Jeremy haunts him. He's in the bed, curled up under the blankets, smiling that sweet smile. He's sitting on the counter laughing at his jokes. He's outside running through the sand, waves rolling over his feet, his laughter ringing in the air. He's smiling shyly at him over the dinner table.

Alaric doesn't miss glamouring him into thinking he ate his dinner day after day, but he misses the soft smile as his skill grew. Misses the way he'd duck his head, giving him a slow pleased smile as he looks up at him from under his lashes, his soft thank you barely reaching his ears.

Alaric sits on the edge of the bed, hands fisting in his hair, rage and grief at war in his head. He damns the sea for taking him, damns himself for taking Jeremy out on the water, damns the weather mans false report.

Jumping to his feet he storms towards the door, stopping midway when he catches his reflection in the open doorway. Changing directions he stomps into the bathroom and glares into the mirror, Jeremy's wounded eyes staring back at him. Screaming wordlessly he slams his fist into the mirror shattering it. The tinkling of glass falling into the sink filling him with satisfaction.

Growling he rips the towel bar off the wall, swinging it at everything in sight, smashing holes in the wall before turning and throwing it at the shower door. Grinning darkly at the shattered glass he walks over looking for something else to damage.

Bending down he reaches for the towel bar thinking to smash all the windows in the house, freezing half way as he stares into the toilet in disbelief. He doesn't know how long he stands there, mind struggling to deny it, before reaching in and pulling out the engagement ring.

"No" He whispers. He wanted so badly to believe it was just his mind playing tricks on him, but he cant deny what he can feel in his hand. He distinctly remembers smiling proudly at David, bringing their joined hands up to kiss Jeremy's hand, showing off his ring.

He goes deadly calm as it sinks in that Jeremy tricked him, came back here while he screamed himself hoarse searching for him. Ran out on him. "You're going to wish you hadn't done that." He whispers drying off the ring and sliding it onto his own finger.

Walking into the other room he picks up his cell phone, calling his friend Andrew. "He's alive. Find him." He tells him before hanging up and settling down in front of the window with a glass of brandy to wait.

It's days before he hears back from Andrew. Days of his anger building up, plans forming in his mind of how he'll teach Jeremy the error of his ways. He hires someone to fix the bathroom, sets everything back exactly as Jeremy had left it. Everything all set for his return.

The ringing of the phone pulls him from his plans.

"I got lucky, found a few people who remembered him. He's in Mystic Falls going by the name Jeremy Gilbert." Andrew tells him looking forward to calling in a favor later down the road.

"Thanks Andrew. I owe you one" Alaric tells him before hanging up, cold smile spreading out as he packs his bags.

Days later Alaric sits watching as Jeremy smiles shyly at another boy, ducking his head and looking up at him from under his lashes. The other boy says something that has Jeremy throwing back his head with laughter and Alaric seeing red. "You little whore" He hisses, watching as a girl walks over to join them.

Narrowing his eyes as she lays her hand on both their arms as she talks to them, Alaric sneers and walks away. He's gotta see a teacher about a job.

*

*

*

Later that night Jeremy stands clinging to Tyler and Vicki, the town shocked by the horrific death of Mr. Tanner. Jeremy steps closer to Tyler feeling eyes burning into the back of his head. Licking his lips nervously he looks around, not seeing anyone out of place.

Tyler wraps an arm around him pulling him closer, Vicki following at his side clinging to his arm. Looking over Vicki's shoulder he sees Stefan and Damon walking up quietly arguing as they scan the crowd, they both lock eyes with Jeremy before giving another long look at the body and walking away.

Jeremy watches them go, shivering as that feeling of being watched intensifies before fading away completely.

"I don't want to be here. Can we go? Please?" Jeremy asks quietly, something is going on here, something more then an animal attack and Jeremy thinks he knows just who to ask.

"Of course. Where do you want to go?" Tyler asks leading him away.

"Can you just take me home" Jeremy asks, eyes glued guiltily to the ground.

"Yeah. Come on." Tyler says, disappointment clear in his voice.

"No, Jeremy come on. None of us want to be alone right now, let's go to the grill. Or we can all go back to your place. " Vicki insists tugging on Jeremy's arm.

Jeremy nods, not wanting to argue, and not really wanting to be alone either. They all go back to his house, walking in to find Damon and Stefan talking to Elena in the living room.

"Hi guys, can I get you anything to eat or drink?" Elena asks standing up.

They wander off to the kitchen trailing Elena, leaving Jeremy staring at the Salvatore brothers, shuffling nervously from foot to foot. "I'd like to talk to you. About those." Jeremy says nodding at their rings.

"Come to the house. Tomorrow after school." Stefan tells him nodding.

Licking his lips Jeremy flicks a glance at the door and steps closer."Where is it?"

They tell him how to get there, making sure he understands before stepping back as the others walk back into the room. Tyler narrows his eyes at them, walking over to stand next to Jeremy, pressing a hand at his back making Damon arch an eyebrow and Jeremy blush.

Ducking his head Jeremy smiles softly. "It was nice seeing you again" He says, turning to lead the way upstairs. Giving Tyler a wide-eyed look when he growls softly under his breath, quickly turning it into a cough and blushing at Jeremy's look.

Waving a hand for Jeremy to lead the way, Tyler glares at the other men before following Jeremy up the stairs, pointedly ignoring Vicki's smirk.

Looking anywhere but the bed, Jeremy turns on the TV and passes the remote to Tyler telling him to pick something. They end up watching the comedy channel trying to lighten the mood while they talk about school and make plans to meet at the grill.

Jeremy is practically asleep laying curled up at Tyler's side, head on his shoulder watching TV, smiling softly as Vicki laughs and shifts her head on his back to look at Tyler.

Noticing how tired Jeremy is she sobers. "We should go. Let you get some sleep"

"I'm fine. Don't go." Jeremy says quietly, hand tightening on Tyler's shirt. He can't remember the last time he felt so content.

"We stay here and you are going to fall asleep on me" Tyler jokes looking down at him.

Jeremy drops his eyes, releasing Tyler's shirt like he'd been burned."I'm sorry." He whispers moving to pull away.

"Don't do that. I'm not mad. We have school in the morning though, and we don't have a change of clothes" Tyler tells him, trying not to sound angry. He hated when Jeremy went so quiet on him. Afraid. Threading his finger through his hair he pulls him back down carefully. "We can stay a little longer"

Jeremy keeps his eyes down, not wanting them to see the tears in them. He feels pathetic, needy. He wants to tell them they don't have to stay for him, that they can go if they want, but he holds on tighter instead calling himself selfish.

It's nearly an hour later when Jeremy wakes up to Tyler trying to shift out from under him, he blinks up at him in confusion, blushing at he realizes he'd done exactly what Tyler said he would. "Sorry" He whispers, rolling out of bed so he can get up.

"It's ok Jeremy. I didn't mind" Tyler says with a teasing smile.

Blushing even hotter he looks away.

Vicki hugs him before smirking at Tyler and heading for the door. "I'll meet you downstairs."

"Well that was subtle" Jeremy says staring at the empty doorway.

Laughing softly Tyler walks over, sliding a hand down Jeremy's arm, searching his eyes carefully when he turns to look at him. Brushing his knuckles over Jeremy's cheek he leans in slowly, giving him time to say no, brushing his lips gently over his.

Leaning back enough to look at him he stares into Jeremy's wide eyes. "Jere?"

Licking his lips Jeremy leans in and kisses him soft and sweet, sigh escaping as he fists his hands in Tyler's shirt and steps closer, Tyler's arms wrapping around him holding him close.

The kiss slowly heats up, both of them tumbling back onto the bed, Tyler's hand curling around Jeremy's hip brushing his thumb over the bare skin above his jeans.

Jeremy gasps, suddenly feeling trapped under him, memories of being pinned and taken flashing through his mind. His own voice screaming through his head. "Don't. Tyler stop. I cant" Jeremy says, hating the panic in his voice even as he pushes at his chest.

Tyler backs off watching him carefully. "I'm sorry Jeremy. It was too much. I didn't mean for it to go that far I swear."

Jeremy cant stop shaking, smoothing his shirt down. Licking his lips and nodding his understanding. Tyler reaches for his hand and Jeremy jerks away flinching. "I'm sorry. Please go. I'm sorry." He whispers, eyes on the floor.

"What did he do to you?" Tyler whispers sadly.

"I cant. Please. I cant." Jeremy tells him wrapping his arms around his stomach, phantom hands digging into his skin, Alaric's voice in his head warning him not to tell anyone.

"I can send Vicki back up to stay with you. Or Elena?" Tyler offers, slowly backing towards the door, nausea rising as he watches Jeremy try so hard not to fall apart. He wants to insist on staying, hold him until he feels safe again, but he knows forcing the issue will only make things worse.

Shaking his head in refusal Jeremy waits for him to leave, a soft sob escaping when he hears the front door close. Sinking under the covers he let's himself fall apart, muffling his sobs in his pillow.

Falling silent, he holds the pillow close, closing his eyes completely worn out and falls asleep with Tyler's scent surrounding him.

*

*

*

Jeremy wakes up late the next morning, scrambling around the room getting dressed. He splashes water on his face and stares at himself. Good going Jeremy. He probably wont want anything to do with you after that. Brushing his teeth quickly, he rinses and runs out, grabbing his bag on the way out.

Running down the hallway with his late pass he slows near his classroom and opens the door. Freezing just inside the doorway as his nightmare stares him in the face.

"You can call me Rick. I'm your new history teacher." Alaric tells the class, eyes on Jeremy. He waves Jeremy forward as he instructs the class to open their books. Jeremy cant hear anything over the panic roaring through his head.

He stops in front of Alaric, back to the class and hands over his pass with a trembling hand, eyes dropping automatically.

"Have a seat." Alaric tells him, the unspoken Don't even think about running clear in his eyes.

Nodding shakily Jeremy does as he's told.