Chapter 1

Don't go home.

The thought crept into Meredith Sulez's mind like a stealthy spider as she turned her car onto Culver Street.

Meredith didn't know why she hesitated to go home. Shouldn't she be ecstatic right now? She had survived a night full of vampires, werewolves and ghosts. Her best friend was back from the dead and peace was restored to the town of Fell's Church. Everything was fine. So why did she have this feeling of foreboding and dread as she neared her house?

Get a grip, Meredith told herself. Her nerves were probably still shaky from last night—or this morning rather. The golden orb of the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon, surrounded by the fading rose hue of the sunrise.

It was close to seven in the morning and she was the only person driving in the street. Hopefully, her parents were still asleep so she wouldn't have to explain what she was doing home so early. Bonnie and Meredith had pulled the same trick they always did when they wanted to stay out late without question. They told Meredith's Dad that she was sleeping over at the McCoullough's and Bonnie's Mom that she was sleeping over at the Sulez's. Neat and tidy, no questions asked.

Of course, it wasn't as though they'd spent last night sneaking out to a concert or late-night movie. If their parents had known the real truth of what they'd been up to they would have locked their daughters up in a convent and never let them out. Spending the eve of the summer solstice fighting a psychotic vampire wasn't exactly the most wholesome activity for young ladies.

Meredith stifled a yawn, exhaustion threatening to overwhelm her. There really was no logical reason for why she felt she shouldn't go home. In fact, she wanted nothing more than to slip into her bed and pull the covers over her head until she felt human again. Despite the healing powers Elena had used, her body still ached from the scuffle with Tyler. So there was no rationale behind her feelings at all, only a gut instinct that was screaming at her to turn her car around. Don't tell me Bonnie's aptitude for premonitions is catching, Meredith thought, smirking at herself in the rearview mirror.

The smirk died as she saw there was another car in her driveway. Meredith parked alongside the unfamiliar Mercedes and the anxious feeling intensified. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. Whatever was waiting for her at home couldn't be that bad; an unexpected visitor didn't necessarily foretell doom and gloom.

Most of the downstairs lights in the house were turned on. She was glad she'd decided to borrow some clothes from Bonnie before heading home. A Mickey Mouse sweatshirt and tights weren't high fashion, but they were comfortable and—most importantly—not soaked in her own blood. Anna would have fainted if she'd seen Meredith immediately after the battle with Klaus. Thankfully Bonnie had also loaned her the use of a shower at her house.

Her father was waiting for her on the front porch as she walked up to the house. "Meredith, I'm glad you're home. I was just going to call Bonnie's." Henry Sulez was rarely an emotional man so it caught Meredith off-guard when he gave her a hug as she ascended the stairs.

"Why?" she asked in alarm. "What's going on? Who's here?"

"Something unfortunate has happened," her father said quietly as they both went inside. "Your grandfather died last night." Henry led his daughter towards the dining room as her tired brain tried to absorb this on top of what she'd already been through within the last twenty-four hours.

"I still don't understand why he was cremated without any of us being notified and so soon." Her stepmother's voice drifted towards her, taught with barely constrained fury. Glancing through the entryway that led from the dining room to the kitchen, Meredith glimpsed a stranger she'd never seen before. He was a tall, distinguished looking man with graying hair and kind eyes; his tailored suit looked expensive and Meredith didn't doubt it was.

"Mr. Forsythe's last request was that his family members remember him as he once was and not to mourn him, especially in his later…condition. He wanted to be cremated as soon as possible without any family members present," the man was explaining to Anna. They were both seated at the kitchen table. He looked up as Meredith and her father entered the room.

"Are you his lawyer?" Meredith asked slowly, trying to make sense of everything. Did my grandfather die when Klaus was destroyed? She wondered in horror. The timing was awfully close for it to be a mere coincidence.

"Yes, I am. My name is George Watkins. Not only was your grandfather my client, but I was also privileged enough to call him my friend. You must be Meredith." Despite the warm smile he gave her, Meredith couldn't help feeling unnerved that someone she'd never met knew who she was.

"I didn't even realize that he had a lawyer," Henry replied absently, his voice thick with grief and shock. His first wife's father had been very good to him in his younger years. He'd loaned him money to start his own business and helped him and Isabel with the down payment on their first house. Much more than just the "dreaded father-in-law", John had been a friend and confidant. It had killed Henry to be the one to send him to the institution since he'd assumed power of attorney over John after Isabel was gone.

"Your father-in-law commissioned me around the time his health began to deteriorate. He came to me and asked that I carry out his wishes if the worst were to happen."

"What exactly were his wishes?" Henry asked, taking a seat beside his wife.

"John wanted me to deliver his few possessions to his family and he also made some financial provisions for Meredith. In fact, if you want to-"

Meredith waved a hand to cut him off. "I'm sorry, I don't want to be rude, but can we talk about his later."

"Oh yes, of course. Forgive me for my thoughtlessness. Here is my card, make an appointment any time you would like. I'm very sorry for your loss. John was a good man." The words were customary, but George spoke them with a sincerity that proved his fondness for Meredith's grandfather. He rose from his chair. "I apologize for ruining your morning, but I figured you should be informed right away. I'll leave you to making your preparations."

Anna sniffed at that. "I'm not sure what we're supposed to prepare for since there's no body," she muttered.

Both men chose not to reply, although George did avert his gaze to the linoleum. "I'll show you out," Henry said.

"Honey, do you need anything?" Anna asked, her anger fading to concern for her stepdaughter. Meredith shook her head, lost in thought. Everything felt so strange and surreal. The whole side of her mother's family was gone now. Her own mother died when she was a baby, her grandmother passed away three years ago, and now her grandfather was gone too. To be honest, she was relived her grandfather had opted for a private cremation. Meredith didn't think her sanity could handle another funeral. She sighed, recalling that she still had to go to Vickie's tomorrow.

"I wish you could remember him like I did, Sweetheart," Henry said upon returning to the kitchen. "He was so strong and loving and he had the kindest smile." Meredith looked at her father, feeling bad for him. His brown eyes were alight with memories. There was no way she would ever tell him that her last memories of her grandfather involved seeing him shrunken and insane.

"What possessions was his lawyer referring to?" Meredith asked, curious despite her utter exhaustion. Glancing around the kitchen, she noticed a medium-sized brown leather trunk. The leather, brass lock, and rivets adorning the trunk were all faded and dull. "Do you mind?" She looked to her father imploringly and he shook his head.

Meredith pulled the trunk up to the table and opened the tarnished lock that had not been secured. Lifting the lid, she observed with a twinge of sadness that her grandfather's possessions had been pitifully few. There was an old army uniform, the medals on them still shining as if they were new, including the Purple Heart. Besides the uniform there was a cigar box full of old photos and his treatment journal. The Hadsforth Institution practiced alternative therapy for patients including art and writing; patients were encouraged to draw or copy down their thoughts and feelings. Flipping through the journal, she saw that most of it was filled with random words and pictures that really didn't look like much of anything.

He certainly seemed fond of using a lot of red, though, Meredith couldn't help noticing.

"He was in World War II you know, a genuine war hero. He fought in Europe. That was where he met your grandmother," Henry told his daughter. She ran her hands over the uniform with its numerous medals and smiled softly.

Meredith reached down and leafed through the photographs. There was one of the family, one of her mother when she was young, even one of her when she was a baby. As she went further the pictures became older, most in black and white. John Forsythe had been a very handsome officer, young and proud, almost regal. Dad was right, he did have a great smile, Meredith thought to herself with a twinge of sorrow. Handing the pictures she'd already gone through to her father for him and Anna to look at, she looked once again in the trunk to see if she had missed anything.

There was one more picture that clung to the side of the trunk, as though it were hiding. Meredith picked it up and froze. It was a war picture. The destruction in the background told the tale: buildings devastated by bombs and gunfire, a road sunken with tank tracks, and spirals of smoke drifting across the sky. In the middle of it all were two men with their arms flung around each other, both smiling wildly despite the devastation surrounding them. The man on the right was her grandfather. The man to the left was tall, lean and fierce looking. Since the picture was in black and white she couldn't see the hair or eye color, but Meredith knew what they were.

She knew that the man on the left had white blonde hair and electric blue eyes. She knew this because the man in the picture looked exactly like Klaus.

Taking deep breaths to keep from panicking, she turned the picture over and saw writing that was faded but still legible.

John,

Throughout my life time there have been few whom I could call a friend. You are among them. I will never forget what you have done for me, I will always be in your debt. Call on me if you are ever in need.

Your Brother in Combat

-K-

The men in the picture were friends, not some random acquaintances forced to share a picture together, but friends, "brothers in combat". The thought made Meredith feel sick. She wanted tear it up, bury it, burn it, do anything to erase evidence that her grandfather had ever known such a monster.

As disgusted as she was with the picture, Meredith couldn't help feeling an urge to study it. Retrieving a magnifying glass from a kitchen drawer, she leaned over the picture. The two men in the picture, one human and one vampire, wore the same uniform; same helmets, same dog tags and, strangely enough, the same ring. Looking closer, Meredith could make out the small bands with some kind of symbol carved in them, set with a stone of some sort. No matter how hard she squinted, however, she couldn't quite make out what the symbol was.

"Dad, do you know who this is with granddad?" It was a question she really didn't want an answer to, but Meredith felt she had to ask, had to know. She handed the picture over to her father and found herself holding her breath as he studied it.

"I really don't know. Not one of your grandfather's friends I ever met. Maybe Mr. Watkins could tell you," Henry replied. Meredith let out her breath in a rush of relief. The last thing she could have handled after everything else that she'd already experienced since last night was her father having some sort of connection to Klaus.

"We should all get some more rest," Anna suggested soothingly. "It's already going to be a long day tomorrow." Henry nodded and started to follow his wife upstairs. He looked back at his daughter before he ascended.

"You should really get some more sleep, Meredith," he advised with paternal authority. "You look worn out. Don't you girls ever get some actual sleep at your sleepovers?"

"Somebody has to talk about boys and clothes," Meredith managed with a teasing smile. "I'll be up in a minute, Dad, no worries."

She was grateful to have a few moments to herself, to attempt to process what she'd just learned. Somehow her grandfather had known Klaus—or at least someone who looked uncannily similar to the deranged vampire. Maybe he hadn't known how much of a monster his "brother in arms" had been. What about the identical rings, though? Usually members of a fraternity or organization of some sort wore similar rings or pendants.

Somehow Meredith seriously doubted—after centuries of immortality—that Klaus had suddenly decided to join up with a frat to drink beer and pick up girls. Whatever he, and her grandfather, had joined up with was something big. How big she couldn't begin to guess, but maybe George Watkins would have an idea.

The instinctual part of her that had warned her about coming home was not pleased with this notion. It wanted her to stuff everything back in the trunk, forget what she'd seen, and simply go to bed. Ordinarily Meredith might have obliged, but her burning sense of curiosity far out weighed her instincts. When it came to other people's business she was happy to simply stay out of it. This was different, however, because it was her business.

Ever since she was little, Meredith had desperately wanted to ask thousands of questions about her grandfather. So many times she'd tried to ask about his life before he went mad, why he went mad, and—most of all—why he'd tried to kill her and her grandmother. Every time she brought her grandfather up, though, her father or grandmother would urge her to hush and be quiet. She learned that what had happened in the past was not to be spoken of. It was forbidden, a secret; even their visits were rarely referred to in conversation.

Now some answers might finally be uncovered.

Meredith put her grandfather's few meager possessions back in the trunk except for the picture she'd discovered. This she tucked in her purse. After Vickie's funeral tomorrow she would go talk to George Watkins. Content with this decision, Meredith went upstairs to bed.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"You guys, I'm gonna miss you so much. No one but us will know that Stefan and Elena really did have a happy ending." Bonnie sniffled, tears running freely down her cheeks.

"Take care," Matt said, shaking hands with Stefan.

"I wish you both nothing but happiness," Meredith said, hugging Elena tightly. Bonnie, Matt, Caroline, and Meredith were gathered at the airport, saying their farewells to the newly reunited couple the following afternoon. It was thirty miles outside of Fell's Church so they felt fairly confident no one would recognize them. Just to be cautious, however, Stefan wore his trademark sunglasses and Elena had her fair hair covered with a scarf.

While they both wanted to stick around longer, Stefan thought it would be best if they left town for awhile. Elena had agreed, recognizing that it would be too painful to try and explain to her family why she was suddenly alive and well again. They would undoubtedly be overjoyed, but there was no valid reason she could give them without revealing Stefan's secret. It might also expose her family to unnecessary danger.

Just because Katherine and Klaus were dead didn't guarantee that Stefan and Elena were by any means safe.

It was still odd to see them together again, looking so peaceful and happy, after the danger they'd faced in the past year. Elena, grateful to the Fates for the second chance she'd been given, glowed with joy and love. While she was forlorn to be saying goodbye to her friends, the sadness quickly slipped away when her lapis lazuli eyes settled upon Stefan. Meredith couldn't begrudge Elena her happiness. After all those two had been through, they were most deserving of a long, un-bumpy, trouble free ride into the sunset.

"Listen, my phone never leaves my purse so you guys can contact us if you need anything," Caroline was saying. Even though she'd spent the last year plotting against Elena, genuine tears filled her emerald green eyes. They'd grown up together after all.

"We'll call you on your cell as soon as we reach London," Elena promised. Linking hands, the happy couple walked down the terminal and waved one final time before disappearing from sight.

"Listen guys, we need to hurry if we're going to make Vickie's funeral," Matt said, glancing at his watch.

"Sounds good. I had to park in level B so I'll meet you there," Meredith said, breaking apart from the group. Walking through the airport, she'd almost made it to the elevators when an extremely good-looking young man caught her attention.

Well he really wasn't young now, was he?

Leaning with his back against a grey-tiled pillar, Damon was reading a newspaper. In profile, Meredith had to admit that he was quite breath-taking. Like a statue carved out of marble, his features were finely chiseled and arresting to behold. Add to that hair like silken ebony and those dark, captivating eyes and he was nothing less than beautiful.

It was just a pity that he knew it.

Stefan was confident in a way that didn't come off as conceited or vain. Perhaps that came from the angst and guilt he felt from his past. Damon, however, had no such hindrances. He radiated confidence in a fashion that came across as pure arrogance. Even after he'd saved all their lives against Klaus, Meredith couldn't bring herself to like him. That didn't stop her from approaching him. He barely looked up from his newspaper even though he had to know she was there.

"What are you doing here?" Meredith demanded.

"Unlike some of my counterparts, I embrace modern technology. I like to fly but the food is sub-par even in first class," Damon said, not bothering to lower the paper.

"That's funny coming from a guy who has an all-liquid diet."

This comment earned her an eyebrow arched in mild interest as Damon folded the newspaper. He fixed his gaze on her, which Meredith decided wasn't necessarily a good thing. There was something unsettling about those obsidian eyes that played with the different colors in the light and seemed able to see right into her. With his Powers, Damon was quite capable of reading her mind, but this knowledge didn't cause Meredith to shy away.

"It's true my appetite is rather particular," he said impassively. "I assume you came to check on me not to inquire about my dietary preferences, but to make sure that I don't disturb my little brother and his fiancé."

"The thought had crossed my mind. From what I understand, you're not above stalking," Meredith said, her tone taking on more of an edge. Elena had been her best friend since the third grade and after all that they had been through, Meredith wasn't about to let anyone mess with her happiness. Not even someone who could easily squash her like a bug.

"Jealous? Not that a girl such as yourself should lack for companions. You know, it's a shame we couldn't get more acquainted. As your charming red-headed friend could tell you, I'm not so bad. You might even find me quite…enjoyable." Damon smiled, finally focusing his full attention on her, his dark eyes raking her head to toe. Meredith couldn't help feeling a little exposed, but as usual she maintained her composure.

"Wow, you know I was a little worried that you'd be obsessing over Elena, but now I see you'll just hit on anything with estrogen. Do us all a favor and stay away from Fell's Church and anyone you ever met there." Meredith began to walk away, but as usual Damon had to have the last word.

"Feel free to look me up if you're ever in Italy. I can show you things you wouldn't believe." Damon's laugh was derisive and mocking. Spinning around, Meredith intended to tell him that he was the last person she'd ever look up in Italy, Europe, or even the Antarctic.

He was already gone.

Well, that's the last I'll ever see of him, Meredith thought with a dismissive shrug as she headed towards the parking lot. At least Damon didn't appear to have any intentions of following Elena and Stefan. And if he was at the airport then hopefully he was going to be getting far away from Fell's Church. Maybe that would mean life might actually get back to normal in their small town.

It was about damn time.