Blood Brothers

*AGE CHANGE FROM 12 to 14*

Emma watched by the cell door as her sister knelt by Stefan's cot. It's been days since they locked him in and so far, Stefan hasn't responded to anything they would say, just stares off into space. It really worried her. How long can this keep going? How long will it be till Stefan is back to his normal self?

Damon grabbed onto Elena's shoulders and pulled her out of the cell after she said to Stefan that she loved him. All Stefan did was stare at them as the door closed. He turned around with his back toward them when Damon locked the door. Emma sighed and crossed her arms. "It's so hard to see him locked up like this."

Damon rolled his eyes. "Well, blame your sister. She's the one who locked him up."

Elena looked away from the cell door's small window and glared at him. "You helped."

"I couldn't have him running around chewing on people while the town was looking for vampires, now, could I?" Damon retorted.

Elena put her arms on her waist. "So what you're saying is that you don't care." she said, raising her eyebrows.

Damon pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against. "You're thing. Not mine." He walked away and went upstairs.

Emma immediately followed behind him, leaving Elena. When the two were in the living room, Damon picked up the compass Pearl gave him. "Did you figure out what that was?" she asked, standing next to him.

Damon twirled it in his fingers. "Nope. Whatever it is, it doesn't work."

Emma grabbed it, inspecting it herself. "Are you sure? Pearl didn't say anything about it?"

Elena walked in when Damon replied. "She thought she was stealing his vampire compass, but it was a pocket watch. That Jonathan Gilbert was a crazy scientist." Emma and Elena chuckled a little. Emma gave the watch back to Damon and helped Elena pack their clothes. "Have you guys spoken to your uncle lately?" Damon asked.

"We've been avoiding him, actually." Elena said, stuffing jeans in her bag. "That, and we've been here most nights."

"So you're staying again tonight?"

Emma looked up from her clothes. "Is that a problem?"

Damon turned to them. "Yes. You're a complete nuisance. Especially you." Damon pointed to Emma.

Elena rolled her eyes at the vampire's comment. "See you later. Come on, Emma."

Emma followed to the door. "Bye, grandpa." She smiled innocently when she saw that Damon was glaring at her.

~~~~♡~~~~  

Emma and Elena arrived back home after a day school. The sisters grabbed their bags they used to stay at the Salvatore house. Elena opened her phone and dialed Damon's number. "Hey, I'm just grabbing some clothes, and we'll be right over." She leaned down and picked up a shirt. She handed the phone to Emma. "Can you talk to him, for a sec?" Emma nodded and Elena turned to put things in her bag.

"Hey, Damon. How's Stefan." she said into the receiver.

"Extra broody. Hold on." There was silence till she heard Damon's voice again. "He won't eat anything."

Emma sat on Elena's bed, crossing her feet. "He has to. Does he have. . . some sort of preference. . ."

"What are you getting to?"

Emma sighed. "What's the animal blood he prefers?" Elena gave Emma a weird look but the younger Gilbert dismissed it.

"Ew. Gross. Didn't think you would ask that." Damon joked.

"Not helping, Damon."

"Well, it helps me. Tell your sister to hurry up. I can't baby-sit all night. I have things to do."

"Like walk around being a complete jerk to everyone?" Emma said, smiling.

"Ha. Ha." Damon said. She heard him sigh. "Stefan likes. . . puppy blood." Emma's eyes widened. "Little golden retriever puppies with cute, fluffy ears. That's his favorite." She could practically hear Damon smirking.

She hung up the phone and tossed it away from her. Elena looked at her again. "What happened?"

Emma shook her head. "Damon happened. Hurry, we need to get back." 

Elena nodded and closed the closet door only to jump when she say John standing at the room's door. "Uncle John. I didn't see you there."

John entered the room, much to the girl's displeasure. "I thought we could talk. We haven't had a chance to catch up."

Emma got up from the bed. "Well, I'll just-"

"No you can stay. It partly involves you." John said, stopping her from leaving. "It won't take long anyways."

"What did you want to talk about?" Elena asked, unsure as to why Emma had to stay.

John picked up at picture of their parents. "Well. . . I know you know."

Emma's eyes widened, understanding at what he was talking about. Why would he decide to confess what he knows now? What's he up to?

"Know what?" Elena asked, slightly confused.

John set the picture down and looked a Elena. "It's really silly to keep pretending." Elena furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you think your mother would say if she knew you were dating a vampire?"

That caught Elena by surprise. She quickly recovered though, and retorted, "Which mother?" Elena gave one final glance at John before leaving the room with Emma by her side.

The car ride back to the boarding house was quiet. Emma sensed that the short conversation with their not so favorite uncle got to Elena a bit. "Hey, are you okay?"

Elena's grip on the wheel tightened a bit and she sighed. "Not really. How did John know that we know?" Emma didn't say anything which made Elena a bit worried. "Em?"

Emma looked down at her hands. "It was at the Founder's Party and, uhh, John confronted Damon and basically confessed that he knows everything." Elena's eyes widened.

"And by everything-"

"Vampires, witches, Kathrine." Emma looked at Elena to see her knuckles white. "Elena?"

Elena was lost in thought for some time before speaking, "I just don't know what to do right now." she said.

Emma reached out and put a hand on Elena's. "Let's just focus on Stefan, okay? He needs us." Elena nodded in agreement and continued to drive.  

~~~~♡~~~~  

When they made it back to the boarding house, Elena went down to the basement to try to get Stefan to drink. That left Damon and Emma alone. The Gilbert sat quietly on the couch as Damon poured himself a glass of bourbon. 

He looked at her and smirked, coming up with an idea. "You know, I managed to get the puppy bl-"

"Don't Damon." Emma said, suddenly thinking about Stefan sucking the blood from a puppy. Emma shook her head. He would not do something like that. Not to such an adorable creature. But. . . if it wasn't puppies, then was it rabbits? With their cute, white, fluffy ball of a tail? Or was it deer? Now she was thinking of Bambi. Her eyes widened. Did Stefan eat Bambi?! Damon smirked once again when he saw the expression on Emma's face, obviously knowing what she was thinking about.

"Calm down, pipsqueak." he said, plopping down next to her.

She looked at him. "Why do you keep saying stuff like that?"

Damon shrugs. "Because I know it bothers you so much." Emma gave him a look. "Ugh, fine. I'll try not to annoy you so much."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Yeah right."

"You don't think I can do it?" Damon said, setting his glass on the table behind the couch.

"Of course. You wouldn't last one minute without calling me a name or trying to traumatize me."

Damon rested an arm on the couches back cushion. "Fine, how about this. I bet that if I go the rest of the week without doing any of that stuff, then you have to do whatever I tell you to for a month. Like make me a glass a bourbon or bury a dead body for me. . ."

"See! This is what I mean! Fine, if you lose, you have to drive me wherever I want for also a month." She held her hand out. "Deal?"

Damon looked at the hand and back at Emma. "Deal." They shook hands, sealing the deal.

A few minutes went by before Elena came back. But by the look of her face, Emma knew it didn't go well. "El, what happened?"

Elena sat next to her and looked down at her hands. "Stefan said he wanted to starve himself."

Emma's eyes widened, yet Damon rolled his eyes. "He just being dramatic. He's not gonna starve himself."

"Why would he say that?" Elena asked. Emma wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Damon shrugged. "He feels bad about hurting that girl and pi-" He quickly stopped himself before he said 'pipsqueak'. "And Emma." Emma smiled lightly. This bet was going to be over very soon. "It's very typical Stefan martyr stuff. It will pass."

Emma looked at Damon. "Will it? He's seemed like in a lot of pain the last time I saw him."

"Yeah. Well, that will pass, too, once he eats."

Elena shook her head. "I don't think she meant physical pain."

Damon nodded. "I know what she meant." Elena looked down again. Are you two going to be okay for awhile? I have an errand with the teacher."

Emma looked at Damon, confused. "The teacher? Alaric? Are you two friends now?"

Damon got up and started to walk away. "I don't have friends."

"Right."

Damon grabbed his leather jacket from the racket. "You guys should stay up here. Don't be down there by yourself."

Elena rolled her eyes. "We'll be fine."

"You know," Damon put on the jacket and turned to the girls. "You're very trusting of him, given the circumstances."

"So are you." Emma shot back. "Or else you wouldn't be leaving."

Damon stood in thought. "I won't be long." And he was gone.

Elena had gone downstairs to check on Stefan, to try to get him to drink the blood again and Emma decided not to go with her, figuring that the couple should have sometime by themselves to work things out. So she took this moment to explore the house more. She observed all the books in the library, opened every drawer in the living room, and looked at Stefan's car. All there was for her to look at was upstairs.

She slowly climbed the steps, looking at all the pictures that hung on the walls. She looked through all the guest rooms it had. But when she made it to Damon's door, she passed it, not wanting to enter. Who knew what Damon had in his room. And the last room she didn't look at was Stefan's.

Emma has been in his room twice, when she came with Stefan to get Elena and after Stefan started to. . . drink. And those were short moments so she never really had the chance to see everything. 

She slowly opened the door, peering inside the room. The first this she noticed about the room was how much it screamed Stefan. Emma walked further into to room. She saw his huge bed near the back wall and the book shelves he had. Like he could have any more book. There was guitar leaning against the wall and she smiled, imagining Stefan playing. She then walked over to the desk that was in the middle of the room. She went up to it, picking up a book that was left open. There was a line that caught her eye:

I lost control today.

She furrowed her eyebrows. What was this? Emma looked at the date and saw that it was written on the first day of school. She kept reading.

Everything I'm simply not able to resist her. I've kept buried inside came rushing to the surface. I'm simply not able to resist her.

This must have been Stefan's diary. Emma smiled. One of the things that he and Elena have in common. Did he have anymore? She set the diary down and went to one of bookshelves and took a book. She opened it to the first page to see that the date was set around the early 1900s. She opened to an entry:

It's hard to keep going. Just the thought of blood drives me crazy. And that makes me feel guilty to also put that burden on Damon. He didn't want this.

Emma was shocked to have read this. Stefan made Damon the way he was?

As I walked up to Damon, during his final moments alive, with the girl I compelled next to me, I didn't know right from wrong. I turned the switch. I didn't take into the account that I was taking away Damon's choice. I made him see the blood, smell it, taste it. It was all my fault.Emma didn't know how to react. Finding this out, she understands why Stefan won't feed. He doesn't want to keep feeling the guilt of forcing Damon, his own brother, to become a vampire. She set the journal down and went downstairs to talk to Elena about this. When she made it back to the living room, she saw Elena and Damon talking.

Damon turned his head to her at her entrance. "Welcome, Emma. You missed story time."

Emma shook her head. "I think I know enough. Like what Stefan did to you." She stood next to Elena.

Damon shrugged and poured himself a glass of bourbon. "Well, from the moment Stefan had his first taste of human blood, he was a different person. I suppose I should thank him, it's been a hell of a ride." He let out a halfhearted laugh.

Elena came to realization. "Oh, my god. He said he wanted to die. That's why he won't feed. Now I understand why, but-"

"His choice." Damon brought his glass to his mouth. "If he's stupid enough to make it, so be it." he bluntly said.

Emma sighed. "Stop pretending not to care, Damon. We both know you do." Elena shook her head at him and walked away.

"Where are you going?" Damon asked, but Elena ignored him. He sighed and took off his jacket, tossing it on the couch. When he sat down, he beckoned Emma to come over. "Come here." Emma hesitated at first before walking up to him and sitting.

"What?" she asked, twiddling her fingers.

Damon sighed once again. "I . . . do care." Emma's head shot up in shock upon hearing this. "Yeah, yeah. I know. The big bad vampire admits it, he cares."

Emma stared at him. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked.

The two hated each other. Why would he feel the need to tell some fourteen year old how he feels.

Damon shrugged. "I don't know. You just seem like someone who can listen." He swirled the bourbon in his glass around. Emma opened her mouth to respond, but Elena came back, panting and holding something.

"He's gone." she said.

Emma stood up. "What?! When?" she asked.

Elena shook her head. "Probably while we were talking. He left his ring behind." She held up Stefan's daylight ring. "I think he's going to do it."

"Well, then, let's go." Emma said, heading toward the front door but was stopped by Elena. "What?"

"I should go alone. It'll make it easier." Elena said.

Emma nodded. "Okay." She hugged Elena. "Be careful." Elena pulled away after planting a kiss on Emma's head and left. The young Gilbert turned back to the couch and sat. "I hope she gets to him in time." she said, staring at the door.

"Me, too." Damon said, taking a sip. He looked at Emma, seeing her dejected look. He reached out a hand, wanting to make an attempt of comforting her, but kept it in the air, not sure if he should. His hand then slowly rested on the girl's shoulder, making Emma stare at him in confusion.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

Damon rolled his eyes. "I'm trying to make you feel better. Calm down." Emma slowly nodded, and scooted closer to Damon. She leaned onto Damon's side and rested her head on his shoulder. Damon moved his hand to her other shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "She'll get to him. Trust me." He felt her nod again and they stayed like that, staring at the fire.

~~~~♡~~~~  

Elena and Stefan came entered the living room hand in hand. Emma shot up from her spot on the couch. "Stefan!" She smiled and brought him into a tight hug. Stefan laughed and hugged her back.

Damon stayed on the couch. "Little Boy Lost." he said.

Stefan broke from the hug and started to walk closer to Damon. Elena grabbed Emma's hand. "We'll be upstairs, okay? Good night," Emma did a little wave towards Damon before following Elena upstairs. When they got to Stefan's room, they sat on his bed.

"So, how did you get him back?" Emma asked. 

Elena shrugged. "I just reminded him about the things to keep living for." Elena put her arm around Emma's shoulders. "It's going to be a bumpy road but Stefan is going to get better." Emma nodded satisfied with Elena's response. "What happened while we were gone?" Elena asked.

Emma laughed. "You wouldn't believe it but Damon tried to comfort me."

Elena scoffed. "What? Damon. The Damon? He comforted you?" Elena had a hard time imagining Damon going that. "I'm sorry but that's kinda hard to believe."

Emma nodded in agreement. "I know. Think about how I was feeling when he said he wanted to." 

The girls shared a laugh. Elena glanced at the clock and saw the time. "Hey, it's getting late." She and Emma leaned back on the bed. "You should rest." 

Emma snuggled closer to Elena. "Okay. Good night."

"Night."