Wow, nearly 11,000 words...damn! I poured my heart and soul into this chapter and I certainly hope that I do it justice. If this chapter can catapult me to over 400 reviews I think I might go into cardiac arrest. Thank you to every single person who has read, reviewed, favorited and alerted any or all of my stories. You are my inspiration for making this story possible and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all of you.
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"Damon! Damon, hello!" Elena called as the door to the boarding house slammed behind her. She marched into the living room to Damon passed out on the couch, a bottle of scotch clutched tightly in his fist. Elena sighed deeply; Cassandra had told her about their latest fight. The doppelganger wanted to stake Klaus for driving a wedge between Cassandra and Damon. Elena took Damon by his shirt, shaking him from his scotch induced coma. "Get up, Damon!" She shouted and the vampire's eyes cracked open.
"Huh?" He groaned and rubbed his tired eyes.
"Get up!" She smacked his cheeks and he lightly pushed her away.
"God, what time is it?" The vampire cracked his neck.
"It's only eleven." Elena answered.
"Why the hell did you wake me up?" He growled angrily.
"Because you've been incapacitated for days." She argued as she started to clean up the other empty bottles on the floor and on the couch. "And that trick you played with Ric was not funny."
"Oh, come on! Yes it was. He's practically a living example of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Damon quipped, taking a sip from a bottle, but he pouted seeing that it was empty. He tossed it aside, looking for another one.
"It still wasn't funny. Come on, get up!" She barked. "You can't live like this."
"Why not?" He grumbled while scrounging around for an unopened bottle of poison. When he came across it, Elena quickly snatched it up before him, since his reflexes were dull from the alcohol.
"You have to get out of this little rut." Elena chided.
"Little rut? Elena, this 'little rut' is the equivalent of the Grand Canyon." Damon ran his hands through his hair, clearly aggravated with everything.
"But you will get out of it. I know you will." She said optimistically and Damon wanted to smack her upside the head for being so positive in a time like this.
"I'd really appreciate it, if you'd leave that ball of sunshine attitude outside." The vampire huffed.
"Nope, besides, I need a favor from you." Elena crossed her arms across her chest, trying to look tough.
"Anything, as long as you'll get out of my house."
"I am going to Denver to pick up Jeremy and bring him home." She replied.
"Okay…and you need me to drive you?" Damon questioned. "Ask Cassandra."
"She's coming with me."
"Well, then you don't need me." He growled.
"Yes, I do, Damon. The both of you knew Rose and we need to find out who sired your bloodline." She explained but Damon's blank expression made her roll her eyes.
"Wait…start from the beginning again." He scratched his head, clearly confused. The amount of alcohol he consumed was enough to make thoughts swirl around in his head without any rhyme or reason.
Elena took a deep breath, "After Finn was staked, Sage died. And then a vampire that Sage turned died also. If an Original gets killed, all of the people they've turned die as well. So, you and Stefan were turned by Katherine and Katherine was turned by Rose, but that's where it ends. We need to find out which Original turned Rose before we go ahead and stake anymore Originals." Damon continued to stare back at her, trying to make sense of her words.
"Well, we can't stake Klaus." Damon stated with a low growl.
"Why not?" Elena raised a curious eyebrow.
"Because he turned Cassandra into a hybrid." He answered.
"But, Elijah made her a vampire." The doppelganger added and Damon blinked a couple of times. "And Klaus made Tyler a hybrid too."
"Like I care about him?" Damon grumbled and Elena gave him a hard look. "Fine…then that means we can't kill either of them." Elena let out a sigh, sitting beside Damon. "That leaves Rebekah and Kol. Hmm, which one to stake first. I call dibs on Rebekah!" He wiggled his eyebrows.
"But what if either Rebekah or Kol turned Rose?" Elena then started to pick at a piece of her cuticle; her nerves were now shifted into high gear. This plan was to go off without a hitch, but now this hindered everything.
"I don't care. Rebekah's ass is grass after the stunt she pulled." The muscles in Damon's jaw tensed and so did every muscle in his body. He could still hear Cassandra's little whimpers and remember how tightly she gripped his shirt when he carried her back to the boarding house. Her body was so mangled with gaping wounds and deep red blood stained every inch of her. He just wanted to cradle her close to him with the guarantee that no one would ever touch her like that again, just to put her mind at ease, but her words cut him and did anything but put him at ease.
"I thought you were mad at Cassandra?" The brunette asked.
"I am. I'm livid that she…" He trailed off. His eyes darkened and he clenched his fists.
"She doesn't love him, Damon."
"But she feels something for him." Damon snapped and Elena jumped back slightly. She should be used to Damon's temper by now, but she could practically see that he was a broken man. "I'm sorry, Elena." He mumbled and rubbed his hands over his face.
"It's okay." She really was okay with his outburst, as much as it hurt her to see him like this. "So, are you coming with us to Denver?"
"No, I think I'll sit this one out."
"Why?" She stamped her feet like an impatient child.
"You and Cassandra can have a nice bonding trip." Damon smirked.
"I think that you and Cassandra need a nice bonding trip." Elena snapped back.
"Alright then, since you're the relationship guru, what should I do, Elena?" Damon growled.
"Take her back!" Elena jumped up from the couch. "Sweep her off her feet!"
"You've gotta be kidding me." He grumbled. "Life isn't some romantic novel, Elena."
"She loves you, Damon. She may have feelings for Klaus, but at the end of the day, she's marrying you." Elena fought. "That ring on her finger means that she wants to spend the rest of her life with you."
"Elena…"
"Damon," She deadpanned. "What did you think about Cassandra when you first met her?" She asked and Damon wrinkled his nose.
"What?"
"You heard me, Damon. What did you think of her?" Elena asked again and Damon's expression went from confusion to one of remembrance. "Do you remember the first time you met her?" Elena pressed and a small smile graced his lips.
"She came to our house with her parents one afternoon." He remembered everything about that day. It was a cool spring day and the sun was shining brightly. Damon remembered his father barking at the maids to get the house ready for their guests. The two brothers shot around different ideas about who could be coming over, but Damon couldn't really be bothered with the whole ordeal. Little did he know that it would be someone who would completely change his life forever.
Damon and Stefan were playing football in the backyard when he first laid eyes on her. Cassandra was sewn into a blue gown with a large hoop skirt and a tight corset. Her curls were tied in a low side ponytail and an ornate hat was elegantly placed on her head. She stood shyly behind her parents, but there was an excitement behind her eyes watching the brothers play football. Damon was immediately taken by her exquisite beauty and he was even more taken with her when she smiled. It made him want to smile with her. He was always very comfortable in a woman's presence, in fact he loved being in the company of beautiful women, but Cassandra made him anxious. His stomach flipped wildly when she smiled at him and his heart raced when his lips kissed her hand softly.
"And…?" Elena pressed and Damon let himself smile at the memory.
"She kinda snuck up on me. I didn't expect her at all." He spoke. "It was like she came out of nowhere."
"Did you know that she was 'the one'?" The brunette asked.
Damon nodded. "I knew she was special and…I can't even explain it." He chuckled lightly. "I just…I love her, Elena."
"I know you do. That's why I wanted you to come with us." She smiled. "I want you two to fix this. You and Cassandra are meant for each other." Elena added and Damon gave her a quick smirk before rising from the couch. "Where are you going?"
"To get my hybrid back." He wiggled his eyebrows and Elena's heart swelled with joy. Perhaps this would work out to their advantage.
"Need help packing?" Damon whistled as he sauntered into his room. Cassandra was stuffing clothes into her bag; she was practically itching to get out of Mystic Falls, especially after everything that had been going on lately. Her relationship with Damon was on the rocks, her feelings for Klaus were currently blossoming, and Rebekah had it out for her. Needless to say, the hybrid needed a time out from Mystic Falls; however Elena dropped the bomb that Damon would be coming with them. Right now, she just wanted to clear her head and that task would be impossible with her vampire fiancé around.
"So eager to get me out of here?" She quipped snidely and folded a shirt before shoving it in her duffel bag.
"Ooh, touchy." The vampire smirked and walked further into the room.
"I've been recruited." Cassandra sighed deeply as she packed more clothes in bag. "I'm guessing you were too?"
"Well, don't sound too excited about it." He shrugged. "Think of it like this, it's a chance for us to get away from Mystic Falls." Damon really meant that they would be getting away from Klaus, but he didn't even want to mention his name.
"Sure," She said absentmindedly and Damon unknowingly sneaked over to her set of drawers. He opened them and rifled through her panty drawer, smirking like a cat that ate the canary. "Damon, I can pack on my own." Cassandra called.
"I know, but I figured I'd help you." He smirked. "Ooh, are these new?" Cassandra looked over her shoulder to see him playing with a pair of lace panties and she rolled her eyes. She snatched them from him, tossing them on the bed before going back to packing. "Those better be in the 'yes' pile."
"No, they're going back in the drawer." She hummed.
"Oh, come on! They're hot! I'd love to see you in these."
"Look, I'm only coming on this trip as a favor to Elena." Cassandra grumbled. "So, I'd appreciate it if you'd just give me some space." She said heatedly and Damon felt his heart clench in his chest, but he was hell bent on taking Elena's advice. He'd sweep her off her feet if it was the last thing he'd do.
"You know what else would look good on you?" Damon asked casually.
"What?"
"Me." The vampire smirked and Cassandra rolled her eyes, but she let out the tiniest chuckle. Damon smiled smugly, one point for him.
"Is there anything else you need from me?" She sang.
"Let's see…" Damon tapped his index finger on his chin, thinking quite animatedly. "You, you, and…you." He wiggled his eyebrows at her.
"How many times have you used that line, Damon?" She raised an eyebrow at him and he shrugged.
"I figured I'd try it out. Did it work?"
"Nope." Her answer was as blunt as it could get and Damon practically flinched.
"Alright, you almost ready?"
"Mmhmm." She hummed, zipping up her bag just as Elena entered the room. The brunette looked between the couple and knew that an intervention was needed as soon as possible. She heard the tense conversation and knew that Damon was trying his best, but Cassandra needed to thaw out a little bit.
"Have you two ever flown first class?" Damon asked with a little smirk.
"Who did you have to compel for that?" Cassandra sighed.
"Please, I used miles." He replied, picking up her bag and going out the door to load up the car.
"Are you sure he has to come with us?" The hybrid bellyached, not caring if Damon heard her snide comment or not.
"Yes, he does." Elena sighed. Looks like getting these two back together would be harder than she thought.
"I'm curious, how the hell did you get him out of bed this morning?" Cassandra asked.
"I have my ways." The doppelganger smirked and nudged Cassandra with her elbow. "You may not understand, but he wants to mend things between the two of you."
"I know he does…but I don't know why he's doing it."
"Do I have to spell it out for you? He loves you, Cassandra." Elena huffed.
"I feel guilty, Elena!" She snapped, throwing her hands up in the air. "Damon has been nothing but faithful and here I am having feelings for someone from my past. It just doesn't make sense for him to keep me around. I wanted this trip to get away from everything. I need time to think and just get my life back in order!" Cassandra ended her rant and Elena could finally see why she was so hostile towards everyone lately. "Damon deserves to have someone who loves him completely. He deserves to be loved unconditionally." Her eyes watered and her voice wavered slightly.
"And you don't think that you're it." Elena stated and Cassandra let her head nod. It was a horrible perspective to have on the whole situation, but right now, everything seemed hopeless.
"I love him, Elena. I really do, but these feelings for Klaus are so small, but so deadly. Damon thinks I am in love with him."
"Are you?" The doppelganger asked.
"No." She said with absolute certainty but her eyes were unsure. "I don't love him, but there's something there…I just can't shake it. I don't expect anyone to know how I feel, so don't try."
"I'm sorry, I really don't understand how you feel. I was just trying to help." Elena said quietly as she looked at her feet. Cassandra's heart sank that she was so rash with Elena, she was just on edge.
"No, I'm sorry for being a complete bitch." Cassandra mumbled and both girls gave each other a little smile before enveloping each other in a hug.
"You'll both get through it." She said, pulling back and giving Cassandra her most convincing smile which then made her smile even bigger.
"Yeah, I hope so." The hybrid sighed. "Are we ready to go?"
"Let's go." She nodded but stopped herself when she saw that Cassandra's eyes were fixed on an empty spot on the bed. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?"
"Damn vampire stole my panties." Cassandra growled. She just knew something lacey was missing from off the bed and it didn't take a detective to figure out who the culprit was.
The car ride to Denver was uneventful. Elena and Cassandra slept the entire way while Damon tapped his fingers against the steering wheel to the soft sounds of classic rock songs. The faster they got into Denver and figured out who sired his bloodline, the better. It was unfortunate that they couldn't just stake Klaus and get on with their lives. Even though Cassandra was made from Elijah's bloodline, a part of her was also made from Klaus's. Who knew if it would be a fifty/fifty shot on which one to kill? They'd have to ask Rose if she had any information about it when they got there.
The trio found Jeremy at a batting cage, practicing swinging away at baseballs that were being propelled to him from a machine. Cassandra felt her heart get all warm and fuzzy watching Elena see her brother for the first time. The doppelganger smiled widely and she could barely keep her energy in. She missed Jeremy so much, she was haunted with the memories of Damon compelling him to forget everything and leave Mystic Falls but it was for his own safety.
"There he is." Elena smiled and skipped up to the edge of the cage, lacing her fingers through the metal fence. Cassandra and Damon joined her as Jeremy took another swing and missed.
"Next time we compel him, remind me to make him better at baseball." Damon smirked and both women ignored him.
"Hey Jer!" Elena called and her brother stopped his practice to turn over his shoulder. His eyes widened and he smiled at his sister.
"Elena," He then looked at Damon and Cassandra, confused as to why they were with Elena. "What's wrong?"
"We need a favor. Care to help us out?" Cassandra crooked her finger for Jeremy to follow them and he did as the four of them walked through the batting cage.
"What do you guys need?" Jeremy asked.
"Katherine sired us, Rose sired Katherine, all we need to do is find out who sired Rose." Damon explained.
"So, you traveled across the country to get me to talk to a dead vampire?" The teen raised his eyebrows.
"Dead vampire is redundant, but yes." The vampire nodded.
"Well, I can't. I could talk to Anna and Vicki because I knew them. I've never even met Rose."
"What good is you dying and coming back to life if you can't talk to a ghost when I need you to?" Damon grumbled.
"Cassandra and Rose were close, so maybe that can help you reach her." Elena offered.
"Yeah, hopefully I'll be able to bridge the connection." Cassandra suggested and Jeremy nodded.
"Fine, fine, but can we do this later? My friend just got here and yes, Damon I actually have some." The teen looked past the trio, his eyes landing on his friend. "I'll call you when I'm done." He dismissed himself, giving Elena a kiss on the cheek. "Hey man." He greeted the young man walking up to them and they all turned to see someone who they least expected.
"Damon, its Kol!" Elena warned and the blue eyed vampire turned just in time to get a baseball bat to the face. He crumpled to the ground and Cassandra jumped back; shielding Elena behind her while Kol dropped the jagged bat to the floor.
"What are you doing?" Jeremy hollered.
"Get back, Jeremy! He's an Original!" Cassandra growled.
"What?" Jeremy's eyes were wide with confusion.
"No hard feelings mate. But we're not buds." Kol smirked. "Hello, darling." He winked at Cassandra and she rolled her eyes, still keeping Elena protected. Her eyes flicked down to Damon who was stirring on the ground and she eyed the sharp bat, it would work nice as a stake. It wasn't white oak, but it would work for now. Kol wandered over to the bat rack where he grabbed an aluminum bat in his hands. "You know, I'll never get used to aluminum. But hey, at least it won't break." He chuckled and went to swing for Cassandra, but she quickly caught the bat in mid swing. The two struggled, pushing and pulling each other until Damon finally staked Kol with the wooden bat. Kol fell to the ground, the stake protruding through his back and Damon wobbled on shaky feet to get up.
"I could've handled him." Cassandra grumbled as she looped an arm in Damon's, pulling him to his feet.
"Did you kill him?" Jeremy asked warily.
"No, but it'll give us a head start. Come on," Damon ushered the group from the batting cage and to the car.
They didn't have to drive for too long when Damon came across a crappy motel. Elena had suggested staying at one while Damon just went wherever the doppelganger directed her. They pulled into the parking lot and Cassandra pulled her bag from the trunk, swinging it over her shoulder but Damon took it from her.
"I'll get that." He shrugged simply, taking it.
"I'm fine, Damon. I can carry my own bags." Cassandra mused, snatching it back from him.
"So, this is what I get when I try to be a gentleman." Damon rolled his eyes.
"Gentleman, my ass." She grumbled, lifting Elena's bag and slinging it on her other shoulder.
"You loved it when I would carry things home for you from town." He smirked, remembering how eager he was to help escort her home with her things from the general store. It was proper behavior back then for a young man to be a gentleman and help a lady in need just like it was polite for a woman to accept their offer.
"Well, back then I was being polite." She sang as she handed Elena and Jeremy their bags.
"So, where are we?" Jeremy asked and the four of them walked up the stairs to their room.
"Corner of somewhere and nowhere, where Kol can't find us." Damon replied.
"I can't believe Kol was a vampire." The teen shook his head.
"Well, didn't you find it weird that you made a friend so fast? Have you met you?" The vampire quipped and both Elena and Cassandra looked over their shoulders, throwing him a glare.
"Not helping." They growled simultaneously.
"Creepy." Damon smirked. Cassandra reached the door, fishing the key from her pocket but Damon swiped it from her with a wiggle of his eyebrows. He slid the key in the lock and all four of them entered the room. Cassandra wrinkled her nose at the condition of it. She could see the layers of dust on the countertops, the cobwebs in the corners and the broken light bulb in the lamp by the bed.
"Well, this should work, right Jer?" Elena asked
"Yeah, it doesn't really matter." The teen shrugged.
"Alright, Whoopi," Damon pulled the drab curtains closed on all of the windows, making sure that no one, mainly Kol, would see inside. "What do you need? Candles? Incense? Pottery wheel?"
"That's not how it works." Jeremy shook his head and Cassandra slid off her leather jacket, placing it down on the bed before having a seat.
"I know, I know. They push from the other side and you pull from this one." Damon answered, taking a seat next to Cassandra.
"Alright, you uh–you got a picture of her?" Jeremy asked, sitting at a desk.
"Picture? What, from our trip to Disneyland?" The vampire asked incredulously and Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Come on, Rose! You're not actually gonna make us wait, are you?" He asked into thin air.
"Alright, then tell me something about her." Jeremy suggested and Damon's expression went somber.
"She spent her last day in paradise. Soaking in the sun and reminiscing about what it means to be human." He spoke and Cassandra stared back at him with a curious look. "And when death came, she didn't fear it."
"I was with her on her last day, Damon." Cassandra said. "And she was definitely not in paradise." Her mind drifted to Rose's pain and suffering, her screams and wails, and all of the blood she coughed up and vomited. Her friend had suffered a horrible ordeal. Cassandra never forgave herself for letting her friend die, even if it was something that Rose wanted, Cassandra couldn't let it go that her friend died and she didn't.
"It was in the dream he gave her." Jeremy spoke up. "She's here."
"Like here, here?" Damon asked as he looked around the room. Cassandra turned over her shoulder, looking for Rose too, but she couldn't see her.
"Rose, are you lonely on the other side?" Cassandra asked into thin air.
"No, I enjoy it. I was running so much when I was alive, now I have the freedom to do whatever I want." She replied.
"She says not to worry, she's happy." Jeremy paraphrased.
"Is she still gorgeous?" The hybrid giggled and Rose smiled.
"Tell her she's dripping with sex too." Rose smirked and Jeremy's eyes widened. "Fine, tell her I miss her and Damon too."
"She misses you." Jeremy said.
"And tell Damon I'm rooting for him and Cassandra." She said.
"She uh–she misses both of you." Jeremy looked between Damon and Cassandra.
"Unfortunately, I don't have any news on the siring front. Klaus didn't sire me. No Original did. It was Mary Porter." Rose sighed, sitting beside Cassandra.
"She was sired by someone named Mary Porter." The teen said.
"Ugh, Scary Mary." Damon grumbled and Cassandra recognized the name. She had never met Mary but from hearing about her over the years, she didn't want to. "Well, where is she, Rose?"
"I didn't keep track of her when I was alive, much less now." The ghost shrugged. "Tell them to sit tight, relax, I'll see what I can find out." Jeremy nodded and she vanished from the room.
"She said she'll look around and get back to us." He reiterated and his eyes caught another presence in the room. "Someone else is here too." Jeremy said in deep concentration.
"Who?" Cassandra asked.
"Well, how about you turn around and see." A female voice spoke from behind her and Cassandra stiffened. No, it couldn't be here. Low and behold, Cassandra looked over her shoulder and saw Vanessa standing next to Elena. She looked beautiful, much different from the last time she saw her. She looked, refreshed, renewed, and reborn.
"Vanessa..." She hushed and every mouth in the room hung open in complete shock. Elena and Damon looked for the blonde vampire, but just like Rose, they couldn't see her.
"It took you long enough; I've been standing over here for like ten minutes." The blonde vampire smirked.
"How can I see you?" She asked.
"All people can see ghosts, but not everyone lets them in." Vanessa replied. "Since Jeremy can normally see them, I asked for a little favor and Rose helped me come through for a little bit. It's like I got a temporary pass." Cassandra rose up from the bed and slowly walked over to her friend, afraid that she would suddenly go 'poof' and disappear. The two were standing eye to eye with one another; it was like Vanessa had never died. The hybrid lifted her hand to brush against Vanessa's and nearly jumped back when she felt it beneath her touch. Vanessa smiled; lacing her fingers with Cassandra's and squeezed lightly.
"I'm sorry that I couldn't save you." Cassandra whimpered.
"You think me dying is your fault. It's not, honey. It was my time to go." The blonde consoled her.
"It was too soon." She shook her head as little tears ran down her cheeks.
"But nothing that could have happened would have changed it. You know, you don't really get to negotiate when you die." Vanessa chuckled, trying to make light of the situation. "But I've always been watching over you."
"I know, I feel it. Even when I'm alone, I know you're there." Cassandra said softly.
"Like I'd miss out on the wedding of the century." She winked and Cassandra's face faltered. "I know all this Klaus business seems so confusing, but you'll get through it. Don't walk away from what you two have."
"I'm trying." She sighed deeply and looked back at Damon whose sad eyes were on her. He didn't even think that Vanessa would come through to Cassandra, but she was always spontaneous when she was alive, so what stopped her from doing so as a ghost? Cassandra's watery eyes met Damon's ice blue ones before giving him a little smile. "We're trying."
Vanessa smiled at the pair, "Look I don't mean to break up our reunion, but Rose needs some help digging. We'll be back when we find something."
"Okay," Cassandra nodded and hesitantly let go of Vanessa's hand. She didn't want to let her go, but she did and Vanessa vanished in the blink of an eye. Once again, Cassandra felt empty now that Vanessa was gone. She felt as if she had woken up from a dream and wanted nothing more than to slip back into it. The hybrid turned to see all three sets of eyes on her. Each expression had some kind of sadness, except for Jeremy since he didn't really know the young vampire, but he felt sympathetic for Cassandra since he was able to hear the entire conversation. Cassandra wiped her tears with the back of her hand, trying to paint a smile on her lips, but she just couldn't.
"Are you alright, Cassandra?" Damon found his voice to speak.
"Mmhmm," She hummed. "I'm gonna run down to the lobby to pick up some things." She grabbed her purse, darting to the door and Damon followed her.
"I'll go with you." He offered.
"No, I just wanna be alone for a little bit." Damon's eyes ran over her face, taking in every feature. He wanted to take her in his arms and squeeze her tightly. Anything to make her feel at ease, but perhaps she just needed some time alone.
"Sure." He nodded and watched her walk out the door.
"What's going on?" Jeremy finally asked, breaking the silence in the room.
"You don't even know, Jer." Elena sighed.
When Cassandra came back to the room, it was dark out. She actually had enjoyed herself and she could finally cope with her visit from Vanessa. It gave her a sense of closure that she gravitated to and would keep with her for the rest of her life. Don't walk away from what you two have, she said and that really made Cassandra evaluate her feelings, but none of them made any sense. She couldn't wrap her head around anything. She practically had two grown men fighting for her and only one could win. Cassandra could easily throw in the towel and step away from all this, picking neither of them, but that would solve nothing. She quietly closed the door behind her, seeing that Jeremy was already asleep.
"Hey," Elena greeted. "Are you better?"
"Yeah, much better." Cassandra smiled. "Did we hear anything from Rose or Vanessa about Mary?"
"No, we're still waiting." She sighed.
"Where is Damon?" The hybrid asked seeing that he wasn't in the room with them.
"Went to get ice and some other things." Elena replied as she gathered her toiletries from the bathroom and put them in her bag. "He was strangely quiet after you left."
"Really?" Cassandra raised an eyebrow.
"Really, no snarky comments or anything like that." She said.
"I'm guessing that Jeremy knows everything that's going on?" She asked and the doppelganger nodded.
"Mmhmm, he said that Rose said something about you and Damon." Elena said.
"Care to share?" The hybrid zipped open her bag, taking out some pajamas, shampoo and conditioner. She felt all gross and dirty from the road trip, not to mention their room was grimy and disgusting.
"Rose said that she was rooting for you and Damon." The doppelganger spoke and Cassandra's head snapped up. She opened her mouth to say something but the turning of the knob stopped her. Both girls turned to see Damon entering with an ice bucket tucked under his arm. He looked between the two and knew that they had been talking about him, judging by the awkward silence that enveloped the room.
"Everything okay in here?" He asked and both girls nodded.
"Yeah, we were just getting ready for bed." Elena said while moving to the pullout bed against the wall.
"Hey, uhm, I'm gonna shower. Do you wanna go first?" Cassandra asked as she gathered up her toiletries.
"No, go ahead. I'll keep watch." Damon plopped himself in a chair by the window and Cassandra shuffled into the bathroom. The vampire kept his eyes on the window but he suddenly forgot why he was doing so when he heard the shower turn on. He focused his ears even more and he could hear the clothes sliding off Cassandra's body. Her shirt skimmed over her stomach and arms before it landed on the floor. She popped the button on her jeans and slid down the zipper, the fabric pooling at her feet. Her bra and panties joined the pile and the vampire heard her slide the shower door open and Cassandra step inside. He twiddled his thumbs and tapped his foot nervously; he just couldn't help thinking about how tantalizing Cassandra would look all soapy and wet. This was without a doubt, the worst time for his overactive sex drive to kick in. He was supposed to be giving Cassandra some space, but at the same time he was trying to win her back. His mind was a mess of emotions that just felt uncontrollable.
The sounds of Cassandra softly humming brought him back to reality and a smile tugged at his lips. She always hummed whenever she was in the shower; sometime she'd even belt out a couple of tunes. He thought that it was beyond adorable, especially when she'd use a hairbrush as a microphone. Her soft hums made his body relax and before he knew it, he was standing and making his way toward the bathroom. She left the door open a crack and he could feel the steam on his cheeks and the scent of her shampoo tickled his nostrils. Damon quickly blurred into the bathroom once he saw that Cassandra's back was facing him. He didn't need her seeing him watching her. His eyes roamed over her wet body that was distorted by the glass door but he could still see the outline of her and even her dark hair cascading down her back. He longed to pull her close and stroke every inch of her skin. He wanted to feel her lips brushing against his and her fingernails scratch against his scalp. Her sweet, soft moans in his ear made his body shiver involuntarily and her fangs piercing his firm skin made him writhe against her.
Cassandra suddenly whipped around, the feeling of someone's eyes on her was irking her to no end. Her eyes scanned the bathroom, but she was alone She could have sworn that someone was watching her but she just shook it off. Cassandra finished rinsing her hair out and shut off the shower. She stepped out and wrapped a white fluffy towel around her body. After cleaning up and getting dressed, she brushed out her curls before shaking them out again, letting them settle around her face. Cassandra gathered her things and opened the bathroom door to see Damon standing on the other side. She nearly jumped out of her skin, not expecting him to be standing there.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He said sincerely.
"It's okay. I, uhm…did Rose give us any answers?" She asked. Naturally she wanted to ask if Damon was the one watching her in the shower, but jumping to that conclusion would be absolutely ludicrous.
"No, nothing yet." Damon shook his head.
"Alright, well, the shower's ready." Cassandra side stepped him, walking to her bag and putting her things away.
"Cass," He called and she turned over her shoulder.
"Yes?" She stared back at him and she could tell that he was looking for something to say. Damon must have opened and closed his mouth a hundred times, but he felt at a loss for words. He finally shook his head, pushing the bathroom door open.
"Nothing." Cassandra shrugged at his answer and settled herself in the plush chair by the window. She sighed, tucking her legs underneath her; this would be a long night.
Damon emerged from the bathroom shirtless and walked over to the ice bucket, gripping a bottle a whiskey from the cool ice and a glass from the bedside table. He gripped a shirt from his bag and slipped it on his shoulders. Damon surveyed the room, Elena and Jeremy were asleep, but where was Cassandra? He heard her gentle breathing near the window and found her situated in the lookout chair, dead asleep. The two of them had been taking turns keeping watch to make sure that Kol wasn't lurking nearby. Damon placed his scotch and cup on the table near the window and his eyes gazed over Cassandra. She was curled up in ball on the chair, sleeping soundly. He smiled at her and ran the back of his knuckles over her cheek. She stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open.
"Hey, sleepy." Damon smirked.
"Damon?" She asked groggily.
"Time to switch." He said simply.
"No, I'm fine. I was just resting my eyes." She sat up straight, returning her gaze to the window but Damon could see her eyelids were drooping.
"Nah, ah." He shook his head and eased her up. "Come on, you're exhausted and you need sleep."
"I'm a hybrid, Damon. Sleep is overrated." She argued quietly as he steered her to the bed. Cassandra dropped down on the lumpy mattress and Damon tucked her in. She rested her head on the pillow, letting out a sigh and she didn't realize how tired she really was. Damon kissed her forehead and Cassandra felt her heart get all warm and fuzzy. She missed the feeling of his lips on her skin even if it was a simple kiss on her forehead. Damon left her to return to his post, propping his feet up and pouring himself a glass of whiskey. Cassandra slowly let her eyes open and she caught herself staring at Damon who had turned over his shoulder to peek out of the curtain. Her gaze trailed over his shirtless chest and to his bobbing Adam's apple has he drank down his whiskey. Her warm brown eyes took in his strong jaw, his prominent cheek bones and those eyes that haunted her. Damon turned back to his drink and Cassandra closed her eyes, she didn't want him to see that she was pining over him. Hell, she was a grown woman and she shouldn't be pining. When she thought it was safe, she opened her eyes once again and was frozen to the spot seeing Damon's ice blue eyes staring at her. She couldn't help but smile softly and her cheeks blushed furiously.
"I thought you were tired?" Damon smirked.
"I am, but I can feel you staring at me." Cassandra stated.
"Just returning the favor, sweetheart." He winked before downing some more whiskey. The hybrid sighed and turned over in the bed, snuggling in the pillows when she felt the bed dip next to her. She didn't turn, but she felt Damon's gaze burning into the back of her head.
"Do you mind? I'm trying to sleep." She grumbled irritably.
"No, I'm fine right here." Damon chuckled, placing his hands behind his head, making himself comfortable. He let out a long sigh before closing his eyes. "Do you remember when we first met?" He asked and Cassandra's eyes snapped open. She hesitantly turned to face him, a questioning look on her face and Damon teasingly peeked his eyes open to look back at her. "Do you?" He asked again.
"It was springtime." She nodded.
"And Stefan and I walked you through our gardens." He added.
"After fighting over who would get to have me on their arm first." Cassandra chuckled lightly.
"And you told me you didn't play football." Damon smirked.
"I never said that." She shook her head. "You underestimated me."
"You took my breath away." He smiled and she stared back at him silently, letting that sink in. "And you didn't even have to try."
Cassandra smiled sweetly and propped her head up on her arm. "You never told me about the dream with Rose. It was a nice thing you did." She whispered even though she knew for a fact that Elena and Jeremy were sound asleep.
"I didn't tell anyone." He shrugged, keeping his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"Why don't you let people see the good in you?" Cassandra asked sadly. Damon had a good heart, but it was seldom that he let it show. He always had good intentions, even if his plans backfired; his heart was still in a good place.
"Because when people see good, they expect good." He turned his head towards her, his cold eyes staring into her warm ones. "And I don't want to have to live up to anyone's expectations." Damon replied.
"Since when has that ever mattered to you?" She asked. "I mean, you've never cared about what people think. Why the sudden change?"
"You."
"Me?" He nodded and propped himself up on his elbow to mirror her pose. "When I was a young man, I didn't care what people thought of my actions. I didn't care that my father was disappointed in everything I did." Cassandra frowned; there was always some kind of tension between Damon and his father. She could feel it in the air the first time she was in their presence. Stefan was always the golden child and Damon was always the scapegoat. "And then you came into town with your bright smile and brown eyes." He smiled at that. Damon felt an instant attraction to Cassandra when he first saw her. Eager to spend more time with a beautiful girl, Damon could see that she was more than just a pretty face. She was a girl with hopes, dreams, fears, and goals. "You changed everything."
"I was just a girl, Damon." She kept her eyes down, watching her hand playing with the bed sheet.
"No, you were more than just a girl." He protested.
"Don't put me on a pedestal. I don't deserve it, not after everything I've done." Cassandra growled. She was angry with him that he was willing to take her back in his arms and love her even though it was a possibility that she had feelings for Klaus.
"Stop! Just stop!" He snapped in an angry whisper and she went quiet. "You were the only one who saw good in me. No matter what I've done, no matter how many people I've killed…you were always there. Even when we drifted apart I never stopped loving you and I don't think you stopped loving me either." He finished and Cassandra was stunned into silence. His words resonated within her, swirling and dancing all around. Her eyes roamed over his face but he didn't falter one bit. He was speaking the truth and she knew it. She always loved him, no matter what he did or said. At the end of the day, she would always love him. Cassandra let out a shaky breath, lying back down on the bed in an effort to calm herself. She ran her left hand through her hair before settling it back down on the bed. Damon knew that he was slowly breaking down her walls, it was painful to watch but it had to be done in order to get through to her. He needed her to know that she would be the only woman in his life and he wouldn't ever let her go. His gaze drifted to her engagement ring and he inched his hand closer to hers. His fingers stroked against her clenched fist and it relaxed at the sensation. He laced his fingers with hers, holding her hand in his. Cassandra peered down at their intertwined fingers and her heart started to race at the thought that she was falling in love with him all over again. All he had to do was tell her that she mattered in his life and she was free falling. It scared her to death, but at the same time it thrilled her to be with him.
Unable to deal with the overwhelming mix of emotions, Cassandra then bolted out of bed, disconnecting their fingers and gripping a thin robe to throw over her shoulders. She darted out of the room, desperate to clear her head and let out a deep sigh feeling the cool Denver air brush against her skin. She jogged down the dimly lit corridor till she got to a little alcove with an ice and snack machine. She needed to shield herself from those prying eyes of his. They drew her in and she just couldn't look away. Cassandra hugged the robe tighter to her even though the cold didn't really bother her; it was more of a forced habit. This whole trip was meant to clear her head when in reality; all it was doing was making a big mush of all her emotions.
Cassandra leaned her head against the ice machine, trying to calm her heavy breaths and the heat that was emanating from her cheeks. She needed to keep her feet on the ground; she had to try to resist him. But that was the thing...she couldn't resist him. She loved him and she couldn't keep away from him. Cassandra heard his approaching footsteps, but she didn't face him.
"Don't..." She breathed. If she turned around then she knew she wouldn't be able to stop herself.
"Why not?" She heard him ask and she felt her insides burn with such a longing to touch him. It was impossible to repress and it continued to bubble. "Cassandra," He called and her name seemed to float on air as it left his lips. Cassandra turned ever so slowly and saw him standing about twenty feet from her, out in the open air. Why was she fighting this connection she felt towards him? She then realized that she was trying not to let herself fall totally in love. She was so scared of the fact that she would fall so deep, that her heart would get broken beyond repair. But right now...she was breaking his heart by not letting herself fall. The tight coil inside her finally snapped and with reckless abandon, she tossed caution to the wind and ran to him. She smashed into him, much like how a wave crashes into the shore and kissed him with every thread of passion that she had stored in her body. Their arms circled one another, holding each other close as the cool night air whipped around them. Damon's hands curled around her hips, squeezing and digging his nails into her skin, making sure she was really kissing him. Cassandra pulled back slightly, their lips just a few centimeters from one another and stared up into his ice blue eyes.
"It's you." She panted. "It will always be you." Her lips crashed onto his once more and Damon sighed with relief. Those were the words he was waiting for her to say and she meant each one. Their kiss intensified as Damon moved them backwards until Cassandra's back hit a column. His mouth devoured hers, eager to claim her as his own even though she would go willingly with him to the ends of the earth. He kissed down her neck, his tongue circling just underneath her earlobe and she sighed.
"Say it again." Damon pleaded. "I need to hear you say it."
"God, I love you so much, Damon." She moaned. "I love you. It will always be you." She repeated as Damon nibbled at her collarbone and the tops of her breasts. "Kiss me, Damon. Please, just kiss me." Cassandra begged and Damon immediately covered her lips with hers. Their tongues glided against one another's in a passionate dance and Cassandra was able to taste the bourbon on his tongue. The hybrid wanted to kick herself for thinking that there would ever be someone else for her. The smallest part of her that felt for Klaus was gone with one kiss from her one true love. She wasn't giving up; she was just giving in and willingly doing so. She had made her choice and it would always be Damon.
"Never let me go," Cassandra pleaded and Damon looked down at her. His eyes flicked between her swollen kissable lips and her warm brown eyes.
"Never," He breathed and she smiled. "Never, never." Cassandra pulled his lips back down to hers, kissing him hungrily. She guided her leg up to rest around his torso and Damon held onto her thigh. He ground his arousal into her core and she whimpered against his lips. They needed each other so badly but this was hardly the place for it to happen. "I need you, Cassandra. Right now." He bit at her ear lobe and tugged it into his mouth. His tongue swirled around it before pulling back and blowing air on it.
"I need you too, Damon, but…oh," Her speech was cut off feeling his fangs press against her pulse point and she moaned quite loudly. He was making her dizzy with every kiss, lick, and bite and he knew that. "We…we're in a shitty hotel in Denver."
"Shut up and let me enjoy you." Damon said with a smirk and Cassandra's stomach jumped at his lustful demand. The vampire brushed his lips against hers, just keeping them out of reach to tease her. Cassandra craned her head up, capturing his bottom lip between her teeth and sucking. Damon closed his mouth over hers, suffocating her and she went under once again. Her hands ran over his shoulders and her fingers threaded themselves in the hair at the nape of his neck.
"Cassandra?" A voice called and the two broke apart. Cassandra looked over Damon's shoulder to see Jeremy standing there as awkward as ever and Damon growled.
"This kid is the biggest cock block ever." He said under his breath as Elena joined her brother. The doppelganger could see that the couple was panting and their lips were red and swollen from sharing kisses. She smiled; her plan to help them reconnect had worked.
"Rose and Vanessa found Mary. She lives in Kansas." Jeremy stated and Cassandra nodded.
"Okay then. Let's go." She moved to walk back to the room and took Damon's hand, leading him.
"This is the address." Jeremy said as the group walked up to the Scary Mary's house. The place looked like a haunted house from the outside and neither of them wanted to know what the inside looked like. If anything it looked abandoned, Rose better have given them the right address because it would have been a waste if they drove all this way for nothing.
"Looks about right." Damon stated.
"This place is giving me the creeps." Cassandra shivered. Damon stole a look at the house and then Jeremy and Elena.
"We'll wait here." Elena said and Jeremy scoffed
"Why? So you guys can make out some more?" He grumbled and the vampire smacked him upside the head.
"Zip it, baby Gilbert." He growled and Cassandra giggled a little.
"Don't be a dick. Listen to your sister." Cassandra added and the two teens nodded before going back to the car.
The walk up to the house was like something out of a horror movie. Crickets chirped as the two shuffled their feet up the walkway and the light on the side of the house blew out just as Damon reached for the door knob. The front door opened with a loud creak and Cassandra waved her flashlight around.
"Ooh, like vampire hoarders." Damon quipped as the light was cast on piles upon piles of crap.
"Eck, and I thought the motel was a mess." Cassandra wrinkled her nose at the mess. The two maneuvered their way through the house, stepping over boxes and clothes when a door slammed somewhere further inside. They immediately zeroed in on the sound and moved towards the back room. Damon pushed the door open and Cassandra shined her flashlight into the dark room and gasped when she saw Scary Mary practically nailed to the wall with a baseball bat through her chest.
"Looks like we're too late." Damon grumbled.
"Mary..." Cassandra hushed.
"Quite contrary." A voice spoke from the dark and a lamp was turned on behind them. The pair turned to see Kol lounging in a chair with an aluminum bat in his hand. He smirked at the pair before rising from his seat, bat in hand, and Damon protectively pushed Cassandra behind him. "Don't you two look chummy."
"What are you doing here Kol?" She growled.
"Just paying my good friend a visit. It's a shame. She was quite a blast." The Original smiled widely. "She was a bit of an Original groupie."
"And were you her favorite?" She inquired snidely and Kol chuckled.
"You mean, did I turn her? I think I did. But no, wait, maybe it was Rebekah. There was also a Klaus period. And let's not forget the Elijah affair." He was sizing them up by not giving them a straight answer on who turned Mary. "I spoke to my brother, I know you're trying to find out who you're descended from. Now you never will." He spoke highly of himself, as if proud of cutting off all means of information for them.
"If you tell us who turned Mary, maybe we'll spare your pathetic ass!" Cassandra stepped in front of Damon, staring the Original down.
"See, that's the thing about living for so long, you lose track of who you turn." Kol's eyes gleamed as he swung the baseball bat around in his hands. He then stopped and stood in a batting stance, readying the bat on his shoulder. "So, where did we leave off?" He smirked before taking a swing at Cassandra. She was pushed out of the way by Damon who had gotten a hit from Kol's bat right to the chest. Kol took a couple more hits at the fallen vampire and Cassandra made a move to step in.
"Cassandra, no! Get out of here!" Damon groaned but she ignored it. Cassandra lunged for Kol but he gripped her by the throat.
"My brother informed me that you're off limits." Kol growled as he shoved Cassandra back into Mary's closet. She heard a sickening crack from her skull being split open by the wooden splinters. "But when have I ever listened to my brother?" He smirked, baring his fangs and attacking her neck. Cassandra writhed, kicking and screaming to try and shake him off but his teeth had an iron grip on her neck. The Original was finally tossed off by a raged Damon who held him at his throat.
"Don't touch her!" He seethed and Kol reversed the position by knocking Damon to the ground.
"Oh dear, I've hit a nerve." He smirked evilly. "Relax, darling, I just want us to be even. You snapped my neck, you killed my brother, and then you humiliated me." Kol then began waling on Damon with the bat. The vampire groaned at the feel of nearly being beaten to death by an aluminum bat while Cassandra remained weak in the corner of the room, wincing each time she heard the bat come into contact with Damon. Kol finally stopped, surveying the damage he'd done before tossing the bat down. "There, now we're even." He was gone in a rush of wind, leaving the pair beaten and alone.
"Are you alright?" Cassandra asked as she saw that Damon's arm was twisted at an impossible angle. She placed her hands on his arm and gently popped it back into place and the vampire hissed. "Sorry,"
"It's okay. That's better." He nodded and rotated his arm, loosening up the socket. Damon then assessed Cassandra's condition and his blood boiled seeing the healing bite mark on her neck. Blood spattered her skin and clothes but the holes were managing to heal themselves. Damon lifted his hand to brush his thumb against the punctures and Cassandra tensed. The skin was painfully sensitive but Damon's feather-light touch soothed it. "He bit you." He stated softly but there was a pinch of anger that could be detected in his voice. He should have gotten to her faster or else it wouldn't have happened.
"I'm fine. It'll heal." She whispered as he cupped her cheek and ran his thumb along her jaw line. Cassandra leaned into his touch, craving it like never before, however a pang of guilt tugged at her heart and she stepped back from him. "Damon, I'm sorry..."
"Sorry for what?" He asked with a little amusement playing in his voice. "My injuries are nothing a good back massage won't fix." He smirked.
"No, that's not what I meant." She shook her head. "I'm sorry that I ever doubted that you were the one." Damon's eyes went wide and Cassandra looked down at her feet, embarrassed.
"Cassandra, you don't ever have to apologize for that."
"But-" Damon placed a finger on her lips, quieting her protests.
"Listen, you just lost your way. It happens to everyone." He said and Cassandra felt at ease that he understood her compromising position.
"Thank you for bringing me back." She smiled. Her mind was made up and this trip helped her do so. Relief flooded her achy body at the thought that she would never have to second guess her feelings ever again.
"I would have dragged you back to me by your hair." Damon chuckled and so did she. "I'm not letting you go. Not now, not ever."
"I don't want you to. Really, I mean it." Cassandra pleaded and cupped his face, bringing his lips to meet hers in a soft kiss. "I don't want him, Damon. I want you. I want every part of you for the rest of my life." She whispered against his lips.
"Hate to break it to you, gorgeous, but you're stuck with me." He wiggled his eyebrows at her and hugged her to him. She rested her head on his chest; the sound of his heartbeat was drumming in her ears.
"I just have to ask you something," She started, craning her head up to look at him.
"Mmhmm?" He stroked her hair and tucked a couple strands behind her ear.
"Was that you who was watching me in the shower?" Cassandra cocked her head to the right; her eyes were playful and challenging. Damon smirked down at her and tapped her nose.
"Maybe." He winked.
"I knew it was you!" She shoved him. "You just couldn't keep away."
"You're lucky I didn't sneak in with you." Damon's hands played over her waist.
"I don't think Elena and Jeremy wanted to hear us moaning in the shower." The hybrid giggled, that would have been embarrassing, but then again, like it would have stopped them anyways.
"True, but I wanted to fix everything first." He said sincerely. "By the way, I have some good news for you."
"Lay it on me." She said.
"Cassandra, Esther did a spell." He said and she looked up at him. "That's why you kissed Klaus."
"Oh my god…so, it wasn't real?" Cassandra hushed and he nodded. "But, how? I don't even…oh, my blood."
"What?"
"She threatened to kill you if I didn't give her my blood. So, I did. She lied and told me that my blood would help to kill Klaus." She recounted. That wicked old witch, if Cassandra didn't want to snap her neck, she did now! Esther had used her magic to twist and bend her feelings to the point where Cassandra didn't recognize herself anymore. "It wasn't real. It wasn't real!" She repeated with a smile and she threw her arms around Damon who hugged her tightly. Now it all made sense! Her heart swelled with joy; so far they had fixed two problems in one night.
"I meant to tell you sooner, but now you know." He whispered in her ear.
After leaving Scary Mary's house, accomplishing almost nothing, the group headed back to the hotel to pack their things and hit the road to Mystic Falls. Damon drove with Cassandra in the passenger seat. Jeremy and Elena were in the back, the latter had fallen asleep against the window. Cassandra propped her feet under her, looking out the side window at the passing trees. Jeremy looked between the supernatural couple. How could they manage to keep their relationship strong in the middle of everything going on? Mystic Falls was turned upside down and at times, it would be crumbling around them but Damon and Cassandra held on with everything they had. Sometimes they'd falter and break, but their love for one another always brought them back to each other.
"Are we there yet?" Vanessa suddenly appearing next to Jeremy made him jump out of his skin. "Sorry for scaring you." She giggled and the teen looked around the car to see that neither Damon nor Cassandra could see or hear her. "Don't tell them I'm here. I'm only allowing you to see me. I know you don't understand what Damon and Cassandra have. But you're young; you don't see what I see. They've been in love for a long time, like one hundred and forty five years long. It's not just that she makes him a better person, she does, but he changes her too. Damon challenges her, surprises her, he makes her question her life, beliefs. Cassandra understands him and accepts him for who he is. It doesn't matter what evil they've done, they will always stand by each other." Jeremy saw Damon look over at Cassandra with loving eyes and a smile tugged at his lips. He took one of his hands off the steering wheel and moved to take her hand that was resting at her side. Cassandra's thoughts jarred at the soft stroke of his thumb against the back of her hand. She turned her gaze from the window to meet their joined hands and this time, she wasn't afraid. She tightened her grip on his hand, squeezing gently and she smiled at him. She'd never let him go, she'd fight for their love, even if it killed her.
I hope all of you enjoyed this one and please review and let me know what is going through those lovely heads of yours. Every opinion matters and I want to hear them!