Thank you for all the reviews. I've slightly edited the last chapter to make it clearer how Damon put together the connections with Isobel from the photo and the events, following the feedback.

This chapter is all drama. Enjoy!

x-x-x-x

Typical. It was girl's night, but Jenna had taken forever in the car with Alaric and Elena was just flat out ignoring her. Yeah, she was nodding in the all the right places and adding in the odd comment, but her eyes had been on the bar for most of the past few minutes. It was a shame, as Caroline had used all her best gossip. One of the juniors had been caught in the locker room doing something entirely inappropriate, and one of the football team had been caught in the stoner den. There were rumours he was getting 'roids! Mystic Falls had never been so dramatic.

Caroline Forbes would not be ignored, not when she had good gossip.

Clicking her fingers in front of Elena's face, "Earth to Elena. Hello!"

Elena's eyes flashed back into the present, pulled back from her daydreaming. "Sorry, Care. I was just distracted. Gram's funeral has brought back lots of emotions."

Caroline raised a single brow at her. "And that causes you to stare at Damon Salvatore? You're going to have to explain that one to me. 5 minutes ago, you were adamant he's a jerk who is just a friend."

Elena sighed. "He tried to help, despite having some really bad news himself this week." Taking a sip of her drink and mulling it over, "I think he's going through a lot; I'm just checking he's okay."

"Uh oh. Nope. You listen to me Elena Gilbert." Caroline switched to her bossy voice. She'd be damned if her best friend was going to repeat her mistakes. "He is bad news. Do you know what he used to do to me? I'd wake up with terrible bruises after sex, he liked it really rough."

Elena shook her head. "Care, I don't think he's like that anymore."

Caroline was not having that. Guys like that didn't change. They looked all hot and drool-worthy, and they'd say all the right things and do all the eye-flirting. Then once they had control, they'd make you feel like crap and walk all over you. That wasn't going to happen to her again, and she wasn't going to let Elena fall into the trap if she had anything to say about it.

"Elena. He told me I was pathetic. That I was useless. He made me feel like a piece of crap on the bottom of his shoe, but I still wanted him." She looked over at Damon. "Hell, if he looked at me with those eyes again, I'd probably consider it for a moment."

Elena was looking at her with doe eyes, like she was about to break. Luckily, Jenna and Alaric slipping into the booth broke the tension. Hopefully the message got through.

"About time." Elena teased to Jenna. They'd been in the car for a while after dropping Caroline and Elena off, and then they'd gone to the bar to get beers before saying hello. Jenna blushed in response, letting her eyes flick to Alaric's.

It was a bit weird socialising with their history teacher. Caroline had seen some of her previous teachers in the grill, it was a small town, but she'd never sat in a booth and chatted to them. She reminded herself that tonight Mr Saltzman was just Alaric, Jenna's new boyfriend. That meant he was open to teasing.

"So Alaric, what are your intentions with our beautiful, lovely Aunt Jenna."

Alaric's face stiffened, but Jenna just grinned. "You know I'm Elena's aunt right, not yours and Bonnie's too?"

Caroline shrugged. Jenna had been babysitting all 3 girls since they were little. She was Aunt Jenna to them all, and they all knew it. "My question still stands." She turned to Alaric and put on her best smile, the one that always got event volunteers to see things her way. "Are you going to answer?"

Looking slightly shocked and utterly bewildered, Alaric managed to stumble a response. "I, erm, we, uh, we're enjoying spending time together?" It was more of a question than a response and he looked at Jenna for confirmation. She nodded and placed a kiss on his cheek.

She looked really happy, Caroline would have to increase the teasing if this became serious. Even Elena was watching her aunt, a true smile across her face.

x-x-x-x

What as it about this town? That was twice he'd seen a dead man walking. First Logan Fell and now Alaric Saltzman. Why the fuck would people just not stay dead?

Damon was pissed. He was drunk as well, and that was not a good combination. He wasn't quite sure if he cared anymore. After all, Alaric had come in with Jenna and they'd been at that stupid decades dance together too. Given Jenna's earlier comment about his wife, his return to the land of the living meant it was only a matter of time before Elena was able to connect the dots. Alaric's jaunt to the boarding house meant he clearly knew what Damon was, did he remember walking in on them? Damon hadn't bothered to compel the memory away at the time. Honestly, he thought Isobel was being a bit of a bitch turning without telling her husband anything. However, she was hot, and she'd promised information the tomb in Mystic Falls.

She was well-read into the supernatural, and had researched the town and its history extensively, as well as other aspects of the supernatural. He had thought her owing him a favour might come in handy some time.

All of this for Katherine, he's happily turned her in case it led to a way to get her out of the tomb early. He'd have done anything for Katherine. She didn't want him. She didn't think he was worthy of knowing her secret, how she'd escaped. She didn't even think he was worth dropping a line at some point in the last century.

Once Elena knew the truth, she'd not want a thing to do with him either. Picking up the bottle Bree had left, he downed the rest of it. Fuck it, he didn't want to be able to think tonight. He made up his mind, he was leaving.

Bree wasn't behind the bar or anywhere in sight, she must be in the back. He sluggishly slid off his stool; being far from graceful. As he almost fell he could feel Elena's eyes on him. The hatred had already started, obviously. He refused to turn and look, he didn't want to see it in her eyes. Alaric must have already told her, he assumed. All the more reason to get as far away from here as he could manage. Tokyo sounded cool.

Staggering through the doors to the back storage, he found his favourite witch there.

"Come on. We're leaving." He felt he'd said that quite coherently.

Bree didn't even bother to turn around. She was wearing shorts that didn't completely cover her curves, bent over the boxes she was searching through. He licked his lips and tried to focus on his movements, stepping behind her and stroking one hand up the outside of her bare thigh.

"You're drunk Damon. I'm working. Go home, and we'll discuss it in the morning."

Nope. He wasn't sticking around in this godforsaken town where nobody stayed dead. He spun her around to face him, pulling her close.

"We're leaving." He whispered.

Bree met his eyes, her own lit up with determination. The fire in this witch was what had drawn in to her initially, she would always stand up to him when he needed it. He'd discovered the caring side later; she'd not shown it for weeks after they first met. Her features were changing to show that side now as she took in the state of him. He must look wrecked if both Elena and Bree were giving him sympathy looks.

"Maybe you're past drunk, did you finish the whole bottle. Again?" Damon nodded in response.

"I'm a fun drunk, remember?" He tried his best flirtatious smirk. Maybe he couldn't persuade Bree to leave right now, but he could at least have a little fun.

Bree softened slightly. She was still in his arms, their bodies moulding together, and her head tilted back to look at him. She laughed; the sound was beautiful to his ears. He bent to kiss her neck, her shoulder, enticing her to respond. He knew exactly where to nibble to get her to gasp.

They'd spent a lot of time in bed since she'd dragged him back from the college campus. Bree knew him well; she knew sex was the best distraction and he had to admit it had worked. He'd been so angry he could have ripped every piece of furniture to shreds, drank every human in the town dry, but she had calmed him. He'd been able to keep on existing, until Elena had arrived. Then all the shit had gone downhill and now he was facing yet another person hating his guts. Katherine, Stefan, now Elena. They all hated him.

He'd stopped affectionately devouring Bree's neck at some point, and now her hands were on his face, wiping a tear from his eye. She kissed him gently, "You are fun, Damon, but right now you need to sober up and stop beating yourself up." Pulling him in, she bestowed him with a deeper kiss. The kind of kiss that made him feel wanted, desired.

That was, until he heard the door of the store room open.

x-x-x-x

He'd almost fallen off the bar stool he was that wasted. Elena knew she shouldn't be worrying about him so much. Yes, he was her friend- even after the speech from Caroline. He'd been there for her and he needed support right now, Katherine not being in the tomb must have ripped his heart into pieces. He'd looked broken, truly broken, and yet he had been there for him when she needed someone. He'd held her hand, stroked her hair, he'd sat with her. Surely, she should support him now. She'd just have to keep swallowing the butterflies. Those feelings were not for Damon, Caroline was right, and she didn't even know half of it. Damon might eventually evolve into being a good friend, but he would never, could never be more.

"Elena!" Caroline snapped at her again. She'd lost count of how many times tonight she'd been distracted. Jenna hadn't seemed to mind but Caroline was getting annoyed. Elena would owe her an apology tomorrow, and maybe some surprise candy. Focusing back in on the conversation and her friend's face, Elena realised that Caroline was taking Alaric over, ready to be auctioned by Mrs Lockwood, leaving her and Jenna in the booth.

As soon as they were out of sight, Jenna turned to her with excitement in her face.

"Sooooo, you know how Alaric and I stayed in the car for a bit when we dropped you off?" Jenna bubbled, clearly excited to tell her the latest relationship gossip.

"Don't give me the details of your sex life Jenna, I don't want to vomit all over the Grill." Elena rolled her eyes at her aunt, she knew she was getting the details regardless. She always did.

Jenna's response wasn't the cheeky grin and wink she was expecting, instead she looked shocked. She recovered quickly. "Oh no. That's not, I mean, we might have, but today was about you." Elena frowned. "I hope you don't mind, I showed him the picture of your birth mom, Isobel Fleming."

Elena's stomach turned. The whole point of girl's night was to distract her. Now Damon was drinking and acting strange, and Jenna was bringing the whole thing up again. "Jenna, I.." she started the sentence but wasn't sure how to finish it.

"Elena, Alaric's wife was your mum. He's promised to tell you all about her tomorrow." Jenna almost squealed and then engulfed Elena in a bear hug. "You'll finally know everything."

Elena's heart sank. Jenna had explained earlier how Alaric's wife, a professor at Duke, was missing, presumed dead. She'd only known she was adopted a day. She hadn't decided how she felt about it. She missed her parents, her real parents, not this woman she'd just heard about. But was she supposed to, knowing she was gone? Was she supposed to care, and cry, and hold Alaric's hand whilst he spoke about her.

"Erm, maybe. Could we give it a few days?" Jenna's eyes scanned her face and realised her excitement was in error. She nodded, then extended the hug, holding tighter this time. Caroline's cough, more of a throat clear, interrupted them.

"Sorry to interrupt. I can't find our most eligible bachelor. Elena, you've been keeping pretty close tabs on Damon, could you find him for me?" Caroline was using her in-charge voice, Elena couldn't say no to that. Plus, she was pretty sure she'd seen Damon slip through the back. She just hoped he'd gone in search of more Bourbon and wasn't feeding on any of the patrons.

Sliding off the bench, she went in search, quickly locating the doors to the storeroom, she gingerly pressed them open. She knew she wasn't supposed to be back here, but she'd rather check here before trying the gents or the kitchen.

She saw his back first, recognising his outline easily. Then her eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting. Damon had Bree against a set of boxes, their bodies barely distinguishable, her legs wrapped around him and her hands in his hair. The butterflies that had been flying around inside since she started looking for Damon all fell simultaneously. She knew Damon and Bree had kissed in Georgia, but they were just friends now, weren't they? Damon loved Katherine.

As she gasped, the pair stopped. Damon turned, his jeans undone, and shirt unbuttoned. Elena's eyes stayed fixed on him. She couldn't have looked away if she tried. His gaze hurt, she could see the pain and confusion in his eyes but didn't understand it. Why did she feel so sick?

She managed to whisper, "The auction is starting. Carol Lockwood wants you on stage," before turning to flee the scene. What the hell was Damon doing, and why exactly did she care?

x-x-x-x

"Good luck with that." Bree said nonchalantly. "The poor girl almost turned green."

Damon swallowed. He'd seen Elena turn pale, how she'd been unable to look away. They hadn't been fucking, but she had looked so betrayed. Did Elena want him? He knew he'd seen moments of desire in her, but almost every person who liked men looked at him that way sometimes. Not that his ego was huge, but he knew he looked good. Very few looked at him like she just had. What did it mean?

"I better go." He muttered, buttoning himself up and walking back into the main room of the grill.

He concluded on the way that it didn't matter anyway. Elena either already hated him or soon would. The fact she'd walked in on him and Bree meant nothing, Elena knew they'd been a thing before. If what he thought he'd seen on her face really was pain and jealousy, well, he couldn't hurt her any more than he already had, could he? Did he really care if he did? Only a few minutes ago he was planning on leaving for good anyway. Why did that suddenly feel like a bad idea?

Diverting to the bar for a top-up before reaching the stage, Damon eyed up the other eligible bachelors on stage. His jaw clenched as he realised Alaric Saltzman would be up there, right next to him. That fucker was the reason Elena was so mad at him. If he'd stayed dead, she might have never known about Isobel's fate. The way she looked at him in the backroom, that must have been because he'd told her already. It couldn't be anything else. Alaric had ruined one of the few friendships he'd managed, and he would pay.

Called up to the stage, he was given a sticker. 'Bachelor 5'. Not even a name, pathetic. The dick history teacher was stood next to him- 'Bachelor 4'. Damon was even angry that Alaric was first in line, which was ridiculous. He knew it was petty, but he still felt it. Tonight just needed to be over already.

Carol was asking each bachelor mundane questions about themselves based on the cards they'd been asked to fill in. Damon had drawn a doodle of a dick on his and nothing else. He smiled to himself as Carol commented that there was little information on there.

"Well," Damon said in the most lascivious tone he could manage, "I'm difficult to fit on a card." He could hear the heartbeats in the room start to speed. Even Jenna's had sped up. Looking at her, he noticed she was on the front row with Elena. Letting himself look at Elena was a mistake, it just made him angry again because she wouldn't even look up form her drink to laugh with everyone else. She hated him.

Carol was still questioning him, asking him about his travels. Now was he chance to really screw with the dick that had caused all this.

"Oh, L.A. New York. Chicago. I've recently spent some time in North Carolina at Duke, actually. I think Alaric went to school there." Bait set. Alaric turned to him, his gaze stone cold with hatred. "Didn't you, Ric?" He emphasised the Ric, playing up the friendly act for the rest of Mystic Falls.

Now was time to really put the nail in the coffin. Elena already hated him for this, Alaric had already tried to kill him once. He might as well twist the knife and get his anger out in words. If he was lucky, he might even get the chance to kill the guy a second time and figure out how to make him stay dead. Tomorrow's problem.

"Did I ever tell you I had a drink with her once?" He paused, for dramatic effect. He knew exactly how to blow this entire night up with one word. He sneered it at Alaric, letting his anger flow. "Delicious."

Elena made a sound somewhere between and gasp and a whimper, and his legs almost buckled underneath him as he realised his mistake, the shock on her face making it all suddenly clear.

Alaric hadn't told her.

x-x-x-x

Elena's mind raced as she walked home. She didn't want to wait for Ric to drive her back, and she certainly didn't want to ask Damon for a lift. There'd been information overload and she needed the walk to process it.

She was adopted. Her mom and dad had hidden it, for her protection, and raised her as their own. Jeremy was not her brother. That news was monumental, and she knew it would take days, weeks, to settle in. She understood though, it felt like it made sense, and she knew she had been loved by the Gilbert's. It sucked she'd found out so late, but she knew she could make peace with the knowledge eventually.

Her birth mom was Isobel Fleming. She'd always loved the name Isobel; she'd had a doll named that since she was a baby. Thinking now, it was probably deliberate. The hope of meeting her, discussing their similarities and the situation had been brief, Elena had suspected since Jenna first mentioned the connection to Alaric that it would be true. It was just her luck to have another dead parent. When she's had it confirmed, she'd needed to step back. She'd asked for a few days, and she dearly wanted them. Time to process, to decide how she felt, before asking the tough questions.

Damon had ripped that from her. Elena knew now what he had done. Her mother had gone missing because Damon had drunk from her and killed her. Her anger burned within her. How could he do that? But then he had done that to tens, hundreds, maybe thousands of people in his long lifetime. Why would he stop for Isobel? He didn't know who she was.

He'd seen the photo that morning. Elena remembered the tightening of his grip on her shoulder. She thought he'd been offering her comfort. No. He had known, he must have known. The bastard knew her mother was dead and didn't tell her. How could he?

Was that why he was drinking himself into oblivion? She'd been sat worrying about him, wondering if this was what he'd been doing all week since learning about Katherine not being in the tomb. She'd been emphasizing with his pain, wanting to soften it for him. She pictured holding him, stroking his hair, soothing him until he didn't hurt so much. All that time, for every moment of the evening, he had known and hadn't told her.

Unlocking the door she slammed it behind her, using more force than she thought she had. She made it up the stairs in record time and threw herself face first into her bed. That's when the sobbing started.

x-x-x-x

He was waiting for her, on her window seat. He'd tried to follow her out, but realised she needed time to think. He was starting to sober up, the realisation of what he'd done hitting him like a freight train. He didn't know what to think, what to feel, but he knew he needed her to stop hurting. He needed her to be okay. He'd let her walk, deciding to be ready for when she returned.

When the rise and fall of her chest slowed, he moved to sit next to her on the bed. She jolted at his presence lifting her head.

"Fuck off."

He deserved that, but he wasn't going to follow her command. Instead, he began stroking her back, soothingly. He remembered how he used to do the same to Stefan when he was merely a toddler, to try and help him sleep before father was disturbed by his cries.

"I'm sorry 'Lena. I'm so sorry." All he could do was apologise. It's what he should have done the moment he realised. He should have been on his knees grovelling for her forgiveness, not hoping his sins wouldn't catch up with him. He deserved to know the truth. She didn't move, her head still buried in her pillows. Her spectacularly daring outfit still intact, her heels still on. She just lay there ignoring him.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was scared." God this was hard, but he had to be honest if he had a chance. "I was scared that if I told you, I'd lose you. I hoped you'd never find out."

This got a reaction, but not the one he was hoping for. There was no understanding in her face, only anger. There was a real fire in her eyes, and she threw herself off the bed at speed that was almost vampiric.

"You hoped I'd never find out? You were just going to let Ric and I spend decades wondering? You weren't going to let us grieve?" She shook her head, her hair swinging wildly as she spun, pacing the room.

"What changed, Damon? You say you were scared, what changed? You didn't seem scared up on that fucking stage. You were triumphant. Bragging about the fact you fucking killed her."

She was still pacing wildly, like a caged animal, a ferocious tiger. She was breathtakingly beautiful like this and the only thing he knew for certain was that he had to earn her forgiveness. He stepped forward grabbing her hands and holding them to his chest, forcing her to be stationary.

"Elena, I'm sorry I didn't tell you straight away. I don't know if I might have done tomorrow, or in a few days or weeks. When you'd had time to process. I don't know." She was staring down at their hands, refusing to look at him. He freed one had and tucked a finger under a chin, forcing her to look up at him, pleading for her to. "'Lena, I'm sorry."

She exploded, yanking her hands out of his grip, and slapping him hard, before resuming her pacing and shouting.

"You're sorry? You're sorry!? For which bit Damon, which bit of this entire thing are you sorry for? The fact you ever arrived. The fact your brother left me, heartbroken. The fact that you basically kidnapped me when you took me to Georgia. The fact I had to burn myself to get you out of that damned tomb? The fact you screwed Bree and I walked in? The fact that you killed my birth mother and rubbed it in my face in front of half the town? Which bit, exactly, are you sorry for?"

The pacing continued, every so often the questions stopped and she just walked. Sometimes she started and stopped.

"Does Ric even know about you or was that all for my benefit?"

Damon let it flow, he's deserved the slap and he deserved the verbal assault. She needed to get it out of her system.

"You were there in one of the most personal moments of my life, I let you in. Instead of helping you got wrecked, screwed your only friend and then ripped my heart out. But that wouldn't be the first heart you've stopped, would it? You're a vampire Damon, you've never been a good guy. How many other mothers have you killed? How many women? You killed Vicki, and how many before that? Do you even…"

The movement stopped, her arms going limp by her side. She was facing away from him, looking out the bedroom door. Damon's took a step forward, to see around the doorframe. Jeremy Gilbert was stood there, anguish on his face.

He'd heard it all.

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