AN: Ok, so not only is this late, but it's not finished either... I know, I know, I'm terrible. I apologize, but I wanted to get something up because I've missed the past few weeks. It's super short at the moment, but I'm going to do my best to get the rest of this chapter up by friday. For now, enjoy what's here and leave a review if the feeling strikes you. Thanks!


"We're now looking at anyone new to town since the deaths began. Should turn up a suspect or two." Charlie stood just on the other side of the sheriff's closed office door, not eavesdropping exactly, just waiting for the right moment to walk in. She had only caught the tail end of the conversation, but she had heard enough to know that Damon was in there and that they were talking about the attacks. This seemed like as good a time as any to interrupt, so she let herself into the office unannounced smiling slightly at the shocked look on her aunt's face.

"Charlie," Liz said eyes flitting around the room nervously, "what are you doing here?"

"I brought you dinner," Charlie replied holding up a bag from the Grill. "I'm not interrupting anything am I? I didn't realize anyone was back here with you, no one stopped me when I walked past the front desk."

"It's fine, we were just finishing up." Damon assured her, drawing her eyes to him for the first time since she walked through the door.

"What are you doing here?" Charlie asked feigning confusion, she knew full well that he was dropping off vervain. "He's not hitting on you is he?" She asked the sheriff, "Cause you can't believe anything he says, he's an incorrigible flirt."

"No, of course not, Damon was just dropping off a package his uncle left for the council," Liz laughed nervously. Charlie knew it was mean, but her aunt was easily flustered when it came to the opposite sex and she just couldn't help herself.

"A package, right," Charlie said slowly, winking exaggeratedly at Liz.

"Did you finish your paper?" Liz asked through clenched teeth, pointedly changing the subject.

"I did," Charlie said resting a hip on the side of Damon's chair, "it still needs to be edited, but it's basically done."

"What subject was it today?" Damon asked.

"Italian," Charlie said turning to look down at him before shuffling around in the messenger bag slung over her shoulder and pulling out the paper. "Actually, I was hoping you'd proof read it for me. I was gonna stop by tomorrow morning, but since you're here now...Do you mind?" She asked holding it out to him.

"Sure, I'll look it over tonight." He shrugged and took the paper from her folding it in half and slipping inside his jacket.

"You speak Italian?" Liz asked him surprised.

"It was a requirement in my home growing up, Stefan and I are both pretty fluent." Damon explained standing from his seat. "I should get going."

"I'll walk out with you. Don't stay too late tonight, Sheriff, you've been working too much lately." Charlie said before slipping out the door, Damon right behind her.


"I'm just jealous of your restraint. I have none, I delight in hedonism. Speaking of which, what are we doing tonight?" The blonde vampire asked Stefan as Charlie and Damon walked into the room.

"Funny you should ask," Damon said butting into their conversation. "Charlotte just informed me that there's a party at the Grill. You'll love it. Banquettes, tacky wait staff. All of Stefan's friends."

"Yeah, I don't want a birthday party." Stefan said trying to derail that idea.

"It's not for you, it's just a party. Caroline's throwing it, no one even knows it's your birthday." Charlie informed him, doing her best to keep one eye on the blonde who was walking a slow circle around her. When the girl reached up and brushed Charlie's hair back over her shoulder it was a step too far. "Excuse me," Charlie said, taking a step back, "do they not teach personal space where you come from?"

"Charlotte, this is Lexi, Stefan's BFF," Damon introduced them, "and I believe she was trying to check you for bite marks." Charlie looked between Damon, Stefan and Lexi for a moment before rolling her eyes, reaching back with both hands to lift her hair up on top of her head and turning left and right to show off her exposed neck.

"Satisfied?" She asked, pushing up her sleeves and holding her arms out in front of her before turning them over. "I should go, thanks for your help with my paper." She said to Damon before turing to look at Stefan, "Come to the party or don't, I don't care either way. But you should know that the sheriff is still hunting vampires and she's starting to look harder at anyone new to town. You might want to start trying a little harder to blend in." She turned and let herself out.