AN: This chapter skips ahead of time. It's now Jenna's funeral. D:

Alaric went over to Jenna's grave and gently put a rose on it. He swallowed hard, trying to ignore the sudden urge he had to break into tears. He knew it had to be done. Jenna would rather it be her than anybody else, but selfishly; Alaric didn't want it to be anybody else.
When he looked up, he saw that Damon was walking away from the crowd, and stood alone several feet away.
"Alaric!"
His gaze moved away from Damon when he heard his name being called. Stefan was jogging up to him.

"I'm sorry about, Jenna," Stefan said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I know you loved her."
"Just like I loved Isabelle, too," Alaric blurted without thinking. "Maybe I'm just not meant to love anyone."
"Hey," Stefan said gently. "Don't say that." When Alaric didn't answer, Stefan looked away, and his gaze found Damon. "What's Damon doing?" he mumbled.
"Guess he's avoiding the crowd," Alaric said shrugging.
"Why?"
Alaric felt himself flinch. "I don't know," he lied.
"I'm going to go talk to him," Stefan said. "I'll be right back."
Stefan shook his head. "You're lying."
"Just go talk to him, Stefan," Alaric said with a sigh. "He'll probably tell you."
"Tell me what?" Stefan asked.
Alaric looked away. "It's not my place to tell," he said sadly. "It doesn't have to do with me."
"Then why do you know what's going on?" Stefan asked.
"I'm not telling you anymore, okay?" Alaric's tone was irritated. He didn't want to seem rude, but he just wasn't in the mood for Stefan right now.
Stefan nodded and walked over to where Damon was standing. He watched them talk for a short while, and instantly knew when Damon brought up the werewolf bite. His sleeve was rolled up, and Stefan quickly moved closer to Damon. He was too far away to hear what they were saying, but the look on Damon's face, he was guessing they were talking about a cure. Damon put his hand on Stefan's shoulder, and began to walk away, leaving Stefan just standing there. He didn't want to bother him, but he couldn't resist. He jogged after Damon.
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"Why did you follow me, Ric?" Damon asked.
"To make sure you were okay," Alaric answered gently.
"I'm fine," Damon snapped. "And I would be a lot better if you and Stefan would just quick worrying and focus on what's important."
"WHAT ELSE IS SO IMPORTANT?" Alaric yelled. "Jenna is dead! The sacrifice has been made. She's gone! What else is so important."
"Oh I don't know, Alaric," Damon said sarcastically. "Maybe the fact that there's a powerful werewolf slash vampire out there that could kill us all. Or maybe the fact that there are two people over there mourning their dead Aunt! Just because Jenna meant everything to you, and you don't feel like anything else in the world is important right now, doesn't mean that's the same for everybody else." Damon took a step back and almost lost his balance, but Alaric ignored it.
"You're one to talk!" Alaric yelled back. "Aren't you usually the reason that someone is mourning a loved one in the first place? How many people have you killed in this town, Damon? They all had a loved one." As soon as Alaric said it, he regretted it. But also, another part of him was glad he said it.
Damon shook his head. "Just leave me alone, Ric."
Alaric watched Damon leave. He was about to turn the other direction when Damon started coughing violently.
"Damon?" Alaric called to him.
"I'm fine, Ric," Damon answered, when he finished coughing. He took another step, but completely lost his balance and fell.
"Damon!" Alaric sprinted over to where Damon was, and helped him up.
"I'm fine," Damon said for probably the hundredth time that day.
"No you're not," Alaric told him gently; their argument earlier had been completely forgotten.
"Alaric-"Damon was cut off by another coughing fit. Alaric watched as blood poured from Damon's mouth.
"Oh my god," Alaric whispered. He pulled out a small package of tissues out from his back pocket that he had brought in case he, Elena or Jeremy needed any. He placed a hand on Damon's back and when he was done, handed him a tissue for Damon to wipe his mouth.
"You're not fine," Alaric said again. "You need help."
"There's really not much we can do right now," Damon said, standing up straight. Alaric moved to help him, but Damon shook him off.
"What about Bonnie?" Alaric asked. "Stefan could talk to her. We could have her find something."
"You and I both know that I'm the last person Bonnie would want to help."
"She's not going to let you die, Damon. And neither are we. Now come on, let's get you home."
"I'll go. You stay here with the rest of them. They're all heading back to Elena's." Damon said.
"I'm not letting you go alone," Alaric said.
"It'll be suspicious if you don't show up to the good-bye party for Jenna," Damon pointed out.
"Actually, I didn't plan on going in the first place," Alaric said, looking away.
"Why?" She was your girlfriend."
"Exactly," Alaric said, looking back at Damon.
Damon nodded. "Alright, fine. You can be my pretend mom, but only until everyone else gets back from Elena's. We don't want people getting suspicious. And if you keep hanging around me, they will."
Alaric smiled. "I'm not trying to be your pretend mom, Damon. I just want to look after you, to see if you're okay."
"Yeah, yeah," Damon said, rolling his eyes. And the two headed back to the Salvatore House.