it's who we are (STEFAN)

[NICHOLAS DAMIEN AVERY]

Nick whistled to himself as he buttoned up his shirt and ruffled his messy hair. He was in an exceptionally good mood today and he had no idea why; but he didn't really care why. As long as nothing ruined said mood, he would have a brilliant day and those were so rare to come by. Finished with his shirt, he put on his tie and a sweater before throwing his cloak on and walking out the dormitories, smiling at his sisters.

He made his way up to the Great Hall, starving and ready to put some food in himself. He'd never last a day without a heavy breakfast and he'd even skipped dinner last night. Meaning he could eat a cow. He moved to the Slytherin table, nodding at a few people and smiling at them before taking his usual place. Dropping down beside his best friend, he grabbed the toast Stefan was about to eat and took a bite. Seeing the amount of food in front his plate he grinned, shaking his head. "Hog," he teased.

He'd known Stefan since before he could remember and he liked the fact that there was somebody in the whole school whom he could trust with pretty much everything. It was rare to find friends like that and Nick was glad he had Stefan. Smirking at him, he started piling his own plate with food. "You know, being Head Boy, you'd think I'd be more responsible, but what do we have first period?" he asked, replying on his friend to remember his schedule.

[stefan]

Stefan was sitting in the great hall already working on his food. He'd downed some eggs and still there was a massive pile on his plate. Stefan had that habit of just piling food on top of other food on his plate like he'd get no chance at seconds, though that was rarely what happened. He had picked up a piece of toast only to have it removed by Nick who had just sat in the seat next to him. He watched as Nick took a bite of the toast and than call him a hog. Stefan laughed, ”you say that like you don't eat a lot of food,” he told him, ”twig.” Only fairly could he tease his friend back.

Stefan and Nicholas had been friends for a while. Stefan couldn't actually remember how they became friends just that they did. They were like brothers, Nicholas was definitely like the brother that Stefan had never been blessed with. Why couldn't his parents have more than two kids? It was too late now but back than he would have loved to have a brother, now he just has Nick. The two could have been twins with the way they acted and for that Stefan was glad.

He watched as his friend piled the food onto his own plate and raised his eye brows. ”And who's the hog?” he asked him as his plate began to look a lot less than it actually was. He had reached over and grabbed another piece of toast because he really wanted some toast now, it's always better when you can't have it? That was the saying right? Stefan quickly ate the toast before starting on some morning potatoes which were great. All the food was great at Hogwarts.

When Nick spoke about being head boy and him being more responsible that he was and that he asked what their first class was, Stefan just shrugged, ”man I don't even know how you got Head Boy in all truth,” he said without answering the question. They had Charms first three days a week and than afternoon classes, but Stefan only took four classes he was sure Nick took at least one or two more classes than himself.

[NICHOLAS DAMIEN AVERY]

He grinned, ignoring the jibe which he threw back, knowing fully well that he was being hypocritical. "Oh, well. I'm a growing boy, Stefan," he said, biting into a crispy piece of bacon and taking a gulp of pumpkin juice. He raised a brow, comparing the food on their plates and grinned. "You still have more food. You might grow fat, Mr-supposed-to-be-stealthy-seeker.

"So, my mum was asking if you're coming over for Christmas or New Years or both, because then she can plan the holiday accordingly. You know how she is, she plans everything!" he said, shaking his head as his mother's obsessiveness to be perfect whenever guests were around. Sometimes he didn't understand why and he'd told her over a thousand times that Stefan wasn't a guest if he came so regularly. "Actually, I think I might come over to your place," he said, rethinking.

"Oh, wow. Nice to know I have your vote of confidence," he said, shaking his head at his friend. Honestly speaking though, he didn't know how he got the job either. He was good at school work and he was a hard worker, but he also loved to party and get wasted. If the school staff wanted him to act responsible twentyfour-seven then they were in for a slight let down. "No seriously though. What's your first class, because I might be taking it too."

[stefan]

Stefan laughed at Nick's comment of being a growing boy. ”Yeah definitely growing,” he said. Nick always tended to pick up Stefan when he was down. When the two were together Stefan could only think of the laughing and good times, they were great friends and after the morning Stefan had he had needed to see Nick. He watched as his friend eat a piece of bacon and than speak about their plates and his having more. ”Sure I'll just go anorexic and not eat a spot off of this plate so I can be a stealthy seeker,” he laughed.

He heard Nick ask about holidays and if Stefan was coming over. Nick's mum was a little obsessive, well maybe a little wasn't the right word, more like really obsessive when they had company. She was a great woman and Stefan never understood the fuss over him when he would come around. ”Nick, you know she just wants to know so she can get her favorite all the presents in the world,” he was laughing fairly hard. Since they were like brothers they tended to treat the others parents like their own, it was a nice atmosphere and was especially fun during holidays being able to get together. When Nick suggested that he would come over to his place, ”how about this, you come for Christmas, I'll go to yours for New Years,” he suggested, ”I like spending the holidays with both families, don't you?”

When Nick said that it was nice to know he had his vote of confidence Stefan frowned. ”Ah you know I'm happy for you, I think they gave it to you to try and be a better boy,” he smiled, ”besides it's definitely a perk to have your best friend be Head Boy.” He was always happy for Nick when it came to being Head Boy and what not it was a great experience for him but he was still shocked that his friend had gotten it out of every other seventh year in the school.

He was asked again about his first class and Stefan grinned still avoiding the question. ”Guess you I ran into this morning,” he told his friend, ”you guess right I'll tell you which class we have first instead of having you follow me like a lost puppy.” Stefan knew that Nick knew he would tell him before classes but Stefan liked to play around with him.

OoC;; I was thinking that this could also take place right after Stefan and Dom's encounter.

[NICHOLAS DAMIEN AVERY]

Nick smirked, glad that his tactic had worked. He hated seeing his friend down and he wondered what on earth could have possibly brought his mood to such a low when it was such an amazing morning. "What's up, man? What's got you so out of it?" he asked, shoveling some scrambled eggs into his mouth. "Oh fine. Hog away!" he said, shoving his plate towards Stefan, rolling his eyes at the stupid drama they were creating just to make each other laugh. Whatever the reason, it was working because despite the beautiful morning, his mood was always low these days.

"Yeah, you might want to try saying that around my sisters and they'll both hand your ass back to you. You and I both know it's them who rule the house," he said, grudgingly yet fondly. Granted his sisters had always been spoiled, both by him and his parents, while he was treated roughly by his father. But he loved showering them with all the love and presents and he knew that they were to Stefan what Mila was to him...family. "Sounds good! Haven't been to your place since...last Easter! Woah!"

He narrowed his eyes and raised his brows, scrutinizing his friend's expression. Whoever he'd run into had soured his mood; Nick could tell from Stefan's sarcastic tone. "Well, nobody we like, obviously," he said, using the word "we" instead of "you". After all, brotherhood loyalty was the highest order. "Hmm..." he hummed, scanning the crowd. His eyes found the familiar brown ones of his girlfriend and ignoring the melancholy, he smiled at her. Then his eyes landed on the blonde figure next to her, Darla's best friend, who was glaring daggers in their direction. Two and two clicked in place and he groaned, looking away. "Let me guess. A certain blonde who I cannot bitch about because she happens to be my girl's best friend? Dominique Weasley? Really, Stefan? Couldn't you do better?" he asked, shaking his head.

It had been a bit of a mess and he'd hates Dominique Weasley since that rumor had gone around about her cheating on Stefan. He'd seen how betrayed Stefan had been by that and he'd stood by his side, just like Darla had stood by Dominique's. He wouldn't let their fight get in the way of his relationship, which is why he was always civil towards Dominique, but it didn't change the fact that he loathed her.

ooc -No problem! I finally came up with a rumor? Does it sound fine to you?

[stefan]

Stefan shook his head, ”I think I just need to not let things get to me, I think that's what's got me so out of it,” he told him. He looked down but chuckled slightly to his friends joke about hogging away. ”No, now I'm all self-conscious and now I can't eat,” he said perking once again. He had no idea what he'd do without Nicholas Damien Avery in his life. He'd probably be lost or down and rarely laughing.

As Nick spoke about telling his sisters that Stefan was the favorite he quickly shook his head. ”No way, they'll probably hex me just like if you told Mila that you were my parents favorite,” he laughed throwing his hands up in defense. Stefan knew that Nick's sisters were just as spoiled as Mila and practically got everything they wanted and the two boys were allowed to get what they wanted but it wasn't as much of a spoil. They were all like family and Stefan was always happy to spend time with either half's family. ”Has it been since Easter?” Stefan asked thinking about it, ”it has good lord, you might just have to spend all of holiday at my place to make up for it.”

The mood had definitely been brought down by the obvious talk about Dominique Weasley. Stefan was pissed about the past and her cheating on him and Nick stood right beside him through the entire ordeal despite his own girlfriend being Dom's best friend. He watched Nick look around the Great Hall for Darla who, when Stefan found them, was sitting right next to Dominique. There were daggers that had been glared at them. He looked back Nick and nodded, ”that's the one,” he smiled sarcastically, ”and man you can't get me wrong, she's a beautiful girl, bitch just had to cheat on me,” he said with a now frown and looked at him, ”we have Charms first and I've lost my appetite, finish up and let us get going,” he told him.

It had been a nasty break up between Dom and Stefan and it had taken a bit of a toll, from what he could remember, between Nick and Darla but they had managed and Stefan was glad he hadn't ruined Nick's relationship over his own breakup. He was tired of running into Dominique now and still he tried to have a nice time when he was around her but the hurt was still obvious. For Stefan to have some feeling like that so obvious it meant it had taken a bit toll on him but he tried to hide it sometimes that was easier said than done.

OoC;; It was actually what I was starting to think of as a good rumor. It's perfect.

[NICHOLAS DAMIEN AVERY]

"Oh, shut up you big sissy," he said, shoving a piece of toast in his face and snorting. He nodded, agreeing with what Stefan had to say. Being a Slytherin, a pure blood and an ex-Death Eater's son had taught Nick that you could never let what people said to you bring you down because none of it mattered. He told himself, always that the only reason people talked behind his back was because he was two steps ahead. He grinned. "And that's why you should be like me. Cool as a cucumber," he said, despite knowing that Stefan was one of the few people in school who knew how violent Nick could get when he was angry.

"I know. I tried once and it didn't end up how I wanted," he said. "Anyways, mum's going to go all frantic about what to get you and all that last minute shopping. And you know how things are with a messy Christmas Eve." He made a mental note to write to his mum, asking her not to get too flustered, even though it would be a futile effort to begin with.

"Yep, don't you remember those chocolate eggs my Mum sent from home?" he asked, his mouth watering at the memory. He'd been so full that evening and yet he'd had more than he could take. "I don't mind, actually. The only thing Father will talk about is my grades and how I should be a better leader to set examples and what not. I swear he still holds it against me for not becoming Quidditch captain." he sighed.

"Did you love her?" Nick asked, a little unexpectedly. He didn't know what made him ask the question in the first place and he truly didn't care if Stefan had or not, but the thing is that he wanted to feel like he wasn't the only one who felt like a mess. He knew he was going to break up with Darla, sooner or later, because the fact that he felt more than just a strong affection scared him. He didn't want to fall in love and for a second, he selfishly wished Dom and Stefan had broken up now. At least he'd have an excuse to not be with Darla. But the thought of leaving her was just as painful and he shook his head.

[stefan]

”Oh shut up you big sissy,” Stefan heard in one ear and just let it go out the other. Stefan knew Nick's father, he was practically Stefan's second father. Mr. Avery was quite strict and Stefan had heard the speech of not being a sissy boy and other things. He knew that Nick had been completely raised that way. Stefan just gave a look at Nick that told him he didn't want to hear it even if Nick was trying to be a little funny.

Stefan took a sip of pumpkin juice just as Nick told him to be more like him, cool as a cucumber. The words had made Stefan laugh so hard that pumpkin juice came out of his nose. ”Yeah exactly like you, more like hot as oven,” he told him. Nick was cool most of the time but Stefan knew loud and well how Nick was when he got angry and Stefan wasn't too far behind on the hot headed scale. Stefan had been in more than his share of duels and even fist fights.

Nick went on to talk about his sisters and how it not ending how he wanted. Nick's sisters, to say the least were babied by his parents and Nick himself. Stefan even babied them a little just like he did with Mila. He looked at him as he went on to tell about his mum was going to go all frantic about. ”Tell your mum any chocolate is a very welcome Christmas present,” he said. Chocolate was always welcome in Stefan's life it was the best stuff ever in his opinion. ”Messy, messy Christmas Eve, when will your mom get that I'm not a guest?” he asked Nick quite seriously. He wasn't a guest he was always over at their house, he was family there was no need for a fuss over him.

The chocolate eggs his mother had sent to Nick that were the most amazing chocolates in the world, of course Stefan remembered those. ”Why would I forget things that make my mouth water whenever I think of them?” he asked his friend. And than Nick told him that he didn't mind spending the whole holiday at his place. Nick's dad would ask about grades and than he went on to say that he held it against Nick for not being Quidditch captain. ”Well imagine being the black sheep in the family when my dad played Quidditch professionally and Mila has plans to and than I have none whatsoever, I want to work with magical creatures,” he said. Viktor didn't hold it against Stefan about it he was proud his son didn't feel the need to follow in his footsteps and even though Stefan was good at being a seeker he just didn't want anything to do with the professional life of Quidditch.

The random question of Dominique made Stefan actually think. He'd said he loved her and he was sure he did, she was the only girl who caused him to be vulnerable. ”Yeah, I did,” he said, ”I think it would be safe to say that was the most painful times in my life.” Stefan was careful on how he worded it but it was the truth, ”you know how closed up I stay in relationships, with her I was all open, everything was on the table and I feel like she got on that table and smashed what was on it to pieces.” He looked down and sighed. ”You're right I don't need to be a sissy, let us just forget it,” he said. It would be much easier said than done, in fact he wasn't sure if it was possible for him to just forget it but he damn well could try.

[NICHOLAS DAMIEN AVERY]

Nick didn't say anything when Stefan gave him the stop-talking look but went back to eating his own food. He hadn't realized just how much Dom had brought his mood down and he felt annoyed with the girl who'd broken his best friend's heart. "Cheating bitch," he muttered under his breath as he took a bite of toast. He snorted at the tease and laughed. "Oh, I know I'm hot. The girls tell me all the time," he grinned, twisting Stefan's words around as he grinned. He didn't want to think about all the other times he'd broken things (and people) in his effort to relieve his anger.

Nick smiled as he thought of his sisters and Mila. He didn't see any difference in either and he knew that if Mila came to him he'd do the same for her what he'd do for his own. And he knew Stefan felt the same about them. It felt like one big family, despite the fact that Stefan's parents had been friends with people on the old Order and his had been Death Eaters. He appreciated the lack of discrimination they had when they let Stefan and Nick be friends, and it's not like something like that would've stopped them. "Will do. And you tell yours that if she doesn't make that fudge this time then I'm not staying over," he nodded very matter-of-factly, though he knew he'd stay over anyway. He laughed at Stefan's question and shook his head. "Marry Danni or something and then you'll be part of the family," he winked. It was quite hilarious how their mothers treated the other as guests and gave them the best but when it came to babying them, they were their little boys. It was the best of both worlds.

He shrugged and shook his head. He knew for a fact that Mr. Krum was extremely proud of his son and he enjoyed talking to him, because he encouraged him to do whatever he wanted, unlike his father who wanted him to be his heir to the family fortune. He hadn't thought about what he wanted yet, but he knew that he didn't want to get disowned while doing it. Until now he'd only though of either becoming a Professional Player or start his own business, add to the family name. "You know that doesn't matter. It's cool being different,"he said, nodding at him.

Nick took a deep breath at his response and looked up to look at the girls again. Dom was no longer glaring in their direction. In fact she was happily chatting away and he kept looking at Darla, who was no longer looking at him either. He appreciated that because if she had been she'd see right away what he was contemplating. "I know what you mean," he replied, his tone serious as he looked at Darla, a painful look on his face and then looked back at Stefan, hiding the hurt behind a sympathetic smile. "But she had it coming. At least you got out of it before it went on any further," he said.

[stefan]

Stefan looked up as he heard his friend say cheating bitch and just nodded in agreement. He was glad that Nick knew when to just stop by a look on Stefan's face. They really were like brothers and he was glad that he had Nick, not that he'd ever tell Nick how glad he was to have him, it might have just sounded a little gay of him if he did.

Still cleaning up the pumpkin juice from his face and the table, he looked at Nick. ”Oh yes, I hear the girls talk,” he told him. Stefan was thinking back of the burn marks in the sixth year dormitory when everything had happened and he had scorched the castle wall. It was much hard than anything he'd done as well as scorching a bit of the bed, in fact if Nick hadn't been there to calm him down a little bit the entire dormitory might have gone up in flames. Stefan was a hot-head but he had a harder time controlling his emotions than Nick did.

”Marry Danni, dude you would kill me if I laid a hand on either one of your sisters and you know it, besides, Danni's not really my type, she's my sister, that would be like you marrying Mila,” he told him. He was sure Nick would have a problem with that and he was sure that he knew it. ”Besides I don't think Danni would sound good with the last name of Krum, imagine Jaylen Danni Krum, no way,” he chuckled. He was one of the few that knew Danni's real name because she just preferred Danni. He never understood why Jaylen was a beautiful name.

Stefan liked the fact that their parents were able to be friends. There was no problems despite his own father having in's with the Weasleys and Potters, heck he almost dated Hermione, yes he had heard about that enough to tell the story himself. He met Harry Potter in the Triwizard Tournament and along with that met Miss Hermione Granger, Stefan was sure his mother got sick of it too but they had a strong love for each other so it hadn't mattered. When he thought of it, their friendship was actually an odd one, if you were to go by the old order and old death eaters.

”I know it doesn't matter, dad doesn't care what I do, I think he was happy though when I did get seeker on the house team,” he said thinking about it. His dad was a good man and a proud man no matter what paths his children took, which made it nice. Because Stefan could never be a disappointment.

Stefan had weighed the options when everything had happened. ”It's more of what she said though, this morning, she said it was all a lie, who would make a rumor up like that?” he asked, ”I mean after how happy I was, who could do something like that?” He believed her, at least in the back of his head he did. He wouldn't admit it but he did believe her. ”I just don't know anymore,” he said with a shrug.

[NICHOLAS DAMIEN AVERY]

Nick snorted as he remembered the temporary furnace Stefan had made of their sleeping quarters and he was glad he hadn't been Head Boy at the time or he surely would've been stripped of his badge for not even being able to control his best friend. It was at that moment that he'd decided to hate Dominique forever because any girl who could hurt his brother that much was nothing but a mindless bitch in his books.

"True," he shrugged, and then grimaced. He knew his sisters were going to grow up someday but he was a guy and he knew the way their minds worked and he hated the idea of any perverted freak thinking of that way about his sisters or Mila. If Stefan really did ever end up with Danni he'd be super happy for them but for now, he allowed himself to be disgusted by the thought. "Yeah, somehow I don't think Mila and I would work," he said, nodding matter of factly. He looked around, up and down the table and back at Stefan. "Next time you announce her name, make sure she's not anywhere around first please. She goes by Danni and you know it," he said.

Nick frowned, looking up at Stefan and then back at Dominique again. She seemed to be upset and from the looks of it she was going to tell Darla what had happened. He mentally groaned. He knew Darla might ask him about him and he wasn't interested in letting their drama add to his own, even if he was there for Stefan. "I don't know, man. Maybe she's just trying to get back in your good books or maybe she's telling the truth. Maybe you should hear her out," he said and then raised a brow. He knew he was being hypocritical because he was one of the most judgmental ones around but he knew for a fact that he wouldn't ever judge somebody he loved or somebody he once loved. "Does it make a difference to you, if you find out it was all just because of a stupid rumor?" he asked.

He took a deep breath and turned to Stefan, deciding that now would be the time to tell him and get some moral support on what he was going to do. "Look, I've been thinking...Darla and I. It's not working out," he said, admitted finally to somebody other than himself. He needed to hear from Stefan just how much it could hurt to fall in love, because upto this point it was all his imagination from what he imagined love was.

[stefan]

Stefan grinned a little when Nick spoke about his sister Danni and him not calling her Jaylen. ”Terrified of the big bad wolf much?” he asked with a grin. Danni would kill anyone who announced her name like he just did. ”Why don't your parents just change her name to Danni Jaylen than?” he asked his friend. He did wonder why every once in a while for why she doesn't like her first name, he thought the name was beautiful. Stefan laughed and started chanting, ”who's afraid of the bad wolf, who's afraid of the big bad wolf,” he was having fun now and was done thinking about Dominique.

”I'm done with her, you know it's over, I guess a rumor, I dunno I guess it shouldn't matter, what got to me most was her suggestion of that it was one of my friends, most namely Cathy or Danni, which pissed me off, oh yeah the tapestry by the Potion's classroom might be a little singed, it wasn't me okay,” he said. He had sat the tapestry on fire earlier when he was talking to Dominique. It was after she suggested that Danni and Cathy might have been behind the rumor. He had been pissed and had no control at that moment, well he had some because he didn't try to set her on fire so it was a success.

Stefan heard his friend speak about him and Darla not working out. Stefan shook his head. ”You two will work out, you two are meant to be together, I mean bloody hell you lasted while being split apart between me and Dominique, maybe you should take a break to see how you like it, because I can guarantee that you'll be one love sick puppy without her, she's your girl,” he told her. Stefan, even though was on the outs with Dominique he still liked Darla, or at least he did because his friend was in love with her. He wondered if Nick was getting cold feet or something of the likes.

[NICHOLAS DAMIEN AVERY]

"Very much," he winked. He loved his sister but she was just like him, a mean temper and a sense of revenge which could leave you running for your life. Some of the sibling quarrels which happened between them were an ugly sight to see, so it was good that they were so rare. He remembered when they were a kids, they were so mad at each other, they used accidental magic and ended up destroying half their mother's antique painting collection. He snorted at the suggestion about the name. "Have you met my father? We'd never get away with such casual first names. She's lucky she got it as a middle name. What did I get? Young Nicholas Damien. Ugh," he groaned. He hated his name. He didn't have a trouble with Nicholas or Damien, but he loathed them together.

Nick growled under his breath, looking up. He dropped his toast back on his plate and turned around to give Dominique a look. When she caught him staring, he mouthed the word 'bitch' and watched her face turn into a tortured scowl. He took a deep gulp of his juice, turning back. He hated anybody, and he meant anybody, talking about his friends and family, most of all accusing them. She was lucky Nick wasn't around when she accused Cathy or Danni because he'd have done something stupid then and there. "Cathy's a sadistic bitch, but she's our friend and only we can call her that. And Danni might be cocky, but I love her. So if anybody says so much as anything about them, they're in for it." He smirked at Stefan, clapping him on the back. "Good for you. I'll make sure it's repaired before anybody figures out what happened. Too bad you didn't set her on fire. I bet she was having a ball, the cheating little minx."

His expression fell as he mentioned Darla again and he looked away. "No, man. It's done. It's over and I'm going to break it to her easy in the next one or two weeks. I can't be with her anymore," he admitted, his voice hopefully stronger then he felt.

[stefan]

Stefan knew the temper than Danni had on her, he also knew the temper she had when you called her by Jaylen. Stefan knew Danni and Nick were extremely close siblings too. Not just in relationship wise but also personality. Both of the two loved revenge and there was no doubt that they would take it out on each other. Stefan chuckled as his friend went on to talk about his father and not allowing them to have casual names. He shook his head. ”You two are practically one in the same, I swear if Danni wasn't your sister she'd been alike enough to be your wife,” he laughed.

Stefan wouldn't put it past Cathy to make a rumor like that but he didn't care who did it he just wanted to know. Stefan had a temper and would probably take it out on those who did but he would forgive them nonetheless. He looked at Nick as he spoke of the two. ”Cathy's a sadistic bitch, but she's our friend and only we can call her that. And Danni might be cocky, but I love her. So if anybody says so much as anything about them, they're in for it.” The words rung through Stefan's ears. Would that be so true if they did have something to do with a rumor. He looked at his friend. ”What about Danni, she's your sister, she's my sister, what if she did have something to do with it?” he asked. He didn't like the thought of being mad at Danni but he wondered how is unforgiving friend would react to his sister having something to do with it.

As for the flaming tapestry down in the dungeons he was glad to hear his friend would take care of not letting him get into trouble. ”At least it's nothing compared to our dormitory last year,” he said raising his brows. He sighed. ”Can you do me a favor Nick? From this point on let us not talk bad about Dominique, because something tells me she wasn't lying about it being a rumor, she really seemed taken aback by me telling her about her cheating on me,” he said. He wanted to give her a little respect, sure he hated her guts but it wasn't fair to do if she was actually telling the truth and he'd feel bad if she had been telling the truth.

Stefan watched the expression fall on his best friends face. ”Well I'm here for you man, I think you two are great for each other and what not, but if you think it's over I'll be here waiting,” he promised. He didn't want his friend to feel left alone in a time when he felt like shit so all he could do other than performing a sticking charm to the two of them to work it out was be there for his friend.

[NICHOLAS DAMIEN AVERY]

"Alike enough to be my - I don't want that image in my head," he said, a disgusted look on his face. He couldn't help but give an exasperated laugh though, at the things Stefan came up with. Stefan was right though, he did love Danni and they were alike on many accounts. He could trust her with nearly everything and he trusted her to tell him the truth always. The thought of Danni ever betraying that trust hurt him more than anything, and he knew if she ever did, he'd never speak to her again.

It was like Stefan could read his mind and Nick didn't say anything as he looked down the table at her. Then he looked back, thinking of all the times he'd seen her walking around with Cathy and Marcus, every time she'd voiced a vicious and negative opinion of Dom when Stefan was with her and Darla when Nick was with her. He took a deep breath and sighed. "Danni knows better than to think we don't know who's good for us. I'm sure she didn't. But if she did," he said, looking at Stefan with all seriousness, "then in my eyes, I'll have only one sister left."

Nick raised a brow at his friend's request but complied all the same. He thought it odd but he knew if he was in Stefan's place, he'd ask the same of him. Because if Darla ever pissed him off, he still wouldn't want Stefan saying anything about her. "So, maybe it was a rumor. Then what? Who started it and why would they?" Nick asked, confused. He smirked at Stefan and nodded, knowing his friend had no choice but to be there for him, especially since he'd be needing Stefan in a matter of weeks, days even. He needed somebody to keep reminding him why he was doing it and to stop him from backtracking.