoffs. "If I wanted to date, I could date. There's nothing wrong with that."

"There is when you're you. Your brother and I will decide when you're ready, if you're ready."

The smiles on the adults' faces eats at Stefan's skin. This isn't fair. The two of them can go off and screw whoever, whenever, but he's stuck as a born again virgin. And for what?

Stefan rolls his eyes for the third time that morning. Lexi twists him over and smacks his bottom three times. He yelps, rubbing it once she releases him.

"Lexi!"

"What did your brother tell you about being rude? We don't roll eyes in this house, young man. Are we understood?"

Stefan sighs, mumbling under his breath. "Yes."

Lexi tilts her head, cupping her ear. "Excuse me?"

"Yes, ma'am." Stefan rubs his bottom once again. Damon's spankings hurt but Lexi's warnings are always worse.

"Good boy." Lexi pats the top of his head. "You go watch some TV while we finish cleaning up."

Later that afternoon, Damon sends Stefan and Lexi out to grab some things from the bakery. Stefan's surprised that his brother is letting him out of his sight so soon, but realizes he also doesn't understand what treaty the two have struck.

Lexi drives them into town and parks towards the back of the square. They climb out of the car together and start walking down. The weather is getting warmer which means there are more people out, trying to soak up some sun. When they're halfway towards the bakery, he spots Matt heading for The Grill. Stefan steps off the sidewalk, ready to run over to say hi. Suddenly, he feels a grab on his shirt.

"Stefan." He looks up at Lexi's disapproving face. "You can't just take off like that."

Stefan sighs. "I just wanted to go see my friend."

"Without looking both ways?"

He resists an eye roll, not putting it past Lexi to pop him in public. Still, he manages to get out of her grip.

"What is with you and Damon about that? I would be able to hear and see a car coming, not to mention get out of the way before it hit me."

Lexi shakes her head. "There's a chance you wouldn't. Its' just basic safety 101, you don't run across the street. If you can't walk like a big boy on your own, you'll have to hold my hand."

She holds out her palm. Stefan whines a little. He glances over his shoulder. Matt's already gone into The Grill, but there's no telling who else they'll run into.

"I won't do it again."

"And this will make sure of that."

Stefan grumbles but takes hold of her hand. She strides down the sidewalk, not releasing her grip at all. Stefan keeps glancing around, but no one is taking a second look at the two of them. It's as if it's normal for them to see Stefan like this. People are getting used to him being treated like a little boy. Which means soon enough, everyone will act the same.

He gnaws at his lip to starve off a pout. They reach in the storefront just as Elena walks out with Caroline. Stefan smiles, trying to pull away from Lexi's hand, but she remains unmoved. Caroline grins at the two of them.

"Hey, Stefan."

Stefan's still trying to get out of Lexi's grip. "Hi, Mrs. Forbes-Mikaelson. How are you?"

"I'm good. I heard you were out of school for a family thing." She nods to Lexi. "I'm assuming this is her?"

Lexi nods, holding out her free hand. "Lexi Branson, ma'am."

Caroline shakes it. "I think I've seen you before."

"You're Caroline Forbes, correct? Or I guess Forbes-Mikaelson now."

She laughs. "Yes. I took on my husband's name." She turns to her daughter. "This is my little girl, Elena. She and Stefan are good friends."

Elena gives a polite smile. Lexi glances her up and down, a Look in her eyes. Stefan holds back a whine, still yanking at her hand. A pop to his bottom both stills him and causes his cheeks to tint pink.

"I've heard so much about you, Elena," Lexi says. "It's almost like I already know you."

Elena nods. "Especially as you knew Katherine, right?"

Lexi cocks a brow. Stefan bites back a smile. "You know of Katherine?"

"I told her," he says.

"It truly is a small world," Caroline adds, still smiling. "Especially when it comes to the supernatural."

Lexi nods. "I'd say."

Caroline takes her daughter's hand. Elena doesn't even flinch. A bit of envy balloons in Stefan's stomach. There are times his friend gets a little embarrassed by her parents, but she seems to take their affection so easily. Stefan wishes he could allow himself to drop the way that she does. Then again, she had to hide that side of her for a lot less time than he did. It must be so easy to fall into place as Klaus and Caroline's little girl. He wishes he could submit fully but every time he does, there's that guilt that he's just burdening his brother-and now-Lexi pops up.

"We should get going, Klaus is waiting. But it was nice seeing you again, Lexi."

"You as well." She smiles at Elena. "Nice meeting you, Elena. I'm sure I'll see you around."

Elena nods. "You as well. And yes, tomorrow probably. Bye, Stefan!"

Caroline and Elena walk past them. Lexi tilts her head.

"Tomorrow?"

Stefan shrugs. "We're supposed to go to the movies. Damon already said I could go, but that was before you got here." He chews his lip. "Are you going to let me?"

Lexi smiles, pushing some hair out of his face. "Of course you can go, Pumpkin. I want you to have fun with your friends. Besides, Elena seems like a nice girl."

"We're just friends."

"Still, it's good you have nice friends. Elena is clearly being brought up well. Damon told me Matt is nice too."

As they enter the bakery, Stefan makes a mental note that she should never meet Tyler.

Stefan tries to be on his best behavior for all of Friday. Damon spoon feeds him his breakfast and lunch. The elder Salvatore and Lexi take turns feeding him bottles. Stefan takes his nap without an argument. He wants to everything he can to prove he's a good boy and can go out with his friends. They're giving him a smidge of freedom and he wants to prove that he can handle it. He won't complain about them driving him nor him having to text them with updates. Anything that'll hopefully get them to stop babying him so much.

As Stefan combs his hair, his hand twitches. He can't seem to get a certain part down. Frustration builds up inside of him and he whines. Stefan quickly claps his free hand over his mouth. He tries to resume but his hands feel like butter, sliding every time he comes close. Stefan throws the comb into the sink and fixes it the best he can. It's a little lopsided but he'll have to make do.

He walks into his room and pulls his leather jacket on. Before he can head out completely, he sees his bunny sitting on the bed. Stefan's tummy hurts. Outside his nap and bedtimes, he hasn't really held Bunny lately. He doesn't need to, he's a big boy. Still, Bunny probably feels lonely

Yeah, Stefan needs to make sure that he feels loved and safe. He bends down onto his bed and picks up the plush rabbit, tucking it into his jacket's inside pocket. Stefan double checks that it's not noticeable and heads downstairs. Damon and Lexi are in the living room arguing over who gets to bring him. Stefan's tummy hurts once again while he searches for his shoes. Once he picks them up, the arguing gets louder.

"You've gotten to bring him out all the time!" Lexi argues.

"That can't be your argument for everything. I asked you here to help, not take over."

"This is helping. If I wanted to take over, I could."

"I'd like to see you try, Malibu Barbie."

Stefan vamps into the room, shoes still in hand. The two stand just a few feet away from each other, glaring. In the past they argued about trivial things, this has to be the worst of it.

"Don't fight," Stefan says.

He frowns at how young his voice sounds. Damon and Lexi getting down each other's throats is nothing new. It's worth an eye roll at most. So, why does he feel so sad all of the sudden?

Damon and Lexi look over at him. Their faces soften and muscles relax. The two rush over. Damon cups his cheek, rubbing this thumb up and down his face.

"Sorry, buddy. We didn't know you were down here."

Stefan nods, still not smiling. "Don't like it when you fight." He clears his throat, trying to stand up taller. "I mean, you guys are just being ridiculous."

His siblings exchange a look. Stefan backs away from his brother and drops onto the couch, pulling on his sneakers. He stares at the laces, blinking a couple of times. Why can't he remember how to tie?

"Stef," Damon says, his voice soft. "Maybe you should stay home."

Stefan's head snaps up, his eyes wide. "What? But you said I could go!"

"I know, I know. It's just…I don't think you're in the right space."

He narrows his eyes. "I'm big! I swear!"

Damon crouches in front of him and starts to tie his shoes. Stefan rips his foot out of his grasp.

"I can do it myself! Leave me alone!"

Lexi walks closer. "Pumpkin, your brother's right. You need to stay home."

Stefan's mouth drops open. "No! You're only saying this 'cause you don't want me to going out with Elena."

She shakes her head. "That's not true, sweetie. If you were in an older space, I'd be okay with it."

"I'm a big boy!"

"No, bubba, you're not."

Stefan tries to yell, but all that comes out is a high-pitched whine. He tries to tie his shoes once again but Damon is already taking off his sneakers. Stefan's efforts to stop him are futile. He leans forward, trying to pull his brother's hair. Damon is quick and vamps out of the way. Stefan falls onto the plush carpet. He kicks his legs and pounds his fists, tears welling up in his eyes.

"You're mean!"

Lexi and Damon don't say anything. This only irritates Stefan's further. His tummy is getting worse.

"I'm not a baby!"

Stefan starts knocking his head against the floor as he thrashes about. A pair of arms lift him off the ground. He looks up into Lexi's eyes. She gently rocks him, continuing to ignore his little tantrum.

"You're a meanie! I hate you!"

Those three words usually upset Damon. Lexi simply laughs. That only upsets Stefan more.

"Oh, I'm sure you do, sweetness," she coos. "I'm just the meanie big sister, aren't I? Well, I'm okay with being that." Stefan is doing everything to get out of her grip, clawing his fingers and trying to bite her.

Damon's voice takes over. "Lexi, come on. He's getting really upset."

"He's testing us right now. If I put him down, he's going to learn that he can push this side out." She smiles down at Stefan in spite of his whining and bright red face. "But he can't. He's just a little boy and it's not healthy for little boys to pretend to be big."

A cry escapes Stefan's throat. Lexi gently rocks him, cooing soft words into his ear. Stefan's hands relax and he nearly starts sucking on his thumb. He quickly throws it down.

"Damon! Damon! Tell her….make it stop!"

His big brother vamps to Lexi's side. Stefan nods, a hint of a smile on his face. Damon hates Lexi, she won't let her do this to him!

"Stefan, is that what you want?" Damon asks.

"Damon," Lexi growls.

He ignores her. "Stef, tell me what you want. Do you want me to get rid of Lexi and you can go back to being a big boy? Making your own choices? No more cuddles or babas. No more splashy baths."

Stefan's body continues to settle. He sniffles.

"No cuddles?" His voice comes out younger.

"You can go back to sleeping in your own big boy bed and dressing yourself. It's okay. If you want to be a big boy, you can be a big boy."

Stefan clings onto Lexi's shirt. He shakes his head vigorously.

"I sleep in DayDay's bed," he whispers. "Or Sissy's."

Damon smiles, running his fingers through his hair. "Okay, you can do that."

"I wan' babas."

Damon sweeps some bangs out of his face. "I know."

Stefan looks between the two of them, eyes wide. "Don't leave me."

"We're not going anywhere," Lexi promises, adjusting him in her grip. "We love you, regardless of how big or little you are.'

Damon nods. "You don't have to hide this from us, Bunny Boy. We're always going to take care of you."

Stefan's lip quivers. Tears rush down his face, which Damon and Lexi take turns wiping away. He rests his head against her shoulder, putting his thumb in his mouth. Damon vamps away and returns a moment later, holding his pacifier. Stefan temporarily whines as Lexi removes his thumb, stopping as soon as he has something new to suck on. His tummy still hurts a little, but it's much better than before.

Lexi unzips his jacket and helps his arms out of it. Stefan makes grabby hands for it. "Bunny," he mumbles behind the pacifier.

Damon chuckles and unzips the inner pocket, pulling it out. He holds it out to Stefan, only to pull it out when he reaches for it. Damon does it a few more times. Stefan can't help but giggle.

"Sissy, DayDay silly," he says as Damon makes the bunny kiss his cheek.

Lexi rolls her eyes. "DayDay is very silly."

Damon pitches his voice to make Bunny talk. "And Lexi is stealing Stefan away from his DayDay who had him first."

Stefan manages to grab his bunny from Damon. He cuddles him close, playing with his ears. Lexi continues rocking him while Damon rubs his arm. The pain in his tummy slowly fades away.

"'Lena," Stefan whispers.

"I'll call your friends, let them know you can't come," Damon coos. He kisses Stefan's forehead. "We can watch a movie here."

"Stitchy?"

"Yes, you show Lexi where it is while I call Bonnie."

Lexi carries Stefan over to the DVD and VHS collection. He squints a bit, the letters jumbling together. Finally, he spots one with the bright blue alien on the cover.

"Dat one," he points out.

She nods and plucks it from the shelf. Once its in the player, Lexi sits on the couch. Stefan cuddles up against her.

"Sowee, Sissy."

Lexi hums. "For what?"

"Don't hate you." He looks up into her kind eyes. "Nice sissy."

Lexi smiles and kisses his nose. Damon returns a few minutes later and she starts the movie. Stefan remains on Lexi's lap, but puts his legs onto Damon's. For once, they don't bicker over him, or anything. For nearly an hour and a half, Stefan just snuggles with his brother, sister and bunny. No arguing, crying or pouting. Just family.