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

So, not too long after, all of them were at the Mystic Grill. Isobel had agreed to their terms, not that it mattered because Charlene was going to be there no matter what Isobel said. Like even though Stefan wasn't apart of the deal, he was still there, just to be there for them.

Damon and Alaric were there too, but they were standing outside just in case they needed them.

Everyone was nervous, especially Elena. Charlene wanted to tell her that everything was going to be okay and that Isobel was going to be everything that she wanted, but even she knew that wasn't possible. If what Alaric said was true, that is, which she believed him.

Charlene reached over and grasped Elena's hand in hers, getting her sister's attention. "Everything's going to be okay." She was still going to try and assure her either way.

Elena let out a shaky breath. "Yeah…"

"She's right, Lena." Megan tried to assure her too with a soft smile, grabbing her other hand. "Everything will be okay."

"Yeah, if you're smart and listen."

Their heads turned, and Charlene's heart skipped at a beat at the sight of the woman she had only seen in a picture.

Isobel smiled, but it wasn't an emotional smile, like one a mother would give if they hadn't seen them in a long time.

"Isobel…" Elena breathed.

"Hello Elena." She said, emotionlessly. "Charlene, Megan…" Her eyes flickered to the blonde and the other brunette.

Charlene said nothing.

"Hi, well this is uh great, us all together again." Megan joked in her Megan like way.

Charlene kicked her leg in response while Isobel looked at her blankly. There was silence until Elena's birth mother broke the silence.

"You three look just like them, it's eerie." Isobel was obviously talking about Abigail, Demetria, and Katherine.

"You met them before?" Megan blurted out.

Isobel gave a nod. "They found me after I was turned." She answered, "Genetic curiosity, I suppose." She started playing with the necklace around her neck. "She would be fascinated by you three."

Elena nodded at the necklace she was toying with. "Is that how you can walk in the sun?"

She nodded, still playing with it. "Katherine helped me obtain it."

"Who's my father?"

Isobel's eyes hardened at the question. "Not important. He was a teenage waste of space."

"A name would be nice."

"It would, wouldn't it?"

"Well, what about our father?" Charlene questioned, speaking for the first time since Isobel appeared. "Who was he?"

Elena's birth mother's face turned even colder if that was possible. "We never found out who he was, but from what Mandy told me about him, he wasn't any better than Elena's father."

Guess they weren't going to going to get a name either.

"You ask a lot of questions." Isobel rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Well, excuse us for being curious." Megan retorted, and Isobel actually showed a bit of emotion, surprised by her comment. "And here's another question, who did I get my powers from?"

"You're a witch?" With everything she probably knew, it was a surprise that Megan being was something she would know about. But obviously not, if the look on Isobel's face was any hint.

Megan gave a nod. "Yeah, who did I get them from?"

"Well, it wasn't Mandy. She was human."

"So, she never was changed?" Megan asked her.

"No."

Charlene looked down at the surface of the table. That meant, her and Megan's mother was dead.

Elena changed the subject. "Why did you compel that man to kill himself? Right after he told me to stop looking for you?"

Isobel shrugged. "Dramatic impact." She smirked for a moment. "I wish it had been more effective."

"Human life means that little to you?" Elena said in disbelief, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"It means nothing to me." Isobel corrected her. "It's part of who I am."

"No, it's not." Megan spoke up immediately. "You can choice not to be that person, but obviously you chose the opposite choice."

Isobel ignored the jab. "Like your new boyfriend over there? Stefan Salvatore?" She smirked at Megan. "Or maybe your best friend, Charlene?" Her eyes flickered over to the blonde, who looked surprised even though she probably shouldn't be.

Charlene didn't like the way this was going at all.

"We should be in there," Damon ranted to Ric as he stood up by him outside of the Grill.

Alaric spoke up, shaking his head. "No, Isobel made it clear we're not to step a foot inside."

Damon rolled his eyes at the teacher. "I'm not going to kill her in a crowded restaurant."

He looked over at Damon and glared. "You're not going to kill her period!" he snapped.

"She ruined your life and you still want to protect her?"

"She's my wife." Alaric sighed when Damon gave him a look, "Was my wife. I looked for the woman I married but she wasn't there. Whoever that was, she's cold and dethatched."

Damon nodded. "Yeah, she's given up her humanity."

"Yeah, see, I don't get that." Alaric said, causing the vampire to look at him. "I mean, Stefan has his humanity." Damon scoffed but he ignored it as he continued, "He's a good guy and you're a dick and you kill people, but I still see something in you. "But with her there was… nothing."

Damon was quiet for a moment before speaking, "You can turn it off, like a button you can press. I mean, Stefan's different. He wants the whole human experience. He wants to feel every episode of How I Met Your Mother." He rolled his eyes. "So, he shuts his feelings out. The problem is, as a vampire, your instinct is not to feel. Isobel chose the easier road — no guilt, no shame, no regret." He looked at Alaric with a smirk, "I mean, come on, if you could turn it off, wouldn't you?"

"You haven't…"

"Of course, I have Ric." Damon said, and the teacher looked at him. He smirked again, "That's why I'm so fun to be around."

She had only being around Isobel for a little bit, but Megan already didn't like her. She acted like she didn't care at all and she probably didn't. Still though, it was unsettling to see.

"Why did you want to meet me? Can't be just to catch up." Elena pointed out.

"Because I'm curious about you, about all three of you, which was why I agreed to have Charlene and Megan come with you." Isobel told her. "But the real reason is I want what your uncle wants. Jonathan Gilbert's invention."

Megan's eyebrows furrowed together. "Why?" It was probably a stupid thing to ask because she knew that Isobel wouldn't reveal her secrets.

Like she thought, Isobel didn't answer her, and she puffed her cheeks in annoyance.

"How do you know our uncle?" Elena questioned, gesturing between her and Charlene.

"I used to spend a lot of time here when I was younger. John had a crush on me for years. He was the first one that told me about vampires."

"And, what's the reason why you wanted to become one anyway?" Megan wondered out loud.

"It's a very long list of reasons, Megan. Which I'm sure you've thought about."

"Of course, I have." She confessed. "It's hard not to. I might be a witch, but I know I'm not going to live forever, and Stefan will. But there's not a reason in the world where I would abandon my friends and my family, or my husband to become a vampire." She added a jab in there, to get on Isobel's nerves, which worked if the way her nostrils flared angrily.

A moment later, Isobel managed to calm herself, a smirk returning to her face. "You remind me so much of Mandy; she always had a smart mouth."

"Okay, enough." Charlene cut in as Megan crossed her arms and glared at Isobel. The blonde turned to look at Elena's birth mother. "We don't have what you're looking for, so if that's all you want, we'll just…" She stood up to leave, but Isobel grabbed onto her arm tightly, making her gasp out. Since Isobel was an older vampire, she was a lot stronger.

"Sit down." Isobel growled.

"Let. Go." Charlene hissed, her eyes changing.

"Sit. Down. If you don't, I'll kill you right here and right now. I don't care if you're my sister's daughter."

"Char…" Megan said slowly, worried.

Her best friend closed, and she let out a breath to calm herself as her eyes went back to normal and she slowly sat down.

"I want the invention."

"And I told you that we don't have what you want." Charlene told her with gritted teeth, obviously trying to stay calm.

"I know that, but Damon does and you're going to get it for me."

Charlene snorted. "And how am I going to do that? He's not going to give it to me, even if I wanted to give it to you."

"Then the blood will be on your hands." Isobel stood up, glancing over at Elena who hadn't said anything in a while. "It was nice meeting you, Elena." With that, she turned around and left them sitting there.

Once she left, Elena started crying as she turned towards Charlene, burying her face into her sister's shoulder.

The blonde gripped her tightly while Megan watched on sadly. In that same moment, Bonnie came in on what was happening.

Her eyes met Megan's.

In response, she gave a brief sad smile to her sister before turning her attention to the other two important people in her life.

A little bit later, Isobel returned to her house and was met with the sight of Damon with Cherie. He was only in his pants. Isobel's eyes looked over Damon who hadn't taken notice to her yet. He looked the same as he did when she first met him. Then he still and started to remove his belt, but Isobel made herself known.

"And it's just one blast from the past after another." She said, catching Damon's attention as she walked more into the room. "No, no, no." She chanted when he zipped up his jeans and he smirked at her as she looked over at Cherie. "Degage Cherie."

Cherie stood and started to walk away with one last flirty smile towards Damon before she completely left the room. Isobel looked back at Damon only to see a smirk on his face.

"It's good to see you, Isobel." Damon said, slipping his shirt back on. "I was just having fun with your naughty little minion."

Isobel leaned against the wall she was nearby. "How did you find me?"

In a blink of an eye, Damon was in front of her, hands pressed on either side of her head. "Searched for the neighborhood bank owned foreclosures and found the most expensive one."

"I should have known," Isobel said with a smirk, looking at him seductively with her eyes. "You're the one who taught me that. What are you really doing here?"

"Well, you caused quite the stir, you blew into town. Saw everyone except for the man who made you." Damon feigned a sad look, "I'm a little hurt." He leaned towards her.

"I'm so sorry," Isobel whispered, leaning forward as well. But instead of kissing him, she twisted his head around by the back of his head hard, "Did you bring the device?" Damon just chucked at her and Isobel rolled her eyes before letting go and walking forward.

"Ow." Damon said as he rubbed the back of his head, then he began walking towards her. "What are you doing with John Gilbert?"

Isobel turned to face him, still flirting with him with her eyes. "We dated a few times when we were young. He was a little bit in love with me."

"I'm sure. One of the many. Now, this little invention what do you want with it?"

"Oh, me personally? I don't want anything with it." Isobel said, holding up her hands. "I'm just doing what I'm told." She smirked, getting close to Damon, "You know, Damon we're on the same side."

"Oh yeah? What side is that?" Damon asked.

"Katherine's." Isobel replied simply, grabbing onto Damon's face. "She wants John Gilbert to have the device and Abigail does too and I think that you know that Abigail's not happy when she doesn't get what she wants just like Katherine."

Damon pushed her off of him and Isobel stepped back. "Why are you doing Katherine's dirty work?

"Don't kill the messenger." Isobel said. "The Pierce Sisters do what they want."

"So do I."

"Oh really? You do?" Isobel walked close to him until her body was flushed against his, "What should we do now?"

Damon smirked and they started to kiss passionately. This continued for a while but then before Isobel could do anything, Damon slammed her to the floor by the neck causing her to gasp in pain.

"Now that I have your attention, listen up," Damon growled, squeezing her neck tighter. "You do not come into my town; threaten people I care about. Going after Char, big mistake! You leave her alone and I won't hesitate in snapping your neck because I do believe in killing the messenger. You know why?" He leaned in and hissed her ear. "Because it sends a message." He slammed her head hard on the ground and she let out a cry of pain, "If Katherine and Abigail wants something from me? You can tell those little bitches to come get it themselves." Damon let go of Isobel's neck and stood up and he looked down at Isobel with a smirk on his face, "Good to see you Isobel."

He turned around and he used his vampire speed to get away quickly, leaving Isobel lying on her back, clutching her head in pain.

There was knock on the door, and Charlene left the living room where she was still comforting Elena.

It was Bonnie on the other side.

Though she never rightly said she was mad at Charlene too for what happened with the tomb, but the blonde still didn't like the fact that Bonnie had been so angry at Megan.

Charlene crossed her arms. "Bonnie."

The witch gave a weak smile. "Hey, Charlene. Is Megan here?"

Before she could say anything, Megan's voice was heard. "Char, who was the…" She appeared and her voice trailed off at the sight of her sister. "Bonnie…"

"Hi Megan…" Bonnie said quietly. There was silence for a moment. "Look, I wanted to apologize about last night. You, Charlene, and Elena were clearly upset…and I didn't do anything. I just walked away. It's not me. It can't be us. You're my sister and Charlene and Elena are my friends. If any of you guys need me, I'm here for all of you and I'm sorry I couldn't show it to you yesterday."

Megan didn't say anything for a moment, then she smiled, her eyes becoming teary eyed. "Of course, I forgive you, Bonnie."

She smiled too and the smile faded as soon as it appeared. "So, what happened last night?"

"Let's talk about this inside." Charlene suggested. "Elena needs us right now anyway."

"Why? What happened?"

Charlene's eyes flickered over to Bonnie. "Elena's birth mother, mine and Megan's aunt, is back…"

"Hey!" Bonnie greeted as Megan entered the classroom that she was told by her sister to come meet her at. "Thanks for meeting me. I wanted you to see this."

"Well, good thing we aren't mad at each other anymore." Megan teased, coming up beside Bonnie. She peered over her shoulder to see what she was looking at. "So, what exactly are you showing me?" It took her a moment to recognize the book. "Wait, is that Emily's grimoire?"

Bonnie nodded, "I've been going through it since Grams died." Megan gave a sad smile at that. "Anyway, check this out." She pointed to a picture on the page she was looking at.

Megan eyed the picture for a moment. "Ohh." She said, recognizing it. "That's the vampire compass, isn't it?"

Her sister nodded again. "Yeah, according to Emily, Jonathan Gilbert never actually succeeded in inventing anything. Emily secretly spelled them all with magic. Compass, rings and the mystery device you told me about."

"Go Emily." Megan muttered before saying out loud as Bonnie flipped to another page where the mystery device was pictured, "That's the device all right. Though, Damon has part of it. We don't know where the rest of it is."

"Emily pledged her loyalty to Katherine, Demi, and Abigail. But she couldn't stand by and watch innocent people get killed. This was the only way she could think of to help. To let Jonathan Gilbert believe he'd actually invented these devices."

"Sounds exactly like a Bennett." Megan joked, managing to get a smile out at Bonnie. She giggled a bit before shaking her head as she went back to the current subject. "Does it say what the device does?"

Her sister had to read it for a moment, then her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Are you sure this is what Isobel wants?"

"Yeah, she was insistently clear about that." Megan rolled her eyes. "Why?"

"This is a weapon…" Bonnie looked up at her. "Against vampires."

Megan's mouth dropped. What?!

Charlene was outside, walking around where everyone was making their floats and having a good time, but she could barely even pretend that she was with everything that was going on.

Her cell phone rang suddenly. She immediately answered it, knowing who it was.

"Megan." Charlene said, "What did Bonnie say?"

Her best friend took a deep breath over the phone. "Okay, so she found out what the device does. Apparently, it's a device that harms vampires."

"What?" Charlene asked in disbelief. "Why would she want something like that?"

"I don't know…I don't think she'd be willing tell us even if we asked her."

"Well, we need to find out."

"Yeah. I know, and we will."

Charlene didn't say anything as she spotted Jeremy heading her way. "Hey, I got to go. I'll talk to you later." She hung up her cell and put it in her pocket. Her brother looked stressed. "Jer, what's wrong?"

"Have you seen Anna?" He immediately asked.

She looked startled. "What?"

"I've left her all these messages and she hasn't gotten back to me, not even a text."

"I haven't seen her. I didn't know you guys were still friends."

"We're more than friends. Look, something could be seriously wrong and if you know something you've got to tell me."

"I really haven't seen her. I've never even talked to her before."

Jeremy said nothing for a moment. "Did you tell me everything at the Founder's Day kickoff party?"

Charlene knew she told him about Vicki, but everything, she didn't think to tell him that.

"Jer…I told you about Vicki…about me being a vampire…about how I…I killed her." She could barely get those last words out because she still felt horrible about it. "But no…I didn't tell you everything."

"Then how do I know your telling the truth about Anna?"

"I…"

Jeremy cut her off, "Cause all you do is lie. You and Elena. I know what Anna is and I know that you know. So, tell me, do you have any idea where she is?"

"I really don't, Jer. But…" Before she could finish, Jeremy was already walking away, "No Jer! Don't walk away!"

He ignored her and she was about to chase after him, but she was suddenly grabbed by the arm. She whirled around to snap at whoever it was. However, words escaped her when she saw it was Isobel.

"What do you want?" Charlene asked, a glare appearing on her face.

"I'm your aunt, Charlene. I want to more involved in your life."

She snorted. "You should have used that line on Elena. Though she wouldn't believe it anymore than I do." Isobel smirked, "And even if I did believe it, none of us want you in our lives. Not like this."

"There's a bit cynical coming from someone who's a vampire too."

"Well, unlike you, I didn't have a choice in the matter. Damon changed me without even asking if it's what I wanted." Charlene explained, even though she didn't know why she was telling her this. Her aunt's eyes twitched a bit, she noticed, and she went on, "So, what's the real reason as to why you're here?"

"Well, I've been studying people you involve yourself with. Let's see if I have this right. There is the witchy best friend, Bonnie." She shook her head slightly and frowned. "Gonna stay away from that one." A pout appeared on her lips. "Oh…sad little brother Jeremy."

Charlene glanced over at him as he was standing ways away from the float building on his phone. Then she looked back at Isobel, who was looking at someone else now. It was Caroline.

"And there's Caroline, obnoxious Caroline. I got all my info from her by the way. She had no idea who I was, and she wouldn't stop yapping." She rolled her eyes, annoyed as if she reliving their conversation, but then she smirked again. "Oh…" Isobel looked at Matt next, still smirking. "And there's Matt, friend, Elena's ex, yappy's future ex. Lots of connections there."

"Matt is not involved in this." Charlene bit out through gritted teeth, her face changing a bit. "He has nothing to do with vampires. Leave him out of it."

"I can't do that, not when he's involved with you, Megan, and Elena." Isobel said, smirking again.

Charlene shook her head in disbelief. "You shouldn't be here. You need to leave."

Her aunt's eyes hardened. "No, I don't." Yet again, she smirked. "I have some friends here too. Look, see that man over there, standing next to Matt by the float? His name is Frank, he is very handsome and he's also quite handy and he'd noticed that the axles are a little rusty which is very dangerous. So, all you have to do, is apply a little pressure and…"

"No!" Charlene cried, and her eyes widened in horror when Frank jumped on the trailer above Matt.

The blonde football player screamed as his arm got crushed.

Not hesitating, she tried to rush forward towards Matt, but Isobel grabbed her arm, squeezing it tight.

Charlene glared at her heatedly. "I can't believe all of this is for a stupid invention!" she snarled as the loud, frantic cries of people helping were in the background.

Isobel didn't deny it. "Just hand it over and all of this will be stopped."

"If you didn't hear me before, Damon won't give it to me!" Despite the close relationship they had, they weren't close enough where he would give something like that up.

"I think that you underestimate how much Damon cares about you."

This made her undead heart skip a beat, but she shook her head at her words. Isobel was lying. He didn't care about her.

"He still won't give it to me." Charlene said softly. "He'd kill you before he gave it up."

"Is that before or after I kill your brother Jeremy."

Her words stumped Charlene. "W-what?" Before she could question it more, Isobel disappeared.

Charlene immediately looked to where her brother once was, and he was gone. Her eyes widened in horror.

No!

She frantically grabbed her cellphone and called Megan, "We have a problem."

After calling her best friend, Charlene called Stefan, Elena, and Bonnie and now they were all in Alaric's classroom, except for Damon, who they decided to leave out of it for now.

"Where is the device?" Bonnie asked, crossing her arms.

Charlene stopped her pacing to look the witch. "Well, that's the hard part. It's with Damon."

Stefan sighed. "He's going to be difficult to deal with."

Despite not believing she could get Damon to give it to her, maybe it wouldn't hurt to try.

"I'll try to talk to him." Charlene said, causing Stefan to look at her. "Maybe he'll listen to me."

He shook his head. "He's not gonna just hand it over, especially if it's harmful to vampires."

Megan suddenly brightened up. "Hey, I got an idea! What if the device isn't harmful to vampires? Then it wouldn't be a problem anymore." Then she smirked. "And I know just the witches to do it!"

Charlene had to admit it was a pretty good idea. Now, all they had to do was convince Damon.

"Absolutely not!"

So much for convincing him.

"Damon, come on." Charlene said desperately. "Just listen and let me explain."

"I'm not gonna give the device to Isobel so she could give it to John who is going to turn it to kill me." He told her, not budging an inch on the subject. "I like being nonliving dead person."

Charlene rolled her eyes.

"Well, if you were listening, you would know that the spell we would do, would make it not work anymore." Megan rolled her eyes too. "You're so stubborn."

Damon ignored her. "I might trust you, Megan, but I don't trust Judgy as far as I could throw her."

Bonnie glared at him for the nickname. "I can remove the original spell."

"And John and Isobel will never know about it." Charlene tried to reassure Damon.

"No, I'll get Jeremy my own way."

"Whatever that way is, it'll only get my little brother killed, and that's so isn't happening on my watch." Charlene snapped at him now, getting tired of Damon's stubbornness. "Please Damon, just do this please. For me." Her gaze at him softened as she stepped towards him, holding out her hand.

He glanced down at her before looking at her hand. After a moment, he sighed as he pulled out the device and placed it gently in her hand. His fingers brushed against her skin. His hand cupped hers, pulling her in.

"This better work." Damon told her as he squeezed her hand, but it wasn't hard.

Charlene nodded her head while meeting his gaze. "It will. Trust me."

It was nighttime by the time it was finished, and Charlene along with Megan and Elena were at the town's square.

"I should have brought a jacket." Megan shivered in the cold as she rubbed her arms. She looked around the area. "Where's Isobel anyway? She said she'd be here."

Charlene sensed someone behind them. "Behind us." She whirled around and sure enough, there was Isobel.

Megan jumped at the sight. "God, what is it with vampires and sneaking up on people? So not cool!"

Isobel ignored her. "Where is the device?"

"Where's my brother?" Elena demanded.

She huffed, rolling her eyes at her. "This isn't a negotiation. Where is the invention?"

"Tell us where our brother is first, then we'll tell you." Charlene told her next, not taking no for an answer.

"Do you really think I came alone?" Isobel tilted her head up and her two minions arrived behind them.

Charlene glanced back at them, not bothered as she turned her head back to Isobel with a smirk. "Looks like we had the same idea." She whistled lowly, making Damon and Stefan appear as well.

This annoyed Isobel. "For god sakes, call home."

Elena looked at her, confused. "What?"

"Call home and ask to speak to your brother."

The brunette quickly pulled out her phone and called home. Charlene used her vampire hearing to overhear the conversation.

"Jeremy, are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Charlene let out a sigh of relief at the sound of his voice. "Uncle John hit his head. It was an accident."

"We're all laughing!" Jenna's voice was heard in the background. Charlene stifled back a laugh.

"But yeah I'm okay." Jeremy confirmed.

"Charlene and I will be home, okay?"

"Yeah."

Elena hung up the phone before turning to look at Isobel. "You were never gonna hurt him."

"No, I was going to kill him." Isobel met Elena's gaze. "Don't look for any redeeming qualities in me. I don't have any."

"But you took a risk with Damon." Elena said, "How did you know that he was gonna give it to Charlene?"

"Because he's in love with her."

Those words made Charlene's world stop for a moment. He was in love with her… wait, no, that couldn't be right. He was still in love with Abigail, not her.

Isobel was wrong.

"Thank you…" Elena said after a long pause.

"What for?"

"For being such a monumental disappointment." She answered bluntly. "It keeps the memory of my real mom perfectly intact."

"Goodbye Elena." Isobel said emotionlessly. Her eyes then cut towards Charlene and Megan, "As long as you have a Salvatore on your arm, you're doomed. Demetria and Abigail got out. But we all know you guys aren't them."

Those were Isobel's last words as she disappeared with her lackeys. Stefan embraced Megan while Charlene embraced her sister as she hugged her back.

This left Damon alone, and the blonde looked over Elena's shoulder at him, thinking back to what Isobel said. From the look in his eyes, it looked like he was thinking about it too.

What…what if Isobel was right? Was he in love with her?

Charlene knew she'd have to talk to him.

And that's how she found herself going to the boarding house. She found him in the living room.

"Hey." Charlene greeted him quietly.

"Hey." He didn't turn her way from his spot on the couch.

"Is it true?"

This made him finally turn. "Is what true?"

Charlene said nothing for a moment. "What Isobel said…are you in love with me?"

He stood up from his seat and slowly moved towards her. "And what if I was?"

Her breath caught in her throat. She didn't know what to say. Despite admitting to Megan that she was in love with him, she couldn't imagine saying it to his face.

Charlene shook her head. "I…I'd say that I don't believe it. You've spent your entire eternal life being in love with Abigail. How can you be in love with me? I'm not her, Damon. I'll never be her; I can't be her."

He was in front of her now and cupping her face. "I don't want you to be her. I want you to be just Charlene."

Charlene stared into his eyes and saw the truth in them. Instead of trying not to give into her feelings, she couldn't help it.

She kissed him.

And he kissed her back…

TBC...

In...

Founder's Day, Part 1...