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We hurried into the house to change clothes, deciding it would be better than confronting a worried Caroline in the complete nude, post animalistic intercourse.

And it would probably be a good idea to take a shower.

Alaric called the guys into his study, as I made my way up to Damon's room, which we practically shared now, to cleaned up.


Once I was sure all the leaves were out of my hair, and all evidence of the sex was gone, I threw on some clothes, and walked down the stairs.

Damon was waiting for me in the foyer, "You okay?"

I let out a breath, "Not really. But I can't exactly put this off anymore."

"Alaric said she's at the Grill...I can come with you-"

"No," I shook my head, "No, I think I need to talk to her alone...try to explain things."

"Elena," he warned, "It's not a good idea for you to go alone. Not with Giuseppe out there. He's too unpredictable. I need to keep you safe."

If I didn't understand his point so well, I may have chided him for his over protectiveness.

Ever since I'd practically moved into his room, Damon had gotten worse, his instincts flaring up where I was concerned.

There was no way he was going to let me go anywhere unguarded until we found Giuseppe.

I nodded, "Fine, but watch yourself, okay...and give us a little space. Otherwise I'll never be able to reassure her that I'm okay."

He agreed, and we left.


Sure enough, a rental car was parked outside the Mystic Grill, in the town square, covered in Caroline's scent.

It hit my nose like sunshine and bubblegum.

I wouldn't have recognized it among the hundreds of other scents if I wasn't so attuned to it.

Damon placed a hand on the small of my back, edging me forward, and with a deep breath, I walked to the restaurant.

Caroline was easy to spot, even among the early lunch crowd.

I looked at Damon, motioning my head towards the bar.

He took the hint, and strode off, leaving me as alone as I could be, but I could still feel his eyes on me, as I forced myself over to Caroline's booth.

When I reached her side, I cleared my throat, and she looked up, her blonde curls shifting.

When she saw that it was me, she straightened, "Oh my god, you're alive!"

Despite the situation, I smiled, sitting down across from her, "So it seems."

"I was so worried!" Caroline started, reaching over and grabbing my arm, "I've been trying to get ahold of you, and no one would tell me anything, and what the hell happened to your phone? I've left you, like, a million messages!"

"I know-" I tried to explain, but she wasn't done, as she threw me a pointed look.

"And you need to tell me what the hell happened, because your desk at the magazine was cleared, they said you quit, and Matt won't talk to me, and you've been MIA, and I'm kind of freaking out! I thought something really bad might have happened to you, after I heard about the apartment. I still can't believe someone broke in and stabbed him! And why are you here? What the hell is going on Elena? I'm your best friend, I deserve to know these things."

"I know, Care, I do...it's just…"

I didn't even know where to begin.

How could I explain this, without explaining it?

Obviously, I couldn't tell her the truth, and if I even gave her a hint of the real story, she wouldn't stop until she'd overturned every detail.

That was just how Caroline was.

So instead, I chose a different story.

It wasn't exactly a lie, but it was something she could at least wrap her head around.

"You know that I came back for my cousin's accident?"

"And then the funeral," Caroline confirmed, "But after that, it's like you fell off the grid."

I nodded, "Yeah...there was a lot of drama when I first came back. Some family matters that I had to deal with."

"Are you still dealing with them?" Caroline prodded.

I leaned back against my seat, exhaling, "Not exactly. Look, there's something that I didn't tell you before. About why I left my home here in the first place."

Her brows furrowed, "Okay, so tell me."

I bit my lip, deciding to go with part of the story I'd told Matt.

"I was engaged," I told her, "To a guy I met when I was younger, and there was a misunderstanding-"

"Wait, hold on!" She jumped, "Engaged? You were engaged once!? And you didn't tell me?"

I gave her my best guilty look, "It was a complicated time, Care. He had been a huge part of my life, and I thought he did something that really hurt me. My emotions were all torn, so I ran. I started over in the city. I met you, I met Matt, and I was happy with that."

Caroline looked a little more sympathetic now, "So what changed?"

I thought about the Manor, the Pack, and our property.

I could never explain to her what had really changed my mind, not completely.

"I came home," I told her instead, "I reconnected with my family, dealing with the loss of our cousin...and I found out that thing I'd thought my fiancé did was a lie. He was never trying to hurt me, and without the anger I'd felt before...I remembered why I loved him. I broke things off with Matt, and moved back here, so we could try to make it work."

I could see the torn look on my friend's face.

She wanted to drag me back to the city so our lives could return to normal, but she also wanted me happy, and to hell if she wasn't a romantic.

Lucky for me, that side of her seemed to win out.

She smiled sadly, "You're happy here? You never talked much about your past…"

"I'm happy," I assured her, "This is where I need to be."

She nodded understandingly, still gripping my hand, then looked down at the ring there.

The ring Damon had given me, which I'd worn since the Uprising.

"I guess things are working out pretty well then?"

I couldn't help but smile a little, "Definitely."

"You aren't coming back to New York, are you?" she asked, running her finger over it.

The magnitude of her question rattled me.

Yes, I was back with the Pack.

Yes, I was over the moon in love with Damon.

Yes, I had the freedom of the run, the wild primal nature of my unrestrained wolf...but my heart was breaking a little.

I had made my decision to give up my human life, and that meant losing some things that I loved.

Like Caroline.

Her bright warm personality as she dragged me through block after block of shops.

It's the way the city buzz made me feel energized and connected to the world.

It's feeding the ducks in Central Park, and catching brunch at our favorite rooftop cafe.

I sighed.

"I'm not going to be living there anymore, no," I confirm what Caroline's face tells me she already knows, "But you're crazy if you think I won't try to visit as often as I can."

She smiled.

I smiled back, wishing I could offer her more.

Caroline leaned over and pulled me into another hug.

This time, I squeeze her back, and can't help but think about how much I'll miss her when she leaves.

Maybe once all the drama with the Pack dies down, I can make good on my promise to visit.


We pulled away from each other, as someone else joined us.

"Oh, please, don't stop on my account," Mason grinned, and I rolled my eyes as he sat down next to me.

Caroline lifted a brow, sending me a look.

"It's okay," I assured her, "He lives with me."

The next look to cross Caroline's face was one of peaked interest.

It was clear that she thought Mason was the fiance I'd been referring to.

Unfortunately, Mason, who knows women as well as he knows the Pack's forest, caught the gesture, and answered before I could.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, I'm not the one warming her bed at night. Not that I haven't made the offer, of course, but-"

"Mason," I chided halfheartedly.

Caroline laughed, easily catching his joking tone.

"You must be Caroline," he ignored me, reaching to shake her hand like a halfway decent person.

"I am," she confirmed, giving me a smirking glance, "And I'm assuming your Mason, unless Elena's picked up the habit of calling out random guy's names."

"No there's only one name she likes to call out, loudly sometimes, while the rest of us are trying to sleep-"

"Okay, enough from you," I interrupted, pushing his shoulder.

He only winked at me, then looked back to Caroline, "She loves me, even if she doesn't show it."

"Wait, so you two are…?"

"Not exactly blood related," I assured her, "But we've known each other forever. It's complicated."

"We're family," Mason interjected, "And as family, I have to chide Elena for not telling me she had such pretty friends."

I rolled my eyes, "Mason."

He ignored me though, "Are you in town long? Because, if you need a ride to the airport or something, I wouldn't mind. Especially if it gives me some time alone with you."

He said this with a flirty tone, and Caroline blushed, but I saw straight through it.

Mason was good with humans, better than most of the others, and I'd be willing to bet Alaric sent him along.

He wasn't offering Caroline a ride, he was trying to figure out how long she'd be here.


I glanced toward the bar at Damon, who was now in a conversation with Stefan.

Looks like they'd both followed us into town.

"Thanks, but I have a rental," Caroline was telling him, and I turned my attention back to her, deciding to get on with what I was supposed to be doing.

"I appreciate that you came looking for me Care, but don't tell me you wasted a whole week's worth of your vacation days to do so."

She grinned, "Only two days, actually. My plane leaves out in the morning, but I had to come at least check on you. The whole thing just felt weird."

Mason relaxed at the news, obviously glad that we wouldn't have to keep up pretenses long.

I glanced back over at Stefan and Damon.

My lover looked angry, his shoulders tensed at whatever Stefan was telling him.

I blinked.

Was something going on?

Mason cleared his throat, regaining my attention, and his eyes warned me not to pry.

Not with Caroline here.

I swallowed, suddenly feeling anxious.

"Well, I'll leave you ladies to your lunch," he said, suddenly, "But uh, it was nice meeting you."

Caroline waved goodbye, as I glared daggers into his back.

He really wasn't going to give me anything?


I forced a smile for Caroline as she picked up the menu, but refocused myself on Damon and Stefan, who were still talking quietly by the bar.

If I strained my ears enough, I could pick up what they were saying.

"-for now, but how long until it isn't enough?"

"Alaric said that you and Elena can go tomorrow. Check it out, and report back. But for today, he just wants to be sure we get the human out of here."

"Not unless we can assure her safety," Damon insisted, "I don't want her here anymore than he does, but I won't let her leave if unless we know she's not in danger. Elena loves her, and if something were to happen, she wouldn't forgive herself."

"I understand," Stefan promised, "But she's in more danger in Mystic Falls than anywhere else. That girl's a journalist, she worked with Elena at the magazine in New York. We can't let her discover the truth...you know what Alaric will have to do if she does."

"She won't," Damon promised.

I had heard enough.

Enough to know that I needed talk to them.


I excused myself to the bathroom, telling Caroline to order me whatever she planned on getting.

She agreed, and I snuck over to the bar.

Both guys looked up at me, as I neared them.

"Elena," Damon murmured.

I moved to stand by him, "I only have a moment. What's going on? How serious?"

"We aren't sure," he admitted.

"Elijah called," Stefan added, "After you left. Warned us about some things he's heard. Apparently the Pack is being watched. The Mutt's are still licking their wounds, so most likely, it's Giuseppe's doing."

"They checked the borders," Damon finished, "Mason caught a faint scent, but nothing strong enough to follow."

"Alaric doesn't believe Giuseppe would be stupid enough to come himself," Stefan noted, "Most likely, it's someone working for him."

I shook my head.

More werewolves watching the property?

This had to end.

"So we know nothing except we are being monitored...why? It's only been a month. Why does Giuseppe have spies on us?"

The two of them shared a glance.

"What?" I pressed.

Stefan began to speak, but Damon cut him off, "I'm sure it's nothing."

"Damon," Stefan sighed.

"It's nothing," he repeated sharply.

I narrowed my eyes, "Damon, come on. Obviously it's something. Pretending it isn't won't help us prepare."

"We don't know anything for sure," he insisted.

"But we know that Giuseppe wants you, Elena," Stefan inputted, "If he sees the Pack as an obstacle in his way to you, it's not a stretch to think that he will eventually try taking us out."

Which would explain why he was watching us.

Gaining intel for an attack.

"We have to find him," I crossed my arms, "Put an end to this, once and for all."

"We will," Damon assured me, "He can't hide forever."


Caroline's voice carried over, as she ordered from the waiter, and I sighed.

"She'll be gone tomorrow," I promised, "You can reassure Alaric."

Stefan nodded, "Then go be with her while you can."

While you can.

If only that didn't sound like such a realistic threat.


:)