Couple of days later I head to school. Bindi wasn't happy that I had to leave. Jenna headed over to help out while I'm at school. She met the kids and adores them. At some point I'm going to have to sit down with Bindi and find out why she's so afraid of the men. I can guess, but I don't want to get it wrong and do more damage.
They are homeschooling with Damon. Today, they are learning to write their letters and numbers. Enzo is either helping or sleeping before he has to work the night shift at the grill. He starts at 6pm. I haven't seen Elena in the past few days, because I've been at Damon's house. I walk over to her and Stefan to say hi.
"Damon hasn't said a word to me. Every time I try to talk to him he shuts me down." I hear Stefan say to Elena.
"Do you think he's still trying to find Katherine?" Elena asks
"I don't know. He waited a hundred and forty five years only to find out that Katherine could not care less. I mean it's gotta hurt, right?" Stefan asks.
"And it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy." Elena says sarcastically. I reach them.
"One, no one deserves to have what Katherine did to Damon happen to them. Two, Stefan you haven't tried to talk to Damon, you've been trying to lecture him. Three, if you had been at the house for more time then to lecture him you would see what he's up to. I can keep going." I tell them pissed off.
"No, I get it. I'll head to the house after school and not lecture him. But Elena has every right to be mad at him." Stefan says.
"Elena's not mad at him for the way she found out. Besides Damon apologized for that. She mad at something that happened before we even knew she existed. Something that has nothing to do with us. So no she has no right to be mad at him. She can be upset that she's a vampire, but that's what she wanted from my understanding." I say finally nipping Elena's whining in the butt.
"I apologize Evie, I assumed she was still mad at Damon for his delivery. Have you two thought any more about what you're going to do?" Stefan asks. Elena looks at us pissed about what was just said about her.
"About what? Isobel, my vampire birth mother, who's related to my vampire ancestor Katherine, who screwed over your vampire brother? Nah...I haven't thought about it at all." Elena snaps pissed off.
"I'm sorry I brought it up." Stefan says.
"I didn't want anything to do with her before I knew she was a vampire. I still don't so nothing has changed for me." I tell him with a shrug. He just nods in understanding.
"It'd just be nice if we could get through one day without having to deal with any of it. No vampire mother or brother." Elena says.
"I'm gonna go. I don't wanna see your version of foreplay." I say walking off, not waiting for a response.
I get through the day of classes. I find the boring of the classes comforting. Damon's place is crazy a lot of the time. I love them all but a break is nice. I see Care and head over to her, just as she approaches Stefan.
"I'm thinking nothing huge, just a dinner at the grill maybe a late movie." Care says.
"You mean like a double date?" Stefan asks confused.
"Oooo, could be fun." I hype up walking up to them. Elena joins.
"You and Damon wanna come, Evie?" She asks.
"No, we are going to the grill to support Enzo in his new job. Then I believe Jenna is meeting us there." I tell them. "But have fun!"
"Do you think that's a good idea?" Elena asks.
"Why not? We all haven't gone out together before and I don't want it to be uncomfortable for us. Look the couple dynamics have changed and there's been a little awkwardness between you, Matt, and me and I just think it's important that we get over it." Care reasons. I can tell she is trying to perform so sort of test to see about Matt and Elena. Care is just very insecure.
"I don't know." Elena hesitates. I give her a thumbs up and a smile trying to encourage it.
"I think that sounds like a great idea." Stefan says with a chuckle at my facial expression.
"You do?" Elena asks surprised.
"Yeah. A nice evening out with friends. Sounds fun, as in 'fun'." Stefan says clearly one of their inside jokes.
"A double date it is." Elena finally agrees.
"Ok. So, we will see you tonight." Care says. She walks away and I follow.
"So, what's the test?" I ask.
"What test?" Care asks acting dumb.
"You may be blonde but you ain't dumb." I say.
"Fine, I don't like playing second place to Elena. I just want Matt to see Elena happy with Stefan." She say deflating.
"Have you ever thought that maybe it's all in your head?" I ask cautiously.
"My head?" Care asks.
"This whole rivalry with my sister. Matt can be over Elena, but still have great memories with her." I tell her. She just nods deep in thought now. I head to my car and head to Damon's.
I see Damon on the ground clutching his eyes.
"Damon!" I call out dropping down beside him.
"Evie, I'm fine. Give me a minute." He says trying to brush me off.
"Where are the kids? And Enzo?" I ask freaking out.
"Enzo took everyone out for a walk before his shift. I came back early to meet you. Pearl and Anna were here." He explains.
"Jer's girlfriend?" I ask confused.
"Sure and her mother. They wanted names of the whole council and who all I supplied vervain to." Damon says. "They also want me to stop supplying it. Offered me Kathrine and then threatened me."
"Well, you did give me a few plants to grow in my room. I could supply it." I offer.
"You are a genius," Damon says kissing my cheek. "Sorry, eye sights still a little off."
"Relax Damon. Let's get you to the couch where you can relax and heal while I deal with everything." I tell him leading him to the couch. He lies down then pulls me on top of him. "Damon!" I squeal.
"Shh, I'm relaxing." He says opening one eye. It still looks very red.
"Damon, I need to go do some homework." I tell him.
"Do it here," he replies.
"Fine you win," I say with a sigh. I get up and pull out my homework doing it on the table in front of him.
Just as I'm finishing up the kids coming running in. Enzo come trailing behind holding a happy Blaise.
"What happened here?" Enzo asks
"Anna and Pearl from the tomb. All the vampire got out. They want to take back the town." Damon explains shielding his eyes so the kids can't see them. "Mind grabbing me some shades?"
Enzo grabs him some. He puts them on and sits up.
"Were you hear for that, Evie?" Enzo asks concerned that they know about me.
"We got entirely lucky. None of us except Damon was here." I say wondering what could have happened had one or all the kids been here.
"We can't keep depending on luck. It's a fickle mistress." Enzo says looking at Damon.
"We will have to put the deed to the house in your name, Evie. I would be willing to do Jenna's as well if it meant you all were safe." Damon replies.
"Alright, I would sign it if I can being underage." I tell him.
"Yeah, lawyers will all deal with that." Damon says.
"Alright just give me the papers when it's time." I reply.
"Well, we need to go if I'm going to get to work on time." Enzo says.
He put on Jeans, a tee, and a leather jacket. We get all the kids gathered and ready for dinner at the grill. We get to the grill and Enzo hops behind the bar with the manager. He goes over some drinks with him. Damon holding Blaise on one side and Channing's hand on the other, walks over to the bar. He orders his regular Bourbon from Enzo. I follow holding Bindi's hand.
"Evie, Damon, Channing, Bindi, and Blaise. Why am I not surprised to see you here on Enzo's first day." James the evening manager says with a smile.
"We are here for moral support and all that. Besides I didn't feel like making dinner." I reply with a chuckle.
"Alright that's fair. How bout you grab a booth and I'll get a server to come to you. I don't want you all distracting our new best bartender." James jokes.
"Wow, that was fast. I think you have a chance at employee of the month, already." Damon teases. We all laugh. We go grab a booth. I notice Elena, Matt, Care, and Stefan in the booth behind Damon. I notice Care seems to be seething.
"Doesn't seem like Care's plan is working too well." I whisper quietly to Damon while the kids are all colouring. Including Blaise who is in a high chair beside Damon.
"What plan?" Damon asks confused.
"Care invited Elena and Stefan on a double date with her and Matt. We were actually invited, but I was thinking that would make it worse. She's hoping to show Matt how happy Elena and Stefan are in a relationship." I explain.
"Thanks for declining. I wouldn't have wanted to go anyway." Damon says smiling at me. "How would showing the Elena is happy in her relationship make Caroline's relationship better?"
"Because she thinks Matt is still pining over Elena."
"Why would you want to date someone if the only reason they are with you is because the one they want is in a relationship with someone else and is happy?" Damon asks.
"No idea. I'll let you know if I find out." I shrugg.
"I love you. First." Damon says looking into my eyes.
"I love you too. First." I reply as the waitress walks up.
"What can I get you?" She asks.
"Can the new bartender make me another drink," Damon orders. "A house burger and fries to eat." He looks at me.
"Okay kids, Mac and cheese, nuggets, or burger?" I ask Channing and Bindi.
"What's Blaise having?" Bindi asks looking up from her colouring.
"Blaise is having blended peas." Damon holds up the container of mushy green stuff. She wrinkles her nose as Damon, the waitress and I all chuckle.
"So, what will it be?" I repeat myself.
"Burger. Like Damon." Channing says.
"Alright a smaller house burger if you can and fries for the little gentleman here." I say
"I want mac and cheese please, Evie." Bindi says.
"Mac and cheese and I think we will have some root beers for us three. I'll get the ceasar salad." I order. She writes it all down then tells us she will be back with our drinks.
"Why root beers? We usually stick to juice." Damon asks.
"I wanted it to look similar to yours. Channing wants to be like you and Enzo, so I shall indulge." I say with a smile. Jenna arrives sitting down next to me at the booth. She looks at the bar and see's Kelly sitting there.
"Kelly? Kelly Donovan?" She calls Kelly looks over and then walks over to us.
"Jenna!" She exclaims. They hug each other.
"I heard you were back in town." Jenna turns to us "She used to babysit me."
"And then I used to party with her." Kelly says.
"This woman is crazy." Jenna replies.
"Not as crazy as you." Kelly shoots back.
"I'm not anymore." Jenna corrects.
Kelly pulls up a chair to sit at the end of the table. Damon pulls Blaise out of his high chair into his lap. He moves Blaise's colouring in front of him, protectively. He's eyeing Kelly being so close to his son.
"You're new around here." Kelly observes.
"On the contrary, I'm very old." Damon says. As our food arrives. He takes a sip of his drink. He raises it so Enzo can see the approval.
"I haven't been gone that long. I would remember someone who looked like you." Kelly flirts.
"Yeah. Where did you go?" Damon asks hoping to get information.
"Around, about." Kelly answers vaguely.
"I've been there." Is all Damon replies.
"What are you doing here Kelly?" Jenna asks.
"I was supposed interviewing for the bartender job but I think the manager blew me off." Kelly replies.
"Well, that's not very nice." Damon comments.
"Yeah. Last time I was in town I slept with her boyfriend." Kelly replies.
"That's not very nice either." Damon realizing why she was stood up.
"It happens." She says with a shrug.
"Sure…" Damon drags the word out. Not really believing it. He might have before I was around, but definitely not anymore.
Bindi digs into her mac and cheese seeming to enjoy it. Channing is copying Damon's movements almost exactly. Damon will feed Blaise as soon as he's done eating.
"So, what's with the little mini me's. I thought you only had one kid, Evie?" Kelly asks.
"The baby is mine. The two kids are the new bartender Enzo's siblings. We came to support him on his first day. First job since his parents died." I tell her.
"Alright," Kelly replies still drinking.
"You hear the train wreck behind me?" Damon asks Jenna and I.
"What?" Jenna asks looking behind him. She ducks down.
"I did say you were gonna be here with us." I tell Jenna.
"Well, Elena and Matt are telling stories of their past." Damon says.
"Oooo, did they mention the first time she got drunk? That was so funny. Ty and I were tipsy, but since Elena was fall over drunk we got away with it." I say laughing at the memory.
"Yeah, they told that one." Damon says smiling.
"So, I had some interest in your dad's building." Jenna tells us.
"Really? Who?" I ask surprised.
"Pearl wants to rent it." Jenna says. I meet Damon's eyes with a worried look on my face.
"That's great to hear," Damon says fake smiling.
I take Bindi to the washroom. We run into Care and Elena in there. Bindi goes while I stay out of the stall.
"How's the date going?" I ask. Care glares at Elena. "Yeesh, that bad." I cringe.
"If Elena would stop taking a trip down memory lane. Also what are you doing drinking with Kelly Donovan? I thought you couldn't drink." Care asks quickly turning to me. I help Bindi wash her hands calmly.
"I can't we are all drinking root beers. Channing is really into being like Enzo and Damon so we have kid friendly drinks that look like bourbon around the house for them." I explain.
"Alright," she says giving me a funny look.
Bindi and I leave behind Elena. Some guy stops her calling her Katherine. She gets freaked out. I touch her shoulder to get her attention.
"Come on, Elena." I say putting emphasis on her name.
We walk away. Bindi and I going back to our table. Elena heads back to the pool table.
"What's up?" Damon asks me noticing my worried glance.
"Someone called Elena, Katherine." I say.
"What's the matter with that?" Jenna asks.
"It made Elena uncomfortable." I say trying to keep to the bare basics.
"Ahh, still sensitive to your sister." Jenna says coming up with her own explanation. Damon just meets my eyes in understanding.
"Jenna, did you drive here?" Damon asks. Noticing Kelly is almost passed out.
"No, I will just walk home." She replies.
"Let us drive you home." Damon says.
"I can walk," Jenna tries to deny.
"I insist." Damon says. We can see her sign in defeat. We all head to the car. With some maneuvering we get everyone in.
"Can we see Jer?" Channing asks.
"Not today buddy," Damon replies.
"I think he's with his girlfriend right now." Jenna tells him.
"Does that mean he won't teach me, my racing video game tomorrow?" Channing asks
"He will still come, don't worry." I tell him.
"But then why does he need a girlfriend if he has me?" Channing asks confused. Damon, Jenna, and I chuckle. I look to Damon unable to answer.
"You know how your my friend Channing? Evie is my girlfriend." Damon says.
"Is Bindi also your girlfriend?" Channing asks confused.
"Yes, but not in the same way," Damon replies. We drop Jenna off at the house and watch her walk in.
"Why not in the same way?" Channing asks as we drive back to Damon's.
"You will understand when your older," Damon answers as we pull in.
I get Blaise and a sleeping Bindi from the back. Damon picks up a passed out Kelly. Channing follows behind us closing all the car doors. Getting 'thank yous' from Damon and I. We walk into the house seeing Stefan, Elena, Care, and Matt.
"Sorry, we didn't mean to interrupt." I say after I fail at sneaking passed.
Care immediately comes over getting Blaise from my hands.
"Mom?!" Matt exclaims seeing Damon come in carrying his mom. "What happened?"
"She passed out drunk. I was gonna let her sleep it off in one of the spare rooms." Damon replies.
"I'll take her home." Matt says. "I got to..." he trials off.
"It's fine, just go." Care says with a sigh.
Her and I both head upstairs. I put Bindi down in her room and I meet Care in Blaise's new room. Damon and I moved him in here after he stopped needing to feed at night.
"Do you think I'm second to Elena?" Care asks.
"No, I never have." I say changing Blaise.
"Like you were born with a built in best friend." She says.
"It's not all it's cracked up to be. You weren't there when my dad did my pregnancy test. I got a lot of 'why can't you be like Elena?'. It wasn't fun. Also, Elena isn't the most giving person. She tends to be very selfish." I explain.
"I have seen that. I just thought it was just around people." Care says with a sigh.
"No, it isn't. Don't get me wrong we have our moments like all siblings. But we do fight a lot too." I say. "Like you and I."
"You always did try to give me the full having a sister feeling." She says with a watery chuckle.
"That's my job as your best friend." I say smiling at her giving her a hug after putting Blaise down.
"How do you deal with Damon and all his drinking?" Care asks.
"First of all, I don't judge him for it. I also don't try to change him into something he isn't. He does the changing all on his own. He just wants to be better for us. Just as I want to be better for him. And be a good mom for Blaise. As long as he isn't going to hurt Blaise, the kids, or I, I don't worry too much about it." I explain.
"I guess. How do I deal with Kelly?"
"You put up with her and all her antics. You are polite. Because she will be leaving soon enough. She never did stick around long." I tell her as we walk down the stairs.
Elena takes Care home Damon and I sit on the couch together.
"So, Enzo and I plan on killing that Doctor Wes." Damon says casually.
"So are you asking me to look after the kids while you do this or plan it?" I joke.
"Both." He jokes back.
"That's some mighty high demands." I reply laughing.
"I've killed all but one of the Whitmore family since Enzo and I came up with the plan when we were locked up." Damon admits.
"Umm, congratulations?" I say not sure what to say.
"I just wanted to tell you. I don't want you or the kids getting hurt because I hid something from you. I'm finally happy. For the first time. The house is filled with the laughter of kids all day. My best friend is alive. I have you, who is incredible and the mother of my son. I just don't want to screw it up." Damon explains.
"You will have to do a lot to screw things up. As I have said you are my first choice. I'm not Katherine. Nor will I ever treat you that way, ever." I say I then crack a smile. "Unless someone is coming for any of the kids, then you will be my not so human shield to protect them." Damon laughs.
"I would do the same. I was surprised how fast Bindi and Channing got inside my heart."
"You have a big heart Damon. Bigger then you realize." I reply. "Enzo, you, and I need to sit down with Bindi. I don't like her reactions to men. I'd like to have her tell us what happened in the facility before you go off and kill doctor Wes. That way you can react accordingly."
"I love the way you think. Have I ever said that." He says taking my chin in his hand.
"Maybe once upon a time." I tease. He kisses me. Stefan walks back in. "How was your night?"
"I think it went well." He says with a smile.
"I'm glad cause on our end it looked like a disaster." Damon says. Stefan raises his eyebrow at him looking displeased. "Don't look at me like that."
All of a sudden the vampire who stopped Elena jumps through the window, jumps on Stefan and stabs him with a piece of glass. Damon quickly steps in from of me pushing me behind the couch. He then pushes the vampire off Stefan and starts to fight with him. Stefan removes the piece of glass. A female arrives and begins to fight with Stefan. She pushes him to the floor, he takes the leg off a wooden chair and stabs her in the heart. Damon sends the male across the living room. The male looks at Damon and Stefan and then looks at the female, who is dead. He leaves. Stefan looks at Damon. Damon rushes over to me to help me up and check to see if I'm hurt.
"Damn it." Damon says holding me to his chest.
"I remember them from 1864. They were in the tomb." Stefan says.
"That's the man who stopped Elena at the Grill earlier." I say.
"Yeah...About that." Damon starts. I step out of his arms. He gives me a sad look.
"I'm gonna go check on the kids. Make sure they are alright." I reply. "You tell Stefan what you know."
I head upstairs checking all the rooms. The kids are all still asleep. I head downstairs as Stefan is finishing up a phone call with what sounds like Elena.
"The kids?" He asks looking concerned.
"Safe and asleep. I don't know what or who to thank for that, but I am thankful." I say with a sigh sitting down on the couch with my head in my hands. Damon is dragging the female's body into the fireplace.
"Could you help me out a little bit?" Damon asks Stefan. My phone buzzes. I check it, it's a text from Jer.
I might have done something stupid
Define stupid
I may have cut myself in front of Anna on purpose.
Yeah, that is stupid. Why would you do that?
I was hoping she would turn me.
If she was younger all that would have happened is you would have been drained.
Hence, the I think I did something stupid. I think she's mad at me. How do I fix it?
Apologize and explain why. Also start praying to a god you think is fair because she might just yeet you outta this life.
Thanks Evie. You always know what to do.
No problem Jer good luck.
I look up to Damon's questioning look.
"Jer." I reply guessing his question
"He okay?" He asks.
"Yeah, relationship trouble." I reply. "Tried to get Anna to turn him by cutting himself."
"So, he's trying to die in one of the most painful ways possible. Got it. If he wants to turn when he's an adult still let him know that I will turn him when he's 25." Damon says.
I quickly text that to Jer.
Really? He would do that for me?
Yeah, he would. So, keep that in mind and no more intentionally trying to kill yourself.
Deal.
"He said deal." I tell Damon. He nods sitting down beside me.