Warning: Damon is a jerk. But he'll make up for it.

Stefan stands out on the balcony overlooking the backyard. He makes sure the SIM card is in all the way, just like the YouTube tutorial taught him. Sure enough, the number changes in his settings.

He found out about Damon's second SIM card by accident. His brother asked him to fetch his wallet out of his messenger bag to pay the pizza guy. A small manilla envelope was tucked into the front pocket. Stefan made a mental note to come back.

Once he was sure Damon was asleep that night, he snuck out of bed and crept downstairs. The envelope contained the card along with an index card with immaculate cursive. There were instructions to only use the SIM to contact a small list of people. As well as to replace it as often as possible to prevent being tracked.

Stefan still doesn't know who's helping his brother will all this vampire stuff. He won't tell him. Katherine is dead. Who else is there? The most he knows is the "ESJ" signed at the bottom of the notecard.

He left the SIM card alone for another week. Finally, Damon slipped into his newly decorated office and attended to paperwork. Stefan grabbed the envelope and took it up to his room. Damon bought him the newest iPhone when they moved. It's Stefan's first real cell phone, outside that stupid ladybug he had back when he was 9 and walking home from school alone for the first time. Stefan promised to take care of the new device.

Which is why he carefully tucks his old SIM card into his pocket. He won't lose or break it.

Stefan scrolls through his contacts until he reaches the "M's". His hand hovers over the 3rd.

Mama

He draws a deep breath and presses her name. One ring, then another. Stefan realizes she may not pick up. Or what if she does and she can't remember him? Did Damon wipe her memories of him forever?

He's not supposed to reach out. Damon says it's too dangerous.

Stefan should hate her. She allowed him around that monster after all. Never defended him or tried to leave.

But she's his mama. The one who rocked him to sleep. Who rubbed his tummy and made him chicken noodle soup when he felt sick. Before Julian, she was a good mom. Stefan misses that version of her. Who knows. Maybe she can get better and Stefan can be around her again.

"Hello?"

Her voice makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Stefan clears his throat.

"Ma…Mama?"

Lily exhales. "Oh, Stefan, baby. It's so good to hear your voice, my little angel."

"It's good to hear from you too," Stefan whispers.

"How's Florida?"

"Fl…"

Stefan trails off as he remembers yet another lie Damon told him to remember. The list is ever growing. While everyone in Virginia thinks they're from Chicago, Damon spread work in Albany that the brothers were going to Pensacola. Not that Stefan is even supposed to talk to anyone from Albany. He's glad Damon told him, regardless. This will keep him from blowing their cover right now.

"It's great," Stefan lies. "We're um, right on the beach."

"That's wonderful. You always loved the water."

Stefan nods, even though she can't see him. "What are you doing?"

"I'm just packing up some things."

"You're moving?"

"No, just Julian's." Her voice grows a bit of sadness. "He's gone, Stefan."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"I've buried one husband already. I'll soldier through another."

She sounds so strong. Stefan isn't sure if that's the compulsion or the natural strength that comes from all Lily's lives through.

"But enough about me," Lily dismisses. "Tell me about you. What have you been up to?"

"Not much." Stefan looks out at the property surrounding him. Their house in Albany is decently sized but three could probably fit here. Maybe 5 more on their land overall. Stefan still hasn't explored the property thoroughly. "Um, making friends. I think."

"That's good! I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks, Mama."

A pit fills Stefan's stomach.

"I miss you," he whispers.

"Oh, I miss you too, Angel. But we can see each other real soon."

Stefan shakes his head. The tears build up in his eyes. Damon has made it clear they're never going to see Lily again. It's not safe. Damon compelled her to not find it weird that there's no contact. To not have any desire to find them. Stefan understands that, to a point anyway. But he can't accept it.

He didn't even get to say goodbye.

"Yeah," Stefan makes out. He cringes as his voice breaks.

"Are you crying, baby?"

Stefan wipes his eyes with the back of his hand. "No. I'm just a little tired is all."

"Okay, I'll let you go then. I love you so much."

"I…I love you too, Mommy."

"I'll talk to you real soon."

"Yeah. Mama?"

"Yes?"

"Goodbye."

"Bye, baby."

She hangs up first. Stefan cradles his phone close and allows the tears to fall down his cheeks. He got his goodbye.

So why doesn't he feel any better?


Stefan curls up on his bed. He scrolls through the pictures on his phone. All of him and Lily. Each one brings another ache to his heart.

The door bursts open. Stefan jumps a little from the sudden sound. His phone drops onto the bed. Damon stands before him, holding the cracked SIM card. Stefan bites his lip. He didn't mean to break it, but it wouldn't come out of his phone easily.

Stefan opts to play dumb. "What's that?"

"Don't." Damon's voice is low. His blue eyes have narrowed and focus in on his baby brother. "Don't you even try that."

"Damon…"

"3 days."

Stefan raises a brow. "3 days?"

"3 days grounded. Want to go for 4?" Damon questions.

"Y…you can't ground me."

"Oh, yes, I can. You went through my stuff. Then broke it and didn't tell me. Now, you're lying. So come on, keep it up. It's your life."

Stefan bites his lip. He wants to call Damon's bluff. At the same time, he's supposed to go to the movies on Saturday with Caroline and Bonnie. He can't risk that.

"Okay, okay. I used it. I didn't mean to break it. I'm sorry. I'll buy you a new one."

"I don't care if it's broken," Damon says. "I believe it was an accident. What I care about is why you stole it. First of all, are you supposed to go through my stuff?"

"You tell me to go into your bag all the time," Stefan mumbles.

Damon tucks the SIM card in his pocket and placed his hands on his hips. "Yes, with permission. You didn't ask this time." Stefan nods. "So, who'd you use it to call? One of your friends back in Albany?"

Stefan doesn't say he barely had any friends there. Julian's isolation made it hard to maintain many. There was Lexi. She'd babysit him when Damon couldn't. But even then, how much could one consider that a friend? She was paid to hang out with him.

"No."

"Then who?" Stefan hugs his pillow to his chest. Damon takes a step forward. His forehead creases. "I asked you a question."

"Mom," Stefan whispers.

Damon goes silent. Stefan digs his nails into the pillow. He watches as his brother's face switches around like a chameleon. First sad then confused then sad again to finally pissed. The tips of his ears turn red. His eyebrows narrow alongside his eyes. His fist clenches. Stefan backs up a bit.

"You did what?" Damon grits through his teeth.

"I…I just wanted to talk to her!" Stefan defends himself. "I didn't tell her where we were! I mean, I told her we were on the beach. She believed me!"

Damon throws his arm in the air. "She could have us tracked!"

"You said you compelled her to not look for us!"

"It's still dangerous! I'm still learning about this compulsion stuff. What if you just messed it all up?! What if she comes here?!"

Stefan's lip trembles. Damon's yelling yet also sounds like he might cry.

"The call wasn't long," Stefan whispers. "And now the SIM thingy is broken. So… we're okay?" It comes out more as a question than a statement. That doesn't pacify his brother.

"Do you know how lucky we were to have this place?! How hard it'd be to relocate so soon? I mean, are you even aware how hard all this was?! Do you care?"

Guilt explodes in Stefan's stomach. "I…I…c…care," he barely makes out. "I'm sorry, DayDay. I'm really sorry. I won't do it again! But Mom, she's not dangerous."

Damon laughs bitterly. "How can you say that?"

"Julian is the one who hurt me. Not her."

"She stood there and let it happen!"

"Maybe she's sorry."

"She's not!"

Stefan sits up straight, throwing his pillow down. "We don't know that!"

Damon's face regains some of its normal color. It's Stefan's turn to feel a hot flash of anger.

"You didn't give me a choice! You just kept telling me what to do! "We're moving"," he mocks his brother's deep voice. " "You have to lie to everyone. You can't see Mom ever again or even talk to her. Nothing's safe"!"

"Everything I've done is for your own…"

"I didn't even get to say goodbye!" Stefan interrupts, his voice cracking.

The tears burn his eyes. He rubs furiously at them. When he moves his damp knuckles, Damon's calmed considerably. His muscles are tight, but his face has shifted from angry to sad. Stefan flops onto his stomach and hugs his pillow tight.

"Go away," he mumbles into the white pillowcase littered with Spider-Man, Captain America and the Incredible Hulk.

"Stef," Damon whispers.

"Leave me alone."

There's a beat of silence followed by footsteps. A moment later, the door shuts. It's only then, Stefan allows himself to cry softly.


He's not sure how long he lays there. Eventually the tears dry up but the pillow remains damp. Hulk now has tear stains drowning him. A part of Stefan feels a little guilty, even if it will go away.

His body aches and eyes burn. A nap sounds good but he's afraid of what he'll dream of. So, he doesn't move from his spot.

Damon's probably left. Or making plans to. He'll drop Stefan at an orphanage or something. Go do whatever it is vampires are supposed to. Maybe with that "ESJ" person. They wouldn't screw up like this.

To his surprise, his door opens. The footsteps come closer. The left side of his bed sinks in.

"I'm sorry I yelled," Damon whispers. Stefan curls deeper into himself, refusing to look up. "And I'm sorry that I accused you of not caring. I shouldn't have thrown all that in your face."

"You're right," Stefan mumbles. "You've done a lot. And I probably screwed it up."

"You didn't. I talked with my friend and we'll be okay."

Stefan wants to ask about this friend, but opts not to. "Oh."

"Stef, will you please look at me?"

It takes a moment, but Stefan rolls over. Damon's eyes are kinder now. He rubs his thumb against Stefan's sticky cheek.

"Why didn't do you tell me you wanted to talk to Mom?"

"I knew you'd say no."

"I would've. But we could've talked about it at least." Stefan shrugs. Damon runs his fingers through the younger brother's hair. "Or did you not want me telling you what to do again?" Stefan hesitates then nods. "Bub, I wish I could say I'm sorry for all of that. But I meant what I said. All of these choices were necessary. I have to keep you safe. That meant making tough decisions rather quickly."

Stefan remains quiet. Damon sighs.

"But, we should've discussed it more. I shouldn't just bark orders at you and that be the end of it. I want you to talk to me. Even if you think I won't like it. Even if you know I'll say no."

Stefan pushes himself up a little. He nods.

"I don't want to be a jerk," Damon continues. "But I guess sometimes I am without meaning to. Right now, all I want to do is protect you."

"I don't need you protecting me all the time," Stefan mumbles.

"Well, I don't know how to not do that. I guess you seem so much younger than 12." Damon scrubs his hands over his face. "I forget that there are some things you can handle. That you have your own opinions about things now. I can't just tell you what to do and you'll follow along blindly."

"No, I won't."

"I need to work on talking to you. But you also can't go through my things without permission or keep things from me." Stefan bites his lip. "We have to be honest with each other. It's the only way this whole thing is going to work, alright?"

"Okay," Stefan agrees.

"I love you, Bunny," Damon whispers. He gently pats his cheek.

"I love you too."

Stefan plays with the buttons on his flannel shirt.

"I'm sorry I stole your SIM card," he says. "And I'm sorry I didn't tell you I wanted to talk to Mom."

"I'm sorry I've been a jerk. And for yelling at you. Next time, I'm going to do my best to keep my cool, okay? We'll both work on it."

"Yeah," Stefan agrees.

Damon gives him a small smile. Stefan matches it. Though just as quickly as they appear, they fade.

"I miss her," Stefan says. "I know she shouldn't have been with Julian. But she's our mom."

"I should've let you say goodbye," Damon concedes. "I thought I was protecting you and making it easy. But I didn't, huh?"

Stefan hesitates. He remembers their new deal of honesty. "No, you didn't."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry I called her without asking. I won't again."

"Thank you."

Damon pushes himself up off the bed. Stefan raises a brow. Is that really their whole conversation?

"Wait here. I'll be right back," Damon promises.

True to his word, he's only gone a moment. When he returns, he holds a leather journal. He settled back on the bed and hands it to Stefan. The younger brother flips through the blank pages. There's a tiny ribbon in the center to act as a bookmark.

"I was going to give this to you for school. To keep track of your assignments, but I think it'll be good for you to write down your thoughts. Of course I want you to talk to me, but if that gets difficult, you can turn to this. Same if you want to talk to Mom. You can write her letters. You can't send them, but get it out."

Stefan looks up at his brother. Damon squeezes his shoulder.

"I know it's not the same, but it's all we can do for now."

Stefan nods. "Thanks, Day."

"You're welcome." Damon kisses his head. "You're still grounded."

Stefan groans. "Really?"

"Yes. A week."

Stefan's mouth drops open. "You said 3 days!"

"Yes, but you continued to lie. Then I found out you broke the rules. I should've explained it better, but it doesn't change rules are rule."

Stefan pouts. "What about the movies?"

"You can go once your grounding is over."

"This sucks!"

"I know. But you'll get through it."

Stefan sighs. Damon kisses the top of his head.

"Hate me?"

"Only a little," Stefan mutters.

"Then I'm doing my job." Damon rubs his back. "Wanna talk about Mom?"

Stefan hesitates. "Not now. Later?"

Damon pulls him closer. Stefan rests a head on his shoulder. "Whenever you want."

While Damon is certainly not as bad as he is in canon, he's still Damon. Not the best hold of his temper. Tries to control the situation and goes very his way or nothing. As well as treating Stefan like a baby vs hearing out his opinions. But he's trying to get better. It'll just take some time. Even then, he's still Damon. But he's learning to take accountability at least!

Next time, Stefan struggles with being grounded. The brothers will have another fun fight.