Grace was scared at what just happened so she quickly cleaned up the broken lamp she was just lucky that her uncles were still down stairs all she hoped was that they didn't hear anything. While down in the living room Stefan had held his head down in shame after yelling at his niece, Damon had glared at his brother the whole time while he held a drink in his hand.
"Start talking Stefan. Now". Damon told his brother.
"It happened while me, Elena, and Gracie were in the wood, Frederick stabbed me with a tree branch and Elena got him with the vervain. I was still weak and hurt so Elena let me drink from her wrist after that I went after Frederick and when Elena and Grace told me to stop I faced them showing my vampire face. I never seen Gracie so scared of me before. But it's true Gracie might be scared of me because she seen my vampire face I think that's why she distanced herself from me. I never meant to scare her or yell at her she probably hates me right now and I wouldn't blame her". Stefan explained.
"But why yell at her as it were her fault?"
"I don't know Damon it was an accident, I was just so stressed out and I wasn't thinking".
"Well until you straighten yourself out don't talk to Gracie, I'll take her to school and pick her up".
"Damon she's my niece too".
"And I'm looking out for her well being".
Damon then stood up leaving the room. "I'm gonna go check on her".
He then left his brother as he went to go check on Grace, once Grace had the broken lamp cleaned up she laid in her bed hugging her pillow close to her chest then after a couple minutes there was a knock at her door.
"Gracie?" Damon called through the door.
"Come in". She replied.
Damon then entered the room and went over to her. "You alright sweetheart?" He asked.
"I didn't mean to upset him anymore Uncle Damon, I was just worried about him that's all".
"I know sweetheart and Stefan knows it too".
She then sat up and hugged his side. "Is Uncle Stefan gonna be ok?"
"He'll be ok in time".
Damon didn't notice that the bedside lamp was missing and that was a blessing in disguise. "I'd like to be alone if that's ok Uncle Damon".
"That's fine sweetheart don't stay up too late though".
"I won't".
Damon had kissed her head then went to his room for the night, Grace then laid back down and felt herself slowly drifting off to sleep.
During the night Grace had tossed and turned she was soon whimpering the young girl soon awoke with a start, her breathing was heavy and shallow she knew that she was out of her dream state but it didn't calm her so she tip toed out of her bed walking out of her room. She knew that both her uncles were asleep in their rooms she thought about who's room she'd go too, Damon was a bit of a heavy sleeper and he often got a bit cranky when he got woken up. Stefan was a light sleeper and he wouldn't get cranky, the young girl had made her mind up and tip toed to Stefan room.
Grace had quietly opened his door and went inside she saw that he was sleeping peacefully she then went up and started to gently shake his arm.
"Uncle Stefan, Uncle Stefan wake up". Grace whispered.
Stefan had stirred a little then Grace spoke up a little. "Uncle Stefan wake up". That had made him jump awake he looked around for a moment till his eyes landed on his young niece.
"What's wrong Gracie?" Stefan asked groggily.
"I had another nightmare".
He then patted a spot beside him and she got up on the bed taking him as she curled into his side. "Wanna talk about it?"
"I-It was about what happened in the woods only this time it was different, the vampires had found you, me, and Uncle Damon, they made me watch as they killed you guys then came at me". She explained as tears were now coming down her cheeks.
Stefan held his niece close as she was crying into his shirt, after a couple of minutes her crying had stopped but she remained in Stefan's hold he then kissed her head. "Don't worry Gracie nobody won't ever hurt you again I promise".
"I-I was really scared Uncle Stefan".
"It's alright Gracie I'm right here sweetheart nobody won't hurt while I'm around".
"C-can I stay with you for tonight?"
"Sure".
Stefan then pulled the covers up just as Grace curled into his side using his shoulder as a pillow. "G'night Uncle Stefan".
"Sweet dreams Gracie".
Once they had fallen back asleep what they didn't know is that Damon had seen everything from the door and a small smile had appeared on his face.
Founders' Hall
Founders' Day 150 Year Anniversary Kick-off Party.
Stefan, Damon, and Grace have arrived.
"Oh god! I shouldn't be here". Stefan says.
"Why do I have to be here?" Grace asked.
"Come on, don't be a downer, it's a party for the founding families! That would be us. That would be rude to skip it".
"I really liked you a whole lot better when you hated everybody". Stefan says to his brother.
"Oh I still do. I just love that they love me".
"I still don't see the point of me being here". Grace said.
"You'll love it Gracie". Damon said.
"Not really I hate parties like this".
He laughs and looks at Stefan.
"How are you feeling?" Damon asked his brother.
"I'm good, I'm fine". Stefan replied.
"No cravings? No urges? Is that whiskey you've been drinking all day doing its job?"
Stefan laughs.
"We are who we are Stefan. Nothing's gonna change that".
"Ah! Nothing will make you happier to just see me given up hein Damon?"
"Whatever, it's inevitable".
"Well, I'm gonna find Elena".
He leaves.
"Don't embarrass me young man!"
Stefan, while walking through the hall, smoothly takes a glass of whiskey, throws away the straw, drinks it, and sets the glass down. Grace then tries to leave her uncle's side but he gently pulled her back by her shoulder.
"And just where do you think your going?" Damon asked.
"Away from here I don't wanna be here Uncle Damon".
"It's not so bad Gracie besides your a Salvatore and were one of the founding families, I'm sure after a little while you'll love it".
"If you say so".
"Oh stay close to me I don't want nothing to happen to you".
"Ok".
The two then walk around and the entire time Grace was bored. Stefan is at the bar drinking. Elena arrives. He sees her, puts the glass on the bar and waves to her.
"Hey!" Elena says happily.
"Hey. How are you?" Stefan replies back.
He kisses her on the cheek.
"Are you drunk?"
"Okay, I know it's a little weird but it's really helping me. The alcohol takes the edge off".
"You're totally that drunk high school guy at parties sneaking booze. And I thought you didn't drink with Grace around".
"I totally am, yeah. Grace is fine she's with Damon".
"How worried do I need to be?"
"Oh no! You don't need to be worried. It's just until the cravings go away. Listen, I think we should enjoy it while it lasts. Would you like to dance with me?"
"You hate dancing. I usually have to beg you".
"No, no, no you have to beg the sober me. The drunk me there is no begging necessary".
She looks at the dance floor.
"There's really no one dancing".
"That's because they need something better to dance to. I'll be right back".
He leaves and Kelly arrives.
"Yeah...That's not gonna work. I already tried to bribe the guy with 20 bucks and a date. He said Carol Lockwood has complete control over the music choices". Kelly said.
Elena looks at Stefan. He is compelling the DJ.
"You'd be surprised what Stefan can accomplish when he puts his mind to it". Elena replies.
The music changes.
"Thank God!" Kelly says in relief.
Kelly is dancing with Stefan. Damon and Grace rejoins Elena at the bar and looks at Stefan.
"Is he ok?" Grace asked.
"Have I entered an alternate universe where Stefan is fun?" Damon asked.
"Uncle Stefan is always fun". Grace said.
"No he's not".
"Is he gonna be okay?" Elena asked.
"Eventually. One way or another".
"He just needs time". Grace added.
They look at each other, and then they watch Stefan. Damon smiles. Grace then went over and began to dance with Stefan. 'At least she's having fun' Damon thought to himself.
Damon walks to another part of the hall and rejoins the Sheriff.
"You know I love a woman in uniform but I have to side with this one. You look...you look smashing". Damon compliments Liz.
She laughs.
"Thank you Damon. Cheers!" She replied. They clink glasses. "I needed that. You know I had my doubts about you at first but like everyone else on the council you've won me over".
"Thanks Liz. It's really nice how welcoming the council has been. I like my life here in Mystic Falls. Starting to feel like home again".
"Well, you're not gonna like what I have to tell you. Jonathan Gilbert's claims check out. Blood bank, the missing people, all of it's true. We might have a problem".
Jeremy arrives and interrupts them.
"Excuse me Sheriff. I was curious if there's been any more information about what happened to Vicki Donovan?" Jeremy asked.
"It was an overdose, Jeremy". Liz told the teen boy.
"Yeah, but her body was buried. Somebody must have done that".
Damon is really uncomfortable.
"We're aware of that. The investigation is ongoing but there's nothing more I can tell you at this time. I'm sorry".
"It's okay".
Just before Damon walks away Liz called him back. "Damon I found out some information for you about your niece".
"What'd you find out?" He asked.
"She was born here and I found her original birth certificate". She handed him some files.
"And".
"Turns out that she was indeed adopted because the mother listed on the birth certificate her name was Anna, there was no father listed. Anna named her then gave her up for adoption, your relatives Max and Jessica adopted her. They changed her birth certificate once the adoption was final. Nobody heard from Anna since".
Elena and Matt are dancing. He leaves. Elena falls into Stefan but was careful of Grace as she stepped aside.
"Please dance with your alcoholic vampire boyfriend". Stefan slurred.
"Uncle Stefan? Are you ok?" Grace asked.
"I'm just fine".
They dance and Elena accidentally runs into a man.
"Wow! Watch it!" The man yells.
"I'm sorry, my fault. I'm clumsy". Elena apologized.
"Then get off the dance floor". He shot back.
"Excuse me?"
"That no way to talk to a lady". Stefan said.
"Whatever".
He turns to leave but Stefan catches his arm and compels him.
"I think you need to apologize". Stefan said.
"I'm sorry". He said.
He starts to leave, but Stefan grabs him again.
"Now say it like you mean it". Stefan said.
"I'm really, really sorry".
"Stefan, it's fine". Elena said.
"Uncle Stefan she said it was ok". Grace said.
"Now walk away". Stefan said.
He pushes him. The man leaves. Elena touches Stefan's arm.
Stefan touches Elena's face. "You alright?"
Elena nods.
"Are you alright Gracie?"
"I'm fine".
When Stefan left Elena had turned towards Grace. "I'm taking you back to Damon".
"Ok".
Damon is at the bar. Elena and Grace joins him.
"Hey Uncle Damon". Grace said.
"Hey sweetheart". He replied.
"Have you noticed what your brother has been up to?" Elena asked.
"No, I have been too preoccupied with yours".
She looks at him.
"Jeremy has been asking questions about Vicki Donovan's death".
"He knows that her death was ruled an overdose".
"Really?" He then begins imitating Jeremy. "Oh but sheriff, someone buried her. Who would do that?" "I know I know! Me! I mean I could compel him but he's wearing vervain".
"That was you?" Grace asked.
"No, I don't want you to compel him". Elena said.
"If he keeps asking questions..." Damon started.
"Damon, no I'm serious. I'm not going to do that to him again. I'll handle it".
Damon takes a rose, smells it, and gives it to her.
"Okay. Don't say I didn't warn you".
She takes the rose, they look at each other and he leaves. Grace followed her uncle. "Uncle Damon you did that?" Grace asked.
"It was an accident Gracie not on purpose". He answered.
"What'll happen when people find out the truth?"
"They won't find out".
"What happens if they do find out and they take me from you and Uncle Stefan?"
Damon then stops and gets down on one knee looking at his niece who looks as if she is about to cry.
"Sweetheart I'd never let anyone take you from us, not now, not ever".
"You promise?"
"I promise".
Damon and Grace were now on the balcony when John joined them.
"Damon, right?" John asked.
"John". Damon said.
"We didn't get the chance to meet at the council meeting". He then saw Grace by Damon side. "And who's this?
'Yeah. It's a pleasure. Are you enjoying the kick-off? And this is my niece Grace".
"Hi". Grace said shyly.
"Hi Grace. Oh yeah. I forgot how much fun these small town celebrations can be". John said.
"Yeah. When was the last time you were here?" Damon replied.
"Hasn't been that long, my brother's funeral. How long have you been in town?"
"Oh, not long at all".
"So what do you think Damon? You know this vampire problem is real, right? It's a potential blood bath".
"I wouldn't overreact John".
"Oh, I think it's like 1864 all over again, vampires running amok. I guess we're just gonna have to hunt them down, throw them in a church and burn them to ash".
"That's the story, huh?"
"Part of the story, yeah".
"Oh, there's more?"
"Oh, there's a lot more. See, it seems there was a tomb under the church, where vampires were hidden, waiting for someone to come along and set them free. But then you already knew that didn't you?"
Damon doesn't look at him. He and Grace are uncomfortable. The young girl then glued herself to Damon's hip as he held an arm around her protectively.
"I mean, you're the one that did it".
"And you're telling me this why?"
"I just thought we get the introductions out of the way".
"You know that I could rip your throat out before anyone would notice?"
"Yeah".
"Yeah, okay. But you probably ingest vervain so...and I don't wanna do anything like that in front of my niece".
"Why don't you take a bite to find out?"
Damon smiled, "It's not worth my time. Gracie go find Stefan".
"But I wanna stay with you". She protested.
"Grace go find Stefan now".
Grace then left just as the two men look at each other and smile. Damon starts to leave but he rushes towards John, breaks his neck, and throws him off the balcony. Grace had went to find her other uncle but couldn't find him she was starting to get tired of being treated like a baby she clenched her fist together then a nearby vase had then shattered. 'What's happening to me?' she thought to herself. Grace then began to calm herself down, she was lucky that nobody had heard it because the music's so loud. She then had another thought, 'What are Uncle Damon and Stefan gonna think when I tell them?' Grace had continued walking till she found Elena with Matt once he had left Grace had ran over to Elena.
"Have you seen Stefan?" Grace asked.
"No and I thought you were with Damon". Elena said.
"He wanted me to go find Stefan".
Elena looks at Stefan. He's drinking.
"Air, I need some air. Come with me?" Matt asked.
Elena: Sure. Grace you can stay with me". Elena said.
"But I'm suppose to find Stefan". Grace said.
"You haven't seen my mom have you?" Matt asked.
"No, not in a while". She then turned to Grace. ""I'm sure Damon will be alright if you stay with me".
She looks at Stefan again. They go out. Elena sees Kelly and Tyler.
"Oh my god". Elena said.
"Ew". Grace said covering her eyes.
Kelly and Tyler are kissing. Matt rushes over to them and catches Tyler.
"What the hell are you doing man?" Matt yelled.
"Matt?!" Kelly screamed.
Matt screamed, "Mom!"
"Whoa dude calm down". Tyler said.
Matt punches Tyler in the face. They begin to fight and in the fight Kelly gets pushed to the floor. Tyler hits Matt again and again and again. Grace then slipped out of the room before something happened to her.
"Matt! Stop it! Tyler! Stop it, you're hurting him! Somebody help us". Elena called out.
Alaric arrives, pulls Tyler off Matt and pushes him against a wall.
"What the hell is that?" Alaric asked.
Elena is going toward Matt. The Mayor arrives.
"I'll take it from here; I'll take it from here". Mayor Lockwood said. He then turned to Tyler. "Are you hurt? Go get cleaned up. It's okay. Go get cleaned up".
Tyler leaves. Elena helps Matt.
Mayor Lockwood to the guests, "Everything's fine. Everything is fine. Come on, everybody, back to the party. Let's go. Come on, have a good time!"
Elena is with Matt, he is bleeding a lot.
"Are you okay?" Elena asked.
"Where is she?" Matt asked.
"I don't know. Put your head up".
She looks at his face. She then remembered Grace. "Oh my god where's Grace?"
Stefan is still drinking, Damon arrives.
"Where's Gracie?" Damon asked.
"I thought she was with you".
Lucky Grace wasn't far when she heard her uncles talking so she decided to make her way to them. "I'm right here Uncle Damon".
"See she's fine". Stefan said.
"You wanna hear the bad news or the really bad news?" Damon asked.
"Actually, I don't want any news Damon".
"Me either I just wanna go home". Grace said.
"Alright, let me rephrase. Do you want to hear how the council is back in vampire mode or how I just killed Uncle John Gilbert?"
"What?"
"Is that why you sent me to find Uncle Stefan?"
"Great party by the way, huh?"
He smiles and leaves with Grace. Stefan goes after him.
"Damon". Stefan called out to his brother.
Stefan suddenly stops. He sees Kelly crying and bleeding. He approaches her.
"Is everything alright?" Stefan asked Kelly.
"No. I ruined it, I always ruin it. What is wrong with me?" Kelly cried.
Stefan slowly kneels down to her eye level and stares at the blood coming out of Kelly's forehead. He touches the blood on her forehead.
"What are you doing?"
He finally comes around.
"Uh, I'm sorry".
He gets up and leaves. Outside, he looks down at his hand with the blood on it, walks to a fence and leans on it. He licks the blood off of his finger.
Damon and Grace are back inside. Suddenly they see John Gilbert entering.
"You got to be kidding me". Damon said.
"Is everything alright Uncle Damon?" Grace asked.
"Everything's fine sweetheart".
Later, Mayor Lockwood is talking to the crowd.
"Thank you all, thank you very much, thank you. Thank you all for joining us tonight in just a few moments we will officially begin the countdown to our upcoming Founders' Day celebration and it's a very special one this year. The one hundred and fiftieth birthday of our town".
A bell on a table is wheeled next to him.
"And...and I would like to welcome back one of our town favorite's sons to do the honors of ringing our official charter bell. John Gilbert, would you please join me up here?"
John Gilbert applause and rejoins the mayor. Damon and Grace are looking at him.
"One hundred and fifty years of community, prosperity, family. We take care of each other, we look after each other, protect each other". He says. He looks at Damon and Grace. "It's good to be home".
"Uncle Damon he scares me a little". Grace said.
"Just stay by me sweetie he's not gonna hurt you". Damon said.
Everyone applauds, Damon and Grace rejoins Alaric.
"Look at his right hand". Damon tells Alaric.
"Whose?" Alaric asked confused.
"Towns favorite's son. Look at his ring".
John rings the bell and it can be seen that he wears the same ring that Alaric wears.
"Well, it looks like mine".
"Yeah, and that would be a big coincidence if he didn't just came back from the dead five minutes ago. Where the hell did you get that ring?"
"Isobel, my wife".
"Who gave birth to Elena, under the medical care of the esteemed Dr Grayson Gilbert, John's brother!"
They look at John.
"Do you think John knew Isobel?"
"I think John knows a lot of things".
Stefan is in the parking lot. He leaves but he falls into the man he compelled earlier. The man pushes him.
"Sorry about that man. I really am terribly sorry". The man said.
"You don't want to do this man". Stefan said.
The man pushes him again.
"I'm sorry about that too. All I can do is apologize. What's that about?"
"Get out of my way. Please".
"No girl to show off for now? I see what how this is".
He tries to punch Stefan but Stefan catches mid-flight, crushes it slowly, and pushes the man on the floor. His face changes.
"What are you, man?"
John is leaving. Damon, Grace and Alaric follow him.
"Gracie stay behind me". Damon told his niece.
"Alright". She said.
"Going somewhere, hm?" Damon said to John.
"I've never liked to be the last one to leave a party. It's too desperate. You're going to kill me again or you're gonna let Mr. Saltzman do your dirty work?" John replies.
"Okay, you obviously know who I am". Alaric said.
"I do. Alaric Saltzman, a high school history teacher with a secret".
"Sure know a lot for someone who just got to town". Damon said.
"More than you can imagine, Damon. My knowledge of this town goes beyond anything that you". He looks at Damon "or you" He looks at Alaric or the council knows. So, if you're planning on some clever high speed snatch ring vamp kill move, know that if I die, everything I know goes to the council including the fascinating little tale of the originals Salvatore brothers and their present day return to Mystic Falls".
Damon is surprised and doesn't know what to say.
"How did you get that ring?" Alaric asked.
"I had inherited one, my brother Gray had the other. This was his" He shows his ring to them. "and I wouldn't have given mine to Isobel if I had known she'd hand it over to another guy". John answered.
"So you did know her?" Damon asked.
"Who do you think send her your way when she wanted to become a vampire?"
"You sent her?"
"Guilty. Why, did you think someone else send her? Maybe Katherine Pierce?"
Grace then got frightened at Katherine's name and clutched to Damon's side
"How do you know about Katherine?"
"How do I know anything Damon?"
"What do you want?"
"So many questions. It was a pleasure meeting you, Ric. I've heard so much about you".
John leaves. Damon and Alaric look at each other and watch him. Alaric then left while Grace stayed glued to Damon side, Damon had felt his niece shake with fright he was ready to go find John and rip out his throat.
"It'll be alright Gracie nothing won't happen to you while I'm around". Damon assured his niece.
"I'm scared". She said gripping his jacket.
"There's nothing to be afraid of as long as your with me".
"Can we go home?".
"Yeah".
Salvatore Boarding House
Damon and Grace finally arrive home they didn't see Stefan so they figured that he's with Elena.
"Sweetheart go get ready for bed I'll be up in a minute".
"Alright".
She then took off to her room while he poured a quick drink and gulped in down fast something was on his mind the whole time, 'How do I tell Grace she's adopted?' He knew sooner or later that he would have to tell Grace the truth. After a couple more moments he went to check on Grace when he opened her door she was just laying down as she was adjusting the blanket Damon then helped her fix it once she was comfortable he tucked the blanket around her just as her eyes got heavy.
"G'night Uncle Damon'.
"Sweet dreams sweetheart".
He kissed her head then left the room just as he was about to cut the light out he noticed the bedside lamp was gone, 'What happened to the lamp?' He asked himself. Damon shrugged it off for the time and didn't worry about it he just had to tell his brother that their niece is actually adopted .
Damon is on the couch, in front of the fire, a glass of blood in his hand. Stefan arrives.
"We have problems Stefan and when I say problem I mean global crisis. It seems Uncle John has..." Damon started.
He looks at Stefan, he's not okay.
"You don't look so good. Its different this time, isn't it? The need is too strong. Of course it would be after all these years".
He puts the glass of blood on the table, looks at Stefan and gets up. He touches his shoulder and looks at him.
"Have a good night brother".
He leaves. Stefan looks at the glass; he takes it and drinks the blood. Damon was in his room on his computer looking through the files that Liz gave him on Grace. Many things have roamed his mind.
'Mother's name is Anna'
'Where's Anna?'
'Why did she give Grace up?'
One most important thing was in his mind, 'Who's her father?'