Thank you for all the reviews and continued support of this story! I love all of you, even those that don't review :) but I encourage you to let me know what you think!
For anyone that cares, I finished the revisions to the story. But like I said in the previous author's note, you don't have to reread the whole story if you don't want to. It's the same thing written differently.
Thank you to the loverly WincestElejah for beta-ing!
WARNINGS: implied drug use, time jump and flashbacks
Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries or the characters associated with it. I just own the city of Nivea, the country of Atteca, the minor characters and other cities I made up and this plot.
Four Months Later
"So I'll see you and Tyler tonight at the fundraiser?" April Young batted her heavily mascaraed eyelashes heavily. "It would mean so much if you both could make it!"
"I will have to ask Tyler if he is free but I will be there," Katherine forced a smile to her face. April gave a small cry of delight.
"Thank you so much! This will mean so much for the charity!"
The two women stood and shook hands before they each left the restaurant. The paparazzi were waiting for them and went into a frenzy when they walked out. Katherine and April posed for a couple pictures before saying good-bye. Katherine walked to her BMW, escorted by the paparazzi and took off for her home.
It would be the third fundraiser she had gone to this month. While Katherine wasn't opposed to them, she was getting a little tired of making these appearances. But this one was important; every year April Young raised money and awareness to domestic abuse to children and in families by hosting a fundraiser to support various support groups and shelters for battered victims. The money she raised from these fundraisers went to Tyler's shelters and charity and to the soup kitchens that fed them. Normally, Tyler was in attendance of this fundraiser because it was for a cause he believed in but she wasn't sure he was in the mood for it. He hadn't really been in the mood for anything except drinking and late nights out since Jeremy and Damon left for Europe four months ago.
Everything changed since then. The paparazzi had long since given up on finding out the truth about the sudden break-up and the disappearance of Rebekah from the public eye in favor of following the drama from the clique she once hung out with or following Tyler's new supposed romance with up and coming socialite Hayley Marshall. His lawsuit had even stopped receiving attention when it was suddenly settled a month ago. Mikael tried what he could to keep Tyler in negative light but no one cared much for what he had to say.
Katherine was so lost in her thoughts that she was startled when she arrived at her home. She pulled past the gates and parked at the foot of the stairs leading to the front door of the Lockwood mansion. She handed the keys to the valet and climbed the sparkling marble to the great front doors. A breeze of cool air hit her as she entered the foyer.
"Tyler? Caroline?" she called as her heels clicked against the tile. She frowned at the silence and climbed the stairs, hoping that Tyler's door was open. It was closed like when she left this morning. She pressed her ear against it, hoping to hear something indicating that he was home. Lately, Tyler had been staying out all hours of the night, sometimes not coming home until a couple days later. She and Stefan long since stopped trying to monitor him when Tyler started ignoring their calls. And he always kept his room locked, which he never used to do. His behavior had been worrying her for a while.
"Eavesdropping again?"
Katherine jumped when she felt Caroline tapping her shoulder. Her blonde submissive giggled at her glare.
"I am merely seeing if he is awake."
"Then why don't you knock?"
"Because he will not answer if he has that tramp with him," she gave her a pointed look. "He knows I am not fond of her."
"More like you despise her," Caroline sorted.
"You do not like her either."
"I don't. But I hide it better than you do."
The door opened and Katherine jumped back in surprise. Tyler greeted them with bored indifference.
"Darling! How do you feel today?" she asked gently. He snorted and ran a hand through his hair.
"The same as yesterday Katherine."
"Are you alright?" she asked softly. He rolled his eyes and brought his flask to his lips.
"I'm just peachy."
"It is a little early to be drinking, no?" she asked with a frown. He drank for a few more seconds before answering.
"It's never too early."
"Tyler, have you seen my belt?"
Katherine frowned when Hayley came into view, trying to slip on her heels from last night as she held her clutch in one hand. The two women stared at each other for a moment before Hayley went back to looking around the room.
"I swear it was just here—"
"Check the bathroom," he said over his shoulder.
"Why are you always with her?" Katherine hissed when Hayley was out of earshot.
"Haven't you heard? We're dating," he mocked with air quotes.
"She is dirty Tyler. You can do so much better than her!"
"Can I?" he sounded bored. "I appreciate your concern Kat but it's not needed."
"I think it is," she folded her arms across her chest. "You are always out at all hours of the night with this woman and I have heard that she has a problem that was similar to yours."
"You mean drugs?" he raised an eyebrow in amusement. "So?"
"So do you not think that you should not hang around her? She could be a bad influence—"
"She can't peer pressure me into doing drugs Katherine," Tyler rolled his eyes. "We're not in high-school anymore. I know how to control myself."
"Yes but—"
"There's nothing for you to worry about. I'm not doing drugs again."
Katherine sighed, "Alright, I believe you chéri."
"Good."
Hayley chose that moment to come back, her shiny black belt wrapped securely around her tiny frame.
"Ready?"
"Yeah."
"Where are you going?" Katherine asked as Tyler locked his door. He shrugged.
"Out."
"What about work?"
"I took the day off," he said nonchalantly. Katherine frowned at his blasé attitude.
"April Young is having her annual fundraiser for the domestic violence awareness. She wants to know if you will be there since you have not left your R.S.V.P."
"Yeah, yeah, we'll be there," Tyler waved as he and Hayley jogged downstairs. Katherine frowned more when they left out the front door. Caroline came and stood beside her.
"Do you think he'll show?"
"I hope so," she murmured. "I have a bad feeling chérie. He is not acting like himself."
"You think he's relapsed?"
Katherine sighed, "I do not know. He is not acting the way he was when it happened the first time. But perhaps he has learned how to hide it from us better."
"Maybe. But something's definitely up," Caroline agreed.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
"So they think you're doing drugs again?" Hayley laughed. "If only they knew."
Tyler smirked, making a fast left on the green light for the left arrow.
"I've gotten good at hiding it. Not even Stefan knows. He's usually pretty good on picking up on those things."
"Look at you. Turning into a bad boy," she bit her lip seductively. "But you've always been bad, haven't you?"
Tyler picked up the flask and took a swig of whiskey. He passed it to her and she drank the rest.
"I guess I have."
"Well since you're so bad," she pulled out a little bag of white powder. "You can hit this and drive at the same time."
"What is it?"
"Crystal. 87% pure."
"Light it up. Close all the windows and the vents," he smirked. She laughed and made sure no air could leave or escape the car before pulling out her pipe and lighting up.
Jeremy grunted when he landed on his back for the third time that day. He fought to catch his breath, feeling the wind knocked out of him.
"You got too overzealous."
"I thought you went down with that kick to your knee."
"I let you think that. Never underestimate your opponent Jeremy, even when you think you're smarter than them."
"Good to know."
Alaric laughed and helped him up, "You wanna be done for the day?"
"Yeah. I still need to do all my exercises," Jeremy rolled out his neck. "Damon upped the number on everything."
"Because you're building endurance. Your body isn't the same as it was when you first got here. You have more stamina."
They walked into the main gym that sat under the time share apartments. Damon's Italian villa was, by far, the most impressive house Jeremy had seen. Not only because of what was in the house, but because of how it sat right on the ocean and how it was in walking distance to the popular streets of Venice. When they had arrived here after a month of Paris city life, Jeremy didn't think he ever wanted to leave.
Damon's villa had enough room to fit two whole families in it, so naturally he brought everyone from Paris. It seemed that his life had turned into one huge vacation and he couldn't say he minded at all. Spending his days working out with Alaric and drawing on the beach with Trevor and a couple nights out on the town had been some of the best days of his life. There was no room for sadness here.
And yet, there was always a lingering, dull pain in his heart. Despite all the fun, he couldn't help but wish that Tyler was there to experience it with him. He missed Bonnie dearly, and wished she could be here with him, but each time he had a new experience, he was sad he couldn't share it with him.
Alaric left him to do his exercises alone knowing that he preferred it that way. When they had arrived in Italy, Damon wrote out a schedule for Jeremy so he would be forced to get out of the house. He forced Jeremy to do workouts four times a week for thirty minutes at first, then an hour. Now he was doing them at an hour and a half and his body had transformed. Gone was the lanky, underdeveloped body he once had, a new firm and lean body taking its place. It also helped that Damon forced him to eat three well-balanced meals a day, four if he wanted to drink that night, and a variety of healthy snacks.
Not only did Damon require him to work out, he requested that Alaric, who was a black belt in Ju-jitsu, train Jeremy how to defend himself. At first, Jeremy had been terrified of the concept of being hit and wondered how Damon could put him in that position knowing his past. He remembered when he had cowered in his room after one of the first days of his training.
"It's just for a couple of hours a day Jer," Damon soothed his trembling submissive as he rubbed his back.
"Why are you making me do this?" he whimpered. "I don't want to fight! I don't want to be in a position where someone can hit me!"
"That's why I want you to do this."
"That doesn't make sense!"
"Yes it does. You need to learn how to defend yourself. The only way to learn to fight is to be in the position where you're forced to do it."
Jeremy stared at him through questioning watering eyes.
"You've been attacked by people all your life because you didn't know how to fight defensively. They kept coming after you because they knew you were weak and you didn't know how to defend yourself. If you let Alaric teach you how to fight, you can have an advantage if you're ever attacked again. And I never want you to feel helpless again, because you aren't."
Jeremy was silent as he tried to gather himself. Damon cupped his face with an uncharacteristic kindness and wiped them off his face.
"I want you to learn how to fight so you can protect yourself from people like the boys in the orphanage and those pimps who tried to take you. I wouldn't do this if I didn't think it would help you. I want you to gain confidence in yourself, and we're starting with this. You're not helpless and you don't need me or Tyler or anyone else to save you."
Jeremy nodded, more tears spilling down his face unwittingly. Damon pulled him into a tight hug and calmed him until he fell asleep in his arms.
After that talk, Jeremy had gone into training with Alaric with a new mentality. He was learning how to take a punch so he could throw an effective one back. He was learning how to fight so he would never be a victim of abuse ever again. At first, fighting had jarred old memories of being attacked but instead of cowering in his room, he used it as fuel to learn self-defense. Two weeks after he started training, Alaric had shown him how to use a punching bag and he found that to be the best stress reliever. He would spend days on end releasing his frustrations over his life, over Tyler, over everything that had happened to him and he never felt better. Sometimes he felt it was more effective than talking with Rose, his therapist appointed by Damon.
"Still going at it?" a voice said over him as he finished his sixth set of twenty push-ups. Jeremy sat on his knees and grinned at Trevor.
"Yeah. Damon upped all my reps yesterday."
"He's trying to make you into a body builder."
"I don't have to do that many," Jeremy chuckled. "They spend hours a day in the gym."
"You spend a good hour and a half in here after sparring for another hour and a half."
Jeremy shrugged, "I don't mind. It keeps my mind busy."
Trevor hummed and ruffled Jeremy's damp hair, "It's been good for you."
"Did Alaric tell you that I beat him the first round today?"
"He told me you lost to him the final two. He said you got overzealous."
"Whatever. I beat him good the first time," Jeremy chuckled. "I'm almost done. Meet up by the beach in thirty?"
"Sounds good. Your cheese and crackers will be waiting."
"You're awesome," Jeremy grinned. "I'm always starving after training."
"Your my best friend Jer. I know you well enough to know how you operate now," Trevor laughed. "Hurry so we can watch the sunset."
Jeremy felt a twinge of pain in his heart but he forced himself to smile.
"Can't wait."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
"What are you always drawing?" Trevor leaned over Jeremy to see his sketch pad, catching a whiff of the other's body wash. It made his heart stutter in his chest. He always smelled amazing.
"Nothing," he leaned away. "Damon says I'm not allowed to show anyone, including him."
"Is this some sort of therapy thing?"
"Yeah, something like that. It was his and Rose's idea."
"How much trouble would you be in if you showed me?"
"I don't know. I probably wouldn't get to go out for a week. He would definitely spank me."
Trevor hummed, taking a drink of his beer.
"Do you like having a Dominant?"
"Duh," Jeremy rolled his eyes with a quick grin. "I would've canceled my contract with Damon if I didn't."
"True," Trevor laughed. "But what I meant to say is, what about having a relationship outside of the one you have with your Dominant?"
"What do you mean?"
"Would Damon allow you to see anyone?"
"Like dating?" Jeremy frowned. "I guess he would. I haven't really thought about it."
"Well he must be okay with it. He's alright with you and Mason."
Jeremy flushed, "That's nothing."
"Yes it is," Trevor forced a laugh to cover his jealously. "You two definitely have something."
"It was just once."
"More like once a week. You really think no one knows what you two are up to?"
Jeremy buried his head deeper into his sketch pad to avoid Trevor's accusing yet humored stare. He stuffed another cracker with feta cheese into his mouth.
"It really is nothing though," he said as he swallowed. "It's just...I don't know. It's just nice to have someone there, I guess."
He remembered the first time he'd woken up in Mason's bed nauseated and with a headache so severe that he thought his brain would split open. When he saw the other next to him completely naked he ran into the bathroom to empty the contents of his stomach.
Jeremy leaned against the wall completely exhausted as his mind reeled. He couldn't remember much from the previous night other than dancing and stumbling through the streets of Paris, but he thought he would remember something like this. He was Tyler's uncle for God's sake, he should've remembered that!
He didn't move from his place in front of the toilet for another hour when he was forced to make room for Mason to relieve himself. Mason went back into the room and sat with his head in his hands.
"Jer, I think we should talk about this."
Jeremy groaned inwardly and slowly crawled from the bathroom. He grabbed Mason's robe hanging from the door, immediately noticing his state of undress and feeling more than uncomfortable about being naked in front of Tyler's uncle. He stayed on the floor, feeling too mortified to sit on the bed where everything went down.
"How do you feel?"
Jeremy decided to answer honestly, "Sick."
Mason chuckled, "Yeah, you did go pretty hard last night."
"Last night…did we…?" Jeremy couldn't finish. He already knew the answer, he just needed it clarified. His stomach churned violently when Mason nodded.
"Yeah. I found three condoms by the bed so I'm assuming it was that many times."
Jeremy choked on his spit and flushed deeply, "Oh."
The silence fell between them, neither knowing what to say. They didn't want to address the elephant in the room.
"Look, I know that you and Tyler didn't end on the best terms and you're still coping with that," Mason started uncomfortably. "This doesn't have to be anything, okay? Don't feel guilty about it."
"You're his uncle," Jeremy finally mumbled. Mason scratched the back of his neck with an awkward laugh.
"I know."
"Are you going to…tell him?"
"Yeah, at some point I will. I don't know how he'll take it."
"I'm sure he won't care," Jeremy snorted quietly. "I'm not his responsibility anymore. He let me go."
Mason cringed, "I wouldn't say he wouldn't care."
"Why?"
"That's just Tyler. He's weird like that."
Jeremy gave him a weird look but didn't say anything else.
"I'm going to shower," Mason finally said as he stood. "We good?"
"Yeah, we're good."
"I don't want things to be awkward between us because of this," Mason said softly from the doorway of his bathroom.
Jeremy shook his head with a smile, "It won't be."
Things hadn't been awkward in the least. Damon and Rose had gotten a good laugh at his walk of shame that morning at breakfast ad congratulated him on his rebound sex. They carried on as they were the next night and he was thankful to wake up in his bed the next morning alone.
Occasionally he would meet someone at the bars that wanted more than a couple hours with him but Mason and Trevor always intervened. It used to confuse him at first, but he realized it was probably better that he wasn't sleeping around with people he didn't know. One night on the town with everyone, he had whined to Mason in his drunken stupor that he missed sex a great deal and Mason took it upon himself to remedy him of that. The second time he woke up in Mason's bed, he merely grinned at him before suggesting they do it again. Since then, he spent a lot of time in the elder Lockwood's bed, both sober and not.
And then things got more interesting when Rose joined in.
"Damon isn't happy about it."
"Me and Mason?"
"Yeah. I can tell every time he sees you leave his room or he leaves yours."
Jeremy frowned, "He would have said something to me if he didn't like it, right?"
Trevor shrugged, "Maybe."
"I'll have to ask him," Jeremy murmured. He enjoyed Mason and Rose's company but he wouldn't let it jeopardize his relationship with his Dominant. He was like the older brother he never had and he cared deeply about what Damon thought.
"Do you like Mason?"
Jeremy's nose scrunched in thought, "I don't have a crush on him or anything. We're just good friends."
"With benefits."
"With benefits," Jeremy laughed. "He knows I'm not ready for…anything really."
"Do you think you ever will be?" Trevor asked quietly. Jeremy gave him a slightly confused glance.
"I guess someday. Why?"
Trevor shrugged and went back to looking at the water. When he saw Jeremy go back to drawing out of the corner of his eye he turned his head slightly to watch him. It killed him that Jeremy ran to Mason and his sister—he chose to let Jeremy believe he didn't know about their threesome—when he hadn't even considered him. He had tried but Jeremy rejected him.
"Why couldn't he just love me?" Jeremy sobbed in Trevor's arms. "It's not fair!"
"Sometimes the people we love don't love us the way we want them too. We just have to let them go," the blonde soothed, running a hand down Jeremy's hair.
Trevor had waited for this moment since he first laid eyes on Jeremy. He was captivated by his beautiful brown eyes, thick hair and pouty lips. When he made the effort to befriend Jeremy, he realized that his attraction was much more than physical. Jeremy's timid nature affected him in ways he'd never been before. He enjoyed his company despite his somewhat cryptic past with Tyler. Jeremy hadn't wanted to talk about it and he hadn't pressed but tonight, with everyone gone and just the two of them enjoying a bottle of Jack, he discovered just how much Tyler had fucked with Jeremy's head and his heart and it made him see red.
"Jer," Trevor pulled back and wiped Jeremy's tears from his face. "You're so much better than him. Don't let him be the reason you never allow yourself to find someone else."
"But what if I never do?" he whimpered. "I'll never find anyone who made me happy like him!"
"Don't say that, you will," Trevor said vehemently. "Anyone would be lucky to have you. You're amazing Jeremy. If Tyler can't see that then that's his loss."
Jeremy gave him a watery smile, "Thanks Trevor."
Trevor cupped his face tenderly and kissed him. Jeremy pulled back quickly in shock. Trevor's heart sank.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled even though he wasn't. Jeremy shook his head.
"No it's okay, it's just…" he sighed. "I don't really…see you that way Trevor. You're my best friend, the only one I've had besides Bonnie, and I want to keep it that way."
"If that's what you want, then I'll respect it," he conceded quietly. "I'll be whatever you need me to be Jeremy. I care about you. I just wanted you to know."
It was a low blow that Jeremy would rather sleep with his sister and Tyler's look alike than have a meaningful relationship with him. He raged for days over why Jeremy didn't think he was good enough but then he realized that Jeremy had called him his best friend. People who were best friends often didn't realize that they loved each other until much later. He still had a chance, he just had to wait until Jeremy got over this phase and realized he was in love with him too. And he would wait for him. He had waited his whole life for someone like Jeremy to come and now that he was here, he wasn't going to let him go.
They sat in companionable silence until the sun nearly set. Jeremy closed his sketch pad with a contented sigh. Trevor watched him in near darkness.
"Are you going out with them tonight?" he finally asked.
Jeremy shrugged, "I'm not really in the mood. I just want to watch a movie or something."
"I'll find us a good one. I'm glad you haven't seen all the classics yet. That makes my job to educate you easier."
Jeremy laughed.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
"You're still out here?" Damon scoffed when he joined Mason on his balcony with a beer. Mason shrugged, his eyes glued to the two figures sitting on the beach.
"I don't trust that little bastard."
"I don't either. But I don't watch them like hawks every second of the day."
Mason sighed. "You think I'm jealous."
"Aren't you?"
He was met with silence.
"I can't believe you," Damon grumbled. "Do you know how bad this is going to look when Tyler finds out?"
"Who said he has to know?"
Damon gave him a pointed look. Mason sighed heavily.
"He has to hear it from you."
"He'll kill me."
"I would too. He called you for advice and begged you to smooth things over with Jeremy and you're sleeping with him. That's low Mason, especially for you."
"I know," he murmured quietly. Guilt filled him. "I never meant to let it keep going. It was only supposed to be that one time."
"So why are you?"
"I don't know."
"Yes you do. You just don't want to admit it," Damon snorted. "I see where Tyler gets his denial from now."
"I'm not in denial!"
"Then tell me why you won't stop sleeping with Jeremy."
"It's not just me," he snapped. "It's Rose too."
"Rose doesn't have feelings for him," Damon sighed. "And she's not Tyler's uncle."
He looked out over Mason's balcony. He had a beautiful view of the beach and an even better view of Jeremy and Trevor. They sat in the same spot every time and Mason was always watching them. Neither one of them trusted Trevor's intentions with Jeremy, but it irked Damon that Mason felt the need to play protective lover just because they were sleeping together.
"When are you going to tell Tyler?"
"I can't Damon," he sighed. "This would crush him."
"You're just saying that to save your own ass."
"This might make him relapse. You said Katherine said he wasn't doing good at all."
"Which you'd know if you called him back. If this does make him relapse then it's your fault."
"That's not exactly helping your case on why I should tell him."
"How would you feel if this situation was in reverse?" Damon exasperated. "If Tyler was sleeping with someone you were in love with you would feel like shit! Tyler will have every right to hate you. I kind of hate you right now."
"Why?"
"Because it's wrong Mason!" Damon rolled his eyes. "I won't control who Jeremy chooses to sleep with but you're making this a lot more difficult than it needs to be. One time was funny, the second time annoying and now we're here and Tyler has no idea that you're fucking him over."
"It's not like I planned for this to happen!" Mason cried. "Jesus Damon—you think I don't know what I'm doing to him is wrong? I think about it all the time and I feel damn guilty about it!"
"I can tell it's tearing you up inside," he deadpanned.
"You don't understand."
"I understand perfectly," Damon sneered. "You don't want to smooth things over for Tyler because you want him to yourself. You're just like Trevor."
"Don't compare me to him!" he snarled angrily. "That dick tries to isolate him! He wants Jeremy all to himself!"
"And you think you're better?" Damon scoffed at the glare Mason gave him. "You're more selfish than Tyler is. He looks up to you."
"I know that! I feel like fucking shit Damon! You don't need to rub it in anymore, alright?"
"I'll keep rubbing it in until you stop sleeping with Jeremy! You think you feel like shit? That's nothing compared to how Tyler's going to feel when he finds out!"
"Why are you so adamant about this?" Mason demanded. Damon laughed humorlessly.
"If you think it's because I want Jeremy that way, please spare yourself that humiliation. I'm looking out for my submissive and my best friend because clearly, you don't care how your actions will affect either of them."
"That's not fair!" Mason slammed his beer on the table. "I always look out for Tyler! I'm always there for him!"
"You have a funny way of showing it."
"I don't see how you're looking out for Jeremy when you know how Tyler feels and you won't tell him."
"There are other reasons why we're here, I told you that," he retorted. "Don't turn this around on me. What you're doing is fucked up."
"I don't think you have the right to tell me about what's fucked up, Damon."
"I know I've done my share of questionable things, but I've never betrayed someone I loved."
"Stefan would disagree. You handed him over to me against his will. And all those women you slept with when you knew Katherine had feelings for you; I call that betrayal at its finest."
"You're an asshole, you know that?" Damon snarled. "That's not even the same shit. You know that Tyler is in love with this kid and that he doesn't know! You're taking advantage of them both!"
They glared at each other. Above them, seagulls croaked at one another as they took turns perching on the roof. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore juxtaposed the tension that was occurring between the two friends. Mason finally broke the staring contest by dropping his head in his hands.
"I'm sorry. That was fucked up to say."
"No shit," Damon snorted.
"I know I'm taking advantage of this situation and it sucks. I just don't know what to do."
"Well you better figure it out. You're going to be the one to tell Tyler about this."
"Why haven't you told Jeremy about Tyler?"
"Because he'll want to go home and we can't. Not yet."
Mason's brow furrowed. "Why?"
"It's a long story."
"I'm sure you have nothing to do until tonight."
"I have things to do other than stalk Jeremy."
Mason rolled his eyes, "Tell me, Damon."
"Don't tell Tyler. But I guess keeping another thing from him won't be a problem for you."
He ignored Mason's glare and drank the rest of his beer before starting the story.
Matt jerked awake when the door to his new office was slammed. He blinked sleepily as he tried to focus on his captain.
"This is the third time this week I've caught you sleeping on the job."
"Sorry," Matt muttered as he rubbed his eyes. Vaughn sighed and sat across from him.
"You look exhausted Matt. When's the last time you had a decent night's sleep?"
"I sleep fine," he said with a frown. Vaughn sighed.
"Maybe promoting you and Kol was a little too hasty."
"No," Matt answered quickly. "I'm sorry sir, I'll do better. I won't let it happen again."
"That's what you said the first two times."
"I can do better," he whispered.
"I know you can. I also know that you're both still adjusting. You'll always have a job here if you decide to take time off."
When Matt looked reluctant, he continued, "You and Kol are some of the finest officers Nivea has ever seen. I promoted you because you both have the drive and the dedication to solve each case with honor and professionalism. If you're not well rested each day, it means you won't do as good of a job in the field. As a detective, you've got more responsibilities now. I don't want you messing up because of lacking sleep."
"I'm sorry, sir."
"Don't be. This is a difficult time. Kol told me you were having nightmares."
Matt scowled. Kol would throw him under the bus. "He does too."
"His aren't preventing him from sleeping. Don't look at me like that, he's only worried. You're his partner."
"I know," the blonde sighed. "I guess taking time off won't hurt."
"No, it wouldn't. And make sure Kol takes some time off too. I know he's stressed. You'll both be paid so don't worry about that."
Matt nodded, waiting until Vaughn left before packing his things.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Matt drove an hour and a half to New Haven before reaching their new home. Vaughn had agreed that they would benefit better from being as far away from Mikael as they possibly could so Mikael would have a harder time finding them. The commute left much to be desired in comparison to the ten minute drive they had before but the further they were away from Mikael the better.
He pulled into his neighborhood which looked as if it was pulled out of a home and garden catalog. The two story houses with their perfect gardens and trees strategically placed made for quite an impressive sight. Living in New Haven was much cheaper than living in Nivea simply because Nivea was the city and New Haven was farther out. Many people commuted to Nivea for work but lived in New Haven simply to save money. Having to pay more for gas was better than having a high rent or impossible mortgage.
He parked in front of a nice, modern two-story behind a black Honda. He nodded at the cop sitting inside in greeting. The blonde quickly surveyed the area as he got out, making sure no suspicious cars were lurking nearby before going inside.
"I'm back!" he called. He heard two calls echoed from the living room. Matt left his shoes in the hallway next to the others and joined the Mikaelson brothers in the living room. It was spacious, just like the rest of the house. There was enough room to fit two televisions but they settled for moving their mediocre one from their apartment. The living room connected to a beautiful kitchen with granite countertops, cherry wood finish cabinets and stainless steel appliances.
"Vaughn says we shouldn't come in for a while," he dropped his bag by the couch. "He wants us to take time off to adjust to everything."
"Even me?" Kol raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, even you."
"Now we can hang out more!" Henrik gave Kol a wide smile he couldn't help but return.
"Who said I wanted to spend my time off with a brat?" he ruffled is hair. Matt shook his head at them with his own smile.
"I only have one year left before college. You should want to spend every day with me."
While the brothers engaged in playful bickering, Matt slipped down the hall to his room. He shut the door quietly, smiling at the hump in the middle of his bed. His room in this house was twice the size of the one in his apartment and he couldn't complain. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the covers back.
"Hey," he whispered. Baby blue eyes fluttered open, the lid of the left eye drooping significantly.
"Your home early."
"Yeah. The captain wanted Kol and I to take some time off to adjust."
Rebekah smiled, "Good, more time for cuddling."
"You always wanna cuddle. You're like a kitten."
"I like it."
Matt chuckled and kissed her tenderly. It sent a thrill through him, like it always did. Rebekah's breath hitched.
"How do you feel today?"
"Better. Not as tired as yesterday."
"Did you do Pilates or yoga?"
"Just yoga. I was tired afterwards but I'll do Pilates later."
"Don't push yourself babe."
"I have to a little bit. It's the only way I'll get my strength back."
Rebekah sat up, her long, blonde hair nearly reaching the middle of her back. She often complained that it was too long and she missed its shorter length but he thought it was glorious. He looked her up and down, appreciating how his white tank top and sweat pants hung on her thin frame.
"You hungry? I can make dinner."
Rebekah nodded. She slowly brought her legs around the side of the bed and Matt helped her stand. He gently threw one of her arms around his neck. He secured his other arm around her waist and helped her out of the room.
Occasionally she had to stop because the pain in her leg or her ribs would become too much or she would become out of breath. Her injuries from Mikael's thorough beating were more severe than any of them had thought but Pearl and her team successfully resuscitated Rebekah and made her stable long enough to reach the operating room. Without Pearl's quick thinking, Rebekah would've been dead. Matt remembered how horrified he and Kol were when Pearl told them the extent of her injuries.
"What the hell happened?" Pearl demanded as she dragged the two officers and Captain Vaughn into an empty room.
"Mikael happened," Kol snarled. "And when I get my hands on that bastard I swear to God—"
"Kol," Vaughn put a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Don't even think about it."
"Is she going to live?" Matt pleaded. His head was spinning, his hands shaking terribly and he felt ready to throw up with all his pent up anxiety.
"She's going to be fine," Pearl soothed, squeezing his arm. His body sagged in relief. "But there are some things you need to know."
"Anything bad?"
"Most of her ribs that encase the lungs and heart were broken. One of them stabbed her lung, which is why she was coughing up blood. You said it was just Mikael who did this?"
"That's what Henrik said."
Pearl bit the inside of her cheek, "There are so many bruises and fractures that he couldn't have acted alone. There had to have been at least one other person, if not two."
"How can you tell?"
"It would have taken time for Mikael to break the majority of her ribs unless he was jumping on her or kicking her. Did Henrik say how long the beating was?"
"He didn't. He just said he waited in his room until he was sure Mikael went to bed. He didn't say he heard anyone else."
"He had some kind of help. He couldn't have done all of this with just his hands," she ran a hand through her hair. "Her right foot is completely smashed, most of her ribs are broken, her shoulder was dislocated, her wrist is twisted and sprained, her jaw is fractured, the muscles of the left eyelid have lost all function, she has a bald spot that indicates someone ripped her hair out and she has a punctured lung. We have her on a breathing machine now."
Matt and Kol shared a look of dismay.
"What did he use?"
"Something heavy enough to crush bones."
"Jesus," Matt whispered. "Was there…anything else besides the beatings…?"
"No, she wasn't raped. The kit came back negative."
Pearl gave a weak smile when all three men sighed in relief.
"Will she remember any of this?"
Pearl shrugged, "She didn't have head trauma so I'm assuming she will. It's going to be a long recovery for her, physically and mentally."
"Do you have the photos of her injuries? I need to start a report," Vaughn requested. Kol protested.
"Mikael can't know she's here!"
"He's not going to know anything. But I need to create a file for her Kol, I can't ignore this."
"This can't get out! He has ways of finding these things out and if he's looking for her—!"
"He won't find out," Vaughn soothed. "I wouldn't ever endanger your sister like that. But this is a case of domestic abuse and I'm an officer of the law. I'll need to take everyone's statement. Since you're all here we should do that now."
"Are you going to start investigating?"
"We'll keep it on the low. I'll have Jordan and Grant on it. They're quick and clean."
Kol sighed. "We don't have a choice."
"No, you don't," Vaughn said. "We won't give away your new location and we'll keep this as quiet as possible so no one suspects anything."
"What about Henrik? He still has to go home!"
"Technically he doesn't. If Henrik chooses to willingly leave with you then he can. It's not kidnapping. But if you want a better shot at gaining custody of him, it would be better if he went home."
"What about that lawyer?" Matt asked. "Have you talked to her?"
"We're meeting here in twenty minutes. She already said the pictures would help my case," Kol sighed.
"Use the pictures and the hospital report," Pearl urged gently. "If you do, it won't look so bad if Henrik chooses to stay with you now. I'm even willing to testify on his behalf. My team is too."
"No one else will see them except the people in that court room. No media will be allowed in there," Vaughn added. "This is Henrik's best bet of getting out."
"And Rebekah will be safe?"
"He'll never find her. I promise."
Kol closed his eyes and nodded, praying he wasn't making a grave mistake.
"Sleeping beauty has arisen! You've been asleep since three!" Kol cheered when Rebekah made it into the living room. She shot him a playful glare.
"That's what happens when you actually do something productive and not watch television all day."
Kol waved his hand. "I'm educating our little brother on the basics of crime shows. That's being more than productive."
She rolled her eyes. Matt chuckled while helping her the rest of the way to the kitchen. He helped her sit on a barstool and set about pulling cooking utensils and food from the refrigerator for cooking. He pulled down three bottles from the cabinet above the stove. He poured one pill from the first and second bottles and two from the third. He set them in front of Rebekah, laughing when her nose wrinkled.
"They keep your strength up."
"They're disgusting."
"C'mon babe. Do it for me. I'll make it worth your while," Matt winked. Rebekah grinned and quickly swallowed every pill with the glass of water Matt sat in front of her.
"New record," he chuckled.
"So what am I getting?" she purred. He licked his lips and smirked.
"Well—"
"If you make some sick reference to how you're going to boing later, I'll hit you," Kol interrupted as he and Henrik joined Rebekah at the island. Rebekah made an undignified noise and shoved him off his stool.
"Kol!"
Matt did his best to look affronted, "You're a pig."
"I know you mate. You were thinking it."
"Whatever you say man," the blond chuckled. "Get your lazy ass up and help with dinner."
Kol gave a mocking sigh. He ripped Henrik off is chair on his way into the kitchen. Henrik laughed and struggled at the same time.
"Kol what the hell?"
"You're going to college in a couple months. You need to know how to rely on yourself when the kitchens aren't open."
"There's no stove in the dorms Kol!"
Rebekah laughed at their antics. She watched fondly as they ran around the kitchen. Kol sprayed water on Henrik and Matt with the pull out sink hose, much to Matt's annoyance and she couldn't help but laugh.
It seemed surreal that she was sitting here when she was supposed to be married and moved into her new home. So much had happened to her in these last four months that it seemed she was living another's life. She was well on her way to a nearly full recovery and she was free to be whoever she wanted with whomever she wanted. She didn't have to pretend anymore and that's what she was most grateful for.
"You're not allowed near the stove Kol. Not after what happened last time you tried to fry chicken."
"I'm telling you, that wasn't my fault! That stove had a mind of its own!"
"I do want dinner sometime tonight," she called above their voices. The three turned to her for a moment before they resumed their tasks of preparing the food. Rebekah laughed and leaned back in her chair, prepared to watch a spectacle.
Stefan sighed as he checked his cell phone for the fifteenth time. He smiled politely at the young couple that walked past him by the stairs of the city hall building and loosened his tie slightly. He had agreed to be Katherine's date for the fundraiser tonight since Damon wasn't available and they hadn't heard from Tyler since he'd left with Hayley that afternoon.
Finally a shiny black limo pulled to the front of the building. Stefan jogged to open the door, trying his best to ignore the paparazzi lights flashing in his eyes. He held his hand out to Katherine and she stepped out in a strapless crème colored gown that brushed the ground. Her wrists were adorned with gold bangles and she held a silver clutch in her other hand.
"You look nice," Stefan murmured as he kissed the back of her hand. She murmured a thank you and tucked her hand in the crook of his arm.
"Shall we?"
They posed on the stairs for more pictures and just before the entrance to hand their invitation to the bodyguard. They couldn't help but be in awe of how much different the building looked decorated from how it was during normal operating hours. The plain chandelier was draped with crystals, orchids, various blue flowers and purple flowers sat in planters around the hall. The banisters were draped in sheer silk cloth with flowers thrown on the floors decoratively. Pictures of smiling children ranging from one to seventeen were displayed throughout the hall.
"April outdid herself," Katherine murmured as the followed the crowd to the ballroom that had been set up for the banquet. "This is beautiful."
"It is. Too bad Tyler isn't here to see it."
"Have you heard from him?"
Stefan shook his head. "I've left three messages. It's just going straight to voicemail."
"I have a bad feeling."
"So do I."
The two were seated at a table with three other couples. The centerpieces were vases of the same blue and purple flowers that were found in the hallway, glass figurines of children surrounding it. There were ten place sittings at each large round table. A stage stood at the front with three chairs on either side of the podium. Stefan spotted April chatting with a group of people hanging on to her fiancée's arm.
One brunette woman pulled Katherine into a conversation right away. Stefan checked his phone again to see if Tyler called but there were no missed messages.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for joining me tonight!" April took the stage fifteen minutes later. A thunderous applause followed her announcement. "I'm excited that you're all here to support this wonderful cause!"
Throughout the various speeches given by April and her colleagues at the foundation, Stefan repeatedly checked his phone and sent Tyler dozens of messages that went unanswered. He considered going to find him before he had no idea where to even start looking.
"Stefan," Katherine shook his arm. He looked in the direction she nodded her head. Tyler and Hayley had just walked in, looking thoroughly mused as if they had been messing around. Tyler's shirt was un-tucked and unbuttoned. Hayley's dress barely covered her bottom and her six-inch heels made it appear even shorter.
"Oh God," Katherine breathed as they came closer. Stefan couldn't help agree as they threw themselves in the two vacant chairs on the other side of Katherine. Hayley stumbled into hers and they both guffawed loudly, attracting attention from other guests. The current speaker paused at the interruption briefly before continuing.
"Where have you been? You are an hour and a half late!" Katherine hissed furiously.
"Relax, we're here now," Tyler replied with a smirk. "We thought we'd come see what all the fuss was about."
"Are you drunk?"
"Like a skunk," Hayley giggled. Katherine shot her a glare.
"Did you have to bring this trash with you?"
"She's my date," Tyler shrugged.
"Whoa, no need for hostility," Hayley smirked at her. "I've never been to a fundraiser so Tyler decided to show me what they were like. They don't seem that great."
"Because the people here are respectable and are donating for a good cause. I do not expect you to understand the meaning of charity."
"I'm sure you do with all the people you've donated your body to over these years."
"Ladies, let's play nice," Tyler laughed. The rest of their table was staring at them but he paid them no attention. The speaker ended his speech and every applauded before resuming their dinner and conversations. Katherine glared at Hayley furiously.
"Then keep your bitch on her leash. I would hate for her to step out of line in a place she does not belong," the brunette spat. "This is not a playground for little girls to run around and spread their legs for any man willing to spend more than $5 on them."
"No wonder why Damon left you. You're such a bitter woman for no reason."
"Stop," Stefan whispered before Katherine could answer. "Tyler, either control her or get out. Stop causing a scene."
Tyler smirked as he leaned back in his seat. He took his flask from his pocket and took a drink. "Let them have their cat fight. It's probably the most entertainment we'll get all night."
"What the hell is your problem?" he snapped quietly. "You're really going to let her talk to Katherine like that?"
Tyler shrugged and took another swig of his flask. Stefan looked at the other patrons of their table. They had resumed eating but they were doing so slowly, anticipating a fight.
"Stop drinking!" Katherine whispered harshly to Tyler. "Can you go one night without being intoxicated?"
Tyler shrugged again. "What's the fun in that?"
"I cannot believe that you would bring this in here! This is a fundraiser for children! What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking this was going to be a really dry event if I didn't bring something to spice it up."
"You shouldn't have come," Stefan glared at him. "Get out."
Tyler laughed, "I'm good here."
"This isn't up for negotiation Tyler."
"So commanding," Hayley chuckled as she sloppily stuffed another piece of bread into her mouth. "Is he always like that?"
"Yeah. He's a total control freak."
"Tyler, outside. Now," Stefan stood. "Don't make me drag you out there."
"I'm sure you would just love to drag me somewhere where you could have your wicked way with me like you used to. You're kinky like that."
Katherine's eyes widened. Everyone was staring at them again. Tyler's smirking eyes never left Stefan's furious ones as he brought the flask to his lips again.
"Stop it Tyler, please," she pleaded.
"Tyler! Katherine! I'm so glad you could make it!"
Katherine groaned inwardly but forced a smile to her face as she stood to hug April. Tyler stood to greet her as well while Hayley remained seated, observing the exchanges with disinterest.
"I was surprised when you didn't R.S.V.P," she smiled at Tyler. "This is the one fundraiser I always see you at!"
"Yeah well, I was just busy this year," he shrugged. "The place looks great though. It just needs an open bar. I'm sure you know they have those now at fundraisers so we can all get through the cheesy speeches you guys make."
"He's joking," Stefan intervened quickly. Hayley busted into loud peals of laughter. April's smile froze on her face and she looked unsure whether or not she should be insulted.
"You will have to excuse him. He is drunk," Katherine said flatly. "And he was just leaving."
"Aww c'mon! Let's make this a party!" Tyler said loudly. He made more than a few heads turn. "I would offer drinks on me all night but there's no bar. But there's a liquor store down the street that can fix that!"
"I'm so sorry," Stefan murmured to April. "I don't know what's come over him."
"It's fine," she murmured. "Just…get them out of here."
Stefan nodded and sent apologetic glances to the people at their table. He yanked Hayley out of her seat, grabbed Tyler's arm and dragged both of them out of the ballroom despite their rambunctious protesting that summoned them more unwanted attention. Katherine followed closely behind. Stefan sat Hayley on the first stair before rounding on Tyler.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" he grabbed Tyler by his shirt and thrust him into the wall. "Have you lost your fucking mind Tyler?"
"Why? Are you going to put me back in a strait jacket?"
"The idea doesn't sound bad now," Stefan growled through gritted teeth. "You've been using again, haven't you?"
Tyler scoffed, "Just because I want to have fun doesn't mean I'm using. Not everyone has a stick up their ass like you two."
"Your behavior lately reminds me of the days that you were using. Always gone, not showing up to work or back home until a couple days later, acting like an asshole. When's the last time you were sober Tyler?"
"Jesus Stefan! You're not my fucking father, alright?" Tyler snapped. "Stop trying to play dad! I had one and he's dead!"
"Then stop acting like a goddamned child! You're embarrassing yourself and your mother and us! How do you think she would feel if—?"
"I don't give a shit how she feels or how you fucking feel!" he pushed Stefan away. "Get your head out of my ass and worry about your own fucking lives!"
He stumbled into the wall. "I know you're always trying to break into my room to find drugs so you can have some fucking excuse to throw me back in that mental hospital but guess what? You're not gonna find shit because there isn't shit to find!"
He raised the flask to his lips. Stefan took the flask out of his hand and threw it in the bushes.
"What the fuck?" Tyler screamed. He charged for Stefan but he easily side-stepped him. He grabbed Tyler by his collar and slammed him into the wall.
"Pull yourself together!"
"What are you gonna do Stefan? You gonna chain me to your bed like before? You gonna spank me, use your toys to beat me into submission like your dad did to you?" Tyler taunted evilly. "That's what turns you on, doesn't it? Using people like sex toys the way your dad turned you into one."
Stefan punched Tyler in the nose out of anger. Tyler cried out and fell to the side but Stefan's grip on his jacket held him in place.
"You sorry piece of shit," Stefan snarled. "This is exactly why Jeremy didn't want you to come to fucking Europe! You're just a miserable bastard who has to tear people down to make himself feel better! You're the reason that Jeremy left in the first place and you drink every night because you can't handle that truth!"
He threw Tyler to the ground. The Lockwood billionaire stared at him, not bothering with the blood gushing out of his nose. Hayley protested in back of them but Stefan ignored her.
"I don't know why I fucking waste my time with you when you don't give a shit about anyone but you. As long as you make it to the top and your needs are met, fuck everyone else even if they would do anything for you. Why would Jeremy want to come back to this? He didn't want to be around someone so cold and honestly, I don't either. All you are is fucking toxic."
Tyler stared at him dully. Stefan's words were cutting him like a knife but he didn't let it show. He kept his face blank.
"You're so emotionally fucked that I don't even know if it's possible for you to care about anyone else. And you know what? I feel sorry for you Tyler. And I feel sorry for whoever wants to put up with you now because I'm done."
Not waiting for Tyler to acknowledge his words, he stormed down the stairs and down the street until he turned the corner. Hayley rushed over to Tyler and dropped on the ground next to him. He shoved her away. Katherine watched Tyler struggle to his feet with tears in her eyes.
"Get off," he rasped to Hayley as he used the wall to stand. He faced Katherine's stony expression.
"You gonna lecture me too?"
Katherine shook her head and walked to the entrance of the building. She stopped before going inside.
"I do not know you anymore," one tear trailed down her cheek. "The Tyler I knew would have never said something so horrible to the man who saved his life more than once."
She walked back into the fundraiser, leaving Tyler and Hayley outside. He stared at the door for a moment before he stumbled down the stairs. Hayley ran after him.
"Where're you going?"
He ignored her until she grabbed his arm. He snatched it away.
"Leave me alone."
"What about the club with Chris and Kim?"
"Go without me."
He shoved her aside and stumbled down the street in the opposite direction that Stefan went. He didn't care where he ended up, he just wanted the pain in his chest and his head to stop.
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