Ratings and warnings: M - mature subject matter, adult content, violence, language
I don't own TVD or its characters. Only the plots are mine.
The elementary school choir sang Rocking Around the Christmas Tree, only slightly off-key, beneath the just-lit town Christmas tree. As the chorus began, four very grumpy snowmen joined hands with elves in fur-trimmed skirts and began to do what could only be considered a dance by parents or doting grandparents.
"Nathan looks like he'd rather be anywhere else." Elena pulled the camera away from her face as she turned in surprise at the unexpected voice. John wore a ghost of a smile as he watched his youngest two grandchildren. "But Emma seems to be enjoying herself."
"She's such a ham. She's been practicing every night this month." Elena tried to make her shoulders relax as interacted with her father. She turned her attention back at the show. Thankfully, Mrs. Johnston had the sense not to make her children be partners. Not every teacher understood that simply because they were twins didn't mean they were instantly compatible.
The song mercifully over, the dancers stood at the front of the stage and waved at the audience. Emma smiled broadly and beamed out at the assembled crowd. A natural performer, she waved and her curled pigtails bobbed up and down. She blinked at an insanely bright flash in front of her.
Elena's eyes followed the source of the flash, and she recognized the reporter from the newspaper that had been circulating among the crowd that evening.
Studying the faces around her, Elena was once again reminded how little had changed in Mystic Falls. The children dancing and singing tonight were the offspring of Elena's high school classmates. Her high school classmates were the descendants of her parents' high school friends. Nothing changed in Mystic Falls.
Which is why the newcomer bothered her. Not so many years ago, someone new in town would be the signal that something bad was about to happen. A new wickedness was on its way.
But that was years ago – a lifetime really. Even the vampire attack from months ago seemed to be an isolated incident. A case of a hiker being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Coincidence. Nothing more.
That was the refrain Elena repeated to herself every night. Mystic Falls was peaceful now. Trouble free. No supernaturals. Nothing dangerous lurked in the dark. She reminded herself of that every night…while she watched Damon locking the doors and tucking sprigs of dried vervain in the pockets of their children's coats…where they wouldn't find the plants and ask questions no one was ready to answer.
She reminded herself things were fine here. Peaceful.
But it didn't stop the niggling at the pit of her stomach. A newcomer was in town. No one ever came to Mystic Falls. At least no one came without an agenda.
"She reminds me more of you every time I see her." John interrupted Elena's spiraling thoughts. "Except for the ribbons. Your dad taught you how to pull ribbons out of your hair when you were two. Miranda could never get you to leave them in after that." The crowd erupted into applause as the kindergarteners stepped down from the stage.
"I didn't know you were coming." She looked doubtfully at him. They walked toward the sidewalk and stood beneath one of the ivy-wrapped streetlamps. The Christmas tree lighting was still new as far as the history of the town was concerned, but it had quickly become one of Mystic Falls' most popular seasonal events.
"It was a last minute decision. I just wanted to watch. Sorry." He smiled at the fuzzy snowman running to meet Elena, his eyes more than a little sad. He's watched Elena grow up from the distant sidelines. Now he was doing the same with his grandchildren. Nathan's fedora flew off his head, and John stooped down to pick it up. "I haven't seen them in a while. I knew you'd all be here." He looked Elena straight in the eyes. "I hope you don't mind. I'll be going now."
"That was horrible." Old before his time, Nathan grumpily shuffled to his mother, the exact opposite of his sister who was positively bubbling with excitement. Happy yells echoed in the distance, and the corners of his lips drew up in a half-smile that was almost a carbon copy of his father's. "Can we go ride down the snow hill now?"
"You were spectacular. I couldn't take my eyes off either of you." She knelt down and hugged him tightly. She stood up and noticed the wistful expression on John's face. "I think we're going to do Santa next, but we won't forget to ride the hill. John," she reached out and took hold of his arm, summoning all her strength. "Why don't you stay? Watching them with Santa is kind of hard to describe."
"Really? We have to do Santa next? Mom…" Elena could feel Claire's eyes rolling without even turning to look. Claire handed her mother a steaming cup of whipped cream topped hot chocolate. "Dad sent you this. He's still over there being official."
"Thanks! I see he must have been able to tell that you got tired of standing there smiling and nodding your head." Elena blew on the steaming cup. She turned her attention back to John as he studied Claire. "And yes, we're doing Santa. Uncle John's even staying to watch."
Claire gave an embarrassed smile as she shifted back and forth, overcome by a sudden attack of manners. "I'm sorry, Uncle John, I didn't know you were here. Do you want my hot chocolate? I haven't had any of it."
"No, Claire. Thank you, though." He patted her on the shoulder. "Where's Braydon?"
"He's doing winter camping with the scouts. Where else would he be? I think he's determined to be the youngest Eagle Scout in history." Damon stepped up to meet them. He surveyed the group. "Where's Emma?"
Nathan turned around. "She was right behind me." His eyes flashed back and forth behind his glasses. "Mrs. Johnston made sure we were together."
Damon squinted into the semi-darkness, but Elena was acutely aware that the Christmas lights wrapped around the streetlamps didn't cast much light into the crowd milling about the stage. "Emma?" He called out as he began to push through the crowd.
"Claire, wait here with Uncle John." Elena reached down for Nathan's hand. "Emma?" She plunged into the sea of festival-goers clinging tightly to Nathan's hand as she pulled him to the opposite side of the stage. She hopped onto the bottom step leading up to the stage to get a better view, but she might as well have been looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack. Every time she caught a glimpse of a girl who might have been Emma, her stomach sank, realizing it was just another of the identically-dressed performers. Tonight was quickly turning into a nightmare. "Emma!"
She felt a tug at her sleeve and looked to see who it was. "I sent her back to you with Nathan. Wasn't she with him?" Mrs. Johnston looked confused.
Elena shook her head. "No. He's the only one who met us."
"Well, she can't have gone too far. You know how these little ones can be. They see one interesting thing, and they dart off without thinking." Mrs. Johnson climbed to the top of the stairs.
Elena refused to contradict her, but her children wouldn't just disappear. Too much of Elena and Damon's pasts hung over them like a shadow, and it influenced how they'd raised their children. No Salvatore just disappeared into the crowd.
That was the way someone ended up missing or worse.
"Damon." Liz Forbes' voice called out through the crowd. "You looking for something?" She carried a sniffling Emma in her arms.
"I'm sorry, Daddy." Emma sobbed as she reached out to wrap her arms around his neck. "I didn't mean to. I know the rules."
"Why'd you leave Nathan?" He pulled her to his chest before he ran one hand over her forehead as if he were checking to make certain she was unscathed. "We were worried about you."
"I'm afraid that's my fault." A tall man with short-cropped red hair came to stand in front of Damon. His British accent suggested he wasn't from anywhere around Mystic Falls. "I was asking her what her name was for the paper. I'd taken her photograph tonight, you see. I don't like labeling my subjects as just random members of the crowd. Just as I was about to have her point out her parents to me, she scurried off. I didn't realize she was yours."
"One of them." Damon led the man back to the rest of his family. "Elena, John, this is Blake Silverman. He and his wife just bought the paper."
"Nice to meet you, Blake." John extended his hand.
"Welcome to Mystic Falls." Elena's phone rang in her purse. "Excuse me." She dropped Nathan's hand as she dug around for it. Glancing at the caller ID, she fought the urge to use non-child appropriate language. "This can't be good." She shook her head as she answered the call. She stepped away from the cluster of family members so she could hear better.
"Hey Jack. Please don't tell me he's broken something." She shook her head at Damon's unasked question. "Really? Ugh. That sounds horrible." She made a face. "I'm so sorry." She was quiet as she listened to the scoutmaster. "Sure. I'll be there in about...30 minutes. We're at the Christmas tree lighting. No, really, it isn't a problem. You don't need to drop him off. I don't mind." She ended the call and walked to the group.
"They really should have cancelled the Camporee. It's either food poisoning or a stomach virus." She dropped her phone into her purse. "Braydon's one of the only ones who doesn't have it, but they're calling all the parents. We've got to go get him. Come on you three. Your daddy can't leave yet, so we'll have to come back to pick him up after we have Braydon."
"But Momma! We haven't seen Santa yet!" Tears threatened to spill once again down Emma's cheeks. She looked frantically in the direction of the red-suited man in the antique sleigh. Emma began talking about her yearly visit to Santa before Halloween every year.
"Emma," Damon slid her to the ground. "We can't leave your brother there by himself."
"I could drive all of you home, Damon." Uncle John had faded into the background. Honestly, Damon and Elena had almost forgotten he was there. "I'll let them finish the festival, then when everyone's ready to leave, I'll drive them. My car's plenty big enough. No reason for them to miss out on the fun."
"Really?" Elena turned to look at him in disbelief.
John nodded. "I never got to see you with Santa, but I can see them."
"If you're sure you don't mind..."
"It would be my pleasure." He extended his arm in Emma's direction. "Should we go see Santa?"
"He really is trying." Damon stood back next to Elena.
"I know." With a twinge of sadness, she watched him lead her two youngest children away. "Maybe we really should invite him over sometime." She shook her head as if she was surprised the words actually left her mouth. "I've got to go."
"Can I come?" Claire asked. "Please don't make me stand in the Santa line."
"But then how will he know what you want?" Damon smiled at his daughter.
"I'll catch him at the mall."
"Ok, then, let's go." Elena ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. First a camping trip ended with the discovery of a dead body. Now the scouts were hit by food poisoning...what else could go wrong? Maybe Braydon would skip the next event. "We'll meet you at home."
"Watch the turn before you get to the creek. They haven't fixed it from when it flooded."
"I know. I remember. We'll be careful."
Damon reached behind the small of her back and brought his lips to hers. "You're going to miss the mistletoe."
Elena's cheeks flushed pink. "Go. Do Mayor stuff. Make sure John doesn't let the twins take up too much of Santa's time."
"Mom, come on." Claire shook her head and tapped her foot.
Damon jogged to catch up to John and the twins. Emma had taken hold of his hand and was swinging it wildly back and forth. Even from a distance away, Damon had no trouble hearing her practicing reciting her list.
"And a kitten."
"Daddy said no to the kitten. Molly wouldn't like it."
"Who's Molly?"
Nathan hopped up and down in excitement. "She's our puppy. We got her for an early birthday present. You'll have to come over and see her. You haven't been to our house in forever. Dad put up a big playground in the yard."
"A playground?"
"A play yard." Damon corrected. "One of those wooden things. Swing set. Monkey bars. And a fort that looks like a pirate's ship."
"But you'll love Molly. You have to be careful. She pees when she's excited." Nathan turned up his nose in disgust.
"I will." John laughed at Nathan's excitement. "You can show her to me when I take you home tonight. How does that sound?" They'd reached the line to see Santa Claus. Emma and Nathan ran ahead. Jonathan turned when he saw that Damon had reached his side. "They're definitely energetic."
Damon nodded. "If they'd been first, I doubt Braydon would have come into the world."
The men stood in silence for a moment. "Thanks for offering to drive us home. Emma lives to see Santa every year."
"Sounds just like her mom. Grayson always sent me a picture of her on Santa's lap. He said she started making her list before Halloween. So really, I don't mind. It helps me imagine what Elena must have been like growing up."
"Yep. Sounds like Emma's just like her mom. I think she's on list 100 right now." Damon paused, noticing the wistful expression on John's face while he watched the twins. "You didn't see her very often, did you?"
"No." John shook his head. "Grayson was furious when he found out that Isobel was pregnant. As a college student, I should have known better. He made sure Elena grew up with a less than positive impression of me." As Emma and Nathan moved forward in the line, he lowered his voice. "I heard about what the scouts found in the woods last month."
Damon wasn't surprised. He also had an idea that John had decided to come tonight to have this very discussion. "As a council member, I'd have been more surprised if you hadn't."
"What do you know?"
"Not much." Damon frowned. He liked to be in control of a situation, and right now he had far less information than he would have liked. "Two dead bodies. Something killed them and then tore them apart. Or something tore them apart while they were killed. They'd been there too long. We couldn't really tell."
"Do you think we should be concerned?"
"We live in Mystic Falls, John. There's a reason Elena started putting vervain in their orange juice every morning."
"Mom?" Claire drummed her fingers on the console between the front two seats. She spun the dial trying to find a station playing the best Christmas music. She'd already heard "Holly Jolly Christmas" five times more often than she should have that night. "Do you like Uncle John?"
Elena studied her daughter out of the corner of her eye. "What kind of question is that?"
Claire often seemed like an adult trapped in a child's body. Where did she come up with some of the questions she asked? Elena squinted as she looked down the winding road. Damon hadn't been exaggerating when he warned her about the missing pavement.
"You always seem so tense around him. You act like you wish he'd just go away."
"Do I?" Elena couldn't fight back a hesitant laugh. "I guess I do." She nodded in agreement. "I really shouldn't, though. I just didn't get too much of a chance to get to know him when I was younger."
"That's sad." She chewed her lip and appeared to be debating with herself whether or not to move on to the next subject. "I like Uncle John." Claire smiled hesitantly. "Is that ok?"
"I'm glad you like him. And it's perfectly okay." Elena pursed her lips. Keeping the secret of who John was wasn't just costing him the chance to be a grandfather. For the first time, she realized she was also keeping her children from the only grandparent they truly had.
The car bounced over a section of missing pavement interrupting Elena's thoughts. As they crested the hill, she looked down at the road below. Her stomach gave an uncomfortable lurch as she saw the thick bank of fog blanketing the road.
"Thanks, John. Elena should be back any second if you want to wait to see Braydon." Damon pulled the front door closed behind him. He squinted under the glare of the clear Christmas lights lining the porch roof.
Molly barked happily as Emma and Nathan threw a tennis ball around the living room. Damon's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the display in confusion. "Hey Jack! Hope you didn't catch the bug. Did Braydon forget something?" His laughter caught in his throat.
"I'll just be going." John stepped toward the stairs.
Damon shook his head and held up a finger to signal to John to wait. "What do you mean she's not there yet?" He glanced at his watch. "She left the Christmas tree lighting almost an hour ago. From the park, it should have only taken 15 minutes or so. Yes, I understand. I'll call her and tell her to turn around since you decided to just drive Braydon home. Sorry about that. Thanks!" Damon flipped the phone closed.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know. She hasn't picked Braydon up yet. She should have been there at least 30 minutes ago." Damon dialed Elena's number. "No answer."
He fought to ignore the first hint of discomfort in the pit of his stomach as he keyed in Jenna's phone number. "Jenna? Have you heard anything from Elena? No. No. I'm sure everything's fine. I was just checking. Maybe she just turned off her phone. Yes, I know we're talking about my wife. I'll get her to call you when she gets in."
A more intense wave of uneasiness came over him. He felt John staring at him as he dialed Elena's number. Just when he thought he was going to reach her voicemail again, someone answered. "Daddy? Is that you Daddy? Momma needs your help."