I'm back with more. Peachie X continues to make the raw material better. Her Beta rocks...

Vampire-Approved

Bonnie hesitated as she carried the platter of sandwiches into the living room. Damon was sitting against a wall on the other side of the room, stroking Elena's hair as her head lay on his lap. Her eyes were closed.

Bonnie grimaced at the sight, but controlled herself. "Is she asleep?" she asked softly.

Damon shook his head and motioned for Bonnie and Sarah, who was next to her now holding a tray of water bottles and chips, to come forward.

"All this is starting to get to her," Damon said, "but she needs to eat."

Elena heard him and pushed herself into a sitting positing. "Do we need to go to a table?"

"If you want," Sarah said. "or you can just eat here."

"Here." Elena said. She reached for the sandwich platter. Bonnie moved it to let her choose one, then sat on the floor next to Elena, placing the platter on the other side. Sarah pulled up a chair and both witches joined Elena in eating.

Sarah kept looking at Damon and finally asked Bonnie, "Do vampires not have to eat?"

"Elena should answer that." Bonnie said, munching her sandwich.

Elena glanced at Damon before she answered. "They can, sometimes they do, but they don't really need it – just blood."

Sarah nodded her head still looking at Damon. He was sitting very still.

Elena noticed that Sarah seemed to be staring at Damon. "Does it bother you that vampires are in your house?"

Sarah's eyes moved to Elena as she answered. "Yes. Not as much as it bothers my mom. Although, I understand, Elena. They're here to protect you, and you need it. Once I told my mom what happened on the way back here, she understands as well. You need them around you."

Elena nodded.

"What we don't understand is why." Sarah continued. "Why would someone try to do that to you?"

"Why would witches?" Damon said. He did not move, there was no emotion in his voice.

Elena had given up with him on this. He was there, he would say whatever he said. Sarah's family would just have to deal.

"I don't know either, Sarah," Elena said. "I don't know if Katherine did something and they're trying to get me to get to her, or if someone just blames me for something. I have given up pretending that it's random, though."

Sarah nodded as Elena turned to Bonnie. "Did Katherine really help with this?"

"It depends on what you call help," Bonnie said. "She never touched anything, but she bossed us around – wouldn't let us use anything from an open container. And she smelled some stuff before she would let us use it. She was on the phone a lot, too."

Elena looked at the part of the sandwich in her hand. "Smelled it, huh?" she repeated, almost laughing.

"Yeah," Bonnie said. "So don't complain about the odor. It's vampire-approved."

Elena glanced at Damon as she laughed in response. Was that a scowl starting to form?

"I would not have believed it when I first saw her, Elena," Sarah said, "but Katherine cares about you. She's really worried."

Elena nodded, her face serious again. "She does, I know."

"Katherine's not the only one." Elena heard Damon say.

Sarah shook her head. "Elena and her vampires. Any humans care?"

"Humans and witches," Bonnie said, looking at Sarah. "Welcome to the Do-Whatever-It-Takes-To-Keep-Elena-Alive Club."

Elena could only, shake her head, close her eyes and take another bite of her sandwich.

Delayed Enough

"Ready to talk?" Elena asked Sarah as she stood up. She still held on to the bottle of water she had been drinking from.

"I've been ready since 7 AM. We've set up at a table in our library that will seat six –three of us and three of you. But no vampires in there with us while we talk, okay?"

Damon bristled, but Elena squeezed his hand tightly.

"OK." Elena replied. "Just me, Bonnie and Alaric, but the door needs to stay open."

"For them to hear?" Sarah asked.

"We'll hear whether the door is open or closed." Damon said, his voice reflecting annoyance.

Elena closed her eyes and squeezed his hand again.

"They will hear, open or closed," Elena said, looking at Sarah again. "They'll come to me if they think they need to, whether the door is open or closed. If it is open, it won't be broken if they come."

Sarah nodded. "My mom and aunt won't like it, but OK. They would hear us from anywhere in the house?"

"Outside also, if they tried. Once they were brought this close, Sarah, they will hear."

"Promise it won't change anything as far as what we or you can say?" Sarah demanded.

Elena nodded. "It won't change what I say. I hope you will still say what you intended to."

Elena found Alaric and led him and Bonnie to the library. The room stuck out of one side of the house as if it was added as an afterthought. A series of shelves covered with books was on the side opposite the rest of the house, with windows on each of the other two sides. Elena and the others sat where they where instructed by Sarah. Alaric and Bonnie only had water bottles in front of them. Elena had the same in front of her as well as a notebook and two pens.

As Sarah left to get her mother and aunt, Damon entered and stood behind Elena. She reached behind and guided his hand as he rubbed her neck and shoulders.

Damon leaned over and whispered to her. "We're here, Elena. We'll be here before you can blink if you need us."

"I know." Elena said. Damon expected her to say something like 'come only if called,' but she didn't. She just moved her shoulders as he rubbed them before asking "Did Isobel find anything?"

"They're still looking. From what I've heard Katherine say, they did see a vampire that wasn't known to Nathaniel's."

Elena sat up straight and looked at Alaric, then Damon. "They found one," she repeated. "Did they…" she began before she froze as a voice spoke from behind her.

"I won't go in while a vampire is there."

It was Sylvia. The voice sent a chill through Elena – she had not heard it since the spell was cast at her.

"Elena," Sarah said from behind her, "he can't be here."

Damon gave Elena's shoulder a squeeze and moved to the door, glaring at Sylvia. Sylvia avoided his eyes, just looking at where he had been standing.

"Maybe I can't be here," Damon said to Sarah, catching her eyes as he walked through the door. "but I can make a witch's head spin. If anyone so much as raises their voice when talking to Elena, I will."

Sarah shook her head as she entered the room and sat across from Bonnie. Natalie sat in front of Elena.

"Do you ever get tired of it?" Sarah asked Elena.

"Tired of what?" Elena asked.

"His badass façade." Sarah replied.

Elena shook her head slightly. "He doesn't act like that around me."

Bonnie snorted drawing the eyes of the others. "You were here just now, he acted like that. He always acts like that around you – just not to you."

Bonnie looked at Sarah as she added, "Don't think it's a façade. He'll do what he says if he thinks he needs to."

"Enough," Natalie said, taking charge. "This has been delayed enough." She looked at Elena and asked "How are these things usually done, Elena? These agreements with vampires. How are they usually done?"

Elena was caught off guard. "Usually?"

"Yes. How are they done?" Natalie repeated.

Seeing Elena's confusion, Sarah asked "How does it work in your town, Elena? Is there a written document?"

"A written agreement?" Elena asked. "No. There's no agreement at all."

"But, you said some vampires protect your town from others," Sarah challenged.

Elena was flustered. Alaric spoke before she could.

"Because of her," he said. "They do what they do because of Elena, not an agreement."

"No agreement," Sylvia said coldly. "Why are we here?"

"Nathaniel's willing," Elena said, looking at Sarah, then Natalie. "You're willing. We can do this."

"Has anyone ever done this?" Natalie asked Elena, looking doubtful.

"I don't know." Elena replied. She was getting nervous – this was not an expected challenge. "But it only means we can do this any way you want. There are no rules to be followed."

"There are vampires in our house now," Natalie said, shaking her head.

"All the more reason, Mom," Sarah said.

Natalie stared at Sarah briefly before abruptly turning to Elena.

"No more," Natalie said to Elena. "No more vampire invitations. Write that down, Elena. That's our first demand."

Elena breathed a sigh of relief, opened the notebook and began writing. It was finally beginning.

If They Do, Hire Them

It had been at least two hours. Elena was writing in her notebook when she heard Katherine's voice from the doorway.

"Isobel is back Elena. She would like to see you. Will she be invited in?"

Elena had continued writing as Katherine spoke, but looked quickly at Sarah, who was shaking her head.

Elena rose and faced Katherine. "No. We agreed no more invitations."

"Your agreement is not in effect, not even completed." Katherine said.

"Still, they don't want any more inside."

Elena leaned over and whispered to Bonnie, "Will you stay here with them while we talk to Isobel outside?"

Bonnie nodded and whispered back, "Witches over vampires anytime."

Elena stood and said, "Sarah, will you come with me? Alaric, you can come if you would like to talk to Isobel." She looked at each as she spoke the names.

Both arose and followed her out of the room. She hadn't gotten far when Katherine was in front of her. "Outside, Elena? Away from the protection of the house?"

"I'll be okay. With Isobel, you, Sarah, Damon and whoever else is out there, no one could get to me. If they do, you should hire them."

Katherine did not look convinced, so Elena added, "Just on the porch. Someone can push or pull me into the house if needed."

"The porch." Katherine agreed, allowing Elena to pass. "No farther."

Elena shook her head as she opened the door and stepped onto the porch. She found herself smiling a little as she faced Isobel, trying to remember if she had ever smiled at Isobel before.

"You look like you feel OK, Elena," Isobel said. "Do you?"

"Yeah. Did you find anything?" Elena asked, still smiling.

Isobel's face was blank now. "One was found that was not known to Nathaniel's people. They followed him until he entered a building, but did not follow him inside."

"Why?" Elena asked, a little relieved she was finally rid of the grin.

"They don't know what's in there. They don't even know if they were seen. They're waiting to see if he comes out. A few others are still looking, but that's about to stop."

Elena nodded as Isobel looked at her. "Bandages on your arms, bloody, torn jeans." Isobel shook her head and held up a bag she had been carrying. "You need these."

Elena took the bag and looked inside, "You went shopping for me?" Two complete, identical outfits – blouse, jeans, even sandals - were inside.

"Two?" Elena asked Isobel.

"Change into one, Elena," Katherine said. "Leave the other in the bedroom."

"You'll wear the other?"

"Maybe," Katherine said. "If needed. I also have these." She said, holding up a necklace identical to Elena's vervain necklace, and a bracelet identical to the one she wore that Damon had given her.

"Why?"

"They were too close to you Elena. We'll do whatever we have to to make sure they do not get that close to you again, or if they do, it will be me that they get."

Elena was trying to process this when Damon spoke harshly to Sarah. "What's your aunt doing?"

Sarah was confused. "I don't know what you mean."

"She keeps repeating herself, saying the same thing over and over. She keeps making Elena repeat herself as well. Why?"

"We were told we could say what we wanted – anything we wanted," Sarah said, glaring back at Damon.

"That's not an answer. Why is she stalling?" Damon demanded.

"She's just venting, Damon," Elena said, trying to calm him. "I expected it."

"It's getting old." Damon said, not calming down.

"Will it be much longer, Elena?" Katherine asked.

Elena shrugged. "I don't know, but we're making progress."

"We'll have to decide what to do before sundown," Katherine said, "move you or keep you here."

Elena shook her head looking irritated. "What to do with me," she said, under her breath.

"Not your concern," Katherine assured her. "Go change now, leave the other outfit in the bedroom."

Elena sighed. "Sarah, can we talk for a minute while I change?" she asked before walking to the bedroom.

Sarah closed the door behind her and spoke first. "Thanks for stopping him from yelling at me."

"I know it's not pleasant," Elena said as she pulled one outfit from the bag, laying it on the bed before rolling the bag closed . Then she turned to Sarah with a stern look.

"But he's not wrong. If she's not stalling, then what's she doing?"

Sarah was surprised at the challenge. "Nothing. I'm sure it's nothing."

Elena stared at her for a minute, the broke eye contact to begin changing.

"This could have been done by now, Sarah. There's not that much on the table. Damon's right – too much repetition. It needs to move faster."

"It didn't seem to bother you while we were in there," Sarah pointed out.

"It didn't. But now I have two vampires who are not afraid of anything acting as nervous as I have ever seen. Damon's worried about something and I have never seen Katherine act like this. Insisting on staying with me, maybe even pretending to be me in case I'm attacked." Elena shook her head as she dressed.

"They're just worried about you because of what happened. Hell, Elena, I am too. Katherine said they got too close to you. Have they ever been that close before?"

"No." Elena said.

"There you are. They're worried."

Elena was done changing now and looked at Sarah. "Maybe, but this still needs to move faster. Say what you want, but not over and over."

Sarah nodded. "I'll tell my mom."

"Thanks," Elena said moving to lie on the bed. "I'm going to lie down for a couple of minutes while you do that. I'll be in there soon, OK?"

Sarah nodded and left the room. Damon was lying next to Elena by the time she heard the bedroom door close.

"You're not supposed to be in here." Elena said as she closed her eyes.

"You're not supposed to be alone." Damon replied.

Elena took his hand after a few seconds, but kept her eyes closed and lay still otherwise. "Why are you and Katherine so upset? Did you hear something I didn't?"

"No. She really is torn about what to do for tonight. If she tries to take you somewhere in a car she's afraid of another attack. If she leaves you…us here, well, she doesn't trust the witches."

"I'm getting tired of this Damon."

"I shouldn't have said anything." Damon whispered, though loud enough For Elena to hear.

"No." Elena said, turning towards him and moving his arm so she could lay her head on his shoulder. "Don't keep anything from me."

"You don't need to worry about this Elena." Damon had his arm around her now. "That's what I'm here for. You keep doing what you came to do."

"Yeah." Elena said reaching to pull his other arm around her as well. "Finish the agreement, then see what someone does next to try to kill me."