A/N: In answer to some of my lovely reviews: Yes, I do plan on switching up the plot, as you're already starting to see. Cynthia is currently of the mind to help her ally/friend and help herself get back home, but you'll see how all that plays out in time.

And yes, the Originals will be involved soon. ;) Give Cynthia time. We have fun plans.

Monday, Monday. Can't trust that day. Cynthia had gone to school with Jeremy this morning. They opted to walk in silence, both listening to music and generally being lost in their own worlds. Cynthia still thought that Jeremy tolerating her presence for the entire trip without making any snide remarks could be counted as a victory. The two pseudo siblings split ways once the school was actually in sight. The petite brunette made her way directly into the school and air conditioning, with a secondary goal of finding the Mystic Trio. Jeremy was still in his stoner phase, and hooked on Vicki, so she left him to it.

"Morning ladies," she introduced herself, having found the three near Bonnie's locker. "I come bearing gifts."

Predictably, this announcement soon had three sets of eyes focused on her. Cynthia grinned and waved, her smile only brightening more at the grumpy expression on her not twin's face.

Bonnie the Peacemaker spoke first. "What's the occasion?" Her voice was warm and inviting, a contrast to Caroline's excited oohs or Elena.

"Is it an apology for this weekend?" Her not twin asked snottily. Cynthia wondered if Elena was more put out about the accidental panic attack she caused them or the fact that she had a best friend that Elena didn't approve of.

Before Cynthia could quite work up a retort for that, Caroline interjected. "You aren't still upset about that are you?" Dang! Care to the rescue. Respect. "Your twin here has finally shown an interest in someone? Why can't you be happy for her?

Okay, maybe not quite as much respect. But the sentiment was appreciated. Mostly.

Cynthia pulled a face as she met Bonnie's eyes to quietly indicate how awkward all of this tension was. Clearing her throat, she decided to pretend that last bit of Caroline's hadn't been said. "Okay. Anyway, I got bracelets and necklaces. I know our dear Elena already has a necklace from Stefan," she sing songed the vampire's name, "but the rest of us have more options."

Elena rolled her eyes good naturedly at this while the others grinned.

"So just pick whatever you want," Cynthia concluded.

Bonnie touched the petite girl's shoulder and smiled warmly again, "Thank you." Caroline's thanks came shortly thereafter, somewhat distractedly.

Beaming to the three, Cynthia waved off their thanks. "You're welcome, of course. But Elena is half right. This is an apology, just not for last night. Summer break was awful, and I honestly feel like I am an entirely new person now on the other side of it. So I wanted to do something to show you guys how much I appreciate your patience with me and your friendship. I feel like I didn't just keep you guys from my life, but I also completely dropped the ball on everything y'all are working through as well. I know Bonnie is a witch -"

"I'm not a witch," the other girl hastily denied.

"Sorry," Cynthia winked impishly. "I know that BonBon is a necromancer, and that Elena is crazy about Stefan. But what about you Caroline?"

The blonde girl shrugged a little as she put on a necklace. "Same old, same old. Dad's off with his new boyfriend, and Mom is around less than ever. All I've got is school really. Well, and the Mystic Falls beautification committee, and the dance committee, and there's that recycling campaign I'm working on."

Bonnie and Elena's eyes had started to glaze, and Cynthia felt bad for her.

"We almost lost our football coach, which would have completely wrecked cheer season, but luckily that's still a thing," Caroline continued, peaking Cynthia's interest and giving her an opening to change the subject before the others made excuses to run off from sheer boredom. Bonding time was important.

Plus, almost losing Mr. Tanner was news to her. Or at least, the fact everyone – or at least, Caroline Forbes, gossip queen – knew about it was news. "Wait, what do you mean? What happened with Tanner?"

"Oh that's right, you probably missed the whole drama while you were off being naught," The blonde teased, sparking a playfully indignant 'Hey!' From Cynthia. "So theory is Tanner must have gotten super drunk at the game. All we know for sure is that he was so excited with us actually winning a game that he decided – apparently- that he didn't want to actually teach anymore. That way, he could focus all his energy on building the team'." Caroline gossiped, finger quoting the air with a grin, then shot Elena a supportive smile. "The crazy win a certain Salvatore of yours helped earn was enough to make it happen. Somehow, Tanner convinced the school."

"So... are they going to be looking for a new history teacher for us?" Cynthia asked, a smile threatening to form at the happy expressions on the other girls as they nodded. "Wow, days with Tanner are almost over for us."

Elena, now wearing a bracelet and having decided to graciously forgive her twin, slipped an arm around the smaller girl's shoulders. "It's hard to imagine," she agreed. "But freedom is just around the corner."

"Brilliant," the petite girl enthused, grinning at all of them, then focused on Caroline again. "I don't know how you juggle so many things, Care. You keep track of everything so incredibly well. You're like Pepper Potts."

The blonde girl just frowned, and Cynthia sighed.

"Who?"

"You and me, movie night ASAP. I can't believe you haven't watched Iron Man yet." Cynthia wasn't requesting, this was a demand. "Chill from all your business for one night and hang out with me," she added, just in case the other girl was going to try and bail because she thought the movie sounded stupid.

Much to Cynthia's relief, Caroline laughingly agreed while Bonnie tugged at both of their hands.

"Alright, come on, guys. Class time." The reluctant witch ordered.

History was more of a free period. Tanner had taken the 'stop teaching' directive seriously. All he did was list a chapter on the board for them to read and then instructed everyone to keep the volume down to a dull roar. The man then proceeded to talk to anyone remotely interested about the first game of the season, his amazing find of 'new and rare talent', and how the Mystic Falls Timberwolves were going to take state by storm this year. Just you wait.

Naturally, this meant that every one of the kids and their cousins were goofing off. Some of Cynthia's new/old classmates were on their phone. Others were milling around and chatting. A few students had even broken out some sort of card game in one corner of the room.

Cynthia was doodling in her notebook and typing a text to Damon about the results of his meddling. She had just pressed send when a warm voice drew her attention away.

"Hey."

The girl looked up into caring green eyes set deep beneath Stefan's very contemplative forehead. She gave him a grin and a salute. "'eyyy, 'ow are ye, matey?"

Perched on a vacated desk behind Stefan was her beautiful pretend twin. Elena was currently shaking her head and giggling. 'Cynthia, you are so weird. I can't take you anywhere."

"Feel free to let me skip school and stay at home then," she responded sweetly.

Stefan was nodding in agreement. For a second, Cynthia pretended it was with her, but his words put paid to that quite quickly. "It's true," Stefan said. "I fear that her strangeness may be incurable."

Gee, thanks Stef. "Your concern is noted and somewhat appreciated, but I'm five b five." Cynthia assured them both.

"See, that's what you say," Boy Wonder said stubbornly. "But your judgment may be impaired."

"I say it because it's true, Stefan," Cynthia retorted in mock offense. "What are you talking about 'impaired', Salvatore? I don't even drink. I'm the last candidate for experimenting with recreational drugs."

Bonnie drifted over at this point, bless her heart. "It's true. That's why she almost never comes to parties."

"I'm going to have to side with my twin on this one." Aww, even Elena was standing up for her! The jewelry and speech were a smashing success! Cynthia was going to have to thank Damon again. "She hates pretty much all drugs. When Jeremy first started using, she pitched a fit worse than me. Since then, I think she decided to pretend it didn't exist."

Okay, ouch. Bad move, alter self. Bad move.

"But alcohol is like... It's more impossible to get her to talk positively about than dating." Elena continued.

Bonnie grinned, enjoying Cynthia squirming. She was sure of it. "We're pretty sure she plans on having nine cats or something."

"The only reason she even went to the game was to support you and Matt," Elena had wrapped her arms around Stefan in a hug, nuzzling his shoulder.

Cynthia was beyond weirded out. Really, they thought she couldn't be taken anywhere. Elena and Stefan were being all couple-ly and looking at each other with such adoration, and it was just making Cynthia heartsick and jealous. She cleared her throat uncomfortably.

"Ladies, I appreciate the support, but I am right here. I can speak for myself too. And I'm still not looking for a romantic relationship," she glared briefly at Bonnie, although there was no heat too it. "Speaking of though, you," Cynthia pointed to Stefan, "still owe me cheese fries. You had better not bail."

Stefan gave her a half smile, glancing down to Elena's pleased face at the two bonding, then back to Cynthia. "I wouldn't dream of it. Meet me at the Grill after practice?"

"Whenever. Wherever," Cynthia responded, then promptly went back to her doodling and conversation with Damon. She did continue humming the Shakira song until Tanner finally snapped at her to stop.

School is so dulllllll

Maybe you should have let me kill that coach then

Don't be silly, hot shot. Your fangs are all mine

Now who is possessive? Sorry, no can do, kitten.
There's more than enough of me to go around

Crushing all my hopes and dreams in one fell swoop
I may never recover

Soul crushing is one of my favorite hobbies

And yet I keep coming back for more

Secretly you enjoy it
Zach sends his love btw

? He does!?
Has he finally accepted my suit?

No, he doesn't
Wouldn't hold my breath for that if I were you

Right, because I'm a teenager again
Damn

Be glad you aren't in Stefan's shoes

I thank fate on the daily for being spared that

Cynthia didn't pay a lick of attention to any of her other classes. It showed, but she didn't care. Not today, she was too absorbed with plotting. Her notebook was full of doodled names. People she needed to contact, and people she missed. There may be an unhealthy amount of phone numbers that Cynthia knew from memory as well that she was absolutely not considering dialing if there was a single payphone to be found in the area. Not at all. Writing them down was therapeutic, not because she worried she might forget them either.

Sheila Bennett was high at the top of Cynthia's priority list. But she wasn't alone up there. Jonathan Gilbert, her new father/uncle figure would be a prize if she could cultivate him. He would, after all, end up in possession of a white oak stake. Not to mention, Cynthia was fairly sure John was more on Isobel and his children's side than he was Katherine's. He might loathe vampires, but Cynthia hoped he might be a potential resource for information.

Then there was Elijah. One of the most reasonable of the Mikaelson siblings. Luckily, he should be undaggered. Cynthia knew that there was no way there would ever really be perfect peace in a town like Mystic Falls. Not with doppelgangers and vampires and all that lot, there would always be another Big Bad.

But she wasn't going to live through a TV show the exact way, or even close to the exact way, that she remembered it having played out. There was no way in God's green earth that she planned to be passive. Her brain would start dribbling out of her nose and ears from sheer boredom.

Besides, helping people won favors. And favors would be very necessary to ever go home.

She went to the Grill around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. A little bit earlier, to be honest, so Cynthia could try their phone without worrying about any eavesdroppers. None of the numbers went to someone she knew though, not even her ex-fiancé who she had thought would be the least likely candidate for Supernatural Witness Protection. Half of the phone numbers she tried weren't even in service.

Pushing that failure from her mind, Cynthia perched at the bar and started chattering happily with the bartender as she waited for Stefan. Her general reputation for being sober, unlike either of her siblings, earned her an amused conversational partner. They chatted about college and the futility of romance in a small town where everyone was everyone else's ex love.

Stefan showed up only a couple of minutes late. Cynthia twitched a smile at his nervous behavior. She wasn't offended that she didn't make his highest priority. Besides, he showed up at all, and didn't really need to earn 'date' points. All Stefan really needed to do to make Cynthia happy this afternoon was pay for her meal.

She supposed a nice conversation would be fine too.

"Cynthia. It's good to see you," he called out. Stefan was standing a few paces away from the bar, so Cynthia finally left her perch and skipped over to him.

"You can call me Cyn, you know. Everyone else does." A pause. "Well, almost everyone does." Except, you know, your brother. Who has hopefully settled on the tolerable nickname of Kitten.

"Okay Cyn," Stefan gave her an adorable grin. Cynthia could appreciate what her not twin – and plenty of fans, and two blondes – found so attractive about the man. When he smiled, it made you want to smile. "Can I still buy you those fries? Or have I arrived too late to claim any of your time today?"

He was laying it on thick, and it was hilarious. Cynthia's smile was honest and bright as she looped elbows with the teen vamp. "You can absolutely treat me to cheese fries, my good man. Never say that I would deny you such an opportunity!"

A few minutes later, the two were seated comfortably in a booth. Cynthia had ordered a chocolate shake with a water on the side, and after a great deal of coaxing convinced Stefan to order a strawberry. The idea of course being that they could share. Not that Stefan needed to be aware of that part. Strawberry tasted good, and it would be silly for them to both get the same drink anyway. Besides, they were practically family.

Stefan hadn't seemed to appreciate that logic. Cynthia thought he might be on to her cunning plan.

They talked about empty things at first. How classes were. How they were adjusting. An apology for trying to convince the others she was drunk or compelled and to get their attention. (It wasn't what Stefan said, but Cynthia was pretty sure that was how she should translate 'Uh, I'm sorry about today in history. I was out of line with some of my comments.')

When the cheese fries arrived, Cynthia stole the first one before the waiter had even fully placed the plate on the table. She savored the taste before sighing happily and looking up to Stefan again.

"As you can see, your ploy to get me alone to talk has been successful. This is where you hit me with your best shot." Cynthia smirked then half sang, "Fire away."

Stefan was staring at her. Either because she kept singing, or because that was just Stefan's default. "I'm not sure how much you are aware."

"Gonna have to stop you there. I'm very aware." She interjected. "I have no blank spots since meeting Damon." Plenty before though.

The stare had shifted from intense to intensely puzzled. "None."

Stefan, dear, you usually aren't quite this slow.

"Yep. I remember this weekend quite clearly. Damon used 'Drain'. It was not very effective. We tried to give you a potion known as alcohol. You dodged. I won't say that I haven't been compelled at all, because maybe I wouldn't remember something small. But overall, I'd say Damon hasn't forced me to forget anything."

She sipped on her drink, pretending this wasn't an inquisition. Mmmn, chocolate.

"The fact that your so called friend could be controlling you, that's okay in your book? Even if he's making you okay with everything?" Stefan finally took a fry himself. "I hadn't thought it strange that you were fine with offering me a drink, but then Elena and Bonnie mentioned you hate alcohol. Don't you wonder what else about your personality he might have messed with?"

Cyn munched on her fries, contemplating how to answer the rather loaded questions.

"First, if I have been compelled to change my personality, there really isn't anything that will reverse it. Short of the said vampire dying. Which I do not approve of, by the way. Nor should you. You insisted on him turning, so you're stuck with him. Fratricide is bad."

It was such a shame that she couldn't just stare right back at Stefan and observe his minute reactions. Sadly, getting her point across took priority. "Second, you seem to be operating under the assumption that just because your brother has his emotions turned off and has embraced his vampirism, he therefore must be a monster. Don't you see how that is a false equivalency? He's a person. A person who doesn't know how to handle high expectations. I expect he is used to failing them and being considered a disappointment, so he decided one day, why bother. He also happens to be someone whom I quite like."

Stefan leaned forward, pressing his hands together as he did so.

"But don't you get it? Turning off your humanity, your emotions. That's exactly what a monster is. Someone who kills just for sport. Who doesn't care who they hurt in the process."

"And yet here I stand," Cynthia pointed out. "Vicki is still alive too. I'm not sure that I could say Damon cares about me. That would be reaching. He does, however, find my willingness to feed him useful. I know for a fact that I'm not the only human cool with donating my blood either."

Hell, when she had actually lived through this decade the first time around, Cynthia had been a part of a fandom that damn near fetishized being fed off of by vampires. As bizarre as it had seemed at the time, Cynthia couldn't honestly say she found the process horrifying or discomfiting anymore. Who knew the desensitization could come so in handy?

"Besides, I would think you'd be more appreciative, Stef. Your big brother isn't running around and hunting prey. Think of all the casualties saved, if that helps you sleep better."

Stefan considered her words before half shrugging. "The others probably aren't okay with quite to the extreme that you are."

He didn't mention any gratitude. Maybe he considered her a casualty as well.

Cynthia smiled up at him, his shake mysteriously in her hand. "I'm just lucky I guess!" Stealing some of the strawberry, she promptly abandoned it for more cheese fries, giggling as Stefan playfully swiped the glass and hid it from her. She thought about trying to hold a council of sorts with all three of the Salvatore men and pretending that she and Damon hadn't already had a night long discussion about the things she could remember from the Vampire Diaries show. Cyn scrapped the idea shortly thereafter. Repetition and waiting were both boring and cost precious advantages.

"The whole of the Founders' Council is aware of vampires, by the way. Heads up."

Stefan almost choked on his drink. Lucky for him he didn't really need air.

Did he?

Come to think of it, she was pretty sure that vampires could be suffocated. They just bounced back. Whoops, her bad then.

"How?" Came the impressively intelligible response once Stefan had recovered.

"Journaling seems to be rather a thing amongst founding families. Not just a Elena and you thing to bond over. Their – our – ancestors from the last time they walked boldly amongst this town left journals that are passed down to this day. The secret and belief along with it. Not to every member, and usually not to children, but passed down all the same. I'm not sure exactly how detailed they were, but I do know that the Gilbert pocket watch may be in use sooner than later."

In the same breath, as if it weren't a topic change, Cynthia leaned forward and stared intently right back at Stefan. "My turn to ask questions. What are your intentions towards Elena."

The distraction worked as a very confused and slightly put off Stefan reared back from the table. "I don't know what you think of me, of us, given what you know about Damon, but I would never hurt her."

"Don't be silly," Cynthia accepted easily. "Stefan, I know how crazy about her you are. And how much fun you are having playing human for her so you can get to know her better. But that doesn't tell me your ultimate intentions towards my twin." That felt so ungainly on her tongue still. Twin. The term didn't belong to Elena in her mind. How could it? When where everyone else saw compassion and selflessness she saw a myopic, emotional view of the world.

Still, the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb and all that. Cynthia supposed she wasn't alone in feeling that way. And maybe things would improve in time.

Stefan was giving her a half smile – clearly unaware of how much she was mentally critiquing the current epic love of his life – then stared at the near empty plate of cheese fries. Hey, you snooze you lose. Then, seeing as she had stolen his shake again, Stefan retaliated by stealing hers.

"I do want to get to know her," the thief agreed. "She is such a beautiful and kind person. She's all the best parts of humanity."

Cynthia tilted her head, watching him curiously. "Am I the worst?"

If that was the case, maybe she could call Elena twin. They'd make for a nice set of bookends, being opposites and all that.

"I wouldn't say that," Stefan assured. "I'm not always convinced you are human, but you definitely aren't just the bad. I've seen you. You look out for people. Don't think I didn't notice the new jewelry today."

She politely refrained from telling Stefan that it had been a bribe. Or that Damon had paid – or more probably not paid – for them in the first place. Cynthia decided to interrupt this before Stefan could proceed to the logical question of 'where did you get the vervain that I smelled on them'.

"So, what are you going to do when Elena realizes what you are and freaks? Because she will. Elena isn't nearly as chill and open minded about the undead existing as I am. She gets bent out of shape about secrets and deaths that can't be changed."

In some respects, Elena's demand to see the best in people was admirable, but it had its flaws. Much like Caroline's optimism, or Bonnie's willingness to sacrifice her all for her friends.

"She's very compassionate." Cynthia wasn't sure if Stefan was agreeing with her or correcting her.

Either way, Cyn dipped her head in agreement. "I know she is, Stef. That's why I know she'll be horrified at first over all of this. All of the people that Damon has killed this month alone... Elena won't know how to feel, how to react, or what to believe."

"You don't seem to be too upset about it. Maybe she'll come around."

Well, they had been completely fictional before she arrived here, so it was hard to care too much.

"You're reaching, and you know it. I don't care about what or who Damon has done in the past. I don't care who you've killed in your past either. Because it's in the past. No one is perfect. What I care about is you and Elena playing ping pong with each other's hearts. "

"If Elena doesn't want me around, then I'll leave. It's as simple as that," Stefan said at length. "I'm not looking to play with her emotions, Cynthia. I genuinely enjoy spending time with her, and I want to treasure the time with her I can have. It's a risk, and I'm well aware of that. But I'll look out for her."

Cynthia stacked the empty drinks on the equally barren plate.

"I believe you, Stef. And... I know this is going to sound weird given everything I just said, but I think you should be more honest with her. It isn't fair to lure her in and capture her heart under false pretenses, any more than it is fair to you for her to judge you based off her own preconceived notions. You should at least tell her the truth about Katherine."

She stood to leave, and Stefan quickly followed. "What did Damon tell you about Katherine?"

Facing the vampire now in front of her, Cynthia patted his cheek.

"Enough. Oh, speaking of honesty. I'm going to be telling my family and friends the truth about vampires soon. I won't out you boys, but I'm not going to leave them unprotected either. There's too much risk." Then she smiled happily and started to move away, "Thanks for the food and the chat. Give my love to Zach for me!"

"Not Damon?" Stefan called after her.

Knowing that she didn't really need to turn around, Cynthia smirked at his question and only paused her steps long enough to answer. "Damon already knows precisely where my heart lies, and what he is to me in turn."

In a pleasant contrast to the thinly veiled tension with Stefan, movie night with Caroline was absolutely fun and smooth sailing. Sheriff Forbes wasn't home yet, so the two had the run of the whole house. They had microwaved bags of popcorn for themselves and then melted chocolate chips into them. The Forbes were clearly superior to the Gilberts, seeing as they had chocolate chips on hand. Cynthia put in the dvd while Caroline poured them both tall glasses of soda.

"What's so special about this movie anyway?" The blonde asked.

"Well, it's amazing," Cynthia reassured her. "Plus there's RDJ – Robert Downey Jr – who is beyond brilliant. Just give it a try. Sassy superhero origin stories are fun. I swear."

And Caroline did give it a try. There were a couple of pauses, but the future Miss Mystic Falls watched all of the movie with Cynthia. The brunette dimension traveler was terribly proud.

"What did you think?" She prompted, honestly curious.

Her blonde friend looked mischievous. "Digging older men, Cyn? Who knew? No wonder you don't like any of the boys at school."

Cynthia gave a frustrated groan at that. "Don't even start with that, Caroline Forbes. Just because y'all are boy crazy doesn't mean I have to be."

"C'mon Cyn. Let me live vicariously through you," Caroline half whined. "I'm definitely like Pepper in that even serial womanizers ignore the fact of my existence romantically. My mystery guy vanished after that night at the bonfire."

Firstly, that would be the part of Pepper Potts' story that Care commented on first. Secondly, "Mystery guy?"

The other girl nodded, "Bon didn't see him, but there was this absolutely gorgeous guy in Mainline that night. He left so quickly though. I never got his name much less his number."

She knew full well that Care's mystery guy had been Damon luring in an easy feed. As much as she liked him, the way he had would have treated Caroline was not right.

"Then you deserve better. Don't settle for someone who isn't willing to and interested in getting to know you. I know a lot of people look at you and just think you're this shallow one trick pony or something. But you aren't, Care. Don't let anyone convince you that you are. Not even yourself."

Cynthia grabbed both of their abandoned bags of popcorn, as well as the fallen paper towels streaked with chocolate. When she stood back up, she found Caroline staring at her oddly.

"You really think I'm like Pepper?"

"Sure," Cynthia nodded. "You both take no nonsense. You couldn't really see it in this film, but one day, Stark is going to make her CEO officially. Because, let's face it, she already runs him and the company." She crumpled up the trash in her hands and tossed it before turning back to Caroline. "Except, someday, Care, you're going to take on the world."

The blonde laughed, but Cyn could tell she didn't buy it. Her eyes were too sad. "I don't exactly have a Tony Stark."

She just shrugged. "No, but that's not the worst thing. Stark is a shining example of the dangers that come with too much money and no impulse control. Besides, you'll find love in time. There will probably be some false starts; there usually is. But you'll get there. It isn't a race."

"Maybe."

Cynthia considered the obviously doubtful and still insecure face in front of her. Little surprise, Cynthia didn't exactly pride herself on her amazingly persuasive public speaking skills. She just wanted Caroline to know that she had support.

"Hey, have you ever thought about vlogging?" She asked, deciding to at least try to find a less depressing subject. "I know you can't possibly have much free time as it is, but you might be good at it."

Brooding derailed, Caroline was looking at her curiously now. "Vlog?"

"Yeah, video blogging. Usually on YouTube," Cynthia nodded, crashing on a couch since they were clearly going to be talking for a while before she went home. If she didn't sleep over.

"Why would I do that?" She sounded curious, but a little put off. Being a YouTube personality either sounded dumb or unrealistic to her, Cyn supposed.

She shrugged. "Maybe you wouldn't. It was just a thought. You're on point with both make up and fashion, and I'll bet you anything that there will be a day that people look to video gurus for tips on those."

They slipped into a comfortable silence, sitting next to each other now. It was actually nice. Being able to daydream, pretend all of this was normal. That Caroline was just a good friend going through a rough patch that she was trying to help as best she could.

The blonde leaned against her shoulder, and Cynthia started to pet the other girl's hair soothingly. She thought idly about how useful Bill Forbes might be. Someone with the ability to resist and overthrow compulsion wasn't a resource to throw away in haste. Still, someone who could torture his own daughter to 'help make her better' wasn't exactly a person that Cynthia wanted to invite into her little not life here. Besides which, asking Care to invite her dad back home would be positively mercenary. It was one thing to ask for magical help from a witch. It was another to poke at old, still healing wounds within a family just on the off chance there was some benefit.

So no.

"Does Pepper have a family?" Caroline asked quietly, still using Cynthia's shoulder as a pillow.

She didn't stop threading her hair through the other girl's hair, but she did have to consider for a bit. "Good question. I think in the comics she marries Happy – the chauffeur – and they may adopt kids. I don't think it's ever mentioned in the movies though." Nervously, she tacked on, "Well, the movie."

"That's... that's sad."

Cynthia hummed in agreement. "Yeah. Yeah it is. I'm sure she has some sort of family, no matter how dysfunctional. How are things with you and your parents? I know holidays have to be awkward."

"I just end up celebrating holidays twice most times. It's rough, but it's not like they're dead, you know? I just miss my dad. He's the one that really gets me."

Belatedly, Caroline winced, seeming to realize how poorly her cavalier statement about death might be taken.

"I don't think we should compare our parental losses or pain, Care. They're different, nonequivalent situations. Your parents may be alive, but how often do you really get to see them? It's still a mess you shouldn't have to deal with."

"Dad calls sometimes. But he's so wrapped up in Steven and his family. Mom – as you know – is almost never around. Especially these days. She's always in uniform and worrying about animal attacks. She's been obsessed lately. She doesn't even bother to pretend to play mom to me anymore."

Ouch, harsh. Especially given Cynthia knew how hard Liz was trying to protect her daughter. And would do so even if and after Caroline transitioned into a vampire.

"What's so special about animal attacks?" Cynthia asked, playing devil's advocate. "I mean, do they have anything significant in common? Anything suspicious?"

"Not that I know of," Caroline shrugged. "I mean, they were all at night, and mostly near the woods I think. We just have bad luck. I mean, it's Mystic Falls. The only bad thing that happens here is sometimes an animal goes rabid and gnaws on people."

Cynthia hopped up to her feet. "Why don't we find out? See if there is a reason your mom is going so crazy over all of this. And if not, then we confront her. I'll even make a powerpoint with plenty of pictures and transitions."

Her blonde friend giggled at that, but wasn't sold.

"Caroline Forbes, if you want your mother back – and I know you do – then you're gonna have to work at it to snap her out of this funk. That's all. We'll get through to her."

Tuesday was a bust. Which was rather a shame. Cynthia normally quite liked Tuesdays on principle. The others were swamped with homework, and Jeremy with being high drunk, and pining over a girl who kept stringing him along to fuel her own ego. Although credit where it was due, Vicki did do her best to help out her little brother. And for that, Cynthia could respect her. Not wanting her and Jeremy to be a long term thing was more of a 'the sort of person she encourages him to be' thing. Besides, someone could have redeeming qualities and still have a lot of growing up to do.

Wednesday was starting much the same, still with no word from Caroline about actually investigating with her. Either the blonde had decided to go it alone, or she didn't want to acknowledge a topic that made her feel vulnerable. Either way, Cynthia was agonizingly bored, and Damon hadn't texted her back since her date with Stefan.

A girl could get jealous. A girl has no name.

Cynthia wanted to tell herself that she didn't need the stupid vampire anyway. But Damon was the only one who knew everything. Because he was the only one she could really trust to take her seriously, and who might see any advantage in helping her. The fact he was good company was more of an added bonus.

So she would just have to take matters into her own hands.

"Hey, Aunt Jenna?" Cynthia leaned against the kitchen counter as her beautiful pseudo aunt was glaring at the news. "On a scale of weird to worried, how would you rate hidden indoor gardening?"

She practically floated to school that day, a smile continuously threatening to cross her features. Jenna was going to be having a talk with Zach today about growing illicit plants. Because why else would it be so well hidden? Her good mood was causing her baby bro to frown though. What a sad family dynamic they had.

"What's gotten you so cheerful this early in the morning?" He asked, pulling an earbud out so he could actually talk to her for once.

Cynthia mentally completed back flips.

"Oh, I talked to Jenna about something Damon and I discovered when we were hanging out. There's a hidden away garden in the basement. Jenna's convinced it must be weed or something. It's just kind of hilarious, given how much grief Elena gives you."

The fifteen year old tipped a smile himself. "Yeah. Maybe the Salvatores aren't that bad."

By Wednesday night, Cynthia was beyond done. The laptop was fighting her still, so she went to Elena. She wasn't sure which of them was more tech savvy, but, at a guess, Elena knew her actual twin better. And that guess paid off in spades. Elena playfully checked her for a concussion, because apparently she'd used the same password for everything – that was so changing pronto – but was willing to help all the same.

Now with the internet at her fingertips again, Cynthia at least had something to occupy her. Including reading scattered diary entries hidden under three folders worth of random poems and pictures. There wasn't really anything useful like she had hoped though. At least, not that Cynthia had found yet. The only conclusion she had been able to draw was that for one reason or another, the original Cynthia Gilbert had felt overwhelmed. Grief did that to you.

She glared at the computer screen as the pixels informed her that it was 11:37 at night. She should sleep, no matter how wired and antsy. But screw it. School could be sacrificed for progress. There was no way of knowing how time functioned here in comparison to her world. She shouldn't just be hanging around and doing nothing just because Damon wasn't around.

Closing the laptop and switching off the battery to the mouse, Cynthia stowed it away under her bed. Then she searched through her dresser, looking for sturdy wear that she wouldn't cry over destroying. Luckily or not, that consisted of about half of the wardrobe she inherited here. Changing out of her pyjamas and into the new clothes, Cynthia scoured around her closet and drawers for an empty backpack and a working flashlight. She pocketed her phone and grabbed a pair of old beat up tennis shoes, then headed downstairs as quietly as she could.

Jenna was studying in her room. Or at least, she assumed that was why the bedroom light was on and music was playing on a low volume, accompanied by occasional muttering. Both of her not siblings were walled in their own rooms, hopefully oblivious to her movements, because she so didn't want to explain.

Cynthia grabbed a water bottle on her way out the door, before claiming the last item she needed for this little mission, a shovel.

Nothing says Thursday like grave robbing. She had a grimoire to find, and quite the walk in the dark to get there. Was this a safe or clever idea? Absolutely not. That wasn't going to stop Cynthia though. She did text Damon, just for general open communication.

I'm gonna desecrate your dad's grave

Speak now or forever hold your peace

Throwing the shovel over her shoulder, Cynthia started the walk to the cemetery.

Damon met her at the entrance, and she tossed the shovel at him without a thought.'

"Did I stop being boring now? Or did I interrupt you imitating Stefan?" She hissed

Damon caught the shovel – stupid vampire reflexes – and then held his hands up in surrender. "Hold your fire. For one, I'm not interested in teen drama between us. For two, I've been working on distilling vervain so I can start building a tolerance." He paused as Cynthia shone her flashlight straight into his eyes, as she was feeling rather petty. Wincing and looking away, Damon continued. "I found a blood to alcohol ratio that Stefan didn't actually notice. That's something, isn't it?"

Cynthia huffed, then walked up the man and grabbed his arm.

"What, a drop of bagged blood to a bottle of alcohol?"

The twitch on Damon's face said that she was either right, or he was too amused to correct her.

"So what are we doing digging up dear old dad, again?"

It was kind of nice to know that Damon hadn't come just for Katherine, seeing as he'd apparently forgotten that little detail. Admittedly, their conversation had been pretty packed, and all of the particulars were bound to blur. But still, it was... nice.

Cynthia tucked her hair over and behind her ears before grinning slyly to her partner in crime.

"Getting a jump on all the other interested parties. We're going to find Emily Bennett's lost book of shadows, so to speak. Step one in convincing the living Bennett witches to help. Along with promising to kill almost all of the other vampires." Pearl and Harper were civilized, that much Cynthia remembered. The others... the tomb vampires tried to destroy the town. And ended up slaughtered, after advertising Katherine's status as 'alive'.

Damon had stopped walking to stare at her, his sudden stillness causing Cynthia to rock back as her own momentum was usurped by his inertia. This time, the girl shined the flashlight away from his face, just close enough to allow her to see his expression.

"You okay there?"

He stayed quiet for a while. "Why are you doing this? With her spell book, I could get any witch to open the tomb, as soon as I get my crystal this weekend. I could grab Katherine and ride into the sunset without you, kitten. You must be awfully sure she's not in there. Or you're playing a deeper game. What is it?"