Vampires and Humans and Elena

It was dark when Elena arrived home from Bonnie's house. She was tired and was feeling beat up after her last few conversations.

Damon greeted her as soon as she was out of the car. She accepted a hug from him.

"Bad day?"

"Yes. Stefan's probably mad at me, but I'm madder at him, I haven't seen Jeremy, I think I crossed a line with Katherine and I think I'm on thin ice with Bonnie," Elena said.

"Well, you saved Bonnie's life, so the ice there can never be too thin. Katherine's protectors are still around, so since you still have her protection, you probably still have her trust. Jeremy is upstairs and is fine, and feel free to dump Stefan anytime. What did he do anyway?"

"He said I was like Katherine."

Damon actually pulled them apart. "If I compared you to Katherine, it would be a compliment."

"Not the way he meant it. Can we take this upstairs? I'm tired."

"Do you want to be seen or not?"

"I guess I had better be seen, Jenna's probably upset at me too. Might as well face it."

"I'll be waiting," Damon said as he left her on her own.

Jenna just sent Elena upstairs saying she looked like she needed some rest.

Damon was standing by the bed when Elena entered her room. Elena just lay down on the covers, motioned for him lay next to her, and snuggled up when he did.

"A lot happened today," she began. "I saw Katherine's bad side for the first time since Bonnie hurt you. I can't afford to have her mad at me."

"What happened?" Damon asked. "What did you do that upset her?"

"I asked for John Gilbert's ring so I could give it to Jeremy."

It stunned Damon enough that he sat up. "Why would you do that? It was protecting someone trying to kill us."

"That's pretty much what she said, but everyone's looking out for me. No one's protecting Jeremy. This was my way of trying to do that."

"He's not out there like you are. He's not in danger."

"He is," Elena said. "Katherine has mentioned several times that since he is a Gilbert, he is a target. Not from her, I trust my deal with her. But she's not the only vampire the Gilberts have chased over the years."

"I understand her objection. But would he even understand the ring?" Damon asked.

"Alaric didn't have to understand it for it to protect him."

They were interrupted by a knock at the door. Damon was immediately in a nearby chair.

"Come in," Elena said.

Jeremy entered. "Can we talk for a minute?"

"Yeah. I want to." Elena said.

Jeremy looked at Damon "I didn't hear him come in."

Elena blushed slightly. "Do you want him to leave?"

"No. It's OK. And Anna didn't use the front door much."

"She was up here – in your room?" Elena asked.

"Sometimes, a little."

"I'm glad I gave you the vervain."

"Yeah. That chain you gave me to wear but didn't tell me why. Anna noticed it and since she liked it, I offered it to her."

Elena was stunned. "Jeremy!"

"It wasn't the vervain that kept me safe around Anna, Elena. It was her. You can't protect me by keeping things from me."

"I didn't expect you to start dating a vampire."

"But I did. And it wasn't just you, Elena. No one told me about this stuff. I had to find it on my own."

The sister sighed and nodded. "We both did. I won't keep any more from you, Jer. If you ask, I will tell you – good or bad, and there was plenty of bad."

"Yeah." Jeremy said. He was still standing by the door. "Just tell me how to deal. I mean, Anna looked normal. If she was bad, I would probably be dead."

"I'm still learning, Jer. You just have to be careful. You keep vervain on you, so you are at least less appealing to them. I still make mistakes, but I have help. People are watching over me all the time."

"Even at home?"

"Apparently," Elena said sighing. "Not that I've seen them, and I shouldn't unless there is trouble here."

"Are you really a target here?"

"I don't know. But the point is, I have help dealing with it. I always have had help. So I will be willing to give you any help you need with this. You don't have to figure this out alone. OK?"

Jeremy nodded.

"Do you want to talk about anything that you saw or that happened?"

"Not right now. Maybe later when I can formulate questions."

"Whatever you want, Jeremy. Just ask."

Jeremy returned to his room.

Elena did not invite Damon to return to her. Instead, she asked him a question.

"Will you keep an eye on him?"

"Do you mean stalker-like or help if I just happen to be around when he needs it?"

"The latter. He's probably OK, but I would just feel better."

Damon nodded. They were quiet for a moment before Elena spoke.

"Stefan's still upset about our arrangement. I told him I wasn't going to make any life-long decisions right now. I'm too young."

She looked at his face, trying to read his expression. It was blank.

"You made a deal with Katherine for the rest of your life," Damon pointed out.

"And for as long as I may otherwise exist," Elena quoted. "I did. That piece of my life is gone. I need to be careful with what I have left. Will it bother you if it takes me awhile?"

"Take your time. I do have all the time there is – though I would like for you to be reasonably spry when it is all settled."

"Thank you. It won't be that long, maybe a …" Elena was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Come in." she said, wondering if Jeremy had decided to ask a question.

"Thank you, Elena," Katherine said, as she entered. "Hello Damon."

Elena was up off the bed, though she really had no place to go or anything to do.

"What can I do for you?"

"I would like to talk to Jeremy, Elena. Would you ask him if I may?"

She looked at Katherine. The coldness she had seen earlier was gone, she looked normal again. "Jeremy? But why? We have an agreement that he will be safe from you."

"Just talk Elena. No 'damage' as you would say. No threats, just conversation. You say he won't attack me. I would like for him to tell me that."

"Can I be there when you talk to him?"

"No Elena. If you do not trust me to be alone with him, then Damon may join us. But not you. Would you ask him if he is willing, please?"

Elena looked at Damon. He nodded his head towards the door. Elena reluctantly left the room.

Katherine looked at Damon. "Every time I see you, one or both of us is in danger. Perhaps we should do something a little less traumatic together?"

"You've never minded trauma." Damon noted.

"It gets boring, Damon. One reason I came back here was because I heard you were changing."

"You didn't tell me that before."

"One long conversation after 145 years, Damon. I didn't tell you everything and I'm sure you didn't tell me everything. We need to talk more. I know I promised you space, and you have it if you want. But you should know that I wouldn't mind if you talked to me once in awhile when you aren't being hunted down."

Damon smiled. "And you should know I'm changing because of Elena."

"As if I didn't already know that. Neither of us is what we were before she came into our lives."

"And I've made an agreement with her."

"We both have promises to Elena to keep, Damon. I will keep mine to her and to you. But no one's promises to anyone keep us from talking to or seeing each other – if you want."

The door opened. "He said yes." Elena said. "Please promise me he is safe with you."

"He is Elena," Katherine said as Damon followed her into the hall. "We'll only be a minute."

Elena nodded. "His door is open, you can go right in."

Jeremy stared at Katherine as she entered. "She's right. You look exactly like her."

"Hello Jeremy. You know Damon."

Jeremy nodded and motioned for them to sit on the bed. They did.

"You may not know this, Jeremy, but we have something in common, you and me. We are members of the same club, so to speak."

"Club?" Jeremy asked. "What club?"

"The 'only alive because of Elena Gilbert' club. We both live now because of Elena. If Elena had done as I asked a week or so ago, I wouldn't be here. But she did not go to safety, she came to me when I was fighting for my life. She brought a vampire and a witch, and it gave us enough power to win. I owe her my life, and so do you. And, we are not the only ones. Bonnie is a member. Damon is probably the most active member. It seems she has saved him from witches and burning buildings and who knows what else. Who knows who else is in the club."

Jeremy was confused, "She hasn't saved me."

Katherine smiled to herself. "One thing about this club is that most do not know they are members. You have no idea what she has done recently to protect you - and others. But you are probably the founding member of the club. When your parents accepted Elena as part of their family, they ensured that the Gilberts would survive in Mystic Falls, as long as she was one of them. But I speak too freely. What she has done is between her and me."

Katherine hesitated before continuing, as if she was reconsidering.

"What you need to know, Jeremy, is that Elena has asked a favor of me - a favor for you. From what I know, Elena does not ask for favors. She helps people without requesting favors in return and she pays for what she receives. She is asking this favor of me because she has nothing else to give me. She has given me all she can possibly give, but she is worried about you, so she asks."

Katherine pulled the ring out of her pocket but kept it in her closed hand.

"I am told that you know the history of your family. You know that they have fought the vampires since Mystic Falls began. Is this true?"

Jeremy nodded.

"But Elena tells me you are different from the other Gilberts, that you know that not all vampires are bad."

"Yes. I knew Anna, and I know she was not bad."

"I knew her too, Jeremy. I feel her loss, and I understand you do as well."

"Yeah."

"You are a Founding Family member. You will be allowed on councils and boards. You will have the chance to participate in discussions about vampires. But you will know that we are different, some of us just want to be left alone, to live in peace. And we will help you fight any vampires trying to hurt people. Is this something you are willing to accept? Is this a message you are willing to convey when you have the opportunity?"

"Yes. I know it's true. I have seen both – good vampires like Anna, and the other kind."

Katherine gave Jeremy the ring. "Then I will trust you with this. Elena says you will help us, and I trust her."

"What is it?"

"It will protect you. I will let Elena and Damon explain. I must be on my way. But Jeremy, I would ask you to remember, you, like I, owe your life to Elena. Remember that when you are making choices and decisions that affect her." Katherine turned to leave the room. "I trust you because I trust her. Elena Gilbert is not just anybody. Not to me."

End of Part V - Protecting Jeremy. The Epilogue introduces Part VI ...