Works been crazy lately - sorry for the delay. Thought a little quality time was in order for our favorite couple! Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 14:
Elena found Oona in the morning before she left with the group for Mystic Falls. She thought she should be going to Ireland too – maybe there was a lead on Stefan there and she wanted to be there when they found him. Elena reasoned she could reach Stefan and help bring him back from the edge. She explained this to Oona.
Oona listened patiently and nodded as Elena spoke, which Elena appreciated. Damon, Stefan, Alaric and others would usually try to cut her off. When Elena finished explaining her thoughts, Oona stepped forward and touched her arm.
"Elena, I know what I am asking of you is not easy. I certainly understand you wanting to come with us if there is any chance we may find Stefan there, but perhaps we can find a compromise."
Elena hadn't slept the night before and had been practically vibrating by the time she found Oona in the morning. Oona needed to keep all the key players in their group calm. Anyone going off on their own could tip their hand, not to mention lead to tragic consequences. Oona knew she needed Elena to be on board with their next steps to prevent that from happening. She looked into Elena's eyes as she spoke.
"Please listen to my proposal and try to understand my thinking on this. When I am done, if you are not in agreement we'll discuss other possibilities."
Elena nodded and crossed her arms in front of herself. "Okay."
"Elena, I asked you to go back to Mystic Falls not because I am trying to keep you away from Klaus and Stefan, but because I need someone I can trust, and who is trusted by the group, with Elijah. I need to talk with the pack, but I worry they will not be helpful if I show up with a slew of vampires in tow. I asked you to go back to Mystic Falls because we need to know if Klaus and Stefan have come back to that area and you can keep everyone together. We cannot have anyone running off on their own right now."
Elena tilted her head to the side and asked, "If you are concerned about vampires being around, why are you bringing Damon?"
Oona tilted her head downward and raised her eyes at Elena. "Elena?"
Oona said her name in a way that made it clear that she, of all people, should understand why Damon was coming with Oona.
Elena took a deep breath and nodded. "Sorry. I know why and I get it. But what if you discover Klaus and Stefan when you're in Ireland?"
"Make sure you have your passport in order. If they are there, you will come. I give you my word that we will all gather once I have spoken with the Clare pack."
Elena nodded. "So we need to keep folks together, keep an eye out for Klaus and Stefan and see what we can find out about where they are now."
"Yes." Oona replied. "I will talk with the Clare pack in Ireland and we will regroup together once we know where we should all go next. I assure you, I will keep you informed. I am not trying to keep you out of the way."
Elena let out a deep breath when Oona said that. "Thanks."
"I give you my word. We must all trust each other and work together if we are to succeed. I will not leave you out and you must ensure that you and your friends do the same with me."
"OK." Elena said. "Call me after you talk to the wolves?"
"Yes. Safe travels, Elena. We will see each other soon enough." Oona squeezed Elena's hand lightly. "Now I believe the rest of your party is downstairs. We should go."
Elena and Oona met the rest of the group downstairs. The Mystic Falls contingent was packed and waiting by the door for Elena. Damon, Tyler and Oona would catch a night flight to Ireland. Alaric, Jeremy and Bonnie headed out to their car. They had a long drive back to Mystic Falls ahead of them. Caroline pulled Tyler aside while Damon, Elijah, Elena and Oona talked about their respective plans.
"Look, I like Oona and I think she's okay to trust, but be careful, Tyler." Caroline said as she gave Tyler a hug.
"Caroline, I'll be fine. Oona seems cool and I think she can keep Damon from killing me." Tyler said as he placed some stray hairs behind her ear.
"Yeah, that's pretty amazing. Maybe she can teach the rest of us that trick." Caroline commented before she refocused. "But seriously Tyler, be careful and don't get too attached to any new werewolf friends you make over there."
Tyler chuckled at her concern. If someone had told him a year ago he and Caroline would have become so close, he would have laughed. "Don't worry. I'll see you soon."
She hugged him again, said her goodbyes to Oona and Damon and headed to the car. Tyler stood next to Oona and Damon as they finished with Elijah and Elena.
Elijah nodded towards his sister. "We should talk once you arrive in Ireland. We will likely not be back in Mystic Falls before your flight takes off. Take care, sister."
Oona nodded in return and he went out the door. Elena looked at Oona, Damon and Tyler before she left. "Be careful guys. I'll see you soon."
"And you as well." Oona said to Elena as she walked out the door.
Damon, Oona and Tyler left for the airport just before nightfall. She had reserved a private plane for their trip so they could travel discreetly… and in comfort. Oona spent most of the flight talking to Tyler about what he knew about being a werewolf and recognizing others of his kind. Tyler asked Oona several questions about transitioning, other werewolves and anything else who could think of that he didn't know.
Damon quickly grew tired of their conversation about werewolves. Bored, he decided to drink bourbon after bourbon until he fell asleep. After a few hours of talking, Oona nuzzled next to him and Tyler took to the plane phone to call Caroline. Damon murmured to her, "You done ignoring me."
Oona wrapped her arm around him and laid her head on his chest. "I thought you were ignoring me."
"Mmmm," Damon whispered in her hair. "Not possible. Couldn't if I tried."
"We'll land in a couple of hours." Oona told him.
"Can't wait… It's been a while." Damon still had his eyes closed.
"Yes, it has. Too bad it's not under more enjoyable circumstances."
"Mmmm…" Damon was falling asleep again. "Too much bourbon."
The ride from the airport was quiet. Oona drove from the airport north through County Clare, a quiet county on the west coast of Ireland. Tyler took in the narrowing of the roads and the overabundance of green as they passed out of the last village and into pastoral fields and woodlands. Dew still sparkled off the leaves and grass in the morning light. Driving up to the dirt lane to the house Damon felt conflicting emotions. The calm and relaxation of being on the doorstep of Oona' Irish abode was being encroached upon by the presence of Tyler in the back seat.
The lane opened up suddenly revealing a manor house sitting in the middle of a large lawn full of gardens and outer buildings. Oona pulled around the side of the house towards a large carriage house that had been modernized as a garage. The large door opened and she drove inside. Damon grabbed the bags out of the "boot", as Oona called it, and motioned for Tyler to grab what was left and follow. Tyler took in the house, grounds and surrounding buildings. It outdid the Lockwood estate, but felt less showy. The house was made of stone and the grounds seemed to go on forever. Tyler saw a lake with woods around it. Oona saw Tyler looking around and took on explaining their surroundings.
"It's about 170 acres." Oona said as they approached the main house. "The house is built of limestone from the Burren – beautiful place; you'll see it before we leave. I built this manor around 1760ish, but I have had this land since Brian Boru himself gave it to me."
Tyler nodded blankly. He had no idea who Brian Boru was. Damon rolled his eyes.
She took them in a side door through a small sun room that fed out from a large parlor. A man dressed in an Irish fisherman's sweater and jeans met them there. He stood over six feet, with a broad build, raven black hair and green eyes. "Well lass, you made it a bit early, didn't you?"
"Ahh, Declan. Many thanks for opening the house. Are your Mum and Da with you?" Oona's accent seemed to creep in and out as she spoke.
"They're in town picking up some essentials for you. Mr. Hynes opened up for them to get some meat and then they were off to the SPAR for y' groceries." Declan looked up and took in Oona's guests. "And who do we have here?"
"Sorry Declan. I've forgotten my manners. This is Damon and Tyler."
"How's it goin'?" Declan held out his arm and shook their hands. He took them both in with cautious eyes. Damon nodded and gave Declan his not so friendly grin.
"Brillant!" Damon answered with his best Guinness commercial accent.
Declan ignored him and turned to Oona. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Fresh linens on the beds and in the bath. Mum will drop your groceries in a bit and Da' will call on you this evening." Declan tipped his head at Oona and made his exit.
"Seriously Damon," she raised her eyebrows.
Damon lifted his eyebrows, stuck his hands in his pant pockets, and pivoted on his heal towards the parlor. Oona chuckled and looked at Tyler. "Let me show you around and get you settled."
Tyler smiled and put out his arm for her to lead the way. As she made her way up the stairs to show Tyler to his room he asked, "Is he a werewolf?"
Oona walked into the room Tyler would be using and smiled at him. "Very good. You were paying attention on the plane."
"I felt it like you said…almost like I could feel a tie between us." Tyler couldn't figure out how to quite explain it. It was if he immediately sensed Declan's nature through a primal connection, but that sounded way too weird to say out loud.
"Yes. As you become more comfortable with yourself, you will be more in tune to other wolves." Oona told him. "Your senses will tell you."
"Yeah, uh.. right." Tyler said and then quickly changed the topic. "Listen, I'm guessing his Dad is the pack leader you were talking about and we're going to talk to him later. Do you mind if I get some sleep before that? I didn't get much on the plane – talking to Caroline and all."
"Yes, you are quite clever, Mr. Lockwood." Oona winked at him and walked towards the door. "Get some rest. There is a bath through that door should you wish to shower." She motioned towards a door on the right hand side of the room.
Tyler put his bag on the chair in the corner and started towards the bathroom. "Thanks."
With that she exited and closed the door behind her.
Oona found Fiona, Declan's mother, in the kitchen when she came down. Declan's mother was unpacking groceries from satchels on the counter. "Fiona, thank you for helping to get us settled."
Fiona looked up at Oona and smiled. "Not a problem. We're glad to have you back. You're looking well, as always." Fiona arched her eye at Oona as she spoke. She knew Oona never aged.
"As are you." Oona smiled at her. Fiona herself aged slowly. "Is Hugh with you?"
"He's getting the last of the bags in the car." Fiona motioned out the kitchen door.
Oona walked out toward the car and found Hugh coming toward her with him hands full. He smiled widely at her, put the bags down and spun her around. "Ahh, Oona. There's yourself."
He put Oona down and she took him in. Hugh looked remarkably well. He looked to be in his early forties, but she knew he was much older than that. Declan looked a great deal like his Dad. Hugh had the same build, dark hair and green eyes.
"I wish I was here for holiday, but I am afraid I have important matters to discuss with you." She said.
"I figured from your message yesterday. I'll be by after supper."
"Lovely. Now let me help you with these." She said picking up some of the bags and following him into the kitchen.
She found Damon down by the cove in the wood after she'd seen Fiona and Hugh off. He was sitting in a wooden chair at the edge of the water looking out at the lough. Clouds were painted over the sky and mist rose off the water. He looked lost in his thoughts until he heard Oona.
"I saw Hugh and Fiona take off. `Declan their kid?" Damon continued to look out at the water as she approached.
"Yes, but he was just a child the last time you were here." Oona answered as she sat in the chair next to him.
"So are your wolf-buddies coming back later?" Damon smirked. God, he hated werewolves. Hugh and Fiona were tolerable, but that kid of theirs had already annoyed him.
"Yes, after dinner." Oona said and then shifted to more pleasant topics. "We have all day to do as we wish. Where do you want to go?"
Damon smiled at her, but there was worry beneath his smile. He pretended it wasn't there. "Let's go for a long walk and get lost for the afternoon."
"Should we head toward the fairy wood?" Her eyes sparkled. She rose from the chair and reached out her hand to him. Whatever was bothering could wait, she needed a break from the craziness surrounding them.
"Perfect." His face, thankfully, buried its concern momentarily. He took her hand and she guided him towards the woodlands.
The fairy wood was a name given to the forest around the manner centuries ago. The druids in the area believed the woods were bewitched with spiritual powers and they would convene there for rituals. Magic seemed to crackle underneath the surface. Oona could never disturb the woods because of this and it had developed a primordial feel with green vines growing up the tall, ancient trees. Sunlight shown through the trees in bursts of light and gave it a shadowed glow.
The minute they stepped into the woods a mist gathered around their feet and opened up down the path they followed.
"Nice touch." Damon remarked to Oona. "You do that every time we come here."
"I find it adds to the effect." She smirked at him.
"Why do you ever leave this place?" Damon asked.
"I find I appreciate it more after I've been away. An eternity in any one spot seems tiresome." She looked up at him.
"True, but I could stand a century or two here." Damon smiled at her. He stopped and pulled her to him, resting his head on top of hers as he looked out into the woods. "You think they'll come here. Don't you?"
There it was. So much for a brief escape, she thought.
"If Klaus learns of Hugh and his pack, he will. It's what I would do if I were him. They are the oldest, strongest line of their kind. They defeated all the hunters Father sent their way."
"How long?" Damon kept her close to him.
"Hard to say, but we will have a better sense after talking to Hugh. I asked him to inquire with other packs about anything unusual. I suspect that is what he is doing now." She inhaled in his scent.
"Do you really believe you can kill him?" Damon's face hardened with concern. "How do you know he won't…?" He couldn't finish the sentence.
Oona pulled away slightly and looked into his face. She smiled at him and scrunched her nose playfully. "I don't, but I'd put your money on me for this fight."
Damon didn't fall for it. His eyes went wide and he glared into hers. "I'm serious, Oona. I want Stefan back, but I am not going to lose you."
Oona stared up at him and placed her hands on his chest. "No one will be losing anyone here. Please trust I know what I am doing, Damon. If Klaus comes, I can defeat him."
Damon still wasn't soothed by her words. Life had taught him that anything good in his life would always be taken away. He was not going to let that happen with Oona. "But how do you know that you are stronger than him? How can you be sure?"
Oona stepped back from him. She knew there was only one way to reassure him. She began taking her clothes off by a tree.
Damon shook his head at her in disbelief. "You're not going to seduce me out of this!"
Oona turned to him and looked at him plainly. "That's not my intent… at the moment."
Damon eyes widened as he watched Oona transitioned into the largest wolf he had ever seen. She was the size of a bear with a grey coat with black flecks of hair around her grey blue eyes. She looked at him and then took off at a speed that made it impossible for him to track her. He searched the woods with his eyes and ears, but there was nothing. Then suddenly, without warning, she was behind him nudging his knee. He jumped quickly into the nearest tree at the site of her – natural instinct of a vampire, but he knew if she had wanted he would have been in pieces by now. She whipped her head up towards him, opened her mouth to show two lines of huge, nasty teeth and growled. After staring at him fiercely for a few minutes, she padded over to the tree where her clothes were sitting and in a blink had transitioned back into human form. She slowly began to dress as Damon stared at her from the tree. She looked at him over her shoulder, almost bored, "Is this settled now?"
Damon jumped from the tree and came to stand next to her. He stared at her with a look of awe. Her strength had increased with just the short transition; he could feel it emanating from her. She rolled her shoulders as if she was stretching. Then she tugged on his hand. "Come, let's enjoy our walk. No more Klaus talk for now. There is that seduction matter you mentioned."
They walked deep into the forest till they found the spot they were looking for - a beautiful clearing circled by stones. The ferns and grasses lay out like a blanket. Oona turned to Damon and he cupped her face with his hands as he kissed her slowly. She tangled her hands into his hair and their mouths molded against each other. They stopped briefly for her to pull his T-shirt over his head. He began to unbutton her blouse and removed it tenderly over her shoulders, kissing them once the garment was gone. He gently guided her back until she was lying down. He was taken away by how beautiful she looked with her red curls fanned out from her face against the green ferns underneath her. They continued to kiss as their hands removed each other's clothes – taking their time to enjoy the feel of the other. Damon rolled her beneath him and he took all of her in. She brushed his hair from his face and met his eyes. They kissed with intense emotion. They took their time with each other. Since she had returned, their lovemaking had been fierce. This was unhurried - enjoying the feel of their bodies connected. They moved in a slow, sensual rhythm. They breathed each other in. Their completion was intense. When they finished, he looked down at her and touched her face. "I love you."
"And I love you."
"Tell me you're not going to leave me again." His voice was soft, but his eyes were wide.
She reached up to him. "I'll never leave you…if that is what you want."
"Yes…" his voice then sounded uncertain. "Do you want to stay with me?"
"More than anything." She smiled and arched her head up to kiss him.
They lay in the grass, staring at each other and enjoying the peaceful beauty that surrounded them. The sun slowly started its descent and he sighed as she slowly rose.
"Is it time already?"
She looked down at him, "I'm afraid so." She pulled her camisole over her head and reached for her shirt.
"I'll do that." He said and he moved in front of her and buttoned her blouse while kissing her neck. Then he pulled his shirt over his head and stood up to pull up his pants. When they finished dressing, he slid his arm around her shoulders and they began walking back towards the tree line.
"What would you like for dinner, mo ghile mear?" She asked with a smile as they walked into the wood.
"How about a big ass wolf?" He stretched his arms out to demonstrate the size.
She shook her head and laughed. "I don't think that's on the dinner menu, maybe for dessert."