anon12345 prompted "Damon and Enzo get into a big fight and Stefan feels caught in the middle between the two?"

TW: Mentions of sexual harassment and past, canon domestic violence. Take care of yourself, no fic is worth your mental health.

Stefan is usually a heavy sleeper. He's heard stories from when he was a baby of Lily being terrified he wasn't breathing or was ill. In contrast to Damon, who had cried pretty much the entire first year of his life. Stefan's never given it much thought.

Until the night he couldn't sleep through the storm downstairs.

He wakes up to harsh voices. Not yelling, but loud enough for someone with supernatural hearing to pick up. Caroline stayed with him while his dads both worked, but it's not her voice. Pacifier still in mouth, Stefan grabs his bunny along with Gus and creeps out of the room. He lingers at the top of the stairs, unable to hear his dads, but still make out their voices.

"We're going in circles," Damon proclaims.

"I don't care! What you did tonight cannot happen again!" Enzo fires back.

There's the sound of Damon smacking his hands together. "If someone tries to hit on you and won't take no for an answer, it absolutely will!"

Enzo expels an irritated sigh. "You can't go around beating the shit out of everyone who looks at me or Stefan the wrong way!"

"Watch me."

"Fine. I'll watch you get arrested and then I can be the one to explain to Stefan why Daddy didn't come home."

Stefan bites his lip, hugging his stuffies closer. He doesn't like Scary Daddy. Damon promised he wouldn't show his fangies or hurt people anymore. Stefan doesn't want to lose either of his dads.

"Stop throwing him back in my face!" Damon thunders. "Everything I do is for this family!"

"No! You don't get to say that, and then get into bar fights! If this is how it's going to be, maybe you shouldn't work at The Grill at all."

"You're firing me?! I'm part owner."

"Maybe that was a mistake."

Stefan's lips tremble as tears pool in his eyes. He doesn't like Enzo's voice right now. He never yells. Even if he gets upset, he's quiet. He certainly doesn't fight with Damon. Disagree, maybe, but fight, no.

Lily and Giuseppe fought. He'd scream. Just like now, Stefan would stand at the top of the stairs with his bunny. Eventually, he'd hear a smack followed by crying. That was always when Damon appeared and dragged him into his room. He'd cuddle Stefan and talk loudly, trying to drown out the noise. Not that it ever worked.

This time, Damon is the one arguing. Enzo's down there. He has no one.

Stefan's breath grows heavy as he waits for the sound of a hand colliding with someone's cheek. He digs his fingers into his bunny's fur. Stefan sucks on his pacifier, trying to calm down. He wants the yelling to stop. He doesn't want anyone to get hit.

He does the only thing he can think of and runs back to his room. Throwing himself back under the covers, he spits out his pacifier and wails, loudly. Stefan faces the direction of the baby monitor and kicks his legs.

The arguing ceases and two sets of footsteps race up the stairs. It only takes 5 seconds for his door to open. Stefan hiccups, holding out his arms. Damon vamps over and pulls him onto his lap. He gently rocks him.

"What's wrong, Bunny Boy? What happened?"

Stefan clings to his shirt. "Daddy," he whines, sniffling.

Enzo drops on the other side of his husband and pushes Stefan's hair out of his eyes. "Did you have a bad dream, Bambino?"

The things running around in his mind are like a nightmare, so Stefan nods. Enzo frowns. Stefan holds out one of his hands and his papa takes it, rubbing his thumb over his knuckles. Damon bounces him and kisses his forehead.

"I'm here, buddy, Daddy's here."

"And Papa," Stefan whispers.

Damon ignores the comment and cuddles him close. "Let's get you to the big bed."

"Papa too." Damon opens his mouth. Stefan works himself up again, kicking his legs a little. "I want Papa and Dada!"

"Shhh, okay. Okay, we'll both go," Damon soothes. Stefan rubs at his eyes, whimpering. "It's okay, it's okay."

It's not, but Stefan settles a bit. He allows his dad to wrap him in a soft, fleece blanket to further soothe him. Enzo puts the pacifier in his mouth. Sterns ignores the look on his dad's face. That's been another source of contention between his dads. Damon never liked the pacifier and was happy when Stefan originally never took it. Those 2 days alone with Enzo got him hooked. Stefan doesn't care about that right now.

Damon carries him down the hall. Stefan only remains quiet if Enzo keeps a hold on him too. Damon tries to settle with him on his chest but Stefan insists on laying in the middle. His dad rubs his tummy while Papa strokes his hair. Stefan cuddles his stuffies and sucks on his pacifier. Little by little, his tears dry. Light hiccups escape his mouth. He only closes his eyes when he's absolutely positive neither are going to leave.

Stefan's eyes are sore come morning. He sits up, rubbing at them as he allows his pacifier to fall out of his mouth. The door to the bathroom opens and Enzo walks out, his hair damp. Stefan holds out his arms and he's instantly picked up. The little one wraps his arms around his papa's neck.

"Feeling better?" Enzo asks, his voice soft.

Stefan nods, continuing to rub his eyes. "Better," he echoes.

"Do you want to tell me about your dream?"

Stefan shakes his head. His papa always knows when he's lying. Besides, it doesn't matter. He stopped the fighting. For now.

Damon walks into the room. Stefan smiles. He holds out his arms to him. His dad comes over and gives him a kiss, but doesn't take him.

"Sorry, Bunny. Daddy's gotta go."

The tears pick back up in Stefan's already tired eyes. He shakes his head, trying to get out his dad's grip. If anything, it makes Enzo hold on tighter.

"No!"

Damon tilts his head. "Stefan, you're going to stay with Papa."

"No! Want Daddy! Daddy can't go!"

Enzo adjusts him. "Topolino, it's going to be okay."

"No, Daddy can't leave! You promised!"

Damon frowns. "Buddy, what did I promise?"

"Daddy doesn't go!"

"Did I tell you we'd do something?"

Stefan whines. Why doesn't his daddy understand? It's not fair! His daddy promised he wouldn't ever leave! He swore!

"Daddy needs to stay!"

Enzo slowly bounces him, looking at his husband. "I could go," he offers.

Stefan screams. Both of his dads look at him in shock. "No! No! No!"

Damon gently pries Stefan from Enzo's arms. Stefan kicks him, so he's dropped and falls to the floor. He throws himself onto his stomach and kicks his legs, pounding his fists. Fat tears fall down his cheeks as his breathing picks back up. He screams no, over and over again, long after his throat begins to hurt. Damon and Enzo don't move, allowing him some comfort that at least they're both there.

Eventually, they keel on either side of him. Stefan's voice is hoarse.

"Daddies don't leave," he wails. "Daddies stay!"

Damon speaks. "Stef, you need to take some breaths." The little boy shakes his head. "Yes, you do." Stefan refuses. "Big breath. Can you do that for Daddy and Papa?"

Stefan attempts one. It comes out shaky. He tries again. Enzo pats his back.

"That's good, keep it up."

Stefan continues to take deep breaths. Little by little, the tears dry up. He rubs at his throat and slowly sits up. His fathers are looking at him with worry in their eyes.

"Please don't go," Stefan whispers. "Don't leave me."

Damon rubs his back. "What has gotten into you? Why are you so upset? Papa and I are right here."

"You're going to leave me."

"Not forever." Stefan frowns. "Bud, I just need to go to the store."

Heat spreads to the little boy's cheeks. "The store?"

"Yeah. Did you think we were going forever?" Stefan slowly nods. "What would make you think I would ever, ever go anywhere?"

"Either of us," Enzo amends.

"Fighting," Stefan mumbles. "Mistake."

His dads share a look once more, but this is one of guilt. Damon pulls him onto his lap and cuddles him close. Stefan clings to his shirt.

"You heard Papa and I fighting last night?" Stefan nods.

"Is that why you were crying?" Enzo asks.

Stefan's voice is hoarse now. "Uh huh."

Damon rubs his thumb against his cheek. "That must have been scary. I'm so sorry you heard that."

"You and Papa were mad."

"We were. That happens sometimes. Just like how you get upset and lose your temper, Papa and I do the same."

"Nuh uh."

"Well, we try to keep that from you. You're so little, you don't have to worry about our arguments." Stefan sniffles. "But I know that was scary. I'm so, so sorry. We should've been more careful."

"Did you hurt someone, Daddy?"

Stefan looks up at him with big, green eyes. Damon rubs his back as he bites his lip.

"I did. You see, someone else was touching your papa and he didn't like it. But he didn't listen when he said "no", which like we've talked about isn't okay." Stefan nods. "So, I got upset and used my fists instead of my words. I shouldn't have done that, though."

"You have to get a grown-up, Daddy."

Damon chuckles. "I know, baby boy. I know. That's why papa was upset with me."

Enzo rubs Stefan's back. "But I also should've used my nice words when telling Daddy I was upset with him. Sometimes even adults forget. Mi dispiace, Bambino ."

Stefan can't manage a smile. "It's okay, Papa."

"We'll do better next time, we promise."

"But…no one leaves?"

"No one is going anywhere," Enzo promises. "Daddy and I told each other we're sorry, we're not mad anymore." His papa touches his chin. "But even if we were, no one will ever leave. We're here for you. Always."

"Sometimes we're going to disagree," Damon adds. "But we'll handle it better."

"No more Scary Daddy or Scary Papa?" Stefan asks.

Damon nods. "I promise." He kisses his forehead.

Stefan rests his head on his shoulder. His dads continue to comfort him, stroking his hair and rubbing his back.

"How about we all go to the store together?" Damon suggests. "That way no one has to be alone."

Stefan thinks about it for a moment. "Can I ride in the cart?"

Damon chuckles, kissing the top of his head. "Yes, buddy."

Enzo smiles at the two of them, squeezing Damon's hand. "You have to get dressed first. And brush your hair." He plays with the ends. "It's getting pretty long."

"No cut," Stefan says, poking out his tongue.

"Don't worry, Topolino. You can keep it long, we wouldn't dare think to bring sheers to your head."

Damon to Stefan every minute of the day: Hands are not for hitting! Fighting won't solve problems!

Also Damon: Yeah, so I got into a bar fight to defend Enzo's honor.

Enzo: This is why Stefan thinks punching solves problems.

The Salvatores are probably never going to change, haha. I wish I could say the next installment isn't going to be as angsty, but we'll hear Stefan say the words probably no adoptive parent wants to hear.

Anyway, I hope you all are having a great week! As always, let me know if you have any prompts.