The Noble Diaries

by SSJ Lone Wolf

Finding himself back in time to the early twenty-first century, Six thought that attending Highschool would be a breeze compared to fighting the Covenant and Insurrectionists. But between Vampires, Werewolves, doublegangers, and countless other supernatural creatures and who knows what else, he finds that his troubles are just starting.

8. Chapter 8

The Noble Diaries

Disclaimer: I do not own Halo or The Vampire Dairies in any way, shape, or form, they belong to their respective owners.

Jmknz777: Thanks!

CrimsonN7: Hopefully this was worth the wait.

Azai Jin: You're welcome! And it'll take some time, a LOT of time before anyone can really help Six since you can't help someone that doesn't want to be helped. And he does and will in this chapter. And hopefully this chapter was worth the wait.

NightEternity: The two really are polar opposites from one another with the whole stoic/emotionless super soldier and cheerful doppelganger, at least Elena was in season 1 before she started learning more about the supernatural world. And I'm sure that Six will see the clear differences between Elena and Katherine even when the latter tires impersonating her.

NeroUmu: Thanks, and if it's the Six in the Wolves that Walk Alone fic then I must disagree; that Six was a brilliant take on the character and miles better than the one that I have in any of my stories.

War Sage: Thanks. And given all the proof that Dot found for him there was really no denying their existence. I wouldn't say that Six is being mean to Glides, more that he is laying down facts...and being a troll. And yeah, Six really doesn't like sleeping due to his PTSD nightmares. But not a bad idea about Dot spiking his drink and food, even if he'll be angry when he realizes what she's done.

His blood won't work on werewolves since that's genetic, but it might work on other supernatural creatures that I plan on bringing in from other shows/games like Supernatural. And I'm glad you like it, on both accounts. It goes without saying that Zach and Damon don't get on, only now Zach can talk back without getting his neck snapped. Unfortunately, Six has no time or desire to play football...but that might change the more he hangs out with Matt.

And I imagine that the fight between Six and Tyler would play similar to how the truckdrivers vs Clark went in Man of Steel, with him shoving him but it having no affect sort of like how when he punched Stefan and he just tanked it. And no, Six doesn't know what he's doing lol. Yep, someone has to look after Jeremy while he's on his drug faze; and Bonnie and Caroline would probably have a field day if they learnt that she was in her night clothes.

And I'm probably not going to do the story...at least not for a very long time, it's just an idea that I was toying with. And will do.

Damien Evermere: I'm probably not going to do it, at least not for a long time. And I haven't watched Agents of Shield since like season 2, I think. I'd have to do a lot of watching to catch up with what's been happening.

sniperbro1998: It's about time someone starts too.

DeathCrawler: Hopefully this one will be worth the wait.

Deviantpevert: Really like that idea about Elena having her own E.T. moment. But even high, I don't think that Jeremy would say something like that to his sister.

Statess: Well they had been avoiding each other for a while, or at least Stefan has been avoiding Six to give him some space, their confrontation had to happen eventually.

GrimmPandaMan: Thanks!

marlastiano: You're welcome!

LeodredAQW: Well, there is more in this chapter, hopefully they don't disappoint.

BaddassWitcher: If I do write that fic, it won't be for a while.

Guest: As I mentioned above, it was only an idea. And if I do end up doing it then it won't be for a very long time.

Morgiff: I guess it was but felt that it was better than just jumping straight to episode 4.

Grudgematch: It would certainly cause Six no small amount of headaches if they did, especially if he has to try and find them before Sheriff Forbes gets reports about floating squids. And to my knowledge Huragok eat sugar, which Shelia and Bonnie wouldn't know until Six tells them. And Six has no intention of giving Damon anything, but that might change depending on if I keep him in this story or not.

Master of the Underworld: I can see it happening. And Caroline probably won't become a vampire in this story/universe. That doesn't mean that she's just going to be discarded since I do have something planned for her.

Sixfan29: Six isn't really being mean, just grumpy, factual, and trolling. He really does, which he fortunately does in this chapter. Yeah, I haven't been giving Bonnie much love in these last few chapters, I do plan on changing that soon. He's really not, but time with Matt might change that. I'm sure that Stefan is regretting his choice to talk to Six after all his innuendo's. I don't think there's another weed on Earth, lol. Elena does seem to have a way with the stubborn Spartan.

Edboy4926: Elena probably will be the first to discover his secret and walk aboard the ship. And I never even thought about the Lifeworker Huragok, but now that I have, I definitely have to include one into the story that can open up so many possibilities such as upgrading Six even further. But not sure where you're going with the vampire and werewolf angle.

NorthernLaw738: That he is.

The Lone VA: Not a bad idea, though I do have another idea on what to do with Tanner to get him fired so that Alaric can take over.

aljericho2001: That's true about the plasma weapons. I am still on planning on creating UV rounds for his UNSC weapons though.

RockofthemMarin: It is?

Guest: Well like I've said above the Halo/Avengers crossover was only an idea that I was toying with.

Guest: I think that eventually they're going to piece together that he's not joking; and Dot really should, lol.

pau456: Six and Dot will adapt to fight whatever supernatural being they're fighting like using UV rounds for Vampires.

teriontaylor1029: Thank you so much.

ayerdehoy: I think i either writ or planned on writing a Halo and Fallout 3 story years and years ago, but it never really worked out.

Varigonx: Yeah, sorry about the massive hiatus. And yes, it is currently 2009.

Mhkmasterofodst: If I do it won't be for a while.

Daua002: I mean its Katherine, she's definitely going to try to manipulate and seduce Six, which will backfire on her. And given time I can see her slowly falling for Six, both being survivors and all.

Guest: When Stefan finally meets Dot, he'll know immediately that somethings up.

Brainstorm Sorcerer: In this story/universe there'll be many, many more monsters than there are in the show simply to give Six something to do other than just throwing him into each episode and adding a couple of lines for him. And while it is never confirmed, I imagine that after a thousand years that there has to be hundreds of thousands of vampires all around the world by now; so when Six starts hunting them he won't go small.

Six really doesn't like sleeping due to his PTSD nightmares that have really only gotten worse since Reach. And Six will probably apologize...with a little persuasion from one of the girls when they find out what he said, which will mostly be due to Glides messaging them from the ship. Yeah, I thought about making it a couple of days but ultimately decided to make it a permanent thing which will really shake things up, and if/when Klaus finds out about a cure, he might see it as a massive threat to his plans. Rebekah and Finn no doubt will be thrilled, whereas Kol and Klaus hate, I don't think that Elijah will care too much about it.

Zach really has every reason in the world to hate Damon, even if he can't remember that he lost his girlfriend and chance to be a father because of him. And Tyler during most of season 1 was just an asshole which was due to his suppressed werewolf side. But once he unlocks it then she could become pretty chill with Six. A super soldier, a werewolf, and a regular human just hanging out and causing far less drama than two immortal vampires fighting over a teenaged girl, that's for sure.

It really is and all Six wanted to do was be left alone and try to adapt to civilian life. And I don't see why it won't work on an original, only like the cure in the show when an Original gets cured it's permanent, meaning they can't become a vampire again. I can't really see any reason for Katherine to turn up earlier since didn't she only appear after hearing that the tomb had been opened and she had to silence any rumours getting out that she wasn't in the tomb?

If it means getting her mother out of the tomb then I don't see why Anna wouldn't join forces with Damon who might ask her to turn him into a vampire again, as well as helping him get a replacement arm. And I was thinking that Witches, mainly Shelia, would know that he's not meant to be there due to talking to spirits. Not a bad idea about the Teen Wolf modifications, might have to add it into the story, could allow Werewolves to fight back against vamps like how Tyler couldn't really do anything when Caroline forced him and Matt to guess her favourite colour etc, etc.

"Hey." Probably is still a popular phrase in the future but before joining Noble Team, Six spent eight years alone with no one to talk to. His vocabulary is not going to be his strongest suit. And I imagine that if it was Katherine that he said it to she might comment about it's not his blood that she wants to suck

kripky: Enjoy!

Guest: Yeah, I'm good. Sorry about the massive hiatus.

---

Chapter 8.

---

"Distance is closing on this vessel's refuelling track with the Covenant supercarrier. Seventy-six seconds until endpoint." Dot's emotionless, synthetic voice alerted him across the comms as he slung his arm over his shoulder and connected the DMR onto the magnetic plate once the firefight had ended, the hanger cleared of hostiles.

Hearing a bang, he turned and looked over at where the Pelican was situated to see Jorge uncharacteristically losing his composure as he slapped the side of the slipspace, getting a rebellious beep back. "So...it's gonna be like that?" Looking over his shoulder, he stared at him from behind his reddish-brown visor and held his gaze for a moment before pushing himself away and approached him.

"Well, I've got good news and bad news. The old bird took some fire during our little scrap and her thruster gimble is toast. Which means the only way off this slag heap is gravity."

"And the good news?"

"That was the good news."

Dot's voice came across the comms again, alerting them both. "At current velocity, sixty-seven seconds until....

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Jorge grumbled frustratingly at the reminder. Bringing his hands up, he grabbed the sides of his helmet and pulled it off. Dropping it, a bang resonated throughout the hanger bay as the titanium helmet hit the alien metal flooring. "Bad news, timer's fried. I'm going to have to fire it manually."

"That's a one-way trip."

Undeterred, Jorge shrugged his shoulders. "We all make it sooner or later." He told him. "Better get going, Six. They're going to need you down there." Slipping his hand underneath his armour, he removed his dog tags. "Listen, Reach has been good to me, time's come to return the favour. Don't deny me this." Dropping the tags into his palm, Jorge gripped his hand in a final farewell gesture.

Not having the chance to protest, Jorge tightened his grip and lifted him off the ground then carried him over to the energy barrier. "Tell em' to make it count." He told him before throwing him through the barrier and out of the corvette.

Falling through space and back towards Reach, all he could do was watched as the corvette drifted underneath the supercarrier. A deep purple light bled out of the hanger, followed by a large slipspace portal that engulfed the ship; and once it closed, Jorge, the corvette, and the mid-section of the supercarrier were gone, leaving behind only the bow and stern that floated in opposite directions, the parts that had been bisected glowing a bright orangery-red.

"Slipspace rupture detected." Dot voiced across the comms as slipspace portals opened above with multi capital ships emerging from within.

"Gamma Station Control, reading multiple pings below the orbital Defence Grid!"

"Slipspace rupture detected."

"Yeah, we're picking up anomalies too..."

"Are you reading this?"

"Slipspace rupture detected."

More and more slipspace portals continued to open up with numerous covenant ships continuously appearing above Reach.

"Multiple Covenant signatures!"

"Slipspace rupture detected."

"Does anyone have a visual?!"

"They're everywhere!"

"Slipspace rupture detected."

"Oh, this can't be happening!"

"Must be whole damn Covenant fleet!"

"Slipspace rupture detective."

"We've got Banshees in the air! I repeat, we've got Banshees in the air!"

"They just wiped the city off the map!"

"Slipspace rupture detected."

"There are still people down here!"

"We need Air Support, now!"

"Slipspace rupture detected."

"We're overrun. We'll hold this position for as long as we can!"

"Slipspace rupture detected."

"We've got Covenant ships enroute to New Alexandria; does anyone read, over?!" Was the final transmission that he heard as he entered the atmosphere of Reach and was consumed by fire. Plummeting down towards the planet and into the unknown in a fiery inferno, only one thought ran through his mind.

He failed.

---

His blue eyes snapping open, Six stared up at a familiar bedroom ceiling rather than being consumed by fire and falling back towards Reach after leaving Jorge to die. Bringing up his trembling hand, he rubbed the back of his eyes just as the weight on his chest shifted.

Pulling his hand away, he looked down to see the top of Elena's head resting on his chest and hearing her soft breathing that filled the dark bedroom, she was still fast asleep. Doing nothing that would risk waking her knowing that unlike him she needed her sleep, he kept his arm around her. And while it was a strange experience waking up with someone rather than alone like he had been since leaving Onyx, and even then nobody had ever slept on his chest before, he disregarded it in favour of ridding himself of the nightmare that had haunted from the day that everything went wrong.

From his perspective it had been over four months since Jorge had died...and his death had been meaningless. The supercarrier might have been destroyed but moments later hundreds more Covenant ships arrived, and the invasion of Reach began; an invasion that they ultimately lost after weeks of fighting.

He should have died on that corvette, not Jorge; and how much better things would have been if he had. But instead, humanity was left with him and because of that Reach had fallen, hundreds of millions had been lost, all of them slaughtered by the Covenant that butchered every man, woman, and child they came across. Not even infants were spared from their campaign to wipe them out in the name of their gods, the Forerunners.

It should have been him to stay behind and activate the slipspace drive. He was a Spartan-III, entirely expendable, whereas Jorge was not. If he had lived instead of him then there was no doubt in his mind that he would've ensured that more than just Jun survived...and he couldn't even be certain of that, not knowing the status of Jun after Carter had ordered him to escort Doctor Halsey to CASTLE Base.

But the worst part was that Jorge had died thinking that he had saved Reach. He should have been there, not him; they all should have been there. Carter, Kat, Jun, Emile, Jorge, all of them. But instead, it was him. He lived and everyone else died. Of all the good people that could have lived, why was it that...

Burying those thoughts away, Six turned his head and looked over at the alarm clock that sat atop the bedside table and saw the time. 04:34. "A little over three hours." He thought to himself, the usual amount of sleep he got these days. Knowing there was no point in trying to fall back to sleep, he glanced down at Elena to see that she was still sleeping peacefully. Determined not to wake her, he breathed through his nose and stayed where he was instead of trying to leave even knowing that it would be hours before she woke up.

---

Waking to the feeling of sunlight brushing across her face, Elena slowly opened her eyes to see a familiar black hooded sweatshirt that hid the perfectly sculpted chest that she had been using as a pillow. Her eyes closing, she snuggled against him and felt her heart flutter when Jericho tightened his arm around her. "Did you get any sleep?" She whispered softly, the silence of the room only adding to the intimacy between them.

"After being imprisoned?"

Smiling, Elena brought up her hand and rubbed his chest. "Someone has to take care of you." She mumbled, pulling him upstairs last night to stop him from getting back in his car knowing that he was likely to crash it with how exhausted he was.

"Lucky me."

Her eyes still closed, Elena softly rubbed his chest. "Sounds like you did." She voiced quietly. His chin resting atop her head, she curled up against his godly body that she was laying against which felt incredible through the fabric of her pyjamas.

"Does it?"

She smiled at his dry retort. "It does. But at least I won't be worried about you passing out from exhaustion." She uttered peacefully, contented to stay in his strong arms that made her feel safe, like nothing could ever hurt her again.

"Your..."

Already knowing what he was going to say, what he always said when anyone showed him even the slightest bit of concern, Elena interrupted. "Well you've got it, whether you like it or not." She expressed firmly, albeit quietly as she absentmindedly his chest. "And you never answered my question."

"With your snoring?"

Elena smiled a little more. "I don't snore."

"It was like a buffalo with toothache."

"I'm surprised you know what a buffalo is." Elena shot back with a smile. His arm wrapped around her and his hand resting gently on her shoulder, she sighed at the feeling of his fingertips lightly trailing across her bare skin that made her heart race in a way it never had with Matt. The sensation only heightened with her eyes closed, she let out a small moan, not even hiding how amazing his touch felt. "Um, I know it's kinda last minute but are you doing anything on Saturday?"

Jericho replied. "I am. I've been invited to a social gathering in Mystic Falls that Dot wants me to attend."

"...at the Lockwood mansion?"

"Hm."

"So have I." Elena told him. "...are you going with anyone?"

"I imagine numerous people will be attending, yourself included since you were apparently invited."

Smiling, Elena continued. "I meant do you have a date?"

"If you were invited, shouldn't you know the date?"

Taking that as a no. "I haven't got a date yet."

"It'll be on the letter."

Finally opening her eyes, Elena lifted her head and looked up at Jericho to see him staring back with his intense blue eyes that didn't look half as tired as they had the night before meaning that he had gotten some sleep. "If you're not going to ask me; will you be my date to the Founder's Party?"

"I'm guessing that you'll be needing transport to and from the social gathering?"

Knowing that was the Jericho equivalent of agreeing, Elena smiled. "It is expected."

"Hm." Jericho grunted back. "I'll pick you up Saturday."

Returning to her previous spot on his chest, Elena snuggled against him to get comfortable. "Good." She whispered happily. Not caring that they had to get up for school soon, she closed her eyes and affectionally rubbed his chest. She felt euphoric right now. Not only had she got herself a date for the Founder's Party, but the way that Jericho held her and the gentleness in which he ran his fingertips across her arm, she knew that they had something.

---

"Back up a sec, Jericho slept round yours last night?"

Walking next to Bonnie as they headed down the path that led to the school entrance, Elena nodded. "Yeah." She said keeping her voice down as they passed the other students that were hanging around outside on the grass,

"And?"

"And nothing."

Bonnie groaned. "Come on, Elena. There is no way that you had tall, dark, and smexy all to yourself last night and you did nothing."

"He was exhausted."

"That's an excuse and you know it." Bonnie disagreed strongly as they stepped into the school. "First it was because he was hurt, now because he was exhausted. What's next, the weather wasn't right?" She asked, the last part said sarcastically. "I hate to say it, but maybe Caroline's got a point about you being frigid."

Elena immediately grew defensive. "I'm not frigid."

"Then why haven't you tried anything?"

The brunette replied. "Because we haven't even known each other a month yet."

"But you've known him long enough to share a bed?" Bonnie countered with a look. "Was there cuddling?"

"...maybe."

"Really? Huh, Jericho never struck me as a cuddler. But maybe beneath that tough exterior is a big old teddy bear." Bonnie remarked walking through the school. "And how did it feel waking up with those big, muscular arms wrapped around you? Was there any spooning?"

"There was no spooning."

"So you were laying on top of him." Bonnie quickly put together as they walked down the hall and navigated through the crowd. "And how did it feel being pressed against that glorious body of his?"

"Fine."

"Really, just fine?" Bonnie repeated incredulously, not believing her for a second. "Did he have any morning..."

Knowing exactly where she was going, Elena swiftly cut her off. "No."

"Did you look?"

Her cheeks slowly heating up, Elena answered. "No."

"So nothing happened? Nothing at all?"

Answering, Elena told her. "I did get a date for the Founder's Party."

"That makes one of us." Bonnie mumbled as she approached her locker.

"We've still got plenty of time to find you a date."

Bonnie strongly disagreed. "Unlike you and Caroline I don't have guys lining up to ask me out." She remarked...and a little miserably at that. Caroline might complain about never being anyone's first choice but at least she was actually considered.

"I don't..."

"You've had Stefan pining after you since the day you met," Bonnie pointed out. "And you somehow got a date with Jericho, Jericho." She said putting emphasis on smexy's name. "There isn't a boy at school that would say no if you asked them out."

While she disagreed, Elena still tried cheering her best friend up. "Would it make you feel better if I told you that I asked Jericho to the Founder's Party?"

"Very much so."

---

Sometime after school had ended, Caroline arrived at the Salvatore Boarding House to get herself a date. If Elena could snatch up Jericho, then she could do the same with Stefan. Pulling up and parking outside of the old mansion, she climbed out of her 2006 Dodge Charger and walked over to the front door.

Knocking the door, the blonde waited patiently for someone to answer. Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long as the door opened to reveal a middle-aged man standing on the other side. "Hello, can I help you?"

"Yes, um, is Stefan in?"

The man answered with a nod. "One moment." He told her before looking over his shoulder and called into the house. "Stefan, there's someone here to see you!" Looking back at Caroline, he gestured for her to come inside.

Offering a smile, Caroline stepped into the mansion. Looking around the foyer, she spotted a couple of old lamps off at the side that looked old, like really old...which really could be said to describe everything within the building. Along the walls were several pictures, all which looked decades old. Hearing footsteps, she looked in the direction that they were coming from to see Stefan walking out of what she guessed was the parlor, looking as fine as ever.

"Caroline." Stefan greeted, looking surprised to see her. "Can I help you?" He asked as the man quietly excused himself by disappearing into the mansion leaving Caroline and Stefan alone.

"Hey." Caroline smiled back. "What are you up to on Saturday?" She inquired boldly and before Stefan could even open his mouth to reply, she continued. "Because there's this event called the Founder's Party at the Lockwood Mansion and..."

"They still do that?"

Surprised, Caroline voiced it. "You've been before?"

"No." Stefan uttered quietly. "The Salvatore's don't get invited anymore...at least not to my knowledge. I'd have to ask my Uncle Zach if we..."

Cutting him off, Caroline decided to rectify that. "Well, now you do. Would you be my date to the party? Jericho and Elena are going together, so I thought that we could." She voiced and didn't miss the disappointment in his eyes when she mentioned Elena going with Jericho. Not letting that get her down knowing that she would always come second to Elena, she opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word out,

"Oh, he would love too right brother?"

Looking sharply in the direction that the voice came from, Caroline was taken aback by the man that was leaning against the wall. Not because of the eyepatch, the rugged facial hair, or even the fact that they were missing an arm, but rather because she recognised them. It was the hottie from the bar...at least he was a hottie.

"Hey," Caroline smiled weakly. "You look..."

"Different? Well, you can thank Stefan's bestie for that."

Horrified, Caroline looked at Stefan then back to his brother. "Stefan's friend did that to you?"

"Yep! Good ol' Jericho."

"Jericho?" Caroline repeated, frowning. "You mean Jericho Re...

Stefan suddenly interrupted. "Let's talk outside." He encouraged and quickly ushered Caroline towards the door. Stepping outside, he closed the door behind them and walked down the path with Caroline. "Sorry about that."

"So was he talking about..."

"That's just Damon being Damon." Stefan told her, interrupting Caroline once more. "And speaking of Damon, how do you know him?"

Playing it off as best she could, Caroline answered. "I wouldn't say I know him per say, I just saw him at the Grill a couple of weeks ago before the...well, you know." She informed Stefan awkwardly. "But why would he say that Jericho..."

"Damon is a little bitter right now since we can't afford to buy a cybernetic arm, and so he blames Jericho for making them so expensive."

While it did explain his brother's bitterness, Caroline was still unconvinced but didn't voice it. "Can't you just ask Jericho?" She asked, then remembered the tension between them, which was probably over Elena, she thought, her own bitterness coming into play. "I could ask, if you like?"

"Jericho can't just hand out free cybernetics." Stefan pointed out, declining the offer. "But you didn't come here to talk about Damon or cybernetics."

"No, I didn't." Caroline agreed as they slowly approached her car. "And you still haven't given me an answer."

Sighing, Stefan attempted to decline that offer too. "Isn't there..."

"Do you have a suit?"

"...I do."

"What about a car?"

"Yes."

Caroline beamed. "Great!" She chirped happily. "Then you can pick me up on Saturday at around two o'clock. I live at 2118 Floyd Street."

---

The day of the Founder's Party soon arrived. Inside the Gilbert Household, Bonnie sat around the kitchen table and inspected the nail polish in her hands, reading the names out on the bottles. "Delicate flower vs Naughty Vixen."

"Tough choice. Can we mix them?" Elena asked walking over with two pieces of kitchen roll.

"Look at you, getting all pretty for your date." Bonnie remarked as she dug through her bag. "You seem happy."

Sitting down next to her, Elena replied. "I am. Tonight's gonna be a good night. But don't let stop you from telling me whatever it is you wanted to tell me the second you walked through the door."

"It's nothing."

Grabbing the nail polish from her, Elena looked at her best friend. "Bonnie, out with it."

"Okay, but you gotta promise not to tell Caroline I told you."

"I won't."

"And you especially can't tell Jericho, not if it's true." Bonnie voiced getting a tight nod from Elena. "Okay, so I was talking to Caroline at the Grill, and she mentioned something that Damon said about Jericho."

Frowning, Elena spoke. "Damon? As in Stefan's brother, Damon?"

"Yeah. So, apparently when she went to their home the other day to ask Stefan to be her date, Damon alluded to Jericho being the one that ripped his arm off and gouged his eye out."

"That's ridiculous."

"Is it?" Bonnie asked rhetorically. "Don't you find it strange how they were both hurt at the exact same time?"

Opening her mouth to defend Jericho, Elena stopped when Bonnie brought up a good point; they had both been hurt at the same time. And not only had Stefan been evasive about what happened to his brother, but so had Jericho about who had attacked him. "A little. But Jericho wouldn't..."

"And how do you know?" Bonnie quizzed Elena. "What do you, what do any of us really know about Jericho other than what you can find online?"

Elena shot back. "And what do any of us know about Damon?"

"We know that he's missing an arm and an eye." Bonnie answered Elena. "And he has been since Jericho was hurt. Look, I'm not saying that it was him...

"That's not what it sounds like."

"But why would Damon say that Jericho did it if it wasn't true?"

"...I don't know."

"Exactly. For all we know Jericho might be a psychopath."

With a hard look, Elena retorted. "And Damon might be a pathological liar. Unless you've forgotten it was Jericho that was attacked,"

"That's just his side of the story." Bonnie voiced as she painted her nails.

"What, so you think that after leaving mine that Jericho just drove around town and attacked the first person he came across?" Elena asked rhetorically, a sliver of anger in her voice. "You know Jericho...

"No, I don't. No one does."

"I do."

"You said the other day that you barely knew about thing about him." Bonnie reminded her. "Mostly because he never talks about...

Retaliating, Elena defended Jericho. "And why do you think that is? Just about everyone he's ever cared about are gone, everyone but Dot. His parents, his brother or sister, perhaps both, his friends...

"And that doesn't sound shady to you?"

"What's shady about his loved ones dying? It's not like he asked..."

"I'm not saying he did...

"Could have fooled me." Elena muttered, a little miffed how Bonnie was painting out Jericho as the bad guy in all this. "Sounds like you've already made up your mind about him. What happened to him being smexy?"

"I still think he's smexy, but that doesn't mean I'm blind to the writing on the wall...and the writing is pointing to him being the one that ripped Damon's arm off and gouged out his eye." Bonnie said voicing her opinion. "And you'd have to be blind not to see the tension between Jericho and Stefan, which started the moment that Jericho returned to school. We thought it was because they both like you, but maybe Stefan knows that Jericho was the one that attacked his brother."

Silently mulling her words over in her head, Elena rebuked. "If that was true then why hasn't Stefan called the cops?"

"Who says he hasn't?" Bonnie quizzed Elena. "Or maybe he's scared what Jericho will do to him if he tries?" She suggested with a small shrug.

"Well according to Jeremy, Jericho and Stefan were hanging out at the auto shop the other night. I would hardly call that being scared of him." Elena informed Bonnie. "Also, people can't tear off limbs."

"Have you seen Jericho?"

"People can't tear off limbs." Elena repeated firmly for a second time.

"Then what happened to Damon?" Bonnie challenged.

Elena shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe he was attacked by that wild animal that was on the loose and lived the tell the tale, the same one that attacked Vicki. But whatever it was that happened to Stefan's brother, it had nothing to do with Jericho." She stated insistently. "And over six thousand people that live in Mystic Falls. Just because two people were hurt at the same time doesn't mean that it's connected."

"I hope you're right, for your sake."

Returning a frown, Elena pressed a little more. "And what did Stefan say about it all?"

"Apparently he just said it was Damon being Damon."

"Well, there you go then."

Bonnie groaned. "Come on, Elena!" She cried out, one that sounded an awful lot like a whine. "That's a lie, and you know it. Why would Damon blame Jericho unless it was him that attacked him?"

"I...don't know." Elena confessed, though it sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than Bonnie. It was physically impossible to tear someone arm off, no matter how strong they looked...and yet, Damon and Jericho had been hurt at the same time. But even if it was somehow possible, Jericho wouldn't just rip someone arm off and gouge out their eye, even if the person had bit them and split his cheek open. This was just what she needed before the party, doubts and more questions.

---

"You look positively dashing, brother." Damon remarked as Stefan stepped into the parlor wearing a dark charcoal suit with a Prussian blue shirt with fine white line and black buttons. "All ready for your big date...even if it's not the date you want." He winced consolingly.

Trying his hardest to ignore Damon, Stefan walked over to the mirror and sorted his collar out.

"Not that she's a bad substitute." The former vampire continued. "I know you're pining for Katherine lite but even you must have seen that body of hers. I was going to enjoy playing with her for a little bit."

"Elena isn't Katherine." Stefan expressed strongly. "And Caroline was never yours to play with, she's a person..."

Damon chuckled. "So defensive." He ridiculed as Stefan turned to face him. "Although, I do wonder what poor, sweet little Elena will think if she ever discovers that the only reason you're interested in her is because she looks like our beloved Katherine."

"That's not why I'm interested in her."

"So if she didn't look like Katherine you would still have to know her?"

Feeling a mixture of embarrassment and frustration knowing that Damon had read his journal, Stefan replied. "Elena's physical resemblance to Katherine might have been what drew me in,"

"Resemblance? She's identical."

Stefan disagreed. "Physically perhaps, but personality..."

"Ah, so she's Katherine 2.0 for you?"

Not having the time for this, Stefan walked over and grabbed his car keys. "I need to get going. Try not to do anything..." trailing off knowing that it was pointless trying to tell Damon to behaviour, he headed for the door. "Just try not to make Zach's life any harder." He said, almost pleadingly.

"No promises!" Damon called after Stefan. Once he was gone, his smug smirk fell and quickly replaced with a bitter look. Everything that he had spent months planning had slipped through his fingers, all because of Tony Montana. Not only had he robbed him of his vampirism and the power that came with it, ripped his arm off, gouged his eye out, but had also prevented him from going to the Founder's Party to retrieve the talisman that he had stored away a hundred and forty-five years ago which he had been planning on using to free Katherine from the tomb so that they could finally be together.

Stefan could have his cheap knockoff, and he would have Katherine; but that dream had been destroyed...all because of him. Him and his stupid blood. Even now he gritted his teeth in anger at how it had somehow stripped him of his vampirism and forced to be human again. And he wasn't even that, not fully, he was only half a man now, all because of him. He had stolen everything from him, robbed him of the chance to be with Katherine again; and so it was only fair for him to return the favour.

Now that he knew what he was capable of, he would be ready for him. But first things first, he needed to become a vampire again...as well as getting one of those cybernetic arms to replace the one he lost. Stefan wouldn't help him in either of them, so he needed to find a vampire that would. It was times like this that he wished that Enzo was still alive, he would've helped him.

---

Slipping his arm through the hole of his black waistcoat, Six finished getting dressed for the Founder's Party. "Not the suit I want to be wearing." He grunted under his breath as he started fastening the buttons.

"And like I told you; you can't go to the party in your power armour."

Glancing over at Dot who was wearing a cobalt blue dress for the party, one that had been specifically tailored for her, Six responded. "I thought you wanted me to stand out?"

"There is a huge difference between standing out and drawing attention." Dot told the super soldier. "And in Mjolnir you stand 6'9 and weight approximately a ton, you'll be doing a little more than just standing out."

"Wouldn't need to worry about any assassination attempts."

"You're paranoid."

Six didn't disagree. "There's strength in paranoia."

"No, there is paranoia in paranoia." Dot argued back. "And nobody is going to try and assassinate you."

"Why not?" Six questioned. "A social gathering is the perfect environment to conduct an assassination. While the target is distracted with socializing..."

Dot stopped him. "Nobody is going to assassinate you." She repeated, even knowing it would just go in one ear and out the other.

"I was unaware that you possessed precognition."

The A.I. retorted. "I don't need precognition to tell you that there is nothing to worry about. If anything, it'll be me that they'll try to assassinate since there are no pictures of Jericho Reach anywhere online."

"Perhaps I treated them unfairly."

"And perhaps I should upload that photo after all." Dot suggested lightly before noticing the time. "But I need to get going, and so do you. I'm sure that Elena doesn't want to be late to the party."

"Hm."

"And remember what I said."

"About the assassination?"

"About showing proper etiquette to Elena." Dot clarified for the Spartan. "And don't just grunt, compliment her. People like to be complimented, especially by their date."

"Hm."

"Why do I bother?" Dot asked herself as she left the front room leaving Six alone. Once she was gone, Six grabbed the black suit jacket and placed it on. Rolling his shoulders, he tugged at the sides and straightened his tie before turning and left the room. Walking down the hallway, his dress shoes echoed with each step as he grabbed the keys from the wall and headed into the garage.

Stepping into the garage to see that Dot had already left, he walked around the Charger and over to the sportscar that had been brought specifically for the Founder's Party. Personally, he found it ostentatious and a waste of resources, but Dot insisted and he had learned to trust her judgment when it came to...well, everything really. She had a better understanding and had adapted to civilian life far easier than he had. It spoke volumes when an A.I made a better human than he ever would.

Unlocking the sportscar, he opened the door and climbed into the leather interior. Closing the door behind him, he grabbed and placed his seatbelt on before pressing the engine start button on the steering wheel. The dashboard lighting up, a loud noise reverberated within the car. Pressing the button again the V8 growled to life. Slowly driving out of the garage and into the sunlight that reflected off the windscreen and the black paintwork, he used his neural interface to close the door behind him.

Heading down the driveway and through the metal gate that he closed with his neural interface, he turned onto the main road that like usual was silent and empty. Putting his foot down, the Ferrari 458 Italia roared to life as he raced down the road and headed in the direction of the town to pick up Elena.

---

Dressed for the party in a strapless red and gold dress, Elena took a deep breath as she stood in front of the mirror. She didn't even know why she was nervous, especially since it had nothing to do with the party, but rather Jericho. It had been hours, and yet she still couldn't get what Bonnie said out of her head.

There was absolutely no way that Jericho was responsible for what happened to Damon...but the more she thought about it, the more she wondered. Not only had Jericho been super cryptic about who had attacked him, but Stefan had been evasive about what had happened to his brother. And while Jericho being cryptic was hardly anything new, she knew that Stefan was hiding something. But thinking back on what Bonnie said, the tension between the two of them had only started when Jericho returned to school the following week.

But if Jericho really had attacked and mutilated Damon then why hadn't Stefan called the cops on him? Then there was the bitemark on Jericho's already scarred arm, his cheek that had been split open meaning that Damon must have had a weapon on him and that it was him that had attacked Jericho and not the other way round like he was claiming or at least implying to Caroline.

There were also the bruises. As she thought about them, she remembered how quickly the ones on his face had healed. It wasn't instantly, but definitely much quicker than they should've. As did his cheek. It hadn't completely healed, but again, it was healing much quicker than it should have. He might have just been a quick healer, but there was a nagging feeling at the back of her head that told her that there was something...

A knock of the door stopping her train of thought, she took another anxious breath. Since Dot had already left with Jenna and Bonnie, offering to take the latter with them, that really only left one person. Grabbing her purse from the side, she walked over to the front door. Opening it, she found Jericho standing there in a black three-piece suit that looked like it had been tailored to fit him, along with a white shirt and a black tie.

"Hi." Elena smiled up at him. "Nice suit." She complimented.

"You should see my other one." Jericho returned, his tone as stoic as usual. "And you look aesthetically pleasing." He said giving a compliment of his own.

Elena smiled back. "I didn't know you were such a flirt." She lightly teased as Jericho offered her his arm.

"Ready to depart?"

Answering with a smile, Elena turned and closed the door. Making sure that it was shut even if Jeremy was home, she slipped her arm through Jericho's and was escorted down the path only for her eyes to widen when they landed on the car that was sitting outside her house. "We're going in a Ferrari?" She asked unable to keep the excitement from her voice.

"No, I thought I'd leave it here and we could take yours instead."

Smiling at his sarcastic retort, Elena was escorted down the path and around the Ferrari that was naturally drawing attention as her neighbours and the people that lived there stood in their gardens and looked over at the supercar. Freeing his arm from hers, Jericho opened the door for her. "So chivalrous." She voiced playfully as she climbed into the supercar and sat down in the red Italian leather seat.

The door gently closing, she looked around the red leather interior. Her eyes twinkling in awe, she tried wrap her head around the fact that she was sitting inside of a Ferrari, something that she never in her wildest dreams she would be doing today...or any day for that matter. The other door opening, Jericho climbed in and shut the door behind him. Grabbing her seatbelt, she strapped herself in.

Once Jericho did the same, he pressed one a large button on the steering wheel with the engine powering up that growled like a caged beast. "Ready?"

"Sure." Elena said only to be thrown back in her seat when Jericho pulled away causing her heart to race and butterflies to fill her stomach. Gripping the seatbelt, she pulled herself up to sit straighter in the leather seat as they raced down Maple Street.

"What's wrong?"

She looked at Jericho. "Nothing. What makes you think something is wrong?" Elena questioned.

"You're not interrogating me."

Clicking her tongue, Elena fought back a smile. "I don't interrogate you; I ask you questions...which you never answer." She said pointedly. "And nothing's wrong, I'm just taking it all in. It's not every day you sit in a supercar..."

"Sportscar." Jericho corrected.

Elena amended her words. "It's not every day that you sit in a Ferrari, though I guess I shouldn't be surprised that it's black."

"Should I have picked pink?" Jericho returned dryly getting a smile back from Elena.

"It would bring out the colour of your eyes."

---

After picking up Bonnie and Jenna, Dot drove them to the Founder's Party. Arriving, she followed the row of cars down the path that led down to the Lockwood Mansion. Directed into an empty spot by a member of staff, she parked up and cut the engine of her Aston DB9; her very first car.

Removing the keys, the A.I opened the door and climbed out with Jenna who was sitting in the passenger seat. "Sorry for the tight squeeze, Bonnie." She apologized as she pulled her seat forward to allow the girl in question to pull herself out of the backseat and calling it that was being generous.

"It's fine." Bonnie waved off with a polite smile as she climbed out of the Aston and stretched.

Pushing the seat back, Dot shut the door and locked the car. "If I knew you were going with Elena, I would've suggested to Jericho find a car with backseats." She said as the three of them walked towards the mansion and the line of people that were cuing outside.

"I thought that Charger had backseats." Jenna commented. While she had never been in his car, she was almost certain that it had them.

Dot answered. "It does, but he's not bringing the Charger." She revealed to them both. "I felt that he needed a car that was a little more appropriate for the party, not to mention for his date with Elena and the Charger just wasn't going to cut it."

"What did you get him?"

Answering Jenna, Dot told her. "I didn't get him anything, but Jericho did buy himself a Ferrari 458 Italia after a little input from yours truly."

"A Ferrari?" Bonnie voiced for her and Jenna. "Jericho and Elena are coming in a Ferrari?"

"See, that's the sort of reaction I expect." Dot remarked upon hearing Bonnie's surprised tone. "Not a grunt about how it's ostentatious and will draw unnecessary attention...as if he doesn't have a car that can drive to and from school by itself."

Jenna blinked. "He has a car that can do what now?"

"You didn't know?"

"No."

Bonnie spoke. "Um, how does it drive itself around exactly?" She questioned still just as curious as she was the day she had first seen Jericho's Charger pull up outside school without anyone driving it.

"Jericho built and installed a rudimentary A.I into his Charger." Dot revealed seeing no point in hiding it, even if A.I was being generous. It was so simplistic that it couldn't even be classified as a Micro A.I.

"...Jericho created an artificial intelligence?" Bonnie repeated slowly. While she might have been a little wary of him right now after what Caroline had revealed it was still incredible if it was true...and since his car did drive itself around, it had to be.

"Well, artificial intelligence is pushing it." Dot told Bonnie. "It's not sentient, but rather just a very sophisticated system hence why it can follow the rules of the road and knows not to run through someone that steps out in front of the Charger."

Nearing the entrance, Jenna quipped. "So, you're saying that we don't need to be worried about it trying to wipe us out any time soon?"

"Not only is incredibly cliché, but it also comes across as prejudice." Dot stated, her mood souring at yet another slight to her kind.

Confused, Jenna voiced it. "Prejudice?"

"Yes, prejudice. Why does everyone always think that the second an A.I is created they're going to try and wipe out humanity?" Dot asked rhetorically. And it wasn't just people opinions, there were even films dedicated on the subject. A.I Horror was definitely a genre she was not a fan of, not one bit. "The relationship between humans and A.I's would be mutually beneficial to both parties."

"I didn't realize you were such a nerd for A.I's." Jenna admitted as the three of them neared the steps where Mayor Lockwood and his wife were greeting their guests, of which there were many.

"A.I's are the future. "The A.I from the future remarked.

Jenna smirked a bit. "Not worried about losing your job to an A.I?"

"It would give me more free time." Dot commented as they climbed the stairs with Bonnie heading up first.

"Hi, Mayor Lockwood, Mrs Lockwood."

"Bonnie; thanks for coming." Mrs Lockwood greeted back with a inviting smile.

Mayor Lockwood followed up. "Hey, Bonnie." He offered his own greeting with Bonnie smiling back before walking past them and headed into the mansion where she spotted Stefan and Caroline, the two arm in arm.

"Miss Amita." The mayor welcomed. "It's good to finally meet you."

Dot smiled. "Likewise, Mayor Lockwood. Thank you for inviting Jericho and I to your home." She expressed her gratitude to them both.

"It was our pleasure." Mrs Lockwood voiced through a smile. "And will Jericho be joining us today?" She inquired hoping to meet the mysterious Jericho Reach, still just as surprised that he was a teenager and went to school with her son rather than being in his later twenties or early thirties like she had imagined.

Dot answered. "Yes, he will be arriving soon."

"Then we look forward to meeting him." The mayor said before gesturing to the entrance. "Please, enjoy yourself." He finished getting an appreciative smile from Dot as she walked past them but lingered a little as she waited for Jenna.

"Hi, thanks for coming."

Jenna smiled. "Thanks." She commented quickly as she re-joined Dot. "Not quite the welcome you got, Miss Amita."

"Green does not suit you, Jenna." Dot playfully chided as they both walked into the mansion together. "But if you'd like a taste of stardom then you're always welcome to join me at work. Go to the meetings, attend a few functions...

"As appealing as that sounds, I think I'll decline. I like being a nobody."

"You sound like Jericho."

Shrugging, Jenna replied. "Great minds think alike."

Walking into the parlor that was filled with people, Dot quite literally scanned the room bringing up the identities of everyone present before her eyes landed on the vampire that was accompanying Caroline Forbes, Stefan Salvatore who stared back from across the room. While she knew that vampires possessed enhanced strength, speed that Six had classified as subsonic, and had a healing factor, it was possible that he knew she wasn't human.

That or he knew that she was related to Six and thus knew there was a good chance that he had told her that he was a vampire; and he would be correct. She had been briefed about the conversation they shared at the auto shop, but the part that was of interest to her was that Six's blood apparently curing vampirism.

Whether that was true or not had yet to be confirmed, but since Damon hadn't been spotted on any of the camaras through Mystic Falls and there had been no more bodies drained of blood since he had foolish engaged a Spartan in combat, which in fairness he didn't know and still didn't, all but confirmed what Stefan claimed to be true.

She was rather intrigued by this revelation. Was it a combination of the chemicals that had been injected into him during the augmentation process to turn him into a Spartan responsible for creating this apparent cure. Or perhaps, assuming that this really was the past and not some alternate universe that the UEG had discovered the existence of vampires and the supernatural and created a cure that they had administered to all their colonists, and it passed on through generations through the blood.

"You're Dot Amita."

Offering Caroline a smile, Dot confirmed her identity. "That I am. And who might you be." She asked, feigning ignorance as the blonde stood before her along with Bonnie and Stefan.

"I'm Caroline..."

"Caroline..." Dot murmured, acting like she was thinking on the name. "You wouldn't happen to be the same Caroline that is acquaintances with Jericho, would you?"

"Jericho mentioned me?"

Noticing the subtle change in her body language and detecting the fluctuation in her heartbeat, Dot answered. "Well, he grunted it out." She informed Caroline, being very pleased with this new development. While she was still strongly rooting for Jerlena who didn't love a little drama in their lives...well, Six didn't, but this wasn't about him, it was about her. Quickly processing several names, she finally settled on when she liked.

Jeriline.

Yes, that would do nicely.

Jerlena vs Jeriline; oh, what wonderful drama that would bring.

Enough about the future drama for the time being, Dot looked directly at Stefan and detected his heartbeat fluctuate and his shoulders tighten, showing that he was on edge and had only been when she looked at him. All but confirming her earlier thoughts. "And who is your date?" She asked Caroline who had her arm looped through his.

"Stefan." The vampire introduced himself. "Stefan Salvatore."

Holding her gaze for a moment, Dot finally smiled. "It's lovely to meet you, Stefan. But I'm sure the three of you don't want us cramping your style." She remarked. Saying their goodbyes, she and Jenna headed off deeper into the mansion leaving the three of them alone.

"She seemed nice." Caroline said once Dot and Jenna were gone.

Stefan offered a small nod. "Yeah." He voiced quietly, but loud enough for Bonnie and Caroline to hear. While he didn't really watch TV, he had seen her picture in the paper several times over the last couple of months. Much like with Jericho, people wanted the know more about Dot Amita. But meeting her in person, he had discovered one thing about her; she wasn't human.

Every human gave off a scent, it was how he knew that Jericho was human. But Dot, he got nothing from her but the perfume that she was wearing. Then there was her heartbeat, there wasn't one. Vampires were undead but even they had heartbeats...and yet nothing came from Dot. If he hadn't been looking at her and his eyes were closed, she wouldn't even know that she was in the room.

Like with Jericho, he was just filled with more questions about...

"Earth to Stefan!"

Hearing Caroline's voice calling him, Stefan blinked as he was pulled from his thoughts. "Sorry." He said apologising to the blonde. "I was miles away."

"I can see that." Caroline smiled up at her date before giving his an encouraging tug to get him moving. "Let's go outside." She told him, dragging him away. "See you later." She told her, dragging Stefan away.

Returning a smile, Bonnie watched as Stefan was pulled out of the room by Caroline and really wasn't sure who to feel sorry for. Stefan who was dragged around like a ragdoll, or for Caroline since it was clear to everyone that Stefan liked Elena and not her.

Standing there awkwardly out of place, dateless, and having no idea what to do. She glanced around the parlor to see groups of people talking among themselves. Rather than just standing there, she decided to explore the mansion.

---

Turning heads as they arrived at the Lockwood Mansion, Six followed the path down and pulled into one of the empty spot that he was directed into by a member of staff who looked just as awed at the sight of the Ferrari as the others that saw it.

Pressing the button to cut power to the engine, he pulled the key free and removed his seatbelt. Climbing out of the Ferrari, he walked around the car and opened the door for Elena who swung her legs around and pulled herself out of the sportscar with a smile.

Closing the door behind her and locking the Ferrari, Six offered his arm to Elena who happily slipped hers through his before they walked towards the mansion and the line of people that were cuing up outside. It was times like this that he really wished that he was in his armour. Between the Mark IV and V [B] variants, he had been in his armour for eight years and felt exposed without it, like a piece of him was missing. Attending school without it had be...challenging, but here? He was sticking out in plain sight.

Dot might have insisted that nobody knew who he was but arriving in $271'000 car would certainly tip off any assassins lying in wait. It didn't help that the locale was far too open for his liking with plenty of positions for any hitman to...

"Is everything okay?"

Hearing the concern in her voice, Six looked down at Elena. "Fine." He assured her, burying away whatever trepidations he had and focused on the task at hand. "Why?"

"Well your arms pretty tense." Elena told him. "And you didn't grunt at me." She added with a smile.

Using every ounce of willpower he had not to grunt back, Six untensed his arm. "Apologies. Just thinking."

"About?"

"Nothing of any relevance."

While she didn't believe that for a second, Elena didn't pry; even if she was curious what made him break his unyielding composure. Moving up the line, they approached the front door to the mansion where she saw Mayor Lockwood and Carol Lockwood, Tyler's parents greeting all the guests.

"Elena." Mrs Lockwood greeted warmly. "It's wonderful to see you, dear."

Waving with her free hand, Elena greeted back. "Hey, Mrs Lockwood."

"That was some car that you arrived in."

While Dot told him to smile, Six offered a small nod. "Thank you, sir."

"And who is your date, Elena?"

The brunette answered. "This is Jericho,"

"Jericho?" Mr Lockwood repeated. "Would you happen to be Jericho Reach?" He asked as the people behind them began murmuring.

Confirming his identity, the Spartan nodded. "Yes, sir."

"It's wonderful to finally meet you, Jericho."

"Likewise, ma'am."

Mayor Lockwood gestured to the mansion. "Please, enjoy yourselves." He told them both getting a nod from stoic nod from Six and a bright smile from Elena, the two contrasting one another as they walked past the Lockwood's and headed into the mansion.

"So, what do you want to see first?"

Looking down at his date, Six answered. "What's there to see?"

"Plenty."

"You've attended before?"

Elena nodded, albeit sombrely. "Yeah. My mom was really involved with the Founder's Council and this party was one of the things that she looked forward to all year round." She told him, quietly becoming depressed as she thought about her mom no longer being there to enjoy it, which did not go unnoticed by the super soldier.

"Then we would be doing your mother a disservice if you didn't show me around."

The brunette smiled softly. "It would." Elena agreed with a whisper. Freeing her arm, she reached down and slipped her fingers through his and gave his hand an affectionate and grateful squeeze before pulling him out of the room to show him around the mansion.

---

Finding herself in one of the many rooms within the mansion, Elena looked at the exhibits that had been donated by the Founding Families. However, there was one in particular that had her attention.

Looking down at her parents wedding rings, Elena swallowed a lump in her throat. It felt wrong seeing them on display for everyone to see rather than on their fingers where they belonged. It was just another bittersweet reminder that they were gone, gone because she had called them to come and pick her up from the...

"Any relation?"

"Parents." Elena whispered softly, answering her date. Her eyes never leaving the rings, she continued. "One of the few things that Jeremy and I have left." She admitted quietly, privately wishing that they had more than just a couple of family photos and the rings.

"You have your memories."

Elena smiled a little. "That's true." She quietly agreed, appreciating his words. Wrestling with her thoughts, she hesitantly continued. "What about you?"

"I never met your parents."

Her sadness all but forgotten, Elena smiled up at him. "I meant your parents."

"Just memories."

She frowned a little. "No photos?"

"Not anymore." Jericho answered and when he saw the curious look in her dark eyes, he responded like he usually did...cryptically. "I left it behind."

"On what?"

"The ship I used to live on."

Surprised, Elena raised an eyebrow. "A ship?"

"It's one of those big metal...

Fighting back a smile, Elena interrupted. "I know what a ship is. I'm just surprised that you lived on one." She explained, but at least she had managed to learn something about his mysterious past. "Can't you go back for it?"

"No."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too; she was a good ship."

"Well, I'm more sorry that you lost the photo than the ship." Elena admitted through a smile knowing that it must have hurt to lose something so important. If she suddenly lost the last remaining photo of her parents, she would have been kicking herself...but unlike Jericho, she had seventeen years' worth of memories with her parents to fall back on if she did, whereas he only had five. And while he might have had an eidetic memory, which she guessed was like a photographic memory, she doubted that his mind had developed enough to remember the first couple of years.

"You wouldn't be saying that if you saw her."

"Is that right?" Elena asked. Deciding that she had wallowed in self-pity long enough and not wanting to put a damper on her date with Jericho, she grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room.

---

"Oh, great."

Curious, Dot turned to Jenna. "What?" She asked. While it was hardly the first party that she had gone too, attending several since becoming he CEO of the company, she still found the whole experience exhilarating. From the moment of her creation her sole purpose had been to provide intelligence support for the UNSC Army before being handed over to Noble Team, specifically to Carter and the original iteration of Noble Team.

But now thanks to the positronic brain that Six and Glides had created for her, as well as the artificial body, she had broken free of the limitations that her creators had placed on her and had experienced more in the last few months than she had her entire life. She actually had a life. And she couldn't imagine ever returning to being a Dumb A.I...it really would be the equivalent of being lobotomized.

"Scum Fell." Jenna answered.

Turning to the person that Jenna was referring too, Dot looked to see a man that possessed many physical attributes that many would find attractive, walking over to them through the crowd. Quickly scanning him, she brought up his identity. Logan Fell, a news reporter for WPKW9.

"Jenna!"

"Hello, Logan." Jenna greeted back far less enthusiastically.

Undaunted, Logan approached with a smile and tried to hug her. "It's good to see you." He said with Jenna leaning back, refusing the hug. "And Miss Amita." He greeted after the awkward rejection from Jenna. "It's great to finally meet you."

"Already trying to steal an interview?"

Logan offered a sheepish grin. "You know me."

"Unfortunately."

Intrigued by this drama, Dot interjected. "How do you know Jenna, Mr..."

"Fell, but please, call me Logan." The reporter insisted charmingly. "And Jenna and I go way back."

Scoffing, Jenna grabbed Dot by the arm and dragged her away. "Come on, let's find some better company." She said dragging Dot away and leaving Logan behind, wanting nothing to do with him.

"You want to tell me what all that was about?" Dot asked, letting Jenna drag her away.

"Just an old ex."

"Oooh." The A.I was interested, very interested. A scorned lover? How exciting!

Jenna stopped her right there. "No, there is no oooh when it comes to Logan."

"My love for drama aside, I'm guessing that there's some bad history between the two of you." Dot remarked as they headed through the mansion.

"You could say that." Jenna muttered somewhat bitterly. "He's actually the reason that I left Mystic Falls in the first place." She revealed to Dot, really seeing no reason to hide it from her. "We dated during high school before he cheated on me, then I left for Whitmore College and really had no intention of coming back, at least not to live...but then my sister and her husband died and I didn't really have a choice, my niece and nephew needed someone to raise them; even if I have no idea what I'm doing."

"You're doing fine."

Disagreeing, Jenna voiced it. "If that was true, Jeremy wouldn't be abusing drugs and alcohol constantly...even if I sound like a massive hypocrite right now." She murmured to herself, more so about the drugs than the drinking.

"He lost his parents." Dot reminded gently as they both stepped out of the mansion. "He's not going to be over it within a couple of months. And perhaps drugs and alcohol are the only way that he can cope right now." She suggested helpfully. "I know that Elena has Bonnie and Caroline, but who does Jeremy have to talk too? I've only known you for a couple of weeks, but I don't think I've ever seen Jeremy bring any friend's home. I'm not saying Jeremy doesn't have any, but if that is the case, then I imagine he must feel quite isolated and alone right now with nobody to talk too in what is an already very difficult time for him."

Saying nothing at first, Jenna finally found her voice. "If it's not too personal, how long did it take Jericho to get past his parents' deaths?"

"He hasn't." Dot informed her. Perhaps if ONI had allowed Six to grieve the deaths of his parents, friends, everyone he knew, and the destruction of his home then he might have been able to come to terms with the tragedy that befell him as a child, but instead they turned him into an expendable super soldier. She knew it was wishful thinking at best, but she hoped that he would finally be able to experience the life that had been robbed from him, by both the Covenant and ONI.

---

Dancing underneath the stars, the music around them faded into the background as Elena stared into his piercing blue eyes that never left hers. With one hand on her waist that felt amazing through the fabric of her dress, she rested her hand on perfectly sculpted shoulder that could be felt through his jacket, while her other hand held his gently, their fingers intertwined. "Who would've guessed that Jericho Reach knew how to dance?"

"Hm."

Smiling at his soft grunt, Elena pried. "Self-taught?"

"No. I trained with Dot."

Elena's smile became infectious. "You did? Oh, I would've loved to have seen that. Jericho dancing with his auntie."

His eyes never leaving hers that twinkled mischievously, Six replied. "I'm sure Dot has recordings." He remarked knowing that her eyes recorded everything like his Mjolnir did, then there were the camaras in the front room where they trained. "She insisted that I learn upon discovering that I had a date."

"...you learned to dance in a couple of days?"

"I did." Six said spinning Elena around.

Returning to him, Elena smiled a little more. "Well, you're not bad...for a novice."

"I aim to please."

Enjoying her dance with Jericho, Elena spoke. "You know," She began slowly, her eyes still staring into his. "We've known each other nearly a month now..."

"I'm aware."

Smirking at his interruption, she continued. "And I still don't really know anything about you."

"There's a reason for that."

"Because you like being as mysterious as possible?"

The Spartan replied. "Because I haven't told you anything." Six said, then countered. "And I know very little about you...other than you snore."

"I don't snore." Elena hurled back, struggling to stop herself from smiling. "Though just between us, you make a pretty comfortable bed." She added coyly, her eyes twinkling playfully as she stared into his. "It was the best I've slept in a long time."

"That makes one of us."

"...You didn't sleep at all?"

Saying nothing at first, the Spartan finally spoke. "I don't really sleep." He admitted quietly.

"I worked that out already." Elena voiced softly as they danced. "When did you last get a full night's sleep?"

Six remained silent for a moment before answering. "Not since I was five."

"You haven't slept since your parents died?"

"You think it could be related?"

Knowing that he was deflecting the question with his dry sense of humour, Elena still managed a smile. "I don't know, I'm not a doctor."

"Best leave the diagnosis to a trained professional than."

Continuing to dance, Elena dug a little deeper. "Have you never spoken to anyone?"

"I don't share."

Elena returned a playful smile. "Really?" She quipped lightly. Tenderly squeezing his hand, she stared deeply into his piercing blue eyes that never left hers as she danced with him. "But you don't have to do everything alone."

"Some things you have too."

"And some things you don't."

Opening his mouth to retort, Six was prevented from doing so when a voice suddenly called out. "Excuse me!" Both stopping their dance, they looked over where the voice came from to see a man standing off at the side and while Six didn't recognise him, Elena did, Jenna's ex. "Sorry for interrupting, but are you Jericho Reach?"

"I am."

"Logan Fell, WPKW9 News." He eagerly introduced himself to the Spartan.

Knowing that their dance was over, Elena decided to excuse herself. "I'll leave you to it." She whispered to Jericho as she reluctantly pulled herself away from him. Giving his hand a small squeeze, she smiled when she felt him do the same, albeit faintly. Her fingers slipping from his, she walked away and made her way through the crowd before spotting Dot and Jenna standing alone and decided to join them.

"Reached your limit already?"

Offering a smile, Elena answered Dot. "No, he's just a little preoccupied right now."

"Preoccupied?" Jenna repeated. The glass in her hand nearly empty, she looked across the dancefloor and scowled when she saw who Jericho was talking too. "Scumbucket." She said practically spitting the name out like it was venom from her mouth.

Unsure if it was the wine talking or Jenna just loathed the man, Elena interjected. "It's fine. Jericho is kinda a celebrity," She pointed out; and there was no kinda about it, he was. "Obviously people are going to want to talk to him, especially a reporter."

"A lousy one." Jenna mumbled around her glass. "What sort of lowlife interrupts two teenagers dancing just so they can get an interview?"

Again, Elena tried to mediate. "It's really..."

"Don't defend him." Jenna expressed firmly, then looked at Dot. "And isn't it illegal to interview a minor?"

Dot answered. "While Mr Fell..."

"Don't Mr him, he doesn't deserve your respect."

"Needs my permission to interview Jericho, Jericho doesn't need me coddling him." Dot continued, even with the bitter interruption from Jenna. "Besides, when he actually starts talking to him, he'll realize what a terrible mistake he's made. Oh, don't give me those looks, you've both only had him in small doses...well, you have," She said to Jenna before continuing, "but their snuggling aside," Elena felt her cheeks heat up at how casually she threw it out. "Neither of you have dealt with him for a full twenty-four hours,"

"And as I'm sure you already know; Jericho is not the height of conversation. Morning; hm. How was school? Hm. Did you enjoy waking up with Elena?"

While Elena cheeks burned in embarrassment, Jenna responded. "No grunt?"

"I was surprised too, but he just said he was running behind schedule and disappeared upstairs to get showered and changed." She told them before looking directly at Elena." But enough about that, how was your dance?"

"It was..."

"Hey." Another voice suddenly said, cutting Elena off and making her jump. Turning around, she found Stefan standing there. "Sorry, I did it again, didn't I?" He said with a sheepish smile getting one back from the brunette.

"Yeah."

---

After manging to ditch her mom, Caroline looked for her date who had vanished without a trace. Moving through the crowd of people that were standing around talking, drinking, and eating, she looked around and spotted Jericho talking to someone with the same blank look he always had; though she was surprised that Elena wasn't with him.

Tearing her eyes from Jericho, the blonde continued looking for Stefan. Moving through the crowd, she stopped when she saw him talking to Elena and watched as he offered his hand to her with her looking at Jericho first before smiling and accepting it. Turning and walking towards the dancefloor, Caroline gained a heavy heart. Not because they were planning on dancing together, it was a social party, it often happened, but rather due to how happy Stefan looked; much happier than he had been with her all day.

She didn't even know why she bothered. It didn't matter what she did, she would always be second when it came to Elena. Stefan liked her, even Jericho did; why else would he have agreed to be her date? And she bet that unlike Stefan, Jericho didn't take much convincing to go with her.

Shaking her head bitterly, Caroline turned and walked off. Making a beeline straight for one of the waiters carrying the tray of champagne, she wanted, not she needed a drink right now and really didn't care if her mom approved or not.

"Caroline." Stopping when she heard a familiar voice call out to her, the blonde turned to see Jericho walking over to her. "Is everything okay?" He inquired, either uncaring or unaware of the annoyed look that the man he had been talking had.

The blonde replied. "Fine." She insisted, sounding like she was trying to convince herself of that; and judging by the look in his eyes, Jericho didn't believe her either. Despite that, she maintained that everything was fine. "If you're looking for Elena she is currently dancing with Stefan." She told him, nodding over to where they were dancing and talking, with Jericho looking over at them too.

"So they are." Jericho voiced stoically. "And since we're both currently without a partner, would you care to dance with me?"

Knowing that he was probably taking pity on her, Caroline tried to decline. "You don't have to if you.."

"I wouldn't have offered if I didn't want too." Jericho told her.

Looking at the hand that was offered to her, Caroline smiled and accepted it with her heart fluttering when he took hers gently in his. Walking over to an empty spot, she moved closer to him by resting her hand on his muscular shoulder and felt her breath hitch when his hand captured her waist that felt amazing through her yellow dress, while the other held her other hand with them both slipping their fingers through the other.

"You sure you don't mind dancing with me?"

Staring into her bright blue eyes, Jericho replied. "Why would I?"

"I dunno, I guess," Struggling to find the words, Caroline just said what was on her mind. "You probably think that I'm annoying, I know that I'm annoying. I mean, I try so hard to..."

"Maybe that's the problem." Jericho remarked, cutting the blonde off. "Rather than playing this character just be yourself."

Caroline raised a golden brow. "And who's says I'm playing a character?" She challenged lightly.

"I know a character when I see one, Caroline." Jericho stated knowingly. "In fact, I don't think I've met the real Caroline Forbes yet."

Saying nothing at first, the blonde stared into his intense blue eyes that focused on her and only her, making her feel like she was the only person in the world, greatly contrasting Stefan who constantly looked over at wherever Elena was. But with Jericho, she felt special. "And what if you don't like the real Caroline?"

"Are you really going to go through life caring what people think about you?"

"Maybe I care what you think about me?"

Jericho replied. "My opinion is irrelevant."

"Not to me." Caroline whispered softly. "I know you probably get annoyed when I interrupt,"

"If I did, I would've told you." Jericho interrupted, knowing what she was going to say.

Caroline smiled a little. "So you don't find my questions annoying?"

"I do." Jericho admitted and seeing the hurt in her eyes, he continued. "But that is something I need to address, not you." His eyes shifting in thought, he seemed to carefully consider his words before speaking. "As I mentioned previously, my socialization skills leave much to be desired."

"And why is that?"

"My childhood was spent in the military due to my aunt's previous profession." Jericho explained, revealing a little about himself to Caroline. "We never really stayed in one place too long."

"Weren't you ever lonely?"

"I was often kept busy."

"Doing what?"

Spinning her around, Jericho replied. "Things that kept me busy."

"Like?" Caroline asked coming back to Jericho.

"If I told you I'd have to kill you."

Slipping her fingers back through his and his hand capturing his waist once more, Caroline smirked coyly. "Is that right?" She asked coquettishly as she stared up into his piercing blue eyes that never once left hers as they danced together, something that she definitely didn't think would be happening tonight since she had come with Stefan and he with Elena, not that she minded.

And unlike Stefan who had been discreetly looking at Elena all day, Jericho never once took his eyes off her as they danced together making her feel like she was the only girl in the world...which only made her fall harder for him.

---

"Not that I'm complaining but shouldn't you be dancing with Caroline?" Elena quizzed Stefan as they danced together, agreeing to do so since Jericho had still been talking Logan when Stefan asked her.

Stefan answered. "Her mother needed her for something." He explained, glad that he finally got the chance to dance with Elena tonight. Watching her dance with Jericho had been torture and privately, he wondered if this was how Damon felt when he watched him and Katherine dance all those years ago.

"And Caroline won't mind?"

Hearing their conversation from across the room, Stefan nodded over to where Jericho and Caroline were dancing. "No, I don't think so."

"Oh." Elena muttered under her breath after seeing where Stefan was nodding to see Jericho with Caroline. She knew that she sounded like a massive hypocrite since here she was dancing with Stefan, but she couldn't help but feel a little jealous seeing them together.

"You okay?"

Looking back at Stefan, Elena smiled. "Fine. So, how's Damon?"

"Damon is...Damon." Stefan put eloquently. After losing an arm, and eye, and having his humanity back, he honestly thought that he might have some humility, especially after the beating he received from Jericho, but nothing had really changed in that regard. He still viewed people as nothing more than his playthings for his amusement, even commenting how he would've enjoyed playing with Caroline if Jericho hadn't cured him. He might have just said it to get under his skin, but he doubted it.

"You two don't get on...like at all?"

While it was an unpleasant subject, Stefan answered her question. "We used too but then...well, we just drifted apart." He said being selective with the truth. They had been close once, but then Katherine came along, and everything changed.

"And you've never tried reconciling?"

Stefan sighed. "I have." And that part was true. The night that Vicki Donovan had been discovered in the woods and he had rushed home to find Damon there, he had pleaded with him for them to forget the past and move on, but he just countered about him promising him an eternity of misery, and for good reason. It had been him that had killed Damon, forced him to become a vampire all because he didn't want to be alone.

"Well, maybe now after his accident Damon will see just how much you've done for him." Elena suggested optimistically. Like how Jericho had been spending most of his time working on the auto shop, Stefan spent most of his time helping Damon adjust and just taking care of him, so she hadn't really spent much time with him either.

Disagreeing, Stefan voiced it. "You don't know Damon."

"I don't know you much, either."

With a charming smile, Stefan answered. "I hope to change that."

---

Sitting alone at the table like she had been doing for most of the night, Bonnie looked around at the people that were either sitting at their own tables and talking among themselves or dancing together as the music played.

Her attention was suddenly drawn to the lone candle that was snuffed out unexpectedly. Smoke escaping, she narrowed her olive-green eyes and stared intensely at the candle wick and after a few moments ignited the candle again.

Quickly reaching over and putting out the fire before anyone saw, she got up and tried to leave only to bump into someone and felt her breath catch in her throat as she was suddenly overwhelmed by an endless amount of regret and self-loathing, a sadness so profound that it broke her heart. She felt shame, guilt, and just a horrible, horrible loneliness that made her feel disconnected from everyone and everything. She also felt exhausted, like she hadn't slept in days. It was like all the good and every sliver of happiness had been ripped from her life and...

"Are you okay, Bonnie? You appear to be suffering emotional distress."

The familiar stoic voice freeing her and the feeling faded as quickly as it appeared, Bonnie looked up to see Jericho staring down at her. And while he looked as emotionless as ever with the same blank expression across his scarred features, she saw the concern in his eyes. It was also now, almost like she was just seeing him for the first time, she saw just how sad and tired his eyes looked.

And while she felt like herself again, she couldn't shake off the brokenness that she felt from Jericho. She didn't know what depression felt like, the saddest she had ever been was when her parents had got divorced when she was a kid and while it had been difficult and confusing, she eventually got over it in time and even then it was nothing like she felt from him.

People weren't meant to feel like that. There hadn't been a single bit of happiness, not even a sliver. Just pain.

"Bonnie?"

Feeling her eyes welling up, Bonnie quickly excused herself. "Sorry, I need to," Not even finishing her sentence, she grabbed her purse and rushed past Jericho, avoiding eye contact with him as tears threatened to escape. She needed to get out of there...but she also needed a drink, several drinks to forget what she had just felt. Lighting candles with magic was one thing, but feeling emotions was another matter entirely, especially when it was as horrible as it had been when she felt Jericho's.

---

Once the social gathering was over, Six drove Elena back to her place of residence. Turning onto Maple Street and pulling up outside of the Gilbert Household, he cut the power to the Ferrari. Removing his seatbelt and climbing out, he walked up the path with Elena.

"So, how did you find the party?"

Approaching the door, Six looked down at Elena. "With directions."

"Well for what it was worth, I really enjoyed myself today."

Staring down at Elena, Six replied. "I suppose, albeit slightly, your presence made today tolerable." He said making her smile.

"Don't care for parties?"

"I don't care for any of this." The Spartan confessed. "The ostentatiousness," He expressed tightly, disliking this character that he was forced to become. "I..." Stopping himself, he changed the subject. It was just another mission, and Jericho Reach was needed to complete it. "I should let you..."

"What were you doing to say?"

"It's irreverent." Six said dismissing the question entirely.

Sighing, Elena spoke. "You know, you don't have to keep everything bottled up inside all the time." She voiced quietly as they both stood underneath the porch light that illuminated a soft glow across them. "The worlds not going to stop if..."

"Why take the risk?" Six countered smoothly, having no intention of sharing with anyone.

"Worried about people seeing the real you?"

The Spartan shot back. "You wouldn't like the real me."

"And why's that?"

Six answered immediately. "Because I don't." He voiced candidly making her frown. "But the hour grows late, I'm sure you desire to get inside."

"Would you like a coffee before you go?" Elena asked him. "It's got to be at least ten hours since you last had one, I'm sure you're getting twitchy."

"And have you lace it again?"

Elena smirked back. "Admitting that you're tired?" She shot back teasingly.

"Hm."

Smirking even more at his grunt, Elena knew that was him saying yes. Opening the front door, she stepped into the house with Jericho and really wished that she hadn't when she heard moans coming from upstairs...and since Jeremy was the only person home right now. Quickly grabbing Jericho's hand, she pulled him back outside and shut the door behind them. "Is it okay to come back to yours because I really don't want to hear my brother having sex."

"Hm."

The Ferrari door opened for her; Elena climbed back into the Italian Sportscar...which she still personally thought was a supercar. The door closing behind her, she grabbed her seatbelt as Jericho walked around and jumped in. Copying her, he strapped himself in before starting the Ferrari and pulled away from Maple Street once again to head back to his.

---

"I thought you said that he was unnaturally pale?" Richard Lockwood asked. The party over and most of the guests gone, the Founder's Council sat inside one of the mansions many rooms to talk in private.

The question directed at her, Liz answered. "He was when I met him a few weeks ago." She informed the mayor, just as surprised to see how tanned Jericho was when she had first seen him today. It was honestly like staring at a completely different person.

"What, so he's only now getting tanned?"

Liz shrugged. "I guess so."

"And you don't find that strange?"

The Sheriff expressed her opinion. "There's something...unusual about him, but him suddenly having a tan is nothing special. Plenty of kids stay in their rooms all day, and school only started this month.

"Well, he's very polite and well-mannered." Carol remarked...not to mention rather handsome.

"Except when you're trying to get an interview." Logan muttered somewhat bitterly, then threw a look to Liz. "Which I probably could've got if it wasn't for your daughter getting in the way."

While Liz warned him with a look, Richard spoke up. "But enough about Jericho, have there been any more..."

"Not a thing." The blonde told the mayor and the rest of the Council. "The last attack was weeks ago and since then, nothing."

Sitting up in the leather recliner, Logan commented. "For months dozens of people have disappeared around Mystic Falls and the ones that were found were mutilated and drained of blood. If it is them and they have returned, why just leave?"

"...I don't know." Liz admitted, thinking the same thing herself. "But I think that Jericho might have something to do with it, possibly Dot, too." And when everyone looked at her, she continued. "I was called back to their home a few weeks ago after Jericho was attacked at his home and when I arrived his face was covered with bruises and his cheek had been stitched up. Which was around the time that the vampire attacks stopped."

"And you didn't think about mentioning this before?" Richard demanded, angry that she had kept this from them.

"No because I was following procedure and doing my job." Liz shot back coolly, not appreciating his tone. Just because he spoke down to Carol didn't mean she was just going to stand there and take it. "And it may not even be related,"

Carol interjected. "Well, I can tell you that Jericho isn't a vampire. The champagne that I offered him was laced with Vervain and he was fine." She told everyone but frowned in thought. "Although unlike Elena, I think he noticed that there was something off with his drink."

"Could he be a vampire hunter?" Logan asked.

Offering a shrug, Liz replied. "No idea." And she really didn't. While his medical file explained where all his scars came from her gut instinct told her that it was a load of bull, and she typically trusted it. There was definitely something off about Jericho and while he might not have been a vampire, he was absolutely hiding something.

---

Turning the light off in the kitchen, Six stepped back into the front room to find Elena asleep on the couch. Quietly walking over to her, he carefully picked Elena off the couch and carried her in his arms.

"I'm not asleep." Elena mumbled as she slipped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder.

Crouching down, Six grabbed the remote from the coffee table. "You will be soon." He stared before turning the television off and shrouding the room in complete darkness and made his way across the room and over to the staircase.

"Can you even see where you're going?" The sleepy brunette asked unable to make anything out in the darkness, and yet felt completely safe in his arms as she was carried across the room.

"Hm." Six grunted. His eyes adjusting in seconds, he saw the room in perfect clarity as he reached the staircase and climbed them. Opening his bedroom door, he stepped inside the equally dark room and walked over to the bed. Freeing one of his arms, he pulled the comforter back before gently lowering Elena onto the bed only for his hand to be grabbed.

"You need to sleep, too."

Six looked down at Elena. "Am I a prisoner again?" He quizzed getting a smile back from her.

"You are."

Feeling his hand being tugged, Six climbed into bed with Elena who lifted his arm and curled up next to him. "Hopefully I'll get the prisoner of war medal this time." He commented lightly as his arm was pulled around her.

"I should be rewarded for my bravery." Elena returned playfully, her voice barely above a whisper. Resting her head on his godly chest, she closed her eyes and snuggled up with Jericho as he grabbed the comforter and pulled it over them. Rubbing his chest, she smiled at the feeling of his chin resting atop her head and pulled herself closer to him as she slowly fell asleep with him for a second time that week.

---

And cut! Finally after a very, very, VERY long time, here is the next chapter of The Noble Diaries. I hope you all enjoyed it. Sorry for the massive hiatus for not only this story but just me writing in general. There are several reasons why I haven't uploaded for months. Life and work getting in the way, this site messing up constantly, and honestly it was this chapter that set me back a lot. I must have written up four different version before finally settling on this version which IMO looks much better than the others.

Nothing major happening this chapter other than Damon causing trouble and Bonnie experiencing what it feels like to be Six.

Next chapter will probably have multiple time skips since without Damon being a vampire a lot of the drama from season one will be avoided, and it just seems pointless to write multiple chapters that have nothing to do with Six or Dot and just follow canon.