When Stefan stumbled into the house, the sun was just slipping under the horizon line. He was exhausted and confused, he'd never been without his ring this long before.

"Whoa little bro, Boogey Man out to get you? Did you eat his pet rabbit?" Damon smirked, he leaned against the fireplace as Stefan uncorked a bottle of strong brandy, he never usually drank, but he needed it now.

"My ring was stolen," He muttered, sucking down the glass and reaching for the bottle to refill.

"What?" Damon looked completely dumbstruck, but recovered quickly. "Was it Klaus?"

Stefan shook his head; he tried to remember the vampire that head left him for dead. "He was bleach blond, blue eyes and wore a dark leather jacket,"

"Hmm," Damon muttered, he glanced at the door and at the darkening skies outside.

"What?" Stefan sat up, suddenly curious. "Do you know who it is?"

"Maybe," Damon said, he strode too the door and stopped, "What did he say to you?"

"I don't remember, he snapped my neck and I woke up blistering in the sunset." Stefan rubbed his skin, which was still slightly red and irritated.

"I'll be back, keep an eye on Elena." He flashed out, leaving Stefan to drown his pain in brandy.

"C'mon man, I've had twenty-five shots and I'm not even buzzed!" The bartender looked disgruntled, but he left the bottle on the counter and walked away. Spike took a swig and almost gagged as the shadow of a familiar figure sat down next to him.

"Paris, 1890s, you burned a whole village to the ground while I feasted on every survivor,"

"Then we continued down the entire coast, blood stained and living life." Spike smiled and turned as Damon stood there, holding out a hand for him to shake.

"The infamous Salvatore, it's been an entire century mate, I thought you'd been hunted down," Spike slid the bottle across the bar and Damon took a hearty swig.

"Not even your slayer could best me," Damon smiled, sitting on one of the stools.

"Ugh, don't even get me started on the slayer! She's been a thorn in my side since I arrived in the Hellmouth." Spike groaned.

"I know, word of her has spread through the grape vines." Damon nodded, brushing the hair out of his eyes.

"Look mate, truth is I don't even know how I got here," Spike turned to Damon, looking him straight in the eye, "But I have no plans of leaving anytime soon."

"Fine by me, maybe we can finally make this town exciting," Damon took another swig of the bottle and threw it over the bar, where it smashed into a million pieces.