BROKEN BONES [4]

13

"Roman, what the hell?"
Alaric gaped, seeing the empty bottles of alcohol surrounding the boy.
"What?"
Roman hissed out throwing back another bottle.
"What are you doing?"
Alaric glared shutting the door as he stepped into the vampires room.
"Grieving."
Roman chuckled sarcastically rolling his eyes.
"I think the world owes me a couple of thousand of drinks."
Alaric scoffed shaking his head.
"The world doesn't owe you anything."
Alaric clenched his jaw as Roman glared, stumbling as he tried to stand.
"Well it should! After everything it's taken from me!"
Roman shouted throwing the bottle against the wall, the glass bouncing back at him.
Alaric jumped back as he watched the boy come undone.
"It's always the people I love! It's Damon killing Lexi, it's the Mikaelson's killing you, it's Damon killing Kai- and yes even though all of you refused to tell me I know he killed Kai."
Roman ranted on with a bitter expression.
"It's life, get over it!"
Alaric shouted back.
"It's a life I don't want!"
Roman shouted back angrily.
"You really need to start growing up Roman."
Alaric glared at the blue eyed boy.
"The world is not going to stop because you lost someone again, it never has before. And now there are two things you can do,"
Alaric took a step closer to Roman as the Salvatore took deep breaths.
"You can either let it consume you, and send you back down your brooding path of hatred for the world. Or you can grieve and figure out how to move on from it."
Alaric told the boy seriously.
"Do whatever you want Ro, but I'm sick of listening to you cry."
Alaric shook his head taking a step back.
Roman looked around the room at all the empty bottles letting out a sigh.
"I want to get better but it hurts so bad."
Roman looked at the man with sad eyes.
"I know,"
Roman rose an eyebrow at Alaric.
"I know because I lost you. You were gone and I was back here and I didn't know what to do. It took me months to get somewhere with Jo because everywhere I went I was looking for you."
Alaric sighed crossing his arms.
"It's going to hurt, and it's going to keep you up at night. And you're going to think, 'what if we had just stayed in bed that day.' But you can't let it consume you Roman."
Alaric shook his head watching as Roman ran a hand through his curls.
"I let everything consume me. Love and pain, there is no balance I always just drown in it."
Roman sighed running a hand over his face.
"I'm so tired of drowning."
Roman whispered as Ric took a step closer to him.
"I want to stop missing him already. But the thing is I will never stop missing him, I'll just get used to this feeling and learn to live with it."
Roman frowned sticking his hands in his pockets.
"Grief is what love leaves behind when it dies."
Roman shook his head as his shoulders slumped.
Alaric walked forward resting his hands on Roman's shoulders.
"Once you learn how to live with it you'll be able to make room for something new."
Alaric told the boy softly.
"And when you find something new to care about again you will forget this pain. You won't forget Enzo,"
Roman couldn't help but wince at his name.
"And you won't forget how much you loved him. But you will forget all this pain and what it felt like."
Alaric reassured the boy as Roman looked up at him.
The vampire said nothing, he just wrapped the man in a tight hug that seemed to last forever.

❁

"Mommy!"
The twins cheered running into Caroline's house.
"Oh I missed you girls so much!"
Caroline exclaimed wrapping them in a hug.
Roman smiled at the sight as did Alaric.
"Who's hungry?"
"Me!"
"I am!"
The girls laughed running off as Caroline turned to Roman and Alaric.
Without a word the blonde crashed into him, wrapping the other vampire in a hug and kissing his cheek.
"It's good to see you Care."
Roman whispered as he felt the girl smile.
"It's good to see you too Ro."
She whispered back pulling away slowly.
The three smiled following the girls into the kitchen.

"I want the pink cup!"
Lizzie told Caroline as she ate.
"Honey you always have the purple cup."
Caroline frowned in confusion as Roman walked to her side.
"Pink!"
Lizzie shouted as Caroline reached for the cup.
Roman quickly pushed the blonde away, wincing in pain as Lizzie grabbed his wrist and siphoned him.
Roman winced, not being used to the siphoning like he once was.
"Lizzie!"
"Lizzie."
Caroline and Alaric exclaimed as Roman regained composure.
"Hey sunshine, remember no siphoning."
Roman told the girl with a small smile.
"I didn't mean to."
Lizzie frowned as Roman ruffled her hair.
"Don't hurt Uncle Roman! Incendia!"
"No! No!"
The three yelled at Josie in a panic.
Roman quickly took Lizzie in his arms as Alaric and Caroline ran to Josie.
"Honey, don't you ever!"
Caroline glared at Josie, as Lizzie rested her head on Roman's chest.
"You could really hurt somebody!"
Caroline sighed as Alaric and Roman comforted the girls.
"I don't know what's going on. They started acting out three days ago."
Alaric whispered to the two vampires.
"I can't control it, and neither can they."