A/N: I wanted to start a Twilight fic too. It's gonna be Jasper/OC. Thing is, I haven't had a lot of time recently and this story is still my priority, so I got about 1500 words in and then it died. I'll get around to it eventually!

Disclaimer: I only own Lacey:)

Miss Mystic Falls/Blood Brothers

"Okay, class, this week we're gonna get outside our regular curriculum for a lesson in local history as we approach Founders' Day," Alaric announces. "Apparently, the community leaders feel it's more important than World War 2, but hey, what do I know?"

I chuckle under my breath at his snide comment, eliciting a grin in my direction. "Mr. Ric," I call out, waving my hand energetically.

"Yes, Lacey?"

"If the town's history is more important than World War 2… uhm. Well, uh. Ya know, I don't actually have anything to say, I just wanted to waste time."

A few of the other students laugh as Ric rolls his eyes. Heh. Ric rolls. Note to self: Rickroll Ric sometime.

"Okay," he cuts off my thoughts. "If anyone else wants to waste time, feel free or we'll get started."

I force myself to actually pay attention to the hour-long fake history lesson. These peasants may get the fluff story, but I know the supernatural truth. When the bell rings at the end of the day, Anna and Jeremy are waiting outside my classroom, hand-in-hand.

"Yesss!" I squeal. "Tell me it finally happened? Tell me the ship has set sail for Love Island! Tell me, tell me!"

Anna giggles, nodding her head happily as I throw my arms around both of them and pull them into a group hug.

"My boy," I say, reaching up to tousle Jeremy's hair. "He's growing up so fast."

"I'm… Am I older than you?" He asks. "When's your birthday again?"

My mouth drops open. "You forgot my birthday?"

"Do you even remember mine?"

"Of course I do. October 13th."

"Right," he looks thoroughly chastised. "Well, you do claim to be the better friend. I'm just helping you earn the title. On purpose."

"Okay, Jimmy."

"When is it?"

"September 13th."

He narrows his eyes at me. "That… doesn't sound right. You don't have the same birthday as Bella Swan."

"Ugh, seriously Jer? Has anyone ever told you that you have too much Twilight knowledge?"

"You have," he drones. "Many times. And it's May 24th." He waves his phone in the air. "I looked back at last year's calendar."

"Hmph," I huff. "Anna, this is what you get to deal with now."

She laughs. "I think you're both hilarious." Then, she gets serious. "My mom wants you to tell Damon we aren't the ones robbing the blood bank. And the others are gone."

"Where'd they go?" Jeremy asks, looking worriedly at me. When I told him what happened when I made him let me tag along to rescue Stefan, he started being hypervigilant, looking out for anyone who appears out of place.

"They weren't cut out for this town. After what happened with Stefan and Lacey my mom kicked them out and they took off," she explains. "It's just us now."

"Good riddance!" I grab both of their arms and make them do a kick sequence in sync with me right out of the school.

Spotting Damon waiting for me while leaning against his car, I wave goodbye to the new lovers and skip over to him, planting a huge kiss on his lips. "I'm happy today!"

He smirks. "You're happy every day."

"Yes, but today I learned Jeremy and Anna are finally together! Isn't this good news?" I exclaim, bouncing up and down after I climb into the passenger seat. "How was your day? Oh, also, Pearl told Anna to tell me to tell you that they aren't stealing blood and that the tomb vampires left."

His face contorts in confusion. "If they aren't stealing it, who is?"

XX

When we get back home, Stefan is already there, sitting in the drawing room like a statue, staring at the fireplace.

That's not good. Oh, snap! I forgot to make him his blood smoothie today.

I approach him slowly with my hands out in a calming gesture as if he's a scared cat. "How was school today?"

"Fine," he clips out, glancing at Damon standing beside me with an arm resting on my shoulder.

"You seem awfully chipper lately, less doom and gloom, a little more pep in your step."

Stefan's face goes steely. "And you think it's because I drank human blood again."

"I don't want to brag but I would definitely take responsibility for this new and improved you."

"Hey!" I pout. "If anybody's taking responsibility, it's gonna be-" I break off at Stefan's sharp glare. "It's gonna be Damon," I sulk. "All hail the pumpkin king."

The pumpkin king rubs my shoulders, absently pressing his nose to my hair.

"Look, I hate to burst your bubble, but I'm clean."

Damon narrows his eyes at Stefan, suspicious. "Yeah, not possible."

"Not only is it possible, but it is quite true." Stefan glances at me again, making me give him a death stare. He's going to give himself away if he doesn't stop being so obvious. Clearly, I also need to give him lying lessons.

"Why do you keep looking at her?" Damon snarls. "You spent the last century and a half being a poster child for Prozac and now you expect me to believe that this new you has nothing to do with human blood? Nothing?"

"I'm clean," Stefan insists.

Damon looms over Stefan, fists clenched at his side.

"You're lying! And in case you didn't notice, we have a human living in the house now. If you hurt her-"

Stefan tenses. "I'm not going to hurt Lacey."

"If you do," Damon continues. "Brother or not, I won't hesitate to rip your heart out."

He flinches, a grimace forming on his face as Damon continues to stare him down. "Noted. Believe what you want."

He swiftly saunters out of the room, sparing me a grateful glance.

I'm not sure why he won't at least just tell Damon the truth. Surely that would be better than the situation he's found himself in now.

I shrug, not wanting to stress myself out with his business anymore. Ce n'est pas mon problème.

"Try not to be alone with him," Damon instructs me. "I don't trust him."

My hands come up in front of me as I fiddle with my fingers. "Okie."

"Thank you." He flashes over to me, throwing me over his shoulders as I screech in happiness.

He cackles as he sets me down on the kitchen counter, dropping a kiss on my nose before opening the fridge. "What do you want, lovelace?"

"Surprise me!"

He ends up making a carbonara and garlic bread, bragging about the Italian authenticity.

"Are you participating in the Miss Mystic Falls pageant?" He teases. "I know how much you love things like that."

I screw my face up and shove a forkful of pasta in my mouth. "Mmnm nnmff mm."

Damon eyes me. "You were just making random sounds, weren't you?"

My hand flies to cover my mouth before I can spit out the food in my mouth, but the half-chewed food just ends up in my hand instead. "Eww, Damon! Look what you made me do!" I get up to wash my hand, ignoring his roaring laughter. "And no, I wasn't planning on going, but Elena wants me to come to help her get ready, so I have to."

I sit back down and start eating again. "Before you say anything," I blurt out, seeing his mouth open. "I'm not dressing up again, or even really participating. I'll be there in sweatpants and I'm leaving after I help Elena."

"You should compete," Damon points his fork at me. "You'd beat them all wearing a trash bag, princess."

"Even if I wanted to, which I don't," I make sure to emphasize. "But even if I did, I'm not from a founding family. And I put zero effort into being involved in the town. I wouldn't win."

He scowls. "This town is a joke. You're the most beautiful thing for miles."

"Only miles?" I ask, mock affronted.

He smirks, standing up and turning me around in my seat. He leans in close until I feel his breath in my ear. "Thousands of miles. Millions of them."

His arms wrap around me and pick me up, cradling me to his chest as he leans down to kiss me while flashing us to his room.

Our lips don't separate once, the pace becoming desperate when I fall back on his bed. Damon hovers over me, tongue darting over his lips as his eyes rake up and down my body. Then his lips are on mine again, begging for entry.

"I need you," Damon murmurs in between open-mouthed kisses. "Let me have you."

"I'm yours," I respond, eagerly twisting my hands in his hair.

His hands trail down my side and under my shirt, peeling it off as he caresses my skin.

Time is lost as we descend into bliss.

XX

I wake up the next morning alone in Damon's bed. My face flushes as I remember how perfect last night was, but the heat is chased away by a huge smile when I see the tray of strawberry pancakes beside me.

I sit up, fluffing the pillows behind me, and dip my finger into the whipped cream fangs. I love whipped cream. I love frosting, too. I scarf down the food in about five minutes and chug my glass of apple juice.

Throwing my legs off the side of the bed, I put on a pair of blue sweatpants and a loose purple long-sleeve shirt before heading downstairs in search of Damon. Or Stefan. I have to make Stefan his blood smoothie, so I should probably do that first.

On my way to the kitchen, the doorbell rings. I bound over to answer it, scowling when I see John.

"Lacey," he acknowledges, pushing past me into the house.

"Hey! I didn't say you could come in."

"Then it's a good thing I'm not a vampire." He looks around the foyer, searching. "Damon hasn't returned any of my calls."

Sometimes, I really wonder about John. At this point, he's clearly had one too many lobotomies. Nobody likes him. Nobody wants to hear his voice or see his face.

Because I'm me, I decide the best course of action is to mess with him until he can't take it anymore and packs his bags. Just, this time it… won't involve fire.

I fix him with a horrified stare, pretending in my mind that he has chickenpox. Or that he's projectile vomiting.

He turns his nose up at me, confused. Then he starts shifting nervously, surreptitiously glancing down at himself.

I have to fight to keep a smirk from taking over my expression.

"John," Damon's voice calls into the hall before he's suddenly standing beside me. "Most people take being ignored as a hint."

John immediately directs his attention to him. "Where do we start looking for vampires?"

Damon gives me an incredulous glance. "Why? You obviously don't care about catching vampires. You're here talking to me."

"Actually, I care very much."

"And what does Isobel have to say about that? I mean, considering that she is one."

John takes a deep breath, continuing cautiously. "Isobel and I share a mutual interest. The original Jonathan Gilbert has an invention that was stolen by a vampire. That vampire was then burned alive in Fell's church, or so Jonathan thought, and the invention was lost forever. But then the vampires weren't killed, were they?"

Color me intrigued. "What's the invention?"

John clenches his jaw. "The only thing that matters is that I want it back, and Damon's going to help me if he wants his secret safe."

"Why bring me into it, John?" Damon rubs his chin. "I mean, I don't know what you are talking about, much less who has it. I'm a simple guy trying to live a simple life now."

I beam, tucking myself under one of Damon's arms as John studies the two of us, calculating.

"Oh, come on Damon. You were around back then, you know who these people are, what they look like. He was friendly with a woman who turned out to be a vampire. Her name was Pearl."

At the mention of Pearl, my smug smile drops, and it doesn't escape John's scrutiny.

"I see that rings a bell. Tell me who she is."

I square my shoulders. "No."

"Tell me," he insists.

"No."

Damon removes his arm from my shoulders. "We're not playing anymore. Get out," he demands, pushing John towards the door. "Get out."

"I beg your pardon?"

"He said OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!" I yell, fed up with his presence. He's not going to get to Anna's mother. She's my friend and Jeremy's forever love. I wish Damon would just kill him already, except for good this time.

John's eyebrow twitches, a sure sign that he's holding back a whole string of expletives. Yeah, I hate you too, buddy.

"I will tell the entire council about what you are," he threatens Damon.

"Go for it! I'll kill every last one of them. Then, Lacey's right. I'll sever your hand, pull your ring off, and then rip your head off too. Do you understand that?"

A Cheshire grin spreads across my cheeks at Damon's threat, and John glares at me like it's my fault he woke up and chose to pick a fight with a vampire.

I wave goodbye to him enthusiastically. "Ta-ta, Johnny Bravo. I'd watch your car if I were you!"

When he whips around, fire in his eyes, I cover my mouth in surprise. "Whoops. Did I say car? I meant back. Watch your back." And then I slam the door closed in his face.

Hehehe, now he'll be hypervigilant over his car for no reason. That's fun. Maybe it's time to pull out my old stalking binoculars again.

I hold my hand up for a high-five to Damon, doing a little happy dance when he complies. "We got him good, baby."

I make my way to the kitchen, remembering I was going in there for some reason but not remembering the reason. I already had breakfast… Hmm… Oh, Stefan!

"Have you seen Stefan?" I call out, knowing Damon will hear me from wherever he is in the house.

My phone buzzes with an incoming message from him.

He went to dance training at the school for the pageant tonight.

Sighing, I grab a blood bag from the fridge and make my way to the front door to slip on a pair of shoes. I text Ric to pick me up since he mentioned driving Jenna and Elena to the Founder's Hall.

"I'm going to Elena's!" I shout to let Damon know, but he doesn't respond so he must be in the shower. I send him a text message in case he didn't hear and then start walking down the driveway.

Ric pulls up by the time I make it to the main road, driving me over to pick up the other two girls in comfortable silence.

As luck would have it, John's the one that answers the door when we arrive, immediately giving me a death stare and peering over at his car. I let myself chuckle quietly when Ric steps in front of me to block John's view.

Now I find myself in a dressing room, yawning as Jenna curls Elena's hair.

When she finishes and leaves, Elena smiles at me. "Thank you for being here, Lacey," she says and pulls on my arm to lead me upstairs. "Bonnie's avoiding all vampire stuff so you're the only one who really understands what it's like that I can talk to."

"Speeeaaak." I drone.

Elena blinks. "What?"

"Ya know… the… the voicemail recording from Rent?" I can't believe I have to explain this to her. I made both her and Jeremy watch it a million times. "Never mind."

One of the other contestants enters the room looking like a nervous wreck. Elena notices too.

"Are you okay, Amber?" She asks.

Amber chuckles nervously. "I hate being the center of attention. I get panic attacks."

"Oh man, that's rough," I comment. "Might I offer the most amazing advice you'll ever hear in your entire life?"

She nods.

"Simply do not care what other people think."

Elena smacks my arm. "It's not that easy, Lace."

"What?" I glare at her while rubbing my arm. "Of course it is. Look at me, Amber," I prompt. "I've done so much crazy crap in public that nobody even pays attention anymore. Actually, most people just flat-out ignore me now. So, I have it on good authority, ahem ahem mine, that my advice works."

"She actually has a point," Elena supports me. "Do you need some privacy so you can change?"

Amber gives us both grateful looks. "Thank you. Actually, I feel a lot better after listening to you guys." She focuses on Elena. "Did you want to get ready together?"

And now would be the perfect opportunity to find Stefan and give him the blood bag in my pocket before it ends up bursting and my pants get covered in blood.

"Oookay," I say while clapping my hands together. "I'm going to go, then. You ladies have fun. Go get 'em, tigers."

I rush down the steps, trying to think like Stefan. Where would he be? Probably lurking uncomfortably in a corner.

I hear the faint sound of glass breaking when I walk past a door and pop my head in curiously. "There you are you little weasel."

Stefan looks at me with his vampire face, eyes red and angry.

"Ehehe, whoa boy," I yank the door open and start dragging Stefan away from everyone and out of the building. "Let's get you outside, hm?"

When we get to his car, I release his arm, pulling out the blood bag from my sweatpants and handing it to him. I watch him rip it open and guzzle it down.

"Well, I see you still eat like a toddler," I chide. "I thought you were going to work on that."

Stefan finishes the blood bag, looking at me with eyes still veiny and frantic. "More," he demands.

I cross my arms and frown at him. "That's all you get, remember? One bag a day. If you wanted more, you should have made it last longer."

He starts pacing in front of me, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. I watch him, amused, for I don't know how long, but the sky starts darkening. I was supposed to be cozy at home by now, watching Friends reruns with some popcorn. And maybe a pizza. Also some cookies.

"You look a little upset there, buddy."

Stefan glares at me. "I'm not upset. I'm freaking hungry!"

I dissolve into giggles. "Looks like even vampires get hangry. Look," I continue as he glares harder at me. "You're not getting anymore, so if you can't handle being around people, let's go home. Take me home."

Stefan stares at me. Or, or maybe not… He's not looking at my face. I wave a hand in front of his eyes, trying to get his attention when I notice he's actually staring at my neck.

"Stefanie?"

He doesn't break his stare. This is not boding well for me.

"Stefan."

He takes a step toward me, making me back right up into his car. I start sliding sideways, a nervous smile on my face.

"Just one taste," he murmurs. "I won't hurt you."

"I'm good. The only vampire that gets to drink my blood is Damon."

"He won't mind sharing," Stefan mutters off-handedly. "That's what we do."

"Actually, I'm pretty sure he would mind." I clear the side of the car and start backing away faster now.

"I just want one taste; that's all I need. I just want one taste."

It's at this moment that I decide my best option is to run. Why I decide this is the best option, I don't know, because I make it about 10 feet into the copse of trees before Stefan is in front of me and I'm running into him at full speed.

"Ow!" I rub my forehead. "Like running into a boulder. Seriously."

"I can't do this," Stefan mutters. "But I can't stop. Oh god, I can't stop." He tears into my neck, making me scream in pain.

If he's going to kill me, couldn't he be a little gentler, at least? I try to push myself away, but he has a vice-like grip on my shoulders.

"Stefan!" I hear Elena's voice cry before I'm out of his arms and he goes soaring backward into a tree.

Damon's hands are on my cheeks, looking between my eyes urgently. "Are you okay?"

I nod as he releases me, his expression darkening dangerously as he flashes over to Stefan, pinning him harshly to the tree by his neck.

I stumble for a few steps, trying to stay upright before faceplanting into the dirt. The last things I hear are Elena's panicked voice shouting my name and Damon's harsh threats to Stefan before I give up trying to stay awake and decide a nap is in order.

XX

"What happened to her?"

I slowly regain consciousness to the sound of a familiar feminine voice and a hand delicately stroking my cheek.

"Stefan happened… so I snapped his neck."

"I'm surprised you didn't rip his heart out," another voice comments.

I open my eyes, seeing Pearl and Anna hovering over me with my head on Damon's lap.

"I'm still debating it."

"Hey, Lace," Anna gives me a small smile. "How ya doing?"

"I'm fine." I sit up with Damon's help. "Where'd you put Stefan? What happened?"

"In the dungeon," he scowls, borrowing my nickname for the basement. "And that's where he'll stay until I've decided I'm bored of snapping his neck." He leans closer, scanning me. "How's yours?"

I bring my hand to my neck, feeling the smooth skin. "Feels fine. You gave me blood, I presume."

"Mmhmm," Damon hums, wrapping an arm around my waist and holding my head to his shoulder.

"Annabelle tells me you're looking for something I took from Jonathan Gilbert," Pearl reveals, pulling out a music box and handing it to Damon.

"What is it?"

"It's obviously a music box," I interject.

"It appears to be," Pearl agrees. "But who knows what it actually does. Now it's yours."

Damon looks suspicious, grasp tightening around me. "What's the catch?"

"There is no catch. My daughter wants to stay here. I want to stay here. You refused to trust us, and for good reason. Consider this an apology."

"I forgive you!" I blurt out, jumping up to give her a hug, pulling Anna in too. "You can stay here forever. Jeremy will love that."

"Jeremy?" Pearl asks when Anna vigorously shakes her head at me.

"Ehehe, did I say Jeremy?" I give Damon a pleading look, but he just rolls his eyes. "I meant… uh, Chez Remi will love that."

"Chez Remi?" Everyone stares at me in confusion.

"The rat restaurant," I start.

Damon sees where I'm going with this, looking down and pursing his lip to hide a grin.

"The Ratatouille rat, his name is Remi. He's got a restaurant and he's French. Ergo, Chez Remi. But he got confused and thought that Mystic Falls was France somehow. So that's why the restaurant is here. And uhm, well, you staying will mean increased business for the little fella, so…" I ramble.

Pearl and Anna still wear identical looks of confusion, but Damon bursts out laughing, leaning down to kiss my head.

"Right," Pearl drawls with narrowed eyes. "We did what we needed to do. Come, Annabelle."

Anna follows her mother to the front door with me trailing after her. "I'll let Jeremy know what happened and that you're okay," she whispers as she gives me a hug goodbye.

"Sure thing, chicken wing."

As soon as the door is shut, I whirl around, marching toward the dungeon.

"And where do you think you're going, my lovely Lacey?" Damon asks, resting against the basement door with his arms crossed over his chest.

"I gotta check on Stefan. He was doing so well until today," I explain. "I feel bad because it's my fault. I forgot to make him his blood smoothie."

He raises an eyebrow. "Blood smoothie?"

I sigh, feeling bad for revealing Stefan's secret. But then again, he did try to drain all the blood from my body. Karma's a bitch and he's about to get bitten in the behind.

"I've been helping him with his cravings," I admit. "With the NSA."

Damon snorts. "I don't think the NSA takes any particular interest in my brother's eating habits."

I smirk as I push him off the door, opening it and starting my descent… into Hell. Hahaha. Is it really so bad there? I mean… is it really an eternity of burning? I'm always cold so maybe I'm meant to go to hell, anyway. Maybe I'll finally be warm.

"NSA stands for Not So Anonymous," I state. "I created it, so it's awesome. It's just… I forget things sometimes."

"So, you're telling me Stefan's been bloodthirsty this entire time and you've kept it a secret, hanging out around him when I told you not to." Damon's voice gets angrier as he speaks.

"Well, yes. But also, no."

He throws his arms up. "Which is it, Lacey? Because it seems to me that you completely ignored everything I told you." He grabs my arms, leaning down to look me in the eyes. "Everything I told you to keep you safe."

"Damon, it's Stefan. Of course I would help him, and it was working! I just got a little absent-minded and made a little mistake. If he'd had his smoothie, he would have been fine," I assure him.

"It's not your job to help everyone," he says through gritted teeth. "We've been over that."

"Stefan isn't everyone." I duck under his arm and continue on my way. "I don't understand why you're so mad. It was the right thing to do."

"I'm mad because you never think! You skip right into dangerous situations with your fingers in your ears, singing a damn show tune."

I halt in my tracks, frown forming as I turn around to face him again. "It's not like I just randomly get myself into these situations. I had to help-"

"You didn't!" He explodes, making me flinch back. "You don't have to help anybody. In fact, I'd prefer it if you don't. Then I wouldn't have to constantly worry about turning my back for one second and you getting yourself killed."

"But I-"

Damon's dark glare has me closing my mouth.

"Okay," I mutter, turning around to walk back upstairs to my room.

I close the door softly and twist the lock, trying to be as quiet, invisible, and unnoticeable as possible. I hate being berated, and I hate arguing. I was just trying to do the right thing. Stefan's a good person, and he deserves a chance to get better.

I go to my bathroom and turn on the water all the way hot to fill the tub. A nice, long bubble bath is just the thing to make me feel better after today.

XX

Damon leaves pancakes outside my door the next morning with a note.

I'm sorry for yelling. Not sorry for caring about your life.

xo Damon

I try to brush off the doom and gloom I'm feeling, but it was our first real argument and that puts me in low spirits.

Elena has been here since Stefan was locked away; she didn't even go home overnight, so she gives me a ride to school. I listen to her gabber about Stefan while I stare out the window at the houses flying by, my chin resting on the door.

She gives me a worried look when I get out and traipse right inside, ignoring Anna and Jeremy in the courtyard.

It's not my fault I'm so down. I'm never this sad, I don't know what to do with myself. Usually, I just distract myself and stop thinking about whatever causes the sadness, but my head is filled with Damon.

I don't mean to be a bother. I didn't realize he was so annoyed by my scatterbrain and ditzy tendencies. The thought makes my frown deepen. Maybe I can try to be more serious.

But I don't want to stop helping people when it's the right thing to do! I don't even realize it could be dangerous until after something happens. How am I supposed to know when things will go wrong?

"Lacey."

I shake my head, blinking rapidly as I glance up at Ric. "Yeah?"

"Class ended five minutes ago."

I look around the room, noticing all the desks are empty but mine, still with my notebook laid out on top. I hurriedly stuff it into my backpack and fling it over my shoulders. "Thanks," I mumble.

"Wait," Ric stops me before I can leave the room. "Is everything okay? I heard about what happened with Stefan. I'm sure if you just try again, he'll-"

"I'm not trying to help him anymore," I snap before sighing at Ric's raised eyebrows. "I'm sorry, I'm just… I don't know."

He gets up, coming over to rest a hand on my shoulder. "You know you can talk to me, right?" He asks. "I'm here for you."

My eyes start tearing up, but I blink them away. I don't have time for this… this negativity. "Thanks, Ric, but I'm okay. Just, uh, hormones."

He gives me an unconvinced look. "Alright, but my door's always open."

"I know," I reply with a small smile as I leave the classroom.

When I get home that afternoon, Damon isn't there, but he sends me a message that he's hunting for Isobel with Ric.

Since he's gone, I head downstairs to visit Stefan for the first time since the "incident."

"Hey Stefanie," I call out through the bars softly. "How are you?"

"Lacey? Lacey, I'm so sorry. I… God, I didn't mean to attack you," he expresses.

"Stop with the pity party, potato head. It's my fault. I forgot to make your blood smoothie."

"No, it's my fault. I should have come home before my hunger got that serious."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Call it even?"

"Sure," he agrees. "Damon was right, though. You shouldn't keep getting involved in dangerous situations."

I sigh. "Yeah, whatever."

I don't feel like arguing anymore. It's just not me. But they want me to stop doing the right thing and just sit in the corner. Nobody puts Baby in the corner. I wonder if Damon would do that dance lift with me…

"Are you coming out of there soon?" I ask Stefan, returning my thoughts to the matter at hand. "You seem like you're back in control now."

"I'm not coming out," he states simply. "I want it to be over."

"It? It, as in your life? What kinda dummy are you?" I gape at him. "Your death would kill Elena. Do you not realize that? Stop with this nonsense."

He gives me a dejected look. "Elena will realize she's better off without me and live a long and happy human life."

I scoff. "Okay, Edward. SNAP OUT OF IT! I don't want you to die, and I always find a way to get what I want, so we can do this the hard way or the easy way. You choose."

He remains silent.

"Wrong choice, Stefahhhnnn, wrong choice. John's exploding Range Rover will be nothing compared to what awaits you when you inevitably choose to remain in the land of the living."

I leave him there to rot like an apple because I can't handle any more negative vibes today and I know his resistance is futile.

The doorbell rings right as I'm about to head upstairs to my room. Squinting and scrunching up my nose, I flatten my back against the wall, peering around the corner at the door.

Nobody's breaking it down, so that's a good sign.

I creep up to it on my tiptoes, weaving back and forth across the hall by somersaulting – I saw that on TV once.

I fling the door open when I see it's a delivery man through the window. "Hello there!"

"Good afternoon. Are you Miss… Lacey Galileo?"

"Indeed, I am," I reply as I sign the clipboard that he hands to me. "To whom do I owe this wonderful surprise delivery?"

He hands me an unmarked white box. "All I know is it's from a Nik."

"Nickle Knickers!" I exclaim, eyes lighting up. "Thanks, delivery man! Have a nice day now. Ta-ta!"

I slam the door shut, bounding up to my room with renewed vigor. I can't believe Nik actually sent me something!

Plopping down on the floor, I try to rip the box open. After struggling for a few minutes, I sigh, get a pair of scissors from my desk, and slice the tape on the box open.

With that out of the way, I flip the top open and peer inside the box, mouth dropping open.

Laying delicately on a cushion inside the box is a beautiful fleur-de-lis necklace. The two swirling flowers on the side are simple white gold, while the one on the center is inlaid with a marquise-cut sapphire surrounded by miniature diamonds. The band wrapping around the bottom of the flowers is engraved with some type of Nordic-looking 'm.'

I hold it up, staring in awe. This must have cost a fortune. Reaching in the box, I pull out the card with my name scrawled over it in elegant writing.

Lacey,

I find myself in the City of Lights. When I saw this necklace, I was immediately reminded of a place I used to cherish and call my home, and I wanted you to have a symbol so befitting of me.

As long as you're wearing it, the most dangerous of the supernatural world will know you are under my protection.

I don't give it out freely, so don't make me regret this.

-Nik

P.S. I have also enclosed the address of a safe house not far from Mystic Falls. If you ever find yourself in danger, there is a way to get in contact with me there.

I purse my lips as I clasp the necklace around my neck. Nik must be pretty important for the "most dangerous of the supernatural world" to be warned off by the knowledge of his protection over me. I wonder why he would give me such a significant gift.

I twiddle with the charm, the 'm' must be some sort of symbol of his then. I shrug, not wanting to think on it too much – it's not like I'd be able to figure it out anyway.

A door slams downstairs, drawing my attention.

I pass Elena on my way down, who gives me a soft smile and a pat on the shoulder as she walks by.

I take this as good news. Maybe Stefan finally snapped out of his Broody McBrooderson ways. I cross my fingers, not able to take any more of his constant woe-is-me attitude. Hopefully, Damon forgave him, too.

"I mean it," I hear Stefan's voice as I walk into the room. "Thank you. For...helping her take care of me."

"You brood too much," Damon replies. "If anybody's going to kill you, it's going to be me. Not Bonnie, not even yourself. Me."

He stares at me when I enter his line of sight, taking a seat beside him.

"Well, thank you anyway," Stefan says. "I'll… let you guys talk."

I scrunch my lips to the side, feeling slightly awkward in the uncharacteristic tension between us.

"Look-"

"I'm sorry-" I blurt out at the same time Damon speaks. "I know I don't think about things all the time and I don't mean to cause you stress."

He puts an arm around me, pulling me to him. "I just don't want to lose you," he admits. "I love you, Lacey, and you're… delicate… what's around your neck?" I glance down at my necklace as he holds it between his fingers, inspecting it. "Where did you get this?"

"Eheheheeeee, you remember Nik?" I chuckle nervously.

He raises a brow. "The one who left the same day your mom moved in? He gave you this?"

I nod. "I told him offhandedly to send me a souvenir, and he actually did! Isn't it nice?"

Damon makes a face, releasing the necklace as he narrows his eyes. "Yeah, you need to stop being so friendly." His voice sounds teasing but his expression falls flat. "Can't have all these other guys making passes at my girl."

"Damon," I whine. "It's really not like that. Nik seemed like… like…" I tap my finger to the side of my cheek, wrinkling my forehead in concentration. "He almost seemed like an older brother, to be honest."

"Sure," he snipes. "And Elijah didn't like you either."

At my dismayed expression, he exhales. "I'm sorry. Just stuck in that 1864 mindset again."

I offer him a sympathetic look and go in for a warm hug. "I understand. Just remember, I've chosen you, and I love you. I'm yours."

His arms hold onto me for a breath longer than expected before he presses a kiss on my cheek. "Late-night ice cream run?" He offers.

My lips curve up and I bounce on my feet, bobbing my head in agreement, willing to put this whole situation behind us. Ice cream makes everything better.

A/N2: OooOooh! Don't worry, Damon lovers! Lacey stays happily with Damon for a while longer, and the final pairing is still up in the air because I honestly can't choose. Also, forgot that sex was a thing people do, but realized it's definitely something Damon would want. I won't be writing anything more explicit than what was in this chapter though.