the terrifying things I&#x27;ve done for love

After a busy morning Sofia had decided to take a pause for a cup of tea. Setting herself up in the sitting room, in her favourite spot, she'd been rather pleased to find her solitude interrupted by Natalia.

"He told you?" She couldn't help but smile. "I must confess I wasn't sure when was the right time to tell everyone with all that's going on, but I'm so glad you know," she reached out for the younger vampires hand. "Thank you for your kind words,"

Natalia squeezed Sofia’s hand, unable to keep from smiling about the ring that was now on her left hand. “There’s never a time where I shouldn’t be happy for you both, even despite everything at present.”

“Stefan apologized to me as well. For all of the unpleasantness between us these last months. I thought you ought to know that.”

She smiled warmly at the younger woman. This seethe was her family but Natalia, from the moment she'd arrived, had felt more truly like her little sister than any of the others. To say she adored her felt like an understatement. "Thank you Natalia, that means a lot,"

"Oh!" Sofia pulled Natalia into a hug, "I'm so very please, and relieved for you," it had been painful to watch it happen, to see how it had effected her over the months. She let go, pulling back so she could give her a slightly cheeky smile, "Perhaps now then, with those rifts healed, mine won't be the only wedding dress we are shopping for before too long,"

Sofia was both surprised and not to find herself alone when she awoke. Her head felt significantly less fuzzy, like the blood was flowing properly again. Though she still felt a little sleepy. It was concern and curiosity that pulled her from the bed despite her bodies protests.

She found who she was looking for on the first try. Smiling just a little at the way he'd pulled the blanket up all the way under his chin.

"It is technically morning, si," she replied as she came round to join him on the couch.

At the sight of Sofia being up and moving around brought him a great sense of peace. He welcomed her into the circle of his arms, bringing the blanket snugly around them both. "Mia Sofia..." He cooed, brushing her hair back from her face. "You should be resting. How are you feeling? Stronger? There's plenty of blood on hand. Or...you are welcome to have a nibble here if you like." Babying her made him feel better somehow. Because taking care of someone was what Stefan did best. Likely she'd be more receptive to it than any of his other children. He often got called an overbearing parent.

"I hope Andre didn't disturb you. He's not...happy with my hospitality."

Sofia snuggled into him. This, she thought, would always be preferable to a big bed all by herself. No matter how comfy the bed. She smiled a little at the questions, the way it showed he cared. "Being in your arms is all I need right now," she replied, laying her hand on his chest. "I'm feeling much better than I was, my head feels almost normal again,"

"He didn't," Though she could well imagine he wouldn't be happy at being kept here. Sofia understood why Stefan was doing it though. "How are his people doing?"

Natalia, like all of her seethe, had been rather caught up in the effort of opening their home to Andre’s seethe, so much so that she’d nearly forgotten the earlier revelation she’d learned from Stefan. So only after things had seemed to calm down in the morning did she set about finding Sofia. She joined her in the sitting room, rather grateful to find that they were alone for the moment, sitting across from her on the window seat. “I hope it’s not ill-mannered of me to bring it up despite the rest of the night’s events, but I hope you know how elated I am for you and Stefan.”

@whatsofialivesfor

After a busy morning Sofia had decided to take a pause for a cup of tea. Setting herself up in the sitting room, in her favourite spot, she'd been rather pleased to find her solitude interrupted by Natalia.

"He told you?" She couldn't help but smile. "I must confess I wasn't sure when was the right time to tell everyone with all that's going on, but I'm so glad you know," she reached out for the younger vampires hand. "Thank you for your kind words,"

After bringing the fiasco home with him. Stefan made sure Andre would be staying put… at least for the time being. Sofia tucked into his bed, another thing he doubted would stay very long and leaving his people to situate their guests with the utmost hospitality. Which he had no doubt they would.

After he unceremoniously raged a bit on the opposite end of the seethe he eventually succumbed to exhaustion and curled up in the tv room under a mount of blankets to watch Scooby Doo for a while.

He hadn’t locked himself in though. Because everyone needed to know he was available for anything. Pulling one of his blankets under his chin he glanced up at the opening door.

He made room for his visitor beside him on the couch. “I’d say good morning. But I don’t actually know what time it is.”

Sofia was both surprised and not to find herself alone when she awoke. Her head felt significantly less fuzzy, like the blood was flowing properly again. Though she still felt a little sleepy. It was concern and curiosity that pulled her from the bed despite her bodies protests.

She found who she was looking for on the first try. Smiling just a little at the way he'd pulled the blanket up all the way under his chin.

"It is technically morning, si," she replied as she came round to join him on the couch.

thomas-is-prettier-than-you

“Scusa?” She asked as she straightened from fixing her shoe, having not fully caught the persons words.

"Forgive my intrusion, Sofia. But I am curious as to if you would not mind speaking with me?"

"I never mind speaking with you," Sofia said with a genuine smile, "Come, sit," she added, patting the empty chair next to hers.

Sofia’s heart ached at his words. Because they were so him. And she loved every part of him. Including the part that was so obsessed with Scooby Doo. Her throat constricted painfully as she took a moment to figure out how to articulate this. And when she began she spoke in the old Italian she had grown up with. “The way you have been with Natalia and Isambard,” she shook her head, “If they had declared their intentions to leave us I could have understood it. But time and time again, with their words and actions they have conveyed the opposite. Declared they have no intention of leaving. No intention of wanting any Master but you, no family but us. And yet still you have persisted in this state of hurt and anger. Particularly, in regard of anger, towards Isambard. Not seeming to care the effect it is having on the poor boy,” she briefly paused to take an unnecessary but steadying breath. “I heard the conversation between you and Natalia at our Gala, the conversation that was the spark for the whole sorry mess. That it was the same thing…..when you can not let it go, can not move past it despite them not leaving what else I am to think but that you are hurt because it is truly Natalia that you wish to be with, that you are angry at Isambard because he shares her bed not you,” she had to pause again, this time to blink back the tears. “And I cannot do it Stefan. I cannot be the person you settle for because you cannot have her. Not when I have spent every moment since we met in love with you. It hurts too much,”

As Stefan watched the emotion spread across Sofia's beautiful face, and the tears in her eyes, he felt like the worst sort of person. Which was saying something, because self-loathing had been a part of him for his entire life.

He rose swiftly to his feet, moving to cup Sofia's face in his hands. "Mia Sofia...I have failed you. Haven't I?" Pressing a soft kiss to her lips, tasting her tears, he dropped his forehead against hers. "It's never been that. I am so sorry for being the cause of your pain."

He pulled back so he could look into her eyes. "No...bella. No. I do love Natalia. With every ounce of my being, but I've never felt for her the way I feel for you. I would move the sun and the moon for any of my children. But you? You are the sun and the moon. The very beacon I orbit. I do regret the way I've acted. And I will regret that for the rest of my eternal life. I've never meant to hurt any of you. But...I will also spend that eternity reminding you of what you mean to me. For that I know."

Taking her hands, he licked his lips, staring down at them. "I am but an imperfect being, Sofia. I do not deserve your forgiveness. But I will ask for it anyway. Because your ire would be worse than even the deepest of tortures. I will make amends with both of them. Not because you asked me to, because I would do anything you asked, anything at all. But because it is right, and they deserve it."

A certain sense of peace washed over him. And he looked up, moving once again to catch her face. To kiss her lips with the most delicate of touches. And then, he once again fell to his knees before her. He never broke that eye contact as he moved.

"Sofia." He said, voice shaking a bit from the overwhelming emotion threatening to overtake him. "There has only ever been you, since that day. Do you remember? That day. When you joined me and my merry band of misfits? You have been such a treasure. And you have been through so much pain. Please, love. Please let me take care of you for the rest of eternity. It would be the greatest honor of this long life to be able to call myself your husband. To remain by your side. Smite any evil that meant you harm. To..." He choked a bit. "Share my popcorn with you during Scooby Doo marathons. Please....please marry me."

Sofia had been slowly building up walls, trying to protect herself from the blow she thought inevitable. Preparing herself to have her fears confirmed. To find she had lost him forever. But one kiss from him threatened the structural integrity of those walls. Each word that followed like a pair of gentle hands dismantling the walls, showing her that she didn't need them. She hadn't let herself hope since the gala, hadn't dared. And now, to hear him give wings to her deepest desires instead was almost too much. Tears slid silently down her face as she looked at him on his knees.

Her husband. He wanted to be her husband. Wanted her to be his wife. Leaning forward she cupped his face in her hands with loving gentleness. "On this day you have made real one of the deepest desires of my long life," for she had longed for this in secret for centuries. "Si, I will marry you my love,"

“Scusa?” She asked as she straightened from fixing her shoe, having not fully caught the persons words.

It was far more painful to look upon her as he'd expected it to be. But as he stared at her, and once she acknowledged him, he fell to his knees. Exhaling, he bowed his head and started to ramble in Italian. "Mi Sofia. My love. My dream. My world. Please forgive me for being a ridiculous misogynist. I only ever want to protect Natalia. Please understand. Making hard decisions is what I do. It is why you all remain so close to me. But truthfully, I am nothing without all of you."

Sofia sat up even straighter in surprise as he fell to his knees before her. She stared down at him, her mind struggling a little to comprehend his words. "A misogynist," It came out sounding like a question as she pieced together what he must think the reason for her avoidance of him. "You truly have no understanding of why I have been so distant," she commented, almost more to herself.

At the unexpected reply, Stefan deflated, falling back on his heels. “Why are women so confusing…” he muttered to himself. When he glanced back up at Sofia it was it was sheepishness. “Sofia…” he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I am but a man. We only have two brain cells and they don’t both work at the same time. Testosterone you know…” he shrugged helplessly. “And honestly one is devoted to the safety of my seethe. The other… it bounces between Scooby Doo marathons and cold pizza. You are going to have to spell it out for me so I can fix it.” He said pleadingly.

Sofia’s heart ached at his words. Because they were so him. And she loved every part of him. Including the part that was so obsessed with Scooby Doo. Her throat constricted painfully as she took a moment to figure out how to articulate this. And when she began she spoke in the old Italian she had grown up with. “The way you have been with Natalia and Isambard,” she shook her head, “If they had declared their intentions to leave us I could have understood it. But time and time again, with their words and actions they have conveyed the opposite. Declared they have no intention of leaving. No intention of wanting any Master but you, no family but us. And yet still you have persisted in this state of hurt and anger. Particularly, in regard of anger, towards Isambard. Not seeming to care the effect it is having on the poor boy,” she briefly paused to take an unnecessary but steadying breath. “I heard the conversation between you and Natalia at our Gala, the conversation that was the spark for the whole sorry mess. That it was the same thing…..when you can not let it go, can not move past it despite them not leaving what else I am to think but that you are hurt because it is truly Natalia that you wish to be with, that you are angry at Isambard because he shares her bed not you,” she had to pause again, this time to blink back the tears. “And I cannot do it Stefan. I cannot be the person you settle for because you cannot have her. Not when I have spent every moment since we met in love with you. It hurts too much,”

“Scusa?” She asked as she straightened from fixing her shoe, having not fully caught the persons words.

It was far more painful to look upon her as he'd expected it to be. But as he stared at her, and once she acknowledged him, he fell to his knees. Exhaling, he bowed his head and started to ramble in Italian. "Mi Sofia. My love. My dream. My world. Please forgive me for being a ridiculous misogynist. I only ever want to protect Natalia. Please understand. Making hard decisions is what I do. It is why you all remain so close to me. But truthfully, I am nothing without all of you."

Sofia sat up even straighter in surprise as he fell to his knees before her. She stared down at him, her mind struggling a little to comprehend his words. "A misogynist," It came out sounding like a question as she pieced together what he must think the reason for her avoidance of him. "You truly have no understanding of why I have been so distant," she commented, almost more to herself.

“Scusa?” She asked as she straightened from fixing her shoe, having not fully caught the persons words.

#awechicagoeventstarter

At the bar...

"Do I look like I want to dance? I'm the host. I'm hosting. Shoo..."

#awechicagoeventstarter #she's dressed as Psyche goddess of the soul

"Not even with me?" she asked as she walked up from behind him, running her hand over his shoulder as she came round to face him.

"You know, I have a feeling this Masquerade might just lead to a fair few romantic connections that last beyond the night," she mused as she watched the various couples on the dance floor.

She took everything he put into that kiss. Every bit of the intensity of it. Accepted it. Accepted him. Just as he was. And she kissed him back. Kissed him in a way she didn't usually kiss. Giving herself over entirely to it. To him. Because this was Stefan. The person she felt the safest with. It had been the case since the moment she'd first laid eyes on him. She'd known she'd be safe with him. That she'd be cherished and cared for. In the centuries since he'd only ever proven her right. And she loved him for it. For the all that he'd done for her and her sibling. For the man she saw so very clearly that he was.

Her hands came to rest against the bare skin of his chest. She didn't keep any of herself from him. Didn't hide or block off anything within herself. It was something she'd done in almost every encounter she'd ever had. Keeping some part of herself out of reach. She didn't need that self preservation with him though. And even if he chose to destroy her she thought she might just let him. Not that she believed for one second he would. But she supposed the point was he could have of her what he wanted and she would give it gladly.

"My Sofia..." He breathed her name. Cradling her face in his hands. She was so very precious to him. Not in the same way as his other children, who were all precious to him in their beautifully different ways. The difference he realized, was in the way he loved them. When her hands came to rest of his chest, he realized for maybe the first time that he was naked. In more ways than mere physicalcity. It felt as though his ribcage had shattered, and his heart was bare to the world. But it was not the world, in this little shower stall. It was Sofia. She stood between him and the world. It seemed. And he hadn't realized it until now. But she always had been.

He stared reciting words of love. In every language he knew. In Italian, in french, in spanish, in all of them. Because Sofia encompassed all of that love and more. She was opening herself to him. And he pulled all of her closer to him. Her beautiful, fragile soul. He would protect it with his life. He would protect it always. Sofia was his always. His forever. Burying his fingers in her hair, he gently eased her head back, his nose ghosting down the curve of her face and neck. Where he started to gift her with sweet kisses against her skin. Tasting her. Tasting her in a way he had ever allowed himself to before. "Touch me..." He whispered to her. "Burn away everything but your touch."

His words of love washed over her. And somehow she just knew he truly meant them. She felt the sting of threatening tears because how many nights had she dreamed of hearing such words whispered from his lips. She let him pull all of her closer. Refusing to give in to any fear that this too might be just a dream. It was real, she knew it was. A soft breathy gasp left her lips as his pressed to her neck. Her eyes remained closed as she drank in the sensation. He'd never touched her like this before. But her eyes opened at his softly spoken words. At the request in them. Her gaze finding his. "Stefan," it sounded like a plea and a prayer. His name had never fallen from her lips sounding like that before. Like a word of love all of it's own. An echo of the ones he'd spoke to her in a language meant just for them. Her arms wrapped round his back. One hand on the base of his spine, the other on the spot on his back that was a line to his heart. With them she pulled him against her till there was no space between them. And when she kissed him again she opened that final door inside herself. The one she kept all of her secret longings locked behind. The one that had hidden the fact she had never loved him as she should have. The fact that her love for him was something else entirely. She had locked it away to protect herself. Because from her first knowing him it had seemed his heart belonged to someone else. But she wouldn't hide from it any longer.

Sofia had wanted to check on Natalia sooner than this. But between how things had happened with Stefan and wanting to give Natalia and Isambard some space she hadn't been able to. She was relieved to hear the smile in her sisters voice as she replied to the knock. Opening the door she walked right over to the bed. A smile of her own resting gently on her lips at the sight of her town siblings. At the love and joy that seemed palpable in the room. "I'm not interrupting am I?"

"Yes, but seeing as it's you it's forgiven," Isambard replied. He smiled at her in a way she wasn't sure she'd ever seen him smile. There was a lightness to it. He moved then, kissing Natalia on the side of the head before climbing off the bed. "Actually I have a few things I should attend to, if you ladies will excuse me,"

Sofia watched him go, closing the door behind him. She knew he likely didn't have anything that pressing. That he was just giving them space. Turning back to Natalia she considered her for a moment. She was relieved that she seemed better both physically and in spirit than she had the last time she saw her. "I hardly know where to begin," she said honestly, moving to sit next to Natalia. "I suppose I'll start with asking how you're feeling?"

Natalia opened her mouth to reply, but Isambard beat her to it. She shot him a playful glare for the insinuation that Sofia could ever be interrupting, but there was nothing remotely nearing animosity behind it. The kiss to her temple softened her expression completely again. She could guess that he'd just made that up for the sake of giving her some time alone with Sofia, and that sort of thoughtfulness was just one of the many reasons she loved him.

When Sofia moved closer, Natalia reached over to take her hands in hers. "It has been rather eventful in such a short time," she noted with a small sigh. The question warranted a sad edge to her smile. "I can't pretend that I'm unscathed from it all. The attack reminded me of my death, the fight with Stefan still threatens to break me in two, Thomas insists he's to blame and won't look at me... but this night also brought me unparalleled joy." She glanced at the door where Isambard had just left, lost in thought. "It's more than I think I've ever had to process. More than dying, leaving behind my family, and joining a new one... a new life." Her gaze flitted back to Sofia. "I'm choosing to focus on the good things in it all, in answer to your question. I can't afford to do anything else."

She gladly let Natalia take her hands as she spoke. It was much as she expected. Especially that the attack had reminded her of her death. She gave her hands a squeeze to let her know she understood. "It would be a lot for anyone to deal with all at once. You are strong though and I have no doubt you will get through all of this." Sofia removed one of her hands from Natalia's to stroke her hair affectionately. "Still I am sorry the joy of finally uniting with Isambard was so interrupted with all that followed," her hand came round to rest on her sisters cheek. "Stefan will come around. Just give him time and let him see you both still love him. Still wish to be part of this family," because she didn't doubt they both wanted to stay. She let her hand drop away to her lap. "I can speak with Thomas too if you wish but I suspect you plan on doing so yourself?" Natalia was caring and considerate like that. In many ways she really was the best of them. "I am so very happy for you though, despite the troubles this night brought. For what you have with Isambard,"

At some point in the day Natalia and Isambard had descended into a rather lengthy, albeit amusing, conversation about when each other had discovered their feelings and what sorts of signs they'd missed over the years. It was going nearly in circles at this point, but the resulting laughter was all too worth it. "I promise you, I didn't know," she repeated to him.

They might have continued on like that for another hour if not for the knock at the door and Sofia's voice along with it. Natalia's smile didn't leave her face though. "Come in," she called out.

@whatsofialivesfor

Sofia had wanted to check on Natalia sooner than this. But between how things had happened with Stefan and wanting to give Natalia and Isambard some space she hadn't been able to. She was relieved to hear the smile in her sisters voice as she replied to the knock. Opening the door she walked right over to the bed. A smile of her own resting gently on her lips at the sight of her town siblings. At the love and joy that seemed palpable in the room. "I'm not interrupting am I?"

"Yes, but seeing as it's you it's forgiven," Isambard replied. He smiled at her in a way she wasn't sure she'd ever seen him smile. There was a lightness to it. He moved then, kissing Natalia on the side of the head before climbing off the bed. "Actually I have a few things I should attend to, if you ladies will excuse me,"

Sofia watched him go, closing the door behind him. She knew he likely didn't have anything that pressing. That he was just giving them space. Turning back to Natalia she considered her for a moment. She was relieved that she seemed better both physically and in spirit than she had the last time she saw her. "I hardly know where to begin," she said honestly, moving to sit next to Natalia. "I suppose I'll start with asking how you're feeling?"

When she felt him sag against he she only held him closer. She hoped that release of tension was a good sign. If she was honest she'd been worried about him for a while. The events of the past hour had only kicked that up a notch. He always tried to be so strong for them. And he was. She couldn't imagine having a better Seethe Master. But she felt that sometimes he did it to the detriment of himself. Lately it had seemed to her that it had been wearing on him. That life had been wearing on him. It had made her heart ache.

She looked up at him when he pulled back. Searching his eyes for any hint of how he was doing. His words surprised her. Her lips parting just the tiniest amount with that surprise. "I would allow it," Sofia said after a brief moment in place of saying yes. She felt herself leaning in, surprised once again by her own desire to kiss him.

Being held in this way, by Sofia, was unlike anything he'd ever experienced before. He'd been in love before. Many, many times. And it was odd for him to consider this with Sofia akin to being in love. But that was, after all, what it was. Their bond pulsed with a fierce protectiveness. And Stefan never was one that needed protecting. Not ever in his long life. He was a soldier. He did the protecting. Not even the great love of his life, Marsilia, protected him. She used him as she saw fit. And that was fine with him. Because that's what he felt he was. Something to be used and thrown away. Though that did nothing to sway his honor and his dedication to those he served.

Perhaps that was it. He'd been loyal to Natalia. He'd protected her, loved her, kept her safe. And now she'd tossed him away, like Marsilia had. Or at least that's what it felt like right now. He wasn't stupid though. He knew logically that was not what happened. But his heart ached as if it had.

But that didn't matter. Not anymore. Not with Sofia here so close. As if she could hold his heart in her hands. As if she could protect him from that pain. He could feel how badly she wanted to. And that soothed him somehow. In a way he never knew he needed to be soothed.

When she'd given her consent, he moved. Moved against her again. His mouth seeking out hers. His fingers digging into her hair, the wet strands of it clinging to them. He kissed her. Kissed her with the intensity of everything he felt. Because she allowed him too. He trusted her in that. Trusted her with himself. She was here. With him. Always with him. And that made it all so blissfully perfect.

She took everything he put into that kiss. Every bit of the intensity of it. Accepted it. Accepted him. Just as he was. And she kissed him back. Kissed him in a way she didn't usually kiss. Giving herself over entirely to it. To him. Because this was Stefan. The person she felt the safest with. It had been the case since the moment she'd first laid eyes on him. She'd known she'd be safe with him. That she'd be cherished and cared for. In the centuries since he'd only ever proven her right. And she loved him for it. For the all that he'd done for her and her sibling. For the man she saw so very clearly that he was.

Her hands came to rest against the bare skin of his chest. She didn't keep any of herself from him. Didn't hide or block off anything within herself. It was something she'd done in almost every encounter she'd ever had. Keeping some part of herself out of reach. She didn't need that self preservation with him though. And even if he chose to destroy her she thought she might just let him. Not that she believed for one second he would. But she supposed the point was he could have of her what he wanted and she would give it gladly.

Sofia's heart was breaking watching the scene unfolding before her. Watching how much this was breaking each of them. She could see it so clearly. The love and the hurt between them all. But it was all so raw, so fresh that she didn't think she'd help matters if she tried to butt in now. She would of course. Perhaps to each separately, so they might heal this themselves.

When Stefan spotted her as he turned to leave, her eyes met his with a soft, sad understanding. She nodded to his words, silently linking her arm through his as they left Natalia's room. The hall ways were quite as they passed through them, not another soul to be seen. She was glad of it really. Glad Stefan wouldn't have to further mask the pain she'd seen him show just moments ago. And when they reached his room she showed no sign of wanting to go back to her own room. She wouldn't leave him tonight, not like this.

Stefan stiffened a bit when Sofia took his arm. But he didn't object. He couldn't very well blame her. And really, the disquiet in the seethe tonight was his doing, after all.

He had expected her to leave him once they reached his room. But she did not. He gave her a questioning look but she just stared back at him. And something inside him ached a bit. "Bella..." He told her gently, touching her cheek with the tips of his fingertips. "Do you wish to stay with me tonight?" But her presence had been enough of an answer and he nodded. "Very well...."

He continued into his rooms, Sofia at his side. It was a strange thing, but he found not at all unwanted. Such things were difficult for him. To admit to any sort of weakness in front of his people. Because to them, he had to be strong. Infallible. And for them he would be these things. For he loved them more than he loved his own life. And he cherished them. It hurt to lose them. To lose Natalia and Isambard, even if it was to each other. The pain of that loss like a huge gaping hole in his heart. He left Sofia then, standing by the bed. She could follow if she chose to, he would not force her away. He couldn't. Not tonight. Maybe not ever. That thought did soothe him a bit. Because above all of his children, he knew his Sofia. She wouldn't leave him. Knowing that in the deepness of his heart, helped calm him. It soothed him in a way most things could not.

He moved into the adjoining bathroom. Methodically turning on the water, removing his clothing, and stepping in. He let the hot water fall over him. He could feel the dirt of the blood wash away from his skin. Bracing his arms in front of him, he shivered a little. He felt raw in an unsettling way. As if he could simply blow over on a gust of wind. And it felt wrong that he should feel that way.

It was a relief when he didn't try to make her leave. She had been with Stefan such a long time now, longer than almost all the others in the seethe. So she felt she knew he quite well. Had come to recognise when he was struggling or upset. It broke her heart that he seemed to believe that he had to face his troubles on his own. He did so much for them all, had saved each and every one of them. Yet it was like he couldn't accept their help in return. Like he couldn't let them see anything that could be interpreted as weakness.

She started towards this bathroom when she heard the water start running but stopped just outside. It was not her wish to intrude where she was not wanted. But she wanted to comfort him in the pain she knew he was feeling. She rested the side of her head against the wall, debating her options. But then she decided to hell with it. He was always taking care of them. He deserved to be take care of too.

So she undid the dress he'd brought her that she was still wearing. Leaving it draped over the chair she'd left he shoes by earlier. It was a beautiful dress and she didn't want it ruined by the water. Then she made her way into the bathroom in her underwear. She paused briefly when she saw him standing there. His posture giving her a sense of his emotions. She stepped into the shower behind him, reaching past him for the bottle of shampoo. Silently, gently, she coaxed his head out of the run of water and started washing the blood from his hair.

Stefan blew out a heavy breath. Letting the water fall over him. As if it could wash away his sadness and his pain like it did the blood and grime.

It wasn’t that Stefan was angry with them. He knew they would love one another. Complete each other. In a way that he never could. All of his children were beautifully damaged. In their own ways.

He felt Sofia there, before she’d even touched him. Because he held those bonds wide open. A desperate need to feel each one of his children. To know they were there. And, he might just leave them that way. A reminder to himself. That he could lose so much in such short amount of time.

He moved at the pull of Sofia’s hands. Her gentle persuasion. But his face was screwed up with pain. And he could no longer hide it. Having moved past that state of calm. So far past. He shuddered as her fingers worked the shampoo into his hair. Because he felt so raw, so vulnerable. That he might crack and fall into dust. As if he’d met the sun.

A long string of Italian words fell from his chattering teeth. Some expletives, some endearments, some words of anguish and failure. None of them made any sense. Because he didn’t make sense.

In a moment of desperation, he reached for her. For his Sofia. The heart of his seethe. The one who could take that pain and make it beautiful again. He pulled her against him. Because he needed her there. To feel her there as a physical thing.

Her heart continued to break for him. For the pain she could see on his face. The pain she could hear in his jumble of words as she finished rinsing the shampoo from his hair.

Sofia went willingly when he pulled her against him. Wrapping her arms around him and not caring for one moment she was now fully under the stream of water. She clung to him like his life depended on it. And down that bond he held wide open she poured nothing but love.

"I'm here Stefan," she said quietly, "I'll always be here," because she would unless fate saw fit to intervene. This was her home. He was her home and had been since the day he'd found her bleeding out in that courtyard in Vencie all those centuries ago.

Stefan’s arms spasmed as he fought with himself. He wanted to crush her against him. To absorb her into him in such a way she’d never leave him. He’d lost so many people over the years. So much pain. But as he held her there, under the spray of the water he realized that maybe he didn’t have to go to such lengths to keep her.

She was gently prodding their bond with her love and devotion. And he sagged into her arms. Just so grateful for it. Cupping the back of her hair he held her against him. Whispering words of affection to her in every language he knew. Which was a lot.

He pulled back only enough to be able touch her cheek. He would never simply take from his people. Would never force them to do his will. Because he loved them. He would do anything for them. With that love though, he was forced to let them go. If that is what they wanted. He could feel the disquiet with Thomas. And he knew that would likely be next. Milo would likely be with him for a time. Archer was still very new and afraid of him. Which hurt Stefan. Because he did not want him to be. Mitchell. He never could figure out. He was much an enigma to him. Isambard and Natalia decided to be together. Whether they left the seethe or not. Some master’s would force them out. But not Stefan. Never him.

“My Sofia.” He said softly. “I should like to kiss you again. If you would allow it.” He hadn’t given her a choice the first time. And that was egregious of him.