Mystic Falls, 2013

CF*CF*CF

"Damon, you stay here. And five of you go where Nadia said she left Matt. We don't have much time." When nobody moved she used her loud voice. "NOW!"

Everyone was still in same spot, unmoved. Not sure why they should listen to this blonde. Not that Caroline had anything against her specifically, she just didn't know her. After all they met just this morning.

Before Felicity could say something else her phone pinged and she hurried to read the message. She drew her eyebrows and crinkled her forehead. She started typing on the phone in impossible vamp speed. Caroline had no idea how her phone was able to process all that information so fast.

While she was doing it Damon looked at all of them with raised brows.

"What are you still doing here? Shoo. Go save Mattie-Boy." He showed them the door.

"And if you see someone wandering the woods bring them in." Blondie shouted after them.

Caroline was puzzled. And it must have shown on her face, because Felicity shook her head. "Matt doesn't have much time. Go."

They all shared the look but listened to Damon and his mystery friend and left the house. Matt's life was in danger in they had no time to waste.

After leaving the house the group decided to split up. Stefan and Elena went to one side Caroline, Bonnie and Jeremy to another.

"I don't see any freshly dug ground." Jeremy said looking around.

"This property is massive." Bonnie said exasperated.

For a few minutes they searched the woods silently before Caroline couldn't take it anymore.

"Hello? Is no one going to comment on that blonde Damon's friend? Felicity Salvatore? Is she their relative? But if she is, then why Stefan didn't know her? If not, then how is she connected to Damon?"

Bonnie giggled at her blonde friend's little rant. Jeremy just rolled his eyes.

"Yes. I have questions myself. She knows about me and my family." Former witch said thinking about that feeling she got when her eyes locked with mysterious woman.

"And she is vampire." Jeremy added. His revelation got him odd look from Bonnie. "What? You both saw how she moved and the way she talked with Nadia. I'd say they know each other for a long time. Katherine's daughter even seemed afraid of her."

Caroline looked pensive for a moment wondering about everything what happened today. What Jeremy said wasn't surprise for her, she made same conclusions herself. For now she was unable to get the all the answers about this Felicity woman she wanted. Latter she might try to catch her alone to talk, get at least some mysteries nagging her uncovered. So she latched on to another thing she wanted to discuss.

"Okay. And what about Stefan sleeping with Katherine? It's kind of big deal too."

Jeremy snorted at Caroline's need to gossip.

"It doesn't matter. We've slept with our fair share of bad choices."

"No offence taken." Bonnie grumbled under her breath. But since younger Gilbert was walking next to her and Caroline was vampire they both heard her.

"No. Obviously not you." Jeremy rushed to assure her that she was not included in that particular list.

Once everything they were talking about settled down in Caroline's brain, it all suddenly clicked and she froze in her spot from shock.

"Bonnie Bennett! Wait, did you two..." She trailed off looking between her two friends. They didn't say anything but slightly guilty and embarrassed expression on Bonnie's face certainly confirmed Caroline's suspicions. "And you didn't tell me?!" Perky blonde looked outrageous at that notion but her step now had more bounce, excitement bursting from her.

"I didn't think I was obliged." Dark skinned woman crossed her hands.

"Of course you were obligated! You're my best friend! Oh my god. Does Elena know that her little brother..."

The couple interrupted her before she could finish the sentence. They both shouted in unison.

"No!"

"Oh, scandalous sex! Even better!" Bonnie and Jeremy were not impressed by her description. "God, how am I the only person on this planet that isn't having scandalous sex?" Caroline sounded wistful. She wanted something exciting to happen to her. It seemed like everyone had interesting adventures except her. For once she would like to not over think and to do something reckless, scandalous.

Elena's little brother cleared his throat; clearly embarrassed from talking about sex with his sister's friends. Disregarding the fact that he slept with one of these friends himself. "Why don't we split up and think about that?" He suggested.

"Good idea. We'll cover more ground that way." Caroline agreed seeing that she was making her friends uncomfortable. They started to walk off in the one direction, while she run off to another. Turning on her super hearing maybe she would be able to hear Matt shouting for help.

SS*SS*SS

After splitting up from Caroline, Bonnie and Jeremy, Stefan and Elena sped off toward the north-west side of Salvatore's property. They were walking, looking around, listening intently to hear anything out of the ordinary. Elena was sending him conspicuous looks and Stefan felt questions radiating from her. But he was in no mood to answer them and besides he had questions of his own.

"Who was that blonde woman in the house?" He was the first one to break awkward silence. Offence is the best defense after all and it might distract her from asking about Katherine.

His question seemed to surprise her. Which was weird, it should have been obvious to everyone in the room that he didn't know that woman. But now that he thought about, Elena wasn't looking at him when that encounter happened. She was glaring at Damon at the time. If she was able, she would've set his brother on fire only by the power of her stare. That made the secret identity of mystery woman that much interesting to him. It was clear by the way Damon trusted her judgment and took her orders without any sarcastic comment they knew each other for the long time. Not just know, but know.

"I wouldn't be asking if I knew. I never saw her before." He said. "Why she was even there?"

"Really?" She asked confused. "When we got there she was perusing your wine cellar with Damon's permission." It came out bitter; because Damon never let her just take anything from his precious wine cellar. "I thought she is your relative of some kind."

"No. I've been tracking my family's lines and now that Zack is dead there is no living Salvatore's. I'm sure." He didn't mention Sarah. With Salvatore's tendencies to die she was better off not knowing her true parentage."Why would you say that?"

Elena shrugged. "What else should I think? She said that her name is Felicity Salvatore."

"Hmm. Felicity?" Stefan whispered thoughtfully. He was sure that he heard that name before from Damon, but he just can't put his finger on when. Her last name did surprise him. He was certain there was no Felicity in his family tree. She was vampire - Stefan was positive on that. Maybe Damon turned her?

Once they find Matt he really needed to talk with his brother.

It looked like his ex-girlfriend ether didn't notice or she didn't want to notice his muttering. Whatever the reason why she didn't ask more questions was okay with him because he wasn't sure he had any answers.

Once again they were walking in the silence. After few minutes it was broken. This time by Elena.

"So Katherine?" Vampire could hear accusation, disgust and hurt in her voice.

Accusation and disgust he understood. After what Katherine did, few weeks ago he himself couldn't even imagine being with her. But hurt... He not really wanted to know why it was there.

He and Elena were done for a long time. It was her choice. And she chose Damon. He moved on and he thought she did too. Stefan thought she was happy with his brother. But maybe now that they not together anymore and Damon brought home new impressive blonde next day after break-up, she was feeling insecure. It wasn't Stefan's concern anymore. He put all romantic feelings he had for her firmly behind him.

"She helped me." Stefan looked around, not wanting to meet Elena's eyes. But he knew she wanted him to clarify. "With Silas aftermath." He admitted grudgingly.

She stayed silent for a minute, digesting information. Nothing she and Damon did helped Stefan to overcome claustrophobia he developed after spending few long months drowning over and over again in the safe at the bottom of the lake, but Katherine was able to help him fight his demons. Of course it did not redeem her. She still was manipulative and evil human being.

"Can I still hate her?" Elena asked only half joking.

"Yes you can." Younger Salvatore brother understood where she's coming from and he didn't object, even offered Elena a small smile.

"Thank you." She smiled at him in return. Something familiar to hope was shinning in her eyes.

"But I don't. I know I should, but for some reason, I keep rooting for her to find peace. And Katherine's not the only one, you know. Damon keeps pushing you away because he hates himself...who he is, what he's done." He explained to her to relieve her of some pain she must be harboring inside. He wanted to encourage her not to give up on his big brother, but something inside him didn't let him to speak those words out loud. It wasn't because of Elena, but more because of the mystery woman and that invisible but tangible connection between her and Damon.

Before any of them could say anything else Stefan heard crushing of the leaves as someone was moving nearby. He gestured for Elena to be quiet as they approached the source of the sound.

MD*MD*MD

Matt Donovan was not expecting for the sharp pain in his neck when he was picking out a bottle of bourbon from Salvatore's collection. He had only just enough time to get a glimpse of Nadia before his vision started to blur and he hit the floor.

He woke up slowly his head was pounding. Matt was disorientated. His surroundings were dark and blond boy couldn't see where he was. Feeling around he found out that he was in some kind of metal box. And his ring was missing. It hit him then that he might die. Panicking he started shouting for help.

In some time, when his voice became hoarse Matt remembered something he and Tyler once saw on TV show. Matt needed to stop shouting and try to conserve the oxygen. So instead he started banging on the metal walls hoping that vampires with their sensitive hearing would came find him.

Matt Donavan was about to give up hope on someone finding him when he felt the box moving. Lid opened with a creek. Sunlight hit him straight in the eyes and he had to cover them with his hand. Blinking to regain his eyesight he sat up. And he couldn't believe what he saw.

Stunning as usual, before him stood blonde Original vampire, his ex-girlfriend Rebekah.

"I'm gone not three months and look at the trouble your in." Her usual arrogant demeanor was softened by the smile she gave Matt.

"Then I'm glad you're here to help me" Donovan climbed out of the safe Stefan was once buried in and went to hug Rebekah. He missed her. But their reunion was interrupted by Elena and Stefan.

"Matt! Thank, God, you alright." His old friend collided with him and embraced him tightly.

He patted her back, to reassure her he was ok. Original vampire found him just in time. He was not sure how much longer he could've stay awake. Lack of oxygen was already making him drowsy. Few more minutes and he would have lost his consciousness. Soon after, dead would have followed permanent this time.

"Rebekah?" Matt heard surprised Stefan's voice come from behind him. He turned his head to get a better view of them both, Elena's hand still snaked around his waist.

Rebekah looked up from checking her phone. "Hello Stefan. Elena." With her past lover blond vampire was perfectly cordial. But with Elena she was as cold as ice."Should we go back to your house? I just got the text asking me to go there."

She confidently marched toward the house. In her wake three very confused people were left wondering who sent her the text and why they asked her to visit Salvatore brothers' home.

Thank you all for reading, hope you enjoying it. :) And I have a question for you.

With whom, in your opinion, should Stefan be paired? (Not Caroline)