Disclaimer: I only own my OCs, unfortunately :(

A warm hand gently stroked my hair, brushing my fringe from my face. I sighed and turned onto my side, looking deep into the brown eyes that faced me.

"You and Elena still fighting?" my baby brother quietly asked. His hand came to a stop at the back of my neck and gently settled there.

I nodded slowly, "Haven't actually spoken to her in about three days."

A long three days.

His eyebrows shot up, "Three days? Wow, you must be mad."

I don't think that I have ever gone this long without exchanging a single word with my twin. And I did not like it. Not one bit. It felt wrong.

"I am. I really really am."

And that was why I had spent the night in Jer's bed. Whilst I could now sleep through the night without waking up from nightmares, I slept better when I was with somebody. Now that I was fighting with Elena, she was no longer an option. Which was not good as I had spent rather a lot of time bed sharing with her recently. And Damon couldn't spend every night in my bed, even if I wanted him to. Tyler had enough issues to deal with without having to look after me. It's all Mason's fault. The asshole. So I did something that I had not done in a long while, I spent the night sharing a bed with my little brother.

"Is it because she lied to you? Because that would be really hypocritical of you, Lexa. After all, you did spend the summer completely off your head."

And that's only one example of the lies that I have told.

I snorted, "Know that kiddo."

And I know that it was hypocritical of me. I didn't always tell my twin the truth and I did spend several months in one continuous lie. But I always did my best to not be a hypocrite. Even if it's not always possible.

"So why are you two fighting?"

"Because she didn't trust me. Elena lied to me because she didn't trust that I would be able to keep her secret."

And that's what hurt the most.

My own twin sister, the person who I grew up with, didn't trust me. She thought that, since I had a history of blurting things out, if she told me, then I would end up telling everyone. And that's not fair. I keep quiet about the things that are important, that matter. And that's why I'm mad at Elena.

"Let me guess, it's a Stefan and Elena secret."

"Of course, what else would it be?"

There may have been a strong hint of bitterness in my voice.

But it was justified. Most of the lies that Elena has told in the past year, most of them are related to our dear Stefan Salvatore. Most of her secrets are either about Stefan or she keeps them for Stefan. But I guess that I was just as bad. The amount of lies that I have told and secrets that I have kept because of Damon Salvatore, I shudder to think many of them there are.

Jer let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes.

I stared at him, closely studying his features. Jeremy had changed. It was a noticeable difference, nothing physical. But there was definitely a change. He had... matured. Can't say that I'm surprised, what with everything that has happened.

"Hey Jer, do you ever wish that we could just... go back in time a year? Back to when life was simpler?"

My brother was silent for a few minutes.

"At times... I have... when it all got bad," he answered haltingly. "But then I remember all the good things."

"Like Anna," I nodded in understanding.

"If life was simpler then we may never have met the people who have changed our lives so much. We would be completely different people."

"I sort of see what you mean."

"Can you honestly say, Lexa, that you could imagine your life without Damon in it?"

My first instinct was to say that I could. But I refused to allow myself to answer so quickly. I've spent so long denying my attraction to Damon that I haven't given myself a chance to try and understand it.

Damon had become such an important part of my life. He'd been there for me during some of the worst times of my life. And he'd, dare I say it, he'd changed me. For the better.

"No, I couldn't. I don't want to. The thought of Damon not being in my life was just..."

Jeremy leaned forward and kissed my forehead, "Point proven, now stop thinking like that."

"I make no promises."

Especially ones that I know I won't be able to keep.

"Course you don't."

"Let's stop being philosophical and get some more sleep."

I had woken up far too early this morning, completely by accident. And all this deep talk was making my brain sleepy.

"Nope, can't do that," my dear little one smirked. "I have somewhere that I need to be."

"Ok, I'll stay here," I mumbled into the pillow.

"Sure?"

"Positive."

"Ok then."

While Jeremy prepared himself for leaving the wonder that is our house, I cocooned myself in his blankets and lightly dozed. And if my thoughts were consumed by a handsome man with ice blue eyes, well, no one else would know but me.

As Jer-Bear slipped his shoes on, he once again asked, "You sure that you don't wanna come?"

Why is he asking me so much? Is he trying to hint at something? Is there something that I'm supposed to know?

"Yes, child, I'm sure," I opened my eyes so that I could look at him. "Where are you even going?"

The little brat smirked and walked over to the door, "I'm going to go and see your favourite person in the world."

I didn't even need a moment to work it out.

He smirk grew as I shot off of the bed, falling to the floor in the process. Crap. That's not good Alexa, you need to act cool. Silly girl. And, can I just add, owwwww.

Climbing to my feet and brushing myself off, I casually remarked, "You know what, I think I may come. Need to get out of the house at some point."

Poor. That was so poor. And weak. Honestly, I'm useless. What a silly goose I am.

Jeremy laughed at me, "Sure, Lexa, whatever you say."

"Whatever you say," I mouthed mockingly as I pushed past him and into my own bedroom, dodging the elbow aimed my way.

XXX

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I let Jeremy knock on the door while I sat down on the floor of the Salvatore Boarding House porch. The genius that I am, I had managed to get a stone stuck in my shoe. I hated when that happened. It was a horrible horrible thing.

And not only did the stupid stone get in my shoe, it prevented me from personally greeting Damon as I had to get the damn stone out.

The door opened and instead of using a normal, conventional greeting, my little brat of a brother said, "I need to talk to you."

"And why do I need to talk to you?" my vampire shot back before attempting to close the door.

I have to admit, I never expected Damon to be polite. In fact, I did actually expect something similar to this. Just without the door closing.

Jer slapped his hand against the door, pushing it back open.

Huh. Guess Damon wasn't using his full strength; otherwise Jeremy wouldn't have stood a chance.

"Tyler Lockwood has to kill someone to activate his curse," Jer quickly told the vampire. "He's not a werewolf yet."

I shook my head at my brother. Oh Jeremy, sweetheart, I could have told you that.

"Wow, fascinating," Damon deadpanned.

... Pun not intended...

Why is it so easy to create puns when it comes to my Dameydoodle? But it does provide some inner-thoughts entertainment.

"But, unfortunately for you, not enough."

Even though I could not see his face, I could just sense that goddamn smirk. Yes, that hated, hated smirk. It wasn't at all handsome and it didn't make me feel things that are never felt in relation to Damon. Nuh uh.

Oh look, and there goes the door again. And there is Jeremy's angry teenager pout.

Hmmmmm, perhaps I'd best do what I do best and interfere.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" I exclaimed as I shuffled forward. I placed my feet against the door and pushed it back open. Judging for the lack of resistance, I had obviously shocked the vampire into letting it open again.

"Hallosey Damey," I smiled up at my vampire, holding out my hands. "Mind giving a girl a hand?"

Despite giving me an eyeroll, Damon grasped my hands and yanked me up. It was quite a forceful yank, and I ended up crashing into his chest. Hmm, what a coincidence. Cue internal eyeroll. A strong arm wrapped around my waist and kept me pressed previously mentioned chest. Not that I minded of course.

I wrapped my arms around Damey's waist and rested my head on his shoulder. Damon's hand slowly stroked my hip as he returned his gaze to the teen standing outside. Resisting the urge to beam like a crazy woman, I pressed my body closer to the vampires and relaxed.

I smirked at my baby brother as he raised an eyebrow at me.

"So, Jerrie, darling, would you like to continue your spiel while you still have an audience?" I prompted my brother before he could say anything about my position in Damon's arms.

"Sure, Alexandria, thanks," he gave me a look before looking at Damon, "We all know that Mason Lockwood is a werewolf. He's here looking for a moonstone, a special rock connected to the werewolf legend."

"So that's why Masey Moo has returned to our cursed town of Mystic Falls," I sighed.

Of course it was. It wouldn't be to see his nephew. To be with his grieving family. To mourn his brother. Oh no, no, no, there has to be an ulterior motive.

"A moonstone?" Damon repeated, obviously intrigued.

"And I know where it is," Jer stated.

Well, dear brother, I should hope that you do after all this hoohang.

"And you're bringing me this why?" Damey asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because he enjoys you're company?" I suggested, only to receive two glares, one exasperated and one angry.

Jer-Bear let out a long breath. It was a poor attempt to control his anger. Which was, admittedly, wise when talking to Salvatore Senior.

"Do I need a reason?" the teen countered, a touch of anger in his tone, before sighing. "Look, I just want to help, ok?"

Damon stared at my brother for a moment before smirking, "Ah, but what do your sisters say about this little discovery?"

"Alexa's fine with it," Jer quickly answered, gesturing towards me. "Ask her if you don't believe me."

Damon glanced down at me and I locked gazes with his ice-blue eyes. He raised an eyebrow, silently questioning.

Shrugging, I said, "Its fine with me. No problemo."

My Damon continued to look into my eyes as he asked Jeremy, "But what about Elena?"

A flash of anger crossed my face as Jeremy stayed silent.

"Oh, you haven't told her," Damon gasped in mock-surprise, eyes widening. "Have you?"

"Well, Elena doesn't want me getting involved in all this," Jer frowned defensively.

"And you're a Gilbert and you just can't help yourself," D stated, finally removing his mesmerising gaze from mine.

"What can I say?" I smiled bitterly as I moved back to my original position against Damon's chest. "It's in our blood."

"Wow, your search for life's purpose is as obvious as it is tragic," Damon scoffed at my brother.

I frowned and maneuvered myself so that I could elbow the rude vampire in the stomach.

"Don't be mean to him, Damon," I said sternly, looking up at my vampire. "Just don't."

My vampire didn't verbally reply, but he did relax slightly.

"Come on in, Jer," I smiled at my brother as I moved closer to Damon, allowing the kid to walk in.

"I didn't say that he could come in," Damey whispered in my ear.

I smirked up at him, "I know."

XXX

I lounged on the sofa, trying my hardest to not look at Damon's collection of liquor. I had been so good recently and I didn't wanna ruin that. But of course, the first thing that Damon had done was get a drink. And promptly offer me one. The dick.

I gave him a look and crossed my arms.

Since then, the dick had taken great pleasure in refilling his glass in full view of me.

I didn't even get any support from Jeremy, the little brat. He thought that it was too amusing. Fear not, I'll get my revenge.

It didn't take long for our mystery guest to arrive with a big box of goodies. A lot of goodies goodies.

"Rick!" Damon greeted the history teaching hunter as he walked through the door.

Rickity breathed out a barely audible "Hey" as he walked into the living room. Where he saw me and Jeremy lurking around.

"What are you two doing here?" he asked, the parental tone coming out to play. He walked over and stood in front of us, crossing his arms. And there is the parental look.

"Avoiding peeps," I shrugged casually as I slipped a pen into my shorts pocket.

"Helping Damon," Jer replied, shooting me a look. "I'm the one who found out about the moonstone."

"No need to boast, baby brother," I rolled my eyes, only to receive a pinch for my comment. To which I gave back a punch to the thigh.

While myself and Jeremy were acting like the children that we are, the so called adults were exchanging looks.

"Does Elena know that you're here?" Alaric asked.

"Oh my god!" I groaned, throwing my arms in the air. "Why does everyone ask us that? Elena isn't our goddamn mother!"

It was Jer-Bear who gave a proper answer, "Not exactly."

... Ok, not a proper answer. An evasive answer. But hey, it works.

Rick rolled his eyes but didn't make any further comments. Even though he hadn't been formally told that me and Elena were fighting, he was intuitive enough to realise that we weren't acting normally towards one another. As in, we weren't interacting. At all.

"So, Rickity," I began, just to get the topic off of Elena. "What's in the box?"

I giggled slightly as the completely unintentional movie reference. God, I do love that film. I shall have to watch it again at some point. Hmmm, maybe I should blackmail Damon into watching it with me. It wouldn't be the first time I've blackmailed him into movie night with me. But he enjoyed it, no matter what he says.

Damey wandered over to the box and started riffling through it, the nosy git that he is. I merely stretched out on the sofa and watched.

"This is Isobel's research from Duke," Rick replied, not even bothering to stop the vampire. "Her assistant sent it to me."

"Mmm, Vanessa," Damey nodded, pulling a book out of the box. "The bitch who shot me."

I had to work very hard to resist a smile at my vampire's words. I have to admit, I almost expected him to come out with some comment like 'hottie'. But he didn't. And it shouldn't make me feel so damn happy.

Rick confiscated the book as he nodded, "Vanessa, yes."

"Bichessa," I mumbled before smiling slightly at the smirk that briefly appeared on my vampires face.

"Now," uh oh, that's Rick's teacher voice, take cover, take cover, "Do you remember the old Aztec curse that she told us about?"

"Nope," I answered, popping the 'p'.

Damon rolled his eyes at me before saying, "Sun and the Moon, blah blah blah blah."

The 'blah blah blah blah' is the reason why I didn't remember it. It's boring and I didn't want to remember anything that bitch said.

"An Aztec curse?" Jer asked as he walked over to the Group of Awesomesauceness. "Cool."

"It really isn't," I sighed, moving my body so that I was hanging upside down.

And there comes the teacher voice again.

"Supposedly vampires and werewolves used to roam freely until a shaman put a curse on them to limit their power. Since then, werewolves can only turn on a full moon and vampires are weakened by the sun."

Our resident vampire took the moment to whistle innocently and wiggle his fingers, showing off his daylight ring.

"Most of them," he smirked.

Rick ignored the unhelpful interruption, "According to the legend, the werewolf part of the curse it sealed with the moonstone."

"Of course it is, it being a moonstone and all," I frowned as a sudden thought hit me. "Does that mean that the vampire bit is sealed with a sunstone?"

"I don't think that it works like that, Alexa," Rick smiled at me.

"Oh," I pouted. "Well, that's just boring."

"What do you mean sealed?" baby bro asked as he looked at some paper thing that our Rickity Rick Rickie gave him.

"It's a witch thing," Damon started before I interrupted him with an 'oh oh oh!'. He took the moment to sigh before saying, "Yes Alexa?"

"I think I know this," I replied with poorly hidden excitement. "Is it something to do with the object that seals the curse is either the actual key or something to do with the key to unsealing the curse?"

"Huh, what do ya know, there is a brain in there," Damon smirked down at me as he rested a hand on my head.

"So, does that mean that I was right?"

"Yeah, you were right."

I beamed in excitement and pride before doing a happy dance.

I was right. I was right. I was right.

"Maybe Mason Lockwood believes that he can use the moonstone to break the curse," Rick suggested.

"Possible," I said thoughtfully as I finally rolled off of the sofa and walked over to the males in the room.

"If we start believing in some supernatural witchy-woo legend from a picture book, we're idiots," the supernatural creature in the room scoffed.

"But Damon, you are an idiot," I blinked innocently up at the vampire before ducking behind the safety shield that is my Rickity.

"Ha ha Alexa," Damon deadpanned, giving me a look that promised retribution. "Now, who has the stone now?"

"Ty-Ty-Shmy," I singsonged as I emerged from my hiding place.

"Can you get it?" Damon asked, looking at me.

"I can," Jeremy answered before I could.

I opened my mouth before closing it in confusion. My Damey and I exchanged looks before looking at the teen.

"Come again?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Well, I've been spending some time around Tyler recently, bonding, y'know, so I thought that I would see just how strong a friendship we have."

I squinted in suspicion, "Huh, sure, ok then. If you wanna."

Well, that sure threw me through a loop-de-loop. I was normally the one who dealt with Tyler. It felt... weird to not have that job now.

"See, now your life has purpose," my vampire smirked at my brother.

I rolled my eyes and prayed for patience. Why do my boys insist on driving me over the edge to insanity?

"So, do you believe it? The book?" Jer questioned, moving the conversation away from his 'life's purpose'.

"It's the same book that says a werewolf bite kills a vampire. Ignoring it would make an even bigger idiot," Damon rolled his eyes. "Now, let's go."

Damon wrapped an arm around my shoulder and directed me towards the door. I bit my lip to hide the smile that was desperate to appear and relaxed in Damon's hold, once again resting my head on his shoulder.

XXX

"Do we have to go and talk to Elena?" I grouched as we walked through the Lockwood house.

My arm was linked with Damon's while my head rested against his shoulder. I don't know why, but it felt... natural... right... to walk with him like this.

"Yes, we do," Damon replied, a hint of a smirk appearing on his lips.

"Why?" I whined.

"Because if anyone knows where Stefan is, it'll be her."

I scrunched up my nose before frowning, "Stupid logic."

"Just because you're incapable of it.!

"Hey! I can be logical when I want to be!"

"Of course, Alexa, of course."

"Don't patronise me," I mumbled as we walked up behind my sister.

Her attention was focused on something outside so she didn't see us until she glanced to the side. A startled look briefly appeared on her face before it was quickly replaced with an annoyed one.

"Damon, what are you doing here?" she asked, glaring at my vampire.

I made sure to keep Damon between Elena and I. It would probably be easier for everyone if we weren't standing next to each other for a while. Not that I needed to bother, of course. She barely looked at me and when she did, it was merely a one second glance.

"Dropping your sister off here. Looking for my baby bro," Damon replied vaguely, glancing around. "Speaking of, would you tell yours to stop following me around? Your annoying twin just laughs whenever I ask her."

I turned my head and giggled into his shoulder. It was just revenge. Pure and simple revenge. For all the times that he has annoyed me. I did tell him that I would get my revenge, I always do.

"What's going on?" Elena asked, glancing between us in suspicion.

"Ask eager beaver," he replied before turning his back to her.

I released my grip on Damon's arm as he gently tapped me on the nose, "I'll be seeing you later."

"Damn right you will," I smiled up at him before he turned and walked out of the room.

I sighed and watched him leave.

Damn feelings.

It wasn't until Elena spoke that I realised that Jeremy was standing behind me.

"Jeremy, what is he making you do?" she asked him, her tone stern.

I turned around and crossed my arms. Hmmm, this should be rather interesting to watch.

"He's not making me do anything," Jer replied, a hint of anger in his voice. He clearly was not happy with the question. "Damon and I-"

"Uh, no," Elena rudely interrupted him. "No way. No, no, no, no. There is no 'Damon and you'. There's Damon and whoever Damon is using."

Is she suggesting that Damon is merely using me? Or am I the exception to that?

"And those people, they end up dead."

"Well then, I'm looking pretty damn fine for a dead person," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

Elena gave me a look before continuing to scold our brother for daring to do something with the oh so evil Damon Salvatore. Oh the shock horror.

But seriously though, a lot of people have been giving me 'looks' today. Are they trying to tell me something? It's not as though I've behaved any differently or anything. Although, saying that, I have been a tad more bitter than normal. But that's no excuse to keep giving me looks. Silly people.

"Whatever is going on Jeremy, I want you to stay out of it."

Well now, that sounded like an order. Why should he, Elena? He's as much a part of this as we are.

"I don't really care what you want, Elena," Jeremy retorted. "Especially since Alexa doesn't mind that I am involved in this. And we both know how ridiculously overprotective she can get."

"That's not the point," the older Gilbert tried to argue but she was completely steamrolled by Jer.

"No, the point is that it's because of you that I'm in this mess in the first place, so I'm sorry, but you really don't get to tell me what I'm gonna do."

With that said, he turned and stormed of out of the room.

We stood there in silence for a couple of minutes, unable to look at each other. It didn't take long for me to crack and start talking.

"It isn't just because of you that this happened," I reluctantly tried to reassure my twin. "We're both to blame and it's not fair for Jer to just blame you."

I glanced at Ellie out of the corner of my eye before muttering "Laterz" and walking out of the room.

God, even when I was fighting with her, I couldn't bear to see her upset. I hated that we were fighting. It was wrong, so so so wrong. And I hated it. All I wanted to do was tackle-hug my twin and apologise for being such a bitch to her. But it was stupid, because I was justified in my anger.

It was just a horrible situation. One that I hoped would resolve itself quickly.

XXX

I had managed to find myself a secluded and quiet place to sit down in. I just didn't want to be around people. It was all too loud and I couldn't think. That's what I needed. Time to think. Think about how I'm feeling. Why I'm feeling it. What I'm gonna do about those feelings.

Why was life so complicated? All I wanted was a simple life where I could be with the man who I loved. Life sucks.

The sound of my phone ringing caught my attention. With an exaggerated sigh, I pulled it from my pocket and answered.

"You have reached the phone of Alexa Gilbert, how may I help you?"

"Alex, why has your brother been researching the moonstone?"

I shrugged my shoulders, momentarily forgetting that Ty couldn't actually see me.

"Because he has nothing better to do with his time?"

"Serious answer please."

"Seriously? I had no idea that he had researched the moonstone. I've been busy..."

"Fighting with Elena."

"Hang on a minute, I don't remember telling you that."

"You sleep texted me the other night."

"I did? Huh, do not remember that."

"That's because it was about 3 in the morning."

"I haven't been sleeping well."

"And you haven't been baking?"

"Baking makes it obvious that I haven't been sleeping well."

"Oh Alex, where are you now?"

"In a quiet place where I can take the time to think. And can I just say, there were so many 't' words in that sentence, go alliteration."

Tyler sighed, "You're thinking? Huh, well, don't strain yourself."

"Don't strain yourself," I repeated mockingly, making my big bro laugh.

"I'll speak to you later, Alex."

"Make sure that you do."

"If you need me, you know where to find me."

"Tyler, I'll be fine."

"Good, make sure that you are. Bye Alex."

"Buh bye Ty."

I shoved my phone back into my pocket before groaning; "Now I want cupcakes."

Curse you Tyler Lockwood.

"Ok, this is as far as I go."

Seriously? People? Hang on, no wait, that's not people...

"Bonnie?"

I turned around to see Bonnie Bennet being pulled towards me by Damon whilst being followed by a texting Stefan.

"Alexa, what are you doing here?" Bon-Bon asked, pulling her arm from Damon's grasp.

"Not much, just chillaxing," I replied, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. "What are you guys doin' here?"

Damon watched me closely as Bonnie said, "Damon's after something, as usual."

"Alrighty then, Damon, what is it that you want?" I turned my gaze onto the older vampire.

"A favour," he answered, switching his gaze to the witch as I made my way over to them.

The Bennet snorted, "Like that's gonna happen."

"So predictable," Damon rolled his eyes before gesturing at his brother. "Which is why I brought him."

"I know how you feel about helping us out," Stefan cut in, trying to keep the peace. "But since you're the one that linked Mason with Katherine, we finally have an opportunity to get an upper hand on both of them, so, please, just hear us out."

While Bon was staring at Salvatore Junior with barely concealed suspicion, I was frozen in shock. Mason... linked... with... Katherine. No. Not possible. No. No. No. He can't... how... no.

"What do you mean 'linked Mason with Katherine'?" I asked, hiding my shaking hands behind my back. "Would someone please explain that to me?"

There was a note of hysteria in my voice, one that I didn't even bother trying to hide. The thought of Mason, the man that I grew up with, the man who I consider to be family, being linked with the psychotic bitch who tried to kill me, ok, actually succeeded in killing me, it made me feel ill.

The trio stayed silent, none of them able to look me in the eye.

I crossed my arms and narrowed my gaze, "If you guys won't tell me, then I'll just go straight to Mason. I'm sure that he will tell me."

"Alright," Bon relented. "When I... touched Mason, I got a vision of him... kissing Katherine."

"Oh, right, well then," I breathed out as I automatically shifted over to Damon and leant against him.

I had no right to feel betrayed. After all, Mason didn't know about the whole Katherine killing me situation. And yet, for some reason, I did feel betrayed. And scared, because if he was working for her, then the people who I care about may be in danger.

Looking my friend in the eye, I pleaded, "Bonnie, help them."

She stared at me before a small smile appeared on her face.

"Of course, Alexa," she nodded before looking at the vampires. "I'm listening."

It was at that moment that the phone belonging to Salvatore the younger began to ring. And, of course, it was my dear twin sister who was phoning. The girl that he had 'broken up with'.

"I have to fill Elena in on what's going on," Stefan sighed before answering the phone and walking away.

"So, Damey, what is it, exactly, that you want Bonnie to do?" I asked, craning my neck so that I could look the vampire in the face.

"All she has to do is touch Mason Lockwood again to see if he gave Katherine the moonstone," he replied as his arm came up to wrap around my waist.

"Oh, right, that sounds simple."

"My visions don't work like that," Bon-Bon rejected the plan. "I don't get to ask questions."

"How inconvenient," Damon snarked.

"My thoughts exactly," I muttered.

Damn. Stupid witchy powers. Can't do anything right.

And there goes Damon's plan face. Why so I suddenly feel as though I should hide in an underground bunker?

"Ok then, let's talk about that little witchy juju thing that you do with me," the vamper stated. "You know, the fun one where my brain bursts into flames? What is that?"

Oooh I hate that. It makes my brain hurt just watching it.

"That's me giving you an aneurysm," the witch answered. "Your blood vessels go pop, but you heal quickly, so I do it over and over again."

"Well that sounds just... lovely," I scrunched my nose, shaking my head.

I really did not want to know that. Ignorance really is bliss in some circumstances.

"Is it vampire specific?"

Oh no, I know what you're thinking Mr Salvatore.

"It'd work on anyone with a supernatural healing ability," Bon-Bon shrugged.

"Good," Damey nodded. "Good, good."

"No, no, my dear Dameydoodle," I cut into the thoughts racing through the vampers head. "It is not good."

"Damon, I'm not gonna let you hurt him," Bon glared at Damon. She crossed her arms in full on righteous witchy anger mode.

"Look, Mason Lockwood is a werewolf, Katherine is evil," Damon retorted, his arm pressing me tighter against his chest. "They're the bad guys. Really? You're gonna play the morality police with me right now? Let me put this to you another way: they're a threat to Elena and to Alexa. Especially Katherine, considering the violent history between the two."

Ah yes, violent history meaning that she snapped my neck the first time that we met. And has to tried to kill me several times since.

"So you, witch, are gonna get over yourself and help us."

Wow, what a speech, D, what a goddamn speech.

"Yeah, he meant that as a question with a 'please' on the end," Stefan popped back into the conversation.

"Absolutely," my vampire agreed with a faint hint of a sneer.

XXX

"You lot really owe me for this," I growled to myself as I tried to stop the table from rolling off the truck and squashing me.

"It'll be fine, Alexa," Bonnie reassured me from her spot behind the door to the truck.

"If it isn't then I am never helping you ever ever again."

The only reason why I was doing this and not Bonnie was because of the history between me and Mason. In other words, the desperate need he suddenly has to make things right between us after he threatened to snap my twin's neck. So of course, if I was being all damsel in distressy then he would come rushing over to rescue me.

I let out a high pitched squeak as the table finally made its attack and rolled towards me. Fortunately, before I could become an Alexa pancake, a tanned hand appeared and steadied the wooden monster.

"Thanks Mason," I panted slightly as I glanced at him over my shoulder.

"No problem, Alex," he smiled as he gently nudged me out of the way and lifted the table from the truck and placed it on the ground. "You know, you really need to get some muscle on you."

I smirked and shrugged, "It's so much more fun to watch all the muscular boys just do it for me."

Masey laughed at me, "So how did you get stuck doing that all by yourself?"

"Well, funny story, all the assholes bailed on me. Every single one of them. They muttered something about pricks. Or was that picks? Ah yes, it was picks. D-something picks."

"Draft picks?" Mason suggested, a fondness filling his tone. A fondness which made my heart ache. I suddenly wanted to abort the plan. But I couldn't. Too much rested on this.

"Yes! That's it. Well, at least someone knew."

I smiled up at the Lockwood as I leant back against the truck and causally kicked the wheel.

At my signal, Bonnie started her witchy bad juju spell and Mason fell to the ground, clutching his head in agony. His cries of pain just cut right through my heart.

"I'm so so sorry," I whimpered, sinking to my knees.

Damon stalked out of his hiding place and made his way straight towards the hurting werewolf. He sneered down at him for a moment before kneeing him in the face. I winced as Mason's limp body fell to the floor.

Damn it, Alexa, get yourself together, girl. Your friends need you.

I dragged myself to my feet and followed the older vampire as he walked over to Mason's jeep.

"In you get," he muttered as he helped me into the passenger seat.

While the boys loaded Mason into the boot of the jeep, Bonnie climbed onto the backseat.

"You alright?" she asked softly, resting a hand on my shoulder.

Nodding, I pushed all of my misgivings and guilt and sadness away.

"Fine."

Ok, so if my voice was slightly choked up, well, neither of us mentioned it.

XXX

As soon as the engine to the jeep was turned off, I was out of the vehicle and in the Salvatore Boarding House. There was no way that I was gonna spend one more moment in that jeep.

Damon had already set up a thick blanket under the designated 'nasty chair'. And I could just guess and what sort of nasties that will be committed.

I watched as Damon carelessly dropped Mason onto the chair while Bonnie brought Mason's bag in.

"Here's his bag. As requested."

I could only shake my head at Bonnie's obvious dislike at being bossed around by Damon.

"Alexa, a hand?" D asked, gesturing towards the blanket.

I rolled my eyes but walked forward to grab the corner opposite to Damon's.

"Of course, your OCDness," I muttered.

"I don't have OCD."

"Sure you don't."

"Why are you doing that?" Bon-Bon asked before it could escalate.

"It's so he doesn't get blood on the carpet," I told her.

"I knew that it would be something like that," the witch muttered.

"Well, it is Damon," I shrugged, giving said Damon a smirk as he complained.

"Judging again."

"Oh but of course, dear."

I got pushed onto the sofa for my remark. Well, once we had finished laying out the carpet protection.

"He's not gonna be out for much longer," Bon warned Damon as he wandered over and started rummaging through the bag.

As the vampire satisfied his curiousity, I slowly walked over to Mason and crouched down in front of him. I rested my hand on his knee as I observed the other two conscious people in the room. I wanted to tell him that I was sorry, to ask for his forgiveness. But I couldn't. If he really was working for Katherine, then he was a threat. A threat to the people that I care about. A threat that needed to be stopped.

"Whoa, looks like this guy is used to being tied up," Damon pulled a rather large amount of chains out of the bag.

"Huh, never took Mason for the kinky type," I muttered, moving out of Bonnie's way.

I immediately walked over to Damon and rested against his side. It was becoming almost like an... automatic reaction, something that I did whenever we were in the same room together. And I... liked it. huh.

Damn boy, those are a lot of chains.

"What are you doing?"

I glanced up at my vampire, about to reply with a "Thinking dirty thoughts, you?" when I realised that he was talking to the witch in the room.

Said witch had just placed her hands on the werewolf's heads and closed her eyes. A look of deep concentration formed on her face.

"You're looking for a moonstone," Bon replied, scrunching her face up even further in concentration. "I'm trying to help you find it."

Awwww, isn't it brilliant that they are getting along? Even if it is a... reluctant partnership. Ah well, I'll take anything that I can get at the moment.

And apparently, getting along involves chaining an unconscious werewolf to a chair. Huh, who knew?

"Oh, good, yeah," Damey fumbled for an appropriate reply before settling on his usual demandingness. "Find out if he gave it to Katherine. And fine out where she is. And find out what they're gonna do with it once they get it."

"Godsake, Damon, anything? Or is that all?" I rolled my eyes, elbowing the demanding Salvatore in the side before making my way over to the mantelpiece and leaning against it.

It was immediately obvious when Bonnie's witchy juju started working. Her voice took on this... quality and her eyes flickered rapidly underneath her eyelids.

"Somewhere small... Dark... There's water."

"Like a sewer?" D suggested, a frown adorning his face.

"No," Bonnie shook her head, confusion clear on her face. "Like a well? That can't be right... Yeah... It's a well."

A well?

Hmmm, think, brain, think.

"Why would it be in a well?"

That's what we would all like to know, Dameydoodle.

Bon-Bon removed her hands and opened her eyes. The first thing that she did was give the vamper an unimpressed look.

"I told you, I only get what I get."

Just as Damon was about to respond with what was guaranteed to be an 'epic' snark, the forgotten werewolf let out a grunt and grabbed Bon by the wrist.

The witch gasped as Damon and I sprang into action.

I wrapped my arms around Bonnie's waist and pulled her backwards while Damon used his superior strength to rip Mason's hand away.

"That's it," Bonnie exclaimed. "That's all I got."

She gave my arm a squeeze in thanks before shrugging off my arms and storming out.

"Hey, judgey!" Damon called before she could leave the room.

The witch paused and glanced back.

"Thank you," he told her, his tone serious.

A small smile formed on my face as I added, "Yo Bennet. There's a well on the old Lockwood property. That might be what you're looking for."

"Thanks Alexa," she smiled at me.

I shrugged casually, acting all cool and calm and controlled, "Meh, it's about time that my obsessive friendship with the Lockwood's proved useful."

But inside, inside I was jumping for joy. I had done something useful. I had been helpful. Yeah, it was only small. But it was a start.

The sound of Damon punching Mason in the face jolted me from my thoughts.

"Come on. Wake up, wolf boy."

Oh crap. This was not gonna be good.

XXX

I was right.

It wasn't good.

It wasn't at all good.

Damon was heating up an iron poker in the fireplace. And I didn't even want to imagine what he was gonna do with it.

"Look, Mason," I started as I crouched down in front of the werewolf. "I don't know what he will do to you, but I can guarantee that it won't be good."

Mason refused to look at me, choosing to glare at the vampire instead.

"Please, just tell him what he wants to know. How do you know? What is she up to?"

"I have nothing to say to you, Alexandria," he said coldly.

His tone hurt more than I care to admit. But I deserved it.

"We have to do this. Katherine is threat to the people that I care about. And you're protecting her."

I paused, almost hesitating before asking, "Why are you protecting her?"

No answer.

"Mason, she killed me. The first time that we met, she snapped my neck and killed me."

There was a desperate edge to my voice. One that I couldn't hide, even if I had wanted to.

"Mason, please."

A strong arm wrapped around my waist and hoisted me to my feet. I found myself staring into ice-blue eyes while firm hands steered me away from the werewolf.

"Alexa, you're not gonna want to be around for this," he spoke softly into my hair as I threw my arms around him and pulled him close.

"Ok," I mumbled into his chest. "I'll go help with Operation Recover Moonstone From Lockwood Well."

"You do that."

I reluctantly pulled away before glancing up, "Just... be careful. Ok?"

"I always am," he smirked at me before directing me to the door and wandering back over to the fireplace.

Right, iron poker.

Alexa, run.

XXX

It was pure instinct that drove me to the well on the old Lockwood property. I knew that Elena and Stefan would be there, but a gut feeling told me that something was not right. But then again, it's not like I need a gut feeling to know that. Those two can't go five minutes with something bad happening to them.

And it's a damn good thing that I did go.

When I arrived, I found Elena wrapping the end of an old chain around herself while Caroline attached it to the well.

"Guys, whats going on?" I asked as I approached.

"Stefan's stuck at the bottom of the well," Elena explained in a rush, clearly anxious to go down there. "It's filled with vervain."

Ah. That's why she's so anxious to go down there.

"Alrighty then," I sighed as I helped Elena with the chain.

Once the chains were adjusted accordingly, I helped Elena onto the rim of the well. My twin flashed a small smile of gratitude in my direction before looking at the blonde.

"I got you, ok?" she tried to reassure her.

"Yeah," Ellie nodded, taking a deep breath.

"That's it, in and ok, you can do this," I squeezed Elena's shoulders in encouragement.

"What's going on?"

I glanced behind me to see Bonnie Bennet come running up to us.

"You just took off in a blur."

"I heard Elena screaming," Care replied distractedly.

I took a deep breath before lowering my sister down into the well. I gave her hand a squeeze before withdrawing.

"Are you ready?" the vampire checked.

"Yeah," Ellie breathed, staring down into the well.

Caroline began to lower Elena down into the well, slowly reeling her down, inch by inch.

My first heart attack caused by Operation Get Moonstone Out Of Well occurred when Care momentarily lost her hold on the chain. It was only for about a second, if that. Thankfully, it was only for a second. But it was enough to give ma goddamn heart attack.

"Sorry!" Caroline shouted down the well.

Sorry? Sorry? Is that you have to say? You almost drop her down a well and sorry is the only thing that you have to say?

"It's ok," Elena shouted back from her position in the well. "Just keep going. Come on!"

Oh so you almost fall to the bottom of the well and your only response is to keep going.

... Well, we Gilberts certainly are determined.

Caroline continued to lower my twin down into the vervain filled well, I moved away from the stone rimmed pit and began to pace.

I was angry at my twin. So goddamn angry at her. But I didn't want her to do something like this. But I suppose, if our situations were reversed, and Damon was down in that vervain filled pit of hell, then I would be battling my way down too.

The vampire in our midst had obviously heard something as she yelled down, "Elena, what's going on down there?"

"Yo, twin! What the hell is happening?" I added my voice to the Elena calling.

Hopefully she'll respond to one of our voices, even if it is Caroline's and not mine.

"Pull him up!"

Ok, even I heard Elena's panicked shout. But, to be fair to her, it sounded as though she was in control of her panic.

It didn't take long for Care to hoist the injured Salvatore to the top of the well. From there, I took charge of untying the chains while Bonnie held him steady. I could feel the vervain water soak through my top and while I felt the urge to pull away, I pulled the injured vampire closer.

Once I had succeeded in undoing the chains, Caroline helped me lower the injured vampire to the floor. It wasn't until that moment that I had my first look at the damage that the vervain had caused. And it did not look pretty. Stefan let out small moans of pain as I looked at the burnt skin.

"Elena! Ready for you!"

Caroline's voice jolted me from my observation and I quickly dashed back over to the well.

"Hold on!" my idiot twin shouted back. "I need to find the stone."

I leant over the side of the well, trusting Caroline to grab me if I started to fall, and watched as Elena began to root around between the stones in an attempt to find that damned moonstone.

"Elena, for godsake, get your ass into gear and get the hell outta there!" I shouted down at my sister, panic and fear clear in my tone.

Due to my human vision, I could only see what was being illuminated by the flashlight.

"Hold on! I think I found it!"

There was excitement in her voice and... was that a box?

Huh, she may have actually found it.

The next sound that I heard from the well was a petrified scream.

Fear consumed me as the screaming continued.

"Elena? Elena!"

"Elena!"

Caroline and I exchanged glances. The fear and panic that I felt was clearly reflected on her face.

"Ellie! What the hell is going on down there?!"

"I got it!" she shouted back.

Well, that doesn't exactly answer my question, sweetheart.

"Come on! Bring me up!"

"Get her out of there," I ordered the vampire as I got into position to help her out.

The moment that my twin reached the top of the well, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her towards me.

Holding her tightly in my arms, I murmured in her ear, "Jesus Mary Mother of the Christ Almighty, never do that to my again, Elena. Are you hurt? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Alexa," my twin replied before she glanced over my shoulder. "Oh my god! Stefan!"

Elena pushed past me and fell to the ground beside her boyfriend.

"Stefan? Stefan!"

Her hands hovered over him for a moment, unsure of where to touch him before, she grabbed a nearly rock.

The sound of rock slicing through flesh had me flinching and turning around. I knew what she had done and why she had done it, but that didn't mean that I wanted to watch it.

Caroline had also turned around when Elena had made the cut on her hand. Her baby vampire instincts were still kicking strong and I could see that she was fighting the urge to get her some human blood fresh from the vein.

"I've got the stone. Stefan. Stefan, it's gonna be ok, everything's gonna be ok."

Sigh.

The things that people did for love.

XXX

I sat, well, sprawled, in one of the kitchen chairs, a glass of coke in one hand, phone in the other.

"Look, you've got to tell me eventually... Yeah, you do... I don't care if you want to or not... Because I want to know... Tough cookies, bratface... Look, I'll bring some food up for you... What do you mean 'you're not hungry'?... I'll give you some of my choc... Actually, I don't want to know that badly... See you later, kiddo... I'll pop in before I go to bed... Bye Jer."

Well then.

The little brat didn't want to tell me what he had done with his day while I had been busy Elena and Stefan rescuing. And I wanted to know. Said that he 'didn't want to talk about it'.

Meh, I'll get it out of him later.

"Where is Jeremy?"

I turned my head to see Elena wander into the kitchen.

"Oh, he went straight up to his room," Rick replied from his position next to me. "He said that he wasn't hungry."

"Not true," I muttered. "He's just avoiding me."

Rickety smiled at me and gave my shoulder a squeeze before moving around the table.

As Elena started laying out the plates, (whoops, that was my job), I looked over at my aunt in the kitchen and watched her. Aunt Jenna was on the phone to...

Actually, I don't know who she is on the phone to.

"Hey, guys, do we even know how she's talking to?" I asked my twin and history teacher. I even made the special effort of keeping my voice down.

"No, we don't," Rick frowned. "But I'm sure that it's fine."

"It'd better be fine," I mumbled into my coke.

"Everything go ok today?"

Just as I was about to answer Rick's question with an 'end result was ok, getting there was crap', Elena piped up.

"There were a few hiccups, but yeah."

"A few hiccups?!" I hissed. "I wouldn't call a v-"

"Alexa, calm down," Alaric suggested as Auntie J started walking in our direction.

I did as suggested, but that didn't stop me from muttering 'a few hiccups' a couple more times.

"Of course, I understand," she spoke into the phone before passing it over to me, "Alexa, it's for you."

I stared at the phone for a few seconds. Who the hell would be calling me?

Well, calling me on my home phone.

"Hello?" I cautiously asked. "May I be so bold as to enquire who this is?"

"Hello, Alexa."

At the sound of Katherine's voice, I let out a low growl and my grip on the phone tightened.

"Hello bitch," I bit out through gritted teeth, ignoring the questioning looks that Rick and Elena were sending my way.

"You dare to speak to me in that way?"

"After what you did to me, yes, I do goddamn dare."

"You're so brave, talking to me like that when we're not face to face."

"Well, I would say something about your ugly mug putting me off, but considering exactly who you look like, I'll go with: it's because I don't have to be around your repugnant personality."

"You have such a way with words. But tell me, did your precious twin sister enjoy her little rendezvous with Stefan this morning?"

I looked at Elena, eyes wide.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Even I could tell that I was lying.

"I will always know, Alexa. I will always be one step ahead of the two of you. When are you gonna figure that out? Do you know how easy it was to get inside your house?"

I swallowed hard. A sick feeling in my stomach.

"To replace Aunt Jenna's perfume, to convince her to stop drinking her special tea?"

I switched my gaze my twin to my aunt.

"What did you do?" I breathed, holding up my hand to prevent Rick and Elena from asking any questions.

"Jenna's been my little spy for days now."

"No."

"If the circumstances had been right, it would have been you. But then again, unlike you, Jenna actually listens to me. So when I suggested that the world would be a much better place if she were to just..."

I looked up at my aunt to see her holding a knife in the air, pointing towards her stomach. She wouldn't... oh god...

"Aunt Jenna!" I screamed, dropping the phone. "No!"

Elena and Alaric turned around just in time to see Aunt Jenna stab herself in the abdomen and fall to the floor.

"Jenna!" Elena cried out.

Rushing towards her, all I could see was the blood.

"Jenna, no. No no no."

XXX

The chair was cold, hard and uncomfortable.

The only thing that kept me sitting in it was Jeremy's warm arm across my shoulders. I sat there; drinking the coffee that Jer had forced into my hands like it was a lifeline. Running my free hand through my hair, tugging on it slightly, I let out a sigh.

Elena walking into the waiting room and leapt up to my feet.

"Any news? What did the doctors say?" I quickly asked.

"Is she ok?" Jer added.

"The doctors told Alaric that she got lucky," my twin replied, her voice thick with tears. "She's gonna make it. She's gonna be ok."

"Does she remember what happened?" Jeremy asked while I tried to remember how to breathe.

"No, nothing. It's all a part of Katherine's mind compulsion," Ellie answered.

I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around my sister, resting my head against her's.

"Why would Katherine hurt Jenna?" Jer puzzled.

"Because she's trying to send a message." And here come the tears. "That she could get to anybody."

Elena's voice cracked and the tears began to flow.

I pulled my twin closer to my body and held her tighter. As she began to sob on my shoulder, I let my own tears fall.

I was the last person to talk to Katherine. I should have figured out what she was intending, I should have been able to stop her. The bitch had been practically throwing clues in my face the entire conversation.

"Hey, hey, hey."

Jeremy stepped forward and pulled the two of us into a hug. His warmth surrounded us and we all clung to each other.

"It's gonna be ok."

"No, it's not," Ellie mumbled against my shoulder.

"She's gonna pay, Elena," our brother tried to reassure us. "I don't know how, but she's gonna pay."

"I'll make her pay."

Our voices were filled with a dark promise.

Katherine will pay for hurting our aunt.

XXX

It wasn't until late that I allowed the tears to come out full flow.

I was sitting on the hood of Elena's car outside the Salvatore Boarding House. Elena was inside, ending her relationship with Stefan. The only reason that I was here was because I knew that she would need the support.

I curled myself into a ball and rested my head on my knees. Why? Why did this have to happen? Why Aunt Jenna?

There was a sudden gush of air and I barely had time to look up before I was being pulled against a firm chest.

I immediately curled my arms around Damon's neck and pulled him closer.

"I was the one who riled Katherine up," my vampire whispered in my ear, remorse clear in his voice. "I... I wasn't thinking. I didn't think."

"It's not your fault. How were you supposed to know that she would react that way? How was anyone supposed to know?"

"I should have known."

"Damon, she was in my house. She had spent time in my house. And I didn't even notice."

I choked on my tears.

"How did I not notice? Maybe if I had, maybe if I had noticed that Aunt Jenna wasn't wearing her vervain anymore, then she wouldn't be lying in a hospital bed."

"Hey, you can't blame yourself. Blame Katherine. She started all of this."

"And she'll pay for it."

As silence fell, we just stood there.

In each other's arms.

And I got the comfort that I needed from the only person who could give it to me.

XXX

A/N: Hey guys. I am so so so sorry about the long wait between updates. But this chapter just did not want to be written. I hit a serious block on it, but I hope that it turned out ok. I guess it's because this episode was never one of my favourites. But I'll try and get the next one up quicker :)

Thank you so so so much for all the reviews, favourites and follows. They mean so much to me. So I would like to give a special thank you to: winxgirl1997, grapejuice101, TimeLord293, Revenger Tigger, SomebodyWhoCares, mfmxxx (for both reviews :) ), ddluzelle, Alysnea, HauntedVampyre, Hannah665 and Guest. Thank you :)

And thank you for all of the ideas and suggestions :) they are all amazing and now I have a definite idea of what I'm going to do in terms of the sacrifice.

The poll is still open if you would like to vote. My question this time is what sort of relationship do you think that Alexa should have with Klaus? I already have a definite idea but I'm curious as to what you guys think, as always :)

Again, thank you for all the reviews, favourites and follows and just for reading it in the first pace. I'll try and update sooner, until next time :)