Chapter 15 - Stefan-No-Blood and Protecting Tyler
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Salvatore Boarding House
3rd POV
Damon found Stefan downstairs with a large amount of blood bags scattered across the floor. Zach is home now too instead of gallivanting around with Sheriff Forbes so Zach needs to be careful around Stefan.
Damon being the greatest brother ever decides he'd like to get Stefan tolerant of human blood without going Ripper at every human in sight.
Damon walks into Stefan room and sees that his brother is doing exercises in his bedroom. Damon decides to start teaching his brother control and enters Stefan's room with a glass of blood in his hands.
"Could you turn it up a little bit? It's not annoying yet." Damon says to his brother sarcastically
"Sorry." Stefan says, not that he really means it though.
Damon reaches the music and turns it off. Then he asks curiously "When are you going back to school?"
Stefan just answers vaguely "Soon." Then starts doing push up.
Damon says exasperated "Oh come on. Just drink already. Come on, this self-detox is not natural." He puts the glass next to Stefan, trying to tempt him.
Stefan huffs annoyed "Can you get that away from me please?"
Damon asks him curiously "How long did it take you to wean yourself of it the last time you indulged?"
Stefan ignores Damon and continues doing push ups.
Damon then says while feeling frustrated "That's not good."
Stefan says flamboyantly "I'll be fine; it just takes a little bit of time."
"I don't get it; you know, you don't have to kill to survive. That's what blood banks are for. I haven't hunted in a human in...God way too long." Damon says exasperated and slightly annoyed about his current non-vein eatings.
Stefan says sarcastically "Oh, I'm impressed."
Damon snorts and says "It's completely self-serving. I'm trying to get the town off the trail of vampires which is not very easy considering that there is almost an entire tomb of them running around."
Stefan shrugs and says "What are we planning on doing about that?"
Damon sighs and says "We are not going to do much of anything if you don't have your strength. There's nothing wrong with partaking in a healthy diet of human blood from a blood bank. You're not actually killing anyone."
"I have my reasons." Stefan says stubbornly.
Damon is curious though. "Well, what are those holier-than-thou reasons? You know, we never actually discussed this. You know, I'd- I'd love to hear this story." Damon then proceeds to sits down on the couch and wait for his brother to give answers.
Stefan sighs feeling really annoyed "You're really enjoying this, aren't you? Watching me struggle?"
"Very much so." Damon says, however he doesn't actually mean it, but if his brother needs him to be the bad guy then he will be for right now, god he can just see Elena making them do those damn blanket forts again.
Stefan says annoyed, "I hate to break it to you Damon but...I actually have it under complete control." Well, no he doesn't. But he's not going to tell Damon that.
Damon lifts an eyebrow in disbelief. "You do? Well, then you should just carry on, making the rest of us vampires look bad." He gets up to leave and then stops.
Damon turns to his brother then says "Have a great day, Stefan." He leaves the glass of blood on the table. Stefan stares at the glass. Damon returns.
Damon notices his brothers stare then says "Oh, hey, almost forgot something. Oops." Damon takes the glass and leaves. He drinks and relishes in the taste of the blood happily.
However he is considering calling Lexi.
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Gilbert Residence
I was getting ready for the day when Damon called me about Stefan's whole human blood thing.
"Day, why don't you just call Lexi? Then see if Bon or her Grams would mind making her a few daylight rings for keeping him from going massacre the town type of crazy?" I ask him.
"Hmm. . . Good point Lena, I'll talk to the Bennett's, they seem to like me you know!" He brags happily.
I laugh "Or you have a crush on Bonnie" I say teasingly.
"Naaaahh, well, not that you know of" he says cheekily.
"I'll talk to you later, I need to go to school." I tell him. Ugh school.
As I'm getting ready to go I yell for Jere "Come on Jere, we have school, yay!" I finish sarcastically.
Jenna is watching with a small smile as she hears Jeremy yell out "We could skip and go on a road trip again."
I snort out "Unfortunately we can't Brother-Mine, founders whatever."
I hear Jeremy groan, me too brother mine me too. Boring.
I open the door, John is here, or dad? Ima call him Daddy! Hehehe
John smiles at me and proudly exclaims "Elena!"
I raise a brow at him and say with the most exciting and happiest voice I can as I pounce on him "DADDY! HIYA, HOW YA DOING!"
I hear Jeremy's laugh from upstairs and Jenna's snickering, I wonder if she knew I was going to do that? I can see Jeremy imaginations it, he knows EVERYTHING after all.
Ohhh, Daddy looks shocked, holding me so I don't fall. Hehehe, "How?" He asks me wide eyed.
I just smile really widely as I untangle myself from him. This, this is fun.
Jenna just keeps snickering until her snicker turns into a full blown laugh and John/Daddy glares at her hard.
Jeremy comes down the stairs. His face red from laughter. He turns to me and asks curious "Will he be inducted into the Fort Party Too?"
Daddy looks between us as I shrug and say, "Eh, no, everything going on he reports to Isobel, who reports to my dopple, so nope"
John looks between me, Jeremy and Jenna, his eyes are really wide. Hehe, he has no idea does he? He's just SO confused. Hehehehe
"How's it going daddy?" I ask him with wide innocent eyes, I gotta be nice to my daddy's right? Sure he's sort of an ass and an idiot, be eh.
John shifts uncomfortably, noticing I didn't answer his question "I had some business in town; I thought that a visit was in order."
I snort and say happily too happily with a sing-song voice "Liar, Liar, Pants on fire"
John blink, his eyes are wide as hell, god this is so much fun and I'm only being friendly. But he knows I know something now, he just has no idea what I really do or don't know!
I notice John looking into my eyes curiously and looking at my hair. I mock whisper "It's improper for a Daddy to check his daughter out"
And again Jenna and Jeremy are in fits of laughter and wow Fuck, John looks soo so confused it's hilarious.
I know he wants an answer about my eyes specifically.
But I just smile happily at Daddy and say cheerfully"Okay, well, it was lovely to see you Daddy but I'm gonna go to school now, We'll see you later." I hear Jeremy following after me still laughing.
——————————————————
3rd POV
John turns to Jenna upset and shocked and a mix of emotions he's not sure about "WHAT THE. . . HOW DID SHE. . . FUCK. AND HER EYES"
Jenna laughs so hard because of that and then she just shrugs with a small smile on her face. Hehe. Elena is amazing she thinks to herself.
John seeing her smile and figuring that Jenna wouldn't know Anything about what's going on right? He says jokingly "At least you're happy to see me"
Jenna says at him and says jokingly, "Oh my god John! It's so good to see you. How have you been?"
Then she snorts and says with a curious raised eyebrow "What? Your daughters greeting wasn't happy enough for you John?"
John decides to ignore that and says "Do you really think that I was just gonna sign the escrow papers and send them back?"
Jenna nods back "Actually I did."
John shakes his head vehemently "I'm not going to let you sell my brother's office."
Jenna snorts and shakes her head "It's not up to you or me; it belongs to Jeremy and Elena."
John says uncaring, "Yeah but they're minors, so I get the final say, being that I'm the estate's trustee."
Jenna holds in a laugh, if only he knew the truth.
——————————————————
Mystic Falls High School
I drive to school with Jeremy and he scampers off to do his own thing, Anna is with her mom and Harper running that pastry place not to far from New Orleans. Anna and pearl and Harper will still there until after the founders compass thing happens.
As I head off towards my locker Tyler is beside me again. "Hey Lena, hows it going?" He asks me.
Well, he has become a good friend so, it's okay if he does that right? It just. . Seems. . Odd I guess?
"Everything is Fine Tyler. Except 'Daddy' is back. How are you uh, doing with the whole you're going to be all umm. . Super Wild when the moon is high thing?" I ask him curiously. I have no problem with werewolves but I don't want to offend him and I don't want him to be found out either.
"I'm more worried about the pain I guess." He says hesitantly.
I nod "I can try to be there for you when it happens," I tell him, but then I say teasingly to lighten the mood, "just don't eat me?"
"I'd like that" he says with a small smile, then he laughs and says "Maybe I want to though."
I snort out a laugh, the best kind of friend he is lol. "You couldn't handle me honey!" I say with teasing voice and a joking wink.
Now he snorts and says almost ominously with a small smile on his face.
"We'll see."
I blink. . .Huh, why do I feel like that escalated incorrectly? People do jokes like that around this time don't they?
I laugh it off and smile softly as I say "You're a good friend Tyler." He is, seems a bit over barring but good.
He pouts playfully "Not good enough to date Little Miss Gilbert then?" Tyler replies back jokingly.
I shake my head and laugh then tell him "I'm sure you're fine to date Lockwood and we both know that you'd need someone strong enough to tell you when you're being an asshole and to make you have fun without you getting bored of them."
Nah, I'm just becoming used to him.
He snorts out a laugh and says "and we both know you'd need someone who'd put up with you countering everything they say and stop you from trying to get hurt and standing up to them when they be assholes and also dragging them off to do wild crazy things, Damon told me about you talking to a door and by the way, inanimate objects can not respond Princess."
I laugh and say with a fake crazy voice "I will make them respond! I am the bringer Of talking objects, I put Disney to shame! Muwhahahahhaa"
Tyler bursts out into laughter and everyone in the hallways stop and look at Tyler like he's grown a second head.
I lean towards him and whisper conspiracies to him, "if you keep that up they're going to think you're a pod person Lockwood. . . Or that you're drunk."
I hadn't noticed Tyler step closer to me until he snickers at me, when did his face get near my cheek? Are we in the major jokingly comfortable friend stage now then? Is it acceptable if I randomly throw stuff at him now or randomly hop onto his back?
I step back from him a bit. It isn't too long after that we see Stefan come over looking uncomfortable.
"You okay Stef?" I ask him cautiously. He is a bit of a Human Blood Psycho right now.
He looks at me for a bit then swallows and says "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine."
Yup that's bullshit. Ha, there are two pants on fire today.
And away Stefan goes. I groan and Tyler is just looking at me.
"I need to go to class" I say mournfully.
He laughs at me as he turns to walk to his, but he stops and grabs my arm "I'll see you later 'Princess'." He says to me as he turns away.
He is SO weird. I shake my head and hold back my burst of laughter, princess? Ha, definitely not a princess.
Caroline and Matt seem to be doing okay so far, but it's as rocky as it was in the show right now.
I'm sorta hoping for some Bonnie x Damon but they're not forced to be around each much and at least they don't hate each other. Maybe I should be pushing them together? Hmm.
It's finally after history class. After everyone leaves the room except Alaric I sit on his desk twiddling my thumbs. "Isobel will be arriving in town soon." I tell him quietly.
He tenses for a bit and nods, at least he trusts me now, then again he's been practically living with my aunt Jenna so. .
"Things will be getting tougher soon Alaric"I tell him quietly.
Alaric looks at me curiously and asks quietly "why?"
"Because, Jenna could die, I could screw everything up and we could all die, I can't take everyone's place." I whisper, god I hope this is a dream, I don't want to accidentally get everyone killed.
He looks at me curiously "You know things." He says simply. "But, you're not a witch."
I nod my head and hold back tears.
"Do they all know? Jenna, Jeremy, Tyler and the brothers?"
I sniffle as I plant myself on a desk and groan out "some of them know it all, and some of them don't know anything at all."
He nods.
"The ring? It can turn you crazy, so try to avoid dying please." I tell him softly as I leave the classroom.
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Gilbert Residence
Me, John and Jeremy are eating in the kitchen. Jenna is here too of course
Jeremy says honestly "I've no interest in the Founders' Day Kick-off Party."
I nod and say "me either, they play shitty music Daddy"
John looks uncomfortable now and says "Language Elena, and Sure you do its tradition."
I snort, John is eyeing me. I ignore him.
Jenna speaks up and says, "It will be our role to break the tradition."
I nod in agreement, then I say loudly and proudly "I concur my Lady!"
Jenna laughs.
John rolls his eyes and says with self importance "The Gilberts have been a part of this town for a hundred and fifty years. We're one of the founding families and with that distinction comes certain obligations including going to the party. One day, when you can appreciate the significance, I'll tell you all about your heritage."
Jenna shrugs uncaring but knowingly, jackass John. "Hmm, the Gilbert family legacy. I forgot how sacred it was. I'm not a Gilbert so I was never cool enough to hear it."
Jeremy looks at John and asks with curiosity "Why does she hate you?"
I start quietly hitting my head on the table, you don't wanna know, I forgot my daddy and Jenna did the dirty deed.
John looks over at me with a raised eyebrow and then looks at Jeremy and says, "We used to sleep together."
Jenna throws a bag at him and I say "Wow, what an Asshole move Daddio, I want to punch you in the face for that by the way."
Johns eyes snap to me, he shifts uncomfortably, hehehe I make him uncomfortable.
Jenna shouts at John saying "I'm standing right here."
I start to stand up and I see Jeremy copy me, I turn to John and say "Oh Daddy I should probably tell you that if you purposely hurt my people, it won't be Kat and Isobel you have to worry about. I'd love to love you like a daughter loves her daddy. But you fuck with mine and I swear I'll fuck your shit up."
I turn to leave, then I stop and turn again and smile cheekily at his shocked face and say "Oh Daddy say 'Hi' to Kat and Isobel for me will you? Tell them I don't look forward to meeting them."
After that I'm upstairs getting ready for the Founder's Ball.
I'm wearing a Black off the shoulder high-low dress with my black combat boots.
——————————————————
Founders' Hall
3rd POV
Founders' Day 150 Year Anniversary Kick-off Party.
Stefan and Damon are arriving at the party
Stefan is freaking out saying "Oh god! I shouldn't be here."
Damon rolls his eyes and says "Come on, don't be a downer, it's a party for the founding families! That would be us. That would be rude to skip it."
"I really liked you a whole lot better when you hated everybody." Stefan says frustrated with his brother
Damon shrugs then says "Oh I still do. I just love that they love me."
He laughs and then looks at Stefan.
Damon asks his brother cautiously "How are you feeling?"
Stefan lies and says, "I'm good, I'm fine."
Damon keeps pushing, not believing him "No cravings? No urges? Is that whiskey you've been drinking all day doing its job?"
Stefan laughs at him almost mockingly.
"We are who we are Stefan. Nothing's gonna change that." Damon tells his brother seriously.
Stefan says "Ah! Nothing will make you happier to just see me given up hein Damon?"
Damon sighs and says "Whatever, it's inevitable."
Stefan feeling frustrated with Damon says "Well, I'm gonna find Elena." Then he walks away.
Now Damon's annoyed thinking stupid, stubborn brother.
Damon yells out jokingly, well partially joking, he doesn't want Stefan to cause a massacre "Don't embarrass me young man!"
Stefan feeling thirsty for blood smoothly takes a glass of whiskey, throws away the straw, drinks it, and sets the glass down.
Mayor Lockwood and Tyler are talking with Matt and Kelly.
Mayor Lockwood says "I'm so glad you could join us tonight." And he is most definitely lying when he says that.
Kelly says with false pleasantries "It was nice of you to reach out to us."
Mayor Lockwood nods and says, "This town is one big family, when we lose a member we all have to come together."
He takes their hands.
Mayor Lockwood nods and says "Matt."
"Mayor." Matt greats back
Then the Mayor Lockwood looks at his son and leaves.
Kelly sounding irritated says, "Well I guess dead kid rates a special greeting from the mayor today, huh?"
Matt not liking his mother's attitude says, "God, mom!"
Kelly then walks off saying "I need a drink."She walks off.
Tyler arrives shortly after with a full bottle of bourbon whiskey. "Check it out!"
Matt shakes his head saying "Your dad is going to beat you down if he catches you."
Tyler shrugs "Yeah. Let him try."
Matt nods in agreement "Screw it." He takes the bottle and drinks.
Elena is walking around alone after Jeremy went off somewhere. She sees Tyler and heads towards him but she accidentally bumps into Stefan.
"Hey Stefan" she greets him with a smile.
He smiles back drunkenly "Hey Lena, wanna dance"
"Change the music first?" She asks curiously, then says "because this stuff really sucks."
Stefan leaves to compel the DJ to play something else.
A good song comes on and she goes and grabs Tyler too, who if she has to admit looks bored as hell and they're all dancing around goofy, or rather she is and Tyler copies her and finds out it's fun and Stefan is doing his own dancing because as an almost ripper he's rather fun.
Damon says to Alaric feeling exasperated "Have I entered an alternate universe where Stefan is fun?"
"Should we be worried?" Alaric asks as he watches Stefan.
Damon nods "Eventually. One way or another."
They look at each other, and then they watch Stefan. Damon smiles, he does like seeing his brother happy after all.
Alaric walks over to Jenna and says "I was looking for you."
Jenna smiles and says "Here I am. I haven't seen you in a while."
Alaric says bashful "Well uh...Things have been a little crazy but I'm here now. Do you want to get a drink?"
Jenna smiles brighter "Sure."
Alaric grins "Okay."
"Dance with me Lena" Tyler says to her on the dance floor, she laughs, oh they're a hoot.
"Alright!" She says happily with a bright smile on her face.
Stefan frowns a bit and grinds his teeth, then he smiles and continues dancing around.
Damon walks over to the Sheriff and says "You know I love a woman in uniform but I have to side with this one. You look...you look smashing."
She laughs and says "Thank you Damon. Cheers! (They clink glasses.) I needed that. You know I had my doubts about you at first but like everyone else on the council you've won me over."
Damon says appreciatively "Thanks Liz. It's really nice how welcoming the council has been. I like my life here in Mystic Falls. Starting to feel like home again."
Sheriff Forbes nods "Well, you're not gonna like what I have to tell you. Johnathan Gilbert's claims check out. Blood bank, the missing people, all of it's true. We might have a problem."
Tyler is watching Elena dance on the dance floor and sees her accidentally bump into someone, before he can go over there he sees Stefan take care of it.
He sees Matt's mom dump her drink into a plant and says jokingly "I saw that."
Kelly says playfully "Shh! We'll keep that between you and me. Where is the ladies' room?"
Tyler shrugs and says "This way, I'll show you." It'd be rude not to.
Kelly keeps eyeing his glass and asks "Is that soda?"
Tyler feeling uncomfortable by the question says "Um..."
So Kelly takes his glass and drinks it all down and says "Vodka. Thank god!"
Damon is on the balcony and shortly later John joins him.
John looks at Damon and asks "Damon, right?"
Damon nods and replies "John."
John says conversationally "We didn't get the chance to meet at the council meeting."
Damon says "Yeah. It's a pleasure. Are you enjoying the kick-off?"
John shrugs and says "Oh yeah. I forgot how much fun these small town celebrations can be."
Damon nods in agreement "Yeah. When was the last time you were here?"
John answered "Hasn't been that long, my brother's funeral. How long have you been in town?"
Damon replies honestly "Oh, not long at all."
"So what do you think Damon? You know this vampire problem is real, right? It's a potential blood bath." John questions him.
Damon agrees but doesn't say it, instead his reply is "I wouldn't overreact John."
John says knowingly, "Oh, I think it's like 1864 all over again, vampires running amok. I guess we're just gonna have to hunt them down, throw them in a church and burn them to ash."
Damon feeling uncomfortable says "That's the story, huh?"
John shrugs "Part of the story, yeah."
Damon fakes curiosity lOh, there's more?"
John nods, "Oh, there's a lot more. See, it seems there was a tomb under the church, where vampires were hidden, waiting for someone to come along and set them free. But then you already knew that didn't you?"
Damon doesn't look at him. He's uncomfortable with John right now.
John continues "I mean, you're the one that did it."
Damon raises an eyebrow "And you're telling me this why?"
"I just thought we get the introductions out of the way." John replies conversationally.
Damon says threateningly "You know that I could rip your throat out before anyone would notice?"
John nods his head "Yeah."
Damon then shrugs and says "Yeah, okay. But you probably ingest vervain so..."
John then questions "Why don't you take a bite to find out?"
Damon smiles bitterly "It's not worth my time."
Both guys look at each other and smile as Damon starts to leave he rushes towards John, breaks his neck, and throws him off the balcony for dramatic affect.
Kelly and Tyler are outside. They laugh and are a little bit drunk.
Kelly says "Oh god! I can't even walk."
Tyler nods exasperated "I know, me neither."
Kelly gasps and says "Oh my god, Matt is going to kill me."
Tyler shrugs and says "He won't even notice. I think he's actually letting himself have some fun for once."
Kelly says sadly "Yeah, I know I just should be on my best behavior because of Vicki but I don't want to think about it. I can't, because if I do..."
Tyler agrees feeling sad "Yeah, I was a dick to her, I was really bad. That's what I hate is I can't make any of it right. It's like I don't deserve to even miss her."
Kelly touches him, even in his drunken haze he's not sure how he feels about that, it doesn't comfort him or make him feel better like it should.
Kelly says drunkenly "You're nice to talk to me. I don't have anyone to talk to."
[Long pause during which they are looking each other.]
Tyler sighs sadly looking in the distance, "My person to talk to is inside, but sometimes she makes me nervous"
Kelly then leans a little closer and smiles happily about something.
Elena is wandering through the hallway when Matt comes up to her and says jokingly "Who knew I've been missing all the fun at the Founders' parties?"
Elena laughs a little and says like the original "This is rare, believe me."
Matt asks almost sadly "Is it bad that I'm enjoying myself?" Thinking about his sister, sure she died awhile back now but. . .
"No, it's great that you are enjoying yourself." She tells him honestly.
Matt smiles at her then says "Air, I need some air. Come with me?"
Elena shrugs"Sure."
Matt asks her curiously "You haven't seen my mom have you?"
She shakes her head, she knows this won't be good but she can't stop that, it'll ironically at least help both Matt and Tyler get over Vicki so that they can move on or something like that, "Nope" She says with a sigh.
She follows him outside feeling worried for her now good friend. There she sees them making out.
Elena tilts her head in surprise and says loudly "Huh, isn't that technically child sexual abuse ?"
But Matt sees them kissing and rushes over to them and pulls Tyler off of Kelly.
Matt yells feeling both angry and Hurt and finally letting himself feel the pain for losing his sister a few months ago, "What the hell are you doing man?"
Kelly says surprised "Matt?!"
Matt screams "Mom!!!!"
Tyler, drunk and bit disoriented says "Huh"
Matt punches Tyler in the face, that's when they begin to fight and in the fight Kelly gets pushed to the floor, Elena knew she had to stop this, so she stepped in between them and she literally felt Tyler freeze, his hand was raised by her head, but as he instantly relaxes, his large hand goes on top of her head and he ruffles her hair. Matt however didn't notice and he accidentally punches her, her face for the first time that night is hit.
Matt freezes in shock and looking shaken and says "sorry" as he runs back inside.
Tyler's hands are now on her shoulder, hoping to comfort her, but he hasn't looked at her, but his grip tells her that he's worried, upset and a bit scared.
He can't help but feel powerless when everyone automatically blames him for things going wrong.
Alaric arrives, as he sees Matt run off and he can see that Elena has been hit. From how Tyler is holding on to her right now? His guess is that Matt must of hit her, accidentally if he had to guess by how fast Matt was running off and by the look of horror on his face.
But Alaric can't stop but snap out worriedly "What the hell happened?"
Before Elena or Tyler can respond the Mayor comes over and says "I'll take it from here; I'll take it from here" then turns to Tyler in fake concern and asks "Are you hurt? Go get cleaned up. It's okay. Go get cleaned up"
Tyler goes to leave, but Elena follows behind him, holding him shirt, much like she did when she protected her brother from him, but, now she knows that she'll have to protect him from his own father.
Mayor Lockwood turns to Alaric and says "Thank you for your help."
Mayor Lockwood walks back in to the party and says loudly to the guests "Everything's fine. Everything is fine. Come on, everybody, back to the party. Let's go. Come on, have a good time!"
Stefan at the moment is still drinking when Damon comes up beside him.
Damon asks his brother "You wanna hear the bad news or the really bad news?"
Stefan shrugs and says "Actually, I don't want any news Damon."
Damon sighs "Alright, let me rephrase. Do you want to hear how the council is back in vampire mode or how I just killed Uncle John Gilbert?"
Stefan head snaps up and he says "What?"
Damon says cheerfully "Great party by the way, huh?" He smiles and leaves, Stefan follows after him.
Stefan calls out "Damon."
But Stefan suddenly stops when he sees Kelly crying and bleeding. He approaches her and asks "Is everything alright?"
Kelly shakes her head sadly "No. I ruined it, I always ruin it. What is wrong with me?"
Stefan slowly kneels down to her eye level and stares at the blood coming out of Kelly's forehead. He touches the blood on her forehead. He wants to drain her dry.
Kelly looks at him confused and asks "What are you doing?"
Stefan then notices he's slipping and says "Uh, I'm sorry."
He gets up and leaves. Outside, he looks down at his hand with the blood on it, walks to a fence and leans on it. He licks the blood off of his finger.
Damon is inside when he suddenly he sees John Gilbert entering, unharmed.
Damon says in disbelief "You got to be kidding me."
It's not to much later when Mayor Lockwood is talking to the crowd.
Mayor Lockwood says "Thank you all, thank you very much, thank you. Thank you all for joining us tonight in just a few moments we will officially begin the countdown to our upcoming Founders' Day celebration and it's a very special one this year. The one hundred and fiftieth birthday of our town." Thats when bell on a table is wheeled next to him.
Mayor Lockwood says "And...and I would like to welcome back one of our town favorite's sons to do the honors of ringing our official charter bell. John Gilbert, would you please join me up here?"
As John Gilbert walks over and rejoins the mayor. Damon is looking at him.
John says happily "One hundred and fifty years of community, prosperity, family. We take care of each other, we look after each other, protect each other (He looks at Damon.) It's good to be home." As everyone applauds, Damon rejoins Alaric.
Damon walks up beside him and says urgently "Look at his right hand."
Alaric asks confused "Whose?"
Damon says glancing at John "Towns favorite's son. Look at his ring."
As John rings the bell and it can be seen that he wears the same ring that Alaric wears.
Alaric swallows thickly "Well, it looks like mine."
Damon says uncomfortably "Yeah, and that would be a big coincidence if he didn't just came back from the dead five minutes ago. Where the hell did you get that ring?"
Alaric says reluctantly "Isobel, my wife."
Damon, says quietly "Fuck, the don't kill him cause he'll just come back and might become a psycho ring that Elena mentioned then."
Alaric swears "Do you think John is really Elena's father like she said?"
Damon nods and says "I think John knows or is a lot of things.
Stefan is in the parking lot. He leaves but he falls into the man he compelled earlier. The man pushes him.
Man says sarcastically "Sorry about that man. I really am terribly sorry."
Stefan says seriously "You don't want to do this man."
The man pushes him again and says "I'm sorry about that too. All I can do is apologize. What's that about?"
Stefan snaps "Get out of my way. Please."
Man snarks "No girl to show off for now? I see what how this is."
The man tries to punch Stefan but Stefan catches his hand mid-flight, crushes it slowly, and pushes the man on the floor. His face vamps out.
Man looks scared and he says timidly "What are you, man?"
Not to long later Stefan is above the man, looking at him. The man is on the floor, unconscious. He leaves at vamp-speed when he hears Elena.
Man then says "My arm. I lost my balance and fell. I'm clumsy."
Tyler tried to get Elena to leave earlier but he refused, she's currently standing behind him holding her shirt, he won't tell her so, but it comforts him, a lot that she's here. But she was already hit once because of him.
Mayor Lockwood walks in and yells to his son "Let's go."
Tyler not feeling comfortable especially with his now werewolf status, he knows he's stronger now, even if he hasn't dealt with a full moon yet. Hoping to smooth things over and prevent Elena from seeing his father lash out, lord knows what she would do. He starts to apologize "Dad, I'm sorry. I don't even know what happened. I was drinking and...I just"
The Mayor lifts his hand to Slap his son when The Sheriff, Zach, the Salvatore brothers, John and Alaric walk in just as they see Elena move Tyler behind her quickly, with foot work they didn't know she had 'Damon knows 'and takes the slap for him.
The force of Tyler's dads hitting Elena moves her head to the side with a loud resounding crack. But she doesn't cry, she doesn't make a sound at first.
He's frozen in shock, everybody is frozen in shock. But a fierce anger Tyler has never felt before courses through him.
His dad. . His dad fucking hit her, he wants to hit his father, but her body is pressed in front of his and he can't bring himself to move. So he moves his hands hesitantly up to her shoulders, to stop himself from hurting his dad, to ground himself, to ground her, to ground them both.
They see Elena tilts her head up and straighten her posture, almost like she's getting ready for a war, they can almost feel her determination in the air, her anger.
Then as she looks the mayor straight in the eye she giggles, the kind of giggle that leaves a bitter taste in their mouth as she begins to smile and then say cheerfully, too cheerfully, as if she's had to do this before, "Oh Darling, I HATE men like you."
Elena pushes Tyler farther away from her person, but he grabs her hand tightly and follows as she starts walking around his father, circling him like a vulture.
She continues "Pompous assholes who think that it's their right to do shit like that, to their own fucking kids too, or their wives, wanna know something funny? I had a friend who had a daddy like you, his parents got a divorce before he got bigger see, his dads other child before him got abused but, his daddy never got to hit him, know why?"
The mayor shakes his head, his eyes are wide in shock still.
"Because his momma would've killed him, she would've too and I hate to be cliche or anything but. . . well" she shrugs then continues.
Her voice becomes cold like ice, everyone in the room could practically feel the temperature drop as she spoke, but you could feel the cold fury and the disgust in her voice as she snaps "You HIT one of MINE, I don't take kindly to seeing shit like this EVER and I'll happily admit that I'd step in front of this shit any day I see it. BUT if YOU so much as TOUCH a hair on" points at Tyler "HIS head WITHOUT permission and in anything LESS then a FRIENDLY matter, I WILL KILL YOU MYSELF, CONSEQUENCES BE DAMNED UNDERSTAND?"
The mayor nods, to shocked to do anything else. Nobody moves.
They hear her mumbling under her breath "mayor my ass, fucking shitty fucking mayor, fucking asshole"
Tyler is looking at her with adoration, not that she notices of course she's to busy glaring dangers at his father and mumbling under her breath.
Then Elena turns to John and says happily, mockingly, "Hey Daddy, enjoying the show?" And everyone is once again shocked, that was something they didn't know or most of them didn't and then she giggled, and fuck, they could tell she was still upset, but Tyler was clinging to her like a lifeline.
Then she turns to the Sheriff but then she sees Zach behind Liz, his eyes wide, looking at her with worried eyes.
Elena greats Zach kindly with real happiness and says "'Lo Zach" he nods back, not being able to find words.
Then she turns to the Sheriff and raises an eyebrow mockingly and asks "How long have you known that he was being abused Sheriff?"
The sheriff freezes and doesn't respond, ah, so a long time then, they didn't expect her reaction to that though.
Elena laughs bitterly, they can hear the resentment in her laugh, the disappointment. As they hear her speak they know they've never felt this bad about themselves before now "So, let me get this straight, you knew he was being abused," no one moves " I'm sure you're also aware of the abandonment of children underage in this town and the neglectful parents too then, considering you're one too right sheriff?"
And apparently they've never been called out for anything because Lizzie straightened up fast and her eyes are WIDE.
Elena turns back to the Mayor and says "By the way Mayor, your son is moving in with me now, he deserves better and you obviously can't manage that" and with that she drags a now wide eyed Tyler out of the building, he was looking at her shocked and amazed and as if she was the only light in the sky, no one, no one as ever stood up for him like she has before, ever, not even his mom.
That's when Tyler knew. . . Knew what we're not sure, but we know he knows.
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On the Road
I pull Tyler with me, aside from getting hit a few times tonight, the day was fun. I ask him quietly "Are you okay Tyler?"
He shakes his head, as if he's just remembered and he snaps out "My Father hit you, Matt hit you, both times it should've been and you're asking ME if I'm alright? ARE you alright?"
I shrug my shoulders, it's not like he knows that I've been hit constantly before, and worse. This was nothing. I tell him "It's fine. I'm fine."
I can practically hear his head snap towards mine in the car as I drive.
"You took hits for me Lena" he snaps again.
I let out a sigh and say quietly while watching the road as I drove. "Its not a big deal, I'd do it all over again."
"You've been hit before." He says, he doesn't ask.
I can feel Tyler's eyes on me as he looks at me me cautiously, but I hesitated to answer and I know he can hear the increase in my heart rate. I just nod.
From the corner of my eye I see him Stiffen.
"Do I know them?" He asks way to casually.
I shake my head. He doesn't, he wouldn't ever.
He nods. "Are you sure you want me staying at your place? You can take me back to my parents."
Quietly but firmly I respond, knowing he can hear me "You're staying with us."
He nods, then he says quietly "You didn't have to stand up for me."
"I did." I tell him firmly, I'd do it for anyone.
I can feel his hard stare on me again as we near the house, my house? Eh, technicalities.
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Gilbert Residence
After we arrive Tyler follows me up to the house, as we step in I notice that Jeremy and Jenna are sitting at the table.
"Why is Tyler over here so late Elena?" Jenna asks curiously. "And why do you look like you've been hit?" She asks standing up, Jeremy following her over.
"Matt, Mayor" is all I say.
I can tell Tyler is getting uncomfortable so I grab his hand to calm him down.
Jeremy looks at Tyler then at me, then at our hands and I mentally groan.
"Why?" Is all Jeremy asks.
"They were going to hurt him, he's my friend. Would you mind if he stays in the guest-room and moves in?" I ask Aunty Jenna.
"If I say no?" She asks me curiously.
"Then I guess I'll stay with him somewhere else." I tell her firmly, he's my friend, I protect my friends as best as I can.
"Alright, he can move in." Jenna says. "Johns not going to be pleased though."
I shrug and say at the same time Jeremy does "Well, Johns an asshole."
"Should we Blanket Fort it tonight?" I ask Jeremy and Tyler "Would it make you feel better?" I ask him.
"Just the three of us?" Tyler asks curiously.
We all look at each other and nod. Yup, all three of us it is.
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Okay so last chapter Tyler activates his werewolf curse and now Elena-Not Elena removes/uproots him from his residency because of his father and the fact that she knows his mom wouldn't have stepped in to stop it.
Either next chapter or one of the close following ones, depending, will be when Tyler has his first full moon. I know there's not a lot of Damon in his chapter, he had to adult and stuff. I'm pretty sure I'm going to make this a
Tyler x Damon x Lena x Klaus x Kai x Kol
With a side of Stefan x Caroline x Marcel
Jeremy x Anna
Enzo x Bonnie x Elijah
John x Rebekah x Mason
