I am so sorry for the long wait but first and most important MERRY CHRISTMAS! I absolutely love the holidays and consider this my gift to you cause this chapter is LONG! I was thinking about it the other day but I used to think a two page chapter was long. Oh how the times have changed!

Enough rambling if you left an anonymous review look below, if not skip the italics below!

JJ – I love setting myself up for little side stories, and I promise thats going to be one! I couldn't help it cause it just seemed like something that would eventually happen if you lived forever!

Nono – I'm so glad you like it!

Hell – I know it was an adorable brother moment, and it would annoy me too, but it seemed like the perfect way for her to get him out of the room.

Plzplzplzplzplzzz – Sorry it took a little longer but I really hope this was worth the wait :)

Marajade – I am so very glad you still love the story!

Molly – I'm so glad you love it and trust me Stefan can't stay out of trouble for to long :)

iluvurstory – Stefan will be getting into some trouble in this story, but I'm building up!

YAY – I'm so glad you like it! And more than the originals! I can't believe it! I'm so glad you love it!

Ina - I'm so glad you love the story, and I'm glad your sympthetic to the other stories lol! I really hope you like the chapter!

Chapter 10

Eight days passed calmly, or as calm as possible in the Salvatore household. Damon and Stefan got used to seeing the Cullen boys each morning, and the Cullen's got used to being around the Salvatore's. Bella spent the majority of her time breaking up arguments and fights either between Damon and Stefan, or Edward and Emmett. She didn't mind though. It was a small price to pay in order to make sure her brother's were safe. They had developed a routine for the mornings. Bella woke early, normally around six. She showered before waking Stefan up for school, and then headed downstairs. She made breakfast for herself, Edward, Emmett, and Stefan while he showered. Stefan would drink his blood quickly, and if Bella had actually cooked he would sit and eat. He would then leave for school. Bella knew he left early to meet Elena at her home, and as much as she hated it she knew there was little she could do to stop it. She was civil around Elena, but that didn't mean she had to like the girl.

For now though Bella was simply happy that the tension between her brother's and the Cullen's had actually dissipated. She no longer had to worry about breaking up fights between the four. Though Damon still hadn't relaxed on his No one goes near them without me rule. As annoying as it was Bella found comfort in her brother's protectiveness. She often heard him roaming the halls at night. She had slept with Stefan for five of the past eight nights, and she was used to hearing him popping in at random times throughout the night. During the one other night, besides the first; where she had slept with Damon she had felt him slipping out of bed in the middle of the night, only to return minutes later.

Neither of her brother's had questioned why even though she had completely cleaned and redid her room she continued to sleep with them. She assumed that it was because they were all three used to sleeping together. Damon was most likely happy because if she was sleeping with one of her brothers, than she wasn't sleeping with her boyfriend. Bella had decided before they even arrived that her brothers didn't need to know about what had happened in Volterra. It was over and done with. The Volturi wouldn't be a problem. Not for now anyways. Carlisle had assured her that there would be no problems.

For now though she sat on the couch between Emmett and Edward. The three had just returned from a short hunt, and had decided to put in a movie. It was a little after three and Bella knew Stefan would be home soon, and had already heated him a mug of animal blood in the microwave. It was about ten minutes later when the front door opened and closed. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at the second set of foot steps, and the scent she had grown used to smelling when Stefan came home from school. It was the first time Elena had been to the house since she and Bella had come to their understanding. She heard Elena's soft laugh as Stefan closed the door, and the two made their way towards the staircase.

"Bloods in the microwave," Bella said before the two could even reach the stairs. Stefan had a bad habit of neglecting his feeding needs, and Bella was determined to make sure her brother didn't starve himself to death.

"Thanks," Stefan said as they changed course and headed to the kitchen.

"There's fresh coffee to Elena," Bella offered.

"Thanks," Elena said smiling softly. The couple made their way into the kitchen. Stefan grabbed the blood from the microwave as Elena poured herself a mug of the coffee, before the two made their way up the stairs and into Stefan's room. Stefan held a finger to his lips, indicating Elena to keep quiet as he shut the door very easily, making the noise undetectable by the three downstairs.

"That's better," Stefan smiled softly.

"So what time did you want to head to the grill tonight," Elena questioned smiling softly as the two sat on the bed together. She sipped on her coffee letting the hot liquid trickle down her throat.

"It doesn't matter to me, when does Caroline want to meet us there?" Stefan questioned before taking a drink from the warm blood he held in his hands.

"I think she said around seven," Elena answered. "I think that's about a half hour after Matt gets off, and she's still avoiding him."

"Makes sense then," Stefan said as a small smile pulled at his lips. "Is Bonnie coming," Stefan risked to ask the question. He knew the relationship had been strained since Bonnie had found out Caroline had been changed, and he knew that Bonnie was resisting both girl's efforts to mend their broken friendship.

"No," Elena sighed sadly. "We tried to convince her to come, but she barely talks to us anymore."

"Don't worry," Stefan smiled softly. "She'll come around."

"I know," Elena smiled despite the sickening feeling that thinking of Bonnie put in her stomach. "I don't want to think about it tonight. Tonight I just want to relax, and enjoy time with my boyfriend." Elena smiled kissing Stefan lightly. Stefan smiled but in the back of his mind he couldn't help but worry about his sister's reaction to his leaving tonight. It had only been a few days since her arrival and she hadn't exactly gotten used to the idea of her brother dating a Katherine look alike. While Stefan understood her protectiveness, he was also going stir crazy from spending so much time stuck in the house. Elena and Stefan worked on the history project the two had been assigned by Alaric.

Damon could hear the muffled argument coming from the kitchen the second he walked through the front door. He was however surprised to see Elena sitting in the chair opposite of the Cullens. He raised an eyebrow, throwing his leather jacket over the railing of the staircase.

"Well I see you three have made friends," Damon quipped pausing for a moment by the unoccupied couch. The voices were muttered, and he couldn't make out the words. He could however differentiate between the voices of his brother and sister. He noticed the small, almost undetectable crack in the door which was the only reason he could pick up on the conversation in the first place. He assumed it was Stefan's protectiveness of Elena that left the door cracked.

"Not the time Damon," Elena sighed glaring at him.

"How long?" Damon questioned nodding towards the door to the kitchen, and ignoring Elena's answer.

"About ten minutes," Elena said biting her lip with the nervousness Damon was sure she felt. Bella and Elena had had very few meetings, and the first had consisted of the vampire girl trying to rip her throat out.

"Fantastic," Damon said before turning and making his way towards the kitchen. "Wait here," He called over his shoulder, before pushing the door open and walking into the kitchen. Damon couldn't help but roll his eyes at his two siblings who stood on opposite sides of the island, glaring at each other.

"About time you came home," Bella said abandoning her argument with Stefan and turning to glare at Damon. The eldest of the three simply raised an eyebrow in question about his sisters snappish attitude. He wondered what she and Stefan could possible be arguing about that would have put her in such a foul mood.

"Whats got you all fired up," Damon questioned walking to the fridge and pulling out a bag of blood.

"Its nothing, because we're not talking about it anymore," Bella said sternly, turning her glare to Stefan. It was obvious to both Stefan and Damon that this was no longer and argument between brother and sister. While Stefan was use to his older siblings acting more like parents, that didn't mean he had to like it, and for now he wasn't ready to give in on his argument.

"Izzy, that's not fair." Stefan sighed in annoyance.

"Yeah, cause I care what you think is fair!" Bella scoffed leaning against the counter. "Your not going."

"Going where?" Damon directed at Stefan as he sipped on the now heated blood. He raised his eyebrow when he received no answer from his younger brother, knowing it was never a good sign when his siblings hid simple information. "Stefan." Damon's voice was stern, and left Stefan with a held in sigh of annoyance.

"It's just to the grill tonight," Stefan said crossing his arms over his chest. Damon rolled his eyes at the almost pout that graced Stefan's face. Damon raised his eyebrow in confusion.

"And?" Damon questioned exasperatedly. He personally saw nothing wrong with Stefan's plans. Stefan knew the rules if he wanted to go to the grill. He had to ask Damon and had to be home by nine, and while Stefan greatly opposed the strict curfew he was never stubborn enough to actually miss it.

"That's it," Stefan snapped. "She's freaking out over nothing."

"Watch it," Damon warned. Stefan dropped his eyes at the subtle reprimand. Damon turned his gaze to Bella. "And your problem with this is what exactly?"

"I don't think its a good idea," Bella said firmly. Damon was slightly shocked with the determination in her voice.

"Why?" Damon could tell something was wrong, and wanted to kick himself for not realizing it sooner. Bella's form was tense, and though she tried to hide it, the worry was obvious to her older brother.

"I don't know," Bella sighed running a hand through her hair in annoyance. "Something feels wrong."

"What do you mean?" Damon asked instantly alarmed.

"Somethings off, and I don't know what." Bella said in annoyance. She turned her gaze to Stefan. "I don't know what it is, but I don't want you out alone until we figure it out." Stefan opened his mouth to argue but didn't get the chance.

"Then go with him," Damon said as he downed his mug of blood and placed it in the sink.

"What," Bella exclaimed while Stefan turned and glared at his older brother.

"You heard me," Damon scoffed. "You don't want him out alone, than go with him. He's safe at the grill. Especially if your there. As long as you two stay close than I don't have a problem with it."

"I don't need a babysitter Damon," Stefan argued annoyed. Damon rolled his eyes already sick of the protest he was receiving.

"You know I could come up with a million different reasons that say differently, but that doesn't really matter." Damon snapped. "You can either stop arguing and go with Bella, or you can keep it up and I'll actually give you something to whine about when you stay home tonight!" Bella rolled her eyes at the argument.

"That's enough you two." She said as she rinsed out Damon's cup, and laid it face down in the sink to be washed later. Damon smirked at his sister. No matter how annoyed she was with her little brother she would do anything to keep Stefan out of trouble.

"It's his choice," Damon said raising an eyebrow at Stefan. "Well."

"Fine," Stefan huffed angrily. He knew this was one of the times he'd have to pick and choose his battles, and he also knew that no matter what he did, or how much he argued he would lose this battle.

The grill was packed hours later as Stefan, Elena, and Caroline stood playing pool. The three had spent the majority of the evening playing pool, stopping only once to eat, which was mainly for Elena and Caroline's benefit. Elena actually needed to eat, and eating regular food helped Caroline with her blood cravings. They helped Stefan as well, but not nearly as much when he craved human blood badly.

Stefan enjoyed his time with Elena and Caroline. He was more than grateful for the excuse to finally be out of the house. He was even more grateful for the fact that Bella had simply introduced herself to Caroline, and then had disappeared towards the back of the restaurant with Edward and Emmett; leaving the three friends to their own devices. Well for the most part. All three of them were well aware that even though Bella, Emmett, and Edward were at the other end of the grill that the three vampires could clearly, and cleanly hear every word said between the three friends. And Stefan knew for a fact that Bella was waiting for any sign of a problem.

Bella for her part resisted the urge to sit as close to her brother as possible. She couldn't kick the feeling that something was wrong, but she also couldn't pin point what it was that made her skin crawl. What ever it was had her wanting both of her brothers in her sight. She had tried to convince Damon to join them at the Grill, but he steadily refused. Bella wasn't sure what Damon was up to, but she was positive it had something to do with her own uneasy feeling. She didn't know how, but she knew Damon's sudden plans, the ones that had him following his younger siblings the majority of the way to the grill; was part of his way to check up on the possibility of a threat.

For now she sat in the back booth of the Grill between Emmett and Edward. The three kept up a quiet banter mostly for appearances sake as Bella made sure to keep a discreet eye on her younger brother. She did however try and give her little brother a small amount of privacy. She didn't purposely listen in on his conversation, but she did listen out for his voice. Not so much for the words he spoke, but his tone. Stefan was very distinct when he spoke, and both of his siblings could detect his mood easily when he spoke. That particular quality worked both ways.

For now she was content to sit back, and keep a quiet eye on Stefan and his friends as they played pool. Bella had only taken the time to introduce herself to the perky blond, and had taken an almost instant liking to her. She was careful though. From what Damon had told her for the time being Caroline was being scared into spying for Katherine. Bella had been instantly enraged, but Damon had convinced her to keep it cool for now. They knew and Caroline wasn't going to figure out anything they didn't want her to know. While part of her wanted to stake the blond another slightly stronger part sympathized with her.

After a while Bella let her body relax and began to enjoy her evening. The grill was vibrant and full of people, but not annoyingly so. Before she knew it a few hours had past, and it was closing in on ten thirty. Bella knew Damon should be home around eleven, and planned on beating him there.

"Are you guys almost ready," Bella questioned finishing off the last of her root beer. Damon had been very subtle, yet adamant that none of them drink. Not that it was a problem. Edward and Emmett didn't drink and she refused to allow Stefan too. Not to mention that with her uneasy feeling as strong as ever she wasn't risking being impaired by any amount of alcohol.

"When ever you are love," Edward said softly. The three stood, Bella pulling on her jacket as she did so.

"I'll be right back," Bella said as she began walking towards Stefan. She was halfway to her brother when she felt the tight firm grip on her arm turning her. The face that met hers was unmistakeably drunk. The slightly dilated pupils, sweaty red face, and stench of liquor that poured from his open mouth was a dead giveaway.

"Hey there pretty lady," The slurred speech had Bella resisting the urge to shove this guy across the room. "Haven't seen you around here before."

"Lucky me," Bella snapped annoyed, but keeping her volume and tone under control. She was far enough away from Edward and Emmett that while they saw the encounter the noise from the crowd made it difficult for them to hear. Bella quickly motioned to Emmett and Edward that she was fine, but she could practically hear them stiffen behind her. She glanced to Stefan who seemed to have not noticed the drunk, and still had his back to his sister.

"Oh come on babe, don't be like that." The drunk slurred reaching out to touch her face. Bella easily knocked his hand away.

"Look why don't you just go back to your whiskey and call it a night." Bella snapped annoyed with the drunk man. The drunken man's face went even redder with an obvious mix of anger and embarrassment. He reached out, and grabbed her arm tightly, in a way she knew would be painful if she was human.

"Look you stupid-" The drunk man was cut off as he was pulled away from Bella and slammed into a wall. Bella couldn't help the shock that came over her body at the sight of her younger brother holding the larger drunk man against the wall. Rage engulfed Stefan's face, and Bella knew he was struggling to keep his face completely human.

"Stefan-"

"If you so much as THINK about touching my sister again I will rip your throat out!" Stefan's threat was quiet and menacing, and she knew that besides the drunk that only the vampires in the grill would hear it.

"Stef let him go," Bella's voice fell on deaf ears. She moved forward, intending to pull Stefan off of the drunk, but was stopped by a light grip on her arm. She turned to see Edward standing next to her, and Emmett rushing past her. She watched Emmett pull Stefan from the drunk, practically tossing him towards Edward and his sister; before grabbing a fist full of the drunk's shirt. Stefan moved to go closer to the drunk, but Bella grabbed his hand in both of hers and kept him next to her as Elena and Caroline moved closer to them.

"Come near her again, and you'll have me to deal with!" Emmett's threat was loud enough to be heard by the small crowd that had gathered around them. Emmett released the drunk, giving him one final shove against the wall. Emmett glared at the drunken man, until he felt a light pull on his arm.

"Emmett lets go," Bella said firmly when Emmett gave no sign of moving. Emmett reluctantly moved, and allowed Bella to pull him away from the muttering drunk. "Lets just get out of here." Bella said as she motioned for the group to head to the exit. The small group headed out the door, but didn't make it far once outside. Not two feet from the door to the grill they heard it violently slam open as the drunken man from inside stumbled blindly towards them. "Oh god," Bella sighed as she heard him calling after him.

"I ain't done with you yet!" He growled reaching for Bella, but in his drunken gaze he grabbed Edward's arm instead. The drunk pulled harshly, turning Edward around. He didn't expect the punch to the face that came when Edward was turned. Edward had been sure to keep his strength at a minimum but the drunk man still crumbled to the ground unconscious.

"Nice," Emmett smirked clapping Edward on the back as he knelt down, and checked the drunk man's pulse. "He's fine, lets just get out of here."

Damon growled angrily as he parked his car in front of the Salvatore boarding house. His search for the cause of Bella's uneasy feeling had come up with nothing. Nothing his witchy contacts could discover, no knew people in town, and no signs of Katherine. He climbed out of his car, slamming the door in frustration as he headed to the front door. He stopped short of the entry way when he noticed a small brown package sitting in the center of the door. Damon stiffened instantly, forcing his heightened senses to search for anything out of the ordinary. He couldn't find anything. No strange sounds, no new scents. He approached the box with caution that most people would fined extremely out of character.

He stooped down and lifted the small box into his arms. It was light, and about the size of a toaster box. He sniffed the box and very vaguely remembered the scent. He couldn't place it to a face, but it brought up no bad memories, or feelings. Turning the package over in his hands he was shockingly less surprised than he should have been to see his sister's name scrawled on the address label.

Shaking his head in disbelief and slight annoyance Damon opened the door and walked into the house. He quickly discarded his jacket and the box on the couch, before heading over to the buffet where he kept the alcohol. He quickly poured himself a glass of bourbon and stood sipping it when he heard the quiet roar of an engine coming up the long winding driveway. Damon stood leaning against the back of the couch as he listened to the cars come closer, and come to a stop. His eyebrows raised at the muttered voice of his sister. It was barely audible, and purposely quiet. He knew exactly what that meant.

Something had happened, and Bella and Stefan were trying to keep it from him. Damon sighed in annoyance before downing what was left of his drink. This was bound to cause him stress. He sat his glass on the counter as he waited for the small group of people to come in. Elena had gotten a ride home from Caroline so only the four vampires remained with the group. When they finally did Damon couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as the four discarded their jackets.

"Your back early," Bella said taking the three steps that lead to the couch.

"And your late," Damon quipped letting his annoyance show.

"Oh calm down," Bella waved him off. Damon raised his eyebrow, glancing between his brother and sister.

"What happened tonight?" Damon questioned deciding he was done beating around the bush.

"Nothing important," Bella smirked softly. Damon rolled his eyes at his sister's evasive answer.

"Really," Damon snapped exasperatedly.

"Really," Bella answered again. She knew there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell that Damon believed that nothing had happened. He'd picked up on it somehow, and Bella simply wasn't in the mood to even contemplate how. Damon sighed in annoyance.

"Stefan!" Damon called crooking a finger to gesture Stefan towards him. His younger brother reluctantly approached him. Stefan stopped just two feet short of Damon. "What happened?" It wasn't so much as a request to be told as a demand. Stefan remained quiet. "Now Stefan."

"It was nothing Damon," Stefan said before resuming his silence. It was obvious to Damon that he wasn't getting anymore information from his younger brother tonight.

"Fine," both Bella and Stefan were shocked at Damon's easy relent on his questioning, though Bella didn't show it and Stefan's eyes simply snapped up to Damon's face from where he had been staring at his shoes. "But when I do find out there will be hell if its something I should have known about." Bella rolled her eyes in annoyance as she went to walk past Damon. She reached up and placed a kiss to his cheek.

"You think you need to know everything," She smirked drawing a soft smile from Stefan. She turned back to the other three in the room. "Come on, I'm making blood." Bella said waving them forward. Stefan, Edward and Emmett followed behind her as Damon watched them past, but it was Edward who caught his eye. Or more importantly the small tear in his shirt that Damon was positive hadn't been there when the four had left. As Edward walked past Damon sped in front of him, taking Edward by surprise as his arm was grabbed roughly. Bella turned quickly to stare shocked at Damon.

"What the hell happened Bella," Damon growled angrily shaking Edward roughly. Bella didn't get the chance to respond however when a blur knocked into Damon roughly ripping his grip from Edward's arm and sending him crashing to the floor. Damon responded by kicking up before they had even stopped moving and sending his attacker crashing into the wall.

"Damon!" Bella called out shocked. "Stefan don't!" Bella demanded seeing Stefan's face change. Stefan seemed intent to ignore his sister, but Emmett grabbed his arm and pulled him back as Bella pulled Edward to his feet.

"I'm fine," Edward assured. Bella then moved to join the fight and pull the attacker from Damon but was stopped by the sudden appearance of another person.

"Alice!" Bella's voice was shocked and she stopped dead in her tracks. She turned to Edward and Emmett to see Carlisle, Esme, and Rosalie all gathered by them. Edward and Emmett seemed to be trying to both assure the three that they were fine, and explain what was going on at once. Bella heard the shard thud as the fight continued behind her. "Alice move!" Bella said firmly as she moved to go around the girl she considered to be her best friend.

"Bella you can't get in the middle of that," Alice said firmly. Bella gazed shocked at Alice but didn't have the time to respond as she heard yet another loud crash behind Alice. She gazed shocked at the fight still taking place, and gasped in shock when Damon finally slammed the attacker to the ground, with a tight grip around his neck. She finally realized who the attacker had to be.

"Whitlock?" And apparently so did Damon!

I really hope you liked it! If anyone knows what the little sunk in living room thing is technically called I'd appreciate you letting me know :). As always please review! Charmed Again is next for an update :).