I was thinking about Damon Stefan, because when am I ever not. I am not entirely positive Damon is the only one who ever called him "Stef", but I'm pretty sure. And even if others did, it was not very frequent.

It got me thinking about SPN and how Dean is the only one allowed to call Sam "Sammy". The Winchester and Salvatore brothers have so much in common, including this.

There's some romantic stuff in here between Stefan and Elena but it's not central to the plot. She's really only here because I couldn't think of anyone else that would spark this internal debate for Stefan.

This is set in…I don't know what season. You can decide for yourself. Stefan and Elena are together, Jenna is alive, Damon and Stefan are getting along. Just a universe where everything is as it should be.

It came out of nowhere. Just a random Tuesday afternoon. Stefan dropped off Elena at her house. She kissed his cheek

"See ya later, Stef."

She's out of the car before he can really process it. In fact, it's not until he's halfway back to his own house that he really thinks about it.

Stefan's had lots of nicknames throughout his life. To Lily, he was "Angel". Klaus referred to him as "ripper". His ridiculous dramatic Shakespearean accent makes the "er" sound more like an "ah". Lexi calls him "sweetness". But only one person has ever called him "Stef".

Damon is a nickname person in general. It's rare he calls anyone by their actual name. Lord knows he has about a million derogatory ones for his little brother.

"Stef" is probably the only one developed out of love. Even if it isn't used so much as one anymore. The earliest memories he has of the nickname is when he was 5 or so. Stefan's favorite game was hide-and-seek, especially when he was the one who got to hide. Looking back, Damon was probably a little too old to play. He did it anyway.

"Ready or not, Stef. Here I come."

It stuck, but only with Damon. No one else has ever shortened it before until now.

Stefan doesn't realize it bothers him until it comes up a few other times. All casual, in passing. Usually when Elena is distracted or saying goodbye.

He doesn't say anything. Because it shouldn't matter. It's a nickname. One that's once again, coming from a place of love. It's a natural shortening of his name.

Yet, it feels wrong. Almost as if Elena should be forbidden from saying it.

While Stefan finds himself internally cringing every time he hears Elena say it, he gleems on the inside when Damon does. Things aren't perfect between them. There are still times Damon mutters something about eternal misery. Yet, he's ruffling Stefan's hair again. He's got his old brand of sarcasm. The one that doesn't make Stefan feel like he's hated. They're even playing football sometimes. Not often. Stefsn spends a good chunk of time with Elena and their friends. Damon's either attending to council business or drinking with Alaric. The nights they do, Stefan can pretend that the past couple centuries didn't happen.

Damon will never be the brother he once was. Then, neither is Stefan. But maybe that's okay.

The closer they get, the weirder Elena saying it makes it feel. But how can he tell her that without sounding 3 years old?

"You can't call me that! Only my big brother can!"

God, he's pathetic.

So, he lets it continue for 3 months. Elena doesn't say it too often.

Then, one night they're up in Stefan's room. His hand is up her shirt and cupping her bra. She's biting on his lower lip. He moans a little. She grins as she nibbles harder.

"You like that, Stef?"

Stefan backs up. His hand falls into his lap. Elena frowns. She blows a strand of long brown hair out of her face. Her eyebrow crinkle and God, Stefan loves her.

But he can't stay quiet anymore.

"Can you not call me that?"

"Call you what?"

"Stef."

"Huh?"

Stefan's cheeks turn pink. He traces the "S" on his bulky daylight ring.

"This is going to sound so stupid. I mean, God. I wouldn't blame you if you laughed."

"I wouldn't laugh at you." She laces her fingers through his and gives him a small smile. "You can tell me anything."

Stefan can't help but match her smile. Sometimes she's too understanding. "It's just…Damon calls me that."

"He calls you a lot of things. I mean, does he really call anyone by their real name?"

Stefan chuckles. "No. Usually not. But, he's been the only one to call me that for over 160 years. I can't remember anyone else doing so. Hearing you say it…I don't know. Especially right now, when we're making out. It just feels weird."

Elena tilts her head. She doesn't look hurt as he originally expected. Still, she doesn't say anything.

"I know it probably sounds dumb. I didn't want to say anything."

"I'm glad you did. You know you can tell me when something's bothering you, Stefan."

His body loosens a bit. "You don't think I sound ridiculous?"

"I don't really have a nickname like that, so I can't say I relate. But I do understand there are just some things you want to keep between you and your sibling."

"I sound like a 5 year old."

"You sound like a younger brother. Coming from an older sister, there are times you guys don't make the most sense in the world." Stefan chuckles, rolling his eyes. "Look, I don't think either of us fully understand it. That's okay. What matters is, you don't feel comfortable with it. So, I won't call you that anymore."

Stefan nods. "Thanks."

"Of course."

She leans forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her forehead against his.

"Now," she whispers. "Where were we?"

Stefan smirks and vamps them against the pillows.

Elena sneaks out the window a couple of hours later. She'd stay but ever since Alaric moved in, he and Jenna have gotten a little stricter on the Gilbert kids spending the night with their partners.

Stefan heads downstairs to the kitchen and opens the fridge. He doesn't feel like going for a hunt right now but he needs blood. Luckily, he refrigerated some from his last one. As he leans against the island, glass of blood in hand, Damon strolls in the room.

"You know she doesn't have to use the window," Damon says. "I can still hear her leaving."

"She insists it's normal. Something teenagers do."

"You two aren't normal. And you've been a teenager for a long time."

Stefan shrugs and takes a sip of his blood. "It makes her happy."

"Yes, you seem to be very good at that." Stefan screws up his face. Damon rolls his eyes. "Chill, I don't listen in. I'm not that much of a pervert. It's just what you are. Perfect Gentleman Stefan. Or should I say, Perfect Gentleman Stef."

Stefan furrows his brows as he stares at his brother for a moment. That tell-tale smirk is on Damon's lips.

"I didn't know I meant that much to you," he teases.

Stefan narrows his eyes. "You were listening in!"

"Only to that part. And only because I caught a part of it when I got home from The Grill." Damon puts his hands on his hips. That smirk isn't going anywhere. "You love me."

Stefan scoffs. "No. I don't. I hate you."

"That's not what you told Elena."

"I never told her I love you, dumbass."

"It was implied."

Stefan downs the rest of the blood and dumps the glass in the sink. He doesn't even bother rinsing it out. That can wait for tomorrow.

Damon follows him out of the room. He develops the dramatic, brooding voice he thinks sounds like his younger brother.

"It's just, Damon calls me that."

"I'm going back to bed," Stefan says, heading for the stairs.

"He's the only one allowed to call me that," Damon continues to mock. "Because I'm his baby brother." Stefan flips him the bird. Damon snorts. His voice returns the normal dropped register. "Hey, c'mon."

Stefan ignores him. He should've known better. He should've waited until either Damon was out of the house or he and Elena were elsewhere. As much as Stefan didn't want his girlfriend to know, he didn't need this getting in Damon's head.

"If you hadn't said something, I would've."

Stefan pauses. "What?"

"You're right." Stefan isn't sure but he wonders if he hears a bit of sincerity in his big brother's voice. He turns around. Damon is still smirking, but his blue eyes are softer. "I came up with the nickname,"

"You're hardly the first person to get "Stef" from "Stefan"."

"No, but I was the only person to ever call you that. Even Giuseppe and Mother didn't." Stefan shrugs. "I never thought about it too hard, but you're right. No one else should get to call you that."

Stefan can't help but smile a little. "Is this your way of saying you love me too?"

Damon rolls his eyes.

"Go to bed. You have school in the morning."

"You know you're only my guardians for appearances right?"

"It's still in legal writing. So, go, off to bed."

Stefan nods, the smile not leaving his face.

"Night, Damon."

The older brother doesn't respond until the younger reaches the top of the stairs.

"Night, Stef."

I feel like Damon would be just as possessive of the name, so maybe down the line I'll go into his thoughts on it. Because of course he's never going to be *too* vulnerable with Stefan.

Anyway, 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!