Elena had finished telling Caroline and Bonnie what they had found out about her birth mother and her connection to Alaric.

"Oh my God, you guys haven't figured it out." Caroline said, covering her hand with her mouth.

"Figured what out Caroline?" Elena said looking at her blonde friend curiously.

"Think about it," she said looking between Elena and Azalea. "Your birth mother and your uncle are married making you two…" she stretched the last word eyeing them both to finish her sentence.

"Cousins," they gasped together, looking at each other.

"Not by blood, but yeah." Caroline said.

"Wow, that's crazy," Bonnie gasped as the two looked at each other.

"I've never had a cousin," Elena smiled.

"I have. He was a dick growing up, I'm sure you won't be the same," she teased nudging her with her elbow.

They all laughed at the two and the conversation moved away from the two's connection…

At the end of the day Azalea got into Bonnie's car to have another wicca magic lesson with Sheila, she hadn't made much progress yet which annoyed her greatly. However, the older woman had assured her she was doing well.

Her phone lit up as she made it back to the house, she frowned as she saw Damon's number.

"Hey,"

"Hey, so heads up. Pearl wants in on the council, and she wasn't happy when I refused her. So, you may wanna be extra careful around town right now."

"Perfect," the redhead groaned. "What happened?"

"Let's just say I'm wearing sunglasses indoors for the time being,"

"Damon, how old is this woman?" she pressed the phone to her shoulder as she filled the kettle, with water.

"Old, she and Katherine were friends before they came here."

Azalea frowned, pressing her lips together, hitting the switch at the base of the kettle, and walking away. The whirling of the machine beginning to head up the water making it hard to hear Damon on the other end.

"I want to talk to her, see if we can come to some peaceful agreement." She said, flopping down onto the sofa.

"No way,"

"Damon –"

"No, she's too strong,"

"Obviously," she snorted. "I am thinking diplomacy. If she learns who I am then she may be more willing to talk, Ana knows me too. Why don't I crash at your house tonight? In case she comes back. That way we can trying and figure something out without retina's being damaged."

"Can't, Stefan and Elena are having a normal day. If you are at the house, they'll ask why."

"I can say the water is out at mine or something, explain tomorrow." She said, making her way upstairs to pack an overnight bag. "Think about it Damon, she will be back to see if her… negotiation worked."

He snorted at her word choice.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, it makes sense, Ana will be a huge asset in that, she is a lot less likely to hurt me."

"Fine, but we have another problem,"

The redhead pinched her nose.

"What?" she sighed.

"Huh, so you know how we were supposed to burn all the tomb vampires…"

"For fuck sake," she exasperated. Cause, of course, why not… she thought sarcastically.

"I was kind of having a crisis." He defended. "And you passed out. Between the two…"

She groaned leaning her head against the counter top. Then it snaped back up, her eyes wide.

"Shit!" the redhead gasped. "Sheila is going to skin us all,"

"Grandma witch is tomorrows problem, once Elena knows she will have to tell Bonnie."

She could almost hear his eyes roll.

"Ok, ok, I will get a bag packed and make my way over."

"See you soon,"

"Take your time, I'm going to go for a drink –"

"Nope, no you are not. We are going to work on your people skills,"

"I have people skills," he protested.

"Without compulsion," she said drying throwing in some clean pyjamas. Once she was all packed, she wrote a quick note to Alaric telling him she was going to be out all night and not to wait for her. With a quick look around, she took out her wand and disappeared with a loud crack.

"Show off," Damon appeared behind her, she turned around her eyebrow raised.

"You literally blurred behind me on purpose. Merlin you are so dramatic," she laughed, then laughed again at the vampire's expression.

"Well, I reckon we should probably have a game plan for if Pearl shows up," he said walking over to the table with bourbon on it, and took off the glass lid, he looked at her and gestured.

"No thanks,"

He began to pour for himself.

"I agree we need a game plan, but that won't take all night we basically have a plan, be calm and diplomatic. That's pretty much it,"

"Well stay behind me just in case," he said taking a drink. She smiled at him. "Shut up,"

She laughed.

"Come on, what do you want to do – don't even, I will hex you," she warned as he began to smirk.

"I was thinking we could bring your Muggle movie knowledge up, I got some classics that you as a late teen something should have been raised on," he said gesturing, to the giant collection of DVDs and videos.

"Are these some of the Disney films Hermione and Lavender would talk about. I know some of the stories –"

"Knowing and watching are two different things, come on get comfy I'll grab us some snacks."

The two had worked their way through The Little Mermaid, and were three quarters of the way through the Hunchback when Damon's phone began to ring. He jumped up.

"I'll get more snacks, see what Stefan wants." He said putting his phone to his ear. "Stefan, you are ruining movie night,"

The redhead kept watching, but upon seeing the vampires face when he came back in, she paused as Notre Dame was in flames.

"Brother just called he is bringing the double date hoard over, we best head upstairs. Keep ourselves occupied," he said suggestively. She rolled her eyes bit otherwise ignored the comment, then stretched.

"Let's bring the movie night upstairs for now then."

"Sounds good to me,"

The two continued to watch movies until Damon informed her that they had all left, once Stefan and Matt's cars had left the estate the two made their way back downstairs.

"Now," he said clapping his hands together. "More snacks, and some bourbon for me."

"I'll just had tea."

"Yes, Miss Azalea," he gave her a little bow.

"Do you miss those things?" she asked.

"Hell no, way to formal. Try not to miss me too much," he said as he disappeared behind the door.

Once Stefan returned, the two filled him in on the situation in more detail.

"I think Lea is right, diplomacy is the best –"

They all turned at the sound of the smashed glass.

Before any of us could fully react, a man was stabbing Stefan in the chest. Damon pulled them off. Azalea ran to Stefan, pulling the glass shard out.

A woman rushed through the window, Stefan pushed the witch away and fought her. When Stefan killed her, Damon threw the man away, blocking the redhead from his view. The vampire saw his partner was dead, then his eyes met hers.

She watched as he observed how Damon was using his body as a shield, and as his eyes widened when he realised that she was human. Before he could finish putting his plan together, she silently cast intercartous. All the vampire watched in shock as ropes began to tie around him. She waved her wand again, casting a protective barrier between the three of them, and him.

He struggled against the ropes; they only grew tighter.

"Stuplify!" she cried, the vampire had clearly never seen her magic before and as the red light hit him, he thudded to the floor.

"That won't last forever, we need to lock him up. I will call Ana see what the hell is going on."

"No, clearly this is -"

"That would make no sense," she argued. "She asked you to make a decision. That requires an answer. This feels like they went rogue,"

"I'm sorry who fought in a war," Damon scowled.

"All three of us," she said darkly. "We're you one of the main players in the civil war Damon? Or did you just follow orders."

"It doesn't make sense for them to attack like this," Stefan agreed with the young witch.

"Let's talk more, don't call anyone yet," Damon compromised finally.

"Ok, he should still be out for a few more minutes, the older vampires are the sooner this stuff wears off," she cautioned. "I'll get the vervain from downstairs, that'll help keep him down."

The redhead rushed down the stairs as quickly, and carefully as possible, she picked a few of the flowers, cupping them in her hands as she made her way to the kitchen. Grabbing a water bottle she placed the plant inside.

It took two drawers to find a spoon where she began to stir and squeeze against the side, almost as if she was making tea. Once the water had a greeny, brown tint, she made her way back to the sitting room.

When she entered she saw the two brothers looking at the smashed window. The other vampire had gone.

"What –"

"It wore off,"

"I told you it would depending on his age!" she slammed the bottle on the table. "I gift wrapped him for you. Literally! He was tied up and stunned. Seriously," she pinched her nose, she wanted to jinx the pair of them.

"We didn't know how old he was –"

"Exactly so you should have paid more attention as you didn't have any indication of when it would have ended. Let me put some wards up so no one else can come over uninvited tonight, we will get some sleep and come up with a plan in the morning."

"You can do that?"

"I keep telling you Damon," she said scowling. "I'm not as weak as you think I am,"

She began to mutter in a language that neither of the two could understand, waving her wand in various strokes, and directions. After ten minutes she turned to look at them again.

"Night," she said before heading to the guest room she had decided on earlier.

The redhead made her way down in her pyjamas to see the Salvatore brothers already awake and in motion, as she walked in both of their heads turned.

"Hey there sleepy head," Damon smirked sipping his coffee. She rolled her eyes but proceeded to walk behind him to get to the bread.

"Where is your toaster?" she asked him, he took the slices from her.

"Go sit, I got it," he said then gestured to the stool when she just looked at him. "Sit, we have a lot of work to do, and you are the one that did all the heavy lifting last night. Sit." She raised a brow at him, but did as he asked.

"Elena's on her way over," Stefan informed her handing her a cup of tea.

"Ok both of you are hovering… why?"

"Paranoid much," Damon said pushing down the toast, the red light turning on.

"We just want to make you feel as safe as possible after last night," Stefan told her.

"I'm not a doll, or helpless. Speaking of helpless why is Elena coming over, why did you tell her what happened? She is going to want to be involved and I have to fight you tooth and nail to include me a powerful capable witch, who both of you have read the first half of my teen years."

"I told him not to tell her till we solved it," Damon said sipping his coffee again.

Stefan ignored him, looking only at Azalea.

"She has a right to know, and besides today even vampires who don't have daylight rings can leave. She looks just like Katherine, what if one of them mistook her and killed or kidnapped her."

"Fair point." Azalea said, as the toast popped.

"Ah would her great hero like jam, peanut butter or…." He scanned the cupboards. "More Jam,"

"Uh you got blackberry jam?"

"Uh yep, coming right up," he said. "Don't I make a great 50s house wife," he said mimicking putting on an apron.

The two rolled their eyes ignoring the older vampire.

"So, I'm guessing she is on her way over?"

"Yep, and as soon as were done in here I'm going to board up that window." Damon said.

Azalea finished her food before Elena arrived, they all walked into the sitting room, and Damon began to block up the window while.

"So what do we do?" Elena said. "They attacked you last night,"

"Only two did, I don't think the actions of a few should condemn all of them." Azalea pointed out.

"I say," Damon joined in as he finished the window. "We got to Pearl's, bust down the door and annihilate the idiot who attacked us last night."

"Yeah," Stefan said, with his arms crossed, continuing to pace by the fire. "And then what? We turn to the rest of the house of vampires and say 'Oops sorrry'."

Damon pulled his lips down walking closer to the group.

"I can't believe you made a deal with her," Elena said, her arms firmly crossed as well.

"It was more like a helpful exchange of information," he said. "Not like I got a choice she's… scary."

He finished. "And besides she's going to help me –"

"As you friend, I will hex you if you say 'find Katherine' she made herself very clear that she doesn't give a damn about you." The redhead said from the sofa.

"Of course, Damon –"

"Maybe save the verbal sparring for now," Azalea interrupted her friend, then she turned back to Damon. "Your plan is ridiculous. I still think the best plan is to talk to Pearl and Anna. From what you told me about what she said to you the other day is that she wants to live her and be in peace. And call me crazy, but I reckon last night didn't exactly scream peace. She is going to have questions about where the woman form last night is too. She may even be planning to come over today and talk to you about it."

Damon sat beside her with a sigh, and put his arm behind the redhead on the top of the sofa. he looked a her for a moment then turned back to Elena. Who was still glaring at him.

"How long are you going to blame me for turning your birthmother into a vampire?" he asked her.

Azalea looked at Stefan, with a help me out here look.

"I'm not blaming you Damon," she said, walking closer, her arms still crossed. "I've accepted the fact that you are a self-serving psychopath –"

"Ok, enough." The redhead put a hand out to both of them.

"Yeah, this isn't being very productive." Stefan finally joined in.

"You," she pointed at Damon. "With me, we are going to actually talk about plans. Stefan," she gestured to Elena.

"Ohh, I like it when you take charge. So sexy." He said, standing up as well.

"Knock it off, come on." She grumbled, walking out of the room, he followed her.

It wasn't long till Stefan walked into the room, without Elena.

"She went home," he said.

"Probably a good idea," Azalea said, looking between the two brothers.

"I'm going to go feed," Stefan announced, after no one else spoke. "Get some strength back, then we'll storm the place. Get her back."

"There's two litres of soccer mom in the fridge,"

"You really are not funny," the redhead scowled. Stefan however ignored the comment and walked out.

"Give my regards to the squirrels." Damon called after him. "Ouch!" he said as Azalea smacked his arm.

"Just play nice," she grumbled, her phone buzzing. She opened up a message from Caroline.

On my way to my Dad's, message when I get there! : )

"Well, that's one less person to worry about," she said putting her phone back in her pocket. Damon frowned, but she waved him off. "Right, let's get to work…"

"He should be back by now," Damon frowned, after an hour of Azalea pulling vervain apart, and boiling it in water.

"Maybe he went to Elena's." she said, stirring the amber coloured liquid.

"Yeah, maybe. I'll go check. Stay here, in case he comes back. Let's hope we went to deal with cranky pants."

"Ok, you want me to keep picking and sorting the vervain for now?"

"Please," he said, watching the liquid with a slight grimace.

Another hour went by without the redhead even realising. She had finished, created enough of the steeped vervain water to fill three large jars. Then she began to crush the flowers for another idea she had. Azalea had just begun to break a sweat, crushing the flower trying to get them as small as possible when she heard her phone ring. Seeing Damon's name flash up, she answered it.

"Anything?"

"Yep, keep waiting at the house in case he comes back, keep doing what you're doing. Call it… plan B."

"Was Stefan with Elena?"

"Yeah, and we are going to go talk to Pearl –"

"I should –"

"No, we need info, and you are at the house. She is coming after to met you. I'll text you so she doesn't catch us brewing."

"Ok," she sighed. "Keep me posted."

"Uh huh," he murmured before hanging up the phone. She placed down the phone and frowned at the flowers she had been crushing, they had to have mortar and pestle around here somewhere…

"Why wasn't I there! You lied to me! You –"

"I told him to," Alaric said looking at her sternly. The group were all stood in the Salvatore sitting room, Azalea glaring furiously at the returning party, upon hearing the days events.

"You told… Why!" she hissed at him angrily.

"The condition to using all my weapons was that you be kept out of it." he said. "You came here to heal, to get away. Not to fight vampires. I owe it to Lily to keep you safe. I owe her. I owe you, I should have been there."

Her heart melted a little.

"Ric, you were confounded, your memories,"

"I still need to take care of you, as much as I can."

"I'm going to stay here tonight,"

"No, Lea it's your house I'll –"

"No, it's ok. I'm pretty tired, all my stuff is here from yesterday. I just want to crash."

"Come on," Damon said to Ric, gesturing outside.

"No, the others could want revenge –"

"Then you should have gone with my plan, instead of your testosterone fuelled pissing contest," she scowled.

"They had Stefan," Elena said, looking at her friend in shock.

"And no one told me that information. The whole thing screamed coo."

"I still don't think it's a good idea,"

"I'll stay," Stefan said, gesturing for him to leave. "You guys unwind, and we will stay here,"

Slowly and awkwardly, everyone began to leave. Elena was looking at the two.

"I want to talk to you, before I go," she said to Stefan.

"I'll go back to the kitchen. I need to clean up anyway," the redhead muttered giving the two space.

She had just finished cleaning when Stefan walked in.

"I am really glad that you are ok, I realised I hadn't said that yet, sorry." she said, turning around to look at him.

"Don't be. It's fine… Try not to be too angry with them," he said. "You do look pretty fragile, even if you are a badass," he leaned in and murmured. She laughed at him.

"I don't know about badass,"

"I do, you should hear how Lexie talks about you," he said watching in amusement as she turned a dusty pink.

"As much as I'd like to chat, I really am exhausted, maybe in the morning?"

"Before you go up, there's uh… something you should know,"

"What's happened now," she ran her hand through her hair, the other perched on her hip.

"Caroline, she uh got lost in the storm –"

"Shit, is she ok?"

"Oh no she's fine," Stefan came closer, putting his hands on her arms in comfort. "But she uh, she found Vicki's body."

"Oh," she said quietly. Then her eyes widened.

"Matt, oh Merlin he's –"

"Elena's gone, and Caroline is there. He has more than enough people for today. Don't want to over crowd him." He said trying not to pay attention to the rythum of her blood pumping through her body. Her could feel it beneath his fingertips.

"You're right, I'll head over there with some things tomorrow," she said, hugging the vampire. He tried to focus on his affection for the redhead in front of him, not her delicious smell, or the thumping of her heart. The pulse that he could feel next to his own body. She pulled away, and put the sponges in the bucket.

"Don't touch those, they may still have vervain on them." She cautioned him. "Night," she waved at him as she made her way out of the room and upstairs.

As soon as she was out of sight, Stefan became more alert. Without his friend to distract him from the thirst with conversation. He needed to think about something else. His subconscious reminded him of how sweet the redhead's blood smelt. With a wave of terror, he rushed down to the basement to try and curb the craving. He couldn't hurt her…

Damon walked back into the house, he frowned and began to look around. As he checked the main rooms, he caught the smell of blood. He followed the trail to one of the smaller rooms downstairs. As he entered he saw several blood bags thrown around the room. Stefan crouched in the corner with another, empty in his hands, three more beside him. Damon's stomach plummeted, at the sight.

"Lea –"

"I was tempted," he said, his eyes welling up. "So… I came down here and…" he looked around him.

"Ok, good job. That was smart," he said gently, rubbing his brothers back, as he began to cry. Well, this wasn't going to end well. "Real smart, Stefan."

Hope you all enjoyed it. I have been clearing out my emails, and realised a missed a few comments one about "A Rose Among Thorns" I don't think I have read that one I shall have to go and check it out! Thank you for reading. I hope you are still around! Sorry it took over 6 months to reply!

The reason that this upload is late is because I lost my laptop! Luckily, I got it back but it took a while so I am now a little behind.

I also want to say I am sorry that I am only posting once a month, but working full time, and then trying to grow my online work, write my own work etc etc.

Also, I only post of Fanfiction, but what are the other sites for fanfic you guys read? I hear one has begun to charge people but I am not sure. Suggestions?

I hope you enjoyed this and see you all next time. xx