.

You know where I'm coming from

Though I am running to you

All our feelings deny, deny, denial, oh

I wanted to be a better brother, better son

Wanted to be a better adversary to the evil I have done

I have none to show to the one I love

But deny, deny, denial, oh

Help me polarize, help me polarize, help me down

Those stairs is where I'll be hiding all my problems

Help me polarize, help me polarize, help me out

My friends and I, we got a lot of problems

Polarize - twenty one pilots

A.N.: First of I'd like to thank everyone that reviewed, favorited or followed the story. As I'm sure that every single one of you is aware - and if you're not, now you are - that means the world to the authors, after all we do write for you guys (since I can't really speak for everyone, I can say that I do). So yeah, thank you. It means the world to me and it's always great knowing that someone is enjoying what I write and it does motivate me to write better (and faster, haha). Second, whoa, it took a while but I can't believe that we finally reached the 10th chapter! And the second season! So yeah, cookies (or pies or ice cream, whatever strikes you fancy - 'cause you know... Choice is important) for everyone!

Anyway, I do hope you enjoy this one even with the angst that does go down :3. Feel free to share you thoughts, I do love to hear from you guys.

Amelia didn't really know what she was supposed to do or feel. She felt every bit the melodramatic teenager that people expected her to be. Was she? When had life become so strange? She snorts as if she wasn't speaking to herself, in her mind, but as if she had reacted to something someone had said. Her life had become strange the moment vampires had entered it. If she was being completely honest, maybe if had been strange before. People had accused her of a lot of things over the years, being normal had never exactly been one of them. She was digressing, she exhales loudly as she tries to find a comfortable position on her bed. Yes, digressing. The point wasn't if her life was strange or not. The point was: what was she supposed to do now? She'd do almost anything to have someone tell her the answer. To point her to the right path… What was the right thing to do? Should she stop thinking? Should she think more? Was there even a fucking right answer?

She presses her hands hard on the sides of her head, right above her ears, partially due frustration and hoping that the pressure would give her something else to focus on. If she focused hard enough she could hear her internal music: the blood pumping, the sound of the air leaving her nose, the odd sound - or lack of - that resembled an echo... Someone screeching. She jolts from the bed with her heart beating loudly almost as if it was no longer in her chest but right next to her ears. She grabs the lamp above her nightstand, giving a harsh tug to the wire so it wasn't no longer connected to the wall and so that she could be armed. She really needed to invest in a weapon, something like a bat.

She cautiously opens the door, being careful to look to either side of the small corridor. Jeremy's door was closed and so was Elena's, there was no light coming from either room. She takes small steps as her gaze trails around the walls trying to find something out of place, something that could give her a hint of what was going on. The sound had definitely came from downstairs, it was also the only place in which the lights were lit. She promised herself that if this was a prank or some sort of gimmick to make her speak with someone, she'd beat down the offender to a bloody pulp. Knowing her luck, however, something bad was going down...

The makeshift weapon falls down once she enters the kitchen. John was lying down bleeding and a knife was right next to him. His eyes were open and his breaths were harsh and short.

"What the," she mumbles as she kneels next to him. "Okay, okay. You're gonna live to fuck us over another day."

She hastily grabs the phone as she presses her hand above his. His gaze was fixed on hers, almost unblinking. Part of her was sure that she was seeing him die, her last memory of him would be him bleeding to death in her cousins - cousin and sister? - kitchen. She tries to control her shaking hand as she presses the buttons.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"I need an ambulance to 2104 Maple Street," she shutters.

There was another sound, she was no longer paying attention to whatever the woman was telling her. The door front door opened and she could faintly hear steps. She stops pressuring John's abdomen, sharing one last look with him before dropping the phone. She was still squatting on the floor, trying to make herself as small as possible.

"Jeremy, Amelia? You guys up?"

Relief floods over her. She couldn't care in the least that hours ago she wanted to wring her cousin... sister... Elena's neck. "In the kitchen. John's been-"

Elena ran to the kitchen and once she appeared John grabbed her hand. "Don't trust." He was fidgeting, trying to move.

"What happened?"

For someone that had been stabbed, his grip on her hand was surprisingly strong. "I don't know. Found him like this."

Elena squatted next to her, grabbing a table cloth. "Have you called-"

"Of course." She was offended with the question. "I'm not an idiot, contrary to popular belief."

"I didn't mean-"

"Behind you," John exclaims as he grips tighter her hand. Both the girls look back but there was nothing there.

"Jeremy, where's Jeremy?" Elena was in a frenzy looking around as she tried to spot whatever John had seen.

Amelia looks to John and once again his eyes where fixed on hers. "Careful," he whispers with cost. "It's never what it seems."

"Can you be less cryptic?"

Elena jolts from the kitchen. "You stay with him I'll check on Jeremy," she instructs as she leaves the kitchen.

Amelia wanted to yell at her, she wanted to ask who the fuck had said she was in charge or why the fuck she was telling her what to do... but that wouldn't help. Instead she grabbed the cloth and pressed her other hand above his, trying to keep the pressure on his wound. "Goddamnit. You can't die by someone else's' hands."

There was a hint of a smile on his lips. "I'm sorry-"

"Fuck no," she mumbles with her voice slightly breaking. "Save it. No dead bed speeches."

"Kitchen floor," he corrects. "You have to." There was a pause in which he merely exhaled loudly clenching his jaw and closing his eyes. "Look after them. Look after them."

She shakes her head. She thought that she hated the man but honestly she felt like crying. This wasn't the way he should go down. Not after the last thing that had happened was him leaving her inside a burning building... People can't just leave others in a burning building and then pull this shit. Dead bed pleads, fuck that. "They're coming," she says instead of replying to his request. "You're gonna be alive to fuck us over again."

Elena yells when she tries to get up John grips on her hand. "Don't. Garb that knife, stab whoever comes." She scoffs. The blood loss was making him more insane than usual. "Listen to me. Grab that knife."

The intensity of his gaze made her obey. She grabs the knife and holds it tightly. "Wanna tell me who attacked you buddy?"

"Katherine."

The world stopped suddenly. She blinks as her gaze is locked in John's. His eyes would sometime sweep over the room before looking to her again. He was still holding her hand and she mid-way realized that she was in shock. The guy bleeding on the floor, well, not guy... her estranged dad whose plans had almost resulted in her death was comforting her... somewhat. You're doing fine. Just hold that knife. He'd tell her soothingly time from time. If she wasn't so out of her mind, she'd laugh. Damon's Katherine was in town and had stabbed John... She had access to their house. Wait. How had she access to the house?

Everything barely register in her brain. The paramedics came, they urged her to drop the knife which she didn't... well, not immediately. John was the one that made her drop it, he told her that they were safe. She was still sitting on the ground, a middle aged man was touching her... flashing a light on her eyes, trying to see if she had been harmed. Elena was somewhere around telling them that Amelia was fine. John had been placed in a stretcher before leaving he told her to not trust anyone. It was the very first time she took his words to heart.

She looks to Elena. She was next to Stefan. When had he come in? "Jeremy?"

"Upstairs," Elena told her gently. "You okay?"

She ignores her question and gets up, swatting away the hand that Stefan had offered her. "Was he... attacked?"

"No." Elena looked worried. "He... he tried to kill himself to turn into a vampire."

That was the moment that her mind broke or rather, snapped like an elastic that had been stretched too far. She burst into laughter, almost falling to the ground - well, she would have indeed fallen if Stefan hadn't swooped in and grabbed her - clutching to her stomach as tears well up in her eyes. Oh god, the world made no sense. "Have I lost my mind or everyone lost it?" Stefan was still holding her as he exchanged worried looks with Elena. "Oh, we're all mad here, right?" She wasn't talking to anyone in special and her gaze was slightly unfocused.

"Amelia..."

She reigns her urge to laugh and cry as she looks to Stefan. "I'm okay, I'm okay," she repeats as she tries to step out of his hands. "We were speaking about Jeremy."

Elena nods giving the go ahead to Stefan remove his hands from Amelia's waist. She runs her bloodied hands down her pants trying to calm down her frenzied nerves. "He's upstairs. I'll fill you in and I'll leave to the hospital." While Elena spoke, she thought how ridiculous it was the fact that she still didn't know how to remove blood stains from her clothes... Would she have to throw it away now? And just how many clothes had she threw away due blood stains since moving to this town?

Elena was frowning. "Amelia?"

She blinks. Right, they were speaking. Elena had told her that she was going to the hospital. She raises an eyebrow. "With Johnny?"

"I also need to check on Caroline." Amelia furrows her eyebrows. Caroline? Seeing the confusion in Amelia's face makes Elena sigh. "Long story... I don't even know it myself."

"Okay." She notices that Stefan was closer to her than of her cousin... sister… Elena. Hell, she had to figure out the family relation that was appropriated. Was she her cousin or sister? What did she wanted Elena to be?

Stefan exhales loudly breaking her out of her trance. "I already checked on him. He hasn't turned."

"Yes," Elena confirms. "Stefan will stay here with you and him."

She raises an eyebrow. "What if I wanna go to the hospital?"

Elena frowns. "Amelia... you're..."

"I'm?" She challenges. "You're not the boss of me."

Stefan intervenes "She's trying to help."

There was a bitter smile on her lips. "It's all both of you ever do."

"This is not the time," Elena mutters as she crosses her arms over her chest. "Jeremy tried to kill himself, Caroline had an accident and Uncle John... I mean, my father-"

"Our," Amelia corrects as she locks her gaze on Elena's. "Johnny is also my daddy, remember?"

"Amelia," Stefan pleads. "I know you're unhappy-"

Amelia scoffs. "That's putting it mildly. I'm done talking now."

Elena sighs sharing a look with Stefan as Amelia walked straight into Jeremy's room. "Go, I'll watch over them."

"Is it really okay?"

He pecks her lips. "Go."

Elena glances to Jeremy's room before nodding and kissing Stefan. "Thank you."

Stefan nods again before walking to the bedroom. Amelia and Jeremy weren't speaking and he wondered what exactly was going on. While he had told Elena that she should go, he had heard Jeremy asking Amelia what had happened but she hadn't given him any reply. She was leaning against the wall as she ran her hands down her face in either frustration or as a nervous tick. Jeremy wasn't no longer sitting on the bed and was now next to her, trying to see if any of the blood on her clothes belonged to her without touching her. His guess was that the girl must have slapped his hands away.

"It's not hers," Stefan informs him as he ignores the glare she sent his way.

Jeremy furrows his eyebrows. "What happened?" First he looked to her then to Stefan - when he realized that she wasn't speaking. She was biting down her bottom lip as she once again ran her hands down her pants.

"John was attacked." Stefan looks to Amelia and sees her as she rubs her hands together. "She was there."

Jeremy was alarmed now. "What? Are you okay?"

"We-"

Amelia scoffs interrupting Stefan. "You care buddy?"

Both look to her with a frown. "Amelia that's harsh," Stefan tells her gently.

"Of course I do," Jeremy says at the same time.

She ignores both of them. "Why did you do it?"

"Amelia," Stefan says almost warningly. He knew that an argument on that moment wouldn't help either of them and pressing Jeremy wouldn't help. It could even make everything worse. They had enough problems as it was.

She moves her attention to him. She crosses her arms over her chest and raises her chin almost defiantly. "Last I checked your name wasn't Jeremy. It's Stefan and occasionally Elena but not Jeremy. You're not invited to this conversation."

Jeremy exchanges looks with them. Amelia looked and was acting far angrier than he had expected. "I wanted to flip the switch," he confesses. "I wanted to feel nothing at all."

He had expected her to yell at him, maybe even hit him...instead she started laughing hysterically. She almost slides down the wall in her fit of laughter and before he could make it next to her - trying to prevent her from hurting herself - Stefan was already there holding her. The laughs stop as she slaps his hands away. He watched as the scoff on her face deepened when Stefan took longer than she wanted to let go of her, opting to make sure she wouldn't tumble down as soon as he let go.

"Don't touch me," she mutters. Even if Jeremy couldn't say that he exactly knew the guy, he could see that her harsh tone had hurt him. Her attention moves to Jeremy. "Okay, we need to have a talk."

His posture stiffens. He had already had heard enough from his sister and her boyfriend - or should he say babysitter? - he didn't need his cousin telling him off too. "I don't need-"

"Fuck what you think you need," she screams. "The fuck were you thinking?"

Stefan touches her shoulder gently trying to attract her attention. "This isn't the time," he advises.

"I'm not talking to you," she informs him with a glare. "I'm talking to my cousin." She turns her attention to him. "Answer me Jeremy. What the fuck where you thinking? Would it have made it all better?"

Jeremy groans. "You don't understand."

There was a bitter smile on her face. "Apparently I never fucking do," she chides. "I'm must be like the dumbest person ever."

"Amelia," Stefan mumbles.

She ignores him as she takes a few steps in Jeremy's direction. "I get it Jeremy, I do. What Elena did was fucked up." She doesn't pause to look to Stefan and she continues before he had a chance to defend her. "She had no right messing with your memories as much as you as you had no right blame it on me too." Jeremy widens his eyes and opens his mouth to dispute her words since he felt like she was being unreasonable. "Or even like you had no right to ignore me on the past weeks and dump this shit on me like I've killed your fucking puppy. You knew I had been compelled not to tell you. I wanted to, I did. But I couldn't."

He groans, his annoyance surpassing the shock of having Amelia telling him off. "I've read everything Amelia. Even before you were compelled you didn't try to tell me."

She nods making him furrows his eyebrows, he had expected her to deny. "Yeah. I thought it was crazy, fuck for a while there I wished I didn't know. I wanted to pretend it didn't. I think it was on the day that Vicky turned that I finally realized that playin' pretend would get me killed." She narrows her eyes. "I wanted you to know so you could look out, for your protection. And maybe Elena was right. I mean, just look at the fucking mess you did. You tried to kill yourself to turn into a vampire as if it would make any of this shit easier."

"Are you fucking serious?"

Stefan places himself between the pair fearing that a fight would erupt. "Both of you need to calm down."

She ignores him. "Yeah, I'm fucking serious. I don't agree with what they did. But clearly your sister knows you better than I. I thought you could handle it. This." she gestures around his room. "This is not handling it." She runs her hands down her pants again, she felt like they were still bloodied. She could almost still feel John's blood there. "Committing suicide Jeremy? How would my mom react if she found your fucking body? What if that shit didn't work? What if you just died?"

Stefan was frozen in place not knowing what the best course of action would be. If he should take Amelia away or let her be. "I didn't…" Jeremy mumbles with his eyes widen.

"'Course you didn't you selfish ass. And yeah, you think they're all bad because they hid the truth but what you did today makes me wonder if it wasn't the right decision."

He groans loudly. "You're pissed at them too! Why you're defending them all of the sudden?"

"Just because they're idiots and do fucked up shit doesn't mean that they don't have good points," she narrows her eyes as she continues. "I disagreed with Elena, I hoped that you could at least understand that. I had no clue that Stefy here had been the killer." She gestures behind her, vaguely pointing in Stefan's direction. "Nor that Damon had also messed with my mind. I thought you'd be able to deal with this, granted I also didn't know she was dead at the time. Clearly I knew shit. And you know what. Do you really want to be a vampire Jeremy? Do you really want to flip your switch and feel better? You'd be a vampire with no humanity your next meal could be me or mom. Brilliant plan Jeremy. Brilliant plan." She claps her hands. She then stops and frowns. "You can't forgive us but truth is, I can't forgive any of you either..."

He looked hurt and slightly ashamed. Stefan was also tense. "Millie."

"Don't fucking Millie me. Jeremy you dumped this shit on me 'cause you were angry, in a twisted way you wanted to make them pay for what they did to you and even make me pay-"

"No, it wasn't-"

She scoffs. "I've read enough of my mom's shit to have a grasp of how the mind works. And you know that's the truth or else you've told me right when you discovered it. Instead you decided to wallow in grief and anger. This is the result. A failed suicide attempt, a vampire body guard and a pissed off cousin." She sighs. "And fuck, we're all hypocrites here. They lied to me and I'm pissed, but, I lie daily to my mother. The one time she lies I can't forgive her." She laughs again. This time it wasn't like before, this time it sounded broken. It ended with a sound that sounded suspiciously like a sob. She takes a deep breath of air before continuing, "I'm a fucking hypocrite and this fucking hypocrite is done."

"Amelia," Jeremy mumbles as he takes a tentative step in her direction.

She raises her hands making him stop on his tracks. "I need a bath. I got daddy's blood all over me and I want it gone."

He looks to her confused. "What?"

She glances in Stefan's direction. "He'll fill you in in what you missed while you stopped speaking with me." She pauses right before leaving the room and looks to Stefan. "Kathy is in town. She was the one that stabbed John."

He was alarmed. "What? Katherine?"

"Yeah."

Jeremy glances to them. "Who's Kathy?"

"Stefy's and Damon's ex." She then sighs, fiddling her fingers a bit. Her tone of voice drops a few octaves, "You'll warn him or should I?"

He frowns. This wouldn't end well but it wasn't like he could hide it from his brother. "I'll take care of it." She nods before leaving the room.

Jeremy had his arms crossed over his chest. "I want to hear everything."

"I know." Jeremy narrows his eyes. "You will, it would be for the best if we were all together when that happened."

Jeremy nods. "Alright, I'll wait. But you'll tell me."

He nods in agreement. "You know, Elena only wanted to protect you and Amelia never wanted to hide it from you in the first place. I don't think she'll let it pass a second time."

"So I've been told." When Stefan raises an eyebrow Jeremy scoffs. "I spoke with Damon, one thing you all seem to be forgetting. I know her way better than all of you."

Amelia's shower had been longer than she had intended. For a while she just stood still letting the water wash out the blood. It occurred to her that it was her second shower, wait... was it? She sighs, she could no longer remember if the day had ended and if this had been the start of a terrible day or the continuation of one. It wasn't like that fact really mattered, it was a fucked up day never the less. She also wondered where the hell Damon was, why hadn't he come to her? She had said she needed distance but he had never been one to listen, so why hadn't he come to her. Why hadn't he come to check if she was fine? Did he know what was happening?

Those thoughts slip out of her mind as she scrubs her hands again, she wanted to remove the image of being in the kitchen with John. Of him almost dying… But she had to hand it to him, he was way tougher than she had given him credit. She wondered why was she was so taken back with everything. In all honesty a few hours ago she had wished his death, but maybe she hadn't truly meant it. Well, it wasn't like worrying about it would do her any good.

She doesn't dress a new pajama, she had a feeling that the night - or was it day? - would be long. No one would most likely sleep any time soon. Before leaving the room she glances to the bloody clothes she had discarded in the bathroom wondering what the hell was she supposed to do with them. She was too tired to properly think, so she leaves her bedroom knowing that coffee would make her feel a bit better.

Stefan was by Jeremy's door looking to her. "He's asleep." She nods as she walks past him. He follows her down the stairs. "Want me to make something for you?"

She raises an eyebrow. "No." She walks to the kitchen furrowing her eyebrows when she realizes that John's blood puddle was no longer there.

"I cleaned it," he informs her making her look to him. "Figured that you didn't want to see it." Despite the situation, despite the fact that she was beyond pissed off with him, she laughs. There was an uncertain smile on his lips. "Yes, I see the irony in it too."

"Fuck it, we're all mad here," she tells him as she picks up two cups. She glances to him, raising one of them silently asking him if he also wanted one. It was the least she could do after he cleaned the kitchen floor.

He nods. "I'm mad, you're mad." She looks curiously to him, a small smile playing on her lips. "Is it your favorite book?"

She nods. "Favorite character too." She laughs again. "But we are, aren't we?"

"Completely bonkers." The smile was tinged with sadness this time making him frown. "I know you're angry."

She shakes her head. "Can we not? I... I can't."

"But..."

She hands him the cup that was now filled with coffee. "You're being pushy." She points with her head to the cabinet. "Sugar's there."

He sighs as he moves to the cabinet to get sugar. "I know... I want to apologize for my part in it."

She snorts. "For killing Vicky, for hiding it or for watching me crash down and burn for it and not telling me you were the one that did it?"

"Everything but killing her," he admits with a frown. "She was... a risk... she lost control and-"

"I don't want explanations," she interrupts him glaring. "And I don't want to have this conversation."

He was about to say something else when the door opened. They exchange a look as he drops the cup on the counter and moves closer to her. When they see Elena they exchange another look. "How's Caroline?"

Elena frowns as she enters the kitchen. "Not good." She moves closer to him making Amelia take a few steps back and embraces him. "Just what I needed." She tilts her head upwards trying to kiss him.

However, Stefan already knew it wasn't Elena. He scoffs grabbing her by the neck and barring his fangs before throwing her over to the living room. "Katherine."

Amelia drops the cup unceremoniously on the ground and grabs the knife that she suspected that had been the one that had been used to stab John. Stefan sends her a warming glance as Katherine gets up, pausing to smooth her clothes. "What's with you boys today?" She sighs tiredly before smiling. Amelia was frozen in place, the resemblance was uncanny. "At least I fooled one of you," she mumbles before looking to Amelia. "You should drop that before you hurt yourself honey," she advises mockingly. That made Stefan rush over to her and pushes her against the wall furthering the distance between the two of them. "Oh Stefan, you used to be the gentle one." She grins before being pushed yet again to another wall. "If you don't stop your tantrum the girl will end up hurt."

"Leave her out of this," he shouts.

Katherine grins. "Relax, I'm just here to see how my boys are doing." She pushes him off her and quickly speeds away before he had a chance to grab her again. She stops right in front of Amelia. "Where's the snarkyness I've heard about?"

Stefan ends up tackling her to the ground. "Run," he shouts to Amelia.

"You shouldn't," Katherine advices. "I'm way faster and I will get you before he does," she promises with a grin on her lips.

He bashes her head against the floor. "What are you playing at?"

"I missed you?" she offers making him snarl. "Oh, this is seriously turning me on."

"Gross," Amelia mutters closing her eyes briefly. Katherine missed a few screws,

Katherine snorts as she flips positions with Stefan, being above him. "You gotta admit my boys are yummy." Amelia cringes at her words. "Who wouldn't want a piece of this?"

When the door opens for a second time, Katherine plants a kiss on Stefan's jaw before rushing away. "Stefan?"

At the same time Damon yells, "Amelia?" Damon got inside the kitchen faster than Elena. Amelia was still frozen against the counter with the knife on her hands. He frowns and tosses it away before scooping her in his arms. "I got you, I got you."

"I'm okay," she mumbles at the same time as she presses her head against the crook of his neck. "I'm okay."

Elena was also hugging Stefan as the brothers shared a look. "What happened?" Elena was now looking to both brothers.

"Katherine happened," Damon replies before giving Amelia one last squeeze. She was slightly trembling on his arms. "She didn't harm you, right? Stefan protected you?"

"Of course I did," Stefan mutters narrowing his eyes feeling insulted by his brother question. "She didn't try anything."

"Jeremy?"

Stefan looks to Elena and shakes his head. "She was here all the time."

"I'm gonna check on him."

Stefan glances to his brother. He was whispering soothing words into Amelia's ear. "I promised him we'd speak when we were all together. Maybe you should bring him down." Elena nods before going upstairs. Amelia was still in Damon's arms. He frowns at the sight. "Want me to make you another coffee?"

She raises her head and nods. "Please." She moves her attention to Damon. "You can put me down too."

He glowers but does as she asked. "I came as soon as Elena told me about... When we connected the dots."

"She said she fooled one of us, at least." He looks to Damon as he waits for the water to heat. "What does that mean?"

Damon groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. "She pretended to be Elena too when I showed up earlier tonight."

"Carbon copies," Amelia utters quietly. "I'm seriously creeped out."

"Yeah." Damon grunts. "Damnit."

The conversation didn't really evolved. While Stefan made her the coffee Damon took her to the living room. He was thankful that in spite of her being pissed off she was sitting next to him and that she was allowing him to touch her. When he was at the hospital and he realized that it Katherine the one he encountered when he left the Gilbert household he nearly lost his plot. Still, he should have figured it.

After his conversation with Amelia he had dropped by Jeremy's room to tell him the news of Anna's death. Sure, he did threaten the boy a bit. He wasn't happy with the fact that he had told Amelia he had messed with her mind and that she was now on the outs with him. Sure, he knew that it wasn't exactly the boy's fault. He knew, but it was way easier to blame it on the way that it had been retold to her. It was easier saying that if he had been the one to tell her, when the moment was right that things would be better - even if he was well aware that the perfect time to tell her had long passed. Fuck, he shouldn't have done it, period. And then he ran into to Jenna, who was asking all these questions of what had happened, why Amelia had come home with Alaric... He bullshitted his way through it, hinting that she was mad at him because of something he had said. Her reaction had surprised him. You need to fix it up with her, she needs you.

He was still amazed with her words – it wasn't every day that Jenna Sommers seemed to approve their friendship - that when he left and saw Elena that he didn't immediately connected the dots. First Elena hadn't outright asked him about Amelia, she just commented on how he had evolved. And fuck it, on that moment he had needed someone to vent so he told her that it had been long since the last time he truly cared about what was going on, that he hadn't been cut out to be the hero but that on that day, on that night... he really wanted to be one. To be better than himself. That he wanted to be more like his brother - only better looking and with a better sense of humor. That he wanted to be someone that would make people proud. When she tried to kiss him he just stepped away, told her no and reminded her that she was dating his brother. He asked her not to tell Stefan what she had tried to do, they didn't need that kind of problems. And Stefan was already fidgeting thinking that he wanted Elena and… no, he just wanted peace. Then he left to wallow in pity for fucking it up with Amelia. He couldn't forgive himself, he should have noticed that it was Katherine.

Jeremy sat next to Amelia, sharing a glance with Damon before settling his gaze on her. She was still silent and nobody really knew what the hell was going in her mind. She would occasionally run her hands down her legs or rub them together almost as if she was cold. Stefan hands her the cup of coffee smiling briefly before sitting next to Elena.

"So, who's gonna tell me what's going on?"

Damon groans and Stefan sighs at the same time. "Katherine Pierce," Damon says sharing a look with Stefan. "Our former girlfriend who looks exactly like your sister is in town."

Jeremy looks first to Elena and then to Amelia. "She was here?"

"Yeah. We don't know exactly why."

Damon scoffs at Stefan's words. "She's playing some game. If she wanted any of us dead she would have killed us. We aren't so she had other plans."

"What did happen when you thought she was Elena?"

Damon rolls his eyes. "Reign in the jealousy. We had a chat, heartwarming really," he mocks as he watches Stefan clench his fists. "And she tried to kiss me."

Elena jumps on her seat. "What? And you thought it was me?"

"What do you mean, tried to kiss you?"

He looks to both of them as if they were stupid. "You know, when lips pucker and they go." He makes kissing sounds. "But you know, without really going." Stefan vamp speeds to Damon and grabs him by the throat making Damon scoff. "For fucking sake, I said tried to kiss. We didn't!"

"Stefan," Elena calls out to him as she gets up.

"Stop it," Amelia shouts making everyone look at her. "You go sit down," she tells Stefan with her eyes narrowed slapping his hand. "And you don't provoke him. This isn't the time for you two to be measuring dicks."

"Amelia!" Elena mutters loudly appalled by her language.

"Get over it," she mumbles turning her attention to Jeremy, "This is what you missed. Teenager drama, deadly teenager drama, mind you."

Jeremy shares a look with them. Stefan was now next to Elena rubbing her back while Damon was rolling his eyes at it. "I can see that. What are we gonna do?"

Damon snorts. "You are not in the equation. You'll sit tight and let us deal with it."

"Don't speak with Jeremy like that." Elena narrows her eyes.

"What? You want to arm him with a stake and have him stalk the night with us for her?" Damon challenges her.

"He does raise a valid point. Katherine won't stop," Stefan says as he locks his eyes with his brother. The fact that he thought that he and Elena had tried to kiss him would be dealt with later. "She has access to the house."

"We move," Damon tells them with a grin.

"Helpful," Elena snaps. "Very helpful."

Amelia suddenly gets up. "Ames?"

She looks to Damon before looking to the rest of the people. "Look, I'm making an effort here. I'm pissed at every single one of you and here I am, sitting quietly give the circumstances I might add... Trying to be helpful in planning what we should do. However." Her voice was getting louder. "This doesn't seem like it's gonna work. So I'm gonna go."

"Amelia, please," Elena mumbles with a frown on her lips. "Let's just put all behind our backs."

Amelia grins. "How about no?"

"Can we at least focus on what we're gonna do?" Stefan looks to her pleadingly. "Be pissed all you want, but it's better if you-"

"I'll take care of her, don't you worry about it brother," Damon says harshly interrupting Stefan's speech.

Stefan snorts. "Right, you."

"Guys please," Elena mumbles as her hand warps itself around Stefan's bicep, trying to prevent him from attacking Damon.

As they bickered Jeremy looked to Amelia. She was looking to them tiredly. "It's always like this?"

"Yeah. Enough," she shouts. "Or we start planning or I'm really out."

Damon vamp-speeds to her and brings her back to the couch, sitting her on his lap. "What do we know?" She immediately slides down to her previous place ignoring the pout on his lips.

"She tried to kill John... Maybe he knows something."

Amelia frowns. "Johnny is a dick, she could have tried to kill him 'cause of that."

"What does Uncle John have to do with Katherine?"

Elena cleans her throat. "Uh, he's our dad... and my mom is connected with Katherine."

"Wait." He looks to Elena and then to Amelia. "You guys are sisters?"

"Yes."

Elena says at the same time as Amelia says, "No." She then sighs when she sees reprobation in both Elena's and Stefan's eyes. "Biologically. We're cousins. This doesn't exactly change things."

"And we don't know what she wanted with Uncle John?"

Stefan sighs. "John could know something through Isobel, it's the only link I see. She was in touch with Katherine so maybe we can go to the hospital and get him to talk."

Damon forces a loud laugh. "You guys are stupid if you think that's gonna work. We're talking about Katherine. She loves to play games and you're fooling yourselves if you think you're going to find out what she's been up to before she wants you to know."

"We have to do something." Elena crosses her arms over her chest.

"I've got an idea," Damon says smugly.

"What's that?"

Damon grins. "I'm just gonna ignore the bitch."

Elena frowns. "Is that smart?"

"If Katherine thinks she's been ignored it will lure her out, she'll make a move. We just have to cover out bases."

This time it was Stefan who snorted. "Yeah? And then what?"

"Stake her, rip her head off or something equally poetic." He gets up. "Let's go Ames."

She rolls her eyes. "Not going."

"She stays with us," Stefan confirms narrowing his eyes to Damon. "You'll end up provoking Katherine and Amelia is going to be the one on the receiving end of it."

Damon snarls, flashing his fangs. "Amelia is my responsibility. "He looks to her again extending his hand. "I'm just gonna ask one more time nicely and then I'll take you with me."

Stefan flashes in front of him, shielding Amelia from Damon's view. "If she doesn't want to go, she won't."

"Guys, please," Elena pleads. "This doesn't help."

Amelia gets up and shoves Stefan to the side. He raises an eyebrow ignoring Damon's victorious smirk. She grins before punching him in the stomach. "I won't be bullied."

He looks worriedly to her hand knowing that she most likely hurt herself. "Say bye-bye Ames."

"Fuck-" With that he sped out of the house with her on his arms.

Jeremy jolts from the sofa and looks to Stefan. "You're just gonna let him take her?"

"Damon won't hurt her," Elena mumbles looking to Stefan who had his eyes narrowed to where Damon used to stand and his hands clenched. She gently presses her hand on his shoulder. "He won't."

She had expected Damon to take her to his house but instead they were at the hospital. He briefly explained that Caroline had gotten in an accident and that he was going to slip in some blood so she could heal. When he saw the questioning look she was giving her, he claimed that it would be best for everyone if the Sheriff's kid was alive - even if she was clearly aware that his motives weren't that obscure. While he slips in Caroline's room she stays outside looking out for people that could disrupt his plans. When he was coming out, they stumbled into Matt. Damon claimed that he had come with Amelia to see Caroline since she had just heard the news and wanted to check on her. The poor guy babbles about what happened and thanks her for her kindness before asking her if she was okay or if she had spoken with Tyler yet. At the mention on the other guy's name Damon narrows his eyes to Amelia who merely shakes her head.

"He was with me but..." Matt pauses and looks down. "His father passed away."

She shares a look with Damon who imperceptibly nods. "What? Fuck, is he okay? Stupid question."

Matt frowns. "I haven't heard about him in a while."

"I'll give him a call later."

Matt nods. "Yeah, I'll tell Caroline you dropped by."

"Thank you Matt. If you need anything-"

"Thanks."

Damon coughs. "We gotta go." He pats Matt's shoulder hard and turns to Amelia. "We all need to rest."

When they finally arrived to his house he dropped her off on his bedroom telling her to change before leaving. She stays frozen in place for a couple of seconds. First she didn't want to be there, she was pissed. She didn't like the fact that he had taken off with her without her explicit consent... however, she felt much safer right beside him than in her own house. And after the events of the past hours she really needed her best friend... even if she was angry.

Before taking off her clothes she pulls her phone from her pocket to text Tyler. The text itself was awkward, she really didn't know what she should say... since... well, they weren't exactly friends. She sent her condolences and told him that if he needed a knight, she'd be there for him. Since she didn't expect him to reply - he surely was busy with his mother - she drops on the nightstand and starts undressing herself.

He raises an eyebrow when he returns and he sees her bellow the covers of his bed. There was a small smile on his face as he handed her a glass of alcohol. She accepted it wordlessly as he took a gulp from the bottle before settling it on the night stand. He promptly removes his clothes and jumps to the bed. When he opened his mouth to speak she shushed him.

"This changes nothing but." She makes a pause biting her lip before looking up to him. "I just... I feel safe with you. Even if you're a lying bastard."

"You are," he promises before warping his arms around her. "I'll protect you."

She gently pushes him away making him automatically frown. "Can you just give me more?" She, almost shyly, extends the now empty glass. "It's been one of those days."

"Anything you need."

The day started with a call from Liz. Damon mumbled an apology before getting up as she pressed her head against the pillow. Her head was hurting a bit, she was sure that if she looked at the bottle Damon had brought last night it would be empty. She had drunk more than she should have. She sighs as she hears Damon leave the bedroom as he spoke with Liz - something about going to the Lockwood Mansion. She counts to three before kicking down the bedsheets and picks up her phone. Her eyes widen when she sees that she had seven unread messages and two missed calls. The calls were from her mother and Alaric and so where two of the texts. They were roughly about the same. Alaric wanted to speak with her about what happened and her mother wanted to know how she was, claiming that she hadn't expected her to leave the house so early but that Elena had explained that she had wanted to visit Caroline. Stefan, Elena and Jeremy had also texted her, wondering if she was alright and the last two belonged to Tyler. In the first one he thanked her for her text and invited her to the wake that would take place. On the second one he claimed that she was under no obligation of coming and some other nonsense retracting the invitation. She replies to Tyler, telling that she'd there something that she also told her mother – that they'd speak at the wake.

When Damon returned to the bedroom she was dressing her jeans. He raises an eyebrow and asks her how did she know that they were leaving, she snorts before telling him that she'd be at the kitchen having coffee while she waited for him to get ready. He didn't take long to get to get ready. She had also made a coffee for him which he immediately laced with alcohol. He then winked his eye to her as he laced hers claiming that it was going to be one of those days. On the ride to the Lockwood Mansion he shared what Liz had told him and how he was worried about who'd step in and how it would affect them. He told her that his plan for now was sticking close to Liz and Carol - wiggling his eyebrows and making her grunt in disgust - so he could influence them. She found herself laughing and stopped herself. Even if at the surface things seemed the same, they weren't. His expression turns somber almost as if he had read her mind. After that they were silent.

They were greeted by Tyler. Damon immediately scoffed before rolling his eyes as Amelia hugged the teenager. Before he had a chance to say something - which was good because she was sure that nothing good would come out of his lips - Liz called him. Tyler raises an eyebrow making her shrug.

"Okay, can I get my stupid questions over with?" He furrows his eyebrows and nods his head uncertainly. "Are you okay?"

"To be honest, I don't know," he mumbles looking down. He pauses as yet another person comes to him mumbling their condolences. Once they walk away he raises an eyebrow. "You said questions," he trails off.

She nods with a small smile on her lips. "Can I do anything to help?"

"No." She nods. The only people she had ever lost were her uncle and aunt. They were family but they weren't exactly close. It had hurt all the same, but it wasn't like loosing a parent. She couldn't imagine the pain. "Stop it," he whispers to her as yet another person greets Tyler. "You're over thinking it." He presses his index on her forehead and offers her a small smile. "It's okay, you're doing enough."

She snorts. "I wish I could do more."

"We're not friends," he reminds her with a small smirk.

She rolls her eyes, slapping his arm. "We're much more than that darling," she mumbles mockingly. "You're my Knight in a shiny armor."

He chuckles briefly forgetting the situation. "Right, I guess that that sort of makes us friends."

"We need all we can get, no?"

"Okay, there's something you can do." He gets close and whispers in her ear, "Stay with me for a bit, this shit is unnerving. Greeting strangers that really didn't care."

"Done."

A few people gave them odd looks as Amelia remained next to Tyler as the people greeted him. She figured that it was natural, they seemed close friends - maybe even boyfriend and girlfriend - as she stood there sometimes telling him stupid thing to make him smile or snort, shaking his head at her antics. She didn't know exactly what had happened but suddenly he takes a few steps till he was no longer inside the house.

He crosses his arms over his chest. "So the black sheep returns." There was a tentative smile on his lips.

The guy grins as he looks up and down. "Tyler?"

"Yeah."

"What happened to you?" Tyler raises an eyebrow, not understanding his point. "In my mind you're twelve years old."

"Then that's two years older than the last time you saw me, Uncle Mason."

"Come over here." He hugs Tyler. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too." He looks to Amelia, who was standing still on the spot he left her and signals with her head making Mason look curiously to her. "This is my Uncle Mason. This is Amelia Sommers."

The guy raises an eyebrow. "Sommers as in Jenna Sommers?"

"That's my mom," she confirms with a small smile on her lips. "Ex-boyfriend?"

Mason laughs. "Nah, she was always busy chasing Logan Fell. We were great friends though."

"Oh, if I ever need blackmail I'm coming to you," she tells him with a smile.

He laughs and nods his head as he glances between them with a small smile. "Is she around? Haven't seen her in ages."

"No," Tyler replies for her.

Manson nods. "Okay, I'll leave you two to it. We'll speak later," he tells Tyler before patting him in the back. "You can also come to me if this guy ever gives you troubles."

He then enters the house leaving Tyler and Amelia looking to each other dumb folded. "Did he think that we..."

"Yeah," Tyler confirms. "I'll set him straight later. Sorry," he mumbles awkwardly.

She bumps her hip against his. "It's not that big of a deal."

"Guess not," he comments as they return inside.

Bonnie was there waiting for them. She smiles but only Tyler smiles back, he raises an eyebrow and Amelia merely shakes her head. "Tyler, I'm so sorry."

"Thank you for coming," he tells her. He glances in Amelia's direction, she was tense. "Ame-"

"I'm getting a drink, want something?"

"Yeah, yeah," he mumbles glancing at them. "Thanks."

She merely nods before leaving. She wasn't that surprised when Bonnie followed her. "Amelia, please."

"What is it?"

She places herself in front of Amelia, forcing her to face her. "We need to talk."

"We don't. You left your point clear Bonnie now it's my turn." She steps around Bonnie and continues to walk.

"Please, I had no choice."

Amelia snorts. "There's always a choice. You made yours-"

She grabs Amelia's arm. "Look, my grams would never... ever allow the vampires to walk freely. I lost her 'cause of Damon. I can't just-"

"I understand," Amelia mutters raising her hand. "I don't need explanations. You did what you had to do, like you told me you would. We got nothing else to discuss."

"Are you okay?"

She raises an eyebrow. "I'm alive."

"That's not what I asked."

Amelia glances around before narrowing her eyes and clenching her jaw. "No, I'm not okay. And no, I'm not gonna talk to you about it. I'm pissed at you. I'm pissed at everyone. Now if you could run along and let me get a drink that would be perfect."

Bonnie sighs. "Amelia, please. I feel terrible, Caroline is on the hospital... The Mayor's dead. You almost got hurt trying to save Damon of all people." She makes a pause when she sees Amelia's expression harden. "I had no idea what would happen but it's not like if I had dispelled the device it would have been better."

Amelia groans, closing her eyes briefly. "I don't need explanations. Right now I need space. Okay?" Without giving her a chance to reply she walks away.

She grabs two drinks and quickly returns to Tyler before she bumped into someone else she didn't want to see. When she gets next to him he shakes his head and removes both of the glasses from her hands, dropping them at a table. As an explanation he said: Looks like we both need something stronger. So, he grabbed her hand and pulled her with him to his father office. We went to the desk and flashed her a smirk as he pulled a flask from one of the draws.

"Wanna talk?"

She snorts as she sits down. "Do you?"

He opens up the flask. "My dad was a dick," he tells her after drinking a large portion. "My dad was a dick and I hated him and now he's dead and I don't know how I'm supposed to feel." He takes another gulp and hands her the flask. "Your turn."

She takes three large gulps before feeling his hand on hers. He raises an eyebrow thinking that she was drinking too fast and he didn't exactly wanted them to get caught. "All my friends are assholes."

He presses his hand over his heart. "Ouch." He removes the flask from her hands once she scoffs. "What did they do?"

"Oh, there's not enough alcohol in this house to make me wanna speak about it," she tells him with a bitter smile.

"I don't even know if I have friends," he mutters as he drinks again.

She sighs. Who'd say that she and Tyler would one day bond over a dead man's flask. "Well, I'm here," she offers with a small smile.

"Yeah." He smiles looking to her. "Yeah, you're here. Thanks for that." He drinks again before handing her the flask. "Saw your mom, she brought food. There's way too much food."

She hurriedly drinks from the bottle and gets up. "Fuck, I told her I'd meet her here. I'm sorry but I gotta go."

He shakes his head. "It's okay. Go do your thing."

She nods. Before leaving the room she pauses and places her hand above his. He looks to her with uncertainty, not knowing what she was trying to achieve. "If you need me, call, okay?"

"Sure."

"No, really. We can, I don't know. Get drunk and bond over shitty people. I promise I'll come if you call." She squeezes his hand making him smile.

"Okay, deal." She was at the door when he called her, "Hey, thanks. I mean it."

"You're welcome." She flashes him another smile before leaving.

Even if she had left to meet her mother, in the end she didn't found her. She was walking around trying to spot her in the crow of people that were inside the house when Bonnie grabbed her with a panicked expression. She mumbled something about Katherine being there and that they had to find Elena because she had taken off with Stefan. Amelia asked if she was okay receiving a meek 'yeah' in reply as they started searching. Mid way she realizes that they'd never find her in the middle of so many people, so she calls Damon. He told her that they were outside and without saying goodbye or explaining why she was looking for them.

When she and Bonnie got there it seemed to be having an argument that ended once they spotted the pair. Bonnie quickly explained what had transpired and soon they were trying to find Stefan... well, Damon was merely trying to find Katherine. His last encounter had pissed him to the point of him wanting to bathe in her blood. Also, the sooner they killed her the sooner everyone would be safe.

Stefan was on the ground when they found him, clutching to his stomach. Damon merely snarls before speeding away trying to spot Katherine as the girls walk to him. Bonnie helped Elena pulling him to a bench so he could rest.

"Thanks," Bonnie tells him once he was sat down. "Can I do something to help?"

He shakes his head. "I'll heal."

"Okay, I..." She takes a deep breath. "I think I'm going. I need to rest."

Elena smiles. "Of course. Thank you Bonnie."

"It's okay. He saved me, it was the least I could do." She smiles before looking to Amelia who was at a slight distance wondering what the hell she was doing there. "We'll talk later."

"Call me if you need anything," Elena mumbles with a frown as she observes Bonnie and Amelia.

Amelia sighs. "See you later Bonnie."

Bonnie smiles. "Yes." She looks one last time to Stefan before nodding and leaving.

"She sure likes to stab people," Amelia comments as she approaches Stefan. Elena had already raised his t-shirt and was now looking at his wound.

"Not funny," Elena mutters with a glare.

Stefan shakes his head. "Your both okay?"

"We didn't see her," Elena states.

Stefan turns his attention to Amelia, waiting for her confirmation. "I was with Tyler most of the time. I'm pretty unscathed."

Elena furrows her eyebrows. "Tyler? What were you-"

"We're friends now," she declares trying to put an end to the conversation. "We're not gonna discuss it. We got bigger issues than you butting into my life."

"I'm not-"

"Can we not argue?" Stefan looks to both of them with serious expression.

Elena nods. "Of course." She looks to Amelia. "I don't wanna argue with you."

Amelia rolls her eyes. "Since you asked so nicely Broody," she mutters as she sits next to him. "Want me to hunt down a squirrel for you?"

He snorts and chuckles making Elena frown. "I'm fine. Thanks though."

"If you say so," she mumbles in a sing song voice. "Should I get something to wipe of the blood?"

Elena shakes off her head. "I think I have tissues in my purse. We should stick together in case she returns."

"I'm okay," Stefan mumbles trying to calm Elena. "Really."

Amelia sits next to him and bumps her shoulder against his making him flinch. "Amelia!"

"Just tryin' to prove a point," there was a sardonic smile on her lips. "People that are fine don't flinch."

Stefan raises an eyebrow, challenging her claim. "Maybe it was your abrasive personality that made me flinch."

"But I'm ever so charming," she mumbles with a pout on her lips that immediately made him snort.

Elena furrows her eyebrows, trying to understand why they were acting in such fashion. "Can you two stop?" Amelia automatically raises her hands in mock surrender. "You really gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, it will heal," he repeats.

"Slower than if you drank the yummy stuff," Amelia comments making both of them narrow their eyes.

Elena shakes her head. "That's not what I meant."

Stefan sighs. "I was trying to figure her out. I was playing along and I let her get to me."

Damon arrives and raises an eyebrow as he observes the trio. He shakes his head a bit. "I tried to track her but she's gone. Oooh, cover up, Fabio." Stefan scoffs but pulls his shirt down. "We got a crazy ex on the loose." He looks at Elena with a smirk on his lips. "You better watch out, looks like Katherine is trying to steal your guy."

"That's not what's happening."

Damon raises an eyebrow and scrunches his nose. "Isn't it?" He taunts.

Elena groans as she gets up. "We're gonna check on Jeremy and Jenna. Let us know when you're done."

Amelia raises an eyebrow. "I do love when you speak for me."

Elena rolls her eyes. "They need to speak and stop this nonsense."

"Go along, I just have a few things to say and I'll catch up to you."

Elena looks to Stefan, who nods, and then to Damon, who seemed somewhat bored. "Fine."

Once she was distant Amelia narrows her eyes. "God, I'm way to sober for this shit. Now, let's all pretend that I don't hate everyone's guts at the moment and listen. Your ex pends on the wrong side of the scale sanity and not in a fun way. Clearly she wants to brew problems and you're both way stupider than I thought if you let her do this."

"Amelia," Stefan mumbles with a frown. "We know. it's gonna be okay."

"Is it?" Damon mutters. "'Cause let's be fair, we sort of hate each other."

She groans. "Really, I don't know why the fuck I bother," she hisses through her clenched teeth. "You two are brothers, so I suggest you act like it."

Damon raises an eyebrow. "Like you and Elena?" His tone of voice was mocking.

"Damon," Stefan chides.

"Oh no." Damon narrows his eyes. "Get through that thick skull and stupid hero hair that you don't get to protect her. She's my concern."

"You do a wonderful job, really."

"Can you too stop?" Amelia sighs. "I'm worried, she has access to both of our houses, she's older than you and if you two are busy measuring dicks over everything... having these stupid pissing contests we're all gonna die. Now, if I can act civil while I'm pissed and I'm like a toddler compared to you... I suggest you take a page out of my book." She turns her attention to Stefan. "And you, please consider returning to the magic red juice. We need everyone at full strength." She gets up and looks to the brothers. "I'm leaving now and you're free to do the fuck you both want but remember it's not just your lives on the line."

They share a look. "Don't worry. It will be fine. I won't let her hurt you."

She snorts. "Somehow Damon, I doubt it." With that she turns her back and leaves.

Damon sighs as he sits next to Stefan. "Okay brother, what do we do?"

Stefan looks to him partially surprised. "I don't know but we better be on this together."

"Together." Damon chuckles. "Now there's something that will take a while to get used to."