I'm glad you guys liked the last chapter and thank you to those that have been reviewing to this story faithfully. I don't want to be a pain and keep begging but the reviews are the only way if I know that you guys like the story or not and if I don't get any reviews at all or so few then it's pretty much telling me this story sucks. I have more chapters ready to be typed up but I may not continue with this story if I don't hear from more people after those are all done.

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Six

Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer

He just growled in frustration and we looked at eachother and I found myself staring into his crystal blue eyes again. "You're infuriating." He said and I could feel the breath from his words on my face.

"So are you." I whisper. I feel the hold he has on my arms loosen until they fall and one of his hands lands lightly on my hip. Suddenly I'm acutely aware of just how close we are. I was mesmerized by him. His clear blue eyes bore into mine. His fragrance overloaded my senses; he smelled musky and sweet all at the same time. I knew he wasn't compelling me but I couldn't move; I couldn't think clearly. His eyes traveled down my face and when he looked at my mouth he tongue darted out and licked his lips.

He looked into my eyes for permission, I don't know what my eyes were saying but if the way my body was reacting was any indication then I clearly gave him permission. He leaned down slightly, his fingers gripped my hip and I felt myself moving closer to him until I was pressed against him. My eyes suddenly fell shut and I waited with baited breath for what I knew was coming.

After a few moments of anticipation but nothing, I opened my eyes to find Damon standing up straight and he appeared to be listening for something. "Damon…"I started to say but he released my arms and put his finger up to silence me as his eyes darted around.

A few seconds passed and then he brought his gaze back to me looking serious. "Elena I need to you stay right here." He said and I automatically nodded my head in agreement. "Stay here." He instructed again before silently moving into the hallway.

A few minutes passed and I didn't hear anything so I crept into the hallway after Damon and I found him just standing there silently in front of the door. A moment later the doorbell rang and from where I stood I could see Damon's shoulders and back tense up. He sighed before reaching for the door handle and as he opened the door it seemed as though he deliberately changed his stance from tense and rigid to comfortable and relaxed. At first I couldn't see who was at the door but I stepped closer, I saw that it was Stefan.

Neither brother said anything, they just stared at eachother, unblinking and unmoving, until Damon without taking is eyes off of Stefan yelled out. "Zach would you please come down here."

"What is it Uncle Damon." Zach asked as he came down the stairs a moment later and glanced back at me curiously.

Damon motioned for Zach to come to the door and he did. "Zach this is my brother Stefan, the one I've been telling you about." Damon said, "I'd like you to invite him in."

"Invite him in? But Uncle Damon you said…"

"What I said before doesn't matter. Right now I'd like you to invite Stefan in." Damon said never taking his eyes off of Stefan who had yet to say anything.

Zach didn't say anything right away; he looked between the two brothers several times before Damon finally took his eyes off of his brother and turned to Zach nodding his head. "Uncle Stefan, won't you please come in?" Zach said so quietly his voice shaking that I almost missed what he had said.

Damon moved aside and turned towards me and glared as if to say 'I told you stay put'. He stood in front of Zach and after a moment Stefan took a tentative step inside, Damon watching his every move.

"Hello brother." Damon said.

"Damon." Stefan simply said and put his hand out for this brother to shake. Damon looked at it but after a moment took it. "It's been a long time."

"Eh if you consider 40 years to be a long time. Really how long is that when you have all of eternity to look forward to?" Damon said nonchalantly.

"40 years – I swear it's been less that that. I feel like I've seen you popping up everywhere I go." Stefan said smirking.

"Well it is my job as the older brother to clean up your messes." Damon said cryptically.

"I suppose." He said before turning to Zach. "Thank you for inviting me into your home. I haven't been here in years."

"Yes uh it is the Salvatore home, so it's your home too." Zach said quickly.

"I suppose you're right." Stefan said looking around before his eyes landed on me standing there awkwardly. "Elena, this is a pleasant surprise."

"How long do your plan on being in Mystic Falls brother?" Damon asked before I could say anything, getting his brother's attention off of me.

"I hadn't decided yet. I had only originally planned on staying for a short stay, however, after Elena informed me that you were in town, well I thought it might be time for us to catch up after all of these years." Stefan said glancing at me again.

"It sounds like an excellent idea." Damon said with a false cheerfulness in his voice. "Where have you been staying while you've been in town? I haven't been able to find you."

"The Flowers Bed and Breakfast, but I'm growing weary of it. They take the name Flowers quite seriously I'm afraid."

"Well you should stay here; it is after all your home as well." Damon said and I saw Zach visibly tense up, "However, I hope you don't mind that it will just be the two of us. Zach was just getting ready to leave for a trip."

Zach looked at Damon in surprise before nodding his head in agreement. There was no way that that was true until just a moment ago.

"Not a problem, it's always good to spend time alone with you brother." Stefan said and by the look on his face I could tell he was not fooled. The brothers just stood there staring at eachother and you cut the tension with a knife. I felt more uncomfortable now than I did that first night that Damon had come into my room unexpectedly and by the look on Zach's face I wasn't the only one.

Just then the doorbell ran and I jumped a little having been paying attention to the staring content that had been going on between the Salvatore brothers. Damon, however, didn't seem surprised at all and opened the door to reveal Alaric.

"I uh came by to pick up Elena." he said looking around at all of the parties standing in the hallway before landing his eyes on me. "Your aunt is waiting for us…for breakfast."

I looked from Alaric to Damon and I understood immediately that Damon had somehow let Alaric know that Stefan had made an appearance and to get me out of here.

"Um yeah ok I just need to get my purse in the other room, uh Damon can you help me look for it." I said and I saw the look of surprise that passed over Stefan's face before he looked between Damon and me.

Damon wordlessly walked past everyone before putting his hand on the small of my back, leading into the parlor. "Just go home with Alaric right now Elena." he whispered looking at me intently, "I'll come by and talk to you later."

"Ok but what about my car."

"I'll drop it off later." he said and I just nodded my head. I looked at him for a moment wanting to say something but not sure what. I finally turned way and started to walk away but I felt his hand go around my arm lightly and I spun back around to face him. He looked at me for a moment with a look I couldn't read then he leaned in close and whispered in my ear. "Whatever you do Elena, just please don't let Stefan in."

He pulled away and I looked into his eyes and nodded my head. I didn't know what the story was with Stefan but I knew Damon didn't want me to be hurt and he was trying to protect me so I put my stubbornness aside for once and simply nodded my head.

When we returned to the hallways the scene was definitely tense. Alaric was explaining that he and Damon had been friends for a few years and that they had met because Alaric is a vampire hunter. Not exactly your average run of the mill conversation.

"Um Alaric, I'm ready to go." I said and he nodded.

As I walked by Stefan he reached out and touched my arm and I instinctively pulled my arm away and Damon was suddenly standing in between us. I looked at Stefan and a hurt expression appeared on his face.

"I only wanted to say good-bye to Elean." he said and after a moment Damon stepped aside but stayed close. Stefan looked at me and smiled. "It was a pleasant surprise to see you again Elena. I hope to see you again soon while I'm here but…." he paused and glanced at his brother, "I see my brother has made himself your protector so that may be impossible."

"I'm sure we'll see eachother again." I said, "If you'll excuse me, my aunt is waiting for me."

After the door shut behind me I let out a breath I hadn't even know I had been holding before getting into Alaric's SUV. Once we were a fair enough distance from the Salvatore Boarding House, I turned to Alaric seriously, "Ok you need to tell me what you know about Stefan and why Damon feels the need to send Zach away on some bogus vacation and why he's been sneaking into my room every night in order to protect me." I ramble.

"He's been sneaking into your room every night, he never told me that." Alaric said his brows furrowed.

"It doesn't matter, what matters is why Damon is so afraid of Stefan?" I asked but Alaric said nothing. "Alaric there is now another vampire in Mystic Falls. I allowed one in because you told me he was safe and that I could trust him not to hurt anyone, but now there is another vampire, one that our resident 'friendly' vampire appears to be concerned about. Now I know you know something so you need to tell me what that something is."

He still didn't say anything but I could tell by the expression on his face he was thinking about what I had said. "Alaric." I warned.

He sighed and gave me a sideways glance. "Look I don't know the entire story on Stefan, but from what Damon has told me, Stefan has a problem with a human blood diet. His moods are of the bipolar variety and the blood lust becomes too strong for him. He's basically a ticking time bomb when he's human blood."

"So you're saying Stefan is dangerous?" I ask starting to understand why Damon has been so concerned and also getting worried myself.

"Only when he's drinking human blood."

"What that doesn't make sense, what else would he drink?" I asked confused

"Believe it or not, animal blood." he said and I looked at him skeptically, "It's true. Vampires can live off the stuff, but there are some cons. You're not as strong, your senses are not sharp, you don't heal as fast which is why most don't drink it but for Stefan it works as a great antidepressant…if he stays on it."

"I'm guessing he's fallen off the wagon a few times."

"So to speak and every time is pretty bad and Damon usually has to clean up the mess."

I didn't say anything for a moment trying to take it all in. "So do we know what Stefan is drinking these days?"

"No but there haven't been any reports of animal attacks or anyone missing and according to when you first saw Stefan he's been here for awhile so I think or rather hope that he's back on the animal diet, but he could also drinking from blood bags." Alaric said.

I didn't respond trying to figure this all out. Suddenly this all just got 50 times worse. Alaric glanced at me and sighed. "I'm sorry Elena I know this isn't what you signed up for when you agreed to allow Damon in town."

"You think?" I say sarcastically, "Suddenly I'm dealing with the fact that Damon has a vampire brother that may or may not be on a dangerous blood diet and the fact that Bonnie is a witch. In a matter of weeks, everything has been completely turned upside down."

"Bonnie's a witch?" he asked and I looked at him nodding, "That explains a lot. Don't worry I won't say anything." When I don't say anything he glances at me again. "Don't worry about Stefan. Damon will handle him. In the meantime just don't let him in."

"That may be easier said that done. I never had any intention of letting Damon in, but he still managed an invite. I can give Jenna and Jeremy vervain so they won't be compelled but I can't stop them from inviting your best friend Damon's brother in."

Alaric didn't say anything but his silence spoke volumes. Now what?

When I returned from breakfast at the Grille will Jenna and Alaric my car was in the driveway. We had explained to Jenna that Alaric had seen me jogging and had come up with the idea for us to all have breakfast together.

I waited the rest of the day for Damon to come like he had promised, but I knew he wouldn't come until the middle of night as he always did. I knew it probably wasn't smart but before I went to bed that night, I left my bedroom window open.

It was good that Damon didn't come right away, it gave me a lot of time to think about the situation with the Salvatore's and it allowed me to come to a few conclusions on my own. I knew Damon was definitely concerned about what his brother was capable of doing, despite asking Zach to invite Stefan in he was still concerned enough to send Zach away, and he was concerned enough to have Alaric come and get me and to ask me not to let Stefan in. Damon clearly wanted to keep an eye on his little brother.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Was Stefan really the enemy though?

It was hard for me to separate the Stefan I had first met and had even flirted with, with the Stefan that Alaric had described. It felt like they were two separate people and if Alaric was right then maybe they just were.

I couldn't really understand it though. Damon drank human blood and even though I had my reservations in the beginning I knew he wasn't a real danger. He was able to walk around amongst humans without feeling the need to make each and every single one his next meal. What made the blood lust so much different for Stefan? I also had to think about what I've learned from the council and what everyone else including Damon has taught me, vampires are dangerous, they can kill you in an instant.

I couldn't think of either Salvatore brother as really being dangerous though. I mean sure Damon was a jerk most of the time but I've never really felt like I was in danger with him and Stefan well he so charming and kind when we spoke that I never felt like I was in any kind of danger from him. Sure he frightened me at first at the cemetery and I pulled away when he touched my arm at the boarding house but did I really feel like he was dangerous? I almost wished Damon was wrong about Stefan, but his concern in regards to his brother seemed genuine. Was he afraid that Stefan would go on some kind of killing spree or did his concerns involve me? My head told me it was the former but in heart I knew it had more to do with me than anything else.

My curtains suddenly started moving in the breezeless night and I felt a quick gush of cool air touch my skin. I looked towards the window but saw nothing there.

"You're still awake."

My eyes traveled to where the voice came from at the foot of my bed and even in the darkness of the night, I could make out Damon's familiar form.

"I wanted to catch you to prove I wasn't crazy." I say smiling before sitting up and turning the lamp beside my bed on. "Plus you promised that you would come."

"You left your window open. Don't you know that that's dangerous? Someone could sneak into your room." he said.

"Someone more dangerous than you?" I countered and a small smile played on his lips. "Where's Stefan?"

"Out hunting bunnies."

"So he is on an animal diet again."

"I see Ric has filled you in on a few things." he says before casually sitting on the foot of my bed facing me.

"Well you'd be happy. He didn't tell me much; just that Stefan isn't very good on human blood." I reply, "But that's not the only reason why you're worried are you?"

Damon didn't say anything nor did his expression change so I continued. "You knew Stefan would be coming back here. It's why you sent Alaric here. You knew the council might be a problem so you sent him as a type of inside man. You were worried that Stefan would show up here before you were ready for him."

I tried to read his face with each word I spoke but it remained impassive. "But what you weren't counting was me, Katherine's doppelganger." I said and his brow furrowed slightly and he looked at me curiously. "I think both of you were involved with her, she played both of you, turned you against eachother but she's gone now and the two of you are still at odds."

I scooted a little closer to Damon, for some reason feeling the need to touch him but I held back. "And you've been coming in here every night because I look like her and you're worried about what Stefan might do to have even just a little piece of her back by way of me."

"Are you done?" he asks after a moment and I nod my head. "That was all very intuitive of you, but really what happened to our one question a day rule, I so liked it."

I smiled a little. "I don't think I asked any questions just made some statements."

"I suppose you did." He said then looked at me seriously. "Really Elena why can't you just drop this?" His eyes bore into mine probing me for an answer but I didn't say anything and I could tell by looking at him that he knew that I wouldn't budge. He sighed and looked down. "Thankfully my brother is back on his puppy diet so I don't think he's going to go on some kind of feeding frenzy while he's here."

He looked up and his eyes met mine again. "Your intuitiveness astounds me. You're right I sent Alaric here because of Stefan." he said then shook his head. "But your stubbornness, your stubbornness shouldn't surprise me at all but it still does. Grayson always said you were as stubborn as a mule."

"Grayson? You mean my father?" I asked confused.

He nodded his head and he gave me a small smile, "I'm guessing you didn't know that I knew your father, that we were friends."

"What…but ho…how?" I ask completely stunned.

"It's true," he said and pulled out his phone and showed me a photo of my dad with his arm around Damon and several more.

"But…but he was on the council…" I stammer unable to process the fact that Damon and my father had known eachother, were friends.

"And Gray was my original inside man," he said matter-of-factly and I just stared at him in disbelief. "I first met Gray on my last long visit to Mystic Falls 40 years ago but I didn't know that until later. Your father was a young boy at the time and somehow I had made an impression on him. Anywho years later I met him at orientation at Duke, he was an undergrad and I was getting my masters in…well who knows girls I think." he said and I glared at him. "Anyway we met, he recognized my face and when he heard my name he knew I was the same guy from years and years before and I hadn't changed one little bit. Gray having heard the Gilbert family legends knew I was a vampire, but he also believed that we couldn't all be the monsters that we had been made out to be so he befriended me. I tried to convince him otherwise but like you, he wouldn't budge and he wouldn't leave me alone. Grayson was the first real friend that I had made in over a hundred years." he said with a small smile and a far away look in his eyes and I couldn't help but smile too.

"After he became a doctor he was my source for blood bags, actually was the one who insisted I stop feeding on people and go to the more "humane" route. Whatever." he said rolling his eyes. "When your grandfather died and he was asked to join the council, he became my link to my old home. Somehow this town has always been a vampire magnet and when one would show up, I would come back, stay hidden and get rid of them."

"You're the reason why the council has never figured out what happens to the vampires that they knew came into town." I said, "You've been saving this town for years and no one even knows it.:

He nodded his head and looked at me closely. "I remember the day you were born. Your father called me, the excitement in his voice…the way he talked about you…" he said and felt tears spring to my eyes.

"Have we ever met before?"

"I saw you once when you were a baby but I chose to stay away for everyone's safety." he answered. "Your father was one of the best men that I have ever met in my existence. When he died…I had hoped his ring…but it was truly an accident and nothing could be done." he said with a sadness in his eyes but it was quickly gone.

"I sent Alaric here soon after your father's death to look out for Stefan in case he came back but also to look out for you and Jeremy. I felt I owed it to Gray to keep you both safe, but you Elena Gilbert, well I never imagined Stefan would get to you before I was ready." he said and I looked at him curiously, "My brother had been with me the last time I was here and at that time his animal diet was fairly new and he wasn't able to control the blood lust…and since then…I thought he could control it but I was wrong and I've been trying to follow him but I think he has somehow figured out that I was tracking him and he's been disappearing on me so sending Alaric sounded like a good idea. This is our home, it was only a matter of time until he came back here."

"So why did you come back here now if you didn't know where Stefan was."

"It's the town's 150th anniversary and Stefan has always loved history I figured if there was a time to come back it would be for this." he said simply.

"But it's become more than that hasn't it? You especially want to protect me right? I can see it in your eyes Damon, you're worried that Stefan won't be able to handle the fact that I look like Katherine." I said.

He groaned and stood back up and walked over to the window and looked out. I was afraid he was going to leave but then he spoke. "I've known about you your entire life Elena, but I've never known what you looked like until we met a few weeks ago. Grayson would send me those stupid Christmas card photos but I would never look at them. I wanted to stay detached but since I've met you that's been…impossible." he said quickly before turning back around to face me, "When I saw you that day I thought you were Katherine at first even though I knew that to be impossible. I'll admit I couldn't see past your face at first and I judged you as though you were her, but your father and Alaric they had always described you as being kind and compassionate especially about the people you cared about the most and I could see that but I've also seen that fire in you which is very much like Katherine. I thought you may be here reincarnated or something to haunt me but you're definitely not her. You are the complete opposite of everything Katherine was."

"I really look like her don't I?"

"If you stood side by side no one would be able to tell you apart." he said. "I thought Katherine's blood line ended with her but you're her doppelganger so I'm not sure what happened, she must have had a child no one knew about before she turned." He ran his hand over his hair and for the first time since I'd met him Damon Salvatore looked almost vulnerable. I didn't quite know what to make of it.

"And you're right, I'm worried about Stefan's reaction to you. Katherine was his first everything. He loved her and even though he will tell you otherwise, it broke him to lose her and I'm afraid of his reaction to you."

"Bu he's on animal blood now."

"Yes but drinking animal blood goes against all of our natural instincts as vampires. Animal blood can keep you alive, but it doesn't stop that desire, that natural need for human blood. It suppresses it but it doesn't mean he's not craving it." he said, "If he smells an open wound it's harder for him to control the blood lust because his craving is heightened.

"So you want me to stay away from him?"

"Would you if I asked?" he countered and I shook my head" "I'm pretty sure you wouldn't listen to anything I asked of you so I hope you just heed my warning and be careful when it comes to Stefan."

I nodded my head, "Do I have to worry about this town? Even though I know nothing would have stopped you, I let you in under the pretense that you wouldn't hurt anyone but you can't make that same promise with regards to your brother can you?"

"I'm going to watch Stefan and make sure he stays on the puppy diet."

"But you can't guarantee that he won't hurt anyone." I stated.

He sighed, "No I can't but I promise you I will do everything I can to not allow that to happen." he said looking at me intensely and I could feel myself getting lost in the depth of his eyes again. "You'd better get to sleep, it's late."

I nodded my head again and started to lie back down as Damon walked towards the window. "Aren't you staying?" I find myself asking.

He turns around and I can see the surprise written all over his face. "Do you want me to?"

"I…I…well you've been here every night without my knowledge, I just figured nothing would change just because I knew." I say and I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks.

A small smile played on the corner of his lips and he took a few steps towards me before leaning down towards me. "Do you want me to stay Elena?"

"I…I…I don't really care you've uh you've already been here all week." I say and I can smell the wonderful scent of his cologne.

"As much as I've enjoyed the Sleeping Beauty thing I should get back to the boarding house, Stefan should be back soon and Zach is leaving in the morning and I don't want to leave him alone in the house with Stefan." he said before standing up straight again and I felt a wave a disappointment rush over me but I tried not to show it. "You haven't invited Stefan in so you should be safe tonight."

"Ok." I said softly. He looked at me as if he wanted to say something but then turned back towards the window slowly. He looked back at me as he put his hands on the window sill and smirked, "Maybe I'll be back tomorrow night since you like having me around so much when you're sleeping. I wonder if I go into your dreams if I'll find you dreaming about me. Hmmm?"

I rolled my eyes as he smirked. "Good night Damon."

"Good night Elena. Sweet dreams."

I blinked and suddenly he was gone and the window was shut as though it had never been opened and no one had been in my room.