Damon had let himself into her room through the window last night. Her first clue had been the ridiculous horror trip that her dreams had taken with chunks of her teeth and jaw coming out piecemeal. (She didn't actually see Damon, but he wasn't one to brag.) Her second was the award winning smile on his face when she woke up at five freaking twenty eight am to find him perched on her bed with bacon, toast, and grits.
Although in retrospect that second wasn't so much of a hint as it was a confirmation.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," he sangsong. "Time's a wasting."
She made an aborted pass for the toast, missed and fumbled for a piece of bacon instead. "If you keep waking me up before the sun, D, I might start to love you a little bit less."
He tsked and stole the bacon from her hand for that comment. "Now is that anyway to talk to someone who made you breakfast in bed? It's not my fault you would rather sleep your whole life away."
Just because she sometimes wished she was genuinely in a coma did not mean she wanted… oh, yes. He was still on the sleeping in thing. She sat up a little straighter and snagged the breakfast tray possessively. "Thank you for breakfast. What is it that you want? Other than to horrify me."
Her mouth was still aching from that dream.
"I thought you might be pleased to know I saw our dear Annabelle in town. Cozying up to a bartender, for some reason. She's got him wrapped around her little finger." Damon's tiny shrug drew her attention, the corner of his lips and eyes both crinkling in amusement at how pathetically easily he must consider the bartender to be folding. "Or was I wrong?"
She spooned some of the grits up with her toast. When it rained, it poured.
"No, you weren't. Has she said anything to you?"
Powers, but she hoped not.
"Not yet. But playing pet sitter is growing terribly boring." The vampire was still stealing her food. What was it with the Salvatore boys and not respecting her ownership over noms? She might not be overly irritated by it, but it still itched a little in her subconscious. Damon batting his freaking eyelashes at her and giving her that smile of his while he ate the food supposedly prepared for her just made it worse. "I so prefer to cut to the chase."
Cynthia shuddered a little at the sound of bacon crunching under her teeth. "I'm given to understand that foreplay is rather important. Suddenly, I feel sorry for you choice in paramours."
"Why, you little - !" The food summarily made it's way to her dresser, and the two ended up tussling on the bed. Damon held back most but not all of his strength, leaving her breathless from laughter by the time he fully pinned her down. "I'll have you know," he told her solemnly, "I take excellent care of my conquests."
"Is that so?" She smiled playfully in return, staring up into his cruelly clear eyes. "Or do you say that to everyone willing to give you an all access pass to their veins?"
Damon's laughter rumbled low in his chest. "Oh, kitten. I have an all access pass to everyone. Most people just aren't as interesting or as accommodating."
Cynthia tilted her chin up as he raised a hand to caress her neck, inspecting the fading scars there. She could almost pinpoint the moment his attention shifted from playful and friendly to a farmer inspecting cattle. He enjoyed her company, well enough to seek her out just for laughs or in a particularly sweet mood, but Cynthia couldn't ever forget that at the end of the day, Damon saw her as food. She couldn't, because if she did let herself forget, then she might start reading things that weren't there.
"How's your shoulder?"
"Mn, the left is still sore," she pouted a little, feeling his cool fingers soothe the muscle before shifting to the opposite arm. "Are you gonna reheat my breakfast after?" He wanted his food; she still wanted hers.
"Well… not the toast. You should come over to my place. I can make you a proper meal without seeing your not family lusting after me for my cooking skills. It's embarrassing. Honestly, I'm embarrassed for you."
Cynthia covered her mouth to muffle her laughter. "Your idea of a proper meal is pancakes. Do you eat yours with blood syrup?"
"How positively revolting! I'm shocked you would even suggest such a betrayal of good taste." Damon reared back, shifting so that he was sitting on the bed rather than kneeling over her. The girl rose into a sitting position as well, helping him brush her hair to the left and out of the way.
He considered her for a moment, holding Cynthia's gaze as his fangs lowered, eyes darkening with a dramatism he never seemed to grow tired of. "I really am corrupting you." Thumbing the relatively thin strap of her night shirt out of the way, Damon held her steady as he dug into her flesh to drink his fill. The pain from the bite was a familiar one by now, at times even a welcome distraction. It left her feeling warm and almost powerful, especially on days like today when Damon had taken care to not damage her any more than necessary.
It didn't cross the border into 'overly enjoyable', but Damon had assured her if she was ever willing to add sexual intimacy into the mix it would be 'mind blowing'. Damon, Cynthia was fairly certain, would consider any sex with him to be such, fangs or not.
When the man pulled away, vampiric features slowly receding, he kept a firm grip on her shoulder and reached into her nightstand with far too well practiced movements. It was where she kept her gauze and tape; items Cynthia had gotten far more use out of than she would reading a Bible or storing condoms. Feeding Damon was messy, even when he tried to keep it neat. Her blood always took a while to start clotting again, and while he didn't mind acquiring more clothes to make up for what he'd ruined, after hearing the string of curses Cynthia had produced from the one scarf they'd put on too early being removed…. Let's just say, he'd ceased arguing against Cyn's preparation.
"Food's still warm," Damon commented proudly as he placed the last piece of tape over the new patch of gauze. "I've got mad skills. Eat up and then get changed. You have guests crawling out of the woodwork like rats." His eyes danced in amusement. "I know a great fumigator; let me know if you find yourself in need of those services."
"Thanks ever so, Mr. Salvatore." Now that the left was her good arm, she switched to slowly eating with it, breaking the bacon into pieces and scattering it into the dish so she'd finish the food faster. Breakfast was the meal of champions, and all that. "I'll keep that in mind. Will you not be staying?"
He watched her eat for a few moments; she wasn't sure if he was stalling to consider or making sure she followed his direction. "As entertaining as I find Elena's newfound fear of me, Lexi made me promise not to torture Stefan until after he came back from school today."
Cynthia looked up in interest, "Lexi's back?"
"Not until Stef's birthday. But she called him up to share the whole 'buying a house' story with him. Can't say I'll miss the two tag teaming me, even if she was useful."
She ate her food a little faster. Lexi was keeping silent on the Elijah arrangement, absolutely because she'd bought Rose's freedom instead of maneuvering more benefit to herself. That also meant that Lexi should be staying alive.
Sooner or later, someone whose fate she had averted would die. This town practically required regular blood sacrifices. But damnit, Lexi was one of those people you only had to meet once to like. Cynthia had now had the pleasure of meeting her several times.
"I'm sure the Council is loving our constantly shifting cast of new faces," Cynthia chortled a little as she forced the last of her breakfast down. "I guess it's good to keep them on their toes."
"It's certainly entertaining. Speaking of which," Damon waited for her to start trying to go into the bathroom to change to say something interesting; she was positive. "I have a meeting with our friendly sheriff. Zach agreed to let me make the vervain delivery today."
See, now she had to know more, but he was all 'hurry up and get ready!' with his gestures. So Cyn left the door cracked enough to hear him, hiding behind it as she swiftly changed outfits. (All those recitals made quick change a breeze, even with the bandages. Thank mercy for small favors.) "Are you actually giving them purple verbena, or are you switching it out for lantana?"
"Most unfortunately, that would have to be a gradual switch, mixing it in and all. And Zach would be on me in no time. Which is one of the many, many annoying things about my distant nephew."
Cynthia straightened out her hair, once again wishing for her curls back, then skipped up to Damon to interrupt his train of thought. "Brooding does not become you," she chided teasingly. "Do I look presentable?"
She hated to look in the mirror if she didn't have to. Damon was pushy enough with trying to tell her what to wear or eat half the time, that he at least didn't care if she asked him a question she could have verified for herself. The man inspected her, pinching her cheeks slightly so she looked a little less pale, and selecting a scarf before he gave his approval.
"I'll see you tonight, kitten." Damon backed up towards her window with a wide grin. "Give my best to Elena and my baby bro."
.
.
He'd disappeared in an eye blink. In another life, Damon Salvatore would have been a theatre geek. He spent so much time cultivating dramatic exits, witty one liners, and as she had come to discover, the man knew his way around makeup more than she did.
She tugged on a pair of socks and grabbed a pair of shoes before making her way downstairs at the now, much more reasonable time of seven. Elena had just started her shower, and Jenna was nursing coffee.
"You look remarkably more cheerful than I expected."
Cynthia shrugged and offered her aunt a smile. "The sun is up, and so must I! Besides, no matter what happens with this whole Isobel thing, we're still going to be family. It's not just about blood. You know that, or you'd never have treated Elena and I as well as you do."
Jenna sighed slightly, pushing cold toast around on her plate. "It's more than just the you having a living biological mother thing. With all of this… I was given custody, but I'm not the Gilbert estate's trustee," she told her slowly.
The girl blinked, trying to riddle out who was, and what it meant in legal terms.
"Regardless, I'm sure it will work out for the best," Cynthia rallied after a moment. And she was. Klaus would get what he wanted, and no one – aside from the whole vampire and werewolf sacrifice – should have to die in the process. Then, hopefully, Damon was wrong or just talking out of his ass because she'd grown on him, and she could be released from this place.
She hadn't moved past the denial phase quite yet. Or maybe she was just bargaining with this universe.
Her aunt laughed slightly, "I wish I had half of your enthusiasm some days, Cyn." She was quiet for a moment before adding, "But I am glad you've taken the adoption news so well. Elena… doesn't seem to be."
"She'll get there. You know how she is about surprises." Caroline was the spontaneous one of the group, even if her spontaneity was executed with so much control it appeared to be planned.
Oh rabbits, when was Care's birthday? It was early on ish in the seasons, before the end of the first half she thought. Cynthia had a half memory of Caroline being hurt because her friends never remembered her birthday, even though she went all out for them. There hadn't been a party or anything whispered just yet that Cyn had heard, but she felt pre-emptively guilty.
That girl better have joined Facebook. She'd have to remember to check.
"Speaking of surprises, remind me where I could find helium balloons? The school store only sells boring non gift things like pencils and erasers and scantrons." If we even have one. "I just remembered how big Carebear is into the whole decorating lockers thing," she added by way of explanation. Jenna didn't seem bothered and answered readily regardless.
"Her birthday's this Saturday, isn't it? I guess you better hit the store soon."
"Not a bad idea." Cynthia still had time before school, since in Mystic Falls high school didn't start until 9 am rather than the horrible go to school in the dark routine she remembered. It was a matter of minutes to grab her wallet and actually put her shoes on.
She didn't understand Damon's comment about guests until she opened the door. David Anders, aka John Gilbert was half leaning against the door with his arm raised. He only moved to knock once it swung open, but the man did smile brightly when he caught sight of her.
Guess John knew her after all.
"Cynthia! Wow, look at you, all grown up…" He trailed off, not immediately stepping inside but apparently taking in her wardrobe choices instead. Was he the one that had fed the original Cynthia's Happy Bunny obsession? Because if so, she could probably never look at him the same again.
"I can grab my 'I'll try being nicer, if you try being smarter' shirt out from the back of my closet if you think I realllly look that bad, Uncle John," Cynthia drawled, knowing for a fact she would do no such thing. Changing shirts was not something she wanted to do right now. "I guess I thought it was time for a change."
John was the trustee. Suddenly Jenna's discomfort made more sense. She'd half expected him to arrive days ago when the news first broke, but apparently Jenna had to contact him.
"Don't go growing up too fast."
Acting on impulse, Cynthia stepped outside and closed the door behind her, before her uncle slash father figure could announce himself.
"Speaking of growing up," she said slowly, watching John's eyes flick from the door then back to her. "My best friend's birthday is coming up and with everything… I mayyy have forgotten to prepare. Is there any way I could beg a ride to the store?" Cynthia scowled down at her shoes. "I… I know Elena is fine driving," despite being the only one living he must know of to have been in a deadly or near deadly car accident, "but I just can't. I've tried. I get behind the wheel, and I can't. I know it's asking a lot, because I'm sure you came here for important reasons, and those don't include playing chaffeur."
John cut her off before she could wind herself up into taking back the request. "It's fine, Cynthia. I told Jenna I'd be in by noon. One trip to the store isn't going to take that long."
Beyond relieved by his agreement, Cynthia stole a quick hug. Asking Damon for a ride was one thing, they had a quid pro quo sort of game in place. On average, she stuck to walkable destinations instead, which was the majority of town. But it would be nice to not have to walk around carrying gifts where anyone – like the birthday girl – could see.
He didn't move at first, but slowly his arms folded around her shoulders to return her hug. The man was as stiff as a board at receiving affection from his daughter niece.
Cynthia really, really didn't want him to be used as a human sacrifice. Not with the same nauseating fear she felt with Jenna, John was far more of an unknown. The show said everyone hated him, but Cynthia didn't have enough context for why. Damon was a dick, but people loved him, eventually.
So why hate John?
She'd been afraid he would look at her and know she was a cuckoo. Seeing as that wasn't the case, Cyn gave the man a slow smile, smoothing the edges so she looked a little less terrified. "I guess it's silly to call Shotgun when I'm the only passenger, huh?"
He snorted and stepped off the porch. "Come on. If I make you late for school, Jenna will want to kill me even more than usual."
Cynthia skipped after him merrily, deciding to pretend that was a normal, non soap opera statement to make. She was left waiting with exaggerated patience for a few minutes him to clear his front seat, but he didn't seem to mind her antics. He was more relaxed than when she'd been hugging him, which almost hurt as irrational as that was.
"So, how long are you staying in town?" she babbled as they pulled onto the main road. "I mean, are you just here for business?"
"I haven't decided yet." Anders-John didn't take his attention off of the road, but she did see his lips twist slightly. "I seem to have missed quite a bit. Since when do you not like driving? It's an important skill."
Since forever. Since headlights had driven straight into her car even with her trying to avoid the drunk driver. Since she felt the reverberations of a crash every time another car was so much as even with her as a passenger much less as a driver.
"Cars are ridiculously heavy weapons people willingly get inside and drive around in, under the assumption everyone has agreed to not kill each other with them," Cynthia told him primly, turning to stare out her window rather than watch his face. "This world is a dangerous place."
"Can't say you're wrong about that. But that's no reason to live in fear."
No, this thing called ineffective exposure therapy, high anxiety, and PTSD were reasons she lived in fear where cars were involved. Dealing with vampires was nothing in comparison.
Cynthia shrugged her shoulders slightly, hating the tension but not really knowing how to break it either. At length, she forced herself to speak again. "I have these dreams sometimes. I'm on the highway with my parents and my sister, traffic is speeding along. There's no speed signs or anything, but it's like… like one of those plastic race car tracks for kids. Just paved instead. And as soon as I notice that… Mom and Dad are gone, and my sister is screaming or knocked out or suddenly a kid in a booster seat, so I have to unbuckle and grab the wheel. Only I have no idea where we're going or why. I can't stop the car, just steer it and try to avoid red lights and bridges and the water. I wake up and I'm falling, and I know, I know it's my fault. That I must have crashed us, and we never made it home."
Admittedly, in the actual dreams – which she hadn't had since coming here, small favors – it's her real sister. The one who is so much younger than her she can't legally drive. So it's less 'passed out' and more 'freaking the fudge out', but Elena was her twin. So she adjusted her retelling accordingly. Hell, it felt stupid to say out loud. It wasn't even the real reason she didn't want to drive, but it wasn't like she could makeup a wreck John would know had never happened.
Did it matter? When her reluctance to drive hindered no one but herself?
Her pseudo uncle was giving Cynthia a strange look now; she wasn't certain why unless it was the whole willingly opening up to him thing. It made her uncomfortable regardless. "Could we possibly change the subject?"
"Sure," a half grin this time before he shot her a pointed look. "Aren't you a little overdressed?"
He had cranked the heat up, far more than was really necessary in Cynthia's opinion. It was his car though, and he was doing her a favor, complaining would have felt rude. John didn't have any such compunctions calling her out on her attire again.
And to think, show!Damon thought Bonnie was the judgy one.
"I'm told it's called fashion," Cynthia drawled. "Accessories are important."
John didn't look particularly convinced, so she diverted the conversation to trying to get his advice on locker decoration. If he was uncomfortable by the new topic, so much the better.
.
.
As much as it pained her, Cynthia willingly sought out Elena at school that day. (She'd been doing so well before all of this, putting distance between them too.) But needs must.
Coming up to her twin's side, she tugged lightly on the girl's elbow to distract her from her current people watching. "As utterly adorable as Bonnie and Luka are, can I talk to you for a minute?" Cynthia was greeted with wide eyed surprise and a stuttered, half aborted agreement. "I was going to ask Matt something, but I guess that can wait. What is it?"
Cyn ruthlessly stamped down the little swirl of guilt in her gut.
"I don't mind talking with Matty," she took a step back towards Matt's locker instead of her earlier intended destination. "I just thought we should catch up on a few things. And also, I was hoping to beg your help tomorrow. I wanted to surprise Care this year." She paused, tilting her head a little, "D'you think Matt would help?"
Elena shrugged, tucking her hands into her pockets almost nervously as she followed. "I dunno. I guess we can always ask." Then her hands were back out, fluttering slightly as if the girl wasn't sure what to do with them, so Cynthia pressed a question of her own. "What did you want to talk with Matty about, anyway?"
"Elena, sorry I'm late. Vicki has the flu, and we couldn't get a hold of mom for her insurance information. It's kinda been a morning."
Wincing in sympathy, Cynthia watched Elena place a comforting hand over Matt's arm. "I hope she gets better soon."
"What did you need?"
"Just an outside perspective. Everything is so crazy. There's weird stuff with Stefan – "
A frown, "What stuff?" But Elena shook off Matt's concern. "That I don't want to talk about," she told him firmly. "But the adoption? Having a surprise birth mother that may or may not take things to court, and now Uncle John is back in town on top of everything else."
Matt groaned, in what might have been sympathy, but his mutterings of never liking the guy did not go unheard. Cynthia stepped closer, not quite between the two since Matt and Elena had this sort of unspoken bubble of mutual concern she didn't want to burst. "Why not?"
"Because he's a jackass?" was Elena's stellar contribution. "I know you like him, sort of, but he just gets under my skin. And not in a good way. Besides, Jenna doesn't like him."
That wasn't as informative as Cynthia had been hoping.
"Well, I don't want to break up you two remembering you're best friends and not just exes, but I have a quick favor to ask. Is there any chance you can distract Caroline tomorrow morning?"
Matt switched his concerned look from Elena to Cynthia, a hand tightening on the strap of his backpack. "Probably. Ty and I can ask her about the next 'team building' event. Tanner thinks we all performed better because of it."
"Excellent!" Cynthia clapped happily and gave the blond a bright smile. "You're a life saver. I'll make sure to find you at lunch so you can sign her birthday card." Comprehension and a bit of relief filtered through both Elena's and Matt's eyes as Cynthia spun off to give them space.
And to claim a seat in history.
(Specifically, she claimed Stefan's desk.)
It was absolutely worth it for the green eyed vamp's flabbergasted expression. He'd dodged school a few days before, but had agreed (possibly under duress) to keep going to school. At least for now.
"Can I help you?"
Cynthia removed her feet from Stefan's chair in an obliging sort of way. "Sure thing, monsieur. Are you and Elena planning to make up any time soon?"
"It's… not as simple as you seem to think, Cynthia. Okay? I broke her trust; it's going to take time to work past that."
She gave him her best unimpressed stare. "I was really meaning more as friends than resuming any romantic assignations."
Stefan took his seat, crossing his arms in front of his chest before giving Cynthia a sharp, almost serrated smile. "Assignations are really more your speed with my brother. Wouldn't you say?"
The girl gave him a delighted smile in acknowledgment of his point, tongue tucked against her teeth.
"I've come to enjoy sharing breakfast with him; I must admit. He's invited me over tomorrow. You're welcome to join, I'm sure."
Suddenly, he seemed more invested in studying the floor. "That's really not a good idea."
Hopping off his desk, Cynthia placed a hand on his shoulder before whispering, "If you don't eat the pancakes, how will I know they aren't poison?" He wasn't quite as entertained by the joke as she'd hoped. She started to move away, but Stefan grabbed her hand, holding her fast. "My brother, our world isn't a safe place for you to be. It isn't safe for anyone."
"I know," she promised softly, because he was right. The line she had chosen to walk wasn't safe, not by a long shot. "Some things are worth more than safety. Don't you think?"
This time, he did let her go claim her own seat.
"Stefan?" Cynthia hovered for just a moment longer as she saw Bonnie and Elena file in to the classroom. "Thank you for being here."
.
.
By lunch, Cynthia had convinced Elena and Bonnie to join in her plan. She'd purchased a few different birthday cards. One went to Matt for the football team and to sign, one with Bonnie for the cheerleaders, and one Cynthia had begged Elena to take to the school clubs and committees Care was a part of. In return, she'd solemnly promised not to leave Elena alone with Uncle John that night.
Something told her Uncle John wouldn't be thrilled at the idea of his daughter running off to spend the night with vampires anyway.
Once she started the cards on their rounds, she spent the rest of their limited break chatting with Caroline and the younger Salvatore. Care was remarkably supportive of Stefan, convinced that Elena would see how good of a guy he was. (Cynthia tried not to give the boy too many pointed looks.) She had returned to class more than content with herself, confident she'd get all of the cards back after breakfast the next day.
Dinner, by contrast, was tense and awkward. Jenna was even snippier with John than Cynthia had seen her be with Logan, and she had been actively angry with the latter. Elena was tense and shifty; Jeremy was mostly tuned out, probably texting Vicki.
That should have left Cynthia to bear the brunt of the conversation with John, but he had started making pointed questions about changes. She focused on stuffing her mouth full of salad and just trying to play peace keeper instead.
It worked a little. Enough that Jenna made a comment she'd finally gotten some chocolate chips for her. She'd laughed for a good three minutes, particularly because of the bewildered way John said he didn't understand. Jenna started grinning, and Elena even threw a napkin at her twin. It was nice.
Once she was breathing normally again, she turned a glowing smile back to her aunt.
"Aunt Jenna, my BFF invited me over for breakfast tomorrow. That's alright isn't it?" In a fit of pure sympathy, she glanced to Elena, raising an eyebrow to ask if she wanted in on the invite. Her not-sort of-twin glanced disgustedly towards their 'uncle' and then nodded sharply. Facing vampires was preferable to staying home to the doppelganger, neither of them had preservation instincts. "Elena said she'd take me, so it'll be perfectly safe."
Jenna had started taking dishes over to the sink, but she did give the twins a distracted look. "Sure. I'm glad you two are making up, Elena. You've been moping."
"So have you," Elena snorted, getting up and helping put away the food as well. Cynthia got seconds, then wiped down the counter to at least do something vaguely helpful before Jenna shooed her away. "My moping was valid!" Their aunt retorted. "Your boyfriend didn't turn your family into a news story."
"I can't help but feeling like I'm missing something," John chose that moment to remind everyone he was still in the room. Cynthia patted him on the shoulder before sitting down in a reassuring motion. "Don't worry about it, Uncle John. Aunt Jenna just has a thing for smug dicks."
She grinned all the more knowing that John hadn't revealed the whole 'we used to sleep together' thing yet. Technically, she wasn't supposed to know that fact.
To the blond's credit, he didn't discount her claim and even snorted his own amusement. His attention lingered briefly on Jeremy, then returned to Cynthia as she made herself stuff more food down her gullet. "Is this the best friend whose birthday you were so worried about almost forgetting this morning?"
"Nope, but thanks again for the giant bear. You're a life saver." A smile she very much did not feel graced Cynthia's lips. "You have to check it out, 'lena. It's in my room right now. Takes up a quarter of my bed, watching Care lug it around tomorrow is going to make my day." A slight exaggeration on the size, but if she couldn't draw things out then where was the fun in life?
She was very aware of each motion John's hands took right now, the scrape of silverware unnaturally loud.
"Cynthia claimed a new BFF right after she decided to rejoin us in the land of the living," Aunt Jenna informed him disdainfully. 'You'd know things like this if you were more involved or people wanted to talk to you.' She did wish the woman had phrased things differently, but it wasn't entirely wrong either. "What can I say?" Cyn shrugged. "He's my Pikachu."
"He calls her kitten," Elena outed her. "It's sickening."
The petite brunette sulked. "Jer, they're mocking me. Back me up!" The younger boy looked up from his phone for one of the first times that night. "As long as you're happy, it's cool with me."
Currently, Jeremy was her favorite Gilbert. And Cynthia very loudly informed the rest of the family of that update.
.
.
Morning dawned with no nightmares, and Cynthia found herself in a bright mood. She put on a matte purple lipstick to match her scarf and added eyeliner, then danced down the stairs. Things were on track for change, today should be fun even if it was a school day, and she was going to stay positive. Even John's persistent interest in who she was visiting couldn't knock her down. He was expressing care for his child's well being, and the girl found it hard to blame him for that. She'd be more receptive if she wasn't positive the man held a grudge against Damon. By the same token, there was no point in dodging forever.
"Good morning, Uncle John," she waved the bear's arms around. "You're up early."
He'd been standing just off the stairs, one hand in a pocket as he studied the ground in front of his shoes. "There's a lot going on. I want to make sure you girls are safe."
"We'll be fine, Uncle John." Elena's eyes almost rolled out the door ahead of them.
"Yeah, our boys don't bite much." Cynthia didn't even try to avoid Elena's scolding expression, but she did elaborate. "My BFF is Elena's boyfriend's older brother. I don't think that got explained last night." Certainly not within her earshot.
"Do these boys have names?"
Cynthia hugged John, mouthing 'What kind of question is that?' playfully to Elena. "Their names were stolen from them by a witch; it's a tragic story. I'll have to tell you sometime." She was being metaphorically pushed out the door now. Elena wanted to avoid their uncle, not dawdle to spend more time in his presence. Less talking, more moving was clearly the demand.
Their Uncle John, being John, took the last word. "I look forward to hearing it." Cynthia smiled and waved.
Jenna could tell him when she wasn't around to hear the fall out. Otherwise, she was keeping the Salvatores a secret as long as she could.
.
.
Breakfast at the Salvatore Boarding House was quite the production. Damon had a bright red 'Kiss the Cook' apron tied around his waist as the girls walked in. She'd have thought he was teasing his younger brother except Stefan wasn't in sight. Elena's discomfit with that fact was broadcast loud and clear. Damon seemed incredibly amused all the same.
"Here I was, thinking we'd get to spend some one on one time, and you go and invite the lovebirds. You'll have to ask Uncle Zach has to play chaperone." Her dark haired friend waved a whisk around dramatically. "I'll get you back one of these days, my pretty."
Cynthia shook her head, failing to even try to repress her grin. "I'll go Salvatore hunting, then. Wish me luck."
Damon, being his ever irrepressible self, grinned brightly. "Don't worry, Cynthia. I'll take excellent care of your scrumptious twin."
She turned to check briefly on said twin, noting the girl's thinning lips and stiff stance. Elena must not have factored in the possibility Stefan would not be on hand at all times, but she clearly wasn't backing down despite that fact.
Such a determined little thing.
Even if she was now shorter than her and, much to Cynthia's regret, she did not appear to be growing any time soon.
Bounding up the stairs, Cynthia was about to go seek out one of the studies or straight up shout when raised voices caught her attention. Caught and held, because Stefan had to know that she and Elena were here, even if he was counting on all of the sizzling of the griddle and occasional use of the sink to block out Damon's hearing.
"…why can't you see that he's dangerous, Uncle Stefan! I don't know what his angle is with the Council, but you can't trust him…"
"I'm handling it, Zach. And I know, believe me, I know."
"Do you?"
"He drank the vervain I gave him, Zach. He knew I'd added it, drank it anyway, and then complimented me. I don't know what else you expect me to do."
Cynthia pursed her lips, not sure if this was some ploy on Stefan's part or not. Their voices were muffled, but she could still hear them fairly clearly. She'd already been on guard in regards to Zach to a degree, but it felt like Stefan – or the universe – was reminding her once again that the Salvatore brothers were not on the same time.
She cleared her throat to announce her presence, then raised her voice a little. "Zach? Stefan? Care to join us for pancakes? Damon doesn't think Elena wants to eat with just us," she pouted a little so it would carry in her voice, but everything she had just heard didn't settle well with her. She was pleasantly surprised to know Zach was still around; she hadn't been entirely certain how alive the man was if he gave over any Council responsibilities to Damon. From the sounds of things, Damon might have threatened his great -whatever – nephew.
Returning to the kitchen, Cynthia found Elena glaring at Damon and the fangs he'd insisted on adding to their pancakes. The remaining Salvatores trooped in soon after, Zach going straight to glaring at his newspaper. Cynthia skipped up to Stefan to ask after the card he'd been entrusted with for Caroline, hoping to do so before he honed in completely on Elena. Before Stefan could comply, Damon tugged her into a hug, purposefully getting flour all over her. (Even if she hadn't been sure, his snickering at her protests made it obvious.)
Mostly, breakfast went well though, and with fewer food fights than Damon might have wanted. Elena eventually brought up how she – or they – were meant to just keep a secret that Stefan and Damon were both vampires from everyone they cared about.
"It doesn't have to be a secret from everyone," Cynthia pointed out. "Just don't tell the town at large. I'd rather them not burn down this place too. Jeremy will be fine with them having fangs. Jenna might be too, even if only to spite Uncle John."
Elena exchanged very confused looks with Stefan before prodding, "I'm not following. Why do you think John would react so badly."
"Your uncle is a prejudiced dick." Damon placed more pancakes on everyone's plate – even Elena who tried to pass. "He also happens to be a member of the Town Council. Said Council's main goal is to eradicate vampires."
Zach spoke up now, pressing his newspaper flat. "You never did explain how you knew about that, Uncle Damon." Everyone politely ignored Elena mouthing 'Uncle Damon' in confusion. Said vampire stole the bottle of syrup from Stefan, answering dismissively. "It doesn't matter how I know about it. What matters is that we have a shared goal. I want to lay low, drive off or kill any vampires that want to cause wanton destruction, and just.. have a chance to have a home here again."
His delivery was utterly compelling, not fully believable, but enough to draw looks from everyone in the room. After a few moments, Zach abandoned his plate and the room. Stefan and Elena both bailed as well, which meant Cynthia had to leave as well.
At least she had surprising Caroline to look forward to today.
.
.
Isobel's in town. Did you really expect John to stay too far behind?