Sabrina prompted " Maybe you can delve deeper into Stefan's insecurities about holding his friends back? Like maybe Stefan starts to distance himself from them even after restriction is over, because he feels as though he's just holding them back and doesn't want to make his friends miserable?

Damon could maybe get suspicious that Stefan isn't asking to hang out with his friends anymore, and Matt, Tyler, Bonnie and Elena are worried about Stefan isolating himself?"

Damon knocks on Stefan's door, only opening when he gets a soft "come in". He expects to see his brother sitting at his desk or cleaning. Instead, he lays in bed, on his side, staring at the wall. The lights are off, curtains drawn. Damon raises an eyebrow and walks over. He turns on the lamp and Stefan winces. Damon notices his daylight ring on the nightstand and quickly kills the brightness.

"What are you doing, buddy?" Stefan shrugs, his face blank. "Why do you have your ring on?"

"Don't need it," Stefan mumbles. "Dark."

"Still. You never take it off."

Stefan doesn't respond. Damon leans down and feels his forehead. Normal temperature.

"Does your tummy hurt?"

"No."

"Are you tired?"

"Sure."

Damon frowns, sitting in front of him. Stefan rolls over and hugs his bunny to his chest. Damon rubs his back.

"Baby, what's wrong? This isn't you."

"I told you, I'm tired."

"It's not even that late. Something's clearly bothering you."

"Right now, you."

Damon's brows knit together. "What did I do?"

"You're bugging me. I just want to sleep."

"You're not even in jammies."

"I'll be fine." Stefan grabs a pillow and pulls it over his face. "Just leave me alone."

"No, not when you're like this."

"Dammit, Damon," Stefan whines are muffled. "I want to be alone! I'll be fine! You can use that monitor you think I don't know about to check up on me."

Damon discreetly glances to the bunny lamp on the nightstand. The guy at the store promised Stefan wouldn't be able to tell.

"You shouldn't be alone," Damon whispers. "You're clearly upset about something."

"I'm just tired. Please, Day, just leave me alone."

Damon can hear the desperation in his brother's voice. Everything in him says to stay. And yet, he knows that'll just bait Stefan into a tantrum and that's not fair, to anyone. He can easily check on him if needed.

He leans forward and kisses the top of Stefan's head. "I'll be in my study, okay?" Stefan grunts in acknowledgement. "Call me if you need me."

Stefan clings his bunny closer, the pillow sliding off his face in the process. After sitting there another moment, Damon noticed the crow in the window and feels comfortable leaving the room.

A few nights later, Damon zips up his jacket, heading into the den. Stefan sits on the couch wearing sweats as he flips through the channels.

"I thought you were going to the football game."

"Don't feel like it."

"Isn't this a pretty big one? It'll determine if the season is over."

"I guess."

"Stef." Damon drops onto the couch. "What's going on? Did you get in a fight with your friends?"

Stefan shakes his head. "No. We're fine."

"I haven't seen you go out with them in a bit."

Stefan draws his knees under him and folds his arms over his chest. Anxiety rattles Damon's stomach.

"This isn't like you at all. Normally, you beg me to go out. Especially to the games."

"I don't feel like it, alright?"

Damon pushes some of Stefan's curls from his face. The boy needs a haircut.

"Baby, you know our rule, right? If something's bothering you, we talk about it."

Stefan nods. "Nothing's bothering me."

"Something is. Talk to me, Bunny Boy."

Stefan keeps his eyes on the television. Damon sits there, continuing to play with his brother's hair. He tries to settle his anxiety but the look on Stefan's face doesn't allow for it. Damon can't just stay there and watch his brother zone out.

"How about I wash your hero hair and give it a trim? Soon I won't be able to see those Bambi eyes."

Stefan shrugs but ultimately nods. He allows Damon to carry him upstairs, resting his head on his shoulder. Damon cuddles his baby brother close.

Damon read the first Twilight book some time ago. It was filled with inaccuracies and cliches. He only read it because he lost a bet with Lexi.

Still, what he wouldn't give for the "vampire gift" system to be real. One character, Edward, he thinks, could read minds. It's something that Damon is sure would be a blessing and a curse. At the very least, Edward always knew what his siblings were thinking.

Damon would use it on Stefan. Not often, but in this moment, definitely.

In the past 2 weeks, Stefan has only left the house for school. He returns as soon as it lets out. Once homework and chores have been attended to, he climbs into bed or drops on the couch, watching TV. He rarely smiles, is extra cuddly and his eyes are despondent. Any attempts to talk are shut down.

Damon has one tool left in his arsenal and he's saving it, mostly because he doesn't want her coming. He can handle his baby brother on his own. The last thing he needs is Lexi trying to take him again.

He manages to convince Stefan to come to The Grill one afternoon. Stefan doesn't touch the crayons or placemat. He doesn't even want to eat. Damon drums his fingers on the table, waiting.

After 15 minutes, the door to the restaurant opens. Elena, Bonnie, Matt and Tyler walk in. Damon smiles, nodding in their direction.

"Why don't you go join your friends?"

Stefan stares at the menu. "We're having dinner."

"I don't mind, buddy. You can go have some fun. I'll go flirt with the waitresses or something."

Stefan looks up. "Is that what you want? An excuse to be a pervert?"

Damon's eyes narrow. "No, brat. I want you to have fun with your friends. Something you haven't done in weeks."

"Whatever. Can we just go home?"

"We haven't even ordered yet."

"I don't want to be here. Come back tomorrow when I'm at school. You can flirt with as many waitresses as you want."

Stefan pushes himself up and slides out of the booth. Damon's mouth drops open as he watches him head for the door. Elena calls out his name. Stefan turns to her, face going from annoyed to weary. Matt offers him a seat. From afar, Damon can hear his brother mumble some excuse about having homework. He watched Stefan complete that before they left.

Damon rises once Stefan walks out of the restaurant. He plucks down some bills, feeling a little bad for wasting table settings. Damon walks over to the table, standing just a few feet away. The teens are whispering to one another.

"It's been 2 weeks," Matt mumbles.

"We should talk to him," Elena softly suggests.

Tyler rolls his eyes. "Pay attention, Elena, he doesn't want to talk to us." Elena frowns.

Matt smacks him upside the head. "Don't talk to her like that!"

Bonnie holds up her hands. "Boys, cut it out. We're not getting anywhere arguing."

Tyler sighs. "I miss him as much as the rest of you, but I'm serious. What can we do? We can't make him talk."

Elena's frown slowly turns into a pout. It's enough to even break Damon's heart. Bonnie wraps an arm around her, pulling her closer in the booth. Elena lays her head on her shoulder, letting out a tiny sigh.

Damon bites his lip. For so long, he resented this group. The more time Stefan spent with them, the less they would him. But they were truly good for his brother. He needs friends. And seeing as they've done nothing to him, Damon isn't going to let him ruin this.

Damon allows the car ride home to be silent. He waits until they're back inside and in the kitchen. Stefan grabs a sippy cup of blood from the fridge and rips off the lid, taking two long sips. Damon stares at him for a moment.

"I'll call Lexi," he says.

Stefan wipes at his mouth. "Huh?"

"I'll call Lexi," Damon repeats. "Drag her down here."

"What? Why?"

"Well, you won't talk to me. And I know she has her ways of making you talk." Damon shrugs. "Clearly, space and patience isn't working. You can have her fuss over you until you spill."

Stefan narrows his eyes. Damon's lips draw a thin line, remaining firm.

"You don't want her here," Stefan growls.

"You're right. I don't. But I'll call her, if it means you'll talk."

"She doesn't need to worry!"

"I'd rather not, but it's your choice."

"How do I know you're not bluffing?"

Damon takes his phone from his jeans and opens up his text messages. He hands it to Stefan, showing him the pre written message.

"I'll press send." Stefan raises a finger. "I have it in my drafts too."

Stefan pouts, handing it back. Damon feels some relief as he slides his phone in his pocket.

"Talk to me. Now."

Stefan gnaws on his lip. "I don't want to be a burden."

"A burden? Stef, what are you talking about?"

"Last time I hung out with Matt and Ty, we couldn't do anything, in case I dropped."

Damon scoffs. "I seem to remember you not following that rule."

"Because when I'm with them, we can't do anything fun like that!"

"There are other ways of having fun."

Stefan stamps his foot. "You don't get it!"

He vamps or the door. Damon is faster, blocking the way.

"Move!" Stefan orders.

"No. Look, I'm trying to understand. I know you can't do physical activities like that, but there are fun things you can. You guys love to go to the movies, the library, parties."

"There's a ton of stuff they can't do when I'm there. It's easier if I'm not."

"Have they said that?"

"No, but of course they don't! They're too nice."

"Something tells me that Tyler Lockwood would tell you if he felt that way."

Stefan folds his arms over his chest. Damon sighs.

"What about Elena?"

Stefan tilts his head. "What about her?"

"She hangs out with you guys just as much. Do you think she's a burden?"

"No! Of course not! Everyone loves Elena."

"Then why are you any different?"

Stefan kicks the floor, shrugging. Damon takes a step closer, rubbing his back.

"I know you can't do all your friends can, Bunny Boy. That can't be easy either. But I also know there's plenty you can. Your friends love you and they miss you."

"I've been a jerk."

"You can make up for that."

"How?"

"By talking to them." Damon checks his watch. "They're probably still there playing pool. What if I drop you off and you can join them? I'll let you stay out an extra half hour."

Stefan's eyes light up a little. "Really?"

"Really." Stefan goes to grab his jacket. "Wait." His brother turns back to face him. "I'm serious about the Lexi thing. We need to talk about this stuff, Stefan. I need to know what's going on beneath that hero hair."

Stefan nods. Damon knows his brother loves his older sister, but he'd rather avoid her for stuff like this.