Crumbling Hearts and Shattered Minds

Chapter 17: What Else Are Little Brothers Used For?

Stefan's POV

I woke early to find everyone still asleep in the parlor.

We all had fallen into a comfortable sleep late last night. Even though we were all piled around each other.

I lifted my head to see Alaric on the couch across from me with his head leaning on the top of the couch and arm resting limply on the armrest, Elena's head resting on his shoulder and Jeremy curled up to his sister's side.

On the couch next to me, Tyler took up a position similar to Alaric's, while Caroline wrapped tightly around him. His arm held her loosely while I couldn't help but to notice that Bonnie was on the very far side of the couch, avoiding any contact with anyone, while Matt sat between the couple and the witch.

They all slept somewhat peacefully, though the positions that they held would surely come back later in the day and bite them in the ass.

I chuckled quietly to myself and pulled myself a little up the arm of the biggest couch.

It proved difficult with the extra weight that was strewn on my abdomen.

Damon grumbled quietly and adjusted to my now upright position.

When we had fallen asleep, Damon had used me as a pillow.

His back had been to me and he shoved my legs of the couch so he could lean against my chest. I had complained and we bantered as usual and Damon actually sounded like his old self.

That was until he fell asleep and punched my stomach whenever I disturbed him. The group had a laughing fit after that.

But Damon's soft snores soon had lulled us all to sleep.

I shifted again and Damon grumbled gruffly and turned onto his stomach and wrapped his arms around my midsection.

"Stay still!" He said sharply.

I laughed and he looked up and glared at me for moving his head with my sharp intakes of breath.

His glare made me laugh more. He sat up and shot me one last glare before muttering

"restless bastard."

He sat up strait and stretched his arms above his head and arched his back. He then stretched out his legs and as soon as he started, he slumped into the back of the couch.

I laughed. Apparently Damon couldn't start the day until everything was popped and every muscle was stretched.

"You seem happy today, brother." Damon observed.

I shrugged nonchalantly. He rolled his eyes and moved his arm to wipe the rest of his sleep out of his eyes, but winced once he got his arm half up.

The smile fell from my face a little but I kept it up a little for my brothers sake.

"How out of it were you yesterday?" I asked while tilting my head.

"All I remember is the whole 'clean slate' thing." He said while rubbing the back of his neck with his uninjured arm.

There wasn't much of Damon that wasn't injured. He was still healing from the beating that he took over a century ago that had decided to reappear.

But according to him 'it doesn't hurt'. I'd be damned to hell if I believed any of that bull.

I nodded.

"But by the looks of things, I missed probably the only time any of you people let go of all the angst around here." He said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes.

"Actually, Stef, this may be the most fun you've had in ages." He stated while giving me a sly grin.

I gave him a mock shocked expression

"me? Have fun? Never!"

He laughed but suddenly his face fell.

"How do you plan on getting me back to full strength?" He asked seriously.

He looked so much younger when he's scared.

And that scared me more than I could handle.

I have never seen my big, tough as nails, brother this scared.

I have seen Damon sad, hateful, vengeful, pissed off, startled and hopeless.

But never have I seen him completely terrified like he looked now.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

"We will. Don't concern yourself with it, brother." I said after a moment of thought.

Something flashed across his face and then he ducked his head and stared at the floor in font of him.

"I'm sorry." He whispered so I was barley able to hear him.

I couldn't keep the surprise off of my face. What was he sorry for?

"What could you possibly be sorry for Damon?" He refused to look at me

"you came back to mystic falls for a normal life. And I came and fucked it all up. As per usual." He sad with a humorless huff of laughter at the end.

My head was still trying to catch up.

"Damon, you have nothing to be sorry for. I turned you so I didn't have to go on without my brother. And as far as I can tell, you followed me around because of the exact same reason. And I'm glad you came to Mystic Falls. You may have had the intentions of making my life a living hell, but all you did was give me my brother back." I said truthfully.

He finally looked up and relief flooded his features.

I leaned forward and gave Damon a hug.

We may not see eye to eye most of the time, but I was glad that we are there for each other when we need it.

Damon immediately hugged me back but then winced as his bite got caught in the fabric of his shirt. It didn't stop him from continuing the hug though.

I pulled back and Damon looked a bit embarrassed.

I grinned and he shot me a glare and pushed my chest teasingly.

"Okay, can we stop this heart to heart before the others wake up and we get harassed by a bunch of humans that sleep the better part of the day away?" Damon asked with his old smugness that I found that I had been missing.

"What about Tyler and Caroline? They aren't human." I pointed out.

Damon glanced at the still dozing couple.

"Nah, they're just lazy." He stated simply.

"You're the one that held me against my will to be your personal pillow." I said with a mocking grin.

"What the hell else are little brothers used for?" He asked with a perfectly strait face.

I smiled and decided that yeah, everything would turn out fine.

It had to.

If only I can figure out a way to get the cure from a certain hybrid.