An: Despite Vinny being related to Damon now, past reincarnations weren't. It was only a matter of time before one of them ended up with him.
Elijah let himself into Vinny's home with the key she'd given him and took a look around, noting the instant temperature drop. "Hello Clove."
"You're lucky she likes you now, because I'm still pissed about my murder." The whisper drifted across the back of his neck.
"As you have the right to be." He began to look for the notes, gently moving Vinny's belongings so as to not cause a huge mess in his endeavor. The ghost was quiet for a full minute.
"You all suck at being alphas. I can't believe you left when my murderer is on the way to see her right now." This came from in front of him, closer to the ceiling. Was Clove circling him? Elijah felt his blood running cold at her words.
"She's terrified of Niklaus. He'll be the last one she says anything to." Elijah calmed himself and kept looking through Vinny's move-in mess.
"Except she did. You better not let him kill her too." Clove didn't materialize. "The crap she sent you to get is upstairs in a box next to the bed. Hurry up and get it and leave. It's your job to protect her. Don't fail this time." The words stung, but Elijah didn't retaliate. Even considering the circumstances of Vinny's curse, he and his siblings had done plenty to earn this sort of torture; even if it was immensely unfair to Vinny and her previous selves. As he was ascending the stairs, he pulled out his phone and dialed Rebekah.
"Rebekah, has Klaus left the house recently?"
"Yes, about three hours ago. He took a small suitcase with him. Why?" She was already connecting the dots and swore quietly. "Oh damn it!" He heard the sounds of displaced air as Rebekah began to move rapidly. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes to pick you up. Be ready or I'm going off to wring his neck without you."
x
Vinny was nervous enough that her fidgeting caught Damon's attention as they stood side by side in the kitchen, preparing dinner so Elena could rest. Vinny secretly thought she was maybe in the early weeks of a new pregnancy, but kept that to herself. "Easy there, Vinny. You're going to cut yourself with that knife." Damon gave her a searching look that Vinny felt went too deep.
Vinny scoffed. "Not me. I passed all my safety courses and haven't seriously nicked myself for years now." She went back to finely chopping garlic to make the aioli and was focused for maybe ten seconds before she again thought of how she had agreed to meet up with Klaus Mikaelson. This was of course when her hand slipped and the tip of her finger was cut into. Blood welled up immediately, and Vinny took a few moments to register pain. It wasn't until Damon pressed a towel over her hand and began applying pressure that Vinny started.
"Vincent." He had gears turning in his head as he searched even harder in her gaze. "I'm not sure what's on your mind today, but take it from someone who's made a lot of mistakes... If you're this distracted by whatever you've decided to do, don't do it. You look guilty."
Then Damon shouted down the hall as he was pushing her out the doors. "Elena, dinner is on hold. I have to drive Vinny to the hospital. I'll turn the stove on and finish when I get back."
x
Vinny had needed a couple stitches, but thanks to Damon's connections they were in and out of the hospital in an hour. She checked her phone to see a couple missed texts and quickly opened them. There was one from Elijah which she guiltily swiped away when she saw what it said.
Vincent, you aren't about to do something irresponsible are you?
The next one was from Klaus. Vinny's heart raced as she opened it. I'm here, omega. I'll see you at the hotel when you get out of the hospital. I've got something to help you heal.
"Damon." Vinny unbuckled from her seat. "I'll get out here. I'm not ready to go back out to the house yet."
He shot her a very worried look and Vinny tensed up, wondering how this would work if he decided to fight her. The hotel they were meeting at was in town, hardly that difficult to track down. "If you're sure, Vinny." He rolled to a gentle stop on the side of the main road through town.
Vinny went for the door handle, her heart racing in excitement and some deeper, much achier need. A hand on her own stopped her. "Omega...are you in trouble?" His voice dropped a few octaves and took on that extra something.
Vinny had a sudden violent flash in her head as a memory tore free and flooded the front of her mind.
x
"I love you." Emily Foster touched her forehead to Damon Salvatore's. The fresh bonding bite stung on her neck as it throbbed with her pulse, and Damon pulled away to lap at the slowly oozing blood.
"It'll heal up soon." He reassured her, his voice quiet as he came to stare her in the eyes. "I love you too, Emily." She could feel it, the warmth of his deep affection for her. It reached her through their bond like rays of sunshine peeking through clouds. Emily cuddled onto his chest, looking up at the sky from their spot on the picnic blanket.
"You've changed." She stated fondly, running her fingers over his neck where she'd tried to make a returned bonding bite and his vampire skin had simply healed over. It seemed to have taken despite that, though because she was picking up on his feelings. "But you're still you."
Damon wasn't sure how to answer, she could tell. He resorted to simply running fingers through her hair as they enjoyed the afterglow of mating. "It was easy, for you. I'll never let go." He nuzzled into her neck, gently nipping her shoulder and licking the tiny beads of blood up.
x
Vinny jolted becoming aware of herself again as she let out a confused and angry cry. She shoved Damon off of her, breathing as if she'd just run a marathon. "Don't you omega me." She shivered with the feelings filling her to her brim. "You used the Voice on me. You really did that when you have Elena and you've clearly moved on from me. When you know how lonely I am. How desperately I crave what Elena has. What you once gave me!" She shoved him in his seat, getting physical. "You bastard! It's one thing to move on. I clearly wasn't your One. But you...you...You don't get to pull on my strings anymore!"
"Vinny, I'm just worried-"
Vinny savagely cut him off. "Fuck you, Salvatore. Go home to your pretty wife." She slammed his door open and began storming up the sidewalk, wiping tears from her eyes.
"Damn Damon with his stupid charm and my stupid memories." It felt so elementary, the way she was expressing her frustration. She pulled out her phone and began to text Klaus. I'm on my way. I need you to come out and lead me in. I am shaken and I need my alpha.
"I'm right here, love." A gentle finger tipped her chin up to meet Klaus' eyes. They were warmer than Vinny remembered and more full of life. "I felt your distress from up the block. Come along. Let's get you inside and I'll rub your back. I know Inga used to love that." Vinny wordlessly looped her arm in his and leaned on him as they began to walk up toward the fanciest hotel in town. "Don't cry anymore, Vinny. Alpha is here now."