A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR'S! Thanks for the favorites and follows everyone!

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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the TVD characters/plotlines/dialogue. I only own the Suttons and their storylines.

Chapter 9

Worst Nightmare

"As much as I love catching up over coffee," Rebecca murmured against the lip of her disposable cup, "I could sure go for something a little more… potent." She gave Stefan a pointed look with bouncing eyebrows.

Stefan had taken Rebecca to the on-campus café while Damon sorted out a way to get Oscar back. The older Salvatore had muttered something about keeping Rebecca busy and something about the Phoenix Stone. Stefan didn't really understand the latter, but he led Rebecca to the corner loveseat sofa of the café and talked in hushed tones to avoid human eavesdroppers. From what Stefan could gather from Damon's behavior, his older brother wasn't too trusting of Rebecca coming back into their lives so suddenly, but Stefan had yet to see anything suspicious from his friend from a former life.

How Rebecca managed to elicit every gritty detail about the Salvatores' two and a half centuries in only a few hours was beyond Stefan. He started with the brothers' first love triangle with Katherine, and how Damon was so enraptured by her, he had gone through many hoops to get her back. He briefly explained the Original vampire family, their discovery of werewolves, and the hybrid dilemma. He even talked about Silas, Qetsiyah, Amara, and the Other Side, which lead to the Travelers and their spell on Mystic Falls. He told her about Damon and Bonnie dying, going to the Other Side, and he even went as far as to explain Kai and his hand in the current events.

Through his entire story, what had her at the edge of her seat, to Stefan's surprise, was the love triangle Damon had created when Elena and Stefan had initially been together.

"Well, if you're looking for the hard liquor, you've picked the wrong Salvatore for company," Stefan replied easily. He laughed at Rebecca's deadpan look; he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her close to his side. "I, personally, don't partake in the 'potent' stuff, but I know happen to know someone who'd have some handy."

"The same someone we're waiting for in this empty hallway?" Rebecca inquired, eyeing the untouched coffee cup in Stefan's hand. "The same someone you bought the coffee for?" Stefan chuckled, lowering his eyes to avoid Rebecca's perceptive glance.

"Am I really that obvious?"

"Lottie used to have an apron full of sweets whenever she'd return from town," Rebecca mused, giving her friend a little smile. "She had finally confessed to me she had been meeting with you secretly and that the sweets were from you." For a moment, Stefan thought he could hear the pain in her voice as she brought up the memory of her little sister. Just as it had appeared, it disappeared when she added, "You boys think you've changed over the decades, but you're still both my best friends."

"Good to know," Stefan smiled, giving her shoulders one last squeeze before releasing her. He leaned against the post of an archway. The two watched only a few people mill through the hall before Stefan broke the silence. "You know, Becca, I miss Lottie a lot sometimes," he finally muttered. Rebecca wrapped her arms around herself with a frown. "Sometimes, it's overwhelming. Though I'd never wish this life on anyone, I'd admit it would have been nice to have her here… you know?"

"I do know." Rebecca's voice was uncharacteristically weak. Stefan glanced at his friend's downcast eyes and mentally bashed himself for being so offhanded with his words. Of course, Rebecca knew what it was like to want her own, little sister still alive. "But she had a full life, and that's really all that matters. She was happy, with a husband and children."

"Who did she end up marrying?" Stefan tucked his free hand into his pocket casually, hoping his inquiry was delivered the same way. Rebecca gave him another knowing glance.

"His name was Peter Dixon," Rebecca replied, petting his hair affectionately. She had done the same, in the past, whenever she soothed him. "He was from Georgia, visiting his extended family in Virginia… and he was so captivated by Charlotte that he spoke to George a month after seeing her."

She paused, eyeing his blank expression. Stefan's jaw clenched, but he realized he had no right to be upset. If he had really wanted Charlotte Sutton to be his wife, he would have spoken to her father right away—not to dive into a romance with Valerie or to lust after Katherine.

"Peter was a nice man, treated Lottie well, as far as I was concerned." Rebecca laughed at a memory and explained, "Ezekiel and I tag-team interrogated the poor boy before they got married. Pretty sure he was having second doubts… It would have been funny to see Damon included in that scene."

"Charlotte wouldn't have married this Peter Dixon if I were still—"

"Hey, stop that." Rebecca's stern tone was coupled with a furrowed brow. Her expression softened into a sad smile as she put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't do that to yourself, Stef. Listen, I know you've probably abandoned the notion of 'everything happening for a reason', but I genuinely believe you must have turned for a purpose." She gripped his shoulder, and he could see the hope shining in her light eyes. "Your human life ended, even if it was just to let Lottie live a simple life with a simple farmer."

"He was a farmer?" Stefan scoffed dramatically. Rebecca's hand dropped as she rolled her eyes. His superior attitude dissipated as he quietly asked, "How many children did she have?"

"Three," Rebecca reported. "Josephine, Marigold, and..." Rebecca smiled a little, lowering her eyes. "She named her only son Stephen…"

"Really?"

"Darling, she missed you just as much as you are missing her now," Rebecca muttered, taking his hand for a moment. "You've just had time to cultivate the feeling."

As he was about to reply, he heard doors in every hall begin to open, and people surging into the main hall. He faintly heard the sound of Caroline reciting her agenda to herself in a stressed whisper. He could have laughed if the conversation hadn't previously been on Charlotte.

"Caroline is coming," was all he could say, looking down at the untouched coffee cup.

Rebecca nodded, stepping aside just as Caroline sauntered through the hall with purpose. Stefan watched her curiously, as she continued to mutter her plans to herself, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. Her blonde curls bounced on her shoulders. Her eyebrows lowered with determination. She stopped at the sight of Stefan, confused, but her cheerful smile suddenly overwhelmed her sweet face.

If there was one purpose for him turning, it was for Caroline Forbes.

Caroline had been right, as usual. There was an enormous amount of work she had missed when she'd been rudely kidnapped. Her daily planner was jammed with all of the assignments; her hasty notes littered the assignment papers. She spent the end of every class compelling her way into make-up exams and extensions. She could have easily compelled her professors to give her exceptional grades, but she wanted to do things right. It wasn't like she couldn't do it. Though she could feel the stress beginning to form like a whirlwind of smoke in her chest, she knew it would just fuel her perfectionism.

Someone stepped out of her blazing trail, just as she entered the main hall, and she glanced up from her own buzzing thoughts to see Stefan, leaning against the wall casually with a cup of coffee perched on his fingertips. It was silly, but it was as if he chose the spot because the sunlight streamed through the overhead window. Caroline's heart fluttered at the sight of his easygoing smile, and an elastic smile covered her face. Stefan was handsome, sweet, funny… and she still did not know how she managed to enchant him.

"Hi," he smiled, pushing himself away from the archway.

"Hi," she replied with uncertainty. She wouldn't complain, but it was unusual for him to show up at Whitmore. Before she could ask why he was waiting for her, he offered the cardboard cup with a genuine smile.

"I bought you coffee," he said as if it explained everything.

"And it keeps getting better," she murmured impishly as she reached for the cup. Her fingers brushed against his; Stefan gritted his teeth as his skin sizzled, and Caroline gasped. "Oh, gosh, I'm sorry!"

"It's okay," he managed to say evenly. He shook his hand though it had already healed. "No contact," he stated as a reminder for both of them. "It's not your fault."

"So, is that, like, only a thing that happens between the two of you, or…?"

Caroline whipped around to see the girl who had sidestepped out of her way. The girl was tall, built like an athlete, with a blonde braid on her shoulder. Caroline looked back to Stefan for an explanation, but she interrupted him before he could even open his mouth.

"Is this another ex-girlfriend?" Caroline hissed. The halls were nearly empty at that point, but Caroline hated to make a scene.

"How many exes do you have running around, Stef?" the girl nearly laughed, raising her eyebrows to Stefan. He shifted uncomfortably under Caroline's hard stare. "Stefan and I were never together; I'm way too old for him."

Caroline's head turned to the other blonde suddenly, scrutinizing her confident posture. "Then who the hell are you?"

"Rebecca Sutton," she explained with a smirk. It reminded Caroline of… "I'm Damon and Stefan's childhood friend."

"Best friend," Stefan corrected automatically. Caroline's attention snapped back to him; her hair fanned around her from the sudden moment.

"Wait, isn't that Damon's shirt?" Caroline demanded of the younger Salvatore. "Isn't it the shirt I bought for him last Christmas?"

"He said I could borrow it. Said it was the comfiest." Rebecca shrugged. "I'd shake your hand, but I rather not burn my fingerprints off. What even happened to you?"

"Stefan's ex cast a nasty little spell to make my skin like vervain," Caroline seethed, gripping the strap on her messenger bag with a glare thrown to Stefan. "I take it your charm didn't work on getting Valerie to undo the spell."

"Uh, I haven't spoken to her yet," Stefan confessed as he started to walk down the hall. The two girls followed, Rebecca lagging behind a little. Stefan glanced nervously toward his friend, but Caroline followed his secret gaze. Rebecca crossed her arms as her own convicting stare bore into Stefan's face.

"You're avoiding," Rebecca declared.

"No, there's nothing to avoid," Stefan defended confidently. Rebecca scoffed, rolling her eyes. Caroline smiled a little, already liking this new girl.

"Well, Stefan, she was your first love," Caroline stated, causing Rebecca's eyebrows to shoot up, "and then she just left you hanging… You're not the least bit curious why?"

"She hasn't contacted me in the four mouths since she's back," Stefan shrugged, giving Rebecca a meaningful look but Caroline couldn't place its meaning, "so I'm assuming she's as over it as I am."

"Yeah, but that is quite an assumption," Rebecca shot, defending Caroline, "considering she's the reason why you and your girlfriend can't even touch."

"Who asked you, Becca?" Stefan snapped. Rebecca raised a brow at his attitude, and Stefan sighed, turning to Caroline. "Unfortunately, she's the Heretic that I'm least concerned about right now."

"Oh, God," Caroline groaned. "Who now?"

"Let's just say it involves two bored 'mean girls' on a campus full of easy targets. Fortunately, I have come up with a genius plan to keep them occupied while Damon sorts out his Oscar problem." Stefan held up a folded flyer proudly; Caroline took it into her hands; it was for the Saints and Sinners dance she had wanted to attend.

" 'Genius plan'? Did Damon teach you how to brag too?" Rebecca muttered. Caroline glanced at the sulking vampire with a little grin. "It's not even that clever."

"The dance…" Caroline echoed. Stefan hummed his affirmation with a proud smile. "Full of potential victims," Caroline reminded him.

"And distractions all in one place," Stefan reasoned. "Easy to babysit. I think the hardest part will be feigning enthusiasm."

"Yeah, and they'll never fall for it… unless…" Caroline grinned, more to herself than Stefan or Rebecca. "Unless they think it's their idea." Without explanation, Caroline took the flyer and bustled through the halls to find the two Heretics and take care of the situation.

"I can definitely see why you like her... hell, even I like her," was the last thing Caroline could hear Rebecca say to Stefan before she disappeared with a smile.

Bonnie took the bus to the hospital on the edge of campus. Her thoughts sloshed around in her head like angry waves during a storm, threatening to drown her. She didn't want to ask a friend for a ride, and she certainly didn't want to see Alaric until it was time.

When she left Caroline, she had come to a very disturbing conclusion about her being—she was a tool, more than a friend. The notion wasn't foreign to her, but it was starting to grate on her nerves. It began even before she discovered her heritage, when Elena was desperate for comfort from a friend; Caroline was busy being perfect, so the responsibility had landed on Bonnie. Grams had taught her to be strong for others because she, Bonnie Bennett, was strong from birth. Grams may have been right about her strength, but Bonnie had to be strong in her self-preservation as well. She decided, after she found a way to raise Jo from the dead, whatever she did was on her own terms, not based on the obligation or demand of others.

When Bonnie entered the morgue, it was empty. It was cold, but Bonnie's skin was already on fire from her swirling thoughts. Though she was grateful the visions from the Phoenix Stone were gone, she was not looking forward to working with the relic. She walked to the center of the room, seeing Jo's covered body, blue and decaying, on a metal gurney. Alaric had taken her to see the body before, so the shock factor was gone, but Bonnie couldn't help but to feel remorse. If Bonnie could bring her back, would she be tearing Jo from a peaceful place?

"What a better way to spend Halloween, huh?"

Bonnie's compressed brow relaxed when she saw Alaric stroll into the room. He had told her he had to pay off the mortician. She could tell he was trying to be light, trying to pull a "Damon" and tell a joke to alleviate the mood, but she was not having it. At all.

"Yeah, why would I want to go to some stupid Halloween party, like a normal student?" Bonnie ranted. Alaric seemed startled by her outburst. "And maybe meet a nice guy—or even a not-so-nice guy—have a fun, drunk Halloween hook-up? When I can be here, struggling to raise the dead?" She lowered her eyes at her heated confession and at Alaric's amused smirk.

"Well, if it makes any difference… this is worth some serious extra credit," Alaric offered with the same smile. Bonnie rolled her eyes at the ridiculous comment.

"Oh, you think?" They shared a smile. She was glad that Alaric knew how absurd their lives were. "Whether or not I'm capable, you're lucky I'm willing because the visions from that stone scare the hell out of me." She was serious and stern, searching Alaric's face intently. He pursed his lips and nodded. For an extra measure, she gave a threatening glare. "So, don't rush me."

"Well, that's too bad," they heard from the doorway of the room. Damon half-dragged the desiccated Oscar into the room with strained effort as he said, "Because we have to bring this guy back to life. Now."

For a human, the dance was loud. For a vampire, the dance was a clamor.

When Caroline entered the room, the first thing she heard was rushing blood and thudding heartbeats. She could smell the alcohol and the sweat, mixed with different perfumes and colognes. The music was deafening, topped by laughter and voices raised above the music.

She loved it.

The blonde swayed as a path opened in the crowd for her. She recognized some people from her classes, getting loose and getting wild. She almost wished she had been part of the party committee, but she had promised Elena she wouldn't try to run the entire school until her junior year. She finally found Stefan, waiting for her with an amused smile. He was wearing a red and black plaid shirt and a leather jacket. He went with the "sinner" approach.

"Nice costume for a two-hour notice," he mused, eyeing her. He seemed to enjoy the short white dress she chose; she had attached little feathery wings to the back of the dress, and she accessorized with a halo headband. She nearly beamed.

"Oh, thank you," she simpered.

"You weren't—oh, I don't know—already coming to this, and just, uh, forgot to invite me?" Caroline closed her eyes, dreading the rest of the night if he was going to sass her for the bit of information she withheld.

"I didn't forget to invite you!" she defended, shifting her weight from one leg to the other. Stefan maintained his teasing gaze. "I just felt like… a Halloween party wasn't great first date material," she explained. Her face reddened as Stefan's eyes glittered.

"So, then, this isn't our first date?"

"Well, it depends." Caroline raised a tempting brow. "What do you think it is?"

With a tight smile, his eyes raked over her barely clad body. He finally delivered his reply, his eyes obviously overflowing with lust.

"Torture."

"Yeah, it's torture listening to this verbal foreplay," a rough female voice interjected. Both vampires turned to see Rebecca emerge from the crowd with an amber drink in hand. She wore a white t-shirt tucked into a white pencil skirt, but a matching red lace bra and garter belt clearly printed through her blouse and skirt.

"I feel like it's a sin to see you wearing something so provocative when you're like my sister," Stefan said with discomfort. Caroline secretly appreciated it, though she was still slightly embarrassed by the other blonde's comment.

"Good thing you dressed like a sinner, hmm?" Rebecca nudged Caroline with her elbow and yelped at the sting. "Wow, that's annoying."

"I know," Caroline whined.

"I'm sure you have a witty name for your costume," Stefan remarked, trying to distract the two young women. Rebecca grinned, throwing back her drink without a wince. Caroline could see the resemblance of Damon.

"Clearly, I am the 'devil in disguise'," Rebecca declared pompously. She surveyed her empty glass, musing, "For an institution-run party, you guys certainly have a good selection of booze. We should get drinks—I'm buying."

"Well, we're kind of on patrol, remember?" Caroline raised a brow. Rebecca raised one back as a challenge. Caroline could tell the older vampire had probably always been an alpha female. "Though, I'm sure one drink wouldn't kill anyone."

"Don't let her bully you around," Stefan advised, eyeing Caroline carefully. Rebecca rolled her eyes at the indirect display of affection.

"Don't let him tell you how to live your life, honey." Rebecca's voice was firm; it reminded Caroline of her mother whenever she scolded her. "They're here, heading straight for the bar. Hence, anyone want drinks?" Caroline looked to Stefan for guidance, but his face was immoveable. Rebecca smirked. "No? Too bad."

Rebecca danced her way through the crowd, laughing as random people danced with or against her. Caroline pursed her lips as she studied the scene. The older blonde was careless, seeking any thrill… it was hard to see Stefan ever being friends with her. Damon filled that quota.

"I hate when she gets like this."

"Do you think we'll have to keep an eye on her too?" Caroline muttered close to him, careful not to touch him by accident.

Stefan just sighed. "Guess it's time for us to babysit.

It was probably distracting, but Damon could not stand still. While biting his cuticles, he paced to and away from the metal table with Oscar's still dead body. Alaric eyed him from time to time, as he stood next to their witch friend with critical eyes and crossed arms.

Damon knew Bonnie. He knew Bonnie's power. He knew Bonnie's magic. More importantly, he was confident in her magic, in her power, and in Bonnie herself. After all, she was a Bennett witch. So, whatever the problem with the spell she was trying to perform clearly had nothing to do with her. It was probably that stupid stone Alaric found that wasn't doing the job.

Damon listened to the whispery mantra Bonnie recited; the more he heard it, the harder he bit at his fingers. He had felt his cell phone vibrate once in his pocket an hour or so ago, but he had ignored it when Bonnie had stopped her chanting and had flipped through the grimoire to find another spell.

As he walked toward the table again, Oscar's body shuddered against the metal. Bonnie gasped. Everyone stopped moving. Oscar's eyes flew open. Everyone probably stopped breathing. Then his eyes snapped shut.

After a moment, Bonnie said bitingly, "Scratch that one off the list." Damon groaned, slamming his hand down on the table behind him.

"Hey," Alaric scolded, "you're not the only one banking on this."

"It's not for me, Ric!" Damon shot. First Stefan accused him of selfishly trying to protect Elena, and now Alaric? This was for Elena, his beacon in the darkness, the love of his life. "Why does everything have to be about me today?"

"Will the both of you just shut up?" Bonnie interrupted. Damon felt like a child, like when Lily, Florence, or even Abigail scolded him for playing too rough. "The stone works. I think it's creating a bridge between the body and the spirit. I just have to find a spell that makes that bridge permanent."

The sound of Damon's cell phone vibrating in his pocket again caused him to sigh. He turned away and checked the screen. Luckily, it was his brother and not his not-so-much mother.

"So, how goes the diversion?" he inquired immediately with a sour smile. He knew Stefan couldn't see it, but he hoped it translated to his brother.

"Three," Stefan reported. The background was loud; Damon could almost hear the sweaty bodies gyrating. "That's the number of people Caroline, Becca, and I have saved—barely."

"Beck? She's with you?" Damon frowned. He didn't know what she would have been up to, but he just figured Stefan wouldn't want her as a third-wheel on his pseudo-date with Caroline.

"Again, barely," Stefan chuckled. "Right now, she's dancing. Before, she was drinking shots with some fraternity guys… and doing body-shots off of one or two sorority girls." Damon groaned, a little peeved he was missing all the fun.

"So, did you call just to brag?"

"How much longer?" The seriousness in his voice was clear. Rebecca may have been helping the two, but even three vampires against two Heretics in a sea of humans wasn't enough.

Just as his brother asked, Damon heard the sudden crackle of fire and Bonnie's cry. "Oh, crap, Ric, put it out!" Damon turned around just in time to see Alaric taking a fire extinguisher to Oscar's now burning body.

"I think we're close."

"Do you think they just forgot they're here to murder people?"

Stefan and Caroline sat at one of the few tables still on the floor; the others had been cleared away for the dance floor. Stefan leaned against the table, watching Nora dance freely while Mary Louise shifted uncomfortably nearby. Caroline leaned onto the table too, to match his gaze; Stefan reflexively pulled away, hoping she didn't notice.

"No, no, they're just caught up in their own drama," Caroline explained, enraptured by the scene between the two Heretics. Stefan watched Caroline's animated expression as she explained. "See, Nora wants some breathing room, but Mary Louise is scared that, if she gives it to her, Nora is just going to leave her."

Stefan frowned, trying to see where Caroline had deduced that conclusion. Sure, it was evident Mary Louise was having a hard time adjusting to the times; he would even go as far as to speculate she was a little rigid, but he had attributed it to her personality.

"You got all of that," Stefan said, gesturing to Caroline then gestured toward the two witch vampires, "from that?"

"You could never see the drama, even if it was right in front of you," Rebecca sighed as she sauntered up to the couple. Stefan could tell Caroline was torn between really liking Rebecca and really hating her. Rebecca, he knew, was used to that treatment, especially from the girls during their human years. "Have you guys even had one drink yet?"

"I think you had enough for all three of us," Caroline commented quietly. Rebecca doubled over with laughter, gripping the back of Caroline's chair for support.

"I see why you like her," Rebecca mused, "she's beautiful and witty." Caroline seemed to glow from the compliment. "Let me bring you guys something to drink, please?"

"Maybe, after all of this is finished, we'll have a celebratory round," Stefan offered. During Council meetings, Damon, Ezekiel, and Rebecca would sneak out the alcohol when Abigail and Julia weren't looking; Rebecca's current behavior reminded Stefan of those dreadful times. Rebecca pouted.

"Caroline, darling, can you tell your boyfriend to stop being such a drag, please?" Rebecca said lowly to Caroline, though she knew Stefan could hear her. Caroline just giggled. Stefan rolled his eyes and looked back to the dancefloor as the song switched to a slower tempo. Mary Louise and Nora were wrapped in each other's arms.

"I guess you guys were wrong," Stefan shrugged. Rebecca and Caroline frowned at the couple.

"They don't really seem like they belong together, do they?" Rebecca muttered, more to herself as she eyed the two swaying. "But you two," she said, pointing between the blushing vampires, "you two are the perfect match, I think."

"Hey, excuse me." A tall, shirtless guy walked up behind Rebecca with a smirk. "You're the 'devil in disguise', right? From the bar?"

"The name's Sue," she lied with a sultry smile. "I take it you want to dance?"

"Sure, but there's a sorority girl who said you did body-shots from her neck and bellybutton—"

"Gotta go, guys," Rebecca winked, leading the shirtless human back into the dancing college students. Stefan scoffed; she hadn't changed one bit.

"You know, I'd ask you to dance, but—"

"But I'd kill you," Caroline muttered bitterly, "How convenient." Stefan pursed his lips as she continued. "If only there were a person you could just talk to about it…!"

"I will ask Valerie to undo it, once Damon brings Oscar back to life," Stefan reassured her gently. She didn't seem to be buying it.

"Wow, so you're not technically avoiding… you're just waiting for Damon to raise the dead! Okay," she grumbled sarcastically.

"Valerie's been dead to me for 150 years," Stefan tried to reason.

"Well, she's back now!" Caroline nearly shouted. Stefan's eyebrows shot up. "And you're scared that you're going to look her in the eye, and all of your feelings are going to come back, and, you know, the infatuation and the abandonment, and the whole freaking fairytale!"

Stefan paused to study Caroline under the rosy lights. "That's why I'm scared of…? Or, that's what you're scared of?"

"It…can be both!" Caroline erupted. "God, you know what? Your friend is right. I am just too sober to be talking about this."

Even if Stefan could have stopped Caroline from walking away, he knew it was better if he didn't.

Mystic Falls 1857

"Did you hear that?"

Damon walked alongside his ten-year-old brother, who stared into the dense woods with wide eyes. Damon chuckled and wrapped a protective arm around his tense, scrunched shoulders. The young boy startled but relaxed against the embrace of his older brother.

"Oh, Stef, stop being such a little girl!" Rebecca, the only girl in the group, teased lightly. Damon glanced over at the girl dressed in her older brother's clothes; he had to purse his lips to repress his laughter. She leaned over to plant a kiss on Stefan's forehead before returning her eyes to the path. Her long legs stepped over fallen branches and overgrown roots expertly. Feeling Damon's stagnate gaze, Rebecca looked up with a sardonic glance. "What are you looking at, Mr. Salvatore?"

"Only the scariest thing in this forest." Ezekiel's interjection saved Damon from formulating a smart remark. The older Sutton bumped his sister's shoulder before throwing an arm around her shoulders casually. It, however, looked like she was half-carrying him. "Are we almost there?"

"Winded, are we, Brother?" Rebecca questioned almost innocently. Damon smirked; one of the things he admired about Rebecca was her ability to hide her edged spirit under a veil of harmlessly articulated words. "Don't worry, little Zeke; we can take a break if you'd like."

"And return before the sun rises? I think not." Despite his statement, Ezekiel stopped, doubling over to catch his breath. The rest of the group slowed to a stop as well, glancing around to make sure they weren't being followed—or hunted. "You're lucky I even allowed you to come along."

With Stefan's face buried into his side and Ezekiel's hanging head, Damon shared a knowing look with Rebecca. She had been sneaking out of the house almost every night for a few months now, to meet with either one or both of the Salvatore boys. Even in the dim moonlight, Damon could see blush flood Rebecca's coy face.

"Oh, yes, I am truly lucky that you've unlocked the keys to my shackles," Rebecca crooned, hiding again behind a shroud of sarcasm. "Thank you, gracious Master." She curtsied by holding the billows of her trousers. "I am forever indebted to you."

"Oh, hush, Becky," Ezekiel shot. He straightened and offered his bent arm for his sister to link her arm with his. They gave each other mockingly sweet smile before continuing forward.

"Wait… I think I see it!" Damon announced after a moment of silence. He released Stefan and barreled through the brush, into the shadows. Stefan yelped, and Damon barely registered Ezekiel taking his place. A moment later, the dark-haired Salvatore heard his heavy breathing accompanied by Rebecca's as she matched his pace. Her blonde hair pulled back by a blue ribbon, swung behind her as she looked over at Damon with an elastic smile.

"I cannot believe we found it," Rebecca panted as they slowed to a trot.

In the middle of a clearing, there was a two-story cabin. It had, at least, five rooms. A lit lamp hung over the door. A chime over the porch steps swayed with the light breeze.

About two decades ago, on the morning after Halloween, someone had found the very house full of dead bodies. The bloodied corpses were identified as the Turner family—the wife, the three daughters, the two sons—but there was one person missing. Daniel Turner himself. A rumor circulated throughout the town that the lumberjack had been possessed by a demon on the night of Halloween and, overcome by insanity, hacked his family. The story quickly morphed into a legend; it said, on Halloween night, any passerby could hear the cries of the dying family and the glowing red eyes of the murderous Daniel Turner.

Damon barred his arm in front of Rebecca as she tried to walk up to the porch. Ezekiel and a whimpering Stefan caught up with the two, and Ezekiel gripped his sister's shoulder to reinforce Damon's barricade. The four children gawked at the house with mystified stares. Damon felt Rebecca's hand grip his hand; he knew she was trying to be as brave as he was trying to be.

"Okay, we saw it, let's—"

A wail cut Ezekiel off. Even Damon jumped at the sound. But then they heard metallic squeaking. A grunt… and rhythmic moaning…

"Wait a second… is this a br…"

"Hey! What are you kids doing out here?" A shrill voice came from the doorway, a silhouette of a woman made by the light within the cabin. "Excuse me, but isn't it well past your bed times?"

"Is someone dying in there?" Stefan quipped with a shaky voice. Damon caught Rebecca throwing a hand over her giggling mouth, and Ezekiel clapped a hand over Stefan's naïve mouth. The woman in the brothel's doorway laughed.

"Quite the opposite, darling… You lot should head home. The sun'll come up soon."

"Is the legend true?" Rebecca blurted. Knowing the cabin wasn't haunted, she took a confident step forward. "Don't you get scared?"

"We have many… visitors, honey." The woman hesitated; Damon watched her fidget with her skirt. "We don't really know if it's true, but if it is, I must really insist you children head home, where it's safe."

"Come on," Ezekiel muttered, leading Stefan back into the woods. Damon reached to grip Rebecca's hand. He had to tug her out of her trance on the woman.

"Well, that was a failure," Rebecca grumbled as she finally marched back the way they had come.

"Was not," Damon countered. "Now we know a place that'll hire you for your expert work.."

"Damon Salvatore!" the teen hissed though she was laughing.

Rebecca nudged him with her shoulder, and he laughed, capturing her thin body. They were a few feet behind Ezekiel and Stefan, so Damon knew their closeness would remain a secret. Rebecca placed a hand on his chest, searching his face. He just smirked, placing a chaste kiss on her lips.

"Happy Halloween, B—"

Before he could finish, Rebecca kissed him passionately. He could feel her trembling, and he realized she was still scared from the entire night. He held her protectively as he kissed her back. The tension in her back dissipated after a moment, and she pulled away from his face with a sigh.

"Happy Halloween, Damon."

Stefan was right. Alaric was right. Even his own mother was right though he'd never, ever admit that last one.

He wouldn't have done this if it wasn't necessary.

Dear Elena,

Yes, you heard that correctly—hell has frozen over. I'm writing it all down.

Granted, I'm half a bottle in, thanks to my 1950 Chateau Cheval Blanc, a bottle I waited sixty-five years to open. I used to spend nights sitting in my wine cellar, convincing myself I could hear it age… tannins growing, fermenting… but appreciating its beauty didn't make time go by any faster. The bottle just laid there, on its shelf, torturing me while I waited for Katherine… and time stood still. Eventually, I convinced myself that no sip of that wine could ever taste as good as I dreamt it would.

So, I hid the bottle and walked away. And that is the story of why I drink bourbon.

I don't know who I am without you, but I know that, as long as I am with you, time will stand still.

So, who is Damon Salvatore without Elena Gilbert?

A selfish friend?

A jealous brother?

A horrible son…?

Or, maybe, with a little luck, I'll do right by you.

Because you may be a thousand miles away—or a hundred years away—but… you're still here with me. And my heart is right there in that coffin with you.

Until you come back to me…

Damon tucked the folded page into Elena's hand before shutting the coffin for good.

Vampires metabolize at an accelerated rate, but, when Stefan had mentioned his plan to trick the Heretics into siphoning Caroline's curse, Rebecca had just finished a line of seven tequila shots. She blinked a few times before throwing two thumbs up. Immediately after, someone grabbed her by the waist and whisked her onto the dancefloor.

When the two vampires did not return, Rebecca knew they must have been successful in their plan and were celebrating.

The vampire was the first to return to the apartment. Taking the opportunity to use the little hot water the shower had to offer, she scrubbed her skin raw under the poor water pressure. Her body had been covered with a mixture of her own sweat, the sweat of several humans, plus the alcohol she had poured onto herself for body shots.

Rebecca actually had fun at the party. She spent most of the night being outrageous, but she did sober enough to help Stefan and Caroline protect the humans. She danced with men and women alike, grinding and gyrating her body across the dancefloor. She even had a steamy dance with Nora; Mary Louise almost tore her arm off as she "compelled" her to stay away. Rebecca was just lucky either Heretic didn't bite into her, finding out she wasn't human. Rebecca drank one of each drink behind the bar though she spent more time with a tequila bottle than the rest. She had initiated the body shots—she licked salt from various people's body, bit into limes held in other people's mouths, and sucked alcohol out of many sorority girls' navels. She even held a contest with the fraternity boys—the best dancers could do body shots off her.

As a human, Rebecca was as reckless as the times allowed. As time went on, her vampirism paved the way for a completely new form of audacity.

Once clean, she pulled on one of Damon's t-shirts and a pair of cotton shorts, and she fixed a cup of tea. She was passing the time, waiting for someone else to come back, before she went to sleep. The tea was chamomile; it'd help her settle down from the wild night.

When she heard the front door open, she peeked her head out of the kitchen. Alaric held a pale, dark-haired woman. The vampire recognized her as the woman Alaric cried over and drank about every night, Jo Laughlin, his late fiancé. Now, here she was, her body pinking by the second. Speeding over, Rebecca ignored the man's protests and she took the sleeping woman's body easily. She could feel Jo's heartbeat—it was nerve-racking. Rebecca laid the woman onto Alaric's bed carefully and gently swaddled her as Alaric stood near.

"Pictures do not do her justice," Rebecca commented, more to herself, but she could hear the smile in Alaric's voice as he spoke.

"Thank you." She knew the gratitude was due to a combination of her assistance and her compliment. He never took his eyes off his wife-to-be. He probably thought she would disappear if he did—or, at least, that was how Rebecca would feel if she was in his shoes.

"Of course. I can leave tonight if that's what you want," Rebecca offered politely.

"You can stay one more night," Alaric allowed. "I'm sure Damon figured out a way to get back into Mystic Falls. So, maybe, you could—" The man stifled a yawn, covering it with the back of his hand.

"Sure," Rebecca interrupted before he could continue his previous thought. "Get some rest, Alaric… she's here. And she's alive."

"Yeah…" The human didn't sound convinced though his eyes studied the love of his life extensively. Rebecca chuckled, patting his back reassuringly.

"Don't stare at her all night," she commented knowingly. "Despite popular belief, it's not romantic. It's just plain creepy."

"I'll keep that in mind." He allowed a laugh and tore his eyes away from Jo long enough to smile gratefully at his temporary roommate. "Good night, Rebecca."

Settled in the guest bed, Rebecca took her final sips of her tea when Damon finally walked into the room. He staggered a moment, clearly startled by Rebecca's alert stare, but it didn't last very long. Without words, the dark-haired vampire stripped down to his undergarments and settled under the blanket. Rebecca studied the tension in his back muscles, wondering what had happened to make him so tense.

"How did the trade-off finally go?" she said quietly. The sound of her voice was less about Alaric eavesdropping and more about Damon's fragility.

"It was standard."

"Are you happy?"

"As happy as I can be, Beck. I'm just waiting decades for her to be back in my arms—no big deal." Rebecca chewed her bottom lip, irritated by his snippy attitude. He allowed a deep sigh. "I'll never let her go."

"I know. She's safe now… that's all that matters." Rebecca placed a hand on his pale back, letting it travel to his shoulder. She gave it a light squeeze, hoping it'd lift his spirits. "It'll be worth it. You still got the girl."

"I have a long day tomorrow, Rebecca." Rebecca pulled her hand away as if he had burned her. The use of her full name felt like a lash against her face. "I'll talk to you in the morning or something."

"Sure." Now would be a good time for a walk, despite it was nearly morning. "Good night, Damon."

Why must Damon be so cold toward Rebecca? She's only trying to help!

Enjoy! And don't forget to review!

Again, Happy New Year!

xo,

glass27doll