"Bella?"

I groaned and buried my face in the pillow. It had Damon's scent. I was in Damon's bed. I wondered what had we done the previous night and then I remembered what happened. My eyes snapped open and my vision was blurry at first, but once my eyes adjusted, I saw Damon frowning at me with worry. I looked around and saw a tray with breakfast.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Tired" I mumbled sitting up.

"You shouldn't have used magic, you over exhausted yourself" he said giving me the tray.

"I needed to stop him"

"It was a her… Jules"

"What? Oh, for a moment I thought it might be Tyler"

"I could take care of myself, Bella" he said frowning.

"And do you honestly thought I would let you hurt her with that sword? What were you going to do? Cut her head off?" I said shrugging and sipped the orange juice.

"Better than the scare you gave me" he said.

He cared. I smiled sadly at him and continued to eat.

"Heard from Tyler?" I asked.

"Caroline said he is fine, a bit overwhelmed, but he will be alright" he rolled his eyes.

"Does anyone know I am here?"

"Yes, I called your father to let him know"

"Thank you, Damon, for everything"

He shrugged and took a sip of the glass that was in his hand. The house was silent.

"How is Rose?" I asked while concentrating on my toast.

"Her shoulder is hurting. I'll find a cure"

"Wait, what?" I asked wide eyed. "What do you mean? She healed!"

"Her should is infected, it's spreading"

I put the tray aside and grabbed his hand. He looked at me questioningly.

"I'll look into my grimoire and Bonnie's to see if there's anything I can do"

"No" he shook his head. "You shouldn't use any magic for now, and… She lived a long time, she's accepted her death" and downed his drink.

"But you didn't" I said frowning.

"I did" he said pulling away from me. "She will die, the sooner the better"

And with that, he left the room. I stood up and although I felt tired, I didn't feel weak. I pulled my messy hair into a ponytail. I went downstairs and was surprised to see Stefan was there, saying goodbye to Elena and Damon. He saw me as he walked to the door and gave me a questioning look. I smiled at him, and he nodded smiling before walking out. Damon and Elena were discussing Rose, and he was telling her basically the same thing. Elena seemed worried about Rose, but once she noticed me approaching she tried to hide it. The girls knew how upset I had been about Damon and Rose, and they never brought him up in a conversation.

"Bella, hi" she greeted.

"Elena… let me guess. Elijah's part of the deal was to get Stefan out of the tomb" I smiled.

"Yes, his warlock friend broke the spell, but he compelled Katherine to stay" she smiled and then arched an eyebrow. "We had a new student today" I frowned with confusion. "Edward"

"Edward was in school?" I asked smiling.

Damon groaned and left us, going to the living room. Elena frowned at him and gave me a hesitant smile.

"He was different"

"Well… I might have learned a trick to help him" I said.

"You used magic. You have to be careful, Bella" she said concernedly.

"I will, don't worry, Elena"

"He was worried about you, Bella. You didn't show up"

"Oh, I'll call him"

We went to the living room and found Damon talking quietly with Rose on the couch. He seemed not happy with whatever she was saying, but she had a small smile. As he looked at her, wiping sweat from her forehead, it proved me how much he cared for her. He looked at us and stood up.

"I'm going to the Grill, Alaric called, Jules is there" he said.

"What are you going to do?" Elena asked.

"Get the cure"

"There isn't one" Rose said weakly rolling her eyes.

"I'll find one" he retorted frowning at her.

"Be careful, Damon, you don't want to piss Jules off more" I said.

"Fine" he said rolling his eyes at me. "You two stay with her?"

"I don't need babysitters" Rose said.

"You have a fever and you're weak. You need nurses"

"Damon" she said as protest.

"I'm out. Call me if you need me" Damon said.

Elena moved to sit with Rose and I followed Damon to the door.

"Damon, when will you be back?" I asked as he got his jacket and keys.

"I don't know"

"She's dying, Damon, you can't leave her"

"I can, and I'm leaving" he smirked at me opening the door.

"You not staying to watch doesn't mean she won't die, Damon" I said and he paused. "Will you let her go without being here to say goodbye?"

"Probably" he said and slammed the door closed after him.

I sighed and went back to the living room. Elena wasn't there.

"She went to get me water" Rose mumbled.

I nodded and looked around. This was awkward. I was trying to help out a woman who until very recently I hated.

I took my phone and called Edward.

"Bella" he answered happily. "Hi. What happened? You weren't in school…"

"I had problems to solve" I mumbled. "Can you do me a favor?"

"Yes, of course, love"

"Can you get my grimoire from my room and bring it to me"

"I'm on my way… But where are you?"

"I'm at the Salvatore's house" I said.

"Oh"

And then there was just silence.

"Damon got into trouble with a werewolf and I… came to help but… It's a long story, I'll explain to you when you get here, okay?"

"Fine" he agreed. "I'll get your grimoire and be there soon"

"Thank you, Edward"

"Anything for you, love"

I hung up and Elena asked what I wanted to do with my grimoire. I explained that was probably something for pain relief in the book and I wanted to try it with Rose. Rose seemed surprised and gave me a questioning look. We sat with her in the living room, but soon she was uncomfortable on the couch and Elena suggested taking her to bed. I left both of them on Damon's room when I heard the doorbell. I ran downstairs and opened the door. Edward smiled at me, and took me in his arms. I smiled at him and he kissed me, quite passionately. When I pulled back he gave me a smirk and I arched an eyebrow. Was he really trying to mark his territory?

"Damon isn't here" I said.

"That's great, but why would I be interested in that?" he said innocently.

"Right" I rolled my eyes at him and gave him a peck. "Possessive much?"

"Well, my girlfriend did disappear after coming to help him" he pointed out.

"I passed out" I said and he seemed worried. "I used magic and got too tired. But I'm fine now"

"Why did you use magic again?" he frowned.

"A werewolf was going to attack him"

"Bella…"

"Edward, I know you don't like him… I understand that. And he's not in my good graces yet but… he's a friend, and I wasn't going to let him die"

He sighed and nodded. He gave me the grimoire, and I smiled at him.

"Thank you"

"Why do you need it?" he asked closing the front door and followed me to the living room.

"I want to see if there's anything about a werewolf bite or pain relief" I said flipping through the pages.

"He was bitten?" he asked. He just asked flatly. Not with surprise, concern or pity.

"No" I frowned. "Rose was"

"Rose…"

"Yes, the one he slept with" I mumbled.

"And you're going to help her" he stated with surprise.

"I am not heartless, Edward" I frowned at him. "Besides, I'm over it"

"You're over it?" he asked arching an eyebrow.

"Yes" I insisted.

He nodded slowly, as if he didn't quite believe me. Well, that sounded like a bad lie even to me. I found a 'chapter' on the grimoire about werewolves. I looked for anything related to a bite. Edward sat by my side, patiently, and looked around, taking in the boarding house.

"Found it" I said happily.

I began to read what it said about a werewolf bite and soon my smile turned into a frown.

"What?" he asked.

I couldn't do anything. There wasn't a cure, or a spell. I could only take away her pain and wait for her slow death. That would mean...

His head snapped up to the ceiling with a frown and suddenly he disappeared. I stood up and ran upstairs. Edward was between Elena and Rose.

"I'm not her!" Elena cried.

Rose shook her head and frowned. Edward watched her closely.

"Sorry" Rose mumbled and sat down on the bed.

"What happened?" I asked.

"She thought I was Katherine" Elena said quietly.

"She's getting delirious" Edward said.

Rose shut her eyes tightly, as if she couldn't handle reality.

"Edward, can you get some stuff for me?" I asked.

"No, I'm not leaving you with her like this, Bella" Edward said frowning.

"She's fine now. And I can protect myself and Elena. I just need some stuff. To help her"

Although Edward was reluctant, he agreed and went to my house to get some stuff I asked. Stuff he would never find.

"You lied to him" Elena said frowning.

"I can't concentrate with him watching my every move" I said.

Rose coughed and whimpered. I went to her side and gave her a towel to clean up the blood. Elena seemed deeply concerned. I asked her to go get clean sheets and sat with Rose with my grimoire in my lap and continued to read it.

"What are you doing?" Rose asked quietly.

"I'm trying to find out what to do" I mumbled. "But my grimoire isn't of much help"

"Why don't you kill me already? You hate me"

"I don't hate you... I don't adore you either, but… I couldn't kill you. Damon would never forgive me and… I can't" I sighed. "I'll find something for the pain though"

"You don't like me but you're willing to help, for Damon" she said. "So why are you with that… Edward?"

"It's complicated"

"Damon is complicated. So you chose what gave you security"

"Damon likes you, he really does… But he loves Elena. So, yes, he is complicated. And I won't go after someone who doesn't want me if I have a perfect man by my side that I love and he loves me back"

"You are perfect for Damon" she whispered.

"No, I'm not" I frowned.

"Elena would make him change drastically. She would want him to be like Stefan, good. Damon isn't good. He can't be perfect…"

"He wouldn't be Damon"

"Exactly" she chuckled weakly. "You know him. You know he can change but won't. You accepted him for whom he is. He is blind, Bella. Perhaps it will have to be too late for him to truly see your value"

Like Elijah only saw Blaire's true value after he lost her.

"I won't wait for him. I can be happy with Edward" I said.

"You can be happy with him… But you are happy with Damon"

I hated how she seemed to always have a point to end my argument.

"I'm not here to discuss my love life" I said standing up, "I'm here to help you"

"Doesn't that relate to your love life?" she asked before I walked out of the room.

I ignored her and went downstairs. I threw my grimoire in the kitchen table. She was right again.

If I just let her die, and didn't do anything to help, I would be proving I wasn't over what happened between her and Damon.

If I helped her, I was proving I still cared for Damon, by helping someone he cared about.

I had no option. Anything I did would be because of Damon.

I had no option because I wasn't over what happened between them and I still cared for Damon.

I sat on the kitchen table, trying to put aside all Damon-related things. I was reading about the effects of a werewolf bite on a vampire when I heard something downstairs. It was followed by Elena's scream. I jumped up and ran out of the kitchen. Elena had closed the basement door and then turned, grabbing my arm and we started to run upstairs. Rose was following us. I turned and threw her back using my powers. Elena and I continued to run as Rose struggled to get up. Rose grabbed me and I squeaked as her grip on my shoulders hurt me.

"Rose, stop" I cried.

Elena tried to pull her away, unsuccessfully.

"You ran when I needed you" Rose growled.

Elena plunged her fingers on the wound on Rose's shoulder. Rose screamed in pain and let me go. I ran with Elena to Stefan's room, and we slammed the door closed. Elena tried to put the dresser to block it, while I held it and mumbled the spell.

"What are you doing?" Elena asked pushing the dresser.

"Sealing the room" I said.

I stopped her before she tried to push the heavy furniture again. Rose tried to open the door and couldn't, resorting to trying to break it down. I unlocked the door and she still couldn't open it. I opened the door and she growled at me, trying to enter the room and hitting an invisible barrier.

"Rose, calm down" I said frowning. "Come back"

She tried to grab me, but I jumped back and Elena closed the door, leaning against it and taking deep breaths. Eventually the pounding on the door stopped. Elena and I sat on Stefan's bed, waiting for something.

"Can I ask you something?" Elena said quietly and I nodded. "What are you doing? You're with Edward when it's clear you still feel something for Damon"

"Damon is my friend although we haven't been talking" I said playing with my fingers. "It's complicated"

"I complicated it" she whispered. "Right?"

"No, Elena… This is not your fault. None of this is… One day you will understand" I said smiling sadly.

"I'm sorry"

"Don't be. I don't blame you for anything, Elena. You're one of my best friends, I think it would be stupid to fight with you over Damon" I smiled.

She smiled back and lay down on the bed. She told me about the deal she made with Elijah and said that while she talked to him she kept in mind what I had said, that we could trust him.

"I want to tell you something… But you can't tell anyone, not until I tell you it's okay to tell" I said frowning.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Klaus doesn't know I exist, but if he does… He'll want me too. He needs both of us" I said and her eyes got wide. "Elijah said he wants me and you to stay hidden from Klaus. I trust Elijah, and I'm sorry, but I'm not ready to tell you why…"

"We'll work something out, don't worry" she said squeezing my hand comfortingly.

"So, you do realize you are not the only cause of people being in danger?" I asked. "I am worse than you on that. Danger magnet" I gave her a sad smile.

"Everything will be alright" she said, sounding hopeful.

The knob of the door turned and then there was a loud knock.

"Bella?" Edward called from the other side of the door.

I ran to the door and opened it, smiling with relief he was there. He tried to touch me but couldn't reach me.

"Sorry, it's sealed" I said frowning and stepped out of the room.

"What happened?" he asked cupping my face.

"Rose got delirious again and… well, we had to lock ourselves in here" I said.

"I told you I shouldn't leave" he said frowning. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, Edward. I'm more than fine"

He kissed me softly, and when I pulled back I saw Elena getting out of the room with a stake.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"In case Rose…"

"She isn't here"

I gasped and Elena squeaked as she turned, ready to stake the sneaker. Damon held her wrist before she could harm him, and took the stake from her with a frown.

"Damon, you scared me" she said scowling.

"Shouldn't you be used to sneaking vampires?" he said and looked at me. "Both of you?"

"You didn't have to scare them" Edward said scowling at him.

"But I like hearing their hearts beating fast" Damon retorted and smirked while looking at me. "Although your heart beats way faster when we…"

"Damon" I cut him off as Edward growled at him. "Enough"

"Well, I'm sorry, my thoughts bother you?" Damon said smirking.

"When you become the first vampire I stake, I'll never be happier" Edward said glaring at him.

"Edward" I said squeezing his hand. "No, stop. Don't let him get under your skin"

"Yes, Eddie, listen to the missus" Damon said rolling his eyes and then looked back at Elena. "Where is Rose?"

"We don't know" she said.

Edward's phone rang and he answered it with a frown.

"Yes, Alice?"

His frown deepened with her answer and he thanked her before turning to us. Alice had seen Rose killing a man. Edward told Damon where she would be, but against Damon's protests, he went with him to get her. Elena called Stefan to warn him and ask where he was and he said he was solving some stuff. She didn't seem happy with his vague answer. I waited for Damon and Edward to get back with Rose while clutching my grimoire. I still felt tired from the spells I did the previous day and earlier that day, and I could only hope I had enough power to do the spell. An hour later the front door opened, and Edward let Damon pass as he carried Rose. She was practically passed out and looked awful.

"Katherine" she mumbled seeing Elena.

"Elena, it would be best if you leave. She's delirious" Edward said.

"Okay" she sighed and squeezed my arm as she passed by me while I watched Damon go upstairs with Rose. "Good luck"

I nodded and then turned to Edward.

"Can you wait here?" I asked.

"Take your time" he said softly nodding.

I went upstairs and found Damon laying with Rose in his arms on his bed. He was frowning down at her, and she seemed in pain. I approached the bed and sat by her side.

"You were there and you let him" she mumbled.

"Let who?" I asked frowning.

"You let him change me…" she groaned. "You could have helped me"

I frowned with Damon. She had been changed five centuries ago. How could I… A doppelganger. She met my doppelganger ancestor. And she didn't help Rose escaping the vampire who changed her.

"I'm sorry" I said taking her hand.

She pulled away from me, searching comfort in Damon. I opened my grimoire and Damon glanced at me with a scowl.

"What are you doing?"

"Helping her" I said.

"There is no cure" he said.

"No, I can't cure her… But I can take away her pain"

He nodded and I took Rose's hand again. I incanted the spell with my eyes closed and felt myself being connected to Rose. I groaned as not only my head hurt but my whole body. I could feel everything she had felt since infected.

"Bella?" Damon asked.

I opened my eyes and wiped the blood coming from my nose.

"I'm fine" I mumbled.

He continued to stare at me, seeing my lie. Rose had fallen asleep.

"I can't take the other effects, just the pain" I told Damon.

He nodded and stared at her face.

"Can you… leave us?" he asked.

"No, the spell only works with me close to her" I said holding her hand tighter.

He frowned but nodded. He relaxed a bit, leaning back on the pillows and kept his eyes on her face. He didn't say a word. I stopped watching him, trying to give him some sense of privacy. This was an important moment for him, I shouldn't be there. I used my sleeve to clean the blood still coming from my nose, and hoped Edward had hunted recently. I couldn't deal with an out-of-control vampire now. I felt movement on the mattress and looked at Damon, he was taking a stake from behind him.

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

He didn't answer me. My eyes filled with tears and I looked away, knowing what he was going to do. Rose's pain was still coursing through my body and I should feel relieved that he was about to end it all. But I felt awful for him. I heard him take a deep, shaking breath and then I didn't hear anything, or saw anything, I just felt it. I gasped clutching my chest as I felt pain, as if my heart was being squeezed. I let go of Rose's hand and the pain stopped. I took gasping breaths and looked at Damon. He was frowning with concern at me. Seeing the tears he tried to wipe away quickly, I stood up, wiping my tears and rounded the bed, sitting by his side.

"Damon… I'm so sorry" I whispered.

"Are you alright?" he asked avoiding my eyes. "You were feeling her pain, weren't you? It was stupid, Bella. You shouldn't have…"

I hugged him and he froze.

"I'm sorry, Damon" I said again.

"You should rest" he said and pulled away from me. "Go home. I'll call your dad and Liz and say I found the vampire and killed her"

I frowned at his detached tone. But understanding he wanted to be alone, I grabbed my stuff, and left. Edward took me home and didn't say anything. The ride was silent and when he parked in front of my house, I didn't get out of the car. He killed the engine with a sigh and I could feel his eyes on me as I looked out the window.

"Bella, what happened today, with Damon and Rose…"

"What do you want me to say, Edward?" I said frowning.

"You still… like him" he said, and it sounded accusing to me.

"You left me" I deadpanned and he frowned sadly. "You weren't there, Edward. So I got attached to Jake. And when Jake couldn't be there, I had to get attached to someone…"

"And it had to be a heartless vampire"

"He is not heartless, Edward" I snapped. "Weren't you there today? He feels. He was in the bottom of the blackest hole, like me, and he came back. So he is detached sometimes. I am too. Or do you think I would normally treat someone as I treated him lately? He was important to me. He taught me how to come back to life. So, I'm sorry, I'm not going to just kick him aside and pretend he doesn't exist just because you are back"

"Listen to yourself, Bella" he said softly. "You care, perhaps too much…"

"I love you, Edward. You left me dead, for the stupidest reason on earth, and I welcomed you back, and never stopped loving you. Shouldn't that be enough for you?" I scowled. "Damon will always mean something to me. I don't… love him. I just… We connected in a different way than you and I did. So, if I care for him, if I met him at all, it's all your fault. Live with it, Edward. And realize that things aren't always black or white, they are grey too"

And with that, I got out of the car and entered my house.

"Hey, Bells… Are you better?" Jake asked when I entered the living room. "Charlie said you weren't feeling so well at Bonnie's"

Of course dad wouldn't tell Jake I was with Damon. Dad had caught on Jake's crush and apparently was helping me avoid confrontations between the wolves, Damon and Edward.

"Yeah, we were practicing spells and I got tired" I mumbled.

"Really?" he asked and narrowed his eyes. "So, Bonnie is a bloodsucker now? Because I can smell them all over you"

I sighed and plopped down by his side on the couch.

"A werewolf bit Rose" I said.

"Rose… Rosalie Cullen?" he asked surprised and amused.

"No" I rolled my eyes. "Rose-Marie. And I stayed to help"

"The girl Damon fucked?"

"Jake…"

"You stayed to help her?" he asked shocked. "I thought you were mad at Damon and hated her"

"I didn't hate her. I disliked her" I shrugged. "She was a good person"

"With a bad choice on hooking up" he said and then turned serious. "Are you really alright, Bella?" I nodded. "You know we can talk… I'm here for you, always"

"Thank you, Jake… I really appreciate, but right now, I just want to sleep" I smiled.

"Okay. I got your homework today, it's on your desk" he said. "And I'm not going to ask what you did with your bloodsucker #1, because he was different as hell today. Still smells awful though"

"Okay, Jake, thanks" I chuckled. "Where is Embry?"

"At the Grill with Tyler playing billiard"

"Okay, I'm glad you two mingled in alright here" I said and kissed his cheek. "Goodnight"

"Goodnight"

I went upstairs and threw myself in my bed. I sighed and looked at the clock. I should go to bed soon since I had school in the morning. I changed into my pajamas and sat on my desk chair to catch up on homework and assignments. My phone chirped with a new message from Edward.

I'm sorry. You are right.
See you at school tomorrow?
Love,
E.

I smiled and answered I would see him at school. I heard Embry and dad coming back and everyone going to their rooms. Then the house was silent, the only noise was me typing on the laptop. I was almost finished when I felt a cool breeze entering my room. I frowned thinking it was Edward, but when I turned I found Damon by my window. He looked around and finally at me.

"You should be asleep" he slurred.

I frowned at him and walked to him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked softly.

"I have no idea" he chuckled.

"Shh, you'll wake them up" I whispered.

"Screw them" he rolled his eyes.

"Damon"

"I missed that. The 'Damon', 'Damon this', 'Damon that'… your lack of vocabulary to chastise me" he grinned and pulled me closer.

I put my hands against his chest and looked at him questioningly.

"You are drunk"

"Just a bit" he smirked.

I didn't know what to say. He was obviously trying to drown his grief, pretend he was alright. But the alright Damon was too proud to be the first to speak, and come to my room. Alright Damon would wait until I broke down and came to him. I cupped his face with my hands, trying to bring him some comfort and he leaned in, getting the wrong message.

"Damon, no" I said stopping him.

He pulled back with a scowl but his arms around me tightened.

"I know you're hurting from Rose's death…"

"No" he snapped and pushed me away. "I don't want your fucking pity. This is your entire fault. I want to be human, for you, for Elena, and this is what I get. I miss being human, but I'm not. And it fucking hurts to try"

"I never asked you to change" I mumbled.

"No, you just asked me to stop doing what I normally do" he snapped. "And then you chose the fucking vampire who pretends to be human, Eddie, fucking Mr. Right"

He was right in a way. By choosing someone who was the opposite of him, I kind of implied I wanted him to change.

But in a way he was also wrong.

"No, Damon, I didn't tell you to change. I asked for the Damon who was my friend, the Damon who was in Florida with me to come back. You changed once we came back. It seemed you had to put a façade to the others, so they would think you were bad Damon, always a jerk…"

"When you do good, people expect good from you" he said. "I'm not good and I don't want people expecting me to be good"

"You didn't have to put a façade, Damon. You weren't good to me. You were just you. And that's what I wanted. That's all you had to be… you"

"Well, this is fucking me!" Damon said. "I'm hurt, and I'm tired of trying to live to everybody's expectations. And I'm fucking tired of being kicked aside when Mr. Right shows up"

I was doing to him what Katherine did. I had used him. And while Katherine used him while wanting Stefan, I used him until Edward came back.

"Well, Mr. Right showed up and I went to you, but you weren't there… Well, you were with Rose" I snapped.

"You had ended things"

"Haven't you learned the concept of fighting for someone? Or you only do it for Katherine and Elena?"

"You were never one to expect things to me. You were always straight to the point, Bella. Why should I know I should go after you if you didn't say anything that remotely told me to?" he said angrily.

"You want me to be fucking clear and straight to the point?" I snapped. "Fine. I wanted you to fight for me, to show me the Damon I liked wasn't gone when we came back to this fucking town. I wanted you! I want you! And you are fucking with my head! Is that clear enough for you?"

He blinked at me with surprise. I took deep breaths to catch my breath after my little worked-up speech. We stared at one another. I could hear the clock ticking.

Tic.

Toc.

Tic.

Toc.

I sighed and blinked, my eyes leaving his and I had lost the weird contest we were in. He walked right up to me, took my face in his hands and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around him and he pulled me close. There was the Damon I knew.