A/N: Please don't hate me for making you all wait so long for this! Seeing as though we all seem to forgive Kevin and Julie for hiatuses, I hope you can forgive me. You see, school has been crazy, and I haven't been feeling the greatest; a.k.a. no time to write at all. *sobs* But, the moment you've all been waiting for is finally here; I UPDATED! Beware of minor smut later on in the chapter… although I don't think any of you really mind. *winks* Enjoy, and please remember to review! Love always, CharliesLostVampire
"Okay, you dragged me here; start talking."
Sitting at a table outside the Grill, Caroline looked up from her latté at the unnerving face of Nick Michaels. His pale green eyes were locked on her, a look of annoyed puzzlement glued to his face. Sighing, she began talking. "What do you want to know?"
"Let's start with why you jumped me," Nick said, crossing his arms over his chest as he frowned.
"Well, you look like this guy…"
"What guy?" Nick asked in irritation for what felt like the hundredth time that hour. Slowly, as if she said his name he may appear like Beetlejuice, Caroline said, "Klaus. His name was Klaus."
"What could the guy have done that was so awful that everyone in town will want to attack me if they see me?"
"He was evil, Nick," Caroline sighed, "Pure evil."
"I really doubt…"
"He killed people!" Caroline hissed to get her point across. "He wasn't human!"
Nick's face paled at her words and he cringed back. "What do you mean he killed people…?"
Caroline sighed and shook her head. "You would never believe me if I told you."
Nick frowned. "Why not? Was the guy a serial killer? Because those are very believable…"
Caroline leaned closer; she couldn't see any point in not telling him the truth. He looked identical to Klaus; he would find out sooner than later, anyway. It might as well be her who told him; she would break it to him more easily than anyone else would. She would certainly break it easier to him than, say, Damon, who would likely snap the poor boy's neck upon sight. Leaning even closer so only he could hear, she whispered, "Do you believe in vampires, Nick?"
He frowned. "What does that have to do with anything?"
Caroline frowned. "A lot more than you think; just answer the question."
He sighed. "No, I guess not. All that stuff is stupid and pointless; a waste of time by author's with nothing better to do than scare people."
Caroline sighed; the fact that he was a non-believer would make it even harder to convince him of the truth. "Well, they're more real than you realize, Nick."
Nick scoffed. "What, you're telling me this Klaus guy was a vampire…"
"Shhh!" Caroline snapped, looking around at the people who turned their heads toward them at the mention of the "V" word. "Not so loud! The people in this town are really touchy when it comes to vampires…"
Nick looked exasperated. "You're crazy. Look, I don't care who this Klaus guy really is, but you don't have to come up with some sort of crazy lie…!"
"It's not a lie!" Caroline snapped. "They're real…" she chewed her lip nervously, "and they're closer than you think."
Nick rolled his eyes. "Look, I'm just going to go. I have an apartment full of boxes to unpack." He stood up and started to leave and Caroline frowned, standing and chasing after him. "Wait," she called, "Nick, wait!"
He turned into an ally that lead to his street, ignoring Caroline's footsteps chasing after him. He refused to be made a fool of on his first day in town… he then remembered the display at the grocery store and sighed, deciding he had nothing to lose. "Fine," he snapped, turning to face her. "What do you…?"
He bit back a horrified scream at the sigh before him. For, replacing the sweet girl he had sat across from just seconds ago was the face of a monster, with beady red eyes and sharp fangs. Grinning a bit at his reaction, Caroline asked, "Believe me now?"
. … . … . … . … . … .
As the sun was beginning to set, Damon and Elena made their way up the steps to the boarding house door. Damon fished around in the pocket of his leather jacket for his keys, shifting the bags that were in his arms so he wouldn't drop them. Elena stood beside him, holding Ellie, who was sleeping soundly, against her chest. She smiled at Damon as he opened the door and they headed inside.
"I'm going to go put Ellie to bed," Elena whispered and Damon nodded as he put the bags down on the couch. "Hurry," he said with a smile, "I have a surprise for you."
Elena raised an eyebrow as she smiled curiously at him, "Really?"
He grinned and nodded, "Really."
Elena giggled a bit and nodded. "Okay, I'll hurry; give me five minutes."
Damon nodded as he headed over to the liquor cart to pour himself a drink. Once Elena had gone up the stairs and he heard her busy with Ellie, he sprang into action; lowering the lights and lighting candles all throughout the room while he tossed his jacket over the back of one of the many chairs in the parlor. Pulling the glittering chain out of one of the shopping bags, Damon grinned.
… . … . … . … . … .
"Bon, this is ridiculous," Matt complained as they sat in Bonnie's bedroom. She shot him a glare, looking up from her spell book. "It isn't ridiculous," she hissed, "it's the right thing to do. Babies don't just fall from the sky, Matt! Don't you think it's a bit strange that Ellie seemed to?"
"Of course I do! But I think you should talk to Elena and Damon before you do this."
"I can't, Matt! They would never let me do it. So you need to help me. You're the only one who will, Matt. Caroline hates me; Damon and Elena don't trust me; Alaric would tell!" She drew in a shaky breath. "You're all I have, Matt."
Matt frowned as her brown eyes locked with his blue ones. He hated her eyes. They were impossible to resist, especially when they looked so desperate for aid. "Fine," he sighed. "Tell me what I need to do."
… . … . … . … . …
"Vampires," Nick said in disbelief for the millionth time. "Werewolves… hybrids? What the hell is up with that?"
Across the table from him inside the Grill, Caroline shot him a sympathetic and understanding look. "Don't forget witches and doppelgangers."
Nick exclaimed, "Doppelgangers! How could I ever forget? I am one. I'm an exact copy of a raving psychopath everyone wanted dead."
"Not exact," Caroline assured him with a soft smile. He met her eyes and sighed. "I suppose I should get the hell out of dodge before someone kills me, huh?"
Caroline cocked her head to the side. "Well, you don't have to go."
"The last time I checked, unlike your friends, I'm short a magical ring," he smirked a bit. "So, I think I do. The only reason I moved here in the first place was to find my little sister."
"Little sister?" Caroline raised an eyebrow. "Well, who is she? Maybe I can help."
Nick smiled and shook his head. "Her name is Elizabeth Michaels."
"Elizabeth Michaels…" Caroline repeated, not recognizing the name. Shaking her head, she met his eyes again. "You're sure she lives here?"
Nick grinned a bit. "I'm sure you wouldn't know her, Caroline."
"Why?" Caroline asked.
"Because," Nick said, "Elizabeth is a baby."
… . … . … . … . …
Elena raised an eyebrow as she made her way back down the stairs to find the lights dimmed and candle light flickering on the walls. "What's all this?" she asked, pleasantly surprised as Damon sat on the couch, waiting for her. He grinned, standing up and walking over to her, placing his hands on her waist. "We're finally alone…" he said, and Elena grinned. "Hmmm," she said, placing a hand on his chest. "We are…"
Damon grinned. "I have a surprise for you."
Elena raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"
"Close your eyes…" he whispered in her ear and she giggled, doing so and waiting. Damon silently reached into the pocket in the back of his jeans, pulling out the shimmering lapis lazuli pendant and walking behind her, placing the necklace around her throat and fastening the clasp.
"Can I open my eyes?" Elena whispered softly in the silence and Damon smiled, his lips close to her ear as he whispered, "Yes…"
Elena's eyes fluttered open and she looked down. Her eyes quickly widened in shock as she touched the glittering blue stone at her throat. "Damon…" she whispered in awe, "It's beautiful."
Damon grinned. "Well, I couldn't spoil one of my princesses and not the other…"
Elena blushed a bit, looking up into his eyes. "Is it lapis lazuli?" Damon grinned and nodded. "I thought it might come in handy, in case someday you… well… you know…"
Damon trailed off, biting his lip, and Elena looked up at him, nodding slowly. "Of course," she whispered, touching his cheek, "Just in case."
He smiled and kissed her forehead gently. "Do you like it?"
She nodded. "I love it." Leaning up, she captured his lips with her own in a soft kiss, knotting her fingers in his hair.
Damon moaned softly against her lips, kissing her with more passion as that increasingly familiar spark was lit between them at the touch of their lips. Turning her so she was facing him in his arms, he held her shoulders and kissed her more hungrily. Shivering, Elena wrapped her arms around his neck, giving a small gasp when she promptly found herself pressed against the wall with Damon's lips hungrily exploring down the column of her throat.
"Damon…" she breathed, her eyes fluttering shut as she shivered with pleasure. He gave a low growl of desire in the back of his throat, pressing her more firmly against the wall as he began popping the buttons on her blouse until they were all undone, sliding it off of her shoulders and kissing lower, across the rise of her breasts. Elena gave a whimper of desire and repeated his name, a bit louder this time. "Damon…"
Damon let his eyes slowly rise to hers. "Yes, angel?"
She nearly melted at the husky tone of his voice, and her eyes fluttered shut again. "Take me, baby… do your worst."
It was mere seconds before Damon's lips came crashing hungrily down on her own and their hands frantically went to work; popping buttons, unzipping zippers, unhooking clasps…
In a record time of twenty-three seconds, there was a pile of clothes on the floor, the creaking of springs on the couch, a shrill gasp, husky moan, and all hope of turning back was lost.
… . … . … . … . …
"I can't believe I'm doing this…" Matt mumbled to himself as he crept up around the back of the boarding house. He was beginning to think Bonnie had only asked for his help because of his athletic skills; he was being forced to scale the house and climb in Ellie's window instead of using the door.
Mumbling a few choice words under his breath, Matt slowly climbed up the ivy coating the back of the house, sliding open Ellie's window and creeping into the room. It was dark, lit only by a small nightlight plugged into the wall across the room.
Slowly he made his way over to the crib where Ellie lay, sleeping soundly with her tiny fist curled around a soft, fluffy white blanket. He peered down at her, deep in thought…
"Oh, God Damon!"
Matt nearly jumped out of his skin at the sudden screamed phrase, breaking the silence that his ears had become accustomed to. It was three in the morning; Bonnie had assured him Damon and Elena would both be sound asleep when he snuck in to get some of Ellie's hair for her spell. Yet, sounding like it was coming from downstairs, was the unmistakable sound of moaning and screaming.
Matt nearly vomited. As he stood there, helpless, he was listening in on Damon screwing Elena. They certainly weren't trying to be quiet about it, either. Clearly, the recent events had kept them fairly abstinent.
"Yes! Yes, Damon, yes! Oh, God yes…! More…!"
Quickly pulling a tiny pair of bathroom scissors from his jacket pocket, Matt leaned into the crib and snipped off a lock of Ellie's wispy blonde hair. She shifted in her sleep and Matt froze, terrified she may wake and start screaming, giving him away.
But, she continued to sleep soundly as though nothing had happened.
Downstairs, Elena gave a long, husky, satisfied groan that made Matt grind his teeth with sudden desire. God, it sounded sexy…
He mentally slapped himself. What the hell was he doing? Was he really becoming so desperate that he was indulging in listening to Elena moan while Damon pounded into her downstairs? Blushing scarlet, he headed to the window, just as Elena moaned out, "Harder, baby; go harder..."
Ducking out the window, and quickly scaling the wall, Matt made a B-line for his truck down the road. Bonnie owed him; big time.
… . … . … . … . …
"So, you're telling me my baby sister is being raised by a vampire?"
Caroline, still slightly shocked that she had found a connection to Ellie, nodded as she sat with Nick in his half unpacked living room. She had nearly choked on her third cup of coffee that evening when he said his little sister was a baby named Elizabeth. What were the odds?
"She was left on Damon's doorstep a few weeks ago. He and Elena have been taking care of her ever since."
Nick was frowning. "It makes no sense," he mumbled. "My parents were flakey, but they would never just leave her like that…"
"Why did you come here for her?" Caroline asked quietly. Nick frowned. "I came because my mother called me, telling me that they were staying with friends here, in Mystic Falls, and they wanted me to spend a few months here with Elizabeth."
"But then… why would they leave her on Damon's doorstep during a hurricane, saying they couldn't take care of her? Especially if they were staying with friends…"
Nick rubbed his temples. "From what you've told me, this town is screwed up. Who knows?" He sighed and shut his eyes, leaning his head against the wall behind them.
"Hey," Caroline said softly, touching his arm. He looked at her and she smiled. "Look on the bright side; you know where she is!"
"But your friends won't let me near her. They'll think I'm him."
Caroline frowned. "I'll talk to them, Nick," she took his hand and smiled. "I promise."
… . … . … . … . …
"Oh, my God…"
Elena desperately tried to catch her breath as she lay, exhausted, on Damon's chest. "That was heaven…" she breathed.
Damon grinned as he panted, running his hand through her damp hair. "It was…" he agreed, and Elena smiled. "Was I okay?" she asked, looking up at him. He grinned and nodded as he rubbed her back beneath their blanket on the couch. "You were amazing…"
She grinned in satisfaction and burrowed deeper into his chest. "Promise we'll never wait that long ever again?"
Damon chuckled, "Oh, I promise."
Sighing heavily as a thought occurred to her, Elena began to shift to get up. "We should go check on Ellie…"
Damon pouted and tightened his grip on her, pulling her closer. "Do we have to move right away?"
Elena looked at him for a moment, and then she sighed. "Okay, ten more minutes. But then we need to go check on her!"
Elena frowned. "Thirty minutes."
"An hour…" Damon said in a sing songy, uncompromising voice.
"Forty minutes?" Elena tried.
"An hour," Damon said, refusing to budge.
"Fine," Elena said, slightly irritated, but slightly pleased at the same time, "An hour. But that's it!"
"Two hours."
"Damon!"
"Okay, okay!"
… . … . … . … . …
Bonnie looked up from her spell book when she heard Matt enter her room again. "Did you get the hair?" she asked.
Silently, Matt passed it to her and left the room again.
"Where are you going?" Bonnie called with a frown.
"To take a cold shower," Matt mumbled.
"Why?" Bonnie asked, furrowing her brow.
"Elena and Damon."
Bonnie frowned for a moment longer before gasping as realization dawned on her, "Oh, my gosh…!"
The bathroom door slammed shut and Bonnie cringed and went to work on the spell. Placing Ellie's fine baby hair in a small bowl, she lit a match and took a deep breath; she only had one chance to get this spell right. Once the hair was burning, there was no turning back. Blowing out her breath, Bonnie dropped the match in the bowl and began chanting the incantation she had memorized.
"Puercapillosignisunitatisviderevelimproferreduo vultus. Parentispuerquimanereinnominatum, ostende te, palustuaclamore! Caputpuer...!"
Bonnie gasped when a cold gush of air blew at her, putting out the fire. Names were suddenly being chanted in her ears, along with words that mashed together incoherently. "Nick! Nick! Elizabeth! Nick! Nick! Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Nick!"
Bonnie shuddered, unable to contain whatever entities were screaming at her. Suddenly, new names were called, but only once. "Joanne! Jacob! Elizabeth! Nick! Nick! Nick Nick!"
All at once, a single sentence made sense.
"Give Elizabeth to Nick!"
A powerful gust of wind punched Bonnie in the stomach and she cried out. Suddenly, it all stopped.
Matt, a towel around his waist, ran into the room when he heard Bonnie scream, turning the light on. "Bonnie!" he cried when he saw her, hunched over on her bed. He ran to her side and helped her sit up. "Bon! Hey, Bonnie! What happened?"
"The spell," she moaned. "I was doing the spell… then there was wind… and names. Nick and Elizabeth… and Joanne and Jacob."
She met Matt's eyes, looking terrified. "They were ghosts, Matt… they hit me… they said to give Elizabeth to Nick."
Gulping, she whispered, "Matt… Ellie's parents are dead."