When we arrived back at the boarding house, Stefan escorted Elena home and Damon took me up to my room. "You going to be okay?" he asked before he shut my door.

I shook my head. No, I didn't think I was. "Right now, all I want is a shower and some pajamas" I tried to run a hand through my gnarled hair and grimaced when I hit the bump from being knocked out. My eyes darted back up to his. "I hate to ask, but could I have some blood? My head's killing me and I'm not sure running around with a bite on my neck is the best move."

He stepped toward me, a sad smile on his face. "You don't have to explain, Luce. All you have to do is ask." Sitting beside me, he bit into his wrist and held it out to me. I wrapped my mouth around the wound and sucked out a small amount. My injuries weren't severe so I didn't need much to heal them. I leaned my head against his shoulder for a minute before standing up.

"All right. I'm going to take a shower. I'll be down after. I don't really want to be alone right now."

He stood and kissed my forehead. He kept his hand cupped around the back of my head and smirked. "Need some help?"

I shoved him away from me playfully. "Get out of here, Salvatore."

He laughed all the way out the door. I locked it behind him and took my shower.

I had just finished putting my wet hair up in a clip to keep it off my neck when I heard Stefan call my name. I frowned but headed out my door and down the steps. I'd forgotten to put anything on my feet and they were cold by the time I got to the bottom.

Both brothers were in the front hall with the door open, talking to someone on the porch. "What's going on?" I asked and they turned to face me. They stepped to the side so I could see who they were talking to.

It was Rose, the bitch of a vampire that was responsible for kidnapping Elena, and by extension, me. Which in my mind meant she was ultimately responsible for Elijah's death. My face fell as I looked between the brothers. "What is this?"

"We need you to invite her in," Stefan said and Damon shook his head. Obviously, they didn't agree on whether or not the vampire should be allowed inside the house.

"She kidnapped Elena. And me."

"She has information that we need to know," the younger Salvatore insisted.

"She doesn't have to be inside the house to give you information. The whole point of me owning the house is so strange vampires can't get in." I crossed my arms over my chest and stared at them.

"I followed you here because Lexi told me that Stefan was one of the good ones. I've been with Trevor for five hundred years and he's gone. I don't want to be alone anymore," the vampire on our doorstep told me.

I arched a brow. I was supposed to care she was lonely, why? Yeah, I could hold a grudge. Lexi hadn't been in town since Stefan's birthday. Not that I blamed her; Damon had almost killed her before I talked him out of it. "Stef, give me your phone. Mine's upstairs."

He pulled his cell phone out and tossed it to me. I caught it and scrolled through the contacts until I got to Lexi. I pressed the call button and waited. "Stefan!" came the answer and I smiled.

"Sorry, Sexy. It's Lucy." I turned away from all of them to walk into the kitchen.

"Even better. What's going on, sweet stuff?"

I turned on the faucets before I answered. "What do you know about a vampire named Rose? She says she knows you and you told her about Stefan."

Lexi thought for a moment. "Yeah, I remember her. English, right?"

"Yep."

"She was okay. Seemed nice enough. I only hung out with her for a couple of months. Why?" Concern laced her voice.

I huffed a short laugh. "She kidnapped me and Elena and got someone important to me killed. Now, the boys want me to invite her in. Can't say as I'm inclined to do that."

"Oh, sweetie. I'm sorry. I guess the boys finally gave you the house though, huh?" I hummed in agreement and she continued. "I can't tell you what to do. I'm not there and don't have all the information. What I do know is that Stefan and Damon love you. They would do anything for you. So, if they want you to invite her in, then what she knows must be important. And they must not think she's a threat."

I smiled at that. She was right. "I miss you, Lex. Don't be a stranger."

"I'll visit soon. Tell Stefan to call me and fill me in."

We said our goodbyes and I hung up, feeling better just for having heard her voice.

I shut off the water and walked back to the front of the house, tossing Stefan his phone. "Call her later."

"What did she say?" he asked.

"They weren't quite as close as Rose is trying to make it seem but Lexi didn't know anything bad about her. She also told me to trust you so that's what I'm doing. Just know that I don't like this. Rose, you may come in."

She gave me a hesitant smile and stepped over the threshold. "Thank you."

I nodded and leaned against Damon's side as he stepped back to wrap an arm around my waist. "Can we talk in the morning? I'm wiped."

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea," Stefan agreed. "Rose, I'll show you to a room."

I linked my hand in Damon's and tugged him toward the stairs. "Come on, vampire."

"If you wanted me in bed, all you had to do was ask, kitten." I arched a brow at the nickname and turned to find him smirking as he trailed behind me.

Rather than giving him the response he wanted, I just pulled him along until we arrived at his bedroom which was down the hall from mine. I turned to face him and linked our other hands together as well. "I don't want to be alone tonight, and your room is far more impressive than mine. Okay?"

His smirk faded into a real smile. It was small but genuine. "Yeah, kitten. It's okay. Come on." He opened his door and led me inside. He shut and locked it behind us but I didn't say anything. I felt better with it locked with a strange vampire in the house. He disappeared into his closet for a minute and came back wearing only pajama pants. My eyes ran over his torso and I sucked in a breath. The man was gorgeous. I could hate him and I'd still have to admit that.

He slid into the bed and patted the empty space beside him. I let my hair down and crawled in beside him, resting my head on his chest. "Sorry my hair's wet."

He laughed and his chest shifted beneath me. "I think I'll live. Go to sleep, Luce." He pressed a kiss to the top of my head and wrapped his arms around me. Within minutes, I was asleep.

A/N: Thank you for the overwhelming support for this story. So many follows, reviews and favorites. I hope I can live up to your expectations. And yay! Lexi lives!