Elena and I strolled into the kitchen and frowned when we saw John. He turned the television off and greeted us, "Morning." "What are you doing here?" I demanded, getting right to it.
"Coffee?" He spoke, and I squinted at him and told, "We're not doing that, we did that last night. No more avoiding, why are you here?" "I'm here to protect you, Erin. That's all I can say at the moment." He said coolly, and Elena snapped, "What do you mean 'that's all you can say'?"
"I'll tell you more when I'm convinced I can trust you." Uncle John answered, but before we could say anything else, Alaric and Jenna barreled through. "Oh my gosh, I'm late!" Jenna rushed, and Alaric spoke, amused, "That's what you get for hitting the snooze 3 times."
The two then noticed John, and Jenna groaned, "What the hell." "Good morning to you, Jenna, Alaric." He spoke, and Jenna rambled, "It's okay that I'm confused, right? Because we were not expecting you for like ever."
"Well, I got in late last night, the twins let me in." Wow, way to throw us under the bus! Dear old Daddy John. Alaric then left, but not before giving me a wary look. I nodded at him, silently saying 'I got this'. Jenna then turned back to us and shook her head, "I'm still confused here."
"I decided to come back and stay for a while." John told my aunt, and Jenna argued, "Not here you're not." "Actually, you can't stop me from living here." John defended himself, and I knew where this was going.
"Actually, I can as legal guardian." Jenna stated, and John said, "Yeah, about that. Um, girls, would you like me to explain the situation or would you like to do the honors?" My mouth gaped and I stuttered, "I-I'm sorry, Jenna. I should've told you earlier, but-"
John then interrupted me and stated, "I'm Erin and Elena's biological father, there, now you know." He then walked out, leaving Elena and I with Jenna who asked, "What?"
At the Salvatore Boarding House, Stefan told Damon about what happened. "You brought back John Gilbert? That was your big 'Save Erin' move?" Damon asked in disbelief. "I went to go look for Isobel, and I got John instead. He said he could help us and we're desperate." Stefan defended himself.
"We're not that desperate, Stefan! The guy tried to barbeque me." Damon pointed out, and Stefan walked towards his brother, "Damon, Bonnie's new witch friend is working with Elijah. So we have to assume that the moonstone was never destroyed. Erin is putting all of her faith in some deal that she made with Elijah to keep everyone safe. I mean, do you trust Elijah? I don't, he's an Original, he can't be trusted! But unfortunately, Erin blindly trusts him for some odd reason that no one else understands! And it's not like we can just go up and kill him because apparently, he can't die."
"I'm still waiting for the part where John Gilbert's the answer." Damon spoke, and Stefan calmly said, "He knew about the sacrifice, Isobel told him. He said he knew of a way to keep Erin safe." "And how do we do that?" Damon questioned his little brother, who shrugged, "He's not talking, at least not to me anyway."
Damon then huffed, "Great work, Stefan, top notch. It's not like I had any more problems." He then started to walk away, but Stefan said, "Hey, I'm sorry about Rose." Damon turned around and replied, "I knew the woman for like five minutes." "Yeah, and you cared about her for five minutes, whatever that means."
"It means I care, Stefan. It means I'm changing and evolving into a man capable of greatness. You better watch your back because I might get a hero hairdo of my own and steal your thunder." Damon then walked out as Stefan rolled his eyes.
Stefan's phone vibrated in his pocket and he ran to Caroline's house as he saw the text.
I opened the front door, and Damon walked in. "Where's John?" He demanded, and I responded, "He's not here, he left. I don't know where he went. He just blew in, announced to Jenna that he's my dad, and then took off like he always does. John freaking Gilbert always runs away." I muttered the last part to myself and sipped my coffee, knowing Damon heard it anyways.
He ignored it and implored, "That's public knowledge now?" "Apparently." I commented, and he stepped towards me and asked with a soft expression, "Are you okay?" I shrugged and spoke, "My head's spinning a little bit like Jenna's but I'll be fine."
Damon nodded and questioned, "Did he say what he was doing here?" "No. You know, Stefan thinks he's telling the truth about wanting to help me." I informed him, and he asked, "Do you believe him?" I shook my head and stated, "No, I don't believe him for a second." "I don't either."
I sighed and walked towards the vampire, "So, what are we gonna do?" "Kill him." He commented and walked past me and to the door. "Damon." I warned, and he retorted, "I'm joking…okay, I'm a little serious." "Damon!" I scolded, and he said, "I'm not gonna hurt him, Erin. I'm the good guy now, remember?"
"What does that even mean?" I questioned and he replied, "I'm gonna have a civil conversation with your father." Elena then walked down the stairs and saw us standing there. She narrowed her eyes at Damon and asked, "Why is he here?" He rolled his eyes at her and then started to walk out the door. I then sighed and grabbed Elena's hand, "We're coming with you!"
When we arrived at The Grill, we spotted John with Jenna and Alaric. I stopped Damon and warned him, "Look, we need answers. Just please, don't do anything stupid." Damon then winked at me and stated, "But stupid is much more fun." When Damon started to walk, I pulled on his arm, "Damon, I mean it. All that I'm asking is that you try to keep it together. Be the better man."
He just looked at me for a moment before saying, "Okay then." The three of us walked to the table, and Damon greeted my father, "John, buddy, how've you been?" "I've been alright, Damon. It's good to see you…with my daughters."
A little while later, I caught up with Caroline while Elena was talking with Matt. I could see Caroline getting uncomfortable at the sight of her friend and recent ex talking, but I assured her that they were just friends. But once Caroline spotted Elena flipping her hair at Matt, a sure tell way to signal that she was aggressively flirting with someone, she bolted.
Matt excused himself and went after the blonde, much to Elena's dismay. I decided to go after the couple and followed them outside. Finding them both smiling and happy, I stepped out to hug Caroline after Matt walked away.
"It's going to be okay, and everything will work out. You'll see." I told her, and she responded with a smile, "You are so weirdly optimistic sometimes. Like is your relationship with Stefan doing that well?" I blushed, and she stated, "That's a yes."
I laughed at her as we reached her car, arm in arm. As we were about to get in the car, however, a voice spoke behind us. "Excuse me, Caroline and Erin, right?" The two of us came face to face with a woman. The two of us nodded and the woman asked, "Have either of you seen Tyler?"
I shook my head and Caroline told, "Nope, not since earlier, sorry." We both turned back to the car, but Jules stated, "I know you're lying." Caroline shut the door to her car, turned around and said, "Really, how? Is that one of your little wolf tricks?"
"Actually, it is." Jules replied with a smile on her face, and an uneasy pit formed in my stomach as Caroline responded, "Well, I have a trick too." The blonde then flashed her vampire face, but was sprayed in the face with vervain. I yelled Caroline's name as I saw a man behind her with a gun. The blonde was furious as she looked at me, and turned around again, but got shot.
The man then looked at me and smirked. I tried to run, but Jules came up behind me and stuffed something down my throat, "Sweet dreams." Jules whispered in my ear, and then it all went black.
I groaned as I woke up, and I heard my name being called, "Erin, Erin please wake up. I need you, please." My eyes opened, and I saw that I was in a cage. Looking around, I was met with a bloody looking Caroline. "I see you're finally awake." My head snapped towards the man who shot Caroline. He sat comfortably in a chair overlooking the two cages.
"That powder stuff was nasty. I've got lots of other things, toys. It's gonna be a long night sweet pea." He spoke, looking at me. He then raised his gun and shot my leg. I screamed out in agony, hoping that someone would come and save me.
"You wanna be friends? Great, we're friends. Will you go now?" Tyler snapped, and Stefan explained, "I don't know what to say to you, Tyler. I came back to this town because I wanted a life, I wanted to exist where I could have friends and build a family. I have that here, we can both have that."
Stefan's phone then started to vibrate, and he looked at Erin's name on the caller id, "Hey, everything okay?" He asked, and Jules answered, "That depends, how badly do you want to keep her and the blonde alive?" "Who is this?" Stefan questioned after a moment, and Jules replied, "Ask your brother, now where's Tyler?"
"Jules." Stefan determined, and he implored, "Where's Erin and Caroline?" "This is your mistake, Stefan. I'm gonna give you a chance to fix it." Jules commented, and Stefan demanded, "Where are they?" "Right here, want proof?" Jules held the phone out and told the man, "He needs proof."
He smiled at Erin before sticking the gun out and shooting her in the arm. Erin started screaming, and Jules felt satisfied as Tyler and Stefan listened on in horror. "You're dead, and if you hurt Caroline as well, I will rip your heart out myself." Stefan threatened.
"I hurt her again and she's dead. Bring us Tyler at the clearing by Wickery Falls. You have twenty minutes until they both die. And who knows, maybe little Erin will die sooner." Jules then swiftly hung up on the vampire as rage filled him.
Meanwhile, at The Grill, Elena watched as Damon blew off Andie Starr. Damon gulped his alcohol in front of her, and she knew he was thinking about Erin. Elena had thought that now Erin and Stefan were finally together, that maybe Damon and Erin would stop having feelings for each other. She knew of course that she was dead wrong, those small moments of friendship the two used to have were now full on moments with a whole load of tension.
Elena's phone rang, and she was surprised to find that Stefan was calling her. "Stefan? What is it?" She asked, and her stomach dropped at what he was saying. Damon and Elena went into the bathroom so they could speak freely.
"Why am I just finding out about this now?" Damon huffed, he was extremely on edge because Erin was getting tortured. "Erin was worried that you'd-" "What, that'd I'd kill him? Of course! That's what needs to happen!" Damon stated, and Elena put up her hand and replied, "No, Damon, not Tyler. Do whatever you need to do to get Caroline and Erin back, but leave Tyler out of it, okay?"
"Why? He's a werewolf, he needs to die, I'm willing to kill. It's a win-win." Damon said sarcastically, and Elena put her hand on Damon's arm, "Damon, please. Erin and Tyler are friends, and Erin would be crushed if he died. Erin hasn't been herself lately, and I know that when she says she's fine, she's actually not."
Damon peered down at Elena's hand and peeled it off of his arm. "You need to stop doing that." He stated, and this earned him a confused look, "Doing what?" "Assuming that I'll play the good guy because you use Erin as an excuse. And you also need to stop flirting with me, Erin's my friend, you on the other hand are not."
Just then, John barged through the door. "What is going on here? Where's Erin?" He questioned them, and Elena snapped, "Nothing." "It doesn't look like nothing." John commented, and Damon sneered, "Trust works both ways, John, get out."
Elena sighed and spoke, "Look, we don't have time for this, we need to get Erin and Caroline back." "WE don't need to do anything. You'll just screw it up, I'll take care of it. First task of Dad duty, ground your bitch of a daughter, keep her here while I save the good one." Damon then walked out, prepared to pull out as many hearts as he could so Erin could be safe.
"I'm coming with you!" Elena called and tried to get away from John. "I'm with Damon on this one, you're not going anywhere. Now, tell me where Erin is and what's going on." John softly said.
Tears made their way down Caroline's cheeks as I just lay still in the cage. My friend gave me a scared look as the man asked, "So, how many vampires are in this town anyway?" When Caroline didn't answer, he sprayed vervain at her. I yelled for him to stop, and he did, surprisingly.
"Why are you doing this to us?" I questioned him, finding my voice. "Because she's a vampire, and you're the perfect leverage. So, why not?" He then shot a dart at me and I groaned in pain. Caroline then started kicking the cage and repeatedly screamed, "Let us out!"
Elena huffed as she looked at her father. "You're not leaving this restaurant." He stated, and she countered, "You can't tell me what to do." "Yes I can, and you wanna know why. I'm here to make sure you and your sister stay safe." John spoke, and Elena sneered, "Erin's got that covered."
She went to step away, but her father blocked her path. "Are you talking about that deal Erin made with Elijah? You really think he's gonna keep his promise to her? Putting your faith in Elijah is a dumb move." "Are you saying I should put my faith in you? After everything you did to Stefan and Damon..."
"We've had our differences, and I've made mistakes. But you and I, we're family." John told her, and Elena just lost all of her control at that, "You don't get to use that word, that word is off limits to you. And I put my faith in my sister because I trust her judgment." "Fine, but that doesn't change the facts." John countered.
"You're right, facts are facts. And even though you may be our father, I will never be your daughter. I can't speak for Erin because I know that she does deep down want you here. But I don't." Elena then walked off, leaving the Grill.
Jules paced the woods, waiting until she heard a twig snap. "I know you're out there." She called, and Stefan and Tyler walked onto the clearing. "Where's Erin and Caroline?" Stefan asked, keeping his cool for the time being. He then added, "Let them go, and I'll release Tyler. It doesn't have to get any messier than it already has. I'm not your enemy, Jules."
"It's a little too late to be waving a white flag, especially after you threatened to kill me." "You need to leave town, no one else has to get hurt." Stefan offered her, knowing what her decision would be. "I'm not leaving without Tyler." Jules spoke stubbornly, and Stefan smiled darkly, "Tyler's free to make his own decisions as soon as you free Erin and Caroline."
"My brother the peace maker." Damon announced his presence, making Stefan dread what he was going to say. "Since Stefan got here before me, I'm gonna let him try his way before I try my way, which is a little bloodier. So, give us Erin and Caroline."
"Let go of Tyler." Jules ordered, and Damon stated, "Give us the girls. Without the full moon it's not an even fight, and you know it. We will take you." "I'm not too sure about that tough guy." Jules said before whistling, signaling the werewolves to approach.
"Let's try this again, give us Tyler." Jules demanded, and Damon told him to go. Tyler hesitantly walked forward. "Which one of you killed Mason?" Brady asked, and Damon raised his hand and taunted, "That would be me." He then told the werewolves to make Damon suffer, causing Damon to smile at his brother innocently.
"We can take them." Damon stated, and Stefan shook his head, "I don't know about that." The fighting then started, and Caroline and I could hear some of it from the trailer. "Caroline, what's going on?" I asked her weakly, and she answered, "Stefan and Damon are here for us."
I nodded and closed my eyes, but Caroline started yelling at me, "No! Erin, don't fall asleep!" "But, Care, I'm so tired." I mumbled groggily. Then, Caroline saw Tyler appear. "Tyler! There's a latch on the door and I can't get to it!" Tyler was hesitant, and Caroline snapped, "Tyler please! Look at Erin! I need you to get me out of here so I can help her! Please, she's going to die!"
Tyler then sprang into action and lifted the door of Caroline's cage. The blonde slid out and opened Erin's cage, and I crawled out. Caroline then put my arm over her shoulder and helped me out of the trailer where Jules grabbed me and pointed the gun at my back.
I locked eyes with Tyler, the betrayal clear within me. He looked away and I whimpered in pain. Suddenly, all of the werewolves clutched their heads in pain, and when Jules let go of me, I tumbled to the ground. I heard my name being called by several different voices, but I just welcomed the deep black abyss.
Stefan rushed to his girlfriend's side and ripped his skin open with his teeth. Damon and Caroline also crowded around the doppelgänger, praying that she wasn't dead. Stefan couldn't feel her taking the blood, and he pleaded, "C'mon Erin, please live, please live. I love you so much, please stay with me."
Caroline looked at Damon's reaction when he heard his brother, and she could see the sadness evident on his face. The blonde vampire didn't like Damon, but she did have to admit that he was different when he was with Erin. It was a nice change.
Stefan sighed in relief as he finally felt her start to take the blood. He kissed Erin's forehead and repeated, "I love you." Jonas then appeared as the werewolf became unconscious. "Elijah made a promise to Erin, and I'm here to see it's upheld." He then looked at Erin's bloody form and added, "He definitely won't like this. You need to go."
Jonas then turned to Tyler as Stefan picked up Erin and sped away, "When your friends awaken, give them a message. They need to get the hell out of this town."
Stefan brought Caroline home, and Damon carried Erin through the door of the Gilbert House. Elena poked her head out of the living room and rushed to her sisters' aid, along with Jeremy. "Stefan gave her some blood, and she's healing." Damon informed the siblings, and they both nodded. John then strolled through the hallway and uttered, "As long as she's alive and doesn't die in the next 24 hours."
Elena glared at her father and Jeremy took Erin from Damon. The Gilbert kids laid Erin down in her room and watched over her while John and Damon talked. "Personal feelings aside, Damon. I think you and Stefan will do all you can to protect Erin." John spoke, and Damon said, "I agree with that statement."
"So, I have a gift for you." John showed him the dagger and ash, and Damon snarked, "What the hell is that?" "This is how you kill an Original. In this vial is ash from a white oak tree that dates back to the creation of the Originals. The dagger must be dipped into the ash and then plunged into their heart."
Damon took it and gave the man a wary look, "How do you know all this, John?" "Isobel. She's very good at finding out things, but of course you know that." John mocked him, and Damon retorted, "A trait she shares with Erin, now where's Isobel?" "Let's just say that if she accomplishes what she's attempting, Klaus won't step foot in Mystic Falls. Where Erin's concerned, Damon, you and I are on the same side."
Jeremy then walked downstairs, interrupting the pair, "Erin's awake, and she's taking a shower right now." Damon curtly nodded and took the white ash and dagger with him as he left the house.
Taking vampire blood is so weird, I thought as I made my way to the kitchen. My body was jolted, but my mind was tired. I opened the refrigerator, and when I found nothing, I shut the door. I jumped as my father stood casually by the fridge. "You scared me." I stated as I grabbed a glass and poured water into it.
"I'm not here to fight with you, Erin." John spoke, and I replied, "Yeah, you're here to protect me, whatever that means. Got it, get in line." He stayed silent for a moment before walking towards me, "I thought you might want something, it was your mother's." "Isobel?" I questioned, and he shook his head.
"No. Your mother, Miranda. I remember her wearing it when she was young, I found it in a box of things your dad left me. Here, it's yours now." John handed the bracelet to me and I admired it. "Miranda and Grayson were your parents, Erin. And I know I'm nothing to you, you have no reason to believe me or trust me and I've done so many horrible things."
Tears gathered in my eyes and I let them drop as he went on, "But when you lost your parents, I lost my brother, my family. I lost my way. And I know I'll never be able to make it right with you and Elena, but I'm going to do everything I can to protect you and to protect this family." We then looked at each other for a few seconds before he walked away.
He always walked away. I stood there for a few moments, but then I heard Stefan call my name. I ran over to him and jumped into his arms. "Are you okay?" I asked him, and he scoffed, "I should be asking you that after everything that happened tonight." "Did you hear that?" Stefan nodded into my shoulder, and I vented, "I don't believe him, Stefan. I just don't."
I pulled out of the hug and questioned, "How's Caroline?" Stefan sighed and stated, "I think I need your help."
Stefan knocked on Caroline's door and waved to her. "Hey, what's going on?" She asked, confusedly, and he answered, "Well, I was a bit worried about you and about Erin after everything you guys went through tonight." "I'm fine." Caroline said, obviously not telling the truth.
"That's good, but just in case, I brought some backup." He motioned towards the three of us all lined up. "We're gonna slumber it." Elena told her, and Bonnie added as she came through the door, "WE haven't done it in ages." I walked in last, and I saw Caroline in tears.
I just pulled them all into a group hug, and looked at Stefan for a moment. I smiled at him, and he did the same to me.
At the same time, Damon and Andie were in Damon's bathtub. "So, what do you want, Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome?" "I'm not that tall." Damon joked, which made Andie laugh. Damon leaned back in the tub and sighed, "I need a distraction." "Well, you can booty call me any time you want." Andie said, and Damon ignored her, "See, the thing is, Miss Sexy-Reporter-Girl, I have a problem I really need help with, and it's really messing with my mind."
"Oh, tell me about it." Andie cooed, and Damon told, "I'm in love with a woman I can never have." "I knew it, I know how to pick them. So, why can't you have her? She's with another man, I assume." Andie asked as she sipped the wine glass. "Yes, but that's not the point. The point is that I'm in love with her and it's driving me crazy, and I'm out of control."
"What, you don't trust yourself around her?" She implored, and Damon answered somberly, "I don't trust myself around anyone, Andie. I'm bad, Andie, I do things, I kill people." When Andie saw he was serious, Damon compelled her to not be afraid.
"Well, why do you kill people?" She questioned, and Damon sighed, "Because I like it, it's in my nature, it's who I am. But then I have to stay together to protect her and she wants me to be the better man, which means I can't be who I am. Do you see the problem I'm having Andie?"
"Well, maybe this is who you are now. Love does that, Damon. It changes us. And are you really sure she wants you to change who you are? Maybe she really does love you with your flaws and quirks. That is what real love is, looking past all of the bad stuff because you are completely in love with the person on the inside." Andie said.
"Just stop talking. Just kiss me, be my distraction." Damon came closer to her, and the two made out until Damon finally bit her.