This is the last chapter. Thanks to everyone for reading, following and favoriting my story and special thanks to all of you who left me a review.

About an hour later Jeremy was lying on his motel bed, facing Anna who was lying next to him. He had told her about the spell that brought her back and how he and Damon had killed the twelve vampires. She was a little shocked, but she understood his reasons. And she also told him it was 'kinda hot' to know that he could fight like that.

Jeremy breathed a sigh of relief. Her acceptance meant the world to him. "I was afraid you might hate me for bringing you back." he admitted. "Why would you think that?" "Well you... you were gone. I haven`t seen you since that night you told me to move on. I thought maybe you had found peace and didn`t want to come back." He didn`t dare to bring up her mother, knowing how much Pearl`s death must still hurt her. Anna was quiet for a while.

"You know that night when Bonnie`s spell sent us all back to the other side?" she asked finally. Jeremy nodded and motioned for her to continue. "I found mama, just before it happened. We hugged and I told her how much I love her." she smiled sadly. "She moved on. Found peace. But I just... couldn`t. I know I told you to move on, but I couldn`t leave you. So I stayed and sometimes watched you. But I never let you see me. I told myself I would only make sure you were okay and then I would leave. I just.. wasn`t strong enough, yet."

She shrugged and Jeremy could see her blushing a little. "I guess it´s a good thing I couldn`t let you go, either." he murmured, linking their hands together and leaning down for a kiss. After they parted Anna cuddled closer to him and sighed contentedly, causing Jeremy to smile. For the first time in a long while he felt truly happy again.

Damon shook his head at the two lovebirds on the bed. He should have gotten them separate rooms. Those two were so sickeningly sweet that he felt his teeth rot just from looking at them. Not feeling overly voyeuristic today he decided to join Alaric, who was outside 'getting some fresh air', as he`d called it.

Stepping outside he spotted his friend a few feet away. Ric was sitting on a bench, staring up at the stars. Damon joined him. "Everything okay? Are the cravings kicking in? I can take you out to hunt if you`d like." he offered. The former teacher shook his head.

"I`m fine. I might take you up on that offer tomorrow, though." Alaric shuddered at the thought. He hadn`t had much time to come to terms with the fact that he was a vampire now and would take some time getting used to it. Damon sensed his unease. "Hey, you`ll get used to it."

"You`re going to help me with that?" Ric asked, looking at the other vampire for the first time. "Of course. We`re going to be hunting buddies again." Damon grinned. Ric shook his head. "I trust you to make sure I don`t end up like Stefan." the former teacher told his friend.

Damon made a face. "I won`t let you become a bunny eater, don`t worry. It`s bad enough that he`s getting Elena to adopt his stupid diet." He shook himself, disgusted by the mere thought. "I don`t really feel like killing rabbits either, but I actually meant the ripper part." Ric pointed out.

"Oh that. Don`t worry. If vampire barbie can control herself you will manage as well." Damon stated confidently, loving Ric`s wry chuckle at his words. God how he missed that. He was so glad to have Alaric back. But he had yet to tell him how he managed that. He had thought about not telling him at all, but Jeremy might let something slip and then Ric would be even more pissed at him. So maybe it was better to just get it over with.

"There`s something I`ve got to tell you. About the spell that brought you back. And I think you`re not going to like it." he started. Not daring to look at his friend he kept staring straight ahead. "You mean the fact that you and Jeremy killed twelve vampires?" Ric asked, causing Damon to whip his head around and stare at him in shock.

"You know? Did Jeremy tell you?" He would kill little Gilbert. It wasn`t his place to tell Ric. "No, he didn`t." The former teacher`s voice cut through his violent thoughts. Damon could tell that he wasn`t lying. "But then.. how?" he asked completely puzzled.

Now it was Alaric`s turn to avert his eyes. And his turn to confess. He had no idea what to say, where to start. How Damon would take the truth. He didn`t want to have this conversation, but he also didn`t want to lie. He`d spent so much time dancing around the truth, too afraid to admit his true feelings for the vampire, even to himself, until it was too late. Now that he had been given a second chance he wouldn`t make the same mistake again.

"After I... died, I spent some of my time watching over the kids. Making sure they were all okay. Or as okay as they could be at least. But most of the time I was.. following you." he admitted. He could practically feel Damon`s eyes on him, but didn`t dare to meet his gaze. "Thanks for saving my seat, by the way." he murmured, when Damon interrupted him.

"What do you mean, you were following me? When? How long?" Ric shrugged. "As I said, most of the time since I died. I was there when you came to the graveyard to talk. And... I`ve been with you and Jeremy for most of your journey."

Finally he looked at his friend. "Don`t be mad at Jeremy. I asked him not to tell you." Damon´s eyes darkened. "You spied on me!" he hissed. "I watched over you." Ric corrected, but the other vampire would hear none of it. "You spied on me!" he accused again, his face twisting in anger. But Ric knew him well enough to see something else. Uncertainty, maybe even a little fear. And betrayal.

"Why did you bring me back?" the former teacher asked. Damon jumped up and stared at him. "Why do you ask? I thought you knew everything already." he growled. "I want you to tell me face to face." It wasn`t that he didn`t believe the things he had heard Damon say, but he still wanted the other vampire to tell him directly.

"Fuck you!" Damon spat, turning away. But Ric had seen the pain in his eyes. He knew better than anyone else that the elder Salvatore was afraid of showing his feelings. It was a fear borne from decades of rejection. His father had always favored Stefan. Katherine had chosen Stefan over him, as had Elena. It was always Stefan. Never him. Alaric cursed himself for his own stupidity. He understood how Damon ticked. He should have known how he would react.

"Damon..." he started, but the dark haired vampire ignored him and started marching back toward the motel room. He didn`t get very far. Alaric used his vampire speed to catch up to him. Talking had gotten them nowhere so maybe it was time to take action.

Damon gasped when he found himself pressed with his back to the wall, but he had no time to react as Alaric´s lips claimed his in a rough kiss that left both men breathless. "I`m sorry for spying. And I`m sorry for baiting you. I should have known how you would react." the former teacher whispered. "The truth is... that it took death to finally make me realize that I`ve fallen for a crazy, homicidal, sarcastic vampire." he admitted.

Damon´s eyes widened as the implication of his words sunk in. "That means you...?" Ric smiled. "No way. I`m not going to say it first." Damon stared at him for a few seconds. Then a cocky grin spread over his lips and he quickly switched their positions, this time pressing Ric against the wall.

"Oh, but you will, sweetheart." he promised, before leaning in for another kiss. Ric didn`t complain. Instead he combed his hand through Damon´s dark hair, marveling at the fact that it really felt as soft to the touch as it looked.

"What do you say, we visit the clerk and compel him to give us another room?" the dark haired vampire suggested. Ric chuckled. "Nice idea, but you promised Elena to look after Jeremy, remember?" he reminded, grinning when Damon actually pouted. "You`re no fun."

Ric smiled softly. "Come on, Damon. One more day won`t kill us. We`ve got tomorrow. And all eternity." Damon decided he liked the sound of that. But he wasn`t about to let Ric know. "You mean if I decide to keep you that long."

"Of course you`ll keep me." the former teacher stated confidently, tugging him closer and shutting him up effectively by kissing him again. Damon smiled into the kiss and decided to let it go. For now.

So this is it. What did you think? Liked it? Or not? I was thinking about writing a sequel. I`m not sure yet. Anyone interested?