Jeremy's POV
Anna is looking out at the storm from my room. I'm glad she came back. After texting Evie I realized how bad I messed up. She didn't seem upset. She probably is but she's good at letting me make my own mistakes and feeling what I need to feel.
"I'm sorry. I talked to my sister and I realized how bad I screwed up." I apologize.
"Elena told you that?" Anna asks surprised.
"No, Evie. Elena's twin." I reply.
"Elena has a twin? I guess I just thought… I don't know what I thought. She doesn't act at all like Elena. Or really look like her." Anna says.
"No, Evie's great. Being a mom really does suit her. She was always good at just giving you the facts of a situation and letting you come to your own conclusions." I tell her.
"I would love to meet her." Anna smiles turning to me.
"I know she wants to meet you as well. But she's also trying to get the kids settled in to their new schedule." I say.
"kids?" she asks.
"Yeah, her and Damon adopted two kids. Well, paperwork isn't finished. And they have a baby." I tell her.
"Vampire's can't have babies, Jer." Anna says.
"Well, they somehow managed because Blaise looks exactly like Damon." I say with a shrug. She just turns back to the window.
"I love storms."
Evie's POV
Damon is boarding up the window the next morning, while I look through the mess of paperwork the lawyers sent over. The kids are playing in the playroom. Channing was very worried when he woke up and saw the broken window. He is helping Damon by passing him everything he needs. Enzo is sitting at the table with us. I even have paperwork to put Damon on Blaise's birth certificate.
"I want you to sign these Damon." I say to him.
"What are they?" He asks looking over at Enzo and I.
"They are to get you on Blaise's birth certificate. Last night made me realize if something were to happen to me, Blaise would be taken away from you." I explain.
"I would pack up the house, take the kids and run. Hopefully Enzo would come with me." Damon says shrugging.
"It's hard to be on the run with a baby. Just please sign them. It will cause you less problems in the long run." I plead.
"Alright, what's Enzo signing?" Damon asks walking over. I hand him Blaise's paperwork. He already signed the adoption papers for Bindi and Channing.
"If something happened to you and Evie, I will get custody of all the kids." Enzo says.
"Alright," Damon replies. He quickly signs Blaise's paperwork and then goes and finishes up the window. I have the last signature for the house.
"Alright boys time for a trip outside." I tell them. They both head out. Channing just takes Enzo's hand and walks out with them. I make the last signature. Damon tests to see if he can enter. He smiles as me satisfied. "You can come in Damon and Enzo." They go to walk in. Channing stays where he is.
"What about me?" Channing asks noticing we are all about to walk back in.
"Of course you can come in too Channing." I reply with a chuckle.
"And me?" Bindi asks standing in the doorway.
"You too Bindi." I say. Enzo and Damon are now chuckling as well. We all head back in. Channing and Bindi run off to the playroom.
"What about Stefan?" Damon asks with a smirk.
"I'll let him in when he gets here." I reply putting all the paperwork into an envelope to send to the lawyer. I put our copies in envelopes separating Enzo's and mine and Damon's.
"You aren't gonna make him wait a little, make him sweat?" Damon asks
"Did I do that to you?" I ask sweetly.
"No," he replies pouting.
"Then no I won't" I can hear Enzo laughing at Damon behind me. "I swear you are all children."
Elena and Stefan arrive. Stefan stuck at the door.
"Uh, what happened?" he calls out.
"Sorry Stefan, I didn't realize you got back. Come on in." I call out to him.
"What happened?" Stefan asks coming in.
"With the attack last night I thought it best to get a human to own the house. Not that I hadn't already started the process before. I just thought I should speed it up." Damon explains. Stefan just nods understanding.
"Why didn't you put the house in my name?" Elena asks.
"Because I didn't want my house in your name." Damon says like it's the only explanation he needs.
"But it's Stefan's house too." She whines.
"Actually Elena it's Damon's house. He always owned it and signed it over to the next human in our family. But when the human either leaves or passes away it reverts back to him. So, it makes sense that he would want it in his girlfriends name. Especially the fact that they adopted two kids together." Stefan explains to her. He just crosses her arms and pouts.
"I say we go to Pearl's, bust down the door, and annihilate the idiot that attacked us last night." Damon says deciding to ignore Elena.
"Yeah. And then what? We turn to the rest of that house of vampires and say, 'Oops. Sorry?'" Stefan replies sarcastically.
"I can't believe you made a deal with her." Elena says pissed off.
"It was more like a helpful exchange of information. And it's not like I had a choice. She's...scary." Damon says.
"Of course she is. Damon gets what he wants, as usual. No matter who he hurts in the process." Elena rudely spits out.
"You don't have to be snarky about it." Damon sticks up for himself.
"I woke up this morning to learn that all the vampires have been released from the tomb. I've earned snarky." Elena says.
"Well, we learned yesterday. So, no you have no right to be snarky. Because if you do then we all do. Get off your fucking high horse, Elena." I tell her pissed off.
"How long are you going to blame me for turning your birth mother into a vampire?" Damon asks her getting to the route of the problem.
"I'm not blaming you, Damon. I've accepted the fact that you're a self-serving psychopath with no redeeming qualities." Elena says like it's a matter of fact. Stefan looks at her shocked that she would say something like that. Enzo just looks at her ready to kill her.
"Shut up Elena. Clearly we no longer need your opinion." Is all I say.
"This isn't being very productive. We're gonna figure out a way to deal with Pearl and the vampires. Yeah? Hmm." Stefan says trying to stop Elena and I from fighting.
I head off to the playroom. I don't want to be around Elena anymore. She has becomes extremely selfish since our parents died. She was selfish before but now it's really bad. Damon and Enzo follow me. Blaise is sitting in his playpen putting his shaped blocks into the correct spots. We all head out on a walk shortly after. We head to the grill. I see Jer there with the girl from the dance.
"That's Anna," Damon points her out. We walk over I see Anna hand Jer back the bracelet Elena gave him.
"Hey," I greet. Damon has Channing, Enzo Bindi and myself Blaise.
"Hey, I was hoping you would come meet Anna." Jer says with a smile.
"Well, this wasn't exactly planned. We had to get away from Elena." I reply.
"Elena is over there?" Jer asks.
"Unfortunately." Damon says.
"Well, Anna this is my sister Blaise, Her boyfriend Damon, His best friend Enzo and the kids are Channing, Bindi, and Blaise." Jer introduces us pointing us all out.
"We've met." Damon says.
"Pleasure." Anna says with a smile. "Wow, Blaise really does look like Damon."
"I swear it's talk of the town. People here need new hobbies." I reply.
"You gonna sit?" Jer asks.
"We can't stay. We have to get back to the house. We stopped for a drink." Damon says.
"It was lovely to meet you." I say to Anna.
"You as well," She replies. We all walk out with our soda's in hand. Bindi is tired out so Enzo is carrying her. Channing is running up ahead. Damon took Blaise's stroller from me. We head back to my place. Jenna's there.
"Hey Jenna, are you up to anything today?" I ask her.
"Not that I know of why?" She asks.
"I was wondering if you could look after Blaise for me." I say.
"Sure no problem." She says taking Blaise and his bag from me.
Jer arrives back a little while later to take Channing to teach him how to play a few games we head back to the Damon's place. Bindi wakes up on the walk back.
"Where is everyone?" She asks rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Blaise is with Aunt Jenna and Channing is with Jer. We were hoping to get the chance to talk to you, Bindi." I say.
"Okay," she replies in a quiet timid voice.
"You're not in trouble. We just want some information. We want to know what happened to you while in that place." I tell her.
"Please don't send me back." She pleads starting to cry.
"Never, Bindi. We would never. We just need to know so we can make sure the ones who hurt you pay for what they did." Enzo tells her rubbing her back. We get back to the house and all sit on the couch. Bindi is in between Enzo and I.
"What happened there, sweetie? What did they do to you?" I ask terrified to know the answer.
"They cut me. They made me hurt people. They made me turn into the wolf. It hurts a lot. They would make me play with toys that hurt me." She tells us curled in a ball. Almost trying to hide from us.
"Bindi, did you know that there were others in that place?" Enzo asks. Bindi nods her head.
"I had to hurt the witches sometimes. We would have to fight." Bindi tells us. I have tears streaming down my face thinking of how someone could do something like that to anyone, let alone children.
"Did you know about anyone else besides the witches?" Enzo asks her. She shakes her head. "I was also there."
"You were?' She asks.
"Yeah, Evie and Damon came and saved us all that night. They won't hurt you. Nor would I. those doctors will never get to you either. They would have to go through us to get to you." Enzo explains to her.
She jumps into Enzo's lap and cries. He just rubs her back letting her cry. Damon and I leave the room to let them have some time.
"Can you believe they would do that to her?" I ask Damon disgusted.
"Sadly, I'm not. They have moved on from just vampires that's for sure. Do you think your dad knew?" Damon asks. He starts to fix a clock to keep his hands busy.
"He didn't write about it, but I also don't know how he didn't know." I looking down at my hands in shame.
How could a man I loved so much cause that much pain to others? And I can't even say he was trying to protect us. He was hurting children. There are no excuses for that. Also, from what I read he wasn't just trying to find a way to keep us safe he was trying to find a way to make vampires suffer.
"Evie, it isn't your fault. You didn't know. You can still love him. Just because he was Enzo's villain doesn't mean he wasn't good to you and your siblings. Everyone has faults some bigger then others. Your learning your dad's. It's harder because he's gone and you can't get the answers you want." Damon says to me taking me in his arms.
I just cry into his chest. He's right. I want to yell and scream at my dad. Ask him 'how could he? Why?'. Ask him all the questions. I finish crying and wipe my eyes.
"Feel better?" Damon asks.
"Yeah, thanks." I reply quietly.
"You've dealt with a lot lately. I was waiting for the break down but it wasn't coming. You lasted a lot longer then most people." Damon compliments pushing my hair out of my face.
"Why haven't you?" I ask innocently. He bursts out laughing.
"I have over one hundred years on you, love. When you get to be my age you will be unshakable. You saw me get shaken when Katherine wasn't in the tomb. That's when I had my break down." He admits.
"I guess that true. Looks different then mine." I say with a chuckle.
"Yours are less destructive. I like them better." Damon says. He gives me a kiss then goes back to fixing the clock. I grab my textbooks and laptop and study. Just enjoying the silent company. Stefan comes down stairs.
"Hunting party?" Damon asks.
"That guy did a number on me last night when he stabbed me. I gotta get my strength back up." Stefna says.
"I've got two liters of soccer mom in the fridge. No?" Damon teases. I push Damon's shoulder. Stefan chuckles.
"We'll talk when I get back?" Stefan asks.
"All right. Give my regards to the squirrels." Damon jokes. Stefan leaves with a laugh. I'm giggling into my textbook. Damon looks at me smiling with laughter in his eyes. "When are we getting the boys?"
"I was thinking we could get them when Stefan gets back. We can talk, have a family movie night till the kids go to sleep and then you and Enzo can go do you thing." I reply thinking of a plan on the spot.
"Sounds great." He says. "Do we need to go get a movie?"
"Channing and Bindi were wanting to watch the first Avengers movie that we got. We could do that movie."
"I think Enzo would like that one as well. It's a good movie for all of us to enjoy." Damon says getting back to his clock. I study. Before we know it a few hours has passed. I look up from my laptop.
"Should Stefan be back by now?" I ask Damon.
"Yeah, I'll try calling him. Can you see what Enzo and Bindi are up to?" Damon asks me pulling out his phone.
I head through the house till I reach the play room. There Enzo is wearing my lipstick and a pink boa pretending to drink tea like he's with the queen. I take a picture.
"I hope you don't mind that we borrowed your makeup." Enzo says. I can see he is wearing bright purple eye shadow as well.
"It's fine. I'll leave some remover out for you as well. Or you could go to Wes that way. You know put on a dress and really freak him out." I tease.
"Might be worth it." He replies laughing. Damon walks in looking concerned. He looks up from his phone and stops dead.
"Do I want to know?" He asks Enzo.
"Bindi was having fun. You would totally do it if she asked too." Enzo tells him. Damon just shrugs and nods.
"What's up? You came in here looking upset." I say bringing us back to the issue.
"Stefan isn't answering his phone. Elena is ignoring my calls. Can you try calling her?" He asks. I pull my phone out and call her. She ignores it after the first ring.
"Sorry, she's ignoring me as well." I say.
"I'm gonna go take this stuff off. Sorry Bindi, tea party is over. We gotta make sure uncle Stefan is okay." Enzo says getting up from the tiny table.
"Alright," She says with a sigh. Enzo walks out of the playroom.
"Wipes are in the second drawer to the left, in Damon's washroom." I call after him. He disappears for a few minutes then comes back.
"Thanks," he says his face all clean now. We all head out to my place. I ring the doorbell then head into the house. Elena is by the door.
"You're ignoring me." Damon says after he calls her again and she ignores it.
"The 6 missed calls? Sorry. My phone is dead." Elena says sarcastically.
"Is Stefan here?" Damon asks.
"No. Why? Something wrong?" Elena asks getting worried.
"You didn't care." I say rudely still pissed that she would ignore my call.
"Of course I care. I just didn't want to talk to Damon." She says crossing her arms.
"You ignored my call asshole." I say throwing my hands up in the air in frustration. Bindi hides in Enzo's shoulder.
"Ladies, now might not be the best time." Enzo says.
"Stefan went out in the woods and didn't come back. I can't get him on his phone. I figured he was here with you." Damon says. Elena tries to call him.
"It's going straight to voice-mail. Where could he be?" Elena asks.
"You're not going to like what I'm thinking." Damon says looking at us.
"Where's Jenna and Jer?" I ask Elena.
"Jenna went out with Blaise for a drive. He was getting fussy. Jer is upstairs with Channing." Elena tells me.
"Come on Bindi. I'm gonna bring you up to Jer and see if you can stay with the boys till Jenna gets back. Then you and her can do something fun together." I tell her taking her from Enzo.
"Okay," She agrees excitedly. I head upstairs Jer's door is open a crack so I head in.
"Hey," I greet.
"Mother of god, you scared me." Jer says jumping. Channing just laughs beating Jer.
"I'm glad you to are having fun." I say turning to see Anna there as well. "Does Elena know you're here?"
"No," Anna says.
"Alright, I won't mention it then." I say.
"You won't?" Anna asks surprised.
"Naw, Evie's cool like that." Jer says.
"I have to leave Bindi here. Since you're here Anna maybe you can keep her company. Do something fun. We are taking Elena with us. So, you don't need to worry about her." I say putting Bindi down on the bed. "Don't leave the house unless it's with Jer or Jenna, okay?" I tell Bindi. She nods and I head back downstairs.
"She settled?" Damon asks. I nod and we head out. We drive to a house in what seems like the middle of no where.
Damon comes back and Elena gets out of the car. Enzo and I join.
"What happened? Where is he?" Elena starts quizzing him.
"They have him. I can't get in." Damon says in distress. I head over to him and curl up in his side hopefully offering him a little comfort. He wraps an arm around my shoulders kissing the top of my head.
"Why not?" Elena asks stupidly.
"Because the woman who owns the house is compelled to not let me in." Damon tells her rolling his eyes.
"I can get in." Elena offers.
"You're not going in there." Damon tells her.
"I'm going!" Elena exclaims
"You're not going in there." Enzo orders stepping in as well. Elena backs down for the time being realizing I'm not backing up her suicide mission.
"Why are they doing this? What do they want with him?" Elena asks.
"Revenge. They want revenge." Damon says shaking his head.
"We gotta do something." Elena says.
"I know." Damon says with a sigh.
"We can't let them hurt him. We gotta get him out of there." Elena keeps going obviously not seeing how much this hurts Damon too.
"I know. Elena, I know. But I don't know how to get him out." Damon tells her.
"Enough, Elena. Telling Damon that we need to get him out is obvious. If you want to be helpful start coming up with ideas on how to get him up that don't involve a suicide mission out of you. We don't need to get Stefan out then have him pissed at us because we let you get yourself killed." I tell her fed up with her shit already.
"You generally have something about now, Evie." Damon says in desperation.
"It's a long shot, but you could try Alaric. Have him go up to the house pretending to need something luring the woman out of the house. Then you might have to kill her unfortunately. Do you think we could try to leave her body to be discovered? You know make it look like she fell somewhere. That way if she has any family they get closure. Also she gets a proper burial." I suggest.
"That's a good idea. And yeah we can see about doing that for her." Damon says.
We head to the school, I head straight to his classroom with Enzo. Damon and Elena go find where he is.
"You alright, Evie?" Enzo asks me.
"Kinda, not really. Are you upset with me that I still love my dad?" I ask him shyly.
"No, he was your dad. You didn't see the side I did. I bet he loved you very much. Sure he did bad things, but not to you. You don't need to love or hate the man as a whole. You can love and hate different parts. That doesn't make you any less wrong. You can love the way he treated you and the love he gave you and hate what he did when he was a part of Augustine." Enzo tells me. I sigh in relief. "That was really weighing on you."
"Yeah, I didn't want you to hate me because of my dad." I tell him.
"I could never hate you Evie. You are sunshine on the sunniest days. You make everyone happier. You care about everyone and that they are doing alright. I know you will make a kick ass vampire one day, because you will be trying to make the world a better place for everyone to live in." Enzo says.
"It feels like so long ago, but I was planning on opening a bar for the supernatural to hang out in and be themselves. Not have to hold back." I mention thinking back what feels like a lifetime ago.
"You were? What about now?" Enzo asks.
"I still want to do that, but maybe also a home for supernatural orphans. Give them a loving home to be in and be cared for." I say expanding on my idea.
"See better world for everyone to live in." Enzo says giving me a hug.
"Do you know if my dad did anything to the kids at all?" I ask.
"No, your dad only dealt with the vampires. I know he knew about the witches and werewolves, but I don't believe he knew about the children. From what you've told me I think he would have drew the line there." Enzo says I sigh with relief happy that my dad didn't hurt the kids.
"I know it's no consolation to you, but I'm glad." I say.
"Surprisingly, me too. I don't want the memory I have of him to be the thing that crushes you. Don't let it." Enzo says. Alaric, Damon, and Elena walk in. Damon gives me a look asking if I'm okay. I nod.
"Stefan's in the house. Damon's a vampire. He can't get in. We need you. I would go, but..." Elena trails off.
"But her life is valuable. Yours, on the other hand is..." Damon trails off as well. I walk over and smack his arm. He just pouts at me.
"Stefan told me about your ring." Elena says.
"What about it?" Alaric asks pretending ot not know anything. I just roll my eyes.
"Let me recap...You tried to kill me. I defended myself. You died. Then according to my brother, your ring brought you back to life. Am I leaving anything out?" Damon asks sarcastically.
"Yeah. The part where I try and kill you again. Only this time, I don't miss." Alaric says. I step in front of Damon.
"How bout we not kill my boyfriend." I suggest.
"Mr. Saltzman. Please. It's Stefan." Elena pleads.
"I'm sorry, Elena. But it's not my problem." Alaric says. I nod in understanding.
"That's a shame. Because the woman in charge of the crowd can help you find your wife." Damon lies.
"You're lying." Alaric calls him out.
"Am I? Why don't you ask her for yourself?" Damon asks. He waits for a beat but still no reaction. "Coward. Come on."
We all start to leave.
"All right! Wait. I'll go." Alaric agrees. He pulls out at arsenal of vampire weapons.
"Teacher by day, vampire hunter by night." Damon comments.
"I've you to thank for that." Alaric says.
"What are these?" Elena asks lifting something up. I gently take it back and put it back down.
"Don't touch things when you don't know what they are. They could hurt you." I scold her. She just glares at me.
"Those are tranquilizer darts filled with vervain." Alaric says looking at me in amusement.
"Just get me in. Enzo and I will get Stefan out." Damon says.
"That's your plan? You're just gonna take them all on yourself?" Elena asks.
"No, that's why Enzo is coming and well, we'll be a little stealthier than that, hopefully." Damon says to her. Elena takes one of the vervain darts and tries to put it in her pocket.
"Whoa. What are you doing?" Alaric asks.
"I'm going with you guys." Elena says. I smack my forehead with my hand. Of course she thinks that.
"No. No. No. No. No way." Damon refuses.
"You need me. I'll get in. You could distract them, and then I'll get Stefan out." Elena says. So, the whole plan is hinging on a human sneaking around a house with a bunch of vampires who can hear her heartbeat. I roll my eyes knowing this will not go well.
"You'll get yourself killed. You're not going in there." Enzo says.
"I'm going." Elena insists
"So, when you get Enzo and I in, get out as quickly as you can. We know how to sneak around where they can't hear us. You'll basically just be in the way." Damon says to Alaric ignoring Elena.
"Damon, now is not the time to be the lone ranger." Elena tries to reason.
"Fine. Elena, you can drive the getaway car. You're not going in the house." Damon caves.
"You can't stop me. It's Stefan we're talking about here. You don't understand." Elena says like a spoiled brat being told no. I guess that's exactly what she is.
"Oh, I understand. I understand. He's the reason you live. His love lifts you up where you belong. I get it." Damon says sarcastically.
"Can you just not joke around for 2 seconds?" Elena asks rolling her eyes at him.
"I can't protect you, Elena. I don't know how many vampires there are in there. That's how long it takes you to get your head ripped off. I have to be able to get in and get out. I can't be distracted with your safety. Or this will end up a bloodbath that none of us walk away from...Including Stefan. I know. I get it. I understand." Damon says. He whips around. "Evie, you better not be thinking of going."
"I've had all my heroics used up for the month. Maybe next month." I joke with a chuckle.
"Thank god." He says with a sigh taking me into his chest. "Go and spend the night with the kids. Have Jenna and Jer come over to our place. That way you all are safe."
"Our place?" I ask confused.
"Well, yeah. It's technically yours but I thought we could call it ours." Damon says pulling away a little bit.
"Yeah, I have no problems with that." I reply smiling.
"If we're gonna go, let's go." Alaric says.
They drop me off at my place before they head off. Damon gives me a kiss as we leave. He also gives all the kids a kiss as well. Enzo does the same to the kids giving me a hug and a kiss on the side of the head.
"Don't let Elena bother you too much." I tell them as they drive off.
I head in and invite everyone over for movie night. We all pile in Jenna's car. Arriving at my place I set up the movie and get the popcorn and candy going. Channing and Bindi are jumping around excited. We finally get all the popcorn popped and everyone settled. I put on cloudy with a chance of meatballs. The Avenger's was supposed to be for Damon, Enzo, Stefan, the kids, and I. Jer's phone rings. He heads out of the room to take the call. He comes back and grabs me.
"They found Vicki's body." He says.
"You alright?" I ask him.
"I think so, I knew she was dead obviously. But I don't know…." He trails off.
"This drags up old feelings?" I guess.
"Yeah," he sighs.
"Well, we should go over to Matt's for support. Think Jenna can handle three kids?" I asks him with a smirk.
"Well, she did handle us." Jer says with a smirk of his own.
I check with Jenna to see if she can take the kids and she agrees. Jer and I say night ot the kids then head out to Matt's we arrive at Matt's and Care is already there. Care brings Matt some coffee/
"I made you some coffee." Care says handing it to him.
"Thanks." Matt says.
"Are you...is there anything I can do?" Care asks.
"I just, uh...I need to be alone right now." Matt says.
"I'm so sorry Matt." I say giving him a hug. Elena arrives giving him a hug as well. "Jer and I will get out of your hair." I tell him giving Elena a hug. She hugs me back surprisingly. Jer and I text Jenna saying we are back at our place. Jenna drives back with the kids.
"Boys aren't back yet?" I ask.
"No, not yet." Jenna says as Jer, her and I carry in sleeping children.
We put Channing and Bindi in my bed and Blaise in his crib. I tuck them all in and head to Jer's room after. I see Anna there.
"Oh, am I interrupting? I can leave." I offer.
"Anna was just saying she would turn me," Jer says.
"While, I support any decision you make. I think you should talk to Damon about the hardships of turning. Ask him about Stefan and his issues. Ask Enzo his story. Get the full picture then come back to the decision." I tell him softly.
"That's actually a good idea. I wish I thought of that." Anna says smiling. "You aren't against him turning?" Anna asks me when Jer steps out to the washroom. Her and I both sitting on his bed.
"No, he can do as he wants. Damon said he would turn him if he still wanted at 25." I say.
"25 is a better age to turn. You are still young enough to fit in, in college and university but old enough to get a job if you want." She says.
"Yeah, you can also pretend to have skipped a couple of years in high school to get a higher up job faster." I say.
"I never thought about that. Maybe I should try that to get a degree or two." She says with a laugh.
"Yeah, it seems like a good trick." I say.
"I'm sorry about Stefan. My mom and I had no idea." Anna says.
"Yeah, that wasn't okay. Stefan and Damon may act like they don't like each other but they would kill for each other." I say softly. "I should get going. Get the kids home. If you know about Stefan then they are probably home by now."
"Have a good night," she says.
"You as well," I leave the room and see Jer walking back. "Hey, mind helping me with the kids. I'm gonna take them home." Jer gets Channing, I grab Bindi.
We strap them in. I head back in and get Blaise while Jer stays with them in case they wake up. I drive back to the house. As I pull up both Enzo and Damon come out to greet me and get the sleeping kids. Damon with Channing, Enzo with Bindi and I have Blaise.
"How's Stefan?" I ask as we walk in.
"Well, you sister fed him human blood, so we will see how he does. He's in his room so I'll go check on him in a bit." Damon says.
We put the kids down in their rooms. I follow Damon to Stefan's room. There are bloodbags empty everywhere. Stefan is on the floor drinking another.
"Awe, Stefan." I say. He looks up at me desperate to hide his struggle. "It's okay to struggle, Stefan. You don't need to struggle alone."
"Evie, maybe Enzo and I should deal with this. I don't want you to get hurt." Damon says just watching Stefan.
"Alright, Stefan if you need me to hesitate to ask. I'll be here." I say.
I head down stairs. A little while later Damon comes down and pour himself and Enzo a drink. He sits down beside me, throwing an arm over my shoulder and pulling me into his side.
"I got the room cleaning up, but I don't think this will go well." Damon says.
"Well, maybe if we all work together and support him, he can get back on the bunny diet and then we can slow integrate human blood with his bunny blood. Maybe using carnivores." I muse out loud.
"That doesn't sound half bad." Enzo says.
"But Stefan has to want it." Damon says.
"Alright, step one make Stefan want it." I say clapping my hands.
The next day Damon and Enzo are playing around with the kids, while I go to school. I hear about a woman who died falling off a ledge and snapped her neck. Damon or Enzo must have staged that. I'm glad they actually did what I asked.
When I get back they get ready to head out to take care of Wes this evening. Enzo and Damon drive the kids and I back to my place. They don't want us alone with Stefan. Something about him not being able to control his bloodlust. They head out. The kids, Jenna, Jer and I all play board games till the kids have to go to bed. Enzo and Damon come back smelling like smoke. They help me get the kids and we drive back to the house.
"How did it go?" I ask when the kids are up in bed and we sit down on the couch. The guys have their glasses of bourbon. I have just a glass of water.
"Well, we tortured Wes a little bit. Told him about you and how your my girlfriend and you had my baby. Boy was he mad." Damon says.
"I mentioned that all the others got back to the covens and packs that they came from. I also told him that we adopted the kids that didn't have a place to go." Enzo says with a smirk. "We then tortured him for a little while and then covered him in gasoline and lite him on fire. Burned the building to the ground as well."
"That's good that the building is gone." I say.
"Yeah, Bindi and Channing can sleep well tonight." Damon says with a smile.
"I'm glad you two are happy with the outcome. Do you think we could tell Jenna about the supernatural tomorrow?" I ask them.
"Yeah, I don't see an issue. It's probably time she know." Damon says, after Enzo nods agreeing.
"After school we can tell her." I say. I get up and head to bed letting the boys sit with their victory. I fall asleep quickly knowing we are all safe from Augustine. It was quick and easy end to that mess.
The next day the day flies by. I text Jenna on my way to Damon's and my place to bring Jer and to come over for dinner. I get back and the kids are doing some science experiment. Damon, Channing, Bindi, and Blaise are all wearing goggles. I giggle at how funny they look. I pull out my phone and take a picture. All of a sudden a foam jumps out and Damon vamp speeds them out of the way. All the kids screaming and giggling. Our dining room now covered in red foam. They must be making elephant toothpaste.
"Looks like science is going well." I say drawing attention to myself.
"When did you get back?" Damon asks still holding Blaise. He comes up and gives me a kiss.
"Just in time for the show." I say with a laugh.
"Ahh, yes the kids picked elephant toothpaste from their science experiment book that we got them." Damon says with a smile. He takes his and Blaise's goggles off. Blaise laughs and claps.
"Did you have fun baby?" I ask Blaise taking him from Damon. Jer and Jenna walk in.
"What happened here?" Jenna asks.
"We brushed an elephants teeth!" Bindi yells excitiedly.
"Really?" Jenna asks seeming just as excited. She looks at Damon and I.
"Elephant toothpaste." Damon says with a shrug.
"I guess we are just ordering in. Sorry. I forgot today was science experiment day." I apologize to them.
"It's no big deal. I'm glad Damon's taking his teacher duties seriously." Jenna says laughing.
We all head to the living room. Enzo comes down as I order food from the grill for us. The food arrives and we all dig in. The kids eating at the coffee table.
"So, why did you ask us over?" Jer asks.
"We think it's time to tell Jenna." I say. He nods agreeing.
"Tell me what?" Jenna asks.
"Remember how the Gilberts were horror writers and kinda crazy?" I ask her.
"Yeah.."
"Well, what they believe is true. Vampires, witches, werewolves, they are all real." I tell her.
"Okay, guys great joke." Jenna says laughing. She then stops. "Okay this isn't funny." Damon and Enzo bring their fangs out. Jenna screams seeing it. "You need to get away from them!" She yells at me. Enzo and Damon put their fangs away.
"Jenna, they are fine. They are both in control. They just wanted to show you that I was telling the truth." I say trying to calm her.
"Why are the kids okay with this? Why aren't you and Jer freaking out?" Jenna asks.
"Jer and I have known for a while. The kids know that the fangs are to help protect them. Blaise isn't scared because he knows his daddy." I explain.
"His dad? Blaise's dad is Damon? Vampires can have kids?" Jenna asks stuck.
"Apparently with me they can. That's why Damon didn't use a condom. He thought he was sterile. He actually mentioned it when I asked him about a condom." I say suddenly remembering him mention it. "Why doesn't Damon and Enzo tell their stories. That will hopefully help you understand things better."
"Wait.. Blaise is actually yours Damon?" Stefan asks coming downstairs. We all turn to look at him.
"I forgot you were here." Damon says.
"Yeah, Blaise is actually his." I say picking him up and holding him protectively.
"I actually have a nephew. And I get to be around for him to grow up. I don't have to miss a thing?" I shake my head. "I want to do what it takes to control my bloodlust. I'll do what it takes." He tells us.
"You will have to listen to Damon, and Enzo." I tell him.
"Got it. I just want to be at top strength. To protect my nephew. And I guess my other nephew and niece." He says. "We are trading vampire stories?" We nod. " I'll tell mine."
I quietly text Lexi while the guy tell their stories. Jenna is grateful for their protecting and the vervain tattoos we all got. She's a little pissed at Elena for not telling her and wanting to keep hiding it.
Stefan is willing to learn how to control his bloodlust. You know learning slowly. Got any tips.
I'll come right over.
Maybe hold off. We got a bit of a vampire problem. I bet the counsel will step in soon. I'd rather you be safe.
Alright, you and the baby safe? You can come stay with us if you need.
We are good. We adopted two other kids.
Oooo more kids to spoil. Tell me more.
They are a boy, Channing. He is about seven. The girl is Bindi. She's five. They are both werewolves.
You got yourself some werewolf children. You opening an orphanage for soups.
Eventually, I was thinking about it.
Good for you. We need some of your goodness in our world. I can't wait till you join us.
I will soon enough. If you think of any tips let me know.
Deal. I want pics of the kids.
I send her pics of all the kids together. The tea parties, classes, playing, all of the good times we have had so far. I know Lexi will come visit as soon as our vampire problem is fixed.
A couple of days later there is loud music playing while I'm trying to study before school. Stefan must be exercising again. I walk up with Damon to tell Stefan to turn down the music. Blaise is sleeping, I'm trying to study and the kids are trying to draw their letters.
"Could you turn it up a little bit? It's not annoying yet." Damon asks sarcastically.
"Sorry." Stefan says not moving to turn down the music. Damon goes and switches it off. I sigh in relief.
"When are you going back to school?" Damon asks him.
"Soon." Stefan says getting off the ceiling from doing pull ups into doing push ups on the ground.
"How's the detox going?" I ask
"I think it's going well." He says.
"If you need help there is no harm in asking. Even texting Lexi. She is supporting you. Even if she's far. She is sending me texting asking about you everyday." I tell him.
"Really? She is?" Stefan asks shocked.
"Of course. She loves you. You're her best friend." I say with a smile.
"Alright, I'll keep that in mind." Stefan says. I drive to my place and walk in.
"Hey Jenna," I greet.
"Hey Evie, how was your night?" She asks.
"Good, Enzo is finally sleeping through the night. He was having nightmares." I tell her.
"He's over 100 years old Evie. Does he really need someone up with him?" Jenna asks.
"No, but it's nice to know someone is there." I say with a shrug. Elena comes downstairs.
"Hey Evie. I didn't know you would be here today." She greets.
"Thought I would take you guys to school. Give you a nice break on chauffeuring duties today." I joke.
"Your too kind." She says.
"Come on Jeremy, going to school! Walking out the door now!" Elena calls up.
"Forgot this." Jenna says handing her a thermos.
"Thank you." Elena says. She opens the door, John is here, he was about to knock.
"Elena! Evie!" He greets with a smile.
"Uncle John! Hi." Elena greets.
"Hi," is all I say.
"Jenna." He greets her.
"John, you made it." Jenna says not to enthusiastically.
"I said I'd be here before noon." John tells her as he walks in the house.
"Oh what you say and what you do are typically two very different things." Jenna sass's. I pretend to claw the air behind him. Jenna smiles at me. Jer comes down the stairs finally.
"Uncle John, what's up?" Jer greets.
"Hey!" John greets him. Jeremy slaps him on the shoulder and leaves to my car.
"I had some business in town; I thought that a visit was in order." John says
"How long are you staying?" Elena asks.
"I don't know yet." John replies.
"Okay, well, we have school. Bye." I say dragging Elena out the door. Arriving at school all of us separate. Ty meets up with me after a little bit.
"Your brother no longer smoke?" Ty asks.
"Not really," I reply.
"You look upset. What's wrong?" Ty asks.
"Uncle John is visiting." I say.
"Ahh, still upset that he wanted you to give Blaise up for adoption." Ty observes.
"Yeah, I am. He fucking pushed like crazy. What the hell is he doing back?" I ask getting up and pacing in front of Ty.
"I'm not sure but there is a founders council meeting today." Ty says with a shrug.
"That could be why he's here." I say half to myself. The bell rings and we both head off to class.
Damon's POV.
I enter the founders hall with Blaise. Enzo has the other two having a soapy slip and slide in the house. He says it's physics. I think it's just making a mess. At least their all happy. The rest of the council is already there. I take a seat.
"The coroner's office has officially ruled Vicki Donovan's death a drug overdose. Her family has been notified, the truth will stay in this room and we can put this behind us." Liz tells the room.
"Thank you Sheriff. And on to a more pressing issue, John Gilbert has asked to say a few words." Rick says. I look up surprised that Evie didn't tell me she had a relative visiting. "Welcome back John, it's good to see you."
"Hello everyone, it's wonderful to see you, I wish it were under better circumstances. As a founding family member I find it's my duty to report some very distressing news." John starts.
"He's a Gilbert?" I whisper to Liz.
"Elena and Evie's uncle. His name is John but I call him Jackass." Liz whispers back.
"A hospital blood bank in the neighboring county of Amherst has reported several break ins over the past two weeks. 7 hunters, 4 campers and 2 states employees have been reported missing as well. All of this within a 75-mile radius of Mystic Falls."
"Okay, okay, no need to get alarmed right at this moment." Rick interrupts John.
"Meaning he doesn't want to cancel the Founders' Day Kick-off Party." Liz whispers to me. We both chuckle quietly.
"You think all of your problems are over but I'm here to tell you, nothing's been solved." John says. I give an uncomfortable look around. After the meeting is over I stop to talk more with Liz.
"Are you and Evie going to the founders day party?" She asks me.
"I think so, Enzo and the kids were going to join as well." I say.
"That's good. John didn't make it a secret that he didn't like that Evie kept Blaise. He was very insistent on trying to get him gone. Evie doesn't know but when their parents died he came to me to try to get me to take Blaise away, due to child endangerment. I knew Blaise was well looked after. Caroline and Tyler both pitched in when she needed a break." Liz tell me.
I just nod my head pissed right off. How dare he try to have Blaise taken from his mother. Now john can't do anything, because Enzo and I are both adults who can't have Blaise taken away unless we are hurting him. And we obviously aren't. I leave the meeting in a cloud of anger. Blaise is squirming around noticing my temper. I bounce him a little hoping to calm him as we walk home. I usually would put him in the stroller, but I need to hold him right now so I just push the empty stroller and hold him. Knowing my son is here safe with me, his mom is in school, but coming back to him. I get a text from Evie.
Alaric told Elena that Jer might know about vampires. He did another report on it. I think he's slowly trying to let Elena know that he knows.
Okay, sounds good. I met your uncle John today.
Uggg do you think he's as much of a bastard as do?
More so. We can talk more when you get here.
I then get a text from Stefan.
Elena suspects Jeremy knows. I didn't tell her that he does. I told her to talk to him. I think that' more his news to share.
True. You okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
I arrive back at the house just as Evie pulls in.
"Be careful when you walk in. I'm not sure if there's still dish soap everywhere." I tell her taking her bag from her.
"Should I ask why?" She says slowly.
"Probably not." I reply with a laugh giving her a kiss.
Blaise tries to push us apart. We both look down at him with a laugh. We both give him kisses and he laughs loudly. We head inside.
"So, Elena spoke to Stefan about Jeremy knowing." I mention.
"Alright, well, it's Jer's choice whether he tells her he knows or not." She says.
"I'm sorry about John. I was told what happened. I will never let him take Blaise away from you." I say to her pulling her close.
"Yeah, it was hard. Especially when my parents died. Having Care and Ty there really helped though." She tells me with a shaky sigh.
I just rub her back. Blaise grabs on to her hair pulling himself closer to her and gives her a wet kiss. She gives a watery laugh.
"I love you baby boy," she tells him. She looks up at me. "I love you too. First."
"I love you two so much. First." I reply back.
"Awe I love you guys too." We hear Enzo from the doorway. We both look up at him and laugh.
"Love you too Enzo," she says smiling.
"I was just coming to ask if you could help me get Bindi ready. She is asking for a braid. I have no idea what the is." Enzo says looking stressed.
"I have it." Evie says with a laugh walking away.
"You better keep her." Enzo says. "Turn her. She will be good for everyone."
"I want to wait a little bit longer to turn her. I don't want her to be too young. You know 17 forever doesn't sound like fun. Especially her wanting to own a bar." I say.
"Good, because if you weren't going to. I was going to." Enzo replies. "I'm not sure if I said when you gave it to me, but thanks for the day light ring. It's really handy."
"No problem, I happened to have an extra that Katherine had for me. Just in case." I say. Not wanting any more things from Katherine.
I get a call from Elena asking me to come over, but not bring Evie. I agree but tell Evie where I'm going. That way if Elena tries anything she will know. I knock on the door and Elena opens it.
"Oh good you're here." She says letting me into the house.
"You ask I come. I'm easy like that." I tease. Elena points upstairs. I see Jeremy eating in the kitchen. "No Elena, I will not go to your bedroom with you." I say loudly for Jeremy to hear.
Elena catches my arm. I laughs and go upstairs with her. I can hear Jeremy's chuckle behind us. We head to her bedroom.
"Ah, just like I remember." I tease.
"Stop messing around." Elena says. I go to her bed, take the teddy bear off the pillow, lay on her bed and hold the teddy bear on my chest. Like I will do with Evie's dog sometimes. She always laughs at it.
"Did you know that your uncle has been kicking it with the Founders' Council?" I ask her.
"What?" Elena says shocked.
"Yep." I reply.
"Perfect, we'll just add it to the growing list of how everything is falling apart." She says exasperated.
I notice the broken lamp and point an arm of the teddy bear towards it. "What happened right there?" I ask her.
"Uh...nothing." She says uncomfortably.
"Look Damon, I'm worried about Stefan. He says that everything's okay but he's clearly struggling. How long is it gonna take before he goes back to normal?" She asks.
"A few days, give or take." I say not giving her a committing answer.
"It's been a few days." She says.
"Give then, I don't know. What's the big deal?" I reply rolling my eyes.
Of course she doesn't want what's best for Stefan. I will have to talk to him when I get home. See if he's actually doing okay. I get up and give her the teddy bear. I want to get back to Evie right now.
"He's not himself, Damon." Elena says like she knows him at all. I internally scoff. She barely known him a minutes in his long life and she thinks she knows him well. I head to her dresser and look inside it.
"Well, maybe his problem is that he has spent too long not being himself." I say while pulling out a bra I recognize as Evie's. Elena takes it and shoves it back in her drawer closing the drawer behind her.
"Please don't make me sorry for asking you." Elena says. I'm sorry she asked me. I'm not sure why she didn't ask Evie. I take a picture from her mirror. She tries to take it back but is too slow.
"It is what it is Elena. The Stefan you know was 'good behavior Stefan', 'reign it in Stefan', 'fight against his nature into an annoying excessive level Stefan' but if you think there isn't another part to this then you have not been paying attention." I tell her getting pissed off with her idea of vampires. It's severely flawed.
"He's not you, not even close." Elena denies
"Well, he doesn't want to be me. That doesn't mean that deep down though he's not." I say leaving after. Getting back to the house I see Stefan drinking bourbon.
"You doing okay?" I ask him.
"Yeah, I'm all good." Stefan brushes off. I pour myself a glass of bourbon.
"You said you wanted to learn control to be able to be around Blaise. Right now, I can't trust you around Blaise without either Enzo or I being around. So fess up." I admit.
"I'm struggling big time." Stefan finally admits with a sigh.
"Now, we can get somewhere." I say.
"You knew?" He asks surprised.
"Even Evie could tell. But we agreed you let you tell us first. Then we would try to help." I say.
"It was that easy?" He asks still shocked.
"It was that easy." I say. "We can get started after the founders party."
"Where is everyone?" He asks looking around.
"Enzo has the kids at a park I believe and Evie went to her place at her sister's request."
Evie's POV
I quickly head over to my place. Or I guess it would be Jenna's or Elena's or even Jeremy's. I don't really spend much time sleeping there anymore. I pull up and head upstairs not seeing anyone. I head into Jer's room.
"Hey Evie, what are you doing here?" he asks.
"I can't come home?" I tease.
"Not really. Well you're usually with Damon and the kids. Not that that's a bad thing." He says quickly.
"Elena texted me. She wanted me here. So, here I came." I tell him.
We both look up hearing a knock on the door. Jer goes and opens it.
"Hey." Elena greets us both.
"Hi." I greet.
"What's up?" Jer asks.
"Do you have some time to talk?" Elena asks us.
"Uh, yeah, sure." He says going to let her in. I get up knowing she will want to go to the lake. She always does for serious talks.
"Not here. Come on. Let's get out of the house." Elena says. A little while later we are walking at the lake.
"Evie mentioned to me already that you two are adopted." Jer tells her after she breaks the news to him. Or well tries to. Elena glares at me. "I just can't believe mom and dad never told you two that you were adopted."
"I'm sure they would have eventually." Elena tries to smooth over. I just focus on the ground in front of me. Elena still has great opinions of mom and dad. She hasn't seen their dark side yet. But I have and it's scary.
"Why were you worried about what I thought?" Jer asks her. He knows I wasn't really bothered by it. I knew he wouldn't think differently of me. No matter what I'm his annoying big sister.
"Because...I don't know. It's weird. Going you're whole life thinking you're related by blood to someone." Elena tells him.
"Does it bug you that we're not?" Jer asks her.
"No, Jer...you're my brother, that's all that matters." Elena says with a smile.
"Does that mean we are a happy family again?" I ask with my own smile. They both nod. We all burst out laughing.
"So, Mr. Saltzman said you've been doing great in history now." Elena says.
"Yeah, yeah he's really been helping me out. He gave me some extra credit and stuff." Jer tells her.
"He loved your vampire paper." Elena tries to subtly probe him for information. I roll my eyes behind her back.
"He thought I had a clever angle." Jer tries to get around the question.
"What drew you to that subject matter?" Elena asks still probing.
"I don't know, boredom or maybe I'm just as nuts as the long line of Gilbert crazies." Jer says with a shrug. I giggle.
"Gilberts aren't crazy." Elena says faking outrage.
"Easy for you to say, you two aren't Gilberts." Jer jokes. We both stop dead.
"Then, how do you explain my crazy?" I asks joking.
"It confounds us all Evie." Jer says in mock seriousness, putting him hand on my shoulder. I freeze and then look at Elena she just nods agreeing with a smile on her face.
"What?!" I ask They both take off and I chase after them. Us all laughing like we used to as children. Carefree. I missed this. The peace of it all.
Damon's POV.
I get Blaise into his suit after handing off Bindi to Evie. They went back to Elena's to get ready. All the girls together. I added a nice necklace to her bag with her dress. It goes with it nicely. I got a small tiara for Bindi knowing she would love it. I put that in the bag as well. When I finish getting Blaise ready I hear my phone go off. I head to check it. It's Evie.
You wouldn't happen to know anything about the necklace and tiara that entered my bag mysteriously.
I thought you and Bindi both needed some new jewelry to go with your dresses.
Thank you, Damon. You spoil us. Bindi is jumping around so excited to show you boys. She wants to me tell you thank you and that she love you.
Tell her I love you too, Princess. I can't wait to see you.
I stop texting and finish getting myself ready. We are all ready and I get into the car with Blaise. Stefan decides to go with me. I taught Enzo to drive one afternoon while everyone else was in school and Jenna had the kids. She wanted to take them to some museum exhibition on dinosaurs near by. The kids loved it and it helped me get Enzo a little more settled in. He now has a cell phone and can drive. He takes Channing. We all arrive.
"Oh god! I shouldn't be here." Stefan says.
"Come on, don't be a downer, it's a party for the founding families! That would be us. That would be rude to skip it." I say holding Blaise on my hip. Enzo and Channing walk away to go explore. Well more like Channing drags Enzo away.
"I really liked you a whole lot better when you hated everybody." Stefan replies.
"Oh I still do. I just love that they love me." I tease him. I laugh. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm good, I'm fine." Stefan brushes off.
"No cravings? No urges? Is that whiskey you've been drinking all day doing its job?" I ask jokingly. But underneath I'm concerned about him. Stefan laughs. "We are who we are Stefan. Nothing's gonna change that."
"Well, I'm gonna find Elena." Stefan just brushes off me trying to comfort him. I'm much better at comforting Evie and Blaise. Or the kids. Hell even Enzo. That was awkward. He walks away.
"Don't embarrass me young man!" I call after him. I see him. Take a glass of whiskey and down it. I cringe. Blaise just laughs at me.
"You think that's funny young man?" I tease him tickling his belly. He just giggles louder. I stop tickling him and laugh with him. Enjoying the moment. I walk around. I notice Tyler and Matt drinking. I head over to them.
"Try not to drink too much." I tell them.
"What do you care?" Matt asks pissed off.
"I don't really care. I care if you get caught. Evie would be unhappy if Tyler got caught drinking." I say turning to Tyler.
"Yeah, it's all good Damon. We won't get caught." Tyler says taking another sip of bourbon.
"Don't do anything stupid either. You can come crash at my place if you need." I tell him.
"Got it, speaking of Evie. She here yet?" He asks.
"Not that I've seen. Want me to get her to text you?" I ask him.
"Naw, I was just curious." Tyler says brushing me off. I walk away while reminding myself to get her to reach out to Tyler anyway.
"DADDY!" I hear a squeal all of a sudden. I turn to see Bindi running full force towards me. I crouch down to catch her. Holding Blaise to one side I catch her with the other.
"Hey, princess. How are you?" I ask her smiling extremely big. Inside I'm doing a dance. She called me daddy.
"I missed you daddy." She says giving me a hug putting her head on my shoulder.
"Alright, princess. Let's get a good look at you." I say placing her down on her feet and indicating that she does a twirl. She does and Evie reaches my side.
"Doesn't our girl look beautiful?" She asks me with a smile.
"Beautiful as her mom," I say giving her a kiss. Bindi tugs on my pant leg indicating she wants up. I lift her. Enzo arrives with Channing. "How was the exploration, captain?" I ask Channing. He smiles up at me.
"Very good, sir. We explored every nook and cranny. No stragglers aboard." Channing says playing pirates. Like we sometimes do at home.
"Good, now we can get the root beer flowing." I joke with him.
We head to the bar and I get the kids and Evie some root beers. Evie just opts out for water. So, I take the root beer. All of a sudden the music changes. I look up and see Stefan walking away from the DJ. He obviously compelled the DJ and is drunk.
"I'll take the kids to dance. Bindi, would you like to dance with me?" Enzo asks her presenting her his hand. I put her down and she takes it. He bows over it kissing the air above it. He takes Blaise and heads to dance. I look to see Kelly and Stefan both dancing together.
"I'm pretty sure he's drunk." Evie tells me.
"Yeah, it makes the cravings easier. He came to me and told me he needed help." I tell her.
"We can get started then." She says with a smile. Elena walks over to us.
"Is he gonna be okay?" Elena asks me.
"Eventually. One way or another." I reply.
I smile at Stefan having fun. Stefan takes Blaise in his arms when Enzo offers him. I watch Stefan like a hawk. Not wanting him to hurt my boy. He just looks at Blaise with 'awe' well dancing with him. Stefan is smiling softly at Blaise. I listen hearing Blaise's giggles.
"I'm glad Stefan gets some time with Blaise. He can finally see what he's missing and working towards." Evie says. Stefan walks to us.
"He really is very sweet," He tells us looking down at Blaise still who is now lying on Stefan shoulder all tired out.
"Yeah, I'm a lucky mom. I got an easy baby." Evie says with a smile.
Blaise doses off and Stefan just rubs his back. A stupid smile on his face. Enzo comes back and goes to take Blaise back. Stefan just moves out of the way obviously wanting to keep holding him. Evie pulls out her phone and takes a picture of Stefan looking down at a sleeping Blaise, rubbing his back. I just smile at her.
I look up and see Matt dancing with Elena now. He looks tipsy. Bindi and Channing are both still dancing. Stefan looks up seeing Elena dancing with Matt he goes to walk over there.
"You will have to give Blaise back if you want to go fight someone." Evie tells him casually.
He looks torn at Elena and Matt and back down at Blaise. He finally hands her Blaise and walks off towards Elena and Matt.
"Should we help them?" I ask her.
"She got herself into this mess. She can get herself out." Is all Evie says. I notice Liz. I take Blaise in my arms. Cradling him to my chest. I take her hand with my other arm. We walk over to Liz.
"You know I love a woman in uniform but I have to side with this one. You look...you look smashing." I compliment her. She laughs.
"Thank you Damon. Cheers!" She says Evie clinks glasses with her for me. "I needed that. You know I had my doubts about you at first but like everyone else on the council you've won me over."
"Thanks Liz. It's really nice how welcoming the council has been. I like my life here in Mystic Falls. Starting to feel like home again." I tell her putting my arm around Evie and rubbing her back, pulling her into my side.
"I've definitely liked having Damon here." Evie says looking up at me with a smile. I lean down and kiss her forehead putting all the love I feel for her into it.
"Well, you're not gonna like what I have to tell you. Johnathan Gilbert's claims check out. Blood bank, the missing people, all of it's true. We might have a problem." Liz tells me. I notice Evie give me a slight look of concern.
"That is concerning." I say.
We continue to talk for a little while before Evie and I wonder off back to the bar. She asks the bartender to heat up one of Blaise's bottles. He comes back with it and I test it then pop it into his mouth. He suckles on it in his sleep. Elena walks up to us.
"Have you noticed what your brother has been up to?" Elena asks forcefully.
"No, I've been preoccupied with my son and what your uncle is doing." I tell her.
Evie leads me over to Tyler. I completely forgot to tell her to text him. Oh well, at least she got the chance to talk to him now.
"How much have you drunk?" She asks him.
"Not too much." He says holding a glass of vodka.
"And that glass of vodka?" I ask.
"Is probably too much…" he trails off putting the drink down.
I hand Blaise to Evie and take the glass leaving both of them to talk. I head out to the balcony for some air. John joins me.
"Damon, right?" He asks.
"John." I greet in return.
"We didn't get the chance to meet at the council meeting." He says.
"Yeah. It's a pleasure. Are you enjoying the kick-off?" I ask. Lying through my teeth. I would rip his throat out with my teeth for trying to take my son away from me.
"Oh yeah. I forgot how much fun these small town celebrations can be." John lies clearly.
"Yeah. When was the last time you were here?" I ask trying to get more information.
"Hasn't been that long, my brother's funeral. How long have you been in town?" He asks me.
"Oh, not long at all." I reply vaguely.
"So what do you think Damon? You know this vampire problem is real, right? It's a potential blood bath." He asks acting like he knows something I don't.
"I wouldn't overreact John." I try to calm him down.
"Oh, I think it's like 1864 all over again, vampires running amok. I guess we're just gonna have to hunt them down, throw them in a church and burn them to ash." John says suspiciously.
"That's the story, huh?" I ask.
"Part of the story, yeah." He says.
"Oh, there's more?" I ask pretending I don't know.
"Oh, there's a lot more. See, it seems there was a tomb under the church, where vampires were hidden, waiting for someone to come along and set them free. But then you already knew that didn't you?" He says brazenly. "I mean, you're the one that did it."
"And you're telling me this why?" I ask switching off from nice guy.
"I just thought we get the introductions out of the way." John says with a cocky attitude.
"You know that I could rip your throat out before anyone would notice?" I threaten.
"Yeah." John says not caring.
"Yeah, okay. But you probably ingest vervain so..." I reason through trailing off.
"Why don't you take a bite to find out?" He offers.
"It's not worth my time." I smile at him.
He just looks at me and smiles. I start to leave. Thinking about Blaise. I'm suddenly overcome with anger. He tried to have Evie kill my baby. And then tried to take him away. I vamp speed towards him. Snapping his neck and throwing him off the balcony. I head inside back to Evie. I see her just rocking Blaise back and forth in her arms. Looking like a vision of beauty.
"Have you gotten the chance to dance with your princess, yet?" She asks as I walk up.
"Not yet. I was thinking we could grab some air." I offer her my arm and take Blaise from her. Giving her arms a rest. We see Elena and Matt.
"You haven't seen my mom have you?" Matt asks as we walk up.
"No sorry," Evie says. I shake my head.
"No, not in a while." Elena says. We walk out to the hall and see Tyler and Kelly. Tyler looks like he's trying to push Kelly off without hurting her while she tries to eat his face. I hand Blaise over to Evie and quickly run to help. Matt right behind me. I hold Kelly back.
"Thanks," He says with a sigh of relief.
"What the hell was that?" Matt asks "and thanks?"
"Yeah, I couldn't get her off of me without hurting her." Tyler says.
"Matt!?" Kelly exclaims after trying to make out with me while I hold her at arms length. She finally stops realizing Matt is there.
"What the hell is going on?" Alaric asks the Mayor arriving right behind him. Evie runs over to Tyler asking him if he's okay. He pulls her into the hug, with Blaise in the middle of them and whispers that he is.
"I'll take it from here; I'll take it from here" The Mayor says he turns to Tyler. "Are you hurt? Go get cleaned up. It's okay. Go get cleaned up." Tyler leaves. The Mayor then turns to Alaric. "Thank you for your help." Dismissing him.
"Mayor maybe Evie should go check on Tyler." I suggest. "Have him stay at my place with us. He might need his friends at a time like this."
"He got caught with his best friends mother why would he need his friends?" Mayor asks confused the anger simmering underneath waiting to spill out.
"He was assaulted by the mother of one of his best friends out of loyalty to that best friend he was trying to get her off without hurting her." I explain the magnitude of the situation. Hoping that having an audience will make him for pliable.
"Of course," he says quietly then clears his throat and speaks louder. "Of course he would need his friends at a time like this. If you would have him I would be grateful." He turns to the guests. "Everything's fine. Everything is fine. Come on, everybody, back to the party. Let's go. Come on, have a good time!"
Evie and I walk away. "Why don't you take my car and head out with Blaise, Tyler, and the kids. If Jeremy wants to come he is also welcome." I suggest to her.
"Alright, we will be in the games room, when you return, I imagine." She says with a chuckle. She gives me a kiss. I kiss Blaise then see her go gather up the kids. Jeremy takes a sleeping Bindi from Enzo. I walk over and give her a kiss.
"Night, night, daddy." She says still half asleep.
"Night, princess," I reply.
I head over to Stefan who is drinking. I watch Evie leave with Jeremy, Tyler and the kids. Enzo walks over handing me his keys telling me that he's gonna run home.
"You wanna hear the bad news or the really bad news?" I ask him.
"Actually, I don't want any news Damon." He says.
"Alright, let me rephrase. Do you want to hear how the council is back in vampire mode or how I just killed Uncle John Gilbert?" I ask.
"What?" Stefan asks confused.
"Great party by the way, huh?" I say smiling then leaving. Stefan follows me.
"Damon." He calls.
I hear him stop. I turn around and see him eyeing Kelly who is bleeding. I head over and steer him away without saying anything.
"Probably not a good idea right now. Come let's watch the speech. Then you can leave. Enzo left already to the house. He ran and left me his keys. So you can go there and watch a movie with everyone. Or stay in your room. Which ever you feel like doing." I offer him trying to be supportive. We both head inside. I see John Gilbert enter.
"You got to be kidding me." I say.
"I thought you killed him?" Stefan asks confused.
"I did. At least I thought… Evie said her dad and Alaric had similar rings. That her uncle John got her dad's. It probably has the same magic attached to it." I say realizing what happened.
"Thank you all, thank you very much, thank you. Thank you all for joining us tonight in just a few moments we 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 town." Mayor addresses the town. A bell on a table is wheeled next to him. "And...and I would like to welcome back one of our town favorite's sons to do the honors of ringing our official charter bell. John Gilbert, would you please join me up here?"
John Gilbert applause and rejoins the mayor.
"One hundred and fifty years of community, prosperity, family. We take care of each other, we look after each other, protect each other," he says then looks right at me. "It's good to be home."
Everyone applauds, I join Alaric.
"Look at his right hand." I tell him.
"Whose?" Alaric asks.
"Towns favorite's son. Look at his ring." I tell him. John rings the bell.
"Well, it looks like mine." Alaric says catching on to what I was saying.
"Yeah, and that would be a big coincidence if he didn't just came back from the dead five minutes ago. Where the hell did you get your that ring? Evie said he got his from her dad." I say.
"Isobel, my wife." Alaric says.
"Who gave birth to Evie and Elena, under the medical care of the esteemed DR Grayson Gilbert, John's brother!" I put the pieces together. John has to be Evie's birth father. Which makes what he tried to do to her even worse.
"Do you think John knew Isobel?" Alaric asks.
"I think John knows a lot of things." I say trying not to give the thing I just realized away without telling Evie first. Alaric and I keep talking before too long I see John leaving. Alaric and I follow him.
"Going somewhere, hm?" I ask him.
"I've never liked to be the last one to leave a party. It's too desperate. You're going to kill me again or you're gonna let Mr. Saltzman do your dirty work?" John taunts.
"Okay, you obviously know who I am." Alaric says.
"I do. Alaric Saltzman, a high school history teacher with a secret." John says.
"Sure know a lot for someone who just got to town." I try to egg him on for more information.
"More than you can imagine, Damon. My knowledge of this town goes beyond anything that you" He says looking at me and then Alaric. "or you or the council knows. So, if you're planning on some clever high speed snatch ring vamp kill move, know that if I die, everything I know goes to the council including the fascinating little tale of the originals Salvatore brothers and their present day return to Mystic Falls."
"How did you get that ring?" Alaric asks.
"I had inherited one, my brother Gray had the other. This was his and I wouldn't have given mine to Isobel if I had known she'd hand it over to another guy." He replies showing us the ring.
"So you did know her?" I ask.
"Who do you think send her your way when she wanted to become a vampire?" John says giving me the piece of information I was missing.
"You sent her?" I ask him.
"Guilty. Why, did you think someone else send her? Maybe Katherine Pierce?" He asks seeing right through me.
"How do you know about Katherine?"
"How do I know anything Damon?" He asks evasively.
"What do you want?" I ask.
"So many questions. It was a pleasure meeting you, Ric. I've heard so much about you." John says walking away. He must still be in contact with Isobel. I drive back to the house just as Stefan arrives.
"You okay?" I ask him.
"Not really. I went to go see Elena. She's trying to be understanding but she keeps trying to be close to me not understanding at all. Evie at least keeps some space. If the room doesn't have flowing air she will open a window and have me stand by it. You know trying to help me." He tells me with a sigh.
"How are the cravings?" I ask.
"My head is pounding. I feel like my skin is on fire. The need is stronger." He replies.
"Of course it is. It's been too many years. But we will work together. Get you all cleaned up and on a regimented schedule. Bit by bit." I say.
We walk inside. Jeremy and Tyler are playing video games in the gaming room when I poke my head in. Evie sees me and gets up walking to me. I lead her out of the room. I tell her all about what happened tonight.
"So, you were right." I finish.
"I don't like that I was right about the rings, but what were you thinking killing him in such a public place with the council already on alert." She scolds me.
"I wasn't thinking. I was thinking about how he tried to take Blaise away from us. He tried to have him killed, Evie." I stress to her.
"I know, I was there. But that doesn't mean all sense has to go out the window. They find out you're a vampire and you get staked. All of the kids lose you. I lose you. Stefan loses you. Enzo loses you. Be more careful please." She says making me feel guilty.
"Alright, I'll be more careful. Do you know what we should do about the situation?" I ask her.
"I think we should just focus on getting Stefan back to normal. But keep a close eye on what the council is up to. That's all I can think of right now." She says with a sigh and rubs her head.
I take her head in my hands. "Let's get you changed and into bed. I think we've both had a long day." I offer. She smiles.
I vamp speed to the games room and tell the boys that we are heading up to bed. If they need anything to just knock. I vamp speed back over to her and lift her bridal style. She laughs holding on to my neck. I carry her human speed up to out room. Getting her one of my t-shirts putting it on the bed. I unzip her dress letting it fall to the floor. Kissing her shoulders. Just trying to make her feel the love I have for her and our little family we created. I guess it's not so little anymore.
I help her into my t-shirt with a smile. Taking her head in my hands and kissing her. I help her into bed. I vamp speed change into sweat pants then get into bed beside her pulling her into my chest. She curls up and falls asleep to my running my fingers through her hair. I fall asleep shortly after.