Chapter 6:

The next few days went by quietly.

Anna spent more time with Jeremy and they slowly started dating. Candy came to trust Elena, even if Anna stayed on her guards. Lexi didn't stay long and ended up leaving town after a few days, promising to come back as soon if they needed her. She felt that she needed to spend some time away from Stefan to try and figure out what it was exactly she was feeling for him. Maybe she only didn't like Elena because she was dating Stefan… But then, was Stefan really only her best friend or did she feel more for him?

Damon was intrigued by Candy and so he tried to spend as much time as possible with her. So far, when they talked, the subjects were light, like actuality, history or what they liked… He felt like her life story was pretty important and he wanted to hear it but if he wasn't ready to share his own story, he couldn't expect her to share hers, right?

He also had gotten closer to his brother and they were slowly going back to how they were before Katherine came in their lives and screwed things over for them.

When the party at the Lockwood's finally came, Damon was pretty smug: Candy had agreed to go as his date!

Sure, it was what he had negotiated against his help to open the tomb but he truly was curious about Candy. His brother had refused to tell him anymore, claiming that it was her story to tell and he understood that perfectly… He just wanted for her to confide in him…

Why did he feel that way when he only knew her for such a short time? He didn't know but he was determined to find out. After spending so much time pinning after a bitch that didn't want or deserve him, he had all the time in the world to win over Candy!

"Are you sure that you don't want to come with us?" Candy asked Anna as she grabbed her purse to go to the Lockwood's party with Damon.

"Nah, I'm fine. I'll go over to see Jeremy and spend some time with him, you have fun!" Anna said.

"Okay, if you're sure!" Candy smiled.

Anna and Jeremy had spent a lot of time together since they had met. Apparently the young man was nice and funny and Anna liked him a lot.

Damon rang their doorbell right on time and when Candy opened the door, he was a perfect gentleman and complimented her on her dress.

Candy blushed. The more time she spent with Damon, the more vivid Terry's memories were… It was almost painful for her but she had managed to hide it so Damon wouldn't see it. So far, only Stefan and Anna knew how much it hurt her to see Damon… She didn't want him to know because she wanted him to help them.

"It's a nice car you've got here…" Candy said.

"Thank you, I bought it brand new!" He replied proudly as they got out of the car and walked toward the entrance where the Mayor and his wife welcomed them in.

"Is Stefan coming with Elena?" Candy asked her escort.

"Yes, he left to pick her up about the same time I did… Why?"

"No reason, just curious." Candy replied with her bright smile.

"You know, that smile of your could brighten up a whole room!" Damon said as they walked around the place.

"Why, thank you Damon!" She replied, blushing slightly.

They met a few people and everyone loved Candy immediately. Who would have guessed that she was the kind of creature they were hunting? Damon and Candy enjoyed themselves with Stefan and Elena and when nobody was looking, Damon went to get the medallion.

"What is this?" Candy asked, looking at the ugly yellow talisman.

"This, my dear Candy, is Emily's talisman. It will be able to take the power of the comet and help any witch open the tomb." Damon said smugly.

"That's smart!" Candy commented as Damon grabbed two champagne glasses for them.

The rest of the night went by rather quickly and even if Candy was pained by the difficult memories that Damon awoke in her, she was happy to be there with him. He was damaged, just like Terry had been and he could be fixed, just like she fixed Terry. He just needed people to love him and be sincere with him… She enjoyed her time with him the rest of the night and when it was time for the blue eyed vampire to drive her home, she knew he, too, had had a good night.

"So, when will I see you again? Want to go out sometime?" Damon asked her as he stopped his car in front of her house.

Candy knew it would be best for her to say no… The less she saw him and the less she would find herself crying at night but she also knew that they needed that Talisman and that he would probably give it just when it was needed, not before… She also wanted to spend more time with him… Part of her wanted to see how far things w=could go between them.

"Sure, why not?" She replied.

"Cool, I'll pick you up for lunch tomorrow then!" He said.

"Sure, that works for me!" She replied before she left the car adding:

"I had fun tonight… Goodnight Damon!"

When she got inside, she let her smile fall and went in her bedroom, ready to finally let go of the bottled up pain.

.

The next morning, Anna gave Candy a concerned look but the blond vampire acted like she didn't notice it at all and acted like she usually did.

"How was last night?" Anna asked her friend and sister.

"It was good. Damon acted like the perfect gentleman he is deep down."

"I heard you last night Candy… You cried again!" Anna said, looking at her sister in the eyes.

"It's nothing… it will pass as soon as I get used to him…"

"Maybe it would be best if you didn't see him again…" Anna suggested.

"Avoiding pain isn't the best solution to deal with it Anna… If I avoid it now, it will come back later when I see someone or something else that reminds me of him! I can't avoid it forever! Do you realise that the last time I went into a theatre was when I went to see him for the last time with you?" Candy did her best to explain things.

"Fine, if you're so sure… But the minute it's too much I get to stake him!" Anna compromised with an amused smile.

"So, how was your evening?" Candy asked, smiling again.

"It was great, I had lots of fun with Jeremy… I think I'm going to join him in school tomorrow… I'll go and sign up today!" Anna decided.

"Really? Well, that's new!" Candy replied with shock.

"What about you, what are you going to do?" Anna asked her back.

"Well, I'm having lunch with Damon today. I don't really want to start working before we've freed your mother… I've got a feeling that something is going to happen and will take some of my time… I don't know what it is but I want to be ready!" Candy said.

"You think it has something to do with your father and his identity?" Anna asked with surprise.

"Maybe… I'm not sure… We'll see!" Candy replied.

There was no need in torturing themselves with questions whose answers they wouldn't get until it was the right time.

.

That day, Candy had lunch with Damon and was surprised when he told her he had packed a picnic for her.

"That's very nice of you to do that… You didn't have to." She said as they sat on a blanket in front of the falls.

"When on a date with a beautiful young woman, I always do my best to please." He replied with a small smile.

"Is that something you do often?" She asked him, thinking that Terry had never done this for her, maybe because they never really had the occasion to just be happy together for long.

"Actually it's the first time since I turned." He smiled.

"Then I feel honoured, thank you." She replied as he served them some nice smelling food and a bottle of wine laced with blood.

"You know Candy, I'm not an idiot… I know you're hurting… I don't know why… But if for some reason it's that painful to spend time with me…You don't have to. I'll still help open the tomb… I don't want to cause you any pain…" He said and she could guess being this honest and caring with someone isn't what he was used to.

"I…It's not your fault… I… You remind me of someone I lost a long time ago…" She said softly, looking down.

"Someone you loved…" He guessed.

"Someone I have a hard time getting over…"

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked her.

"If I do would you tell me about you and Katherine?" She asked with her trademark smile.

"How can I say no to anything when you look at me like this?" He chuckled and for the next few hours, they told each other their stories.

They talked so much that the afternoon turned into the evening and they were interrupted by Anna who was worried for her sister. Candy reassured her and told her she was fine, but that she didn't know when she would be back.

"How about we pack up and continue this at the Boarding house?" Damon suggested, looking at her in a softer way than before, maybe because he finally knew her history, maybe because he felt a connection forming between them.

They arrived at the Boarding house laughing over some stupid joke Damon had told and, surprising Stefan and Elena, they settled in the living room where they kept on talking.

Until now, Candy had only told Damon of her story with Terry but she decided to tell him everything and so she told him of Niel, Eliza, her childhood at Misses Pony's home and of Annie. She told him of Albert and of how Eliza did everything she could to ruin her life, including trying to kill her. He didn't know how Candy managed to remain this light and happy when she had gone through so much but he couldn't help but admire her.

.

"What did Candy do to your brother? He's so different now…" Elena whispered to Stefan as they were lying on his bed.

"I think she simply opened up to him and somehow forced him to open up too. It's just how she is… It's like she can heal the soul or something." Stefan replied.

"Oh…good. By the way, I talked with Bonnie today and she refuses to open the tomb for us." Elena informed him as they heard laughter coming from the living room.

"I'll go and talk to Sheila tomorrow with Candy." Stefan said before he kissed her and helped her take her mind off of things.

.

When Candy got home, late at night, Anna was waiting for her. Candy told her what she had one all day, how she told everything to Damon and in exchange he opened up to her, how they bonded and became friends and how it didn't hurt as much to be near him. She could see that he wasn't just a guy that looked and acted like Terry, he was also very charming and his own person. She was growing to like him and was truly hopping things would work out fine.

.

Klaus was in a bar owned by a witch opened to many vampires in Texas when he overheard an interesting conversation about a bubbly blond vampire that helped someone turn her emotions back on.

Could it possibly be his daughter?

"Her name is Candy… I tell you, she's amazing." The woman said as she explained how Candy convinced her to turn her emotions back on.

"What does she look like?" Klaus asked, stepping out of the shadow and in front of the couple of vampires talking.

"Very pretty, long blond curly hair, cute little freckles all around her nose, green eyes, a bright smile that could brighten a room…" The woman described.

"Where was it? How long ago? Where is she now?" Klaus asked her urgently.

"I…It was a few months ago in Georgia… She was heading toward Mystic Fall's, Virginia with her friend Anna to get Anna's mother Pearl out of some tomb…" The woman replied fearfully when she realised how strong and dangerous Klaus was.

"Thank you." Klaus replied before he paid for his consummations and left the bar.

He immediately made some calls and arranged for himself to take a plane to Virginia where a car would be waiting for him. He also called one of the witches that worked for him to ask him to drive his coffins to Mystic Fall's. He would find a place by the time he got there.

.

Candy stood nervously by Stefan's side as he knocked on Sheila Bennett's door.

"Hello Stefan. Who is your friend?" The old witch asked politely.

"Hello, my name is Candice White. I'm here with Stefan to ask for your help for something." Candy gave her hand for the woman to shake, a sign that she had nothing to hide.

"Ah yes, the spirits warned me of your arrival… They also told me what you wanted. Are you positive that only this one vampire will get out of the tomb?" She asked.

"Yes, we'll simply kill the others." Candy said.

"Pearl was a good woman Sheila, she simply stayed out of misplaced loyalty toward Katherine… She won't create trouble." Stefan pledged.

"The spirits warned me to trust Candice. I'll do it…but I need some time to gather enough energy…"

"We have what you need. Well, Damon does but he'll give it to you. He has Emily's pendent… It was bewitched to help you channel the comet." Candy said gently.

"Very well. The night of the comet is in two days, I think it would be best to do it then. I'll meet you in front of the tomb in two days around 9." Sheila concluded just as Bonnie arrived for her daily training. The young witch was glaring at Candy and got scolded by her grandmother.

"We'll go now. Thank you Sheila… If there is anything I can do for you, please tell me." Candy said.

"Of course." Sheila smiled before she closed the door behind her granddaughter.

.

Bonnie didn't like Candy but couldn't give her grandmother a valid reason other than she was friend with Anna, Jeremy Gilbert's actual vampire girlfriend.

"You're jealous of this Anna…" Sheila realised.

"Of course not… why would I be? She's a vampire and Jeremy is only a kid… he's Elena's little brother… Why would I have feelings for him?"

"I never implied anything about feelings honey… But apparently you do… Don't worry Bonnie, if it's meant to be, it will happen on its own. Don't force destiny." The wise grandmother advised before they started practicing lifting objects.

.

Two days later, Anna, Candy and Damon joined Sheila at the tomb. Stefan was by her side and since she knew him, she probably felt safe with him near her. Anna had a small container with a few blood bags with her so her mother would be strong enough to walk around.

Damon was standing very close to Candy, with whom he spent a lot of time lately and he handed the witch the old pendent.

Sheila walked in front of the stone door and muttered some ancient language for a while when suddenly a small 'pop' was heard.

Stefan and Damon moved the heavy stone out of the way while Anna and Candy walked inside with a couple of torches to set the place on fire after Pearl was rescued.

They didn't have to look very far.

"Mom!" Anna cried as she ran to a woman lying on the flour. She poured some blood in her mouth while Candy held her head up and Pearl opened her eyes.

"Annabelle…Are you real?" She asked weakly.

"Yes mother, I am. This is my friend Candy, we'll get you out right now." Anna said while Candy threw the torches on the closest vampire.

They quickly caught fire and since they were all close together, all the vampire in the tomb burned rather quickly while Anna helped her mother through the invisible barrier.

"I've put the barrier back in place. We never know when it could come in handy." Sheila said before she declared she had done what was asked of her and left.

.

Anna took her mother home right away, warning Candy she was going to feed her mother some more and give her a bath and a change of clothes.

"I'll be there soon." Candy smiled softly before she turned toward Damon.

Stefan went to drive Sheila back home and after that he was going to join Elena at the Night of the Comet celebrations.

"So, I'm guessing you want to be there for your friend and won't come with me to the Grill tonight?" Damon asked, trying to hide his disappointment. If it was up to him he would spend every minute of every day with this woman.

"Yes… I'm sorry but Anna is my only family now and…"

"It's okay, I understand. Can I at least buy you lunch tomorrow?" he asked.

"Of course. We can meet up at the Grill around noon?"

"That's a plan. Do you need a ride?" He asked her, hoping to get a few more minutes in her company.

"Sure, that would be nice thank you." She replied with a soft smile.

.

When Candy arrived back in her house, Anna was upstairs in the room they had settled for Pearl. Candy entered it and saw that the woman had cleaned up and changed. She also had fed and looked much better.

"You must be Candy…It's nice to meet you… Thank you for being such a good friend to my daughter." Pearl told candy.

"Of course. Anna and I are sisters now. Do you have everything you need?" Candy replied softly.

"Yes, I'm sure everything will be fine. It's nice of you to let my daughter use your money…" Pearl said. Apparently Anna had told her their story while she was helping her mother clean up, feed and change.

"I'm going to leave the two of you alone. You have a lot to catch up on between history and technology." Candy said.

"Thank you Candy." Anna said, hugging her friend with tears of joy in her eyes. She added "I would have lost hope a long time ago if it wasn't for your good heart or your cheerful spirit. Thank you for everything."

"Don't worry about it Anna; Now, don't forget to give your mother the cell phone we got her and tell her how to use it." Candy said with a bright smile before she left the two women to go rest in her own bedroom.

.

"This Candy is something special…" Pearl whispered.

"Yes…she is… She can make anyone feel better… Well, anyone but Katherine. We met her a few times and she's still the same heartless bitch as she used to be… But I've seen Candy convince vampires to turn their emotions back on… She's amazing, and pure… She's truly good." Anna explained.

"You love her." Pearl realised.

"She's been my only family for a long time… We care for each others… You'll grow to love her too I'm sure… I have yet to meet someone who doesn't love her." Anna replied.

"I can't wait. I love her already for doing so much for you and me…" Pearl replied before her daughter started to explain everything her mother had missed, from law, to history and politics to fashion and her own life. She even mentioned Jeremy Gilbert to her mother and if Pearl wasn't so happy about it at first, Anna managed to convince her mother to give the young Gilbert a chance.

"He's read Jonathan Gilbert's journal and showed it to me… I don't know if it will make you feel better but apparently Jonathan Gilbert really loved you and regretted his decision to turn you in for all his life… I've read it in his journal." Anna said.

"It doesn't make me feel much better but it helps…a little…" Pearl replied before Anna started to explain technology to her mother.


I know it's been a while...I'm sorry...

I hope you liked this chapter too.

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Lorelei Candice Black