As usual, Caroline and Elena walked in front of Damon and me on our way down to breakfast. I tried to tune them out, for Caroline was really the only one talking, and she was describing her night with Damon. I didn't need any details about how my brother 'blew her mind'.

"So, how'd your night go?" Damon whispered just low enough for me to hear.

"Better than I intentionally thought," I said.

"Well?" he asked. "Is that all you're going to say about it?"

"Yes," I said. "It's none of your concern, and you're starting to sound like Caroline."

He raised his eyebrows as if I'd insulted him, which I did, "I was only asking because of what we spoke about last night, but if your lips are sealed that tight, I won't speak to you again about it. You'd think you'd be happy for a man who'd just had sex last night, if that is what you did."

"It is, in fact, what we did," I'd snapped in hushed tones. "It was also very nice. However, I'm not happy with you this morning, so don't talk to me."

"What the hell did I do?" he asked in an irritated voice. "I give you the best advice I can come up with and you repay be by being angry?"

You screwed my girlfriend into oblivion!

That's what I wanted to say, but I knew that if it came out of my mouth, I would've screamed it, so I reworded it, "You invaded my dreams last night."

"What?" he gave me a look that signified I was crazy and stopped us from walking. We were already in the restaurant doorway anyhow. The girls wouldn't even notice. "I didn't invade your dreams. Did you bother to think that you dreamt that I came into your head on your own? I was a little preoccupied last night, if you didn't notice."

He gestured to Caroline in a way that made me feel the need to take a shower. It was sick. He then continued, "I think she's part supernatural. She didn't even get tired. We went on for hours!"

If I was human, I would've felt the need to throw up, "I know I didn't just dream it, Damon, because unless a stronger vampire wanted to invade my thoughts, I could simply control what I dream."

"Apparently you didn't like what you saw or you wouldn't be so mad at me," he said. "I'm telling you: I did not get into your head. Maybe there's another vampire here that has it out for you."

"There is another vampire here," I thought out loud. "The only one that we had to hate was Katherine, though, and she's gone."

"Well, maybe it was another one of Katherine's flings that's seeking revenge," he suggested, "or maybe whoever it is simply hates your always-perfectly sculpted hair."

I rolled my eyes, and the two of us joined the girls at a table. They'd already gotten their food.

"You're not going to eat?" Caroline asked through separate bites of her breakfast sandwich.

"We're not hungry," Damon said with a cool and sophisticated smile.

"Really?" Caroline asked in disbelief while looking at Damon. "You'd think you would be after last night."

It was probably the truth. Even Elena was taking bigger-than-usual bites of her bigger-than-usual serving of breakfast salad. Her loss of energy and abundance of lethargy made me smile to myself. Maybe it was better than expected for her, too. Damon was right, too. I'd felt like a boy going through puberty again, but without the acne and inexperience. Every touch, every kiss, every feeling was enhanced tenfold, and my sensitivity to everything had me practically jumping through the roof when she'd placed her vixen mouth over parts of my body that shouldn't be spoken about in public.

I'd caught her eye and winked at her, which made her giggle under her breath. She was obviously thinking about last night, too.

"Well, what's on the agenda today before the play this evening?" Caroline spoke up.

"You two are going to spend the day with our mother," Damon answered. "We have a surprise that needs further planning."

Caroline perked up, and Elena looked weary.

"Will we have to stay at her house all day?" Caroline groaned after the word "surprise" ceased to affect her.

"I one-hundred percent doubt that," Damon said. "The three of us were never home as kids. We were always doing something in this city. She used to be a tour guide a long time ago, but still knows where almost everything is. You'll probably take a double-decker bus tour, and then tour the cathedrals and the Radio City Music Hall. She loves going to Chelsea Piers, too, so you may take a water taxi tour. Then there's the new world trade tower they're building, the Irish potato famine memorial, Chinatown, Little Italy, which is where Stafano and I spent most of our time with our father, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty. The woman will take you everywhere, I promise."

Caroline clapped, "I just have to buy something from Chinatown. Aren't you excited, Elena?"

"Yes," she said. It was true—she was excited. She just didn't show her excitement like Caroline did.

"Be careful, though," I warned. "In Chinatown, there's never a set price, and the people there will always try to make you pay more than the item is worth."

"Oh, I'm a great haggler," Caroline said proudly. "This necklace I'm wearing was worth fifty bucks and I only paid twenty-five."

Damon rolled his eyes and whispered, "I could've gotten it for nothing. Compulsion is a great thing."

By the time we were done with breakfast, the streets were bustling with people. A lady painted turquoise posed as Lady Liberty as she posed for pictures for five dollars. Another man held up a sign that read "Need Money for Weed" and had a little plastic jar hung around his neck filled with money. Another man was preforming magic tricks on the street for the little children while charging their parents ten dollars for an act that could be bought at any magic store for five.

The four of us got into two cabs after hailing them.

When we got into ours, Elena spoke, "Please don't think I'm being ungrateful, because I'm not, but I'd much rather tour this city with you, rather than your mother. She already thinks I'm a reincarnation of Katherine."

"I pulled her close to me and stroked her hair, "I know, but Damon and I have things to do today."

"I know it's not a surprise, either," she said as she pulled her head away to look me in the eyes. "If it were, you would've hinted at it before, and you even looked a little surprised when Damon announced it."

"I'm not going to lie to you," I started. "We were watching the news yesterday while you and Caroline were getting ready, and we saw something about multiple animal attacks with victims who'd suffered mass amounts of blood loss. Does that sound familiar?"

I was whispering so the driver didn't hear us.

"Just like the files about those Katherine Pierce girls through the centuries," she answered. "So, you and Damon think you have a supernatural creature to deal with?"

"Yeah," I answered. "We were going to look into it while you were having a fun girls' day with my mom. I promise she's not mean at all. She loves everybody. She'd even put a few dollars in that guy's jar with the weed sign."

Elena laughed, "Alright, but I still wish you'd be with me."

"I know," I said as I kissed her forehead.

"You do know that Caroline will be upset if you two don't get her something, right?" Elena asked. "You said you had a surprise, and she'll be mad if she doesn't get it."

"We'll think of something," I laughed.

When we'd gotten to Mom's, I didn't bother knocking. Instead, I just opened the kitchen door and yelled in, "Mom? Damon, the girls, and I are here."

Mom came down the stairs in a long robe that went to her ankles and a towel wrapped around the top of her head. I could smell her favorite soap—Dove.

"My apologies, darlings," she said through bright, crystal blue eyes and dark hair. "I've gotten up to an early start today. I was at an office cocktail party last night. Some big deal went through and we all got a three dollar per hour raise."

I wasn't sure where my mother worked, but I knew she made very good money. How else would she be able to afford a house with a lawn in the Big Apple?

"Congrats," I said.

"Do you remember me calling you last night?" Damon said. "It was kind of loud, but I think you understood me."

"Oh, I did, son," she smiled. "I'm taking Caroline and Kath—I mean, Elena out on a tour of the city today."

"See?" Elena whispered softly while nudging my side. "I told you."

"Forgive her," I whispered back. "She's getting up there in age."

"I'm really sorry, Elena," Mom said. "It may take some getting used to. I'll apologize beforehand."

Elena smiled and sighed, "It's not like I could've expected anything different since Katherine was so involved with this family. Apologies accepted."

"Thank you," Mom breathed a sigh of relief. "Girls, I'm going to take you to the spa so we can get our hair done along with manicures and pedicures. I'll then take you on a bus tour of the city. We'll visit the Radio City Music Hall, Chinatown, Little Italy, SoHo and the surrounding towns, Brooklyn, Queens, and my favorite, Manhattan. If you like, I'll point out the new tower they're building as a new World Trade Center building. There's really nothing to do there, so we'll just point it out. I'll also take you to the museum that's in that movie. What's the name of it?"

"Night at the Museum," I said.

"Right," she laughed. "That's it. We can also have lunch in Central Park, then take the subway to see Julliard, and the famous wax museum. We'll have a wonderful time."

Damon stepped close to our mother and whispered, "Thanks, Mom. Here. Take this for everything you're going to do today."

He handed her a wad of rolled up money. It didn't surprise me. He probably compelled a bank teller or something.

"Oh, Damon," she playfully slapped his shoulder. "I don't need your money. Andrew charitably decided that he was paying for everything today, and we don't have a budget."

I practically saw dollar signs take the place of Caroline's pupils, and this just gave me another reason to question whether Andrew Ross was good for Mom. What did he do to make so much? Damon gave her a surprised look, as if he couldn't believe that his money was just denied by his own mother. I'm sure he felt that it made him look like a fool.

He quickly turned around and handed the wad to Caroline conspicuously, "Here—just in case, but you better share with Elena."

"Of course," she smiled and kissed him under his jaw, for she couldn't quite reach his lips. He smirked to himself, but I saw.

"Alright, little brother," he said. "Time to head out and let the ladies have some female fun."

I kissed mom on her cheek, "Thanks for doing this."

"Anytime," she said as she patted my shoulder. "I'd ruffle your hair, but you look like you worked hard on it."

I rolled my eyes.

I noticed that Caroline had wrapped her arms around Damon's neck in an obvious embrace, and Damon looked like he didn't know whether to push her away or hug her back. He chose the latter, though, and wrapped his arms around her small waist and pulled her close to him while giving her a lingering kiss.

I gave Elena a quick peck on the lips, "I'll see you tonight. I love you."

"I love you, too," she replied with a smile.

I exited the house feeling weary. The last time I was in a morgue, I regretted it. Actually, it wasn't really a morgue, but the basement of a funeral home. Morgues were cold and gray with dead bodies in metal drawers with identification tags wrapped around their toe. New York had a lot of morgues, and they had more people in them than the one in Mystic Falls.

Damon exited the house after me, and as we were attempting to hail a cab on the sidewalk, I figured I'd take a jab at him.

"Public display of affection, now?" I questioned. "That doesn't seem like a 'friends with benefits' kind of thing to me."

"Well," he smirked, "she performed better last night than I thought she would. It was more of a reward. Don't think too much on it, little brother."

"No need," I laughed. "I'm not the one in denial. I know what I saw. There's no need to try and see it for anything more than it was."

"Whatever," he scoffed. "We have to find out which morgue this Anna girl is in."

"Where do you suppose we do that?" I asked.

"Easy," he said. "The police station."

***…

Damon had compelled his way through filling out paperwork and was granted access to an officer who handled the Anna girl's case. He was introduced to a woman with mocha-colored skin and a desk nametag of Tia Soraya.

"What can I do for you boys?" she asked in a no-nonsense voice while continuing to look at her paperwork on her desk.

"Hello, ma'am," Damon said with some southern charm. "I'm Damon Salvatore, and this is my brother, Stefan. We're here for information about the Anna girl that was on the news."

She looked up immediately, "What do you know?"

"Well, you see, Officer Soraya," Damon began, "we're actually wanting to get information on her rather than give it."

"Are you close family of hers?" she said with a raised eyebrow.

"Not exactly," he said.

"Then I can't help you," she said as she went back to looking at her papers. "The case is confidential, and unless you have permission from her mother, we cannot disclose any information about Anna."

Damon grabbed her hand so she looked up, "Tell us what morgue she's at."

He was using compulsion.

I felt a zing through the air, and Damon let go of her hand and grabbed his head while grunting in pain.

The officer smiled.

"Dammit," he said. "Are all you beautiful, dark-skinned women witches? Your last name isn't even Bennett."

"There are more witches than those with the last name of Bennett," she replied, "and secondly, my maiden name is Bennett. I'm married to a Soraya."

I sat down at another chair at her desk so I was facing her, "Look ma'am. We're not trying to harm the case in any way. Actually, we're pretty new at this supernatural stuff, and while I can't speak for my brother, I can say that I didn't choose vampirism for myself. I'm a native of New York, but my ancestors are from a small town in Virginia called Mystic Falls. It's where I've been living for the past few months, and I met a young witch named Bonnie. Do you know her?"

"She's my niece," Officer Soraya said.

"Well," I said. "She's a wonderful friend. I saw the newscast yesterday at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. We're here on a vacation that my brother's girlfriend won tickets for. I'm here with my girlfriend, Elena."

From the ground I heard Damon grumble, "She's not my girlfriend."

"Elena's your girlfriend?" she asked. Her eyebrows rose. "I thought she'd have known better, what with her father being a member of the council and all."

"I was her boyfriend before I was turned," I said. "I'm telling you this because I hope you'll at least trust me, if not my brother. I know witches have good intuition."

I'd continued to tell her the story about how I came to Mystic Falls for Katherine's funeral and about how Elena was her doppelganger. I told her about how Elena didn't believe that it was simply a car accident that killed her family and that I'd said I'd help her private investigation, which led to us finding out about vicious animal attacks just like the one with Anna, which weren't vicious animals at all, but actually vampires. I told her about Katherine, and that she'd turned us and that I'd killed her, but it was quite possible that she had little helpers in the city she'd created. I told her everything.

"…I know that it'd be hard to believe at all, and what I just said could get me locked up in an asylum for the rest of my existence, but I have no reason to lie to you," I finished. "Like I said, we're simply trying to help. I know what chaos I went through in Virginia, and I'd hate for it to be released on a big city like this."

"Being a supernatural creature myself," she pondered, "I can say that I don't doubt you. I believe you, Stefan Salvatore, so I'll tell you that Anna Yung is at the morgue on seventy-second, but you didn't find out from me."

"Thank you so much, Officer Soraya," I said as I rose. "Come on, Damon."

She gave me her card, and I put it in my back pocket.

Damon gave her one last look of hatred before exiting the offices and exiting the station out of the waiting room.

"So, the morgue on seventy-second street," I said to myself. "Here we go again."