Ronnie R prompted " so maybe Stefan accidentally regresses out in public (school, out with friends, or sneaks out to go somewhere alone) and gets scared? Cue Damon to the rescue! Thank you! :)"

Stefan kicks his feet as they walk through the gardening center. Damon promised they could go home after looking at 50 power drills, only to decide that the front of the house could use some new flowers. It's been an hour in this stupid hardware store. He's never been this bored.

Damon doesn't look up from the hydregna bulbs he's consulting. "You keep that up, you can go in the cart," he says, his voice busy.

Stefan scoffs. "This is torture."

Damon hums. "Ah yes, this is on par with being chained to a basement and having human blood starved out of you."

Stefan rolls his eyes. Either his brother doesn't see or simply doesn't care, because his bottom is spared.

"How much longer?"

Damon sighs, finally looking up. "Here." He tears his list in half and hands it over to him. "You go find this soil."

"Is this just so I'll stop bothering you?"

Damon pats his cheek. "What a smart boy you are."

Stefan resists another eye roll. "You used to do this when I was 5 and wanted to help you with your chores. You'd give me a task to distract me."

Damon nods. "Your point?"

"I'm not 5 anymore and this isn't going to make me forget I'm annoyed."

Damon gives him a Look. "Either get the soil or get in the cart."

Stefan eyes the larger carriage with wary eyes. "Would I even fit?"

Damon shrugs. "You wanna find out."

He's off to fetch the soil before his brother can give it more thought. Damon throws a "good boy" over his shoulder. Stefan scoffs. It's ridiculous he has to be here in the first place. He could've stayed home for an hour. Doesn't help that his stomach has hurt for the past hour. He needs to have some blood.

Stefan turns to the rows of shelves with different kinds of soil. He consults the list but the words jumble together. Stefan frowns, blinking a few times. He manages to make out one of the words and looks back to the shelves. Once again, everything is blurry.

His tummy aches more.

Stefan wraps his arms around himself, fidgeting. Why can't he read? Why are there so many different kinds? Not only does his tummy hurt, but his head is starting to as well. Stefan lets the paper fall to the ground and walks back to the bulbs.

Damon is gone. The cart is missing too.

Tears fill his eyes as he looks around the center. He lost Damon. He's gonna be in so much trouble. Maybe Damon was upset and left him as a punishment.

Stefan's quick feet bring him around the corner. No Damon. He opens his mouth to call out to him but all that escapes is a whine. His eyes leak as he clutches his tummy.

"Day," he whines softly.

Nothing. Stefan sinks onto the floor, knocking some seeds off their display in the process. He tries to put them back but they keep falling. Stefan whines, louder this time.

A familiar voice calls out. "Stef? Stefan, where are you?"

Stefan attempts to scramble up, only to trip and fall flat on his face, biting his lip in the process. Warmth comes from his nose and mouth, dripping onto the linoleum below.

"Oh, Bunny Boy."

A pair of familiar arms lift him up. Stefan immediately tries to nuzzle his face into his brother's shoulder but Damon tilts his chin back, making a hissing sound.

"Ouchies," Stefan whines.

"It's alright. DayDay will fix it."

He runs his hand over Stefan's nose and the bleeding ceases. The mouth dries up after a moment. Damon reaches into his pocket and pulls out some wet wipes, gently getting rid of any leftover blood. Stefan wraps his arms around his brother's neck, finally nuzzling his head in his shoulder. Damon rubs his back.

"Couldn't find you," he says softly.

"I'm sorry, Bunny. I went to look at hoses. I should've told you."

"The paper is fuzzy."

Damon tilts his head in confusion, then nods.

"That's alright. We can go get it together."

"Then go home?"

Damon smiles. "I was thinking, what if we went to the park? You could run around and play."

Stefan beams. He must've been very good. It's almost dinner time. Damon never lets him go to the park so late.

"Yes, please."

Damon kisses the top of his head. "Let me get the soil and we can go home."

Stefan tightens his grip on his neck. "I don't wanna walk."

"How about your ride in the cart? You can look after the flowers."

He ponders the request. "Is that an important job?"

"A very important job."

Stefan's face grows as serious as a little boy's can. "Okay, I do it."

Damon chuckles. He moves some stuff around in the cart and settles Stefan inside, him fitting with ease. He forgot places like this have carts for special little boys and girls. Stefan keeps his eyes on the bulbs, guarding them carefully.

After grabbing the soil, Damon goes to the checkout. It's only then that Stefan allows the flowers out of his sight.

"I watcheded them," he tells his big brother proudly.

Damon beams, ruffling his hair. "You're such a good helper, Stef, thank you."

Once Damon pays, they head out to the car. His brother loads it up and lifts Stefan out of the car. The park is just across the street, so they head over together, Damon holding him the entire time. Normally, Stefan would argue that he could walk but Damon is bouncing and spinning him. It makes the baby brother giggle and grab for his face.

The park for special little boys and girls like Stefan and Elena is empty due to the chilly weather and time of day. Damon lowers him on the ground. Stefan smirks up at him.

"You can't catch me!"

He zooms off, doing a lap around the jungle gym in a matter of seconds. Damon races behind him, going super slow at first. By the third lap, he grows closer…and closer…

"Gothca!"

Damon grabs him by the waist and tickles his sides. Stefan squeals, kicking his legs.

"Day!" He makes out in between laughs.

"Yeah?"

His big brother doesn't let up. Stefan's giggles grow. "Stop!"

"Hmmmm….for a price."

"Any…" A big laugh as Damon gets him under his arms. "Anything."

"One hug and kiss."

"Deal!"

Damon releases his grip. Stefan turns and squeezes him tightly, planting a wet kiss to his cheek. Damon smiles.

"How about the slide?"

Stefan nods and zips right over, climbing to the top. Damon kneels at the bottom. Stefan pushes himself down and lands right in his brother's arms. He repeats the process 10 times. Damon's smile doesn't leave and Stefan can't force his away. His brother isn't all serious and boring right now. He's fun!

Next is the swings! Damon pushes Stefan super high. He doesn't even tell him to pump after 5 minutes like he did last time. Stefan is pushed to his heart's content. Damon is laughing the entire time.

The brothers play for what seems like hours. Damon chases him around the playground then encourages him to slide. They go back on the swings twice! As the sun sinks lower in the sky, Damon claps his hands.

"Time to go home."

Stefan whines, clinging to the slide. "But DayDay!"

"It's getting late and you need to have your baba. But we can come back another day?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes, tomorrow, as soon as you clean your room."

Stefan nods in agreement. "I'll do it super fast."

Damon smiles and bends down. Stefan hops onto his back, linking his arms around his neck. Damon pushes himself up and heads for the car. Stefan rests his chin on his brother's shoulder.

"You're a fun big brother."

Damon grins. "Ya think so?"

"Uh huh. You caughted me."

Damon hums. "I'll always catch you, Bunny Boy."