Disclaimer: I own nothing. The Vampire Diaries exclusively belong to the author. I have merely borrowed the characters- especially Damon, to have a little fun with them. No money will be made and no harm intended.

Chapter 3:

Camryn sat around her new patio table on the back porch that had just been finished the afternoon before. Eventually when the reconstruction of the house was complete she would have the porch painted along with the house so it would all match.

For now the wood had been freshly wather proofed and sealed. She held her cup of coffee between her hands as she sat staring at the overgrown pond in thought. The sun began to rise as she sipped from her cup. As a rule Camryn didn't usally rise with the sun, but over the last couple of days she had been restless. She didn't know whsy, but she felt like she could crawl right ouf of her skin. It was odd to be physically tired after a long day of hard labor but instead of dropping off into sheep she flet wired. She felt like there was some threat out there and she couldn't allow her guard to slip.

The rustle of fabric gainst bark alereted her to the other presence that remained unseen through the trees. She waited with her senses on alert until the figure of a man stepped out of the treeline. She smiled and relaxed, saying good morning and knowing that he would hear her. In seconds Stefan was sitting across from her on the other patio chair.

"I was hunting by our old manor house and smelled your coffee brewing," Stefan explained as smiled at her. He turned his attention to the house behind him.

"How's all the work coming along?"

"I'll go grab a mug for you." Camryn was back in moments with a mug for Stefan.

"Thank you," he said as she handed him a hot cup of black coffee.

"You're welcome. The work on the house is coming along. The kitchen should only take a week or two more. I've got one bedroom and a bathroom that are livable. The contractors are working on updating the plumbing and electrical in the entire house. Its going to be a long process. I'm working with a restoration firm out of Atlanta. They are doing a work up to bring the house into the 21 century while maintaining all the historical accuracy of the 19th century. I'm here for the long haul it looks like."

"I'm sure Liam is happy about the work being done."

"I don't know. I think he has mixed feelings about it. He has so many good memories of it here from before the war, but I think this house also reminds him of all the friends and family that he has outlived."

They looked out over the pond in companionable silence. Stefan was the first to speak.

"I can understand that. Everyone is gone from our youth. Liam and Damon are all I have left from then. You know how Damon can be from what Liam has told you, so I'm not sure if having Damon around is a good thing or not." He smiled at Camryn and paused like he was gearing up to say something. "You haven't been around much, Cam."

She poured them each more coffee.

"You know I've been busy." She answered then looked back over the pond.

"There is more to it than just being busy. I've seen you around town. You seem to be making friends. Elena tells me that you and Jenna have met up for lunch a few times. But you never come around the house or call. Damon hasn't done anything has he?"

"No. In fact the few times I have seen him he hasn't done more than nod towards me in greeting. He seems distracted by something."

"He is. He is still trying to find a way to release Katherine. He says that he knows how but he won't say much more than that."

"My dad hasn't told me a lot, but from what I can gather the whole situation with ya'll being turned and the events at Fells Church, it's all very tragic Stefan."

"It was. That's why I cannot allow Damon to let Katherine and the others out of that tomb."

"This isn't really my business but that hardly seems fair to Damon, Stefan. I'm not saying she should be let out but I think you are being blind to your brother's side."

"How so?" Stefan asked his expressive eyes showing all his emotions.

"Look at it from his perpective for a moment. Forget the hundred ad forty six years of longing and see it from his side now. Start from ya'lls return to Mystic Falls. Here is his younger brother, who at best he has a strained relationship with, in love with a girl who looks exactly like the woman that he is in low with but cannot have. It all has to be a slap in the face for him. I agree that Katherine cannot be set free but I think you should see his side a little more before you condemn his actions outright."

They sat in silence while Stefan gathered his thoughts.

"I see your point, Cam, but I don't think Damon sees it that way. I think for him its just about winning and achieving the impossible."

She shrugged her shoulders and sipped her cooling coffee.

"What do you think of Elena?" He asked after a moment.

"I think she's great, at least from what I've seen. Why?"

"I'm just trying to think of reasons why you avoid being around us. Its not Damon or Elena and I don't think its me."

"It's nothing, really. Every time I happen to see you guys you look so happy. You have a group of friends with her and you seem to enjoy your life so much. You are different from any other time I've seen you before. You love each other. I've been hesitant to get in the middle of that."

"How would you get in the middle of it?" Stefan asked and Camryn paused to form her answer right.

"I think its going to be hard for Elena. She may not have thought of it yet but she will age and you won't. My mom went through this with my dad. Before she got sick it was a big thing for her. It ate her up inside. She had to watch as year after year she aged and became sick while he didn't. Now imagine it for you and Elena. She will eventually start thinking of the future and in it she will grow older while the man she loves will stay the same. That is hard enough to come to grips with. Now imagine that one day another woman comes into the picture and you come to the realization that she is so like him that she can be everything to him that you can't. Even though nothing would ever happen between us the potential for jealousy is there. Jealousy is a strong emotion, Stefan, it can make you see things that aren't really there. Those negative thoughts would tear your relationship apart. I watched it happening for myself with my parents."

He looked upset and Camryn opened her mouth to try to comfort him. He started to speak before he could.

"I think that might already be happening without your help."

Camryn look at the worried expression on his face and her heart broke for her friend.

"What's happened?"

"A few days ago Damon rescued Elena when she wrecked her car. He took her on a road trip right after that. I was worried with fear until she finally called. He brought her back fine, but they've changed towards one another. I'm not worried but I do know how Damon can be with women. They don't seem to be able to resist him," he paused and looked at her. "Well most women can't resist him."

"Well it has nothing more to do than the fact that I have prior experience with the allure of handsome vampires. I grew up with you didn't I?" She winked at Stefan who laughed.

"I'm glad you're here. It's nice to have someone to talk to. I can't exactly talk to Elena about herself and Damon isn't even a possibility. We aren't exactly bosom buddies. I'm taking Elena out tonight. Nothing fancy or special, just a movie and dinner at the Grill. Would you like to meet up with us after the movie lets out? I'm sure Damon will find a way to be there and I would like it if I had you there to observe them. You could tell me if I'm reading more into it than there is."

"What time?"

"I would say between 8:00 and 8:30 at Mystic Grill."

"Sure. Sounds good. I will meet ya'll then." She would watch Damon and Elena, but another idea was forming in her head. Stefan stood up and then leaned over to kiss Camryn on the cheek good bye. He left her not knowing the plans she was making for that night.