This wasn't the original chapter I had planned, but we'll get to Stefan hating being grounded eventually.

Stefan's never loved going to the doctor. Now, he feels like he goes all the time. Getting weighed then poked and prodded. The doctor asking both he and Damon a million questions. Usually, they're all the same, just dressed up in different words. Stefan feels it's a scam to get a copay, but Damon follows the doctor's instructions to the letter. It's exactly why he's still drinking those stupid baby shakes.

Stefan sits on the cot for yet another appointment, his legs swinging. Damon's nearby, rooting through some of the jars.

"You're not supposed to touch that stuff," Stefan says.

"I don't think Dr. Fell will mind." Damon plucks out a tongue depressor and puts it in his mouth. "Do I look cool?"

"You look ridiculous," Stefan whines. "Can we go?"

Damon takes it out and tosses it in the garbage. "Where are you off to in such a rush anyway? You're grounded. Aka, no fun to be had."

Stefan rolls his eyes. "Anything is better than being trapped at the stupid doctor's."

"I told you, bub, soon it'll move up to monthly appointments."

"Joy." Stefan looks around the room. There's cartoon Disney characters splattered against the wall. "This is such a baby room."

"It's a pediatrician's office. For kids. Because, in case you forgot, you're still one."

"Whatever."

Damon sighs, leaning back against the counter. The door opens. Rather than Dr. Fell, a taller man in scrubs walks in. Stefan backs up a bit on the cot. Damon moves closer to him and narrows his eyes.

"Who are you? Where's Dr. Fell?"

"Dr. Fell had an emergency," the man with bright red hair says in a bored tone. "I'm Dr. Blake. I'm filling in for her today."

"Would have been nice for someone to give us a head's up."

"Not to worry, I've looked into the case. I'm more than aware of all the particulars when it comes to Stephen."

Stefan bites his lip and looks down. Damon clenches his shoulder. "It's Stefan."

"Stefan. My apologies. And you are…"

"Damon. Damon Salvatore. His older brother and guardian. Look, maybe we'll come back when Dr. Fell is here."

"She has no more appointments for the next 2 weeks," Dr. Blake says bluntly. "Stefan needs to be seen today, correct? To monitor his healing?"

Damon shifts a little then reluctantly nods. "Yes."

"Then we'll do this now. Not to worry, I know what I'm doing, Mr. Salvatore."

"I hope so." Damon regards the doctor carefully. "You look a little young. Are you even old enough to hold a license?

Stefan's cheeks flush. Dr. Blake clicks his tongue. "I'd say I'm more than qualified to be a doctor. And how old are you, Mr. Salvatore?"

"23 years old. That's relevant to what?"

"My point."

Dr. Blake turns to Stefan. The pre-teen has his hands balled up in his shorts pockets.

"The nurse weighed you. Seems you've gained 2 pounds," Dr. Blake says as he consults his chart. "That's very good. And you take supplements?"

Stefan bites his lip and swings his legs. He's never had a male doctor before. Even back in Albany, his pediatrician was Dr. Gale. A kind, older woman with gentle hands who gave him a lollipop after each visit.

"He drinks the Iconic Kids Protein Drinks," Damon speaks up. "Paired with the diet that Dr. Fell recommended."

Dr. Blake doesn't look back at him and instead, keeps his eyes on Stefan. "What about activity, pal? You getting a good amount of exercise?"

"He plays football with friends. Plus runs around a lot. Especially the house." Damon chuckles, ruffling his brother's hair. Stefan softens just a bit from his touch. "He's a very active little guy."

Dr. Blake clears his throat. "Mr. Salvatore, I'm asking your brother these questions. He's the patient. According to the chart, he hasn't lost his ability to speak, so why don't we let him?"

Stefan feels his brother's hand tense. "He's shy," Damon grits through his teeth. "I'm just helping him out."

"Well, the only way Stefan is going to learn to speak up for himself is if you let him."

Stefan sees the anger in his brother's eyes. He quickly pushes his hand away. "Day," he whispers. "It's fine."

Damon frowns, gently touching his chin. "You sure?"

Stefan nods. "I…I can talk." He looks back at Dr. Blake. The man is tall, even taller than Damon. His bright blue eyes are anything but kind. Still, Stefan isn't a baby. This is how doctors talk to teenagers. He'll be 13 in November. It's time he learns to speak up for himself. "I…I'm sorry, Dr. Blake."

Dr. Blake nods. "Now we're getting somewhere. Perhaps Damon should step out of the room."

Damon shakes his head. "Nuh uh. Not going to happen."

"I usually don't have the parents or guardians of patients of this age in the room."

"I'm assuming those patients haven't been through all of what my brother has."

Stefan plays with his fingers. He really doesn't want to be alone with this doctor. Even if it were Dr. Fell, he wouldn't. She asked the first time if he wanted Damon to step out, but when Stefan said no, she respected it. It's never been brought up since. Stefan knows he can ask his brother to at any point, but doesn't want to.

But maybe that's wrong. Maybe he's supposed to want his brother out of the room. He wonders if Tyler and Matt have their parents with them at appointments. Probably not. God, if they ever found out his brother stayed with him, they'd probably think he was a little kid. Unlikely would ever want to be his friend. He's already younger than them.

"Day, um, maybe you should step out," Stefan suggests.

Damon shakes his head. "You don't have to listen to him, Stef."

"No. Seriously. I'm 12, right?" Stefan clears his throat and tries to sit up straighter. "I shouldn't need my big brother holding my hand through it." He sees a flash of hurt go across Damon's blue eyes. "I want to talk to the doctor alone."

Damon regards him for a minute before glancing at Blake and then back at his brother. The doctor is checking his watch, already looking bored and annoyed. Anxiety fills Stefan's stomach. He's the cause for all of this drama. If he had just spoken up earlier, none of this fighting would be going on.

"I'm going to be just in the lobby," Damon says. "If you need anything."

Stefan nods. "Okay."

Damon squeezes his shoulder and looks back at the doctor. "I expect a report on any further steps we need to take."

"Of course, Mr. Salvatore," Dr. Blake says with a fake smile on his face. "We'll let you know of any important information."

Damon gives Stefan one last squeeze before exiting the room. Dr. Blake waits for the door to click behind him to speak again.

"Well, that's better." Stefan doesn't say that it's not. He's been without his brother since they moved here. Never at the doctor's, though. And never when he's felt this anxious. "How many meals are you eating a day?"

Stefan continues to swing his legs and play with his fingers. "Um, th…three, sir," he whispers.

"And you have the shake with each of them?" Stefan nods. "What about snacks?"

"A few. Damon tries to get me to eat a lot." He smiles a little. "A lot of fruit. But also stuff like nuts and bars."

"You're new to Mystic Falls, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Making friends?"

Stefan shrugs. "I guess. Kinda."

"Your brother mentioned you play with them outside, is that true?"

"Yeah."

"What else do you do for physical activity?"

"Not a whole lot," Stefan admits. "I mean, I play football with the guys. And we run laps and…and stuff. But I also like to read and listen to music."

"I see."

Dr. Blake scribbles some stuff onto his clipboard. Stefan wraps his arms around himself. He wants Damon back in here. Why did he think it was a good idea to send him out? Maybe he could ask for him to come back in…

"How about sleep?" Dr. Blake asks.

"Huh?"

"How much sleep are you getting?"

"Oh, um, I guess 8 or 9 hours. Damon's pretty strict about my bedtime." Stefan makes a face. "9 PM on weekdays, 10 on weekends. Even though it's summer. Says it's to get me ready for the school year."

Dr. Blake nods. "And you're sleeping through the night?"

Stefan ducks his head. "Sometimes I have nightmares. About m…my step-dad." He sucks back a deep breath, hoping he's not asked further about them. Stefan won't even tell Damon what goes on.

"Do you fall back asleep quickly?"

Stefan hides a sigh of relief. Maybe this guy isn't so bad. "Yeah. Usually, Damon just has to rub my back and I knock back out."

Dr. Blake arches a brow. "Damon?" Stefan nods. "Is he coming in your room when you have a nightmare?"

"Um, no. I've kind of um, I sleep in his bed most of the time."

Dr. Blake clicks his tongue. Disapproval is written in his eyes. Stefan slinks back a bit. Dr. Fell knew about the co-sleeping and never said anything about it. Stefan knows maybe he's too old to share a bed with his brother, but Damon insists it's okay.

"You seem to do a lot with your brother," Dr. Blake says.

"He's my best friend."

"Ah." The doctor studies him for a moment. "You know, in moments of trauma, it is easy to be co-dependent on the person who takes care of you. It seems your brother has been trying his best."

"He is. He's doing a great job." Stefan's breathing picks up a minute. "You…you're not going to call social services, right? Just because I sleep in his bed…"

"No, no, you can relax." Stefan remains on high alert. Dr. Blake sighs. "I would never call DCFS over something like this. You are well taken care of, Stefan. As arrogant and pushy as your brother is, I can tell he is taking very good care of you."

"He is," Stefan repeats.

"So, this isn't a matter for the law to get involved with. It's something between doctor and patient."

Dr. Blake settles the clipboard on the counter and takes a step forward. Stefan doesn't lower his guard.

"It isn't healthy for you and your brother to share a bed," Dr. Blake says. "I understand you're having nightmares and that can be scary. However, you need to sleep in your own space." Stefan's lip quivers. "I think a big part of the problem is your brother does everything for you. Talks for you. Thinks for you. You aren't going to heal if you are so dependent on him for everything."

Stefan frowns. "Oh."

"It's time for you to grow up a little. Start sleeping in your own bed."

Stefan crosses his legs. He's tried to sleep by himself before. Usually, he can fall asleep but by the middle of the night, he hates being alone. It reminds him of being trapped in that room all by himself for days at a time. He went months with no hugs or cuddles.

But maybe that's how it was supposed to be. He knows Damon babies him and he kind of just lets it happen. Maybe he shouldn't. Maybe he should try harder to be more like the other kids his age.

"I think we're about done here," Dr. Blake says. "You have your next appointment scheduled with Dr. Fell. But let them know if you'd like to switch to me. You're nearly a teenage boy. Time for you to be treated like the young man you are, hm?"

"I guess," Stefan mumbles.

"Oh, and you need to learn to start speaking up for yourself. No more having your brother accompany you, you hear? It's like I said, Stefan. You're nearly 13. Act like it."

"Yes, sir."

Stefan waits for the go ahead before jumping off of the cot. He follows Dr. Blake out into the lobby. Damon jumps up the moment they enter.

"Stefan here is all set to go," Dr. Blake informs him, patting the young patient on the shoulder. "I told him to let the front desk know if he'd like to switch doctors."

"We're fine with Dr. Fell," Damon says before Stefan can speak up. "But thanks."

He wraps an arm around his baby brother. Stefan sees the look on Dr. Blake's face and quickly ducks out of it. Damon gives him a weird look but leads him out to the parking lot.

"Don't you have to pay?" Stefan asks.

"I already settled us up while you were talking to Dr. Douchebag." Damon rolls his eyes. "What did the two of you talk about anyway? I tried to listen out, but even with my hearing, there was too much going on in the lobby for me to truly focus."

"You don't have to do that," Stefan mumbles as they make their way to the Camaro. "I was fine."

"I could tell you really didn't want to be alone with him. He shouldn't have pressured you." Damon shakes his head. "I'll talk with Meredith. Make sure she knows that if she's unavailable, we'll wait."

"It really wasn't that bad, Damon. We just discussed my eating and activity. Plus my sleep."

Stefan doesn't mention the co-sleeping conversation. He knows it'd likely just upset Damon. No, he'll prove that he can do these things on his own. Damon will be happy, proud even! He won't have to look after his baby brother like that anymore. Stefan can act more like a teenager and less like a little kid. Maybe Damon only babies him so much because his brother acts like one.

"Still, I don't like him," Damon says as he opens the passenger side door.

Stefan slides in and puts on his seatbelt. Damon leans down to double check but Stefan pushes his hand way. The older brother raises a brow.

"I know how to put on my own seatbelt," Stefan says.

"Just looking out for you."

"I'm fine."

"Alright, alright. If you say so."

Damon gets in on his side and pulls out. Stefan turns to look out the window. By the next appointment, he'll have proven himself.

Damon hates how quiet the house is now that Stefan is grounded. There's no TV playing in the background. No chimes from his insistent texting with the kids he met at the park. Just a bunch of moping and dragging feet. Stefan has been doing a lot of reading and journaling, so he's not completely bored. But Damon can't believe he'd admit that he misses the sounds of cartoons and Stefan talking on the phone with friends.

He also needs to make sure his brother learns the dangers of what he did.

Halfway through his last bit of council paperwork (God, he underestimated how much there was), Damon smells something coming from the kitchen. He hops out of his chair and vamps down the hall. Stefan stands at the stove, trying to flip something in the pan. Upon further inspection, he's making grilled cheese. Or he was. It's burnt now.

Damon is by his side in a second and nudges his brother out of the way. Stefan groans as he shuts off the stove.

"I was cooking!"

"No, you were trying to burn the kitchen down." Damon picks up the pan, noting how the grilled cheese doesn't move at all. "This thing is practically a crisp."

Stefan frowns. "I was going to try again."

"Why didn't you just tell me you were hungry? I would've made you lunch."

"I can make my own food."

"Yeah, but you've never used the stove before."

"That's not true. I helped Mom make dinner all the time."

"Yes, and she was right there with you to make sure you didn't burn yourself."

Stefan rolls his eyes. "I didn't burn myself!"

"No, but you could've." Damon makes a face. "And you definitely destroyed the pan." A hint of guilt crosses Stefan's eyes. Damon sighs. "But that doesn't matter, alright? Stuff matters far less than your safety, bub."

Damon settles the pan in the sink to worry about later. All the kitchenware was leftover from the last relative that lived here. Their cousin, Zach. Upon further reflection, Damon realizes he probably hadn't updated anything. Meaning, maybe even Zach's father had been the last one to do so. It was probably time to do some housewares shopping. That sounds about as fun as a root canal. No one ever warned him how boring adult shopping is.

"Here, I'll make you another one," Damon says. The bread and cheese is still left out on the counter. "Where's the butter?"

Stefan tilts his head. "Huh?"

"To grease up the pan?" Stefan still looks confused. Damon pinches his nose. "You're supposed to put something on the pan before you cook, to make sure it doesn't stick. Or burn."

"Oh." The tips of Stefan's ears turn pink. "Good to know."

Damon sighs, shaking his head. "Go read. I'll make you lunch."

"I can make my own lunch."

"I'll do it. It's easier. Plus, you're banished from the stove until I have the time to properly teach you."

"I'm making my own lunch!"

Stefan grabs the bread and cheese, bringing it to the other end of the counter. Damon watches as he fixes himself a cold sandwich and plops it on a plate. He puts that away before going to the fridge and grabbing some of the pink pineapple Damon found at the store. Both brothers found it intriguing. They had never seen the fruit in such a color. Stefan arranges it in the corner alongside some Fritos. Soon, Stefan is back at the fridge and grabbing his shake.

"You sure you don't want me to heat it up?" Damon asks.

"I've got it myself."

Damon bites his lip to hold back a smile. It's hard not to see the little boy who overpoured milk into the cereal on Mother's Day when trying to make Lily breakfast in bed. He refused to let Damon help then too.

He's 8 years older now, but there's that same young stubbornness there.

"Is it really going to taste good cold?" Damon asks. "Especially with no condiments or anything?"

Stefan shrugs as he settles at the table. "It'll be fine. You can go back to your paperwork. I can eat by myself."

"Alright, my big boy. You enjoy. Make sure you…"

"Drink all my shake. I know, Damon." Stefan rolls his eyes.

"Watch it," Damon only half-warns.

He walks over and kisses the top of his head. Stefan ducks away from his lips. Damon rolls his eyes and gives him another anyway.

"No stoves," he reminds him before exiting the room.

"Alright, Bunny Boy," Damon says as he walks into the living room. He folds his arms over chis chest. Stefan's curled up on the couch, reading The Outsiders. Damon feels like he's read that about 100 times. The book is about worn to pieces. "Time to get ready for bed."

Stefan's eyes flicker to the grandfather clock. "5 more minutes?"

"Nope. You already know how it ends. Gangs, pew pew pew pew," Damon imitates a gun with his fingers. "Fires. Stay golden. Brothers. The end."

Stefan rolls his eyes. "They should hire you to write Spark Notes." He puts a marker in the book and pushes himself up.

Damon grins. "I think more people would pass English if I did. Hit the shower and get dressed. Don't forget to brush your teeth. Then you can come in my room."

Stefan pauses. "Um. I was thinking…I can sleep in my own bed."

"You can, but you don't." Damon chuckles. "And that's okay."

"Damon…."

Stefan trails off, fiddling with the cover of his paperback. Damon tilts his head.

"I want to sleep in my own bed tonight," Stefan declares.

"Bunny, we've talked about it. You're more than welcome to sleep in mine. If you have a nightmare, I'll be right there to comfort you."

"I won't have a nightmare." Damon arches a brow. "And if I do, I can handle it myself."

"You don't have to, though."

"I want to."

Damon frowns. Stefan's insisted on sleeping in his own bed before, but he always ends up in his big brother's before the night is through. Damon thought they were passed the whole "I'm too big for all this" façade. It's a little exhausting, to be honest. He knows that his brother needs comfort at night. Even if it's just knowing Damon is right there in the bed with him. Dr. Fell privately told him early on that it was okay. Stefan spent months isolated in his bedroom. Even if they're in a new house, his room likely doesn't feel like a safe space yet.

"C'mon, bud," Damon cajoles. "It's just another extra step if you wake up at night. I don't want you to be scared."

"I won't be scared!" Stefan argues, just a hint of a whine to his voice. "I'm fine sleeping in my own bed. If I have a nightmare, I can settle myself back down. I did it enough before."

A pang of guilt flashes across Damon's stomach. Stefan must realize what he said because he frowns.

"Didn't mean it like that," he mumbles. Stefan quickly clears his throat and speaks up. "Just that, I don't need you fussing over me this much, alright? I can handle it on my own."

"Buddy, you know I don't mind, right?" Damon gives him a small smile. "I want to look after my annoying baby brother."

"I know. This isn't anything you did. But I can't sleep in your bed forever. Might as well start using my own now."

"If you're really sure."

"I am."

Damon sighs. He really isn't comfortable with this, but he also isn't about to force Stefan to sleep in his bed.

"Alright. Go get ready and I'll tuck you in."

"I don't need to be tucked in. I can put myself to bed."

Stefan walks over and gives him a quick hug. Damon tries to hold on but Stefan manages to slip from under his grip.

"Night, Day."

Damon frowns, running his fingers through Stefan's dark blonde waves. "Night, baby. Come get me if you need me, alright?"

"Alright. But I won't."

Stefan scampers out of the room, book still in hand. Damon lingers there for a bit, unsure what to do. He knew eventually Stefan would probably start sleeping in his own bed, but he figured he had a year, maybe two. It sounds extreme, but given all his brother has been through, he'd co-sleep with him through college, if it meant making him feel safe.

Damon heads upstairs to his own room. Crow is fluttering around, enjoying his free time. He pauses when he sees Damon enter then flaps over, landing on his owner's finger. Damon rubs the top of his head.

"Just you and me tonight," he says. "Stef's in his own room."

Crow regards him for a moment, tilting his head. Damon nods. He wonders if the bird can truly understand him.

Damon's domesticated the bird over the past 5 years. Back when he worked for Sonic his freshman year at Excelsior, he found the crow with a broken wing out by the dumpsters. Damon snuck him into his dorm room and nursed him back to help without the RA knowing. Somehow, he managed to hide Crow for another year until he convinced his dad to pay for an off-campus apartment. The vet cleared the bird of any diseases and he's been Damon's ever since. Unable to come up with a name, he let Stefan do so. The best the then-7-year-old could come up with was "Crow". And so, it stuck. Stefan loves the dumb bird and often treats it how one would a dog. Crow has a patience of a saint in Damon's eyes.

The bird flutters his wings and heads off his owner's finger and down the hall. He lingers outside Stefan's shut door. Damon holds his hand back out.

"He wants some independence, bud. We gotta give it to him."

Crow lets out a soft caw. Damon sighs, shaking his head.

"I know, I know. But what are we supposed to do, hm? Let's go. I think I know where he hides those pistachios you like."

Damon has to actually find them before he can even attempt to lure the bird away.

Even with the Hulk nightlight, it's still too dark in Stefan's room.

It's too quiet here at night. Even quieter than Albany was. Stefan rolls from side to side, trying to get comfortable. That only makes his soft, navy throw fall off the bed. Stefan has to bend down to grab it, which messes up his position under the superhero theme duvet.

He wishes he were brave like Captain America. Stefan's read all the comic books and seen the movies. Steve Rogers doesn't need his big brother to tuck him in, much less sleep beside him. The Avengers are a family, but they can do things on their own.

Stefan fumbles for his nightstand and frowns when he only finds his alarm clock. Damon's the one who remembers to get his water bottle so he won't get thirsty at night. Stefan punches his pillow.

First, he can't figure out how to make a grilled cheese. Now, he's stupid enough to forget his water bottle. He really is pathetic.

Okay, so maybe superheroes don't exist. The Outsiders is closer to reality. There's never any passage about Ponyboy being tucked in or needing his brothers to get him water. He can save people from fires.

What can Stefan do?

He pushes himself out of bed and shoves Bunny into the pocket of his pajama pants. Stefan creeps out of the bedroom. More darkness greets him. Damon takes his phone at night so he's not tempted to use it. That'd be his only way of using a flashlight.

Stefan takes a deep breath and walks down the hall towards the stairs. He keeps his eyes closely peeled to them as he walks. One step after another. Damon's supernatural hearing is good, but he should be asleep by now. It's well after midnight. Stefan should've knocked out 3 hours ago. He needs to get himself down. Dr. Blake says he's old enough.

He turns on the light once he reaches the kitchen. The brightness is a sharp contrast and he blinks a few times to adjust. Stefan shuffles over to the cabinets. His face falls when he can't find his favorite dark blue hydroflask. Damon just washed it this morning before his appointment.

Stefan begins digging through, pushing all of the cups to the side. How in the world do they have so many? They didn't even bring that much stuff with them into the house, at least not kitchenware!

"Stef?" Damon's surprised voice comes from behind him. "What are you doing up?"

"I can't find my cup." Stefan continues to search.

"Your cup?"

"The blue one! It stays extra cold all night."

"Oh, it's up in my room."

Stefan turns around. Damon is looking at him with a tilt head.

"Your room?"

"I figured you'd end up in there anyway. Sorry, bud. You can come grab it if you want…" He trails off as he continues to look at him. "You woke up thirsty?"

Stefan shoves his hands into his pockets, the left clutching Bunny. "Uh huh."

"Really? Because your hair and face look awfully good for someone who's been sleeping for the past 3 hours."

Stefan glares at him. Damon takes a step forward.

"You weren't up reading, were you?"

"No!" Stefan whines, stomping his foot. "I was trying to sleep, I promise."

"But you couldn't?"

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to. Why didn't you come get me?"

"Because I don't need to! I can fall asleep on my own! I don't need my stupid big brother to tuck me in!"

Damon chuckles. "Is that right?"

"Don't laugh at me!" Stefan pouts.

"Sorry, sorry," Damon holds up his hands. "Not trying to laugh at you, bud. Here, let me help you back up to bed. We'll grab your water on the way."

Damon steps forward, but Stefan pushes his hands away. "No!"

He crosses his arms over his chest. Exhaustion weighs heavily on him. He just wants to sleep. It's not his fault that his eyes won't stay closed! He's tried just about everything! Besides, Damon took his water cup.

"This is your fault," Stefan whines.

"My fault? How?"

"'Cause, you took my water."

"Ah, yes. It's my fault I've had your water for 3 hours and you've just now decided you want it."

Stefan stomps his foot again. Damon strides over and lifts him up into his arms. Stefan whines, punching at his shoulder.

"Put me down!"

Damon ignores his fussing as he carries him upstairs. Stefan kicks his legs, trying in vain to get down.

"I think someone's overtired," Damon says.

"No, I'm not! You're just mean!"

"Meanest big brother alive," he agrees patronizingly, patting Stefan's cheek.

Damon carries him into the master bedroom. That only causes Stefan to kick up his legs more.

"No! I wanna sleep in my bed! Put me down!"

Damon does put him down. Onto the California king that sits in the middle of the bedroom. Stefan flops back and bangs his fists.

"I wanna sleep in my bed!"

"You weren't sleeping, Stef," Damon says, sitting at the foot of the bed. "I don't think you're ready."

"I am! I'm not a baby! You can't make me sleep in your stupid bed! I have to sleep by myself!"

"Have to? Who says?"

Stefan rubs his eyes. "Dr. Blake."

The room grows quiet for a moment. Damon gets up and pulls back the duvet and sheets on the opposite side. Then, he gently moves a whiny, overtired Stefan there. The younger brother whimpers and continues to fight back. Damon gently but firmly swipes his bangs out of the way.

"Shut your eyes and get some rest, baby brother," he whispers. "We're gonna talk about this in the morning."

Stefan continues to kick up a fuss as Damon crawls into bed beside him. He's ignored as Damon wraps his arms tightly around him and presses tiny kisses to his head. Stefan wants to pull away. He wants to run back to his room. He can prove he's old enough to sleep on his own. That he doesn't need his big brother for everything.

But Damon knows how to cuddle him just right. Stefan's eyes flicker shut as his back is rubbed. It only takes some soft hushing to lull Stefan to sleep.

For awhile, I wanted to touch on a doctor disapproving of co-sleeping in one of my verses. I felt like this was the best one for it. Stefan is 12-years-old, but he's also been through so much trauma. If he needs to sleep in his big brother's bed, then he absolutely should.

Next time, Stefan and Damon will have a nice, long talk about the situation. And Damon will do everything he can to not murder Dr. Blake.

Let me know what you think! As always, feel free to leave prompts or ask me questions! I am on Tumblr and love communicating on there, as well as in the comments!