(1) The Phoenix (D. Salvatore)

Chapter Ninety-Two

At the Salvatore Boarding House, Stefan is in the library, drinking when Damon enters holding something wrapped in brown Kraft paper, it's the bridge sign that Daphne has thought of and hidden away. Damon gives his brother a look.

"Little early in the day for you, isn't it?" He teases dryly.

"Just having a little toast" Stefan counters, Damon raises an eyebrow. Whilst he knows they have something to celebrate, he is not sure his brother does have anything to toast to. Considering that he's on the outs with his girlfriend, he's recently been on a blood binge and recently returned from his Ripper alter-ego. Those are not really things to celebrate.

"To what?" Damon draws out.

"Control" Stefan answers, Damon pulls a face and then nods a little.

"If you're happy, I'm happy" He offers. Stefan takes a drink from his glass and narrows his eyes at his brother.

"Why are you in such a good mood? Sage double-crossed you, tree's a pile of ash, Alaric's got a psychopathic alter ego"

"You know, Stefan, I'm a philanthropist, I make the world a better place. Restoring bridges, landmarks, and..." Damon rips the paper off what he carried into the room. It's the Wickery Bridge sign. "Historical signs made of the same white oak as the Wickery Bridge" Stefan gets up and looks at the sign.

"They think all the wood burned" Stefan realises.

"I sold my rage" Damon adds with a smirk. "Whew! You should have seen us.....Daph, she's a genius"

"Yeah, she's something else" Stefan agrees and Damon shoots him a look. Not that Stefan would, hopefully, he has his Gilbert girl, even if they are not technically dating right now, but still. Damon wants Daphne all to himself, he's already proven that he doesn't like other men flirting with her, as seen with Kol. Granted there was little more to that than just Kol flirting with her. "Unclench" Stefan comments. "She's just kind to me" He assures his brother. "And she didn't have to be...and I know that she didn't do it for me, that she did it for you and for Elena, but I don't think I would have survived coming back this time if I didn't have her to talk to"

"She really means that much to you?" Damon asks. "As an ear?"

"Yes," Stefan answers. "Because she didn't know me before" He admits. "You and Elena, you both look at me like you're waiting for that old version of Stefan to come back, but she doesn't, I can talk to her because I don't see the disappointment in her face" Damon scoffs a little but gets it. He and Elena are waiting on Stefan to be the old Stefan again, even if they are both waiting for different versions, But Daphne only has the Ripper as her baseline. This Stefan is always going to be a step up for her. Plus she puts up with Damon, judgement free so she's a good shoulder for Stefan, nothing more. But Damon's gone through the whole thing before with Katherine, and he hates that that woman is creeping back into his mind to plant doubt about Daphne and Stefan. He knows Daphne and he knows his brother. It's not the same. But he is scared of losing her. That whole thing with Sage earlier, it clutched at his heart. Stefan takes the sign from Damon who is still processing Daphne and Stefan's friendship. It's not something he considered coming from her helping him, but of course it did. They spent a lot of time talking after her spell. And Stefan saw a friend in her. "So we have a weapon" Stefan looks down at the sign. Damon clears his throat and nods.

"Game's back on" Damon agrees and then lets out a breath. "Let's go kill some Originals" Stefan nods and smirks a little, as if knowing that Damon is showing very human emotions, fear and jealousy, it's Daphne's influence on his life. And whilst those aren't really good human emotions, it shows that Damon is scared of losing her. It shows just how much he's come to care for her.

......

Upstairs, Damon heads towards his bedroom door for the night. They have some time before the shit hits the fan again. A reprieve from the Originals whilst they think that they've got one over on them here. Damon lets out a breath and snorts at his own mind and subconscious. It's ridiculous that he went straight to the thought that Stefan would want Daphne in the way he wants her. He turns into his room and stops, a soft smile working onto his lips. Daphne is curled up in his bed, even helped herself to one of his shirts which she wears over a pair of shorts and he has to say this is her cutest look yet. Fast asleep and snuggled down in his bed. She looks peaceful. Considering how stressed out they have all been that is a miracle in itself. He lets out a soft breath and pulls his shirt over his head, toeing off his shoes as he moves towards the bed. He has every intention of joining her and taking this time to sleep whilst they have one up on the Originals. They have the element of surprise on their side. Thanks to Daphne. He climbs into bed behind her, curling around her back and wrapping his arms around her. She hums a little and leans back into his hold. He presses his lips to the side of her neck and then closes his eyes.

"Alaric get settled at home?" She asks through sleep.

"He's fine, don't worry about it, just get some sleep" He argues. They all need a good night's sleep at this point. Even him.

"Okay" She mumbles, already falling back to sleep, she turns to snuggle into his chest, letting out a soft breath as she gets comfy. He kisses her head, lingering there slightly as he strokes her back. All those feelings of doubt disappeared with her turning into his chest. Replaced with a feeling of comfort and home. That's feelings he hasn't felt in a very long time. Back when he was human and had a home here. But it's different with her. It's stronger. Settled. He knows, deep down, that this girl, this little witch, is his home. For someone that he hasn't even known for a year, for someone that can literally turn him into a ferret if she chooses to. He smiles to himself and pulls her closer. She tucks herself against him harder, tangling their legs together. He's pretty sure he's in love with her. Yeah. That he is sure of.