08. 162 Candles

After spending the night at Caroline's, Brayden finally made his way back to the Boarding House, he was going to his room, but stopped when he hard a familiar voice coming from Stefan's room.

"No way" Brayden whispered, going towards Stefan's room.

"If some freak shot at me with wooden bullets, I'd bail in under 60" Brayden heard, "And why is a news reporter hunting vampires?".

"Lexi?" Brayden asked shocked.

"Brayden!" Lexi yelled, jumping off of Stefan's bed and into Brayden's arms, "God, I missed you asshole".

"I missed you too" Brayden said, "But what are you doing here?".

Lexi broke the hug, "I'm here for Stefan's birthday, and to spend the day with my two best friends".

Brayden smiled, "Are we going to do the same madness we always do when we get together?".

"Obviously" Lexi replied, playfully nudging Brayden, "And like every time, I'm going to separate you from your dickhead of a twin and force you to spend time with your younger brother".

Stefan and Brayden were poles were apart, they had nothing in common, except one thing, their best friend, Lexi. Every few years Lexi would force Brayden to leave Damon and spend time with her and Stefan, it was her attempt to fix Brayden and Stefan's broken relationship, and for a while it would work, but as soon as Lexi left, they would always go back to their old way, but with Lexi, both Brayden and Stefan always forgot their old feud and allowed themselves to be brothers, even if it was for a small moment.

"How exciting" Brayden said sarcastically, "But while your here, just be careful okay? I'm sure Stefan has already told you, there's people here who know about us".

"Ugh! Why stay?" Lexi asked, the two brothers, sitting back on Stefan's bed, while Brayden sat on his table, "I'm headed to New York for the weekend, Bon Jovi, in the Garden, Wanted Dead or Alive, it's our theme song, it'll be a blast".

"Hey, do you guys think that he would actually remember us?" Stefan asked his brother and friend, "That was a pretty crazy weekend, huh?".

"We can make him remember us" Lexi replied.

"Yes we can" Brayden said.

"Come on, let's go, I mean, what's keeping you both here?" Lexi asked.

"I told you, her name is Elena" Stefan replied, making Brayden roll his eyes, and Lexi give him a questioning look.

"Well, let's hope she's better than the last girl you got all sprung over" Lexi said, grabbing the picture of Katherine and Kaitlynn.

"She's not" Brayden said, taking the photo from Lexi, making her roll her eyes.

"You didn't even know Katherine" Stefan said, ignoring Brayden.

"Because if I did I'd kick her ass, the little bitch" Lexi said.

"I would pay to see that" Brayden said, high fiving Lexi.

"Why don't you hate Kaitlynn as much as you hate Katherine?" Stefan asked curiously.

"Because from the stories you and Brayden have told me, Kaitlynn is no way as bad as Katherine" Lexi said.

"Also, Damon hates Kaitlynn, and we all know, whoever Damon hates, Lexi loves" Brayden said.

"Exactly" Lexi said, "Anyways, Stefan is staying here for Elena, why are you staying here Brayden? I thought you hated this town".

"I do" Brayden replied.

"Then why stay?" Lexi asked curiously.

"Because of Caroline" Stefan replied, making Brayden glare at him.

Lexi looked at Brayden in excitement, "Oh my god, you found someone?".

"I didn't find anyone" Brayden replied, "And I thought you didn't like me and Caroline together?".

"I didn't" Stefan replied, "But then I realised if you wanted to hurt her, you would have done that already, and I've seen you two together, you care for her".

"No I don't" Brayden denied.

Stefan and Lexi both shook their heads at Brayden, they both knew no matter what happened, Brayden will never admit of caring for someone.

"By the way, where's the evil twin?" Lexi asked.

"Inflicting misery somewhere" Stefan replied.

"I really need to do that to" Brayden said.

"You're not funny" Lexi told Brayden.

"I would beg to differ, I think I'm hilarious" Brayden teased.

"Hey, you gonna be okay here? Alone? I got some things I gotta take care of" Stefan told Lexi.

"Well, it's not exactly like I can go anywhere" Lexi said, "And you, Brayden and Damon are the only ones with these nifty little daylight rings, I have a mood ring from '75, anyone want to trade?".

"I only talk in cash" Brayden replied, he then turned to Stefan, "Go, I'm here with her, she's not alone".

"Leaving you two alone is what worries me" Stefan said.

"Hey, we are not that bad" Lexi defended.

"Actually we are pretty bad" Brayden said, making Lexi laugh.

"Hey, Lex" Stefan said, "I'm really glad that you came here".

"Okay, what are we doing for your birthday?" Lexi asked.

"Stefan's favorite hobby, brooding" Brayden replied, making Lexi throw a pillow at him.

"Come on guys, it's not every day a guy turns 163 years old" Lexi said.

"Yikes Stef, you are old" Brayden teased, Stefan simply shook his head at his brother.

***

"Lexi!" Brayden yelled, chasing Lexi around his room, "Give it back!".

"Nope!" Lexi replied, running away from Brayden, "Let me talk to the girl who kept you in this miserable town".

"You are not talking to Caroline" Brayden said, finally catching up to Lexi and snatching his phone from her.

"Why not?" Lexi asked, "Scared I will scare your little girlfriend off?".

"First of all, she's not my girlfriend" Brayden said, laying on his bed, "And second of all, if finding out that I'm a vampire didn't scare her, then I don't really think she will be scared of you".

"Then why are you not letting me talk to her?" Lexi asked, laying next to Brayden.

"Because knowing you, your first conversation with her would be something embarrassing about me" Brayden replied.

"Aww, does little Brayden not want his lady love to think badly about him?" Lexi teased.

"She's not my lady love, Lex" Brayden said.

"Answer my one question" Lexi said, "Could she be it?".

"What?" Brayden asked confused.

"Could she finally be the one who helps you move on from Kaitlynn?" Lexi asked.

Brayden sighed, "I don't know Lex, I'm confused".

"Tell me what you feel about her" Lexi asked, "Maybe I can help you figure your feelings out".

Brayden sighed, usually Brayden doesn't open up to anyone, but Lexi was a different case, she was the only one who knew everything going on in Brayden's mind and heart.

"She's different" Brayden admitted, "She has this light surrounding her, she understands me without me saying anything, she's special, I've never met anyone like her, and I know I care for her, I know there's something in my heart for her, you know, whenever she is near me I feel happy, I feel free, something I really haven't felt for years, it's weird Lex, that girl is messing with my head, but even if I wanted to I can't stay away from her".

Lexi smiled at her best friend, "It's kind of obvious what you feel for her Brayden".

"Please do tell" Brayden said, curious as to what he felt for Caroline.

"I can't" Lexi said, "If I tell you, then I know you will run away from that feeling, and I'd rather you not do that".

"Lex--".

"Just know this, Caroline, she's exactly what you need to mend your broken heart" Lexi said.

***

After his talk with Lexi, Brayden got a call from Damon, telling him to meet him at the Sheriff station, it was finally time for them to infiltrate the council, so after leaving Lexi with Stefan, Brayden met up with Damon.

"Brayden, Damon, come on in" Liz said, "Could you get the door for me?".

"Yeah, sure" Brayden said, closing the door behind him and Damon.

"I understand from Mrs. Lockwood that your uncle's out of town" Liz said.

"Yes, he is, but we spoke with Zach and he filled us in and asked if we could bring this to you" Damon said, handing Liz a box.

Liz opened the box and realised it was vervain, "Vervain".

"I know it's not much, but it's all we have right now" Brayden said.

"It's a small circle" Liz said, realising Brayden and Damon knew, "Founding families, a few city officials".

"And your deputies, of course, right?" Damon said, as he and Brayden sat down.

"Are we any closer to solving our problem?" Brayden asked.

Liz shook her head, "I think our facts are wrong" she said, "We've always believed that vampires can only come out in the dark, what if that's changed?".

"So is that even possible?" Damon asked.

"We've exhausted every other option" Liz replied, "We have to consider the vampire may be walking around during the day, right in front of us".

Brayden and Damon exchanged a look, "So, what do we do next?" Brayden asked.

"Well now, we're now looking at anyone new to town since the deaths began" Liz replied, "Should turn up a suspect or two".

"And we, of course, will do anything I can to help" Damon assured, making Liz give the brothers grateful nod.

"Brayden, can I ask, please don't tell Caroline about any of this" Liz pleaded, "I'm not sure she could handle it".

"Liz, I won't tell Caroline, I will do anything to protect her" Brayden assured, "But don't mind me saying, even if Caroline was to find out, I think she can handle it, she's a lot stronger then people give her credit for".

Liz looked at Brayden in slight shock, she wasn't excepting him to stand up for daughter like that, but at the same time, it felt nice knowing there was someone out there who will always protect his daughter.

***

"So this Elena girl, she'll come around, I'm sure of it" Brayden heard Lexi tell Stefan, "Have you had sex yet?".

"No" Brayden replied, "His taken a no sex till marriage oath".

Lexi laughed at Brayden, while Stefan simply rolled his eyes.

"Sex always work" Lexi told the brothers, "You both will rock Elena and Caroline's world so hard with your vamp sex, they'll be yours forever".

"Where did Caroline come in this?" Brayden asked confused.

"Since you refuse to admit you have feelings for her" Lexi retorted.

"I don't--".

"--have feelings for Caroline" Lexi finished, "You keep saying that, yet when you talk about her, all I see is care".

"Exactly, I care for Caroline, that doesn't mean I have feelings for her" Brayden said.

"I don't believe you, and I know for a fact none of your brothers believe you either" Lexi said.

Brayden looked at Stefan, who just shrugged, "You guys are delusional".

Lexi sighed, she knew no matter what, Brayden wasn't going to accept his feelings so she let it go, for now, "Change of topic, what are we doing tonight?".

"Funny you should ask" Damon said, entering the room.

"Well, I wasn't asking you" Lexi snapped.

"Where were you?" Brayden asked, Damon having disappeared after their talk with the Sheriff.

"Taking care of something" Damon replied, making Brayden frown at his vague answer, "Anyways, there's a party, at the Grill, you'll love it, banquettes, tacky wait staff, all of Stefan's friends".

"Yeah, I don't want a birthday party" Stefan said.

"Well it's not for you" Damon said, "It's a party, party, no one's gonna know it's your birthday".

"Whose hosting it?" Brayden asked curiously.

"Some girl called Tiki" Damon replied.

"Who the hell is Tiki?" Brayden asked confused.

"Some girl from the high school" Damon replied, "And it's important for the town to see us out and about like normal folk, we need to blend".

"I mean, his not wrong" Brayden said, unaware of his twin's ulterior motives.

"The choice is yours" Damon said, walking away from the trio.

"Let's go" Lexi told the brothers.

"I'm down" Brayden said simply.

"Please?" Lexi asked Stefan, who hesitated but eventually nodded.

***

"Hey" Caroline greeted.

"I have a very important question to ask you" Brayden said, as soon as Caroline answered the phone.

"What?" Caroline asked confused.

"Will you go to the party that's happening at the Grill, with me?" Brayden asked.

"Brayden Salvatore asking me to go a party with him?" Caroline teased, "And I didn't even have to beg him?".

"I want you meet someone important to me" Brayden informed, "That's why I'm asking you for the party".

"Is it the towel girl?" Caroline asked, hidden jealously in her voice.

"Towel girl?" Brayden asked confused, just as Lexi entered his room, he put his finger up, telling her not to talk as he was on the phone, Lexi smirked but nonetheless, didn't say anything and quietly sat on the bed.

"Elena went to your house to visit Stefan, and when she was there she saw a girl in a towel, so she called me, saying I should talk to you about it, I think she thinks you're cheating on me" Caroline revealed.

"What the hell" Brayden snapped.

"Don't worry, I won't be hurt if she's your girlfriend, I just thought you would have told me about it so I didn't look like an idiot" Caroline said.

"Princess, Lexi isn't my girlfriend" Brayden assured, looking at his best friend who had an amused expression on her face, "She's my best friend, my three hundred and fifty year old best friend".

"She's a vampire?" Caroline asked, shocked.

"Yeap" Brayden replied, "And I was hoping to introduce you two to each other, but I get it if you don't want to go to the party with me".

"No" Caroline said quickly, "Of course I would love to go with you, and I'm sorry for making assumptions, I should have known better".

"It's okay, so I'll pick you up for the party?" Brayden asked.

"I'll be waiting" Caroline replied.

"You told her about you?" Lexi asked shocked, after Brayden hanged up.

Brayden sighed, "It felt wrong to hide the truth from her".

"But Stefan told me that Caroline was clueless" Lexi said.

"Stefan doesn't know that Caroline knows" Brayden revealed.

"You sneaky bastard" Lexi said, "By the way, did you know that Stefan's new girlfriend looks exactly like his old girlfriend?".

"Why do you think I hate her so much?" Brayden asked.

"Apparently his in love with her" Lexi replied.

"In his life, Stefan has only loved one girl, and that girl isn't Katherine or Elena, you and me both know that" Brayden said.

"This is the first time you've mentioned her since she disappeared" Lexi said, giving Brayden a sympathetic look.

 "What's there to talk about?" Brayden asked, "She walked out on us, me and Damon considered her our little sister, she was the one girl who Stefan actually loved, but she didn't care about that, she walked out on us Lexi, leaving nothing but a stupid letter behind, which I know Stefan still has".

"If she ever came back, will you guys forgive her?" Lexi asked curiously.

Brayden sighed, "I don't know about Damon or Stefan, but if she ever came back, I think before I get angry or upset, I would ask her why, we were all doing so good Lex, for the first time in decades, me, Stefan and Damon were together, were dysfunctional but we were brothers, but she left, and everything fell apart, this why I hate this town so much, it always takes people away from me".

Lexi sighed, she stood up and placed her hand on Brayden's shoulder, "If she ever comes back, I know she will have a very good reason as to why she left you three".

"I hope so Lex, otherwise I would be really mad" Brayden said, "And I'm not sure I will ever forgive Fae if her reason for leaving us, wasn't a good one".

***

"Brayden!" Lexi yelled over the music, seeing Brayden and Caroline entering the Grill together.

"Hey Lex" Brayden greeted, hugging the vampire, "Lexi, meet Caroline, Princess, meet Lexi".

"His best friend" Lexi clarified, shaking Caroline's hand, Caroline looked at Brayden wide eyed, realising Lexi knew about her misunderstanding, Lexi quickly realised that she had embarrassed the girl infront of her, "I'm only telling you that because Elena thought I was dating one of the brothers, and I want to make it clear to everyone that they are not my type".

Brayden gave Lexi a grateful smile, "Oh please Lex, I'm everyone's type".

"Sure, you tell yourself that Brayden" Lexi teased, just as Damon walked over to the trio.

"Where's my little brother?" Damon asked, after waving at Caroline.

"He said he'd meet me here" Lexi replied.

"Buy you a--?", before Damon could finish his sentence, Lexi walked away from him.

"She doesn't like him very much, does she?" Caroline asked Brayden.

"Nope" Brayden replied, "Lexi despises Damon, come on, let's get you a drink".

Brayden grabbed Caroline's hand and took her towards the bar.

***

Caroline, Brayden, Lexi and Stefan were on the dance floor, dancing the night away.

Brayden held Caroline's hand and twirled her around, and then dipped her down, causing Caroline to let out a laugh.

"You always do that" Caroline realised, as Brayden pulled her up.

Brayden shrugged, he put his arm around Caroline's waist and pulled her against him, "It's our thing Princess".

"We have things now?" Caroline asked, slightly amused.

"Of course, we do" Brayden replied, "Dancing like that is our thing, as much as I hate admitting it, twilight is also our thing, and as time goes on, we are going to make other things, ours".

Caroline smiled at Brayden, "Slow dancing on a fast song can be added to that list".

"See, you're finally getting it" Brayden teased, making Caroline laugh.

"Hey, Brayden, Caroline!", both Brayden and Caroline faced Lexi when they heard her call their name, "Smile for the camera".

Brayden smirked, as an idea came into his head, he quickly put his arm around Caroline's waist, and kissed her one the cheek, causing Caroline's eyes to open wide, just as Lexi took the photo.

"Perfect" Lexi said, while Stefan smiled at his brother and Caroline.

"What was that for?" Caroline asked, her cheeks heating us.

"Adding another thing to our list" Brayden replied.

"Which is?" Caroline asked confused.

"Taking shocked photos" Brayden replied.

"You can't blame me for being shocked" Caroline defended.

"I'm not blaming you, Princess" Brayden said, very amused.

"No, you're just teasing me" Caroline said.

"That I am very much doing" Brayden said.

Caroline glared at Brayden for a moment, and after a moment both Brayden and Caroline bursted out laughing.

***

"Princess, you suck" Brayden said, as Stefan potted another ball.

"I have a shit team mate" Caroline retorted, making both Lexi and Stefan laugh.

"Okay, no" Brayden said, "You can't blame your failure on me".

"I can, and I did" Caroline said.

"Okay, that's enough you two" Lexi said, "Let's swap teams, me and Caroline vs Brayden and Stefan".

"Girls vs boys" Caroline said, "I'm in".

"Oh you are so screwed" Brayden told Caroline, "I'm going to make it my personal mission to make sure you lose Princess".

"We will see about that" Caroline said.

"Oh we will" Brayden said, swapping places with Lexi and standing next to Stefan.

The group of four played pool unaware of both Elena and Damon looking at them.

"Stefan and Brayden smile, alert the media" Damon said.

"I don't know about Brayden, but you haven't given Stefan a lot of reasons to be happy lately" Elena said.

"No, you're right, poor Stefan" Damon said, just as Brayden and Stefan gave each other a high five, "Persecuted throughout eternity by his two depraved brothers, does it get tiring, being so righteous?".

Elena scoffed, "It flares up in the presence of psychopaths".

"Ouch, well, consider this psychopath's feelings hurt" Damon said.

Elena rolled her eyes and turned back to the group, "I've never seen Brayden and Stefan get along so well".

"That's cause they don't" Damon said, "What your saying currently seeing is called the Lexi effect, when she's around Stefan and Brayden become brothers, even if it is for a small moment".

"You sound bitter" Elena observed.

Damon looked at his brothers, and without saying anything to Elena, just walked away.

***

After the pool game, Lexi went to the bar to get everyone drinks, her eyes then went on Caroline, who was sitting on a table by herself as Brayden had gone to the restroom.

Grabbing the drinks, Lexi made her way over to Caroline, "Hello again".

"Hey, Lexi" Caroline greeted.

"Drink?" Lexi offered.

"No thanks, if my mom finds out, I will be grounded till I'm old" Caroline said.

Lexi chuckled but nonetheless nodded, "Fair enough, more for me then".

"You know, I've never seen Brayden and Stefan get along so well" Caroline said.

Lexi sighed, "Yeah, their past is complicated and I don't think anyone will ever understand the relationship between the three brothers, but whenever I visit these two, I make it my mission to make them spend time together, it's the only way their relationship will improve".

"You know, I think in their own twisted ways, the brothers do care for each other, they just don't say it because of their egos" Caroline said, making Lexi smile.

"Couldn't have said it any better" Lexi said, "Anyways, enough talk about the brothers, let's talk about you and Brayden".

"Me and Brayden?" Caroline asked confused.

"You like him" Lexi said.

"What?" Caroline asked shocked, "No, I don't like him".

"God, you and Brayden are so similar, you both refuse to acknowledge your feelings" Lexi said.

"There's no point in me acknowledging my feelings, Brayden is in love with someone else" Caroline said, a sad tone in her voice.

"Let me guess, Kaitlynn?" Lexi asked, Caroline nodded, "Caroline, Brayden isn't in love with Kaitlynn, yeah maybe once upon a time he was, but right now, his guilty but his not in love with her",

"You sound so sure" Caroline observed.

"Well, that's the benefit of knowing someone for over a hundred years" Lexi said, "You can read them pretty well".

"Yeah, I can't do that" Caroline said.

"Yes you can" Lexi assured, "Give it time Caroline, trust me when I say this, Brayden will come to you and tell you his true feelings, just be patient with him, his a stubborn one, he won't make it easy for him or you, because at the end of the day, love really does conquer all".

"I'm scared" Caroline admitted, "I don't want my heart broken".

"Brayden will never do that" Lexi assured, "And despite you being scared, you're here, because deep down you're crazy about my idiotic best friend, listen, take it from someone who has been around a long time, when it's real, you can't walk away", Lexi looked behind Caroline to see Elena, "Now excuse me, I fixed one best friend's life, now I'm going to fix the others, even if Brayden will kill me for this".

Caroline chuckled but nonetheless nodded, "Go for it".

Lexi walked over to Elena to talk about Stefan, leaving Caroline alone to think about her words.

***

Brayden and Caroline were back on the dance floor, when both of them saw the Sheriff enter the Grill, and make her way towards the bar where Lexi was talking to Damon.

"What's your mom doing?" Brayden asked curious.

"I don't know" Caroline replied honestly.

Both Brayden and Caroline were shocked when the Sheriff injected Lexi with vervain.

"Vervain" Brayden whispered, shocked seeing the deputies carry his best friend out, "Come on".

Brayden grabbed Caroline's hand and both of them rushed towards the exist.

"Can't go out this way" One of the deputy said, blocking Brayden's way, just as Stefan and Elena made their way to them.

Brayden and Stefan didn't waste any time in arguing, both of them quickly ran towards the back exist, Caroline and Elena following behind.

***

Just as Brayden, Caroline, Stefan and Elena came outside, they saw Damon come up to Lexi, just as she was about to attack the Sheriff, and stake her right in the heart.

Both Stefan and Brayden quickly put their hands over Elena and Caroline's mouth to stop them from screaming while they looked at the scene infront of them with teary eyes.

***

"Brayden!" Caroline yelled, running after Brayden and Stefan.

"Stefan!" Elena called out, "Stefan!".

"He killed her" Stefan snapped, "He killed Zach, he killed Tanner, he turned Vicki, none of them were Brayden, it was him, now I have to kill him".

"No, you can't do that" Elena protested.

"Why are you trying to save him?" Stefan snapped, "Elena, he's never gonna change, don't you see that? He's never gonna change".

"I'm not trying to save him, I'm trying to save you" Elena said, "You have no idea what this will do to you, please Stefan".

"Everywhere that I go, pain and death follow" Stefan said, "Damon follows me, no more".

"Brayden" Caroline whispered, standing infront of the middle Salvatore, and cupping his face in her hands, "Please say something".

"What should I say Caroline?" Brayden whispered, "My brother, my twin brother, killed my best friend, he broke the one rule we had between each other, we were never supposed to kill people our twin cares about, I never did that so how could he?".

"Brayden--".

"If I don't do anything about this, if I don't do something to get justice to Lexi, then I don't deserve to be called her best friend" Brayden said, and before Caroline could say anything else, Brayden speeded away, Stefan quickly following him.

"Brayden!" Caroline yelled, really scared what the two brothers would do in their anger.

***

Damon sat in his room, drinking his drink, he turned to the side to see Stefan standing there.

"Told you I'd take care of it" Damon said.

Stefan speeded over to Damon and punched him in the face, he grabbed him and threw him on to the floor, he stomped over to him and repeatedly punched his older brother on his face.

Damon kicked Stefan away from him, both brothers quickly recovered, they charged towards each other and held each other by the neck, Stefan then slammed Damon on to the wall.

"Come on, I did this for you and Brayden, to get them off our trail" Damon snapped.

"You never do anything for anyone but yourself" Stefan snapped back, pulling out the stake from his back pocket, and stabbed Damon.

"You missed" Damon breathed out.

"No" Stefan said, "You and Brayden saved my life, I'm sparing yours, we're even", Stefan pushed the stake deeper in, "And now we're done".

Stefan let go of Damon, causing him to fall to the ground.

After Stefan walked out the room, Damon pulled out the stake from his stomach, he stood up and saw Brayden standing infront of him.

"Brayden--".

"You broke the one promise we had" Brayden said, glaring at his brother.

"Brayden listen--".

Before Damon could finish his sentence, Brayden punched him the face, "I should kill you!" Brayden yelled.

"Then why don't you?" Damon asked.

"Because unfortunately you're my brother!" Brayden yelled, "And as much as I want to, I can't kill you and I hate myself for that, but just know this Damon, for the first time, in our immortal life, I agree with Stefan, you've really become the monster you pretend to be".

Without hearing anything else from his brother, Brayden walked out the room.

***

After using the bathroom, Caroline came out and saw Brayden sitting on her bed.

Caroline didn't say anything, just quietly went and sat next to the devastated vampire, without saying anything, Brayden laid down, with his head on Caroline's lap.

"I'm an awful friend" Brayden whispered.

"Don't say that" Caroline said.

"I couldn't kill my best friend's killer Caroline, what kind of best friend can't do that?" Brayden asked, tears slipping from his eyes.

"If it was anyone else, I'm sure he would have been dead" Caroline said.

"I wish it was someone else" Brayden whispered, "Why did it have to be my own brother?".

"I don't know Brayden" Caroline replied, running her hand through Brayden's hair.

"I'm so tired" Brayden whispered, his eyes slowly closing.

"Sleep" Caroline said.

"Don't go anywhere, please" Brayden pleaded, a sense of vulnerability in his voice.

"I won't" Caroline promised.

***

Presenting 1x08 of The Vampire Diaries . . .

How was the chapter? As you could tell I'm involving Caroline much more, do you guys enjoy that or not, please do let me know, so I can know if I'm going in the right direction or not 😊

Thoughts on Brayden and Lexi's friendship?

Thoughts on the girl Brayden and Lexi were talking about? Who is this Fae? 🤔

Thoughts on Lexi's talk with Caroline, regarding Brayden?

Thoughts on Brayden and Stefan's reaction when it came to Lexi's death?