"I didn't want to give you an audience," Rose walked in once she had stopped crying, offering her some tissues.

"Thanks," she said gratefully as Damon wiped her cheek. "Now, we know why I was plan A," she said to him. He nodded grimly. Katherine and Isobel's warning becoming clearer.

There was a knock on the door.

"Elena," Damon said heading into the hall.

"Stand next to me," Azalea said, wiping her eyes again, making sure no evidence remained of her tears.

"Go to the bathroom," Stefan said gently. She stared him for a moment, before she sighed and did as he suggested, as soon as she looked in the mirror she realised why. Her eyes were still watery and swollen. There was no way Elena wouldn't notice and potentially freak out about what was happening. Right, now she wasn't sure she wanted anyone else to know what they had discovered.

When she came back down, using various glamours on her face to hide the earlier breakdown. She saw the group had made their way to the sitting room. Elena was sat on the sofa, the brothers sitting on arms of the chairs to the side as Rose paced a little.

"Ok you have to understand I only know what I've picked up over the years. And I don't know what's true and what's not true," she said, looking at the redhead when she walked in.

"I can help a little there," Azalea said. "I am meeting Kingsley this week to see what the ministry has on them. Draco is already researching his family's collection, but I don't think we will find much more than what we already have."

Stefan moved next to Elena his arms near her in comfort. A lot of what Rose was saying was things the group already knew. They filled Rose in on what the group knew. Elena left as they began to get into it, she claimed that she was going to go to school. However, Azalea wasn't sure she believed her.

"You going?" Stefan said.
"No, I have to tell Draco what we have learnt, try and convince him not to reveal where I am to Kingsley or anyone else."
"I'll go with you," Damon said gesturing for her to go.

After a lot of arguing, Draco agreed to the terms that she would keep him in the loop – which he confirmed with Damon – and in return, he would stun her and lock her away in the Malfoy manor if they failed to do so.

Once Damon, and Draco left. Azalea was left in her silent home, every small sound magnified, she desperately wanted to talk to Hermione, a part of her reminded herself that technically she could…

That only made it worse…

Every sound louder and louder…

She apparated over to the Salvatore house, surprising both resident vampires, and their guest.

"I need to stay here," she said seriously.

"Why?"

"I need to – I don't think I will – I mean. I can't – shouldn't open that door, I –"

"Breathe, and once more." Stefan's hands were hovering in concern, his face worried and gentle.

"In English," Damon said flatly, though his eyes were concerned.

"I wanted to talk to Hermione about the Klaus thing, so I thought about talking to her,"

"You mean…" Damon's head tilting, probing her to finish what she was saying. Hoping he had jumped to the wrong conclusion.

"Yeah, I reckon a night of supervision maybe is a good shout, I am fine! It just technically I… could, pretty sure that doesn't mean I should."

Damon pinched his nose, as Stefan hugged her close.

"I know it must be difficult, but your right… I don't think it is a good idea to open that door." He said gesturing for her to follow him into the kitchen. They told her that Elena went to see Katherine who told her about how she became a vampire which led to the story of how Rose and Trevor ended up on the run. Stefan then told her about how Elena was feeling, and how since all of this had happened, she was listening to Azalea more than anyone else. He asked her to talk to her about it the next day and she agreed.

Dear Diary,

The last week as been full of dealing with a lot of the new information that had been given to us. I had spoken to Elena the next day about how all of this was not her fault. How she couldn't help that she was the doppelganger, and it was the fault of the original witch for placing the curse on her son. I did not feel the need to go into the story of Silas and Amara. They didn't need to know.

I barely spent any time at school this week, I had been taking extra lessons with Sheila in an attempt to improve my ability to use that magic. I am making progress, just not as fast as I would like.

Caroline told me more about Tyler and how he was now a wolf. I wanted to try and help him, but Caroline seemed to be handling the situation, so I behaved myself allowing my own issue of being Klaus' mate take priority.

Hermione you'd be proud.

I knew I needed to catch up with Matt, it felt like I hadn't seen him in a while, and he was still dealing with a lot. Even if he wasn't mixed up in all of this.

The Martins had made themselves known that they were magical like Bonnie, and they knew who I was. They assured me that they would not tell anyone I was here. That my secret location was safe with them.

I knew the Originals had witches on their pay roll – if you could call it that, maybe they did pay them… - anyway. I couldn't help but wonder if the Martins fell into this category, and if they did. Were they with Elijah… Or Klaus himself…

Azalea put her pen down and put the book back in its hiding place. She knew that Damon and Stefan were planning to go and speak to Katherine in the morning, then Elena was coming here to talk. Her home didn't have people who were still being left in the dark, so it made more sense to have Elena come to hers in the morning. Wishing she could take dreamless sleep; Azalea spent the night tossing and turning into the dawn.

"She wants a deal her out for the moonstone," Stefan told them.

"I thought she wanted to be in there?"

"She says she bored, you know, along with hungry." Damon said.

"So, we have to figure out a way to get it without giving her what she wants." Stefan said.

"You don't believe her, do you?" Elena asked the brothers, her brow furrowed.

"No, of course not" Damon said throwing an orange up in the air. "We just want the moonstone,"

"According to Rose's friend Slaytor, there is a way to destroy the spell that Klaus wants to break," Stefan added.

"No spell. No doppelganger sacrifices. Ergo, you live." Damon said.

"How do you destroy it?" she said, sounding like she didn't fully believe what they were saying.

"By releasing it from the moonstone." Stefan told her.

"How do you guys even know this is going to work?" she said looking at them both. Then at Azalea, she looked like she was looking for some back up.

"Because we have a crafty witch on our side." Damon said, before the redhead could speak.

"You've discussed this with Bonnie," Elena crossed her arms.

"She agreed to do anything she could to help us." Stefan told us.

"It's Katherine who has the moonstone. She is not going to give it to you. And, how does this stop Klaus from coming for Lea."

"One crisis at a time," Damon said. "As your life depended on this, we prioritised. You don't mind do you, Lighting?"

"Nope, I agree."

"Excellent, then we all agree." Damon clapped.

"Katherine –"

"We'll get it from her." Stefan said reassuringly.

"Well what he means to say is we'll pry it from her cold dead hand if we have to."

"Or," Azalea said with her eyebrow raised. "May I offer an alternative, less violent approach?"

Damon gestured for her to continue.

"I could talk to her."

"What?" he said flat-toned.

"Think about it. She vowed to protect me. If I give her a bargain – I mean the reason she is so scared is because of Klaus. She is safe from him in there. The reason she is even protecting me is because I am meant to be his mate. True love and all that."

The redhead had meant for the last part to be sarcastic, but judging by her friends concerned faces she hadn't pulled it off. Elena touched her arm. Azalea hadn't realised that her body had hunched forward, crossing her arms around her midriff.

"That's why I'm plan A." she said straightening up. "It's a better deal for her, she gets blood and some conversation for the moonstone."

"Hmm, not bad," Damon said. "Not as fun. But not bad."

She rolled her eyes.

"That still doesn't solve the fact that if we do this, destroy the moonstone Klaus will kill everyone I love," Elena said. "Including you two."

"I think people I love and care about would be safe," Azalea argued, they all looked at her. "What? Think. If I am his true love, mate – whatever – I reckon he isn't going to want to risk me rejecting him cause he killed my friends."

"You are adorable, howe –"

"I'm not being delusional here. Think about it. Your own emotions are heightened, when you feel love you would do pretty much anything for them – like wait a hundred and forty-five years and –"

"Point made, keep going," Damon said dryly.

"I reckon if your emotions are that strong. Think what it must feel like for him, about me. You're one of my best friends… Would you kill one of my loved ones and risk losing me?"

"Even, if we consider that, say he does spare us all," he said dramatically. "That doesn't stop him from killing Elena."

"Stop making it all about my life," Elena said in frustration, storming from the kitchen. Stefan and Damon, began to move, but Azalea put her hand up.

"I'll go" she told them, turning around to follow the brunette.

She was turning the corner on the stairs when Elena whirled around.

"Lea, I don't want to –"

Azalea put her finger to her mouth. Elena stopped looking at her confused. Azalea reached the top and took Elena's hand. Gently, she dragged her to the bathroom, turning on the tap.

"If you do want to talk, I know how you feel."

Elena laughed once.

"How could you –"

"Crazy powerful guy wants to kill you, and people have died trying to protect you from that person?" She raised an eyebrow. "Ruthless and unremorseful, hellbent on ending your life personally. Everyone who tried to keep me safe from him is now dead. I reckon I have an inkling on how you feel. I hated people helping me, I didn't want to involve them. Or risk their lives."

"Ok, so you get it," Elena said, her face lighting up. "You see my side, that means you can help me –"

"I will," she promised. "I am on your side, but I also don't want you to die. I respect your decision, I get it. Know I'm here when the boys and everyone else gets martyry ok?"

She laughed and nodded; Azalea turned the tap back off.

"It's going to be ok, Elena," she told her hugging her friend. After a long moment the two let go of each other and made their way back to the two vampires below.

The brothers took Azalea to talk to Katherine and the redhead left feeling extremely disappointed as she had not taken her deal. She told her that one of the reasons she wanted out of the tomb was to keep her safe. Resulting in the brothers taking her home and telling her that they would come up with a plan B. She decided to paint until Damon called her a few hours later.

"What happened?" she asked immediately.

"Change of plan. You're coming with me," Damon said.

"Where are we going?"

"Richmond," he said, as she heard a knock on her door. She left with Damon where he began to tell her what Rose had said on the phone.

"She's listening to you more than any of us right now. Hence why today is field trip day in protection world."

She rolled her eyes but complied with his wishes. She hadn't thought that Elena would do this so quickly… As Damon speed along the highway Azalea looked out of the window thinking about the situation the brunette had found herself in, how it was so similar… And yet, so different from her own sacrifice. She meant what she had said, if there was a way to save her, alongside saving everyone else she would help them find it. Nevertheless, Azalea would keep her vow to allow her friend to do the same for her friends as she herself had tried to do…