A Friend or an Enemy:

"Hey! Get down to the grill. I need to talk to you with Elena. We've got major trouble." Damon said over the phone. She put her book on the side. She had been trying to read for days but something always happened. It was almost 2 and of course her day wasn't going to be quiet like she wanted. Alaric was supposed to come home but she guessed he was still over at the Elena's house with Jenna.

"More trouble?" She was confused at how in 24 hours, something else came and changed the dynamic.

"Yep of the fatherly kind. So get down there and we'll meet you there." He said about to hang up but she stopped him.

"Wait, wait! I'll get ready but are you okay?" She asked concerned. She heard him hesitate.

"Just, peachy." He told her sarcastically. "I'll see you there." She sighed as she got out of bed. She quickly got dressed and grabbed her car keys on her way out. She packed her overnight bag, just in case she didn't go back home, because she was supposed to be spending the night at Elena's. She got to the grill 20 minutes later to see Elena and Damon talking to each other. She walked over to them.

"Hey, what's up? You said something daddy problems?" Beth asked them as they stopped talking when they saw her. Before Elena could get a word out, Damon filled her in on all of her family issues.

"Okay, well Elena's adopted. Big shocker, yeah. Her uncle's her dad. Her mother, Isobel's a vampire, who was married to Alaric. I turned her when she came looking for me. Her dead was hell bent on killing on the vampire's in town including Stefan, and me, which he almost did. So now he's back and wants to be all happy and join forces to protect Elena. Does that cover every thing?" Damon asked her once he finished. Elena glared at him for not letting her explain everything. He looked over her and saw John lighting a candle. "Now, if you don't mind I'm going to go get some answers."

Beth grabbed his arm before he could pass her. "Damon, don't do anything stupid." She warned him.

"Stupid is so much more fun though." He smirked. Beth knew he was still trying to cope with Rose's death. It wasn't helping that this guy who tried to kill him and Stefan was back.

"Be the better man." Elena told him. He stared at her for a minute before nodding and heading over to her father. They walked over to an empty table waiting for Damon to finish talking to her father. "Maybe I should go over there?" She asked Beth unsure. She knew how much animosity there was between them and she didn't want it to get worst.

"No, he'll be okay. He won't lose his cool." Beth said, though she herself wasn't entirely convinced. She knew how Damon could be too, especially since he was still hurting about Rose. "I'm going to get something to drink." She said standing up. She couldn't just wait there, anxiously. She went up to the other side of the bar where Matt was working and he smiled. "Hey."

"Hey. Soda?"

"Yes please." She said and he put a cup down in front of her. That was one of the things she liked about Matt. He wasn't a stuck up, rich jock who thought he was entitled because he was on the football team. He worked to be where he was. "Thank you."

Matt noticed her when she was talking to Damon and Elena. She didn't realize she knew him. "So, Damon Salvatore, huh?" He questioned curiously. "What is up with those brothers?" Caroline watched them talk from a distance, interested in her friend talking to her ex-boyfriend.

Beth laughed as she looked over at Damon who was now at the bar too, talking to Jenna and some other lady. "Trust me, we're just friends." He nodded but still seemed to be unconvinced. He didn't know why but it bugged him thinking that they might be together. It bugged him even more when he saw him walk over to her.

"Sorry, dude, I need to borrow her for a minute." Damon said grabbing Beth and giving her a knowing look. She quickly apologized to Matt and let Damon pull her to the bathroom where Elena was. "What, so now you're moving on from the werewolf jock to the human jock?" He teased.

"No! He's a friend. I was just talking to him." She insisted as he pushed her into the bathroom where Elena was waiting. "Now, what is going on?"

"I would like to know that same." He turned, annoyed to Elena. "Why am I just finding out about this now? That Tyler Lockwood is a werewolf and he's working with Jules who now has Caroline?"

"The werewolf? She has Caroline?" Beth exclaimed. She was wondering why she didn't see her at the grill.

"Yeah and Tyler's with them." He said talking directly to her. He knew that they were friends but she needed to know how dangerous he could be. "And they're torturing her."

Elena knew he was upset. "Stefan was worried that you…."

"That I'll what? That I'd kill him? Of course, it's what needs to happen." He told them both.

"No! You can't kill him! Do whatever is necessary to get Caroline but please don't hurt Tyler." Beth pleaded with him.

"Why? He's a werewolf, he needs to die. I'm willing to kill him, it's a win-win."

"Damon, please okay? Too many people are dead." Elena said.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "You need to stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Assuming that I'll play the good guy cause it's you who's asking." He told her roughly. He hated she had that kind of hold on him. She was using his feelings towards her for her gain. Beth decided to cut in.

"No, please not him, Damon. He's new at this and I know what he did but please don't kill him." She asked him. Damon looked into her pleading eyes. She didn't want Tyler to die. She would protect him just like she would Damon if he was in that same predicament. He was her friend, just as much as he was. He couldn't do that to her. He knew what it was like to lose a friend.

He nodded and the door open to reveal, John. "Do you mind?" Damon asked rudely.

"What's going on?" He asked concerned. He barely glanced at Beth, looking more to his daughter.

Elena wasn't interested in a conversation. "Nothing."

"It doesn't look like nothing."

"Well guess what, John, trust works both ways. Get out." Damon demanded gesturing to the door they walked through.

"Look we don't have time for this. We need to get Caroline back." She told him.

"We don't need to do anything. I'll take care of it." He said. He looked at John. He could actually come in handy right now. He knew Elena would try to follow him, as well as Beth. "First dad duty: Ground your daughter. Keep her here." He said and before Elena could argue, he left. Beth went after him too. He walked for a bit before he stopped and turned to her. "Whoa no! You're not coming either!"

"Caroline's my best friend! I have to go get her." She told him. He grabbed her arm, roughly. "Damon, let me go!" She yelled at him as he pulled her to the side, where Alaric was. He pushed her into him and Alaric, barely had time to catch her before she tripped.

"Watch her! She's trying to get herself killed." Damon told Alaric. He gave Beth a small shrug. "Take her back to the house. "

"Damon! You ass!" She yelled at him as Alaric stopped her from going after him. She knew that as soon as Damon said that, Alaric wouldn't let her go. "Caroline's in trouble, Ric! She needs me. They're going up again werewolves."

"Damon and Stefan can handle it." He assured her but she could even see that, it was a bad idea. Rose had already died from a bite from one. They both knew that it could be very bad for them if it were a full moon. He wasn't going to let her go and get hurt though. After a few minutes of struggling and to give Damon a head start, he got her in her car. "Just wait at the boarding house. I have to go do something but please just go straight there. I'm trusting you to do this." He looked straight in her eyes. He knew that she would do it for him.

"Fine!"

"They will be okay, Beth." He told her and he left as she drove off. She knew that she had to go to the house now. She had no idea where they were and a werewolf would probably catch her if she tried looking for them. She made it to the boarding house.

She slammed the door close, in frustration as she walked into the living room. She went upstairs to see if anyone was home but it was completely empty. She paced before going back downstairs. She couldn't just sit there. It was killing her not knowing what was happening. She needed to take her mind off of it. She decided to light a fire. She went into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water before pouring it over the logs in the fireplace. Beth closed her eyes, concentrating on the light and heat that fire gives. She opened her eyes to see a roaring fire. "Nicely done." A voice said and she quickly turned around to see Elijah leaning in the doorway, wearing a suit as always.

"Elijah." She breathed out trying to calm her racing heart. She was used to Damon doing that but it was still weird to see him popping up everywhere. She knew somehow he wouldn't hurt her but she still was cautious around him. "What are you doing here?" She asked him.

He smiled, slightly. "I heard there were werewolves in town. Came to make sure you were safe. Werewolves can be very violent, if crossed." He explained with a small smile walking towards her. He also wanted to see her. He knew he shouldn't say that aloud. He didn't want to scare her, anymore than she already was but he was just as curious as her to know how she was here. It seemed impossible yet she still had no memories of the past. It would have to be something he asked Jonas. " And you don't seem like the type of person who would ignore it, if they insulted you." He knew her well enough to know she wouldn't be here.

"I'm fine, thank you. And no I wouldn't if I had a choice in the matter." She said quietly, more to herself and then she got an idea. She couldn't be there personally to help but Elijah still had his deal with Elena. She could use that to her advantage. "Elijah, I need your help." She told him, turning to face him. He raised his eyebrows in interest. "Damon and Stefan went after the werewolves because they took our friend but I think they're outnumbered. Will you help us?" She asked him. "Please, you promised Elena to keep her friends safe."

"Yes, I did promise her but you're the one coming to me." He clarified straightening his suit. She bit her lip. She needed to make a deal with him. She couldn't leave them there without any help.

"Please. I'll do anything if you help them." She promised.

He looked at her, curiously. They were important to her. She would make a deal with him, just to make sure they were safe. He would do it for her anyways, he always would but having a favor would come in handy. He walked forwards and grabbed her hand to kiss it. "I will find a way to get them away safely." He promised. He shook her hand. Beth didn't hesitate to shake back as a vision popped into her head.

Elizabeth watched as the couples on the dance floor swayed to the music. The mansion was completely packed. The family she was staying with had hosted a party. She stayed off to the side, to watch and listen to the music. She never was one to take the lead and dance, she'd rather watch as the ladies dresses twirled as the men in suits spun them, delicately on the floor. The song ended when the piano player finished. She clapped along with the rest of the guests. The next song started up. "Not one to dance?" A gentleman asked standing next to her. He looked young and was very handsome. He had dark hair and dark eyes that seemed to be filled with understanding.

"I'd rather watch and no one has yet to ask me." She told him truthfully with a small smile on her face.. He smiled and nodded as they continued to watch the dance.

"Well, I suppose now would be a good time to introduce myself before someone realizes you standing here alone." He gently grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckle. "I'm Elijah." They shook hands.

"Elizabeth."

She came back to present time, realizing she was still holding onto his hand and quickly let go. Elijah looked at curiously seeing how she seemed startle when they shook. "Thank you." She told him as he started to walk to the door and he stopped for a split second, hearing those words and then walked out.

xxxxx

She waited for an hour till she heard the front door open. She got up from the couch where she was anxiously waiting and ran to see Damon and Stefan walking through. Damon gave a smug smile. "Told you I'd handle it. Now, Barbie is safe back at home thanks to me." Beth let out a sigh of relief. Stefan looked at Damon in disbelief.

"Yeah, more like thanks to Elijah's witch. You were half a second away from being staked if Jonas didn't show up." Stefan reminded him walking in behind him and Damon waved it off.

"I could have handled the mutts myself." Damon said. Beth rolled her eyes at him. She knew that he probably could but she didn't want to risk it. She was just glad that Elijah kept up his side of the deal. She though it'd be better to keep that to herself though. "Now, go home, I have things to do." Damon said turning to push her towards the front door.

Beth rolled her eyes again at him. She turned to Stefan who just looked amused at the exchange between them as Damon walked upstairs. "Are you okay? How bad was it, really?" She asked him seriously.

He sighed. With what happened to Caroline tonight, she shouldn't be alone. It wasn't every day you were tortured like that. She was strong but she still needed time. "It was hell for her. They tortured her and she's trying to deal. You should go see Caroline." He told her. "She really needs a friend right now."

She walked to the door before stopping and turning to him. "I have an idea." Stefan listened as she told him her plan and then left. She texted Alaric, telling him she was okay and that she was staying with Caroline. She drove to her house. She got out of her car and knocked on the door. It was a few minutes until she saw Caroline emerge wearing a black bathrobe, her hair still wet from the shower. "Hey."

"Stefan told you?" She asked. Beth nodded in response. "I'm fine."

"I know you are but it's been a long day for me. Do you mind if I stay?" Beth asked her with a small smile. Caroline knew she wanted to be there for her and she didn't really want to be alone. Caroline stepped aside and let her in. She hugged her tightly and Caroline gladly accepted it. She tried not to cry thinking of all that had happened that night.

They went into her room and Beth put her bag on the floor near the bed and waited for Stefan. This was the least she could do. 20 minutes later the doorbell rang. Caroline looked at her curiously and she just shrugged. Caroline went to answer the door and after a few minutes Beth followed. She smiled seeing Elena and Bonnie coming in. "We're going to slumber in." Elena smiled at her.

"We haven't done it in ages." Bonnie added. Caroline started laughing and crying as the girls stepped to hug her. Beth smiled at Stefan who was standing in the doorways and smiled, in thanks. He smiled back and left the girls to their sleepover. They finally let go.

"It was her idea." Elena said gesturing to Beth who was standing behind. Caroline turned and smiled at her. Elena was glad that they all had someone else they knew they could depend on. Caroline walked over and hugged her new friend.