A/N: I got my computer back! So this chapter is up earlier than I thought it was going to be! XD So to begin with I would like to thank 'cold kagome' for reviewing and everyone who put this on story alert or favorites! It makes my day when I see these! Okay then, I hope you enjoy this chapter! I kinda raise more questions than I answer-but they will be answered... someday... Please review and let me know what you think! I hope there are no mistakes.. but I can't make any promises.

(Now)

Elena's POV

"He told me to take his car and drive myself home and than he would explain himself today. I just don't understand." Elena ranted to Bonnie as she walked up the front steps the the school. "And then he didn't come to get his car this morning, and now look- he's no where in sight!"

Bonnie looked around and then said, "Well... he does have to walk..."

Elena groaned and shoved her friend lightly as they walked through the school doors. "Come on, Bonnie, be serious. I don't know what to do!"

Bonnie shrugged. "I don't know... but... maybe it's just none of your business... or," She thought quickly when she saw the disbelieving face on her friend. "Maybe he has a big deep dark terrible secret that he has never told anyone before, and now the FBI are looking for him and-"

"I'm not talking to you." Elena said and walked faster.

"No, come on, I'm sorry!" Bonnie ran to catch up with her. Elena let her. Bonnie began to speak again, but this time she was not listening. What worried her most about her visit to Stefan's last night was the desperation in his voice as he told her to leave. He sounded truly scared for her. But why would he be scared?

And who was that guy-who had said he was his brother? Maybe she was just reading to much into it. Maybe he was a close friend from his old town and they were like brothers. Though that still wouldn't explain the desperation... though maybe she had imagined it all.

Elena sighed and voiced goodbye as she parted ways with Bonnie and turned into her classroom. She waited by the door, hoping he would show up right before the bell rang. Even Mr. Saltzman looked out the door every couple seconds and asked, "What? No PDA this morning?"

Finally she had to go to her seat, and she did so begrudgingly. She barely paid attention as Mr. Saltzman spoke, or any of her other teachers from the next three classes. Finally it was Chemistry, which was a class they shared-they were even lab partners.

When she walked into class her first reaction was her stomach plummeting to the floor as she noticed, there was no Stefan. She walked over to the counter she usually shared with him and tried not to show that she was upset he wasn't there.

She sat in her chair and moved the safety goggles that sat on the table back and forth a bit. She was so engrossed with not making eye contact with anyone that she did not notice that some one had sat beside her until disembodied hands stole the goggles away from her.

She looked up, startled. But that reaction was soon replaced with relief. "Stefan, where have you been?" She talked in a low whisper for the teacher had just began to speak.

He leaned his head closer to hers as if to look at something he was showing her and whispered. "Sorry I didn't catch you this morning, I was five minutes late to my first class. And just now I got stopped in the hall by Matt."

Elena let out a breath that she didn't realize that she had been holding. "I thought something bad might have happened..." She admitted.

He smiled at her, though she could tell it was forced, and answered. "No, everything's..." He trailed off as if trying to find the right word to say. "Everything will be fine."
She couldn't help but be a bit skeptical at his words. "Are we still going talk later?"
He hesitated and and looked her in the eyes. She loved his eyes, they were the brightest green she had ever seen and seemed to twinkle all the time. Except right now. "Yes. Later."

They then continued the class acting as if everything was alright. But then, she thought to herself, maybe everything is alright and I'm just paranoid.

The rest of the school day was like Chemistry class. They walked and laughed together, sat with their friends at lunch and acted like everything was just fine. Then when school let out at 2:15 they walked out of the building with Matt, Bonnie, and Caroline and headed for the Mystic Grill for a bite.

Now while Elena enjoyed being with her friends, this day she wished they would all eat quickly and not request anymore after school activities. It seemed Bonnie could tell that she was distracted because after fifteen minutes she looked at her watch and then pulled on Matt's arm.

"Matt, can you take Care and me to the mall, please?" She turned to look at Elena, "You have something going on after this, right?"

Elena had never been more grateful to her friend in her life. She hoped that her gratitude showed through her eyes. "Yes, I do, and Stefan was going to drop me off, right?" She glanced at him and saw that he was smiling and rolling his eyes at her.

He stood and grabbed his jacket. "Yeah, we better start going."

"Us too!" Bonnie cried pulling a confused Matt to his feet.

"I didn't agree to anything!"

"Uh huh, let's go."

The girl's hugged as they departed for the weekend and Stefan and Matt gave each other casual nods. Then Elena and Stefan headed to his car and when they were right outside it they both paused. Stefan was looking down at the ground, and Elena couldn't really read his expression. She was just silent as she waited for him.

Finally he got into his car and she did the same. He drove in silence until they came to a place that she knew very well. It was the small childrens park behind the library-she had spent most of her childhood in that park with Bonnie, Caroline, Matt and Jeremy.

He parked the car and then exited, coming to her side to open her door and escort her out. She smiled at him as he took her hand and continued to hold it as he led her to the park swings.

The park was pretty vacant for a Friday afternoon, only a couple of families were their with their small children. Stefan led her to a swing and she sat and looked up at him. She followed him with her gaze as he walked behind her and gently began to push her.

She knew that Stefan had quiet spells. They didn't happen often, but when they did she respected them. They usually only occurred when he was thinking about his parents.

He had told her early on in their relationship why he lived by himself; that his father had died when he was ten, and that his mother left him a couple of years after. He had lived with a couple of aunts and uncles until they realized that his father had left everything he ever owned to Stefan. They had not been happy about that, but legally, Stefan was able to make a bunch of his own decisions, until finally he settled down in the house he lived in now in Mystic Falls. It had been one of his father's summer homes that Stefan himself had never personally visited.

"I want to start with sorry."

At those words, Elena dragged her feet to come to a stop.

"I haven't been honest with you, because... I thought it would be better that way. And I had thought, that by moving here, I could escape all my problems...but it turns out my problems know where I live."

He sighed and looked up into the sky. "The thing is... the person in the picture last night, the person who was at my house last night... is my brother. One... of my brothers."

"One of... as in... you have more?" She asked. She didn't understand, first why he wouldn't tell her that he had brothers, and second... why did he inherit all of his fathers things and not them?

"Yes. I do. I have two older brothers and... three older sisters. I'm the youngest. The guy from last night was my brother Damon. Now... ask away, I know you want to."

And she did want to, desperately. Well, he had given her permission hadn't he? "Why didn't you tell me? Why would you keep five siblings a secret?" She decided that would be her first question.

He took the swing beside her and just sat. "My siblings all left for one reason or another as soon as they could. They never really came back, so I thought it best to pretend they didn't even exist. And it worked, for a good five years. Until now."

Suddenly it seemed it was talking to himself, as if he had forgotten that she was there. "And of course it had to be him. It couldn't be anyone else, that would be just too simple."

Elena started to feel slightly awkward and uncomfortable. She could hear venom in his voice that she had never heard anyone talk with before. She had never known one person could have so much anger in their voice. She was almost too scared to ask another question. Almost.

"Why did your father leave you with everything... and not one of your other siblings?"

He chuckled just a little though it had no light in it. "He was only my father. My mother got around a bit."

It was quite for a moment as she tried to digest everything. "There's still something I don't understand, Stefan. Why pretend to be an only child? Why did your siblings just leave like that?"

Stefan stared at his feet. "My siblings never really ever liked my father, and they weren't too fond of our mother either. They decided to escape as quickly as they could...and then in the end even my mother escaped. And why pretend they didn't exist? I was only playing the same game they were. And I was the only one who knew them anyway. We moved around so much they never really made friends, and if they did they never mentioned them. My father never introduced them to his family, so they didn't even know they existed, so you see? It was easy just to pretend they had never been there."

"Until now." Elena said quietly.

Stefan laughed dryly. "Yes. Until now."

"Why did you say of course it had to be him? What's wrong with this brother that makes him worse than all the others?"

Stefan looked as if he was about to answer and then swallowed it. He shook his head and hopped off of the swing. "I haven't even told you yet why Damon is here."

Elena got off of her swing too and stared up at him, aware of the fact that he had heard but decided to ignore her last question. "Tell me."

"My older sister has a six month baby that she can no longer take care of, apparently. And apparently, I am the only one who she thinks is responsible enough to take care of her. The baby I mean."
Elena cocked her head to the side and her mouth fell open as if she was about to reply, but no words were coming to her. Finally she said, "What?"

He sniffed a laugh, "That's what I said. Anyway, the only reason my brother is here to drop off my niece at my house."

Elena shook her head in disbelief. "Is that legal?"

Stefan shrugged slowly. "My family doesn't really care about legalism."

"But... so what are you going to do with her?"

"I was hoping you would help with that... I need a nanny... and was wondering if you knew anyone."

"I .." She was still trying to process the thought that her boyfriend was now in charge of a baby. What kind of family did this boy come from? What was she getting herself into? She tried to push all those thoughts away and focus on Stefan. He needed her right now. "I can't think of anyone at the top of my head, but I can look into it. But wait- if he gave you the baby... where is she now?"

"My brother is watching her." He admitted reluctantly.

"So... the brother that you dislike the most is watching her?" She asked.

He sighed, grabbed her hand and just started walking; she kept up along side him. "So far he's the only one she'll stop crying for."

She looked up at him and squinted as the sun got in her eyes. He stopped walking and turned just a bit to shield her from the sun.

"I'm so sorry, Elena. I never meant to lie to you... I had just thought that that stage in my life was over with-the past in the past, you know? I didn't think it would ever come back."

She smiled back and wrapped her arms around his waist. "It's okay, I forgive you. Even if you still haven't answered one of my questions yet. But you don't have to answer until you can, okay?"

He gave her a smile this time and kissed her on the top of her head that sent tingles throughout her whole body. "I love you, you know that."

She nodded. "Yes, I know."
He chuckled and then started back for his car. "Let's go to my house, you can meet her-my niece-Danielle."

"Sounds like a plan." She agreed.

The walked back to the car hand in hand in silence. Once they were in the vehicle and on their way, Stefan spoke again.

"I just want to warn you about Damon. He... he doesn't really have any moral standings. He likes his drink, he likes his girls, he likes fast cars. If he wants something, he'll do what ever it takes to get it. He's also rather childish in that..." He paused as if he were trying to find all the right words, " he likes to play trivial mind games and he likes to see how far he can press someone before they snap. I just... I just want you to be careful, okay?"

Elena could tell this was really weighing on his mind, and his brother certainly sounded like the kind of crowd they usually avoided so she agreed.

"Of course, and with you by my side, I will have nothing to worry about."

(Now)

Damon's POV

"Okay... I guess proper introductions should be made..." Stefan trailed off a bit.

Damon grinned and took over. He took not-Katherine's hand and kissed her knuckles. "Hello, I'm Damon Salvatore, and you are?"

"Elena Gilbert." She answered patiently waiting for him to return her hand, he could tell by the slightly annoyed look on her face.

He let it go only after he caught a glimpse of the look on Stefan's face. It only brought a bigger smile to his. "Nice to meet you, Elena. Terribly sorry that I dropped by unannounced- just think of how incredibly awkward that would have been if I came when the two of you were alone and-"

"Yes, well introductions made, where's Danielle?" Stefan cut in looking about the room.

He shrugged. "Napping in the spare room you gave me."

He watched as Stefan took Elena's hand and led her upstairs, he trailed behind them until Stefan stopped and looked back at him thoroughly ticked off.

"Don't you have somewhere you should be?"

Damon pretended to think for a moment, though a thought did come to his mind. "You are right... maybe I should step out for a quick bite..." Here he smirked at his little brother. "If you know what I mean..." He was about to open his mouth and let his fangs extend, but Stefan's eyes widen and he spoke quickly.

"Actually why don't you just go to the kitchen and throw a pizza in the oven for dinner, okay?"

Damon put a pout face on and then caught Elena's eyes. "He's so bossy sometimes, I don't know how you can stand it!" He sighed dramatically and then bounded the stairs three at a time.

He went to the kitchen and threw in a pizza because he realized he really was hungry-even though he knew that food wasn't going to satisfy him. He was going to need something substantial, and soon.

He sat at the island in the kitchen and frowned as he began to think- his head in his hands. While Stefan had been at school he had done an inspection of most of the rooms-though not a thorough one. Mainly to take in inventory on what all rooms were there.

Out of all the homes Stefan's dad had and all the places they had moved, this had not been one of them. Which was really a shame, it was a great place.

Now he just had to figure out how he could stay longer, so that he could actually start looking for information. He knew that Stefan had to know something, and he knew that if any house had anything it would be this one. He had already searched all of the other ones.

Just then he heard a crying from upstairs. He rolled his eyes. He wondered if the child only cried so it could be held. They started sneaky conivingness at such a young age now a days.

He sighed and twisted the ring on his finger. Maybe he could stay in town, without actually staying at the house? He would be able to get a round without a nanny seeing him, right? And maybe if it's a college age girl... well those are always fun to have around...

But maybe staying in the house would be better. He could be there twenty four seven and be able to actually search without question... the only problem was still be the nanny. Maybe if Stefan hired a really old woman she would not even pay attention.

He narrowed his eyes when he heard voices headed for the kitchen.

"She really is adorable." He heard Elena say.

"Yes.. she is.. when she's not screaming, I think I'll make her something."

They entered the kitchen but Damon did not acknowledge them, nor did Stefan acknowledge him. Elena glanced over at him, though, as she sat on a stool across the island from him, setting Danielle on her lap. She looked from one brother to the other and then finally asked, "What am I supposed to tell Bonnie?"

"Bonnie?" Stefan asked, Damon looked up, intrigued.

"Yes, Bonnie. I told her about what happened last night, she's my best friend, I tell her everything."

"Everything?" Damon inquired raising both of his eyebrows at her inquisitively. She blushed and turned her face away.

"Yes." Though this time she sounded less sure. Damon rolled his eyes.

"Well... I guess... you can tell her I have a brother..."

" You want me to lie?"

"No! If she doesn't ask about anything else, it's not really lying is it?"

Damon prayed that his pizza would heat faster so that he could leave. Then he thought to himself, why am I making myself a pizza? Since when do I listen to anyone?

He jumped up and headed for the hall.

"Wait- where are you going?" Stefan asked, only a couple of steps behind him. Damon sighed and did not turn to face him.

"Why do you care?"

"I don't. I just want to make sure your...not..."

"Not what?" Damon raised both of his eyebrows again, this time slightly amused. He wondered how his baby brother would get himself around this without saying anything too revealing to his girlfriend. He seemed to realize what Damon was thinking and he set his face into a frown, a worried line appearing across his forehead.

"No, you know exactly what I'm talking about. We are not even going to go into that. I won't let you out there." His voice slightly wavered with his last words. And he had every right too.

Damon's arms had been crossed during their brief argument, but now he lowered them and pulled himself up to look down at his baby brother. He narrowed his eyes and when he spoke, his fangs were visible.

"I don't know who you think you are kid, but no one, especially not some preppy mama's boy who has a preppy little girlfriend who looks mighty tasty, tell me what to do. You got that baby brother?"

Stefan swallowed hard, trying hard not to waver. "Leave Elena out of this."

Damon was growing impatient now and he grabbed Stefan by the collar. He looked behind Stefan and saw that Elena was watching.

"One second." He pulled his brother into the hall and then pushed him against the wall, hard. Stefan moaned as his head smacked against it. The mirror next to him shuddered. Damon ignored it all.

"I can't let you out there." Stefan coughed out.

"Why, Stefan? Tell me why." He switched to two hands and pinned him.

Stefan tried to wiggle himself away but after a moment realized it was useless. "Mother once told me that you don't need people's..." his voice got lower, "blood. That you can hunt animals. But you chose human just for fun. That's just wrong, Damon."

Damon narrowed his eyes and then slowly let Stefan off the wall, but still kept a hand on his chest to keep him in place. "Of course I don't need people blood, but it's like this: Do kids need candy? No, but that doesn't stop them from eating it, now does it." He grabbed Stefan by the neck once more and dragged him toward the door and forced him to look outside. Some children played across the street and an elderly couple were taking a walk.

"Stefan, do you know what I see when I look outside?" He didn't answer, so Damon continued. "Candy. Fresh candy all for me."

He turned Stefan back around and now pinned him against the door.

"Now... what was it you were saying about, 'I'm not even going to talk about it'?"

"Go to hell."

Damon smirked. "All ready there, buddy. Now. I'm going out. I expect the door to be unlocked when I get back... you don't want any broken windows, do you?"

He let him go and Stefan slid to the floor trying to breath.

"Buh-bye." And with that, he was out the door.

(Then)

Damon's POV

Damon looked around the park confused. Katherine had told him to meet him out here, but she was nowhere in sight. He was almost about to go back to his car when he heard a rustle behind him. He yelled as he was grabbed by the collar and lifted into the air and then pushed roughly against a nearby tree.

He was about to scream and lash out, until he looked up and saw that it was only Katherine. He rolled his and wiggled about but his girlfriend still kept him up there looking him over. Finally she let him go; Damon fell to his feet and rubbed the back of his head.

"What was that for?" He asked as he pulled her over for a kiss. She dodged it-however-by ducking under his arm and then capturing his head in a lock.

"You are going to have to learn to defend yourself, so that when you become a vampire, you'll be ready for anything."

"But won't all that come naturally?" He asked, pulling on her arm and dropping to the ground. He tried to roll away but she caught him with her foot.

Katherine looked down at him and narrowed her dark brown eyes. "No. Swiftness comes, but without knowing what to do with it-it's useless."

Damon frowned. "Why can't you just teach me after you turn me." He asked crossly and she let him up and he brushed the dirt off of his leather jacket.

Katherine shook her head at him. "I'll have plenty of other things to teach you then... how to defend your self against Dream Walking or Compulsion.. how to use Dream Walking. I want you to be the only one with a trick up their sleeve- with a swift fist and a quick bite. Now, are we going to start practicing or what?"

Damon contemplated the thought for a moment more and then jumped up with fists at the ready. Katherine sniffed with haughty laughter and pushed his fists down.

"Let's try it like this..." She lunged at him and he quickly turned to his left-barely missing her. She turned with inhuman speed and pounced for him again. This time he could not escape her. He fell to the ground-hard- the wind almost knocked out of him.

Katherine stood above him, a seductive smile gracing her features. She slowly lowered her self so that she was sitting on his stomach.

Damon struggled to breath. She noticed this and smirked, lowering her face to his. "Do I take your breath away..." She breath into his ear.

His heart began to race at her nearness-but he didn't have enough breath to answer her with.

Finally Katherine rolled over him, and laid beside him. "Good try. I guess you deserve an award..." She turned his face to hers and slowly-teasingly brushed her lips against his.

He closed his eyes as he felt her lips against his. When she pulled away he sighed. "When. When can you turn me so that we can do this all the time?"

She laughed and sat him. "In time, my impatient boy... in time."