AN: This is old Chapter 3 and 4 put together. They were both short.

Chapter 7: Tea Party at the Lockwoods.

Alaric knocked on the front door of the boarding house and waited. Damon had asked him to come by, because he wanted to show him something. He didn't have a lot of time. He and Jenna were going to the Lockwoods, the Historical Society were having a gathering in honour of Elijah.

Nothing happened, and he glanced at his watch. 9.26 in the morning. He knocked again, a little harder this time.

The door swung open and Darwin smiled at him, looking tired and wearing an apron covered in brown dough.

Alaric blinked, "You are baking? What?"

"Brownies, "he stepped aside to let Alaric enter, "You want some? All the ingredients are organic."

"No thanks, "he stepped inside, "is Damon here?"

"In the shower, I think, "Darwin sighed and rubbed his red-rimmed eyes, "with Andie."

Alaric followed Darwin into the kitchen, then stopped in surprise. Plates of brownies everywhere! On every surface! "Did you bake all night?!"

"Almost, "Darwin sat down by the kitchen table and closed his eyes, "Damon and Andie kept me up."

"Really?" Alaric reached out and grabbed a brownie from a plate and started eating, absentmindedly.

"You should've heard them, "Darwin shook his head, "I'm not sure what they were doing, but I swear; at one point I heard howling coyotes gathering outside."

Alaric reached out again and grabbed another brownie: "Somehow that doesn't surprise me."

Darwin opened his eyes and watched Alaric eat, an unreadable expression on his face. He stayed silent for a few seconds. Then ...

"Alaric ..., "he asked hesitantly, "which plate did you take that brownie from?"

Alaric glanced at the halfeaten brownie i his hand, then looked at the kitchen countertop. Four plates were within his reach. "I don't know." He frowned, "why?"

Darwin chewed on his lower lip: "Nevermind. I just don't think you should eat anymore, is all."'

"Why not?"

"Because you're fat, "Darwin stated bluntly.

Alaric looked at the brownies again: "Darwin, what did you put in these brownies?"

"Just some herbs. But not in all of them!" He added hurriedly.

"What did I eat?

"I don't know, "the boy admitted, smiling sheepishly, "but the good news is that we will know in about half an hour."

"Darwin!"Disgusted, Alaric threw the rest of his brownie in the garbage can. "You could've warned me! We have to be at the Lockwoods in an hour!"

"You said, you didn't want any! "Darwin snapped defensively.

"Who supplies you with these herbs?"

"No one, I grow them myself"

Rick sent him a dark glare, and Darwin threw up his hands in defeat. "They are organic!"

(Break)

Damon walked down the stairs, followed closely by Andie. She was wrapping her scarf around her neck.

At the bottom of the stairs stood Alaric with an uncharactaristic, wide smile on his face. As Damon approached, he opened his arms: "Damon! My friend!"

For one horrible second, Damon thought Rick was going to hug him and took a cautious step back, but Alaric's eyes had already moved on to Andie. "Why, hello there, "he reached out and grabbed her hand, kissing it, and then bowing, "and what is your name?"

She blinked: "Alaric, it's me!"

He gave her a blank stare.

"Andie, "she tried again.

"Ah, yes, the reporter, "he nodded importantly, "Action News!"

"It's not called Action News, "Damon remarked.

"Isn't it a bit early to be drunk?" Andie raised an eyebrow and tried to retract her hand, but Alaric clutched it like a lifeline.

He frowned and rubbed his cheek with his free hand: "Why is my face numb?"

"More like stoned, "Damon corrected, walking past Andie and Alaric, "I'll get you some coffee, Rick."

"Damon, I have to leave." Andie finally succeeded in freeing her hand, almost tipping Alaric over in the process, "I have to cover a tea party at the Mayors. The historical society. In honour of some writer from out of town. Elijah ... something."

"Smith, "Darwin offered as he stepped into the house, a bucket of fresh flowers in his arms.

Damon came out of the kitchen with a mug of coffee in each hand. He stopped to look at Darwin: "Where did you get those?"

"We have flowers delivered every day." Darwin looked fondly at the bucket of flowers in his arms.

"Really? And who is paying?"

"I am!" Darwin snapped.

"Lillies. Manly!"Damon yelled after him, as he walked the flowers into the kitchen.

"I'm going to that thing at the Lockwoods, too, "Alaric stated, accepting the mug of coffee from Damon, "to watch Jenna make out with an Original, who talks and dresses like Frasier Crane."

"Maybe you should keep Rick here, "Andie suggested quietly after kissing Damon goodbye.

"Actually, I was planning on going to the Lockwoods myself, "Damon said, "I think it's time Elijah and I officially met. But don't worry; I'll keep an eye on Rick."

Andie looked doubtful, but said: "Then I'll see you there."

"Thanks for breakfast, "Damon whispered, adjusting her scarf.

(Break)

"So this is how you kill an Original?" Darwin asked, his voice filled with disbelief. He eyed the dagger suspiciously from where he was leaning against a bookcase across the room from Damon.

"Yes, "Damon answered for the tenth time, waving the dagger casually, "according to John Gilbert."

"And you believe him?"

"Not in the least. So I checked with Katherine ..."

"So you have the word of John Gilbert and Katherine Pierce? Why am I not convinced? Have you even considered reasoning with Elijah first? He could be a useful ally."

"That's what today is about, "Damon assuered him, "getting to know his motives."

There was a pause. Alaric sat swaying back and forth on one of the couches, staring blindly off into space.

"You are going to kill him today, aren't you?" Darwin asked grimly.

Damon rolled his eyes: "Listen, Mr. Love-Peace-And-Harmony; I am not going to try anything stupid at the Lockwoods, is that clear?"

"Uh huh, "Darwin sounded unconvinced.

"I won't, "Damon placed the dagger back on the desk, "I'll wait for the opportune moment."

"That would be when he's making out with Jenna, "Alaric interjected dreamily.

"So I guess this is the dagger you wanted to research on my laptop?"

"Yes, "Damon answered, "but I found nothing. Nothing about the dagger and nothing on the Originals. And only very little on the sun and moon curse."

"Anything we didn't already know?"

"Nope."

Darwin was about to ask another question, when he felt his cell phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out and checked the caller id; NIKLAUS.

"I ... I have to go, "he stammered and retreated hurriedly to the kitchen.

Once there, he began texting frantically:

I said: What do you want?

NIKLAUS said: Where are you?

I said: At the boarding house. Cannot talk. Damon nearby. Going to the Lockwood Mansion with him and Alaric today.

NIKLAUS said: Remember our deal. If you ever want to see Kol again, that is.

I said: Don't worry. I'll keep Damon from interfering with Elijah, you have my word.

NIKLAUS said: Very good. Where's my doppelgänger?

I said: At her family's lakehouse with Stefan. Don't know where it is, but I can try to find out.

NIKLAUS said: Won't be nessecary. You focus on Damon and Elijah.

I said: Got it.

Darwin leaned back against the kitchencounter and slipped his cell phone back into his pocket.

That doppelgänger was going to be the death of him!

(Break)

Darwin tucked at the collar of the white shirt, Damon had made him wear and quickly scanned the crowd assembled in the large room at the Lockwood Mansion. He saw Jenna and Andie to one side, talking animatedly, and Carol Lockwood with Elijah, standing further into the room.

Damon walked up to Andie and kissed her. "Thanks for introducing us, "he told Jenna in passing.

Darwin sighed as Damon drew nearer to Elijah and Mrs. Lockwood. He saw him shaking hands with the Original.

"Come on, Mr. Saltzman, "he pulled irritably at Rick's hand.

Alaric had insisted on holding his hand all the way up to the house, stopping at each crossing of the paths and making him look to both sides.

Darwin followed in Damon's footsteps, dragging Alaric along with him. On his way, he caught a whiff of wet dog and shuddered. Undoubtedly, Tyler Lockwood, whom he actually hadn't been officially introduced to, yet.

He stopped a short distance away from Damon and Elijah, and Rick finally let go of him and stepped right up to them, completely oblivious to Carol Lockwood's stunned expression.

"Ah, Elijah, this is Alaric Saltzman, "she informed the Original, "our high school history teacher."

Elijah turned away from his conversation with Damon and held out his hand to Alaric: "Pleased to meet you."

"No, no, "Alaric shook his hand solemnly, "pleased to meet you, Dr. Crane."

Elijah's eyebrows went up: "Excuse me?"

"Elijah is writing a book on small town Virginia, "Damon informed Alaric hurriedly.

"Really, "Alaric regarded Elijah without blinking, "how original..."

Darwin felt a desperate giggle working its way up his throat, but when Elijah turned his attention to him, he quickly swallowed it.

"Mr. Havens."

Darwin kept his distance and stuck his hands into the pockets of his grey, woolen trousers. "Mr. Smith. I hope you found the books, I gave you, informative."

"Very much so, "Elijah's eyes bore into his, "as a matter of fact, I wanted to ask you some questions about one of them."

Darwin stiffened, feeling panic working its way up his spine. "Which one?"

"The one on the original Scandinavian settlers."

"But I didn't give you ... "Darwin immediately halted himself, "I only looked through it. I didn't read it, I'm afraid."

"It will only be a moment of your time, I assure you." Elijah turned to Carol Lockwood and Darwin saw his pupils dilate as he looked her straight in the eye.

"You can use my late husband's office, if you want to talk some place quiet, "she offered, smiling warmly, "Elijah, you know where it is."

Darwin's mouth dropped open. Elijah hadn't said a word! The man was truly frightening. And wasn't Carol Lockwood supposed to be on vervain?

"Thank you, Carol, "Elijah smiled back at her then turned back to Darwin and held out his arm, "this way, Mr. Havens."

Darwin sent Damon a pleading look, but he merely shrugged. Darwin knew what it meant; there was nothing he could do.

So, Darwin had no choice, he had to comply. He lowered his head in defeat and followed Elijah to the office. Elijah held the door open for him and Darwin made sure not to brush against him as he entered. He went as far back into the office, as he could, crossing his arms over his chest and waiting for Elijah to make the first move.

Elijah regarded him for a minute, then asked: "Who are you?"

"Darwin Havens, "he answered mechanically.

"Why are you here?"

"I was hired by Carol Lockwood to work at the library."

Elijah sighed. "Why do we look alike?"

"I don't know, "Darwin started chewing on his lower lip as he always did when he was nervous.

"You are lying, "it wasn't a question, it was a statement.

"Can I go now?" Darwin asked worriedly.

Elijah nodded and stepped aside to let him past. Darwin eyed him suspiciously when he walked by him, but Elijah remained motionless.

It wasn't until he reached for the doorknob, he felt a hand entangle in his hair and pull him back roughly. He let out a surprised yelp as he was jerked around to look into Elijah's dark eyes.

Elijah leaned in towards him and for a wild moment he thought he was going to bite him, but Elijah straightened up again quckly. "You are not human, "he stated, "what are you?"

"I'm a vampire, "Darwin choked out around the fear tightening in his chest.

"How old are you?"

"I don't know, "he answered desperately, as the hand twisted his hair.

"I can compel you to tell me the truth, you know." Elijah sounded as calm as ever.

"No, you can't!"

"You're an Original?" Elijah frowned thoughtfully.

"No, I'm not, "it wasn't until that moment, Darwin realised their question-and-answer session was in Danish, "I've ingested vervain..."

"Very clever. Who turned you?"

"I don't know! I don't remember."

"Hm, "Elijah searched his face for a moment, "Where were you born?"

"In Denmark."

"And who were your parents?"

"They were farmers, "he answered, his voice shaking, but sounding more like its normal self, "My father died while my mother was expecting me."

That, at least, was partly true.

"Please, let me go, "Darwin pleaded miserably, switching back to English.

"Fine." Elijah retracted his hand roughly, pulling out several of Darwin's long, dark hairs. "You can go."

Darwin backed away, not wanting to turn his back to Elijah this time, but the man wasn't even looking at him. He bumped into the door, reached back, turned the door knob, and pushing past a surprised Damon on his way out.

(Break)

Elijah shook his head and reached into one of his pockets, pulling out a small plastic bag. He had found a bunch of them at the library. They were used for old coins and other small trinkets. He carefully placed the long strands of hair in the bag and sealed it shut.

So, the boy was refusing to answer his questions? Luckily, he knew a discreet doctor in town with an extensive lab.

He heard someone enter the office, and looked up. "Damon Salvatore. I trust everything is well?"

"Yes. Had a bit of a werewolf problem."

"Yes, I heard, "Elijah said calmly as he stuck the plastic bag back into his pocket.

AN: I in no way endorse the use of drugs in any kinds of food. Or growing your own pot.

Btw, I have to ask; am I the only one who liked Daniel Gillies' old haircut better?