Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries and never will, but I do own Charlene Davis and Megan Swann and any other characters I come up with.

Author's Note: Hope you love the updated version! :D

Knowing it was a bad idea to even go outside, Charlene needed a drink from the Grill. Maybe it would calm down her nerves and get rid of the urge to kill someone.

She was about to head out the door when the doorbell. Confused, she answered the doorbell and it revealed Damon on the other side.

"Damon, what are you doing here?" Charlene asked surprised.

He smirked at her before giving a small pout. "Aw, aren't you happy to see me?"

Charlene glowered at him, feeling irritated. She honestly didn't have the energy or the will to deal with Damon Salvatore.

"Damon." She said with gritted teeth. "I really don't have time for this. I was about to get a drink at the Grill."

"Great! I'll come with you."

"No thanks. I really don't want any company right now."

"Oh, come on, day drinking isn't nearly as fun if you don't have a buddy."

Why was he being so annoyingly persistent? Why today of all days was he insistent on spending time with her when he never was before? Sure, if it was another day or another time, she would be thrilled he wanted to do, but right now she wanted to just smack him in the face and tell him to go away.

"Just go away, Damon, and leave me alone." Charlene told him quietly before shoving by him, her shoulder bumping into his in the process.

But he didn't let her go far as he turned around and grabbed her arm, pulling her towards him. Her heart skipped a beat at the concern in his eyes.

"Charlie, what's really going on?" he asked.

It took her a moment to snap out of it as she tore her arm away. "Nothing." She said coldly. "And even if there was something going, it wouldn't be any of your damn business." With that, she stormed away and ignored the look he gave her as she left.

Elena headed to Jeremy's bedroom, planning on telling him everything, well except about the vampires and about Charlene being on. She was going to get Charlene so they could tell him together, but she couldn't find her sister anywhere, so it was up to her to tell him. No pressure or anything.

Getting to his open door, she knocked on it causing Jeremy to look over at her. He took off his headset and Elena took the time to speak up.

"Hey." She smiled at him.

"What's up?" Jeremy asked, though he figured something was going on because Elena never came up to his room unless something was wrong, or she was getting onto him for something.

"Do you have some time to talk?"

He leaned back in his chair. "Uh, yeah, sure."

"Not here." Elena said, giving him a nervous smile. "Come on. Let's get out of the house."

Jeremy hesitated for a moment before getting up and following his sister out the door.

"I just can't believe mom and dad never told you and Charlene." Jeremy said in disbelief once Elena told him everything as they walked by the lake nearby. "And that Megan is related to you and Charlene."

"I'm sure they would have eventually." Elena reassured.

Jeremy said nothing for a moment, glancing over at her. "Why were you worried about what I thought?"

"Because…I don't know…" Elena sighed, snuffing her hands into her jacket pocket. "It's weird. Going your whole life thinking you're related by blood to someone."

"Does it bother you and Charlene that we're not?"

Of course, Elena was quick to correct him. "No, Jer, you're my brother, that's all that matters, and Charlene would tell you the exact same thing."

This made him smile.

"So, Mr. Saltzman said you've been doing great in History now." Elena mentioned causally, so it didn't seem like it was a huge thing.

"Yeah…" He paused for a moment. "Yeah, he's really been helping me out. He gave me some extra credit and stuff."

"He loved your vampire paper." Elena watched him carefully for any sign that he knew about the vampires.

There wasn't any she could see.

"He thought I had a clever angle." Jeremy shrugged.

"What drew you to that subject matter?"

He shrugged again. "I don't know, boredom or maybe I'm just as nuts as the long line of Gilberts crazies." He laughed slightly.

Elena scoffed a bit. "Gilberts aren't crazy."

"Easy for you to say, you're not one." Jeremy quipped teasingly.

This made her stop and she pretended to look hurt, knowing he was just joking with her. "Ouch." She shoved him away playfully as he grinned at her before taking off running.

Elena ran after him, smiling freely.

It was finally time for the Founder's Day kickoff party. Normally a time of talking, dancing, drinking, and having a good time, but this time was going to be different especially with the Salvatore boys being there.

Damon and Stefan walked into the founder's hall, nicely dressed in matching suits. The younger Salvatore fixed his tie uncomfortably.

"Oh god, I shouldn't be here." Stefan mumbled.

"Come on, don't be downer, it's party for the founding families!" Damon said with fake enthusiasm. "That would be us. It would be rude to skip it."

Stefan rolled his eyes. "I really liked you a whole lot better when you hated everybody."

Damon gave a smirk. "Oh, I still do. I just love that they love me." He laughed, looking over at his brother. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good, I'm fine." He responded rather quickly, giving a somewhat strained smile. Obviously he wasn't.

"No cravings? No urges? Is that whiskey you've been drinking all day doing its job?" Stefan just laughed, but it definitely wasn't one of amusement, and Damon shook his head as he went back to staring ahead. "We are who we are Stefan. Nothing's going to change that."

"Ah! Nothing will make you happier to just see me give up, huh Damon?" Stefan said sarcastically.

Damon rolled his eyes at his sarcasm. "Whatever, it's inevitable."

"Well, I'm going to find Megan."

"Don't embarrass me, young man!" Damon called after him, but he got no reaction like he had wanted. He pouted to himself before he looked around and then went off as well to look for Charlene.

Stefan, on the other hand, was walking down the hallway and smoothly took a glass of whiskey from the nearby waiter before throwing away the straw to drink it in one gulp. He put it down, then finally went off to actually find Megan.

She was currently at the party and looking around for Stefan. Not only her boyfriend, but she was also looking for Charlene. Her best friend was nowhere in sight. Honestly, Megan wasn't even sure the blonde vampire came to the party even though it wasn't optional since she was a Gilbert. If she was here, then she was doing a good job at keeping herself hidden.

"Hey!" Elena greeted as she came up to her, giving her a hug.

"Hey…" she said back distractedly, briefly returning the hug. "Did Charlene come too?"

"Yeah, she's here somewhere." Elena frowned. "She was here with me when we got here, but she went off somewhere. You're right about her, she's definitely not acting like herself."

Megan had told her best friend's sister about their encounter, but Elena hadn't believed her, something must have happened between the two sisters that made Elena finally believe her.

"Yeah." Megan sighed. "I hope she'll get back to normal like Stefan…" she trailed off, finally spotting her boyfriend over at the bar. "I'll see you later, Lena." She said as she headed over to the bar. "There you are, Stefan, I've been looking for you."

He turned to her as he smiled at her. "Hey! How are you?" he asked, giving her a sloppy kiss on the cheek.

Megan's nose wrinkled at the smell of the alcohol on her boyfriend's breath. "You've been drinking, haven't you?" She knew she was stating the obvious, but she had to ask.

"Okay, I know it's a little weird." Stefan said, still smiling. "But it's really helping me. The alcohol takes the edge off." He grabbed his drink and took another sip.

Megan stared at him, concerned. "Stefan, are you sure you're okay? Because it's okay if you're not." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "After what you went through, it would make sense that you wouldn't be okay."

"I'm fine, Megan." Stefan reassured. "Everything's okay. You don't have to worry about me."

"But I am." She pressed. "I'm worried about you and Charlene." She missed the way he tensed up at the mention of her best friend.

Stefan said nothing for a moment. "Well, you don't have to be." He said again. "Everything will be back to normal soon." He paused, brushing hair out of her face with his free hand. "Listen, everything's fine. You have nothing to worry about." Before she could say anything, he changed the subject, sitting his empty cup on the bar before holding on his hand towards her as he smiled lopsidedly at her. "Would you like to dance with me?"

Megan stared at him, making sure she heard him right. "You actually want to dance?" she said incredulously. "You never want to dance on your own free will. I usually have to beg you." She wouldn't turn down a dance with her boyfriend, but it was still weird that he wanted to dance with her.

"No, no, no you have to beg the sober me." Stefan corrected her with a grin. "The drunk me there is no begging required."

Megan shook her head, unable to help but smile as she looked towards the dance floor. "I'd never turn down a dance with you, but there's no one really dancing, and the music is kind of lame."

"Exactly why they need something better to dance to." Stefan smiled, kissing her cheek before he headed over to the DJ.

Her smile fell when his back turned. He was obviously in denial. Since she was deep in her thoughts, Megan jumped, hearing Kelly Donavan's voice from beside her.

"Yeah…that's not going to work." Matt's mother said, rolling her eyes. Megan glanced at her. "I already bribed the guy with 20 bucks and a date. He said Carole Lockwood has complete control over the music choices."

Megan looked back over at Stefan, and it was obvious he was going to compel the DJ to get the music changed. "You'd be surprised." She mumbled. She waited three seconds and the music changed to something more upbeat and fast paced.

"Thank God!" Kelly groaned in relief before heading over to the dance floor.

Megan watched her go, then returned her gaze back to Stefan. There was definitely something to be worried. Stefan never did anything like that. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Damon sliding up next to her as he watched Stefan, who had pulled Kelly Donavan into a dance.

"Have I entered an alternate universe where Stefan is fun?" Damon mocked gasped.

"Damon…"

"Yeah?"

"Is he really going to be okay?" Megan asked quietly.

"Eventually. One way or another." Damon answered, their gazes meeting. He smiled.

Megan hoped he was right.

Charlene had been at the party, but it immediately got to be too much. Hearing all the blood pumping all around her and the desire to kill every single person at the party. So, she left, just to get her head on straight, which meant drinking an excessive amount of alcohol. Luckily, since she was a vampire, it didn't do too much, but it at least helped keeping her from hurting anyone.

She returned to the party, surprised to that people were actually dancing since when she left, no one was even doing that.

Something must have happened because Carole Lockwood would never let this kind of music be playing at a Founders function.

Charlene smoothly moved past people on the dance floor, but stopped in place as she saw Stefan. The first time seeing him since the mistake of a lifetime.

He spotted her too and gave her a smile. Charlene forced herself to smile back before she turned around only to bump into Matt.

"Char, there you are!" he said, clearly drunk. "Everyone's been looking for you."

"Yeah, sorry, needed to get some air." Charlene smiled but it wasn't forced this time. "Getting drunk there, Matt?"

"A bit." He showed how much with his index finger and thumb as he gave a lazy smile back. "Do you want to dance, Char?"

"Uh, no thanks. I'm not in the dancing mood." She shook her head, trying to move away.

"Yes!"

Charlene was about to protest again, but he pulled her onto the dance floor before she could. She shook her head as she laughed and for the first time in a while, she felt normal.

Damon made his way into another room in the Lockwood mansion and spotted Liz who was dressed in a black. As he made his way over to her, he smiled at her.

"You know I love a woman in uniform, but I have to side with this one." He said. "You look… you look smashing."

Liz laughed. "Thank you Damon," she told him. "Cheers!" They clicked their whiskey glasses together and she smiled softly. "I needed that. You know I had my doubts about you at first but like everyone else on the counsel you've won me over."

"Thanks Liz." Damon said gratefully. "It's really nice how welcoming the council has been. I like my life here in Mystic Falls. Starting to feel like home."

At this, Liz looked at him seriously and he frowned, wondering what was wrong. "Well, you're not going to like what I have to say. Jonathan Gilbert's claims checked out."

'This isn't good.' Damon thought to himself as she went on.

"Blood bank, the missing people, all of its true. We might have a problem."

Damon opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Jeremy Gilbert coming up to them.

"Excuse me, Sheriff." Jeremy said. "I was curious if there's been any new information about what happened to Vicki Donavan."

Liz frowned at him. "It was an overdose, Jeremy."

"Yeah, but her body was buried." He pressed on. "Somebody must have done that."

Damon looked uncomfortable as he listened to Jeremy and Liz.

"We're aware of that." Liz said calmly. "The investigation is ongoing but there's nothing more I can tell you at this time." She looked at him apologetically, "I'm sorry."

Jeremy sighed. "It's okay." He walked off, leaving Damon and Liz staring after him.

Despite still being worried about Stefan, Megan danced with her boyfriend, smiling widely.

She enjoyed the dancing and the fact that Stefan was actually dancing with her without forcing him to do it.

Megan let out a loud laugh as he dipped her, then lifted her back up before twirling her around. In the process, she lost her balance and ended up bumping into someone.

"Wow! Watch it!"

Megan gasped as she turned around the man she had bumped into. "Shit, I'm sorry." She apologized immediately. "I didn't see you there."

"Then maybe you should get your eyes checked." The man growled hatefully.

She looked startled. "Excuse me?" The startled look disappeared, replaced by a glare. She opened her mouth to tell the man off, but Stefan stepped in before she could.

"That's no way to talk to a lady." He said, giving him his own glare.

The man rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He moved to leave. He didn't get far as Stefan grabbed his arm and turned him around to face him.

"I think you need to apologize." Stefan said, compelling him right there. Megan watched on and said nothing.

"I'm sorry." The man apologized; his voice dazed. He started to leave, but Stefan stopped him again.

"Now, say it like you mean it."

"I'm really, really sorry." The man apologized, looking at Megan. She nodded slowly, accepting his apology silently.

"Now walk away." Stefan glared at the man before shoving him away and he left as Megan touched his arm. He turned to her, touching her face and giving her a concerned look. "You alright?"

She leaned into his touch. "I'm fine…" she said quietly.

After dancing with Matt, Charlene headed back over to the bar and ordered a bourbon. As the bartender slid the drink her way, someone else had caught it.

She turned her head to snap at the person who took her drink only to find it was Damon. He smirked at her.

Charlene rolled her eyes. "What do you want? Give that back." She tried to take her drink back, but Damon pulled it away from her.

"I think that's enough drinking today. You're getting just as bad as Stefan is." She flinched at the mention of his brother. "How are you feeling?"

"I don't think that's any of your business." Charlene snapped. "But if you must know, I'm fine."

"I think your lying to yourself. Something's bothering you and you just don't want to admit it." She said nothing as she managed to take the drink from him and shot it back. Seeing that she wasn't going to say anything, Damon changed the subject. "Jeremy has been asking questions about Vicki Donavan."

"What? Why? He knows that her death was ruled as an overdose." Charlene said slowly.

"Really?" Damon started to give a bad imitation of her brother. "'Oh, but sheriff, someone buried her. Who would do that?' I know! I know! Me!" She rolled her eyes in exasperation. "I mean I could compel him, but he's wearing vervain."

This made her stiffen. "No, you're not going to be doing that. I'm not going to make that mistake again."

"But if he keeps asking questions…"

"I said no, Damon. You're not going to compel him. I should have never let you do it in the first place. I'm tired of all the lies." Charlene said softly, glancing down at her feet. Even the lies she was telling herself. That she was fine when she wasn't. She shook her head and went back to talking about Jeremy. "I'll talk to him about it. I'll handle it."

Damon said nothing for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. "Okay." He took a rose from a nearby bouquet and sniffed it before he held it out towards Charlene. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

The blonde took the rose from him and caught his gaze as her eyes softened at him. They stared at each other for what seemed like forever until Damon broke it, giving her one more smile before he left her there.

Charlene glanced down at the rose and smiled as she put the rose in her hair. She got another drink before going off to find Jeremy. He was sitting on a couch in a quiet, dimly room, away from the party.

"Hey Jer." Charlene greeted him, sitting down next to him. He said nothing and she stayed quiet too, but it was only for a moment. "So, I heard about your conversation with Sheriff Forbes…"

"No one is trying to figure out what happened to her." Jeremy said, frustrated. "They all want to believe that she OD'd."

"That's because she did, Jer." Charlene told him softly, even if it made her sick to her stomach that she was lying. "Why would they lie about something like that?"

He didn't say anything, but that didn't last long. "Is that what you believe?" he countered.

"Of course." Charlene answered instantly. "It's the only thing that makes sense, but what do you think what happened?"

"I think somebody killed her and buried her body and I don't think we just write it off just 'cause it's easy."

"We're not trying to write it off, Jer. People…people just want to move on…"

His hands clenched into fists in his lap. "The truth is the only thing that's gonna help people move on."

The first thought was to just tell him to let it go, but like she told Damon, she was done with the lies.

"Char?" Jeremy's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

She looked back over at him and met his gaze, which she noticed was starting to water. In that moment, she knew she had to tell him the truth, even if it was hard to do so.

"You're right, Jer." Charlene said quietly. "It wasn't an overdose."

"What happened?"

With that, everything just spilled out. How Vicki got turned, how she was, and…how Vicki actually died…

The look of horror in Jeremy's eyes killed her inside.

"She was trying to hurt you, Jer." Charlene told him, tears welling in her eyes. "I did what had to be done…but you have no idea how it killed me inside…to see the look of heartbreak on your face…I couldn't stand it…so I had Damon compel your memories away…so you didn't have to go through what you did when our parents died. It was wrong of me; I know that now. I…I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me…" Jeremy was silent through all of it this and it made her nervous. "Jer…?"

Finally, he spoke. "Did Elena know?" he asked tightly.

She glanced down at her lap. "Yeah…she did…"

Jeremy stood up abruptly and he left before Charlene could stop. Finally, the tears streamed down her face.

She thought telling him the truth would make feel better, but it made her feel worse.

"Oh god!" Kelly laughed loudly, walking into another room with Tyler, as she stumbled on her feet slightly, "I can't even walk."

Tyler laughed too. "Me either."

"Oh my god, Matt's going to kill me!"

"He won't even notice," Tyler reassured as they stopped at a table. "I think he's actually letting himself have some fun for once."

Kelly sighed, looking down. "Yeah, I know I should be on my best behavior because of Vicki but I don't want to think about it." She looked back up at Tyler with a sad look on her face. "I can't, because if I do…" She trailed off.

"Yeah, I was a dick to her," Tyler said with a sigh as he looked back at Kelly. "I was really bad. That's what I hate, is I can't make any of it right. It's like I don't deserve to even miss her."

Kelly touched him on the label of his jacket, her eyes smothering, "You're nice to talk to me. I don't have anyone to talk to."

There was a long pause with them just looking at each other like they were the only two there. Finally, Tyler broke the silence by speaking.

"I don't have anyone to talk to either," Tyler admitted.

Kelly went closer to Tyler and he did the same, smiling at each other.

Megan met up with Elena after what happened with Stefan. Laughing, they walked down the halls together and chatted animatedly with each other. Despite what was going on with Stefan and Charlene, Megan was having a great time. Spending time with her friends made her forget about what was going on, at least for the time being.

They turned a corner and Matt was there.

"Elena! Megan!" he said and surprised them both by giving them each a hug. He pulled back after a moment, smiling carefreely.

Megan shared a look with Elena before shrugging. If he was having a good time, who were they to stop him. Matt joined them by walking down the halls with them.

"Who knew I've been missing out on all the fun at the Founders' parties?" He joked.

"This is rare, believe me." Elena commented.

"Well, that's just you. I always have fun at these parties." Megan said cheerfully.

Elena glanced at her, giving her a teasing smirk. "That's because your weird."

Megan pouted as she nudged Elena in the side. "Shut up."

Her friend's teasing smirk widened while Megan rolled her eyes, still pouting.

"Is it bad that I'm enjoying myself?" Matt asked as they stopped in the hall and Elena turned to him, shaking her head.

"No, it's great that your enjoying yourself." She told with a smile.

"Exactly!" Megan agreed as she touched his shoulder, smiling at him too. "You deserve to have happiness in your life, Matt, even if you have to be drunk to do it."

This earned a laugh from the blonde jock. "Air, I need some air." Matt changed the subject abruptly. "Come with me?"

Elena nodded immediately while Megan hesitated, but as she glanced at Stefan who was still at the bar, drinking, and she decided it was okay.

"Sure." Megan concurred, and they went out only to find a shocking and disturbing sight.

Kelly Donavan kissing Tyler Lockwood.

'First Damon, now Tyler…gross.' Megan thought with a shudder while Elena gasped in horror.

"Oh my god." The brunette breathed.

And then all hell broke loose.

Stefan was still at the bar when Damon came up to him, smirking.

"You wanna hear the bad news or the really bad news?" He asked his brother.

The youngest Salvatore sighed, taking a drink. "Actually, I don't want any news, Damon."

"Alright, let me rephrase. Do you want to hear how the council is back in vampire mode or how I killed Uncle John?"

This made Stefan stop and look at him, eyes wide. "What?"

"Great party, by the way, huh?" Damon smiled and took off before his brother could say anything.

Stefan immediately went after him. "Damon…" he trailed off, stopping in his tracks when the smell of blood hit his senses. He glanced in the direction of the smell and spotted Kelly on the ground, crying and bleeding.

Despite the hunger he felt, the concern he had overweighed it as Stefan went over to her.

"Is everything alright?" he asked.

"No." Kelly sobbed. "I ruined it; I always ruin it. What is wrong with me?" She sniffed loudly, wiping her nose.

Stefan slowly kneeled down to her at eye level and was brought into a trance as he locked in on the blood coming out of the cut on Kelly's forehead. He reached up to touch the blood, the liquid coating his fingers. His eyes darkened slowly.

"What are you doing?" Kelly's weirded out voice broke the trance Stefan was in.

"Uh, I'm sorry." He muttered as he got up to his feet and left going outside.

Leaning against the fence outside, Stefan looked down at the blood on his fingers and brought them up his mouth, licking it off of his fingers. Veins spouted under his eyes as his face changed. He moaned at the taste, closing his eyes.

When they opened back up, they locked on Charlene, who was outside and watching him.

Back inside, Damon was walking around before he was stopped by the sight of John.

His mouth dropped in disbelief. "You got to be kidding me."

Later on, he was in the crowd in the main area of the Lockwood mansion where Mr. Lockwood was talking to them.

"Thank you all, thank you very much, thank you." He waved his hand to calm down the applause even though he was loving it. He beamed at the crowd. "Thank you all for joining us tonight in just a few moments 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 own." A bell on a table was wheeled next to him as he continued to speak, "And…and I would like to welcome back one of our town's favorite sons to do the honors of ringing our official charter bell. John Gilbert, would you please join me up here?"

John Gilbert clapped as he joined the major on the stage with Damon looking at him with narrowed eyes. "One hundred and fifty years of community, prosperity, family." He said, smiling. "We take care of each other, we look after each other, protect each other." He met Damon's gaze seriously. "It's good to be home."

Everybody applauded and Damon moved through the crowd to join Alaric. "Look at his right hand." He muttered to him.

"Whose?" Alaric looked at the dark-haired vampire, confused.

"Town's favorite son. Look at his ring."

John rang the bell and Alaric's gaze went to his right hand, spotting a very familiar looking ring. "Well, it looks like mine." He said as he stared at it.

"Yeah, and that would be a big coincidence if he didn't just come back from the dead five minutes ago. Where the hell did you get that ring?"

"Isobel, my wife." Alaric answered slowly.

"Who gave birth to Elena, under the medical care of the esteemed DR Grayson Gilbert, John's brother!" Damon looked at John and Alaric did too.

His eyes widened. "Do you think John knew Isobel?"

"I think John knows a lot of things."

Before she left to go back home, Megan went outside to look for Stefan. She had thought he was still going to be at the bar but when she looked, he wasn't there anymore.

So, she asked around and they said he had went outside, so that's why she was out here now.

Walking to the parking lot, Megan could have sworn she had seen Stefan, but she wasn't so sure because he disappeared when she called his name. As she moved closer to the cars, she saw someone laying down on the ground, looking like they were hurt. She rushed up over and kneeled down beside the person.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Megan asked concerned as she helped the man sit up. He looked up at her and she recognized him as the man who she had bumped into.

"My arm." The man mumbled. "I lost my balance and fell. I really need to get my eyes checked."

Those were the exact words she had told him.

Megan looked around worriedly. Where was Stefan?

Damon and Alaric headed outside, catching John Gilbert leaving.

"Going somewhere?" Damon asked.

John continued walking as he answered. "I've never liked to be the last one to leave a party. It's too desperate." He stopped walking and turned to face Damon and Alaric. "You going to kill me again or you're going to let Mr. Saltzman do your dirty work?"

"Okay, you obviously know who I am." Alaric said, pointing out the obvious.

John nodded. "I do. Alaric Saltzman, a high school history teacher with a secret."

"Sure, you know a lot for someone who just got to town." Damon said with his eyes narrowing.

"More than you can imagine, Damon." John told him sarcastically. "My knowledge of this this town goes beyond anything that you." He looked at Damon, "or you." He then looked at Alaric. "Or the counsel knows. So, if you're planning on some clever high-speed snatch ring vamp kill more, know if I die, everything I know goes to the counsel including the fascinating little tale of the original Salvatore brothers and their present day return to Mystic Falls."

Damon was surprised and didn't know what to say so Alaric spoke up.

"How did you get that ring?" he asked, nodding to the ring on John's finger.

"I had inherited one, my brother Grayson had the other. This was his…" John showed his ring to Alaric and Damon. "And I wouldn't have given mine to Isobel if I had known she'd hand it over to another guy."

"So, you did know her?" Damon stated.

John rose his eyebrows at him. "Who did you think sent her your way when she wanted to become a vampire?"

"You sent her?"

John smirked. "Guilty. Why, did you think someone else send her? Maybe Abigail Pierce?"

"How do you know about Abigail?" Damon asked suspiciously.

"How do I know anything Damon?" John countered with a question of his own.

Damon stepped closer to John with a glare on his face. "What do you want?"

"So many questions," John said wishfully. He looked over at Alaric and smirked. "It was nice meeting you Ric. I've heard so much about you." He looked at Damon and his eyes hardened. "You stay away from Charlene. She's better off without you."

Not giving Damon time to say anything, John walked away.

Megan returned back home, disappointed that she couldn't find Stefan anywhere. She sighed as she headed upstairs to her bedroom and she grabbed some sleep clothes before going into the bathroom to change into them.

She got dressed and went back to her bedroom, jumping when she saw Stefan standing by the window.

"Stefan, there you are!" Megan said as she let out a sigh of relief. "I've been looking for you everywhere." She stepped closer to him but he stepped back, making her stop.

He didn't meet her gaze. "I'm sorry I ran off earlier."

"It's okay." Megan told him with a small smile, but the look on his face said otherwise and the smile fell. "Stefan, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Was he finally going to admit something was wrong?

He said nothing for a moment. "Uh, no…"

"What is it?" Megan asked gently.

"I tried so hard to keep it together tonight and it was working…it was working, but then Matt's mom, she got hurt and she was bleeding, and I had her blood on my hands." He wiped said hands on his pants as if he was getting rid of something on them.

Her gaze filled with sadness. "Oh, Stefan…"

"And then that guy in the parking lot, I wanted to feed on him, and it took everything inside of me not to do it."

"But you didn't, Stefan." Megan told him as she stepped closer again, not stopping until she was in front of him. "You fought against the urge."

"That's not the point, Megan." He said quietly. "I wanted to kill him. Megan, my head is pounding. I feel like my skin is on fire. I have this hunger inside of me that I've never felt before in my entire life." His hands went up and gripped his hair and her heart hurt for him. "And all I keep thinking is how I promised that I would never keep anything from you, and so I'm telling you."

"I'm glad you told me." Megan said softly. "I want you to tell me these things, Stefan. It's something I need to know, so I can help."

"There's nothing you can do about it; I don't want you apart of any of this."

"It's too late for that." Megan protested. "I was apart of this the second I found out about you being a vampire."

He shook his head. "But I don't want you to see me like this, I don't want you to know that this side of me exists."

"But I want to know." Megan said, desperate for him to see her side of things. "I want to know about every part of you, even the bad parts…" She took his head in between her hands. He let her briefly before moving out of her grip and away from her.

"No, no, no, no, no." He shook his head frantically. "I'm sorry, I can't, I'm afraid of what I could do to you…"

"Well, I'm not." Megan told him seriously. "I'm not scared of you, Stefan." She grabbed his face again and stared into his eyes. "You wouldn't do anything to hurt me, and I know that for a fact…" She kissed him and he kissed her back before they pulled back from the kiss.

Stefan embraced her and she fell into it automatically. "I love you so much." He said emotionally, burying his face into her hair.

"I love you too, Stefan. Always." Megan whispered, squeezing him tighter.

Damon sat in front of the fire, a glass of blood in his hands. He heard the familiar steps of Stefan entering the room.

"We have a problem, Stefan." He sighed, taking a drink. "And when I say problem, I mean, global crisis. It seems Uncle John has…" His brother moved in front of him and Damon looked up, noting his pale face. "You don't look so good. Its different this time, isn't it?" Stefan said nothing. "The need is too strong. Of course, it would be after all these years." He put the glass of blood on the table and looked at Stefan again before getting up to touch his brother on the shoulder. "Have a goodnight, brother." Getting him one last look, Damon left the room, leaving Stefan alone with the glass of blood.

Instead of fighting the urge, Stefan took the glass and drank it.

After leaving his brother alone, Damon headed up the stairs to his bedroom and was surprised to find Charlene there.

"Charlie? What are you doing here?" he asked her. He noticed that she wasn't looking so good either. There was something wrong and he knew that for a fact since she didn't snap at him for using the special nickname only special people could use.

Not saying anything, she went up to him and embraced him tightly. Damon stiffened in surprise before he returned the hug.

"I need help, Damon." Charlene whispered into his chest. "Will you help me?" She sounded desperate and sad at the same time.

Damon said nothing for a moment. "Of course, I will." He said, his voice soft.

TBC...

In...

Miss Mystic Falls, Part 1...