Chapter ten

Caroline looked around the gym and nodded. "It looks great." She said being civil to Rebecca who had taken up the slack in her absence.

"No thanks to you." She said. "Where have you been?"

"If you must know I was helping take care of a mess your family made last night." Caroline said with a tight smile.

"Whatever it was Stefan and Damon were going on about, my family had nothing to do with it. We have no reason to go after Elena any longer. She's no longer the doppelganger. She means nothing to us." Rebecca could only wish that were so, then her brother would be willing to leave instead of hovering to make sure the girl was alright.

"It wasn't Elena that was attacked. It was Alex. Kol told them that she was going to die just as the attack was beginning. An attack made by vampires infected with necromancer poison. Now you tell me how your family wasn't involved."

Rebecca frowned. "I swear I knew nothing of that. I have nothing against Alex. Don't really care one way or the other. Well, except to pity her for being the latest Elena replacement. I don't know what Kol may or may not have known. But I knew nothing of it."

Caroline looked her over a moment. "I believe you." She said. "So where do you need me?" She looked around the gym, waiting to be directed.

Rebecca smiled. She knew better than to trust her, she had made that mistake with Elena and wound up with a stake in the back for her trouble. But that didn't mean that she didn't appreciate the moment.

The last of the decorations went up quickly, Caroline might let Rebecca take the lead, but she was still very much a perfectionist. She micromanaged the details until they met with her satisfaction. She hurried home to change clothes. She wore black. Not because it would make her stand out in a sea of traditional valentine colors but because of Tyler. It was valentine's day and all she could think about was Tyler and how much she missed him.

Alexandra woke to the heady scent of night blooming Jasmine. She smiled and sat up, bracing herself against the headboard. The room was filled with Jasmine, magnolia and Gardenia bouquets. "Thank you. They're beautiful."

He stopped fiddling with his tie and came to sit on the edge of the bed. "Happy valentines day." He told her.

"I love you." She told him.

He kissed her gently. "I have something for you." He said instead of answering her in kind. He produced an old fashioned wooden jewelry box, rosewood with ivory inlay.

"It's beautiful." Even without knowing the inlay for what it was she could tell that it was an antique. The level of craftsmanship was amazing, the well worn smooth surface that only came from years of being used and loved. She opened the box and within was a locket. It was made of marcasite , on the surface was a fleur de lis, thin slivers of bone forming the petals. "oh Damon."

He smiled. They had met in Baton Rouge. It seemed the right choice. He opened it for her. Within was a photograph that had been taken not long after they had come together. They weren't lovers yet but they had been posing and at the insistence of their 'friends' had taken the picture.

"You still have it?"

He grinned. "No, now you do. At least this copy." He then showed her a well hidden button, and pressed it. A panel on the inside of the lid of the locket opened. A rust colored substance was contained behind a film of glass. It had obviously been made to house a secret picture. Now it housed a sample of his blood.

"You're sure?" She asked, knowing all too well what he was giving her.

"I'm sure. " He said and caressed her cheek.

"Help me put it on?" She leaned forward and he moved behind her, fastening the necklace for her. "It's perfect. "

Stefan opened the safe in what had once been Zack's study. He reached past the papers to retrieve the ring box sitting at the back of the safe. He opened it and looked at the wedding rings inside, then drew a deep almost shuddering breath. He removed the men's ring and put it back in the safe. He didn't think he could make himself wear his father's wedding ring. Maybe Damon would want to one day but he doubted that his brother would want to anymore than he did, even if the reasons were different.

Elena had gone home to change for the dance. He went upstairs to check on his brother and Alex before leaving to pick her up. He stopped outside the door and smiled. He smelled the room long before he had gotten there. Gardenia and Jasmine. Their mother's favorite flowers, and the scent she used to wear. He had never given those flowers to Katherine, or any to Elena.

He remembered that their father said that their mother spoiled Damon too much. It had been a point of contention between their parents. One that Stefan had to admit he had resented. Damon had been their mothers favorite and he supposed , looking back on it, their father had given more affection to Stefan because of that. If you could honestly call it affection.

He watched the couple. She reached up to fix Damon's tie, wiped at a bit of shaving cream hidden just under his jaw. He didn't stay to watch any longer. Alex was fine and Damon was dressing for the dance. That was all he needed to know.

He had begun to doubt Bonnie, but no more. This wasn't the Damon he knew. Damon was an emotional thunderstorm. White hot bursts of lightning, dark swirling thunderheads, updrafts, downdrafts sometimes leading to a whirlwind of destruction. Even with Katherine it had been one intense reaction after another. Becoming a vampire had not lessened his intensity, it had increased it. So his love for Elena was much the same.

The romance with Alexandra was different. He appeared content; he lacked the same intensity he threw at the other women and at him. He lacked his usual insecurity or paranoia, until she was threatened in anyway and then the old Damon resurfaced and burned bodies on their rival's door.

He knew what it was like to have his will taken from him. The idea of it having happened to Damon of all people horrified him. His brother had always been larger than life, whether he was his protector as he had been when Stefan had been a child, as a soldier with a brilliant mind for tactics and battle, or as his tormentor after he had become a vampire. Part of that was having a will of iron that even their father couldn't break. His brother must be going mad inside, having that taken from him so completely.

Stefan needed to talk to Bonnie. He had no doubt now that she was correct, but he couldn't have her putting Damon at risk to get rid of Alexandra. Using Emily had put Damon at risk. If they pushed too hard the couple would simply leave town and he would be lost to them forever. His brother had been lost to him for far too long already. They had to be careful and they had to act soon.

He pushed those thoughts aside as he drove to Elena's . He didn't want this night clouded by his concern and fear for his brother. He wanted this night to be perfect for her. Should he ask before the dance? After the dance? As he said goodnight and kissed her? He didn't know. In his short life and comparatively long afterlife he had never asked anyone to marry him before. Stefan was nervous as he knocked on her door.

It was Jeremy that opened the door. "Hey man, come on in, she's almost ready… I think. Anyway I'm off to work. See ya later."

Stefan laughed. "Yeah, take it easy." He said entering the house and closing the door behind him.

"Jeremy? Are you still here?" Elena called from upstairs. "I need your help."

Stefan hurried up the stairs.

"Jer?" She called out again.

"He just left. Can I help?" Stefan asked leaning against her door frame.

She looked over her shoulder, smiling. "Sure, I can't get the zipper"

He stepped closer, and undid the zipper a little to get it uncaught before zipping it the rest of the way. "you look beautiful" he told her. Truth was she took his breath away. But then so had Katherine. How much of their love for this woman was based on the memories of Katherine? He shook the mood. He had spent too much time in introspection and analysis of Damon's motives. That was all. He loved Elena for Elena. Not because she looked like Katherine. If he had really wanted Katherine he would be with her.

"Thank you." She said smiling warmly and turned to slide her arms around his waist. "So do you think our Dance Karma will hold up? Should we find someplace to hide the vervain grenades?" she teased.

He laughed softly "I think we'll be fine." He told her, although the mention of their ill fated dance history he made the decision to ask now rather than later. Something would come up later and plans would be derailed. He took her by the hand and led her down the stairs and outside. They could be a little late to the dance.

"Where are we going?" She asked as he drove.

"I have a surprise." He told her smiling. "And no I'm not going to tell you what it is."

"Really." She said smiling, although her smiles turned to a look of confusion as he parked near the Wickery Bridge. "Why are we here?"

"I think it's time to break the curse of this place." He said as he got out and took a cue from his older brother, going to open her door for her and help her out of the car. " I know this place has unpleasant memories for you. But this is the place I first saw you." He said as he walked her to the middle of the bridge. "It was here that you came back to me forever." Stefan caressed her face gently and kissed her before dropping down to one knee.

Elena's eyes opened wide and she felt her heart leap into her throat. Her hand went to her face as he brought out the ring box from his pocket. She was nodding yes before he could even get the words out.

"Elena… I love you. I have from the moment I first laid eyes on you, and it's only grown since then. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, whether that's one year or a thousand, I want you at my side. Will you be my wife?"

"Yes." She told him, "Stefan yes." Elena held out her left hand for him to put the antique ring on her finger. "I love you, so much."

He rose from the ground and her arms went instantly around his neck. He closed his around her waist and lifted her off the ground. "I love you." He told her as he spun with her. "I've never loved anyone as much as you."

Meredith entered the bedroom carrying a tray. "I know that I'm not who you really want to be spending this evening with but I figured we may as well enjoy it anyway. I don't know about you but I am a huge fan of cheese cake ."

"ooh I love cheese cake." She said sitting up and putting a pillow behind her back. "I understand you helped take care of me last night. Thank you."

Meredith smiled. "You're welcome." She said, setting the bed tray between them and poured cups of tea to go with the cheese cake. "I have to ask. How long have you known Damon?"

"Since shortly after he was turned." She said. "He and Stefan had just parted ways rather violently. He never gave me the details of that and I never asked. He was posing as a man named Charles Dunham. I had been hired to summon one of the Dunham's relatives from the grave. He'd neglected to tell them where the family fortune was hidden away. "

(1864

Damon was escorted into the formal dining room at the exactly seven o'clock. He was a punctual man. Fashionably late only counted when it would irritate his father. His father was not a concern any longer.

"Welcome Cousin." He was greeted by Elizabeth Dunham. "I can see your mother in you. I was sorry to hear of her passing."

"Thank you." Damon said, clasping the older woman's hands in his in a display of warm and appreciation. "It is good to finally meet you." He said, silently implying that he had heard much.

"You will have to forgive Edward. He is always late. Personally I think it's because he would rather live in his study with his research unhindered by the lives of us mere mortals." She said laughing. "We have just learned to start without him. She led Damon to a chair between her seat at one end of the table and a lovely woman that Damon thought might make a nice after dinner snack if the chance arose.

"Charles Dunham, may I present Miss Alexandra Sauveterre." She said as she took her seat "she comes from one of New Orleans finest Acadian families. She is visiting with us for a time."

"It's my pleasure Miss Sauveterre." He said with the expected formality. She was beautiful, even though nothing like his beloved Katherine. Where Katherine was dark she was all aflame, with russet colored hair piled decorously on her head. Each curl courted the candle light from the table, and the flickering of light and shadow there drew his eyes.

"Mr. Dunham" She said and nodded her head to him, and smiled. There was none of Katherine's quick and impudent flirtation, but he could see that she was not displeased by the way his eyes lingered for just a little too long to be entirely polite, before allowing the hostess to continue the introductions around the room. )

"Could you tell that he was a vampire? Is that something necromancers do? I'm sorry if I'm too nosy. Just tell me to shut up. It's the scientist in me. Always questioning." Meredith said.

"I don't mind. I've been feeling out of place midst all the teen-aged girls. I'm grateful for another woman to talk to." Alexandra admitted "And no I can't recognize a vampire at first glance. Especially not when they are doing their best to pose as human. I didn't realize he was a vampire until he bit me." She said with a faint laugh.

"He bit you?" Meredith asked, nearly choking on her tea. "I know that shouldn't surprise me. It's Damon, but still, that wouldn't make me want to be someone's best friend much less his lover."

"Oh we didn't start out as friends at all."

( 1864

Damon loved dancing. He hadn't always. Initially he had learned it merely because his mother had insisted and it annoyed his father for so much attention to be paid to such an unmanly act. Then he had awakened one day and found that he rather enjoyed the thought of holding a woman in his arms and had begun to learn as much as he could about the waltz as well as the elegant line dances that were the staple of formal balls in Mystic Falls.

It had served him well in his military career. His father had bought his commission for him. Damon however had made the right connections to further that career by wooing young women on the dance floor, whose father would then want to talk to him privately. He had gotten more than one elevation in rank because of fathers angling for a son in law with a successful military career and a healthy inheritance waiting at home.

Now he was dancing with Miss Alexandra Sauveterre and he was certain he had met his match. "You dance beautifully." He told her. It felt good to mix with the humans. He had listened to the vampires Stefan had taken up with talk about how it was a bad idea to mix and mingle. He didn't care. They were idiots. Older, more experienced perhaps but they were idiots. Stefan especially was an idiot. He was determined to continue mingling. As long as he could pretend to be Charles Dunham he had a place to stay and people to pretend to be human with.

"Thank you." She told him, smiling up at him. She'd been smiling most of the evening and knew that she had to stop letting herself be distracted by this excessively handsome man. She liked him. This was all the more reason not to become involved with him or to even entertain the notion of becoming involved with him. It was dangerous and not just for herself.

That's what she told herself as he whirled her around the dance floor in a Viennese Waltz. That's what she told herself when he brought her a glass of punch and sat beside her while she caught her breath after several such dances. It was what she told herself when he asked if she would do him the honor of a walk about the gardens.

What she told him was yes.

She let him help her on with her wrap, and took his offered arm to lead her outside. The Dunham's property was expansive and offered walking trails through the gardens with many secluded nooks.

They talked as they walked, surprisingly about things that mattered including the war. He even mentioned that he had served for a time but relinquished his commission on moral grounds. He was surprised that she didn't think him a coward.

"Death is never something to take lightly." She told him, "Whether it be an elderly spinster alone in her parlor or an enemy on the battlefield screaming in pain and terror. It cant be avoided or evaded or defeated. Such a foe should never be disrespected."

The sound of her heart beat was driving him mad. He could hear it coursing through her veins in a slow and steady almost hypnotic rhythm. He wanted to kiss her but not as much as he wanted to drown in her blood. "Oh I don't know. I didn't find it so difficult to defeat." He said pulling her to him and lowering his fangs into her soft cream color flesh.

It was sweet, like ripe berries and honeysuckle much as he had expected… and then the aftertaste flooded his mouth. "Vervain?!" he exclaimed, stumbling backwards as the world started to spin.

"You bit me!" she said, plunging the bone blade into his stomach. " I was going to let you kiss me. And you bit me!"

Those were the last words he heard as he lost consciousness. )

"Do you still take vervain?" She asked.

"Oh yes, among other things. " Alexandra told her.