"Hey!" I called out from the foyer, adjusting the paper bags on my arms.

I walked to the kitchen and found Damon and Elena cooking, both in a playful mood. Damon smiled at me, washing his hands to take the bags but I put the bags on the counter before he could help me.

"I got more Italian sausage, peppers and paprika" I announced unloading the bags. "Seriously, Elena, how did you forget peppers to make chilli?"

"I forgot about the party" she shrugged.

"Mrs. Lockwood already called me, desperate to know if I would be going to represent my family" I said taking a knife and a cutting board. "I think she just wants to brag I am not recluse to her amazing event"

Elena chuckled and Damon put on some music as we continued to cook. Soon Ric entered the kitchen and watched us with a frown. Well, he was scowling at Damon and looking at me and Elena with worry.

"Is everything alright in here?" he asked.

"Yes, will people stop worrying" Elena said rolling her eyes. "I'm just going to keep making chilli, pretend like I didn't just spend the entire summer looking for someone who didn't wanna be found."

"She's in denial" Damon told Ric.

"I'm not in denial" Elena protested.

"Leave her alone… She's fine, she'll be fine" I said remembering the time I went all zombie on everyone because the Cullens left.

"So, chilli?" Ric asked changing subjects.

"Gilbert secret recipe" she said proudly.

"She just puts a bit of paprika and white sugar" I laughed.

"Thanks for divulging it, Bella" she laughed.

The doorbell rang and Elena looked at Ric expectantly. He seemed a bit confused as he drank from his beer, watching Damon intently, but I knew it was just an act.

"I'll get it" I wiped my hands in a towel. "You know, I went to the house yesterday… It was untouched"

"You left the whole summer" Ric said as I passed him.

"Yes, but you were supposed to take it" I called out.

I opened the door and grinned at the girls. Bonnie took me in a tight hug and when she pulled me back, she had a questioning look. I gave her a nod with a smile and she kissed my cheek before running to hug Jeremy who had came from upstairs. I was about to close the door when Damon stopped me.

"Gotta go" he said. "Will you be alright?"

"Yes, Damon" I hissed looking over my shoulder, thankfully we were alone. "You have got to stop this, people will start to worry"

"Are you with…"

"I've got the medicine, now get out!"

"You look pretty. See you at the party" he smirked.

He kissed my cheek and ran out of the house. I sighed and closed the door. When I turned around I saw Ric leaned against the wall giving me an inquiring look.

"What?" I asked with my hands on my hips. I did not need anyone questioning me about what was going on.

"Look, I know you all are complicated… I am too… But this has got to stop" he said.

"What?" I asked confusedly.

"Damon and Elena. You and Damon"

"There is no…"

"It's freaky. I see him flirting with Elena, she lets him, but he smiles at you, and you smile back, and then Elena smiles at the interaction… This is seriously disturbing. You seemed like the wife that knows about the affair between husband and best friend but chooses not to say anything and pretend everything is perfect"

"Ric, you're reading too much into it. There's nothing. Damon and I are just friends" I said.

"Right" he scoffed. "Look, I don't want him messing with you or Elena. She has a lot of problems, he should just stay away… And you… disappeared all summer, and you're acting weird, so he has to stay away"

"Thanks, Ric" I smiled and squeezed his arm as I passed him. "But I've got it under control, nothing is wrong with me"

He rolled his eyes, not buying it.

"So, what about Jake?" Bonnie asked as we continued working on the chilli.

"He's good. Says he met someone" I smiled and rolled my eyes. "Damon says it's a lie just to get me jealous but Jake wouldn't..."

"Yeah, what's up with Damon?" Caroline asked.

"Caroline" Elena said warningly, still focused on the meat.

"I mean, you leave because of him…"

"I did not" I protested.

"Then you come back and instead of going home, you are his guest… And he isn't Damon anymore"

"What?" Bonnie asked confusedly.

"You have to see, Bonnie" Caroline said laughing. "He behaves, and he's sweet, and always looking at her… If I didn't know them any better, I would say they are a couple and that he's totally smitten"

"He isn't" I rolled my eyes.

"Sure, because he's still obsessed with Ele…"

"Caroline!" Elena snapped throwing a towel at her.

"Sorry!" Caroline said dodging the towel.

"No, Elena, it's okay" I said. "Care, you are imagining things"

"I am not" she said scowling at me.

"I have to agree with Caroline… Your life is more complicated than a soap-opera" Bonnie laughed. "You spent half of the summer with Edward… but you're not back with him… Not that he didn't try, I'm sure…"

"And when you come back, Damon is available, Andie died, Damon clearly wants to go back to your weird friends with benefits relationship, or whatever it was, but…" Caroline continued.

"Okay, okay" I chuckled. "I got it… I'm complicated, my love life is… freaky… But I don't know what you want me to say, Care" I sighed. "I'm going back to my house this week, it was a mess and at the Boarding House was easier to hide from society… I am not getting back with Damon or Edward… I just want peace"

"So, now, can we ask what exactly is going on between you and Tyler?" Elena asked smirking at Caroline.

Caroline groaned as we looked at her expectantly and shook her head.

"What about Matt?" Bonnie asked.

"Ah!"

We looked at Elena who had dropped the wood spoon and was pulling at the neckline of her top.

"What is it?" Caroline asked frowning.

She yanked her necklace from her neck and threw in the counter, rubbing her chest bone.

"It burned me" she said frowning at the object.

Caroline went to get it, but I grabbed her hand.

"Stop, it might be the vervain" I said.

"But Elena is not a vampire" Bonnie said confusedly.

I touched the pendant with my fingertip and it burned me. I hissed and pulled away from it.

"It's witchcraft" I said, "I feel it"

"What do we do?" Caroline asked.

"Let's finish the chilli, go to the party, and we'll meet there, I'm taking my grimoire" Bonnie said. "Bella?'

"My grimoire won't help" I shook my head. "It's an unfamiliar spell…"

"How do you know?" Bonnie frowned.

"I've kind of… went through all the spells" I shrugged.

"What?" Bonnie asked shocked. "It would take me ages to get such strength!"

"I had strength from… the talisman, the power I took to do the ritual"

"Oh"

"Let's finish the chilli"

As drove to the party, I tried to call Stefan a few times, but he wouldn't pick up. It worried me, and left me wondering if he really meant he wanted to be left alone. After greeting some people, and talking to Mrs. Lockwood that was happy I was back in town, and assuring me my place was guaranteed in the council if I still wanted, I was able to find the girls. I was walking to them when Damon blocked my way.

"What now?" I asked irritably.

"I've heard there is some witchery going on" he said giving me a pointed look.

"Everything is fine"

"Bella…"

"Damon, I don't have time for this shit. I told you, leave me alone"

I pushed past him and he grabbed me, hooking his finger through the small sash on the side of my top and pulled me to him.

"You're making a scene, Damon" I said quietly.

"I couldn't care less" he smirked.

"Damon, please... You promised me"

"I like to break my promises"

"Would you like to deal with the consequences?" I said threateningly.

"You wouldn't harm me" he pointed out correctly.

I sighed and relaxed, knowing he was right. He kissed my forehead and tilted my head up. In his stormy blue eyes I could see he was deeply worried for my wellbeing. I smiled at him and he sighed, letting go of me. I noticed some gossipers watching us with interest and playfully pushed him away. He smiled and rolled his eyes at me. I turned and went to sit with the girls. Bonnie had her grimoire open and the necklace on top of it. Caroline looked between me and Elena and tapped her foot impatiently.

"Go ahead, Caroline" I chuckled.

"We know you're dying to say something" Elena smiled.

"Are you two switching Salvatores?" Caroline asked with an expression that was a mix of curiosity and worry.

"What? No!" Elena said.

"Well, Bella keeps in touch with Stefan and wants Damon away, and you and Damon seem pretty cozy lately"

"Where do you get those ideas from, Care?" I asked amusedly.

"Damon and I are just friends!" Elena said.

"Ahn, guys…"

We looked at Bonnie and found the necklace was levitating. Caroline looked around, to make sure no one was seeing it.

"What are you doing?" Elena asked.

"I'm not doing anything" Bonnie said. "It's not me!"

I closed the grimoire, trapping the necklace inside of it.

"That doesn't seem good to me" I mumbled.

"Bella!"

I turned to Ric and arched an eyebrow.

"There's a council meeting starting now" he informed us. "Damon is there, but I thought you would like…"

"I'm going" I said standing up.

"I'll research more about what's going on" Bonnie assured me.

I nodded and followed Ric to the Lockwood mansion. When I got there, the meeting had already started and Carol seemed surprised I joined it. I leaned against the wall in a corner, and Damon, after getting a cup of coffee joined me.

"So, now you're in the council?" he asked

"I'm the last Swan" I shrugged.

"We're just discussing boring stuff" he said rolling his eyes. "You know, how peaceful the town is now"

"Ironic, hm? We have been through living hell and they all think everything is fine..."

"Totally" he chuckled. "Ric is trying to play your father's role"

"Really?"

"Yeah, stay away from them, if you hurt them I swear to god…" he mocked.

"Hm, maybe you should listen to him" I said.

"Oh, yeah?"

"Elena doesn't need any more shit right now, Damon" I said seriously. "She says she's fine, but she's not. Give her time"

"Elena knows what's best for her"

"And the best is you?" I asked with a smirk.

"You got me" he smirked back. "What about you? Should I leave you the hell alone?"

"Nah, I don't have time to silly drama like that"

"You do. I'll get you time" he vowed.

"We both know how this ends… We saw it with Rose"

"Rose was a lost cause"

"Just like I am… And again, you choose to not see it"

"I refuse to let you die" he said seriously. "You don't get to die and leave me, us…"

I was about to protest when Carol announced that it was the end of the meeting. People started to get up when a man entered the room. Damon, Carol and Liz tensed.

"Bill, what are you doing here?" Liz asked with strained tone.

"I'm part of the council, I get the right to speak" he said and smirked at Damon.

"Is that…?" I whispered.

"Caroline's father" Damon murmured.

"The one that tortured her? The vampire-hater? The one you said you compelled to leave town?"

"Yeah"

"We have a problem"

"Things are getting a bit out of hand" I told Elena and Ric as we joined them after the meeting. "Bill Forbes can't be compelled"

"What?" Elena said confusedly.

"Liz asked me to compel him to leave, so I tested if he had vervain and compelled him" Damon said angrily.

"So?" Elena asked.

"He's still here"

"He trained his mind to resist compulsion, without vervain" I said.

"Is that possible?" Ric asked.

"Don't get so enthusiastic about it" Damon rolled his eyes.

"But is he a threat?" Elena asked.

"He tortured Caroline" I said frowning. "He wants to put vervain on the water system"

"That's a good idea" Elena said. "Then you can control yourself" she said to Damon.

"If people have vervain in their system, donated blood won't be an option, Elena" I snapped.

"I'm not drinking from deer" Damon said.

"You should"

"Elena, when Stefan tried to change his diet, so drastically, he massacred a whole village!" I snapped. "Vervain on everyone isn't an option! Besides, how will we hide our secrets if Caroline and Damon can't compel anyone?"

"We can find a way!" Elena protested.

"You are so naïve" Damon rolled his eyes at her. "You think you can save everyone, you can't, learn that and you won't be so disappointed"

"You are a disappointment" she snapped at him.

"I am not Stefan" he growled.

"Thank God!"

Ric got between them and Damon glared at him.

"Damon, enough, leave her…"

Damon snapped Ric's neck before he finished.

"Damon" I hissed looking around.

"He's like a broken record. Leave her alone, stay away from her, stop messing with her…" Damon said dropping Ric.

He turned to leave and I blocked his way.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"Take care of the problem, you know… Bill Forbes?"

"Damon, he's Caroline's father, we can find another way!"

"He hates vampires, he can't stand her existence… she's better off without him" I stared at him in shock and he sighed. "He's not Charlie, Bella… We can't talk him into being helpful"

"Enough people were lost lately, Damon, don't do this" I pleaded and he still seemed determined. "I'll have to stop you"

"You can't" he said frowning at me. "You should make sure no one sees Ric here"

He pushed past me and entered the mansion. Elena looked at me in shock, not understanding why I wasn't doing anything. I blinked away my tears and with Elena's help, carried Ric to my car. I drove him to the Boarding House and waited outside for Damon. When he finally showed up, he seemed a bit pissed off.

"What did you do?" I asked quietly as he carried Ric inside the house.

"Barbie got in my way, so… nothing" he grumbled.

"Thank God" I sighed.

"Thank God?" he snapped after putting Ric on the couch. "That man is just the beginning of trouble. I don't get you, you defend my point to Elena, but then you go against my opinion…"

"I was against the idea of putting vervain on the water system, I was never in favor of harming Caroline's dad"

"We can't compel him, what was your idea, then?"

I stayed silent and he poured a drink for himself.

"I have to go" I mumbled. He frowned at me. "I… My dad died. And I had to make my mom forget me. And Jenna died, and the Cullens can't come into town, neither can Jake and the pack… Stefan left, and Elijah is daggered somewhere…" I wiped my tears. "I can't… It's too much, this town is cursed"

"Bella" he said softly, but I could hear a bit of amusement in his voice.

"No, I should go. I have other stuff to do other than staying here doing nothing"

I turned to leave but he blocked my way with a desperate expression.

"Bella, you can't! You're weak and…"

"I can't stay here anymore" I snapped.

"Tell me what I can do… I will do anything you need"

"You can't" I sniffed. "It's you. I'm dying, Damon"

"No, you're not" he said firmly grabbing me by the shoulders.

"I denied all day, to everyone, but you're screwing with my head. I come back, and you're happy about my return, you say you care for me, that you can't lose me, and would do anything for me…"

"I would" he whispered and leaned in.

"No!" I snapped pushing him away. "It doesn't work like that, Damon! You can't smile at me, flirt with me, try to kiss me, while doing all of that with Elena too! I'm not a toy, and I'm not stupid"

"Bella…"

"I'm dying. I don't have time to get in this mess again"

"Wait!" he said as I turned to the door. "Stop! Listen to me…"

"Damon…"

"No" he grabbed my arm. "You made me listen to you and didn't let me talk, now it's my turn" he said seriously. "I know I'm an asshole. You don't deserve this shit, you deserve more and I don't deserve you… But you can't leave. I've been through hell without you here this summer. I was worried sick, and now that I know you're not okay, I can't let you out of my sight. I need you, Bella"

"It's not enough" I said scowling at him.

"I know it's selfish but what else do you want?" he asked frustrated. "You want me to leave Elena alone, is that it?"

"Stop, Damon, we both know…"

"I'll do it, just don't leave me" he said pleadingly.

I stared at him for a moment and then scoffed.

"You don't really mean that. You could never leave Elena alone"

"I can, for you"

"Fine, so, let's leave the country and not come back for a long time"

He stared at me, torn.

"See? You can't leave her"

"She would be unprotected"

"Just admit it, Damon" I snapped. "You are saying you'll leave her alone, and stay with me because you think I'll die soon. Soon I won't be here to stop you from being with her"

"You are not dying" he said angrily cupping my face. "I will find a way to keep you alive, and if I don't… I'll change you myself"

"In the last five minutes you told me half of all I wanted to hear for a long time" I whispered. "The problem is… I don't have the time for this, for us. I'm dying. I don't want to be changed, and I don't want to have to get you out of whatever trouble you'll get by looking for a cure. So, leave me be"

His hands fell to his side and he let me leave.

I drove to my house, parked in the driveway before I broke into tears.

I wanted to be with him. I wanted to take everything he offered. I would always want him.

But Elena was starting to have feelings for him, she needed him. He still loved her.

And I would die soon, I couldn't take what he offered and die on him… He wouldn't take it, he would go back to his old ways and I wouldn't be here to bring anyone back.

Everything always worked against us being together it seemed.

AN: Hey! I hope you're enjoying. I've been fast-updating because it might take me one or two weeks to update again :S

First, there is a set on Polyvore - of Elena's birthday - in which I used Emma Watson instead of Kristen Stewart as Bella... It's just so you can get the visual of how in her new haircut.

Second, I forgot to put the link to the image of Bella's ancestors' pendant, the one Damon gave her after finding it in her great-grandma stuff and the one she took power from on the night of the sacrifice.

This is gonna be one of the last chapters that fully follow the season 3 for a while, I'm not revealing why I'll take a break from season 3's plot, of course, but I think you'll like it.

Who watched VD last week, The Rager? Awesome, loved Elena hallucinating with Damon while with Stefan :D

And to those who live in the area affected by Sandy, I pray for the best for all of you, and here in Brazil we were seriously worried, but amazed at how effective your government was in state of emergency.

And to those who live in areas that the winter is knocking on your door... Lucky bastards. Here in Brazil we spent the winter with high temperatures and now in the spring it's 97ºF (36ºC) and it seems it will only get hotter. I'm dying here :S

Loving the reviews! You are truly amazing! Thanks!

xoxo Luuh