Ronnie_R prompted: "I was wondering about Stefan getting bullied/teased by another little for not having a mommy or daddy but a DayDay (and Sissy). I haven't really thought about the idea past this point since the boys are so happy with their dynamic. But maybe Damon gets insecure that he took that from Stefan and Stefan comforts him."

Damon didn't know play dates were a thing until he took guardianship of Stefan. The concept was odd at first. Being responsible for his brother was scary enough, add in another and it ups the liability.

Luckily, Stefan's only Little friend is Elena, who's parents are just as protective over their kid as he is, if not more. When the two drop into space on the same rainy Saturday afternoon and Stefan insists on inviting her over, Caroline comes along. The kids want nothing to do with them, running off to play with the new army men Damon picked up at the toy store the week prior. Caroline settles with him towards the back of the parlor, accepting the blood he poured into a mug for her.

"I do have bourbon," he says, holding up his own glass.

Caroline shakes her head. "I don't drink when Elena is in space. Even if we can't get drunk, it's still not a risk I want to take."

"You implying I'm a bad guardian," he teases with a smirk.

She rolls her eyes. "No. You don't have to drive home after this, I do."

Caroline looks over at the kids. Damon follows her gaze. Stefan is smiling wide as he plays with Elena.

"I haven't really watched him with other kids," he muses. "I know he will if he drops at school but usually he keeps to himself at the park. Anti social, even in space."

Caroline chuckles. "Elena used to be the same way, but, and I hate to say it…Tyler…" Damon makes a face. "Has helped her out of her shell."

Damon sips his bourbon. "Luckily, that bad influence has not had an impact on my brother."

"He's not so bad. But I get why you and Klaus hate him."

"Hm?"

"He reminds you of yourself." Damon opens his mouth to argue but Caroline holds up a hand. "Think about it. Rebellious teenage boy with a mouth. Trying to put on a front to avoid a crap home life." She shrugs. "Makes all the sense in the world."

Damon swirls his drink, not appreciating this scarily accurate assessment .

"Okay, Dr. Forbes-Mikaelson, thank you for the session," he says dryly. "Please bill my insurance."

Caroline laughs, taking a sip of blood. "Happy to be of assistance." She's quiet for a moment. "Seriously, though. I'm glad Elena has a nice friend she can play with when she drops. There are some at school but others aren't as well behaved as Stefan is."

"Oh, he has his moments. Most do, I'd think."

"Right, but I know you correct challenging behaviors so he's still behaved as a kid can be. Some…" She trails off with a sigh. "I mean, I'm sure you're not happy with Anna Zhu right now."

Damon cocks an eyebrow. He knows Pearl, but Anna is still a bit of a mystery to him. She attends school with his brother, that's about it. Caroline tilts her head at his confusion.

"The whole parents thing? How she kept teasing him over having just a brother and not a mom. I wanted to ring her neck when I heard that. Even more when she made fun of Elena for being adopted…"

She keeps talking but it turns to static for Damon. He stares at his baby brother, who's oblivious to the goings on. Stefan never mentioned any bullying. He's gotten better about opening up when things go wrong. Why wouldn't he tell him about that?

Damon surprises himself by not being upset over Stefan keeping another secret. Instead, there's an ache inside for the truth behind the comments. Stefan doesn't have a mom. Damon is everything a father should be, but he's fine with not being "daddy". Their dynamic has always been, baby brother and big brother/father figure. Damon's never beat himself up for that. It doesn't change that he's all Stefan has.

Stefan got stuck with his big brother. He doesn't get that maternal side. Sure, there's Lexi but she's not around that often. Even when she is, she's more like an older sister than anything.

Damon isn't interested in settling down. The woman for him was Katherine and she's gone. He's not a monk. Even with guardianship of his brother, he finds companions. Damon was fine with that for himself. Committed relationships are too complicated and messy.

But because of his bachelor lifestyle, Stefan won't ever have that mother figure. At least not until something changes. Damon doesn't foresee that happening for at least the next 50 years.

Losing Lily destroyed Stefan. He was such a Mama's Boy. Damon loved his mother but always held a bit of resentment for her refusing to do anything about the abuse his father wrought. Realistically, for the time, there wasn't much. She turned a blind eye to the burn on his arm, black eyes and much more. Stefan was too young to pick up on any of it. His mother was perfect, a literal angel.

Stefan deserves a mom that will care enough to protect him. Who will always be there. Damon does all he can to give Stefan the world. It's easy with hundreds of years of generational wealth. There's just one thing money can't buy: a mom.

Damon's self loathing is interrupted by a rough body jumping into his lap. It takes him a minute to process Stefan on his lap. His big green eyes stare into his soul, a big smile on his lips. Damon tries to match it, but can't.

"'Lena and I want ice cream. Can we have some? Pweaseeeee?"

Stefan pouts and widens his eyes more. Damon forces a smile, kissing his forehead.

"Sure, buddy. As long as Caroline says it's okay."

The little girl's mom agrees and they head into the kitchen. Stefan hangs off his brother, happy and carefree. Damon wishes he could feel the same.

There are a lot of rules that Stefan doesn't like but sucks it up because he knows it's for his own good. He trusts his big brother to have his best interest at heart. So, even when he's feeling 17, he abides by curfews and bedtimes. He'll eat and drink what Damon feeds him.

One rule he dreads is number 9. Sure, it's freeing to let himself be honest with Damon and have no repercussions. And yet, it's hypocritical. Damon keeps things from him. He doesn't lie necessarily, but he won't tell his brother everything. Some things, Stefan understands. Other times, it's just Damon being Damon.

Ever since the play date, Damon's been in a funk. Not mad, not upset, just quiet. He has a haunted look about him. Stefan knows Caroline couldn't have done anything. He and Elena cleaned up their mess. There's nothing Stefan did to cause this. So, there should be no reason for Damon to protect him from it.

He's indulged Stefan often since it happened. No lectures. Lenient on bedtime. He even let him stay out a whole extra hour that Tuesday. Stefan cursed thrice on Monday and didn't even get a pop to the bottom, much less the threat of soap. His room is tidied once a day without being nagged to do it himself.

Stefan gives his brother 3 days. Once they return home from school, he throws his backpack on the floor of the entry way. Damon simply picks it up and hangs it on the hook. Stefan narrows his eyes.

"I'm gonna go to Ty's."

Damon nods. "I'll drive you."

"It's fine. He's picking me up. We're going to play Grand Theft Auto."

No reaction. Stefan throws his arms in the air.

"What the hell is going on?"

Damon tilts his head. "Huh?"

"You just okayed not only Tyler driving me somewhere but me playing a violent video game. You won't let me play anything with a T rating!"

His brows crinkle. "You're mad because I'm giving you what you want?"

"I'm mad because you're not acting like you! God, I never thought I'd say it, but I miss my big brother!"

Damon bites his lip, his blue eyes filled with pain. Stefan folds his arms over his chest.

"You make me tell you every little thing, especially when I'm upset. Why can't you tell me what's wrong with you?"

"I'm the adult, Stef."

"That's bullshit and you know it!"

"Hey!" Damon snaps.

Stefan can't help but smile. Finally. His brother's face has gone from sad to stern in a click.

"There we go," he mumbles.

"You're pleased?" Damon scoffs. "You really are a weird kid. I give you whatever you want and it's somehow an issue."

"Because that's not you, Damon. You don't want me to be a complete brat. It's why the rules exist." God, he cannot believe he's arguing this! "I may hate it sometimes, but it's just who you are. Not this pouting mess who barely says a word."

Damon rubs the back of his neck.

"I really didn't want to talk about it."

"What do you tell me? Not an option?"

Damon groans. "You're not going to let up, are you?"

"I mean, it's either we talk or I really will go over to Tyler's and play a super violent video game that could trigger my ripper state."

Damon rolls his eyes. He heads for the parlor, gesturing for him to follow. Stefan follows and settles onto the couch. Damon pours himself some bourbon and knocks it back, before doing two more shots.

"Can I have some?" Stefan tests

"Don't push it," Damon grumbles.

Stefan shuts up. His brother takes one last drink before crossing over and settling beside him.

"To be fair," Damon says. "All this started because you kept something from me."

Stefan frowns. "I didn't keep anything from you. I've gotten better, Day. No secrets."

"Oh really? So you didn't think I needed to know about Anna?"

"Anna? What are you…"

Stefan trails off, hissing a little. Of course Caroline was the one to let that slip.

"Day, she just had a birthday," he says. "She's a brat to everyone because she's pissed about her classification. None of us take it to heart. We all did and said stupid sh…stuff when we were in her shoes."

"That doesn't make it right."

Stefan shrugs. "I know they told her mom, so it doesn't really matter. What she said doesn't bother me." He consults his brother. "You're really mad I didn't tell you that?"

Damon sighs. "I'm not mad. I mean, I wish you had told me. We agreed secrets but I will concede if it doesn't bother you, there's not much to tell."

"It really didn't get to me," Stefan says, honestly. "I don't have a mom. It's nothing new, that's been my reality for 152 years. That's just the way it is."

"It's not the way it should be," Damon mumbles.

Stefan squints, confused. His brother continues, clearing his voice.

"You deserve a mom, Stef. I know you have Lexi, but that's not really a mother figure. She's the fun sister who's in and out of your life."

"So now we're back to you being mad at Lexi? I thought you preferred her gone."

"No. For once this has nothing to do with Lexi." Damon gnaws on his lip. "I…I can't give you a mom. I can't bring Lily back. I have no desire to settle down and get married. At least not now. You've got me, this dad/brother hybrid. I just never considered you needed a mom too."

Stefan frowns. "Who says I do?"

Damon looks down at him, desperation in his eyes. Stefan hates seeing him this upset, guilty. It's not like him at all. And over what? Something that doesn't even matter.

"Day, I had a mom. She was good, loving, I have fond memories of her. I'm not sure if anyone else could ever live up to her."

"But she's gone."

"Yeah, and I've accepted that. Because even after she died, I had you." Stefan shrugs. "Father killed us and then I took him from you."

Damon scoffs. "That wasn't taking much from me."

"Still. It happened. We were orphans, more or less. Then you adopted me and you're right, you're more like a father than he was. I've got a Day, a Sissy…that's all I need."

Damon bites his lip. "What if that's not enough?"

"It is." Stefan sighs off his doubtful face. "Look, I know in the past I haven't been great at sharing my feelings but I'm being honest here. If I had to pick anyone to take care of me when I'm like this, it'd be you and you alone. Sure, if you got married at some point, I'd accept it and adjust to having a mom."

Stefan smiles a little.

"But I have my DayDay. That's all I need."

Damon lets out a deep breath. He pulls his baby brother onto his lap and kisses his forehead. Stefan allows him to curve him into his chest and gently rock him. Damon pinches his cheeks and he doesn't even squirm. For a little bit, he'll indulge his big brother. Letting Damon feel better will make Stefan happy. As long as it means his overprotective, sarcastic and strict big brother is back, he can tolerate being babied in his big state.