That felt like the longest and hardest walk in her life up to her room. Zoe stepped aside and wait for her dad to go in first.

Damon opened the bedroom door and slowly step inside. His eyes scanning every corner of her room. He looked under her bed, nothing there. He walked to her balcony, nothing out there. He walked to her walk in closet. All that he saw was her clothes folded and hanging neatly. Her shoes arranged orderly in colour and style. No sign of a lion. He felt like an idiot.

He came out of her closet with a small smile. "Please forgive me for thinking that you will do something like this. Kidnapping a lion and keep him in your room. What was I thinking." Damon said and laughed out loud.

Zoe was shock and worried. Where could Aslan be. She walked pass her dad to her closet.

"No lion cub in there Princess." Damon said with a soft laugh.

This doesn't make any sense. She left Aslan in her room this morning. She closed her door behind her. If his not here than he must be somewhere in the house. Zoe waited with a fast beating heart for screams of horror from Kenzie or her mom but nothing came.

Damon saw the sad look on her face when she came out of her closet. It made him feel bad for thinking that his own daughter will do something like that. Not his Zoe. "Princess please forgive me. I'm so sorry. I should never have doubted you."

Zoe felt even more sad and bad for lying to her dad. "Its okay daddy really. I know you just want to do the right thing."

"Thank you for understanding this." Damon said and hugged her tightly to him.

After her dad left she dropped down on her knees and looked again under her bed. She was worried now. He was nowhere in her room so that means his out somewhere in the house.

She was about to head out when Cayllum came in and closed her bedroom door behind him.

Zoe was so relieved to see Aslan in Cayllum's arms. She could just about kiss them both. "Where did you take him? I was so worried." Zoe said and took him gently from Cayllum.

Cayllum smirked and said. "I took him for a long walk in the woods. He needs fresh air everyday. You should have seen him out there. His going to be a true hunter soon."

"He is too frail and weak for that. " Zoe said softly.

"He became one with nature out there Zoe. His a predator and that we can't take away from him soon his going to crave." Cayllum said.

Zoe looked at him with a soft smile and said. "I was so scared that my father will find him in here. He asked me if I knew anything and I lied to him Cayllum. I said I know nothing and than we came here to my room. He searched every corner of my room. Aslan was not here. I was so worried Cayllum."

Cayllum walked to her and wrapped her in his arms. "I knew this was the first place your dad will come look for Aslan that's why I had to take him away for a while. I'm sorry for upsetting you."

"I'm just glad Aslan was with you at least I know he was safe Cayllum." Zoe said as she gazed up in his eyes.

Mystique Lake Town Library

Dylan walked down the steps of the towns library in a hurry. He was glad he got the books for his history project not his favourite subject but nonetheless he needed it to finish his project.

"Hey you, why the rush." Mia said with a cute flirtatious smile.

Dylan stopped and turned around to greet Mia. "Hey."

"Why do I feel like your avoiding me Dylan." Mia said as she walked down the stairs to him. She stopped infront of him smiled and said. "You did enjoy our kiss and there is more where that came from. I'm also done in here let's go over to my place."

"Mia, look I'm going to be honest with you. Yes I did enjoy kissing you but that does not mean that I want us to do it again. It was a mistake Mia. A mistake I don't want to repeat. I lost Liz because of that and it hurts." Dylan said.

"You can't possibly be that much in love with her, look at her what can she possibly give you Dylan. She's boring and predictable and she does not even dress that nice by the way. I'm fun and beautiful. Do you want to be seen with a girl whose mother works two jobs. I wonder how they can still afford living in ML and you want her? No you need a girl like me. I can give you everything you want." Mia said and ran her finger down his chest.

Liz and Suzy came out of the library. She saw Dylan talking with Mia. Dylan saw the pain in Liz's eyes when she and Suzy walked pass them and it broke something in him.

"See? she is over you. You don't need her." Mia said and smiled gleefully at Liz and Suzy.

Dylan looked back at Mia and sigh. "My dad got fired today his no longer the mayor we're going to lose our house and move to Silver lake to my grams little house. Will you stand next to me this Saturday in town when I sell all my expensive clothes and jewellery Mia? You do love me don't you?" Dylan asked her with innocent smile. He was lying to her and he knew he will see the real Mia. A spoilt brat.

Mia was shocked. "What? I'm not going to do that." She said with a look of disgust on her face.

Dylan smirk and said. "Now that's the difference between you and Liz and why I love her so much Mia. She cares and her beauty is warm. You on the other hand you are this stone cold beautiful statue. There is no life in you so stop lying to yourself Mia. I've got to go have a nice day." Dylan said and he never felt more free and happy in his life when walked away from her.

He ran after Liz and Suzy and made it just in time before they could get on the bus and not wasting any time he started telling her how he feel. "Liz I miss your smile and laugh. You always laughed at my jokes no matter how lame they were. I miss our chats but most of all I miss that warm feeling whenever I see your name pop up on my phone waiting for you at the school gate. Liz I know I was a fool and I know I hurt you but can you please give me a chance in your life as a friend. I will rather settle for that than lose you completely."

Her eyes softened when she looked at him. She missed him too and she still felt something for him. "As a friend Dylan." She said softly.

"Thank you Liz. I promise with will not over step my boundaries." Dylan said with a grateful smile.

"Liz you should invite your friend to your birthday party this Saturday." Suzy said with a smile

"I would love to come." Dylan said with hope in his eyes.

The smile on Liz's face lit up Dylan's heart and spread warm throughout his body. "You are invited to my party Dylan." She said with a soft smile.

"And bring your friend Walter too." Suzy said and giggled.

"I will. Promise I will." Dylan said with a smile that made Liz's heart weak.

"See you Dylan." She said softly before getting on the bus.

"See you tomorrow Liz." Dylan said. He waited for the bus to turn around the corner before he did his happy dance. He quickly took out his phone and dial Walter's number.

Dylan: Hey Walt you wouldn't believe what just happened now are you sitting down before I tell you. Dylan said with a smirk.

Dr Stephen and Dr Hendy's doctors offices

"You must miss them still so much." Stephen said to Rufus.

Stephen was sitting behind his desk waiting for Rufus to get dress. He still couldn't believe himself for what he wanted to do to Rufus.

Standing behind the curtain Rufus had a far away sad look in his eyes but suddenly a small smile spread over his face. "I will always miss them doc but it doesn't hurt anymore when I think of them. I had a dream of my wife. I always have dreams about her but this one was different. She had our little baby in her arms and she looked up at me with the most beautiful smile. She's happy doc and she wants me to be happy and for the first time in my life I looked forward to face the day. You know doc I'm thinking of going for a month long vacation to my sister in Australia. I haven't seen them years." He said with a smile.

Stephen was sitting there his eyes shiny with unshed tears. How could he even think of killing this man. A hardworking man struggling through his grieve and hardships. A man dressed in simple clothes with not much in life who worked the earth with his bare hands. Stephen wiped his eyes with his hands and looked down at his hands. His hands were trembling.

Rufus stepped out from behind the curtains and said. "I was so caught up with my own dark thoughts doc that I didn't even thank you for your words of encouragement in my darkest hours. You saved my life doc. You gave me hope again."

"No Rufus I should thank you. Its people like you that show us that there is still humanity left in us all. We just need to find it and treasure it for life. I started this profession with a pure willing heart Rufus and somewhere along my road to success I lost it. I lost my humanity. The higher I climb the ladder of success the more I left behind of what I truly am and what I truly stand for. I always dreamed of being a surgeon. I don't think I really made peace with the fact that I can never be a surgeon." Stephen said.

"Doc nothing is impossible not for a man with strong will and heart. A man like you." Rufus said softly.

Stephen looked down at his trembling hands. A painful memory flashed through his mind.

Flashback...

"NO PLEASE! DONT DO IT!" Stephen screamed.

Giuseppe had Stephen's arm pinned down on his desk. "I don't want to do this son. How many times did I warn you not to help Damon why do you always nurse him back to life and now my sixteen year old son is playing doctor to that bunch of blacks in Silver Lake! Its Damon I warned you to stay away from that drug rat that you call brother! You are not the same after Damon moved out of this house and let me tell you today you are better than Damon. You are pure Salvatore blood son."

"No! Let me go you monster! I'm glad Damon moved out his better off with Bonnie!" Stephen seethed. He was pale in the face with anger and rage. He struggled against Giuseppe iron grip on his arm.

Giuseppe swallowed hard. "Damon is just using that little black bitch. This town will never accept his filthy mix offspring and I will see to that. You can go tell your brother that!" Giuseppe said with veins bulging in his neck and forehead.

"Says the man who visits the ladies of colour at night. It runs in the family we all just love us some ladies of colour." Stephen said mocking his dad.

Giuseppe gritted his teeth. "This is not you speaking my son this is Damon putting evil sinful thoughts in your mind."

Stephen watched on in horror as Giuseppe bring down the hammer in his hand.

A blood curling scream erupted out of Stephen. He fell back on the floor his body twisting in pain. "No! No!" Stephen said sobbing in pain. He clutched his bruised fingers close to his chest.

Giuseppe calmly pulled Stephen up by his other arm. He pinned that arm on the desk too like he did with the other one. Stephen was too weak and in pain to fight back.

"You are my golden boy Stephen. The true heir of the Salvatore's legacy and wealth. This pains me more than you." Giuseppe said and brought down the hammer again on Stephen's hand.

No sound came out over his lips this time. In silence Stephen lay there on the floor shaking with pain with Damon's voice in his head saying. Don't let the fucker see you cry. He can never break us brother.

"Who's going to come to your rescue now? Whose going to doctor you now doctor Stephen." Giuseppe said and stroke Stephen's head gently.

Stephen needed intensive surgery on both his hands after what Giuseppe did to him. It was a long painful healing process but that didnt stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor. He had to do his exams and projects orally for school. The file of Stephens injuries disappeared just like Damon's files. No charges were brought up against Giuseppe. Stephen regain the use of his hands through hard work and dedication but his dreams of ever being a surgeon was gone for good. Giuseppe made sure of that.

...End of flashback

"Doc are you okay?" Rufus asked with a worried look.

Stephen quickly put his trembling hands on his lap. He clutched his upper thighs tightly to keep them calm. "I'm sorry about that Rufus doctors get their moments where they just zone out but its not suppose to happen in front of our patients." Stephen said and tried to laugh it off.

Rufus reach out his hand to Stephen and said. "Doc I'm not a man who judge I believe every man has his own past to overcome. You are a good man doc and what ever it is that is troubling your soul. You will overcome it just believe a little bit harder in yourself."

With his hand trembling lightly Stephen took Rufus hand and shake it. Rufus gave him a warm smile and put his other hand ontop of their hands. "You take care now doc." He said before her let go of Stephen's hand.

...