After the talk with Bonnie, Grace kept deciding if she should tell Damon and Stefan that she could be a witch. 'What'll happen when I tell them? Will they still love me? Would they get rid of me? I don't know what to do' Grace thought to herself.
Mystic Falls High School
Everybody is preparing for Founders' Day. Carol Lockwood is supervising.
"No, no, no, no, no! It's all wrong! The marching band should be in front of the Historic Society. Matt, get up on the float. Boys, I asked you to put chairs on the Founders' Float. Ladies! Time to get on the float". Carole said.
Stefan is standing alone, waiting. Damon and Grace arrives.
"Hey Uncle Stefan, you look cool". Grace said.
"Look at you, all retro". Damon commented.
"What are you two doing here?" Stefan asked.
"Uncle Damon dragged me here". Grace said.
"Why wouldn't I be here? Bonnie deactivated the Gilbert invention, Isobel is gone and it's Founders' Day! I'm here to eat cotton candy and steal your girl. And Gracie I didn't drag you here I thought you could use a day of fun". Damon replies.
"Don't start with me, Damon". Stefan warned his brother.
"Oh, you started this Stefan with that whole "I'm insecure, leave Elena alone" speech. I'm enjoying that".
"As long as you heard it".
"Is that what you two were going on about last night?" Grace asked.
"What? You have no sense of humor, Stefan". Damon said.
"Actually I've no sense of 'Damon humor'. Stefan replied.
'Damon humor'...Hey look, I get it, I get it. I'm the better, hotter, superior choice and you're scared, now that Katherine is out of the picture, that I'm gonna turn all my attention to Elena. But don't worry, Elena is not Katherine".
"You're right, she's not".
Damon and Stefan see Elena approaching.
"Are you sure about that?" Grace asked.
In her period dress she looks strikingly like Katherine. She smiles at them and curtsies.
"Gracie not helping". Damon said.
The ten year old had bit her lip to keep quiet. "Something on your mind Gracie?" Stefan asked breaking her from out of her thoughts.
"No". She said. 'Yes but I don't know how to tell you without you hating me' Grace thought to herself.
"Sweetheart you know you can tell us anything". Damon said.
"I know". 'How do I tell you that I could be a witch or am a witch?'
"Let's go get some cotton candy Uncle Damon, good luck Uncle Stefan you'll be great I just know it".
"Thank you Gracie". Stefan then kissed her head just as she skipped away from her uncles.
"Is it me or is something up with Grace?" Damon asked.
"It could be something bothering her".
"Like what, she doesn't remember Anna because I made her forget. Besides she's ten what could be bothering her".
"Maybe she'll start asking about her father I mean she did meet her mother so she might be thinking about him".
"Why would she ever think about him? They were never there for her we were".
"Every kid deserves to know who their father is Damon".
"The only father she had was Max just like the only mother she had was Jess. Nobody else needs to fill those roles".
"I agree".
Damon then walked away to go find his niece he then remembered back to when she was a young toddler.
*Flashback*
Grace was now 3 and a half years old, when their relatives Max and Jessica had died they had given custody of Grace to both Damon and Stefan. They kept her for a little while but had decided to give her to Lexi until she was old enough to live with them. One afternoon Damon and Stefan had went to go see their niece at Lexi's place. The brothers were just arriving.
"Hello brother". Damon greeted Stefan.
"Damon". Stefan simply said.
"I didn't think you would show".
"Why wouldn't I? Gracie's my niece too".
"Well after the fight we had I didn't think you would come if I were here".
"Look Damon when it comes to Gracie we can put all that aside for her, she doesn't need to see us fight in fact that's the last thing she needs to see".
Just then the front door was opened by Lexi and a very hyperactive Grace.
"Uncle DaDa! Uncle Stefy! You're here". Grace said excitedly running down the steps.
"There's our girl". Damon said sweeping her up.
Lexi was laughing from the steps, Damon had kissed Grace's cheek while Stefan kissed her head. The young toddler had reached out for Stefan and he took her from his brother.
"What have you been up to sweetie". Stefan said adjusting her, settling her on his hip.
"Me and Lexi did finger painting yesterday come see". She said pulling Stefan inside.
Damon couldn't help but chuckle once his brother and Grace were inside Lexi had to talk to Damon.
"How she been doing?" Damon asked.
"At first she kept asking for Max and Jess, where they were. When they were coming back, it broke my heart Damon". Lexi replied sadly.
"She'll know the truth when she's older".
"I'm glad she has you and Stefan to look out for her, knowing you she'll be protected at all cost".
"You got that right".
The two had went inside and seen Grace showing her finger painting to Stefan who gave her a smile.
*Back to reality*
Mystic Falls High School
Elena and Stefan are talking about John being her father.
"John?! Is that even possible?" Elena asked in shock of the new information.
"There is no proof, but he dated Isobel when she was a teenager and he was the one who brought her to your dad's office for the delivery". Stefan said.
"My whole life I've never liked this man. I..."
"Sorry, I'm sorry. I just...I wanted to tell you before Damon dropped it on you on some typically inappropriate way".
"No, I'm happy that you told me, I just...I really hope that it's not true. What I am supposed to do? Do I just...confront him and say "are you my biological father?"
"I guess, when you're ready".
"I'm never gonna be ready. Stefan, I have enough problems with the family that I actually care about. Jeremy hates me, and why wouldn't he? My journal gave him every single reason to".
"He's just hurt, he's confused".
"He's never going to forgive me for Vicki, for taking away his memories, for lying to him".
"He's your brother, he'll forgive you. Just give him some time".
The floats are parading. Carol Lockwood commentates.
"Let's give a big hand to the Mystic Fall's high school Marching Band!" Carole said in the mic.
The marching band and the cheerleaders parade, everyone applauds and scream. Grace had been standing next to Damon holding his hand.
"And for a little local history, Mr. Saltzman's students have recreated Virginia's Battle of Willow Creek".
The float arrives in the street. Jeremy and Tyler are in it, they wave to the crowd and pretend to shoot at each other.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our stunning Miss Mystic Falls Court and their handsome escorts".
Elena, Stefan, Caroline and Matt, and the rest of the Mystic Falls Court and their escorts are on the float; they laugh and wave to the crowd.
"I'm so not doing that when I'm older". Grace said.
"I agree". Damon said.
"It's dumb if you ask me".
"This is Caroline Forbes, Miss Mystic Falls. Aren't they beautiful?" Carole went on.
"Uncle Damon remind me to never do that". Grace said.
Damon chuckled, "Sure thing Gracie"
Bonnie is in the crowd. She smiles and waves at Elena. Elena smiles and waves back to Bonnie. Damon walks in front of Bonnie and stops, smiles and waves to Elena. She rolls her eyes and looks away. She looks at Stefan waves to the rest of the crowd. Damon turns around and sees Bonnie. Grace had seen Bonnie and gave her a small wave which she returned. Grace then turned her attention back to the parade only to be dragged away Damon who's going after Bonnie.
"Hi Bonnie". Grace said.
"What do you want?" Bonnie asked Damon.
"Just watching the parade with Gracie". Damon replies.
She begins to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"Away from you".
"I wanna say something to you".
"Just leave me alone!"
"Thank you. The device that Emily spelled could have killed me. I don't take what you did lightly so...thank you".
"I did it for Elena".
"I know that, but I'm still very grateful. And...I owe you".
They look at each other for a moment.
"Enjoy the parade. Come on Gracie".
When Grace turned around to see Bonnie she mouthed 'Thank you', Bonnie gave the ten year old a small smile. They leave.
Grayson Gilbert's Office
John is with Mayor Lockwood, he's preparing the device.
"This is the key. Once inserted, the device will be activated. It will work only once, for an estimated time of 5 minutes". John said.
"Yes, how does it work?" Mayor Lockwood asked.
"It's a high-pitched frequency that humans can't hear. Any vampires within a five-block radius will be incapacitated, exposing them. At that time, the sheriff's deputies will inject them with vervain and bring them here, when we will finish them off".
"And you're certain they're attacking tonight?"
"I have a source. One of the vampires from the tomb confirmed the attack".
Building
The vampires from the tomb are having a meeting. The leader is speaking and pointing at a map of the Town Square.
"Everybody listen up! The plan stays the same. We wait until the firework start; until then, we blend in. Stay a part of the celebration; they'll never see us coming" The Vampire Leader said.
Grayson Gilbert's Office
"They want revenge for what our ancestors did in 1864. It makes us their target". John says.
Building
The leader is showing the other vampires a plan of the Mystic Fall's Town Square.
"This area here is the stage. This is where the Founding Families are gonna be. Any questions?"
Grayson Gilbert's Office
"We're taking an enormous risk. We're talking about our families, John!" Mayor Lockwood exclaimed.
Building
Anna arrives.
"Anna? What are you doing here?"
Grayson Gilbert's Office
John: This is the only way to draw them out and kill them...all of them.
Mystic Grill
Damon is standing next to Grace who was starting to feel sleepy. Elena arrives, and he looks at her. Elena has changed back into her modern clothes.
"I like you better like this. The period look, it...didn't suit you". Damon said.
"I think she looked nice". Grace said.
"Is that an insult?" Elena replied. She then turned to Grace. "Thank you Grace at least somebody knows how to give a compliment".
"Actually Elena, it is a compliment of the highest order". Damon said.
"Look, I know Stefan is worried about our...friendship".
"Did he mention something to you too?"
"No, did he mention something to you?"
"No, nothing worth repeating".
"So, I think you should stop with the flirty little comments and that eye-thing that you do".
Damon smiling and doing the eye-thing, "What eye thing?"
"Don't make me regret being your friend okay?"
"I hope guys don't try that stupid eye thing on me when I'm older". Grace said.
"Sweetheart if any guy tries anything with you they'll end up with a broken neck". Damon says.
"Your joking right?"
"He's joking right Damon". Elena said.
"Sure I'm joking...not".
Grace shook her head and chuckled,He seems hurt. Elena looks at Jeremy who's sitting alone. She goes towards Jeremy. Damon looks at them.
"I don't believe that we can't fix this. I lied, I was wrong. But you're my brother, Jer, and I love you, and I have to fix it. So just tell me, what can I do?" Elena says to her brother.
"You go to hell, Elena". Jeremy said bitterly.
He gets up and leaves. Damon looks at him.
"Uncle Damon I know that look don't do it, it's not for you to get involved in". Grace said.
"You stay here Gracie". Damon said.
Town Square
Jeremy is walking, and Damon appears walking behind him.
Damon mocking Jeremy, "I have so many emotions, but I don't have any way to express them. Being a teenager is so hard!"
"You're a dick!" Jeremy shot at Damon.
"You do not talk to me like that! I'm not your sister. And for now on", Damon grabs Jeremy's arm. "Don't talk to your sister that way either".
"So, you're going to kill me just 'cause I hurt Elena's feelings?"
"Cut her some slack".
"She erased my memories".
"No, I did! She was protecting you".
"It wasn't her call to make. Look I'm not Grace so you don't tell me what to do".
He tries to leave but Damon grabs his arm and pulls him back roughly. "This doesn't concern Grace ".
"Let go of me before I cause a scene".
"You'll be unconscious before you even got a word out".
Stefan arrives.
"Let him go". Stefan tells his brother.
Damon releases him. Stefan puts himself between them and looks at Jeremy.
"Are you alright?" Stefan asked Jeremy.
"Yeah".
Stefan looking at Damon, "What my brother is trying to say is, don't blame Elena for this. Damon turned Vicki, I killed her. She was a threat to you, and she was a threat to your sister. I'm sorry that it happened, I wish that it hadn't".
Damon looks at Stefan.
"You shouldn't have made me forget..."
Jeremy leaves.
"Good cop, bad cop. I like it". Damon says.
"What are you doing?" Stefan then looked around and couldn't find their niece. "Where's Gracie?"
"He's being a punk. Gracie's fine I left her with Elena".
"Elena's relationship with her brother is none of your business. So stay out of it!"
"Oh, there's only one "do-gooder" role available. My bad. I'm sorry".
He laughs.
"Get over yourself. We both know you're not doing this for the right reasons".
"You see, there you go with that little jealousy act again. What are the right reasons, Stefan? Enlighten me, please!"
"Well, see Damon, it's only real when it comes from your desire to do the right thing for nothing in return, and I know that it is an entirely foreign concept to you. I completely understand that you wouldn't get it".
He looks at him and leaves. Damon then went to go get his niece from the Mystic Grill, when he entered the restaurant he saw that Elena was talking with Bonnie and Caroline while Grace had her head on the table dozing off so he went over to her gently shaking her. Grace had jolted awake when she felt someone shaking her.
"Sorry Gracie you ready to go hang out for a little while longer". Damon says.
"I guess". She said rubbing her eyes.
The two leave and go around walking.
Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Forbes is talking with John and Mayor Lockwood.
"You want to use our town as bait? It's too dangerous, it's insane!" Sheriff Forbes says angrily.
She closes the door.
"We've gone over the plans with all your deputies, they're all on board". Mayor Lockwood said.
"You've gone behind my back?"
"Yeah, because we knew this is exactly how you'd react".
"Our children are here".
"Liz, we need to do this. We have no choice; this is the reason for the Secret Council. Our founding fathers created the Secret Council for just this purpose!" John exclaimed.
Long pause. They look at each other.
"I'm the Sheriff, it's my call and I say no".
"Richard, let me speak to the Sheriff alone".
He looks at them and leaves.
"John, you're not thinking clearly, I'm not gonna change my mind about this".
She turns her back and goes toward her desk. John hits her behind the head. She's unconscious. He removes her gun belt and handcuffs her to the radiator. He looks at her and leaves.
Mystic Falls
It's night, Damon and Grace are looking and walking around in the town square, when they run into Anna.
"Hi Anna". Grace said.
"Hi Grace". Anna greeted the ten year old.
"You're still around?" Damon asked.
"There's something you need to know. The vampires from the tomb are planning an attack tonight".
Grace then glued herself to Damon's rip holding onto him tightly.
"How do you know this?"
"I went to them. They think I'm with them but I'm not. They want the Founding Families dead".
"When is this supposed to happen?"
"When the firework start".
Long pause.
"John Gilbert wants to use that invention on them".
"Then we can't be here!"
"It doesn't work, it's been deactivated".
"Well, then a lot of people are gonna die".
"Where are they right now?"
"They're already here, Damon".
"Uncle Damon I don't wanna die". Grace said scared.
"Your not gonna die Gracie as long as you stay with me or Stefan you'll be safe". Damon assured her.
The tomb vampires are meeting in front of a building.
"Remember, we don't know which of them ingests vervain. It's not about the feed, it's about the kill. You know what to do". The Vampire leader said.
They walk into the crowd and disperse.
Damon and Grace are walking toward Alaric.
"Ric!" Damon called out.
"Yeah?" Alaric replied.
"You keep those nifty little vampire darts in the car?"
"Yeah, why do you ask?"
"Because this square is crawling with tomb vampires. I think we might need a stake or two".
"Yeah, got it".
"What about me Uncle Damon?" Grace asked.
"You're gonna stay with Stefan".
Alaric leaves, Damon sees Stefan and Elena. He takes Grace and heads towards them and takes Elena's hand.
"What are you doing?" Elena asked.
"Saving your life. Fifteen words or less...Tomb vamps are here. Founding families are their target". He then turned to Stefan. "Get her out of here, now! Take Gracie with you".
"Uncle Damon no". Grace went after Damon but Stefan had caught her.
Damon starts to leave.
"Wait, where are you going?" Stefan asked.
"That's more than fifteen words, Stefan".
He leaves.
"Wait, Jeremy is out here somewhere". Elena said.
"Let's go find him, come on!" Stefan replied quickly.
A/N: DaDa is a nickname I made up for Damon.