15. A Few Good Men

"Brayden!" Caroline yelled, entering the boarding house and hearing loud music, "Damon!".

Caroline walked into the living room and was shocked seeing Damon surrounded by girls, who had bite marks all over their bodies.

"Oh my god" Caroline whispered shocked, she walked over to the music station and turned the music off, making Damon realise her presence.

 "Ugh, don't be such a buzzkill Caroline" Damon complained.

"Where's Brayden?" Caroline asked.

"Princess!" Brayden yelled, entering the room, a bottle of bourbon in his hand.

"You're drunk" Caroline realised, as Brayden came and hugged her.

"A little bit" Brayden said, taking a swig of his drink.

"I came back to see how you both were doing" Caroline said, looking at the twins in worry.

"We are doing amazing" Brayden said, "Why wouldn't we? After a hundred and forty five years, we are finally free, from the burden of loving Katherine and Kaitlynn".

"You should be happy Caroline, now Brayden's all yours" Damon said.

Caroline opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, Stefan entered the room, and was shocked seeing that state of his two brothers.

"Look princess, it's buzzkill bob" Brayden pointed.

"Greetings" Damon greeted.

"Can we talk?" Stefan asked.

"No" Brayden replied, going behind Caroline and wrapping his arms around her waist, "I missed you".

"I stayed the night Brayden, I had just gone home to shower" Caroline reminded.

"Too long" Brayden said, kissing Caroline's shoulder.

"Go on talk" Damon told Stefan.

"Without the Tri-Delts?" Stefan asked.

"Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of them" Damon replied, "They're really good at keeping secrets".

"Aww, Damon our little brother is worried about us, that's cute" Brayden said sarcastically.

"Drunk you is mean" Caroline said, taking the bottle of alcohol from Brayden.

"No" Brayden complained.

"You need to shower, you reek of alcohol" Caroline said.

"Only if you join me" Brayden said, giving Caroline a cheeky smile, making Caroline shake her head at him.

"You worry about us, there's no need, we're fine, why wouldn't be?" Damon asked, "We spent the last hundred and forty five years with one goal, get in that tomb, we succeeded".

"Even though Kaitlynn wasn't in the tomb, I achieved my goal, that's what counts right?" Brayden asked.

"You know, it's so liberating not having a master plan, because now me and Brayden can do whatever the hell I want" Damon replied.

"Amen to that brother" Brayden said, stealing his bourbon back from Caroline.

"Hey!" Caroline said.

"Shh" Brayden said, placing his finger on Caroline's lip, "Let me get drunk today princess, tomorrow I'll do whatever you want me to do".

Caroline sighed, "Promise?".

Brayden held out his pinky, "Pinky promise".

Caroline smiled and intertwined her pinky with Brayden's.

"You and Brayden doing what you guys want is what worries me" Stefan said.

"Relax" Damon said, "We haven't killed anyone in, phew, too long".

"I'm up for a murder spree" Brayden said, raising his hand.

"No your not" Caroline said, putting Brayden's hand right.

"Right" Brayden whispered, "Sorry Damon, my girl doesn't want me to murder people, you're own your own".

"Like I said, buzzkill" Damon said.

"More like being sensible" Caroline said.

"What's going to happen to those girls?" Stefan asked Damon.

"Will end up in their dorm" Damon replied, "With headaches, think they blacked out, business as usual, predictably, you didn't pull me over here for a pep talk, so drink up, spill it, brother".

"There was a women you two may have known a few years back, named Isobel, in North Carolina at Duke" Stefan said.

"Are you seriously discussing the women of my past infront of my girlfriend?" Brayden asked.

"You both killed her" Stefan replied.

"Are you and your girlfriend hell bent on making me look like a bad guy infront of Caroline?" Brayden asked.

"I just wanna know if any of you remember anything about her" Stefan replied.

"It's like a needle in a haystack, Stefan" Damon said.

"Well, think hard, it's important" Stefan snapped.

"Nothing is important, not anymore" Damon said, "Great chat, I have to go and exploit some women in the name of grief, which I'm sure you understand, TTFN, said the Tri-Delt".

"And me and my girl are going to have shower sex" Brayden said.

"No--".

Before Caroline could finish her sentence, Brayden had picked her up in her arms.

"I'm fragile princess, are you really not going to fulfil my wish?" Brayden asked, walking out of the living room.

"You're drunk Brayden" Caroline replied, "I'm not having drunk sex with you".

"So you're telling me, if I was sober, you would take my request under consideration?" Brayden asked.

"I'm not saying anything" Caroline replied.

"You don't have to" Brayden said, entering his room, and helping Caroline stand, "I've gotten my answer".

"I--", Brayden smashed his lips on to Caroline's, interrupting her mid sentence.

"You said no drunk sex" Brayden said, leading Caroline towards his bed, "You said nothing about no drunk make out".

Caroline's knees hit Brayden's bed, causing her to fall on to the bed, and Brayden, who was holding on to her, to fall on top of her.

Caroline looked at Brayden and suddenly started laughing, causing Brayden to laugh as well.

"So, about that drunk make out session?" Brayden asked.

***

After Caroline left, Damon and Brayden decided to go to the Grill, to get even more drunk.

"Two bourbons" Brayden told the bartender, as him and Damon sat next to Alaric.

"Behold the teacher" Damon said, "Don't you have some papers to grade?".

Alaric took a sip of his drink, "It's more fun with a buzz".

"Everything is fun with a buzz, sober is boring and depressing" Brayden said.

"None of you strike me as depressed" Alaric said.

"You don't know us" Brayden retorted.

"It's just a hunch" Alaric said, staring at the brothers causing both of them to frown, Alaric then downed his drink and stood up from his seat, "You have a good afternoon".

"Not likely" Damon said, as Alaric walked away.

"Daytime drinking, huh?" Liz asked, sitting next to the twins.

"It's all the rage" Damon replied.

"I have no rage, I'm keeping my very angry brother company" Brayden said.

Liz chuckled, "Listen you two, I need a favor".

"You ever been in love?" Damon asked.

"Excuse me?" Liz asked confused.

"Have you ever been so bent on someone, just to have your heart ripped out by them?" Damon asked.

"You forget I was married" Liz replied.

"Right, gay husband" Damon remembered.

"What's the favor?" Brayden asked, before his twin could open his mouth again.

"Look, there's a fundraiser here tonight that the Founder's Council is throwing" Liz replied, "The town's most eligible bachelors get raffled off for dates, and, well, we're short two bachelors".

"You realise, I'm dating your daughter, right?" Brayden asked.

"I know, which is why I made sure to talk to Caroline first, she doesn't mind as long as she is your date" Liz replied.

"And will she be?" Brayden asked.

"I've talked to Carol, and since we are so desperate, she agreed to rig it just for you and Caroline" Liz replied.

"A date night with my girlfriend?" Brayden asked, "Sounds like a plan".

"So is this what you do when there's no, um, vampires?" Damon asked, "Organise bachelor raffles?".

"Ha, trust me, at this point, I miss the vampire" Liz replied, "You both are heroes to this town, I know most people don't know it, but you guys are, and one of you is single, and both of you are a catch, please help me out, Carol Lockwood won't let me live it down if I come up empty-handed".

"I already told you Liz, as long as Caroline is my date, I'm in" Brayden replied, downing his drink.

"Yeah, a room full of women clamoring to win a date with me?" Damon asked, "Sounds tasty".

Liz chuckled, "Thank you".

"One thing" Damon said, "Can you get us information on someone?".

"Alaric Saltzman, the new history teacher" Brayden informed.

"There's just something off about him" Damon said, "And we just wanna make sure that the high school did their homework on this guy".

Liz nodded, "You got it".

"Thanks" Damon said.

"See you at the fundraiser" Brayden said, waving at Liz as she walked away.

***

"Unbelievable" Caroline said, entering Brayden's room and seeing a shirtless Brayden sitting on his bed, from the looks of it, he had just come out of the shower, "You're still not ready? The fundraiser is starting soon, and where the hell is your brother?".

"Right here" Damon said, entering Brayden's room, also shirtless.

"Why are none of you ready?" Caroline asked.

"I have no clothes" Damon replied.

Caroline sighed, she walked over to Brayden's wardrobe, and after rummaging through it for a bit, she took a black shirt, and handed it to Damon, "Wear this" she said.

"Nice choice" Damon said, walking over to Brayden's mirror and wearing the shirt.

"Help?" Brayden asked, giving Caroline the towel.

"I swear, it's like I'm dealing with children" Caroline mumbled, taking the towel from Brayden and drying his hair.

"God, that feels good" Brayden said.

Caroline chuckled, "Okay, your hair is dry, now wear some clothes".

Brayden didn't say anything, he just grabbed Caroline's wrist, and fell back on the bed, causing Caroline to fall beside her, Damon joining the two, by lying on the other side of Caroline.

"Why are you so nice to us?" Damon asked Caroline.

"Cause none of you haven't given me a reason to not be nice to you guys" Caroline replied.

"Aren't we a handful though?" Damon asked.

"Sometimes" Caroline replied, "But you guys are good company, so I tolerate your antics".

"And you love me too much to stay away from me" Brayden said.

"That too" Caroline said.

Damon, Caroline and Brayden looked at each other, and suddenly all three of them started laughing, they stopped laughing, when they heard Elena enter Brayden's room.

"Hey Brayden--Caroline?" Elena asked confused.

Caroline sat up and looked at Elena, "Hey Elena".

"Leave" Brayden snapped.

"I'm looking for Stefan, his not in his room" Elena said.

"And you thought he would be in Brayden's room?" Damon asked, as Brayden stood up and walked over to his wardrobe.

"Princess, help me pick out a shirt" Brayden said.

"It honestly shouldn't be that hard, you and Damon having nothing except black and grey shirts" Caroline said, rummaging through Brayden's shirts.

"Except mine are branded his is second hand" Brayden said.

"They are not" Damon snapped.

"Here" Caroline said, handing Brayden a grey shirt, "Wear this".

"Thank you" Brayden said, placing a peck on Caroline's lips.

"You two look wrecked" Elena told the twins.

"No they don't" Caroline said, "They look fine Elena".

"Caroline--".

"Stop" Caroline said, "Don't bring anything up, please".

"It's fine princess, we are not that wrecked that a stupid doppelganger's words will effect us" Brayden said.

"What he said" Damon said, causing Elena to frown.

"So how are you two doing?" Elena asked.

"Never better" Damon replied, "We've got a personal babysitter, babysitting us, we haven't even killed anyone because of her".

Caroline chuckled, "If you want me gone, just say so".

"I never said that" Damon said.

"My brother enjoys your company, but not as much as me" Brayden said, kissing Caroline's cheek.

"What can we do for you?" Damon asked, "We are barrel of favors today, it's our newfound purpose, how can we help people?".

"Correction, that's his thing, I don't help people, I don't like" Brayden said.

"I'm just meeting Stefan, we're going to the fundraiser" Elena said.

Damon turned to Caroline and gestured to his buttons, "Help".

Caroline chuckled, she stepped forward and help Damon in buttoning his shirt up.

"My turn" Brayden said, standing behind Caroline.

"Like I said, children" Caroline whispered, helping button Brayden's shirt up.

"So I found out who my birth mother is" Elena said suddenly.

"Don't care" Brayden said simply, causing Elena to frown.

"Brayden" Caroline warned, "Be nice".

"I can't" Brayden replied, tucking a strand of hair behind Caroline's ear, "I can't be nice to her".

"Elena" Stefan called out, entering Brayden's room.

"Finally, now take your girlfriend and get out" Brayden said.

"Maybe his heartache will be good for you" Elena snapped, "It'll remind you that you have one, even if it doesn't beat".

Brayden glared at Elena, and just as he was about to charge at her, Caroline stood infront of him.

"Relax" Caroline said, she then turned to Elena, "You need to leave".

"Caroline I--".

"Elena, Brayden will attack you if you don't leave, and I won't be able to stop him, so go" Caroline said.

Stefan held Elena's hand, "Let's go" he said, dragging Elena out of the room.

***

"Where'd your girlfriend go?" Damon asked, as Stefan walked over to him and Brayden.

"She's on her way to the Grill" Stefan replied, "Where's Caroline?".

"Using the bathroom" Brayden replied.

"I need to talk to you two" Stefan said, pulling out a photograph from his pocket, "This is the woman, Isobel, from North Carolina, remember her now?".

Damon took the photo from Stefan, "Who wants to know?".

"I do" Stefan replied.

"Who other then you wants to know?" Brayden asked.

"Did one of you kill her?" Stefan asked, avoiding Brayden's question.

"Sorry, don't know her" Damon replied, walking away, "Hey, are you coming? The real housewives of Mystic Falls await".

***

Caroline sat at the raffle counter, handing people the raffles, when Kelly Donovan walked over to her.

"Hi, Mrs. Donovan" Caroline greeted.

Kelly gave Caroline a disgusted looking, confusing Caroline, "Here you go, however many that'll buy" Kelly said, handing Caroline some money, "I just hope I don't get Bachelor 3, dated him in high school, not impressive, in any way", Kelly looked behind Caroline, and saw Brayden standing at a fair distance from Caroline, "Oh, whose that hottie?".

Caroline turned around to see who Kelly was talking about, only to realise she was talking about her boyfriend, "That's Brayden, my boyfriend".

"Yeah, nice try" Kelly said, "A guy like that would never date a girl like you".

Caroline frowned hearing Kelly, and unknown to her and Kelly, Brayden had heard Kelly, which is why he walked over to Caroline, when he reached her, he put his hands on Caroline's waist, made her face him, and smashed his lips on to hers.

"What was that for?" Caroline asked, red tinge on her cheeks.

"It's been more then a hour since I kissed you" Brayden replied, he then turned to Kelly, who was looking at the two in shock, "Can I help you? Or do you have a bad habit of looking at young couples and casting your evil eye on them?".

"Brayden" Caroline warned.

Kelly glared at Brayden, and without saying anything walked away from the couple.

"I won't tolerate anyone talking crap to you" Brayden said, letting Caroline know he heard Kelly's bullshit.

Caroline smiled, she placed both her hands on pulled Brayden into a deep kiss, "I love you".

Brayden smiled, he lightly bit Caroline's nose, "I know" he teased.

***

"I ran the check on the history teacher" Liz told the twins, "You guys want this before or after your big debut?".

"How's it look?" Damon asked.

"He checks out" Liz replied, handing Brayden Alaric's file, "Couple of speeding tickets, rough story, though, turns out his wife went missing a few years back in North Carolina".

"Interesting" Brayden mumbled, realising his brother was also asking about a women from North Carolina.

"She have a name?" Damon asked.

"Isobel" Liz replied, showing the twins a photo Alaric's photo, the two twins recognising her immediately.

***

"And what do you do, bachelor number three?" Carol asked.

"Yeah, I'm a plumber".

"Well, isn't that wonderful?" Carol asked, "We could always use more plumbers, moving on, number four, Alaric Saltzman, wow, that's quite a mouthful, what do you do Alaric?".

"I'm a teacher at Mystic Falls High" Alaric replied.

"Oh, beauty and brains, ladies, this one's a keeper" Carol said, "What do you teach?".

"History" Alaric replied.

"History" Carol repeated, "Oh, well, give us a fun fact about Mystic Falls, something crazy".

Alaric glanced at the twins, who were already looking back at him, a challenging look on both their faces.

"Uh, well--".

"He's probably saving the best stories for his date" Carol said, seeing Alaric struggle, "And bachelor number five, Brayden Salvatore, there's not much on you or your brother".

"There's not a lot to say, I have a thing for blondes, and love travelling" Brayden said, looking towards Caroline, and sending her a wink, making her smile.

"Nice" Carol said, "Let's move on to, bachelor number six, Damon Salvatore, like your brother, there isn't much on you".

"Well, we are tough to fit on a card" Damon said.

"Do you have any hobbies?" Carol asked, "Like to travel?".

"Oh, yeah, L.A, New York, couple years ago me and my brother were in North Carolina" Damon replied, "Near the Duke campus, actually, I think Alaric went to school there, didn't you, Ric? Yeah, because I know your wife did, we had a drink with her once, she was, phew, she was a great girl, did I ever tell you that? Because she was, delicious".

"You have horrible timing" Brayden whispered to his brother.

***

"And bachelor number five, goes to 37455" Carol called out.

Caroline smiled, and raised her hand, "That will be me".

"Caroline Forbes and Brayden Salvatore, seems like fate" Carol teased, making both Brayden and Caroline laugh.

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

"Where are you taking me?" Caroline asked confused.

Brayden didn't say anything, he opened the bathroom door, and entered with Caroline.

"Brayden--".

Brayden placed Caroline against the wall and smashed his lips on to hers.

"I need you" Brayden whispered, "So badly".

Caroline smiled, "You know, you've been really touchy this whole day".

"I'm addicted to you" Brayden whispered, kissing down Caroline's neck.

Before things could escalate between Caroline and Brayden, the bathroom door bursted open, and Elena came in, making Brayden groan in annoyance.

"How can I help you cockblock?" Brayden asked, making Caroline hide her face in Brayden's neck, suddenly feeling shy.

"Did you enjoy that?" Elena snapped.

"What?" Brayden asked, "If you're talking about making out with my girlfriend? Then yes, I very much enjoy that and would love to get back to get it, so shoo".

"Just as I was starting to think there was something redeemable about you and Damon" Elena said.

"What are you pinning on me this time?" Brayden asked.

"Did I forget to mention earlier when we were talking, about my birth mother, the one who gave me up?" Elena asked.

"What about her?" Brayden asked confused.

"Her name was Isobel" Elena replied, shocking Brayden and Caroline, "Go ahead, reminisce about how you and Damon killed her".

"Did you?" Caroline asked, after Elena had walked out the bathroom, "Did you and Damon kill Elena's birth mother?".

Brayden sighed, "We didn't kill her" he replied, "Isobel had found me and Damon, she was desperate, she begged me and Damon to turn her, she wouldn't leave us alone till we did, eventually Damon got tired of her and ended up turning her just so she would leave us".

"Elena's mother is a vampire?" Caroline asked shocked.

Brayden nodded, "Now can we not talk about all this, it's ruining the mood, let's go home, please".

Caroline sighed, "Fine, let's go".

***

"Brayden, I'm going to fall" Caroline said, as Brayden placed his hand over her eyes, and led her towards his room.

"Have some faith in me princess" Brayden said, "I won't let you fall".

"Why did you cover my eyes anyway?" Caroline asked confused.

"With all this, me denying my feelings crap, then the whole tomb shit, I realised me and you never had a first date, so with the help of Damon, I organised this" Brayden replied, removing his hand from Caroline's eyes.

"Oh my god" Caroline whispered shocked, the floor of Brayden's floor was covered in rose petals, so was Brayden's bed, in the middle of the room, both the twins had cleared some room, to set up a table for two, and the room was surrounded by candles.

"Like it?" Brayden asked.

"I love it" Caroline whispered.

Brayden smiled, he grabbed Caroline's hand, "You wanted me to cook for you, so I made my specialty", Brayden revealed the lid from his dish, "Chicken fettucine".

"You cooked for me?" Caroline asked shocked.

"Of course I did" Brayden replied, pulling out the chair for Caroline, "You wanted me to, now eat, we have a long night planned ahead of us".

Caroline smiled and sat down, "What's on the agenda Mr. Salvatore?".

"Well, we are going to eat this amazing food I made, then we're going to slow dance, then best part of the night--".

"Sex" Caroline finished.

"You know me so well princess" Brayden teased.

Caroline laughed, "Why did you do all this?".

Brayden sighed, "The past few days, I've put you through some shit, this whole tomb drama, it  crushed my heart, but there's something good that happened from it".

"What?" Caroline asked confused.

"I now know for sure who I want be with" Brayden replied, "Who really holds my heart, who deserves it".

"And whose that?" Caroline asked.

"You" Brayden replied, "I love you, and I needed you to know that".

Caroline smiled, "I love you to".

"You and me against the world?" Brayden asked.

"Against the world, Brayden Salvatore" Caroline assured.

***

Presenting 1x15 of The Vampire Diaries . . .

How was the chapter?

Thoughts on the way Brayden and Damon are dealing with their individual heartbreak?

Thoughts on Caroline being there for the twins no matter what?

Thoughts on Brayden and Damon participating in the fundraiser?

Thoughts on Brayden and Caroline's date?