Thank you for all the reviews! They makes me so happy! :D Also, thank you to everyone who has stuck by this story so far! I appreciate all the love and support this has gotten :D
WARNINGS: character death
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.
Tyler pressed his palms to his eyes hard as he sat in a parking lot of a nearby grocery store. He'd left in such a hurry that he didn't realized that he was in the car he bought for Jeremy. It took stopping at a stoplight and a brief freak-out of not being able to tell which color it was for him to remember he was colorblind. He parked and took deep breaths to calm down.
This betrayal burned like no other. Not only did Mason have a relationship with the person he knew he loved, they hadn't even wasted time in getting together. It took him one night to disregard how this would make him feel and that was the worst feeling in the world. He thought Mason loved him more than that, but apparently he loved Jeremy more.
He couldn't help but wonder if their tryst had continued, if they were still seeing each other while he was away at rehab. The thought nauseated him so much he doubled over twice. He never took Jeremy for a cheater, but he never thought Mason would betray him either. If they were still together, he didn't know if he would be able to handle that.
The thought of them sneaking around still made him so agitated he had to get out the car. His leg was starting to throb and the water was pelting down hard on him but he walked. His cellphone buzzed in his pocket again, just as it had been for the past two hours since he'd been gone. He didn't think he could face his family right now, not after this blow. He didn't know when he would be able to face anyone.
He shoved his hands in his pocket and his heart pounded when he felt the cocaine baggie. Pulling it out and looking it over, he'd never wanted to do it as badly as he did then if only to make the pain of Mason's betrayal go away for a little while.
Do it, his conscious taunted, it's not like they'll know. They probably won't care either. Why should Jeremy care when he has Mason?
The voice in his head was right. He'd gotten sober for the chance to be with Jeremy again and now he didn't know if he even had one. This was like Europe all over again, and he was introduced back into his personal hell. He twisted the baggie in his hand, watching as the rain water ran over it.
Stefan's ringtone blared again through his pants and he closed his eyes miserably. When the tone indicated he'd left a voicemail, he pulled it out to listen.
"Tyler, I know you're upset and I really don't blame you, but please come home," he said softly. "Damon, Katherine, Caroline and I are out looking for you. If you can't see, don't drive Ty. Call one of us. Just let us know you're alright. We love you Ty. Don't forget that, okay? Call me back."
Stefan's voice sounded so desperate that it made him want to cry. He listened to the one from his mother next.
"Baby, I'm so, so sorry this happened. I wish I knew what to say to make this better but I don't even have the words. Just please be careful out there. If you can't make it home then call one of us. I know this is a low blow, but please don't do anything damaging to all the progress you've just made. I love you honey. I'll always love you, okay? Call me."
"Fuck," he whimpered. He took a shuddering breath and wiped the water that splashed onto his screen. A beep indicated he had another voicemail, and he frowned when he saw he had a voicemail from Damon's home phone.
"Tyler," Jeremy croaked. "I know you're really angry with me and you don't want to speak to me, but please come back. We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, you don't even have to look at me, just please come back so I know you're safe. It's raining and you're colorblind and I'm just…I'm scared. Please come home. I love you. No matter what you think right now, I love you."
He listened to similar messages from Katherine, Damon and even Alaric. The lump in his throat threatened to choke him. He put his phone back in his pocket and looked at the cocaine again. He could do it, and it would be a huge fuck you to his uncle and to Jeremy. They would be devastated if he relapsed, more so that it was because of them. This was the perfect revenge…but it would destroy Stefan, and Damon, and Katherine, and Caroline, and most importantly, it would kill his mother. And no matter how much he wanted to deny it, he didn't want to hurt Mason or Jeremy. He still loved them no matter how they hurt him.
With a frustrated cry he threw the baggie into the drain next to him. He grabbed his hair hard and fought the urge to fish it back out. Pulling out his phone, he found a number in his recent contacts and bit the nail of his thumb as he waited for an answer.
"Tyler," Stefan breathed in relief when she answered on the first ring. "Are you okay?"
"I need…I need you to come get me. It's raining really hard and…and I can't see," his voice cracked and he pretended it didn't.
"I'm on my way. Tell me where you are."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
"Well your jaw is fractured, your nose is broken and your front two teeth are going to need to be replaced," Pearl looked him over again. "Are you sure you don't want to change your story?"
"No," he shook his head slowly. "We were arguing, I punched him, I kept hitting him until he fought back. It was my fault."
Pearl sighed, "Does Tyler need to be looked over?"
"He only had a few bruises. They'll heal."
"He could have permanently disfigured you Mason," she frowned.
"I deserve it," he whispered. "Believe me Pearl…I really deserve it."
Rose gazed at him sympathetically, "You didn't deserve to have your nose broken and jaw fractured Mason."
He gazed at her through his swollen eyes, "We all know Tyler's rage and impulsiveness is more intense now that he's had a stroke. This wasn't his fault at all. Don't think of him any differently because you see me like this. If you knew…you'd know I deserve every punch he gave me and then some."
"Was the argument even that important?"
Rose and Mason shared a look before looking at the floor. When the silence persisted Pearl sighed.
"Fine, if you say you deserve it then I guess you did. You should heal in a couple of weeks, just stay away from him until then."
"I'll make sure of that," Carol joined them. "Sorry I'm late."
"I was just telling Mason that he should come in tomorrow to get arch bars for his fracture. He'll probably need them in for two to four weeks," she sighed as she closed the chart. "Call me if you need anything."
"We will," Carol nodded. She gave Rose a pointed look and she got the hint.
"I'll be outside," she squeezed his shoulder gently before leaving with the nurse. Mason couldn't even meet his sister-in-law's eyes.
"Damon told me everything," her voice was cold. "How could you?"
"I'm so sorry," he whispered. The pain in his jaw was nothing compared to his heart.
"You realize that my son would not have relapsed if you had told Jeremy the truth. Tyler wouldn't have turned back to drugs if he didn't feel that you abandoned him in his time of need."
He nodded painfully.
"Why?"
"I…I don't know. I wish I could give you a real answer but I can't."
It was silent for a moment. Then Carol sat next to him and pulled him into a tight hug, much to his surprise.
"Carol?"
"What you did was…beyond wrong. But regardless, you're still Richard's brother and his uncle. You are the closest thing he has to a father."
"Father's don't do what I did! Father's don't go after the person their nephew's in love with a keep it a secret for four months!" he cried. "I'm the farthest thing from Tyler's father Carol, and I guarantee he doesn't see me that way anymore! I destroyed that when I chose Jeremy over him!"
"He still loves you. We all do," Carol sighed. Mason pressed his face into her shoulder. Carol kissed his hair and kept her arm around him when he started shaking.
"You made a mistake Mason. It's acceptable. You're only human."
"Not this kind of mistake," he said thickly. "God…how can you even look at me?"
"Like I said, you're family. And when Tyler calms down, he'll remember that too."
"You didn't see his face Carol. He looked like he was going to cry," Mason wiped away a tear that fell. "He looked that way because of me. I shattered him."
"And you will fix it when the time is right," Carol sighed. "Just give him time."
"It's going to take him a long time to forgive me," he whispered. "It might be a long time before he forgives us both and it wasn't even Jeremy's fault."
"If it takes him that long, then you have to accept that," she sighed again. "You can't blame him for being angry Mason. What you did was an act of betrayal, of him and of Jeremy. If it takes him a while, you just have to be patient."
The elder Lockwood couldn't help but wonder if it would take years for Tyler to look at him the same.
Jeremy stared blankly into the fire, taking swigs from the bottle of Bourbon every now and then. He felt much better from an hour ago, his sadness and self-loathing replaced with numbness thanks to the strong drink. After he left Tyler his pleading voicemail did he consume more than half the bottle.
Tyler had every right to blame him. He had every right to walk out on him and if Jeremy was honest, he would be surprised if he hadn't. He knew he shouldn't have ever listened to Mason, and told Tyler when he first woke up. But then Tyler told him he loved him and he didn't want anything to ruin it. Now, he ruined everything. There was no way Tyler would love him after this.
A little sob bubbled passed his lips and he took another drink. What broke his heart the most was the betrayal and pain that was on his face when he looked at him. He looked as if Jeremy wrenched his heart out with a knife and watched him bleed to death. It hurt to think that he was capable of causing someone that kind of pain and he hated himself for it.
"Jeremy?" Trevor knocked on the door. Jeremy rolled his eyes.
"What Trevor?"
"Can I come in? Please?"
Jeremy sighed loudly, "Yeah, it's unlocked."
Trevor entered his room while gnawing his lip, "I just wanted to make sure you were alright."
"I'm just perfect Trevor. Really, I'm great," he spat. "I just destroyed my relationship and possibly tore my family apart. I'm fucking fantastic."
Trevor sighed as he sat by him. Jeremy looked away as he took another drink.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't take this out on you," he whispered.
"I know you're upset. It's fine."
He set the bottle on the coffee table.
"I don't know what to do," he dropped his head in his hands. "He was so hurt Trev. I've never seen him look so devastated before."
"Jeremy, this isn't your fault at all," Trevor started in a hard voice. "Tyler is the one who started this. He's the one who treated you like trash and abandoned you for that slut. He's the one who betrayed you first. This is his karma for everything he's done to you."
"Karma," Jeremy repeated slowly.
"It's the only rational way to see this situation," he shrugged. "Lockwood has gotten away with a lot of things because of his wealth and his last name. He's arrogant and selfish and thinks he owns the world and now he can't even handle what's being dealt to him. What he has done to others. He deserves everything he's been getting."
Jeremy stared at his friend's hardened gaze shocked.
"I always thought his ego needed to be taken down a few notches," he snorted. "Just because he has money doesn't mean he's a decent or moral person, and now he knows what it's like to have his world ripped away from him. This and that stroke is exactly what he needed to get his head out of his ass."
"Tyler doesn't deserve any of this!" Jeremy snapped. "Tyler didn't deserve to be betrayed by his uncle or me! He didn't deserve to have a stroke and be paralyzed! He didn't deserve being abandoned when he needed us! That stroke happened because he turned to drugs when he thought he had no one else left and no one ever deserves that!"
"How are you defending him after he walked out on you, again?" Trevor exclaimed. "You defend him constantly for no good reason! What has that bastard ever done for you besides make you miserable and hate yourself? What have any of them done for you that you feel the need to protect them so much? All they have ever done is lie to you!"
"They gave me a home! They took me in when I was beaten within an inch of my life and took care of me! They housed me when I was about to be out on the streets!" he snarled. "They're my family Trevor! Besides Bonnie, they're the only family I have! And if it wasn't for Tyler, I wouldn't even have them!"
"All I see is a poor orphan being abused and manipulated over and over because he doesn't want to leave his so-called family!" he spat. "He manipulated you into becoming his slave! He lied to you! He used your friend against you and yet you defend him! He hasn't given you shit Jeremy! You're the one that's given up everything for him and you don't even see it! All he wants from you is sex and you're so blinded with promises of love and family that you keep giving it to him!"
"I connect with Tyler in ways that you don't understand!" he yelled. "You don't know what our relationship is like Trevor, but don't assume it's based off of sex! I have sex with him because I love him, but I fell in love long before it came to that!"
"And how do you connect with him Jeremy? Please, tell me how you connect with one of the most notorious playboys in the world!" he snapped. "You think you have something special with Lockwood, or with any of them for that matter? You don't Jeremy! You are just as unimportant to them as the next orphaned child and someday their charity and care for you will run out! You're nothing but Lockwood's mistress!"
Jeremy's mouth abruptly closed at that. Trevor winced when he saw the look he was giving him.
"Jeremy I'm sor—"
"Get out!" he snapped. Trevor stared at him appalled.
"What?"
"Get out of my room!" he shouted. "If all you see me as is his whore then leave! I wouldn't want to insult you any further!"
"Jer, wait! I'm sorry!" he pleaded. "Please, Jer I didn't mean it!"
Jeremy shoved him when he put his hands on him. Trevor stumbled backwards in shock. He'd never seen him so angry before.
"Get out," he hissed with venom. Trevor returned his heated glare with one of his own.
"You really think Lockwood will keep you around now that he knows your dirty little secret?" he hissed back. "If I were you, I would start packing your bags because he's going to throw you out the minute he gets back. Your relationship with him is over. And you have no one to blame but yourself for your choices."
He stormed out of the room in a rage. Jeremy covered his face as a sob left him. He collapsed onto the couch again, knowing that Trevor was right.
Stefan gazed at Tyler sympathetically over his steaming cup of coffee. He hadn't seen the billionaire this destroyed since his father died and he relapsed a second time. The paparazzi had gotten wind of them and were snapping photos through the windows but they ignored them.
"What did you do with the cocaine?"
"I threw it down a drain," he snorted. "You have no idea how close I was to doing it."
"I don't blame you," he said honestly. "I know I was shocked when I found out about them but I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you. I know it took all of your strength not to give in."
"You didn't know?"
"No. Neither did Katherine, or your mother," Stefan shook his head. "Apparently the only people that knew were the people in Europe."
"Aren't you going to ask how I got the cocaine?"
"It doesn't matter. All I care about is that you didn't do it," Stefan gave him a small smile. "I'm proud of you Ty."
Tyler wished he could feel as proud of himself, but he could only feel miserable.
"How…how is Mason?"
"Don't know. Rose took him to the hospital but we haven't heard anything."
He hummed, "And Jeremy?"
"He's…really upset," Stefan sighed. "I think he locked himself in his room when we left to start looking."
Tyler bowed his head for a moment, "Did he eat dinner?"
"No. No one wanted to eat without you."
"I'm sorry I ruined Thanksgiving."
"Jeremy said the same thing," he chuckled. "You guys didn't ruin anything. At least it wasn't boring."
"Our Thanksgivings are never boring," he chuckled. He stirred his spoon in his hot chocolate for a moment.
"How did you find out?" Stefan asked curiously. He snorted.
"I overheard Mason and Trevor arguing in the bathroom. Now that I think about it, I think that bastard did it on purpose. He knew I had to walk by that room to get to the kitchen," he shook his head. "I don't understand…why Mason would do this to me. He knew how I felt about Jeremy; he knew I wanted him back, that I loved him. And he never said a damn word to him. I called him for months and he was fucking him behind my back. They were dating behind my back. And Jeremy didn't say anything."
"He probably didn't want to start a fight. If he believed you would hate him, he would do everything to prevent that. He loves you, and all he wants is for you to love him too."
"It's not like I can just fall out of love with him. He could sleep with a hundred people and I'd still feel the same."
"Love is a hard thing for people with abandonment issues to understand. They think it's fleeting, that it can be taken away just as quickly as it's shown. Jeremy's been abandoned so many times by people he loves that he probably almost expects it. If there is anything he can do to keep it, he will. That's all he knows Ty."
The billionaire sighed and pinched between his eyes, "This is the most fucked-up situation I've ever been in Stefan."
"Oddly, I don't think it is. At least you didn't fall in love with someone related to you."
He laughed despite his anger, "That's true."
"I can't imagine how I would feel if Damon had done that to me. You have every right to be angry Tyler. But don't forget that Mason is family. He loves you, though it may not seem like it right now. And you know that he feels enough guilt to last two lifetimes at least," Stefan sighed. "It's going to be hard, but for your sake, you should consider forgiving him."
"I can't think about forgiving him right now Stefan," he said honestly. "Right now, I think about Mason and I fight the urge not to find him and beat him more."
"That's fine. Just don't give into it," Stefan warned with a smile. Tyler chuckled.
"I won't."
Their waiter passed by with refills for each of them. They each stared out the windows at the pouring rain, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Do you think…they were still seeing each other when I was in rehab?" Tyler asked in a small voice. Stefan laughed.
"You really think Jeremy would cheat on you?"
"Anything is possible Stefan, obviously. I was at rehab for almost two months. There were plenty of opportunities for them."
"I don't think he was going behind your back. He pretty much lived at the facility with you, he was there so much," Stefan said softly. "The only way to know for sure is to ask him."
"What if he still has feelings for him?"
"The only way to know is to ask."
Tyler sighed, "What if he tells me he does?"
"Then you'll have a decision to make. Is Jeremy worth fighting for, or will you just let him go?"
Tyler gave him a pointed look, making him laugh.
"I didn't think so."
"I can't believe this is happening. I guess this is my karma for sleeping with married people," he snorted. Stefan laughed loudly.
"I never would have thought of it like that, but if that's how you look at it then sure. If this is your karma, I wonder how bad Damon' is going to be considering that's all he seems to go for."
"He has Katherine."
"Who's practically married to Caroline."
"Do they even count since they both sleep with him?"
"That's a good point. Maybe they're exceptions to the rule," Stefan chuckled. "I don't think this is karma. I think this is an opportunity."
"For what?"
"To prove to Jeremy that you meant what you said. You said you loved him; now could be the time to show him."
"What about Mason?"
"We'll decide what that is when you decide to forgive him."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Stefan drove him back to Damon's in his car, and promised to deliver Jeremy's car back in the morning. The lights were dim when they arrived and the rain hadn't lessened that much. Looking at the time, Tyler wouldn't be surprised if everyone was asleep.
"You might want to wait until morning for any conversations. It's been a stressful day."
"I don't want to go to sleep without resolving this," he sighed. "I'll be fine."
"Alright. I believe you."
"Thank you for everything," he leaned over and gave him a one armed hug. He watched Stefan drive down the driveway in the pouring rain before going inside. He left his damp shoes at the door.
He walked into the kitchen, an open bottle of Vodka sitting on the counter catching his eye. A glass landed on the countertop and saw Trevor sitting alone.
"Where's everyone?" he asked him gruffly.
"Scattered. I imagine Mason is still at the hospital with Rose."
Tyler snorted at the judgment he heard in his voice. "Where's Jeremy?"
"Mourning his losses," he snapped. "I warned him about you. He didn't listen and now he's heartbroken all over again. People like you never change Lockwood. One thing doesn't go your way and you throw a hissy fit."
Tyler rolled his eyes before walking out the room. He could hear Trevor following him and he quickened his pace.
"Why don't you just leave him alone?"
"Why don't you mind your own fucking business?" Tyler snapped back. "Get your fucking nose out of my relationship Porter."
"What relationship?" he snarled. "Your relationship is based on intimidation and lies. You need to stay away from him. All you do is cause him pain."
"If you don't want me to cause you pain, back off," he snarled. "I wouldn't have found out if it weren't for you so you can pat yourself on the back for that."
"It's not my fault you were eavesdropping."
"You knew I was standing right there," Tyler hissed. "You looked me in the eye Trevor, so don't give me that shit. I'm sure Jeremy won't be thrilled when he finds out this happened because of you."
"He's already not thrilled with me," Trevor replied bitterly. "He kicked me out because he didn't want to hear the truth of his relationship with you. It must be nice to have someone so hopelessly devoted to you."
"And what truth is that?"
"That you're not good for him. That you have lied to him, treated him lower than dirt and destroyed his heart. The truth, Lockwood, is that until he is away from you, he will never be able to help himself. He will never realize how unstable you are."
"I could say the same for your Trevor. With your hidden agenda trying to persuade him to go back to Europe with you while you pretended to support his feelings for me. All you've done since you've been here is try to split us apart and it's pathetic that you feel the need to resort to these lame attempts to break our relationship. When are you going to understand that he doesn't want you?"
"Jeremy can't see this because of his unhealthy attachment to you, but I am exactly what he needs. He needs someone to discipline him, to tell him when he is doing wrong and to fix those problems. He needs structure and a firm hand to lead him in the right direction. He needs someone to undo all the damage you've caused him and to set him straight again. He needs someone who isn't afraid to put him under their control and make sure he does as he's told."
Tyler stared at him in disbelief, "What the fuck are you talking about?"
"He's clearly lost. He's never had a stable home or a loving family. He doesn't know how to receive love or give it properly, which is why he bends over for the first man that shows him an inkling of affection. He's wild and he needs to be contained because when it comes to love, he will take what he's offered regardless of who it's from and that makes him no better than a whore."
Tyler grabbed Trevor by his shirt and slammed him into the wall. Trevor cried out when his head hit the wall and Tyler thrust his forearm into his throat, disrupting his air flow. Tyler could smell the alcohol on his breath.
"Listen to me very carefully," he hissed dangerously. "If you ever call Jeremy a whore again, I'll tear your fucking balls off. Just because he slept with Mason and whoever the fuck else doesn't make him a slut. You're only shaming him because he didn't drop his pants for you."
Trevor chuckled, though it came out winded.
"How is it that you can defend Jeremy's actions, but not Masons?" he sneered. "He's just as guilty of their affair. He didn't force him into his bed."
"I don't have to explain shit to you Porter," he snarled. "You wouldn't get it anyway, you fucking shallow piece of shit. Listen to my warning, and stay the fuck away from him."
"You're so threatened by me that you feel the need to threaten me with violence. How typical of you alpha males," he chuckled with a smirk. "I think you realize that Jeremy and I work better than you and he ever could Lockwood. The difference between you and I is that I'm not afraid to hurt his feelings with the truth. I'm man enough to tell him to behave."
Tyler shoved his forearm into his throat swiftly in a karate-chop movement. Trevor coughed and gagged at the sudden force, cringing when Tyler slammed his head into the wall again.
"You're lucky he's expecting to see you alive tomorrow morning," he sneered as he let him drop to the ground. "Keep fucking with my family Trevor. I fucking dare you to, you son-of-a-bitch. Pull something else like you did tonight and you're done. That's a promise."
He dropped him and he landed unceremoniously. The billionaire jogged up the stairs before he could bate him into another fight. He leaned against the wall by his door for a moment to calm himself.
"Bastard," he grumbled as he knocked on the door. Jeremy answered from the other side and he pushed it open, immediately assaulted with the smell of weed. He gaped when he saw Jeremy lighting one of Damon's pipes and inhaling deeply before letting it out, the nearly empty bottle of Bourbon sitting on the coffee table in front of him.
"Jeremy?"
His voice startled him and he dropped the lighter. Cursing he picked it up and took a long inhale before facing him.
"What the hell are you doing?" he picked up his book off the floor, wondering how it got there. "I thought you didn't smoke weed?"
He shrugged and lit it up again. Tyler wondered if he should be worried.
"We need to talk."
"I already know what you're going to say," he sat the pipe down before standing. "And you're completely right. We don't have to talk about it Tyler."
"What're you talking about?" he frowned.
"We're done," he said softly. "I slept with your uncle and I kept it a secret. That's the worst kind of betrayal there is and…well, I don't blame you for hating me, I don't. I would hate me too."
Tyler stared at him, lost for words.
"I shouldn't have listened to Mason, and just told you in the hospital but I was a coward and now I'm paying the price. I don't know who told you but I'm sorry that it wasn't me. That's just something I'm going to have to deal with."
Tyler gaped when he walked around the couches and past him to the door.
"Where the hell are you going?"
"To another room. I thought I would give you this one, or you could take the other one since this one smells like pot. I should've thought about that but…that's just one more thing to add to everything I've done wrong," he laughed mirthlessly. "I can stay here if you want."
"Sit down Jeremy," Tyler glared at him. "You and I need to talk."
Jeremy sighed, "Tyler, we really don't need to—"
"Yeah, we really do. Sit down," he bit out. Jeremy looked at him warily.
"I'd prefer to stand."
"Then get away from the door. You're not running out of here because you don't want to talk about what happened. We're going to figure this out."
"What is there to figure out? I screwed up again and you hate me. There's nothing to—what?" Jeremy frowned at the disbelief on his face.
"Seriously? Were you present in Spain at all? Were you there when I gave you that collar, or when I told you I loved you? Do you remember that Jeremy, or has the weed made you forgetful?"
Jeremy stared at him uneasily, "I don't know what—"
"You really must think I'm the shallowest bastard in the world. I know I was a dick before but Jesus Jeremy, you could give me a little more credit," he snapped. "I can't decide whether to be angry or hurt that you think I'd dump you over this."
"You left!" he blurted. "You left and I thought you weren't coming back! The last time I screwed up you didn't come home until the next day!"
"So that means you're going to give up? That means we aren't worth fighting for?" he snapped. "How is it so easy for you to just leave Jeremy? After everything we went through—!"
"You left me Tyler! You left me, again! I begged you to stay and you left!"
"Because I was fucking pissed, which I have every right to be!" he snorted. "I never told you that I was through, or that I wasn't coming back, or that I didn't want you here. I just wanted some space to clear my head so we could talk about this!"
"We don't have anything to talk about!" Jeremy exclaimed. "Mason and I had sex, a lot, and we kept it a secret! There's nothing more to say!"
"The hell there isn't! There's plenty for me to say!" Tyler marched to him. "You slept with my uncle. Yes, I'm upset. But what really pisses me off is that you just didn't tell me! I had to find out from fucking Trevor of all people that you fucked him when it should have come from one of you two!"
Jeremy closed his eyes as shame filled him.
"I'm sorry Tyler," he whispered. "I really, really am so sorry."
"Oh I know you are. But that doesn't mean you get to leave and give up on us! Just because you made a mistake doesn't mean we're done Jeremy! I'm mad you would even give up this fast!"
"Are you kidding?" Jeremy screamed. "You got in the car while I begged you to stay so don't give me that crap about being mad because I'm giving up! You abandoned me just like last time and I didn't want to get my hopes up and be heartbroken again!"
"I didn't abandon you! I came back!"
"You never said anything! You left without a word to anyone Tyler! The last time you did that you didn't come home until the next day and then you gave me to Damon!"
"After you ran away! Or did you forget about that Jeremy? I wasn't the only one who left and didn't come back!"
"I ran because you treated me like shit! You made me eat on the dining room floor!"
"I'm sorry! Okay, I'm sorry that treated you like shit and abandoned you. I'm sorry that I handed you over to Damon, but I was destroying you Jeremy! You were better off with him!"
"The only reason I was destroyed was because you fucked with my head! You made me fall in love with you and then you played me! I thought I meant something to you and I didn't!"
"What the hell are you talking about? Of course you mean something to me!" Tyler bellowed. "Is that why you fucked him Jer? To get back at me for all the shit I did before?"
"No! I would never do that to someone!" he retorted. "I slept with him because I liked him! He was nice and he was there! He was everything you weren't!"
"Well that's fucking perfect!" Tyler laughed mirthlessly. "That's such bullshit Jeremy! I called you, begging you to come to Europe and you said you weren't ready! So don't tell me you slept with him because he was there! I tried to be there and you turned me down!"
"I was upset Tyler! I wasn't ready to face you! I screwed up when I told you not to come, okay? I screwed up and I wish I could take that back but I can't!"
"Would you even want to? Sounds like you think he's better for you than I am," the billionaire glared at him. "You don't have to say it was a mistake on my behalf. Let's be honest Jeremy."
Jeremy scoffed, "Was sleeping with Hayley Marshall right after making me eat on the floor a mistake Tyler? Let's be honest about that since you want to do honesty."
"I didn't sleep with her!"
"Bullshit!"
"I didn't sleep with her that night! I went to a hotel! The thought of being with her disgusted me after what I did and I knew it would hurt you!"
"And yet you didn't come home. You walked out just like you did tonight," Jeremy shook his head. "You treated me like shit and you walked out like I did something wrong!"
"Fuck Jeremy, how many times do I have to tell you I'm sorry?" he exasperated. "I'm sorry about everything that happened! I'm sorry we ended the way we did! But if you can't even forgive me, I don't see how this will work!"
"So now it's my fault if this doesn't work?" Jeremy stormed forward. "What is your problem Tyler? If this doesn't work then we're both at fault! But you can do no wrong, so of course it all falls on me and my inability to forgive you and sleeping with your uncle!"
"I never said that!"
"You didn't have to! I can see you judging me from here!"
"You know what Jeremy? Maybe you're better off with him! Maybe you two are fucking perfect for each other! Because God knows nothing I do now is going to make you forget what I've done!" Tyler moved closer. "Maybe you should just fucking pack your shit and move into his fucking condo in fucking Paris!"
"That doesn't sound like a fucking bad idea!" Jeremy shot back. "Mason was actually there for me! He never treated me the way you did! He sure as hell never abandoned me the way you did either!"
"Then I guess that's it. If that's how you feel, if you want to walk away again then go! We've already done this Jeremy and I'm not stopping you this time."
"You didn't stop me the last time," Jeremy sneered as he got in his face. "You let me go Tyler. Don't forget who really walked away."
"So why the hell are you still here?" Tyler sneered back.
They were nearly nose to nose, and close enough to feel the other's pants on their faces. The tension in the room was thick and the sound of the fire crackling did nothing to help it. Then Jeremy was grabbing his face and kissing him hard and Tyler returned it just as furiously as he shoved him into the wall. Jeremy tried to push off and flip them around but Tyler was stronger. The younger ripped his shirt, and buttons flew but Tyler didn't move to take it off. He grabbed Jeremy's wrists and pinned them to the wall as they kissed angrily.
Without warning Tyler flipped him to face the wall and his hands flew to his pants. Jeremy tried to turn around again, to fight for dominance, but Tyler once again had him pinned. Tyler removed both their pants in record timing and shoved two spit-slicked fingers into him roughly, making him groan. He spread Jeremy's legs apart and kept him pinned with his legs as he worked him open. He used his pre-come to slick Jeremy's hole before thrusting into him hard and fast. Jeremy screamed in pained ecstasy as Tyler pounded into him. He used one hand to hold his hip and the other laced with his fingers, his nails digging into them as he thrust harder and harder and Jeremy was seeing stars. Too soon they were crying out and falling over the edge in a passionate tumble. They didn't let go of each other as they slid to the floor and tried to catch their breaths.
"I never walked away from you," Tyler panted against his shoulder when he could finally form words. "I may have let you go, but I never walked away."
"I didn't either," Jeremy turned to sit and let his head fall back against the wall. "How could you even think Mason would be better for me?"
"Because he never broke your heart the way I did. He's everything I'm not, like you said."
"That's why I could never be with him. He's not you, and that's not enough."
Tyler stood silently and offered his hand to Jeremy. The younger took it, and Tyler pulled him into his arms before assaulting him with another deep kiss. He took the time to remove his shirt as Jeremy walked them towards the bed. Tyler flipped them when they reached the end and climbed on top of him, lips whispering against his neck. Jeremy moaned underneath him, one hand trailing through his hair before both slid down to grip his ass. He rolled his hips forward steadily and their cocks brushed together.
"Jer," he pulled away. The younger pulled him into another kiss before he could say any more. He dragged his head down and wrapped his legs around his waist. Tyler laced their fingers together and raised his hands above his head as he grinded against him. Thunder sounded outside, but it was no match for the passion that consumed them as they lost themselves in each other.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
"We have to be the most dysfunctional couple ever," Jeremy chuckled hours later. He grinned when he felt Tyler's chest rumble with laughter under his head.
"Doubt it. At least we communicate."
"After we have sex."
"We still do it. That's what counts."
"That's true," he yawned. "I didn't mean what I said earlier. I was just angry."
"About what?"
"About leaving, and going to be with Mason."
"I know," he sighed. "I don't blame you for that, you know. You didn't have a reason not to be with him. The way we ended was bad and he was there for you."
Jeremy rolled over in between his legs and kissed the middle of his chest.
"I'm really sorry for not telling you sooner," he whispered against his skin.
"I know. I'm sorry for not telling you I was coming back."
"I shouldn't have assumed that you wouldn't. I do have more faith in you. I just thought what I did was unforgiveable."
Tyler lifted his head and brought him up to kiss him.
"I just wish you would have told me sooner," he murmured before stealing another kiss. "I don't care that you slept with other people Jeremy. I would never judge you for moving on."
"I didn't tell you because I was ashamed," he admitted. "Mason betrayed both of us and I was humiliated that it went on for so long and that I didn't even question it. And I didn't know if you would hate me and that's the last thing I wanted."
Tyler silenced him with another kiss.
"It doesn't matter now. We both know how we feel," he murmured. Jeremy pressed their foreheads together and stole another few kisses.
"Do you still…you know," Tyler grunted. Jeremy shook his head, much to his relief.
"I can't tell you I didn't, but those feelings died when I found out he betrayed me and you," he snorted with a bitter laugh. "Betraying me is one thing, but you're his nephew."
"That clearly doesn't mean much," Tyler grumbled. "Backstabbing asshole."
"Will you be able to forgive him?"
"Will you?"
Jeremy paused.
"Someday," he said gently. "I want to forgive him, but it's hard knowing that everything that happened in the past four months could have been avoided if he just told me the truth."
"He didn't because he's in love with you. He didn't want to let you go, and I don't blame him," Tyler ran his fingers through his brown hair. "You captivate people and you don't even realize it."
Jeremy flushed and ducked his head to hide from him, "You're just saying that."
"I've seen it. With Mason, with Trevor…with me," he kissed his cheek. "You're an amazing person Jer and he didn't want to lose you. I hate that he did this, but I understand why."
"It doesn't matter what any of them think, because you captivated me Tyler. You always have," Jeremy kissed him softly. "Whatever I felt for Mason is nothing compared to what I feel for you. It's always been you. It will always be you."
They shared another loving kiss. Jeremy cupped his face with one hand as Tyler rolled him onto his back as his tongue entered his mouth. Jeremy's words rang in his ears and he felt giddy.
"Nothing you do will ever change how I feel about you," he whispered against his lips. "I can never walk away from you Jeremy, regardless of what you've done."
Jeremy gave him a gentle kiss, "I love you."
"I love you more."
No more words were spoken for the rest of the night.
The lump in Kol's throat was thick enough to choke him as he stared at the lifeless face of his baby brother on the metal table in the morgue. The medical examiner hadn't allowed them to see him until they cleaned up the blood, but they couldn't do much about the hole in his neck.
"What's the cause of death?" he asked the greying man hollowly.
"Asphyxiation. When the bullet punctured his throat, he couldn't get air into his lungs because of the blood."
A tear fell down his face and he didn't bother wiping it away. He felt Matt squeeze his shoulder with the hand that wasn't in a sling. The cut on his forehead burned as sweat started sliding over it but he was too distraught to care.
"His death is ruled a homicide. I extracted the bullet from his throat and sent it to be examined. We should get a result soon."
"You won't get anything. The weapons used probably aren't registered," he muttered.
"We'll be able to tell the kind of gun that uses those bullets and we can find who sells them. We find the dealers, we find the killers," he squeezed Kol's arm. "We're going to find who did this."
"Thank you," Vaughn gave him a small smile as he and Matt led Kol from the room. They sat on the first chairs in the waiting room.
"You know who did this," Vaughn murmured.
He nodded slowly.
"It was Mikael," he sniffed. "He took Rebekah."
"We need to find her Captain," Matt stared at him with desperate eyes. "She's pregnant."
"Shit," Vaughn let out a shallow breath as he hit the armrests of his chair. He stood and walked outside the hospital with his phone in his hand.
"I don't know how I'm going to tell her about Henrik," Kol whispered as he covered his face. Matt squeezed his shoulder again.
"We'll get her through it."
His answer was a sob. Matt wrapped his arm around his partner and kept his head close to his as he cried. He could feel his own tears burning to get out but he did his best to hold them in and held his best friend as he sobbed into his shoulder.
"Why Henrik?" he choked out. "He was the most innocent one! He had nothing to do with any of this!"
"I don't know Kol," he whispered. "But we'll get him, and we'll pay him back for everything he's done, I promise."
"What if—what if Rebekah is—?" he couldn't force the words past the lump in his throat. "Sh-she's the only family I have left Matt! What if she's dead too?"
"She's not," he whispered vehemently. "Kol, we can't think like this. Rebekah's not dead. Mikael wouldn't kidnap her if he wanted her dead."
"But he would sell her," Kol breathed. "She's going to be sold Matt. That's why he wants her."
The blond officer ran his uninjured hand through his hair roughly, his heart pounding at the thought.
"I've made some calls," Vaughn said as he returned. "I have a small squad that's ready when you are."
Kol blinked as he wiped his tears away. "What do you mean?"
"If we do this by standard procedure we'll all end up dead," Vaughn sighed. "You know your father and how he operates Kol. If we're going to bust him and his operation, we're going to do this your way."
"What about the Chief?"
"We'll think of a good story to tell him when the time comes. But if this turns into the shit-storm I know it will, then we won't need to say much," he muttered. "I've got your back on this. Just tell me what you need."
"You could lose your job."
"Better than you losing your sister," he holstered his gun. Kol stood slowly, staring at his captain with watery eyes. He threw his arms around him and Vaughn hugged him back just as hard.
"We need to talk to the Salvatores," he started when he pulled away. "They're practically trained assassins. They'll know what to do."
Matt shot Kol an alarmed look before looking at Vaughn.
"Doesn't surprise me in the least," he shrugged. "We'll contact them tomorrow after we get your statements."
"Wait," Matt shot up, "How did you know?"
"You've never met their father. In that house, you had to be a trained killer to survive."
"You know him?"
"I'm the one who caught the bastard," he sighed as he led the two officers out the door.
Rebekah's heart pounded in fear when she heard the door to her room open. She kept a hand to her stomach as she turned on the thin cot to see her father and another man holding a plate of food.
"Put it there," he pointed to the small table in the corner of the room. He silently sat the plate down and left. The blonde kept her eyes on her father, even as the door slammed again.
"I never thought I'd see the day when you didn't wear something designer," Mikael snorted as he looked her up and down. "You're standards have fallen low."
"What do you want with me?" she whispered.
"I'm not here to kill you. That would be pointless," he leaned forward. "I told you, you would find a way to pay your dues if you didn't marry Lockwood. Now is the time to pay."
"What're you talking about?"
He threw a few pictures at her. She frowned when a dark man with soulless eyes stared back at her.
"Meet your new owner. He'll be here in four days to pick you up and drop off the $500,000 he promised, plus an extra $250,000 if you were in top condition."
"What do you mean owner?"
"You're going to be his new…pet, so to speak. He has a preference for blonde-haired, blue-eyed women. Since he already has a wife, I imagine you will be used for his…entertainment."
Rebekah stared at him in horror.
"No—no daddy please!" she begged as she climbed off the cot. "Please don't do this!"
She stopped abruptly when she could no longer walk forward. She turned and just recognized the thick metal cuff clapped around her ankle. Mikael watched in amusement.
"The deal is already done Rebekah."
"How could you do this? I am your daughter!"
"My daughter died the night she defied me," he snarled so viciously she stepped away. "I have no idea who you are anymore, because the Rebekah I knew would have never betrayed her own family!"
"Elijah betrayed you! He worked for Richard Lockwood and accused you of murder but I stood by you through all of it! I never once believed that it was you! I defended you from everyone!"
Mikael laughed coldly, "Yes, because running to your traitorous brother and snooping around my office when you think I don't know is defending me. It's a wonder you made it this far Rebekah. Your naivety of things you don't understand as well as your stupidity just astounds me."
"I understand that you're a criminal! I understand that you're a greedy, heartless monster who would hurt anyone if you could make a dime off of them!" she spat. "You murdered my brother because you didn't want anyone to find out about this, and you murdered Richard Lockwood for the same reason!"
He laughed, "Richard Lockwood is dead because your dear brother decided to involve him in something neither of them should have been in. Niklaus was a disgrace to our family and when he got in trouble he ran instead of taking responsibility for his actions! Your brother was a coward and a liar, and that's why he had to die."
Tears sprang to her eyes, "How could you say that? He was your son!"
Mikael laughed louder this time. The harshness of it sent chills down her spine.
"You really don't know, do you?" he chuckled. "Of course your mother never told, even when she was on her deathbed, that wench."
"What are you talking about?"
"She was a whore just like you," he snarled so viciously she pressed against the wall. "I gave that woman everything and she thanks me by sleeping with the fucking mailman! Of course she blamed me. She said it was my fault because I was always working but that's no goddamned excuse! And she had the audacity to pass that boy as my son for years before I discovered it for myself!"
The blonde felt her head spin and her breathing grow shallow, "He's…he's our half-brother?"
"Very good Rebekah. You do know something!" he snapped sarcastically. "That woman, that whore thought she'd gotten away with it but I knew that pathetic brat prancing around my house wearing yellow wasn't my son. I would never have a son so weak. So I confronted her and she denied and denied and denied that it was true."
He ran a hand through his thinning hair, "She deserved everything she got."
She thought she would be sick, "What did you do?"
"She was already dying. I simply put her out of her misery, although I should've just left that bitch to suffer."
"You killed my mother?" she cried. "H-How could you—she wasn't perfect b-but she was still my mother! She was your wife!"
"She was a lying cunt!"
"Why would you punish Klaus for her mistakes? He looked to you as his father! He loved you as his father! He loved you because you were the one who was there! He was a good boy and he loved you!" she sobbed. "How could you do this to our family?"
"You think your brother is a good boy for getting Richard Lockwood murdered? If he hadn't run away, Tyler would still have his father! Consider that when you think of your bastard of a brother!"
"Tyler doesn't have his father because of you! You destroyed his family like you did ours, all because of your greed and your pride!"
"Family is overrated," he spat. "I started this operation so that you all could live a lavish life and all you lot have done is betray me. I've done everything for you brats and one by one you've turned on me! All those promises of always and forever don't mean so much now do they?"
"They were meant for my father, not for a cold, murdering bastard," she spat with blazing eyes. "I was a fool for trusting anything you've ever told me! Kol and Tyler saw what I couldn't: you are poison, and you will destroy everything you touch until the day you die!"
In a fit of rage Mikael crossed the room and backhanded her so hard she fell over onto the cot. He leaned over her and grabbed her by her hair, shaking her as he yelled in her ear.
"You good-for-nothing bitch!" he yelled over her terrified screams. "Don't you dare forget who brought you into this world and made you who you are! Don't you ever insult the hand that fed you! You are nothing without me! You will never be worth any more than what I sell you for!"
He threw her back down with so much force she bounced on the mattress. He stormed out of the room, slamming the door amid her terrified sobs. He paused outside the door and turned to his associate.
"Make sure no one comes into this room. This one's off limits," he ordered. The bald man nodded and taped two long pieces of red in the shape of an X across the door.
"Tell them they can go into any rooms except for the ones marked with the red X. That means they're already sold."
"Very well," the man nodded. Mikael walked up walked up two flights of stairs and through the back door of his security warehouse. He turned on the light and went to his computer, switching over to the 30th set of web cameras he was connected to, he grinned wickedly when he saw Tyler and Jeremy in bed at every angle.
"Where have you been?"
"I was taking care of something," Mikael frowned at Elijah's face when he came into the light. "What?"
"I just heard…Henrik is dead."
"What about Kol?"
"I…I think he's still alive," Elijah tried to hide his shock at his impassiveness. "You ordered the attack on them."
"They were traitors and needed to be made an example of. How did you find out so quickly?"
"I listened to the police radio. They announced it," he cleared his throat. "Rebekah is no longer with them."
Mikael grinned, "No. Your sister is right where she belongs."
Elijah kept his face blank to hide the sorrow he felt. His youngest brother was dead, his sister was going to be sold and Kol was more than likely going to die next. Despite everything he did to keep them out of danger, his siblings were suffering because of him and their father.
Mikael popped a blank CD out of his computer, "Make sure this gets sent to Romanov. Ship it first class. I'm sure he'll appreciate that little gift. And tell him that we'll have the boy within a couple days, if he wants to start making preparations for his journey."
Elijah took the disc with numb fingers and turned to leave. His father's voice stopped him.
"I am sorry he had to die, but they forced my hand," he said quietly. "Do not let this deter you from your duties Elijah. There will be time to mourn him later."
"Of course," he gave his father a forced smile before leaving.
Things are starting to get intense now! Review and let me know what you think! Thanks :D